Category: editorials

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The Battle for Open Internet

The following is something I originally wrote for my email newsletter, but this is urgent – if you love the work I do (or even if you love someone else’s work), this WILL impact you:

So here’s my concern – I currently work making comics here in the United States. The Federal Communication Commission (FCC)’s chairman, Ajit Pai, is a former Verizon lobbyist and is REALLY keen on getting rid of net neutrality – net neutrality is the principle that all websites and all data be treated equally. Continue reading “The Battle for Open Internet”

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What You Can Do After Charlottesville

The neo-Nazi and white supremacist riots in Charlottesville, VA happened this last weekend. You cannot deny it no matter how many anti-Antifa posts you see (which, thanks to Snopes, we know those anti-Antifa posts are fabricated). You also cannot deny it no matter how many times you say “but I have a black (insert indirect personal connection here).”

Charlottesville is a culmination of many forces, some brewing over the last 60 years, some brewing over the last 8 months. But it happened, and now we are here.

It’s ok to be angry. It’s ok to be a little (or very) scared.

Do not let those emotions change who you are. You are more than anger and fear.

Fear is a luxury we cannot afford anymore.

Now is the time to take a stand and do the right things. And believe it or not, you (the United States citizen) have the ability to do something to make a difference.

Here’s a short list of things you can do: Continue reading “What You Can Do After Charlottesville”

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Rethinking How to Run a KickStarter

johnson and sir kickstarter art

One of the people I met at 3 Rivers Comic Con this year mentioned a podcast called ComixLaunch and recommended I give it a listen. So I did.

This is going to sound like product placement or a sponsorship, but let’s be clear, it isn’t. ComixLaunch is a podcast entirely about making comics and art, and running successful KickStarters to fund said comics and art, and how you can make a living as a working artist.

So I kinda’ got hooked after four episodes.

One episode in particular, Episode 95, is about why now is the best time for comickers to run KickStarters. It got my attention about halfway through the episode for one reason: Continue reading “Rethinking How to Run a KickStarter”

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A Filmmaker Approached Me

To be fair, at RathaCon this year, this filmmaker came forward to a couple of other creators at the show, asking if we had any projects that could be adapted to film.

I’ve been wanting to talk about comics versus film for a little while now, and the filmmaker’s approach was a good catalyst for this conversation. Especially because after he left, another creator came up to me and we spoke about the dude, and the creator said, “But comics are perfect for film adaptations!” Continue reading “A Filmmaker Approached Me”

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Extra Clothespins: A New Podcast

extra clothespins podcast icons

I’m getting really tired of not having all the Congressional news in one place, y’all. So I’m taking it upon myself to do my best and bring that to you.

Introducing Extra Clothespins – the short-form podcast about news that ACTUALLY matters.

This podcast aims to bring attention to what bills Congress is talking about, protests that are organizing and happening, and how you can contact your Representatives and Senators about the relevant issues of the day.

All of this is available to listen to, for free, at the Extra Clothespins blog.

(It’s called Extra Clothespins because I’m starting another podcast with my buddy Sean, called Clothespins & Hand Grenades – it’s a punk radio show podcast that also features rant segments, congressional news segments, and LOTS of punk, old and new. Mostly old. It’s not live yet, but when it is, I’ll feature it in a separate post).

Check out the Extra Clothespins show, and if you like it, share it!

Thank you for reading and listening.

You. Are. Awesome.