Monty’s Mixtape, Vol. 2

I met writer Josh Jenkins and artist Karl Slominski during our New York Comic Con gathering at Stitch. If you were there, you’ll recall I was on the verge of death, having decided to wear some particularly uncomfortable shoes that day.  Luckily, Stitch was the type of building that featured walls. So I did a lot of leaning and listening. Josh and Karl offered me a copy of their comic Plan B: The Haunted Life of Doctor Anomalous. I liked Josh and Karl. I think of them as the Penn and Teller of indie comics, Josh talking passionately and eloquently about their process while Karl quietly nods. He’s a mystery, that Karl. They were both friendly and appreciative, so I was more than pleased to read their efforts and pass the recommendation along to you, my ragtag audience. 

Plan B. The Haunted Life of Doctor Anomalous is, according to the creators, the first in a long series of adventures. They’ve made my job fairly painless in that they’re working from an easily pitched high concept. It’s 1987 and Dr. Victor Anomalous, a mad scientist once tasked with developing an alternative to the first atomic bomb back in the ’40s, is now penniless and decrepit, addicted to daytime television. With the help of his deteriorating psyche, he summons some old associates from the Plan B days and endeavors to find himself again. Jenkins knows his science and writes a convincing genius. There are times when the eccentric dialogue lobs ever so slightly over the top, but as I progressed through the book I noted more restraint. It’s a tricky proposition, writing dialogue for crazy intellectuals. I think he’s found the balance however. I genuinely applaud the risk. It’s a smart book, so I’m being nit-picky. It’s a great voice, equal parts Warren Ellis and Lemony Snicket. 

And there’s an escapologist in a domino mask, so you know it’s gonna be a romp. 

I like Karl’s sharp, angular character designs as well. I only wish he had a little more space, as the compressed, digest format of the comic tends to leave some of the panels a little claustrophobic, especially with such bold inking. Still, I love the dynamic, expressive art style, and the inks really are a part of that. I liken it to woodblock prints. It’s a style you don’t see a lot. I’m gonna be an art history nerd here and compare the great cover illustration (with a combo of thin and heavy lines) to Duchamp. You know, “Nude Descending a Staircase, No. 2.” Action lines make for energy and motion in a static frame. That’s just cool.     


They’ve also incorporated some brief essays on related topics in science (hallucination, memory, historical alternatives to the atomic bomb) at the head of each chapter. It’s an assurance that your pilot knows what he’s talking about, that this mad science is still, for however mad it is, rooted in science. Add a slick cover and perfect paper stock, and it’s the ideal presentation for independent creators.  Looking forward to reading the next installment, and I hope this book falls into the right hands. Check out their new website, which features concept art, original character descriptions, previews for volume 2, and a blog. Every book should have this kind of online resource.  



The Flash Rogues (CaptainCold, WeatherWizard, MirrorMaster, and HeatWaveMick) are still at it on Twitter, even after burning down a Checkers last week. 

(Remember to read from bottom to top.  And for even more adventures, be sure to follow them on Twitter).








 



April is Script Frenzy month! 

Maybe you’ve tried your hand at NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) or never before attempted to write a script. This is as good a time as any. I’ll be taking this opportunity to work on some scripts for Wormwood as well as my own comic script (I have outlines, I swear!)

You can write one or many scripts, be they for comics, feature films, a web series, a play, or whatever.  Just be productive.  Create something.  Does everybody a world of good. 

From the website

Who: You and everyone you know. No experience required.
What: 100 pages of original scripted material in 30 days. (Screenplays, stage plays, TV shows, short films, and graphic novels are all welcome.)
When: April 1 – 30. Every year. Mark your calendars.
Where: Online and in person (if you want!). Hang out in the forums, join your fellow participants at write-ins, and make friends by adding writing buddies online.
Why: Because you have a story to tell. Because you want a creative challenge. Because you’ll be disappointed if you missed out on the adventure. Because you need to make time for you.
How: Sign up. Tell everyone that you are in the Frenzy. Clear your calendar. (US participants: Get your taxes done now!) Start some wrist exercises. Have fun!


Rules

1) To be crowned an official Script Frenzy winner, you must write a script (or multiple scripts) of at least 100 total pages and verify this tally on ScriptFrenzy.org.
2) You may write individually or with a partner. Writing teams will have a 100-page total goal for their co-written script or scripts.
3) Script writing may begin no earlier than 12:00:01 AM on April 1 and must cease no later than 11:59:59 PM on April 30, local time.
4) You may write screenplays, stage plays, TV shows, short films, comic book and graphic novel scripts, adaptations of novels, or any other type of script your heart desires.
5) You must, at some point, have ridiculous amounts of fun.

I triple dog dare you.


Paul Montgomery is nearing 10,000 updates on Twitter.  Help.  Contact him at paul@ifanboy.com.

Comments

  1. The Rouges on Twitter will never get old. They should have a weekly article on ifanboy.

  2. You know, I’ve tried less formal attempts to write something big and meaningful in a short amount of time, but I always wuss out. Damn you, will-power!

  3. Paul: does scripting the Rogues on Twitter count toward ScriptFrenzy? 😉

    Also, glad to hear you’ll be working on your Wormwood scripts as part of this month’s activities (looks and watch and taps foot). 😉

  4. Can we please have the rouges on Twitter a weekly thing?

  5. I love how Heat Wave is following Jim Gaffigan. Brilliant!

  6. Avatar photo Paul Montgomery (@fuzzytypewriter) says:

    @Cadgers – It would actually make my job a lot easier.  It’s fun as hell.  

  7. self-edit: "looks *at* watch…" (boy, wish we could edit these comments. Sigh…)

     

    @Cadgers — you can get the Rogues regularly if you follow them on Twitter. 😉

     

  8. Avatar photo Paul Montgomery (@fuzzytypewriter) says:

    That’s the thing with these Twitter narratives.  For anyone following the Rogues, does the narrative work?  I suppose it depends on how you digest your Twitter feed and how many other people you’re following.  The rhythm changes depending on how many other posts are interrupting the conversation or where you start reading.  

  9. The Rogues are damn funny.  Damn funny indeed.

  10. @Paul – I like them peeping in and out of the Twitter stream. That said, you could, I suppose, set up a feed that only follows them. I think the biggest thing is scrolling backwards to find the beginning of the narrative. Even here, copied and pasted as an image, we have to scroll down, then read up. It’s interesting.

    Although, you *could* read it top to bottom if you’d like to make the Rogues even MORE insane. It’s like a Morrison story read that way. 😉

  11. The Rogues are the best thing on Twitter!

    @Paul – I think the narrative works pretty well. I have them all set for mobile updates so I know once a see a tweet from one of them, hilarity will ensue.

  12. Avatar photo Paul Montgomery (@fuzzytypewriter) says:

    There are porn outlets following MirrorMaster on Twitter. 

  13. I’m in. ScriptFrenzy is gonna be fun!

  14. I think I have a porn outlet.

    (I’m sorry.)

  15. Avatar photo Paul Montgomery (@fuzzytypewriter) says:

    If iFanboy was staged as Peter & the Wolf, Josh would be represented by a trombone.  

  16. ah p-money you always make my day with your articles