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Webcomic Review – The Impossible Space Tales of the Last Pit Stop by Dan Nokes

The Impossible Space Tales

of the Last Pit Stop

Publisher – 21st Century

Sand Shark Studios

By Dan Nokes

Some of you may know Dan Nokes as the artist for The Teddy Bear Tales; but Dan Nokes leads a double life as one of Southern Maryland’s longest operating Indie Comic Publisher through his 21st Century Sand Shark Studios. Up to now Dan has been concentrating on traditional print, but now he has branched out into Webcomics one of which is The Impossible Space of the Last Pit Stop.

So what is it? Well I hope my blog readers are familiar with he concept of Webcomics, we’ve had one running here with Sigmartyr over the last year. The Last Pit Stop is something a little different, think Clerks meets Men in Black, merged with Office Space and Encounters of the Third Kind. It is the humble story of a Convenience Store Clerk that just happens to work in Area 51 at an Interplanetary Pit Stop. Great concept right?

Dan executes this premises with his usually unique style and inks, and his sequential storytelling is well done here. The first part of The Last Pit Stop is an introduction to this world through the eyes of Alan Grissom the minimal wage Store Clerk as he rushes into work, along the way we meet the other main cast and it plays out a little like a cheesy sitcom. We have the lazy boss, the uppity Assistant Manager, the hipster Alien friend and the cool chick and of course Alan the main protagonist of the story. Although the first book doesn’t really do more than set the stage we see some interesting elements that will branch out into plot lines.. What exactly keeps Alan working here for minimum wage? What is his fear of relocation? Just why does the US Government maintain a Convenience Store for Alien Travelers?

I hope these questions are answered and we also see some ole’fashioned sitcom stuff set up through this book. Go check out The Impossible Space Tales of The Last Pit Stop by clicking here. I give this webcomic

4 thumbs up out of 5

And Dan Nokes is already busy on the second part now.

Opinion – Gun Control? How about Gun Education and Licensing Instead?

 ”A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” American Constitution: 2nd Amendment

Your going to have to bear with me here, what I am going to suggest is not the complete answer, but rather an idea that captures the spirit of the 2nd Amendment and still gives the modicum of control that is being called upon after the events of Sandy Hook Tragedy. What this wont do is cover any details, nor answer all the questions, but really more of a suggestion in a direction that we could take as a nation. What it wont do is stop Bad People doing Bad Things with guns, nothing can stop that, you cannot regulate crazy that is impossible, but it might just give that balance of personal protection and freedom that this amendment was supposed to enshrine.

Look at the start of the Amendment “A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of the a free State” while you could argue that this was written at a time that militia’s were needed and it is outdated because we have a standing army, I believe the answer lies in these words ‘Well-Regulated’ please take the jump to find out my suggestion is…

First off before going any further I have no real love of guns, they are designed really to do one thing and they do it very well. I am from the UK were Gun crime is still a rarity, even if violent knife based crime rates never really change. I don’t see the real everyday use of them in society because I grew up on a society that does not have them around as an everyday object. This doesn’t mean I don’t know how to use them and while I am a lousy shot I can use a bolt-action rifle and can find myself around most revolvers. Anything more complicated than that it would take me time to figure them out and I would not be confident in my ability to use them.

So with that in mind along with the word ‘Well-Regulated’ what I am suggesting is Gun Education & Licensing, a little like a Vehicle Licensing system where you have to demonstrate competence with a Gun Class to own that class of gun. This licensing would lean more towards Gun safety and storage over practical use although demonstration of practical use would be required. What this creates is another safety gap, a chance to weed out some of those nutjobs because they would have to train to get certified on that weapon type. I also believe doing this would lead to greater responsibility and from what I’ve observed of Gun Enthusiasts they would be all over a system that gives them certifications in their favorite firearms. I also believe that all this could be handled at a private level, maybe directly via Gun stores or even by the NRA (so they can actually do something more than just be high pressure lobbyists and run rallies) which would in turn create more jobs. This I feel captures the spirit of the 2nd Amendment keeping with the theme of a Well-Regulated Militia and the right to keep and bear arms.

There are arguments to make that this is one step closer to turning gun ownership into a privilege over a right, and taking way a freedom, but this is a compromise that straddles the line between the two. You have to think of the advantages to the system, one being a greater chance to open carry, or opening up more firearm types. Plus if you’re a Gun Enthusiasts your hobby becomes something much more it becomes a vocation – I mean it would be pretty cool to have a certification saying you’ve been checked out on your gun.

