December Travels and a CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY! (CLOSED)

Greetings, jolly readers.

      Optiluiz here to forcibly shove some yuletide joy into your unprepared minds on this merry... Thursday. Yes, my friends, I'm posting early for the first time in forever! Actually, I'm only doing this because on Friday I'll be heading to the beach with my friends and won't be available for a while. Besides, I think we should all just enjoy the Holidays and not worry about posting for a while. Anyhow, on to the news, and remember to check out our giveaway details after the main post!

     Max and I are working on our next animated video, and I think it'll turn out ok. It'll probably be another remake of an old comic, but we're redrawing it to make things prettier! Animation is hard work, so it might still take a while to complete. In any case, I hope today's comic satisfies the humor-hungry readers out there. I'm also gonna test out my camera and editing skills on the new computer, so we might have some live-action videos as well! Be prepared, people.

     You know, living in Brazil has made it hard to fully appreciate the Christmas spirit, especially after childhood in Canada. The lack of snow, tv specials and general northerness kind of bums me out sometimes. However, I think the Christmas spirit should live on regardless of what continent you are in. As long as you're in the company of people you like and have access to a copy of The Nightmare Before Christmas, everything will be alright. (Yes, I have an annual tradition of re-watching that damned perfect film, and it's the only present anyone will ever need).

     Christmas is one of my favourite moments of the year, only losing to Halloween because there are no spooky things involved. I actually know a lot of people who don't care for it, but I can't imagine living life as a soul-less Grinch who can't enjoy the season of giving and cheer. Hell, my first goal for when I get horribly rich (and yes, it's when, not if), is to be able to buy EVERYONE I know some of the best Christmas gifts ever. But I digress, it's gonna be a while before that happens, and for now I guess the stuff I ordered on eBay will suffice. If it ever gets here.

     Alas, I do believe it's time to go. I'm sure you all have your own holiday matters to attend to, and I have to get ready for travel (and a few more stop-motion Christmas Specials as well). Hopefully I'll make another post before New Year's, as I think this was an amazing year with some events that warrant commenting on the blog. Until then, I hope you all have a great Christmas, with much love, partying and presents. I'll leave you with a Weird Al classic, to get y'all in the mood.

Chainsaw cheers,

Optiluiz out.

PS: Don't forget to check out my Christmas-y short story on the 29th!

PPS: Anyone else excited for the Doctor Who Christmas Special? God, I love Christmas Specials!

BONUS ROUND: In the spirit of Christmas, I've decided to do the Epic Club Blog's first Christmas Giveaway! Yes, folks, you all have a chance to win a downloadable copy of the survival horror game "Afterfall: Insanity - Extended Edition!" All you have to do to enter is comment below! Just tell us what your favourite ECB comic is, and you'll have a confirmed entry. We'll announce the winner on our next post before New Year's, so be quick about it (CLOSED). 

Paradox Comics and Bioshock Infinite!

Greetings!

     Optiluiz here once more on this lovely (and strangely cold) Friday to present to you the future of ECB! As Max and I were discussing, this is a turning point for the blog, where our comics are suddenly good! But I hope you like today's comic, and remember that you can read it forever, repeating the panels infinitely. Goddamn, I love paradoxes. Now on to the news...

     We've tried to get some estimates on a few websites regarding how much our blog is worth, and the answer was over one thousand bucks! Which is low for some, but we expected a lot less, and it's a good motivation to keep trying to make things better. After all, 1000 is infinitely better than a blog which doesn't exist! And here at the ECB, we always have our eyes set on the future! 

     In other news, I'm almost finished Desperation (although I might be done with it by the time this is online), and it's really a great Stephen King novel. Sure I've read a few that were better, but King is one of my biggest influences and he still can pack a literary punch (although I guess this book is from the 90s). I've also entered a 50-word fiction contest, where I wanted to make something relevant to today's post but I ended up writing about a drunk werewolf. Exciting stuff, people. Now here's a doodle of Optiluiz falling through time!



     I think it's very Doctor-Who-ish, but lacks some colour. Maybe in some alternate universe I had more patience and coloured it in. Speaking of which, I finally finished Bioshock Infinite! This is one of the best games I've ever played and I urge all of you to do so as soon as possible! The original Bioshock was a masterpiece of gaming, but this actually surpasses the predacessor in terms of storytelling. However, I really miss the old-school survivor-horror vibe. Max tells me the DLC fixes this, but fuck DLC!

     Well, I guess this all I have to say for now. I hope you guys enjoyed this week's post, and I'll leave you with... er... I was going to show you guys the Circle Will Be Unbroken cover from Bioshock Infinite, but I guess I have something different in store. Something regarding Hannibal! I've said before how great this series was, so I'll leave you guys with a little gem I found this week. Have a great weekend!

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WP6_m9rRlI[/embed]

Chainsaw cheers,

Optiluiz out...

