Zeros 2 Heroes - Posts

Morgan attempts to write a blog through the tears, oh, my dancer didn't win...

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 00:48:05 -0600

Rather than actually posting anything substantive here, I'm just going to not...do...that. I'm in between writing projects, rewriting projects to be exact. It's Sunday night. Oh my!

So, on with the show.

Oh no! That's just...why?!?! Quatto is the Reagan/Thatcher head. Is it just me, or does anyone else think a sitcom starring Douglas Quaid and Quatto sharing a one bedroom apartment in New York seem like GENIUS...writ large on a big billboard in awesometown?!?! I know. I'm tuning in already, in my head...and my heart of hearts; it's already in it's seventh season.

Remember that episode where Quatto and Quaid go on a double date? Quatto wants Quaid's date and vice versa. Hi-Jinks ensue. Minds are opened. Smooothh like silk... that voice!

This all has something vaguely to do with Gustav Hayes, y'know, somewhere in there it's influenced the direction of the comic. Hasn't everything though?!?! It's a big soup, that book.

Next time: I'm going to somehow equate a scene in Missing In Action 2, wherein Norris gets his face put in a bag with a rabid angry rat....and the rat loses! yeah, I'll make a correlation between that and reading a COMPANY WIDE CROSSOVER event from one of the big two. Who's the rat?! Who's Chuck Norris?!!? Who's the bag?!?! No matter the metaphor...we all lose.

Casting the Apocalypse Pt.2

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 13:09:51 -0600

I may have jumped the gun with casting Robert Downey Jr. as the titular character. Not that I'm not still smitten with him (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is one of my favorite movies...ever.) Crackwalker brilliantly suggested Tom Waits for the role...I know right!!!!

Waits' music is amazing, strange. He's an eccentric, so is our Mr. Hayes. Here are some images and links to videos. It'll give you a sense of what the man is about so you can gauge whether you agree that he might just be perfect for the role.

Way Down In a Hole

Weird. Awesome.

Casting the Apocalypse

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 19:08:00 -0600

With the process of fleshing out the first draft underway, a few faces have begun to coalesce around each character. These are names that I'd always kind of thought of for the parts (when I started thinking about it two days ago that is). When I wrote the beast, I had no one in mind. During the original comic writing stage, the characters were inspired by ideas rather than physical characteristics of known people.

Beat.

The key to the whole thing, obviously is Gustav Hayes. The actor portraying him needs to have wit, gravitas, self deprecating tendencies and a decent singing voice. Robert Downey Jr. has all of these elements, plus the physical features match.

Can you imagine him stumbling down that post apocalyptic street in the opening pages?! Singularly Awesome.

Sue Jones needs self reliance, smarts, an infectious energy and the range to run the entire spectrum of emotion. Sue has steeled parts of herself against the cruel world she lives in, while retaining the hopefulness of youth. Ellen Page.

Malcolm Ellis is equal parts analytical scientific mind and scholar while displaying the degenerative traits common amongst brain hungry Zomboids. Father figure to Sue. Paul Giamatti, ladies and gentlemen.

Every story needs a compelling and unlikable villain. I've not decided who should play Lt. Doe yet, but, as a placeholder, I present to you John McCain. Jingoistic war hero with a deranged world view and creepy as all f**king get out!

There will be more casting in the coming weeks as I continue writing the script. I must say, I'm really excited at the shape it's taking. The elements from Issue #2 that I've added to the story told in Issue #1 really give the story some weight.

M

Mixtape Geography Vol.1

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 17:05:04 -0600

An intermittent look at a random smattering of music that's in the rotation of my itunes. Music that, for one reason or another, resonates with me. I'll attempt a brief explanation of why.

The idea is neither new nor revolutionary. I've ganked this version of it from Matt Fraction via someone else by way of Cameron Crowe.

Beat.

I want to record a Creative Geography. The music that precedes ideas, in some cases informing entire concepts OR simply providing a nice parallel to the work. Riding along side the process, symbiotic, one thing speaking to another across medium divides.

Beat.

People As Places As People, Modest Mouse
There's a guitar bit near the halfway mark that soars in a subtle way. Makes me think of missed opportunities wrapped in regret, in a good way. In the best possible cinematic soaring way.

Color of the fire, Boards Of Canada
Creepy. Analogue. Sounds like a tape recorded message played into a microphone at the end of a long hallway...with two creepy kids at the end of it. "I....loooveeee...you. I love you"

What New York Used To Be, The Kills
"Coma comma drama come on/Draw it scratch it say it" Really?!?! I need to tell you?!

Lawyers, Guns and Money, Warren Zevon
I think I first heard this via Kevin Klein in the film Grand Canyon. Hand claps in the back half take it over the top. This wasn't as a big a hit as Werewolves of London?

