TRUE STORY - TOM BELAND ON MOVING TO IMAGE

[MattBrady]

by Benjamin Ong Pang Kean

According to Chicago-born creator and California resident Tom Beland, it’s true that his autobiographical comic book, True Story, Swear To God, is moving to Image Comics this September.

The first TSSTG strip debuted in 1995 and Beland’s self-published the comics through Clib's Boy Comics. “I was beginning to experience some burnout, as far as all the business sides of publishing TSSTG and I was curious if [Image] would be interested in publishing the title, so I sent the Erics [Erik Larsen and Eric Stephenson] copies of my work and asked them if they'd like to carry it. It took a bit of time, but then they called and told me they'd like to do so and, well, after I got up off the floor, we began talks,” Beland explained to Newsarama about the move to Image.

“They're really easy to talk to, really laid back and when you go to their offices, it's quite a welcome feeling there. The talks went back and forth and I kept waiting for them to say "oh, that Tom Beland... no, we can't use him..." but they never did. It was very cool.”

For those who've been missing out on the series, Beland provided a Cliff's Note version of the story so far. “I met a woman [Lily Garcia] at a bus stop in Disneyworld. She was from Puerto Rico and I was from Napa Valley. We hit it off and began a long-distance relationship for a year, with a category-5 hurricane thrown into the mix. I moved to the island to live with her and she's convinced me to try to make my own comics. That's pretty much where the story is right now.

“I have three trades with AiT/PlanetLar.... Chances Are, which collects issues #1-4, This One Goes To 11, which carries #5-11 and 100 Stories, which carries the comic strips of TSSTG (which is how TSSTG began). This One Goes To 11 is the final AiT book, because I want my books to be in book stores, as well as comic shops and this is an area where the company and I can't get together on.

“Sales on Chances Are were great, but not the same with the other two. I'm not sure if this is based on how much they put the work out there, or how tough it's been for retailers to find the books, but it's been a battle I'm not willing to fight anymore. If I do a third trade with them, I'd be fighting the same fights and I'm done with that.”

That said, Beland confessed that while he is happy to see TSSTG collections and trades in stores, he would like to do a monthly TSSTG series. And this is where Image comes into the picture. “I think what I love doing is making comics. What I don’t love doing is dealing with the Diamond Previews stuff, the orders, the billings, etc. This takes a huge load off my plate and allows me to just focus on the comics. Plus, I have to tell you all... it's going to be insane to see the logo of a comics company the size of Image on the cover of a book I create.

“As far as why Image and not AiT... AiT only makes collections or books, not floppies and I love floppies.”

He did add that “Image is very interested in making one huge Essential-style trade paperback and they're still looking into it.”

This year, TSSTG has been nominated for two Eisner awards (for “Best Continuing Series” and “Best Reality-Based Work”). And the series is re-starting with a new #1 under the Image banner. Perfect jumping on point for new readers? You betcha! Just don’t expect “One Year Later”-type stories, though. “[The new series]'ll take place right in with the current continuity,” Beland said. “The first issue will feature me finally getting people to pay me for past-due accounts. Future issues will revolve around Lily shaving her head and how it freaked out her mother... Lily's trip to India, which she'll be doing a lot of writing on... 9/11 features prominently on our lives for a number of reasons and one issue will focus on that.... some of the travels we've experienced together. Lots of good stuff.

“You have to remember that issues #1-17 of my own run has dealt with only the first year we've been together... out of a nine-year relationship. So, there are lots of stories left to tell.”

However, it’s public knowledge that Beland and Garcia are no longer husband and wife these days. “Right now, everyone's talking about my recent divorce with Lily, but they all have to understand that she and I are still the greatest of friends and talk two, three times a day. Also, I have no idea what the future holds for this relationship, so the book won't have any idea either. People who claim that the series is officially over amaze me. It's based on my life, who's to say what is over?”

[tiso_spencer]

Sounds interesting.

[AlexLothos]

Congrats again, Tom! Great to hear more details on the move and the reasons behind it. Good luck on getting the huge Essential-style trade paperback. Bring on more TSSTG!!!

