I never liked heroes

In case you didn't know, Black Powder actually started as 2 short stories I wrote in 2002. They were science fiction in nature but basically dealt with the exact same subject material, contractors fighting proxy wars.

About 6 months ago we were asked to do a treatment of BPRE set only 10 years out versus 40. We produced a "scriptment" that was about 60 pages long. This piece was faithful to the BPRE universe but with hooks for a more conventional setting. I've since begun work on second draft of the screenplay with a graphic novel format in mind.

I poked around the net and checked out a few scripts recommended by the fine folks at the Joe Kubert School. Alan Moore is the man to beat apparently. I like quite a few of Moore's books (notable favs are The Watchmen and The Killing Joke) but comparing his written word versus what's on the page is interesting. His scripts read as though he is having a conversation with the artist. Totally not my style LOL But going back to my fav books of the past 3 decades and compiling a top 10 list, the only hero book on there was Dark Knight Returns.

I think I am in the minority of comic book fans in that I have never really liked "hero" books. I got my start in manga, hording Area 88, Grey, Appleseed, Venus Wars and Akira like they were going out of style. I think the first western comics I got into were the 2000AD titles like Rogue Trooper, Bad Company, Judge Dredd and later Glimmer Rats.

I didn't even check out hero books till I was in high school. I mean seriously, dudes in costumes fighting criminals...they weren't heroes. The guys who died at Desert One, heroes. Son Tay Prison Raiders...heroes. You get the drift.

Does this observation have any particular relevance in the greater scheme of things? Who knows. It'll give you an idea of what's on the horizon though :)

Have a better one.

Black Powder | Red Earth

After posting blogs at a few different places (myspace, gamespot, etc.) I figured I would start the new year with a blog of my very own. Since I have a variety of projects I am involved with: Echelon Software, GridLink, Hayaino Daisuki, Black Powder | Red Earth, KEMT, Scratch Trigger Era, etc. I will probably post about a variety of subject matter.

Reading lists, movies, music, and various other proto-culture might also find their way into this.

The name of the blog, TCN2019, is drawn from the Black Powder | Red Earth script/book I co-created over the past 3-4 months in my "copious spare time". TCN is a Third Country National and 2019 is the year in which the story takes place. More soon.