The most populated country in the world can now share all the love, creativity, art, collaborative efforts, and dick jokes as one. This is a big step for Newgrounds, but more importantly, Chinese history!

-HVH

First off,

I'd like to thank those who helped out my little starting business by purchasing the "One Shot" comic book collaborative project.

However, It's felt a little mysterious. I guess I'm used to the Newgrounds system in that I instantly receive feedback through reviews. I would like for those who purchased to write a review of it. Give me an idea of what you thought as a first issue for ODD Comics. This way I can make sure the next one is better.

So go ahead, spill the beans below.
-HVH

Check it out! It's done! Finished! Complete! And ready for you to get your hands on them while supplies last!

ARTISTS:

Alex Warble: cover
Julio C. Lopes
Kevin Barrios
Jose Ortiz
Chris Gianelloni
Diana Laino
Dan Berry
Nathan Malone
Oscar Diaz
Luis Castanon
Hans Van Harken
Nathanial Milburn
Michael Swain
Steven Bryant
Alyssa Zevallos
Tyler Naugle
Ola Olsen Lysgaard
Jarred JohnsonTyler Copes
Richard Sun
Corey Griffin
Vincent Charrot
Joe Sparrow
Ansel Matson Lies

Reviews have spilled! Artists all over say "YOU GOT ONE SHOT TO GET 'ONE SHOT'!"

read the following!

"I never thought it'd be the day I'd find so many artists all surpass me in every art skill I contain in just one book. I'm gonna off myself, Mates!"
-Adam Philips

"I didn't think that German Fag would actually finish, Mate."
-Ross O'Donnavan

"WWWOOOOAAAAAGGGHRGHVDVJDBVHDV"
-Egoraptor

"boo. no entiendo el ingles."
-Luis

"I'm buying one cause I want to have the pleasure of shooting something as close to inhumanly cool as this."
-Krinkels

-Tomamoto
"yeh..."

"fuck off Hans"
-Stamper

and best of all, the picture below shows that RTIL and KIRBOPHER approve!

'One Shot' is ODD Comics' first issue. It is a collaborative piece involving over 20 artists, most of them from the Newgrounds community. I just finished sending each artist who contributed [and provided me their mailing info] their own free copy and send a box-load of them to Tom Fulp to sell in the NG store.

This box contains the first 50 copies of the first issue, each of these 50 stamped with the ODD Comics seal in black ink by hand. I put lots of care into these things, put them in plastic, stamped the protective cardboard, slipped it in, taped it shut. multiply that process by 100. I'm very excited and thankful for Tom's generous help with these comics. We'll all see where this goes.

-HVH

Gamer Tag: AlmightyHans

Games: Castle Crashers, Halo 2, Left 4 Dead, Elder Scrolls Oblivion.

befriend me xbox-wise and feel free to kick my ass.

Hi everyone!

-Let me start off by saying [that i really like your form] that I haven't been online this week because I'm in the middle of moving. Moving from Emeryville (Pixar Land) to Kensington, just north of Berkeley California. It's a really nice place and i love the neighborhood. So I've been scrambling about moving stuff left and right. And I am really happy to have been chosen for this. It's a fun opportunity.

-Second, I finally own an Xbox 360. A Nintendo 64 is awesome, don't get me wrong. But after having only that for basically 2 years, and playing it on a shitty little flickery fuzzy screen... it gets old. I bought myself a nice 20 incher and my Xbox 360 and a copy of Left 4 Dead which I find to be a very special game. Simply because it's right on the edge of being plain repetitive, but isn't. I'll review that fully later.

-In other news, Tom made me a Judge for the 2008 NG Tank Awards, just in case you didn't catch that. So I'm dissecting away at all the nominations. Also, thanks to whoever wrote my description in the Judge list. :3 whatta shwell guy.

