This Gay Life: A Coming of Age Webcomic Series by Mark C. Lindsey

This Gay Life is a wonderful webcomic series by artist/illustrator Mark C. Lindsey about coming of age in the 80s. It is filled with illustrated tales of art school, clubbing, dating, and being a dirt poor student learning how to exist in this crazy world. Even better, it is infused with a New Wave/early Indie Rock sound track that totally sets the mood and tone for each episode. By this I mean, some episodes of the webcomic comes with an MP3 player featuring a companion song that is meant to be played as you begin reading. Sometimes, he offers a complete 80s mix tape. It really kinda makes everything even more fun! Mark has also started doing some basic animation versions of the webcomic, too.

Mark

Mark C. Lindsey is an artist and writer currently living in New York City. He is the illustrator of the children's book "Away and Back"(2011, Mark Lindsey and Diane Welker) and the author and illustrator of "Faces New York - A Series of Drawings from the Subways"(2012). According to Mark's own description, This Gay Life is a "comic book about some of the formative experiences of my younger self, is a work of fiction. All of the characters here have been created, combined, extrapolated, reversed or invented. Any character outside of myself bearing a resemblance to anyone living or dead is coincidental."

Like most artists, Mark tends to give limited information on himself. When we asked for a little bit of info on the inspiration behind This Gay Life, here's what he told us, "This Gay Life is a coming of age comic.  It will be in print,  but I love the digital aspect, that it lives on the web, and that I am starting to use animation more. Season 3 is nearly up, and there will be a 4th."

If you would like to learn more about Mark, we suggest his websites ThisGayLife and markclindsey.com, his vlog This Week In The Culture, and #facesnewyork.

**CLICK THE PIC TO GO TO THE EPISODE!**

Magical Star Bubble Power: An Interview w/ "Lotus For Help" Creator Drew Green

My pal Steve came back from Atlanta's DragonCon raving about openly gay/artist illustrator Drew Green and showing me the drawing he commissioned. Knowing that I am a huge fan of comic illustration, Steve pretty much demanded that I go online and check out Drew's artwork. And, I am pretty thankful he did! It turned out that Drew Green is pretty darn awesome. So, I set out to learn more.

Drew is based out of Atlanta. For the last couple of years, when not tackling projects for Boom! Studios, Cartoon Network, or Pepsi, Drew has been writing a weekly LGBT webcomic series called Ross Boston. In short, Ross Boston is the story of a 23-year-old guy who gets swept up into a life of adventure after assisting a Wizard in peril. The two are joined by an 80s workout video instructor, a sassy beast, and a super-secret ex-spy, all of whom work together to protect the monster citizens of an alternate version of our very own planet Earth.

However, Drew recently decided to shelf Ross Boston in favor of his latest weekly comic creation Lotus For Help. LFH follows the weird adventures of an ex-secret agent, her wizard boss, a bubbly demonic summoner, and an invisible demon. For fans of Ross Boston, there will be much rejoicing as quite a few characters will be transitioning into the new storyline. The interview below has more detailed info on this! From what we have seen from Lotus for Help thus far, it promises to be one of the most entertaining weekly comics the internet has to offer!

Thankfully, Drew was kind enough to take some time out of his busy schedule to do an interview with us! If you would like to spend some time getting to know even more about Drew Green, we suggest his Lotus For Help site, Tumblr, DeviantArt, and Twitter!

Q: So, as I was stalking you on the internet, I noticed on your DeviantArt page there is a section for a project called Wildflowers with a cast including a young psychic, a half-angel electrokinetic male stripper and a pyrokinetic drug addict. Why on Earth are you not working on this comic right now!??
Drew: Haha, oh "Wildflowers." I can't even remember why I named it that. I suspect the hunky half-angel character was a direct representation of my own sexual frustration. Deep! That project, like so many projects, was a product of a time and a place in my life, and I look back on it fondly. I drew some pretty cool stuff in relation to it, but never any pages. I used to have a lot of ideas for comics but never any comics! Oh to be 5 years younger and lazy. Anyway, I'd say a lot of pieces of "Wildflowers" and other personal projects ended up in "Ross Boston," "Lotus For Help," and some other projects I'm developing that I can't talk about, in addition to other things that just never even took off. It's amazing how much ends up on the cutting room floor, but I encourage other creators never to throw any ideas away. Never know when it'll be useful.

