Lots of cool stuff going on, and more than a little bit of housekeeping is in order here I think to keep it all straight and together.

So, firstly, some updates. I’ve gone ahead and deleted both my LJ and my FB accounts. Sadly, I don’t stay up on reading the other posts on there and don’t seem to be the right sort of person that soc-nets in general are targeted towards. Don’t get me wrong, I think they’re very nifty in their own rights and all that, just don’t think that they’re for me. Besides, professionally, they’re more of a hurdle than a blessing and to be completely honest I’ve become entirely addicted and entrenched in the use and function of my good old g-reader.

So, for anyone who was looking for me through that, don’t fret, I still live, I just will no longer have an account with either of those services or any other soc-net. There’s just no need. But(!) I am still keeping the contact apps and services that work for me like twitter and gmail, and of course this site. It is one of my hopes that with the leaving of FB and LJ that I’ll be better about using HDU as my main means of (properly and more promptly) updated internet communication.

So there you go. On to other things now.

Like I said above, I’ve really gotten into the whole g-reader thing and I love it. I actually like and appreciate a lot of the functionality that’s in place including the ’share’ and ‘like’ functions for use within the broader and narrower g-communities. I realized that I keep my personal g-connections fairly small for the g-reader which is perfect and those people have my ’share’s passed to them and vice versa, but I’ve been thinking a lot about putting together a sort of best of once a week or so of things that I find interesting via my g-reader feed. I don’t want to repost everything that I tag with ‘like’ or ’share’ but I do want to go through it and repost some of the really good stuff (imho of course) back here on HDU. It’s my site, so I will do exactly that.

This is partially inspired by the blog (on LJ ironically enough) of one of my fave artists in comics right now. I love his posts and look forward to seeing them all the time, a great deal of why is because of the cool and random things that he finds to include in them. I’m inspired by that and want to take my own spin on it. In honor of Mister Brandon Graham, this will become a new part of HDU.

Don’t know what to call this yet, I’ll hopefully have a name and new category for it later. In the meantime, let’s get down to business. The following is a collection of images and links and whatnot pulled from my tagg’d bits via g-reader in the last week. Enjoy (or not):

I love this art you can find more of it here: http://www.silencetv.com/work.html

Axe Cop is amazing. I dig Eef’s stuff anyway and quite honored to say that I’ve worked with him briefly and even had him help me move once. The concept and execution of this series is simply fucking brilliant. If you don’t know what you’re missing, there’s an easy way to fix that. And remember, you’re in good company, Simon Pegg and Kevin Murphy (MST3K) are fans as well. Read it here: http://axecop.com

Flying Fortress is awesome anyway, but this is just extra cool. Dig it and eat it here, via: http://www.graffitiartmagazine.com/index.php?post/Tee-Flying-Fortress-x-Mist

Just something cool from Ffffound.com

Disinfo talks about a lot of things. Most of them good and or interesting. This one is too. Read along… http://www.disinfo.com/2010/03/new-designer-human-organs-stem-cells-inkjet-printing/

Over at YMFY among their regular mishmash of cool and neat things for the interwebz is a new post which includes a short story (I believe in total) from one master word-smith Haruki Murakami:
http://www.youmightfindyourself.com/post/472052732/the-kidney-shaped-stone-that-moves-every-day-by

Mishka (and the Mishka Bloglin) is one of my fave things both online and in terms of their products. Somehow it’s not surprising that they would either put this together or just be the first ones in the know and ready to pass it on… yes, it is what it looks like, ChatRoulette Bingo. Enjoy the whole story:
http://mishkanyc.com/bloglin/2010/03/25/isnt-it-time-for-a-better-chat-roulette-bingo/

Yep, that’s an image from Edgar Wright’s take on Brian Lee Omally’s amazing graphic baby, Scott Pilgrim. A trailer got released finally and we’re all understandably excited. I’m giving credit to Bleeding Cool for being the first to bring it to my attention. Well done you:

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2010/03/25/the-scott-pilgrim-vs-the-world-trailer-and-it-rocks/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+BleedingCool+(Bleeding+Cool+Comic+News+%26+Rumors)

More cool art to dig, ya dig? Good. Now go see more:

http://weheartit.com/entry/1767788

Very happy to say and to see that Rockett Clothing is still around and this new blog post proves it. Keep it up Travis and the gang:

http://www.ridetherockett.com/blog/?p=507

Interesting Gizmodo story on a real life high-end thief. Why this hasn’t been turned into a screen adapt yet, I just don’t know:
Thief Story from Gizmodo

More outstanding stuff from Paul Pope. View more amazing here:
http://pulphope.blogspot.com/

Why can’t this be real? Via Ffffound.com once more.

