Issue 162: Reanimating a Website
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For a while now, I’ve been kicking around the idea of reworking my website. It’s all part of my 6 - 12 month marketing plan. I’ve talked to designers. I’ve gotten quotes aplenty. I realized, though, that I couldn’t really afford to have the site professionally designed. So, I spent most of this week ripping my previous website apart and trying to build it back up again. I moved the entire site to Shopify, merging site content and store content. I’m no web designer, but I’m pretty pleased with the results. It needs some work, a few tweaks, some additional content, but it’s getting close.
I’d love it if you’d check it out and let me know what you think.
I‘m adding a new News/Horrible Thoughts section to the site, and I’m going to be updating it at least once a week. With news, for sure, but also with essays about horror, comics, writing, life, and whatever else I think might interest readers.
The next stage of the marketing plan looms large—SEO planning! Again, not necessarily my cuppa, but I’m gonna give it the college try!
While website creation was underway, the great reorganization was also taking place. As you can see, we’re in the “breaking the egg” stage of this omelette.
Those are all the single issues of my books that have built up over the years. My pal Josh is getting them organized so we can do something with them. We have found a few treasures in the mix, including some complete sets of DEADPOOL KILLS THE MARVEL UNIVERSE and CONAN THE SLAYER and ROGUE PLANET that we’ve posted on the shop in very limited quantities. I think I’ll have my studio back in the next week or so… just in time for the conventions I’m going to be attending this year.
Speaking of conventions!
I got my new banner stands this week! Aren’t they pretty?
These stands are more narrow than those I’ve used previously. They can actually fit in a suitcase if I need them to. Also… if you had seen me setting up at conventions in the last few years, you’d know my existing banners had been through the ringer. I was rough on them. They didn’t even retract into the base anymore. Instead, I just rolled the banners around their bases like a wizard rolling up ancient scrolls. It’s time for the old banners to rest. They served me well.
When you’re at a convention I’m attending, keep an eye out for these displays! That’s where you’ll find me!
Violin Quest continues for my son. He’s been trying out several beautiful instruments, figuring out what he likes most about each one. He’s not rushing into this decision. Choosing the right violin is a big deal. And they aren’t cheap! I admire him for how seriously he’s taking the task ahead of him. As I’ve said many times before, his drive and dedication and focus are inspiring.
With websites and comic book organization, writing has been a little light this week. I did tackle a bunch of phone calls and Zoom meetings. I worked on Kickstarter projects. I worked on the next Outer Shadows anthology. I even started the ball rolling on a new role-playing game project. Lots of fun work… but not a lot in terms of writing. I’ve gotta get pages done in the next few days, though. So… focus… like my kid trying out violins.
Something has been uncoiling silently in the darkness… and it will surface for all to see next week!
REANIMATOR: THE ETERNAL LIE, PART 2 is launching on Kickstarter!
Published by Dynamite Comics, this is the second part of the epic Herbert West tale Blacky Shepherd and I started a couple of years ago! A 40-page graphic novel of reanimated corpses, ancient evil, and elder gods! If you missed the book the first time around, don’t worry! You can order Part 1 (as well as a ton of other cool items) when you back the campaign.
The campaign goes live on Tuesday, and you can follow the campaign page HERE!
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.
REANIMATOR: THE ETERNAL LIE - Part 2 of the Herbert West epic
GHOSTLORE - A horror maxi-series exploring a side of horror you might not expect
LAMENTATION - A horror limited series where reality and surreality clash in a murderous way
RED ZONE - An action/comedy thrill-ride. unlike anything else I’ve ever written
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: 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
405 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)
1 foreword for upcoming graphic novels (0 in 2022)
0 television series proposal (0 in 2022)
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
MARCH 24 - 26, 2023 - Fan Expo Cleveland, Cleveland OH
APRIL 28 - 30 - Oz Con, West Plains MO
JUNE 16 - 18, 2023 - Heroes Convention, Charlotte NC
JUNE 24, 2023 - Route 66 Toy and Comic Convention, Lebanon MO
JULY 7 - 9, 2023 - Tremendicon, Springfield MO
AUGUST 5 - 6, 2023 - Fountain City Con, New Century KS
SEPTEMBER 16 - 17, 2023 - Extremicon, St. Roberts MO
SEPTEMBER 30 - OCTOBER 1 - Cowtown Comic Convention, Fort Worth TX
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.
Just finished Red Zone #1. Loved it. I can already tell you I hope this series goes on for a good long time.
Just curious, not even sure if you'll see this, but what does your Playlist look like? I've seen where you're listening to a lot of southern gothic, but is that a creative head space listening or is it something that you play to unwind? Is there a difference? Are you more of an 80s pop kind of guy? Again, just curious