Internet Power...

Truth is, yes the internet gives you a lot of power. Though I don't normally bring it up, yes, the Internet has given me a lot of media-based raw influence and power. I'm a new generation of powerplayers, who have tons of power, but not money to go along with it.

Because Technology online literally gives a lot of power to people young and old who wouldn't have any otherwise, perhaps even for an entire life time, power newbies, as I like to call them, will sometimes cyberbully other people online and abuse what little and inferior amount of power they acquired in such a limited amount of time. The vast majority of the time, these power newbies are so power mad and high on power that they'll abuse their power repeatedly, to get their way, by manipulating or scaring others and intimidating/manipulating those in their little sphere of influence with fear and bullying. This is not cool, and it mostly backfires in disasterous ways, often landing said individuals in places like jail or juvenile detention, (and sometimes, even seriously hurt or dead) where they're anything but prepared for the suffering the results of this abuse will bring them.

And the thing is, I'm more powerful than all of them. Not saying how I got to be this way, but I am. So when they attempt to manipulate me this way, I'm blatantly aware of the fact that they ARE a power-newbie. Most of the time I don't try to fight back in hopes that they're not as hell bent on killing themselves through me as they look on the surface. Sorry Kevin Smith. Not really.

Anyway, power dynamics and politics on the internet is a new subject. But not so new that I have no experience in that area. I do, but unfortunately most people are ignorant of either A) Technology's power (and therefore they mock it or deny it exists, quite confidently I might add), or B) It's function and the scope of its sphere of inlfuence. That's why I don't advertise my power. You never know what kind of reaction you're going to get from people, whether they're trying to sabotage you or seduce you, sexually. It can be hazardous territory. In a way, it's like having a lot or money, only with influence.

In other words, you're not going to win if you want to boss others around, attempt to make other's less popular on purpose, or last and very much not least, attempt to hurt others maliciously using your power.

Bertrand Russel needs to update his little power book with a chapter on "technology power".

There are ways to attain my kind of individual power. Not all of it is a "miracle" though some probably is.

You can attain a lot of power (over time) through:

• Hard Work, Discipline, and Will Power
• Humility
• Being present to a lot of people all of the time
• Being in the right place at the right time (like on the internet during its biggest growth period)
• Not betraying those loyal to you. Treat people who believe in you well
• Practicing your craft on a daily basis
• Never fully believing the hype about yourself, or letting criticism or lies/slander/libel generated about you get to you
• Being original. "Do your own thing. Not someone else's". It will show.

There are ways to reach this level. It's not all mystical magic and miracles.

Eh, who cares. I don't care about bitches that much. Moving on...

Why waste time arguing with people who aren't really even a real part of my life anyway?

Conspiration Conspiracy Theories

I'm not sure when or why the world began conspiring against me in an epic organized effort to stop me from picking up a sketchbook and filling it up with hideous art, using ANY MEANS NECESSARY (no matter how genocidal, destructive, racist, or epically conspiratorial.). I just know they DO conspire against me. But picking up a sketchbook and filling it with forms isn't THAT hard for me, fortunately. Even if it is a conspiracy that reaches the highest levels according to some nerd's conspiracy theories. All I know is I've got a job to do. You play no part in that really, whoever's reading this, so never you mind. Retirement's for when you die.

Maybe TV's to blame. It brainwashes everybody with propaganda. What you really want to do is capture your visual impression of whatever's appearing on the TV, whether it's a TV show or a DVD, with a pencil, in your sketchbook, day and night. For the good of humanity.

It's kinda weird, but not bothersome though. This afternoon, when I was in the midst of drawing 5 thumbnail pages of comics art, when I reached the 5th page, suddenly a near-painful amount of blood pressure went rushing to my hand all at once, almost like some malicious supernatural black magic force from a distance was attempting to control my hand and stop me from sketching productively, something I haven't done in a while, apparently for reasons like this. Paralysis VOODOO?? Paralysis Ninjitsu?? You say? You be the judge. It's weird, I've never had too much blood rush to one of my hands when I've been at the word processor, like ever. Its almost like someone, some presence is trying to use supernatural forces to paralyze me and stop me from drawing. So what do you guys think? This theory a little too far out there? Little too paranoid. Odd that it happened right as I was drawing. Weird. Almost too good of timing to be a coincidence or random occurence if you ask me, considering I am a bit superstitious. Well, I beat that paralysis voodoo/ninjutsu/Dark Side Mind-Hand Tricks, so fuck you whoever's doing that! HA! 5 pages bitchnuts.

