As a user of Apple's soon-to-be-discontinued MobileMe service, I've gotten a number of emails over the last few months encouraging me to upgrade to Mac OS 10.7 (Lion) and switch to iCloud, the service that's replacing MobileMe. Yesterday I finally bit the bullet.

Unfortunately, the upgrade process broke two of my most-used programs and gobbled up several hours of troubleshooting time. In hopes of helping others avoid the same problems, here's what I learned:

How to prevent Lion from eating Final Draft

If you are a Final Draft user, DEACTIVATE your computer's Final Draft program before upgrading to Lion. (Go to the "Help" menu and select "Deactivate"). Your Final Draft license gives you the right to activate two computers to use the program; when you deactivate online in this way, the Final Draft servers keep track and will let you reactivate after you upgrade. If you do NOT deactivate, the upgrade to Lion will wipe out your computer's record of Final Draft activation and you'll have to call the Final Draft service number and type through multiple menus to reactivate manually. (That's what I just finished doing.)

Also, before you upgrade to Lion, go to www.finaldraft.com/install and download the free 8.0.3 upgrade. Previous versions of Final Draft are not compatible with Lion; you'll need this version to run the program.

Lion may kill your email by changing your SpamSieve filter

After I upgraded to Lion, my Mail program apparently would not receive any emails. At first I thought it was just my me.com address. But it was all of my email addresses. I eventually figured out that the Lion upgrade had reset the SpamSieve filter to move ALL incoming emails to the Spam folder. I rescued the missing emails from the Spam folder and disabled the filter.

Mail may not recognize your me.com email password

I'm now receiving me.com mail on my desktop and iPhone, but not on my laptop. For some reason, my laptop's Mail program constantly gives me the error message that my password is incorrect. I've changed the password -- no dice. I still haven't figured this one out. I'm considering deleting my me.com account in that installation of Mail and recreating it, but that seems a bit extreme. If you have any ideas, feel free to ping me on Twitter.

UPDATE: Just solved the last problem! After some searching, I found this thread that suggested changing "Authentication" under the "Advanced" tab for the account from "Password" to "Apple Token." Success!

Get all five issues for five bucks!

Comic book retailers, I'm pretty darn proud of the "Dead Man's Run" series I'm writing for Gale Anne Hurd's Valhalla and Aspen Comics, so I have a deal for you!

For every 10 issues you increase your preorder of "Dead Man's Run" #3 over your preorder of "Dead Man's Run" #2, I'll send you a signed copy of "Dead Man's Run" #2!

And that's not all!

For every 10 issues of "Dead Man's Run" #0, #1, or #2 that you reorder, starting today, I'll send you one signed copy of "Dead Man's Run" #2!

Because of shipping issues, the deal is open only to the US and Canada, alas.

Email vm at pakbuzz dot com with your store's name and address and tell me how many issues you've increased your order, and I'll hook you up!

First come first served -- I have a big stack of comics here and will send 'em out until there aren't any left.

Click here to check it out!

"Tony Parker’s artwork is great, Greg Pak introduces a unique and well written concept, with a smooth transition and pacing between issues, thus far. This mini-series is doing a great job of being unique in a world of reused ideas, and not only that, it’s very well executed." -- DigitalNoob

"There aren’t many writers attempting something this grandiose and Greg Pak is one of the few you seem to be able to pull it off." -- Chuck Suffel

And ask your local shop to hold a copy for you today!

And click here for a three page lettered preview!

Click here for more details.

By Greg Pak

I told you last month how proud I am of "Red Skull Incarnate," a historically accurate comic book miniseries that tells the story of a boy who becomes a monster as Weimar Germany collapses and the Nazis seize power.

I also intimated I'd promote the book shamelessly. Well, the collected trade paperback came out today, and I've come up with a crazy idea to get this book into the hands of some more people and maybe raise some money for charity at the same time.

Cover artist David Aja, interior artist Mirko Colak, colorist Matt Wilson, letterer Clayton Cowles, and editor Alejandro Arbona did incredibly amazing work on this book, and I'd love for them to have a shot at various upcoming comics industry awards.

So if you're a comics professional who hasn't read the book but plans to vote for awards like the Harveys and Eagles, please email me at vm at pakbuzz dot com . I will send a bunch of trade paperbacks of "Red Skull Incarnate" out into the world (alas, US mailing addresses only), each with a bundle of stamped envelopes. So you can read the book, then use one of the envelopes to mail it to another industry friend you think might enjoy it. And so on and so on.

