SOMEONE HAD TO CALL, RIGHT?
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Aug18

SOMEONE HAD TO CALL, RIGHT?

August 18th, 2006 | by Tom
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(5 votes, average: 9.00 out of 10)

I seriously have no idea what I was trying to do with today’s strip.

I think the idea crept in my head that it would be funny for Tom to pick up the phone and do a little sarcastic play acting. But then the twist would be that someone actually called! Hilarious, right?

Hmmm… "laborious" is more like it.

Oh, well. They can’t all be Eisner Award Winners!

I wanted to let everyone know that I’ve been dedicating a much of my time as possible to sending out all of the pre-ordered copies of Theater Hopper: Year One. It’s taking me a while to do it because I promised everyone who pre-ordered before the June 11 deadline a free sketch in their books. I’m not half-assing this, folks. I’m making these sketches nice. You’re going to love ’em.

I’ve been completing an average of about ten books a day. And then every day that follows, over my noon hour I go to the post office and mail out ten at a time. Let me tell you that the post office people LOVE me. Ugh.

At any rate, I’m working hard to get caught up and a few of you should be receiving your books any day now if you haven’t already.

I’m very curious to hear your reactions to the book. The response at Wizard World Chicago was strong, but I want to know what you guys think. Additionally, if anyone know where I might be able to ship out a few copies to be reviewed, that would be great. I was planning on including a "Notes of Praise for ‘Theater Hopper: Year One’" in the liner notes of Theater Hopper: Year Two.

Incidentally, I should mention that (because I am a glutton for punishment) and am going to start working on Theater Hopper: Year Two this weekend. It’s my goal to have it finished by September 29 so I can hand it off to Josten’s and get them back in time to take with me to Wizard World Dallas on November 10 – 12. I hope to have all the comics laid into the template on Saturday and then chisel away at the copy by trying to write 50 pages every week.

Cami and I were talking about it last night and I was wrestling with what kind of extras to toss into the book. I tried to have someone write a foreward for Year One and that fell through. So I was trying to think of someone else to write the foreward this year and Cami nominated herself! I think it’s a brilliant idea. I mean, wouldn’t you want to read a foreward written by the wife of the creator. A woman who happens to be represented as a character in said book? Great outsider perspective but with insider knowledge! I’d read it!

I’m a little psyched out because I’m trying to put together a book in about 4 weeks when the first one took me about 4 months to do. But at this stage of the game, I have all my research done, my template is ready to go and I’m experienced. I’ve been around the block with this thing now, so the second book should go faster.

Profits from the first book have given me a head start on covering costs for the second. But if you’d like to reduce the amount of time you have to wait for Theater Hopper: Year Two to fall into your hands, order a copy of Theater Hopper: Year One today. It’s an investment in your future!

Cami and I are just competely burned out on all things related to Snakes On A Plane. But a few of the people who post in the THorum who have seen it really like it and say it’s a great community experience. That’s probably the greatest value of the movie and I know I’ll be shooting myself in the foot if I don’t see it this weekend to tap into that vibe. Surely two weeks from now, people won’t be as hyped during screenings.

That said, Cami and I are probably going to see Accepted this weekend. What can I say? We think Justin Long is really funny. We’ve been fans of his ever since he was on Ed on NBC a few years ago. He’s always great in those supporting roles he has in films like Dodgeball. If Vince Vaughn, Owen Wilson and Will Ferrell are all part of The Frat Pack, Justin Long is pledging next year.

That’s it for today. Have a great weekend!

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CLARIFICATION

August 21st, 2006 | by Tom
Posted In: Blog

Between the e-mails I’ve been getting, the feedback in the THorum and the LiveJournal feed, I’ve been taking a lot of hits regarding my criticisms of Snakes On A Plane so I figured now was the time to clarify some of my points.

1. When I declare the movie is over-hyped, I am not referencing the quality of the movie itself nor am I attacking you personally for enjoying it. I am talking about the marketing of the film and how I felt it is over done.

2. Citing the opening weekend box office of S.O.A.P. was evidence I used to support my point. When analysts such as Box Office Guru, Coming Soon and Entertainment Weekly estimated an opening weekend in the  $30 million dollar range ($28 million, $30.8 million and $31 million respectively), there was obviously a wide gap between expectations and results. To me, it was a clear indication that there were others who felt the same way I did – they were once excited about the movie, but now wanted nothing to do with it due to the overbearing promotion.

3. If it helps, consider the analogy of a song on the radio. You hear a song on the radio and you’re into it for the first few months. Then they start playing it to much and you get sick of it. Doesn’t mean that it isn’t a good song. You’re just tired of hearing it. That’s how I felt about S.O.A.P. and that’s what I decided to write about.

4. I am allowed to have an opinon about a movie without seeing it. I’ve been getting a lot of e-mails in this regard. "How can you hate it without seeing it?"

First of all, I never said I hated the movie. It’s very possible that I’ll see it someday on DVD and enjoy it. But if two-thirds of the internet is allowed to geek out and say they LOVE S.O.A.P. based on the title alone, why am I not allowed the same lack of objectivity?

I write the comic from a personal viewpoint. I am not beholden to any kind of journalistic ethics or standards. I am a human being and I am allowed to have my own tastes and opinions. I don’t need to filter that or shield my bias if we happen not to feel the same way about things.

You guys have to give me that breathing room – that freedom to exaggerate – in order for me to keep producing this comic. To insist that I see EVERY movie that comes out before I make fun of it is unrealistic and would put me in a creative straight-jacket.

In addition to investing the time to do three strips a week (for free, mind you), I have a 9 to 5 job and commitments to my wife and family. It’s simply not possible for me to see everything and still have a life for myself.

5. If anyone was offended by the last three comics, I’m sorry. But at the same time, things wouldn’t be very interesting if we agreed on everything all the time, now would it?

I’m not saying that I’m going to stir things up for the sake of it. Frankly, this "fight" has taken a lot out of me. So you can expect a little less politicizing for a while. But, man… we all got to stop taking these things so personally. Let’s just say that yesterday’s Yirmumah strip really hit a nerve with me.

If anyone has questions or concerns, feel free to send me an e-mail. But I feel like I’ve said pretty much everything that needs to be said here.

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