October 2022: A Spooky Season of Kickstarters and Scout
October 2022: A Spooky Season of Kickstarters and Scout
Celebrating Halloween Comic Fest and the complete first arc of Road Trip to Hell
Halloween seems to have flown by faster than Mary Sanderson on her two Roombas (aka the best part of Hocus Pocus 2). I hope everyone had a wonderfully spooky season. I personally enjoyed having an excuse to watch and read horror all month and even tabled my first event since pre-COVID times. For a more in-depth look at this month, check out my announcements and more below!
Announcements
Road Trip to Hell #1-3 Now Available for Pre-order
All three issues of the first story arc of Road Trip to Hell are now available for pre-order on Previewsworld or Lunar. The latest issue’s new covers have been officially revealed, meaning more gorgeous cover art from the interior art team as well as another hauntingly beautiful Tarot Card variant:
Cover A (NOV221807) by Monika Maccagni and Joaquin Pereyra
Retailer incentive cover by Marco Fontanili that’s available in a 1:10 variant (NOV221808) and a 1:50 spot foil variant (NOV221809)
Due to the paper shortages and Hurricane Ian, my latest update regarding the release dates is that issue #1, originally scheduled for October, is more likely going to be coming out towards the end of November or in December. But I won’t be able to get the most reliable release date until a week before (when it appears on the “New Releases” tab on Previewsworld). This likely means issues #2 and #3 will also be delayed. But, if you pre-order them online from your local comic shop, you’ll be able to get them regardless of the release date. Please consider supporting the book—and thank you if you already have!
Enjoying Halloween Comic Fest
I tabled my first event since prior to the pandemic at Comic Fusion! I’d been wanting to tip my toe back into tabling at events and this was the perfect event to do so. The comic shop celebrated Halloween Comic Fest, a fun in-shop event that combines both Free Comic Book Day and Halloween. I was able to sell a few copies of Road Trip to Hell as well as some of my Miraculous adaptations. Plus I met several new (and old) friends who were also tabling or just hanging out at the event (shout-outs to @elizabethamber, Amanda, Avi, @nutellamolotov, and @vampricyoda). Thank you all for making me feel so welcome!
What I’ve Been Editing
Band of Bards
There has been some fun movement on the Sentience American light novel that I proofread for Band of Bards. Full of bloodshed and heartache, the book is now available digitally on websites like Barnes & Noble! Read over 200 pages about a clockwork android who begins to question her identity.
Scout Comics
The first week of October saw the release of two ongoing Scout Comics I’ve been editing. There is Karl Kesel and David Hahn’s super thief masquerading as a superhero series Impossible Jones collected in its very first superpowered volume! Then Markisan Naso and Jason Muhr’s ongoing By the Horns series continues its “Dark Earth” saga with issue #5, which features a gorgeous battle with pirates at sea in this fantasy-filled series.
Kickstarters
Several Kickstarter campaigns are currently going on for some independent projects that I’ve been editing for some creators brimming with ideas.
Described as Quantum Leap if Sam jumped into Duncan MacLeod’s body in The Highlander, The Game is a noir thriller brought to you by the creators of White Ash. Having previously worked with writer Charlie Stickney on White Ash Season 2, I jumped into the game starting with chapter two onward, which is being combined with chapter three in a 48-page oversized second issue. But readers can check out issues #1-3 in the current Kickstarter, which has already busted passed $30,000!
Also available through Kickstarter is Sacrifice #1-4, a horror comedy series following a ragtag team of heroes(?) comprised of the host of the devil, an archangel, a vampire, a demon hunter, and a fledgling witch. I started editing Laurent Valles Jr’s series as of issue #3. It has plenty of personality, which you can check out here.
J-Novel
One additional piece of news leftover from September is the release of the seventh volume of Culinary Chronicles of the Court Flower. This volume of the China-inspired fantasy story explores a month of diplomacy and a potential wedding to seal diplomatic ties that may mean our protagonist Rimi could lose her place in the world all over again!
Trying to be zen as we rocket toward the new year
As I attempt to put my many experiences this year into perspective, it feels like we’re already hurtling toward the end of the year. I was feeling more burnt out last month, but as I type this, I’m in a calmer place (maybe because of the yoga, maybe from getting some perspective). I’m extremely thankful for all of the work opportunities I’ve gotten over the years while trying to mellow out a bit and learn the power of saying “no” to certain opportunities while still recognizing ones to say “yes” to without running myself down. It remains to be seen if this brief reprieve will last, but I can only hope that you’ll remain along for the ride with me!
(Plus one of my favorite comic book sales is this month… that probably has something to do with my good mood too!)
I hope everyone had a very happy Halloween and enjoy any other upcoming holidays that you celebrate. Share how you’re celebrating the seasons down in the comments below and consider subscribing to my newsletter if you haven’t already to get a bit of a glimpse at my upcoming holiday season as well.