Too Many Projects

Out here on the west side of town in south Peoria things are good, except for the allergies. I have had a steady cough for about 3 weeks at this point. It always happens at this time of year. Should clear up in a couple more weeks.

- -- Comics Never Stop is back. After quite a long hiatus, the newspaper is back.  

Big thanx to my beautiful wife for helping me distribute at First Fridays in Phoenix. I have some copies left and plan on distributing those at the Phoenix Comicon. So if you have been a regular reader and did not get one, stop by and see me at the show and ask for the Spring edition. The plan is to have another newspaper to distribute at the convention.

- -- Secret Project! The secret project that I was commissioned to do is out. Released at AZ Eventure Con, a 19 card set of comic creators, featuring some of Arizona's best and brightest.  

I'm sure Jesse James still has some, hit him up if you want to purchase a set.

- -- It is finally happening, the Cousin Harold resin figure. I should have these ready by summer. There is a lot of post casting work that needs to be done on this figure. These will probably be standard colored, with a black & white edition planned for later this year.

 - -- Cousin Harold the webcomic is in full swing. Super excited about the storylines I'm currently working on. In one storyline, Harold has quite being a detective and run off to join the circus. This story is influenced by many of the Coro Coro manga that I have been checking out lately. The other storyline features Fester and Lea taking over the detective business. Below is a picture of the traininn story that Fester and Lea are currently involved in.

- -- Oh and then there The Time Master resin figures. I should begin to paint these guys this week and will hopefully have them for sale mid-April. More pictures to come as the painting process begins.

So that is a lot of stuff going on and I just completed Mini-Comic Day yesterday, look for an update about that event midweek. These are also some other things cooking I'm trying to wrap up the Space Monstas card set, if that is done in time I have another card set idea for the Phoenix Comicon. I'm working on the next Ratchet Robots figure idea, hoping to release this one through DKE at SDCC. So my plate is very full at the moment.

Thanx for your support, it really means a lot to me.

- denny

Things are Happening

Out west here on the southwest side of Peoria, AZ things have started to heat up already this year. Temperatures in 80's hit for most of last week. We expect the temps to go back down, but this winter has been relatively mild. Good thing too, because I'm busy making figures, comics, cards and other things.

- -- First up; My Space Monstas figure was reviewed by the Sucklord.

Really wish he would have read the comic first. I think he set up the package breaking. I had to open 8 figures to re-card them because of some issues with the cards. To break them open (without peeling them) we really had to swing them about pretty hard. I have changed glues however because I am aware of at least one other package coming open. As for the "f*ck You" attitude that he wanted to see. I might be the only bootleg figure maker that does not come from that school. I treat my work as a serious art form.

I appreciate the positive comments about the trading cards (should have the set done for Phoenix Comicon). I also appreciate him noticing how realized the project is. I have spent a many hours planning out Space Mopnstas and this is proof that those hours were well worth it. Kind of sad to see the Sucklord closing up shop on his part of the bootleg figure business, but I guess that opens more space for me.

- -- I really have been busy doing things but nothing is at a stage where I can show you. I'm about halfway through Cousin Harold 12. I expect to release this book in May maybe April. I have been planning out some figures, but that got put on hold to complete a secret commission project for the AZ Eventure Con.

- -- Speaking of the AZ Eventure Con. I will be there Saturday with the new Cousin Harold comic, the first Space Monstas comic and the new Jenny Spookawski mini-comic. Plus figures, t-shirts and the AZ Eventure Con will be selling a secret project that I created for them. Should be a super fun time. Tickets have to be purchased before arriving at the show, there will be no tickets sold at the door (at least that is what I have been told) and tickets are limited.

 - -- Also available at the show in the goodie (swag) bags the latest edition of the Comics Never Stop newspaper. Yess it is back and better than ever. Don't fall for the imitation, get the original comic newspaper.

I will also be handing them out at the March First Friday event.

Well that is about all for this newsletter. I'm going to try and get back to weekly (or bi-weekly) after the convention. I really have a lot of things planned for this year and would like to use the newsletter to keep my on track.

Thanx for your support,

-denny 

Where?

Where did the time go? It's been 2 weeks since I posted a newsletter update. I have been really busy making comics and wrapping up the summer day job. Much has happened in those 2 weeks.

- -- The Comics Never Stop SDCC Edition has been published. We have printed over 3000 of these papers to hand out. Most will be handed out in the Gaslamp District before and after the San Diego Comic Con each day. Some will make it to the normal stops in Arizona this coming weekend. If you cannot find one you can always stop by Small Press M11 and M12 if you are at the San Diego Comic Con and ask for a copy.

- -- Last newsletter I shared a few of the strips that are in the paper. Above are some of the others. The paper looks awesome. I hope you can get yourself a copy.

