Issue 80- "Cosmic Odyssey"

Heath Lail proudly presents...

Words, Pencils, Inks: Heath P. Lail

Cosmic Oddyssey Sampler

In the deepness of space, no one could hear the scream….ever-present, chilling, and full of pain. Thus had it been for eons. No one heard that scream…save one. He knew it because he feared only the being capable of forcing this scream from the man’s very soul. “Thus must it be if this universe is to be preserved, I must free this imprisoned man. I have no reason to believe he will help me once free, but I am still strong enough to capture those he loves most, as leverage.” The prisoner, a human, was trapped inside the heart of a brightly burning star. His life force kept the star burning, otherwise it would have died millions of years earlier. Reaching deep inside, R’hon used his remaining power to free the man from the trap he had been imprisoned in for millennia times millennia. “Saving a person…from inside of a burning star…is no small….feat. Tell me thy name, and ask of me what you shall”, spoke the prisoner. Slowly, R’hon rose to his feet, then to an impressive full height of 3 meters tall. “I come upon the behalf of an entire universe, milord. I ask that you spare it from utter destruction in return for bringing you once more among the land of the living.” “A noble request…to be sure. One worthy of risking thy life to free me from mine prison. ’Tis true that I ’ave seen eons pass in my solitary prison. I witnessed the births and deaths of more civilizations than I can remember. I dreamed of strange philosophies that came to me from alien races…they taught me to expand my soul-spirit great distances away from mine body. I greatly miss my family, and ask that I be given adequate time to reconnect with them ’ere I set off on my journey.” “Unfortunately, milord, there is simply no time for such. The universe I speak of is thy own. I have protected thy family from the destruction thus far, but my power is fast waning…soon it shall be spent, I fear. As such, time is of utter importance. Therefore, I now send you upon your way…good luck.”

Issue 79- "Cosmic Odyssey Prologue"

Words, Pencils, Inks: Heath P. Lail

Hullo guys...get ready to get deep again--

Well, I've tried to write serious projects many times and have failed...

I have very loosly written 66 issues of a comic book that I devised all by my lonesome. It has yet to be printed.

I wrote multiple poems to show Sam my undying love for her. She rejected my advances.

I wrote and pencilled a 12 page 24 hour comic(halfway there...next time I'll make it)for her as well, but once again, rejection was my reply.

But now...I have abandoned those follies to begin my own story...it shall be a Cosmic Oddyssey! It will span eons of time! It will become as grand in the minds of sci-fi literary genuises as Lord of the Rings is to fantasy gurus! It will tell the story of...uh-huh...that'd be telling. I have a few things to do tomorrow, but I hope to write at least a paragraph by tomorrow night, so I hope to let you sample a bit at that time.

I am stoked about this project...I simply wish that I could draw the damn thing as well, because I know that it would move much faster, and it would become that much closer to being a published work. Comic editors like seeing scripts turned in with some sort of pencils, and my art talents just aren't there. Oh well, I will write something that will make people stand up and pay attention to my work...I'll make it grand, because I love space. I want to explore its deepest mysteries, and still be hungry for more. I've been bitten by that bug that forces me to search out information....I'm ready to start a big project....one that isn't doomed to failure. Wish me luck! 

 

 

Issue 78- "Flare in the Night"

Words, Pencils, Inks: HPL

Hullo guys...here we go.

Here are a few bits I have learned in life, or things I would like to explore in my life....

I want to be loved...really loved.

I want to travel to The Great Pyramid, The Coliseum, and Stonehenge in one year.

I want to write that Great American Novel, and then turn around and do it every month by writing comic books.

There are many things I love in this life, and many things I'll never do, but I just want to let y'all know about a few things that I have that make me happy...feel free to relpy with your own lists....

My God, my family, my friends, my comics, and writing and reading poetry.

My God makes me happy by giving me each and every new day.

My family makes me happy by providing for me, and loving me unconditionally.

My comics make me happy by expanding my thoughts and mental boundaries each and every month, making me examine the way I think, why I have the ideals I love by, and whether they could be broader than they are now, thereby increasing my social skills and mental intellect.

Writing releases pent up frustrations, and reading poetry is a calming balm for me when I am upset or stressed.

Look into yourself tonight and see why you do everything you do...why did you fall in love with the person you love? Why do you hang around the friends you have? Are there things you'd like to try your hand at, but are afraid? Why are you afraid of those things? Let me tell you from experience...try new things at least once...like Sam, I just realized that there is an issue of Swamp Thing you MUST read. I'll explain better the next time I see you, but you MUST read it. It will help you broaden your thoughts on some things going on in your life. Look inside yourself, and try to decide why you do the things you do, and what truly makes you unique out of all these other people on Earth tonight...lay there and talk to God about it tonight, and better yet...go outside tonight and lay under the stars, thinking of what you want out of life. What would make you truly happy? Not for one day or one week, but for the rest of your life? Lemme know ok?

 

 

Issue 77- "Return from Forever, Part 2"

Words, Pencils, Inks: Heath P. Lail

Greg Plantamura's Swamp Thing Annotations

Sam has already seen this page, but let me explain a little about it. Swamp Thing is a classic DC Comics character from the 70s. Thie explains a certain issue that was supposed to run in the comic series during the late eighties, but was pulled for certain reasons. I searched for more informative discussions from Rick Veitch, the writer of the controversial issue, but was unsucessful. I'm tired tonight, but I will explain the situation in my own words better tomorrow.

