So, there’s something I have to tell you.
I’m not quite sure how to say it.
But I think it’s time I got this off my chest.
Here goes:
Wait! No, that’s not it.
(Sorry, I’m a little obsessed with a certain show.)
What I mean to say is:
Thank you.
Thanks for reading, thanks for backing, thanks for showing up.
Seriously, one of my favorite parts of Kickstarter is seeing all the familiar names who show up again and again to support these books.
So: thank you.
You make it all worth it.
What does next year hold in store?
Hopefully, a lot more comics.
Thanks to some printer problems, we were only able to run two campaigns this year, but hold onto your butts, because we’re coming out of the gates strong in 2023.
Starting with:
BLAZING BLADE OF FRANKENSTEIN #2
Our long awaited second issue lands on Kickstarter next month, and we'd like you to be among the first to find out when we launch, so pretty please click the image above or...
CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW BLAZING BLADE OF FRANKENSTEIN #2 ON KICKSTARTER
(More details on our launch date, plus full cover reveals and a sneak peek after the holidays.)
BBoF will be shortly followed by…
CARMILLA UNBOUND
Over at Bloodline Comics, Dave Schrader and I are continuing (actually, prequel-ing) Carmilla’s adventures from NIGHTMARE THEATER 2. Artist Ismael Canales returns to help us chronicle this bloody-but-sexy tale, and we know you’re gonna want to…
CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW CARMILLA UNBOUND ON KICKSTARTER
But wait, there’s more!
PRODIGAL SON (“starring” Martin Kove AKA Sensei Kreese), NIGHTMARE THEATER 3-D, PBOW: WORLD WAR BITCH #4, and hopefully a few surprises should be coming your way in 2023.
So, as the great Marvin Berry would say…
Don’t nobody go nowhere.
But before I disappear to gorge myself on Christmas cookies and Egg Nog, I’d like to leave you with a few recommendations.
This isn’t a “Best Of” list—just a few things I enjoyed this year that I think you might like too.
And I fully cop to recency bias, because who the hell can remember what they did earlier this year?
Favorite Half-Hour Sitcom: THE REBOOT on Hulu sports a great cast (Judy Greer, Keegan-Michael Key, Johnny Knoxville and Paul Reiser among many others) and some sharp writing from Modern Family’s Steve Levitan and staff. This series, about the cast and crew of an early-aughts sitcom coming together for a modern reboot, has some memorable characters and more than a few belly-laughs.
Favorite Hour-Long Drama: Anyone who knows me knows I can barely sit still for an hour. I struggle watching anything longer than 22 minutes, but THE WHITE LOTUS somehow flies by, despite a slow burn plot. I didn’t think it was possible for Mike White and company to top season 1, but season 2 blew it out of the water. Dark, funny, and compelling, this is some of the best writing and acting you’ll see anywhere.
Favorite Indie Comics Publisher: Aftershock consistently puts out some of the best books on the stands. A CALCULATED MAN, BEYOND THE BREACH, and CHICKEN DEVIL have all been recent highlights, but I’m sure there’s many more I’m forgetting. Despite some recent bad press, I still think this publisher deserves support, if only to support the creators who are owed money… because if the publisher’s cash flow completely dries up, no one gets paid. And I’d hate to see a quality publisher go down the drain.
Favorite App: The closest comic shop to me is a 45-minute drive, so I’m doing a lot of my comics reading on an iPad these days. And I’m loving the hell out of the DC UNIVERSE app. I recently upgraded to their Ultra plan, and now I get to read new books a month after they hit the stands. I’m a Batman nerd, so mostly that means I’m digging into Ram V’s great new Detective Comics run, or Chip Zdarsky’s excellent Batman: The Knight, or Tom King and Phil Hester’s noirish Gotham City: Year One. But I’m also able to re-visit classic runs from my (too long ago) youth, like Mike W. Barr and Alan Davis’ love letter to the Silver Age Dynamic Duo, or Jim Starlin and Jim Aparo’s much darker take on the Boy Wonder. Also: did I mention I like Batman?
Favorite Movie Named The Batman: THE BATMAN
Favorite Podcast(s): I’m still digging SMARTLESS with Will Arnett, Jason Batman Bateman, and Sean Hayes. (One 2022 highlight: my lady-friend and I saw them live on tour in Chicago this February, with guests Andy Richter and Jeff Tweedy of Wilco.) But my new podcast obsessions are CONAN O’BRIEN NEEDS A FRIEND and FLY ON THE WALL (with Dana Carvey and David Spade). The former is a polished production with an experienced host, while the latter is often a train wreck… but if you can stand a little chaos, it’s also fascinating and funny look at the inner workings of Saturday Night Live.
Speaking of…
Favorite New SNL skit:
And with that, I’ll bid you a Happy/Merry.
Thanks again for all your support this year.
See you in 2023!
- Clay
P.S. - What did you enjoy this year? Hit reply or drop a comment and let me know!