June/July 2022: Spectacular Summer Announcements
June/July 2022: Spectacular Summer Announcements
And then there was COVID
There have been plenty of spectacular summer announcements that I’m really excited to share, including some big news for my comic book Road Trip to Hell. This excitement has been great motivation since, despite taking precautions, I unfortunately still caught COVID in June.
Thankfully, none of my symptoms have been life-threatening. But I’m still working through some of the after-effects of the disease, which include a persistent sense of tiredness (not much different than when I overwork myself, really). So, to distract from the less-than-stellar moments of my summer, here are some fun announcements and other important updates!
Announcements
Scout Comics Picks Up ROAD TRIP TO HELL
Did you hear? Scout Comics picked up Road Trip to Hell and the first issue is available for pre-order! This is HUGE news for me and the team.
What does this news mean?! It means that Road Trip to Hell's team is expanding, and so are the cover options. Scout Comics has added expert editor Andrea Lorenzo Molinari to the fold, designer Jacob Bascle has made a sweet new logo for the series, and all new covers!
For those unfamiliar with the story, here’s the solicit for #1:
Francis Rhoades has had a life full of hardship, but things get even worse when he learns that his father is Satan himself. Now aware of his heritage, Francis quickly discovers his father has died—and named him the new king of Hell! The catch? All the damned have escaped from Hell. If one of them can kill Francis before he can reach the netherworld himself, that soul will become the new leader of Hell! With the demonic legions in pursuit, Francis will need to rely on his own special power to survive... along with an angelic ally sent by God themself!
The brand new covers (shown above) and order codes include:
A sweet main cover by interior art team Monika Maccagni and Joaquin Pereyra (Diamond Order Code: AUG221807)
A sick variant cover by Marco Fontanili, which is available as both a 1:10 Tarot Card Variant (Diamond Item Code: AUG221808).
And a 1:50 Foil Spot Variant of the Marco Fontanili cover
(Diamond Item Code: AUG221809).
The first issue is currently in Previewsworld with a release set in October 2022. Be sure to order it from your local comic shop and tell all your friends about it!
I couldn't have come this far without my Kickstarter audience believing in this book, helping me realize that people are out there who will enjoy the concept and care about the characters. I’m looking forward to the next chapter in our Road Trip to Hell journey!
Announced Digital Content Director for Scout Comics!
Having worked at Scout Comics for a little over a year now, editing titles like Impossible Jones, Cult of Ikarus, and By the Horns, it was officially announced that I am also serving as Scout Comics’ Digital Content Director. I have been working on getting their backlist titles onto digital platforms like comiXology/Amazon, Comic Plus, and Hoopla for a while now. Thankfully, I find working on spreadsheets relaxing, which makes this work extra rewarding.
What I’ve Been Editing
Scout Comics
Speaking of Scout Comics, the latest By the Horns story arc, Dark Earth, has already released its first three issues in June-July. All six issues in the arc are available for order on Previewsworld. The ongoing fantasy series continues to receive rave reviews thanks to the amazing duo of Markisan Naso and Jason Muhr (now joined by colorist Steve Canon). The series also won spots in the Favorite Writer, Artist, and Series categories of the 2022 Grantie Awards.
There are still more upcoming releases to look forward to in the June/July 2022 Previews Catalogs. She Bites #2 continues the story of Elsie Baker, a 134-year-old vampire in the body of a 9-year-old girl, ready to tear up her local mall with her new babysitter. The first Impossible Jones story arc is also being collected in the Grin & Gritty trade. And last (but not least!): everyone’s favorite geeky fashion magazine returns with Sartorial Geek #3 featuring articles covering media like I May Destroy You, Around the World in 80 Days, and Our Flag Means Death.
Tapas Media
Comedown Machine Season 2 Premiered
Ready for some romance? The second season of the Comedown Machine webcomic by Amapora and Saza has begun. Complicated relationships, as well as emotional highs and lows, abound as Tommy continues her relationship with a celebrity and navigates through all of the drama that comes with it. Releasing a new episode every Friday morning, this webcomic is perfect for fans of series like Nana. For Spanish-speaking readers, Comedown Machine is now also available in Spanish!