-Best for Last! I received the 100 copies of 'One Shot' Comic books, and with some of the corrections I made, they look sweller than ever. I even bought plastic cases and cardboard fillers so that the issue you buy will be clean, crisp, and in tact.

I have an idea of making an official stamp to press on the back of the cardboard inside the plastic making an "Odd Comics Seal of Original Print" logo. Tell me what you guys think. Would that be a good idea? It would require waiting a bit more to buy in the store because I need to make the stamp. But it could be a really cool addition to your purchase.

Here's a picture of me being glorified by the Godly aura of the box full of books:

"Good-bye Great Britain, Hello San Fag-cisco."

That's right, I arrived yesterday from what has to be a fantastic week of my life. Every London Meet just gets better and better. Thanks Lu. As totally fucking sweet it was hanging out with some old NGers (or N****rs), I have to say it was equally cool meeting new friends. It was a fun mixture of drinking, brainstorming, drawing, walking, drinking, talking, and Newgrounds. But what else is new with the NG meet-ups?

Most of the staff I had already seen at comic con, briefly though. Tim and Rob were two n00bies to my 'list of people I know' library. Although I didn't get to spend as much time with Tim (besides watching shape movies in Luis' bedroom), Rob I got to talk to quite a bit, and I can say he's the definition of 'Cool Person'. So being that he's the newest edition to the NG staff from what I recollect, let's give him a nice uber delayed welcome.

One of my favorite nights was the Karayoke Bar. Not only did we get to experience Tom Fulp shake his ass for Luka's camera to a funky song I can't remember the name of now, but I managed to make an ass of myself and Butcher the o' so glorious song 'Piano Man' by Billy Joel.

It was really hard for me to say good-bye that last day, after spending some time at the sports bar in the very loud Eagles/Cardinals game, Me, Nogfish, Sqeezy, Tom Vian, Rob, NegativeOne, Luis' sister and a couple others headed out for a more quiet pub and I had my last drink before meeting up with my uncle. It's hard saying good-bye to such good people. Especially when I know coming back home to California I got no friends waiting.

The day before I left I walked all around London, and I mean ALL around. It was beautiful, I sure am going to miss that place. Now I'm back home, and I've decided to have fresh start. Today is my new year, the 'official' start of it at least. A number of things really. My family and I are moving to a new house, not a small crammed apartment, a decent one in Berkeley. I'm getting this Comic book thing going because Tom Fulp gave me the green light on selling them in the NG store. I'm getting a new job, and a handful of projects.

And to really give myself a 'fresh start' feeling. I shaved my head.

oh btw, my old header with jesus tearing himself out of the cross was all sarcasm, I'm not really religious.

Hello people,

Calling from London! Just dropping off a message that Tom Mogly pinched me nipple last night. The following picture consists of Hans' nipple and Tom Mogly's fancy fingers.

Let me know how fetishy it is.

-Hans :3

p.s. our flat is purple.

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go.

Tomorrow, Jan.13.08 I leave for London. I arrive 11:00am Jan.14.08 though. There I will meet up with Luis Castanon, Tyler Naugle and Michael Swain and I dunno who else, to head over to the flat and have yet another swell week with some pints and friends. I come back Jan.21.08. We'll probably put up the 'NG stickam' throughout the week, so keep yourself updated on the Forums if you're at all interested to be jealous of our fun times and somehow cyberly be there.

Before I go I wanted to point out that this post I made is very important so that I get everyone's address to send the artists who participated their own rightful copy. If you know any of these people tell them to read this post. If not, spread the word so that I can get their info. I'll be shipping the copies when I come back from the NG London Meet.

Also, I made a post about all these protests against Israel's attacks on Gaza, if you're at al interested, I'd like to know your feedback of my little story.

