Crunch Time

It's CRUNCH TIME out here in the west valley. Usually I have everything ready for the Phoenix Comicon at the beginning of May. Well this year life has gotten in the way, so I have a lot to do between now and June 2nd.

- -- The most important thing is to finish the Space Monstas story. I have 6 pages done, but still need to complete 6 pages. I think I got this, I mean I have done 8 and 16 page stories in less than 24 hours multiple times. I'm just trying for a little higher level than I have done in the past. So while I work on those pages, you can check out the first 3 pages here.

Not sure if I will have a version of this book for sale or if it will only be available with the purchase of a Space Mummy toy of the Space Monstas T-shirt. I want to do a silk screen cover for the sale version, but who knows if I will have time.

- -- I have to finish 2 Cousin Harold pages this week. This is so that I can take next week off for the convention. I think I got this easily, but with the 6 pages of Space Monstas it might be a little more challenging.

- -- I have 20 toys to paint. The plan is to complete one painting process each day. I should be able to get this done, however those 6 Space Monstas pages might get in the way.

- -- I have already copies the DIY COMIC panel handouts. Hopefully Eric Mengel will get them assembled so I can trim them next week. (The DIY COMIC presentation is Friday June 3rd from 3-4pm in North 121C at the Phoenix Comicon.)

- -- Really I'm in pretty good shape. Except for those 6 Space Monstas pages. I can do this.

- -- Comic of the Week, Fantastic Four #98 by Lee & Kirby. I love those old book. My family lets me pick out one for my birthday and father's day each year. Hopefully my kids will get good jobs and left me purchase more expensive ones when they grow up. I hope to one day own the whole Lee & Kirby run in comic form.

- -- I will be at Artist Ally #1424 for this years Phoenix Comicon.

Okay that is about it, I got to get those Space Monstas pages done. (Can you tell there really is only one thing that I'm worried about?)

Take Care,

-denny!

I DID IT!

WOW! Things move quick out here on the west side in sunny Peoria.

- --I Did It!!! It's Finished - at this point I have some Space Mummy toys. I was possessed last weekend and had to turn my figures in to the complete project, carded an all. It feels so good to have these toys in my hands (after 4 months of failing it felt great to finally have been successful). Each toys is hand made and painted. I also make the cards by hand. I'm a very DIY creator.

- --I have shown everyone and anyone these toys and the feedback is excellent. I cannot wait to start selling them on June 2nd. The plan is to have about 5 available at my online store and the rest will be available at the Phoenix Comicon. Whatever doe snot sell at the show will be put up online after the show. If I should sell out give me a week or two and I should have more in stock (remember he is unlimited)

- --That success however, came with a small price. I did something wrong and my mold will no longer make toys, I broke it. So this morning I'm attempting to make a new mold. My goal with the Space Mummy figure has been to keep him in production for as long as I do the comic. He is the main character and I would hate to tell a new fan, "Good Luck finding one of those, I only made 20!" So going against what most people seem to be doing with toy making, Space Mummy will be an unlimited toy that I will keep in production. This will not be true for the other characters, they will be limited to around 20 or 1 mold, which ever is more. The plan is to sell the Space Mummy figures for $30 and the others for $40-50. Also planning some short run versions of the Space Mummy that will be in the $40-50 range.

With all this toy talk you might have forg0tten that I make comics.

- --Cousin Harold is coming along nicely, I'm about half way through issue 10, which should be done for the San Diego comic con.

- --Space Monstas is moving slower than I expected (probably due to the time I set a side to create it has been use to create the toy). I still expect to have an Ashcan/Preview edition ready for the Phoenix Comic Con.


Also this week.

 

- --Friday was First Friday and I delivered over 400 copies of the latest Comics Never Stop to the masses. Great reception as always. Big things are in the works for Comics Never Stop, very excited about the future of this project.

- --Saturday was Free Comic Book Day. I would like to thank Jesse James Comics and Samurai Comics for having Eric Mengel and myself out. I gave away over 100 copies of the Cousin Harold FCBD Edition to people and had some great conversations about life and comics. This was my 6th FCBD Edition of Cousin Harold and an awesome story. For those of you who did not get a copy I will be reprinting the story as part of Cousin Harold 11.

- --Comic of the Week - - - Renato Jones ONE% by Kaare Andrew. This book is BIG. I think when other creators see this book they are going to want to start creating their own independent work and that makes me happy. I like reading Marvel and DC books, but I love reading Image titles (and other creator owned works).

Take care,

-Denny!

My house has turned into a Toy Factory

Toys have taken over today as I became super inspired and possessed with working on my Space Mummy toys. Nothing else got done today, including this newsletter. So please enjoy these pictures.

and we all know the Comic of the Week was Doctor Strange 7 (I'm a mark for Chris Bachalo). But really this story is Good!