Dueling Analogs talks about debunks ideas about living off of webcomics… they should know. Read it and learn som’un.

I dig KidAcne, you should too. Make your own decision though, here:
http://www.kidacne.com/blog/2010/03/cest-le-bronx/

I don’t know what to make of this, other than it made me laugh… a lot.

…and so did this, not sure if it has anything to do with where I work or not…

You know that famous scene in Spaced (Nick Frost, Simon Pegg, Edgar Wright, yeah, those guys) where there was a slow-motion pantomimed gin-fight amongst friends and strangers? Well there was a flashmob of the same… Bleeding Cool has vids and descriptions of it:

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2010/03/22/spaced-flashmob-on-trafalgar-square

Simply digging this. Blame Jeff, I think it’s his:
http://jeffsimpsonkh.deviantart.com/

Don’t ask… remember which site you’re on and what the URL is, that should be answer enough…

and that wraps that up for now, but I’ll leave you with this last bit from DisInfo regarding some rethinking on evolution, via a story in the Guardian:

http://www.disinfo.com/2010/03/why-everything-youve-been-told-about-evolution-is-wrong/

Goodnight everyone.

I love you all,

–Aleister

“Little Bit (Rapaport & Malmqvist Remix)” – Lykke Li

PS

Just got in a proof coy of Ferrymen a day or so ago. Some minor fixes need to be made (like missing pages) but that’s normal and looks beautiful all told. Should be shipping on time and with no problems! Woot! Go order yours if you haven’t already: Ferrymen Book

Hello all,

Ok, I’ve been really bad in updating lately, I know, sorry. I would like to be able to just blame the fact that there’re a lot of things going on but I don’t think that that’s really a valid excuse.

All the same, I’m back now, and hopefully will be updating more regularly. In the meantime and in accordance with the title for this post, there’s a new interview up on Broken Frontier in time with the release of my new GN Ferrymen:

(click the logo above to be transported to the final frontier!)

So go over and and check out. The site is full of pretty cool news outside of my own vested interest so you should be adding it to your daily net trollings and google readers anyway. Do it. Do it now.

I love you all. Cheers,

–Aleister

Just a brief update (things are crazy with the Mouse right now, so I will come up for air as soon as I can… which is also, hopefully, soon-ish…) but I wanted to make sure and pass on the fact that my interview with Sequential Tart is now live (thank you Sheena for letting me know!) for my upcoming GN, Ferrymen!

Sequential Tart Interview

Alright, back to the digital art trenches. Remember, I love you all.

Cheers,

–Aleister

PS

No, I didn’t draw this mouse, it’s stolen from my digital morgue… but whoever did draw it, is awesome!

Because my publisher (Mr. Gary Reed) is not only a rad human being, but on top of things, he’s gone ahead and made sure to keep track of related releases and links dealing with the upcoming Ferrymen GN. So, I’m glad to pass on the extra effort from Gary here. Gary, thanks again, man, truly awesome! If anyone finds anymore, please let me know, and better yet, pass on the link and order codes if you don’t mind ^__^

Link for retailers:

http://www.myebook.com/index.php?option=ebook&id=24969

Here’s the column on Talking Transfuzion
http://comicrelated.com/news/4834/talking-transfuzion

Here’s the Interview on Jazma Online
http://forums.jazmaonline.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1447