Electric Feel, MGMT
A Minotaur riding atop a mighty Unicorn over a rainbow made of dollar store sparkles. Funky. Dance gold. Star wipe. Out.

Our Hell, Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton
The trappings of modern living. What happens when we attain all the material gains we dreamt of. There's always want. There's always emptiness. Else, what would we do?

Ashes to Ashes, David Bowie
Speaking to a persona from an earlier album yet still lyrically autobiographical in nature. Meta. Plus (as if one was needed) "I'm happy, hope you're happy too/I've loved all I've needed to love/Sordid details following" Weirdly funky or just Bowie?

Dickhead, Kate Nash
Why are you being a dickhead for? Why are you fucking up situations? Huh? Huuuuhhh?

Let Me Tell You About my Boat, Mark Mothersbaugh from The Life Aquatic
This is wonder. I'd play this if I gave a tour of my exploratory sea fairing vessel too. It's a construction paper cross section of glee. I think Peanuts when I hear it, I hear Vince Vivaldi Trio echoing the halls of this track.

Fake Empire, The National
Sunrise creeping through the concrete & glass canyon of a city anywhere. All that matters is that you're alone.

Kim & Jessie, m83
This is quintessential 80s mix tape fare, except it was recorded now. This is that mythical, dream-like 80s, not the lycra unitard nightmare that we remember. It's youth, discovering and drifting on currents yet unrecognizable to them. (I may be pretty far up my own ass on this one)

Can't Truss It, Public Enemy
Chuck D, poet. Flava Flav, nightmare.

Daily Records, The Who
Off the first album post-Moon, Face Dances. Oft maligned. It's one of my favorite Who songs. Found the cassette in my dads collection BEFORE I discovered the glory of their previous work. Townshend has informed much of my creative life.

Lord Leopard, Caribou
It's so regal steeped in funk attire. If I were a King with a court---this would be my grand entrance song. Baton twirling jesters two stepping the red carpet, streamers bursting forth from cannons atop terraces throughout the kingdom...

Dancing Choose, TV On The Radio
"He's a what?! He's a what?/He's a Newspaper man" That line actually spawned the entire arc of a story. The way it sounds, the attitude of the song. The jolting funk laden rhythms. The horn section takes us out an up...

Hurdy Gurdy Man, Donovan
Post Zodiac makes this song creepy as all get out. An improvement to be sure. It's been gifted some weight.

End.

Gustav Hayes: The Screenplay...

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 23:50:46 -0600

...is coming.

I've not been here in a long while. There are reasons, and they are many.

Gustav is still in my thoughts constantly, like one of his achingly bad POP songs. It just hangs there in the brain meat, echoing its tune all through the day, the night..oh god the nights. He's singing to me you see. What he's really saying is "Get back to work!"

I have. I heard. Like him, I've squandered my powers on self loathing and inane pursuits. No more. Music will save the world.

Today I started the screenplay for Gustav Hayes: The Motion Picture. It borrows elements from issue one of the comic and from those issues I've written that have yet to see the light of day. Russian Pleasure Robots turned assassin,political campaigns, machine gun mounted gorillas, a future 1985 that never was, POP, BLAM-O, Gustav Hayes: One hit wonder, Zomboids, death & destruction, musical numbers, jingoistic military platoons etc. It will be nothing if not a unique movie going experience, utterly and completely unique. Singular. Written for one member of the audience. ME.

I hear that tune again...better get back to it.

Thanks for your support, be it expressed here or amongst you and yours. Take a moment to revisit the comic. If you've not read it yet, please do so at your leisure. It's here to stay.

The Multi-talented Morgan

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:57:17 -0500

I know Morgan.... I've known him for a few years now going all the way back to my old VFS days. I used to know him as an artist, an ideas guy, but ever since reading the first script for Gustav Hayes I've known him as the writer. Gustav Hayes is a brilliant concept that is properly aligned with the art more than most printed books I've bought. The black and white splattered with a hint of colour every so often gives this book it's own style and for that alone I think it should be looked at very cloesly. As a writer I always try to think in terms of character development and plot advancement - but with Gustav it looks like Morgan payed very close attention to style and voice. I would love to see someone like Bill Murray resurrect his career for a third time with a story like this.

Good stuff....

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 23:12:45 -0500

good stuff...well thougtout and well drawn. I would like to have a copy of the book, is it on shelf now? I love the name, Gustav Hayes, it somehow has a very tragic tast to it... I'd marry a guy with that name, well, if I am not already married. Hehe... :)

Can i change my name to Gustav?

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:16:03 -0500

That was amazing!!

The Gustav Hayes Interview

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:19:00 -0500

Hey everyone!