Hopefully I will have a card toy picture for you next week.

Take Care,

-denny

TOYS - They are Happening!

Usually I post early Sunday morning and think about the past week while planning the week a head, but this morning was a little different. I spent my posting time in my toy lab (aka the garage) and finally came up with something. More on this later --

- --The first Comics Never Stop newspaper meeting is in the books and all I can tell you is there are some big plans for 2017, but you will not have to wait until then to see some of them. The first plan is to expanded the page count to 12 pages, that 4 extra strips per volume. We are also planning on increasing the circulation to 2000 copies per volume. And I'm sure I have mentioned it before Volume 6 will be a special SDCC edition distributed at SDCC in the Gaslamp District (We will also be distributing it at the local coffee shops here in AZ. (Also you know things were serious at this meeting because we all forgot to take pictures of this event.)

- --Comic Never Stop Volume 5 will be distributed next week on Saturday and Sunday around the valley. Then the following Friday at the Phoenix First Friday event. Get out and get a copy before they are gone.

- --Cousin Harold 10 is coming along nicely, really enjoying this story. I cut the page count down, I was trying for 32 pages, but realized that that would take me another month to complete so I cut it down to 28 (still 4 pages larger than a normal issue). I also think this will help the story out a little. I had 8 blank pages in my rough script and was not sure how I was going to fill them, now there is only 4.

- --Okay so TOYS - well I finally have it working, the Space Mummy toys are coming out of the pressure pot as I type this. After months of failure and asking the people I know for help (taking a little from each of them), I finally have some toys that I'm happy with. Now to figure out the painting thing and I will have toys for sale on time for the Phoenix Comicon. Now to get the Space Monstas Ashcan Comic finished.

- --Comic of the Week - The Fabulous Fantastic Four Treasury! When I heard that this book reprinted FF #11 and the Galactus Trilogy, I just had to have it. After about a month of looking for it (I try not to hit eBay until 6+ months go by) I found a copy at Zia Records last week. It so awesome seeing this stories oversized and on newsprint. WOW!

Well until next week, TAKE CARE!

-denny
  

Quiet Week for Comics

So while my personal life has been a CrAzY Roller Coaster this week (really this year), comic work has been kind of quite.

- --The big event for this week was the signing at Zia Records on Saturday. Thanks to everyone who came out and bought a book, You Read Us Back When. It seriously looks Awesome and I'm honor to have been a part of this project. If you haven't purchased a copy, they are only available at Zia Records,. Stop in an pick one up.

- --Made some progress with the Space Mummy. I like the head sculpt that I have made. So now I will try making a mold that works (got some lessons this week from friends). Keep your fingers crossed for me.

- --Making progress on Cousin Harold 10. Things are going at a nice pace and the book should be ready for the San Diego Comic Con. Also still folding my Free Comic Book Day offerings, I printed 200 of these books. I'm also taking a page out of my pal Eric Mengel's playbook and working on Cousin Harold 11 at the same time. CH 11 will feature many of the short works I have been doing this year for other publications (the Zia book, Comics Never Stop strips and the FCBD edition). Fun fact, I actually have more of 11 done than 10 at this point.

- --Comic of the Week, Sooner or Later by Milligan, McCarthy and Hewlett. It is so nice to see this collection of these excellent comics from the 80's. Milligan and McCarthy made so awesome books during the 80's and these comics were a pain to track down (mostly because they are one pages in 50 different 2000AD issues from that era. Also Jamie Hewlett is my favorite creator (I had already tracked down all of his issues). Great book, I might even read it again today if I have the time.

Until next week - Take Care,

-denny 

Back on the Toy Grind

After the marathon week of comic making I'm back to my normal schedule and I feel a little lazy.

- --Work continues on what will be Cousin Harold #10. I usually do about 5 strips a week, which makes up a page to a page and a half. The storyline started running online recently you can check it out here.

- --The Zia Record charity book was announced this week, You Read Us Back When Volume 1. I did a 2 page color Cousin Harold story for this book. On April 16th bounce down to any of the Zia Records locations and get a copy. Also there are talks on a signing at one of the Zias that day. I'm planning to be there and will let you know more information when I know.

Back to making toys or at least trying. Very frustrating, but I'm getting there. The bodies for what I'm calling Ralph Ratt Esq (who will be part of my Cartoon Gentlemen line) came out really good. His arms are another story. I only have 1 usable are at this point, but I will keep trying.

 - --Comic of the week hmm.-- Patience by Daniel Clowes. Clowes always delivers an outstanding comic story. If you have not read anything by him I suggest you start. I actually finished reading this last week, but nothing this week really hit me. 

Take care until next week,

-denny!