NEWS
November 3, 2006
It has been a long time since I last updated this site. Most of my energies have been focused on drawing my graphic novel. I have some material appearing in the current issue of HOAX, which features cover art by me.
Also, "Hail Jeffrey" will be featured IN COLOR in a new anthology by Dan Hellman (Legal Action Comics) coming out early next year. I believe it will be called TYPHON. Keep your eyes peeled.
IMPORTANT: I have moved AGAIN. I hope that this time it's for a much longer duration. I am no longer a resident of Boston. My new headquarters are located in the Ben Franklin's hometown, Philadelphia. It's a beautiful, vibrant city. You can find my precise address HERE.
February 14, 2006
It's Valentine's Day, and the site is back, so to speak. If you are reading this, you may already know that the domain name chromefetus.com was STOLEN by an evil corporation for advertising. Any hackers out there who feel like it have my permission to break into their site and fuck them up.
I am undaunted. WWW.CHROMEFETUS COMICS.COM is now my new website. If you know anybody who might need this updated information, please let them know.
As you can see, I've given the website a facelift. Also, take note of my NEW ADDRESS. I have once again relcated to the most densely populated city in the U.S.
I've been very heavily engrossed with drawing my graphic novel, THE SQUIRREL MACHINE. It will be finished in a few years, with luck. In a few days or so, I will post some exciting links about CHROME FETUS RELATED blurgles.
January 20, 2005
It has been a long, long time since I've updated this site, and not without reason. My girlfriend and I are recovering from the heartaches and dissapointments the befell us this past Autumn.
With the intention of helping to found a new "art collective", we decided to move into an available room in an enormous, two-structure warehouse space being rented by a talented percusssionist that we knew. Perhaps it was naivety for us to place such trust in him. We had scrutinized his plans and intentions, carefully, fully believing him to be on the level. He had spent thousands of dollars and over a year of physical labor to build the warehouse into usable living and performances spaces. To be fair, I don't believe he ever cosnsciously lied to us, but I do suspect that he never told us the full truth about what happened. To this day, most of it still confuses me. I am still too angry to really want to think it about it.
When we first arrived, we were excited and anxious to pitch in and get some creative action rolling. However, it did not take long for that balloon to burst. Before the second week of our stay was up, our benefactor had gotten into a completely ridiculous and unecessary arguement with the landlords about various building problems. Everybody offered several solutions to these problems, all of which were eminently do-able. Unfortunately, our friend was too blinded by his rage to even consider any of these and immediately called his lawyer into the disagreement. The situation escalated out of control very very quickly. Within two months, everybody in the building was evicted. Unfortunately, this venture ate up the rest of our savings. I am just now recovering from this draining ordeal.
I am deliberately leaving out details of this story, because frankly I have no desire to relive it.
We were forunate enough to find a nice apartment in Lower Allston. I hope we'll be able to stay there awhile while we pull ourselves back together. During this time, I have been hard at work on my latest project, a substantial graphic novel. i have also been drawing more Cochlea & Eustachia material. In spite of setbacks, I plod on. My new address can be found on the contact page.
July 15, 2004
A long delay has occurred due to a combination of software problems and my own inexperience with computers. I have finally printed up copies of Chrome Fetus # 6. I'm pretty pleased with it.
Currently, I am working on another larger work. It looks to be about 200 pages long. At the current rate of progress, I should have it finished in three or four years. At the same time, I am drawing a lot of single page strips which continue with my peculiar obsessions and esoteric view of the world.
Also, I will be moving again at the end of this month. This news shouldn't be a surprise to anybody. It appears to be my destiny to relocate every nine months. I will be residing in Soth Boston beginning in August. More information will be available as things complicate.
March 8, 2004
A long time has passed, but I haven't been lazy. I've been drawing many, many pages worth of material for numerous publications. I've also been praparing material for the next Chrome Fetus. Pending rejections from the rest of the publishers I've sent samples to, I will print up issue #6 very soon. In the meantime, I've added this new strip for your perusal on this very website. Also as part of an odd film/documentary about diital comics, I've been interviewed for my input. Read it and discover just what I think about the whole business. I certainly haven't a clue. Pay heed to this site for further complications! Also, I recieved this photo from an enthusiastic fellow that was so inspired by my book CHLOE that he permanently mutilated himself with its imagery:
October 20, 2003
I am recovering from a powerful cold. I made a few minor changes to the website; added a link and a new picture of myself om the About Chrome Fetus page. I've begun work on a new Cochlea & Eustachia strip. People like these two characters. Maybe i should start a franchise with them. Forgive the brevity of this current entry, but I have many, many things to do.
