Evil Inklings

Phables: Sept. 10, 2007

2007-09-10T20:42:00.000-04:00

Phables

Everyone has a story about Philadelphia. Some of them involve a little good fortune.

Ten Years!

2007-09-10T06:53:00.000-04:00

Ten Years For David Willis

1997. The term "weblog" is coined. Netscape is the browser of choice for 72% of users. Titanic crashes into theaters. And David Willis posts his first "Roomies!" comic.

2007. It's now called a blog. Netscape hit an iceberg of its own. And our hearts are still going on for "Shortpacked!" -- the popular daily comic that arose from Willis' first comic production.

On the Web, ten years of regularly-updated entertainment is a significant achievement that precious few can boast. Blank Label Comics is proud to salute David Willis as he celebrates his tenth anniversary in webcomics.

Shortpacked! is ringing in this occasion with two special events. First, its first book collection, Shortpacked! Brings Back the Eighties, has arrived and is ready for order. Second, Roomies!, It's Walky!, Joyce and Walky! and Shortpacked! are commemorated with a limited print, seen on the left. See The Shortpacked! Blog for details!

To help celebrate close-to-3,000 strips, here's a Top 10 List of the all-time favorite storylines year-by-year from David Willis:

1997: "Obligatory Flashback Sequence"
1998: "Liberation and the Modern Joyce"
1999: "Beer Necessities/No Regrets"
2000: "Puppy"
2001: "Guess Who's Coming to Denver"
2002: "Round Two"
2003: "The Best I Could Do"
2004: "The Sorcerer's Apprentice"
2005: "Mrs. Greg Killmaster"
2006: "The Drama Tag"

Webcomics Weekly Podcast!

2007-09-07T23:15:00.000-04:00

Webcomics Weekly Podcast!

In case you haven't checked it out yet, Scott Kurtz, Dave Kellett, Kris Straub, and myself have launched an ambitious weekly podcast filled with comics shop talk -- the how-to and pro-tip stuff you can't find anyplace else. You can follow the RSS here.

So far, we've recorded three episodes. Check 'em out:

Episode Three: How to legally protect your work, picking the appropriate resolution for your scanned work and more tips and tricks.

Episode Two: What happens when someone doesn't "get" your joke. How to get new readers. Tips and Tricks.
Episode One: Brad Guigar, Dave Kellett, Kris Straub and Scott Kurtz outline their new weekly podcast about the ins-and-outs of making comics for the web.

Oculore??

2007-09-07T23:07:00.000-04:00

Oculore??

In case you're a newer reader, you won't readily recognize Oculore, the creature setting up shop in the fourth panel in today's comic. He's a former employee of Evil Inc with a grudge against Evil Atom. If you read Evil Inc Annual Report Vol 1, you know a little bit more about him and how he left Evil Inc.

Needless to say, we havn't seen the last of Oculore.

Courting Disaster: Sept. 7, 2007

2007-09-07T23:02:00.000-04:00

Courting Disaster

Courting Disaster, my weekly comic about sex, love, and relationships updates every Friday. You'll laugh your pants off.

This week's question:

Q: I'm 21 and my father is dating a womaan who is ruining his life. She spends his money, never cleans or cooks, and teaches my 12-year-old sister about sexual things. She might even be involved with drugs. My father has stopped talking to my sister completely. Is there a way for me to introduce my dad to decent women without taking him to a bar, casino or club? He's 51. I'm not sure how much more my sister and I can take.

Go on over and offer some advice.

Baltimore Comic Con

2007-09-06T20:37:00.000-04:00

Baltimore Comic Con

I'm going to be in Baltimore this weekend for the Baltimore Comic Con. I'll be in Artist Alley with copies of both Evil Inc Annual Reports and the Courting Disaster books. If you're interested in buying original art, please let me know and I'll have them on hand for you. Stop over and say hello!

The rest of the year looks like this...

2007

Baltimore Comic Con: Sept. 8-9

SPXpo (Bethesda, Md): Oct. 12-13

PhilCon: Nov. 16-18

Next year looks like this, with tentatively scheduled dates in grey.

2008

Katsucon (Washington, D.C.): February 15-17 **Celebrating 8 years of daily cartooning**

New York Comic Con: April 18-20.

Emerald City Comic Con: May 10-11.

Wizard World Philadelphia: May 29 - June 1

CAPE (Texas): May

Wizard World Chicago: June 26-29

Comic Con: July

Baltimore Comic Con: Sept.

SPXpo (Bethesda, Md): Oct. 12-13

PhilCon: November

Wizard World Texas: November 7-9

Now that I'm an Eisner LOSER, I've been e-mailed the same question over and over: "When are you coming *here* so I can laugh in your face?" The answer is: As soon as I get invited to a convention near your town. Write the promoters of your favorite comic con and let them know! And if you're a convention promoter and/or if you help organize a comic convention please get in touch and we can discuss how to make that happen.

