Oh, me oh my. It has been a long, long time, hasn't it?
It's not because I haven't been blogging. I blog for work too, y'know. You don't believe me? Well, check out my two other blogs:

• Hurley to Rise — Where I try to figure out the Irish sport of Hurling. It's kind of like lacrosse, baseball and hockey all rolled into one.
• Pop Quiz, Hotshot! — This is an entertainment and pop-culture blog I share with some other folks. You can read my specific entries here.

I've also been posting stuff over on Deviant Art too. On that Web site, you can track my efforts to draw a comic strip called "Fight Circuit."

The most heinous of my slacking off shows with my literal heap of Church Sketches that I have now. Here's just the ones that are superhero related ...


I don't really have much to say about any of these guys. I'm sure at the time, I had completely planned out their powers, origins and personalities, but some of these date back to the summer of 2009, so I've forgotten them by this time.

Looking for more in this series? Here you go!

• CHURCH SKETCHES — Rabbits and dwarves
• CHURCH SKETCHES II — The Peril of Hypno-Croc
• CHURCH SKETCHES III — Heroes and oddities
• CHURCH SKETCHES IV — Jesus and the Easter Bunny
• CHURCH SKETCHES V — Of Angels and Underdwellers
• CHURCH SKETCHES VI — Catching up
• CHURCH SKETCHES VII — Calling all Heroes
• CHURCH SKETCHES VII — Heroes and villains of the Blackout

Well, this one's an easy one since it's such as small state to begin with.

RHODE ISLAND

PROVIDENCE (Blue Shield)

Realizing that he could never join a regular police force given his previous felonies, the man known as Blue Shield decided he'd do the next best thing with his powers of invulnerablity. He'd secretly serve as the guardian to police forces around the nation. Based in Providence, he's often helps in situations where cops place their lives in danger — standoffs, hostage situations, and when the police are heavily outgunned. Of course Providence isn't exactly a hotbed of such activity, but he uses that city as his home base and patrols it regularly. When a truly touchy situation erupts anywhere in the country (think of events such as Waco), he's often quickly contacted for his assistance. In particular, he focuses on hostage extraction, disabling firearms and protecting law enforcement individuals.
Notes: Where Captain America is an Army man, consider Blue Shield the guy who walks the Thin Blue Line. He could even have a slight costume redesign to give him a tactical vest and specialize in the use of a baton and shield.

WARWICK (Husk)

Down south in Warwick is the home to Husk, the mutant sister of Cannonball and one-time girlfriend to Archangel. Preferring to leave the X-Men to establish her own identity, she settled in Warwick, R.I., where she's served the city and state in times of crisis. But why Warwick of all places? Because she's opted to begin college there, and is currently studying to be a paramedic, and hopes to advance her studies in Emergency Medicine in hopes of serving as a battlefield medic for superhumans in general, and the X-Men in particular.
Notes: Husk is often a paramedic to her fellow mutants in the real comics, so this is just an extension of her current character path. Here's a whole fansite dedicated to Husk.

Have I tackled your state yet? Take a look at my Relocating the Marvel Universe index!
Need a good explanation of just what I'm doing? Then visit the first entry, which offers a look behind for my initial idea for this series.

