This is the first of a series of ongoing posts chronicling the crazy ideas I come up with when I should be working or otherwise being a productive member of society.

Today’s edition: What I would do if I started a band. It’s all about branding and getting one’s name out there, especially in the viral, bottom-up Internet distribution era. And here’s a can’t-miss solution to that particular problem:

Band Name: The Hot New Talent
Album Title: The Brilliant Debut Album
First Track: The Smash Hit Single

Thus whenever someone encounters my song on iTunes or hears about it on the radio, they’ll hear/read/encounter this: “It’s The Smash Hit Single off The Brilliant Debut Album by The Hot New Talent.” The novelty factor alone will get people to give the music a listen.

My hypothetical band would still need to have, you know, talent (not all that much, really, but a bit), and then I’d be on way to rock ‘n roll supremacy. Or at least a “Where Are They Now” segment on VH1 10 years from now. I’ll take whatever I can get.

Come see me and my NU brother-in-arms Russell Lissau as we sign our respective issues of The Batman Strikes at two, count ‘em two, Comix Revolution locations in the Chicagoland area!

On Saturday, August 25, we’ll be signing at the Rev in Evanston from 1-3 pm. That’s 606 Davis St., just a few blocks off the Davis stop on the Purple Line.

Then on Saturday, September 1, we’ll be doing it all over again at their store in the Randhurst Mall in Mt. Prospect.

Hope to see you there!

Written by Josh Elder; Art by Christopher Jones and Terry Beatty; Cover by Sanford Greene and Nathan Massengill

Gearhead’s turning Gotham City into a gigantic demolition derby! Batman’s going to need all the help he can get, even if that means letting Batgirl get behind the wheel of the Batmobile!

Johnny DC | 32pg. | Color | $2.25 US

On Sale August 8, 2007

So I’ve finally caught up with all the sleep I lost at Wizard World Chicago this past weekend. I’ve been a zombie the past few days, but it was well worth it. I got to finally meet Chris Jones, the artist of Batman Strikes, pitch some new stories to the editor of the aforementioned book, meet some old fans and create some new ones, and have an all-around great time hobnobbing amongst my people.

Can’t wait to do it all again next year.

spend some more time with two of my favorite comics people and (I hope) future collaborators Dean Trippe and Stuart Sayger, got to meet Geof Darrow and give him a copy of MON for his daughter, sell a few dozen copies of my books and hang out amongst my people for a little while.

A great time was had by all and I can’t wait to do it again next year.

Flying saucers are real, and soon you’ll be able to buy one:

US company Moller International has begun to manufacture parts for its Jetsons-like personal flying pod, the M200G Volantor.

The M200G is the size of a small car and is designed to take off and land vertically.

Company founder Dr Paul Moller calls the craft “the ultimate off-road vehicle” as it is able to travel over any surface.

Link via Hit & Run.

I’m still coming down off the high from my trip to the San Diego Comicon. I met lots of Internet amigos for the first time, got the greenlight for a truly epic and top-secret DC project, got a bite on my next kid’s GN, and have all the pieces in place to take Mail Order Ninja on a quarterly publication schedule next year.

Oh, and Jackie Chan has read MON and is interested in playing the part of the ninja.

Like I said: Best. Weekend. EVER.

Everyone’s favorite webslinger doesn’t just fight bad guys, he also fights social ills. Like drugs, racism and… teen pregnancy! Like in this charming PSA comic from 30 years ago co-produced with, yes, Planned Parenthood.

I could describe the plot, but I assure that I will fail to do it justice. Of course it’s still not as bad as the time Spidey admitted to being “touched inappropriately” when he was a young boy.

In less than two weeks I’ve already gone down a pants size. Plus I have more energy than I have in years. Life is good.

Check out this epic audio interview with the delightful Jenny Seay of Earth-2.net for the answers to every question you’ve pretty much ever wanted to ask me. It includes some breaking news you won’t find anywhere else…

Then when you’re done, check out the rest of the site. They’ve got some great reviews and some of the best comics podcasts on the ‘net.

Today I had two great library events. Unfortunately, they were across town from one another. Which meant more than three hours on the CTA. Not a fun time.

But the kids made it all worth it. One group is making their own comics and they’re coming up with crazy ideas and actually learning how to properly execute them. It’s very exciting to watch and almost makes me wish I’d gone into teaching. It really is quite rewarding.

Another group were big fans of the book and had all sorts of book-related questions. Plus they had cookies! And Pad Thai! It was most excellent. I even met a local game designer who just might have some work to throw my way.

Not a bad day, all in all. And I leave you with an early preview image from Mail Order Ninja vol. 3 courtesy of the extremely talented James Peay: