The sun is finally out, although the rain returns to the studio frequently, and keeps the ground soggy. Fortunately for our boys, they live at the beach, so life is always fun for them.

DDM is busy with life and making new character images and pages, and KJ is 'building' cars in the St. Precocious garage. We will show you one or two of them in the very near future, along with some new interiors and other images. As we are having to rebuild the comic (see past blogs about new laws in the EU) we have been occupied with that, primarily. Every image we produce for the website takes us away from repairing the comic, so we ask for continued patience. KJ is also working simultaneously on three new books, as well, so time is precious for both of us.

We want to thank those of you for sending emails of encouragement, and we are committed to completing the comic, so worry not. It shall be done. The format is changing, slightly, to include more text along with the images, to make a stronger story, since we can no longer have some of the content we had intended to include. This means that KJ is writing a fourth book, actually. Some call this sort of comic a 'graphic novel,' but ours will have so many images that this phrase doesn't really cover what we are making. You'll just have to see it, we guess, and then maybe someone can tell us what it is.

We recently had a question asked about our plans for distribution, and we feel confident that we will be able to distribute our work to most of the developed nations of the world, with the possible exception of the UK and some states in des Etats Unis, wherein nudity is considered to be an affront to the common man. They are comic images, but that doesn't seem to matter, to some folks. Our legal beagles are still researching this for us, and we will follow their advice.

We hope everyone is enjoying a great spring and summer is coming, so get the swim suits out and watch out for the sun.

DDM & KJ

We wish everyone a wonderful, safe and sane New Year!

Sorry for the long pause between blogs, but we have been busy with regular life, and KJ needed his annual hospital surprise to keep things interesting. We won't bore you with the details, and will only say that he is happy to be home and looking forward to the healing process. He promises to update the blog with something fun, very soon. Have you stopped by the galleries to see the new work that was posted? Enjoy!

In the meantime, we hope you will be content to view the image above, which was shot from KJ's hospital bed, the morning that he was released from the clutches of his white-uniformed captors.


KJ & DDM

The comparison...

Freunden,

We have received a couple of emails asking if our Aly (aka Alain, Scruffs) was modeled after the young Dutch singer, Tom Klijbroek. So, we looked up the little scamp to see what the fuss was all about, and we were rather surprised to see that the lad did look a little like our Scruffs, or is it the other way around? Anyway, we thought we should clear the air and say that although we feel that Tom is a very talented young man, and great things will be coming his way, our Scruffs is unique, and not modeled after Tom. We would also believe that Tom is in no way modeled after Scruffs, since we created Scruffs a few years after Tom was born and it is doubtful that the universe works that way - although that, too, would be an interesting discussion. So, we give you the talented Master Klijbroek, and we highly recommend that you all take a listen to his music. He's rather good.

KJ & DDM

Summertime...

and the livin' is cool, rainy and what the blazes happened to summer in middle Europe? We've had a few warm days, but it is July, and we are in rainy and cool, which is not seasonal. Ah, yes, global warming - yet it's cool. Hmmmm....

In the midst of several projects, we are working on the rebuild of our comic, after the surprising new laws enacted in Germany, about which we informed everyone in our last blog. It goes to show you that there are no accidents in the universe, and had we printed and offered up our first issue, there might have been a reason for them to spank us...or not. As we mentioned, though, we had created this story with several directions available, so the outline was already in place. Now, we just have to redo a few sections and we'll be back on track.

KJ is still busy with writing and working on two other projects and trying to build the strength back up in his legs. So far, the long walks in the countryside are doing the job. Let's hope improvement continues. If you would like to have a look at KJ's first book, which is now available, stop by his other site - Kristophe.com - and have a look. You'll get a chance to see David Paris' lovely visage on the cover, if you do. You can also keep abreast of his activities (KJ's, not David's) on KJ's MySpace page, as well. Y'all know about Kristophe's MySpace page, of course. Stop by and have a look around, if you like.

DDM has his toy back for the summer, a vintage Peugeot convertible, just in time for the rain. And, he just bought a nifty original side mirror for it, too. Bugger. Let's hope the weather changes before we head back to France in August. One must have sunshine in France, non?

Thank you, one and all, for your notes and emails, and we hope everyone is having a great summer (or winter, for our Aussie friends)!

DDM & KJ

Censorship is alive and well, in Deutschland and the European Union...

