6/27/01: Hello to all the new readers! Welcome back to all my regulars. And to the folks from ICQ-yo!

I need to say thanks to the folks who have written and said nice things (especially those who see an improvement in the art, I really am trying). Keep those e-mails coming, even the ones that offer criticism, they make my day!

If you haven't been there yet, check my links page, I've added some new links in the past week or so; all are comic strips that I enjoy and read on a regular basis. Keep in mind some of them may contain material not suited for all ages.

Speaking of links, in my very first News/Rant, I mentioned Cool Cat Studio as an example of both great art and good writing. Well, Gisele Lagace, creator of CCS has been offered the opportunity to start her own comic book. It will be out in November. Congratulations to her! If you haven't checked out her site, you really should.

Ok…that's it. Wear sunscreen, watch out for Wraiths with swords (ya know, maybe they wouldn't be so nasty if they'd just eat a doughnut) and have a good week.

6/11/01: Well, check it out! Today we start Chapter 1 in the Sanctuary Saga. The previous 11 episodes would be considered Prologue. We also launch our Message Board today. Check it out; make a post…be one of the first kids on the block to use the forum.

6/7/01: Oops…..Sorry….My Bad…..

I updated my development software Thursday (an upgrade from a previous version) and, in a completely boneheaded move, I deleted the old version before installing the upgraded version. D'oh! This of course meant that my old password went along with it. No password, no FTP access, no Friday strip. This morning I was able to get a hold of my helpful site-hoster (Instant Link in Nutley New Jersey; which, btw, is owned by cousin Jerry Mascari who just had his 35th birthday on the 7th, Happy B-Day cuz), got a new password and posted this strip as fast as my fat little fingers would allow it. So, lesson learned and my apologies to those who got here expecting to see the new strip--after all, it's all about you--the reader.

On a positive note, the above mentioned Jerry gave this glowing review of Sanctuary -"…pretty fuckin' psycho…" Well, that's a glowing review if I ever heard one!

Ok, there was more I wanted to mention-but it will wait…let's get this page up now.

Be cool, wear sunscreen, and don't forget your Kevlar overcoat.

6/1/01: Ok wait. Let me see if I have this straight. Timothy McVeigh is asking for stay of execution because of principle. The psycho who blew up a Federal Building, killed 160+ innocent people, and admitted his guilt, is going to take the FBI to task based on principle. What am I missing? Even if you're opposed to the death penalty, as I tend to be in most cases, you'd have to agree that McVeigh is not the guy to take anyone to task based on principle. I mean, you'd have to have principles to actually judge another's-wouldn't you?

By this time all of you have heard of ICQ-the chat client that works like AOL Messenger in that it lets you know who's online, post chat requests, use voice and NetMeeting, IM other users-all without having to be an AOL user. ANYWAY, I use it to promote each new installment of Sanctuary. Well, last night a reader from Canada emailed me and we had a delightful conversation about Sanctuary, the Catholic Church and other topics. Overall, it was a very nice way to blow off working on next weeks strips. It gave me an idea also. At some point in the future, I'd like to have a Sanctuary Chat using ICQ as the tool. Soooo…what I need to know from you is do you have ICQ? Simply click the mailto link below if you have it, or would be willing to get it.

Thanks to all of you for making week three the best week ever for Sanctuary. And the positive words are always great to hear!

Ok..keep cool, wear sunscreen, and stay away from chest busting, heart eating zombies.

If you have ICQ or would be willing to install it please click here: Yes I would use ICQ

To read more about ICQ or get the software, please click here: http://www.icq.com/

5/28/01: Happy Memorial Day to all the U.S. Vets! Thanks for the job you do!

Sorry for the late update today. I spent the day the Georgia Renaissance Festival and was tired when I got home. I gotta tell ya, being a relatively new transplant to the South, I am truly impressed with the Festival put on down here. And this review comes from someone who has been to RenFairs in Omaha, Minnesota, Tampa and New York. The troup in Georgia kicks ass. This festival is almost big enough to where you cannot do and see all the shows in one day. Now if only DragonCon is half as good, I'll be a happy guy.

5/25/01: Hello all. Thanks to all of you who keep coming back and to those who wrote-that really makes it all worthwhile. Look for a message board to be coming soon, as well as an FAQ and a Cast List.

Congratulations to my cousin, who became a medical doctor this Sunday past. Best of luck to you cuz! And, Kansas City has to be the most underrated city in the county. It was really great, and the steaks….to die for. If you haven't been there, I recommend you visit.

As always--keep cool, conserve energy, wear sunscreen and watch out for wayward zombies.

5/19/01: Thanks to all of you who have taken time out of your busy schedule to visit my little corner of the Internet.

There will not be an update on Monday. I am going out of town this weekend to see my cousin graduate from med school-and will be unable to upload anything until Tuesday (three days, no Internet…. I am starting to feel like a Luddite already). I will, however, work on the story and, I promise, everything starts to tie together around Friday of next week. In the meantime tell all your friends and neighbors about Sanctuary. Two new viewers a day is all I ask.

K…keep cool, conserve energy, wear sunscreen and watch out for wayward zombies.

5/14/01: Well, here it is, the first strip of my first web comic for a mature audience. Oh, there is another strip, written specifically for my son and daughter (8 and 10) and if you are so inclined, you can visit it here. Mon Arc Deputies was supposed to be my first attempt at animation beyond the corporate multimedia work I do. Then I realized how much work was involved in animating human-like characters....whew...maybe after the first book is published. Or when my daughter graduates art school. Anyway, for now that strip lives on in a weekly version as long as it holds my children's interest.

But this isn't about that other strip. This about Sanctuary. And about art. And about story. At first glance you can tell that I am not the best artist in the world, nay, barely mediocre I daresay....(if you want to see great comic art, visit Cool Cat Studio and check out Gisele's art)...but I will certainly get better over time. Its not really about the art anyway. Really. Great art is something to be admired, but that isn't what draws us back---we don't watch The Soprano's because of its great production value, or the X-Files, or Buffy (though the production on those programs is top notch)--and while The Lion King sported the best animation in years (and probably still), it wasn't the animation that held us. No, its not the art, it is the story. And, if I may say, I think that is my strong point. Of course you, dear reader, will ultimately decide that. So, here's my pitch: I will keep writing as long as you keep reading. I promise to work hard on improving my art if you look beyond it and enjoy the story.

OK, enough. Over the next few days I will update links, and populate the currently blank pages. In the meantime, visit my links page for other on-line strips that hold you with story first, production second. Of course in some cases (the above mentioned Cool Cat Studio for instance) the artist is blessed with both the ablity to write and draw. Bastards.