Issue 153: Goodbye, 2022
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Happy New Year…
Before I started writing this issue, I went back and looked at the issue I published a year ago. Reading through it, I was startled that it had actually been 365 days since I put that edition together. The things I was talking about, the books that were coming out, my activities—they all seemed so recent.
Time sure does like to mess with your head.
Here we are, though, at the end of another year. I hope 2022 was kind to you and I hope you’re looking forward to what comes next.
Last year, I made a long, rambling list of goals for 2022. I accomplished, well, very few of them. I might just copy and paste that list into my 2023 GOALS document. There are many, many things I wanted to do—some writing or business focused, some personal—but I just got sidetracked or sidelined along the way.
Still, I managed to get a lot of things accomplished! I wrote a ton of comics—almost double what I wrote in 2021. I spent a month in Hollywood as part of a writers room for a TV show. I signed with a management company to help me navigate the waters of LA.
And I survived… with most of my mind intact… which sometimes feels like a big deal in and of itself.
I guess my biggest disappointment is that I didn’t finish my novel. I worked on it quite a bit, but GOBLINVILLE remains unfinished. Maybe if I had been able to just spend a couple of months doing nothing but write the novel, I might have been able to get it over the finish line, at least in a rough form. It will get done this year, by God, no matter what.
Going into this year, despite the rollover goals from 2021, I’m focusing on a few major concepts:
WORK - Somewhere along the way, I feel like I forgot who I am. I’m Cullen %@#%ing Bunn. And I’m going to remind myself… and everyone else of that.
HEALTH - I really mean it this time. My health needs to be a priority.
FAMILY - I want to be a better husband, better dad, and better friend. This is on my list every year, of course.
ADULTING - It’s silly, I know, but I don’t want to do the grown up stuff that we all have to contend with. Often, I just avoid it. No more.
RELAXATION - I need some time to just enjoy myself and focus on my own mental health.
There are some really interesting things on the horizon, my friends. If you check the THINGS TO COME section, you know there are a lot of books coming your way. And I’m close to closing deals on several more projects.
Among the bigger announcements coming your way is one for a project called OUTER SHADOWS. I won’t say much more about it just yet. I think it will be formally announced in the next couple of weeks. If you’re a horror fan, you’re gonna love it.
Something new I’ve started doing (and I hope to continue doing through the next year) is a daily “diary” of what’s going on in terms of writing. Basically a daily summary of what I’m working on, what obstacles I encounter, and what is happening with the business side of my work. I’m sure that one day I’ll share these entries. Not right now, though, since I’m writing about projects that are unannounced and, frankly, sometimes I vent a little bit, and there’s no need to burn a bridge before it’s crossed, you know? To publish them right now, I’d have to redact a bunch of information.
All in all, I’m actually excited about what 2023 will bring. I typically keep my enthusiasm low, because I hate being disappointed. This year, though, I’m throwing caution to the wind and actually trying to be optimistic.
As I wrap up here and prepare for New Year’s Eve festivities, I think it’s important to reflect on the things I’m grateful for in 2022.
I’m thankful to each and every one of you for your interest in my work and support. I appreciate my friends who have had my back through thick and thin. And, of course, I’m blessed to have Cindy and Roman in my life, because I know I couldn’t make it without them. Hell, I wouldn’t want to.
I hope in 2023, I can show all those folks how much they mean to me.
Happy New Year!
Bunn in 2022…
I’m sure I’m missing something. I didn’t keep up with adding pictures to the collage as diligently as I should have. Still, here’s a neat look at my books that were released in 2022.
Reader Questions…
Greyson asks, “Will Beyond Mortal ever get a release through Diamond? I remember when the Kickstarter was going on it looked cool, just never got around to backing it unfortunately.”
The short answer is “yes” but there are some surprises in terms of how it will be released.
Shannon asks, “From start to finish, what is the longest amount of time a story has taken? Which story was it?”
If we’re talking about comics, it’s hard to say. I don’t typically track how much time I’m spending on each issue. I’d hazard a guess that the first book I did for Marvel, IMMORTAL WEAPONS: BRIDE OF NINE SPIDERS, took the longest, mainly because of editorial incompetence and interference. It must have taken weeks to finish, but much of that was because the editor just dragged his feet. Then, when he decided to respond, he wanted near complete re-writes.
John writes, “Do you go into a script fully plotted out or do you go more of the Stephen king route?”
When it comes to an initial series idea, I might start out a little loose, but that often gets me into trouble. It’s best to know the three acts for the story at the very beginning. For instance, for THE SIXTH GUN, I knew all of the “sign posts” for the series, but I didn’t know what might happen in between. That gave me some wiggle room. For individual comic scripts, I think it is very important to go in with a fully plotted outline. Comics must be written with the restrictions of the page count in mind. I go through several outlines for each issue. My final outlines are so detailed an artist could almost draw the comic from those documents.
Derick asks, “Will you and Q get together for some more Metro volumes?”
I hope so. We have a second book in mind. But Q and I have both been very busy, and we just haven’t been able to get together to get the ball rolling.
Jenny writes, “Do you have a method to help ease a block?”
Stepping away from the project that is blocked can help. That might mean working on a different project. It might also mean going for a walk or reading something inspiring. Anything to push the problem project out of my thoughts. I mean, it’s still there, but it’s not the focus. Oftentimes, the solution to the block comes to me while I’m doing something else.
