Wasted Potential Updates

News � Sorry If This Post Makes Little Sense, But I'm Really Tired

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:59:29 GMT

Last week, if you remember back that far, I told you that I would be participating in the Sunday Comix 24 Hour Comics Challenge this weekend, and as I write this I have returned home from spending the night sitting in the Crimson Cup Coffee House, weary but triumphant, having completed my second 24 Hour Comic. (Which puts me one up on Scott McCloud, the guy who came up with the whole concept, whose only ever done one.)
As you may know, the idea of the 24 Hour Comic Challenge is to complete a 24 page comics story within the space of a 24 hour period. All writing, character designs, penciling, inking and lettering must be done during those 24 hours. Not to brag, but I completed my latest opus in 19 and a half hours. Truthfully, the art, at least, is nothing to brag about, although I'm actually rather proud of the writing. For something that's totally made up as I went along while fighting just to keep my eyes open, I think it reads pretty well, and those who've read it have enjoyed it.
The story is entitled "Memories of Jane," and as soon as I get to a scanner and convert my crude pen strokes into pixels, I plan to post it for posterity on my Comic Space site. Notification of said eventuality, with, it should go with saying, a link, will be posted here on a future Sunday.

Comic � Bunny Blues

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:38:46 GMT

Added on Sunday

News � 24 Hour Comics Day

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 16:35:56 GMT

Ok, so there's still time to check out the Sunday Comix art exhibit at Crimson Cup Coffee House in Columbus, Ohio's fabulous Clintonville neighborhood. I am one of the many cartoonists whose work is on display, and it is, in fact, the original art for this week's strip that hangs upon the Cup's wall. The exhibit runs through the end of the week.
This Saturday at the Cup will be the Sunday Comix 24-Hour Comic Day, where brave cartoonists will gather to test the limits of their creativity and endurance by attempting to create a complete 24 page comic book in a mere 24 hours.
The national 24 Hour Comics Day, sponsored by publisher Nat Gertler's About Comics, was back on the 3rd of this month, but most local cartoonists were too busy at Mid-Ohio Con to participate, so Sunday Comix founder Max Ink organized our own local version.
I'm going to make another attempt to create a 24 Hour Comic this weekend (if I get enough sleep this week, that is.) I succeeded my first attempt in 2004, at the very first 24 Hour Comics Day, but pooped out about 11 p.m. on my second attempt the next year. Will I make it this time?
Why don't you drop by Crimson Cup Coffee House this weekend and find out? You can also check out the art exhibit while you're there, and, of course, get a darn fine cup of coffee.
Crimson Cup is located at 4541 N. High St.
See you there.

Comic � Beam Me Up, Normie!

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 15:54:56 GMT

Added 2 Weeks Ago

News � Back To the Boarding House

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 17:16:39 GMT

This month, IDW Publishing released the first of a projected five volumes of Bloom County: The Complete Library, which will collect every installment from the ten year run of Berkely Breathed's beloved and influential comic strip. Thanks to this book, readers have the chance to visit again with such fondly remembered characters as Major Bloom, "Pops" Popolov, the widow Tucker, Limekiller, Alphonso Ali, and Rabies the dog.
Huh? Who?
This first volume chronicles a strip searching for its focus, and an artist slowly finding his voice. While Breathed's biting humor is present from the very first, it would take several months before he would hit upon the exact mix of characters and oddball personalities that made the strip special.
The Bloom boarding house and the strange characters who inhabit it are the focus of the strip from the outset, as they would remain, and the first of the "iconic" Bloom County characters to appear is Milo Bloom, grandson of the owners. Over the next few months, the rest of the more well known cast members would find their way into the strip, including Mike Binkley, Steve Dallas, and, finally, a certain flightless aquatic waterfowl known as Opus. The penguin was originally slated to appear in only a couple of strips, but he soon became the comics equivalent of Fonzie or Urkel, the once minor character who rises in popularity to become the star.
The strips are still as funny now, nearly thirty years later, as they were back in the 1980's, yet Bloom County is still very much a product of its time and the publishers have included pages of headlines "From the pages of the Bloom Beacon" recapping the major events of the time, many of which are parodied in the strip. Breathed, like most of the country at the time, was particularly obscessed with the royal wedding of Charles and Diana, and the royal couple, and their first offspring, star in a long series of strips. The headlines serve as reminder for those who lived through those times, and primer for younger readers.
The book itself is a beautiful oversized hardcover, and, at $39.99, not inexpensive, but well worth it. I'm looking forward to getting the next four.

Comic � Party Guests

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 15:42:49 GMT

Added 3 Weeks Ago

News � There Will Be Cake

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 15:16:54 GMT

Hi!
Standing out in front of my table at Mid-Ohio Con last Saturday and pressing copies of my latest free sampler mini-comic into the hands of all who tried to pass seems, at least in the short run, to have paid off. We had a spike in the number of page views last Sunday, and I hope that some of those people who sampled the strip last week liked what they saw and will now be regular readers.
Next week is the strip I've been working up to since January, so it's bound to be a big disappointment. Next Sunday, we celebrate Norm's 30th birthday, with a party and some unexpected guests.
The actual date of Norm's birthday is October 16, which is this coming Friday. Why this date?
Well, Norm, Bill and Sheila first appeared in a strip called "Norm's Dorm", which I drew for the Clarion University of Pennsylvania student newspaper, The Clarion Call, while I was a student there in the mid-1980's. The very first "Norm's Dorm" strip showed up in the Call on Thursday, October 16,1986. (So, in reality, Norm is actually a mere 23 years old...but nobody gets all anxious about turning 23, so there's very little comic potential there.)
Once again--Welcome to any new readers I've picked up, and I'll see you all here next week for the big party.

Comic � Party Favors

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 15:04:26 GMT

Added 4 Weeks Ago

Comic � Inspiration

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 13:44:44 GMT

Added 1 Month Ago

News � A News Post Containing Actual News!

Sun, 27 Sep 2009 14:33:40 GMT

Ok, a lot's been going on here at Wasted Potential HQ in the past few days, and a lot is happening in the next week or so, so I'm here to fill you in on all the excitement.
First off, for all of you who've dreamed of owning your very own Wasted Potential T-shirt, such a thing is now possible. Check out the brand new on-line Wasted Potential Store to get your official, licensed, trademarked, and, if I do say so myself, incredibly stylish Wasted Potential T-shirts. Two designs are currently available, and more will likely be added.
Meanwhile, the secret cabal of Central Ohio cartoonists known as Sunday Comix will once again this year have themselves a table at the major geekfest that is the annual Mid-Ohio Con. As I am a founding member of this group of misfits, I will be at the table attempting once more to lure unsuspecting civilians to this very site. To that end, I'll be printing up a new sampler featuring what I feel are the best strips uploaded so far in the year designated as 2009. The above mentioned T-Shirts will also be available for sale, as well as the books collecting the first two years of this strip.
Members of Sunday Comix will also once again be showing their artwork at Clintonville's Crimson Cup coffee house throughout the month of October. The exhibit opens this Friday with a reception at Crimson Cup from 7-9 pm. I. of course, will be participating. I plan to exhibit one of my Halloween themed strips.
Crimson Cup is located at 4541 N. High St. in the Columbus neighborhood of Clintonville. Full info on Mid-Ohio Con, including location and ticket prices and such, is at the MOC site linked to above.
Look forward to seeing you all there.