Arcane comics will be dual wielding creators! I’ll be with my pal Miles Greb and we will be signing copies of our books, have coloring pages and maybe, be playing Mario Kart with our friends and Fans! Click the link above and come out and see u s September 16th from 4-8.
You might be wondering what the image here is. Well, my 1-page comic “My Crevice” is a finalist in the Ghost City comics competition. Miles’ comic Clovis was nominated for best single issue comic too. WOW! Jason Aaron is one of the judges and this thing is for real. Super excited for that. The winners will be announced September 16th. Go by the site and find out about all of the contestants.
Thanks to Enjoy Comics for publishing Vile: The complete Tale. Bryan is in Hawaii and is doing great things for hi indie publisher. He’s come to the rescue of me and Vile so go by and pick up a version of the trade of Vile.
Sorry if I’ve missed anything. Remember to add my on Facebook and or Twitter. Be well everyone.
That’s right, G6 with Goldrush comics. Me (Crowsong) and my pal Miles Greb, and his editorial person Drew Pierce are going to be in Spokane June 3-4. Come by the Spokane Convention center Sat and Sun @ 10 am. I’ll have copies of my graphic novel Vile: Legends of Thunder Valley and other goodies too.
That’s right everyone. Although the printing hit a snag a few months ago, the complete tale is here and will be in my hands in time for Lilac City comic-con. I’ll be with my pal Miles Greb from ATGR comics. 60 plus pages of story and some other nice goodies.
I’ll have some goodies for that convention and I hope to see some folks out. There is more news to come. In the mean time, enjoy some interesting teasers from my next project “Ded-Head Made of Lead.
PS. Although Vile is finished, until we set up a publisher, the only way to get the complete tale is to write me through the website or through conventions. They are coming to your local seattle store soon however.
It’s been awhile, but not as long as before. Just celebrated another Santa Claus holiday. Lots of goodies for lots of good boys and girls. I was pretty proud of some of my gifts too. I got Kris a keychain with a scorpion inside because she’s a scorpio. I also ended up picking her out some magical healing crystals. Boy was that a funny story. I got a pretty sweet Israeli paratrooper messenger bag and a blue tooth lamp that has sound! I did TOO need it! You don’t know me at all.
Lost 3 dear people this past few days. George Michael, Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds. So many others this year.
What’s next?
In addition to finishing Vile, and getting ready for the next project “Ded-Head, Made of Lead”, I’ve been working on my coloring and drawing skills. I’d love to be a good flatter and save a colorist time. I draw well enough, but not good enough for comics, so I’m trying to go from being able to plan-out a rough storyboard, but I want to help conceptualize and better relay what’s in my head to the fine readers. What about coloring though?
Living Colour
I started flatting Kirby pages a couple months ago. I started by inking and then coloring a Blackbolt pinup, and now this week I’ve decided I need something more complicated. I decided I’d find an old Mcfarlane Spidey page and give it a shot. Let me just say-holy crap he liked drawing birds. In one page of Spider-man there were like, 12 birds. And that beautiful webbing that he changed. Oh goodness, it is magnificent. Until you have to color it however…(my grumpy face here). Love the way it looks once it’s done, but Todd’s pages are SO full of information. The dude must never sleep.
Pretty proud of this little bad boy. Jack Kirby drew this for Thor 158 and these are my flats.
Dr. Feelgood
We’re running a kickstarter starting January 3rd to raise a few more dollars for printing. As it stands now, we are clear to print 3000 copies and have that revenue from publisher. If we can raise 2000 more though, we can get a better deal with the printer and get the price down to less than a dollar. Anyone that knows anything about business can understand the cost and margins concepts. It’s creative and it’s artistic… but it’s still a business. I want to find a way to tell more of my stories because I think they help and people like them. Anything we raise over $2000.00 will go to paying back the expenses of creating the comic itself. Anyway, I hate hocking my stuff, but that is coming up.