- -- Today I wrapped up strips for Cousin Harold 10 and sent the book off to the printers. If all goes well I should have copies at SDCC for sale and will be sending Kickstarter packs out the Monday before I leave for the convention. Cover pictured above. This issue features a 28 page story. While I had fun writing a longer piece. I think I enjoy writing the smaller pieces more. I have some plans to try something that mixes the two ideas for a storyline that will be running in issues 12-14. More information on this when I start working on that story.

- -- Making an Ashcan Variant Edition of the Space Mummy resin figure to sell at SDCC these will be limited to 13 and will be priced at $40 each. I will also have the regular edition of the Space Mummy figure available for $30 at the convention.

- -- Comic of the week - So many good ones.- I would have to say it was Tobudasai by Laurent Romero. Part Toriyama/Part Aragones all fun. I really enjoyed this book quite a bit.

Okay I should be back Sunday morning with a little more information about the San Diego Comic Con, until then Take Care!

-denny

Publisher Hat On

Well it is HOT on the west side of town today 120+ HOT. Good thing I'm inside typing up this newsletter post.

- --This week has been about the Comics Never Stop paper. Strips were due last week and as usual we had some no shows. So I found some people to to those peoples spots and strips are rolling in. Also one of the advertisers did not come through (probably because they were tied to one of the strips that did not arrive). So lots of scrabbling is going on this week. Still a little was from being ready to send it off to the printers, but this volume of the paper looks great. (I will be sharing the title panels of a few of the strips throughout this post).

- -- I spent my week working on the Cousin Harold strip for the paper. This strip was based on a mistake image that I create din Illustrator a couple of years ago. I accidentally deleted everythins but Harold's eyes and nose and thought it looked cool. So I filled that image away in the back of my head and waited until I had a chance to use it.

- -- Switching to SDCC mode even though I have a couple weeks of summer school to teach I still have a comic to finish (Cousin Harold 10) and some special color ways of the Space Mummy resin Figure to make (the heart jems arrived yesterday).

- -- Comic of the week, Fantastic Four #99 by Lee and Kirby. I love these FF issues and I'm so glad my family takes me to the comic shop for my birthday and father's day to pick one out.

Okay until next week, take care of yourself and be nice to others - we are all in this together!

-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!

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
  

Getting Ready

Things are always either up or down out west here in P-Town. This week I have had to ride the waves both directions. It gets tiring at times.

- --The majority of my time is being spent on making Cousin Harold 10, but I'm also working on many side projects at the same time.

- --One of those projects is my Free Comic Book Day edition of Cousin Harold. Super excited to share this story. I had a great time making in over spring break. I will be appearing at Jesse JAmes Comics and Samurai Comics this year. Jesse James should be for their midnight opening for about an hour and I will be at Samurai when they open Saturday morning for a couple of hours. Should be super fun - I LOVE FCBD!!!!!

- --I also have been working on Space Monstas. I originally had planned on dropping a Space Monstas mini at Jesse James Comics for FCBD, but this is not going to happen. I will have an Ashcan available at Phoenix Comicon (where I'm a guest this year, the official announcement has not been made, but I'm listed on their site). I plan on try my hand a silk screening a cover for this special issue (wish me luck).

- --Also putting together some buttons and stickers for Space Monstas featuring Space Mummy. Super Excited being so close to sharing this new series with you.

- --The latest edition of the Comics Never Stop newspaper arrived on Friday in all of it's newsprint glory. We will be distributing this edition the first couple weeks of May. Super excited about the paper and it's future. We are having a big meeting next week and have some big plans for the paper during the next year.

- --Comic of the week - Batgirl #50. The Fletcher/Stewart/Tarr run on this book has been on of my favorite runs of the last year on any book. Sad to see them leaving, but glad they are doing a book together over at Image (Motor Crush).

Okay until next week - Take Care,

-denny!

Delivery Day

It's been HOT out here on the west side of town. Good thing I have been inside most of the week creating comics.

- -- It been a normal week for creating. One strip don each day (Monday, Tuesday and Thursday). Nothing special happening, I will save the special for next week (Saturday to be exact). An announcement should be coming Monday.

- -- Friday was First Friday in downtown Phoenix and it's an odd month so that means we released a new Comic Never Stop newspaper. Gave out 300+ papers on the corners of Roosevelt Row. Thanx to Dadicus (John Derrick West), Bryan Graham and Eric Mengel for their help.)

- -- Saturday was delivery day for the Comics Never Stop newspaper and I hit up spots from Mesa to Peoria. Brian Augustyn delivered papers to the Chandler area over the weekend and Bryan Graham hit the downtown Phoenix spots. Over 600 papers were distributed. Things are really blowing up with this 4th volume. The future is looking very bright.

Thinking back to about a month ago, I almost pulled the plug on the paper out of frustration. Glad I work through it because I believe we have something special here and maybe even the start of of my publishing company.

- -- Comic of the week Nick Fury Agent of S.H.E.I.L.D. #7. I saw a black and white version this cover a couple of weeks ago and became obsessed with getting a copy, but I had to wait until I had a vehicle to drive downtown and purchase a copy. It was a fun book, nothing earth shattering, but I enjoyed it.

