Thank you to each and every person that helped fund and promote my kickstarter campaign to print my first graphic novel, “The City Troll”.  I couldn’t have done it with out you guys.  Finally the book is in print and I am scrambling to fulfill all the pre-orders.  As soon as the pre-orders are all sent the book will be available online and in select comic book shops.  Stay tuned.

THANK YOU: Erin Todd, FoxtrotBeta, theghastlyhug, Cindy Au, Jamie Gambell, Cameron Hatheway, Diane Vo, Megan, Thegoonies, Sally Swartz, Jacob Andrews, Sean Holden, Igniv, Brad Thomas, Francis, Khaden Mark Jee, Joss, Greg M., Katie, Wakasashe, Julia, Michael Manahan, Amphibo, Robbie Freece, Helen, Ryanne, Kelsey Parsons, Aaron Hazelwood, M. Cassidy, Melody Boyce, Patricia Matos Aguilera, Ben Kulp, Barkyboy, Miriam Wilcox-Barsalou, Katharine Nalani LeeHong, Billy Mizrahi, Kurt Dillman, Kent Whitaker, Luke Willis, Ashley E. Hurst, Virginia Paine, Michael Barnes, Boone Sommerfeld, Chris, Jeff Weiss, Natalie Zlamalova, Maria Yoon, Erin Kys, Oliver Lyon, Martin Johnson, Zoran Dobrijevic, Nilles, Lurgish, Zabuni, Matt Moscardi, Heather, Alex Rush, Holly, Anais Escobar, Stephanie Pereira, Brandon Eaker, WB Hyland, Nick Warner, Jennydeluxe, Derek Ring, Jacob Buck, Annie Wang, Ash Chapman, Hannah Schneider, Ruth Rarick, Tatiana Jimenez, Liz Lake, Trevor Coghill, William Duignan, Kevin Rinker, Robert Vitolo, Miguel Alderete, Bryan Heersema, Elizabeth, Joshua Patterson, Nathan Griffith, Nicole O., Chelsea Callahan, Joshua Shapel, Yasmine S. Mehmet, Keith Fenter, Rob McClure, Peter Buck, Courtney Henning, Rosie Siman, Chengis Javeri, Lee Tucker, Jacob Rodenbucher, Susan Eisner, Michael Wieclaw, Oscar Selden, John Atwood, Peter Kiemel, Amy Boulding, Emily Anderson, Moe McIntyre, Beebrabec, Martin Sverdvik, Dinnsdale Piranha, Justin, Hugo Ramos, Fabiola Muniz, Chris Kennedy, Adam Donovan, Stacey Hall, Andy Ainley, Werwolf, Kenny Jackson, lobbbe, Michael Domingo, Courtney Rabbott, Kora Bongen, Avery Brooks, Ricky Riggs, Espen Steinsnes, Joanne Wynkoop Aronson, Dominick, Anna Fogg, Wil Schaefer, Nicholas Howe, Justyn Butler, Goran K. King, Vicky DeMartino, John, Justin Campoli, John Lundquist, Elizabeth Neronski, Mark Anticole, Katie, Ben Johnston, Douglas Gates, Lauren Zakreski, The Outside Joke, Kris J Heitmeyer, Robin Anderson, Russel Friend, Janine Kamouh, Candy Joyce, Gabriel Perin, Adam Ruszkowski, Jesse Bernal, Michael Galluzzo, Miles, Matt Frock, Brian Jacob Propp, Max Ink, Gleesus, Jon McD, Brian Foo, Phillip Bingham, Daniel Warner, William Green, Alex Pan, Agnes, Jason Shtrax, Griffin Manos, Jake, Koye Oyedeji, Upholstery, Veronica Fregoso, Brenna Sydel, Agnieszka Furtak, Matthew Meling, Megan Rose, Bailey Shoemaker Richards, Gillian F, Ed Delaney, Ashley, Milkhatter, Catherine Batka, Greg B&Y, David Cabin, Michael Slaysman, Shannon McCormick, Josh Bryant, Luis Lerma, Adelmira Sanchez, Tan Han Lip, Noura Khoury, Evan Lewis, Mark P Hensel, James, Kelly Campbell, Brepettis, Ting S, Sydney Bernstein, Tom Hughes-Croucher, Jason Kirk Harder, Rodrigo Ortiz Vinholo, John Bricker, Kayte, Janna Solis, Honorless, Andy Dopieralski, Becky, and Anthony Licata!

