After a not entirely restful respite, I’ve returned. San Fran was fun, LA was interesting, but Red Bank…

Well, it’s home.

On the morrow, we start shaping the beast.

I spent the day in the city with Joe and Jimmy, interviewing with Wizard and going over ‘Daredevil’ stuff. If you’re not a reader of comics, I’d urge you to pick the title up in September – it’s something of a departure for me.

Also, if you haven’t seen Ben’s Details interview, it’s worth a read.

The issue of Wizard that comes out this Wednesday is chok-a-block full of all things Askew, including both the ‘Clerks’ and ‘Oni Double Feature’ books making it onto the hallowed Top Ten list, a pic of Mewes and me at the San Diego Con last year, and a place on the ’25 Most Important Folks in Comics’ list for yours truly.

On this brouhaha over the alleged ‘Dogma’ censorship…

Well, it’s news to me.

I hope to be around a bit more regularly now, to answer the odd query and let you know how the editing fares. Stick around.

So this board – indeed, this website – is heavily trafficed (trafficked?), and will only become moreso in the coming months. And while flamers have been a way of life since as far back as I can remember around these parts, it’s always been policy to respect even the most insulting opinions of others.

However…

The bile of some invariably winds up filling this board with ardent defenders, who are then dissed further by the flamers, who are then responded to by the fans, who are then dubbed any number of variations of ‘gay’ by the folks who hate what I’ve done, etc., etc.

And at the end of the day, I’m handed a bill that’s always very high anyway, but I scratch my head wondering why I’ve gotta cough up coin to essentially watch folks with differing takes on a subject engage in hateful slander, simply because they don’t see eye-to-eye. And while it’s not like I’m driven to the poor house by these antics, the principal (principle?) of supporting this type of all-around negativity (because, in the end, it goes both ways) by shelling out for it saddens me.

So here’s what we’re thinking of doing:

Basically, anyone who wants to read/lurk/scoff-to-themselves would be able to continue to do so, however actually posting would be limited to folks who join the site.

What does this mean?

Well, quite frankly, it means creating membership for the board. Said membership would require a credit card (or check or money-order). We’d charge a nominal fee (let’s say ten bucks), for which you’d receive access to post on the board, and a members-only t-shirt or hat or something.

The other board would remain free, as (while I never go there myself) I’m told flame wars and whatnot don’t really ignite there (makes sense, as – again – I’m never there to offend, and then, in turn, be defended).

I know the first thought is “He’s trying to bilk us out of more hard-earned cash, the greedy fuck!” to which I say, “Not so.” The nominal fee would be enough to cover the production of a shirt, with little to no markup (and name me another place – other than K-Mart – where you can get a printed t-shirt for ten bucks). This is not an exercise in profit – it’s an exercise in order and an effort to diminish just the smallest fraction of discord in the world… even if it’s just in my little corner of it.

To recap: the idea is anyone can read the board, but only members can post.

As always, your thoughts would be appreciated.