Issue 76- " Return from Forever, Part 1"

Words, Pencils, Inks: Heath Parker Lail

Hullo again friends. I finished filming a few days ago, but I chose to not interrupt the fill-in writer's story by returning after a mere seven issues...I took a "year" off. Onward and upward we go....H

Love can transcend many obstacles...religion, race, and sometime even sex. Do you ever think about what love is? I didn't say what love feels like or looks like, but what it really is? It is more than those three simple words. It goes deeper than cards or special days. Love is a feeling. A feeling that you get the first time you look into someone's eyes and realize just how special they are in your own life. A feeling you search for your entire life, along with purpose and meaning. Love is a powerful thing...a thing which needs to be treated with the utmost respect, because if it is not, then it can disappear as quickly as it came. Love is a bond between two people who cherish each other over any physical object with which they may be presented. Love is blind, love is true, love can produce miracle bundles of joy for you if you simply respect it. Religion throws lines into love..."you can only love Suzy if your name is Bob. Bob can't love Bob, and Suzy can't love Suzy. That is the way it is, ask no questions." I live by this, believing that only men should marry women, and vice versa. Yet it is hard to think about these people as people. We call them freaks, monsters, and abominations against God. We remove them from being like us; we do not seek to be reminded that it could easily be us being scorned, so we call them names. We say their acts are horrible. But are these two people really in love? Can they be made to understand our context of love, or are they incapable of understanding things from our point of view? I think it is a mixture of the constant ridicule and the pressure to be like us that drives people like that away from help. Does anyone really want to be loked as a freak? As different? No, because it reminds us that we are NOT the center of this great universe, just beings created in the image of He Who Created All. If they think they are odd, perhaps that makes them afraid to seek help or discuss their situation for fear that they will simply be laughed at again. Just think before you speak, ok? Just think about what you say to your friends, family, or a perfect stranger.

 

 

 

Issue 64- "Hello, goodbye...Finale- Return of the Good Gumbo"

 

Written, Penciled and Inked by: Heath Parker Lail

I'm gonna miss you guys...but things are looking up. I'm going to start my first day of filming tomorrow. I have to be at Walnut and Linden tomorrow morning at 7 so they can shuttle me to my secret location. I drove up there this morning to see if I could even find the place on my own, and after a lot of wrong directions and other mishaps, I located a simple parking lot across from the Southwestern Tech school, I believe. It is their parking lot. I'm really happy right now...my life seems o be going well, and I had the first good night's sleep in about a month last night. I hope things are going ok for you all too, and I hope to see you here upon my return to the title...it might jump issue numbers so the other guy doesn't get all his hard work erased after he takes over. Good night, my loves. Farewell, but not goodbye. Ne'er goodbye. Until then, I remain....

Heath P. Lail

Issue 63- " Hello, goodbye...Part I"

 

Written, Penciled and Inked by: H. P. Lail

Fireworks are awesome....as long as you are careful with them. I just got back from Olive Branch Park from watching the fireworks display. There was circles of fire, solar systems, constellations, starbursts, you name it, they fired a boomer that looked like it. Happy Fourth, everyone...I love you all, and I wish you nothing but the best for the rest of your week. I feel great because I am going to start my part of filming on Tuesday, so I'm giddy and nervous at the same time. It feels great though...now I can say I've been in two flicks. Stop for a second and imagine this...you are God, and you are in the process of creating the universe. Imagine THOSE fireworks, huh? As beautiful as firecrackers and sparklers may be, they are only a dim fraction of the sheer beauty that God witnessed as he created...everything. Everything out of nothingness...how great is that?  As you go to sleep tonight, close your eyes, and try to imagine creating magnificent explosions of brilliant color simply by passing your hand across the black sky. If things work right, I bet 1) you'll fall asleep rather quickly and 2) you'll find sleep very peaceful instead of tossing and turning. Goodnight, y'all. I just feel great, if you guys could see this...

 

Issue 62- "Parliament of Wisdom, Part IV"

Words, Pencils/Inks: Heath P. Lail

Hello, folks. Hope you all had a good day today. Sorry I missed the last two days, but I only promised 10 issues in a row before taking a break, and I made it 11, so there. I missed you all, and love each and every person who reads this. I really enjoy doing this you know. It gives me a chance to...clear my thoughts from what transpired during the day...helps me remember the good, try to move on from the bad. I had a really good day today. It was officially Free Comic Book Day, so if you didn't make it by the store to at least pick up a free comic, you officially suck. We were busy, so I didn't have time to reflect upon my recent ups and downs in life. I've been very busy lately, with my insurance woes, Sam deciding she didn't love me the way I loved her anymore, and my uncle buying a sweet new pickup. I think issue 64, which should be written Monday night, will be my last for now. I am moving on to other projects, like a bit piece in a Johnny Cash flick. I am gracious for the experience I have had while here, and once I am finished with the movie, I will promptly return(I still have big plans for this title). This has given me room to expand my horizons of thought, forced me to come face to face with some ugly truths in my life, and has helped me to grow into a more mature person. I am thankful for all the people who have written here, giving me advice, feedback, arguments, and more. It has helped me move on from certain areas of pain I've been through in the last few months and year. Your continued support of this space has helped me want to continue growing in my life, and I don't ever want to do without you. I'm gonna retire to my study to contemplate the future of the title, and try to come up with something interesting for the next two nights. Best to you all...love.

Heath Parker Lail