HOLY S#!T: The Second Coming... Or, Jesus is Back And Boy Is He Pissed Off!

**UPDATE!**
The text was hard to read at the smaller image size. The images are larger now, not too large but certainly easier to read!! Click on the images to read.**

Hello from your favorite Heretic...

I just finished putting together a three page comic:

Holy Shit: The Second Coming... Or... Jesus Is Back and Boy Is He Pissed!

I'll be submitting it to a local Burlington Zine that's trying to get off the ground, but I thought you might enjoy it here as well.

One caveat: Where the original "Holy Shit: Or... Pat Robertson Is The Anti-Christ" was non-fiction, this new comic is decidedly, entirely fictional. As you'll soon see.

Enjoy!

Holy Shit! New Edition! Pat Robertson Still Anti-Christ!

I've been sending out the following Press Release to Trumpet my good news...

Pat Robertson Is Still The Anti-Christ!
Writer & Artist Mike Luoma Releases New, Expanded Edition of "Graphic Novel" Holy Sh!t: Or... Pat Robertson Is The Anti-Christ.

Second Edition of the Graphic Novel Available Now Online: http://stores.lulu.com/mikeluoma

In 2006, Vermont writer and artist Mike Luoma released his first comic, the non-fiction, self-published "Graphic Thingy" Holy Sh!t: Or... Pat Robertson Is The Anti-Christ. February 2008 sees the second edition released - Luoma has digitally cleaned up the lettering and digitally sweetened the illustrations to create a "digitally remastered" version of the comic. The free hand lettering is now easier to read, and the added shading and gray scale backgrounds help the illustrations flow better, creating an overall easier to read book while preserving the feel of the original edition. Luoma has written a new introduction, and the Second Edition of Holy Sh!t: Or... Pat Robertson Is The Anti-Christ also includes additional background material. Luoma's original essay that inspired the comic, "God Is Love, Pat Robertson Is The Anti-Christ, And Almost Everything You Know About Christianity Is Wrong" is now included, as is a full bibliography of Luoma's source material.

Reviews of the First Edition: Troy Brownfield of NEWSARAMA raved, "...it's for books like this one that I love doing this column... a damn fine example of what 'independent comic' really means. The fact that it's entertaining, informative and occasionally gut-bustingly funny is all icing... Holy Shit is certainly meant to anger and inflame a certain segment of the population. Luoma's taking aim at an especially nasty brand of American hypocrisy, and his work definitely has bite. It might not be to everyone's taste, but it's definitely thought-provoking, and that's something we can always use in comics."

J. Caleb Mozzocco in the Las Vegas Weekly: “…he posits that Robertson, and other similar Christian fundamentalists, are simply anti-Christ, as in, they often preach the exact opposite of what Jesus taught in the Gospels. You know, all that stuff about loving your neighbors. Robertson has the bully pulpit of TV to spout from, but Luoma takes him on via this self-published, magazine-sized comic book. Calling to mind Chick Tracts in its rough, sketchy art and preachy, folksy, occasionally funny tone, Luoma's Holy Shit is a pretty compelling read, tracing the history of Christianity from Jesus' original message to the rise of an institutional church to the fundamentalist movement that began in the 19th century, a movement that seems to rule much of America here in the dawn of the 21st.”

Steven Grant weighed in on HOLY SHIT in his CBR column "Permanent Damage": "...a surprisingly respectful (to Christ, anyway) dissertation on how Christianity got twisted throughout history from the original teachings to the inane blather of televangelists like Robertson. It briskly covers a range of topics like unpleasant discoveries in Biblical scholarship, the latter day misguided origins of Christian fundamentalism, religious right wing misinterpretation of the Constitution and its historical basis, and suggestions for finding paths back to the real Jesus. And he backs up his argument; it's not simply a screed. The art's iffy at best but the book's pretty impressive."

