Well, there ya have it. Im gonna be at Wizard World Philadelphia this June 15th-17th. Ill bring along some updated pencils to hopefully get ya excited about the Batman Confidential work, so I hope to see yer happy shiney faces there!

When I do Philly I usually do a Wizard work shop so come by my table (#2714, I believe) and check out my signing, sketching, and workshop schedules.

Hope you can make it!

Best,

RAGS.

Ok, a few things to mention.

Thanx for everyone that showed up to the Pittsburgh Comicon. I had a great time being there in like, what5 years or so? That show is one of the best around and there was so much appreciation for the artform and as a creator I think I can speak for Joe Jusko, George Perez, Arthur Suydam, Adam Hughes, aw hellALL OF EMwe were treated with such warmth and love, Id be crazy not to make a return trip.

Anyone who showed up at the Hawthorne NJ show, Id like to say a big thanx! We accomplished what we set out to do and the Hawthorne High Schools art department will be getting some much needed supplies to stimulate those creative juices for the coming generations.

Where am I goin next? I dunno. Wizard Philly is a possibility, as is the Big Apple Conboth in June. Ill keep you posted as to which Ill be able to go to.

Now about the work. Batman Confidential STILL doesnt have a release date, so theres no news there. At least not from me. If anyone knows more than I, will you please share it with the class. But what I DO know is that Im proud of it. A fitting sequel to a great villian and wonderful original story. Im on the second half of issue 3.

Wildstorms project is still on the drawing board, but Im hoping to get it started full force by the end of June.

Ok, I gotta go.

RAGS.

The show last year at the Jacob Javits was spectacular. Those who attended, if you were lucky to show up early, got in and saw something that hasnt been seen at the Javits since the 90s. The turn out was so enormous, it broke NYC firecodes and left some 9000 people waiting in the cold, cold, February air that afternoon.

Well, the good news is that the show has been expanded to accomodate what is anticipated to be as large, if not larger, an attended show. Word has come to me that in a couple of years, the NYC Comicon at the Jacob Javits will be synonymous with the San Diego Comicon with regard to size and attendance.

This is good news, for all of us who love and support this medium. It means comic books are alive, well, and healthy again! Enough to re-open the Javits after the industrys implosion during the 90s.

As a professional and comic book fan, that means alotthanx to all who supported the field during its low period, in the hopes that it would rebound. It has folks, we did it!

If you havent already been informed, there was an over sight in the guest list, and I will be attending this show. For some reason I was left off the list, and that will be rectified.

Ill be hanging with Bair, and Ethanits gonna be fun!

See ya in February!
RAGS.

Well, 2006 is coming to a close and I for one, am pretty dang happy about it. What started as a miserable year for me is closing out positively and Im bringing that optimistic goodness to you, the comics cup.

Ive made public my divorce and Im not gonna drag it out anymore than it has been; I wouldnt want to bore you with personal dirt. But suffice it to say Im in a healthy relationship now, and a healthy artist is a productive one.

Currently youve seen the Dr. Midnight issue #19 of JSA Classified. If you havent then shame on yougo get it now! Its a cool set up for a much cooler ending! Personally I think issue #20 rocks! Maybe even better than #19.

If you dont know by now my next project is a collaborative effort with Geoff Johns, Richard Donner and such a cornucopia of great A-list artists that it makes me blush to be among them. Check out Action Comics Annual and feast on the eye and mind candy well be spinning for ya.

Im currently working (since Ive kinda let the cat out of the bag in the Batman section of this website) on a 4 issue arc somewhere in the Batman universe. I dont want to give away too much cause Ill be interviewing soon and dont want to disappoint my friends in the comics news world.

This of course will lead me into the Wildstorm universe

So there you have it, a great end to a tumultuous year. Im back, hoping my inertia is finally over with, and that it provides me with the opportunity to do what Im blessed to be doing, working for you guys.

Have a great and prosperous new year and, of course, HAPPY FESTIVUS!!! However you decide to celebrate!

Much love,

RAGS.

p.s. come be my friend at myspace.com under the display name: ~MORALESS~

ON THE NEWSLETTER:

Ive been having problems with the email addy Im using for the newletter. Ive sent notices, and it looks like Ill have to eventually move onto another sitemost likely hotmail.

Here something to consider:

As you already know, the JSA classified arc Im doing is due out soon. Pay attention to the collaboration with Scott Beatty and I- its a prelude to what you can expect to see once we move onto the Wildstorm mini in months to come. And that mini will have a big connection to the Wildstorm universe as a whole. Watch out for it.

Currently Im working on an Action Comics Annual. 12 pages with Geoff Johns, Richard Donner, and Mark Farmer. Colorist will be Eduardo Fernandez, formerly of Out There.

After that a 4 issue mini with Tony Bedard in the DCU. Its something I REALLY look forward to

And of course, as before mentioned will be my collarboration with Scott for the Wildstorm project.

Basically that is what my next year and a half to two years looks like.

See Ya!

RAGS.

Ive been running through my head whether or not to start a newsletter.I know what youre thinkingwhy not just blog?

I could, but then what to blog about is always an issue. My life is kinda haphazard, and I dont have the stability to chime in on my daily doings like the lovable Ethan here.

So this is only for the Comics Cup who want to know my inner workingswhat I have planned and what you can expect from yours truly. The kinda thing that is somewhat privileged information.

No, you wont get the dirt on who got fired, but Ill be giving out stuff pertaining only to me. Hell, I might even scream at the heavens for your entertainment.

If you want in, just send me your email addy through the private message board here at comicbloc and Ill add you to the contact list.

Lets give it a shot.

Cool?

Cool.

Hi folks!!

A little announcement that I will be at the Big Apple Comic Con the weekend of September 16th. Its a two day show and word has it that Ill be sitting with my partner in grime Mike Bair. Show up cause Ill have some stuff Im working on for JSA Classified to display.

Hope to see the Comics Cupthose who can make it!

It was mentioned in Philadelphia, at the DC panel. Brad Meltzer has crafted JLA #0, and has asked different artists to contribute a page to the story. Brad, in his infinite wisdom, has asked me to do a page- but in Jim Aparo style.

That got me reminiscing about the 3 pages presented to you (thanx Mark for holding onto them all these years- Im touched) so I asked Mr. McMurray if he still had them and if he wouldnt mind posting them.

You see folks, while pursuing your dream, you come across spatterings of revelation that seem kismet. Having Neal Adams take interest in my work was one. Having the late Jim Aparo appreciate a sketch of mine was another. Hearing how a young person is inspired to draw from my work is yet another. I always felt if I could just get someone to notice me as a professional, Id consider my dream met.

But then Brad called me. Rags, Im going to try to do something. Im going to write a JLA story and have different artists do a page for it. Do you think you can do one page in Jim Aparo style? I hope DC goes for it.

It truly is rare when you have something like this the chance of doing it again some 24 years later. If ever there was something that says to me, Youre definately doing what you should be doing. Its the opportunity to recreate (to a degree) something I did while dreaming of doing this kind of thing for a living. Thanx Brad.

There you have it. Thats why we shared.

Lets hope it isnt a sign of the end of my career.

heres the last page from the series, which Mark had shared with us.

heres part 2 of Rags JLA art from 1981. and as Mark Rags have mentioned, theres more on this later

anyone care to guess what that more is?