This is not a solution, just a suggestion… It certainly does not take your guns away from you and if done right would put more guns in your hands. It certainly feels more practical than saying arm every Teacher in a classroom… So play with it in your heads for a while it might actually grow on you…

A reaction to the Connecticut tragedy my opinion for what it is worth…

Isn’t that what it really is… The shooting at Connecticut Elementary is a tragedy.  It isn’t glamorous or vehicle by Media stations to win ratings as they race to name the Gunman, line up the pundits to roll their 24 hours coverage, race News Anchors to the scene and prepare those fancy graphics, the one attached to this post is from Fox News. In between all this race, this madness to gain viewers to sell advertising everyone forgot one thing the victims, the sheer mind numbing sadness of  shooting in an Elementary School… Children died… Eighteen promises for the future gone because one inadequate little man decided he wasn’t man enough to end it on his own and had to cause terror first… What should be his reward? Not notoriety, not fame, not a multicase pundit study into his motives. The Gunman should be forgotten, completely utterly forgotten inch by inch erased from human history to never be remembered, no marker, no footnote, nothing, for he deserve nowt to be remembered.

And this will be the last time I will even mention him…

Do not forget this day remember the life lost and find away to make sure this will never happen again, give this day a legacy worthy of the children that died.

And that is all I have to say about this…

The new DC Superman movie will this be the return of the Man of Steel?

It is no secret I am a huge Marvel fan, but I also have a soft-spot for the big blue boy scout – even though he has hard time connecting with today’s audience and the Return of Superman movie kind of flopped. But now he is back, a new movie with some interesting looking cinema photography and moody look. There is still a huge chance this could all go south yet and I do dearly hope that Zack Snyder remembers at its core this is a comic book movie, and has a little fun with Supes… After all DC have it aces with their animation perhaps they are now due a crossover into live action that doesn’t have Batman in the title, eh?

Check out the IndieGoGo Campaign for ADAM AND EVE: THE COMPLETE UNDEAD OMNIBUS

Have you read Adam & Eve Bizarre Love Triangle in the Zombie Apocalypse by Dan Nokes? If you haven’t you should this is one well put together indie graphic novel detailing the misadventures of Adam the lone survivor in a military bunker who finds another survivor in another bunker via the internet. What follows is a buddy road trip type book as he takes to the road with his genetically altered Dog and a fairly snobby super-computer. All fairly simple… But no… This is trip full of Zombies, crazy survivalist and a great take on the human condition through some very humorous goggles. I really enjoyed the first edition and is one of Dan’s best books yet.

Now he is looking to combine both books into a Zombie Omnibus and is looking to you for help on IndieGoGo, look on it as really just pre-ordering the book with some neat extra goodies. I can tell you know this Graphic Novel is well worth your time. Check out his full IndieGoGo campaign here and my review of the first book here.

Panel-to-Panel: Episode Eight – My interview with Dan Nokes all about The Teddy Bear and The Wonder Tales

I’ve been expecting you

Over the last few months Dan Nokes, the Teddy Bear Tales artist has been running a series of creator only interviews, where he tracks down an indie writer or artist and interviews them one on one. Dan finally cornered me at Annapolis Comic Con and got me to talk about the projects I am working on, what are The Wonder Tales and what is next for A Teddy Bear Tale. To watch this interview go take the jump, to watch more of Dan Nokes Panel-to-Panel interviews please click here.

My little big adventure with a Jeep, a water pump and a cold night in Prince Frederick

I’ve always said life is full of adventure and they will present themselves at the oddest moments, and while this is one adventure I could of done without, it was certainly a life experience. So how did this all start?

Over the last couple of weeks my normally bullet proof and pretty amazing Jeep has been exhibiting a number of odd noises, clanks, and an annoying squealy squeak from the pulley area of the Jeep. Investigation shown it to be the pulley over the water pump, and much research I narrowed it down to a pulley out of alignment. Then the poor vehicle started to leak fluid, not much just few drips when it was parked, again investigation looked like the return pipe had a slight leak at the top. Something to fix, but not a huge priority. Really should have known better…

Then Friday night rolls around, this is the night on the weekend that I have to drive halfway across Maryland to pick up my children for our far too short visitation. It is a long drive about 2 hours and at times traffic can really snarl it up. Luckily this time the traffic was fairly light and the Jeep squeal even went away – seemed a good run fixed the alignment issue. Then disaster strikes… About 30 miles out from arriving to pickup my children, we hit the first piece of serious traffic at a light that normally has no queues. The voltage gauge drops to half, the engine squeals, lots of steam appears from under the hood, the voltage gauge drops to zero and I know something really bad has happened. Thankfully I was just outside Prince Frederick and their Wawa and I pretty much manhandle the Jeep into a parking space just as the temperature gauge spikes. I then get out, left the hood and watch in growing despair as the engine disappears into cloud of steam and takes a huge coolant piss all over my parking space… Yeah… This was not good.

Nothing to do but investigate the leak, so with flashlight app activated I swing under the Jeep just as it really starts raining around me, and I get a huge mouthful of coolant as I see the huge leak just under the Water pump. It had gone, the gasket had gone and there was no way I was going to be able to limp the Jeep the 60+ miles back to Baltimore.

