And the winner is....

The Blöödhag cover package auction sold on eBay for $355!

Jake and I speculated along the way whether a comic geek or a metal head would win the auction. I don't want to release any identifying info of the winner, but from his eBay ID, wormwooddoom, he's obviously into metal music. I will say that he's a musician in the Seattle area. Jake has some pretty damn cool friends and fans.

If you read this, wormwooddoom, let me know if you'd like a link to your MySpace page or such. And thanks for winnng.

Life, Liberty, Literacy and Libraries!

Gene Ha

And a small bit to promote democracy. Vote!

--AZ-Sen: Jon Kyl

--AZ-01: Rick Renzi

--AZ-05: J.D. Hayworth

--CA-04: John Doolittle

--CA-11: Richard Pombo

--CA-50: Brian Bilbray

--CO-04: Marilyn Musgrave

--CO-05: Doug Lamborn

--CO-07: Rick O'Donnell

--CT-04: Christopher Shays

--FL-13: Vernon Buchanan

--FL-16: Joe Negron

--FL-22: Clay Shaw

--ID-01: Bill Sali

--IL-06: Peter Roskam

--IL-10: Mark Kirk

--IL-14: Dennis Hastert

--IN-02: Chris Chocola

--IN-08: John Hostettler

--IA-01: Mike Whalen

--KS-02: Jim Ryun

--KY-03: Anne Northup

--KY-04: Geoff Davis

--MD-Sen: Michael Steele

--MN-01: Gil Gutknecht

--MN-06: Michele Bachmann

--MO-Sen: Jim Talent

--MT-Sen: Conrad Burns

--NV-03: Jon Porter

--NH-02: Charlie Bass

--NJ-07: Mike Ferguson

--NM-01: Heather Wilson

--NY-03: Peter King

--NY-20: John Sweeney

--NY-26: Tom Reynolds

--NY-29: Randy Kuhl

--NC-08: Robin Hayes

--NC-11: Charles Taylor

--OH-01: Steve Chabot

--OH-02: Jean Schmidt

--OH-15: Deborah Pryce

--OH-18: Joy Padgett

--PA-04: Melissa Hart

--PA-07: Curt Weldon

--PA-08: Mike Fitzpatrick

--PA-10: Don Sherwood

--RI-Sen: Lincoln Chafee

--TN-Sen: Bob Corker

--VA-Sen: George Allen

--VA-10: Frank Wolf

--WA-Sen: Mike McGavick

--WA-08: Dave Reichert

My Neopolis: 12 September 2006

Ever since I lived in Minneapolis I've been putting out an email newsletter called "My Neopolis". It's just been my way of letting hardcore fans and friends know what I'm up to. It tends to have slightly different stuff than I put up here in the blog. I'll be reposting them here shortly after I email them.

Contact me through my Mail page if you'd like to get on the My Neopolis email list.



A beacon of fiction in a world of lies!
12 September 2006

Before I started working in comics I did commercial art for ad agencies. And in the world of advertising you DO NOT miss deadlines. So when I turned in one of my first comics assignments a day late I thought the editor was being sarcastic when he thanked me for being so prompt. As we've all learned on New Comics Day, that man was being serious. Comics is not advertising.

But I'm pleased to say that, once again, I got the issue done a day late! At least the first issue of Grant Morrison's Authority looks to be on time. I'm just afraid you'll all get used to this. Don't repeat this online or to my editor, but I don't have the next script yet. But if Grant stays true to form it will arrive very soon, and in one big delivery instead of two or three pages at a time.

I have this vision of doing an ongoing monthly again someday....we'll see.


22 Panels

Quick link for all of you aspiring comic book artists and writers out there. And, frankly, for the pros too. Have you ever seen Wally Wood's 22 Panels That Always Work? If you have, it's probably a tenth generation photocopy like the one I first saw in Zander Cannon's studio. The 22 Panels are what they say they are: 22 dramatic and useful panel concepts that will improve your storytelling and composition.

The original art went up for sale recently and got snatched up right quick. But along the way a new scan was made and put up online. It's beautiful, it's high resolution, and old Wally knew more about comic storytelling than you and me combined. Download it now!