Diamond Distributors included it with their “Bookshelf” which is sent to all the libraries.
http://www.diamondbookshelf.com/public/default.asp?t=1&m=1&c=20&s=441&ai=90522

http://comicsworthreading.com/2010/01/07/transfuzions-ferrymen-expanded-from-rising-stars-of-manga-story/

http://comicrelated.com/news/4751/ferryman-to-the-after-life

http://www.brokenfrontier.com/headlines/p/detail/sneak-peak-transfuzions-ferrymen

http://www.comicbook.com/Comics/aleister-gilgrims-ferrymen-from-transfuzion-publishing/

http://manga.jadedragononline.com/?p=3532

http://www.mangablog.net/?p=6690

http://www.gabbr.com/blogs/2010/1/11473/Transfuzion%E2%80%99s-Ferrymen-Expanded-From-Rising-Stars-of-Manga-Story/

“And if nothing else, as least we have some of the key retailers in the country and elsewhere carrying the book. Fun to take a look but doesn’t mean they’re going to order a lot.”

See, this right here, this line from Gary, that’s what I want to change, so here we go everybody, anyone wanting to know how to get a hold of the book, this is an excellent place to start::

http://www.tfaw.com/Graphic-Novels/Genres/Manga/Profile/Ferrymen-GN___358737

http://www.milehighcomics.com/comicindex/nice/January-2010/Title-FERRYMEN-TPB–2010—1-by-Transfuzion-Publishing.html

http://forbiddenplanet.com/50271-ferrymen/

http://www.comicseurope.com/ferrymen-gn.html

http://www.ecomics.it/index.php?target=products&product_id=2010011115

So, there you go, there’s at least one more interview coming up, looks like next month and I’ll be sure to pass it along when I find out it’s up. Ok kids, back to work, sleep, leisure or whatever it is you youngin’s do these days…

I love you all,

–Aleister

Hello all,

It looks like the first official review of Ferrymen has come in from the lovely, and brutally observant if not painstakingly detail oriented Sheena McNeil. Sheena writes on behalf of Sequential Tart, where the review is currently up and viewable. Sometime later this week an interview should be up on Sequential Tart as well where I get to answer Sheena’s questions about the book, the process and which graphic novels or comics I would take to the afterlife.

You can check out the review for Ferrymen right here:

SequentialTart dot com Sheena McNeil Review’s Ferrymen

Sheena puts together a very thorough and well thought critique of the GN in this review. I have to say, even though I’m not entirely happy with my overall ‘grade’, I am quite pleased with the depths that she went to to not only outline and describe the book and her feelings on it but also to be sure to highlight where she thinks it succeeds and where it falls short. This is one of those reviews that you can’t but be happy to get. It may not be a hyperbolically glowing statement of amazement and wonder but it instead is extremely well-thought-out and deliberate. This is the type of review that’s helpful to a creator. As far as the grade, while I’m on the subject, I went through and checked Sheena’s other reviews, as well as those from other ST writers. Sheena is a harsh mistress, but she’s consistent and what’s more, she seems to be willing to delve a lot deeper than some of the other reviewers do. Something I very much appreciate. The effort is obvious and very cool.

So, to Sheena and the ST crew, thank you for the time and especially for taking a no holds barred look at Ferrymen, the high points and the low and calling ‘em as you see ‘em. Cheers to you!

I love you all,

–Aleister

Back with a quick update on some more Ferrymen links. Right now it looks like most of the links are covering or talking about the press release, but it’s still awesome to have the coverage. So huge big thanks to everyone carrying the story/PR right now, and be sure to check out the upcoming interviews for the book that I’ll be sure to update with those links as soon as they come in.

If anyone has any extra ideas for ways to promote, or get the Diamond Order Code out to the right people, those precious people who would order this lovely book, please, by all means, pass them on!

Some more links for Ferrymen:

ComicsWorthReading dot com

ComicRelated dot com

Coming soon, I’ll be making up some new promo images for the book and the Diamond Code. Realizing that Transfuzion’s also releasing a new Graphic Novel at the same time (side by side if you will) for Lovecraft’s Call of Cuthulhu, I’ve decided to make the Bricksquid Cultist Ferrymen’s new spokesman… er, spokescephalopod . He still needs a name if anyone wants to throw one out there.

