Government records

Ever just decide to go an search through the United States Copyright Office's files?  Sounds like fun, huh?  Well, it's not, and shame on you for thinking so - unless you have a copyright on file, in which case it becomes LOTS OF FUN (trust me on this).

The above screenshot is from the Copyright Office's website, where it lists Teddy and the Yeti and lots of information regarding it - publication type, concept title, print date, creator history, date of birth, my (former) address...holy crap, should all that stuff be on the Internets for anyone to see?  Apparently so, says the government.  Oh well, says I: now I have a record that says I existed on file in a governmental office.  And I think that's just swell.

Other stuff, part 5 - Ultimate Hero

One of the co-creations that I feel most fond about has to be the "Ultimate Hero".  Unfortunately, it is also one of the most frustrating.

The Ultimate Hero began as the Ultimate Avenger - it's since changed for obvious reasons ("satire" gave way to "blatant copyright violation" once Marvel actually released a book titled "Ultimate Avengers").  Mike Adams and I developed a story where an egotistical jerk of a super hero had his powers taken away - transferred to an eight-year-old boy - to teach him a lesson in humility.  The result was one of the funnier, more complete stories I think I've ever told, but trying to get this concept off the ground has run into any number of speed bumps.  More than once we've been told that the project had been picked up for publication, but each time the fates conspire to stop production in one phase or the other.  Even though I manage to get my heart broken every time, I still hold out hope that one day - one day! - the right situation will come along for UH to see the light of day as an actual series.

The page you see posted above is from Teddy and the Yeti #3 - the Ultimate Hero plays the role of the second feature in this issue.  Occurring before the events in the proposed series take place, this short story lets loose one of my favorite aspects of the UH story - Ultimate Hero and his contempt for the old-school super hero "Super Supreme".  The art is by super Canadian Travis Sengaus, who has a flashy style that really suits the story.  Travis at one time was working on an actual issue of Ultimate Hero...maybe one day I'll be able to twist his arm enough to continue.

For now, though, I'm just happy to get the concept to print, even if it's just a short story in the back of Teddy and the Yeti.  Small steps.

Copyrights

I got a call from my parents today saying that they received a letter for me from the US Copyright Office. I immediately knew what it was, but I still found the timing a little bit strange.

You see, when "Josh Howard Presents: Sasquatch" first came out and I was beginning to think about doing more with Teddy and the Yeti, I filled out the requisite forms and sent in a copy of the book to copyright the characters and ideas in a legal sort of way. I remember reading something about how the Copyright Office would be in contact with me and would mail my distinct number within six weeks or so. This was, oh, a year and a half ago.

I guess it's a case of "better late than never", though I still do find it at least a little bit amusing. After not hearing anything for so long, I just figured that I'd never hear anything back from them, which seemed to say something about our governmental structure, but HEY! I guess things are working down in Washington after all, albeit a bit more slowly than I had anticipated.

The most interesting part about all of this is that they've requested another copy of the book so they can keep it on file at the Library of Congress. Now, let's be clear: there are lots of books at the Library of Congress, and they didn't request a copy of the Sasquatch anthology because it was a priceless piece of art history (or did they...?), but there's an odd feeling knowing that, long after I'm dead and forgotten, Teddy and the Yeti will be tucked away in some corner of a governmental library for anyone to stumble upon. Take that, future!