[jza1218]

Congrats Tom. Can't wait to see you do more Marvel work too. I loved your Spider-Man story

[Cupelix]

I've never read this book, but it's title is absolutely one of my favorites for a work of non-fiction.

[Twigglet]

Congrats Tom, I can't wait to pick this book up

Your Marvel stuff has rocked as well, hope you get to write more Spide-rman soon

[DiManna1]

Did AiT quit with the floppies after Demo?

[Josh R.]

Tom's books are available in fine bookstores everywhere, as well as from fine comics stores with these order codes. TSSTG trades (Volume One, CHANCES ARE... DEC022403; Volume Two, THIS ONE GOES TO ELEVEN MAR05 2503; and the strip collection, 100 STORIES, MAR042166) are and will be available from AiT for years to come!

So after posting this up, I'm going back to putting together the preview for our September book, ROCK BOTTOM. It's written by Joe Casey, and drawn by Charlie Adlard, and lettered by me!

[Hanky Panky]

Congratulations Tom! Image has proven itself to be a prominent and supportive company of independents for many years now. You have only elevated your status of this book by working with Image, not to mention seeing more profitable results of your hard work.

Looking forward to your monthly run!

[Derrick Fish]

"True Story, Swear to God" is one of my all time favorite reads. It's a wonderfully funny, real heartfelt story without ever falling into false sentimentality or the angsty melodrama that autobiographical comics tend to wallow in. I can't praise this comic highly enough.

[ticknart]

This has been one of my favorite books for a while. I hope that going through Image encourages many others out there to pick it up.

Congrats, Tom, and good luck.

[toolverine]

I'm pretty sure that Tom now lives in Puerto Rico. Other than that, TSSTG is a great book and Tom is a great guy in person.

[c_andrew_s]

This is the best book; I would love to see this comic distributed at places like Urban Outfitter.

I met Tom and Lily at SPX several years ago. He was feeling ill, and hadn't gotten to go to the comic shop to pick-up Issue #1 of the JLA/Avengers crossover. I promptly gave him my copy and he and Lily give me a gift card set. They are wonderful people, and I wish the best for both of them. I later had the opportunity to have Tom as a guest on my podcast last summer.

[Josh R.]

Originally Posted by DiManna1

Did AiT quit with the floppies after Demo?

Well, you know, numbers on Demo wern't that great so....

Ha! Who am I kidding? Of course AiT rocks the floppies. We rock them hard. This last March saw the release of Sky Ape: King of Girls and coming soon is The Black Diamond, a six-issue mini series written by Larry with art by Jon Proctor (Gun Theory, What If: Wolverine).

Plus, that first Black Diamond issue features a backup written by myself and drawn by my long time friend and recent Kubert School graduate, Steve McBride. Steve's coming over Thursday with the art to scan, and I can't wait to see it!

[Gary Dunaier]

Everybody who knows me knows how much I love TSSTG, so I'm happy for Tom's success.

I just hope the sales on the Image #1 will be strong enough to make the re-numbering worth it to Tom. In the current Comics Journal (#276, June 2006), Terry Moore points out a consequence arising from his Strangers In Paradise going through not two, but three volumes:

Dirk Deppey: "You recently announced that you're going to be bringing the series to a conclusion sometime in the next year . . . are you going for a specific issue number, which will be the last one?

Terry Moore: "Issue 90. Because I have three volumes, I've messed up my numbering. I can't enjoy the fact that I have a hundredth issue, because issue 83 is actually my hundredth issue. I just decided I'd end on 90, and that times out well."

However, when all is said and done, it's not the number on the cover but the words and the pictures on the inside that count.



(Still... if it's not too late, Tom, maybe you can consider a dual numbering, like what Bob Burden does with Flaming Carrot. )

[Midas]

I met Tom at Wondercon this year and he's a great guy and TSSTG is a great comic. His move to Image was in the works back then and I'm glad to see it's finally official. Hadn't heard about the divorce, but frankly that makes the story all the more interesting. Looking forward to a long and successful run.

[Gail Simone]

Issue after issue, one of the best comics published anywhere, and living, vital proof of the depth of the form.

You rock, Tom!

Gail

[TomBeland62]

Originally Posted by Josh R.