October 7, 2003
Very little has happened since the last entry. I've completed enough material to justify printing up Chrome Fetus #6. However, I am waiting for responses from potential publishers before I print any ashcan editions. Let's hope for good news. I am currently engaged in an intense comic strip right now. With luck, I should have it completed before the end of the month. When it's done, I will post it up on this site. In the meantime, read this review of Kramer's Ergot #3 which contains a critique of my contribution.
My good friend, E. Stephen, curator and organizer of The Empire S.N.A.F.U. Restoration Project will be exhibitng in the Cynthia Von Buhler gallery in New York later this month. Go to his website for more information.
July 13, 2003
After recovering from a brief depressive stupor, I am back to the drawing board. I have updated the Links page, and cleaned up some foul-ups on the Comics page. Also, as a treat for those who like stories centered around teenage girls in their underwear, I've decided to feature the color Cochlea & Eustachia comic strips I drew for The Stranger.
I attended the recent convention at MoCCA. There was an astounding number of people there. I was seated next to a guy who drew a comic about Grrl Superheroes. Lots of hip youngsters flocked around his table, completely ignoring my wares, and even piling up their books on top of my comics. Nobody could get access to my table because it had become so obscured by the crowds. I sold less than a handful of books that day. Also, I suspect my physical presence puts people off; everytime I left the table (to go to the bathroom or to talk to someone) people chose that moment to browse through the books I had on display. When I return, they look at me and nervously scamper away.
I am now pretty absorbed in a new comic strip for the next Chrome Fetus. It's a very interesting project, and I have no idea how it will turn out.
May 27, 2003
It has been a very hectic time for me recently. First off, I have moved again. I am now back in Cambridge. The working-class suburbs of Somerville proved too depressing for me. My new address can be obtained here.
Also, the Seattle weekly paper, The Stranger, has just begun running the six-week series of color Cochlea & Eustachia comic strips. It pleases me to know that peple on the opposite side of the continent are reading my works at this very moment. They will be featuring the strips on their website, so be sure to check in on it every week!
March 31, 2003
I attended the sixth annual Beantown Zinetown event. Although it was in competition with a large Anti-War Demonstration occuring on the Boston Common, there was a fairly impressive turn-out. Also, unlike the previous year, there were a lot of self-published works that impressed me. My congratulations to Rick Mackin for starting the event! I hope he does well with his new home in Portland, Oregon.
I am in the midst of coloring a six-week comic strip for The Stranger. This is an educational experience for me, as I have almost no experience in using Photoshop. The results should be interesting. I expect that the comics will be viewable on their webite in a month's time. I will post an update when it happens.
March 10, 2003
Right now, my comic strip, "Madam Mollusk" is on display alongside the work of may other reputed and talented cartoonists at the Zeitgeist Gallery. The exhibit will be up until March 23. (HInt: when you get to the link, scroll down for the info.) I had a fine time at the opening. Also, I am rapidly scratching out some very crude pencil roughs of a comic strip proposal for the editors of The Stranger. Today, I added a new index page ti the website. I hope it is well-recieved. I intended to make an update to the Cambridge Comix Festival website, but I am still waitnig for some info from some people.
February 1, 2003
Life is going relatively well. I am making progress on the next issue of Chrome Fetus Comics. I am also heavily engaged in developing the Cambridge Comix Festival. Claudio Parentela of KOMIX.IT inteviewed me this past week. Italian readers can check it out here.
January 6, 2003
I've been getting a lot more drawing accomplished these days. Material for the next issue of Chrome Fetus Comics is slowly accumulating. As of yet, I do not have the funds necessary to publish Chrome Fetus #5 properly. However, the future may contain surprises. A marvelous review of CHLOE appears in the December 2002 issue of The Comics Journal. Ng Suat Yong points out the (unintentional) correlations between my wretched graphic novel to the "Chloe & Daphne" Greek myth. Fascinating and eery. Also, there is a splendid review of the latest Chrome Fetus at HEATH ROW'S MEDIA DIET that deserves inspection. It enhance my Narcissism to have so many people writing about my comics!