Shay Totten in the Vermont Guardian wrote, "Using rough-edged, often comical, ink drawings, Luoma guides readers from Jesus’ original teachings to the rise of an institutional church and eventually to the fundamentalist movement, which has become the dominant sect in the United States and influences both culture and politics. Rather than page after page of scholarly dissertation, readers find ink-drawn images of Christ and Pat Robertson, alongside biblical quotations and those from Robertson. This contrasting approach underscores Luoma’s core argument that what Robertson says is based on Christ’s teachings is not quite accurate. It also makes for a compelling read. For those who believe Christianity is more than the 700 Club and calls for the assassination of world leaders, Luoma’s work will tickle the mind, and the funny bone."

Holy Sh!t: Or... Pat Robertson Is The Anti-Christ is available now, online through glowinthedarkradio.com or at http://stores.lulu.com/mikeluoma and in comic and bookstores throughout Vermont.

Contact: Mike Luoma
Phone: 802-865-2597
EMail: glowinthedarkradio@comcast.net

Obama=Hendrix

Okay...

I Had to write this down, because when it hit me I laughed out loud. And I don't think anyone actually reads this blog anyway, so this is really just for me.

I flipped over to VH1 Classic and saw Jimi Hendrix playing. It struck me as I watched him: Hendrix was so good at what he did, you didn't think about what color his skin was. Didn't matter. His sheer talent on full display mesmerized you as you watched him play. Made you realize (if there was any question in your mind) that color was immaterial.

And Barak Obama is there, too. When he gives a great speech, you don't think about his skin color (unless you're really obsessed). He's inspiring, and makes you realize skin color is immaterial.

I'd like to think I don't care about skin color. I don't, so far as I know. Both Hendrix and Obama bring home the point that drawing distinctions is artificial.

Hillary Wants Schuster's Head for "Pimped Out" Comment

I just posted this over at Steven Grant's "Permanent Damage" Website, thought I'd put it here too...

The Clinton Machine keeps utilizing Republican tactics. The latest iteration? The use of the "Manufactured Outrage" campaign, employed successfully time and again by Republicans and Republican administrations to generate sympathy and publicity since Reagan took office. Hillary Clinton is generating fake indignancy over MSNBC Reporter David Schuster's asking if the Clinton campaign "pimped out" daughter Chelsea. Oh, the horror!

It was a stupid thing to say on the air. Schuster is usually sharper than that. I think he's a little stiff, a little square and was trying to sound "hip" and came off anything but hip to be square... But for the Manufactured Outrage Campaign to work, there has to be some truth to the offense, and on some level what Schuster said could be construed to be offensive. And ripe to be misconstrued to be abhorrent and horrific.

Hillary is demanding Schuster's virtual head, saying a temporary suspension and apology are not enough. Shame on her. She wants to ruin his career over this, and doesn't mind saying so. The Millionaire wants the under paid cable reporter on unemployment, or worse; a demand without mercy - scorched Earth tactics. Pretty brutal.

This false bravado covering petty retribution used to be the hallmark of Republicans, who used and overused it to the point where the American people stopped believing it. Hillary and the Clinton campaign are gambling on the fact that Hillary can preface her remarks with a statement no major Republican candidate has been able to use: "As a mother...". She's playing the "gender" card in a major way, and coloring the false indignancy she's shoveling with the patina of protective motherhood. It could prove a masterstroke of manipulation, or backfire against her. We'll see.

But, yet again, the Clinton campaign's tactics are Republican tactics.

Thoughts on Christmas Eve

So here we are, celebrating the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem on December 25th in year zero...

Except for a few, small troublesome facts.

Jesus was born in Nazareth, not Bethlehem. Bethlehem was a later literary invention by one of the Evangelists (Matthew) who wanted to place Jesus's birth in the City of David to show he was of the line of David. The "census" that supposedly initiated the pilgrimage that places the "Holy Family" in Bethlehem is also a literary invention. It simply did not take place!

One thing the early writers agree on: Jesus was born during the reign of Herod The Great. Two problems here. For one, Herod the Great died in the year we call 4 BC. If Jesus was born during Herod's reign, he had to have been born in 4 BC or earlier. Also, the "massacre of the innocents" under Herod seems to also be undocumented literary invention (though, it seems, not entirely out of character for Herod).

