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Name: Joseph Morris
Location: Clay City, Illinois, US

I'm just here until I'm gone.

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

More Fun with Updates

This is pretty much gonna be an echo of my myspace blog, but hey, gots to whore myself, right?

First off, "SDF: Drifter's Rhapsody" is now available online from TORC Press. Either go straight there on www.torcpress.com/comicshop.html or head to the main site at www.torcpress.com and click on the Comic Shop link. So far, the reviews have been quite positive, which is good, cause I was a little worried that the "Shotgun Story Format" wouldn't go over well.

Secondly, my fourth and final Convention for 2006 has been confirmed. I'll be at the Nashville Comic and Horror Festival from October 21 through the 22. Details are up over on their site at www.comiccitytn.com/hfest06.html. This will be my first time at this show, and I hope all goes well.

Thirdly, I've helped produce a music video for my Brother's one man band, the Dr. Orphyus Project. It's a crude, ugly, totally awesome piece of stop motion cut out animation that can be viewed over at www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAOWYdpCMxM.

And finally, this is the last call for T-shirts. I'm placing the order this Friday. If you want a TORC Press World Tour 06 T-shirt, then e-mail me your size info. After this the World Tour 06 shirt will be permanently retired, so get em now while the gettings good.

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

A Few Minor Happenings

As mentioned in the previous entry, "SDF: Drifter's Rhapsody" is currently available. We've only got mail order right now, but I mailed a copy of the book to my webmaster, which means the new issue will inevitably be added to the online store.

The TORC Press World Tour '06 T-shirt will soon be discontinued. I'm getting one more batch made up in a couple of weeks. After that, the shirt will be permanently retired. If you would like one of these shirts, the shirts are $6 plus $1.50 S&H. Just send me an e-mail with your size and mailing information, and I'll have one made up for you.

The Great TORC Press Art Show is officially scheduled for November 4, 2006 at my house from 4pm till whenever. Food and drinks will be served. It's open to the public, so if you're reading this, consider yourself invited. Swing by, hang out, check out some crude art, and stuff yourself full of Mexican food.

And lastly, I'm trying to finalize arrangements for exhibiting at the Nashville Comic and Horror Festival. It's still not a 100% thing, but it's looking good. I'll make 4 shows yet this year. And I plan on trying to do 6 next year.

Sunday, September 17, 2006

SDF: Drifter's Rhapsody

I've been slacking off on the main blog here lately, but good things come to those who wait, cause "SDF: Drifter's Rhapsody" is now available from TORC Press! Yee-freaking-ha!

Like most issues, SDF:DR is 48 pages in Black and White with a B&W cover. This is the first issue of SDF that doesn't feature Cactus Joe on the cover. Instead there's a delightful illustration of aliceislost and Broken Tea Cup. In fact, the Clown only gets a measly two pages in this issue. With so very little Clownaction (new word!) in this issue, alot of the side SDF characters get a chance to step up and steal the spotlight. This issue contains a ton of brand new short stories. Some are funny, some are somber. Some are violent. Some are peacful. Some are just damn wierd. Hey, and as an added bonus, some new characters are introduced. Also, there's some very important moments within the greater framework of the TORCverse, so if you've been following the bigger story I've been telling, this issue is essential, even with an absence of Clowniness (another new word!). Here's the rundown:

Cactus Joe's Blues: This two page Clown story is less like a story, and more like a poem or music. It's simple, but I'm proud of it nonetheless.

aliceislost meets Broken Tea Cup- Do I even need to say more?

Walt & Sped w/Frimpy- Our heroes head on down to the fishin' hole, when tragedy strikes!

Q- Queelix and Quagmire's beloved pet Zox disappears. Can you say Road Trip?

The Cosmic Fool- All the Cosmic Fool wants is a greasy cheezburger. So, imagine his surprise when he falls victim to Outer Space Road Rage! (Insert ominous music here)

Welcome to Mosquito Island- Enjoy a quiet afternoon at Big A's Diner, where the coffee's hot and the burgers are cooked to perfection. Huh, that's two stories in a row with hamburgers in em. Maybe I shoulda called it "Hamburger Rhapsody".

Cogs in the Machine- Deep in the Illinois backwoods is a Concentration Camp for people with dreams. Introducing the nightmarish Inquisition (yeah, real original name) and the Abyssal Dragon (who my brother has nicknamed "Jet Pack Guy"). Also, there's another referance to hamburgers. Seriously, the theme is unintentional.

This is Bojangles- Bojangles goes to the Park. If you've read the previous Bojangles story, then you know that nothing good can come from this.

Cut-Up- Cut-Up is a towering wall of rotting flesh. His best buddy is a talking dog named Poggo. His lover is an extradimensional phantom whose real name may or may not be Mademoiselle Nurse. Together they hunt rogue spirits. Oh, and Cut-Up's got a six foot long Chainsaw. Need I go on?

Saturn Ate My Baby- Y'know how every once in awhile there's a strip in SDF that makes absolutely no sense whatsoever, and I'm not even sure exactly how I came up with the whole damn thing? This is one of those strips. Enjoy!

-BONUS- Buzby aks the cast the age old question, "So, You're on a Road Trip. What kind of Music Do You Listen To?"

If all of this sounds cool, then simply send a Check or Money Order for $6.50 ($5 plus $1.50 S&H) to:

TORC Press
c/o Joseph Morris
330 S 5th St SW
Clay City, IL 62824

Friday, September 08, 2006

(not so) Big Weekend

So, last weekend was Labor Day weekend, which meant that everyone shoulda had alla the big plans last weekend. But it seems like this weekend, just about everyone I know is running around, living it up. I, on the other hand, have no plans. In fact, not only do I have no plans, I almost have anti-plans. And I'm not even sure what anti-plans are.

As if to further hammer home the point of how this is a big weekend for everyone but me, tonight and tommorrow is the Big Clay City Fall Festival. That's right, two days of parades, Frog Jumping contests, and King and Queen candidates. Hoo-freakin'-ray. Being the town hermit, I will obviously be avoiding all of this, unless I find the world's fastest frog, in which case all bets are off.

Monday, September 04, 2006

Labor Day Reviews

Little Miss Sunshine- Chances are pretty good you've heard critics raving about this little film. Welp, the critics are right for once. Little Miss Sunshine is absolutely hi-larious, and features a great cast of actors/characters. I honestly don't wanna spoil anything about the movie, so, y'know, check it out and have fun.

Silent Hill- Ugh. What a chunk of crap this one is. We'll cover the good first. There's some cool monster designs and a couple of fairly gory moments. Also, the film's got a good climax. Other than that, everything else is crap. A grade Z lousy script (I don't mind Boromir being in the film, but he's got an entire subplot that is ABSOLUTELY USELESS!), crummy acting (the female lead is pathetic), a humdrum soundtrack, and totally inept directing. Not scary, not funny, not entertaining. Bah.

Had one guy at one Con compare SDF to Silent Hill. I officially am considering that to be an insult.