January 18, 2003
I've made my decision, and sent out the rejection letters to all the applicants I did not pick, so I suppose it's time for an announcement. Schlock Mercenary is going to be colored by Jean Elmore, who brings not only a lot of experience to the position, but also has a great eye for the job. As an added bonus, both she and her husband are avid readers of the strip.For security purposes, all coloring is going to be done at an unspecified location in Alaska.
Many of you have asked to see the submissions of the colorist applicants. I only have two problems with this: first, I'd need the permission of the applicants. Second, there is an outside chance that some of you would look at this and think to yourselves that I made the wrong decision.
Fortunately, I've already made decisions with the strip that have made many of you unhappy (I allowed Hob to die, I allowed Petey to kill himself, I forced Bunni to work out off-screen and in modest clothing), so this is just one more place where I get to say that my decision is the right one by virtue of the fact that it is mine, rather than by any comparison to the ostensibly oscillating scale of public opinion.
I guess this means that if you sent me artwork, and you're willing to let me post it along side other applicants' work, email me.
In day-job land, I just finished a trip to Detroit. It was cold, there was too much air-travel and too little sleep, and although the company I kept was excellent (including a very stimulating conversation in the first-class cabin between Chicago and Salt Lake City), I'm feeling pretty grumpy about things today. Maybe it's the lack of sleep, but it's more likely the stack of email that awaited me at home, including angry missives from folks who would argue with me about the factual nature of my statement about the virtue of my decisions, yet who neglect to provide any actual countermanding facts.
The good news is that I'm going to do some cartooning today, as well as a little shopping. Between the two, I should be able to finish the day all nice and happy, if a little bit poorer.