No Blues For These Comics Projects
Proofs are in for Feed Them to the Crows #1. These are samples as to what the final printed comic will look like. Overall, I’m pleased with how this turned out. Comic Impressions has been my go-to printer for the past few books and they always do a great job. I tried a self-cover with this one, which means the cover paper stock is the same thickness and type as the interior pages. I did not like it. Previous books I’ve done have had a 100# cover as compared to the 70# interiors, so I am upping the cover stock for the book. I cleared all that up with the printer today and we should be set. The books should arrive in a couple weeks.
What makes me especially pleased with this is that despite these little details and adjustments, we are still on track to deliver the book based on the initial deadline of July. My last few campaigns missed the delivery dates. While we ultimately got the book out to backers, it was delayed. This will be right on track.
If you want to snag a copy, the Kickstarter campaign is still open for late pledges. I will be closing that once fulfillment begins.
In other news, I finished a rewrite of Project Pirates #1, which I am tentatively calling Special Delivery. This was done after some notes from my buddy, Phil Butehorn. With this rewrite done, I have sent it over to an editor to give it a look and get some more detailed notes. I asked for some specifics too to make sure that certain points I was going for were resonating, particularly around the character relationships. Since these characters have been in my head for a little while, their friendship makes sense and has been running for ages. I need to make sure that translated to the page.
Finally, Micah completed the letters on Clean Up Crew #1! With the help of designer extraordinaire, Darren Vogt (who also designed the awesome logo), I’ve got a reader PDF all set. If any mutuals are up for taking a look at this new book before I launch the Kickstarter for it later this summer, please let me know. I’d love to get some quotes and POV. I really love how this book has turned out.
Reading through the PDF was such a joy. This is a story that’s been bouncing around my head for over two decades. To see it come to life here with Samir’s artwork, Colin’s colors, and Micah’s letters is such a great feeling. I could not be more happy with the end result. Just thinking about it brings a smile to my face.
If you want to be notified when the Kickstarter launches, make sure to click the button below and sign up so you’ll get the message. I’m building the campaign out and there are some great rewards in store including original artwork.
Darren plays a part in this section of the newsletter too. He worked as the Marketing Designer on The Return of the Blues Brothers: The Escape of Joliet Jake from Z2 Comics. He shared some info about the book online and it immediately caught my attention. I love everything about the Blues Brothers. The original movie is one of my favorites. As a write this, I can see a framed poster of it hanging on the back of my office door. I’ve had this since college.
I was completely unaware of the graphic novel so I made sure to pick it up ASAP. I read through all of it in one sitting over the weekend and loved everything about it. This book captured all of the fun energy that went into the movie. It put some new spins on gags from the film, but it wasn’t just playing the hits. This book serves as a true additional chapter to the story of Jake and Elwood. It’s just so much fun.
I also want to highlight Felipe Sobreiro’s artwork. It’s no easy task to jump into an already established work with so few entries yet so much history. Felipe knocked it out of the park. I love all the little sight gags sprinkled throughout the whole book. I love the manic feeling that comes with every page, like the characters are ready to burst right out of this thing and run amok in your living room. I love the overall vibe.
Music is so important in The Blues Brothers and you feel that in every page of this book. I often shrug when music is included in a comic. It can feel pretentious, like creators putting up cryptic song lyrics as an away message on AOL Instant Messenger. (That’s a reference that a specific generation of people will get, but those that do will instantly understand.) That’s not the case here. There’s this feeling that these people need to create music. They need to be on stage. They won’t let anyone stop them. That’s the energy of The Blues Brothers. That’s what this book has. It’s awesome.