November 24, 2002
I've just printed up a small "ash-can" run of Chrome Fetus #5 and I'm striving for the means to publish it. Anyone who care to ought to purchase a copy to help me raise the necessary funds to realize this grand scheme. I'm pretty pleased with the book and I hope others will find it equally edifying. Please strengthen the delusion that my works stands for something.
November 5, 2002
Just finished the artwork for the cover of Chrome Fetus #5 today. Very soon I will have ashcan editions ready to foist on the public. Depending on my stealth at Kinko's, I may even be able to print color covers for this item. Excitable news! More to come; stay tuned.
October 21, 2002
Some time has passed since I've written anything here. Not much to speak of, personally. I have very nearly completed the art for Chrome Fetus #5. There was a brief pause in production because I got involved in a little feature for Dan Hellman's Legal Action Comics. It is an absorbing and enormous anthology designed to aid the D.D.L.D.F. (Dirty Danny Legal Defense Fund). Also, I've made a little comic that will hopefully find its way to the pages of TruePorn, a new anthology of autobiographical smut. All of this stuff will most likely hitting the stands next year.
Robert Young of The Comics Interpreter wrote an extraoridinary review of CHLOE which can be viewed here. I tend to agree with most of it. He's a very astute critic. As I understand, The Comics Interpreter will be released soon, in one form or another depending on distribution. I wholly endorse their activities, and not just beacause the next issue prominently features my work.
August 5, 2002
It has been a rather hectic summer for me. I've not accomplished any drawing at all. I've had to work on the new house that my girlfriend and I just moved into a couple of weeks ago. My new residence is now in the charming working class suburbs of Somerville, Massachusetts. You can get my new address on the Contact page.
Even though I have been out of commission cartooning-wise for a couple of months, my presence is still felt. The latest issue of the Comics Interpreter features a cover drawn by myself. Paul Pope liked it and called it "dope." Also, some collages of mine are on exhibit at the Zeitgeist Gallery. (Yes, the Zeitgeist has found a new location since the fire devastated its original nest. We've had some surprisingly successful benefits and our grand opening occured just a week ago in Inman Square of Cambridge!) Starting in September, I'll be finishing off the last pages of the next issue of Chrome Fetus Comics. Soon, we shall discover if I can manage to get it published and distributed.
June 28, 2002
I had a very enjoyable time at the MoCCA event in New York this past weekend. I met number of talented cartoonists, and was well pleased to discover that they by far outnumbered the pretentious hacks and wannabe's. I sold a fair number of books and recieved many nice compliments. I'm afraid, however, that I may have creeped people out a bit.
Chrome Fetus #5 is still in the production stage. I've been busy doing construction on the house that my girlfriend and I will be inhabiting beginning next month. In my spare moments, I've been designing the cover for the next Comics Interpreter. I cannot say when that will be out. It looks to be a good issue with myself as a key feature. I am flattered.
June 1, 2002
The future for sales of CHLOE seem brighter. The book has just been picked up by two more distributors; LAST GASP and ARTBOMB. Read the excellent review of CHLOE by Matt Fraction. Also, I am only six pages way from the completion of Chrome Fetus #5. I don't know when it will be available just yet. I am very absorbed in moving into my new home and relocating the Zeitgeist Gallery. I am pretty pleased with the latest crop o' comics. I hope that you will find it equally edifying. Look at the preview I've just added to this website.
May 8, 2002
It looks like I will be moving yet again. This time, I will build my nidus in the warm and comfortable suburbs of Somerville, Massachuseiis. (One time home of NON's Jordan Crane!) I will be sure to update everybody when I have the new address. The move begins probably early next month. In the meantime, I've been drawing rather frantically. Hopefully, i shall soon have enough decent material for Chrome Fetus #5. We shall see.
April 28, 2002
This Friday, while in New York with my girlfriend, I recieved via a telephone call the devastating news that the Zeitgeist Gallery had been destroyed by a fire caused by a malfunctioning water cooler.
The Zeitgeist Gallery has been one of very few venues for experimental art & music for the Boston area for the past seven years. It had been a base of operations to me during that time, as well as my living quarters from 1997-2001. I have encountered many amazing people and ideas thanks to the Zeitgeist. Needless, to say, I am a bit shell-shocked by this turn of events. Right now, we are attempting to find a new location. For more information, you can visit the gallery website: www.zeitgeist-gallery.org
April 22, 2002
Actually, the MOCCA Event is on June 23. I was given faulty information. It's a good thing I found out before I got on the bus to New York.
