Independent Military Comic Book

[charliefoxtrotfilms]

Charlie Foxtrot Films is made up of military vets who have years of experience in film and in art. While working on the film "City of Fire" under the direction of war and war movie vet, Dale Dye, all of us at CFF felt it would be kewl to do a comic book series based on real life war stories. We have talent, know-how and financial backing. So, we are doing it.

We are working on our first, soon to be published, comic book called "G.I. Journals", and the first four part series in it "City of Fire", based on the personal journals of Ernesto Haibi, U.S. Army combat medic who served in Mosul, Iraq, and fought in the battle depicted in the book.

To us, there seemed to be a shortage of real, true life war stories that have both drama and action, and we felt we were the best suited to fill that void. Most of us avid comic book readers, and three of us professional illustrators and artists as well as writers. So, it only made sense for us to do a comic as well as the film.

Our current plan is to keep it for mature readers, as there is a crap load of violence, gore and langauge.

Each issue will have an established artist do the cover. Currently we are talking with the reps for artists like Alex Ross, Bill Sienkiewicz, Arthur Suydam and the amazing Star Wars and Indiana Jone artist Drew Struzan.

Now, we have the pulse of all our comic book loving fellow military vets who love what we are doing. But, we are curious waht the average comic book reader who is not in the military thinks of such a comic book?

Does this sound like something you guys would like?

What do you guys think of this project?

Here's a small sample of some pre-art for the project.

[Heather M Jordan]

Well, I liked "Light Brigade", but that was more fictional... had a military setting, though.

I think that, as long as it's done right, it would be a worthwhile read. If the tales are kept true to what happened in real life, I think it would be great.

[UnbowedUnbroken]

I'm in.
I have been waiting for someone to do this for a while now.
Itd be nice to have soldiers written by soldiers, since I assume y'all won't portray yourselves as merciless order taking autmotons with no free will and the intelligence of apes.

Which sadly is pretty much the norm in the comics industry.

[charliefoxtrotfilms]

Well, I liked "Light Brigade", but that was more fictional... had a military setting, though. I think that, as long as it's done right, it would be a worthwhile read. If the tales are kept true to what happened in real life, I think it would be great.

Heather M Jordan

Heather,
Thanks for the comment. And you are right!

You can expect a lot of fact, truth and reality with ours. There is even a little room for love, in the first story. Ernie, the subject of our main story, literally cut a rose from Saddam's palace garden, to give to his wife.

Feel free to give us more of your thoughts on our project.
Thanks again!
Gerry

[charliefoxtrotfilms]

I'm in. I have been waiting for someone to do this for a while now. Itd be nice to have soldiers written by soldiers, since I assume y'all won't portray yourselves as merciless order taking autmotons with no free will and the intelligence of apes. Which sadly is pretty much the norm in the comics industry.

UnbowedUnbroken

UnbowedUnbroken,
Nice post! And so have we! No one seemed willing or lacked the know-how, in doing a fact based, gut wrenching combat series.

Well, we at CFF got sick of waiting... and are doing it ourselves.Two of us at are actually still active duty army, and I am going back after we finish all our projects this year. I make great bucks at my career, plus well I'm educated, but I really miss serving.

Soldiers are complicated animals. not two-dimensional automotons as some have mistakenly tried to show them as. They aren't cold or machine like at all. Especially when it comes to doing their jobs. They are proud, willing and giving individuals, capable of being tough one moment and then empathetic and gentle the next.

You should visit Michael Yon's website and check out his photo gallery and see some of the feeling he has captured of the American soldier.

We want to capture it all in our stories, and express it through the narration, dialogue and through our art. We want comic readers to see what its like being a soldier.

Thanks again for your thoughts!
Gerry

[DeTroyes]

I'm in, too. Make it happen, let us know when it comes out, and I'll be sure to put in my request list.

[Bob Francis]

Best of luck Gerry!

I'll be looking for it at the Lair!

Have you talked to Diamond or other distributors yet?

[charliefoxtrotfilms]

I'm in, too. Make it happen, let us know when it comes out, and I'll be sure to put in my request list.

DeTroyes

DeTroyes,
Outstanding!

All of you are welcome to join our forum we just started at Charlie Foxtrot. We will post here, of course, but we will be posting a lot of art and occassionally pages from the book as we procede on our website and forums.

By the way, once we release the first issue, we will be selling a specially signed copy from our Website store, signed by all the artists and by the writer, while the unsigned versions will be in stores around the country. Procedes from all sales go straight to the Wounded Warriors program. If you don't know much about them, click on the link at the bottom left our our home page. They are really helping our brothers.

Later!
Gerry

[charliefoxtrotfilms]

Best of luck Gerry! I'll be looking for it at the Lair! Have you talked to Diamond or other distributors yet?

Stormking

Stormking,

Awesome!

Oh, yeah. You can't plan on a major distribution of a comic book without Diamond.

Our scheduled release date is June 24, 2007, the third anniversary of the battle for Mosul, which we depict in the series.

A few of us will be going to some of the stores around the country to do signings, the month of the release.

Cya!
Gerry

[charliefoxtrotfilms]

By the way, if you all ever want to read the personal journal of our writer, Ernesto Haibi, who is a no-sh%t serious combat soldier, his blog is found here Candle In The Dark.

Ernesto is my friend as well as associate, and he has seen a lot as a combat medic. His blog is always a good read.

Some of his personal video footage has been featured on three History Channel combat documentaries.

Later,
Gerry

[charliefoxtrotfilms]

One thing that did, but shouldn't have taken me by surprise, was the response we have had by vets themselves. Seems I forgot just how many of them are avid comic book readers.

They tell us they really love it and can hardly wait to get their copies.

[charliefoxtrotfilms]

Oh, if you would like to view some of my art, so as to get an idea what to expect in that dept... go here GutterZombie.com

[Jor-El's Ghoest]

Good work! Looks like it's worth looking into!

[charliefoxtrotfilms]

Good work! Looks like it's worth looking into!

Jor-El's Ghoest

Jorel's Ghost,
Thanks bro. I tend to think I don't suck too much as an artist. ;-)

[Jor-El's Ghoest]

Whoa, that's your art? Very impressive. Who's doing the coloring?

[charliefoxtrotfilms]

Whoa, that's your art? Very impressive. Who's doing the coloring?

Jor-El's Ghoest

Jor-El's Ghost,

Thanks Jor-El! Like I said, I don't suck too badly.

The colorsit's name is Jeff Balke, from Chicago. He's very good.

Jon Alderink, who resides in Californnia, and just graduated from art school in Holland, is my inker. He may also do some penciling on the project as well.