2024: Pigs Flew, Roos Went to Space, and an Epic Food Fight Ensued
A year full of new series and returning favorites!
Last year was full of new series and returning favorites (although every series I edit or write is my “favorite” in some way). If you’ve been enjoying my geektastic announcements throughout the year, thank you for sticking with me on my comic book (and beyond) journey! And if you’re new, I hope you find your next favorite series below!
Writing Highlights
Road Trip to Hell on Digital
Road Trip to Hell (Artist Monika Maccagni, Colorist Joaquin Pereyra, & Letterer Justin Birch): I appreciate everyone’s continued support as I slowly write the next story arc of Road Trip to Hell, my first creator-owned project. Francis’s cross-country journey to claim his crown as the new King of Hell while the worst of the worst (Adolf Hitler, Attila the Hun, and more) chase after him for the title will continue!
Physical and digital copies of issues #1-3, along with other merch like T-shirts, sweatshirts, and glasses, have been available on the official Scout Comics website. However, in 2024, the series expanded to other digital platforms as well. You can now find all three issues and the trade on Amazon/comiXology, Hoopla, and Comic Plus.
Salty Roos: Vampires, Outer Space Hijinks, Jersey Devil, and Krampus
I wrote four standalone Salty Roos stories (Artist Diego Toro, Colorist Kóte Carvajal, & Letterer Cristian Docolomansky) that were released last year! They were featured across two successful Kickstarters run by Blue Roo Comics creator/publisher Erick Anderson (Salty Roos: From Rats To Vampires And Beyond! & Salty Roos: A NJ Legend and Holiday Adventure Like No Other!). It’s been such a great way for me to experiment with different genres (horror, sci-fi, humor, and beyond) as well as urban legends. Here is the official synopsis for each issue!
Salty Roos #6, “Vampire Panic!”: Piper and the Roos travel to the Vampire Capital of the World, Exeter, Rhode Island, to celebrate his life and pay their respects. However, women are going missing in Exeter, and rumor has it that vampires are behind the disappearances! What connection does this have to Piper’s grandfather? Find out more about Piper’s past than ever before!
Salty Roos #7, “Beyond Space!”: The Roos find themselves on an out-of-this-world adventure! With the entire world at risk from an unknown extraterrestrial threat, it’s up to the Salty Roos to travel to space with the help of the United States Space Force. With the help of an unlikely ally, can the Roos survive an alien bar brawl and a space chase to end all space chases?
Salty Roos #9, “Moonbat from Hell!”: Our heroes, the Salty Roos, unexpectedly stumble upon the enigmatic Uncle Willie’s Odditorium, also known as the tourist trap from hell. When a bunch of snot-nosed punks pull off a weirdo theft, the Roos poke their noses where they don’t belong, initiating a thrilling chase sequence that culminates in a face-to-face encounter with a renowned creature of legend—the Jersey Devil. This adversary may be the deadliest (and snarkiest) opponent the Roos have ever faced.
Salty Roos #10, “The Twelve Nights of Krampus!”: ‘Twas the night before Christmas, and chaos was brewing. With a flick of his wicked claws, Krampus and his Naughty Magical Elves have kidnapped a host of children, and it’s up to the Salty Roos to get them back! Racing against the clock, the Roos must team up with a legendary holiday figure to spread some unconventional cheer and keep the rhymes flowing every time Krampus comes near. Will they manage to save Christmas before the twelfth night, or will Krampus reign supreme?
Salty Roos #1-9 are currently available on Indy Planet. While I did not write all of the issues, any that I haven’t written, I’ve edited! You can also enjoy my brief prologues introducing each issue on the credits pages.
Pots & Panels Anthology
Pots & Panels: My short story, “Peppermint Patty Pandemonium,” appeared in this food-themed anthology. This 440-page compilation of short comics was a combined creative effort of over 80 creators, including Steve Niles (30 Days of Night, Batman), Ron Marz (Green Lantern, Silver Surfer), and Markisan Naso (By the Horns). There are 50 original stories spanning every genre imaginable and recipes for all the foodies out there! It raised over $29,000, and the digital reward recently went out to backers.
Kate Bryant: Take a Trip to Japan for Some Revenge!
Kunoichi Kate Bryant (Creator Kevin Given & Artist Rodolfo Ezequiel): The third issue of this four-issue mini-series was also released last year. It’s an official comic book adaptation of Kevin Given’s novel about Kate Bryant, a Kunoichi seeking revenge against the people responsible for her father’s murder. In this issue, Kate is closer than ever to discovering the truth about her father’s murder, but will she like what she finds?
Editing Highlights
Band of Bards
Reluctant Hero (Creator Alexandra McCarthy): The second chapter of the Reluctant Hero manga was released last year on GlobalComix. This slice-of-life psychological thriller explores themes like friendship, self-discovery, and tragedy in a way that fans of Cruel Intentions and The Craft will find enticing. In this chapter, Asta and Lola’s friendship is tested when Asta makes friends with Mallory, whose intentions may be far more sinister than they appear.
