(5/21/07)
The birthday gift in her hands was wrapped tight in colorful paper. She gazed all over it and then started to unwrap it ponderously. A jewelry box was uncovered as the woman unwrapped it. “I’ll bet it’s a dazzling set of earrings,” she remarked. Excited, she hastily opened the box and looked inside. What she saw filled her eyes with dismay, and she cast the gift aside. “Why do I always get bad gifts?!” she cried. “I don’t believe this. I deserve only the best, most elegant jewelry! Not this. Of all the rotten ideas, why do I always get the most awful gifts?!”
A second woman looked in the jewelry box. Inside was a cheap, blue plastic wristband that read ‘Save the whales’ on it, nothing special. As the first woman was still murmuring, the second one interrupted, “Hey, it’s not so bad. It might have contributed to conservation. It’s the thought that counts.”
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In case you haven’t observed it up until now, we don’t live in an ideal world. However, there is something bigger and greater than ourselves that we are all a part of that’s spiritual. Idealists tend to think “It’s the thought that counts” if they are given a bad gift, but the intention of the giver was sincere. They can see the ideal behind the material and honor that ideal.
One of the exciting things about idealism is knowing that there is an ideal world out there in the Universe that wants to interact with our imperfect world and influence it. This ideal world is Heaven. Those who accept Christ will actually get to see that ideal world, but those who do not will not. Never think that a realization of an unpleasant material existence is the only reality. It’s not! See what new heights God can take you to today.
(5/6/07)
I had a great time on my vacation to Maui! I will definitely go back again. Please check out my vacation photo album in the Photos section. The resort I stayed at couldn't have been better. It had a full kitchen and washer/dryer.
I got to explore the tropical jungle a little bit (but not as much as I'd like). Unfortunately, Polipoli Recreation Area was closed for fire occurrences the one time we tried to go there! As beautiful of a place as Maui is, it has terrible road signage. There were no signs that the park was closed until after you've driven to the very top of the mountain. We got a nice view, but couldn't go anywhere. Maui is the second biggest island in Hawaii, so there are many places to go.
My favorite thing was horseback riding. I visited Kaanapali Beach, which has been voted America's best beach. When I went, the waves were very large and strong, so I had a good time. I felt more comfortable going out in the surf than I ever had before.
Going on vacation has really made me think about what I want to do with my life.
(4/28/07)
ON VACATION
Between now and May 6, I'm going to be on vacation in Maui. I will probably not check my email too much while I'm there, other than when I'll be going to the library. I'm going to upload a few reruns for Among Wolves while I'm away.
(4/22/07)
Want to Be Happier?
WHAT WILL it take to make you a happier person? A new home? A new car? A new job promotion? More money, fame, falling in love/a better mate? Research shows that none of these things significantly increase happiness. The media promotes upward comparison-- comparing yourself to those having possessions that you do not have. Upward comparison (“keeping up with the Joneses”) is a sure way to remain dissatisfied with your life. In the Feb/March 2007 issue of Scientific American Mind, Michael Wiederman, Associate Professor of Psychology at Columbia College in South Carolina, gives some very blunt advice on how to be happier:
"Do not focus on goals. Even though you may intellectually reject the idea that happiness can be achieved or bought, you must be constantly vigilant against that internal voice that whsipers, ‘But I would be a bit happier if only...’ One strategy to try is to reflect on those times when you were convinced a certain accomplishment or possession would bring greater happiness, yet your life was not significantly different after you reached your goal. How many times have you had this experience? How many more are needed to finally convince you that it does not work that way?"
Instead, Wiederman suggests such things as practicing moderation, striving for contentment, practicing living in the moment, and making time to volunteer. Not discounting day-to-day happiness, joy is about the journey, not the destination. Exercise can be a very effective way to fight off the blues. Motivational Speaker and best-selling author Jean Chatzky says, "The reaction the body has to exercise is similar to the one it has to excitement. Your muscles relax. Your pulse rises. Endorphins kick in." (Money, April 2007). Chatzky also suggests that the experience or anticipation itself brings joy, not the possession. Beyond the superficial, keeping your relationship to God stable by listening to what your conscience is telling you is an important factor in deep-down spiritual contentment. Learning and challenging yourself to focus all your attention on a current task helps your mind not to focus on regretting the past or worrying about the future. I will continue in my studies in happiness, faith, and other things. Happiness is a complicated and fickle thing. "Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income." Eccl. 5:10 |
(4/14/07)
I know Zeugma looks a bit like a pterodactyl, but he's a werewolf skeleton with a cape. I specifically chose the topic of hypnagogic hallucinations because until recent times, it's been a somewhat unacceptable topic to talk about. I've had firsthand experience with this type of hallucination, so I know how scary it is, but research findings can help people undersand it better. It seems to happen more often in teenage years, and also those with social phobias.