PS: Max here, with the BLOODY BEST COMIC EVER! Ye! I finally decided to draw with half of my skills instead of just 1/4 to get to our fans something at least half-arsed! Now that I'm making actual good comics, I hope our fans can finally admit that they are our fans, don't be ashamed! There's a lot of neat things to be released soon, a song and even our own show! Also, I apologise for the last week not having anything, but I was in the hospital. Anyways, Heil Snails!

PSS: Speaking of all this time travel, Doctor Who is back and Peter Capaldi is great!

PPPS: I didn't finish my book but won the contest! Check out the short short story here!

Strike, Donations and the Book of the New Sun!

Greetings,

     Optiluiz here again after quite some time. My scanner still hasn't been fixed, so I have to borrow my girlfriend's. (Thanks Annie!) Anyway, the comic was my explanation for writer's block. Sometimes the character's just don't want to do anything, hence the strike. but now, onto blog news...

     My extended vacation is finally over, but I promise that I'll keep posting as regularily as possible. Toast finally made his introduction, and we're hoping to review a lot more around here. Remember, comment with any suggestions! Also, we've finally set up a donation button so you readers can help us make the blog even better! Current goals are our own domain name, and some design updates. So, if you can spare some cash, we'd totally like to use it. And now, to this month's most important detail...



     I've finally finished the Book of the New Sun, by Gene Wolfe. All I can say is "Holy shit." Actually, I can say a lot more. This has turned out to be my new favourite book, and it's simply amazing. Who would have thought that the story of an exiled torturer travelling the peculiar lands of a dying earth with religious undertones could be so engaging? The characters are memorable, the story itself is incredible and the writing is strange yet hypnotizing.

     The actual book is divided into four parts, Shadow of the Torturer, Claw of the Conciliator, Sword of the Lictor and finally, Citadel of the Autarch. My favourite was the third, although Terminus Est bei- Sorry, I won't spoil it. Just don't go in expecting this to be as simple as Star Wars or something more Tolkien-esque. This story works on much higher (or perhaps much deeper) levels, with Severian, the protagonist, being somewhat akin to a modern-day goth Christ-figure, dressed in fuligin (the colour darker than black!).

     But I think I've said enough about this book. You all should read it, this is pretty much the next Bible, only more entertaining and with more pain and sufferi-actually, it's about the same in the last respect. I guess I'll leave you with an inspired song, and I hope that everyone has a great weekend. And my the New Sun come upon us soon.



Chainsaw cheers,

Optiluiz out.

PS: They actually invented real-life fuligin a few weeks back, isn't that awesome???

Pandas, full moons and vacations!

Greetings,

     Optiluiz here on this peculiar monday night to assure you that I am alive and well. I'm just on vacation, and having a blast! Traveling is, after all, a passion of mine, even if I've already been here so many times before. Anyways, the comic is dedicated to my GF and Rasg Girl, who suggested I make a post regarding the full moon on Friday the 13th. I guess I'm not thaaat late...

     Well, there's not much to say except I'm having fun and writing another short story. There's also Elementary to watch and some books to read. I'm hoping to return home a much more relaxed blogger and person in general. And if you're curious about said short story, here's an inspired doodle:



 

     Cool, right? Of course it is, I made it. I've been listening to a lot of Celtic music as I write, it helps get the story flowing. Oh dear, it seems I have other stuff to do. So, uh... Did you guys see Edge of Tomorrow? I thought it was pretty rad. Nothing new, but still pretty cool. I guess I don't have much more to say. I'll be on my way then!

     I'll leave you guys with a fitting full-moon video. Have a great weekend, folks!



Chainsaw cheers,

Optiluiz out.

Sleepyheads and Operas...

Greetings!

Optiluiz here again, and I'm so sorry about not posting last week. Actually I'm not. Last week was my one-year anniversary with my totally real and non-canadian girlfriend. But this week I'm here, and that's all that matters, folks! I know y'all missed me, don't deny it.

     So, the above comic is ironic considering that I actually have a history of sleeping problems (DAMN YOU INSOMNIA!). However, I do remember a time when I could sleep and wake up without knowing whether or not it was dusk or dawn. You guys should try it some time. 

     So, Max and I have a few more movie plans, and I hope that REALLY soon we'll have awesome video adventures! We've even been thinking about adapting some of our older comics. Cross your fingers clubbers, soon ECB will be producing it's own lil' movies. And speaking of movies, everyone should stop what they're doing and watch Repo! The Genetic Opera, right now! It's an awesome musical comedy/horror-scifi film. I won't even go into details so I don't spoil it for you.

     I guess that's all for now, folks. No doodles today, sorry. I have to get back to rewatching Charlie and the Chocalate Factory with my girlfriend. It gets us in the mood for easter chocolate! And so I shall leave you with the comic-booky intro from Repo! I hope you guys have a great weekend, and lots of rock opera goodness to everyone.



Chainsaw cheers,

Optiluiz out.

PS: Reeeeeeeeeeeeeepooooo Maaaaaaaaan!