J-Novel
The Butareba Light Novel and Manga Will Warm Your Pig Liver
Butareba: The Story of a Man Turned into a Pig Light Novel Volumes 2-5 (Written by Takuma Sakai & Translated by Zihan Gao): Starting with the second volume, I began editing this light novel series. Combining dark fantasy, comedy, and romance, it offers a little of everything. The books follow an otaku from Japan who, after consuming raw pig liver, wakes up in the fantastical world of Mesteria as a literal pig. Our piggy protagonist befriends Jess, who is part of a class known as Yethma, mind reading girls who are forced into servitude. Mister Pig wants to do everything in his power to save Jess—and he may just need to save the world of Mesteria while he’s at it, too!
Butareba: The Story of a Man Turned into a Pig Manga Volumes 1-4 (Written by Takuma Sakai & Translated by Zihan Gao): I was also able to edit the official manga adaptation from the very beginning! So far, in 2024, the first four volumes of the manga have recounted the events of the first light novel.
Scout Comics
Eye-Opening Award Nominations and New Time-Traveling Series
By the Horns (Writer: Markisan Naso/Artist: Jason Muhr/Dark Earth Colorist: Steve Canon): The seventh issue of this epic fantasy series got a very well-deserved Ringo Award nomination for “Best Single Issue or Story.” It’s an extremely introspective issue that takes the approach of team member Evelyn chronicling her adventures in a journal while the group journeys to the enchanted continent of Yalastra to find the historian, Norriva, and hopefully answers to finding pure magic.
Milk Run (Writer Bryan Reheil & Artist Jarret Katz): The first issue of the latest mini-series I edited for Scout came out late last year. This sci-fi-tinged story is about Zack Morgan, a guy with the ability to go back in time up to ten years. So, of course, he uses his fantastical ability to get cheaper groceries! However, he finds himself getting wrapped up in a too-close-to-home murder case. Will he finally be able to use his power for more than just saving a few bucks on cereal? The three-issue mini-series is perfect for Back to the Future and Minority Report fans.
Tapas
Romance (and drama) with a lot of bite to it
Comedown Machine (Writer Amapora & Artist Saza): The third dramatic season launched in 2024, seeing our characters post-time skip. How have they changed, and what new drama awaits them? Do the corporate world and romance mix? Let’s find out!
North & East (Writer Matcha Monster & Artist Hara): The third and final season returned in early 2024 before wrapping up toward the end of the year! The romance between North and East had many bumps along the road, and they made many friends (and adversaries) along the way. See the story of their love, from their “fake” relationship to the series’ climactic conclusion, on Tapas.
Thirst (Creator Asami): The final season of Thirst also returned last year, continuing the fangtastic romance between half-vampire/star actor Ethan Blackwell and his co-star, vampire hunter Tristan Monroe. That description alone should give you a hint at just how much drama this couple experiences over the course of this series—and it doesn’t always come from each other!
Independent Projects
I’ve had the pleasure of working on 11 independent projects this year that (usually) appeared on Kickstarter. Some of these are still in production and should be receiving more news this year, and I only listed in bold the issues that I edited!
Battle Panda #1-4 (Writer Farhan Qureshi & Various Artists): This Goonies-meets-TMNT-style adventure follows Kai, the titular Battle Panda, and his anthropomorphic friends as they take a stand against an ominous being known only as the “Monster.” There’s plenty of heart and humor in the series, too. The Kickstarter for #4 will be launching soon!
Digitopia #3 (Writer Farhan Qureshi, Artist Sebastián Píriz, Colorist/Letterer Simon Robins): This pre-apocalyptic high-adrenaline action mini-series received the graphic novel treatment last year. A father and daughter are on the run, trying to make the world a better place while avoiding the army, media, and bounty hunters. It’s action-packed like Mad Max while being philosophical like V for Vendetta. I hopped onto the series with the third (final) issue, which marked the beginning of my collaborations with creator/writer Farhan Qureshi.
How I Slept My Way Through College and Other Tales From Freshman Year #2-3 (Writer Charlie Stickney & Artist Emiliana Pinna): I’ll happily keep describing this series the same way the Kickstarter does—“House of Cards having a three-way with How To Get Away With Murder and The Girlfriend Experience.”
Howie the Hellhound Complete Collection (#1-5) (Writer Jared Prestwidge, Artist Carlos Trigo, Colorist Simon Robins & Letterer Lucas Gattoni): Previously partially published by Scout Comics, this mini-series has now been released independently on Gumroad. The supernatural dramedy features the titular Howie, Satan’s favorite hellhound, escaping to New York and befriending struggling actress Louise. The series was also shortlisted for the Comic Arts Awards of Australia!
