Star Date 052213… he didn’t make me a red shirt!

Eric’s commentary will come later, but in the meantime, I just wanted to say how much fun I had doing the captions for this one. Adding the celestial background with the classic Star Trek lettering was just a must in this case.

I’m not the biggest Trek fan in the world, but I did love the first Abrams movie and can’t wait to see the sequel. I watched the classic show and the cartoon when I was a kid, but it wasn’t really my thing. And when I got a bit older, I would occasionally watch Next Generation. Still, I think it’s pretty cool to see myself on the bridge of the Enter– I mean New Comic Day!

From the log of Eric Ratcliffe:

I’ve wanted to do a Star Trek strip for a long time now.I grew up on Next Generation and remember watching Voyager pretty religiously. It’s always had a place in my nerdy heart, just not as much as other aspects of sci fi.

The Borg were my favorite villains, I remember being a huge fan of Geordi and Data and always loved Captain Picard. So when the new Trek movie was coming out, I wanted to do some fun nod to all of Trek and that’s what you’re seeing here. I haven’t had the pleasure of watching the new movie yet but will very soon!

I was actually listening to an interview a few days ago with Rod Roddenberry about his father on the Nerdist podcast. It was cool to listen to and really interesting to. Would highly recommend it.

Next week our voyage into the stars ends but does Eric talk himself into a situation he can’t get out of? Find out in 7, folks!

26…this is an interesting number. I’m 4 years away from 30 and actively trying to do a lot with my life so I can feel accomplished before I turn 30. I’m not just rambling, yesterday was my birthday. I have some of the most amazing friends on the planet as well as the 2 best parents a guy could ask for who all my made yet another birthday awesome. Just…definitely have a lot on my mind currently connected to the fact that like I said I’m now 26 and just not sure how I feel with that and what I’ve accomplished so far.

This week’s strip is the end of our Kang arc and something I think I’ve had  in my head for a long time now. I knew this was how it had to end and I have to go from the intro to this in a short amount of time. Sometimes I let those long story arcs take off more than I should so I am trying to cut them shorter without losing the jokes within.

There is still an idea that was originally connected to this that has Eric infiltrate the Masters of Evil similarly to how Wally West infiltrated the Legion of Doom in Luthor’s body but we’ll see if that ever comes to fruition.

A very tiny update on the beginnings of the Kickstarter; I want to at least have the whole thing plotted out and the script halfway done before we even come close to launching the project. We have a title and I know Brant is definitely on board with me (though we will be actively supporting a project he has coming up in just a few short weeks. Wow I’m a tease tonight apparently) I just have to get everyone else on board with the project. Figure out what certain parties will be doing on it and of course go from there. I’m just excited to be working on it in general. I think people will really dig what we’re going to do!

Next week…New Comic Day goes boldly where other webcomics have not gone before! Find out where our crew is in 7, folks!

I just finished Bioshock Infinite…pretty sure my brain was messed with pretty heavily. Not sure what to think at the moment. That being said, not a terrible game. Easily one of the best of 2013 so far.

I absolutely love that fourth panel, George knocked it out of the park. I also love Kang’s overall stature and just general cockiness. That’s the perfect kind of villain posturing. Reminds me a lot of the version from Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.

I really like exploring the fact that Eric once again has done some stuff that can’t be explained away as him meaning well, even if it was an accident. It’s really funny to have someone call him out on everything and for him to try and play it off.

Slowly forming the plot to the huge story that you guys will see in print down the line, by the way; not fully ready to talk about that, but plans are certainly at work for the project. We have our title and looking forward to talking with the whole team about it before the project launches on Kickstarter. Like I said, I’ll keep you updated!

Also, for fun, a video I made a few days ago for my YouTube channel: http://youtu.be/Wazih7bLhZI

Wednesday…so does Kang convince Eric to join him? And does Thanos finally do something?! Find out in 7, folks!

Sorry about the delay in this one, folks, definitely worth the wait though. We’re all anxiously looking forward to Iron Man 3. So much so that it actually took me probably around 2-3 weeks to come up with an idea for this strip. At first it was an over elaborate argument on how the third movie in any trilogy always sucks, then it became something about a really dumb sidekick being introduced, and then I decided to rethink all of that.

Instead, comic me is nowhere to be found and gets tricked into helping a certain bad guy get access to Tony’s armory. Once again showing that Eric really shouldn’t be anywhere near certain Avengers. I mean he means well, he just always seems to do something wrong.

I’m hoping to see the movie by the end of the weekend, hopefully Saturday and possibly with my dad. We’ll see if that happens.

Speaking of Saturday, it is Free Comic Book Day! So head to your local comic shop and support them while picking up some free swag as well!

