Issue 158: Blood, Guts, and Nuts! Oh My!
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Yesterday, I attended my first convention of 2023–ArtCon in Neosho, Missouri. It was a smaller show, sponsored by the Neosho Arts Council. I have to say, for a small event, it was very well attended and very well organized. There was a ton of enthusiasm in the room. Panels were well attended (I’ve done panels at HUGE conventions that didn’t have as many people in the audience). Folks were buying books. And it was just a nice time all the way around.
For the past several years, whenever I’m at a convention that is also attended by my pal Kyle Strahm, Kyle will challenge me to work a select group of phrases into my talking points during panels. ArtCon was no exception, as I received Kyle’s list not long after I arrived in Neosho. Here they are.
There's more gravy than grave to that story
Blood, guts, and nuts, oh my!
What the French call...spooktacular
MY mirror has 3 faces
Clay isn't afraid to get your pants dirty
The panel was on “Writing Horror”, and I was joined by Jeremy Haun and B. Clay Moore as panelists.
I’m happy to say that I successfully incorporated all of these oddballs turns of phrase into the presentation, and I’m not sure anyone noticed. But, since you’re a subscriber to this newsletter, you now know that when I say seemingly strange things in panels, it’s probably because Kyle has sent me a challenge list.
My purchases at the convention might be a little more surprising, as this was one of my favorite finds:
Admittedly, those were for Cindy—I SWEAR!—but I was still pretty excited when I found them. And, even though Strawberry Shortcake wasn’t a toy I played with—I SWEAR!—seeing these brought back so many memories of shopping at K&K Toys in Berkeley Mall in Goldsboro NC when I was a kid.
For myself, I did find some old magazines and graphic novels. MARVEL SUPER SPECIALS 11, 12, and 13 (the WARRIORS OF THE SHADOW REALM issues), the STARSTRUCK graphic novel, THE PRICE graphic novel.
I also got a new sketch in my FIEND FOLIO sketchbook. I’m sure I’ve written a lot about my sketchbooks in the past. I have two in progress right now. I give the sketchbook to the artist along with either my AD&D MONSTER MANUAL or FIEND FOLIO from when I was a kid. The artist can pick any monster that hasn’t been drawn yet and illustrate their version. This one is a Meenlock by Kyle Strahm.
After the show, I had a nice dinner with Jeremy and Lori Haun, Kyle Strahm, Buster Moody, Jason Hurley, B. Clay Moore, and Josh Roberts. Good company, good food, and good conversation.
On the drive home, Josh and I cooked up some schemes for the future.
Here’s the thing about conventions for me:
I almost never leave one without feeling inspired. Maybe I’m excited to work on some new story. Maybe I get some wild idea for a new business venture. Maybe I want to read something new or add something new to my collection. It’s always something! This time around, it was sort of a mix of everything.
In the next few weeks, I’ll be updating my convention list for the year. I have several on the calendar. I need to bolster my stock for the shows, though, so that means I need to focus on my inventory at home and make some calls to my publishers. I also think it’s time to update my banner stands. I love the look of my current ones, but they are in really rough shape from a few years of travel.
While I was attending the convention, my son had an audition. The Youth Talent auditions for the Springfield Youth Symphony. He played a Mozart Concerto and his piece was selected to be performed with the orchestra! I couldn’t be more proud of him.
A few nights ago, we met with his private violin instructor to discuss my son’s future in music. I comes as no surprise that he’s telling us we’ll need to invest more resources to his musical adventures. More trips to the symphony. More camps. More contests and auditions. He also suggested that it is time to get my son a new violin… and it’s not going to be cheap… at all.
This is something my kid is very passionate about. He dedicates hours every day to his music. And I will move Heaven and Earth to help his dreams happen. So… I had plans to direct money made at conventions to paying off some debt, but I think it will now be going into a violin fund.