Q: In your new weekly comic “Lotus For Help,” you kill off a character in the first 7 pages. How cathartic was that?
Drew: Is anyone ever really dead in the world of comics? It's amazing how impermanent death is in that medium, and that's something I hope to play with on multiple occasions in "Lotus For Help." After all, a big part of the comic's theme has to do with demons and the underworld. Stay tuned, kids!

Q:  My Pal Steve is a huge fan of yours. He wanted me to ask you the following: "Your character designs flirt with the line between 'cute' and 'sexy', which sets you apart as an artist. Can you explain the inspiration behind your design aesthetic and your motivation in playing with that design in fun (and sometimes risqué) ways?"
Drew: After art, human sexuality has always been a really interesting topic to me. I've never made any attempts in my life to hide the fact that I wear my attractions on my sleeve, that I enjoy healthy amounts of porn, and I think it's perfectly cool to be attracted to cartoon characters as long as you don't get carried away. The human body is fascinating and it's a great source of inspiration! I tend to design characters that I would personally be attracted to, with physical traits, personalities, fashion choices, etc. that speak to my own tastes. I suppose this isn't the most versatile way to design and that's something I'm looking to fix, but for now...more sexy chubby bearded guys and smokin' hot femme fatales, I suppose.

Q: Keeping with that theme…are Chief Cattigan’s boobs getting bigger?
Drew: Haha, I like to think she perked them up in anticipation of Nicki coming over to chat. I had considered drawing her pushing them up with her hands but thought it may be a bit much. In hindsight...as much as I like that panel of her at the end of page 7, perhaps I could have been more courageous.

Q: Now that your LGBT comic series Ross Boston is over and Ross is moving into the world of “Lotus For Help,” are there any characters you are going to miss?
Drew: Perhaps it is a bit revealing to say this, but most of the characters in "Ross Boston" have a place in "Lotus For Help," if not immediately and if not necessarily in the same form. Just as Ross and Nicki have undergone drastic design edits and personality changes, so have these other characters. You'll see in time. I suppose to answer your question, however, there is one character I have no intention of bringing back, and that's Squll, the enchanted arcade cabinet that the Bobslist Adventure Team used as essentially their supercomputer. I had a lot of empty jokes planned for that character, but he was ultimately unnecessary and rarely did any of the jokes land. I'm not really going to miss him. I guess I didn't answer your question after all!

Q: What are your thoughts on the current state of LGBT comics?
Drew: I feel very removed from that scene, not because I'm not part of it - the work I've created and continue to create makes a clear statement - but because I don't pay close enough attention. I suppose I'm more concerned with LGBT representation in comics as a whole rather than comics geared specifically for an LGBT audience (the latter of which, admittedly, is what I'm doing with "Lotus For Help"). In that sense, there's progress but it's really, really slow. Hopefully creating endearing queer characters in my own work will do a small part in elevating the - dare I say - LGBT agenda.

Q: You illustrate a fair amount of video game related art, what are your all time favorite games? What are you currently playing?
Drew: I've always been a huge Nintendo fan, which is no secret. Many of their first party efforts are sitting a handful of feet away from me right now. I've always been very fond of the Metroid series, for its overall quality but also its incredible, untapped potential. It's not very Nintendo-like of me to say that I'd love to see a survival-horror Metroid title. I know it will never happen, but it seems like the logical evolution of the lonely, creepy vibe the games usually employ. Other favorites are Mega Man 3 (the quirkiest of Mega Man games without the hassle of charging your buster) and Wind Waker (shockingly made better in HD on the Wii U, go play it if you're not convinced). I am currently playing the Super Smash Bros. 3DS demo, as well as Azure Striker Gunvolt, also for 3DS.

Q: By the way, if it were in my power, I would give you the award for the absolute best/worst Pokemon creation in all of history. What were you doing when you suddenly stopped and said, “Hey, I am going to make a portmanteau Pokemon creation with a mustache, bow tie, and sandals, and call it Portmanteau?!”
Drew: As with so many of the great masterpieces in art, Portmanteau was born out of a conversation. My friend Chase said that he was a master of portmanteaus, to which I responded that it sounded like the name of a Pokemon. And then the idea just sort of blossomed between us. So...I drew it. Because I care.