I’ll be there with copies of:
• The City Troll (Fresh off the presses!!!)
• AOA #1
• The Awkward Quarterly #2 (new!)
• The Awkward Quarterly #1 (back in print!)
• Okay? Okay!
• Future Ghost (back in print!)
• Batcave Beach Chapter 1

Sent the files for “The City Troll” off to the printers yesterday. I can’t wait to hold this in my hands.

So I’m a little compulsive and need to list my favorite albums and movies every year.  I’m posting it online since this is more of a journal than anything else I have and I know 5 years down the road I can just click through the archives and see what stupid music I was listening to at the time.  Anyways, 2011 was pretty great.  Didn’t make it to the Sasquatch Music Festival in Washington but did get to enjoy SxSW and Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin.

10. M83 – “Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming”
This album was hard for me to devour since it was soooo long.  For the most part I enjoyed it although there are some weird ones where I can’t last through a full listen (like that one with the kid rambling about a frog or something).
Favorite Song: “Midnight City”

9. Los Campesinos! – “Hello Sadness”
I wish more bands popped out a solid album every year like Los Campesinos! do.  They even have time to make a quarterly zine with unreleased material called “Heat Rash”.  As always I am frantically trying to learn all the lyrics so I can sing along in the car.
Favorite Song: “Songs About Your Girlfriend”

8. Cults – “Cults”
Although only about half this album sticks with me, it’s a really good half.  Enough to make it in my top albums of the year.  That last part in “You Know What I Mean” when she goes an octave higher is like my favorite thing ever.
Favorite Song: “You Know What I Mean”

7. Black Lips – “Arabia Mountain”
Normally I hate when gritty bands go with a little more polish, but here it worked for me.  Could have done without “Mad Dog” though.
Favorite Song: “Mr. Driver”

6. Something Fierce- “Don’t Be So Cruel”
After falling in love with Mean Jeans and The White Wires last year I have been following Dirt Nap Records releases like a hawk.  This year they gave me this.  Awesome fun punk rock like very little bands still achieve today.
Favorite Song: “Before You Raised The Gun”

5. Hunx & His Punx- “Too Young To Be In Love”
There’s something about this Hunx’s nasally voice mixed with the wonderful female backup vocals of his Punx and Shannon Shaw from Shannon and the Clams that could turn any song to pure awesomeness.  This album feels instantly nostalgic, which is the best feeling any album can give in my opinion.
Favorite Song: “Lovers Lane”

4. Total Babes – “Swimming Through Sunlight”
Just. Plain. Rad.  By some guys or a guy from Cloud Nothings.  Also could this be the best album cover of the year?
Favorite Song: “How We Wanna Be”

3. Sleeping Bag – “Sleeping Bag”
They sound like some band I know.  Melinda and I have been racking our brains for months trying to figure it out but still haven’t prevailed.  I guess we’ll never know.  This was one of my favorite most random finds.  That slime song is out of control goooooood.
Favorite Song: “Someone”

2. Cloud Nothings – “Cloud Nothings”
They may be a little too repetitive for some since they repeat their short punk pop choruses over and over to death.  But when it’s this catchy how can I complain?  I have still yet to tire of my endless listens.  Music always fuses to my memories and this will always remind me of my first summer in Austin, TX.
Favorite Song: “Should Have”

1. Real Estate – “Days”
With every listen this album keeps getting better and better.  This is the ideal soundtrack for long drives through beautifully vacant landscapes or a great staying up all night drawing comics tunes.

Favorite Song: “Green Aisles”

It’s official!  I’ve just launched my Kickstarter campaign to fund my graphic novel “The City Troll”!  Check it out here: http://kck.st/vEccIP

I just finished the cover of “The City Troll”, a graphic novel I am working on due out in March 2012.  I’m so excited!