Lots of writing over the last week! No prose, but tons of comic pages. And this coming week (starting almost as soon as I hit send on this newsletter) will be no exception.
I had some really cool meetings, too, that I can’t say a lot about other than the “Things to Come” section of this newsletter will probably be seeing several new additions over the coming months.
Longtime readers of this newsletter know, I’ve been… pretty down about writing and publishing in general for quite a while. I’ve been fighting through this malaise, but it has been a FIGHT. Sometimes, that’s just how it is with any creative endeavor, with any job. But you have to keep trying, keep throwing yourself against the reinforced doors, like Shakma the baboon trying to batter down doors to get to his hapless LARPing victims on the other side.
I won’t say I’ve got the old mojo back—not yet, maybe not ever. The productivity of my youth is elusive these days. But I’m starting to feel hints of that energy creeping back into my aching carcass.
And even a hint… Hell… watch out!
Final Order Cutoff Alert…
The Final Order cutoff for RED ZONE #1 is upon us! Now is the time to tell your favorite comic book retailer that you want this book! Pre-ordering books helps the comic shops, helps the creators, and helps you! So, please pick up the phone and tell your local comic shop that you don’t want to miss this book!
Randall Crane, an unassuming American professor of Russian and Slavic Studies at NYU, is called in by the US government for a secret international mission back to Russia, where his long-buried secrets come to light. When his support team of commandos is ambushed and killed, it's up to Randall to fight his way out of Russia using his "particular set of skills.
The order codes for Red Zone #01 are:
Diamond - JAN231349
Lunar - 0123AW230
New Comics This Week…
BLOODBORNE: THE LADY OF THE LANTERNS #4
NEW COMIC SERIES BASED ON THE CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED GOTHIC GAMING HIT, BLOODBORNE!
Enter the city of Yharnam through the eyes of its citizens, when new hunters take to the streets to fight against the cruel and unusual epidemic that has gripped the city. In the black of the night, families and faith will be tested...
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
BEYOND MORTAL - Finishing up the horror/superhero epic
THE CULT OF THAT WILKIN BOY - An Archie horror one-shot
SWORDS IN THE SHADOWS - A swords and sorcery and horror fiction anthology I’m editing
I’LL KILL YOU LAST - An 80s action/horror fiction anthology I’m editing
RAZE - A dark fantasy/horror novella
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: 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: RUSH - A horror prose anthology I’m editing
PROJECT: GALLERY - An RPG project I’ve been quietly developing
PROJECT: CARD - A magical one-shot
PROJECT: ARCANA - a dark fantasy series
PROJECT: BUSINESS - a new horror/action/comedy series
PROJECT: HOAX - a horror limited series
Work Update…
I’m starting over once again! Let’s see how I do this year!
195 pages of comic book scripts (1710 in 2022)
0 feature length screenplay (0 in 2022)
0 half-hour comedy pilot (1 in 2022)
0 short film script (1 in 2022)
0 short stories (9 in 2022)
0 novellas (0 in 2022)
4 two-sentence horror stories (10 in 2022)
0 new comic book series proposals (29 in 2022)
0 podcast proposals (0 in 2022)
0 essay (0 in 2022)
0 foreword for upcoming graphic novels (0 in 2022)
0 television series proposal (0 in 2022)
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!
MARCH 17 - 19, 2023 - Planet Comicon, Kansas City MO
JUNE 24, 2023 - Route 66 Toy and Comic Convention, Lebanon MO
JULY 7 - 9, 2023 - Tremendicon, Springfield MO
Weekly Obsessions…
This week, I’m still all-in on THE BLACKLIST. I think I’m on Season 3 with lots more to go.
I also fell down the rabbit hold of the old Dime Novels for the DEADLANDS role-playing game. They were super fun novellas with a adventure module presented in these vibrant saddle-stitched chapbooks. I had a bunch in my youth, but now I want to reacquire them all!
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.
80s action / horror anthology?? I’m in!