Q: What comics/graphic novels/comic books are you currently following?
Drew: Oh man, I just do not read enough comics. I watch a lot of cartoons, though. Currently, I'm enjoying Steven Universe, Gravity Falls, and Clarence. I know I have to give you a comic, though, so I'd recommend "Battle Dog." It's a WAY cute webcomic written by Andrew Duff and illustrated by Matt Cummings and can be found at http://battle-dog.tumblr.com/

Q: Who would win in a fight: Samus Aran or Mega Man?
Drew: Mega Man has a very large arsenal, but even if he somehow managed to defeat Samus in battle, she'd probably vengefully hunt him down later and dismantle him. Then, like...make a suit out of him or something. That seems very Samus to me. I'm sure she'd leave behind just enough parts for the space pirates to make a brand new Ridley out of him, though. Those guys could build a Ridley out of a bandaid, some gum, and a paper clip, I swear.

**Click any pic to enlarge!

Wut #10 - An Original Webcomic Series

Installment #10 of Wut, our exclusive original webcomic series by creative genius MagicScienceland, proves that magic works in mysterious ways! This series makes so much more sense if you read all the panels, so see below this week's comic for links to the other episodes!

You can read the entire series of WUT on Comic Fury or Imgur!

Wut #9 - An Original Webcomic Series

Installment #9 of Wut, our exclusive original webcomic series by creative genius MagicScienceland, proves that magic works in mysterious ways! This series makes so much more sense if you read all the panels, so see below this week's comic for links to the other episodes!

Wut #1  Wut #2  Wut #3  Wut #4  Wut #5  Wut #6  Wut #7  Wut #8

You can also read all of WUT on Comic Fury or Imgur!

AdamMaleBlog Exclusive: An Interview w/ Buying Time Creator Casey J

I first discovered the wonderful animated webcomic Buying Time thanks to my pal Jack who lives down in Florida. He told me I needed to check it out. And, he was right. Buying Time is unlike any gay themed comic I have read before. First and foremost, it is partially animated in a format where the reader controls the pace at which the next panel appears. It's a pretty cool format that I wish more webcomics would adopt. The story follows the life of a charming welder with a not-so-secret creative side as he navigates his way through falling in love in an emotionally difficult, dystopian future where personal interaction comes at price.

Here's the official synopsis:

Buying Time is a sci-fi cyberpunk romance. Set in the future megalopolis of Hyperion City where all forms of entertainment, including our own personal social lives are regulated by a micro-transaction monetary system called Daily Leisure Credit. When Vinnie Smalls, a lonesome welder working for the Hyperion City Core finds he has a crush on a fellow co-worker, he finds he must break away from his usual loner lifestyle and dive headfirst into the inner workings of the Daily Leisure Credit system. Our story deals with the ups and downs of his relationship in the midst of system that makes staying in contact with someone a financial battle.

What is really amazing about Buying Time is that creator Casey J may actually have predicted our futures if the government and citizens continue allowing corporations more and more power. You will see in the interview section that Casey J came up with the Daily Leisure Credit system after being annoyed by video games that nickel and dime you for every extra feature or scenario you wish to have unlocked. But, this kind of mentality is spreading so far beyond video games. We are living in a world where places like Facebook beg you to befriend countless hordes of friends and then tries to charge you if you want more than a very tiny percentage to see your posts. It's really appalling. It's even more appalling that more people aren't raising a fuss over it. But, maybe that's how it all starts. Freedoms are whittled away a little at a time until every single thing in the world becomes a commodity which corporations will gladly exploit for profit. It's terrifying. Casey J's vision is just a little bit too prescient.

However, despite all this, the characters in Buying Time still have hope. Still believe in love. And still are willing to do whatever it takes to be with the person they desire. The human spirit prevails.

Q: How did you come up with the brilliantly terrifying idea of Daily Leisure Credit?

Casey: Videogame trends did much of the work for me! Daily Leisure Credit is my not-so-clever wordplay of Downloadable Content. I used to be a huge gamer, but lately have been a bit turned off by the rampant trends of downloadable content, microtransactions, pre-order exclusives and generally being nickel and dimed at every turn. It wasn't like this a decade ago, and I started to think about why we let it get to this point. Were the changes just small and gradual enough? Are we just complacent? I started to think about what it would be like if these trends affected other forms of entertainment as much as they have the videogame industry. Mainly, social entertainment. We go to someone's house for dinner because it's fun. We chat with someone because it's enjoyable. I imagined a future where instead of thinking "I want that extra mission in the game I'm playing, better shell out the cash." we'd be thinking "I want to hang out at my friend's house tonight, better shell out the cash." And the story started from there.