Later today, I'm going to go to a children's play of my favorite children's tale, Little Red Riding Hood. I can't wait to see the Big Bad Wolf costume. The play will be the 'modern Russian' version. It will take place at a cute little children's theatre called "Nesbit/Elliott Playhouse" at the Mesa Arts Center. I feel like a kid whenever I go to the Playhouse.
(4/9/07)
“Great spirits have often encountered violent opposition from weak minds.”
-Albert Einstein
(4/2/07)
 High school curricula should include more essential skills courses. | Essential Skills in the High School Curriculum For the most part, the high school curriculum does a great job on focusing strongly on English and assorted communication skills such as how to write an essay and the components of a story. English is the broad umbrella under which teachers teach tough topics such as self-esteem, relationships, discrimination, and learning styles. However, more life skill courses should be required for every student because there are certain topics that are used in the adult world of which all high school students need to be aware. The high school curriculum should require Life Strategies for Teens, Business & Technology, Financial Applications for Life, and an Essential Skills course. All high school students should be required to take Life Strategies for Teens (one of the few Essential Skills courses), which teach character, self-confidence, good relationships, goal making, dealing with peer pressure, and strategies to succeed in the future. Unfortunately, in my state district, this class is only optional right now and counts for only elective credits. In addition, high school students should be encouraged to take classes relevant to the adult world such as beginning speech, creative foods, parenting, even home repair and maintenance. I would like to see more courses on social skills other than the broad umbrella of “English.” Business & Technology 9-10 (BU122) should be a requirement for all students. Here is its description: “Students will learn and apply necessary skills to survive in the real world of high school, college, and the work place. Organizational skills, proper keyboarding techniques, basic document formatting, completing a job application and writing a résumé will be covered. Students will be introduced to basic computer technology and applications.” No matter what you learn in life, all students should learn those skills. Currently, this class meets the 1 year amalgamated requirement of “math-science-technology” among many other classes, but itself is not required. Financial Applications for Life I (MA500) should also be part of the required curriculum. Its topics include income and salary types, apartment renting, home construction, stocks, bonds, and real estate. In addition to these topics, consumer skills such as writing a check, reading a bill, and balancing a checkbook should be added to the curriculum because these skills are imperative for all adults. Currently the course counts as an elective credit and one half of the amalgamated “math-science-technology” requirement. As a 500 level math course, many students miss out on this course. High Schools in my area offer few, if any, Essential Skills courses. And some Essential Skills require evaluation placement or administrator referral. This senseless policy is preventing students from obtaining life skills that they need. Is a student going to know how to write a check, read a financial statement, fix a squeaky door, cook lunch, drive a car, or read a contract by the time he graduates? Teachers are great people, but Essential Skills courses should be more accessible to high school students, and most of these courses have these unnecessary barriers. |
(3/27/07)
I
apologize that I didn't get my Tuesday strip up until Thursday last
week. I was so busy setting up my new ComicSpace gallery it slipped my
mind. You can see it above if you missed it.
Saturday I was out walking in the country with my parents. I wasn’t looking where I was going, and I stepped into some barbed wire. I didn’t realize it until I got home and undressed, but my shin was bleeding, but soon, I took care of this injury. A little bit later, we went to a gift shop which had a sign that said, “Cowgirls are like barbed wire-- handle with care.”
(3/20/07)
The surest way to avoid being given a new task is to do a bad job on the old task.
(3/17/07)
I have an announcement. I’m going to stop doing my Sunday strips effective immediately. It’s just too much work to do all Saturday night every Saturday night. After all, I have been using reruns for Sundays quite a bit lately. To make matters worse, I sometimes visit my parents’ cabin on Saturdays where there is no Internet connection, so it’s hard to do work there. It’s just too exhausting. And to tell you the truth, I enjoy my daily strips more. Until further notice, I’ll just do Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday. That will be much more manageable for me.
My archive has been completely updated to the present day (week 153). Please check it out.
In the future, I may be experimenting with different web hosts for Wolves, but either way, I'll still be here.(3/7/07)
According to angel experts, an angel is a being who has a soul, but no ego. Is that the goal of spirituality-- to eliminate the ego? To become an angel (or like one)? Or is it to discover, through your ego, who you really are?
Angels have no egos, no desires, no needs, no pain,
no fears, no personal ambitions. They’re just beings whose only purpose
is to attune to and carry out the will of God. It’s no wonder religious
followers are criticized for expecting perfectionism. Deep down, I’ve
always thought that Heaven is the same thing as the “World of Forms”
that Plato talks about. After all, I am an idealist.
(3/3/07)
Yesterday my old supervisor strolled up to me and said, “Process tickets slower. You have a union job.” This was humorous, and I don’t have a union job, but for him just to say “work slower” is kind of inspiring, knowing that he treats me as something more than just a worker.