Friends,

Many of you have been anticipating the arrival of our first issue of The Boys of St. Precocious Academy, as have we. We have spent many long hours on its creation and we had hoped to have it finished very soon. However, we have just been thrown a rather substantial curve.

Our studio is located in the southern part of Germany, and we anticipated printing the comic in Germany, as well. While we have been busy, the European Union set up new guidelines for pron that encompass the younger years, and parts of it are rather distressing, and a bit over the top. Germany has decided (as of November, 2008) to employ the most Draconian of measures to fall into step with the EU's requirements. Even the members of other EU states have expressed surprise, although the UK is following suit with its own craziness.The German law (and the forthcoming British one) not only disallows any cartoon or drawing of teenaged boys engaged in any sexual activity, they will also disallow any image wherein anyone might ASSUME the character is not over 18 years of age. In other words, the character must be unambiguously viewed as over 18. In the vernacular, this means that Kristie would have to grow a beard.

Manga and Yaoi are no longer legal in Germany, and will not be legal in the European Union, shortly. Although we never intended that our younger characters would engage in such activity, we had assumed - by current European laws - that the older boys could have a bit of fun. This is no longer the case, and the penalties are severe. We cannot imagine how we can make Alain, Kristie, Ethan, Nicky and many others appear to be over 18 to ALL people, and the courts are already arbitrary enough without this kind of freedom to play with people's lives. Did we mention that this is unconstitutional, in Germany? It is, but who has the money to fight this idiocy? Well, there is one guy, and who would guess that it would be Larry Flynt who would come along and sue the German government for this new law? I didn't, and god bless him for doing so. Now, we wait to see what happens, although his suit does not address drawn images.

There is another, equally disturbing aspect to this law which is even more bizarre, and that is the prohibition of any writing which describes the sexual activity of any person under the age of 18, whether real or fictional. (When you get done shaking your head in disbelief, remember to bring your lower jaw back up to meet your upper.) Yes, they have now banned any literature, comic
or printed material of any kind which has any description of such an activity. Hmmmmm...a few biographies just got thrown off the bookshelves in most libraries. We'll put them on the pile of rubble with the pottery, sculpture, paintings and drawings that we just removed from museums in Berlin , Hamburg, Munich and many other cities in Germany. One of KJ's books will also have to be added to this pile, if he tried to print it in Germany or the UK. He won't, of course. Who knew that censorship of this magnitude would ever surface again? This aspect of the new law is also in direct conflict with the German constitution. Freedom of thought and word is a right, here, as it should be anywhere.

To see if this law has affected businesses in Germany, we searched on Amazon.de and other sites, and noticed that books in violation of this new law are still being offered. We have also seen that Manga and Yaoi are still available, as well. This is not surprising, since there was no fanfare about the new law. And, one has to keep in mind that LEA never go after the big boys when they want to set a precendent in law, for it is much easier to squash a mosquito than an eagle. Hence, our desire not to place ourselves in the position of being the mosquito. This is not to say we wouldn't fight such ignorance. It is astonishing that folks have already forgotten the history of seventy years ago, in Europe.

We are currently redesigning the first issue to comply with the new law, and we will keep a watchful eye on the bureaucrats to see how this all develops. In the UK comic artists and illustrators have formed a group and are pushing for a hearing on the upcoming changes. We wish them good luck, and we wonder where the German artists and illustrators are on this, since we haven't heard a peep out of them, yet.

We'll keep you posted.

KJ & DDM

A new year, and an update on our progress...

Friends,

Yes, I (KJ) am back at the studio, although my movements are still a bit restricted. I have faith that things will improve, as time goes on, and I thank everyone for their emails and notes. I will answer all of them, as soon as I can.

Although I have been a bit handicapped, of late, we have been putting the comic together, and what we have so far looks great - in our estimation. Of course, it will be y'all who will make the final determination, but we are still having fun with it, and we think it will work out the way we want, now. There is an incredible amount of detail going into each image, and when one thinks about how there are sometimes more than twelve-twenty images on a comic page, one can get an idea of why this is taking us a bit longer than we had hoped. We have included a portion of one image at the top of this blog, to show everyone how detailed the pics will be, and this is just a pencil image, enhanced in Photoshop, so you will be able to get an idea of what we are doing. Add this visual to our colour images that you have seen and you will now have a clear sense of what our task entails. Yep, it's a bugger, but it's also great fun. We are committed to publishing the completed work, this year, and after seeing the first part put together, we are even more excited about what we are doing, so I think we will be able to keep this commitment we have made to ourselves. We'll keep you posted.


