2013 in Review

2013 wasn't quite the year I had wanted it to be.  Instead of the year of doing I had anticipated this time last year, it was a year of learning.  I'm ok with this as it made it equally as important to me.

2013 had a good lead in from 2012 being a year full of projects.  Toward the end of 2012 I had began planning my comic and doing some preparation for doing it.  Practicing, learning how to set up pages, learning how to scan pages, learning how to decently ink.  All of these things made up a huge part of 2013.  These processes taught me more than the skill of comic making though.  Through the practice I learned to sit back and make a good product instead of just putting it out.  I learned how to do things in processes.  I have, in the past, been one who just wants something finished with.  I learned to control myself (with the help of some great friends) and let some ideas simmer and develop.  While I am still not one for waiting too long and just sitting on an idea until it is dead, sometimes something you are making just isn't cooked through yet.  Of course you can see the beginning of the comic here

After Twistoid I only need one more
figure to complete my collection.

While the comic has taken up a large part of my year its not the only thing I have done.  I have continued doing toy shows, although I have done quite a few less this year.  We did three shows this year to some success.  Through this though, I have focused my collecting a bit.  I am literally one figure away from finishing my Masters of the Universe figure collection, and I think I might actually have one of those coming.  I have found other great things to add to my collection as well, but I have also cut it back to make it more focused.  I am cutting out the clutter.

A few of the Thor issues I have gotten this year while building the collection!

 As for collections I have also had the opportunity to flesh out my Thor collection.  I have
been slowly completing a collection that my dad started years ago.  I am down to needing 56 issues to complete the original run of Thor comics!  It has been a really exciting adventure to go on.  I've learned a lot about an scene I have really been away from for some time!  I am really excited about getting even closer to finishing this collection in 2014.

Me on my sweet ride while
my leg was broken!

In the middle of the year I had a few bad experiences.  Now the great things about bad experiences is that you learn how to become stronger through them.  One of the big things is that I broke a leg.  Now, this seems kind of menial as people break legs all the time.  Mine wasn't really that bad, but it helped me learn to let go and realize some things will go on even if I'm not around.  I was out of work for 2 weeks and off my leg for 6.  I learned to depend on people.  We stayed at my in laws or my parrents house for most of that time and they all helped me get through it.  I have to admit they were saints because I was a bear during most of the time!  It was a dark period.

During that time Timegate occurred.  Without me.  For those of you who don't know Timegate is an annual Doctor Who and Stargate convention that happens over memorial day weekend.  I am the co-director of the the Doctor Who Track.  It was really tough for me to miss.  I got the play by play and of course I took part in the planning.  But I was super excited about this year and I had to miss it due to my leg.  But I powered through and now I have this year to look forward to.

After this I did get to go to heroes again this year.  and I traversed it with a broken leg.  Its not something I would want to do again, but I am glad my wife encouraged me to go!  It was another great year!

2013 was kind of a dead year for the New Monster Project, which is a pop culture, geekery, video group that I am involved with.  We brought on a new member and have been planning a fairly major relaunch that involves my comic, videos, and even some podcasts.  I'm pretty excited about where we will be going over the next year.




 In 2013 I continued working on "The Oncoming Storm" podcast, which is a Doctor Who Spinoff media podcast.  Because of this I have read lots of books, comics, and ebooks, and listened to lots of audios.  Actually I would say I have read more this year that I have in any other year.  I'm proud of that, I'm really happy that I have been able to be a part of that podcast!



Speaking of Doctor Who I would be remiss if I did not mention the fact that this was the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who, and while I am not directly involved with Doctor Who, anyone who reads this blog will know it is a huge part of my life.  So the 50th anniversary was  a big deal.  It was a great time to reflect on the show that I love and get a lot of new insight on it.  and through the process I may have even become a little more tolerant of new fans, which an't be a bad thing, can it?

Looking back on all of these thing I see that it probably has been a busier year than I really thought it was.  All in all its been another Whirlwind of a year.  How was your 2013.