In the last few months, I've been getting back into an old passion of mine: Skating.
Sometimes I will skate at an actual pay-to-get-in roller rink, but more often than not, I take advantage of a local municipal park, where I can go at my leisure, and it's usually not too crowded.
Typically I go after work, which I get done with early in the afternoon. The place? Springettsbury Park. That's technically not in my municipality, but this is a nice big place with lots of activity areas that are well used.
After changing and the short drive over, I pop the hatchback on the van, where I sit in the back and strap on my skates. I take my MP3 player and insert it in my phone holder case, attach ear buds and hit "play."
I grab my backpack with hockey pucks, balls and my gloves and skate uphill to the rink. Skating uphill is not much fun, just in case you don't know that.
The rink is small compared to an ice hockey rink, but OK. It's placement is nice because it's right in the middle of the park and on a rise, so you can see lots of stuff. Looking down the hill is the parking lot, basketball courts, baseball diamond and a very cool playground. Looking up the hill is beach volleyball (minus the actual beach ... it's just sand), pavilions, a massive amphitheater that hosts concerts and a football field. Looping around the park is a paved jogging path.
The rink itself has walls about 3 feet up, and then above that it's fenced by chainlink that wraps around the entire rink, which is good because it helps stop misfired balls. The rink also has benches behind several doors on one side. Also there's penalty boxes and a record keeper area. The rink is paved with smooth cement and marked off for short-rink play.
I have only once been there when someone else was there, that's probably attributed to my strange work schedule. It is clearly used by hockey players because I have found stray pucks, drink bottles and scraps of hockey tape laying around.
So with my music playing (which always is fun), I empty out my backpack and put on my gloves. I set my backpack in front of one of the goals as a very poor substitute for a goalie.
I then take my hockey stick and do laps around the rink and fire the pucks and balls into the net again and again.
My main effort is to get the pucks into the net, but I'm also practicing tight turns, speed boosts and quick stops while I do it.
When shooting into the goal, I try not to aim for the center of the net because that's where the goalie would normally be stationed. Instead, I aim for the crossbar and posts of the net, which are harder for a goale to defend. The absolute best shots are the ones that hit a post or crossbar with a "tink!" and then bounce into the net. Those are the ones I'm most proud of.
I try to make the whole exercise period last about an hour. In the last 10 minutes or so, I gather up all my stuff, put it in my backpack and leave the rink. From there, I often skate the long way around the jogging path back to my car, where I stow all the equipment away and drive home all sweaty, sore and tired.
The whole effort works most on my legs and calf muscles. But often I'm achy in my abs too because you do a lot of scrunching and reaching with your abdominal area. Sometimes my rib cage and diaphragm area hurts too because of all the heavy breathing I'm doing.
I enjoy it so much, especially since my music is blaring through the whole thing.
I often find myself getting really antzy and eager to get back at it if I haven't done it for a few days. Quite frankly, it's kind of exhilerating because of the speeds you can get up to and the legwork involved.
So, I bet you're wondering ... "Dude? Why are you telling us all this?" Oh, I just wanted an excuse to try to load a video on to my blog.

Skating at Springettsbury Park in York County, Pa.

Hey, it worked! Awesome! We will now resume to our regularly scheduled comic-book discussions.

I've opened an online art gallery at DeviantArt. This is a semi-professional site where artists post all their stuff. Some only select their best, others just post whatever they're working on.
Me? I'm doing a little of both. You see, right now I'm working on a web comic with an online friend.
What's it about? Giant robots! ... Need I say more?
Anyway, please check my DeviantArt account for regular updates, and of course, check back here too!

Here we are in Massachusetts ...

BOSTON/GLOUCESTER/STATEWIDE (Black Knight)

Like much of New England, Boston seems to be a strange attractor for the occult. This gives the Black Knight plenty of opportunity to use his Ebony Blade with impunity as he slices and dices ghosts, specters and everything that goes bump in the night. Though he's primarily focused in protecting Boston from regular superhuman threats, his more mystical missions take him throughout the state. He also makes frequent appearances in Gloucester, his hometown.
Notes: OK, so Boston is pretty much like any other city. It's got the mob, crime, druggies and thugs just like any other city. But it also has a deeper history than most of America. It's got all that old architecture, Revolutionary War history and was significant to the country way back before the Revolution too. That's pretty much the best America can do when you're looking for a supernatural threat. This let's B.K. slice and dice until his heart's content. You know what, we'll be sure to throw some giant robot mechas at him once and a while too.

BOSTON (Elsa Bloodstone)

Elsa Bloodstone is also one of Boston's heroes. She lives in her father's mansion, which also serves as the basis for her monster-hunting business. Her business takes her across the world as she chases stories of Bigfoot, Nessie, vampires and Godzilla. Her expertise at tackling a wide variety of threats also suits Boston well, since she or her staff is usually able to respond to any threats to the city. Sure, the Bloodstone team's response tends to be a little more violent than a regular squad of superheroes, but when Boston's in need, it doesn't complain. Aside from her activities as a monster-hunter, Bloodstone is also a bone fide celebrity in New England, and she's often hounded by paparazzi and fans everywhere she goes. While this celebrity status has its detractions, it also helps Bloodstone move among the elite of New England, and it's just as common for her to be hob-nobbing with the rich as it is for her to be blasting a hobgoblin in Haverhill.Notes: Just in case Black Knight can't clean up all the creepies, we'll put Elsa there too. She's a great character, and you see occasional glimpses from Marvel that they realize she's cool too. Now we've just got to get them to hit overdrive.

