G.T. Labs

Blog

The New York Times reviews T-Minus

T-Minus coverWow. I couldn’t be happier* with this review in the New York Times. I’m told that T-Minus is also an Editor’s Choice for the week, which is also wonderful.

(*I’m even happy that the reviewer found an error. Not that I’m happy about the mistake…I groaned when I confirmed it, but deep down I knew that even though we checked the manuscript about three zillion times, a few would escape our dragnet. So I compliment his eagle-eye: In the margin of page 53 I have Friendship 7
launching in 1961. We got it right with the “T-Minus 7 years, 5 months”
caption on the same page, but somehow I messed up in the lower right
corner. It should say “20 Feb 1962” down there. So…apologies to John
Glenn, thanks to Jack Shafer for pointing it out, and I’ll do my best to get it fixed in the next printing!)

Why I work with Big Time Attic whenever possible

If you read Tom Spurgeon’s interview with Kevin Cannon you’ll find roughly 317 bits of wisdom. I’ll quote only one, from this not-for-the-squeamish bit about sound effects:

In Far Arden, David’s “THROW UP A LITTLE IN MOUTH” sound effect really cuts right to the core of what he’s feeling and doing, and it only took one panel to accomplish. If I used a normal sound effect like “HRMPH” I suppose some people might deduce that David had thrown up a little in his mouth. But how do we know he hasn’t thrown up a lot in his mouth? Or what if he has merely belched, without any throw-up at all? One solution would be for the character to have the “HRMPH” sound effect, and then to tell another character, “I’ve just thrown up a little in my mouth.” But given the fact that he’s got to spit out the throw-up first before he can attempt to say anything, we’re looking at three, four panels just for that one gag. That’s just wasteful.

And that’s why, when you have less than 128 pages to cover the space race, you want to work with Kevin and Zander. Storytelling efficiency.

The Next Big Thing…

…or maybe it will be the next, next big thing, depending on publishing schedules. Enough crypticality: If you’d like to take a sneak peek at an upcoming book, head on over to Maris Wicks’ blog and, well, sneak that peek.

The book will feature The Peak, too, in case the above wasn’t cryptic enough.

Underground!

I just got back from Heroes Convention, where I hobnobbed with my betters, met many excellent people, and enjoyed myself from beginning to end. Thanks Dustin! Thanks Shelton! 

The only fly in the ointment, missing piece, exception that tested the rule of excellence, etc. etc. was the absence of this book and its creators:

Underground cover

Understandable, since it’s not out yet, but still.

But. All is not lost! You can find out more about the book at the Underground site and you can place your order for it right now. It’s by Jeff Parker and Steve Lieber. There, see, I saved you a mouse-click — with those two involved you know you’ll like it and re-read it until the cover falls off. But click anyway, enjoy the very generous preview, and order one for the home and one for the office.

I remember when this book was just a twinkle in Steve’s eye, and then when that twinkle appeared in his other eye too, and one of Jeff’s. I can’t wait to get my hands on it. 

Jim Ottaviani at Heroes Convention, June 19-21 in Charlotte, NC

Heroe's Con Indy Island logoI had a great time at Heroes last year, so I look forward to attending again this time! At the show I’ll have T-Minus and limited edition books and a smile on my face and a song in my heart. See you there. 

(I may be a little late to arrive on Friday the 19th, though, so if you were thinking of getting up early just to see me, well, don’t. But with a guest list that includes Liz Baillie, Brian Michael Bendis, June Brigman, Ed Brubaker, Fred Chao, Danielle Corsetto, Guy Davis, Matt Fraction, Dick Giordano, Stephanie Gladden, Tony Harris, Adam Hughes, Chris Kemple, Matt Kindt, Roger Langridge, Alec Longstreth, Jason Lutes, David Mack, Laura Martin, Bob Mcleod, Carla Speed McNeil, Phil Noto, David Petersen, Eric Powell, MK Reed, Don Rosa, Craig Rousseau, Chris Schweizer, Thomas Scioli, Bill Sienkiewicz, Jeff Smith, Richard Thompson, Mark Waid, and Drew Weing, well, get there early and get in line anyway!) 

Updated: I’ll be at table 423, right next to Carla Speed McNeil!

Jim Ottaviani at Kids Read Comics, June 12-13 in Chelsea, MI

This Friday and Saturday I’ll be in beautiful Chelsea, MI for the first Kids Read Comics event ever, held at the Chelsea District Library…which is within shouting distance of a few of my favorite places in southeast Michigan: The Purple Rose Theatre, The Common Grill, and Jiffy Mix World Headquarters.

On Friday I’ll be joining the fabulous Tara Tallan of Galaxion fame for a discussion of non-fiction comics — she just did a book on astronauts too! And on Saturday afternoon (I may get there a little before noon, but it won’t be by much!) I’ll join a whole bunch of other great folks set up to show their books and talk comics with whoever stops by.

I hope that includes you!