I know you’re busy, but I just wanted to take a little time to wish you the best over the holidays and a great New Year!  2021 was… well… no idea how to call it.  Let’s keep the negative things in the rearview mirror and focus on what’s going to be a fantastic 2022!

Time for Reflection… how was 2021/Lessons Learned?

• Stick with conventions with “comics” or “anime” in the title.
• Use backwards planning when launching a Kickstarter, check & doublecheck.
• When you get jargon thrown at you, people assume you know what it means when you often don’t. Ask.
• People like original art.  
• Growth is directly proportional to output. Write more, create more, and they will come!

There’s a lot on the plate for 2022!

My ambitions generally outpace what I’m realistically capable of pulling off but…  that’s never stopped me! Here are the goals for 2022:

1. Spectress & Sabanion, Issue #4 Kickstarter
2. Ruxy Vampire, Issue #1 Kickstarter
3. Spectress & Sabanion, Issue #5 Kickstarter
4. Ruxy Vampire, Issue #2 Kickstarter (if #1 does well)
5. Spectress & Sabanion, Issue #6 Kickstarter and close the first story arc
6. Start 2023 w/ a glorious hardcover trade collection of Issues #1 – 6

Can it be done?  I guess we’ll see.  Issue #4 is humming right along.  Here’s page 8, art by Topper Helmers and colors by Wesley Wong:

Ruxy Vampire title design by LetterSquids, what do you think?

How about you?

What’s on your plate for 2022?  Please do your best to keep yourself happy, healthy, and safe.  Not sure how much better things are going to get but try to carve out a little place of happiness for yourself and those you love.  Be kind to others, watch a movie, read a comic (S & S, of course, but there are so many other good ones out there too), listen to some music, go for a walk.  Know what’s going on but keep away from too much bad news, especially the things that are out of your control.  Challenge yourself physically, mentally, and spiritually.  Try something new, do something different.  To quote the great Wrath Demon, Sabanion, “Busy hands are happy hands…”

Speaking of music… Click + Enjoy!

Take Care, Merry Christmas, and Happy New year!

But first, C2E2 was… pretty good?

I was lucky to get a table at C2E2 this year, no question there. It was great meeting people and I had a good time. Sales were… not as much as I expected but that’s ok. The show was well attended but people weren’t making much in purchases. Being that close to Christmas was a big factor, but I’m guessing.

Still though, I had a chance to meet Ivan Tao. He’s from Malaysia so this was a great opportunity. Hope I get another chance to hang out w/ him.

It’s been a busy few months but now I’m trying to kick things down a few notches and actually enjoy the holidays this year.  I’ve been doing quite a lot of extra stuff for my full-time job and I’m ready to cool down a bit.  I don’t have a lot of family commitments so Christmas and New Years are a pretty simple affair for me.  I’m really looking forward to kicking back and finishing up that 2nd draft for Ruxy Vampire.  Recently, I’ve been diving into the 6 issue run of The History of the Marvel Universe.

It’s been a lot of fun.  I picked up the series at Dark Art & Oddities Con a few weeks ago.  One of the editors/historians that worked on the book, Daron Jensen, was at the show signing and selling copies of the series.  He also said to have a pitch prepped at C2E2 if I should run into a Marvel editor.  That’s…. a little terrifying, honestly.  Needless to say, I’m a fan of warrior-sorceress types so… put me down for a 5 issue SPIRAL run!

I can dream, can’t I?  

For me she was always one of the coolest villains who, of course, eventually joins the good guys because… she’s cool.

Coming up on 2022!

I have high hopes for 2022!  So much I want to get done! Shall we set some goals?

• I want to get out Issues #4 – 6 of Spectress & Sabanion to complete the first story arc!
• I want to get out 2 Issues of Ruxy Vampire!
• I want to start seriously distributing my books out to the masses in comic book shops, either thru Diamond or other indie distributors.

There you have it.  That’s a lot.  Attainable?  I hope so.  We’ll take another look at this time next year and see where we are.  

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Hope you’re having a great day and and life, family, pets, etc. all treat you right this month and over the holidays. I hope 2022 brings you joy with a healthy dose of MAGIC, MURK, and MAYHEM!

I’m STOKED!  TABLE D-11 is mine… all mine! 

Not often that a little guy like me gets into a big show like this.  It’s definitely Chicago’s largest comic convention and I’ve been attending every year it’s been held since 2016.  That year, I commissioned a piece of art from Jeff Dekal and picked it up at the show.  I wanted something to inspire me and jumpstart some of the ideas that had been simmering in my brain for quite a long time.  I’m sure most of you are familiar with it:

The Artist Alley that year is also where I met the artist for my first book, Sajad Shah, and we collaborated to create Spectress Preview Issue #0.  C2E2 2016 is really what spurred me and gave me the motivation that I could actually do this.  And now, 5 years later, here I am!  Still can’t believe it.  I’m sure that circumstances have a little bit to do with it, LOL, but I’m not complaining!  Not one bit!

Stop by if you can!  Topper Helmers will be there on Friday!

Interior/cover artist, and all-around decent guy, Topper Helmers will be sharing the table with me on the first day of the show – Friday, December 10th.  He’ll have some of his original work there, will definitely knock out some signatures, and I’m sure he can be persuaded to do a sketch cover or two.  Topper has been working ahead on a few things that are simply stunning!  We’re still rolling ideas around on where they’d fit best and how to release them.  That guy likes to work and loves to create art!  I really lucked out when I met him.

Cover Artists Chris Ehnot and Ivan Tao will also be there! 

If you want signatures from Spectress & Sabanion cover artists, now is the time!  

Comic Book Update

Things are proceeding, not as quickly as I like but they’re on track. The script for Ruxy Vampire Issue #1 is in editing and rewrites currently.  It’s going to be bizarre, supernatural fun!  You’re going to meet Ruxy, her brother Marku, Appolonia, Al Capone, Frank Nitti, and Joey the Envy Demon.  Got some great feedback from Chuck Pineau on this and I’m working on the 2nd draft.  He’s helping out as editor on this issue.  

Issue #4 of Spectress & Sabanion is proceeding with more gorgeous colors by Wesley Wong.  This issue focuses on the story of Aneksi’s transformation and her last days in Egypt.  Topper and Wesley really bring ancient Alexandria to life.  Have a look at that sweet 2-page spread w/ colors: