Don't be Dave Hearn

I've dug a hole for myself that's almost too deep to climb out of (check out my dangling participle).  I can do it but, damn, I wish there were more hours in a day!

I've got three comics in the works right now and I'm losing my mind! 

As usual, I've created a mess and now I have to clean it up.  You see, for the past several months, I've been working on my portfolio.  Just trying to get some pages together to show that folks at DC and Marvel next August at WizardWorld Chicago.  I even went so far as to make up a penciling schedule for the next year featuring 5-6 page stories using characters from each company.  I've even outlined most of the stories myself.  For the first time, I felt organized and motivated to really get things done.

Then I opened my mouth and got myself into trouble.

While cruising around MySpace one day I ran into an amature filmmaker who was looking to work on a comic book.  He wanted something low-key that wouldn't really have a deadline so he could gain the experience of working with a partner.  Like a boob, I volunteered.  As soon as I realized what I had done, I knew that it would take me away from my carefully crafted plan.  And it has.  But I really love Chuck (the filmmaker) and I'm jazzed about his script.  This is beyond an exciting project and is a comic that I would love to read. 

Of course, this lack of dealine thing will come back to bite me in the ass.

Fast forward a month or so and I'm still trying to work on portfolio stuff and get some character designs ready for Chuck.  The character designs are taking way too long because I'm a lazy sonuvabitch.  Now, I'm getting panicky.

Enter by good buddy, Derek.

Derek and his wife, Amy are new friends of my wife and me.  Well, kinda new.  We've know them for about a year but we really started hanging out this summer.  Turns out that Derek is a comic guy!  (I meet so few people who like comic)  He took a look at my web-site, fell in love with the Blind Gunfighter and approached me with a story idea that he's been working on with his friend, Robbie.  Not only did I want to work with a friend on a comic but thier idea was really damn good!  So, like an ass, I accepted. 

Now, I've got 2 comics going and a portfolio to whip into shape.

A normal person would look at themselves honestly and say, "Hey, I've kinda overbooked myself here.  If I screw this up, I'm not only messing up my life but the lives of 3 other people.  I'd better get to work."

I'm not a normal person.  I'm Dave Hearn.  Lesson number 1 in being normal: don't be Dave Hearn.

Literally 1 week after I agreed to help out Derek and Robbie with their project, I'm messing around on SBC and the idea of Ninja Zombies comes up.  A guy I talk to a bunch named Paul McCoy says that he has a killer story idea featuring said Zombies and...

... guess what happened?

Yep!  I said, "You write it and I'll draw it!"

As I said, "Don't be Dave Hearn."

Paul crafted a great story!  His script is immaculate and outrageously entertaining.  I actually have more done for his project than I have for the other two.  If I can ever get the damn thing done, you will love it.  Trust me!

So, here I am now.  I got three projects going and a portfolio to get together.  Well, I scrapped the portfolio.  I figure, if I can finish these projects, I'll have 32 pages worth of material to use in a portfolio.  Besides, wasn't it the point of the portfolio to work on comics?  Aren't I already doing that?  Sure, it's not Marvel or DC and it isn't paying me anything (yet) but I get to work with 4 incredibly talented people on projects that I love.

4 people whose lives I can affect by working on their projects.

4 people whose lives I can screw up by not getting them done.

I hate pressure.

See, it's hard to be Dave Hearn, but it sure is fun!