The Second Auction for Brianna's Education

My friend Barry Winston died on New Year's Day. I hadn't seen him for years, but we had mutual friends and I had been hoping to meet up with him again some time this year. Instead I ended up back in our hometown of South Bend, IN, attending his wake. He left behind a young daughter, Brianna.

Our friends in South Bend had set up a college fund for his daughter. I was inspired to hold my first auction to help out, and word spread quickly. We raised over $1000 with the sale of Fantastic Four cover! The incredibly generous buyer (who wishes to remain anonymous) then pitched in an extra donation to help out.


Fellow ex-Bender Jake Stratton and I are auctioning another piece (college is crazy expensive!). I don't know if we'll get anywhere near a grand this time. There's no reserve on the eBay auction and the price is still 99¢ as I write! I wrote that last night. The price has since gone up to $91.

We're auctioning off the original album cover art for Blöödhag's "Hellbent for Letters". Because Jake's a band member (and they're insanely cool and literate) I did the cover. For technical reasons the original drawing was done on 4 separate sheets of Bristol. So the auction lot includes all 4 drawings, a 13" Epson photo print of the final digital painting (1/1, not to be made again), and signed copies of the CD and LP. It's both one of my better line drawings and my best painting. Even if you're not planning on bidding feel free to check out the artwork. I ponied up extra to get the Supersize Photos.

All proceeds from the auction (minus eBay's cut and Paypal fees) will go to Brianna's college fund. I'm paying for the listing fees, shipping and insurance out of my own pocket.

Travels and Appearances

I took a break from travelling after San Diego. I really needed some time to recover from that Con. But I've got my second wind and I'm ready to meet some fellow comics geeks!

Saturday, 16 September. Hero Headquarters in Buffalo Grove, IL. Signings at comic shops are the ideal place to get my autograph or ask me a nice bit of conversation. And if the owner lets me know you're a regular I'll be giving out free sketches (time allowing). They're paying for my gas to get out there, so make it worth our $3 a gallon!

Saturday, 23 September. Back in the Bend at the St Joseph County Public Library, for their annual Open Book Festival. Every year they invite authors and other book creators to talk to the library patrons. I'm impressed that they got Joe Haldeman (The Forever War), among other notables. I'll be answering questions, reviewing portfolios and giving demonstrations. I happen to know a lot of folks in South Bend so make sure you show up and bring your friends! That means you, Dwight.

Saturday and Sunday, 7-8 October. I could resist the Chicago Wizard World this year, but I had to make it to the Minnesota FallCon again. I don't know of a better run con in the US of A. They have a veteran crowd of volunteers who remain passionate and friendly. If you want to meet guests like Adam Hughes, Angel Medina and Shawn Moll, listen to live Rock and Roll while shopping the quarter bins, or just like checking out tall Nordic blonds, the FallCon is the place for you!

Future Plans

2006 seems to be the year that I try to bite off more than I can chew. I have new energy flowing through me. What with getting out that first issue of The Authority almost on time, I'm feeling pretty optimistic.

After I finish my four issues of The Authority (there's a new artist every four) I'll be working on a Zander Cannon written Top Ten series. Zander's also doing layouts again and they're a joy to read. I really want to see more books written by that man!

Next I'm looking for more Bill Willingham scripts. That probably means a Fables project. (If you haven't started reading it start now!) I've been a fan of his since I was a teenager, but now the rest of the world is starting to notice his genius. I figure I better get a script from him now before someone hands him a Pulitzer or an Oscar or something.

And then? I got to read some scripts that my South Bend pal Lowell had written for Barry to draw. They were amazing. We've been putting together some proposals for DC, and playing around with ideas for some dream projects to self publish....

Till next time,

Gene Ha

George W. Bush on Flag Desecration

I can't say I'm surprised:

U.S. President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush stand on a carpet commemorating the date of the attacks of September 11, 2001 near a mural depicting those attacks outside the Ladder Company 10 firehouse opposite the site of the World Trade Center in New York, September 10, 2006. Bush lay a wreath at Ground Zero before visiting a chapel for a memorial service (UNITED STATES) 10 Sep 2006 REUTERS/Jason Reed

I'll lay 10 to 1 odds he never actually apologizes for it. He'll just say he's sorry his actions were misunderstood.

Thanks to thinkinganddriving.com, via boingboing.net.