So, a little bit about process. My little Post Script area I just conceived of. So, with any comic book, or book, or work of literature, there is a long and arduous and on-going process known as editing. Or proofing. Or checking. Or all of those. We check and test and read and let others read. It helps to catch mistakes and to round the edges so to speak. When I decided to finish Vile, and get a new team together, I wanted to say FUCK it and do things punk rock. I was paying to have it made anyway, so why not do it how I want?
This is a great example of what I meant. The colored bubbles look fine to me, as do some of the sound effects, but seeing it all cleaned up, I am happy with the results.
I’m the fucking boss, ain’t I?
I made some decisions early on to be edgy and experiment with speech and text and SFX. I wanted to be full of shit is what I wanted, HAHA. I found a partner in Dyan Johnson who decided to experiment. Anyway, I got a list of changes from the editor, and it included all my edgy ideas. Ugh. What an ego hit. So, anyway, knowing how close I was to this thing, know what I decided to do?
Sendin’ out an S.O.S.
I decided to ask someone for help. Anyone close to me, within arm’s reach, knows that I don’t take critique as well as I should. So, knowing myself and knowing that I needed to breathe, to do things the right way and to stop sabotaging: I reached out to two of my comic book friends. I asked them to look at the edits and the story and to give me their honest opinions. They both did and it was so helpful. Thanks so much Frank Mula and Miles Greb. Anyway, I made sure that we would make the deadline of November and I’m proud to say that. I didn’t want to potentially delay the book, but in the interest of it, I was willing to do that if it were the right thing. My point here? …
… Is that I am awesome. Yeah, I have some swagger and confidence. I should. I’ve fought and lost and won a couple times too. I finished up a 2-month training regimen, and I killed it. I was beating myself of over not making better progress, but that’s just silly. You can’t beat yourself up because it wasn’t. You can be proud for what it wasn’t and then became. Yeah contemplate THAT one kiddos. Talk soon.
Folks, I am too sorry to even be here typing. It seems as though every time I type here, or post something, it’s been forever, so I won’t apologize anymore and we can all agree that I’ll be better about being a good friend. Awesome, moving on.
A few things, house cleaning, announcement stuff etc.
Vile is complete. The story of Hard Pants and Clem Styles has been told in graphic novel form. It was arduous, but it is finally complete. The team was up late into the night filing and editing and shifting and coloring. I wish I could say I was one of those people-my parts were done, and I was playing the role of oaf and being hard to get a hold of on the last day of deadline. Sorry again my dear friends Eleonora and Dyan.
PLEASE and pretty please preorder and tell your local comic store to carry Vile: Legends of Thunder Valley. It’s as independent as it gets and comics aren’t cheap to make. Indie Comics are never easy easy in any way. The finished book is 60+ pages of western-fantasy goodness.
If you want to read the comic that started it all, it’s available here at Comixology and print on demand here. I’ll be posting some teaser pictures here over the coming days and getting ready for a couple of comic conventions, so, stay tuned. I promise to write more. Oh, speaking of teaser art, the featured image here is a western style scene from Vile. It features a character named Masterson Kline from the story. Antonio Brandao did an amazing job bringing his character to life and helping to define him and the other characters in the story. Anyway! Anyone is welcome to use it for non commercial uses. If anyone is interested in using art form the book as wallpaper for their computers, or home :).
Eleonora Dalla Rosa did the amazing colors on the previously described art too.
Oh, and we have prints coming today as well as a revised updated edition of Vile coming tomorrow, which is the amazing Black Sparrow’s B-Day. Happy Birthday love.
So, thanks to my new pal Miles Greb, of ‘After the Gold Rush’ fame, I’ll be attending Central City Comic-Con in Yakima, WA. October 14th-16th.
I’ll have some of the first issue of Vile: Legends of Thunder Valley, so great cards and some other goodies. Help support indie Comics and come see me.
Miles will be there and I’m sure it will be a great time. SO thankful for the opportunity to do my first con as a creator. Remember that we’re booth 307
Have a look at some teaser art for the finished One-shot tale that is releasing on Rats and Crows publishing in January 2017.
