Hey there -
Sorry to interrupt your freaking out over/celebrating Elon Musk buying Twitter, but we’re doing some freaking out/celebrating of our own here at the FRIED Diner.
(No, Frieda didn’t die. Sorry.)
The truth is, Ilaria Chiocca just sent in her colors for Fabio Ramacci’s cover to PBOW: World War Bitch #3, and I couldn’t wait to share it with you.
Drumroll, please!
No, no, that’s not the cover, it’s Animal from…
Oh, never mind.
Here’s the cover!
Yes, that is indeed a mecha-kaiju shaped like a werewolf.
This issue features a RED XMAS crossover, a RE-FRIED COMICS crossover, and sets a new world record for craziness. Alexandre O. Philippe and I went all out on the script for this one, and if we’re being humble, we think it’s our best installment yet.
As for the variant by Valentina Pinti and Francesco Segala, we took it to the people, and you overwhelmingly voted for version #2:
The campaign launches in two weeks, so give us a follow and get notified the second we go live by clicking either of the images above, or click the button below…
Meanwhile…
Over at BLOODLINE COMICS, my Nightmare Theater co-editor D.E. Schrader has just launched Cannibals on Mars, a blood-soaked sci-fi horror one shot.
This is space horror pulp fiction with bite, and it’s not for the faint of heart (or, uh, viewing at work). Cannibals on Mars works up a voracious appetite w/ sex, violence, and interstellar politics.
Featuring art by Tony Donley, colors by Andres Salazar, and letters by yours truly, this beautifully horrific book sports variant covers from Julie Anderson (IDW's G.I. Joe, Tides in Time) and Ray-Anthony Height (Amazing Spider-Man, Star Wars: Doctor Aphra, and Midnight Tiger)
If nothing else, go check out the video, which is pretty entertaining:
(But while you’re there, you should totally back it, too):
TOP SECRET, Part Deux
The first draft of my top secret book with editor Frank Pittarese has been delivered!
It’s a little early to say much about it, but this script was a dream to work on… and it seemed to write itself.
Expecting first round of notes later this week. Fingers crossed!
Color Me Curious
I’m following a lot of great Substacks these days, and it’s got me wondering:
Would anyone be interested in a paid version of ORDER UP, one that took you behind the scenes of the making of a comic from start to finish?
I haven’t fully thought this through, yet—just spitballing—but thinking it would include outlines, drafts, art in progress, etc, as well as some audio commentary and other goodies.
All annual subscribers would get a copy of the book when it’s done, and maybe some other bonus rewards as well, not available on Kickstarter.
Just kicking the tires on this, but curious to know if anyone would be interested. You can HIT REPLY to let me know or…
Recommended Reading
Speaking of other Substacks, if you like Mature Readers comics, check out Brian K. Vaughan and Niko Henrichon’s Spectators.
The Pride of Baghdad collaborators are turning out stellar work—surprise, surprise—and the best part is, the comic itself is free.
But paid subscribers are getting so much more, including Niko’s thoughts on approaching layouts and Brian’s podcast Mature Readers, where he interviews comic creators like Garth Ennis, whose work on Preacher directly inspired me and Alexandre to create FRIED Comics.
OK, That’s Another Day at the Office…
Thanks to everyone who sent kind words on the new space. I’m happy to report that I finally figured out how to work the printer, so, huzzah!
Now if I only I could figure out where to put a spinner rack…
- Clay