Is Harry dead? NOPE.

...just exhausted.

I promised I was going to be blogging frequently again, but I didn't. Shame on me. The fact is that I've been busy lately. Not enough so as to say "hey I'm doing well, at last!", but enough s to feel hopeful for the future. I've done more work in a year than in the several past years. So, let's see, what have I been doing? I'll focus on my colouring work* because it's so juicy :)
(* Colouring work is the work you think I'm doing but then I explain and you go "Oh." )
Clicky clicky on the picy, an all that.

1. The Undercovered Agent
This project started last year and is kinda on hiatus for the time being. I've never worked on something with that many skin tones before ( ;) ) and I always like a challenge. A nice lady that's a master of "nude-jutsu" fights bad people (or at least people that deserve it). And she's good. Remember, always stretch before you start beating up bad guys.

2. Kaijuu Onmyoji
I did this for the steampunk anthology Steampunk Originals 4. I believe it'll be announced soon, those things take a while. It's a story about a tortoise kaijuu that gets summoned by a ruffian on a rooftop and wreaks havoc by blasting villages with fire and stomping on the ashes. Yum.

3. The Insomniac
Initially was going to be a GN, now I think it'll be released in 4 issues, this story is about a guy working in IT but also works as a police officer at night, helping people out of bad bad situations. I like the research I'm doing while working on this, researching police car models and police scanners when no one actually asked me to do this.I can't not do it. I need to research. Damn my attention to detail. Also, by coincidence I ended up working with a friend, Spyros who's doing the inks.

4. Human Resources.
4 issue story about a guy that gets fired from a lad mag and somehow ends up working for Hell. This project broke me. I wont go into details, but if you know me even a little, you'll understand why.

5. Slashermania.
I'm very proud of working for this graphic novel. I wasn't expecting anyone to find me from DeviantArt and ask me to collaborate, but Russell Hillman who wrote this is a brilliant guy and a brilliant writer as well. The script is so funny, I've never laughed so much in my life while working. This will make suspense junkies and horror film fans happy. A group of acclaimed (?) psycho killers organize an annual slasher event, where they have a competition about which killer will murder the most teenage delinquents, for the viewing pleasure of multimillionaires. Oh, and they have prizes, the much coveted Slashies.
We're going to Kickstart this baby soon, so you better pay attention and not miss the ( moderate ) spam coming your way ;)

6. Halloween Man - Wake Me Up When September Ends
"Halloween Man" Solomon Hitch is a zombie man. But his heart's in the right place. His job is to fight evil scheming abominations like a living Chucky doll or little G. Dubya munchkins. Along with his juicy girlfriend Lucy they get the job done so then they can enjoy the sunset sighing with relief. Wouldn't you?

7. Freak-Out Squares
4 issue trip. Just finished issue #1 last week. Do you like your rock stars and rappers? Do you have icons that their music makes you sway and dance and jump around? You love them, right? But do you trust them? Are they trying to brain wash you? No? Oh, WELL.

Those few words for now, keep your eyes peeled for more during the next weeks ;)
Oh, yeah, and check my updated about.me page :)
http://about.me/harryasaphsaxon

International Transgender Day of Visibility - Διεθνης Μερα Τρανς.. αμ.. τετοιας;

So, apparently today is International Transgender Day of Visibility.

Since to me that day means nothing (because I have to talk and explain and advocate about trans issues *every* day of my life) I'll just say this:

Before you make the mistake of offending someone with your questions and comments, pause and think. That's a universal thing that goes without saying, it applies to all. But it's a constant problem trans people face, people's ignorance.

Respect the identity of a trans person. Respect them, don't ask questions about "real" names. Their real name is the name they will give you. Use their preferred pronouns. Don’t ask them questions you wouldn’t ask people you don’t know (which means NO genital questions, no bathroom, no sex questions). Don't abuse them verbally and/or physically because you can't understand them. Pay attention and learn. As you ought to do with anything that you don't know about.

Thank you.

Ok, σημερα βλεπω ότι είναι η Διεθνης Μερα Τρανς (αμ… πώς  το λενε τωρα αυτό; Το «ορατοτητας» και «επιγνωσης» δεν είναι σωστα…). Τελος παντων, σημερα είναι μια ακομα παγκοσμια μερα για να θυμαστε ότι υπαρχουν τρανς ατομα. Για μενα αυτή η μερα δεν σημαινει τιποτα (γιατι πρεπει να μιλαω και να εξηγω κάθε μερα) οποτε θα πω μονο αυτό:

Πριν κανετε το λαθος να προσβαλλετε καποιον με τις ερωτησεις σας και τα σχολια, σταματηστε και σκεφτειτε. Αυτό είναι κατι αδιαμφισβητητο που ισχυει γενικα για ολους. Αλλα είναι ένα συνεχες προβλημα για τους τρανς ανθρωπους, το ότι ο κοσμος δεν ξερει.

Να σεβεστε την ταυτοτητα των αλλων. Να τους σεβεστε, να μην ρωτατε για το «κανονικο» τους ονομα, το ονομα που σας λενε είναι το κανονικο τους. Να χρησιμοποιειτε τις αντωνυμιες που προτιμουν, στο φυλο που σας εχουν πει. Μην τους ρωτατε πραγματα που δεν θα ρωτουσατε καποιον που δεν ξερετε (όχι ερωτησεις για τα γεννητικα τος οργανα, όχι ερωτησεις για το ποια τουαλετα χρησιμοποιουν, όχι ερωτησις για το πώ κανουν σεξ).Μην τους παρενοχλειτε, λεκτικα και/ή σωματικα επειδη δεν τους καταλαβενετε. Δωστε προσοχη σε ο,τι σας λενε και μαθετε από αυτό. Όπως οφειλετε να κανετε για το οτιδηποτε που δεν κατεχετε ως αντικειμενο.

Σας ευχαριστω.

Adrift

A Malaysian airplane vanishes. A 15 year old protester dies in Istanbul. More than 5.5 million Syrian children are in need. Venezuela is in flames. Ukraine is in flames. Greece is missing in action. All around the world women’s rights are under attack, LGBT rights are either starting to be respected or are under attack as well, LGBT people are being thrown to prison or worse, racism is on the rise, Nazism is on the rise, fascism is on the rise.   The whole world is in debt and people are starving.

And I’m in my personal bubble, afloat. I’m caught by the current and I’m drifting further and further away. Away; away. The tide’s merciless.  I know where I am; I don’t know where I am. I know who I am; I don’t know who I am. I am getting tired, I am tired, I have been tired already. I don’t know how or why I’m standing. Sheer force of will? Out of habit? Why haven’t I reached my quota yet? When will I reach it and how much (more) will it hurt? Falling. 

I am really really tired.