KJ & DDM

We think the image will speak for itself. Wishing you all a very safe and pleasurable New Year!

KJ & DDM

The Boys of St. Precocious Academy wish you all a happy and safe holiday!

KJ & DDM

We apologize for the delay in updating the blog and site, and these are tasks usually performed by KJ (moi), who has just returned from five weeks in hospital. There will be an update about that posted to our MySpace page as soon as KJ (moi) writes it. In a couple of days, we hope.

We have received several inquiries regarding the development of our first issue, and we can say that the comic is moving along. Because we are using a more complex and detailed means of articulating our message and visual ideas, a 30-page item takes a bit longer, and we feel that the quality will be well worth the effort. It should also be noted that most comics are drawn by one person, inked by another and then coloured by yet another. We do not have that process, as we prefer to do our own styling and colouring, which we feel is the best approach. It would appear, from the fan mail, that this is a good thing, and since we are compelled to create that which we see in our minds and hearts, we must do as we think best. Oui? Oui. Oh, and there is that pesky little nuisance called 'life,' which impacts our work efforts on a daily basis. Whatever happened to that time-honoured thing called 'patrons of the arts?'

Speaking of the arts, we have attached a vid for your enjoyment. Some think that opera in anything but Italian or German is like swimming in treacle. We beg to differ. This is an excerpt from Kenneth Branaugh's 'Zauberflöte' (The Magic Flute). Beautifully done, and the harmony is exquisite!


KJ & DDM

Sometimes, it is not about us...

This blog is about a young man from Oz, who is truly magical. Watch these vids and decide for yourself if this is a wonderful voice. The second video references the song written in tribute to the children of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital , which happens to be KJ's favorite USA charity. Enjoy.

DDM & KJ

July and summer attire...

We updated our Cafepress page, and we added new items, including a new St. Precocious Academy Alumni Cap, in either tan or white. It was the suggestion of a friend that we add hats, and we decided that it is far more likely that alumni would wear one, than a current enrollee. The latter are far too active to keep any headgear on for long.

We also deleted some items that were of little interest to most folks, including us, and we added some shirts for the more 'robustly figured' female admirers of our work. We have also changed the pricing on several items. Have a look, if you like, and don't forget to stop by our MySpace page, for updates, as well.

It's summer, so have fun!

KJ & DDM

PS - A little treat. This is Fredrick Strand Halland, an amazing blues-stringer:

Holidays...

We went to So. Germany for a bit, to see a friend, and it was a trifle warm, although it has cooled some. DDM is busy drawing and KJ is busy buggering up the pages and backgrounds, and more images. Somehow, this will all come together. KJ is studying the guitar, again, in a new style - slide blues, and Fritz, the studio cat, has registered his protests by reciprocating with abundant caterwauling in accompaniment. It's difficult for DDM to sort out the 'riffs' worked by KJ and the arias produced by Fritz. KJ or the cat will hopefully improve with time. New images are up on the site, and we do plan to post a couple more, during the month. We are being a bit stingy due to the fact that the images we have created are for the comic, and we would like some of it to be a surprise, oui? Have a great summer holiday, and be safe out there!

KJ & DDM

Summer is almost upon us...

T'is true, we are told, although a few hours after we fashioned this thought in my minds, it cooled down about five degrees Celsius, which is substantial, for those of you living a Farenheit existence. So much for May warmth. Visited friends around the countryside, and now KJ is preparing to have his legs fixed, this summer, as well as having his car serviced. Which will operate more efficiently after their respective adjustments is up to the universe, but we hold our thoughts in a positive mold for both.

New images will be coming next week, and we hope you all will still continue to enjoy our amateur efforts to please. We are catching up on the emails and notes, so do not despair, for none will be missed, we promise.

Wishing all a great summer!

KJ & DDM

April showers...or snow, depending.

We can't say much for the weather lately, and we do wish the gods would make up their minds. Is it or is it not Spring? Hmmmm?

Nothing new to report from the studio, and KJ is talking to new printers. He hopes to have some decision for his first book made by next week. Then, he can get back to the other books. He does realize that once the process is set up, it will be much easier to publish from this point forward.