I can't really think of much else to say except.
-HVH

I was riding the 'Bart' (train) to spend a day in the city. And while on there sitting in front of me were a couple of middle-aged women holding picket signs on their way to a protest against Israel's attack on the Gaza Strip. Some african american homeless drunkard asked about their signs and the middle aged women responded saying that what Israel was doing to the people of Gaza was a 'homicide' and a 'massacre'. A large and humble looking woman sitting next tom me opposed her beliefs, saying that Israel's actions are only reactions to the numerous attacks they've received from people of Gaza. More people joined in the fun of argument and I quietly observed what their beliefs and reasons were. Most of them demonizing Israel. At some point, the Gaza sided majority of the people cornered themselves with their points and constantly humiliating this woman with a different opinion. And the following words spilled out of one of the middle-aged, sign wielding broads:

"Your opinion is a minority now!"

I couldn't contain myself and spoke out, responding with.

"That doesn't mean you're right."

There was a silence span of about 5 seconds in everyone who was arguing and listening. That silence was broken by the same middle-aged woman.

"Yes it does!" [I died a little inside, seeing how ridiculous people can be.]
She continued...
"Israel is supplied with more guns, missiles, and weapons than Gaza. It's unfair for Israel to attack them. We're rooting for 'the little guy'."

I replied.

"Equalizing the fight isn't going to stop it. That will only make the endless pendulum of war continue."

Anyways. I kinda went back to listening mode because there was no use trying to let these people realize that in war there is no hero team and villain team, there's just two sides of the coin. And being extreme about it is no where near fixing the problem. It's just throwing more wood to the fire. That's what fuels wars, two extreme opposing sides. These people's demands were for Israel to basically give in. But once they give in, the Gaza will take over Israel, then Israel will be the victims, etc. Again, pendulum.

I believe that the root of the problem is the United States. Simply because in the 1950's the world felt sorry for the Jews because they were victims. The Jews said that their reason for being persecuted was because they had no home country. So the U.S. did them a favor and pushed aside some Middle eastern countries (literally) to make room for Israel, which happened to be located in the dead center of 3 different religion's promised land.

Now, people are saying it was unfair for the Jews to have 'taken' that land. I put 'taken' in quotations because it wasn't stolen, it was negotiated by the oh so great U.N. Asking for the Jews to leave now is like some prick telling you to get out of the house you reasonably moved into because it was their great great grandfather's. So kicking the Jews out is not a solution. Period. The only solution is the one that should have been known had to be dealt with one way or another when this settlement was made. Like a pack of stray dogs over an old box of chinese food in a dark alley, fight for it.

I have an Israeli friend who was nearly killed and lost a few people close to his family because of suicide bombers in Tel Aviv. His brother is in the Israeli army and has to patrol the wall that divides Israel from Gaza and kills numerous approaching attackers every other week. So these people who complain about Israel mercilessly attacking Gaza have no idea what they are talking about. Because for all I know, Israel has been dealing with the situation very politically correct, but more importantly, defensive. While Gaza has been nothing but offensive. Like in basketball, a good defense makes a good offense.

Israel is protecting their home, however it is they might have gotten it. It sickens me how people are demonizing them. It shows how there aren't villains, they are picked, picked by radicals who have nothing better to do.

At the protest I walked by and saw a bunch of people with the israeli flag, and replacing the Star of David was a Nazi Swastika. It sickened me how people lost touch of that symbol so much that they had the guts to misuse it like so. That symbol was the epitome of how humans live among and believe in the biggest contradictions.

Sad, but true. America forgets that the majority of the U.S. voted for the war 'Against Terror" at first. Maybe they regret it now. But their first impulse was to bite back after 9-11. Israel is just doing just the same, biting back. Except they are biting back to truly protect their home. Because the little guys, which people forget, are the Israelis. doesn't matter how many missiles and Jets they have. Israel is a cowboy cut steak in a pit of starving angry bums.

I believe that these people's protests are just their own way for shouting at their insecurity for ever deciding to go into the Iraq War. Israel just fits the mold.

The large and humble looking woman said something to me that I will never forget. And today it never felt more apparent.

"The radicals have taken over."

-HVH