Vicious Shivers (Cullen Bunn's Official Newsletter), Issue 102
This is the 102nd issue of Vicious Shivers, a (mostly) weekly newsletter for fans of my work. Thank you for subscribing. Please share it with others if you think they might be interested!
I'm sending this issue out a little early. I wanted one more issue to hit inboxes before the end of 2021. If nothing else, I wanted to wish everyone the happiest of New Years.
For the most part, I took the last week off. I managed to outline a couple of comic books that I’ll be writing in the next few weeks, and I was able to scrape twelve or so pages of script together on another project. I did some re-writes and lettering passes and interviews. I took a couple of business-related calls. I met with my pal Josh to discuss a project we’re going to be working on together. I even lined up an exciting, new, completely unexpected project that I think will be a lot of fun.
But I spent most of the week just chilling. My son asked me to help him build his Lego Titanic. He doesn’t need my help at all, but it was kind of him to ask, so I spent quite a bit of time doing that. We also watched a bunch of movies and TV shows. Cindy and I hit some dive bars. Will I pay for it, schedule-wise, when I return to work after the first of the year? Oh, yes. But I’ll still consider it worth it.
To celebrate the new year, we are having a handful of friends over, and I’m making a punch that my parents used to make for their friends every New Years Eve. I don’t know why, but I’m a little giddy over that. It’s a small thing, I guess, but it brings me a little happiness.
If you read last issue, you know I've created some lofty goals for myself in 2022. It's going to be a busy one! I guess, though, before we move forward we should take a look at the past.
And so…
HOW'D I DO LAST YEAR?
I struggled a lot with motivation last year. I just... couldn't force myself to do anywhere near as much work as I wanted. The work that suffered most was the material that didn't offer an immediate payday in the form of an advance. Simply put, there wasn't enough paying work coming in, so when I had to work ahead on what I had rather than spend time on some of the other projects. Yes, those other other projects might have brought money in over time, but I had to backburner them in order to keep the lights on. Couple that with that mounting sense of... uggggh... and it spelled temporary doom for some other work that would have otherwise delighted me. I still managed to write and release a good amount of work... just not nearly as much as I wanted to!
Every issue, I provide a little breakdown of how much work I've done and how it compares to last year. Here is how the year shaped up! This year, I wrote--
938 pages of comic book scripts (1468 in 2020)
1 feature length screenplay (0 in 2020)
13 short stories (15 in 2020)
0 novellas (2 in 2020)
25 new comic book series proposals (13 in 2020)
5 podcast proposals (0 in 2020)
0 forewords for upcoming graphic novels (2 in 2020)
0 television series proposals (5 in 2020)
Not as productive as I would have liked to have been, but not too bad, either, all things considered. I better get to limbering up my typing fingers, because I’m really hoping to best 2020 in the next year!
TWO NEW BOOKS NOW AVAILABLE...
Two new trade paperbacks are now available for your reading pleasure! If you've been snoozing on either of these series, now is the time to check them out!
First up, BASILISK Volume 1.
The Chimera are five young people that possess incredible powers stemming from the five human senses. They are bound by a cult-like hive mind and leave death and destruction in their wake. Regan, one of the Chimera, escapes the group and hides in cheap motels and dive bars crippled with the guilt of her past. But the tables turn when a former victim of the Chimera, Hannah, appears and forces her to hunt down the other four of her kind.
Next up, here's PHANTOM ON THE SCAN.
Twenty years ago, a comet fell to earth. Since that night, Matthew has been haunted – haunted by a spirit that gives him incredible psychic abilities. But these abilities come with a price…and payment is due.
You can purchase these books from your favorite comic book store or online retailer!
PATREON UPDATES…
Recent posts to Patreon include:
THE FEAST - A new 8-page horror comic that is open to the public. https://www.patreon.com/posts/60059382
THE FEAST, SCRIPT - The script for the comic. https://www.patreon.com/posts/60059751
THE DAMNED: PRODIGAL SONS, ISSUE 3 SCRIPT - The script for the third issue of this series. https://www.patreon.com/posts/60265835
FROM THE GROUND UP: SHROUD DANCERS, PART 2 - I’m creating a comic book series from initial idea to finished comic. Here we have an early version of the pitch for the comic. https://www.patreon.com/posts/60390369
Q&A…
I opened social media up for questions to be answered in the newsletter. I got some good ones and will try to answer as many as I can. I’d love to do this regularly, so if you have questions in the future, please feel free to send them my way!
Elena writes, “A harrow county adaptation, but YOU get to decide who is cast and who produces/directs. who are you picking?”
So... I won't get into producers or directors because... secrets... but I will indulge in a bit of fancasting. For Emmy (and for Kammi), I'd pick Sophia Lillis. For Bernice, I'd cast Celeste O'Connor. For Pa, I'd suggest Sean Bean. For Hester Beck, how about Cate Blanchett?
Chad writes, “What's cross over you'd like to see? Whether you wrote it or not? M.A.S.K/GIJoe, Voltron/Transformers, TMNT/GiJoe. A few that came to mind 😉”
That's a fun one, but my answer has been the same for years. Big Trouble in Little China and Buckaroo Banzai.
Killacam writes, “Will we get to see more Shadow Roads?”
That’s tough to say. I hope so. We have more stories to tell. It’s on hold for the immediate future, though.