Hello everyone. I wanted to drop in and touch base. Because, it has really been too long. I was inspired, got off of my butt, and now Vile is off of life support and running naked through the woods. I’ve added some really great members to the team, made some more friends and gotten things going again. Issue #2 is nearly complete! Although, the news about issue #2 has to wait, because we have another publisher! Rats and Crows Publishing, and they have some great things in the works.
Yeah, so right now, the plan for Vile is to release it once the story is completed and release it in February. Finally, the REAL hard work can begin. That brings me to the point of the writing. The new team.
But before we do, my new pal Steve Orlando, the writer for Midnighter, Super-Girl and Batman and Robin Eternal had this to say about Vile: Legends of Thunder Valley
VILE is a bold drumbeat resounding with Native American culture infused with raw myth and wonder — a rich, textured world where new gods are born every day and wake to welcome the tough face of a new century.
I’m honored this fine writer and person took the time to not only BUY Vile Legend, but to also give me this blurb. We need more people like Steve Orlando in the world.
The members of Vile: Legends of Thunder Valley, or Vile #2
Letterer Dyan Johnson working on another page for Vile.
I was impressed with the writing style and originality of the story. Richard has a way of expressing emotional topics without cluttering up the page with unnecessary details.
What kind of research did you do to prepare for the work?
I read issue #01 and fell in love with the story. After that, I winged-it.
What is your favorite aspect of working on Vile #2?
I love our team. Everyone is friendly and communicative, and I feel we each find a piece of ourselves in this story. It’s important that all members care about the project from the first read of the script to the final product.
Are there any moments or portions of the book that you are most proud of?
Page 09. I think we all put our hearts into our first page as a team and it turned out beautifully.
For anyone that is unfamiliar with your work, please describe your style and approach? Follow up-where can we find more of your work?
Ha. I think my style should be called, “hot mess,” but in a positive way I suppose. I tend to think a bit out of the box. My style is basically my brain trying to organize itself on paper. I don’t ask the questions. More hot mess can be found on my website: dyanj.com. (That sounds dirtier than it is.)
In your words, give us a brief pitch for Vile?
A Native American woman is kidnapped by an outsider and must fend for herself. Little does her captor know, she puts up one hell of a fight. The bounty hunters are probably helpful, too.
What was the one tool you used most on Vile? It can be a certain sized pencil, an eraser, something new that you tried out?
The pen tool in Adobe Illustrator — the most important tool in the program. It takes a lot of patience to learn, but it makes all the difference between professional and amateur work.
Every member of our team lives far apart from every other. We have Wa, OH, Portugal and London I believe. Is there anything you would do to help streamline things?
I think we’ve got it already.
Dyan-I love what you were able to do with little direction from me. You came on to the project before Eleonora and Antonio. How did you find your direction with the first 8 pages, and then switch gears to the next phase? Antonio has a really different style than the previous artist in this issue.
I prefaced every page with, “if this is too out of the box, I can fix it…” but Richard never held back. Basically, I dumped all the noise in my head out on paper and took it from there. That’s how this stuff works, right?
Dyan Johnson lettering example and sneak preview for Vile.
My posts have been pretty sporadic. So much going on and I’ll post on those things soon enough. Right now, I want to announce the premier of my (hopefully) self created comic strip “This Pretty Rocket.” It’s going to be little silly stuff from my life. For the most part, everything will be real pictures that are horribly edited by myself. Hopefully I’ll become good enough to start drawing over the images and be able to do a comic strip without an artist. I have to be able to create and waiting on an artist can be a pain in the royal ass.It’ll often star The Black Sparrow. In fact, the first strip is from a trip we shared to Mt. Adams. Without all that ado…
Hey friends. Right now, Vile is available in 3 locations in and around Seattle, with more to come. Arcane has sold out and restocked once already, so go get your copies.
*update*
Couple of items here. Arcane comics in Ballard has purchased 15 copies of Vile total. I’ve restocked 3 times there. Tiny little shop with knowledgeable staff and an area upfront near the register that moves copies. Other than their exceptional staff, easy to find location and well placed new comics, I cant figure out why they’ve sold so many copies of the book. Other stores have sold copies, but just not as well as Arcane for some reason. Anyway, I’m clearly not complaining, but, I wonder if it’s because I live a block away? Some things to think about.
