Top of The World: Tales of Mystery, Suspense, And Adventure

When the world came to an end, I was 14,000 feet above sea level and on my way down the mountain after having ascended the summit of Mt. McKinley. It wasn't the first time I had done so, and it was the latest step towards the completion of a lifelong goal, which was to climb Mt. Everest some day, physical health and financial resources willing. Since it costs about thirty grand to mount Everest, I was a ways away from realizing that particular ambition, but everyone has to start somewhere and after climbing numerous smaller mountains as part of my training, I had since moved on to ascend the top of the tallest one in North America. It was also the coldest, which was equally good training for Everest.

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Bedlam & Belfry, Intergalactic Attorneys at Law: The 1st Dozen

I don't remember the first time that I enlisted the services of Bedlam & Belfry, Intergalactic Attorneys at Law, but I must have been rather desperate (or inebriated) because even then they had a reputation for being particular. In fact, the only reason why they took me on as a client was because they believed I was guilty, a fact of which I then attempted to disabuse them, but to no avail.

"So you say that you've been accused of stealing millions of debits from your employer, who has since mysteriously vanished?"

"It's not millions of debits, it's billions of debits. And yes, Mr. Landry has since disappeared, but I had nothing to do with that."

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10 Things Americans Need To Know About Canada Before Moving Up Here

A humourous look at the 2016 U.S. Presidental Election from a Northern perspective.



Is Anybody Out There? One Writer on the Purgatory of Submission

Written for The Millions, this short piece is about waiting to hear back from editors and publishers.

(Spoiler Alert: it takes a long time.)




3,457 Miles and 14 Years Ago


As part of Comic-Con@Home, the 2020 Souvenir Book was made available online (as was the rest of the Con), and now you can read all about the time I met Ray Harryhausen!

(BTW, that's not Ray Harryhausen on the cover; it's his good friend, Ray Bradbury. Both men would have turned 100 years old that year. Ray Harryhausen is on the inside!)



An Ode to "Peanuts"

A retrospective on Charles Schulz and "Peanuts" for the twentieth anniversaries of the passing of the legendary cartoonist and the ending of his comic strip.



Hits & Misses: Part 1 - Legion of Super-Heroes

Originally serialized on Facebook, this is the story of how I almost got to assist legendary Legion of Super-Heroes author Jim Shooter when he returned to the series in 2008.

Twists and turns to follow!




Hits & Misses: Part 2 - Interact-O-Rama

Dark Horse Comics held a contest. I entered. I may or may not have won a t-shirt.

Features eight pages of a comic book story you've never read before (because it's never been published)!



Hits & Misses: Part 3 - Cthulhu Tales

Enough with the misses, it's time for a hit! The real life, true story of how I made my first comic book sale.

Guest starring Mark Waid and H.P. Lovecraft (sort of)!





Hits & Misses: Part 4 - Pennsylvania 6-5000

They say you're not a real writer until you've been paid. This is the story of the first time that money changed hands in my career, and it's not what you'd think!



The Journey of a Thousand Miles

Originally written for the 50th Anniversary of the Legion of Super-Heroes, "The Journey of a Thousand Miles," was published in 2008 as part of that year's Comic-Con International Souvenir Book, making it the most widely circulated piece that I'd ever written, up to that point.

Updated to include the publication changes that have occurred since!



Hawk & Dove: The Karl Kesel Interview

Cut from The Titans Companion 2, we present a series of questions with Karl Kesel about both the 1988 Hawk & Dove mini-series and its monthly follow-up. Learn how the new Dove came to be, and how Rob Liefeld was picked for his first big break!

Your Titans Companion experience isn't complete without it!





Dave Cockrum: A Personal Reminiscence

This is rare. Originally published in Interlac #184 (circulation: 42) back in 2007, it was written the day after Dave Cockrum died (November 27, 2006). Posted online ten years after his death for everyone else to read.

Features rare, behind-the-scenes artwork!






Remembering Steve Lightle

Written on the day Steve Lightle died, this essay originally appeared on Facebook and captures how I felt after getting the shocking news.

It is archived here -- with photos and artwork not included in its original form -- for posterity.