Joyfully I discovered that I’m going to stay on my current job rotation on the email team one month longer than originally expected. I work as a kind of corporate tech support liaison, so I investigate, record, communicate, and escalate corporate technology issues, but don’t normally fix them myself.
(2/28/07)
“Worry is in effect a prayer for what we do not wish to have happen.”
-Jesse Jennings
(2/23/07)
I sit in my room and ponder to myself, “How can I be a better person?” (I’d only let one answer that question if he was a trusted friend of mine.) I’m not talking about starting a new charitable organization.
I do my fair share at work and at home, I visit the gym somewhat regularly, and give to charity. I have a clean criminal record and don’t have any destructive addictions. I listen to audiobooks on history, literature, and great thinkers, and have a few library cards. I’d like to help others, but it’s hard enough keeping my closest friends in my life, so I recognize I have a lot of improvement to go in that category. I habitually read inspiring self-help magazines, and like to take care of all the administrative tasks, like balancing my checkbook and rearranging my desk. So what? When will I get to engage my knowledge?
For all my life, I’ve done what I was told. Well, no more. It’s time to expand my horizons. I don’t let life pass me by. This time I’m doing something more exciting than I’ve ever done before.
I’m taking up racing.
This racing is not exactly like amusement park go karts, but one step
above that-- adult indoor 270cc engine kart racing. The Koran (E.H.
Palmer translation) says you should “race towards forgiveness.” I went
to Speedway tonight, after hearing about it from one of my colleagues
at work many months ago. To the line on the form that said, “Kart
racing is a sport that could result in death and I knowingly engage in
it,” I signed my initials.
My racing name will be “Tracer.” It was my first time participating in this kind of racing, so it was stressful getting started. The other racers lapped me a few times, but at least I tried something new. I know the adage “life is not a race,” but it is when you’re at Speedway. What an adrenaline rush.
(2/20/07)
Don't take the moral out of the story! Excuse me, but how is taking the moral out of the story going to do anyone any good? The moral, which is a tidbit you can learn about life, is the point of the story! The moral should be left in, especially if it's for small children! There's no use in trying to hide your morals; they will come across in what you say and do.
The publisher of this book is Parragon Publishing and is printed in the UK. One would think the UK needs more morals, not fewer.
(2/16/07)
“Free will remains a delusion as long as one is a slave to the ego’s fears and desires.”
-Marshall Govindan
(2/10/07)
Elephantmen #0
focuses on the brutish origin of the elephantmen, who include not only
elephants, but hippos and all other similar humanoid species as well. I
think that the elephantmen are about as tall as two average adult men
or so. They were basically bred and born into slavery under Mappo, a
domineering, brainwashing militia group. But they don’t stay in this
militia forever; through a violent uprising, some of them eventually
join normal society. The art is different than the other Elephantmen
issues I have read-- the coloring is soft and blended, a little bit
like it was done with colored pencils. Elephantmen #4 is also out now-- a pretty violent issue.
Ursa Minors #4, the final issue, recounts how Rich from the future comes to warn the guys not to sell the patents to their bear suits to the public. This time-traveling struggle is quite a battle. Plenty of bickering about sci-fi TV shows is thrown in. I’m sad to see Ursa Minors go; I enjoyed them a lot.
In Furious Fist of the Drunken Monkey #2, Chip meets his “grandfather” Dr. Neanderthal and Chip learns the origin of his birth, and why he was set up to meet Bunny, with whom Chip was so broken up over since the end of last issue. Bunny is a pole dancer, so of course, she’s also a secret anti-terror squad agent.
Usagi Yojimbo #98 features a nemesis named Jei, whom for some reason people keep mistaking for Inazuma. The story encompasses the battle between Gen (the rhino) and Jei. As I mentioned in my Dec. 21 entry, I usually have a problem with Samurai tales because they’re circumscribed by a class system that doesn’t exist in my culture and there are still many misunderstandings of the Japanese I have not overcome, but I’m trying to be open-minded. Samurai sure do seem to be popular. I know practically nothing about Usagi Yojimbo, but it’s interesting to see how Sakai takes Japanese history and culture and composes it into this unique format. It's not a bad issue. I picked up this title at the recommendation of an online vice president of a comic book store.
(2/4/07)
One of the chief things I've wanted to know in life is this:
I'm not grasping at straws by trying to be a better person.
(1/31/07)
 According to A.C. Nielsen Co. and other sources, the average American watches four hours of TV per day. | Society should look at media differently It's time society looked at media differently than before. Media over the past few decades has gotten more and more decentralized. These days, anybody could become a movie director, musician, actor, singer, artist, photographer, cartoonist, reporter, etc, and then publish and market their own work on the Internet or elsewhere. Research tells us that the average American now spends more time on the computer than with their spouse. Now it's like every household is its own studio. Yet for all you couch potatoes out there, it’s important to know it’s not as easy to put together a decent television show as you might think. Just because you love movies doesn’t necessarily mean that you should make up your mind to create movies, so you really have to focus. Our society is losing its focus. Of course, this information
age means there's a lot more junk out there, but that's why I say we
need to look at media differently than before. Notwithstanding mass
media can lose some of its fervor, just because someone isn't a
'professional' doesn't mean that their work should be overlooked.