Subspace comics in Lynnwood WA. is now on board to carry Vile #1. It’s in the back of the store in their Independent area. It’s a great well lit shop that is next door to an AWESOME used video game store named Another Castle Games. Cool and helpful staff. I found a copy of Shadow of Colossus for 16.50, and a copy of The Getaway for $1.00. Crazy good prices. They have a new, unopened copy of Shadow for $40.00. Anyway, if you’re in the area, stop by both stores.
That’s right. Vile issue #1 is available to order via Indy Planet. IT’s available via Amazon Kindle already, but not physically. I’ll add the link below. We will also have it available in shops in Seattle WA and Portland Oregon. Don’t ask me why I abbreviated WA and not Oregon either.
The first store to physically carry Vile #1 will be Mighty Moose Comics in Bellevue, WA. at the Factoria mall.
Thanks to Ka-Blam and to Sara Machajewski for the late late help.
So, there it is. It’s done. It’s available VIA Amazon Kindle right now, and Comixology, iTunes and PHYSICAL copies are in the works as we speak.
Sara Machajewski took over the colors and inks for the second chapter and did an amazing job. I’ll post updates when I get the chance. Thanks so much everyone.
Disclaimer-the characters in this story are owned by Marvel Comics. This is a speculative story.
“What will our jobs think? If, if they find out?” Ben said to Peter. Not catching the irony of his own statement.
“You mean our jobs as web-slinging Spider-Men? Those jobs?” Peter scolded. Peter sat up straight in the bed. He scratched his bare chest and waited for an answer.
“You know what I mean. It’s too bad you didn’t get the funny bits of DNA from the real Peter Parker.” Ben replied. He was already sitting up in bed. He turned to look at his costume. It was lying in a clump on the floor. He wondered why he’d kept that awful blue hoodie for so long.
“Well, some of us live in somewhat progressive dimensions. Once they get past the clone thing, we could survive it. As far as PR goes anyway.”
“Yeah. But, what about, I mean, the clone thing. The moral ramifications.”
Peter leaned in as if to kiss Ben. “I’ll show you a ramification.”
“Peter- we’re clones. And, closeted gay men from different dimensions. But, they’ve got to assume some of us would be gay, right. Just the percentages.”
“Yeah, I got that part. I am a giant moral ramification. Our existence is a cosmic clusterfuck of moral ambiguity, isn’t it?” Peter says angrily. It was something a spiteful Superior Spider-Man would say. Ben lept out of bed, and onto the ceiling. He stands, upside down, and storms off towards the door. THWIP. Peter will have none of it. He webs Ben down by the buttocks to the bed. He catches Ben, and rolls him over on the bed.
“I hate it when you wear those webshooters in bed.” Ben mutters, before Peter can kiss him.
“Do you ever wonder what our kids would look like?” Ben asks, missing the irony entirely.
Peter snorts from laughter. THWIP THWIP. Ben’s hands have been webbed to the bed posts.
“I do, my lovely Ben Reilly. They’d have your heart, and my heart. But they’d have your eyes. Well, and mine too. Now, it’s my turn to be Doc Ock and you escape from my evil clutches.”
“Maybe, we should role-play Black Cat, or Venom. The whole Doc Ock thing is still kind of fresh, ya know?”
Hey all, as many of you know I’ve been sharing stories and talking comics with you for awhile. I’ve also been an aspiring comic creator for sometime as well. I’m happy to say that TWO of my comics have been picked up by publishers. The first is “VILE” and Alterna Comics has decided to publish the indie comic. The second is an ongoing series called GEARS AND GHOSTS by INC. comics.
Right now, I’m trying to raise the money to get VILE finished and out to publication late this summer. I have to raise money to finish the costs and hoping some of my readers could help spread the word. Spreading the word, contributing or perhaps offering services are all great and useful ways to contribute. I’m adding the campaign links below, as well as the web address. It goes without saying that I won’t be reviewing any more comics, but Hank may still! Thanks so much and please keep coming back, as I’ll still do some video games stuff as well as posting about my comics, and your news too.
CrowSong Productions 