Don't judge me from the tile of this post, it's not me that slow (though it does happen). I'm dealing with general computer slowness at work, mostly with accessing files. Something happening with the server or something.

While I'm stuck waiting, a few announcements.

( How To Train Your Dragon trailer, plus a few more. )

Sorry, just having my usual funk when it comes to drawing. Comes and goes. Frustrating but it should fix itself. Hopefully, very very soon.
Maybe looking at this inspiring website will kick me into gear.

http://www.artboxforum.com/wip/

Thank you Steven ( http://clockroom.blogspot.com/ ) for the link! I needed that.

How could I resist.
Another adaptation, this time from a french BD
( LUCKY LUKE! )

Had a great time in San Francisco last weekend: beautiful weather made a walk in Golden Gate Park just perfect, Tut exhibit was very nice with loads of objects from that period, not just from his tomb. I still had just enough memory of my hieroglyph classes to be able to recognise a few signs and read the cartouches of the kings- yay!

The hotel was cheap- clean enough yes, but that advertisement on their site saying renovated in 2008 is false. Unless I got that one room that wasn't renovated, ha ha!
Old wallpaper wanting to peel where it was glued, bathroom door that didn't close, iron imprint on bed cover (not burnt, just imprint...that made me laugh), tv with only 5 channels. Ah well, I only stayed there to sleep, not to have an awesome unforgettable time. It served its purpose (could have been even cheaper, but that's SF for you).

The show itself was great. Mood way better than last year, possibly due in part to good weather. Saw a few people had sold out of books on Sunday.
So many great people were there, but my first thanks has to go to alexds1, armadaryu, jacks_piranhas and derflughafen for letting invade their table space. You guys are AWESOME!!

( I found I'm still obsessed )

Cousin's wedding a few hours away. Current weather cold and wet, compared to yesterday's hot and humid. We'll see how that develops for this evening. I wish for a bit of sun, at least!
Never heard so many crickets (or grasshoppers?) last evening. Super loud too! It was great!

( Do not judge a man by the size of his sideburns )

Currently in Dallas, Texas, for my cousin's wedding. Hot, humid and miserable.
The place around here is nothing too exciting so far, but there are a lot of wineries around.
Which, I guess, should be expected in a place called Grapevine.
Overdosed on meat last night from Brazillian grill. Gah!

On Avatar related news, I've been working on one last 10 pages comics for Nick magazine. It may not see print in the US, so you people over in Germany look out for it in a few months. I just finished sending notes to the colorist, now I need to make those dialogues work. Guh!

( someone's doing a better job at comics than I am )

Walking around Montreal today, I never realised how much I missed the place!!
How Jean Talon farmer's market is so awesome, I want to buy half of the food there.

*sigh*

Signing tonight went well, saw many familiar faces. Thank you all for coming.
( When adapting animation to live action... )

First off, apologies to everyone I haven't replied to yet. It's been extremely busy here, as I try to finish a ten page comics before heading off to Montreal. I will get back to you as soon as I can!!

( Next part, for people in Montreal )

Realised I haven't been posting in a while.
Been busy with the apartment, plus I'm working on something which I can't show right now.
Later next week, I'll be in Montreal. Visiting family and friends, but also hopefully promoting the french edition of Horus.
Still waiting for confirmation on what will be done, but possible signing sessions with my colorist, Saymone Phanekam. I'll give a heads up once I've got official news to share.
Then I'm off to Dallas to go to my cousin's wedding.
Is it bad I'm really looking forward to go to the winery inside Dallas airport again?

EDIT!

The german edition of Nick Magazine has an Avatar special issue.
Anyone in Germany can get me a copy when it hits the stands? I will pay you back, of course!
http://community.livejournal.com/avatar_fans/3029934.html?view=38656686#t38656686

Take the time to read the entry, as yaytime
gives a bit more information on what's happening with the Avatar comics.

( Animation! )

Last week, I saw the studio's "secret room".
Well, not so secret that the executives don't know about it, but a secret secret secret room nonetheless!
Hidden. Invisible. You could walk past its entrance and never guess it was there.
Next time, I'll have to go and take picture of the inside- it looks like a pirate's den!
I love secret rooms! I've had many many dreams in my childhood about secret rooms and secret passages.
Yes, I am totally geeking out about the secret room.
*squeeeee!*
(I need a secret tunnel icon. Must do one when I have the time)
( A few sketches )

Remember last post, two weeks ago, when I mentioned round two of a cold?
Cold won.
Had to go see a doctor, get some antibiotics to kick that nasty thing out of me.
I'm pretty much out of it now. Still coughing a bit, mostly due to the poor air quality caused by all the fires around here.