We would like to take this opportunity to re-address requests for us to take on commissions. Although it is very flattering, we do not take requests for commissions, nor are we looking for new characters for our storyline. If we include all of the characters we have thought up, it will take about one hundred issues to introduce them all to our readers. Fertile imaginations, and all that, you see.

We do enjoy the many emails and notes we receive, and the support of our friends, so feel free to drop us a line anytime, and we will do our best to keep up with the correspondence.

Enjoy the Spring weather, and go swimming - or skiing, depending on the mood swings of the weather gods.

KJ & DDM


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March without the madness...

March, already? What happened to February? Maybe the cats threw it out. They seemed a bit p/o'd that there would be an extra day for them to lay about. Studio work is difficult, for felines. Thankfully, it is a breeze for us upright-walkers.

Work progresses on the comic, and new images are being organized into a pattern of readable material. Well, we hope it is readable, when all is said and done. It is a mixed format design, and we think it will work. The cats have yet to submit their opinion.

We motored to Southern Germany for a gathering of friends, and had a good meal and good conversation. After experiencing so many wonderful events, it is not surprising to us that it is the simple activity of sharing a meal with friends that is the most satisfying.

To our new friends we say dinner is about ready, so go wash your hands, and we'll see you at the table.


KJ & DDM

The rejuvenation of a new year...

It seems the new year has started us off with a flu epidemic. We don't feel singled out, since we have learned that most of our friends are also working their way through this malaise. Better to get it over with early, they say, and we agree. The cats have only sneezed a few times, so we think they will not likely succumb. Lucky beasts.

KJ is trying to meet with new printers, and DDM is working through another injury, which has kept him off the drawing board. It has been a year plagued with physical maladies, and we hope 2008 will be a vast improvement, for everyone.

If you are old enough to vote, in the USA, then by all means do so. This is an important time for the entire planet, and whom you select will determine the outcome for us all. Choose carefully, and let not empty pledges secure your vote.


Best wishes,

KJ & DDM

Happy Holidays!

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your kind comments and continued support of our work, and to wish everyone a happy and safe holiday season!

Drive safe, play safe and remember those less fortunate than yourself, during this season, and into the new year.


KJ & DDM

PS: Check our 'CARDS' folder for our Christmas Greeting!

Gobble, gobble...

We thank all who have taken part in the Poll, so far, and if you have not had a chance to vote, do stop by The Boys of St. Precocious Academy, and give us your opinion. We also welcome the emails and Guestbook entries, and we do promise to respond to all of them, as fast as we can. So far, we seem to be keeping up. If we missed you, let us know, for it was not by intent that you did not receive a reply.

KJ's proof came back, and it was a bit...well...let's just say that he has less hair on his head, now. Impaired Ocular Acuity will be sent back to the printer, for another proof, and we hope it comes out alright, this time. KJ would very much like to get back to writing and leave this editing crap to others. If only... And, there is the comic to be finished, as well.

Because of the delay, KJ decided to include some illustrations in this next proof, and DDM hustled like a hooker at a Republican convention, to finish them quickly. We think they add to the stories, and we do hope you enjoy them, as well. Yes, we will expect feedback, if you buy his book. It's in the contract, just below the part about...

KJ has also put up a new MySpace page, and if you would like to visit KJ on Myspace, just...well, you know how click the blue stuff, yes? He will still be available on the other ten sites, as well, though. We just thought he might need a new responsibility. Unh hunh.

There will be new images coming this week, and we hope you have enjoyed the recent additions. So far, no lightning bolts have pierced the roof of the studio, over the last image we posted. Perhaps God does have a sense of humour, after all?

For those who share the holiday, we wish you a safe and stuffed Thanksgiving, and not in the British sense of the word, of course.


Merci,

KJ & DDM

New Poll...

We are still slaving away on the details of the comic, and we have posted a poll for folks to help us with an important decision. Just visit The Boys of St. Precocious Academy, and check out the index list for 'POLL' and share your point of view. You can also hit our 'GuestBook' and give us more input, if you like. Yes, we do actually read that, along with the email we receive.

Impaired Ocular Acuity, by KJ is finished, and will go to printers in November, after an outside numbering and PDFing thing happens. There was an editing hangup, as usual. Best laid plans, and all that.

It has turned to a cool summer, here, and we are thinking the world has been turned upside down, somehow. Maybe there won't be any snow again, this year. That would be so nice.

We do hope everyone is having a great fall, and do take the time to hit our poll.

Merci,

KJ & DDM