For most of the early centuries, Jesus's date of birth was not fixed on the yearly calendar. Faced with pagan solstice ceremonies and the vestiges of the Roman's Saturnalia, Christmas was developed to take the place of these heathen celebrations. The three kings of the East (who are not in the gospel, although a group of magi are) were invented or embellished at any rate to literalize this capitulation of the pagans. The "celebration" of Christmas is a relatively new event in the life of the Church. There were several Protestant denominations that held the celebration of Christmas in contempt even unto the 19th century!

So go ahead, celebrate Christmas... but let's get the facts straight. The when and how of Jesus's birth is not as important as the message he preached: God is Love. Love your enemies. Care for the poor. Renounce your worldly goods, pool your resources, and live together in harmony. And what if you encounter resistance? Love them. Love the resistors. Turn the other cheek. And if you have any question over what degree this should be taken to, then look to His example, he who DIED ON A CROSS while still loving those who put him to death. In other words, there is no question of degree. You love all the way to the end. Period. No exceptions.

I still find no religions that follow this doctrine in the world today.

Vatican Ambassador Podcast

I'm putting out a new press release to trumpet some good news:

HEARD ANY GOOD BOOKS LATELY? MIKE LUOMA’S VATICAN AMBASSADOR COMING TO PODIOBOOKS.COM!

Burlington author and radio announcer’s second book added to national website.
The PODCAST revolution spreads to audio books!

Burlington, Vermont – December 19, 2007 – Bring on the Sequel! Mike Luoma’s science fiction novel Vatican Ambassador has just been picked up by the online audio book website Podiobooks.com (http://podiobooks.com). Vatican Ambassador is the sequel to Luoma’s Vatican Assassin, which has been featured on the site since August of 2007. Vatican Ambassador will be “live” on Podiobooks on Wednesday, December 19th.

Co-founded by Evo Terra and Tee Morris, co-authors of Podcasting for Dummies, Podiobooks.com provides “serialized audio books in podcast form.” At Podiobooks.com listeners can subscribe and listen to audio books in podcast form for free, or voluntarily donate to the authors. Podiobooks.com is helping to revolutionize the way people experience books.

Vatican Assassin, the first book, has been enjoyed by over 490 subscribers through Podiobooks.com. Luoma narrates the chapters of the book himself, subtly changing inflection and altering his voice to highlight and differentiate each character’s voice in the science fiction novel.

The books take place about a hundred years in the future. A war between the Earth controlling Universal Trade Zone (UTZ) and their allies, the New catholic Church (NcC) and Mars-based Universal Islamic Nation (UIN) recently flared up as the UIN attempted to retake part of Earth by force. The UTZ repelled the UIN attacks at the end of Vatican Assassin. There were heavy casualties on both sides. Now both sides are rebuilding.

The title character, Vatican Assassin Bernard Campion or “BC”, has been named the acting ambassador for the Vatican to Lunar Prime, the Independent City-State on the Moon. But BC’s old boss Pope Peter the Second has died, and the new pope has been strangely silent since appointing BC to his new position. The Governor of Lunar Prime, Marc Edwards, is in a political fight for his reelection against Daniel McEntyre, the widower of the former Governor, Meredith McEntyre… whom BC assassinated under orders from The Pope. As the acting ambassador, BC is about to find out it’s harder to negotiate with people than it is to kill them.

Mike Luoma is a Burlington, Vermont based author and an over-20-year veteran of Vermont radio currently with The Point (www.pointfm.com). He released Vatican Ambassador earlier this year (2007). Vatican Assassin was published at the end of 2005. Both are available at local outlets in Vermont and at Amazon.com and other online stores. He’s now writing the third book in the trilogy, Vatican Abdicator. Luoma features his books on his website, www.glowinthedarkradio.com.

Podiobooks Web Site: http://podiobooks.com
Mike Luoma Web Site: http://glowinthedarkradio.com
Email Contact: glowinthedarkradio@comcast.net
Phone: (802) 865-2597

Time Flies...