Besides, these days there is a fine line between professional,
semi-professional, and independent. And it's okay to create media that
only appeals to a small (even private) group-- one's material, blogs
for example, might not appeal to everybody or end up being world-famous
one day and that's okay. We have to be even more precise in what we
are looking for and on what we are focusing our minds. You don't have
to accept everything fed to you. Sifting through and sorting all our media should be considered a talent in itself. That’s why I predict there will be more organizing experts in the future. We all know a director, musician, photographer, writer or artist right among our own family or friends. Therefore, every town could have its own Hollywood. Although we have a magnitude of information today, the attention with which to ingest it is sparse. |
(1/21/07)
What’s the difference between love and tolerance?
Love is a Christian value; tolerance is a secular value. We are instructed in the Bible to love others as we love ourselves. Love helps us have a right view of ourselves and others. Love is caring. Our love is shown (or not shown) mostly in how we treat others, and even in what we say about them when they’re not around.
Contrarily, the Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition of tolerance is “a : sympathy or indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one's own. b : the act of allowing something.” The first definition is the main one that liberals employ and it is not Biblical. Besides, those same liberals are seldom tolerant of conservative Christian values, so their belief is hypocritical. This isn’t to say that we should be self-righteous. Nobody’s perfect, but we need to at least recognize that there are ideals to strive for, with Christ’s help.
In ancient times, the Corinthians were big on tolerance too. In 1 Corinthians 6:12, Paul reproved the Corinthians’ belief in tolerance. He states, ”‘Everything is permissible for me’—but not everything is beneficial. ‘Everything is permissible for me’—but I will not be mastered by anything.” Here, Paul is commenting on what was probably a Corinthian saying, “Everything is permissible for me,” and states that this is not a practical principle because permissibility doesn’t recognize rules or morals. We love other people, but this doesn’t mean that we automatically approve of people’s actions, as is the national norm. For example, would you let a good friend fall into the slippery slope of suicidal depression and let them throw their life away?
In a way, tolerance is easier than love because it requires
no action, whereas love can sometimes be confrontational. Did Jesus
‘tolerate’ the Pharisees in Matthew 23 and let the Pharisees go on
their merry way? I think not! He called them a brood of vipers and
castigated them because they only cared about looking good in front of
other people and following the rituals of religion instead of
practicing Godly humility and mercy. When we do confront, we must do so
in love; otherwise, it’s meaningless. Love is assertive, but tolerance
is just passive.
Teach love, not tolerance.
--J.W.
(1/14/07)
Welcome to the Hangout for Wolf-Men, once again.
I know that this site is supposed to be ad-free, but I just felt like I should plug Mike Miller's comic book The Imaginaries (Abacus Comics). Basically, the story is about a superhero who gets rejected by its creator, and therefore is deported to the land of what you might call abandoned imaginary friends. In this land, the teddy bears rule with an iron fist. My theory on why the teddy bears dominate is that people perhaps imagine teddy bears more than any other type of imaginary friend.
The reason I haven't done any comic book reviews lately is because Silver Bullet Comics has taken a unthinkably long time to ship my order. I submitted my order by Internet on Dec. 25, and they said that they shipped my order just the other day on Jan. 12. Were they knitting it by hand, or what?
I'm also going to tell you about my new project, which has nothing to do with comics. It's called AudioAsia. Basically, AudioAsia is a website that focuses on Asian music, of which many Westerners seem to have misconceptions. I chose this project, along with my friends Brad and Andrew (without whom I couldn't do this project), because we want to provide more information about Asian music, in English, than is currently available out there. Come and check us out!
Our mission at AudioAsia is to show that you don't have to know Asian language to enjoy Asian music. I'm now webmaster of both Among Wolves and AudioAsia. I pray I don't get burned out with all these projects!
Yesterday, I went to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson, AZ. It was quite awesome to see the Mexican wolf! That sucker is almost extinct. We also got to see two cougars super close up.
(12/31/06)
Happy new year! May it be your best year in 2007 yet.
You might notice that Among Wolves is trying to be a little more edgy these days (e.g. I mentioned a pistol last week, and before that there was a street fight). I have to do this to keep myself interested. After all, I make Among Wolves for adults and plan on talking about more intense subjects like religion, alcohol, gambling, violence, crime, and other topics that those 'by-the-book' cartoonists won't touch (Comics Sherpa's editors probably won't like me anymore), but still have heart and will try to keep it balanced. The comic strip Housebroken is a model of a comic strip that is expanding the traditional scope of comic strips (you could even say the same thing for The Boondocks).I have three resolutions that I can think of off the top of my head:
1. Read at least three novels, including a Sherlock Holmes. Hey, considering I read zero novels in 2006, this will be at least something. They say that no one is perfect, but Sherlock Holmes is pretty doggone close-- he does next to nothing wrong.
2. Go to the gym at least 3 times a week. If you have a fitness goal too, it may help to listen to music or something to help time exercising go by more quickly.
3. Look into buying my own home.
By the way, I’m also updating my ComicSpace page "Comic Strips Today" quite often now, so if you want to see comic strip news, you can check it out from time to time. The way I have it figured, I will specifically talk about comic strips on my ComicSpace blog, and I will talk about comic books here on Amongwolves.com. That’s the way I plan on organizing these two news logs.In addition to these, I have yet another publishing project in the works that is as yet secret. But I can say it has to do with music.
(12/24/06)
Merry Christmas! I wish you my greatest holiday greetings on this birthday of the Christ child. Remember: a gift isn't really a gift until you decide in your mind to receive it.
Where are the Christmas History Map Quiz Answers?? Before you see these answers, go back and give it another try. Go ahead, give it another go.
Okay, now we're ready to check your answers.
(12/21/06)
If I had to describe all men in one way, it would be ‘nutty’ (and I’m saying that as a cartoonist). It’s not meant to be mean, though there are bad men who make crazy choices. Everyone has something, whether it is a characteristic, an activity, or a hobby he’s nutty about. You can count on that. For example, some of the most brilliant college professors can also be some of the quirkiest people. And just look at Leonardo Da Vinci... a man so excitable and inquisitive in learning different arts and sciences, he just wouldn’t settle for one type of study, or even one philosophy, and consequently left several works unfinished. Even the Apostle Paul was nutty about his gospel. Anyway, on to the comic book reviews.
It’s Shark-Man! I’m no fan of traditional superhero comics, but Shark-Man by Steve Pugh and Ronald Shusett really might be this season’s sleeper hit. You won’t believe the array of colors on each page. Partially inspired by traditional superheroes, but also touched with drama, action, sci-fi, and political intrigue, Shark-Man is delightfully old-fashioned indy comic delight! I totally agree with Broken Frontier's review of Shark-Man #1, by the way. The issue also includes a fascinating look at Thrill House Comics' other title "Cryptid." |  |
  | Here’s something I thought I’d never see... Dev in a kimono! In Shrugged #3, events continue to unfold as the gap between the real world and the battling worlds of right and wrong is bridged. The problem I’ve always found with samurai tales is that they lack that sense of Western warmth. I can’t say that I’m too impressed with Silent Ghost #2. The inks are pretty scribbly and the palette gets somewhat tiresome. I can’t recommend Silent Ghost, seeing this issue. |
I work in one of those industries that gets really slow during the holiday season, so I've been trying to get through really slow days at work (reading comic books, heh heh, you know what I'm nutty about). I'll be off for Christmas soon enough.
(12/8/06)
Welcome to ComicSpace! It's like MySpace, just without the molesters. My username there is "Wolfgang." Be my friend! I will be featuring a new project there called "Comic Strips Today." Because even though I'm knowledgeable about comic books, I'm even more knowledgeable about comic strips.
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Ursa Minors #3
is a Harry Potter spoof, except instead of a magical boarding school,
this story features a magical frat house. The story goes all over the
map, but it’s good for a good laugh and is complete with smartass
dialog. Screwtooth #2 follows when Plum first enters her afterlife. She expresses her interest to go back to her old life (miserable as it was), and meets up with her brother’s dead ferret along the way (who has the same name as Kim Possible’s mole rat -- Rufus). Maybe it’s me, but I thought the story in this issue went fairly slow, but it was fine. |
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Elephantmen #4 follows up the story from #3 where a beautiful young woman named Miki finds a hippoman all beat up on the street, and she reaches out to care and brings medical help. After their innocent conversation, the hippoman tells her about Mappo, the mysterious military organization that first created and trained the elephantmen, and how elephantmen are patronized in human society. The accompanying text at the back is not worth reading. If you're wondering what’s happening with the Ninja Turtles lately, it seems each story is more far-fetched than the last. Tales of TMNT #28 has Raph demonstrating that it really matters what bar you go to. Again, don’t bother to read the letters at the back because half the time it’s just bickering. |
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Unexpectedly, Mickey Mouse #295 was one of the better comic books this month. As you can imagine, Mickey is only concerned about Christmas presents for other people-- not at all concerned with presents for himself. In Mickey’s Christmas Mix-Up, Minnie, Mickey, and Goofy have to sort out an ordeal in which Minnie buys an antique item from a con-man which has a rich man’s inheritance hidden in it. Next, in The Christmas Eve Caper, Donald hires a Santa impersonator to try to convince Huey, Dewey, and Louie to believe in Santa, but little does Donald know the impersonator is really the Christmas Eve burglar! Mickey uncovers a tricky toy scheme in The Quest For Quasar. |
(12/4/06)
Please check out my BRAND NEW Characters page! Just click on "Characters" in the upper-left navigation box for new A.W. character descriptions.
