a post...

Man day alive. I can’t believe that this website is still here. There’s been a great deal going on here in david allan duncan land.

I’ve been named the next chair of the Sequential Art Department here at SCAD. Somehow I’m going to do it even though I told everyone that I never want to do, I don’t want to climb the corporate ladder, I hate paperwork, etc. So that’s happening.

The Sequential Art department was fortunate enough to have Brian Ralph come visit and do a guest lecture. It was a blast even though so many kids were at the job fair instead (hard to blame them). Brian was great with the students and I hope that we'll be seeing him again soon. Here I am introducing him as best I could - photo by Burkhalter.


We got to travel home to Alabama to see my Grandparents.
Here's one of a few pics I took on the trip home. It's some backroad close to my parents house.


I’ve decided to serialize the Moonshine Murders as a series of mini-comics.

I went to Fluke in Athens (either my 3rd or 4th time). It was a good time. Kristie came this time to hang out with her friend Amanda. It’s always cool to see people: Eleanor, Drew, Joey Weiser, Dean Trippe, Schweizer, Hunter… and of course the home team was there in full force: Isaac, Lynnette, Bullet, Greenstone, Falynn Coleman, Sorese, Jarrett, Burkhalter, Kathy, Tyler, Pranas, Mary, Jon, Brett, Josh, Matt, Julie, Sweetwater, Heck, I’m sure I’ve missed someone—the point is that there were lots of folk there. I managed to not take pictures, but there are lots of other people who have cool photo sets from Fluke that approximate what I would have come up with.

I resolve to start taking more pictures.

I had the first ‘chapter’ of the Moonshine story at Fluke. I’ll admit that the choice of the term ‘chapter’ indicated a false sense of order since I’m not really drawing the book in the order that I intend for its final form—but I’m going to put these mini-comics out in the order that I draw them. How about that, huh? Whatever. I also ran a new cover on the Rural Invasion mini. I've got a few of those two plus the Nephology book left over if anyone wants one. Moonshine-3, Rural-2, Nephology-1. plus postage.


I’ll be running the Mini-Comics class in Atlanta this summer. Kristie and I will be living large in the SCAD-ATL dorm. I should make up a poster to send down there.

I've also been putting a thesis exhibition together of the Graduating MFA students. It's going to be great show, but I'll be glad once it's up.

I suppose I should get back to all the cruddy paperwork I have to do instead of drawing or enjoying my life in any way. Ever.

The Long Over-Due Update.

The Long Over-Due Update.

We're already HALF WAY through this quarter. I suppose this web log is used to excuses such as
I'm busy" and "I've got lots of paperwork to do." So I'll spare it the fuss.

Here's what' happened of late.

The Five Year Program Review that destroyed my last quarter bled over into this one. After doing all of the final revisions and producing 4 copies of the HUGE document (it must have been about 2 inches thick), we were host to two outside reviewers. Joey Cacalieri and R. Kikuo Johnson were delightful guests and brought a great deal of insight, experience and interest to their roles in our self-analysis. It was a joy to talk comics history, present and future with them both. I also enjoyed the meals that SCAD so kindly let me share in. Mmmm.

We're in the process of revising BFA Assessment Rubrics (a cross that it seems the other professors in the department are glad that I'm willing to bear). I'm thankful that I'm in a department where so many people are willing to help out with the greater cause of the department - not every department at SCAD is as friendly as ours.

We're planning a graduate thesis exhibition, which should prove to be an experience for all involved. I'm glad to be Graduate Coordinator this quarter - there's such a great bunch of kids in our department.

The silk-screen setup at Norris seems to be working alrught. It's the most ghetto setup I've ever seen, but the students who are into it are doing as well as can be expected given the facilities. The students who don't like trying new things give up before they even begin - but that's to be expected. I believe that next time I offer the course I'll make Intro to Printmaking a required course (for a variety of reason too long to list here).

Jen and Kevin have proven to be the best TA's ever. Kevin has been like a trusty side-kick for this whole Mini-Comics endeavor, and he's putting in as many hours into as I am - which is ridiculous. And I would honestly pay serious money each quarter to have Jen help me with Intro to Sequential Art. She's smart, quick and keeps the class on point in ways that I haven't been able to since I've taken on so many extra roles in the department. It has a lot to do with the difficulties this Quarter has served up. Mini-Comics is at once my favorite class that I've ever taught in my life, and the most difficult class. The demos are taxing (some of this kids care, some don't) and time consuming. I'm asking alot from the students, but most are really putting a good effort into things and are going to walk away from the course with a serious fist-full of really cool mini comics that they have made (as well as cool comics from each other).

On a related note: The Zine Fair is this Friday at the River Club. My class should be there in full force and I can't wait to go. Tell all your friends! Go!

I know there's lots of other SCAD junk I've been doing, but I either don't want to think about it or have chosen to block it out of my immediate memory. Here are some things that I have done:

I'm still working on my book (a very little bit at a time... Very little bit):


I put a new computer desk in my office and Kristie and I put shelves in the corner and the closet. I've put a bunch of toys out for myself to look at I guess.


I've also cleared a shelf by my drawing desk for my old Smurfs. The Johan and Peewee are my favorite ones. Or maybe Azrael and Gargamel. Note the Paper Moon poster on the wall behind...


Here's a little mini-comic for the Mini-Comics class exhange folio. Everyone chose an "ology" and created a 6-page mini comic (edition of 16):







I'll put images of the whole portfolio when it's all together.

I also cut my hair (Kristie helped a little). It's shorter than it's been since... high school probably. I'm making an effort to come to terms with the lengthening of my forehead.

Tokyo Day 16 - Going Home.

We all checked out the hotel and get ready for a long trip home.



Once at the hotel those with Yen left had to exchange it for US dollars.


The flight to Chicago was 11 hours long and then we had to get our luggage and recheck into customs, immigration, security and then our flight to Savannah was delayed for over 2 hours (after we had already been there 2 hours). We had been up for over 24 hours and Dove and Jason passed out while I kept a lookout for the boarding time.

Now I'm home and will spend the next few days trying to get used to the time change.

Tokyo Day 15 - Takanawadai, The 47 Ronin, Last Full Day in Japan

It was a rainy morning when we gathered early for our last full day in Japan.

We made our way to Takanawadai.




To the graves of the 47 Ronin. The tale of these Samurai is one of most important stories in Japan.











Kevin, Naaman and I wondered around Ginza looking for a few things.



We had a fancy farewell dinner full of crazy sushi (I left my camera at the hotel by accident). Hiroki Mafuyu met with afterwords and we all talked for a while. He is a avid guitar player, so next year he's going to set up some time for he, Dove and I to all play together. How fun will that be?

Naaman and I spend the late night getting lost. We wondered around for a few hour before we had to make our way back to the hotel so we'd be alive the next day.

Tokyo Day 14 - Hiroki Mafuyu

On Wednesday we had manga artist Hiroki Mafuyu visit with the students.


He discussed his process and his thoughts on art and such.






Then we went to the Tokyo Zoo (not the nicest zoo in the world, by any means). Here's Elaine and Disney at the entrance to the zoo. I told them they made a cute couple ("That's not pervy at all, Duncan," said Elaine.)

Brett poses with the pandas.







Lovely signage.

Otter trick tank.

My camera died shortly afterwards.