Recommendations are always fun. I suggest something I think you might enjoy, you give it a try and then are forever in my debt. Beholden to me and only me for all eternity!
Or something like that.
On the flip-side, you may hate what I’ve recommended and then go and swear a blood oath of vengeance to be visited upon my head! That wouldn’t be good.
But I’ll take the chance! Here’s some stuff I’ve been reading and/or listening to lately that I get a kick out of and so maybe you will too.
SUBSTACK(S)
The first thing I thought I’d recommend is substack newsletters. I mean, that’s what you’re reading now, o’ alert ones, so presumably you’d be open to the idea of possibly reading some others, yeah?
I’m subscribed to quite a few myself, but I’ll limit my recommendations to just two(well, technically three, as you’ll find out below) so as not to overwhelm you.
It's Chip Zdarsky's Newsletter, Okay? - since 08/2019
Chip Zdarsky (real name Steve Murray, but keep it on the low) is a talented and prolific comics writer who has worked on a variety of creator-owned and Big Two (Marvel and DC, in case ya didn’t know) properties, most notably Daredevil and Batman. He also drew the creator-owned book Sex Criminals at Image and has written his fair share of comics for indie publishers as well, like Stillwater (also Image/Skybound) and Afterlift (Comixology) the story of a ride-share driver forced into giving a lost soul a ride to Hell.
His comics are pretty terrific, overall, and each one is wholly unique from the last. But beyond that, the real reason you should check out his newsletter is because Chip is a laugh riot. He does tend to get quite profane, so if that isn’t your bag then you’re probably better off avoiding him(not his work though, scoop that right on up) altogether, but if you don’t mind a bit of salty language then I’d strongly recommend heading over to his Substack and subscribing now if not sooner.
Just Douek - since 02/2020
Sheesh! These guys have been doing this waaaaay longer than I have! And here I was thinking the comics folks’ migration to Substack was fairly recent. Chip for over 3 years, and my man Rich Douek’s 3-year Substack anniversary is just around the corner!
Besides the absolutely incredible title of Rich’s Substack, which is reason enough to subscribe if you ask me, the content he produces is pretty incredible in its own right.
Rich has carved a nice little niche in comics by focusing on his horror-writing chops, with creator-owned titles such as Road of Bones(IDW) and Sea of Sorrows(also IDW), but has also shown his range with work like Wailing Blade(Comixtribe) and Gutter Magic(Source Point Press) that’s gotten him to the point in his career where he’s also begun dipping his toes in the Marvel and DC waters, the talented so-and-so!
But what makes Rich’s Substack truly worth subscribing to, in my humble opinion, are his posts on making comics, and not only that, but what it takes to make it in comics outlined by his own experiences doing exactly that. It’s good stuff, you’ll see. Take a look.
COMICS
I mean, how could I go with anything other than…
Loophole Comics is back! Click the logo up above and you’ll be brought to Loophole Comics’ home on Global Comix where you can read the first issue of each of the Loophole Comics library of titles absolutely free.
At this point the first issues of Adamant, The Disasters, Good Samaritan(which is a one-shot, I know, but still counts!), Lesser Evils and Villain Takes All are all available for reading and visual consumption.
I’m hard at work putting up the rest of the Loophole library and plan to have the last two issues of Adamant (#1-4 is up now), as well as all the issues of every other title up as soon as I’m able. Hopefully before the end of the month.
WEBTOON(S)
Wait, don’t just speed scroll past! Hear me out!
Okay, so I’m starting to think that it’s in my best interest to get as many of you subscribed to a webcomic or two(or more!) over at Webtoon, if at all possible, because that’s where MoonRise is going to be published. And if I want you to read, subscribe to and hopefully like (views, likes and subscribes are the lifeblood of any Webtoon series) the episodes of MoonRise I release, it’ll be all the easier if you’ve already visited Webtoon and found some comics you like there. So likely until my own webcomic debuts I’ll be sharing a Webtoon webcomic every Alert that I’m fond of that I think you all might enjoy reading too. Starting with…
I’ve shared this one in the Exner Alert before, I know, but it was the first Webtoon I seriously got into, and it was a bit of a gateway drug for me into some of the other incredible comics I’ll be sharing in the weeks to come. So maybe you’ll get hooked too! #puffpuffpass
Here’s the description from the site itself:
Meet Joe Gomez. He’s got high school on lock – good grades, a cool band, and girls digging his vibe. But just when he’s got the world figured out, he goes and turns into a saber-toothed tiger. A shape-shifting nature spirit known as a Chimera, to be specific. Now Joe needs every single one of his new powers to help save the human race – whether he wants to or not.