Buzzing around my head, those damn time flies...
Can't believe I haven't written anything here in months.

I've been writing other things, though...

Just finished the second draft of book three of the VATICAN ASSASSIN Trilogy, Vatican Abdicator. Lots o' typin'! It clocked in at 254 pages. It will be expanding from there, though. I have a short preview online. This is raw, and will change, but might interest you if you've been reading and/or listening to the first two: vaticanabdicator.com

I'm stepping back for a small break right now. Focusing on the Podiobooks.com podcast of the first two books. Vatican Assassin is complete! I'm now gearing up for Vatican Ambassador, recording chapters ahead to be sure I can deliver it in a timely fashion. You can listen to all of Vatican Assassin here: http://podiobooks.com/title/vatican-assassin

Juan Carlos and I are planning issue three of Panthea Obscura for early 2008. The script is done, but I may tweak it a little.

Speaking of 2008, my calendars are for sale! The newest features many of the doodles I've been posting here. Find out more at my homepage:
glowinthedarkradio.com

New Doodles!

Finally! I've scanned in some more doodles! A new full page one I love, and a smaller one. Got some nice comments as I was drawing it. Plus, the negative of the first, which I had to put up because it is cool and trippy. The love one almost has a motion to it...

Crossword Collage Doodle and More!

More from the mind of Mike... I always doodle around the crossword puzzle when I do it. I decided to scan in a few of those doodles and overlay them creating a kind of doodle collage:

















woah... kind of a nightmare!


Here's a more delicate piece, from last year:




















Found an eye or five or six while I leafed through the sketchbook. Here's one:















eye eye, capitain!



And I'm not sure what I was thinking here:

Doodlerama continues....

Here's the most recent of my doodles:
















Some detail from the doodle, and an older doodle sunset:

Star Doodle and Face Doodle, too

More from my latest journal/past month:








































Again, these aren't yet on gear at my fab store, www.cafepress.com/doodlerama, but if you'd like them on something, please let me know.

Mike

Tonight's doodles, and a couple others...

This came out tonight:




















And when I began scanning in that one from the notebook, I went back a few pages for a few more:







































None of these are on stuff at my store, www.cafepress.com/doodlerama, yet. If you want one on a shirt or something, send me an email at glowinthedarkradio@comcast.net, let me know what you want, and I'll make it happen if I can. I ordered the green shirt with the Ever-Seeing Eye, as I'm calling it, on it. It's on the way...

Mike

Doodlerama Continues... And Now You Can Wear 'Em!

Crazy, Huh? I just spent the last few hours putting my doodles on T-Shirts, Posters, Mugs and Stuff... I Made an Online Store! It's HERE:

http://www.cafepress.com/doodlerama

And here's an older picture that's now on some T's and Stuff, and another bonus doodle, just for you:

Doodlerama Continued!

More questionable doodlement:

Doodlerama Day One!

I'm going to start sharing my doodles. after some feedback that was encouraging. It will be a sometimes thing, but here are a few:

Why There Is No 9/11 Conspiracy...

Do you really think this gang that can't shoot straight was capable of engineering a plot of such subtlety and complexity?

The "plot" would have had about as much chance of success as the War in Iraq, would have been executed about as well as the Katrina response was... look at their success rate!

Conspiracy theories are comforting in a cold world, where the enemy is often indifference. They require faith and belief, like any religion does.

And that's why there was no 9/11 conspiracy. These men would have had to actually care about what the public thinks to go to such lengths. But these men have shown repeatedly they are indifferent towards the general population's sentiments and wishes. They would not have bothered to even put such a plan together. They'd consider it a waste of their time.

Jesus was a Socialist

Not that any so-called Christian today will admit this! But it's there, inconveniently enough, plain as day, in the Bible! Jesus is almost a Communist... I do not label him such because he advocated working within the government of his day... that whole "render unto Caesar" thing, you know.


But it's there in black and white in the Bible. Redistribution of wealth, over and over again.

