I’m still taking a break from doing the lion’s share of the typing here in the FORE! blog and letting my good friend, Joe George take the wheel. Joe is here to share his thoughts and experiences on our collaboration on two TOACM mini-comics a few years back. So sit back and enjoy the second part of Joe’s guest blog post…
[Previously]…In most scenes, I positioned Caddie as the go-getter crime fighter and CM as the more reserved and thoughtful voice of reason. In other words, I made CM the fun-hating wet blanket in his own series.
Norb's first appearance in "Tales of a Checkered Man" #1 (2003)
Even worse, I changed the plot of our first issue to focus more on Gus and Dougie – two reporters for the Exotic Times – effectively telling about Checkered Man instead of showing his adventures. Although Dougie is CM's roommate in the current series instead of the blind British expat working in the Exotic Times archives that I made him into, he was basically the same easy-going and fun-loving guy you see today. I paired him with another character who hasn't appeared, an up-and-coming reporter named Gus. Gus was probably my favorite character in the series – a play on the spunky female reporter (her name is short for Augusta Lee) and on the hero's girlfriend archetypes. Not only does she have no romantic designs on CM, but she also doesn't have much desire to play the usual role of “sexy woman in a man's world” – she's a frumpy dresser, a bit of a grouch, and a relentless researcher. The two of them had a fun antagonistic relationship as they set out to do a story on Checkered Man.
TALES OF A CHECKERED MAN #2 (2004) "Chemistry Part1" Written by Joe George, Art by Denver Brubaker
Because the first issue Denver and I did was an introductory issue, I could get away with focusing on Gus and Dougie's perspective over that of CM and Caddie. With our second issue, however, my inability to grasp CM became a bigger problem. I opened this issue several months after the last when, thanks to CM and Caddie's efforts, most of the crime in Exotic City had been abolished. Although CM considered the low crime rate to be a positive development (again, the only voice I could decide on was that of a wet blanket), an annoyed Caddie resorted to beating jaywalkers and hassling Norb (who was just a grouchy clerk at that point – his Cthulu worship hadn't been revealed yet, despite Caddie's suspicions). The story revolved around Caddie's decision to crash a dinner party thrown by local mad scientists, with once again more emphasis on Caddie and the villains than on CM himself.
Joe peed a little...honest...
Denver and I planned on doing a few more issues with the hopes of picking up a publisher, but life got in the way for both of us, and I ended up letting CM fizzle from my end. It was certainly a lot of fun, and I loved the creative jam sessions and hitting the conventions. One of my favorite memories was seeing Kurt Busiek sitting at his booth at Motor City Con, reading a copy of Tales of a Checkered Man #2 that we had given him. He was smiling, and not derisively! The only thing better than smilin' Busiek and a kind word of encouragement from Mark Waid was the sight of an overweight man in a tiny Captain America suit who decided to cheer for us when we got some favorable feedback at WizardWorld Chicago.
That said, I am glad that I stepped aside and don't have to worry about trying to make up a personality for CM. One of the best things about enjoying this series as a fan now is watching how Denver's found a voice for the hero and focused the comic back on him. He now has a fuller identity and flaws, and I've loved watching him unfold. He's essentially a whole new character for me. Sure, I miss writing Gus, Dougie, and Caddie – and I am bummed that I never got to play with a lot of other great characters, such as the amazing Squid Girl (who you'll get to see soon) – but, man, I don't miss that darn blinking cursor!
Thanks, Joe! I always had so much fun sitting around geeking out with you. Remember our Moon Knight pitch? How about Blue & Gold? Those were the days!
You will see Squid-Girl leak into the series sooner than later (she’s already popped up a couple times here and here). As for Gus and Caddie? Well…I’m keepin’ quiet on those two for now. However, you may note that a familiar face from our TOACM #2 in the strip from 11/30…
-Denver