I'm going to read some comic books... more reviews are coming.
(11/29/06)
A Wal-Mart greeter told me he didn't like me! How is it that I manage to displease even the people most renowned for being personable in the world??? Nothing out of the ordinary in my world.
Here's another example: In the theatre last week, some people came and sat in the same row as me, looked right at me and said, "Nobody is here." Even at the grocery store yesterday, I asked the lady in front of me at the check-out line a question, and she looked right at me and said, "Hello?" as if a ghost said it instead of me. That's how things are in my world. I'm ignored quite often; I may just be slowly turning into a ghost.
(11/26/06)
Well, Thanksgiving is over, it’s getting colder, and winter is coming. A great many people get depressed or stressed out during the holidays because family time, cooking, shopping and ‘you’ time can be quite a balancing act.
I’ve just registered my band at GarageBand.com. My music nickname, as you might know, is Myth Guard. Please click here to listen to or download my new flagship song “Dreamship.” I’d love to hear your feedback -- so far the only feedback I’ve gotten for it has been from my best friend Brad. Please keep in mind all my songs are dance pop genre.
I saw a movie last night called “Harsh Times” [R] (MGM). It was about a young guy from the army who moves back to L.A. in hopes of marrying his Mexican sweetheart, but discovers his army-like violent tendencies haven’t left him. To make matters worse, he has to decide between marrying her and taking a job with the feds as a drug lord fighter in Colombia. It was a very gut-wrenching movie, but very good.
SLG Publishing’s “Agnes Quill” book was a pretty good book, though not amazing. It’s about a girl who talks to ghosts and solves supernatural mysteries. The book has several different artists, but Dave Roman’s illustrations are way more cartoony looking than the others, but the story he illustrated, “Invite Only,” is pretty funny (pictured above). The book also includes a lengthy Agnes fictional biography and diary entries. They could have cut down on that part a little.
(11/12/06)
I wanted to draw a carousel to give myself a challenge. It’s quite complicated to draw.
Things are going okay. I got a ton of new comic books in the mail just the other day. I’m really far behind in reading them, but of course I love the Elephantmen issues. The most recent issue out is #4.
My grandparents and aunt and uncle from Canada are visiting this week. Thankfully, they like taking it easy as much as I do.
(11/6/06)
Like my new header for this website? See it at the top of this page.
Great news. My doctor said that I’m finally kindney stone free! Praise the Lord for that! I’m getting another X-ray later just to be positively certain.
I put the answers to last week's sudoku on the Sudoku page. If I ever get around to doing my next sudoku, I will put it up too.
I’ve been to two plays recently. If you know me, you know I like fairytales/fantasy and musicals. First I went to “Into the Woods,” which is a Broadway musical showcased by my local community college starring the characters from Grimm’s fairytales. My favorite story of which is Little Red Riding Hood, of course. I enjoyed it, though it was a little hard to follow with all the stories going on. At the end of the performance, a guy asked the actress who played Cinderella to marry him in real life and she said yes!
Then I went to another play yesterday called “Wonderland” showcased by a children’s theatre. It’s one of the best plays I’ve ever seen! It was a different story from either of the books. The main theme was chess, how a pawn can eventually turn into a queen by going to the eighth square, and the symbolism of that for Alice and for us all. It was so original. I’ve never heard any of the songs before. It was pure talent. In my experience, children’s plays are some of the best. I loved both Into the Woods and Wonderland.
I sure am waiting a looong time to get my comic book order from Silver Bullet. I wonder what’s the holdup?
Please email me. I’m lonely. Zaristerex -at- aol.com
(10/29/06)
Presenting my first sudoku puzzle that I created. Please click on the puzzle to go to a printable version of it. There is a new sudoku page too.
I solved it myself to make sure it's solvable. It should be fine. Please let me know there are any problems with it. The answers will be showcased next week. Enjoy!
I finally got my cartooning software back, so you will see a new Among Wolves on Tuesday.
(10/27/06)
I
had to reformat my computer because I had a terrible virus. (That's
why I've been absent for a while.) Even after I reformatted the hard
drive and the virus was still there! Don’t worry; my computer has been
professionally repaired and the problem hasn’t affected this site. I
can’t believe I lost all my files! Just when I ask myself, “How can I
live without my files?” I realize I already am. Thank goodness I had
my comic strips backed up on this site.
I got all my programs reinstalled. All, that is, except for my imaging program that I use for my comic strip, so I cannot scan pictures. That’s because I left the CD-ROM for it at my cabin, and I won’t get it back until this weekend. So I can only showcase reruns for Among Wolves until the week of Oct. 30.