The Last Ember: Hunted #1 (Writer/Creator Brant Fowler, Artist Federico Sabbatini, Colorist Andrea Celestini, & Letterer Rob Leigh): The flagship title of independent comic publisher Last Ember Press, The Last Ember: Hunted continues the story of Ember Madison, a teenager who, on top of surviving high school, must also deal with being the last of the fire goddesses incarnate. A new lenticular cover was funded last year.
Legend of the Dog Witch Graphic Novel (Line art/Design/Co-Creator Minerva Fox & Writer/Co-Creator Grant Stoye): This 60-page graphic novel is about a witch and her demonic familiar (who takes the form of the best doggo ever) trying to solve murders in a college town. It’s filled with plenty of exorcisms and coffee! The Kickstarter did not reach its goal, but this is not the end, according to their last update.
Ruination #1-11 (Writer Ryan Bis & Various Artists): The Ruination fantasy adventure series reached a milestone nine issues last year, most of which are now available on the Curious Perspective Comics online store. Welcome to Saldyria, a nation impacted by a centuries-long war that our group of protagonists have fought on opposite sides of. Now, they must accept their differences if they want to save their world from another world-ending threat. The next couple of issues will be available on Kickstarter soon.
Stake Presents: Jessamy #2-3 (Writer David Byrne & ): This Stake spin-off period piece features the “old” vampire Jessamy investigating a plantation swirling with rumors about monsters eating their slaves—all on the word of Benjamin Franklin! This three-issue mini-series was collected in softcover and hardcover for the first time ever last year.
Territory #2-5 (Writer Blake McCarthy and Artists Donny Hadiwidjaja & Chris Sassman): This five-issue mini-series reached its epic 32-page kaiju conclusion on Kickstarter! Taking place in a post-apocalyptic world, the story follows Alkia and the rest of the Greathorn tribe, one of several tribes that have formed to worship the various kaiju in this world called Behemoths. It’s perfect for fans of giant monster stories like Godzilla and Pacific Rim, post-apocalyptic stories like The Last of Us, and coming-of-age stories like Paper Girls. But if you need more convincing, the entire first issue is available for free on Global Comix (although I didn’t get the pleasure of editing it!).
Villains Seeking Heroes #1-8 (Writer Louis Southard & Various Artists): Another blast from the past, I edited issues #1-8 (although only the first few issues were available in 2024) of this super-powered comedy during my Action Lab days. It’s about a veteran supervillain, Master Molecule, needing to become the leader of a new team of heinous criminals. Louis Southard recently released this series, as well as the rest of his work, for free on his Substack, Loutopia. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: It’s almost criminal how this series has a free price tag!
White Ash #5-8 (Writer Charlie Stickney and Artists Conor Hughes, Julian Shaw, & Tango): This ongoing urban fantasy series takes place in the titular White Ash, a tiny mining community in Western Pennsylvania that’s home to elves, dwarves, and plenty of other secrets! It’s the perfect comic for fans of Supernatural, Twin Peaks, and Lord of the Rings. If you’re still questioning whether you should give this series a try, the entire 52-page first issue is available online for free.
Who I’m Interviewing
Kickstart the Week(end) with Thistle #1
I have not been focusing on “Kickstart the Week” as much lately, with only the occasional feature spotlighting an indie creator. Last year, I only interviewed creator and writer J.L. Collins, who crowdfunded his dystopian fantasy comic Thistle #1. The story takes an interesting approach, occurring AFTER the final battle when everything is lost.
While the project unfortunately was not successfully funded, the creator did ask in an update that backers consider following his collaborators—artist J. Schiek (Hush Ronin, Tales From the Pandemic), colorist Warnia K. Sahadewa (Doctor Who, Wolvenhart), and letterer/editor Leland Bjerg (Capsules, Berserker Monk)—and purchasing more of their work to support their art.
Interviews/Appearances
I didn’t do too many appearances or personal interviews last year, either. The Salty Roos creative team got together for the first time to talk about the series with JJs Comic Stuff on YouTube. I was able to chat alongside creator Erick Anderson, artist Diego Toro, colorist Kóte Carvajal, and letterer Cristian Docolomansky.
In terms of conventions, in addition to my usual appearance at Comic Fusion’s Free Comic Book Day, I tabled Lehigh Valley Comic Con. I met a lot of really great people while there and spent some of my own money, mostly contributing to my Sonic collection. If you’re local, I recommend it.
2025 Plans
It took me even longer than usual to do this yearly wrap-up because I’ve been hard at work on multiple new projects. I’ll save the “official” announcement for my next newsletter, but there are plenty of exciting things in the works that I can’t wait to tell you all about!
And if you’d like to see what 2023 was like, you can check out my in-depth update about it here:
2023: A Road Trip to Hell Kind of a Year
Road Trip to Hell continues to have a second life after Kickstarter in 2023 along with plenty of other comics, light novels, and webcomics that I have continued/started to edit in 2023. As always, the year had its ups and downs, but the passion of the creative teams behind these books is also a positive. I’m looking forward to sharing my work from the p…
Wow! A treasure trove of info here, Nicole. Keep up the great work!