By Christian Beranek

My fellow adventurers: I will be attending WonderCon this weekend as a guest. With me at the show will be letterer/production guru Thomas Mauer and writer Tony DiGerolamo. We’ll be set up at table AA097. In addition, we’ll be hosting this panel:

SATURDAY 5:00-6:00 Nuts & Bolts: How a Comic Is Made—Christian Beranek (Dracula vs. King Arthur), Thomas Mauer (Popgun), and Tony DiGerolamo (The Simpsons) discuss how comic books are put together. From the ground up to the store shelves, these guys are here to answer your questions and share their experiences. Room 204/206

I still owe you guys the next installment of The Year of High Adventure. There is a lot to catch up on, including some acrobatics — both psychical and verbal! So thank you for being patient and see you in San Francisco!

News update from CB:

Article about the Disney Comics panel at NYCC

Christian Beranek co-founded and runs Disney’s Kingdom Comics alongside Ahmet Zappa and Harris Katleman. CB has a first look film/tv deal with Disney/ABC. He has several projects in development around town including Dracula vs. King Arthur, based on the graphic novel he co-created. He is currently working on his first novel and an album. CB is never late for dinner and invites you to add him on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/beranek

By Christian Beranek

Okay, so last week we left off with Bill (the inter-dimensional time traveling comic book enthusiast) warning me of the impending collapse of the industry in 2021. He presented to me a challenge; to let you the people know what dangers await. And how was I do to this? To go on adventures, of course. But that was all I got out of our time-calling friend. Immediately after he uttered the words “Seek out the –” the connection crackled. then dropped the call. I blame the crappy 3G network here in Los Angeles. That and the fact I live in the hills. Reception is spotty — and you would think it would be better since I’m closer to outer space. Satellites and towers, work together, dammit!

Anyways, I sat for a moment and pondered what to do next. Then, I did what anyone in my position would do: I logged on to check my Facebook account. And guess what? I found out I was tagged in all of these ridiculous “25 Things About Me” threads. Seriously, I wondered who had time to write all this stuff down. I was also wondering why I felt the compulsion to do one of my own!

“Begone foul temptress,” I shouted out as I pressed the log out button.

Okay, so I had averted writing out that list for Facebook. But I still had to write the list for someone! So, lucky readers, you’re in for a treat.

I grabbed up a Moleskine notebook and a pen. I needed to get it out of my system so I could continue on in the name of adventure.

25 Things About CB

1. Born in Iowa, just like James T. Kirk.

2. Once scraped up my last $3 in change to get a burger from across the street at Tommy’s off of Rampart and Beverly.

3. Lived in Europe for 5 years.

4. Have two brothers, an adopted brother, and a half sister.

5. In 1987, I scraped up $3 in pennies to buy a copy of Comics Scene from the Kuik Stop in Glenwood, Iowa — the magazine promised me Watchmen was going into production soon!

6. Collected Watchmen as it came out on the shelves. Issue 12 was late, but no one bitched about it too much. No message boards back then.

7. Produced, wrote, and acted in a 34-minute film called Caucasian Brown. Production budget was $200.

8. Slept in my car for a week in 1995.

9. Have a favorite book and I’ll never tell you what it is.

10. Got a gash in my head from a trash can shot in a pro wrestling match.

11. Once had really, really long hair down to my butt.

12. I play guitar and sing.

13. Have a funny Salman Rushdie story I’ll tell you if you ask nicely.

14. I love Third Eye Blind and am not ashamed to admit it.

15. Once lived for a year off of Ebay sales.

16. Used to teach swimming lessons.

17. Sometimes I take on too much.

18. Have seen ego get the best of people.

19. Someone saved my life once.

20. Have different pseudonyms.

21. Had the best time working with my brothers at our company Silent Devil.

22. Launched my new company Lead Pipe Entertainment with production guru/lettering samurai Thomas Mauer in 2008.

23. Have the best friends in the world.

24. Will adventure for you, the people.

25. Knows you know who you are.

Whew. I feel better. And now you, my faithful readers, know a little bit more about me. And you didn’t have to read it on Facebook — you read it right here on Newsarama!

And now, back to adventure as next time I will recount New York Comic Con 2009, which takes place in the future — but by the time you read it, the tale will already be in the past. So, presently…

News bites from CB:

Disney Comics Panel at New York Comic Con Friday February 6th 4:30 – 5:30 in room 1A14. Ahmet Zappa and Christian Beranek will be making a guest appearance to discuss Kingdom Comics.

Ahmet Zappa and Christian Beranek option rights to The Minions of Ka graphic novel.

Dracula vs. King Arthur digital downloads go live.

Christian Beranek co-founded and runs Disney’s Kingdom Comics alongside Ahmet Zappa and Harris Katleman. CB has a first look film/tv deal with Disney/ABC. He has several projects in development around town including Dracula vs. King Arthur, based on the graphic novel he co-created. He is currently working on his first novel and an album. CB is never late for dinner and invites you to add him on twitter: www.twitter.com/beranek

By Christian Beranek

Recap: Last column found our favorite CB not only without pizza — but a future as well!

I had been sitting in my house for over thirty minutes listening to a guy from the future go on and on about the end of comics. He seemed kinetic, erratic and perhaps a little bit drunk — oh yeah, and he said his name was Bill.

I had had enough, so I made the future harbinger of present-to-his past of our future doom get to the point:

“So Bill, when exactly did comics start to fall apart? What led us to The Collapse of 2021?”

“Comics got cocky. You see, in 2009, despite your weakened economy, the medium is thriving. The kissing cousin relationship with movies may be considered the driving force, but it’s actually the quality of the product that is the lifeblood — and those librarians and educators are slowly building support. But in 2009 comics still feels like the bastard step-child not allowed any ice cream.”

“Comics as in the comic industry?” (more…)

The first in a year long series of articles depicting the exciting life of a comic book creator — these are tales of High Adventure!

FUTURE PERFECT PART 1: INTER DIMENSIONAL TIME TRAVEL PHONE CALL

Comic book creators are known for their sedentary lifestyle: Working at their desks, playing video games and eating. This is all true, we do do that, but there is more to it. You see, our lives are also full of mystery, romance, imported cheeses and yes… adventure. I mean, how else can we write what we write unless we have lived it?

2009 to me feels like a year where a lot of adventure can happen. In fact, I knew it was going to be. It started a few days ago when I got a call from this guy while I was at home, relaxing and reading an old Alan Moore Swamp Thing trade. You know, the first one — when he reinvented everything. He used to do that a lot back in the day. Anyway, the static on the other line made it hard for me to understand him at first. He was calling from the future, you see.

(more…)