Notes from the TORCverse- 09/26/07
Notes from the TORCverse is a new column designed pretty much to blatantly hype my comic book publishing company TORC Press. Really, that was supposed to be the point of the whole blog, but, seriously, I just don't have that much hype in me. I'm gonna try updating this thing on a weekly basis. I plan on having an Essay on the TORCverse, a What I'm Working On section, and a Hype section. Ta-Da!
Essay: Cactus Joe's Motivation
I personally think one of the more interesting things about Cactus Joe the Clown is his motivation, or perhaps, lack thereof. In action comics, the Hero always has to have some sort of motivation. Superman is compelled to do the right thing as a result of his upbringing. Spiderman fights crime "Cause with Great Power comes Great Responcibility". Batman and Punisher are both waging war on Crime out of a need to exact Vengence for dead members of their family (although their methods differ quite radically). In the movies, most Action Heroes are either members of some Protective Community (cops, military, Knights of the Round Table, Jedi Knights, ect.) or they're out to rescue some damsel in distress or some such. The Clown's got none of that going on. His memory of his childhood is shot, so that throws out the upbringing. That whole Great Power nonsense is pretty pointless in a world owned by Corrupt Corporations, Greedy Politicians, and Careless Mobsters. Joe used to work the whole Vengence angle, but he got tired of that when he realized he'd never be able to kill enough guys to get his revenge. He's not a cop or whatever, and although he will actively work to protect his friends, he's not out to save or rescue anyone. Hell, he's not even motivated by Pinocchio syndrome, which is the need to return to a normal human state. Cactus Joe likes being the Clown. In many ways, it's the only life he's ever known.
So, what is Cactus Joe's motivation? Quite simply, he just wants to live a hassle free life where he can kick back, relax, do the things he wants, and hang out with his friends. Which is why Ortex make such great antagonists, because those bastards won't stop until they've got the Clown's severed head on silver platter. No matter how many demons, monsters, and guys in fancy outfits Clowny slaughters, they just keep coming. Greed and promotion are the motivating factors of these creatures, and if you don't believe the motivational powers of those things, then just take a good long look at the world we're living in. In a strange way, Cactus Joe has to fight for his right to just hang out and do nothing.
What I'm Working On:
Okay. SDF: Honorless Dogs #2 is done, but I've got a bit of a dilemna involving printers. I'm not sure where I'm taking the book to get printed anymore, which is going to further slow down the whole process. I will work this whole mess out before the end of the year. Really.
I'm about halfway through the pencils on SDF: Honorless Dogs #3, and I've (barely) started the inks. I've finished the pencils on Gulatta! #3, but I'm not working on the inks until I've got SDF:HD 3 almost done. I would like to start work sometime soon on New Super Duper Fun Comix Book B, but I need to order more Bristol first. And I've got some little mystery projects I'm dinking around on, but won't announce until they're done.
Hype! Hype! Hype!
There's nothing really new to Hype right now, but I would like to take this time to remind everyone out there that we are still in the midst of the Cactus Joe the Clown Ten Year Birthday Extravanganza. What that means is that all online (or snail mail) orders that I recieve will also get FREE STUFF with their order. This can range from original art to old, out of print Xerox comics. So head on over to www.torcpress.com/comicshop.html and check it out. This will be the last "Freebie" promotional that TORC Press will do until our Ten Year Anniversary in October 2009, so if you want some cheap free stuff, now's the time. As always, you check us out on the web at www.torcpress.com and www.myspace.com/torcpress.
Essay: Cactus Joe's Motivation
I personally think one of the more interesting things about Cactus Joe the Clown is his motivation, or perhaps, lack thereof. In action comics, the Hero always has to have some sort of motivation. Superman is compelled to do the right thing as a result of his upbringing. Spiderman fights crime "Cause with Great Power comes Great Responcibility". Batman and Punisher are both waging war on Crime out of a need to exact Vengence for dead members of their family (although their methods differ quite radically). In the movies, most Action Heroes are either members of some Protective Community (cops, military, Knights of the Round Table, Jedi Knights, ect.) or they're out to rescue some damsel in distress or some such. The Clown's got none of that going on. His memory of his childhood is shot, so that throws out the upbringing. That whole Great Power nonsense is pretty pointless in a world owned by Corrupt Corporations, Greedy Politicians, and Careless Mobsters. Joe used to work the whole Vengence angle, but he got tired of that when he realized he'd never be able to kill enough guys to get his revenge. He's not a cop or whatever, and although he will actively work to protect his friends, he's not out to save or rescue anyone. Hell, he's not even motivated by Pinocchio syndrome, which is the need to return to a normal human state. Cactus Joe likes being the Clown. In many ways, it's the only life he's ever known.
So, what is Cactus Joe's motivation? Quite simply, he just wants to live a hassle free life where he can kick back, relax, do the things he wants, and hang out with his friends. Which is why Ortex make such great antagonists, because those bastards won't stop until they've got the Clown's severed head on silver platter. No matter how many demons, monsters, and guys in fancy outfits Clowny slaughters, they just keep coming. Greed and promotion are the motivating factors of these creatures, and if you don't believe the motivational powers of those things, then just take a good long look at the world we're living in. In a strange way, Cactus Joe has to fight for his right to just hang out and do nothing.
What I'm Working On:
Okay. SDF: Honorless Dogs #2 is done, but I've got a bit of a dilemna involving printers. I'm not sure where I'm taking the book to get printed anymore, which is going to further slow down the whole process. I will work this whole mess out before the end of the year. Really.
I'm about halfway through the pencils on SDF: Honorless Dogs #3, and I've (barely) started the inks. I've finished the pencils on Gulatta! #3, but I'm not working on the inks until I've got SDF:HD 3 almost done. I would like to start work sometime soon on New Super Duper Fun Comix Book B, but I need to order more Bristol first. And I've got some little mystery projects I'm dinking around on, but won't announce until they're done.
Hype! Hype! Hype!
There's nothing really new to Hype right now, but I would like to take this time to remind everyone out there that we are still in the midst of the Cactus Joe the Clown Ten Year Birthday Extravanganza. What that means is that all online (or snail mail) orders that I recieve will also get FREE STUFF with their order. This can range from original art to old, out of print Xerox comics. So head on over to www.torcpress.com/comicshop.html and check it out. This will be the last "Freebie" promotional that TORC Press will do until our Ten Year Anniversary in October 2009, so if you want some cheap free stuff, now's the time. As always, you check us out on the web at www.torcpress.com and www.myspace.com/torcpress.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home