Welcome to Chapter One of Rose Madder.

This chapter is titled “Is That All There Is?”.

And now for something completely different. This little extra strip was originally created for the first incarnation of www.rose-madder.com , back in 2004. Just a little supplement to “Ozymandias” and its inexplicable use of a John Denver song.

Next week: Chapter One begins.

And with this post we come to the end of our prologue.

Again, apologies for the technological anachronisms. This story was completed in 2003. Given the other various historical anachronisms throughout Rose Madder, I decided that leaving them in added to the overall aesthetic. Or something like that.

J.S. Bach actually fathered 20 children, which I first learned from an old vinyl Disney biography record we had around the house. Seven of those 20 births were from his first wife (and cousin) Maria. Of the 20 kids, only ten survived infancy, but a number of them went on to become musicians themselves. So now you know. And knowing is half the battle!

Next week, a little something extra. And in two weeks, Chapter One begins.

Next week’s post marks the end of our prologue chapter. Just another reminder that Chapter One begins, with all-new, all-color material on August 30.

Four weeks and counting: the all-new, first-run Chapter One starts August 30.

Percy Bysshe Shelley.

For anybody who was wondering, “Why is this story named after one of the Watchmen?

Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair.

Continuing 2004’s “Ozymandias”. By the way, the first panel on this page is my favorite in the entire story/chapter.

Anachronistic technology alert: in this modern-day part of the story, you’re going to see some communications technology that might look a little outdated/obsolete by 2010 standards. Keep in mind that this was drawn in 2003, which was a lifetime ago in computer years.

Oh! And, I won’t be at the San Diego Comicon, but my friends at Icecat Books were nice enough to be willing to pass out my promo postcards for Rose Madder. So, if you’re at Nerd Prom anytime this weekend, please check out their booth (#O-05) and get a free postcard!

Entering the final lap of the re-presentation of 2004’s “Ozymandias”. The new material–Chapter 1–will begin on August 30.

And the wise man mentioned above? Howard Stern, IIRC.

Continuing 2004’s “Ozymandias”, the prologue to Rose Madder.

One of the things I enjoyed while making this story was to try to portray ancient Egypt as contemporary and modern, instead of something old and relic-y.  That was the reasoning behind consciously avoiding any depiction of hieroglyphics.

Continuing the manga-style 2004 story “Ozymandias”, re-presented here as the prologue to Rose Madder.