Indy Comics Writer

What words bring more joy to the writer’s heart than “comp copies?” There’s “The check is in the mail,” but I don’t hear that one often enough.

I did get some comp copies today of IF-X issue #6. That’s the comic anthology published by the Hamtramck Idea Men. And, more importantly for me, it’s the same anthology in which my prose story Garbage Trouble appears.

Yes, I said “prose” story. IF-X, which focuses on a different theme for each issue, fills some of its pages in every edition with purely prose story. My story concerns a zombie who can’t get the garbage man to empty his garbage cans. And for a zombie, regular weekly garbage pickup is a must.

I used to get all excited whenever I received complimentary copies of the trade and consumer magazines that my non-fiction stories appeared in. That thrill has faded. I’ve been writing non-fiction stories forever (Actually, it’s only been about 15 years, but it sure seems like forever.), and the thrill of seeing my byline isn’t all that strong anymore. But with comics, it’s completely different. I haven’t had nearly enough comics published — or fiction in general, for that matter — to not look forward eagerly to my comp copies.

I got a thrill with each of the four issues of GEARZ, the comic mini-series I scripted for Bluewater Productions, that arrived in my mailbox. I know it wasn’t like having my name on a Spider-Man or Batman comic, but still, it was pretty exciting to see my name looking back at me from the cover of a comic book.

I don’t when or if that thrill will ever fade. For now, though, I plan on enjoying it. And, yes, I’ll re-read my story in IF-X several times over. That may be narcissistic, but it sure is enjoyable.

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