SPRINGFIELD (Crimson Commando, Stonewall, Super Sabre)

Super soldier veterans of the Great War, Crimson Commando, Stonewall and Super Sabre operated secretly for years in New England region, where they tracked down malcontents and eliminated them. Years ago, the government finally took notice and hired them on as members of the Freedom Force. From there, the Freedom Force went from a nationally operating team to international. During a mission in the Middle East, Super Sabre was killed, and Crimson Commando and Stonewall left the agency. They moved back to Springfield, Mass., and adopted the entire rural section of New England as their stomping grounds. Now they circulate as far West as Albany and East to Boston. North and South, they work Connecticut to Vermont. Once again, they buck law and deliver their own justice to those who deserve it, and once again, they operate in secrecy when ever possible.
Notes: When these guys were first introduced in the pages of Uncanny X-Men, I took an instant liking to them. Finally the Marvel folks made an effort to fill the backstory of the M.U. It was ret-conning to add them in, but at least you got an idea that yes, there were some supers that came in under the radar after Captain America, the Human Torch and Sub-Mariner stopped bashing Nazi's and the Fantastic Four arrived. Anyway, they're originally from the Hudson area of New York. I just shoved them a bit east. (In current continuity, Stonewall and Super Sabre die in combat. Crimson Commando loses an arm and becomes plain old "Commando.")

SALEM (Nosferata)

Taking residence in Salem, the woman known as Nosferata the She-Bat, is a dark vigilante who keeps the hard streets of Salem free of crime. Sure, there isn't a whole lot of crime in Salem, but she's there to help. Using her utility belt, vast riches, gritty attitude and athletic skill, she's certainly a force to be reckoned with, as Ethan Edwards (aka Virtue) of Maine knows all too well. You see, Nosferata has gotten it in her head that while Edwards is currently a force for good, he could easily be tipped in the other direction. As such, she has made numerous plans to stop his upcoming rampage, and she continues to make more and more plans. In fact, she actually seems a little obsessed about him, but it's probably better that she has something to occupy her time.

Notes: A joke character introduced in She-Hulk, Nosferata is still kind of cool. That's why she can hang out (get it? Bats hang!) in Salem and keep the witches in check.


Have I tackled your state yet? Take a look at my Relocating the Marvel Universe index!
Need a good explanation of just what I'm doing? Then visit the first entry, which offers a look behind for my initial idea for this series.

My folder of doodles is filling up again. This time I was thinking a lot about superheroes again, so here you go ...


Looking for more in this series? Here you go!

• CHURCH SKETCHES — Rabbits and dwarves
• CHURCH SKETCHES II — The Peril of Hypno-Croc
• CHURCH SKETCHES III — Heroes and oddities
• CHURCH SKETCHES IV — Jesus and the Easter Bunny
• CHURCH SKETCHES V — Of Angels and Underdwellers
• CHURCH SKETCHES VI — Catching up
• CHURCH SKETCHES VII — Calling all Heroes

BANGOR (Paladin)

Paladin has his mercenary HQ in Bangor, Maine. He's based there, sure, but most of his paying missions take him abroad and around the U.S. While he's home though, he acts as that town's defender, where he experiences a lot of general weirdness — ghost-infused cars, vampire takeovers, unstoppable rabid dogs, spirit clowns seem to pop up all the time in Maine, and the state's go-to guy is the Paladin. Sure, beyond Maine, he puts on a public face of the gallavanting mercenary, but for his "town," he acts as a regular down-to-earth hero, and Bangor (and the whole state) is often glad to have him.
Notes: Just in case you don't get my subtle humor here, but I'm implying that all that Stephen King-type stuff actually happens in the M.U. version of Maine, and I set the Paladin against it. Paladin's a great character. He should be applied liberally to the M.U.

PORTLAND/NOVA SCOTIA/NORTH ATLANTIC (Fantastic Force)

