Mr. Mom

At this very moment, my wife is on a plane to New Jersey. She will be there till Sunday throwing a Baby Shower for her sister. (It is not a surprise so I didn't blow anything).

That means I will be home alone with the kids. Tonight, Friday, Saturday & Sunday.

Here is what I have planned so for:

- Each child will be strapped into their bed so they can't wake me up early by tapping on my forehead.
- If it isn't pre-cooked or in a box, it isn't for breakfast.
- Bathing is optional.
- First activity? Knife juggling.
- This will be the weekend I introduce the kids to all three Godfather films.
- I am going to order take out from every place that I never can because I get outvoted.
- Thanks to Robitussen, bedtime is now 4pm!

I will keep you updated as to my progress. If you see my wife, mums the word.

Comic-Con Panel

Read the transcript the AiT/Planet Lar panel I mentioned yesterday here.

The "Genius" Team

Marc, myself and artist Afua Richardson signing copies of our Top Cow comic, "Genius."

Comic-Con Recap

Well, we survived.

And that is no small feat at Comic-Con. What with all the Stormtroopers and Super Villains running around. It really is amazing to get into town on a Wednesday and watch the population quadruple by Saturday. Hundreds of thousands of people all with a common interest. All geek jokes aside, it is a pretty cool thing to witness and AWESOME people watching.

Marc and I always like to feel like we are moving forward, getting things done. As a result we end up putting tremendous pressure on ourselves at Comic-Con to walk away with something tangible. This year we accomplished so much in the week leading up to the convention that the pressure was kind of off.

- We met with Andrew and Marc from Depth of Field and talked about the development progress on "The Highwaymen" at Warner Bros.

- Had great pitch meetings at Fox, Fox Atomic, Valhalla and a few other places.

- Met with two agencies that want to represent us.

- Confirmed that our next book will be with Top Cow. More when they say we can announce it.

Our time at the convention was booked solid with "Genius" signings at the Top Cow booth, "Monster Attack Network" signings at the AiT/Planet Lar booth and more meetings with hopefully future publishers like Avatar and Oni.

We sat on a panel Larry from AiT organized called "So, You Want to Make A Graphic Novel." The room was packed with 250+ fans asking advice on anything from inspiration to the writing process to restraining orders. Hours before the panel we got the go ahead from Samantha at Kickstart Entertainment to mention the news we have been sitting on for a while - the House of Mouse (Disney) has optioned "Monster Attack Network" with an eye towards it being a big, summer blockbuster. Cross your fingers.

At the WildStorm panel they announced our other new book, "PUSH" based on the new film starring Dakota Fanning, Chris Evans and Djimon Hounsou.

The rest of the time was spent at networking (ie drinking) parties thrown by DC Comics, IDW/UTA, EW, Heidi at USA Today, WildStorm and more. I drank more this weekend than all of college. And didn't puke once. Cause I'm smart like that.

After buying some gifts for Ella and Sadie it was time to drop Marc at the airport and drive back to LA.

Now we are up to necks writing the "PUSH" scripts which WildStorm needs like...a week ago.

Add on top of all that prepping to shoot season four of "Gene Simmons Family Jewels" and things are just peachy on my end.

How's by you?

Heading to San Diego

After a quick lunch with all around good guy Andrew Miano from "Depth of Field," Marc and I will be heading to San Diego for Comic-Con.

If you are there, please look us up. Here is our schedule:

Today:
9p - DCU Online Press Party

Thurs.:
11a - Signing our new comic, "Genius" with artist Afua Richardson at the Top Cow Comics booth.
3:15p - Comic Writers/Artists Panel
6:30p - AiT Panel - the publisher of our graphic novel, "Monster Attack Network."
9p - bouncing between the Boom! Drink-Up and the Circle of Confusion/IDW Party

Fri.:
12p - Signing at the Top Cow booth
1:30p - Showrunners Panel
3:30p - Virgin Comics/Sci-Fi Recruitment Event
5p - Director's Panel
7p - Warner Animation Party
9p - bouncing between DC Comic Con Party and hopefully the Oni Press Party (Jenny?)

Sat.:
2p - Signing at the Top Cow booth
5p - PopCandy Meet Up
9p - EW / Sci-Fi Channel Party

Sun.:
12p - Signing at the Top Cow booth.

In other good news, it has just been announced that Marc and I will be writing the official licensed "prequel" comic to the new film "Push" starring Dakota Fanning, Chris Evans and Djimon Hounsou. Thanks to all the kind folks at WildStorm and Summit for liking our pitch and giving us the job!

We also have just agreed to do our next comic with Top Cow. We will follow their lead on announcing the title and press date.

Hope to see you in San Diego!

Bad Messages Are Not New

My 5 year old is a huge Hannah Montana fan. She (and therefor, I) have seen every episode hundreds of times.

Much has been made over the last few months of Myley Cyrus being a bad role model for young girls - her "sexy" pictures in Vanity Fair (although I think if you find a 15 year old looking like she stumbled out of the back of a rapist's van sexy you have your own set of problems...) and most recently some cell phone pictures someone took of her fully dressed in a shower backstage at some concert.