I love you all (and will love you more if you order Ferrymen and pass it on!),

–Aleister

So the old Ferrymen machine is starting to finally get into gear. Today, with great thanks to my publisher Gary Reed and Transfuzion Publishing, we got our first good nibbles on the press release for the book.

One of them through Cosmicbooknews.com

and the other through Comicbook.com

Very cool indeed!

There are also 2 possible interviews coming up shortly, so once anything happens with those, I will be sure to post info for them as well. In the meantime, it’s also a good idea to start taking note of the Diamond order code for this little treasure which is:

DIAMOND PREVIEWS (page 296)

Order # JAN10 1115

And for Amazon and finer bookstores:

ISBN: 978-0-941613-38-5

Thank you as always and remember, I love you all,

–Aleister

Things have been more than a bit busy of late. Since my last post on halfdeadunicorn was in August, there has been a lot of time that’s passed and a lot of changes and goings on. Some are good and some are bad. Some are quite personal and some are really just business.

But(!), all the same, and in humble apology for my being away for so long, I would like to offer this bit of good news:

Ferrymen is being published! The book is complete and shipped and should be showing up in Previews soon!

I’ll be back to give out the Previews Order Code and all that good stuff as soon as I have it. In the meantime, please check out the publisher who stepped up and made my 5yr’s worth of stress, frustration and love mean something.

TRANSFUZION PUBLISHING

I can’t thank them enough ^__^

I won’t take so long between posts next time. I promise.

I love you all,

–Aleister

PS

Happy 5th of November everyone.

NormalityRestored:

It’s Friday once more which means the fine net-surfing trolls of the olde NR are back at it again with a full series of new articles and updates. Clicky HERE to be transported to interesting brain-stimulation-dimensions.

On the Art/comic:

Continuing to try some more work with the digital painting on the NR comic itself. Mostly focusing on some experimenting with the brushes and trying to capture something more than simple concept art/marker work. I want it to start feeling more like paint, more like Painter actually, but that’s not available right now. Need to start looking more closely at Terada, Ashley Wood and the like to decipher their secret ways…

Otherwise, I’m knackered, and quite possibly sick, so I’m going to call it a night and pray that sleeps do me better on the morrow.

Until next time, stay frosty misfits, I love you all,

–Aleister

PS

As should be evidenced by the above ug-o photos of one ug-o artist (me), I had to make new publicity photos for author identification. This is, of course, not good news in and of itself, as I’m chronically filled with hatred towards anything remotely like having my picture taken, but(!) it is for a good thing. Namely, I have a new book that will be coming out soon. One of these will be used for the promo release as well as included in the actual book (where you get to flip to the back cover to see what the idiot, who’s work you’ve been reading, actually looks like). So, shitty that I had to get in front of a camera, but hooray for upcoming new book. I’ll update as soon as I can.

The above title of course is only figurative at best, but honestly, this does seem to be  legit sentiment for all of us old enough to be truly offended by what Hollywood seems to love to do to those franchises, cartoons, and toys that we all grew up with and loved so dearly.

Sure, going back to them now, a lot of them may not hold up to modern scrutiny, but some do, and in either case there’s generally no reason for them to be consistently shredded in the new tradition of say, Transformers 1 & 2.

This is the subject of the newest Friday update over at Normality Restored. Clicky the banner below to be transported:

The image of Mega Man is from the Feature comic on NR this week. Trying a bit of something different and getting away from inking everything I do digitally. I think I’ll try keeping my inks to practicals and using this or some other technique for my purely digital stuff. We’ll see how it goes.

I love you all,

–Aleister

PS

I will be mostly unreachable for the remainder of the week/weekend. We’re moving to the new snazzy house in Pasadena, being moved by a small troop of awesome indie-comic-creators and other misfits. Also have a ton of Mouse work and some rush pre-press stuff to wrap by Sun night for my next GN, coming out much sooner than seems real.

PPS

Before I forget, there are some moe photos for Carl & Molly in SDCC 2009 (Nerdmance, Save Nerd Love 2009) over on the updates page. Send more if you got ‘em. These newest two come courtesy of the silver-locked man in the to left photo Mr. Jonathan Reilly (also known as the Purple Pimp from Dr. Horrible’s Sing-A-Long Blog).