On the plus side, I just got a broadband Internet connection (VDSL) so it will be easier for me to update this site.
I can’t wait to get Elephantmen #3 and #4. I just bought them last night.
Lately, I’ve been immersing myself in sudoku. I even created my own sudoku puzzle yesterday. I am thinking about showcasing sudokus on this site, but first I have to go back and make sure it’s solvable first.
Mike Miller (of Alias Enterprises) & co. have announced that they will be putting their efforts into Christian comics through his new publishing arm Abacus Comics. Way to go, Mike! I wonder if this will mean he will be eventually taking Blue Water Productions out of the picture.
(10/11/06)
The top comic strip (the one about the veggie diet) is a really old one. It's not the greatest. I chose it in an experiment to find the earliest comic that I've done that I could re-exhibit.
When I went to the Comicon, I picked up a really good comic book called The Hedge Knight that was released by Devil's Due and penciled by Mike Miller in 2003. I am SO impressed with it. Great story, great art, cool characters; it's a fascinating series. It's about a medieval wannabe knight, and how he is just determined to be a knight against all odds.
I've been dedicating myself fully to music lately. In fact, I just composed a new song called "The Wonderful Wedding" on my Myth Guard music page. My music is just different. I'm studying music theory independently, and it's a lot of work, but I think it will be rewarding in the end.
I'm still reading Positive Thinking.
(9/24/06)
Boy, did I have a big week. Last Sunday, I went to a rodeo near our cabin. I’ve never seen so many horses and horse trailers in the same place before! We stayed for an hour and half, and saw some calf roping and barrel racing (no bull riding though). It was an amateur event with high school students because it was sponsored by the National High School Rodeo Association. They weren’t the best calf ropers around (I’m from Alberta and have been to the Calgary Stampede), but I had fun.
I went to the Phoenix Comicon on Saturday, and met Chris Beranek, the Editor-in-Chief of Silent Devil Productions, and Jake Black, a writer. It happened that I was looking to get some SD comic books just then, so I picked up a copy of almost everything he had -- Monkey in a Wagon vs Lemur on a Big Wheel #1, Furious Fist of the Drunken Monkey #1, The Last Sin of Mark Grimm #2, Grimm Fairy Tales TPB, and a signed copy of Silent Forest: Television Parody Special. I also met Raven Gregory, the creator of The Gift. He signed a copy of The Gift TPB Vol 2 (which he mistakenly thought was TPB Vol 1, heh) for me. I also went to a seminar on voice acting hosted by Johnny Yong Bosch (Vash from Trigun), and two other voice actors. After that, I stayed for a seminar on the ABCs of comic book art hosted by Amanda Conner (Supergirl) and Billy Tan (Tomb Raider). Mike Bullock (the writer of Lions, Tigers, and Bears) told me that issue #3 of LT&B vol 2 is out already, so I will purchase it soon.
My operation on Friday was a success! Though they gave me very few details. Now my kidneys will finally get back to normal. Thank the Lord. I just have to drink plenty of water. All in all, it’s been a big week.
By the way, I must show you a cool editorial cartoon (click here) by Chuck Asay. When other editorial cartoonists are just complaining, Asay makes astute observations that others don’t.
(9/20/06)
I’m still reading Adventures in Oz (IDW Publishing). It’s a very large book of 258 pages. And it’s classic (originally from 1986 to 1992), so it’s little more expensive than an average graphic novel, but it’s well worth it. Eric Shanower, the creator, is a two-time Eisner Award winner. He redid the coloring and otherwise touched it all up, making this the most definitive book of Oz comics.
|  |
I got an email from my director today. Graciously, he said that we’re all getting a raise and a bonus, so I’m quite thrilled about that. Plus, they are hiring a slew of new people in my department (tech support) next week. We’ll be glad to have the help; we’ve been so swamped lately.
I have surgery on Friday for my kidney stone problem. The chances are good that it will cure me. And at least I get to miss a day of work. The surgery will involve a machine that apparently ‘travels around’ to different locations, as if it was from a circus side show or something.
(9/13/06)
It
looks like Wednesday early morning is the most convenient time to
update this webpage. As you know, my comic strip is showcased on Comics
Sherpa each Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. Consequently, I’m
constantly busy doing my comic strip each Tues., Thurs., and Sat.
morning. I usually visit my cabin on Saturday, and do my Sunday strip
on the weekend, so Wednesday morning is when I finally have time to
update this site.
