Issue 176: What's Dead Doesn't Stay Gone
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“Sometimes what’s dead doesn’t stay gone.”
THE SIXTH GUN
REBORN
from
@OniPress
Coming soon to #KickstarterReads
Follow here:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/onipress/the-sixth-gun?ref=7uiaj2
That’s the teaser text that went out for the upcoming SIXTH GUN Kickstarter campaign over the last week… and, although I’m posting about it here, I’m not really able to share a lot of details. As of right now, I’m sworn to secrecy about the project. All I’ll say is that it’s an exciting one. THE SIXTH GUN means a great deal to me. I hope you’ll follow the campaign. It will be officially launching soon.
Over on Twitter, the hashtag #comicsbrokeme is trending. I debated not clicking it, but I went ahead and looked at it. I found post after post from creators—some just starting out, some established, some who have abandoned comics altogether—discussing heartbreaking experiences in the industry they love (or loved as the case may be). The stories were painful to read… and, frankly, way too familiar. I almost added a few of my stories myself, but I skip it. Twitter is not the place for me to tell stories any longer, and I don’t think that comics have broken me just yet.
Not for a lack of trying.
It’s funny, because yesterday morning I was talking with some friends about the challenges of comics—the obstacles, the shady dealings, the pettiness, that I’ve encountered in the comics industry. There have been so many ups and downs. I think everyone knows that the last few years have been really difficult for me professionally. I’ve started writing a newsletter titled “NEVER LET THEM CALL YOU A SILVER BULLET” a half-dozen times. That issue would detail a lot of my frustration—with the industry, with publishers, and even with some peers. But I’ve deleted the piece every time.
Maybe I’ll start writing my thoughts down in this newsletter or maybe on my Patreon at some point in the near future. Maybe it will be good to let others know that the struggle is real and they are not alone. Maybe some of these stories will help others avoid mistakes I’ve made… help them identify the challenges before they arise.
My fear, of course, it that it all just sounds like whining.
I think that’s a generational thing.
Feeling broken (or near-broken) isn’t stopping me. Despite the tough times, the headaches, the heartache, this week I’ve been more excited about comics than I have in a long time.
Which scares me.
Because I‘m so, so wary of the rug getting yanked out from under me.
Oh, crap, I AM broken after all.
For those of you who supported the SWORDS IN THE SHADOWS and RAZE campaign, you’ll be happy to know that the books went to the printer this week! The plan is for us to have the hardcopies of the books in hand before Tremendicon (July 7 - 9). At that convention, we’ll have several of the writers on hand, and we’ll be doing a signing event.
The Late Pledge page for HARROW COUNTY: THE GAME OF GOTHIC CONFLICT will be closing very soon. This is most likely the your last chance to get the Deluxe or Satchel editions of the game. So, if you haven’t ordered your copy yet, the time is now!
In the next few days, my pal Josh Roberts and I are hopping in the Jeep and driving to North Carolina for HeroesCon! Heroes was the first “big” convention I ever went to back in the day. I’m excited to be returning to the convention. My good pal Brian Hurtt will be there, and we may be stealth announcing a new project (NOT related to THE SIXTH GUN) so please make sure to swing by if you’re at the show. I’ll be at Table AA-1915.
Later today, I’m taking my son out of town for a week-long violin camp. This will be the first of three this summer. It’s a college-like experience, with him staying in dorms, attending classes, etc. I’m having a really hard time with it. Even though he’ll only be gone a week (and I’ll be at a convention for part of the time he’s gone), I’ll miss him terribly.
More than that, it’s a stark reminder that he’s growing up, that he’s forging his own path, and that he doesn’t need his old man the way he once did. I’m proud of him. I’m n awe of his drive and his talent. I want him to go out there and pursue the life that makes him happy. I just worry he’ll forget about me in the process.
When we were in China to adopt him, I called him “Buddy” all the time. Our guide and adoption coordinator didn’t understand the term. “What is a buddy?” She asked me. I tried to explain it as best I could. For me—with my son—it means we’re in this thing called life together, all the way to the end. I’ve always got his back, even when he doesn’t think he needs me, even when I screw up, when he doesn’t want me around. It means that everything I do, well, I do it with his past, present, and future in mind.