I don't disagree entirely, but I am not concerned when it comes to my daughter. She doesn't watch Extra, she doesn't read TMZ and she certainly doesn't have a subscription to Vanity Fair. As far as she is concerned, Hannah/Myley's entire world is inside our TV. She enjoys the show and until I think she is being influenced by Miley's life outside the TV I am not concerned.

I would be more concerned about her watching "Grease." That mainstay of our childhood that has since been replaced by "High School Musical." Why? Because the bad message is embeded INSIDE the movie.

Olivia Newton-John plays Sandy. A sweet, innocent girl who wears sweaters over her Mormon-like dress and pretty bows in her hair.


She meets Danny. A gang member who smokes, cuts class, tries to feel her up and fights with other boys. He captures her heart. He, being to cool for school, shuns her to look cool in front of his friends. And how does the story resolve itself? Does Danny reform his ways and realize what an amazing, moral girl she is? Does he stand up to his friends and tell them to fuck off? No. Instead Sandy completely changes her entire identity to please her man...


Is THAT a message we want to send to our daughters? If someone doesn't like you for who you are...well, just change into whomever they want you to be!

I am not standing on a soapbox and to be honest I am not even super passionate about the above argument. I bring it up just to point out to all the parents out there that think "media today has warped our kids minds" and how irresponsible teen stars are today - it aint' nothin' new.

Hope I Die Before I Get Old

I caught some of the VH-1 Rock Honors saluting the Who last night. It takes a lot to impress me (because I am a jaded, cynical fuck) but I thought Pearl Jam covering "The Real Me" was amazing. Jeff Ament, who I was always indifferent to as a bass player, sounded great. Check it out....



Try to ignore Eddie Vedder's beard but check out Mike McCready's best "ass shakin'" Pete Townsend impression. And drummer Matt Cameron is awesome as always.

Obsessed

Some people are obsessed with a certain celebrity or musician. Some with Star Trek or cats.

I am obsessed with shitty tattoos and bad toupees. Love 'em. Love people watching and spotting the crap tat or horrible rug on someone.

I guess shitty tattoos fascinate me because it shows such an incredible lack of judgement. They fall into three categories for me.




1. Horrible artwork. When you go into a tattoo parlor all the artists have books of their work. Did this guy look at this particualr artist's past portfolio and say, "That's the Michelangelo-like artiste that I want putting a permanent image on my body!"





2. Moderate to Ok artwork, but HORRIBLE subject matter. Is THAT what you are so passionate about that you have to have it on your body?





3. Jokes gone wrong. Sure, they seemed funny at the time...





Of course these categories can be combined into a whole color wheel of bad choices...





Fucking Angelina Jolie's kid?



I could go on forever. Then there are the bad toupees. Look, I am bald. If I could wish to have one thing back it would be my hair with "MacGuyver" as a close second. But to put a piece of carpet on my head? To me I would rather have people say, "he's bald" than "holy shit do you see that thing sitting up there?" Men who wear toupees say, "It makes me feel better." Does it make you feel better to know people are laughing hysterically as they pass you in the mall? Does it make you feel better that you earned a spot in this blog as a horrible toupee? Being bald, I also think of the practicalities. What are people going to say when I suddenly come to work tomorrow with a badger on my head? Isn't that going to cause more of a stir and bring negative attention my way? To me I would rather have someone say nothing than, "DOES HE THINK THAT LOOKS GOOD?"

Here are some more images for your viewing pleasure...

Way Back When...

An old classmate posted this picture on Facebook. How innocent we were...

Sending Best Wishes...

I think during my whole childhood I knew one other Adam.

Now, through the wonder of the internet, I know of about 5 or 6 "Adam Freemans." Google has these alerts you can set to be e-mailed whenever a specific phrase or name is used online. I get daily little alerts with any mention of "Gene Simmons Family Jewels" and any articles that mention me or Marc, or our comic projects.

So over the course of the last two years or so I feel I have come to know some of the other Adam Freemans out there.

- One is a host of England's version of the home shopping channel.
- One is an artist that specializes in wildlife paintings - this is the lucky bastard that beat me to registering adamfreeman.com.
- One is an author of computer programming text books which makes me look pretty damn smart if you search for me on Amazon.com. It considers us the same person so right next to a comic book featuring big, dumb monsters is a textbook on how to program in A++.
- One Adam Freeman actually owns a comic book shop about 45 minutes north of me. Even more coincidental, he spells his name Atom like I did in high school to piss my teachers and parents off. Unlike me, I grew out of it (sorry Atom!)

And today I discovered a new Adam Freeman. One who is a new dad, but is not having the same luck that I am. Adam and Aimee Freeman live in Charlotte, NC and have a newborn named Kayleigh. Apparently Kayleigh was born very premature. I believe she was 1 pound when she was born three weeks ago.