A flurry of phone calls follow, most to my wife Jean as we try to figure out what to do, get the Jeep to a local shop and figure out how to get myself home. I got a promise of a lift that looked like a pickup and a chance to also continue my journey to get my children, but that fell through. As even that lift was a long shot I had only one action left locate a shop as at this point I am stuck in Prince Frederick, unable to afford a Motel room because our meager budget which was obviously going to repair the Jeep now.

I limp the Jeep the mile to the shop we choose to repair the vehicle at and the night was then spent being uncomfortable, swapping between being really cold, really stiff and actually a little panic – those front seats are really uncomfortable for sleeping in. I felt I let my children down, risked a journey with a vehicle that was obviously not suited to the task and now this was my payoff. A cold, hungry night with no guarantee that the morning will bring any relief.

The night passes with odd noises, (you hear a lot and I mean a lot of sirens in Prince Frederick) a huge rain storm, a temperature drop that even I felt and the time comes for the shop to open. Get the news it would cost me $40 just for them to look at it and diagnose the same problem I noticed. I get the estimate, it isn’t great, but we can just about afford it and sit back. Nothing left but let the Jeep be repaired.

The shop is quick on their feet, I get the new pump fitted and the Jeep is now running stupidly cool and sounds like the Jeep I know, the vehicle that is simply an amazing feat of engineering (just wish the gas mileage was a lot better.) All that is left is I get my children and complete what is now 12+ journey into mystery.

And that is that… This day is now run… I have my children with me which is good…  Been a bit of a day though… So now, my story of my little big adventure is complete and now I sleep.

Look into the future with Concept Characters for A Teddy Bear Tale

The greatest and most powerful of all magic is wonder, and I am one of its Protectors, welcome Tristan to a whole new world – Magic O’Hare

As work continues on the next stage of the Teddy Bear Tales stories I continue my journey through new concept characters that may or may not appear in the story. It is an interesting journey as I explore the visual concepts of these characters and place them in the World within a World with Tristan. To learn more about A Teddy Bear Tales check out the website and the books here, enjoy the gallery after the jump.

Just saying there is less than 21 days until the end of the world… Are you ready?

Just a FYI apparently we have less than 21 days until the world as we know it comes to an end, so are you ready? What are you going to do in the next 21 days before the apocalypse is upon us? Build that bomb shelter? Get that box of MRE? Load up with your best Mad Max fashions? Or just like me you know those crazy Mayans just got tired of counting and if I remember the math right the end of the world should have already happened? Maybe it has, we all blinked and we got moved to a new Earth… Or perhaps even more scary we destroy this reality every time we blink our eyes and only recreate it when we open them. After all reality is all perception… So let the countdown begin…

A Utilikilt is the best piece of apparel ever!

One Man and his Kilt

I first saw a Utilikilt about four years go at Baltimore Comic Con, and I knew right then and there I wanted one. Yes, it took four years and a gift from my girls before I finally got my hands on one, I do now proudly own one. The last time I wore a kilt it was back in the 90′s when I was an extra in the amazing ‘B’ movie Chasing the Deer staring alongside the Dynamite Kid himself Brian Blessed. Well… When I say alongside I really mean about a hundred yards to left, third row back. Close enough though to say I worked with one of my idols. Yes, it is true I am in the same movie as the King of the Hawkmen!

I am though digressing, I did at this time wear a kilt for the entire weekend and I have to say it was a remarkable feeling of freedom, your stride increases and you just feel pretty good about yourself – plus you are well ventilated. Although it is freeing a kilt is a remarkable impractical piece of kit, you know no pockets and you have to be Scottish to really pull one-off, but all that has changed with the Utilikilt. This remarkable piece of apparel has all the freedom of kilt with the practical application of combat pants and you don’t have to live on a Soggy Fen to wear it.  The one I have is Blue Mocker with two practical saddle bag style pockets for putting your wallet, cellphone or some much more manly in like… I don’t know like a live Haggis or something…

In essence it really is just like wearing a pair of explorer shorts and that is the mindset you should have wearing them, it is one of those items of clothing that says something about you an extension of your personality.Works great with a T-shirt or even a Casual Dress shirt it is fairly multi purpose.

I will warn you though you are going to get looked at and not all those looks are going to be kind, you are going to sniggers, see fingers pointing and in my experience have one young child hide behind their parent. All I can say is just carry yourself with confidence and remember when going out and about wear a good pair of snug boxer short – save the traditional wearing to impress you women folk, and not for shopping at Ikea on a blustery morning, (which I found is a really bad idea especially around floor-less steps). Once you start wearing a Utilikilt you are going to want to get another and use any excuse to wear one. I am pretty much wearing mine just like a wear my casual pants and have no worries running errands in it.

Try one and see how you feel in it, a Utilikilt isn’t for everyone, but it is an original. What can I say? Best Clothing Ever!!!

Learn more about Utilikilts by visiting their website here.