FoxBeHungry writes, “any other Valiant series besides Shadowman you will try your hand at? Punk Mambo? Doctor Mirage? Maybe a separate anthology all taking part in the Deadside?”
Well, I’ve already written Punk Mambo a couple of years ago in a mini-series I’m pretty proud of. I’d love to write another stand-alone Punk Mambo series. There was one in the works, but we had to changed direction on it for various reasons. Punk will appear in the next arc of Shadowman. As for other characters, I can’t say too much, but I’m getting the chance to write a bunch of them coming up.
FoxBeHungry also writes, “Any more development for Sixth Gun tv show? if not, can we see the pilot?? PLEASE”
I can’t share the pilot, but the good news is that there is definitely more activity on a tv series. Still early stages. But stay tuned!
Hdressen77 writes, “Any chance with continuing the Dammed or Punk Mambo? In the future Cullen.”
The Damned will continue. I’m not sure exactly when, but I definitely want to finish the bigger story Brian and I had in mind. Punk Mambo will appear in upcoming issues of Shadowman… and maybe something else in the near future.
Gtasahitman831 writes, “Are you attending any comic-cons West of Missouri and East of California (like Amazing Las Vegas Comic-Con)?”
Right now, I only have a couple of conventions slated. Only one of those conventions (Planet Comicon in Kansas City) has officially announced that I’ll be a guest. None planned in the areas you’re describing. Any more, I can only attend a convention if the show organizers or a publisher brings me out as a guest. Even then, I can only attend a limited number of shows. There’s just too much work to do. If there’s a con you’d like me to attend, I’d suggest letting the convention organizers know they should invite me!
Seoulessinsociety writes, “Since you won't be doing many cons, would you consider doing mail-in autographs? would love my custom books signed by you.”
I'm not sure. It seems like such a small thing, but when added to all the other things we have to do to keep the business afloat, it often gets lost in the shuffle. I'm reaaaaaaaaaaaaally slow about sending books back when I did do it a few times. I'm trying to figure out the logistics of making something like this work.
THIS WEEK’S OBSESSIONS...
We tool a break from GAME OF THRONES this week. We also didn’t really get the chance to play any games. Just too many things going on.
My son and I spent most of the week building the Lego Titanic. While we worked on the ship, we re-watched a bunch of Marvel movies. DR. STRANGE, CAPTAIN AMERICA, CIVIL WAR, SHANG CHI, and probably some others in the mix.
We saw SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME, and I really liked it. It was my favorite of the new Spider-Man movies. It was the first I thought really FELT like a Spider-Man movie.
In addition to my re-read of the DARK TOWER books, I started reading Thomas Ligotti’s THE CONSPIRACY AGAINST THE HUMAN RACE, a non-fiction collection of philosophical (and very pessimistic) essays. It’s an interesting book. Really gets me thinking. Not sure it is what I should be reading while trying to be more upbeat!
I stumbled across this video while working on another project. It’s been around for a bit, but I really found it enlightening and entertaining.
OTHER NEWSLETTERS AND BLOGS...
Here are some newsletters and blogs worth checking out!
JUST DOUEK - The e-newsletter of writer Rich Douek, with plenty of insight and updates about his work.
PAUL TREMBLAY - Paul is one of my favorite horror writers, and he has a great newsletter you can subscribe to on his site.
C. DENNIS MOORE/ANGEL HILL - This is a great newsletter from writer C. Dennis Moore. Every issue is jam-packed with anecdotes, news, and stories.
EVENTS…
Here are the events I have finalized for the coming days. Keep in mind, these days, "finalized" doesn't mean as much as it once did. All events are subject to change.
First up... On Wednesday, I'll be virtually joining the folks at FourCorners Comics and Games for a live sale and q&a session!
Join us as we welcome a very special guest, comic writer Cullen Bunn! We will catch up with AfterShock, Marvel, Dark Horse… well heck… he is a writer for just about every major publisher!! We will catch up with Cullen and talk about his new and up coming projects with AfterShock as well as answer your questions! Then, buckle your seat belts as we jump in and present you with the latest and greatest graded and raw comics from FourCorners Comics. Make sure to save the date and tune in at 7pm (ish)
You can follow the event here - https://fb.me/e/22D8FaF69
JANUARY 4, 2022 - Four Corners Comics and Games Live Comic Sale
APRIL 22 - 24, 2022 - Planet Comicon, Kansas City
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.
February 2, 2022 - MANOR BLACK: FIRE IN THE BLOOD, a return to the world of magicians and wild magic.
March 2022 - GODZILLA VS. THE MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS, a big crossover comic that no one will be expecting but that makes complete sense.
A sequel to a story about dreams and loss and adventure.
A sequel to a story of robotic mischief.
A sequel to THE GHOUL NEXT DOOR.
A horror maxi-series about a mysterious town and mysterious experiments that have played out there.
A horror OGN where reality and surreality clash in a murderous way.
An action/comedy thrill-ride. unlike anything else I've ever written.
An apocalyptic horror/fantasy maxi-series.
A horror one-shot about loss and grief and guilt.
A new action/horror series I can’t tell you much about just yet.
FINAL THOUGHTS…
I’m gonna fight like Hell to make 2022 a good year, to be more productive and successful and positive. I hope you all do the very same!
WHERE TO FIND ME ONLINE...
WEBSITE - If you haven’t been there lately, you should check it out. I’ve started posting a lot more content and news on the site.
TWITTER - This is the best place to interact with me online. My handle is @cullenbunn
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.