Bonjour! Contemporary French Comics Class 101 is now in Session!

2011, Viva La France

About French Comics & Manga, or "Franime"

I couldn't help but notice the difference in the American comic book & graphic novel market as it relates to Japanese anime and manga, and the French comic book & graphic novel market as it relates to manga, or at least the differences I've seen in stores like the American and French editions/versions of Amazon bookstore online, which is pretty much where most people shop for comics of any sort now anyway. Or at least, that is where I go to buy comics mostly, with rare exceptions.

First let's talk about the similarities and interactions between French comics and Japanese comics. Both French and Japanese comics take an extremely layered, extremely eloquent, technical, and delicate approach to background perspective and linework or "line weight" in terms of inking.

Both French and Japanese comics tackle the science fiction (SF), science fiction fantasy, and heroic fantasy genres equally well, and have cottage industries (correct term?) around such genres. Quite a bit more so than most publishers and comics in the United States that aren't Dark Horse.

Artwork in both French and Japanese anthologies, in both cases, is often quite beautiful to behold and look at. Both industries (French Tomes and Japanese manga tankobon and anthologies) influence each other and appreciate one another, a mutual cross-polination and cross-cultural respect.

American "OEL", or "world" manga is quite a bit more new and less established internationally than Japanese manga and French Tomes in certain ways.

Definitley a growing and expanding part of the overall international comics industry though. Looking forward to seeing how it develops. Keep up the good work, French and Japanese comics artists! Big fan here.

Finding Actual Watchable American-made shows...

There really hasn't been a watchable American-Produced-Directed-and-Animated TV series since AT LEAST Thundercats (2011), Generator Rex, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and Adult Swim. Other than that it's been a barren wasteland on TV in terms of American-made animation, dating back until at least the six years between 2001 and 2006.

Shows made in the 90s are still very watcheable, as are many French shows and Japanese anime.

But we all know it will be a snowball's chance in hell that we'll ever see those amazing OTHER shows on air now, or any time soon, if ever at all. I think it has to do with broadcasts and networks on TV themselves actually being lazy enough to say "Eh, we don't want to rebroadcast cartoon shows that are 20 years old, or import good looking shows, or making anything new that looks all that cinematic. Just go buy the DVDs and help us out dudes. Why? Becuase we're fucking lazy and hate you all."

Gee, how courteous these TV people are, aren't they?

"Aging" n' Stuff

Apparently, Morgan Freeman actually has an acting career so established and ancient, it goes back further than my entire family tree. Was watching a Documentary Channel Documentary episode on him, and that’s impressive. In my opinion it’s not just about being successful or having a hit, it’s working on a lot of stuff over long amounts of time too, entire series of decades, like 20 years spans at a time. Same thing with Peter Cullen and all the rest. Adult Swim and even Toonami are actually pretty young in terms of broadcasting history and Hollywood historical standards. Sometimes a 20 year career history doesn’t even start until you turn 30 or so. Sometimes even 40. I’m just now starting to realize this. I’m getting older. Anyone who’s career predates my birth year (1983) I’m 10 times more likely to respect, worship, and appreciate than any of these “Young Hollywood Tikes”. I mean, yes they’re successful, but they haven’t even been alive as long as I have. How wise could they be? You too DeviantART…



Shallow or Superficial Popularity and How it Drives Business Sales...

Unfortunately, the rage of the good entertainment of the 90s has died off, making many people who HAD an edge in the 90s LOSE their edge, and as a result, their profits and sales as well.

Unfortunately, in the post 2010 era, popularity sells. A lot more than presence. Hell, I'm here every day and EVERYONE sees me, but do I have ANY money. Nope. For the obvious reason that I have no detectable popularity or fan following, or "the bad guy", and the "bad" guy loses money, he doesn't make money in the showbusiness world.

Tragically, you won't make a profit if the press/fans/internet lashes out at you, or doesn't like you, or doesn't percieve you as some form of a mindless idiotic-groupie magnet. More losers than ever are succeeding because they're popular, and yet they're also these annoying and ignorant and talentless hacks with no real technical proficiency.

Apparently the high school "in-crowd" at your local high school has gone mainstreams, as has the psychosis and sociopathology that accompanies it.