I got sent a link to their blog and thinking perhaps it was an interview with me or something I clicked on it. You know, for all my bitching, my New York Jewish paranoia and self loathing I DO realize I have it very lucky. I have a beautiful wife, two beautiful healthy girls and I get paid to hang out with KISS and write comic books. In the grand scheme of things, who am I to complain?

Anyway, in this odd moment of warmth that may never come again, I want to send my best to Adam, Aimee and little Kayleigh Freeman. Your positive attitude is really inspiring and makes me look even more like a dick.

(see, I did manage to bring back to being all about me in the end...)

Debbie Downer

Some people are naturally "peppy." They exude happiness. They are bubbly, "effervescent" - full of life.

I am not one of these people.

I envy them. I really do. I am jealous like I am jealous of retarded people. Everyone feels sorry for a retarded person except the retarded person. They are loving life. They have no idea. I have met a lot of retarded people over the years and I have NEVER seen a depressed retarded person. A matter of fact, I suspect half of these bubbly, effervescent people running around are mildly retarded.

Look, I am not a miserable person, I am not even an unhappy person, but I do find it hard to relax and enjoy myself. I can't remember the last time I had a moment of self realization and said, "Wow, I am having fun RIGHT NOW." If anything I am one big "flatline" and that worries me because that is how serial killers describe themselves. Then again, I don't think I would even enjoy being a serial killer. Too much work.

I over think everything. I cannot help it. I approach everything from a cynical place.

Which brings me to porn.

I am not a porn guy. You know why? Because the entire time I am seeing these women I am thinking:

- What horrible thing happened in their life to bring them to this point.
- Their parents must be so proud.
- Somewhere there is a dad whose buddy just walked up to him and said, "Hey Joe, I just saw a video of your daughter sucking off twenty guys."

Same thing with strippers. They gross me out. They all smell the same - either too much perfume or too much baby powder or something. I imagine myself in their head, their distaste for men. I always think of what must be going through their head:

- 3 more hours of cozying up to scummy, scumbag men and then I can get out of here.
- Like this guy could ever get me in real life.
- How the hell did I end up here?


If only I was a retarded stripper life would be perfect.

But Will It Be Enough?

As Marc and I learned with our first book, "The Highwaymen," strong reviews and good word of mouth doesn't always translate into sales. Despite being written by unknowns, and drawn by a relative unknown (but rising star), it got more attention than many industry insiders thought it would. It made many year end "Best Of" lists and sparked a small online debate about the state of the comic industry. Despite all of that it sold poorly and the sheer economics did not warrant the story continuing beyond the initial 5 issue limited series.

Our original graphic novel, "Monster Attack Network" was also met with strong reviews (with the exception of one very bitter person on Amazon) and strong word of mouth. I believe it has sold fairly well for Larry & Mimi over at AiT/Planet Lar, but it too is not setting any records.

After a bunch of anthology work Marc and I released our latest original work, "Genius" as part of Top Cow's Pilot Season 2008. As I have explained on this blog before, 6 one shots are released. Come August 1st the polls open at topcow.com and myspace.com\pilotseason and the two books with the most votes will become the next Top Cow ongoing series. The response to "Genius" has been overwhelmingly positive.

But will it be enough?

I am not one for mass e-mails. I never send junk mail (please forward to ten of your friends blah blah blah) but I am going to make an exception for "Genius." So, in the next month or so when you get a "please vote" e-mail or see an interview or ad on your favorite blog or website asking you to vote for "Genius" please take a moment.

Making a good product isn't enough. You have to shake hands and kiss babies too. Thanks for your support.

I Never Knew These Were The Words!!!

Happy 4th of July from the Muppets

Dork.

My neighbor's babysitter writes for the local paper and she must have been real desperate because she asked to interview me as an "interesting local person."  I think it's safe to say Britney Spears, P. Diddy, Brandy, Sean Astin, Lisa Rinna, Harry Hamlin, Brad Garrett, Howie Mandell, Stuttering John and the Kardashian's were all busy.

And to all you who have asked, "Why aren't you smiling?"  It's because that's my serious "tortured artist" face, ok?  I have been practicing in the mirror for just such an occasion.

Click here to go to the original link.

Be A Cult Member - Or Just Look Like One!

The Polygamists known as the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints had their plethora of children returned and they are celebrating by inviting everyone to take part in their fashion sense.

I personally think the "Little House on the Prairie" look is LONG overdue for a comeback.  Don't you?

Hard Working Soldiers Deserve Downtime

Leaked Hell Boy II Promo

A friend of mine just finished working on this promo and NO - he did not leak it.  Some how Harry "the great one" Knowles got a hold of it.

"The Fly: The Opera"

WHY?

Eddie, You Misunderstood...

Well, Eddie Murphy obviously read my post the other day, became despondent, and decided to throw in the towel.  Although I am flattered that my opinion means that much to Eddie I believe he misunderstood.

Eddie - I am excited to hear about your return to stand-up, but you don't have to give up on movies all together.  Let's sit down, talk, and get this thing back on track.

Call me.