D.J. Coffman - Sequential Artist, Thinker

So I did the gym thing this morning. I didn’t puss out. Actually, with the time to think about it over the weekend it became like “why not?”– I’d give it a shot and see if I could maintain a schedule. The system they have there is pretty damn easy, but I’m gym-tarded so I had to have this meeting with the physical trainer to show me all the machines and how to adjust them. I’m sure it’s in my head, but I can swear she gave me a look sometimes like “Is this guy from another planet?”– I told her a few times I was “gym-tarded”— this 9am stuff isn’t gonna fly though, I can see why people get into the gyms super early now to get their workout done and not have to rush to get to work. So, my wife will be glad to hear that even though I feel gym-tarded, it wasn’t bad, and I’m sure I’ll come up with my own system.

Right now my arms kinda feel like jello, which I totally expected. My upper body strength is PUNY.  I have REALLY STRONG fingers though! So watch out for my 1 inch finger punch, fools! — but yeah, after my arms feel like that, it’s really hard for me to draw, but i gotta muscle through it. Wow, a clever unexpected pun there.

Okay– workwise…. Free Comic Book Day stuff for HBN is almost done. I’m really happy with it– it’s sort of a mini recap of Jack’s story so far, with him narrating it in his own journal and his own thoughts. I thought it would be a great time for Jack to launch his own journal, like David Day had his own journals. And the contrast of how the two think, it’s just so much fun to write out. David Day was that old, strategic thinker– battle hardened, military trained, everything for a reason… and Jack is introspective, inspired, and complains a lot, but it’s about things we ALL deal with today. Even though I know the character in and out, it was really fun watching his own inner dialogue come out on the page. I can’t say much more without ruining the end of issue 3. This FCBD story takes place between issue 3 and 4. Issue 4 is a nice jumping on point for new readers too, so having the FCBD version out around that time will be perfect I think.

That’s that… today I have to do a little cleanup work on some FCBD pages, and a couple commissions I’ve been promising people, one is Freedom Fighter for the Trivia winner, and the other is TOP SECRET for a fella I know and love.

- We were nominated for a GEEKIE webcomic award by webcomicgeek blog. They had previously written a nice review of of the Hero By Night Journals. I know this ain’t no Eisner, but hey, why the heck shouldn’t it be!? We’re in good company on the list there.

Wishlist… I see that “The Artist Within” book on amazon— featuring photos of various artists in their studios, including my hero.  That’s gonna be a must have when I have some funny money. Right now the well is pretty damn dry.