2022
2022 saw the release of TALES FROM THE DEAD ASTRONAUT #3 and the trade paperback version of the book from Source Point Press. This was the first time I had a series available through Diamond, and while the sales mostly disappointed, it was only because of my desire to exceed them. But it was fun seeing the book on shelves in ncbd posts. Seeing people find the book and love it was a really thrilling experience that I heavily recommend.
During this time, we also signed with Source Point for them to put out NIGHT OF THE COMET and BURN RESIDUE. Pretty much right after Attila wrapped up work with NotC, I sent them the book, and they were eager to publish it along with Burn Residue. Original plans would have seen both books out by now, starting over the summer, but Source Point shrunk their release line, and we got shuffled around the schedule. But that is sure going to make for a great 2023. As you know, NotC releases on January 25th, and Burn Residue will start coming out in the early Fall.
Attila and I are wrapped up with a mini-series pitch called INTERNAL CHANGES (check out the cover!) and hope to get it picked up by a larger publisher. Maybe one with a giant “i.” While we wait for word on that, pencils will start touching the page for our next Kickstarter project, MORDRED. I’m exploring every Arthurian legend itch to tell the story of Arthur’s bastard son, Mordred. Attila and I will present this as a 4-issue, 48-page, magazine-sized mini-series. Attila always pushes to work in a larger format to print, and we think this will be the tits. While at NYCC, I was able to score some cool artists to work with on pin-ups for this one. If all plans align, Mordred #1 will be all done before we launch our campaign on the Ides of March. I may offer an exclusive chance to get in on a proof print before the campaign begins.
In Kickstarters, AIRPLANE MECHANICS is the only completed project. Fuck, I love this one. Partnering with Jeff Manley to tell the tale of two idiot brothers and their misguided attempt to escape their self-imposed shackles was the best idea I had all year! Jeff is a funny guy who I really reacted to well. His insanity would push me to push the jokes further as I scripted and sent him pages. I hope to force Jeff to continue working with me. We’ve got copies left of this first print run. Shoot me a message if you want one!
ALL IN and THE COUNTERFEIT are still being pieced together. I’ve approved all of the pencils and the last group of thumbnails, so Jok is rolling hard now. I’ve seen about half the book penciled and a good chunk colored. Rossano is in a similar spot with THE COUNTERFEIT. We had planned for this book to be finished before the campaign ended, but the holidays slowed Rossano down. Half the book here is colored, and once Rossano frees up, the final half should move quickly. Both books look like they’ll be ready for February to ship. If you missed these, I’ll create a shop for pre-orders when the books go to lettering.
In the background, I’m working with Dr. Monty Cantsin on a project that we will figure out a unique way to release. Check out his work if you haven’t seen it. My inspiration for this one came from going back and reading Kafka more. I like evolving my ideas once I start working with an artist, and the serialized way we plan on telling this story has led me to jump in different directions in terms of genre and tone.
When I was at NYCC, I got a chance to talk to James Tynion. That mother fucker knows how to write a comic. So, after giving my respects to some of the best craft I’ve seen in comics, I asked him for advice. He said to have patience. Pretty solid, I’d say. For the first two years, I’ve been eager to explore everything. That’s how you end up with Tennis Comics, a surrealistic Samurai vs. Yakuza story, a fucked up nihilistic revenge story about a burned gas station attendant, and two stoner brothers trying to fly.
Now, I think I’ve settled into a nice group of people I enjoy working with and a style of story that I think I work best at. More long-term projects need to be put in place, like Mordred and a few pitches I am preparing. So, less projects but over a longer amount of story.
2023 looks like it will just be Mordred and the Source Point releases for now.
(Maybe if Sam Blanchard is out there, we can get started on that goddamn werewolf book! Come on, man, let’s make our FROM HELL with werewolves!)
But that’s also because there is a bigger project I will be focusing on.
I am a filmmaker at heart. I’ve made a lot of bad short films over the past twenty years, learning every wrong way to do things. I write a lot. And a lot of what I write are scripts. One crazy ass pitch I’ve had brewing for years is a 30-minute drama about the backstage life of wrestlers in the 90s. Crazy. Trust me. I have thought about the 30-minute drama as a possibility for years because it would allow a writer to cut out all the fat and tell cleaner stories on TV. Sometimes a full 60 minutes for an idea can really drag down a show. Show’s run too long or don’t have enough story to justify the hour. That 30-minute drama should be a nice sweet spot. Atlanta showed it. Then, this year The Bear solidified it as a form to me.
So, I’ve been working on a wrestling show. I’ve got 4 of 10 scripts written, along with a short film proof of concept for the show. That short film is going to be my next mountain to climb. My theory goes that if I can Kickstart these comic projects, I can Kickstarter a budget to make this short film. And how to make that TV show happen. I mean, why not try?
I’ve got a separate newsletter running for that, THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CURTAIN. That is going to slowly act as a type of journal of the process of making this thing a TV show. I’ll collect it all as part of a book with behind-the-scenes photos when we run a campaign. Just like comics, I’m going to will this thing into existence. Come take the ride with me and sign up.
Well, that’s it. That’s the plan. Just do the work.
See you in 2023.