I WON!
Holy crap, I won! – COMIC BOOK CHALLENGE 2006 - I actually found out around 3am or so here, then went to bed after being on the phone with relatives and friends until 5am. I have to thank everyone who voted and supported me with this thing. It’s all been a very humbling and thought provoking experience for me.
Most of all, I want to think Devin (9) and Dillon (8), my oldest sons, who ALWAYS wanted to see HERO BY NIGHT ever since I created him for them a couple years ago. I’ll thank Dakota too (age 5) for keeping me grounded and saying “No one cares about your stinking ring, dad!”
Really though, there was a weird moment when I was nervous and memorizing my pitch, boiling alll of it down to the nuts and bolts of what made it work— My son Devin, who is WAY into World War 2 and army stuff, read the 11×17 pitch sheet, and said to me….
“Dad, if you lose will you still make this comic?”
It was then that something weird inside happened and any kind of nerves or stress melted away. KIDS wanted to read this thing. KIDS wanted that ring. MY KIDS wanted that ring… they wanted to READ THIS COMIC. KIDS! THE KIDS!!!!! No one knows how much that meant to me inside, but I took that with me. So, thanks to my boys, even the little red head who tells me I suck. (he’ll come around!)
Everyone who voted– HOLY COW! All the friends and family voting and getting the word out, THANKS!!! We had people in communities from around the world and I want to thank them all, Digital Webbing Crew! Comixpedia and my webcomic peeps! My Boxcar Comics hobos! A-list bloggers like Robert Scoble, Jennifer Harr at the local Newspaper for a GREAT write up– The bendis board, Jen Contino at the PULSE comic news service— ON AND ON! Heck, I had all the CRAPVILLE.com people rooting for me, as well as the two big Pearl Jam fan community forums…. WOW. THANK YOU ALL!!!
AND MOST OF ALL….. Thank you to the Yir-Army. YIRMUMAH has really changed my life. Through the work, through you guys, and I’ll NEVER forget it. I made the vow to draw YIRMUMAH until I’m dead, and i still mean it. So, don’t expect me to be slacking off here, but don’t worry about me burning out either… you can’t burn out when you’re doing something you love and feel you were made to do! (You can take a nap every now and then though. Which I will do at some point)
And my wife… dudes… my wife. We’ve been together 10 years. We’ve done a lot of growing up together, and she probably knows as much as I do about comics because of all the gabbing I did for years and wouldnt shut up about comics. She really has been there through thick and thin. It feels great to have a PARTNER and someone I can rely on when stuff goes down and I only have a few days to travel 3000 miles.
I’m such a lucky guy. I have a beautiful wife, great kids, great fans…. wow. CLoud nine right now, guys.
This is sounding like a gay exceptance speech right about now, so I’m gonna cut it out. Never in a million years did I think I would be back to doing a HERO comic. I had given up on mainstream comics or that dream I had when I was 16-19… I had become content that I would likely never be the next Jack Kirby, even quietly— but now I get to draw a FULL ON SUPER HERO epic! This is so wild. I really really can’t wait to get started– so I’m off to work on things now.
Wow, you think I’d won the lottery and people are coming out of the woodwork to congratulate me— thanks everyone
July 24th, 2006 at 11:03 am
Congratulations! You won, you deserve it, but I can’t help but having a glowing feeling that the webcomic community won with you, as well. Well done, sir. Well done.
July 24th, 2006 at 11:09 am
Definitly Steve! Man, I don’t know how things will roll now, but I’d like to revolutionize me some COMIC BOOKS now and really integrate webcomics into the fold.
July 24th, 2006 at 11:21 am
Congrats, man. You deserve it. For webcomic enthusiasts this is a golden time. PvP gets an Eisner, you win a high-profile challenge like this… Good times, good times.
July 24th, 2006 at 11:29 am
Congrats DJ!
There’s not a more deserving artist.
Soooooooo…….
Can pre-order 10 copies of HBN #1 now?
Club Yirmumah
JOIN IT!!!!!!!!!!!
July 24th, 2006 at 11:31 am
congratulations dj!
i voted for your comic withouth even know it was yours, so that means a lot!
July 24th, 2006 at 11:52 am
Congrats DJ!
I cant wait to read the finished product!
July 24th, 2006 at 12:11 pm
FART!
July 24th, 2006 at 12:14 pm
Couldn’t've happened to a better guy. Congratulations, dude. I will be celebrating for you with copious amounts of Jack & Coke.
July 24th, 2006 at 12:51 pm
DJ,
Way to go! Like you said, though: You weren’t the underdog. That one was yours to lose. And what’s more is you have a supportive and loving family to share it with. That rules!