That’s a nice, tight synopsis right there.
In all honestly, what writer Justin Jordan and artist John Amor have done with Urban Animal has genuinely inspired the style Cem and I decided to use for our own series, so if you like the adventures of Joe and the gang there’s a fair chance you’ll like MoonRise as well. Give it a shot!
PODCASTS
Way back in the way back a friend of mine and fellow comics writer named Bob Frantz and I founded Loophole Comics together. Eventually Bob and I went our separate ways, with me self-publishing issues of Adamant and the like under the Loophole banner, and Bob going on to partner with another comics writer (and all-around swell guy) Kevin Cuffe to form the powerhouse team know as…
Together, the Word Bros. have run not one, but 4 successful comic book Kickstarter campaigns including the Ringo award-winning Metalshark Bro(Scout Comics) as well as other amazing comics like Dust Pirates and Ninja Nuns(also Scout).
In fact, the Word Bros. have yet another Kickstarter launching later this month! Check out the gorgeous cover for:
So first off, I absolutely love the title of this project, as well as the idea behind it. Get Lich or Die Trying is all about a mishmash crew of lowly monsters that set out to destroy a powerful undead wizard in the hopes of stopping the never-ending stream of murderous, glory-hunting adventurers who end up trampling through the monsters’ homes on their way to defeat the wizard for themselves.
The story is full to the brim with action, fantasy and comedy. A classic underdog tale where unlikely heroes use their creativity and intellect to try and beat the odds and defeat a powerful adversary. The campaign launches on 10/25 and you can be notified by clicking the cover or image below!
But that’s not all! The Word Bros. also host a podcast where they interview comic creators across the comics-creating spectrum. In fact, if you click their banner above you’ll be brought to their Substack page(I told you there was a 3rd recommendation lurking in here) where you’ll find no less than 164 episodes of the Word Bros. doing what they do best - talking shop and sharing laughs with their comics-creating brethren.
CHANNELS
My friend Nick Rounds, who quite honestly I owe quite a bit of my current comics career to, has a genuinely excellent YouTube channel you should all check out called
That’s right, it’s not just a humorous Skyrim gag!
There’s no mistake that Nick has gotten to know some absolutely fascinating people over the years of his existence, and it makes for a truly compelling interview experience listening to them talk about their passions and share their experiences within the confines of a chat with a trusted friend.
The show is currently in its 2nd season (currently 16 episodes deep) after an 11-episode first season, and you can tell that not only are the people that Nick chooses to interview wonderful guests with unique stories to share, but that Nick himself has to be pretty amazing in his own right to have gotten to know so many of them so well. I can vouch for that.
It’s my sincere hope that I’ll have the chance to speak with Nick on an episode of Wait… I Know You in the not-so-distant future so I can thank him in person (well, virtually, but you get the idea) for all he did to help me arrive at this point in my own creative journey.
Quickies
-Dearly Beloved. Remember that wedding I was trying to lose weight for and mostly failed miserably at? Well, it happened this past weekend and despite my rotund frame it was an absolute blast. The groom is my best friend in the world(sans my wife) and his bride is a lovely person through and through. I got the chance to meet friends of my friend I’d never met before(we call that chosen family), see friends of my own I hadn’t seen in years, and meet the bride’s family who were just as lovely as she is. I was honored to be tapped as the best man, and I take a sliver of pride in the fact that my toast managed to hit an emotional chord or two(we was crying, y’all!). There was a beautiful traditional Persian ceremony unlike anything I’d ever experienced before, and afterwards there was food(I ate it) and drink(I drank it) and song(I danced to it) that had everyone enjoying themselves well into the night. And now that it’s over I find myself wondering if I’ll be able to keep trying to lose this weight without that motivating force behind me.
-I know, I know! Yet again I find I’ve shirked my duties and am not writing about the Comics 101 class I’m supposed to be watching before releasing these Alerts. To be perfectly frank, I felt like the recommendations went a little long this Alert so I didn’t want to push it(p-push it real good!) by writing all the things(so many things!) I’ve learned about Characterization from those comics-writing powerhouses Snyder and Cates.
Next Alert though? Oh next Alert you’re getting both barrels, o’ alert ones! Talk then!