Finally, I'll include a blank comic book backing board in the packet. Everyone who reads the book is encouraged to sign the backing board -- and do a quick sketch, if you're so inclined. The last envelope will be addressed to me. When I get the book and signed card back, I'll auction them off on eBay with the proceeds going to a charity like Doctors Without Borders.

Sounds crazy, huh? That's because it is! Let's see if it works!

Looking forward to hearing from you.

By Greg Pak

The "Red Skull Incarnate" collected trade paperback hits stores this Wednesday, and I really hope you'll consider picking it up. The book tells the historically accurate story of a boy turning into a monster as Germany's Weimar Republic collapses and the Nazis rise to power. Artist Mirko Colak, cover artist David Aja, colorist Matt Wilson, letterer Clayton Cowles, and editor Alejandro Arbona poured their hearts into the book and it's one of my proudest Marvel comics productions.

The collected trade includes extensive footnotes to show historical sources and help interested readers find suggestions for more exploration into the time period.

iFanboy has featured the book in this week's Don't Miss Podcast.

Splinter Comics has a great, thoughtful, extensive review (warning: some spoilers!)

Ask your local shop to hold a copy for you today.

Or you can preorder at Amazon.

Also out this Wednesday, Pak's "Astonishing X-Men" #46. Check out the preview, which includes the untold history of an alternate universe you've never seen before.

I did a few events and podcasts over the last few weeks. Check 'em out!

Fanboy Planet -- focussing on "Red Skull Incarnate"

Comic Book Club

Fanboy Buzz

Word Balloon

"... great writing and fantastic art. Will Sam make it out of Hell? I have no idea, but I’m hooked on this book until I find out and that's why its so damn good."
-- Comic Bastards

"Dead Man's Run" #1, a jailbreak from Hell story written by Greg Pak with art by Tony Parker, hit stores Wednesday and has scored a slew of rave reviews. A few excerpts:

"'Dead Man’s Run' is a strangely fun comic. It’s easy to be swept up and away in the rushing narrative of a hellbound heist looking to change direction."
-- Ryan Lindsay, Comic Book Resources

"It's a clever concept and the series opens with quite a bang."
-- Brian Cronin, Comics Should Be Good

"That's what I call a great start!"
-- Chuck's Comic of the Day

"Pak has pictured the land of eternal damnation as a giant prison, which is a brilliant idea. That in and of itself would make this comic worth reading. But Pak adds to the idea, by showing that it's a prison rife with corruption and problems, where anyone who gets there can use their evil nature to survive, and perhaps even thrive."
-- Panel Patter

"I would very much enjoy seeing the property eventually hit the screen."
-- Ain't It Cool News

"I have to say that I really find the idea of Hell - or at least the tip of that particular flaming iceberg - as a processing facility for the dead and guilty to be a very interesting concept and it allows Pak to play with and warp the general tropes associated with prison thrillers to fit the themes of judgement and punishment that are associated with the underworld. There are the threatening grins, the concealed shivs and knives associated with many works of fiction surrounding incarceration but also the involvement of demon-like guards and the feeding upon souls that you’ll find in horror works and Pak brings it all together brilliantly."
-- Paradox Comics Group

"Greg Pak does a great job of creating an atmosphere full of danger and violence without ever depleting the mystery of where the story is going. Tony Parker’s artwork is sweet on the eyes, vibrant and edgy."
-- Nerds in Babeland

"I am so excited to see where Pak is going with this."
-- Alternative Mindz

I helped judge Press Play's VERTIGOED contest, in which entrants combined Bernard Herrmann's brilliant "Vertigo" score with unexpected movies. Check out the winners!

And here's a direct link to my fave, William D'Annucci's "Alien," which made me care about the alien for the first time ever. Amazing stuff.

ALIEN "Vertigoed" from William D'Annucci on Vimeo.

The graphic novel also includes historical notes and pointers, even adding a section to use the story as a text book. It's more than just a comic book, I should say. It allows us to see the monstrous side of humanity by using something familiar to us.

Read on for the next chunk of Chapter Three, written last night, followed by some notes-to-self. WARNING: Some adult language!

CHAPTER THREE (continued)

When Rima awoke, night had fallen and the cat was sitting on her chest, purring and kneading with its eyes nearly shut and its fat cheeks pulled up into something as close to a smile as she'd ever seen on an actual flesh-and-blood feline.

Rima felt great. Rested and refreshed and utterly alert. She put her arms around the cat and sat up, stroking its chin as she looked around.