9-24-04
O.K. I know it's been awhile since I've typed something out for my invisible public, but the upcoming issue of W.C. is finally done. Which means the first Volume of W.C. is finally done. The year of 2004 has been rough, and working through this last issue has been a real test. For those who care, I'm finally getting very close to what I really want to say in this medium. I have found a way to draw ALL-MALE HARDCORE ACTION through the help of the Kind Bud Nugs. The Autobiographical shit is working well in Wood Weapon, and Rock n Roll Boyfriend. My love for children's literature can be seen in Dr. Zim and Gladys the Lonely Dildo. Last but not least... the Monster War is over!!! This first Volume is about a lot of different things for me. But my end goal was, and still is, to entertain. I want you to know what I'm thinking. I want you to have fun and get lost, and I think that can happen now, with these comics, for those who are willing. This Volume of underground comics might be hard for most fags to digest. But if there are 300 people out there in the world who want Art Fag Comic Porn Fun, and want it bad, then I'll be happy. I might even be able to make a little money at this. After all Wanky Comics is a sound investment in your childhood perversities, a bitch-slap against the mainstream faggotry. A sssuper gay visual assault on the comic world with a drawing style that actually transcends the medium once and awhile. Don't be a sad whiney counter culture psychic vampire! Buy all four issues of Wanky Comics today! I worked hard on this shit and I think you'll agree, the up's and down's are worth it! You know what I mean?... like totally Dude!

6-9-03
Issue #2 is finally done and I can stop worring about it. But you can help me pay for it by ordering many copies to share with friends and family. Have discussions about the layout designs and compositons, debate the important social issues these comics deal with. Whatever! Just order one and tell me what you think. I'm toiling in the depths of comic hell here. Make a difference, and give me $$$.

Ok I'm done with my sales pitch, and on to current events... there are none. Well no, like I said above I am toiling with new comic adventures as well as wrapping up the old ones, and I think I figured out how this whole WANKY COMIC thing is going to work. Since Monster War is an 8 part story spread over 4 issues, I'm going to make the first Volume of WC 4 issues long. Hopefully I'll be done with all 4 by the end of the year (issue 3 is nearly done). After the first Vol. is completed and I've done some heavy promotion, I'll take a break and look back at what I've done. I have other comic ideas that aren't quite so "wanky", maybe I'll try to work on those.

To help with the whole money thing, I've decided to apply for a Xeric grant. It's probably a long shot, but if anyone is going to give me money, it would probably be these guys. Check out this link to see what they're all about - www.xericfoundation.com

Last but not least, please check out this site later this summer for a new section featuring lots of sketch book art from yours truly. I'd like you all to see the variety of things that I draw. Won't that be nice!

Until next time,
Lotsa love,
BiL

1-15-03
Hello people, I'm very happy to announce that I have finally received the 500 copies of WANKYCOMICS #1 from Rocky's Graphics (Denver, CO.) and have faithfully distributed them throughout the fair city of Minneapolis (see order pages to find where). I've done my job, and now it's time to do yours and support this starving artist. It's been a long road to this point and there's a long road ahead. My mission is to fagify the comic world a bit and provide some smutty entertainment for the modern gay man. But more importantly, for now I'd love some input. If you do get a copy of WC#1 let me know what you think, and feel free to be honest.

At the moment I'm tying up the loose ends for WC#2. Now that I know the in's and out's of getting a comic printed, it won't take so long this time. Every issue I complete I will update the site with new pictures in the Gallery, more notes here, and whatever else becomes relevant.

2003 should be an interesting year for me. I'm planning on having 4 issues of WC completed. My band, The Fiction Four, is planning a possible trip to N.Y.C. plus some recording for another album. Finally I'll probably be moving into my boyfriends house sometime in the summer. I've never lived with a significant other before. Usually I prefer mooching off'im until he kicks me out, but none the less I'm very excited (and a little nervous). If anybody has any tips on how to make this transition easier let me know.

More about me!!!

Since this my first entry in the "What's New?" section, and since there isn't too much new stuff relating to the comic (at least that I want you to know about), I thought I'd end off this posting with some pointless personal info.

I just turned 30 a few weeks ago, on Dec. 30 (yes my golden birthday). I've lived in Minneapolis pretty much all my life. I went to the Minneapolis College of Art and Design for a year after high school and dropped out. Later I took another year of art school at the San Francisco Art Institute, and dropped out again. Since 1995 I've been bumming around Mpls. trying to form a career as an artist or musician. I started a rock band with my sister and friends in 1997 called Sherman Electric, now of course we're the Fiction Four. Our sound is sort of a Garage, 60's pop, punk sort a thing. I sing and play guitar. If you live in MN. check us out at any number of the local rock clubs. Our web site is www.thefictionfour.com.

Drawing has been a big part of my life since high school, and I don't only draw naked men and smutty comics. A lot of my work is inspired from cartoon characters and artists ranging from Garfield to R. Crumb. I also love obscure classic animation from the 1930's, you know, like those big bubble eyes and pudgy cheeks on animated eggs and spoons and what have you. I also have a pretty big children's book collection, which I draw inspiration from. Most of the time I use my sketch books as a medium to work out my ideas. I used to paint a lot as well, but when the band took over my life, dedicating time for painting became a complicated matter. Drawing comics became a natural outlet for my visual work. I could walk away from it for long periods of time if I needed to, something that is difficult to do with oil paints. It gave me an opportunity to tell stories with pictures, which is helping me refine my craft. Comics give my drawing a sense of purpose, especially my love for smutty drawings. I've never been content with doing just "erotic art". There are a lot of great gay erotic artists out there, doing your typical male pin-up art, which I am a fan of but I think there is lot more potential for fag expression in comics. I wanted to work with the great electricity that happens in comics. I wanted to tell stories about gay characters that fit into there own fantasy world and not into a faction of the gay community (Leather, Bear, Twink, Drag Queens, etc...). These characters tend to be somewhat alienated, but not depressed or dramatic. I want my work to be sexy, but I also want the men that I draw to have a certain kind of complexity and surreal ness. Something that you can't really achieve with a nude painting or drawing.

Well I'm rambling on here, so I'll just end off this transmission saying I hope you enjoy my work, and If you got something to say I'd love to hear from you!!!

BiL