Another method is to free-write. Just start writing. I usually do this long hand. I just let my mind wander a bit, write about the work that’s tripping me up. It’s a rambling, messy document. Sometime around a couple of pages, the solution usually presents itself. This method, by the way, is great for coming up for stories. It’s how Ray Bradbury did it.
Sean asks, “Anything wild you've ever wanted to attempt to write, like a musical?”
I like diversifying in terms of the things I write, but I can’t say I’ve ever wanted to write a musical. It’s just not in me. Once upon a time, I wanted to write poetry, and I have a journal somewhere full of dark—and terribly written—poems.
Patreon…
Several new items have posted on Patreon lately. If you are not a patron, please consider signing up. The funding from Patreon helps me create new comics and prose. Sometimes, it is the last line of defense when it comes to paying my bills. I use the platform to post stories, novels, comics, how-to essays, and behind-the-scenes details you can’t find anywhere else.
New Comics This Week…
TALES FROM HARROW COUNTY: LOST ONES TPB
Ten years have passed since Emmy left Harrow County. Since then a lot has changed, but what happened to Emmy herself and what adventures did she go on since she forfeited her magical powers and left town with the Abandoned. In this epic and essential tale find out where life has taken her and what dangers lurk in the shadows waiting for her in this story taking place outside of Harrow County for the first time.
Collects the four-issue miniseries.
Things to Come…
Here is a quick and dirty list of upcoming projects. In most cases, I’m only listing projects that are definitely on the schedule with a published. Oftentimes, I will not be able to share much information, but I can at least tease the future! Everything here is, of course, subject to change.
A FOULNESS IN THE WALLS - A horror one-shot about loss and grief and guilt.
NIGHTWALKERS - A survival horror series that sets up a whole world of apocalyptic nightmares.
RED ZONE - An action/comedy thrill-ride. unlike anything else I’ve ever written.
PROJECT: GHOST - A horror maxi-series exploring a side of horror you might not expect
BLOODBLADE - An action/horror story of destiny and demonic blood
PROJECT: BOT - A sequel to a story of robotic mischief.
PROJECT: MASK - A horror OGN where reality and surreality clash in a murderous way.
PROJECT: WATER HEATER - An apocalyptic horror/fantasy maxi-series.
PROJECT: DUNGEON - A new licensed horror comic series
PROJECT: CONVOY - A horror/thriller I’m co-writing
PROJECT: MATINEE - A horror limited series I’m working on with one of my best friends and long-standing collaborator
PROJECT: SWORD - A horror prose anthology I’m editing
PROJECT: V - A return to a fan-favorite character I haven't written in quite a while.
PROJECT: PREHISTORY - More kaiju craziness.
PROJECT: MEGA-BATTLE - Even More kaiju craziness.
PROJECT: LAST - A horror prose anthology I’m editing.
PROJECT: RUSH - A horror prose anthology I’m editing.
PROJECT: GALLERY - An RPG project I’ve been quietly developing.
PROJECT: CARD - A magical one-shot.
Work Update…
Here are my final numbers for the year!
All in all, I was much more productive in 2022 than in 2021. That doesn’t surprise me too much. I remember 2021 as the Year of the Slug. Now the goal is to destroy my 2022 numbers next year!
1710 pages of comic book scripts (938 in 2021)
0 feature length screenplay (1 in 2021)
1 half-hour comedy pilot (0 in 2021)
1 short film script (0 in 2021)
9 short stories (13 in 2021)
0 novellas (0 in 2021)
8 two-sentence horror stories (0 in 2021)
29 new comic book series proposals (25 in 2021)
0 podcast proposals (5 in 2021)
1 essay (0 in 2021)
1 foreword for upcoming graphic novels (0 in 2021)
1 television series proposal (0 in 2021)
Events…
Keep in mind, these days, "finalized" doesn't mean as much as it once did. All events are subject to change. I hope to be adding more conventions in the near future! Stay tuned!
FEBRUARY 4, 2023 - ArtCon, Neosho, MO
MARCH 17 - 19, 2023 - Planet Comicon, Kansas City MO
JULY 7 - 9, 2023 - Tremendicon, Springfield MO
Weekly Obsessions…
This week, I finished watching CHAINSAW MAN, which I enjoyed quite a bit. I loved the character and monster designs. Loved the world. Loved the action.
I’ve been watching a bunch of the Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes movies. “The Sign of Four” and “The Hound of the Baskervilles” were first up on the viewing list. I enjoyed them both. I think Brett might be my favorite depiction of Holmes on TV and film. I’ll be watching the TV series pretty soon, too.
I’ve been reading HAUNT: THE SCREENPLAY AND FILMMAKER DIARIES. The screenplay is terrific, but I really love the diary entries. This was my inspiration for writing the diary I mentioned above.
Where to Find Me Online…
THE SHOCK SHOP - My online store, where you can find exclusive covers you can only get directly from me!
TWITTER - This is the best place to interact with me online. My handle is @cullenbunn
TIKTOK - A fun spot for quick videos about writing, comics, and collecting
PATREON - Here, I post a serialized novel, a serialized comic book, short stories, and other cool materials.
THE CULLEN BUNN DISCORD SERVER - A place for fans to hang out and talk about comics, books, movies, games, collecting, and whatever else strikes their fancy.
THE BUNNGALOW - Cindy and I talk about life, hot button topics, pop culture, being married to a comic book writer and EVERYTHING in between.