Q: So what happens when people get married? Does the DLC system apply to their interactions at home?
Casey: DLC applies to everyone! Married couples however, can apply for a license that gives them a discounted rate. Same kind of thing applies for common law partners and family members in general, think of it like all the numerous cellphone plans or Internet packages "that are perfect for your family". Likewise business owners can get a license that benefits their workplace as well, jobs that would require a lot of social interaction like a bartender for example.

Q: What is the penalty for overdrafting on DLC account?Casey: I often describe the penalties being similar to going a while without paying the fine for a traffic ticket. You'll get some "friendly reminders" at first. Eventually you'll start to get some threatening messages, and eventually get a warrant for your arrest.

Q: A good portion of the Buying Time plot involves music. Are you a musician yourself?
Casey: Can't say I am, I have next to no musical talent and am pretty tone deaf when it comes to singing. I learned to play the harmonica a number of years ago but quickly discovered I'd rather be using my creative energy to draw or animate instead. I have a great appreciation for musicians and their passion, and I think that is both why I tried to learn to play an instrument, and have such a focus on it in the comic.

Q: What do you envision Vinnie’s songs to sound like?
Casey: The past 2 years or so I've been on a huge 80's synth kick; both actual 80's stuff and the new-wave-retro stuff from artists like Perturbator, Tesla Boy, Lost Years, Lazerhawk, etc. I listen to that sort of stuff while drawing the comic, and it's exactly how I envision Vinnie's music to sound like.

Q: What does Galena Jules home life look like?
Casey: Galena lives with Papa Obari on Level 10, which basically means they are just barely a step above the slums of the "Sub-Levels". I'd love to be able to do a bit about their home life, and maybe will in future chapters, but I imagine they live in a cramped, messy apartment. They both share a penchant for fashion so I can see them watching Hyperion's Next Top Model together and bouncing idea's off of each other for a future fashion line.

Q: Your bio says you currently work for a company that develops apps for famous kids television franchises! What is your favorite app you have worked on?
Casey: I was most excited to work on Fraggle Rock, we were lucky enough to do 2 apps for. It was the first franchise I've worked on that was something I actually watched and loved as kid. I watched the original with puppets, the animated version and had some of the toys. So it was a real treat to one day be designing and creating character rigs for it. We go through a large number of franchises, but it's especially fun to work on ones that you are/were a big fan of.

Q: What other comic projects have you done in the past?
Casey: Buying Time is my first serious comic effort. I've done a number of short 3-5 pages stories for personal projects, stuff like doing a little origin story for a tabletop game played with friends or something like that. The bulk of creative efforts have been almost exclusively animation. It wasn't until Buying Time that I started to put serious thought into a comic book project for a wide audience.

Q: What comics/graphic novels have stuck with you from your childhood/teen years?
Casey: I was big into (and still am if it tickles me right) manga when I was younger. So I read a lot of work from Shirow like Ghost in the Shell and Appleseed. Battle Angel from Yukito Kishiro, the visuals blew my mind, and I still think his depictions of cyberpunk worlds go unmatched. As far as comics and graphic novels go I was always a big fan of Dale Keown's art, so Pitt and the Incredible Hulk. I also adored Sam Kieth so there was a lot of The Maxx as well. Simon Bisley so I read lots of Lobo. I'm a huge fan of Etrigan, so I collected and read anything he appeared in. Aside from that I generally enjoy all the common favorites like X-men and Justice League (though I admit, tend to focus and enjoy the animated shows and movies more).

Q: Unicorns…or narwhals? Who would win in a fight?
Casey: I'd like the say unicorns simply on the basis they are more fabulous. Though I think a lot of it would depend on the location, if they are fighting in water a narwhal would have a clear advantage, the opposite if they are on land.

*Start reading Buying Time now!
**You can view some of Casey J's earlier illustrations HERE.

Wut #8 - An Original Webcomic Series

Installment #8 of Wut, our exclusive original webcomic series by creative genius MagicScienceland, proves that magic works in mysterious ways! This series makes so much more sense if you read all the panels, so see below this week's comic for links to the other episodes!

Wut #1 Wut #2 Wut #3 Wut #4 Wut #5 Wut #6 Wut #7

Wut #7 - An Original Webcomic Series

Installment #7 of Wut, our exclusive original webcomic series by creative genius MagicScienceland, proves that magic works in mysterious ways! This series makes so much more sense if you read all the panels, so see below this week's comic for links to the other episodes!

Wut #1 Wut #2 Wut #3 Wut #4 Wut #5 WUT#6