Matthew 19: 16 - 22

...someone came to him and said, "Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?" 17 And he said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments." 18 He said to him, "Which ones?" And Jesus said, "You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; 19 Honor your father and mother; also, You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 20 The young man said to him, "I have kept all these; what do I still lack?" 21 Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." 22 When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions.


Mark 10: 21 - 23

21 Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, "You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money ^F90 to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." 22 When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions. 23 Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!"

Jesus told them what their society, their "kingdom of god" should look like, and they tried to live it out, at first:

Acts 4: 32 - 37

32 Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. 33 With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. 35 They laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 36 There was a Levite, a native of Cyprus, Joseph, to whom the apostles gave the name Barnabas (which means "son of encouragement"). 37 He sold a field that belonged to him, then brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

In case you don't take the idea seriously, "Luke" next tells a cautionary tale:

1 But a man named Ananias, with the consent of his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property; 2 with his wife's knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3 "Ananias," Peter asked, "why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, were not the proceeds at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You did not lie to us but to God!" 5 Now when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard of it. 6 The young men came and wrapped up his body, then carried him out and buried him. 7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter said to her, "Tell me whether you and your husband sold the land for such and such a price." And she said, "Yes, that was the price." 9 Then Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out." 10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in they found her dead, so they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear seized the whole church and all who heard of these things.

Yikes! God brings down the death penalty for not sharing! All things were held in common. What else do you call it but socialism... or communism?

What was that again, Jesus?

Matthew 6: 19 - 24

19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust ^F51 consume and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust ^F52 consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 "The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light; 23 but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! 24 "No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

And then there's the Our Father! Forgive us our debts, as we forgive those who owe us... "trespasses" makes it sound like property violations. The word is debt, and it means money. The Jewish idea of jubilee was still prevalent in Jesus' day: in the jubilee year all debts are forgiven, and all men are once again equal. Radical concept, huh? Jesus extended it to every day: you had to forgive those who owed you money. He was taking the old Jewish ethic of no usury and extending it to beyond its logical conclusion. Not only must yopu not charge interest, you must forgive the debt, entirely!! One of the ideas that got him killed. That and the whole "Love your enemies" deal...

Do you know of any so-called church teaching this? It's too bad this guy Jesus doesn't have anyone actually following his teaching these days... he's got some great ideas.

Back to Work, Fifty Podcasts and Panthea Obscura Pitched

Welly well, me droogies... don't know why Alex popped into me melon, but... hello all the same!

Back at work! The legendary Greg Hooker is leaving The Point after 23 years with WNCS, and I've scored his position as Production Director and the afternoon drive gig! You can listen on-line at pointfm.com. I'll be on from 3 pm until 7 pm Mon - Fri, starting Monday. Great music, good people... excited for my new sitch!

Recently posted my 50th Glow-in-the-Dark Radio Podcast! Find the 'cast at clickcaster.com/glowinthedarkradio. I've now read my entire novel "Vatican Assassin" aloud, chapter by chapter, reading the final chapter on the 50th. I plan on continuing the podcasts, on a more weekly basis (as opposed to how often I was putting them out when I was unemployed).

"Panthea Obscura" is my new comic book project. I'm the creator and writer. Juan Carlos Quottordio is the artist. I'm just sending out pitches to publishers now... think good thoughts!

Now, if I could just get Josh to get back to me with his feedback on "Vatican Ambassador"...

This is what I'm talking about...

If you're reading this (and I don't think anyone else is at this point, but I can use the self analysis), you know I've "given up" on the games of the dating scene.
BUT sometimes I meet women I want to get to know better...
I thought ----- might be one of those... I like her, she makes me smile... saw her last night at Nectar's at the Sound of Urchin show. We kind leaned against each other, I kept the beat of a song on her side, it was cool, she yelled at me over the music to meet her tonight (Wednesday) after I got back from work at The OP. "Eight O'Clock!" she yelled. I got there a little late, 8:14... but she wasn't there. Stayed until 12:20... she never showed.

So...

I'm trying not to just say "typical" or "right", but you know...

I'm just sayin'...

It kinda proves my point.