This comic will actually drag me back into a comic shop for the first time in 10 years…unless I can order it online.
Congratulations!
July 24th, 2006 at 12:53 pm
I never doubted for a second that you wouldn’t TAKE THIS DJ!!!! Congrats Man!
YIR-ARMY 4 EVER!!
July 24th, 2006 at 12:54 pm
[…] Details here and here. Good luck with the book, DJ, and make sure you have fun with it. […]
July 24th, 2006 at 1:59 pm
Awesome. Good Job to you and to everyone that voted for you. I told my friends that I was backing a winning horse when I was paying for the sponsor slot. Thanks for making those words true. Love your art and your storytelling.
Don’t forget about us when you are in your Gold Mansion on your Silver space station of Money.
July 24th, 2006 at 2:51 pm
Congratz DJ, good to see your comic book writer career taking off like this. Very proud, I believe you are one of the hardest working and most talented guys (atleast) in (web)comics, and deserve everything you get!
July 24th, 2006 at 2:52 pm
FANTASTIC RESULT! Congratulations man, you definately deserve it!!!
July 24th, 2006 at 2:54 pm
Oh yeah! Woohoo!!!!! I’m so happy for you, DJ! Now go forth and continue to kick mas booty.
July 24th, 2006 at 3:27 pm
WAY to go DJ!
BlueInDenver
July 24th, 2006 at 3:51 pm
Is it out yet? Is it out yet? Is it out yet? Is it out yet? Is it out yet? Is it out yet? Is it out yet?
Congrats man.
July 24th, 2006 at 4:31 pm
Congratulations, DJ! It’s always great to see the good guy win.
July 24th, 2006 at 4:46 pm
Off course you did ….
Now wake Up and get some drawings done… your fanclub needs ya…
tally ho…
(congrats)
WaveX
From Belgium, possibly the Belgium with the most yir-fans…
July 24th, 2006 at 5:18 pm
[…] As reported by.. well everyone DJ Coffman of the Comic Yirmumah has won The Comic Book Challenge sponsored by Platinum Studios and the local NBC station in San Diego. “I think I saw the press release on THE PULSE,” Coffman said of the contest. “I entered on a whim. I had the superhero idea for Hero By Night in the back of my head and figured that might be what they were looking for. I didn’t think I’d get picked. I found out I was a finalist last Wednesday night and had seven days to get out to the San Diego Comic-Con. I spent all my savings to get out to San Diego Comic-Con.” […]
July 24th, 2006 at 5:19 pm
Great News. I look forward to seeing it on the shelf!
July 24th, 2006 at 5:47 pm
Congratulations, DJ!
July 24th, 2006 at 6:00 pm
DJ good to see you taking the gold in this, can’t wait for Hero By Night, and all the Merch that will likely be associated with it :D, soon H-rings will be flooding comic stores and toy stores, and then maybe an animated series to be topped off by being the latest comic-book-movie. congrats man you deserved this
July 24th, 2006 at 6:21 pm
CONGRATS, DJ!! Awesome, man. I’m so glad you and your work are finally getting the big-time recognition that’s always been deserved.
July 24th, 2006 at 7:06 pm
I still want that autographed first issue.CONGRATS!
Mark.
July 24th, 2006 at 7:39 pm
DJ: Congrats again. We’re thrilled to be working with you!!!
July 24th, 2006 at 8:43 pm
Scott!! The feeling is mutual! This whole thing was run so great, I’d love to take part in another one in some capacity–
July 24th, 2006 at 9:01 pm
I don’t comment much, but I had to come on and congratulate you. I’ve been reading this comic and your blogs so long, it feels like one of my own family has finally made good (not that you weren’t in the first place, but this is another level). I wanna grab your head under my arm and noogie you saying,”ATTA BOY, DEEJ!!!”
You deserve it, Bro.
Ben
July 24th, 2006 at 11:01 pm
Congratulations! To clarify, while I voted for you, I did feel you had the best entry of the three.
It’s “acceptance,” not “exceptance,” by the way. ;D I only mention it because I know it can’t take Cloud Nine away from you.
July 24th, 2006 at 11:12 pm
See– that right there is why I need a good editor from Platinum before I write my comic! hahahah
July 25th, 2006 at 1:40 am
DJ,
Awesome, dude! Just awesome! Congratulations! I can’t wait for HBN #1!
July 25th, 2006 at 2:27 am
You da’ man DJ.
You deserve it and I’m happy as hell to have seen it happen.
Deep, heartfelt congratulations to you sir..