Though the team of heroes known as the Fantastic Force were once based in California*, the revitalization of the Fantastic Four and the de-aging of Franklin Richards broke up the team. Half of the heroes on the team went their separate ways — Richards back to his family, and Vibraxis returned to Wakanda. But Huntara, a warrior woman from the future, and Devlor, an Inhuman who could transform into an apelike creature, eventually came back together. Shunning a more traditional superhero spotlight, they retreated to Portland, Maine, were they developed their skills. But despite their best efforts, Vibraxis wasn't interested in rejoining, and Richards was far too busy with the F.F. Soldiering on, the two-person Fantastic Force forged ahead with their plans, and staked out a wide patrol area that includes much of the Bay of Maine and the North Atlantic shipping lanes. There they fought many dangers, helped thwart disasters, did much good,and even had a few appearances in Discovery Channel reality fishing shows. Still, their biggest victories were those with the least witnesses, and their efforts were largely unnoticed.
But wait! One person did notice: Ace news-hound Ethan Edwards of the Portland Planet. It was a good thing too, since Edwards was more than just a mild-mannered reporter. Secretly, he was the last son of a dying world** and gifted with powers greater than any human. Raised in rural Iowa, Edwards's adoptive parents transformed him into a caring man, who learned that having such great power meant he had great responsibilities. With such a solid foundation, he seemed destined to be Maine's*** premier superhero, but for one reason or another, his costumed persona, Virtue, has remained just as unnoticed as the Fantastic Force has. Edwards realized that he needed help with his heroing, and that he and the Fantastic Force should join together to defend the North Atlantic. 
Presenting the idea to Huntara and Devlor, the three got into a tremendous battle**** because each jumped to the wrong conclusion. Still, the brawl proved to be suprisingly theraputic, and they ultimately decided to work together as they protect their little corner of the world. 
Sadly, even with a reporter on their team, they're still generally ignored by residents of Maine, Nova Scotia and even Atlantis.
But they keep trying, and gosh darn it, if they try hard enough, it just might work.


* Remember, the F.F. got moved to California.** Not really. He's actually a skrull, but a nice one.
***He liked the scenery better in Maine.
**** Even Huntara and Devlor were hitting one another, and they were already friends. What are comic books coming to?

Have I tackled your state yet? Take a look at my Relocating the Marvel Universe index!
Need a good explanation of just what I'm doing? Then visit the first entry, which offers a look behind for my initial idea for this series.

Pardon the seemingly  greedy nature of this post, but to help my friends and family understand my ecclectic habits, I've been asked many times to provide them with a "Want List" for gift-giving purposes, so here's what I've been itching to get:

• ACTION FIGURE: Blowtorch from G.I. Joe action figure line.
• BOOK: "Danger, My Ally" by F.A. Mitchell-Hedges (He's a guy connected to the infamous Crystal Skulls)
• BOOK: "Nine Lives Plus" by Mildred Bruce (Daredevil from the 1930s.)
• BOOK: "Safari: A Chronicle of Adventure" By Bartle Bull (History of safaris in Africa)
• BOOK: "The Shamba Raiders" by Bruce Kinloch (Tales of an African game warden)
• BOOK: "The Wolfhound Guide to Hurling" by Brendan Fullam
• DISPLAY CASE: Apex Action Figure Display Case I figure I could use one of these. I could mount it in my attic.
• DVD: Prince Caspian
• DVD: Night Court Season 1
• HAT: Armagh GAA baseball hat Just a cool looking hat. (O'Neill's)
  
• JERSEY: London GAA size XXL Not a favorite team or anything, just a cool shirt. (O'Neill's)
• SHIRT: Armagh GAA poloshirt (O'Neill's)
• WATCH: Simcoe Coat of Arms, silver preferred. If you can find a better watch with the same Coat of Arms, I'd be even more happy since this is probably a not-good watch. Alternatively, you can buy a JPG of the Simcoe coat of arms and place it on an item of your preference, such as a mug or t-shirt.
• WALLET: I just need a new leather wallet, but I'm too cheap to buy one of my own.

Be sure to check back for updates! I need lots of stuff after all.

Last update: 10/7/2009

It's been a while since I talked about my Cities of Fantasy project with RPGObjects. The series featured art that I had done, and at the time I promised to show you some. Well, a year later here you go!
These were done in Pen & Ink and then colored in PhotoShop. I don't know if I did it "the right way," but I think they turned out OK.
First up, we have a halfling who's overjoyed with his return home. For halflings, I changed their look just a bit, giving them "doe ears."
Second is an elf: defiant as all elves are. My elves have solid black eyes and are remarkably slender.
Last,at least for this bunch is the half-orc. In the scenario I present in Cities of Fantasy 2: Racial Neighborhoods, the Orcs (and half-orcs) are the beast keepers. They wrangle animals. They care for them, and they even serv as butchers.

 

Today in Comics I Bought Today, I discuss some regular comic shop purchases, where I bought some new stuff and some items I found at flea markets and antique shops.

For the record, I look at Wednesday Comics, Teen Titans, Moonstone's Domino Lady, the 1980s King Conan and Spooky Tales by Modern Comics.

To hear my comments, just click the Utterli  widget or link  below.

Utterli: Comics I Bought Today for 8/14/2009