Hmmph. I had to triple-check my calendar to make sure the date is right. Jumpin' Jehosophat! In a month and a day, it will have been a full year since my first blog! I can't remember the date the site went live. I wouldn't have remembered the date of the first one, if I didn't have my blogs archived (for future generations to learn from, prosper and govern their lives better). Wow, that's a lotta crap- er, writing, not counting the four guest blogs by Webmaster Chris (yes, you must address him thusly-it's his rank, just below Captain, I think).

   Halloween may be over, but I've got some real treats coming up on the site in the next few weeks (I sound like a used car salesman)! At long last, I'll be adding a new addition to the Pencil-to-Ink Study section, as well as more commissions from the likes of Ed Benes, Tom Lyle, Jim Aparo, Gene Colan (Batman, this time!) plus one that I consider a very rare pleasure: A Jose' Luis Garcia Lopez drawing of Batman & Robin vs. Bane in that unmistakable stately style of his. Next time you're at a convention, I recommend you pick up the mid-1980's DC series 'Atari Force', plus the miniseries of 'Deadman' and 'Cinder & Ashe' for cheap! Most recently, he's done some DC Elseworlds, a million pieces of DC-licensed art for special projects, plus a gorgeous Batman:Black and White short story a few years ago. Well, I'll save my gushing for when I post the piece.

   I've recently quit my regular column, Drew Geraci's Inky Fingers, at Sketch Magazine for a variety of reasons. Mostly, it was precious time being taken away from my other work. These blogs are quicker to write, as the format allows me to wander, but cobbling together a comprehensive article about inking takes a lot of self-editing to teach a specific lesson. Almost like preparing a teacher's study guide.

   Reason two was the irregular publishing schedule, which caused me no small amount of frustration, and consequently dated some of the material I would cover in my inking lessons. The first issue featuring my article came out last Christmas, the second, February, and the third July! My third , which became my last article (Vol. 5 #1, cover-featuring Mike Wieringo) had a lot of isolated Crossgen art used to explain my inking process. When I submitted both article and art, it was March or early April, when CG, while on it's last legs, was still publishing and a somewhat-timely topic. By the time my article came out, CG was dead and buried.

   HOWEVER, I recommend that you continuing supporting Sketch, if nothing else, for the pearls of wisdom about writing comics from Chuck Dixon and Beau Smith, plus the coloring tips, interviews, et al. It's still a good read. Also, Sketch Publisher Bob Hickey has graciously left the door open for me if I change my mind.

   In the future, I plan to reprint my Sketch articles in the Pencil-to-ink Studies of this site. My initial agreement with Sketch was to wait a six-month period, so it doesn't hurt the sell-through of the magazine. I could reprint the first two now, but I have to wait until I find the time. Plus, believe it or not, Webmaster Chris has other non-Drew occupations, obligations and clients, so I try to not burden him overmuch. I just a tear out a little bit more of his soul each week. Besides, if I did a document dump several pages long, I'd run out of material fast. Then I'd have to resort to "Best of Drew's blog" or some nonsense. Or better yet, a 'clip show', like on tv, where the cast sits around saying "Remember when..", then you pad the show with reruns! Hmmmm...

   I also plan to resume the story of my climb to power over the years. I last left you with Jason Armstrong and I facing uncertain futures with the cancellation of The Ray...Next week...

   Well, since I've been complaining about time slipping away, I'm going to make this week's blog short and sweet. They can't all be high-falluting disseminations of Super-Villain Team-up! Speaking of time, I appreciate every one of you who make a deliberate decision to come by and visit my site and read my blog. Thanks!