The it is your no pants wearing Gustav Hayes editor here and I thought I would re-post the interview I did with the man -- Gustav Hayes himself which was on our production blog months ago:
http://blog.zeros2heroes.com/2008/03/20/the-gustav-interview-oh-and-more-teaser-art/

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Right. Well I am lucky to announce that I had the chance to go and interview Gustav Hayes himself. What you say? How did you...? Well by the magic of Zeros 2 Heroes, the wicked idea of Julian Lawrence and By the power of ~~Greyskull~~... I mean Morgan Jeske, I got a chance to drop by The City and have a nice one-on-one chat with Gustav himself. Check it out...

Panel 1: Robert steps over some half melted Zombiods and then smacks himself in the face when trying to finally open the door to "Hole in the Wall", walking in he notices that only the bar is light up. Wandering over he is aware that the bar itself is alive... no wait... it's Gustav Hayes himself stirring awake. Robert takes a seat next to Gustav and smirks.

Robert: Morning Sunshine! You ready for this interview?

Gustav: Ugh--keep your f**king voice down would you? What're you press? I thought all of you were dead, oh wait-- cockroaches, I forgot.

Panel 2: A shot of Gustav barely turning his head to look at Robert.

Robert: The Press... sure... we can go with that. I wanted to ask how you are feeling after your first big fight with the Zombiods, that army guy and the evil cloud thing?

Gustav: Feelings don't enter into the equation friend. I'm back singing again, back to the dull throbbing headaches and the persistent voice from on high, shouting sweet nothings into my ear--

Panel 3: At this point Gustav glances over his shoulder, as if to make sure no one was within earshot.

Gustav: --this kid though, she--nevermind. That psycho Lt Doe, I thought I remembered his ugly jingoistic mug from somewhere--it was at a fundraiser for some politician, pre bombs.

Panel 4: Robert looks for a clean glass.

Robert: Alright. Least your back to singing. That's good. I still remember your one big hit... kinda. I think you opened for The Fine Young Cannibals in Vancouver once - you were the best reason to see the show.. hey, where's the bartender around here? I would love a pint of green ale considering its St. Patty's day!

Gustav: Where the hell is Vancouver--is that the actual Fine Young Cannibals, or the sh*t lying on the floor over there--

Panel 5: Malcolm--part time zomboid--shouts from across the room "Hey!"

Panel 6: Gustav is sitting up on the bar. Robert leans over, grabs a bottle of some port and pours himself a small glass full, offers some to Gustav.

Gustav: Is it March already then? Hmph, who knew. Time got kind of
blurry after the war, granted, my sense of time before, wasn't exactly
what one might call a 'sense of time'

Gustav: And for the record, there was more than one song--Bob.

Robert: Was there more than one? Well like I said, at least your singing again. That has to be good. What about your new "home" here in the Hole in the Wall? How is it? How are the hosts?

Panel 7: Robert takes a look at Malcom, looking around for Sue...

Gustav: Thee dead one has a mean Hate-on for me, says my music is tasteless pap. Can't say I don't agree, but, I've got to at least muster some fight. Sue has been--

Panel 8: Sue's entered the room, Gustav is looking over at her affectionately. Robert looks to Gustav and smiles

Gustav:--sweet, really. Like if I had raised one of my probable illegitimate children. She loves me, which still f**ks me up a touch, and she's got this way about her, I don't know--it's sort of like she makes my songs really sing, you know?

Robert: Yeah, muses work that way. You're lucky to have someone like her around you. So what's next for Gustav Hayes? A visit to the Zoo?

Panel 10: Shot of Gustav.

Gustav: It's funny, really--I try not to think beyond the day that I'm in the middle of--too depressing I say. Most days getting out of bed is as far as I get.

Gustav: Malcolm says theres something at the Zoo--who knows, his brain is half dead, so it could really be anything. Some survivors have been complaining about irradiated animal attacks.

Gustav: Other than that, I 'll just keep singing one day at a time.

Panel 10: Robert snickers while looking at Gustav.

Robert: You mean you're singing the theme song to "One Day at A Time?" -- is this a nightly show?

Gustav: Are you taking the piss with me? No I'm not--f**k do I not need this.

Robert: Well hey, whatever gets you through the night, Gustav. As long as yer not sleeping with Russian diplomats wifes or such, I think you'll do just fine!

Panel 11: Robert finishes his drink.

Gustav: Wait--how did you know about--

Panel 12: Robert gets up, puts a tip on the bar counter next to his drink. Gustav sitting next to him.

Robert: Ah. I guess I got enough for my article. So let me ask, what is next for the great Gustav Hayes. More pop songs that I cannot remember? Venturing forth through this Brave New World? Bringing peace to the world with your singing or slowly killing yourself with bottles and pills?

Gustav: All of the above if I can manage, and not necessarily in that order.

Robert: Oh that reminds me. A friend we have in common wanted me to give you this...

