Loeb and Kunkel

Writing about Sam Loeb triggered some thoughts about his dad Jeph. I love Jeph’s comics work, but I’ve been enjoying more of his TV work lately too. He’s well known for his work on Smallville, but I spotted his name come up on the credits of Lost too.

Better yet, I just discovered he wrote the screenplay for the Herobear and the Kid film. It’s based on one of my favorite comics series of the past five years, Mike Kunkel‘s book of the same name. I’ve read Herobear to my son Marty at least three times through.

Another favorite is Mike’s The Land of Sokmunster, which drives Marty straight to giggles. (I met Mike at Wizard World Chicago a couple years back and had him autograph the treasured copy I picked up for Marty.) As the other kids get older, I’ll be sure to share these with them too. They’re warm, funny, and fun, the kind of books you instantly recognize as classics.

Sam Loeb’s Book on Sale

Back in February, I posted about Sam Loeb and the upcoming Superman/Batman #26. Quick Recap: Sam, Jeph Loeb’s son, was to write the issue but died before he could complete it. A legion of legendary comics writers and artists signed on to finish the job, pledging their payments to a charity set up in Sam’s name.

The book went on sale on May 31, so be sure to pick it up soon. If you’d like to get more involved, every page of the comic’s artwork will be auctioned off at the upcoming Wizard World Chicago, on August 5, from 2—4 PM. Erica Durance of Smallville fame will co-host the auction with Jeph.

Four Kids, Four Years Ago

Four years ago today, my wife Ann did the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen. (Just one more reason why she’s my hero.) She gave birth to four children all at once.

Patrick, Nicholas, Kenneth, and Helen came into the world fighting for every breath. Three of them had to be intubated to get them any air at all. Born 11 weeks early, Patrick was the largest at two pounds, eleven ounces–he came out yelling–while silent Helen barely budged the scales at a frail pound and a half.

At the time, the kids’ doctor only gave each of them a 70% chance to live. Even if they survived, there’d be risks of blindness, deafness, cerebral palsy, and a full list of other ailments. Ann had done the best she could, with the help of the staff at Rockford Memorial hospital, to keep those kids in as long as she could, but tiny Helen’s placenta had started to break down. They all had to be born then to make sure she wouldn’t die.

The days, weeks, months, and years since then have shot right by in a sleep-deprived blur. Today, the kids are all happy and healthy and–believe it or not–four rambunctious years old. And I’m the luckiest dad I know to be able to call them and their big brother Marty my own.

Happy birthday, Pat, Nick, Ken, and Helen! Here’s to many more.

Prophecy Chapter for Free

You can now read the first chapter of Prophecy of the Dragons, my upcoming Knights of the Silver Dragon novel, for free! This is a sequel to Secret of the Spiritkeeper, my first mass-market novel, which came in August of 2004.

If you liked that book, you’ll love this one. But don’t take my word for it. Go read that free first chapter. It’s short and goes down easy. If it leaves you wanting more, you need only wait until the book hits shelves on June 13.

Kovalic up for Harveys!

I just discovered that my pal John Kovalic of Dork Tower fame is up for not one but two Harvey Awards! John’s work is nominated for Best Cartoonist and for the Special Award for Humor in Comics. Woot!

This is an honor well deserved. John puts all he has into his work, and it’s some of the funniest, most human material you may ever find in any comics. If you’re a comics professional, check out John’s material and place your votes. If not, you owe it to yourself to discover all about John anyway. You’ll love it.

Scott Kurtz’s PvP, another of my daily reads, also got a nod for Best Online Comics Work. I’ve only met Scott once, but his strip makes me laugh every day. Be sure to track it down too!

Villainy on the Rise

While leaving the GAMA Trade Show in March, I managed to forget to pack my copies of Villainy (a new, multi-deck card game from Human Head Studios), which designer Jason Blair had kindly slapped into my waiting hands during the show. Jason, refusing to allow me to get away with such a disastrous mistake, shipped out new copies of each of the three decks, which landed at my house last week. Now I’m itching to have a go at establishing who’s the most villainous member of my house.

I’m betting on my kids.

Gen Con Notice Up

Gen Con has posted a page with the “Industry Insider Guests of Honor,” among which I apparently rank. Just scroll on down past James Ernest’s shining face to spot my entry.

I’ll be helping out with some seminars at the show, although the schedule for those hasn’t been set yet. I’ll be sure to post here when I know more.