As the year ends, a quick preview of things to come.

       First, I’m probably most happy about our new series Streetlight Stories the first episode of which premiered a few months ago. In these small vignettes, I wanted the challenge of telling a shorter, tighter story, but with more panels and less real estate for words. The first attempt, The Dark Days of Carolyn Taskman captured the essence of this new format, even if it did miss a bit on certain storytelling beats.

       Our next Streetlight Story, I hope, builds on this format and expands it. Not only will it include more characters (some which I hope could become reoccurring in other formats on the site), but also, I tried to increase the stakes and the ambiance. This story is nearly completed (it will also be about three pages longer than the first episode). We will premiere it New Years week, one page a day for a week. Like the last episode, it will also be accompanied by the original script on the blog as well.

       One of the major disappointments of the site this year was the update progress on the long tale Great Dame in our ‘Stories’ section. What was intended initially to be a small project to keep the long form muscles sharp, morphed into a pretty damn interesting story with a seven page (and counting) outline and character bios. Which is all fine and dandy, but useless if you don’t have the time to update the story regularly. I’m currently thinking of ways to mitigate the time needed to write and edit this story against the realization there’s a lot more storytelling to be done on this site on a daily basis. Not quite sure what the solution is just yet. For now, Mr. Hardwell’s tales of unsolved murders will continue, but I still can’t guarantee the regularity on it.

       As far as other smaller short stories on the site go, this created an interesting learning curve. My original intention was to publish short stories in the ‘Stories’ section of the site, alongside the aforementioned Great Dame larger tale. But I also submit stories to other (admittedly much more highly regarded) literary magazine and websites for possible publication. Not surprisingly, they do not want to hear that the work you’re submitting to them is readily available for consumption on the author’s website. This is entirely understandable. The conundrum is then; content for TDC must be exclusive content for TDC. And with so many hours in the day, the various comics and one long form story housed here coupled with additional work being completed for these other sites translates to little time left for exclusive short stories for the site. That being said, I’m exploring other ways to fill the site with content, especially the story side of things where I always intentioned a little more oomph.

       What’s in store for 2013? In our flagship comic title, This Desperate City, Miles’ trip back down the grimy underbelly of his city will continue. The return of his brother Auggy, and the Kkangpae (Korean Mafia) forces aligning behind him will run in direct conflict with the investigation Officer’s Jung and Malikos are currently building. Will Auggy’s return mean a re-establishment of the once great criminal empire of Miles and Auggy’s old boss Aldo, or are the brothers headed for a collision at the intersection of their new lives? And where does it all leave Auggy’s daughter Corina? Answers (and a lot more action) will abound in this upcoming year’s TDC storyline.

       Streetlight Stories will continue as well. I can’t quite commit to any type of regular timing for these tales, but I’m hoping to have at least one a quarter. Some may be very short (more like mini character studies) and others, like the upcoming holiday one, will be more robust fictions. Ultimately though, the goal for these stories is completion. So all Streetlight Story tales will be complete before the first page is posted. 

       Great Dame will chug along as well, at its same glacial pace. Stewart Hardwell’s investigation of a missing son has already intertwined with an armored car crime scene (and two dead security guards). With the police breathing down his neck, and his client, the elegant but suspect Mrs. McLaughlin needing answers, Hardwell will be forced to make a difficult decision, which side of the law holds the key to his answers?

       Finally, TDC has had the good fortune to become a member of various webcomic rating and reading sites. I list them regularly under the ‘Links’ section. Whenever a reader gets the chance, a click through here will help promote our site and is always appreciated.

       For you Instagramming folks, TDC is also active on this app (follow out Facebook to get there). Although, come the enactment of their new TOS, I may decide to pull out. But for now, you can find us here. And as always, one Twitter and Facebook as well.

       Thanks to everyone who reads with even the remotest consistency. This interesting, fun, frustrating, disappointing yet uplifting experiment is boldly entering its third year and I’m really excited to see what’s in store.

Graciously wishing all a Happy Holiday,

JJS