---

MANSFIELD - From a comic book fan's perspective, Jason Burns has joined the Justice League of America.

After collecting comic books for years, Burns has 30 tales of his own creation due out over the next year - including about eight new titles by July.

And he's a guest at comic book conventions nationwide including ones this weekend in Boston, next month in New York, and in San Diego in July.

The New York and San Diego shows are among the biggest of the comics convention season.

Burns, a Mansfield resident who grew up in North Attleboro, will be autographing copies of "A Dummy's Guide to Danger: Lost at Sea," issue one of a four-issue Viper Comics mini-series, during the Boston Comic Con, which runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 16 at the Back Bay Events Center. Joe Eisma, the artist for the mini-series, will also be signing.

Burns' fans may be surprised to see him waiting in line for autographs, too - from some of his favorite writers and artists. The show's featured guest is Carmine Infantino, a 60-year comics veteran known as the artist who designed the Flash, the DC Comics speedster with the scarlet cowl. Infantino also designed the "Pow!" "Bam!" 1960s version of Batman.

"You always bring some stuff in to get signed," says Burns, assistant publisher of the independent Viper Comics, based in Texas. Not that Burns has time to read much new stuff.

"Because I'm so busy now, I don't read much anymore. Being a writer has cut down on my ability to be a fan," he says.

Burns says he spends 80 percent of his time writing comic books and 20 percent writing screenplays. He has signed with the William Morris Agency as a writer.

He writes three or four comic book scripts, each one 24 to 32 pages, each week. Burns said his workday starts at 8:30 a.m., when he replies to e-mails from fans.

"I had this one guy, a soldier, write me. He loved my stuff so much he brought it to Iraq for all the guys to read around the barracks at night," Burns says.

Around 11 a.m., Burns starts typing a script, based on notes. "Each story has its own notebook," he said. "I have stacks of notebooks."

Each script has a table of contents showing "how the story is going to work out" and noting the major plot points, he says.

The artist works off of Burns' scripts. "I try to do my scripts as clear-as-day as I can," he says. "I do 'page 1, panel 1'; 'page 1, panel 2.'" Besides "Dummy's Guide," Burns has a number of comics coming out soon: "Rabid," a horror graphic novel in April; "Imaginary Friends: Rise of Shift Valentine" in June; "Gypsy Joe Jefferson" in July; and "Serpo and Imaginary Friends: SFU (Special Friends Unit)" in August.

Viper describes "A Dummy's Guide" like this: "Combining elements of humor, mystery and horror, private investigator Alan Sirois and his partner Mr. Bloomberg, a paraplegic ventriloquist dummy who Alan believes was shot in the back by an assailant and became crippled when the bullet lodged in his spine, return in an all new adventure.

"Heeding the advice of a therapist, the crime solving duo takes a vacation at sea where they trade in rest and relaxation for murder and intrigue.

Now depended upon to bring an end to the rising body count, Alan and Mr. Bloomberg must face a new madman while cruising around the Pacific Ocean."

A North Attleboro native, Burns, 29, used to write music and Life 101 columns for The Sun Chronicle.

He also ran The Green Room, an online arts magazine.

Burns made his comic book debut in August 2004, when Viper Comics published his first story, "Dead Air," as part of the 48-page "Dead@17: Rough Cut."

That 10-page story was about a radio reporter covering the murder of a girl who later turns up alive.

The tale came about after Burns interviewed Viper President and Publisher Jessie Garza for The Green Room.

"If I look back at my first book, I cringe," Burns says.

Since that first book, Burns has learned "to tell a joke quicker and not drag things out" in print.

"I definitely think certain people follow me for my style of writing. There's a certain amount of humor in everything I do," Burns says.

Including the comic books he reads for fun.

"I've always been into the writing of Joss Whedon (who created Buffy the Vampire Slayer). I feel like his style is very similar to mine," Burns says. "He can write something that's serious and has some humor to it."

MICHAEL GELBWASSER can be reached at 508-236-0439 or at mgelbwasser@thesunchronicle.com.

Boston Comic Con will take place 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Back Bay Events Center, 180 Berkeley St. (corner of Berkeley and Stuart), Boston. Admission is $8, free for children under 10. (bostoncomiccon.com)