Geek Economists, not Geek Ecologists

Hat tip to Andrew Sullivan for the link. I love this: comics commentary from economists. It's Eco-comics!:

Finally, aside from investment from within our planet, economic growth can be sped along by Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows from other civilizations. But what’s surprising is that with an entire galaxy of highly advanced civilizations, no interplanetary investment seems to be reaching earth. Capital should flow to where its return is highest. Being mere humans in a giant multiverse of galactic powers, it’s a fair assumption that earth is an LDP (less developed planet) with a comparatively small capital stock. According to the Solow model, alien entrepreneurs should be jumping at the opportunity to invest in Earth. Add a growing stock of technology from metahumans and falling debris and you can get productivity and standards of living rising indefinitely. The only thing I can think of that deters aliens from investing is the unstable sociopolitical climate. I mean, who really wants to deal with the risks of a Luthor presidency or an Emperor Joker? It seems that now, more than ever, the earth needs superheroes to stamp out crime so that other planets might feel safer about their investments.

Beating up Lex Luthor is all part of Obama's stimulus plan. And I love the idea of alien empires buying up American companies to prop up the stock market. Thanagarians buying Boeing. The Brood taking over Perdue Chicken. Turin buying Chrysler....

Captain Hammer color preview

I don't want to steal the thunder from the Captain Hammer pinup premiering in the Hero Comics fundraiser for the HERO Initiative. First, so you'll buy the book and help support a hardworking bunch of volunteers. Second, because stealing the Cap's thunder means he might beat me up.

But I did promise a preview!

Click for a larger image.

Hero Comics available at your local comic shop July 29. More details, and the pencils of the full composition, in the previous post on this blog.

Hero Comics

First news, I'm able to upload images to Blogger again! This means I'll be posting more previews here. So expect more news updates.

Second, the real news. Details have been announced for Hero Comics, the HERO Initiative fundraiser comic for which I'm doing two pieces. Available in stores July 29, or get it early at the San Diego con July 23.

More details here. For $3.99, I think it's worth it just for the cover by J. Scott Campbell:

Hero Initiative is very proud to announce the release of Hero Comics. The 32-page, no-ads comic, edited and produced by Scott Dunbier, special projects editor at IDW Publishing, will be released in late July with two covers, Eve by J. Scott Campbell, and Grendel by Matt Wagner. The fundraising book will contain great, all-new content including an original American Flagg! story by Howard Chaykin, and original stories by Gene Ha, Bill Willingham, David Lloyd, and Kaare Andrews.( See attachment for cover art)

In addition, Arthur Adams will recreate three classic Marvel Comics covers, and Hero Initiative beneficiaries such as Gene Colan, Bill Messner-Loebs and Josh Medors will tell their own personal stories, detailing their severe struggles, and Hero's involvement.

An excerpt from Josh Medors' story reads:

"When I am feeling almost ready to give in to my cancer, ready to throw my hands in the air and say ‘I quit!,' I get a call from the Initiative. ‘Just wanted to see how you are doing.' It may not seem like much, but let me assure you—When the monster bites and the pain pills aren't working, a call like that is more effective than a Super-Soaker filled with holy water against the ol' Count."

The first piece I did for the book is a Samson Bible story, with writer Lowell Francis. and lettering by Zander Cannon. Preview images were available on Facebook a while back, but I couldn't get Blogger to upload images that day. Now it works, so here are some larger nicer images than the ones on FB. Click to see the full size images:






I'm also doing a pinup of Captain Hammer (Nathan Fillion) from Dr. Horrible. Thanks to Scott Allie of Dark Horse and Joss Whedon for expediting the okays to do this! Here are the full pencils. Expect a closeup preview of the colors some time next week:

The Fate of Top Ten, continued...

From Zander's blog at Big Time Attic:

Hey Top Ten fans, I just want to thank you for the outpouring of support I hear we've gotten about wanting to see the story continue. It's gratifying to know that people care so much about these characters and this world that they will take the time to write in and make their preferences known. Now, I should also say that my editor's getting a lot of mail that is less than constructive about the fate of Top Ten and what's to be done about it, so let's take this opportunity to go over a few thoughts, shall we?

1. You get more flies with honey than with vinegar. That is to say, you improve the chances of Top Ten continuing by sending positive emails that focus on your deep love of the series and your honor-bound promise to buy every issue that comes out than by insulting DC, Wildstorm, the editors, and the accountants and accusing them of playing bait-and-switch.

2. Speaking of which, there are many factors that have led to the current situation, and things are not always as black-and-white as they may seem. It's always tempting to find a villain in a difficult situation, but I can tell you that everyone involved acted with good intentions and everyone wants to put out a comic that people love and will read.

3. This is a follow-up to this post, in which I posted a summary of events, calling it "the semi-official statement from Wildstorm through me". While I typed that in good faith, feeling that it was an accurate representation of what I had heard, it was not in any way an official statement, and I retract that label. I don't speak for Wildstorm, and I am not privy to their decision-making process.

Top Ten is perhaps the most fun series I've ever worked on; I would love to have it continue and pay off the storylines which have been established. Stay positive, and send your proclamations of love to:

AskWS [at] dccomics [dot] com

Thanks again! [Zander]