Issue 165: Track Suits and Critters
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I’m writing this from a hotel room in Cleveland.
(Edit/correction—I’m actually writing part of this from the Fan Expo Cleveland convention floor using my phone.)
This is my second convention trip in two weeks. I’ve got to remind myself… in the future… no back-to-back conventions.
Above, you see a pic from last Sunday at Planet Comicon in Kansas City. I decided on the final day of the show that I was going for comfort and speed. Track suit—activate! My pal Josh says he’s never seen me in a better mood on the final day of the show. Maybe the attire had something to do with that.
The critters were acquisitions from the convention. They now sit in my office, glaring hungrily at me.
That show was a success. I didn’t meet my personal goal, but I did fine. I learned a bit about the kind of stock to bring. I’m trying to make attending conventions less of a last-minute-throw-stock-into-a-box affair.
On the way home, of course, a young woman drove her car at high speed into the back of my Jeep. No one was seriously injured, thank goodness, though a rack flew at high speed from the back and bashed Josh in the head. My Jeep suffered almost no damage. It’s a monster. The other vehicle did not fair as well.
This week, as I mentioned, I’m in Cleveland attending Fan Expo.
I didn’t bring any of my own stock, but I’m signing with Source Point Press and I have a very special variant cover of NIGHT WALKERS #1 available. It is the creator-exclusive Danny Luckert variant of issue 1. It is limited to 300 copies and only available from me. I’m selling those to folks at the show, but I also put some of them on my online store if you can’t make it to Cleveland.
https://www.cullenbunn.com/products/night-walkers-1-danny-luckert-variant
And now… in the ongoing saga of the cat(s)…
If you read last week’s newsletter, you know the Bunns have taken in a feral cat… and that feral cat is pregnant. For all the cat lovers out there, I wanted to give an update. The cat is doing fine. She still lives in my office. She LOVES Cindy. She does not like anyone else. And apparently my desk, where I craft these marvelous tales of horror and fantasy, is the storage place for Mew Mix.
I wanted to name the cat Jumpscare. I put a poll in the last newsletter, and the majority of those who voted agreed with me. Well, we’ve been vetoed, my friends. The cat’s name is Emmy (and sometimes MewMew, which sounds like a Pokemon).
The good news is… something cool came from me thinking about the name Jumpscare. Hints of that have been posted on my Patreon, and you’ll be hearing more about this in the future.
Also… Chad McDaniel whipped this up on Twitter and I laughed and laughed and laughed.
And cried.
Nibbles the cat, who has been in poor health, seems to be doing better, though he’s going to have to take medicine forever… and he hates taking medicine… and he is not motivated by food.
I need chainmail sleeves if I’m going to force him to take pills.
Looking into other, stress-free alternatives!
The Kickstarter for SWORDS IN THE SHADOWS and RAZE, the first publications under my Outer Shadows imprint, is still ongoing.
SWORDS IN THE SHADOWS is a collection of twenty-two stories with a bloody stake driven into the heart of both the horror and fantasy camps. Herein, you will find fantasy worlds, brave warriors, fabulous creatures, wondrous magic. But you will also uncover bloodcurdling chills, spine-tingling horror, and an examination of those things that truly terrify.
RAZE: MAIDEN, AND CRONE, a dark fantasy/horror novella written by yours truly! It’s the perfect companion piece to SWORDS IN THE SHADOWS!
This is your chance, horror fans! Show your support for this new horror imprint and get some great stories! You can check out more about this exciting campaign HERE!
It’s important because horror is important.
We need more great horror.
And the success of this campaign will lead to future publications in the Outer Shadows imprint!
In addition, REANIMATOR: THE ETERNAL LIE, PART 2 is still ongoing! In this tale of terror, Herbert West’s infamous reanimation serum has been stolen, and a terrible cult plans on using it for a cataclysmic purpose. If you missed the first part of the story, you can still grab it as part of this campaign. Jump on over to Kickstarter and check it out HERE!
New comic alert!
As reported in Variety, COPYCAT is a new book I’m doing with Heath Amadio.
A new comic book franchise titled “Copycat” is launching from Broken Road Productions, Hustle & Heart Films, and Source Point Press. It’s described as tonally similar to Atomic Blonde” and “John Wick” following a protagonist with a unique power.
Sarah, a talented ER nurse, has a unique gift of diagnosing her patients with just one touch. Unfortunately, her power comes with a painful price, as she experiences the same suffering as her those she cares for. In her pursuit to save Emma, a woman with extraordinary abilities, Sarah inadvertently gains Emma’s enhanced strength. After Emma’s murder, Sarah sets off on a mission to face her killers, collecting their abilities along the way.
The series is based on a concept by producer Todd Garner (“Mortal Kombat”) and will be produced by his company Broken Road Productions. The series is written by Hustle & Hearts Films’ duo of Heath Amodio (“The Heathens”, and “Foretold”) and New York Times bestselling writer Cullen Bunn (“Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe”, “6th Gun”). Elmer Cantada (“Masque”, “Big Jack”) provides the line art, with colors by Gabe Contreras (“Datura”, “Witchblood”) and letters by Dave Lentz (“Good Boy”, “Curse of Cleaver County”).
Once again, I’ve been so busy with conventions that I haven’t been able to indulge in too many books or movies or shows or games. Last night, though, I went to The Haunted House Restaurant here in Cleveland. It was definitely my kind of place, and I had one of these. It’s called The Thing.
Does that count as an obsession?
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
COPYCAT - A new limited series from Todd Garner, Heath Amodio, and myself.
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: SURGEON - a very dark horror tale
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: MONSTER - a new horror/action/comedy series
PROJECT: HOAX - a horror limited series
437 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
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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.
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THE BUNNGALOW - Cindy and I talk about life, hot button topics, pop culture, being married to a comic book writer and EVERYTHING in between.
Copycat has me very excited! That sounds like an incredible concept.