April 12, 2002
I strive on, regardless. CHROME FETUS COMICS will be in attendance at the MOCCA convention in New York on April 20. Anybody who cares to, should definiely attend. The list of cartoonists is amazing. Now I am riding with the big shots.
April 6, 2002
The Book Release Party occured as scheduled. In spite of my best efforts, there were no listings in any of the local papers. I sent out postcards, did e-mails and postings on the web. No one came. The owner of the gallery gave permission to let some people setting up for a play/performance in the space to unload their equipment in the middle of the opening. He deliberately neglected to tell me anything about it. The whole thing was a terrible flop. I sold 3 copies of the book. The "soul-crushing" aspect of this business is starting to kick in. I have nothing further to say at this time.
March 23, 2002
SPECIAL ANOUNCEMENT: BOOK RELEASE PARTY for CHLOE. There will be food, music, and I will be there to sign copies of my book and talk to people. The event occurs on APRIL 6, 3-6 PM at the ZEITGEIST GALLERY, 312 Broadway, Cambridge MA, 02139. Artwork from the book will be on exhibit from April 2 - April 9. I look forward to seeing all of you there.
Today I attended BEANTOWN ZINETOWN; an enormous local annual event. Over a hundred local writers & artists were there selling and trading their home-spun magazines. I managed to unload some of my own wares there. People seemed a little distrustful of my work. If you are reading this today, you can still catch the event tomorrow at Mass College of Art, 621 Huntington Ave. in Boston.It runs from 11 AM - 6 PM. I highly suggest it.
March 21, 2002
27 boxes of CHLOE arrived at my doorstep today. The book is gorgeous. I am very pleased. Morgan Printers did an excellent job of printing it. Also, I recieved #3 of KRAMER'S ERGOT. It is a fine, fine book.Buy one day.Today I feel like a comics superstar. I shall use these triumphs to launch a brillint career.If not, then maybe I can piss away my days in a bitter alcoholic stupor. The future swells with possibilities!
March 20, 2002
The CHLOE books were shipped out from the printers on Monday. Theoretically, they should arrive at their respective destinations on Thursday. I am, of course, anxious to see and hold them. Also, I just got word that Kramer's Ergot has just come out, containg some of the Chrome Fetus comic strips. Furthermore, I've recently been contacted by Legal Action Comics with a request for some strips. Ah, stardom.
March 11, 2002
It took some time, but I finally got word from Diamond Distributors regarding sales of my book. They told me that I would recieve the purchase order on the second week of February. It arrived just a few days ago. I sold 301 copies of CHLOE. Now I will be able to finance my next comic book. I'm fairly pleased. The printers tell me that the books will be shipping this week. I'm looking forward to holding a finished copy in my hands. I owe it all to the Xeric Foundation. I've been drawing material for my next project. It's going slowly, due to my restrictive schedule. I have to sneak in small blocks of drawing time late at night and early in the morning. I'm getting increasingly frustrated with this. Two years ago, my output was fifteen pages drawn a week. Now, it's two. Clearly, I must cut down other obligations. Too frequently, I let people pressure me for poster designs and illustrations. I must learn how to tell them to fuck off nicely. The struggle continues.
February 27, 2002
I recieved the blueline proofs for CHLOE just yesterday. I don't remember agreeing to have proofs made. It is very likely that I did. My memory is shoddy. They looked really good. The solid black areas are clean, and none of the minute linework was diminished at all. The paper is inexpensive, but decent and pleasing to the eye. All of the pages are in order and the artwork is centered. I'm confident now that I'm going to have a very nice book for people to read when it comes out. I should have them ready in 2-3 weeks time.
February 21, 2002
I sent off the cover artwork to the printers on the 19th. It should be alright this time. I've been drawing some new comics, and so far I'm pleased with the results. Perhaps I will display some on the webpage when I get them nearer to completion.
