Issue 180: Do You Write Any Real Comic Books?
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Did you think I forgot about you?
I had intended to get this issue out yesterday, but I just couldn’t make it happen. I spent most of the weekend at Tremendicon, and I’m exhausted. While it’s a local convention that doesn’t require much travel for me, I am also the director of the Writer’s Track, and I was always on the go trying to make sure all the writers had what they needed and were happy.
We had panels on world-building and scaring readers and collaborating with artists or writers and much, much more. The panels were informative and a lot of fun. I’m not sure they were as well-attended as last year’s event. Maybe. The rooms were a LOT bigger so maybe the crowd just looked a little smaller. But those who attended the panels learned a lot.
In addition, String Theory, one of the string groups that my son is part of performed twice. I was hustling to make sure they got where they needed to go and felt welcomed. And, yes, as a proud father I roamed the halls telling convention attendees to go listen to them play. They had a great turn-out. The audience was not typical for them. I don’t think they expected cheering and hooting in response to their music. I know they didn’t expect Klingons and Jedi and Deadpool listening to them.
At one point during the final piece, which was the Star Wars theme, I glanced over to see a kickass Luke Skywalker cosplayer watching from the back, nodding solemnly in approval. When the piece was finished, I rushed over to ask him to pose for a pic or two with the kids. And he brought a buddy with him.
Since I was almost never at my table, I didn’t sell a ton of books, but the convention was fruitful. I was able to hang out with some amazing people. I was able to reconnect and actually talk with JimmyZ, who I haven’t been able to talk to at all in recent months. My pal Tim and I managed to sneak away to try an old fashioned at a new joint. I found free mimosas and beers and bourbons and cokes. I presented the Kevin Watkins Memorial Award for Best Short Story. And I sat down with Jeremy Mohler from Outland to discuss some business plans that I’m pretty excited about.
One thing that started the convention off on an odd note… One of the first people to visit my table asked me a question that took me aback. He looked across the books on the table… HARROW COUNTY, SHOCK SHOP, BEYOND MORTAL, THE DAMNED, and many others. Then raised his gaze to me and asked, “Do you write any real comic books?” To which, after a second or two of baffled silence, I responded with a chuckle.
“None of it’s real, man. It’s all a dream from which we’re gonna wake and realize we’re not a convention at all, it’s Monday morning, and we’re late for work.”
Obviously, he wanted to know if I wrote any spandex-and-capes books. I told him I did, though my focus, these days was creator-owned material. It’s a frustrating question, because I know there are plenty of people who feel that way. Comics aren’t important or valued or… real unless they feature Batman. Admittedly, most of those people are Dan Didio, but there are others who feel that way. And I’ve always felt that was bass-ackwards from the way it should be. But… alas.
Anyhow.
Good times were had.
And that’s why today’s newsletter is late.
I started putting together the visual representation of THE NECRONOMIBUNN I mentioned last issue. It’s sort of a checklist of books to come.
What do you think?
It’s horror-focused, and I do have a few non-horror books on the horizon, so I’m wondering if, going forward, I include those in the images or not.
As I was putting this together, I noticed that Displacement, a horror prose novella I wrote for TKO, had been sort of stealth solicited. No real fanfare, which is too bad because I think the book is a lot of fun.
Dr. Rachel Anderson treats those who suffer from the most extreme phobias. Fear of crowds. The fear of the outdoors. The fear of death. But after a session with a violent patient goes awry and her daughter goes missing, the only way Rachel will survive the night and save her daughter is to face her own fears.
It’s a dark book, and it feature beautiful spot illustrations by Alison Sampson.
It comes out in late August!
The Kickstarter campaign for THE SIXTH GUN is rolling right along. We still have a couple of weeks left before the campaign wraps up, and I have high hopes as to where it will all end up. These are beautiful editions and I think it will be an amazing way to read the series!
Please check it out if you have a chance!
We’ve got more surprises ahead!
I’m entering another Scriptpocalypse over the next two weeks. I’m setting a goal for myself that’s lofty but attainable. 250 pages in two weeks, with a stretch goal of 300. It will require coffee… so much coffee… and focus and dedication.
Wish me luck!
As you’ll see below, I have a few books coming out this week. It’s one of those perfect storm events. You’ll also not that one of the descriptions of these books proudly claims that you’ll also get sneak peek at the “next horror sensation.” I wonder what that might be…
Hmmm.
More to come!
GHOSTLORE #3
Harmony and Lucas strive to live their lives together in the wake of the violent tragedy, but their differences continue to put a strain on the situation. When Harmony encounters another ghost and decides to help them find peace, it may be the final push to finally put her and Lucas on separate paths.
LAMENTATION #3
In the terrifying conclusion to Cullen Bunn and Arjuna Susini’s tale of gothic horror, the cast of Razide’s Lament finally takes the stage, hoping their performance will release them from the haunted Requiem Theatre. But when the audience arrives and the mysterious Prince Razide is unmasked, they learn this premiere may cost much more than their freedom.
PLUS AN EXTRA-ADDED BONUS: Your first look at Oni’s next shocking horror sensation!
A LEGACY OF VIOLENCE #7
After the devastating events that forced Monica to take the life of one of her own, true motives begin to come to light. Meanwhile, Nick is dealing with nightmares surrounding the ominous photo from his grandfather's past...
I‘ve been working so hard on writing “fake” comics and preparing for Tremendicon, I haven’t had a ton of time to dig into the things I love. I might have mentioned that I was getting into some Robert McCammon short stories again recently, and that has turned into a re-read of all of his novels. I just need to decide where to start.
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.
JULY 2023
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
BLOODBORNE: THE BLEAK DOMINION #1
OCTOBER 2023
REGRESSION: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION
BLOODBORNE: THE BLEAK DOMINION #2
NOVEMBER 2023
LAMENTATION TPB
PROJECT: MATINEE #1
BLOODBORNE: THE BLEAK DOMINION #3
DECEMBER 2023
PROJECT: MATINEE #2
BLOODBORNE: THE BLEAK DOMINION #4
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: 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
PROJECT: DEAD - a short comic story
PROJECT: VARIANT - a really cool one-shot project
PROJECT: G - a new ongoing series
1000 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)
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 think the correct response to your first table customer should have been: “No, son. I write real *good* comics!”.
Good luck with Scriptpocalypse! Write like the wind!
Thanks for another great newsletter! You were certainly kinder and more diplomatic than I might’ve been with that convention-goer. Lol To each their own, of course! Tremendicon sounds like it was a lot of fun. I’m excited for all your upcoming work!