Randy Stradley profile picture

Randy Stradley

I am here for Friends and Networking

About Me

I'm a fifty-something comics editor/writer with a soft spot for struggling writers and artists (provided they actually are striving, and not just whining), would-be superheroes, and strippers.

One thing you should know about me: I'm not a "friend" whore -- I don't care about upping my friend tally. So don't bother "friending" me if your only objective is to promote your band, or your comic, or your book, or whatever. There should be some common ground between us -- an area of shared interest and/or respect. Barring that, you could try appealing to my prurient interests.

And if you're one of those people who think it's a good idea to post four or five bulletins in a single day, know that I will delete you from my friends list as soon as I become aware of it. Just sayin'.

Also, Dave Land says that us old guys are ruining myspace for everybody else just by being here, so that's a bonus.

My Interests

I'm interested in Japanese swords, bigfoot, sasquatch, cryptozoology, kit-bashing, archery hunting, Games Workshop models, collecting way, way too many Godzilla figures (and yet, strangely, never having enough), writing fiction, the way comics work, and why otherwise grown-up human beings become such geeks when they get around Star Wars.

I'd like to meet:

I'd like to meet other comics professionals, aspiring writers and artists, comics fans, fans of Star Wars comics, Godzilla fans, swordsmiths, and women with whom I'd never have a chance.

Music:

I read where Stephen King said that "What's So Funny 'Bout Peace, Love, and Understanding?" was one of the top three greatest rock 'n roll songs of all time. Not too bad -- he was only off by two.

Movies:

Movies I can watch over and over: the original King Kong, Zulu, Yojimbo, Sam Raimi's The Quick and the Dead, Lake Placid, Day the Earth Stood Still, The Road Warrior, Rear Window, Destroy All Monsters, Red Sun, Tremors, Master and Commander, the entire Thin Man series…

Television:

is your one true friend.

Counting the days 'til "The Office" returns!

Books:

Currently reading Anthony Bourdain. Richly descriptive, sensually attuned to his surroundings, and painfully honest about himself. Great stuff.
Some of my other favorite authors are Stephen Hunter, H. P. Lovecraft, Patrick "Bad News" Hughes (you may be a little too honest, Pat!), Ian Fleming, Arthur Conan Doyle, J. R. R. Tolkien, Ivan T. Sanderson, and Bertrand R. Brinley. Quite a mix, eh?

Heroes:

is a show I stopped watching after the second episode.

My Blog

Writing Comics 101: Writing a Story Proposal

This is part nine of a series of blogs about writing for comics. We're finally getting to the beginning!Writing a Proposal or PitchLet's say you're a freelance writer (or writer-artist, or part of a w...
Posted by Randy Stradley on Sun, 02 Mar 2008 09:15:00 PST

Belated Valentine’s Dinner (Lobster and Foie Gras)

Okay, I admit it: on Valentine's Day night I was at a strip club while my lovely wife sat at home. But here's the deal, see, my friend Larry is getting married today (February 17) down in L.A., but he...
Posted by Randy Stradley on Sun, 17 Feb 2008 09:53:00 PST

Writing Comics 101: Rule 6 Revisited

This is part eight of a series of blogs about writing for comics. I know, it has been forever since my last posting. Sorry, but whaddya expect for free?A Lesson for SadistsThe other day, "John" (if th...
Posted by Randy Stradley on Sat, 19 Jan 2008 03:12:00 PST

And then theres the food...

This is where I'll stick all my food/cooking-related stuff after it has served time on my front page. Christmas dinner was a successI went kinda Iron Chef on the appetizer. A "leaf" of thinly sliced, ...
Posted by Randy Stradley on Thu, 17 Jan 2008 06:21:00 PST

Writing Comics 101: The Most Important Rules

If this is the most important thing to know about writing comics, you ask yourself, why the hell didn't I start with this blog? Well, go start your own blog about writing comics and let me know how th...
Posted by Randy Stradley on Thu, 17 May 2007 01:59:00 PST

Writing Comics 101: Rules Revisited

This is a quickie addendum to my last blog. I received a couple of questions regarding Rule #8, so I wanted to provide some clarification.What I said last time:8. Give your readers as much information...
Posted by Randy Stradley on Tue, 24 Apr 2007 11:49:00 PST

Writing Comics 101: Rules, Rules, Rules

This is part five of a series of blogs about writing for comics. While I will try to follow a logical progression within each blog, the subject matter for each column -- and the order in which they ar...
Posted by Randy Stradley on Thu, 19 Apr 2007 02:20:00 PST

Writing Comics 101: Where do I Start My Story?

This is part four of a series of blogs about writing for comics. While I will try to follow a logical progression within each blog, the subject matter for each column -- and the order in which they ar...
Posted by Randy Stradley on Thu, 12 Apr 2007 03:22:00 PST

Writing Comics 101: Why Comics?

This is part three of a series of blogs about writing for comics. While I will try to follow a logical progression within each blog, the subject matter for each column -- and the order in which they a...
Posted by Randy Stradley on Tue, 03 Apr 2007 01:12:00 PST

Writing Comics 101: Comics Aren't Films

This is part two of a series of blogs about writing for comics. While I will try to follow a logical progression within each blog, the subject matter for each column -- and the order in which they are...
Posted by Randy Stradley on Fri, 23 Mar 2007 12:02:00 PST