Panel 13: Robert blocks the view and hands Gustav a small baggy of red pills.

Robert: In case you still need'em. Right. I'm off.

Panel 14: Robert looks over to Sue and Malcom, waves.

Robert: Nice to meet you! Gustav, you take care. Catch you next time!

Panel 15: With that Robert leaves.

Coloured Panels

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 04:07:22 -0500

Hey Morgan,

What's the story behind the random (not so random) coloured panels throughout Gustav?

I like how they're scattered throughout but I'm wondering if this was a conscious decision by you or your art team or everyone?

Hilarious read though.

It's like sex... for your brain.

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:58:07 -0500

Break out the bedpan because you just might shit yourself.

The Strings (or ramblings on PROCESS)

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:29:02 -0500

This will be the first of MANY blog posts concerned mainly with discussing process, or rather rambling about Gustav Hayes and where exactly he came from. Maybe not even that really. I guess my aim will be to shine some light on what I think about when I'm writing the book/thinking about the book. I love reading about process. So consider this your BACKMATTER for the first of hopefully many issues of GUSTAV HAYES: LOUNGE SINGER OF THE APOCALYPSE.

---which brings me to the STRINGS. I love seeing them, you can keep your million dollar CG, let me see them boxy TIE fighters coming at the camera. Animatronics. Old Trek--green alien women bedded by a Captain sucking in his GUT. All of it. The guy in the rubber suit...practical. That's what GUSTAV HAYES has become, I've realized as I write more issues. The book is my love letter to STRINGS. He's Han Solo--no he's LANDO 'f**king' CALRISSIAN flying the Falcon. Not physically, but, the spirit, the Geist of that scoundrel---

---but he's also something else. For me, when I write the book, I think of the needle hitting the first groove. Hayes is the ticks and pops, the space between SONGS. The full,warm and inviting sound of a mono LP. To me Hayes is a love letter to those in the Echelons--Dylan, Cash, Townshend et al. Only, Hayes never reached that level of CRED, no, he wanted it--but never quite got past that first blast of fame. That's why he HATES himself, his music. It never was that transcendental stuff, the stuff of the NOOSPHERE. Or was it? It seems it was for enough people for Hayes to tap into the collective POOL. It helps me, gives me comfort, to write the book with that in mind. Strange abstract concepts that fold back in a book with MUTANT GIRAFFES, RUSSIAN PLEASURE-BOTS,THE RED CURTAIN etc. It's a weird PASTICHE of genre, a CROSS SECTION of what the universe might look like through a kaleidoscope. At least I hope, it's POP too, totally--wears that s**t on it's sleeve real proud-like.

M !!!

Welcome to the world of Gustav Hayes!!!

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:46:36 -0500

Welcome!!!

If you've come here (www.gustavhayes.com) to read the first installment in the exciting, booze & pill addled adventures of one Gustav Hayes (singer of such hits as "Queen-Sized Heart" and "Wildcrazyjunglelove")---

---umm, you're in luck, because this is your one stop shopping spot for all things Hayes related.

Step ONE
Read the comic book !!! (please) On the left hand side of this page, your left my right---well, my right if I was INSIDE the computer, which would be kind of weird. I'd be like "I'm sorry (insert your name here) I can't let you do that" a la HAL 2000. The tile to your left with the screaming mustache guy is where you should click.

Step TWO
There is a helpful diagram on the first page of the comic depicting exactly how one might use a comic viewer. Don't worry, it's pretty straight forward. My advice is that you fiddle with it for a bit before you settle in to read Gustav Hayes. I also recommend that you soundtrack the reading with a fine selection of post apocalyptic EIGHTIES fare, such as:

"We don't need another Hero" by Tina Turner
"Escape From New York(main theme) by John Carpenter
"Sexual Healing" by Marvin Gaye

Step THREE
Done reading? That Gustav really is something else. If you've yet to read the Comic, please do so immediately. Not reading it would be like killing a unicorn...the last one. Really?!?!? You're still apprehensive? OK. I can't force your hand---Gustav could, and probably would. With his lyrical potency, he'd sing you into reading the book. If you liked what you read, become a fan of the book and rate the individual elements of the comic on the last couple pages.

Upcoming posts:

Coming very soon to this blog I'll lay out the 3 Film storyarc for GUSTAV HAYES.
a story bible for the comic as a TV series. WOW!!! I know, it's exciting.
I'll discuss the origins of Gustav and random inspirational rambling from the 4 AM inside my brain.

One last thing...

If you've come here to read this comic, please take the time to check out the other 14 comic books that Zeros 2 Heroes has helped produce. All of the comics here have been created by up and coming creators, looking to get a foot in the door of the industry. If you'd like to help new creators see their work developed further, help spread the word.

Thanks!!!