Tom's books are available in fine bookstores everywhere, as well as from fine comics stores with these order codes. TSSTG trades (Volume One, CHANCES ARE... DEC022403; Volume Two, THIS ONE GOES TO ELEVEN MAR05 2503; and the strip collection, 100 STORIES, MAR042166) are and will be available from AiT for years to come!

So after posting this up, I'm going back to putting together the preview for our September book, ROCK BOTTOM. It's written by Joe Casey, and drawn by Charlie Adlard, and lettered by me!

In regards to Larry's quote where he said "Tell Tom that this is what happens when you don't call Mimi back." I'd also advise Larry that this is the feeling an artist/writer gets when you cannot contact the man who RUNS the publishing company because he screens his calls.

Now, with regards to my books being in finer bookstores everywhere..? Well, I can't find them at Barnes & Noble, can't find them at Boarders, can't go down the street to my local bookstores who've tried to order them from Ingrahm and they keep saying they're out of stock and have been so for ages. Other stores who can find them keep saying it's slow to get.

I've contact both of you about this problem and I'm constantly told "what store did you talk to?" Then, when I say who they are, there's no response.

If I can FIND my books everywhere... what's the deal with my checks averaging $70 per fiscal quarter? I'm having trouble wrapping my head around that one.

Hey, I'll always be grateful for AiT making my first trades, as I've stated several times before. But when I have a full page ad on the back of my books, telling them how to get the trades, pricing and ordering codes... and stores STILL have a problem getting the books, I should have better answers. That's been the spot of my angst and my constant head banging against the wall. I never get that answer.

Just adding my two-cents. I was asked a question in an interview and I answered it. If Larry's going to give a quote, don't yank it out of the thread two nano-seconds later.

To everyone else, thanks for the support, I appreciate it. I'm going to talk with Image about the numbering system, I think you've made some great points on that.

New issue comes out in late July, then we go monthly in September!! See y'all then!

[TomBeland62]

Originally Posted by Gail Simone

Issue after issue, one of the best comics published anywhere, and living, vital proof of the depth of the form.

You rock, Tom!

Gail

Not one-eighth as much as you rock. I've got my niece hooked on Biirds of Prey and now she wants to know when I go to the comics shop next. Pretty big in my book.

Are you going to San Diego?

[Gail Simone]

Ab-so-lutely. And I'll bring some books for your niece.

Good luck on everything, hope it all works out for the best!

Gail

[Posco]

This is really an outstanding series.

I read it before I started a long distance relationship and was impressed even then by the very convincing characterizations. Now with the added personal experience of being in a long distance relationship, having married that person in May and now facing the prospect of having to move to another nation I can definitely say that True Story is really a true story - events & characterizations sound true. True story is one of the great autobiographical comics ever. Everyone can relate to the characters and stories despicted in there - no need to have a similar personal experience - like I said I loved the book even before that.

The series is also one of those rare titles you can really give a non comic book person to read. And not only to a certain demographic. This is one of the very few titles I would have no hesistation to give to my mother (in her late 50ies) for example.

The potential appeal to the "normal" buying public (which the title is geared to way more than the typical comic shop frequenting superhero fan) makes it really understandable that Tony Beland moves to another publisher in the hopes of bookstore sales. Right now this really doesn´t seem to work at all. A few month ago I wanted to get the tradepaperbacks to my now-wife as a special present. Since I didn´t want to order them as a backlist item through my comicbook store since that would have meant getting them mailed from the US to Germany only to then send them back to the US where she lives. So I asked her relatives to order the books through a US bookstore for me. They weren´t able to. So better bookstore distribution really seems to be needed. Hopefully Image will be able to do that.

And naturally I would love an Essential type of book. The title would still make a wonderful gift after all.

[Jeremy Holstein]

Go Tom! Anything that can bring True Stories out on a more frequent basis is a good thing.

And I second the Marvel/Spidey comment. Really enjoyed that book.

[Gary Dunaier]

Originally Posted by TomBeland62

I'm going to talk with Image about the numbering system, I think you've made some great points on that.

[Keith Knight "Life's Little Victories" mode ON]

YES!

[Keith Knight "Life's Little Victories" mode OFF]