Comic Books

Once upon a time, it was my lifelong dream to write comic books.

And then I wrote them.

Writing comics requires a whole different skill-set than writing prose. Is there overlap? Well, sure. But pacing, structure, characterization, and flow are almost entirely different. And you're collaborating with someone else (sometimes more than one) and you have to surrender part of the story if you want the collaboration to come off.

For control freaks like me, that's not really the optimal condition for producing great fiction.

I'm not hugely proud of most of my comic book work. I had a lot to learn when I wrote it. But here it is, for those of you who may be interested. 

Lillith #1-3
What is it?: A three-issue comic book mini-series, published in 1996-1997 by Antarctic Press.
Tell Me About It: This mini-series was a spin-off from Antarctic’s then-popular Warrior Nun comic book. It is the story of a demon princess trapped on earth after a summoning ritual gone wrong and how she attempts to reconcile her hellish upbringing with her need to protect herself as the forces of earth, heaven, and hell all converge on her. Think La Femme Nikita crossed with Evil Dead.
Who’s It For?: Teens and adults
Where Is It?: Out of print. Try eBay if you must, but trust me – other than some moderately interesting takes on some old myths and a couple of funny digs at fundamentalism, it’s not worth reading.

“The Hammer & The Holocaust” -- Warrior Nun Areala #1-3
“Holy Man, Holy Terror” -- Warrior Nun Areala #4-5
“Nor a Liar Run, Aware” -- Warrior Nun Areala #6
What is it?: A six-issue stint on a comic book series, published in 1997-98 by Antarctic Press.
Tell Me About It: This was the fourth Warrior Nun comic book series from Antarctic as the publisher attempted to capitalize on the then-popular title. It is the story of a world in which the earth is repeatedly attacked by demons from hell, and so the Catholic Church has Magic Priests and Warrior Nuns who defend it. The original three series were very tongue-in-cheek, but Antarctic asked me if I could write a serious version. Given the subject matter of religion and good vs. evil, I felt I could do so. I immediately jettisoned the demon invasions and instead wrote a story about the Catholic Church’s complicity with the Nazis during and after World War II. Unfortunately, the audience for the book liked the more tongue-in-cheek approach, and by mutual agreement, I left the series after six issues.
Who’s It For?: Teens and adults
Where Is It?: Out of print. Try eBay if you must, but again, they’re not all that great. I was a new comic book writer, trying to do too much prose in comics, not letting the art speak for itself. Decent stories, but poorly executed on my part. Pity the poor artists.

“Nemesis” -- Warrior Nun Black & White #3
What is it?: A short comic book story, published in 1997 by Antarctic Press.
Tell Me About It: This brief story served as a prelude to my Warrior Nun series. In it, I introduced a new enemy for Areala, The Holy Man, a man “born without a soul” who sees religion as a dangerous force that harms humanity. His solution is to destroy churches, synagogues, and mosques, striving to break humanity of its dependence on faith. He was to be a major force in the series, had it ever progressed beyond the sixth issue.
Who’s It For?: Teens and adults
Where Is It?: Out of print. Try eBay if you must, but the usual caveats from above apply.

“A Murder of Crowe’s” -- Magic Priest #1
“Holy Men of War” -- Magic Priest #2
What is it?: A three-issue mini-series that was ended after two issues. Published by Antarctic Press in 1998.
Tell Me About It: This mini-series is when my comic book writing really began to click. Of course, it also spelled the end of my comic book writing career! Set in the Warrior Nun “universe,” it told the story of Father Sebastian Crowe, a Magic Priest who is given the task of tracking down a serial killer who preys on Catholics who went to a specific Catholic school. Crowe’s investigation leads him to the unthinkable – the killer must be a fellow Magic Priest! Had the book come out a year later, it would have coincided with the early priest sex abuse scandals and might have sold better, but as it stands, the sales were so dismal that Antarctic never published the final issue, “Forget Me.” UPDATE: At the request of readers, I have posted the script to the unpublished third issue here.
Who’s It For?: Teens and adults
Where Is It?: Out of print. Try eBay if you like, but realize that you’ll only ever have two-thirds of the story.

“The Care and Feeding of Your Daggit” – Battlestar Galactica Gallery Special
What is it?: A comic book short story published by Realm Press in 2000.
Tell Me About It: This story was an exercise in the comic book form, and the first time I felt like I really nailed it. Told entirely from the point of view of the daggit (a sort of robotic cross between a dog and a teddy bear), the story is narrated in the creature’s internal programming language and asks the question: “When does a programmed response become indistinguishable from real emotion?” Legendary comic book writer Jim Shooter read and liked it, and that was good enough for me!
Who’s It For?: All ages
Where Is It?: Out of print. Try eBay if you’re interested.