Unfortunately, the picture quality of my
comic strips on this page are not that great. For better quality
images, go to my archive.
 | The story and art of Alius Rex #1 (Alias) are simply outstanding. It’s about a medieval king who feels dejected because he has to face a mysterious, ruthless “foreign king.” Alias touts this title as “knights vs. aliens.” It’s written by Kevin Grevioux, a Hollywood actor and screenwriter for the “Underworld” movies. Grevioux’s stories are really spiritual. As a bonus, Alius Rex is about 50% larger than an average comic book. Naturally, Alias comics are not filled with tons of ads like Marvel comics are. Ursa Minors #2 (SLG) chronicles when the bear roommates go to Japan to meet with fans there, and of course, are loud and obnoxious along the way. The scene where they have to fight restaurant ninjas because they can’t pay their check is gold. Disney’s Uncle Scrooge #357 (Gemstone) was a very good issue. Don Rosa drives me crazy with his fanatical detail, but I think his Scrooge stories show just as much depth-- probably more-- than Carl Barks’ stories did. In this issue, the Ducks discover the mysterious land of Xanadu, which turns out to be strangely familiar because it is really the land of Tralla La (I suppose Barks’ take on Shangri-La). “Comet Get It” is also an awesome story about how Scrooge has gone missing because of a fatal comet headed toward Earth. The whole issue was very cool. |
I suffered from kidney stone in my right kidney last month. I’m going to have to get more surgery next week for it. Now, it’s a pretty small thing, 4mm. In mid-August, I got an X-ray that showed that there was a huge 3cm thing in my left kidney too! My doctor didn’t know what it was. If it was another kidney stone, he would have had to operate. But he wasn’t sure if it was real. So I took another X-ray on Aug. 31 to see if it was still there. It turned out that whatever strange artifact that was in my left kidney was completely gone!! Praise Christ!
(9/6/06)
Boy, did I have a weird dream this morning. I was in New York, security alarms were everywhere. I had to keep running to get away from the cops. It was another one of my video game-type dreams. Alarms went off if you touched buildings, so the only way to avoid them was to stay in the middle of the street and not touch anything.
| You should check out Elephantmen #2 this month. It has two big
stories. The first is about a hippoman’s deadly battle with a lizard
monster, and uses Biblical references in Job that talk about Leviathan
and Behemoth. The second is a spoof of the Howard Stern show on Sirius.
The radio show host showcases the familiar hairstyle and is named
Herman Strumm, and interviews a guest croc man. You won’t have needed
to read Elephantmen #1 to enjoy this one.
When I first heard of Atomik Mike #1 (Alias), I thought that was somehow going to involve Mike Miller, executive director of Alias. Instead, it’s about a crazy superhero space monkey. It turns out I was wrong! Or was I? Not to be harsh, but this looks like another example of cookie-cutter superhero fare that is promoted by Mike Miller and seemingly all of Alias these days. Soulfire: Chaos Reign #1
(Aspen, pictured) is a good title to check out. It’s about a family living in a very
barbaric land that is overrun with predators and slavers. The terrible
beasts at the beginning are the best. It has a sneak peak of issue #2,
which has some very good looking dragons. Disney’s Wonderland #1 from SLG Publishing doesn’t star Alice isn’t in this rendition; it stars the White Rabbit’s maid named Mary Ann. The art is fanciful, and has all the wretched appearance of the Queen of Hearts you could ask for, but it really needs more of the ‘Wonderland’ logic to be more commendable. Casanova #2 was just weird. It’s basically a combination of everything that was happening in the life of the writer Matt Fraction. It has both boy and girl nudie segments. The story itself is about a city called Agua Pesada that is inundated with sexually-charged Orgone. I can’t say that I’ll be picking up #3. I’m thinking about creating a separate page for comic book review, but if I did that, what would I write on this page?? |   |
(8/27/06)
Among Wolves
comics on the front page are back! Though I had to shrink them by 5%.
I'm slowly making the new pages for this site -- there will be a photo
section soon, just in case you wanted to peek into my personal life.
This is NOT a McMillan-approved website. In the Friday edition of her comic strip “Minimum Security,”
Stephanie McMillan not only thinks that people shouldn’t be able to
enjoy a soda, but also insinuates that it would be okay if American
businesses cut off relations with India! She also criticized the
Christian faith a few days ago. McMillan is anti-American, ungodly,
and her ideas are potentially dangerous and are rejected on this
website. Ever struggled with ethical choices? If you haven’t checked it out already, I strongly recommend the Shrugged
series from Aspen. It’s about a teenager whose choices are influenced
by two competing forces on his shoulder named Ange and Dev. The first
two issues are out so far. It's incredibly funny and continues to
capture my interest. It's hard not to like this series! When it comes to other comic books, I’m very much looking forward to Elephantmen #2, which came out last week. Also on my reading list this week: Family Guy GN Vol 2, Nightwolf: The Price #1 (it’s really Nightwolf #2), Atomik Mike #1, Soulfire: Chaos Reign #1, Casanova #2 (even though #3 is already out, I have to catch up), The Last Sin of Mark Grimm #1, and Screwtooth #1. You can probably tell I usually like to read titles in order. 
Among Wolves © 2006 Joseph Ward. Other comics © their respective companies/creators.