Kind of short this week.

Until next week - Take Care!

-denny 

Light Week

So it's been a light work week over here on the west side of Peoria. Mostly due to my vehicle being towed to the mechanic on Wednesday. Good thing I had money set a side for the repairs, but I'm out a vehicle for the next couple of weeks. Thankfully my father-in-law loaned me his car to get to work (Thanx Kurt!).

- -- Continuing work on Cousin Harold #10, still moving kinda slow, but I finished the first 3 pages this week, so things should start picking up.

Also started work on Cousin Harold #11, which will feature a lot of the shorter works that I'm creating this week. I have decided to start reprinting the Free Comic Book Day stories and other stories in the main series. It was pointed out by Eric Mengel (creator of Ocho) that I would be on issue #15 or 16 by now if I include all of my stories in the regular series. So I will start doing this. The original thought was to try and get Cousin Harold on a bi-monthly schedule, but that means I would not be able to work on other projects (Jenny Spookawski, Space Monstas, etc). So I'm just shooTing for maybe 4 issues a year starting in 2017 (Yep I'm already plannign next year, this year was planned last year).

- -- Friday appeared to be story day. The story for the the Cousin Harold Free Comic Book Day Edition appeared to me after clicking on a link on Facebook about how you can see the shipwrecks in Lake Michigan because the water is so clear. I then typed in shipwrecks on Goggle Images and the story just popped in my head when I was the picture above.

I did the page of notes below while my students were working on a quiz in class. I couldn't let these ideas leave without getting them down on paper.

- -- Friday night I had the honor of lettering the next Second Rate City strip for Brian Augustyn and John Derrick West. Cannot wait until you all get to see this strip in print (Comics Never Stop volume 5 due out in May).

- -- Saturday morning I woke up with an idea for a Comics Never Stop Cousin Harold strip and wrote down a couple of sentences. Then at the gym panel images started to form in my head so I took a couple selfies to remind me of what those panels should look like. I'm sure the images will only make sense to me, but it worked and I remembered the story once I looked at them.

- -- Next Friday I will be at First Friday distributing the latest volume of Comics Never Stop. On Saturday I will be distributing the paper across the valley (in my wife's car).

- -- Comic of the Week - Ganges #5 by Kevin Hizenga. (While I still enjoyed #3 and 4 more.) This book was Awesome! IF you are looking for something a little different, that shows some of the possibilities that comic storytelling can achieve this series is it.

So that was a light week, huh?

Until next week, Take CARE!

-denny

Lots Happening

Lots of Stuff happening. It has been a busy week!

- --Monday started off with several phone calls regarding the Comic Never Stop newspaper. Seems I have found a good partner to help me with the paper in Albert Morales. Monday we planned out volume 5 (May/June) and Volume 6 (July/August). Volume 6 will be a special SDCC edition that will be given out at SDCC in the Gaslamp District as well as the normal drop offs in Arizona. The plan is to make this volume 12 pages. I thought that we would have trouble finding ads, but by week's end we had 6 ads lined up for this special edition, thanks to Albert. Also a shout out to John Derek West (who I call Dadicus) for his help in finding new contributing artist for the newspaper. Very excited about the future of the paper. Things are looking AMAZING!

- --Did some Cousin Harold strips during the week, still not producing 5 strips a week because of other projects going on. Also completed layouts for the next 3 pages of the Space Monstas story. I should be free to work on both of these project regularly next weekend.

- --So what is getting in the way of these projects, well charity. I have been asked to contribute a 2 page full color Cousin Harold story to a charity anthology that is being published by a local business. I'm really excited about this project. Not sure if I'm allowed to say what business is putting out this book yet, but I can give you a hint I have been shopping with this local business since I was a teen (it's not a comic shop). The location I originally shopped at was on 19th Ave. & Thunderbird (which is no longer there).

After hours of wracking my brain working on the story for this charity comic, I scrapped all of my work and wrote a much better story in about 20 minutes. When it is not coming smoothly I know I'm going the wrong way. Above is the 2 page script/layouts for the story. I'm doing very little in the way of drawing in my layouts these days, just a couple scribbles here and there.

At this point I have only 3 panels to finish for the charity story. Then I can get back to my regular work schedule.

- --The above picture compares my table at a Castle-N;Coasters event 4 years ago and my table at the Amazing Arizona Comic Con last weekend. That is one heck of a lot of books produced in 4 years. A side note, note all of my books fit on the table these days, so the Amazing table set up was missing about 4 books (of which the 2 trades on the table from CNC are a part of). Really proud of myself.

- --The book of the week is Starve #6. I'm a big fan of this series. Love the storytelling and how the whole story is playing out. If I had to recommended an issue to start with it would be #2 or just buy the first trade.

- --Hope you are all enjoying these newsletters, they were inspired by the newsletters that I received from Warren Ellis. At first I did not think I would have enough to talk about, but apparently I do a lot of work each week.

Thanx for reading,

-denny