Side Switchers: Mary Marvel, Riddler

2007-08-30T23:52:00.000-04:00

Switching Sides

It seems like everybody's switching sides these days. In the Marvel Universe, a group of Avengers have gone underground to form an illegal resistance to the Meta-Human Registration Act, and a group of villains have formed a legal group, the Thunderbolts, that hunts down the metahumans who resist the Act. Over at DC, there are side-switchers galore. Mary Marvel's evil, the Riddler is solving crimes and the Trickster and the Pied Piper can't figure out what they are.

It's getting so a guy needs a scorecard to keep up with it all.

So that's what I did. Send your suggestions for further Side-Switchers to me at Bguigar (at) yahoo (dot) com.

Newspapers

2007-08-29T14:56:00.000-04:00

Get "Evil Inc" in your daily newspaper!

It already appears in several college papers and a few daily newspapers such as the Philadelphia Daily News (Circulation 190,000). To add yours, just do the following:

College Newspapers

I provide "Evil Inc" to college newspapers for FREE. Simply alert the editor of your college paper and have him or her contact me. I will provide an easy way to download hi-res strips months ahead of publication dates.

Newspapers

Write a letter to your newspaper's Features editor and/or the Managing Editor. You can usually find their names and e-mail address in the "Contact Us" link of the newspaper's Web site. Tell him or her why you love "Evil Inc." Mention that it already runs in such newspapers as the Philadelphia Daily News and it can easily run in their newspaper as well. Encourage them to download my media kit. Direct them to the Evil Inc Web site -- www.evil-comic.com -- to contact me or give them my e-mail address.

Not so good with words? Allow me.

Dear (editor's name here),

I am a regular reader of a daily comic strip called "Evil Inc," which runs daily on the Web and in newspapers such as the Philadelphia Daily News. It is a humor comic about super-villains by Brad Guigar. Guigar has been syndicating his daily comic strips for over seven years, and he makes it clear on his Web site (http://www.evil-comic.com) that he provides excellent rates to any newspapers interested in running his comic.

Please add "Evil Inc" to (name of newspaper here)! You can contact him through his Web site for via e-mail: Bguigar@yahoo.com .

A media kit for "Evil Inc" can be downloaded at http://www.evil-comic.com/presskit.pdf .

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
(Your name, phone number, and/or e-mail address)

TWIV: Puppet Master

2007-08-28T22:00:00.000-04:00

The Week in Villainy: Puppet Master

Taking stock of super-villains

Puppet Master: I direct your attention to Ms. Marvel #18, and the Puppet Master. I'm actually not sure if this should count as an up arrow or a down arrow, I find myself making arguments for both.

Basically, PM is finally using his power to, um, well... in a fashion that would occur to most men who had his power. That's the Up arrow for the spineless PM. However, he appears to be using it for monetary gain, which is the Down-arrow argument.

-- Submitted by Lamont Cranston

(If you have a suggestion for "TWiV," please let me know.)

New Fan Art!

2007-08-28T08:52:00.000-04:00

New Fan Art!

Big thanks to Ed "Kardiac" Robinson from the Superbuddies Comic Book Discussion and Art forums. This now becomes a permanent part of the Evil Inc Fan Art Gallery.

A real corker

2007-08-28T04:40:00.000-04:00

A real corker

Thanks to eagle-eyed reader Amy Raudenbush, we now know what Evil Inc's fly-headed fiend drinks when he imbibes.

New Courting Disaster Question

2007-08-28T03:57:00.000-04:00

New Courting Disaster Question

There's a new question on the Courting Disaster Web site.

Q: I recently broke up with my girlfriend of two-and-a-half years and I'm hurt that she's moving on so quickly. I found someone else, but everytime I see her with other guys, it tears me up inside. How can I get over this without shutting her out of my life?

Phables: Aug. 27, 2007

2007-08-27T20:50:00.000-04:00

Phables

Everyone has a story about Philadelphia. Some of them restore one's faith in Dog.

Courting Disaster: Aug. 24, 2007

2007-08-24T08:45:00.000-04:00

Courting Disaster

Courting Disaster, my weekly comic about sex, love, and relationships updates every Friday. You'll laugh your pants off.

This week's question:

Q: Should I tell my boyfriend that I had a lesbian relationship for two years when I was in my 20s? It was over 10 years ago, but I’m worried he might judge me because of it.

Go on over and offer some advice.

62% More Awesome

2007-08-23T07:19:00.000-04:00

62% More Awesome

Blank Label Comics is excited to announce the release of the "62% More Awesome: The Third Sheldon Collection" by cartoonist Dave Kellett.