I’ll be running a blog later in the week with a video from my YouTube channel about sorting through some comics that you guys might enjoy. Really trying to produce more content on a practically daily basis, just taking a while to get used to it.

Next week…just why is Kang here and what does it have to do with Eric’s previous bad decisions?! Find out in 7, folks!

Kang is probably my favorite Avengers villain. Makes sense if you think about it because Avengers Forever is my personal favorite Avengers story. Time travel can always be a tough thing to write for, and a character like Kang has always ridden that line pretty closely. Though I still really like how they used him in Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.

We are taking a quick break from this arc next week to do an Iron Man movie strip, but after that you’ll find out just what Kang is doing at Eric’s apartment and just what it means for the future of New Comic Day!

I’m also slowly introducing more content into the main feed on the site; as you can see right below this there’s a YouTube video that you can check out that my friend Jeff Burns and I recorded last Saturday. Much more of that to come in the coming weeks!

Next week…just what is the team thinking about when it comes to trilogies? And just what does this have to do with Iron Man? Find out in 7!

I want to start this week’s commentary by talking about the bombing at the Boston marathon. My thoughts and well wishes as well as the rest of the team’s are obviously with those that were effected by it. Jeff was actually in the building next store to where it happened while it was happening. I really hope the cowards that are responsible for the act are brought to justice and get whatever is coming to them.

On a positive note, Boston Comic Con has not been cancelled this weekend. It’s an amazing show that I’ve been attending for quite a while now and even though it’s technically part of a crime scene currently. They are not letting fear stop them from putting on a great event full of a crazy amount of talented people.

I am in Artist Alley Table #104 and George is in AA #716 definitely stop by both tables and say hi! Looking forward to meeting plenty of awesome readers!

So talking about this week’s strip specifically, I am a huge Power Rangers fan. Even tuned back in during Dino Thunder to see the return of Tommy! It was one of the first real shows my brain as a kid fell in love with and I was actually a huge fan of Zack, the Black Ranger way before Tommy came into the picture.

But obviously, like a lot of Power Rangers fans, I quickly became a huge fan of Tommy and Jason David Frank’s performance as the character during each incarnation. Not sure what it was about the Green/White Ranger that was so cool but he had it! Really hoping to meet him this weekend to let him know just how much his work and his character helped me as a kid.

Wednesday…a mysterious and famous time traveler arrives at Eric’s door but what is he here for? Find out in 7, folks!

So this is George’s first official strip. (He’s done the coloring on 2 now and obviously a reader for quite some time) It’s really cool to see a different and new artistic approach. Doesn’t hurt that I’m looking a bit like old school Oliver Queen.

This strip was a basic one inspired by my friend Yoni on theouthousers.com. There was a thread for Ultron #3 and I still really found it funny how Panther died. I know, I’m a horrible person. Anyways, I figured adding another cat related character to the mix and then the whole 9 lives joke would flow perfectly with it and the rest, as they say, is history.

Next week we’re sadly back to 1 a week for a while. But honestly? There’s a lot of strong stuff that I’m very excited for you guys to see.

Like I’ve been saying the last few commentaries, I will be at Boston Comic Con and so will Jeff and George. So if you’re a fan and will be at the show, come say hi! I’m looking forward to seeing a few of my friends in person for the first time as well as catching up with old friends. I still find it awesome that Tim Seeley will actually be at a convention in my home turf so to speak. Been forever since I last talked to him.

Wednesday…Jeff is at the table at Boston Comic Con but where’s Eric? And just what does it have to do with a ’90s TV show? Find out in just a few days!

A Word From One of the Creators

From the desk of George Amaru

When it comes to the new characters of the last decade or so, I’d say  for me personally Damian is up there as one of my favorite. The little jerk is just so likable even when he’s trying to punk out Tim or Dick. He added such a cool and interesting dynamic to the Bat-universe that I don’t think we’d ever seen explored before. Sure, Bruce was a surrogate father to Dick and Tim but finding out Damian even existed and then to have to take him on to make sure he became nothing like his mother? Pure awesome.

I really hope that he doesn’t stay gone for too long and that Morrison is building to bringing him back before the end of his run on the Bat-books. When I found out that he was going to be dying, I figured I’d go the opposite route and show just why I really dig the character. Plus, I kind of had that one coming.

On a bad news side of things, Jim has to step away from the strip for a while. (Personal reasons, not my business to share. Everything is okay though and I already miss working with him.) He will definitely be back some point very soon, but in his absence, friend and  longtime reader of the strip, George Amaru is coming aboard. I’m very excited to have George coming in and helping us and he’ll actually have a table at Boston Comic Con! So both of us and Jeff will be there if you’re coming to the show. Definitely swing by either table to say hi.

Friday…What happens when Jeff and Eric read the latest event comic? And what do cats have to do with it? Find out in just a few days!