There are apartment news that are very slowly developing. More on that another time.

Energy level extremely low. Might be the heat. Or whatever that cold leeched out of me. Can't quite seem to whip up the strength to draw fun stuff for myself like I used to. Still, I managed to do some before I need to concentrate on serious work.

( Forgot about Zhao yet? )

Slowly recuperating from a round two cold attack.
I need to get some work done.
I need to draw some moar Zhao!
I need to do many many things.
I'll procrastinate first.
( How about some Last Airbender stuff? )

Went and got a lovely dinner tonight at Cafe Beaujolais, a french place.
Just so much fun to be able to order in french, and the food! Ah the food is so so good!
I also drank too much.
Which means it's a perfect time to do a meme.

( Quick, while I'm drunk!!! )

Brains are almost back to normal.
Got back from comicon yesterday afternoon, went straight back to work. Good thing too, we were launched on more corrections that needed to be done for the morning, next day.
It was so hard to stay awake and try to finish it all! Was suffering from post-con exhaustion.

I've mentionned the Last Airbender movie manga adaptation in the last post. Though I am extremely glad that both Dave Roman and Alison Wilgus are on board, I am slightly apprehensive of one thing. I quickly talked with the editor of the books at the Del Rey booth in San Diego. He said that they *could* consider making more Avatar manga if, and only if, the two book adaptations do well.
In my head I kept thinking: "But it is the original serie that is more recognised and beloved! You'd have more chance of success selling those! Heck, promise to tell Iroh's story in the spirit world and you'll have a winner right there!"
You'd think there would be less risk and more chance of success that way, right? Businessmen would love that model. Less risk, more success. You know, the good formula?

*shakes head*
Why oh why are Nick and Viacom avoiding the wonderful possibility of making more money with the basic franchise?
I don't know.
I'll never understand corporate executives.
I just want more Avatar comics.
Na.
Did I mention that I basically sold out of Water Tribe books at SDCC? That's correct!
If I was keeping all the money for myself, in just one show I would have almost repaid completely the printing cost.
Zhao would be happy to know he's popular enough to be able to sell books, ha ha!

( Something wonderful came in the mail yesterday )

Currently 9pm, Sunday night.
The show ended 4 hours ago. Helped pack a bit, went back to the hotel for some rest. Waiting for Kazu to call us to go out to dinner.
Personally, feeling drained. Blagh. Food would help.
I can't give a decent report right now (I never can), I'll just highlight these things:

Lost my favorite jacket somewhere. One of the rare cute piece of clothing I had. A jacket bought at Simmons in Montreal a few years ago. Dang! I'll never be able to replace it.

Used the Water Tribe books to raise money for charity: a little bit over 2000$! Woohoo!! Thank you to all the people who donated the money! I will be sending it off as soon as possible to:
http://www.icm-mhi.org/en/index.html
and
http://www.cancer.ca/?sc_lang=en

What else...
Del Rey manga announced during a panel that there will be a manga adaptation of the LAST AIRBENDER movie.
Taken from AnimeNewsNetwork:
"Going back to the original manga field, the company is also developing an adaptation of M. Night Shyamalan's The Last Airbender, the movie based on Nickelodeon's Avatar: The Last Airbender. The adaptation will be written Dave Roman and drawn by Joon Choi, while a prequel to this will be authored by Nina Matsumoto."
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/convention/2009/san-diego-comic-con-international/del-rey
Congrats to Dave, you can be assured he will do his best to make these two books, the prequel and movie adaptation the best they can be!
Let me share pictures!
( Warning, image heavy )

Leaving Wednesday morning for San Diego Comicon.
It will be madness this year, as the Flight booth is situated right between the DC, Marvel,
Sideshow Collectible.
We're talking HUGE amount of crowds.


Inviting all Avatar cosplayers to drop by our booth: I'll have a special little surprise for everyone in costume!
...
I was going to write a longer post, but suddenly feeling very tired.
Long weekend of work will do that.
...
My posts have been lacking in Zhao doodles recently. Boooooh!
(P.S.- this icon is very appropriate since during the con, trying to move around the crowded hall floor looks about as comfortable)