Item: On the left sidebar, please note that there is now a Comic Archive list of links. Each link will take you to the beginning of one of the eight books/chapters in Johnny Saturn. Phil Hofer of Frumph dot net suggested this.

Item: I’m almost caught back up to the point the site was at before the server move. All MP3’s now have onboard players, all broken links and pictures are repaired (I think—crosses fingers), and the store is up and functional.

Item: I had a phone conversation with Bob Hickey of Blueline Pro today, and I’m pretty sure that Benita and I will be appearing at his store Comics2Games in Kentucky for Free Comic Book Day. In related news, I just sent off my fourth article to Blueline Pro’s Sketch Magazine, so I’m well on my way to becoming a regular contributor. I’ll be honest, I’m really proud to be associated with this fine publication, because it fills a valuable niche in guiding apprentice and journeyman cartoonists in developing their skills. In other words, Sketch Magazine is an excellent teaching tool. (I really am a fan–I have a complete run of this magazine, from issue 1 forward.)

Item: Today, I was distracted by outside issues, and I didn’t feel quite like myself. The result is that I had a false start on the next page. This rarely happens to me, but it did today. I couldn’t wrap my head around an effective storytelling approach, and the page suffered for it. I don’t do half measures, so I’ll begin the page again tomorrow. The reason I mention this is because off days aren’t just limited to beginners. I’m a journeyman, and I have off days. Even cartooning masters can suffer from this, so don’t put yourself down or give up if you have a tough day!

Item: As far as podcasts go, I interacted on TGT last Sunday by way of their chat room, and on Art & Story Live on Monday by Skype. In the latter case, I wasn’t on the whole show because my connection wasn’t that great.

We’ve added three sets of our “Johnny Saturn”comics to the list of incentives for “Webcomics: What’s Cooking” Cookbook.  This unique book is described as follows:

90 plus pages of fun webcomics and great recipes!  Enjoy desirable entrees with your favorite webcomic characters!  Great fun and for a worthy cause too.  Proceeds of the cookbook are going to the Food Banks of the USA and Canada. The cookbook features recipes for Breakfast, Lunch, Appetizers, Dinner, Desserts and Beverages.  All of these hosted by popular webcomics you know and love. Feed Your Family and Feed the World with one purchase!  All pre-orders will be shipped by Priority Mail in plenty of time for the Holiday Season, so shop for everyone on your holiday list.

This book is edited by Kurt Sasso of the TGT podcast, and illustrated by Byron Wilkins of “1977” fame.  This is a Kickstarter project, so you are invited to invest in this venture.

Now, I’d like to draw your attention to a new Johnny Saturn review, this one from the “People – Entertainment – Art” website at http://people.bukiki.com/2009/01/24/johnny-saturn/ on January 24th, 2009.  I’m not sure how we missed this one, but now is a good time to read this:

Johnny Saturn

Designed by Benita and Scott Story, Johnny Saturn gave a new definition to the concept of web comic. The battle between good and evil is central to the plot, but the main character is simply facing the challenges of life. Hence, the dominant feature of the characters to be found in Johnny Saturn is close to any Romantic plot with legends, superior beings serving the good or the dark forces and lots of conflicts between them. Crazy scientists and half-gods also people this world together with other conceptual being that add a touch of uniqueness to the comic of Johnny Saturn.

In terms of basic characterization, Johnny Saturn represents both a web comic and a superhero and fantasy book; yet, many readers see it as a sheer allegory of the strenuous efforts a common man makes in his way to find justice. Moreover, good seems to spring from questionable deeds too, not only out of purity.

Johnny Saturn is who comes to oppose the evil Dr. Synn and his plots. Johnny Saturn is not the prototype of the hero with lots of powers and plenty of heroic tales to tell: he is the regular guy caught up in unusual circumstances who must get in charge of his existence. As the story in the comic evolves, Johnny Saturn gets to other inspirational life levels: he shows the sacrifice of a savior and the determination of a leader.

The fathers of the Johnny Saturn comic achieved something more than fame and success with their extensive saga of the character. The Story’s send a deep message that touches moods and influence readers while staying away from visual manipulation. Mondays and Wednesdays are normally the days when the story of Johnny Saturn is told further on; it’s been four years since the release of the strip, and it still has an ongoing success as several thousands of visitors read the adventures of Johnny Saturn daily.

Johnny Saturn swarms with the concerns, issues and controversies of our world: we get to face depressive characters, suicidal and angry behaviors and lots of people in emotional pain, not to mention that drug addiction is also approached in terms of topic. Even the political struggles get to underlie the story of Johnny Saturn, but the advantage here is that a comic leaves freedom enough for allegories without pointing the finger directly at people and events from real life.