February 18, 2002
So, the artwork arrived at the printers mostly undamaged. The xeroxes I sent for the cover did not survive transit, so I have to mail them another copy. This time, I'll seal it inside a platinum bullet-proof container to ensure it safe arrival. I'm amazed that the people at the printer didn't have any qualms about printing up something that could be percieved as being "pornographic." I cannot count the number of times I've had trouble with various local copy shops who wouldn't even let me use their stapler after they glanced at my comics. One time, I brought in a copy of Chrome Fetus #1 to an "alternative" bookstore, and the manager (who was a woman) briefly looked at the cover without even opening its pages and said, "Is this misogynistic? I don't think we can carry these." I scanned that cover a hundred times and could not find one single thing on it that could be even vaguely sexist or hateful in any way. Finally, a friend told me that it was because the word "fetus" was on the cover, and fetuses are a "Women's Issue." I retorted, "But that's ridiculous! I was a fetus once myself! I even have a navel to prove it!"
February 14, 2002
(more whining)
I mailed off the artwork for CHLOE to the printers on Monday. Let us hope no snafus occur. I have yet to recieve any word from Diamond Distributors on the sales of the book. It is not inconcievable that zero copies were solicited. Actually, it is very likely. Perhaps I should accept the fact that my work and efforts will always remain in the realm of obscurity. My comics are inaccessible and esoteric. I feel like people are simply humoring me whenever they feed me any praise on my work. The book is trite, pretentious and doomed. Somebody please shoot me now.
February 6, 2002
I updated the Links page today. Also, I just finished the artwork and text for the cover for CHLOE. I had a brief talk today with Tom Devlin, publisher of Highwater Books. He was preparing for a trip to the APE convention. He described the comics business as "soul crushing." I'm glad to know I've made the right choice for my life's pursuit. He also said that I absolutely should get proofs of the book from the printers. After some thinking it over, I've decided to save the money and throw caution to the wind. Let the cards fall where they may. I'm confident that the printers will do a fine job on the book. It's a fairly uncomplicated thing; just black & white, 136 pages, no color overlays, no bleeds (save for the cover). Al the pages are clearly numbered. What could go wrong? (Famous last words, no doubt.)
January 28, 2002
I am now in the midst of drawing new material. I have (undoubtedly) over-ambitious schemes of publishing a regular comic for international distribution. We'll see how long it takes for that bubble to burst. The Serialized Chrome Fetus Comics are due to be collectively published in Kramer's Ergot, a substantial anthology coming soon. Keep your ocular membranes peeled. If you are impatient, however, you can simply purchase Chrome Fetus #4, which contains all of that material. Just go to the "Merchandise" link.
January 17, 2002
It was my birthday on the 12th. I had a fine day. My new job is going alright. I have many new ideas for comics projects. CHLOE is now in Diamond Distributors' Previews Catalogue. I'll be sending the artwork to the printers at the beginning of Febuary. The books should be shipping out before the end of that month. They should be hitting stands in March. I find it all very exciting that more people will finally be reading my esoteric comics. I am developing a regular comics book series to begin this summer; if all goes well. I'll be hitting that drawing board soon.
January 4, 2002
Things are going a tad bit better today. I scored a decent paying job as a Security Guard at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston. As of this date, I have yet to recieve a paycheck, but soon I can stop shoplifting for food and loitering in the library. Now that I have a regular schedule, I can start drawing again. I have many projects in mind, and am anxious to get back to work.
December 11, 2001
Well, I am still jobless, and now I am penniless. I have lost quite a bit of weight from starving for the past two weeks. I have accomplished little in the way of drawing. My frustrations are accumalating. I am sorry to all who read this particularly whiny installment. I look forward to that day when I can announce that I have new material to present the world. Bear with me.
November 19, 2001
I just recently updated much of this website so it loads faster and (hopefully) looks better. There are some new pictures and comics to look at. I am still working on my new comic. It is very slow going, as I currently don't have a job. Survival takes precedent, unfortunately. When I have obtained employment, I hope to have a regular drawing schedule. As of yet, I don't even have a title for this book. I am reluctant to post any images up for viewing. I prefer to keep these projects clandestine. More later.
November 14, 2001
I havemoved once more. I now share an apartment with mygirlfriend in Cambridge, Massachusetts. My new address is posted on the CONTACT page. I have recently recieved a substantial grant from the XERIC FOUNDATION to publish CHLOE. Thus far, it appears that the book will appear in Diamond Distribution's January catalog. Books should be shipping in March. I am currently drawing yet another massive "graphic novel." Details on that book will be posted as it progresses.