The collection features every single strip since the previous Sheldon collection -- "The Good, The Bad & The Pugly" -- and includes extra strips we couldn't fit in the last book! Special, awesome-sauce content includes the 'Coffee Cup Lid Challenge' strips, and an expanded version of the Saturday-only space storyline (including bonus stuff you can't read online)! This book is, indeed, 62% More Awesome.

Order one right now at the Sheldon Store. The Sheldon Comic Strip can be read daily -- for free -- via the website, RSS, and e-mail delivery.

A quick storyline note...

2007-08-22T08:30:00.000-04:00

A quick storyline note...

Right off the bat, let me clear up some confusion that new readers may have had with Tuesday's strip. The two characters in the last panel are call-backs to an earlier story arc that became somewhat iconic with Evil Inc readers. They are representative of VIMA -- the Villainous Idiom Management Agency.

Now, about this story. I'm judging from some of the posts on the Shoutbox, forum, Facebook, MySpace, etc., that some of you are getting a little confused by my non-linear storyline. :) And that's OK. ;)

Telling a story in a daily comic-strip format is kind of a challenge. I've only got so much time each day to tell you a little bit of the plot -- and try to make it interesting and/or funny enough to keep you coming back tomorrow.

And sometimes, like now, I've got a story that ultimately relies on my ability to ratchet up the suspense and then hit a momentous climax (which, incidentally, comes in Thursday's comic). Part of the art of building suspense is knowing how much is enough -- and how much is too much. There is a tipping point at which too much suspense tend to deflate the climax.

Some of you have gotten a little thrown by not knowing what happened to Commander Heroic, Oscar, Muskiday, and Haynus -- and, I promise you, those questions will be answered. The non-linear plot was kind of a necessary evil (as if there's any other kind in this strip). If I had put that stuff earlier in the storyline, it would have taken far too long to get to tomorrow's revelation.

So, as I've been saying all along, stay 'tooned! All of your questions will be answered in due time.

Thirdly, the memorial service was for the Evil Inc company itself, which has been destroyed. This is spelled out pretty plainly in the first panel of Tuesday's comic. I'm seeing that a few of you spotted some other clues in the backgrounds of some of the other strips this week. Stay 'tooned. :)

Finally, I need to apologize for the appalling lack of super-villain-related posts in the blog as of late. Between preparing for Comic Con, attending it and recovering from it, I've had my hands full merely updating the comic on time. And, for the last couple weeks, a lot of my spare time has gone to designing the third Evil Inc graphic novel -- which is close to three-quarters of the way finished. Just wait 'til you see the mega-cheesecake cover on this one, fanboys and fangirls. Members of the Fan Club can see it now. 'Nuff said. ;)

Suffice it to say, I'll get back to covering the best in super-villain news and reviews in this space withing the next few weeks. Be sure to use the blog's RSS feed to stay abreast of updates as they happen.

Phables: Aug. 20, 2007

2007-08-20T20:34:00.000-04:00

Phables

It's stories like this that make Phables such a stand-out feature. Back in the 80s, a mystery man started cutting enigmatic messages into linoleum tile and then permanently affixed them to the road using asphalt sealer. He'd set them out on a hot day and let the tires of passing-by cars seal them to the road.

TOYNBEE IDEA
KUBRICK MOVIE 2001
RESURRECT DEAD
PLANET JUPITER

By the end of the 80s, there were more than 130 of these tiles across Philly -- and then they started showing up across the globe.

No one knows for sure who started it or why. But it is as much a part of the Philly fabric as cheesesteaks and the Liberty Bell.

Climactic Conclusion to Yearlong "Evil Inc" Arc

2007-08-15T22:34:00.000-04:00

Climactic Conclusion to Yearlong "Evil Inc" Arc

A webcomic such as this gets the majority of its new readers from its old readers. You tell your friends; you forward a link to a favorite strip; you post on forums and blogs. You're promoters, publicists, and pushers. And you're crucial to the success of this comic.

So, I'm putting out a call to all of my henchpeople: If you were ever thinking about spreading the word on Evil Inc, this is the time to do it. Hit your MySpace or Facebook page. Stumble it, Digg it, or find it Del.icio.us. Blog it, Forum it, or Post it on your own site.

This is the message: If you're not an Evil Inc reader, now's the time.

Here's some text. Feel free to swipe it:

In a story arc that started the day Evil Atom was forced out of the company he single-handedly created (http://www.evil-comic.com/d/20060718.html ), the new CEO of Evil Inc -- a superHERO -- has had to grapple with making the company profitable.

Failure would cause the demise of the Legion of Justice -- which invested heavily in Evil Inc (http://www.evil-comic.com/d/20061025.html ).

But success would, of course, mean aiding and abetting super-criminals.

