DAUGHTER OF THE DRAGON (EPIC Submission)
Taken from the original submission letter:
“Attached please find my submission to the Epic Comics label. 'Daughter of the Dragon' is a proposed, on-going series focusing on Misty knight the daughter of Colleen Wing, Allison.
Misty Knight and Colleen Wing, better known in the Marvel universe as the 'Daughters of the Dragon', were strong supporting characters in the Marvel comic books of the 70s & 80s. Updating these characters of the 21st century could expose these heroines to a brand new fan base, while still providing the strong character traits and interpersonal relationships for the established audience.”
Of course, Epic Comics folded shortly after this was submitted, but here it is for your reading pleasure.
'CONVERSATIONS IN CARS' Anthology
One day, I noticed how several of my shorter scripts dealt primarily with conversations in or around automobiles. Probably, that's an indication that I have been living in Los Angeles too long. The people in this town and their cars, a definite symbiotic relationship.
When the story, 'SHORTAGE', grew from 10 to 18 to 22 pages, the notion of grouping those stories into one anthology hit me. Hit me hard.
BERMUDA
Eight Pages – June 2004
Eloquent description of this wonderful story is in on its way. For now, just give it a try.
DICHOTOMY
Six Pages – May 2003
I wish I could say for certain that this story was based on an actual conversation, but I'm afraid that it might be based on an imaginary one instead.
I wrote this story for an activity that I ran over at Six Shooter Comix. The activity called for a four to six page story depicting"the most normal, mundane conversation occurring in the most outlandish of settings/scenarios".
What resulted is slightly childish (in a beer commercial sort of way) and probably a little too 'inside' – but I think that everyone can relate to the topic of first crushes.
HOW TO GET THERE
Six Pages – December 2003
Personally, I have never been a fan of work-related social activities like company picnics or Christmas parties at my old jobs. They just always made for awkward situations filled with insincerity and forced revelry all wrapped up in the usual web of office politics. Plus, it's not like I'm being paid to be there and I'm all about the paycheck.
But, I guess it could be worse. 'GET THERE' is a definite example of how it could be worse.
SHORTAGE
Twenty-Two Pages – March 2004
The seed of this story has been in my head for two years now. Actually, one could argue it was there for almost thirty years. One of my earliest memories is waiting with my dad in some monster line for gas during one gas crisis and realizing that my father almost smoked as much as my mother. He was just better at hiding it.
As I finally sat down to get this story down on paper, it became something entirely different. That's why I love to write. There's no better place to surprise yourself than your own head.
'BUSINESS OF KILLING' Comic Adaptation
PUTRESCENCE
Six Pages – April 2003
Here is another little experiment – turning material from one of my screenplays into comic form. In this instance, we have the opening from “BoK.”
Oddly enough, it was more difficult to adapt this piece for the new medium than I thought it would be.
In screenplay form, I just had to say that there were five guys around a table talking. While in comic form, I had to concentrate on where everyone was sitting as well as the camera angles involved – especially so we could have two or three characters in the same panel without breaking any laws of physics
THE LAMP
Six Pages – April 2003
Again, practicing the adaptation of screenplay material to comic form.
Eventually, I would want to turn 'Lost Monuments' into a graphic novel or limited series.
For now though, here is a little bit I wrote for “BoK” which doesn't further that story's narrative but is always good for a laugh. Or a chuckle. Or at least a hearty guffaw.
BOTHERS US TODAY
Four Pages – September 2002
I will be the first one to admit that 'BOTHERS' is not my strongest work. This piece was specifically written for an old writing activity for Six Shooter Comix. The activity called for 26 panels – each one corresponding with a letter of the alphabet.
Instead of doing a demented version of a children's book, (“The cow goes MOO.” - “Ned Beatty goes SQUEEE.”) I opted for something between topical and comical.
Written just after the anniversary of September 11th, I tried to capture that “one year later” moment and obviously failed. At the very least, it's interesting to see which items are still relevant today and which ones quickly fell to the wayside.
FIRST STONE CAST
Six Pages – October 2002
And here is why I avoid writing science fiction.
