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Reviews and commentary by Tony Isabella
"America's Most Beloved Comic-Book Writer & Columnist"
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TONY'S ONLINE TIPS
for Saturday, January 1, 2005
It's the new year. I hope you got to ring it in with the ones you love best. I'm assuming I did, but, since I'm writing this TOT a few days before it posts here, I don't know for certain. Maybe I went to bed early just to get the heck out of 2004 as quickly as possible. That seems like something I might do.
Many columnists devote their first column of a new year to a review of the previous year - no thanks - a preview of the year to come - Do you see a crystal ball anywhere around me? - or their new year's resolutions. I thought about going that third route until I realized that, if I were any good at coming up with resolutions, I would be much more healthy and successful. So I'm mostly passing on that third one as well. Mostly.
Since I so clearly suck at making resolutions, I'm gonna ask the loyal legions of TOT readers to make them for me. You've been reading my online columns forever, so your resolutions can't be any worse than mine.
Hit me with your best shots. You can e-mail your resolutions-for-Tony to: tony@wfcomics.com
I'll run your best suggestions - funniest, most clever, most creative - in a near-future installment of this nigh-daily column. We'll laugh, I'll cry, and I might even surprise you by taking some of your resolutions to heart. Instead of allowing 2005 to drive me crazy, I'll get an early start on the journey.
Happy new year!
******
I'M LOOKING FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO DRAW...COMICS!
Call it a new year's resolution if you must - I think of it as more of a business plan - but I will be returning to write comics in 2005. I first mentioned this in the pre-Mid-Ohio-Con TOT which posted on November 22:
www.worldfamouscomics.com/tony/back20041122.shtml
I did hand out some "letters of agreement" at the convention and a few of them were signed and returned to me before the end of the show. For the benefit of the shy and retiring among you, here is that letter of agreement:
LETTER OF AGREEMENT
I, (your name), being an artist of relatively sound mind and body, would like to work with writer TONY ISABELLA on a comic-book story or series.
I understand there is no guarantee of payment for my efforts, but that Tony will do his best to get the story published in some format and also do his best to see that we profit from the story as much as possible. I am aware that the likelihood is that neither of us will see a dime from this story.
I understand Tony retains editorial control of the story and the right to decide when and where it appears. No artistic changes will be made without my permission and participation.
I understand I am responsible for the inking and lettering of the story. If a prospective publisher wants color, I understand we (Tony and I) will have to figure out how we're going to do that and proceed in a mutually-agreed-upon fashion.
I understand if our story is sold to a publisher, the initial payments will be split 65-35% between myself and Tony with Tony receiving 35%. Any ancillary monies (such as movies, toys, etc.) will be split 50-50 between myself and Tony.
I understand if our story leads to an ongoing series that we can and will renegotiate this agreement. If we can't agree on an agreement that works to our mutual benefit, we will part company, but will always think kindly of each other.
I understand I am agreeing to draw the story within a set period of time after receiving the script. The schedule for completion is as follows:
1-12 pages.....no more than 90 days
13-24 pages.....no more than 180 days
25-36 pages.....no more than 270 days
37-48 pages.....no more than 360 days
I understand if I fail to complete the story within the above time frames that Tony is free to assign it to another artist.
I understand the second page of this agreement will contain my contact information, my genre preference, the number of pages I am agreeing to draw, and a word or two to "jump-start" Tony as to what I would like to draw.
I will begin writing the scripts - four so far - in February. If you're interested in getting in on my quixotic venture, send me an e-mail with a note listing some of your credits and/or somewhere I can go online to see your work. I'll get back to you with either the letter of agreement you just read or an e-mail explaining why I don't think we'd be a good team.
Whatever you do, DON'T make assumptions about what kind of art you think I might like. I am vast, I contain multitudes, and if I only liked one kind of comics, I would have died of boredom decades ago. I surprise myself daily.
I'm looking forward to hearing from you.
******
POP CULTURE FEST
There is great news in the new year for those of us who love attending Roger Price's MID-OHIO-CON. Our favorite "con daddy" is launching a new series of one-day events in Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio. Four shows have been scheduled:
April 10 (Columbus)
June 12 (Cleveland)
July 10 (Columbus)
October 9 (Cleveland)
Each show will feature celebrity guests from all areas of pop culture, including the comics community. Price will be announcing his special guests soon, but, for now, you'll want to bookmark the POP CULTURE FEST website...
www.popculturefest.com
...and check it frequently for updates. I plan to attend all four events because, if anyone does how to put on a terrific show, it's my pal Roger.
******
TRAGEDY UPDATE
The death toll from the earthquakes and tsunamis which struck East Africa and Southern Asia earlier this week has now risen to a staggering 117,000. Relief funds are desperately needed - the Bush administration is committing less money to this effort than it will spend on his second-term inauguration - and, once again, I ask you to contribute what you can. You can make your donations online by going here:
http://www.redcross.org/donate/donate.html
Thanks for any donations you make to the relief effort and for spending part of your day with me. I'll be back tomorrow with more news, views, and reviews.
Tony Isabella
<< 12/31/2004 | 01/01/2005 | 01/02/2005 >>
Discuss this column with me at my Message Board. Also, read Heroes and Villains: Real and Imagined.
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THE "TONY" SCALE
ZERO: Burn your money before buying any comic receiving this rating. It doesn't *necessarily* mean there's absolutely nothing of value here - though it *could* - but whatever value it might possess shrinks into insignificance before its overall awfulness.
ONE: Buy something else. Maybe I found something which wasn't completely dreadful in the item, but not enough for me to recommend it when there are better comics available. I only want what's best for you, my children.
TWO: Basic judgment call. I found some value, but not enough to recommend it. My review should give you enough info to decide if you want to take a chance on it. Are you feeling lucky today, punk? Well, are you?
THREE: This denotes something I find perfectly respectable. There are better books out there, but I wouldn't regret buying this item. Based on my review, you should be able to determine if it's of interest to you. Let the Force guide you.
FOUR: I recommend anything earning this rating. Unless you don't like the genre, subject matter, or past work of the creators, I believe you'll enjoy this item. Isn't it uncanny how I can look right into your soul that way?
FIVE: Anything getting this rating is among the best comicdom has to offer. You should buy/read this, even if the genre/subject matter doesn't appeal to you. It's for your own good. Me, I live for comics and books this good...but not in a pathetic "Comic-Book Guy" sort of way.
Please send material you would like me to review to:
Tony's Online Tips
840 Damon Drive
Medina, OH 44256
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