The other currently running webcomic I’ve been working on at Tapas, Flawless, continues to explore the imperfect relationship between a human girl and a perfect boy in the year 2072. There are currently 44 episodes with more to come as we approach wrapping up the series. New episodes can be enjoyed every Sunday.
Kickstarters
Three of the independent series I’m currently editing had successful Kickstarters, raising a grand total of about $36,000. (Stake Presents: Jessamy still has a few more days to go, but it’s already blasted passed its goal by more than double!)
Stake Presents: Jessamy #1 - 3 - The Finale
A spin-off series from Stake, this vampiric tale takes place 250 years before the main series. Jessamy seeks to keep the world of vampires hidden from the world. But when word travels that there’s a plantation with monsters eating their slaves, she’s sent on the hunt to eliminate the threat. Recommended for fans of vampire stories like Blade and Buffy the Vampire Slayer or teen crime series with a sense of humor like Veronica Mars.
RUINATION #1-6 - A Fantasy Adventure Comic Series by Ryan Bis — Kickstarter
A classic fantasy adventure, Ruination reaches the climax and completion of its first arc. Join a group of soldiers on the hunt for magical crystals and struggling to stay alive from each other and the world at large. This is great for fans of video games like Final Fantasy and movies like Dark Crystal.
TERRITORY Issues #1-3 - A Post Apocalyptic Kaiju Epic! by Blake McCarthy — Kickstarter
In a post-apocalyptic kaiju mini-series, the people of Territory worship the kaiju as gods. Described as Godzilla meets Horizon Zero Dawn, this latest issue sees Alkia and her tribe’s faith tested when they must escape the mayhem of two fighting monsters without becoming part of the rubble.
What I’ve Been Writing
Not too much writing these past few months (though I did pick up writing the next volume of Road Trip to Hell)! But I did cover the following three news stories on Screen Rant:
Star Wars: Visions' Ronin Returns in New Manga-Inspired Comic Tale: Already spinning out of the Star Wars franchise, the animated episode “The Ronin” is being sequelized via a new comic book. The writer and art will be handled by the lead writer for the episode, Okazaki, who is well-known for his work on the Afro Samurai manga.
Junji Ito Story Collection Gets New English Release With Tombs: One of my favorite horror masters, Junji Ito, will be releasing a new English translation of Tombs: Junji Ito Story Collection from Viz Media. For me, Ito is up there with Stephen King, and this new release collects popular Ito Stories like “Slug Girl” (perfect for those who aren’t squeamish to body horror) and his frequently adapted “The Window Next Door.”
IDW Combines Satanic Cults and Burger Joints in New Horror-Comedy Comic: TRVE KVLT is a mini-series that does one of my favorite genre combinations: horror and comedy. It has a star-studded creative team as well, including writer Scott Bryan Wilson (Batman: Gotham Nights) and artist by Liana Kangas (Star Wars Adventures). I love it when a comic book concept makes for a catchy title!
Going forward, I will no longer be writing on Screen Rant. Instead, I will be devoting more energy to my own creative works. But I do want to thank them for the opportunity.
Join Me On My Journey
My energy may still be a bit low along with a few other symptoms, but at the end of the day, I’m just thankful I get to continue working on all of these geeky projects from the comfort of my own home. It has been extremely motivational to see all the support I’ve gotten from Kickstarter backers to the fellow creators I’ve been working with. Having been an editor for so long, it’s such a pleasure to be able to sit in the writer’s seat and take on roles like Scout’s Director of Digital Content position. It’s also extremely nerve-wracking as I hope there are people who pre-order Road Trip to Hell and enjoy what they pick up!
Regardless of the ups and downs that may come, here’s to plenty more fun projects in the future! If you’d like to keep up with my work (and the work of so many other talented people), make sure you subscribe to this newsletter.