The one part omitted from the film adaptation of The Watchmen is the subplot about the fictional comic book called Tales of the Black Freighter, which scenes appear throughout the Watchman issues. The story in the story is an allegory for the overall theme of the plot, but is more than able to stand on its own. So it’s no surprise that Warner Bros. is going to offer it as a stand-alone animated film to be released on DVD on March 24th. And from the looks of this trailer that premiered at MTV.com they are not changing much of the story, which is very good.

Once in a while I like to help promote friend’s swag ’cause I like what they do, and if you read my blog chances are you’ll like it too. And this is just that kind of post. In this case it’s for the über talented musician, artist and author Steven Archer whose new chapbook Red King Black Rook is now available for pre-orders through Raw Dog Screaming Press.

Written and illustrated by Steve Red King Black Rook is a Steampunk fable for the modern age. It tells the story of a king’s court and what happens when a crafty avian advisor, the Rook, gains the king’s ear. The chapbook includes more than 30 ink drawings by Steve and is available in three versions, one of which includes a CD from Hopeful Machines, one of Steve’s musical projects.

I’ll be attending the local Philadelphia geek fest Philcon this weekend, participating in some panel discussions. If you’re around stop on by and say yo. You can catch me at these panels:

Fri 8:00 PM in Plaza III (Three) (1 hour)
DIGITAL TOOLS FOR ARTISTS (102)
[Panelists: D.E. Christman (mod), Alan Beck, Sally Wiener Grotta, John Picacio]
Technical stuff we love to use to creating our art.

Sat 2:00 PM in Plaza III (Three) (1 hour)
SCARY PICTURES! WHAT IS THE ALLURE OF HORROR ART? (105)
[Panelists: D.E. Christman (mod), Joseph L. Bellofatto, Jr., Alan Beck, Diane Weinstein]
Why artists want to make horror art, and why people love it

Sat 3:00 PM in Plaza III (Three) (1 hour)
WHY HORROR IS NOT DEAD (71)
[Panelists: Dina Leacock (mod), D.E. Christman, Sara Harvey, Jennifer Williams]
Despite the naysayers and the disappearance of the category in some bookstores, it’s still out there. Why?

Sat 9:00 PM in Plaza IV (Four) (1 hour)
THE BIG, BAD ZOMBIE PANEL (141)
[Panelists: D.E. Christman (mod), Tony Finan, Jennifer Williams, Matt Black]
BRAAAAAAAINS!

Sun 11:00 AM in Plaza III (Three) (1 hour)
BEYOND ILLUSTRATION: ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO SELL ART. (106)
[Panelists: D.E. Christman (mod), Emily Kwait, Ruth Lampi, Heidi Hooper, Ray Ridenour]
Prints, T-shirts, Collectibles, Web Comics, Subscriptions, other ways to sell your images beyond book cover illustration

David Lowe, an all around creative type, has directions on how you can make some spooky book covers. Makes for a fine way to further perpetuate the rumors that you’re part of a Ythogtha cult.

I’ll be doing a joint art and music event with the gang from Ego Likeness in Philly at Digital Ferret. You should be there.

Weird Tales magazine is having a clever contest – Take your email spam and use it to create flash-fiction:

Write a flash-fiction story — under 500 words — based on a spam you’ve received. Send your story, along with the headline that inspired it, to contest@weirdtales.net before 9 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 4. The Weird Tales editorial team will judge them, and three winners will be announced at the Weird Tales reception on Friday, Aug. 8 at the World Science Fiction Convention in Denver!

The first-, second-, and third-place winners will all be published online at WeirdTalesMagazine.com the week of August 11. The first- and second-place winners will also receive three free issues of Weird Tales; and the first-place winner will also receive an autographed copy of Ekaterina Sedia’s incredible new novel The Alchemy of Stone.

We encourage you to spread this announcement far and wide. But note: entries from Nigeria will be examined very closely.

And you thought all those emails telling you how to increase your size would never come in handy.