Woof. Today was “Take care of lingering shit” day. Got the H&B site nice and updated, just about squared away Elk’s Run #5 to go to the printer, got a long awaited check, so that I could actually pay some bills, and got most of my invoicing for the week done. I even managed to finally get my writers portfolio squared away (for a last minute possible job.)
I’ve got about four projects percolating, artists already in place on two, and then the other two are still being formulated. I spent a helluva long time prepping Ritual Homicide, and thanks to the whole “story of the book coming true” it was nixed. I’m dying to work with the artist, (the sensational Chris Burnham). My good buddy Gary and I have dueling Post-Apocalypse projects we’re developing seperately, so I get to have fun “Well, when I get to blow up the world,” conversations at least once a week.
Also, got my first look at the finished Dillinger, by James Patrick, which is in Previews next month, and which I edited. It turned out really nicely and I recommend you all give it an order. I’ll post its order number when I get a chance.
Been giving a lot of thought to the realities of publishing lately. The fact is the comic industry is in shambles, despite some record sales for the big boys, things haven’t looked much grimmer for us on the bottom in a long time. I’m in this strange place where the critical acclaim keeps on coming (although Randy Lander manages to actually match my sentiments on the first 3 issues of the book pretty well right here), but the book remains pretty much unchanged in terms of sales. The Bumper Edition seems to have been purchased almost exclusively by our fans who were already on board, and god damn to I love you guys for buying it.
Here’s the thing, I can’t think of any other medium that relies so heavily on its fans getting the word out. Comics… I mean, seriously, how many times have you been in a shop and some guy says, “You should check this out, its awesome,” and bam. You’re done. You try it, you love it. It all comes down to this Lion King-esque circle of life. If you love it, and want it to stick around, all you can do is shout from the treetops that you love it, and hope for the best.
Anyways, back to work.
Hey Josh,
I have to agree with you on the state of the industry where the non-big boys are concerned. (Sadly)
It kills me that a book as outright excellent and original as Elk’s Run can languish at (didn’t you say somewhere) around 1,000 copies, even with all the great press it’s been getting. My local comic shop doesn’t even buy a single copy for the shelf; he just fills the reserves, which is probably me and one other guy from the sound of it.
Here I am, in the bustling metropolis of Little Rock, about to start year two of my five-year plan to write comics, and it sure seems like an uphill struggle, to say the least.
BTW I hope you get the post-apocalypse book off the ground — what is more fun to read about than the end of the world?!
I hope ER 4 is out in a couple of weeks like you were thinking over on the Speakeasy board.
Later!