I still call him “Buddy” only now he rolls his eyes when I say it.
GHOSTLORE #2
In the stunningly spectral sophomore issue from acclaimed horror purveyor Cullen Bun and superstar artist Leomacs, the tragedy and grief of the accident not only bring tension to Lucas and Harmony, but may affect the spirits they encounter-forever.
How will they reconcile their differing approaches to the ghosts that cross their path, before it tears them apart?
A LEGACY OF VIOLENCE #6
When Nick and Cayce stumble upon an abandoned house in search of a missing doctor, the killer’s motivations are beginning to take shape. Meanwhile, the masked killer is becoming more unhinged and striking without hesitation… A Legacy of Violence is 12 issue maxi-series by masters of horror Cullen Bunn and Andrea Mutti, with letters by Rus Wooton.
It’s been a busy week of getting ready for trips, of vet visits, of trying to introduce the new kittens to the rest of the household. Not sure there’s anything I’ve been full-on obsessed with, but I’ve enjoyed watching GHOULIES 2, RENFIELD, and ACROSS THE SPIDERVERSE this week.
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.
JUNE 2023
SWORDS IN THE SHADOWS
RAZE
JULY 2023
LAMENTATION #3
GHOSTLORE #3
DOOR TO DOOR, NIGHT BY NIGHT #7
DOOR TO DOOR, NIGHT BY NIGHT TPB
AUGUST 2023
DEATH OF THE VENOMVERSE 1 - 5 (weekly)
GHOSTLORE #4
DOOR TO DOOR, NIGHT BY NIGHT #8
DISPLACEMENT
MAGIC: THE GATHERING - NOTORIOUS
REANIMATOR: THE ETERNAL LIE, Part 2
SEPTEMBER 2023
OCTOBER 2023
REGRESSION: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION
NOVEMBER 2023
LAMENTATION TPB
PROJECT: MATINEE #1
DECEMBER 2023
PROJECT: MATINEE #2
JANUARY 2024
BEYOND MORTAL Trade Paperback
THE UNKNOWN FUTURE…
PROJECT: JUMP, a new comic book series in the Beyond Mortal Universe.
PROJECT: HEX, a supernatural/horror thriller.
PROJECT: HORROR, a licensed horror comic.
I’LL KILL YOU LAST - An 80s action/horror fiction anthology I’m editing.
PROJECT: GALLERY - An RPG project I’ve been quietly developing.
PROJECT: PREHISTORY - More kaiju craziness
PROJECT: MEGA-BATTLE - Even More kaiju craziness
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: RUSH - A horror prose anthology I’m editing
COPYCAT - A new limited series from Todd Garner, Heath Amodio, and myself.
BLOODBLADE - An action/horror story of destiny and demonic blood
PROJECT: DUNGEON - A new licensed horror comic series
PROJECT: CONVOY - A horror/thriller I’m co-writing
PROJECT: ARCANA - a dark fantasy series
PROJECT: MONSTER - a new horror/action/comedy series
PROJECT: HOAX - a horror limited series
920 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)
10 two-sentence horror stories (10 in 2022)
0 new comic book series proposals (29 in 2022)
0 podcast proposals (0 in 2022)
0 essays (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.
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
AUGUST 19, 2023 - Signing at Distant Planet Comics, Columbia MO
SEPTEMBER 9, 2023 - Signing at B&B Collections, Jonesboro AR
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.
I loved your take on the term of endearment "buddy". It was perfect and described the way I feel about my children!
Also, please know that lots of people who have never met you (me included) and I am sure everyone who has met you, are sending love and positivity to you and your family every week! Keep fighting because you are amazing at what you do ❤️
Very glad you aren't "broken". I really appreciate your work, like I've said on here and Twitter a million times. I put you on my Rushmore of current writters. You definitely bring a very special touch to modern comics, and fill that horror void for me in a world dominated by super heroes and bogged down universes and timelines. I, personally, would love to hear your take on the industry. I've never been in the industry of making, but been consuming for the better part of 35 years of my life. I'm often fascinated by the inner workings. Hope all stays well, and don't let the world bring you down. Never give up your passion, it shows in your work. Stay strong, and stay wierd. This world needs story tellers!