Last week ended with a mysterious explosion and this week began with an equally mysterious memorial service. The next nine days are not to be missed.

If you're not a regular reader of "Evil Inc," there's no better time to start. Jump in here --http://www.evil-comic.com/d/20070404.html -- and buckle your seat belts.

Con Schedule

2007-08-15T21:14:00.000-04:00

2007-2008 Convention Schedule

Here's a list of the conventions I'm planning to attend this year. I've also listed the conventions (in grey italics) that I'm considering, but haven't committed to.

2007

Baltimore Comic Con: Sept. 8-9

SPXpo (Bethesda, Md): Oct. 12-13

PhilCon: Nov. 16-18

2008

Katsucon (Washington, D.C.): February 15-17 **Celebrating 8 years of daily cartooning**

New York Comic Con: April 18-20.

Emerald City Comic Con: May 10-11.

Wizard World Philadelphia: May 29 - June 1

CAPE (Texas): May

Wizard World Chicago: June 26-29

Comic Con: July

Baltimore Comic Con: Sept.

SPXpo (Bethesda, Md): Oct. 12-13

PhilCon: November

Wizard World Texas: November 7-9

Since my Eisner Award nomination was announced, I've been e-mailed the same question over and over: "When are you coming *here*?" The answer is: As soon as I get invited to a convention near your town. Write the promoters of your favorite comic con and let them know! And if you're a convention promoter and/or if you help organize a comic convention please get in touch and we can discuss how to make that happen.

Cast your vote!

2007-08-13T21:47:00.000-04:00

Cast your vote!

What's this memorial service all about? Cast your vote on the forum! Got a theory that doesn't fit the multiple-choice options? Here's your chance to show off your Evil genius!

Henchmen, Lackeys, Thugs and Goons

2007-08-13T16:09:00.000-04:00

Henchmen, Lackeys, Thugs and Goons

People who have subscribed to the Evil Inc Fan Club, Henchmen, Lackeys, Thugs and Goons, on Facebook, have been getting plot hints and special storyline extras. Membership has its privileges. :)

New Courting Disaster Question

2007-08-13T16:06:00.000-04:00

New Courting Disaster Question

There's a new question on the Courting Disaster Web site.

Q: I'm interested in a guy, but one problem is we live a few states apart and I don't know if he would is interested in me or a long distance relationship. How can I find out without ruining things?

Phables: Aug. 13, 2007

2007-08-13T08:20:00.000-04:00

Phables

Have you ever hears a little voice inside your head tell you to take a different path? This guy did. He listened and his life has been forever changed.

Courting Disaster: Aug. 10, 2007

2007-08-09T22:00:00.000-04:00

Courting Disaster

Courting Disaster, my weekly comic about sex, love, and relationships updates every Friday. You'll laugh your pants off.

This week's question:

Q: I married a woman last year whom I'd loved in high school. Previously, she was married to a guy who later walked out on her, her two sons and infant daughter. But in the last year I have grown increasingly depressed. I love her children, but I feel that I am just a live-in babysitter. We have tried to have a child together, but no luck. I miss being single and resent the fact that I have contributed thousands of dollars to get my wife out of debt using money I had set aside for an early retirement. I believed the woman I married was the same girl I loved so much in our teen years. That is not the case. I want to end this now because I have lost so much hope. At times I am in physical pain because I am miserably depressed and know I made a horrible mistake. My dilemma is that I do not want to hurt her again, or her children. She is a wonderful person. I think people will look down on me and think I am just as low as her ex-husband if I leave her. Yet I feel my life is over if I stay in this relationship. I think she loves me, but I also think she knew that if we married, her financial nightmare would end, which it did. Can you help?

Go on over and offer some advice.

Comic Con 2007: Convention Wrap-Up Part 5

2007-08-09T15:29:00.000-04:00

Comic Con 2007: Convention Wrap-Up Part 5

[NEWSARAMA] We're in that "twilight zone" time between two big conventions, post San Diego, but pre Wizard Chicago. To tide us over till the news from the windy city start pouring in, Word Balloon host John Siuntres presents this collection of creator convention stories.

- Brian Michael Bendis shares classic encounters with Lou Ferrigno, and a memorable writers panel where he had to contend with a great Marvel writer, who didn't agree with today's decompressed story telling.

- Jimmy Palmiotti talks about the strange promotion a convention in Spain set up, to tie into the release of the Garth Ennis Amanda Connor classic, The Pro.

- Chuck Austen gives a first hand account Of Alan Moore strange adventures at the infamous 1986 SDCC, his first (and last) American convention, and shares what it's like dealing with irate X-fans on the con circuit.

- And Tim Bradstreet tells us what it's like when master artist Jim Steranko holds court with younger creators , after hours at a con weekend.

Click here for the episode.