Honestly, 'FIRST STONE CAST' is not a bad story. It's just a tad unbalanced, not to mention cramped. Plus, it is definitely a long way to go for a “Cow Mutilation” joke.
However, I thoroughly enjoyed researching the setting/time period. It, as well as the main character, ISAAC HIMES, just might make their way into some future stories.
HIS EVERY FIRST DATE
Four Pages – September 2002
This story was written for an activity at Six Shooter Comix with very specific instructions. Only the following panel descriptions could be used.
- A hand loosely holding a gun.
- A woman smiling.
- A man running.
- A man and a woman talking.
- A man and a woman sitting at a table in a crowded restaurant talking, a rose sitting across her plate.
- Closeup on a man's face, emotionless.
Before reading my story, why don't you stop and imagine what kind of story you would tell with those same images?
LATHER RINSE REPEAT
Six Pages – September 2002
This little ode to my single days back east actually won the first Script Writing contest over at Six Shooter Comix (and probably had a definite hand in my previous gig as Moderator for the new Scripting Activities there.) If I can ever get an artist interested, this comic has been approved for inclusion in their web anthology, FREE COMIX.
Upon her first reading of the script, my fiancée wrongfully believed that I was expressing my nostalgia for the single life.
Silly girl, I was expressing my nostalgia for “I Love Lucy.”
I knew I should have titled the piece, “When Lucy met Ricky…”
MOST HATED MOST FEARED
Six Pages – September 2002
Even though I never really put much thought into it before writing this introduction – I've always been fond of the Western form. However, until this story, I've never tried writing in that genre.
Every story idea I envisioned in the realm of the cowboy just seemed hackneyed and clichéd – until the concept for 'MOST' came to me. Something so simple that I cannot believe that I haven't seen it done before.
Thus, I have written, not only, a story in a genre I enjoy, but a story that I am extremely proud of.
PALINDROME
Four Pages – October 2002
Here, we have an instance where the comic script seems extremely flat without the benefit of the art. So, any interested artists
should most definitely drop me an e-mail.The story itself is an experiment with first person perspective – something we see so often in other media, yet rarely in the
comic form.
PANACEA
Six Pages – August 2002
'PANACEA' represents a personal turning point for me. Previously, my attempts at writing revolved around areas that played to my own perceived strengths as a writer.
This story showed me that I could step out of my self-imposed niche and craft something new and interesting – well, interesting to me at least.
An extremely talented Scottish artist, Kieran McKeowny, just finished penciling the story. For samples of Kieran's other work – be sure to visit his site.
We will be showing the inked & lettered versions of this piece as it progresses.
THROWAWAY COMMENTS
Five Pages – May 2004
AKA The 30 Minute Comic ScriptWalking up by UCLA the other night, I passed a couple matching the physical description of the main characters in this short script. I was exhausted so I guess I was being blatant as the husband totally caught me checking out his wife. One mean look later and this story was born.
Nothing here reinvents the proverbial wheel, but not every story needs to do that.
UNLIKELY HEROICS
Six Pages – August 2002
And here it is – the very first 'wojr' comic script. EVER.After a long time focusing my attention solely at writing screenplays, I decided to take a stab at the comic form. I was so concerned about accurately displaying the action across the panels of a comic page, that I was afraid to even try to introduce captions or dialogue. (But, like most New York stories, you really don't need the visuals explained to you by some schmuck from Jersey.)
I'll refrain from further embarrassment by keeping the numerous pages of “thumbnail sketches” off the Internet. Let's just say that my stick figures leave a lot to be desired.
WAITING
Six Pages – May 2003
Ahhh.. the almost forgotten script.‘Waiting’ was a lightning quick write. I think it only took me two hours to get to a draft that I was happy with. The entire process was so short that I forgot about this particular script until I rediscovered it during my search for my final ‘Ineffectual Man’ script.
Like ‘Most Hated’, this is me playing around the clichés of the Western genre. Maybe one day I will actually write a straight Western without my tongue coming near my cheek.
