Vicious Shivers (Cullen Bunn's Official Newsletter), Issue 116
This is the 116th 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 need to shake things up.
It’s been haunting me for weeks, maybe months, maybe even longer. Hell, maybe it’s been on my mind since I started writing full-time.
I need to figure out some fresh new ways to get my work out there, to get new readers engaged with what I have to say, to surprise people, and to surprise myself. Complacency, after all, is a demonic force.
I’m lucky enough to work primarily on creator-owned comics these days. There are a few licensed or company-owned comics I’m writing, but only those that are super fun for me. Godzilla stories for example. I’ll always pursue those. Shadowman (which wraps this week), Punk Mambo, Book of Shadows, because Valiant is letting me shape the supernatural world in a very cool way. Bloodborne, because if ever there was a licensed comic that I should be writing, that’s the one. But most of the stuff I have coming up, it belongs to me and my collaborators.
But I’m feeling the need to approach some stories in some cool new ways. I’ve got some interesting things on the wya, I think, although I can’t tell you much about them just yet. Here’s what I can’t hint at.
I’ve got a new comic project that is such a different approach to horror stories for me. I’m not sure when it will be announced, but it is crazy and fun. I’m just really hoping readers connect with it.
I’m developing another unique approach to a horror story that will be one heck of a wild ride.
Brian Hurtt and I are developing a host of new projects that I think will give readers a real thrill. They’re exciting for us, so that’s a pretty great start. Our biggest problem is focusing on the first project first.
My producing partner Heath Amodio and I are working on a short film that should be done relatively soon.
Anton Kromoff and I, along with A.C. and Nick Zamudio and John Scott, are working on two really cool ttrpg projects that I think will have legs beyond the gaming table.
Josh Roberts and I are working on the pilot for a half-hour comedy series.
I’m writing a new novel, which I’m going to be serializing on Patreon most likely.
I’m planning a return to the world of Crooked Hills, with a revised first book and a sequel!
I have several new prose short stories planned for the near future.
And I just got off the phone with my friends at Outland Entertainment about some exciting new approaches to projects—comics, prose, and gaming alike—that could be really cool… IF we can pull them off!
Sounds like a lot, I suppose, and some of it is quite different from what you might be accustomed to from me. To me, though, creation is mutation.
A lot of the behind-the-scenes material for these projects will be posted on my Patreon. If you haven’t checked it out, I hope you’ll do so. I’ll be using Patreon support to fund as many new creator-owned projects as I can. I need your help to make it happen.
***
Something else I’ve been working on that’s a little different…
With conventions coming up, I wanted something to get my readers to check out my e-newsletter, join my Patreon, and join my Discord server. I wanted a takeaway that wouldn’t just be thrown away. I decided to try something fun with my marketing material.
I printed up a new postcard with all the information you might expect to find. On the back, though, the card features a new short story. The card is also numbered and limited to a print run of 500. When these cards are gone, I will not be reprinting them. Instead, I’ll be doing a new card with a new short story. My hope is this creates something of a keepsake, something folks might chase a bit. I’ll only be passing these out at conventions (though I am thinking about doing a card that is exclusive to Patreon supporters and will be mailed to them). If you’re at a show (my next one is Planet Comicon) make sure to ask me about these bad boys.
Another grand experiment!
***
I haven’t been focused on scripting this last week. I’ve been focused on spring cleaning and getting materials ready for conventions.
Later today, I’m taking the family to see EVERYTHING, EVERYWHERE, ALL AT ONCE, which I’m very excited about.
Tomorrow, I’ll be traveling to the Little Shop of Comics to hang out with my friend JimmyZ, talk crazy ideas, and help with sending some BEYOND MORTAL copies out the door to Kickstarter supporters.
And then it is back to writing, writing, writing. Not a Scriptpocalypse, not for another couple of weeks, but busy nonetheless.
Onward!
Upward!
Every which way but loose!
Whatever works!
INTERVIEWS…
I participated in a little interview about the upcoming BOOK OF SHADOWS comic series, which features Shadowman, the Eternal Warrior, Dr. Mirage, Punk Mambo, and a top secret character!
The Year of Valiant 2022 - the interview | GamesRadar+ — www.gamesradar.com We speak with the creators of Book of Shadows, X-O Manowar: Unconquered, and Bloodshot: Unleashed
COMICS THIS WEEK…
THE LAST BOOK YOU’LL EVER READ #7
Olivia, Connor, and Willow finally find sanctuary in a small town that's been given over to the Wilding. Weeds crack the asphalt. Animals roam the street. Humanity is all but forgotten.
SHADOWMAN #8
Shadowman, with the assistance of Punk Mambo and the Abettors, fight to stop the Deadside as the blights get closer to covering all of Earth. Valiant's mightiest heroes are caught up in her wake. Can Shadowman exorcise the Deadside back to its dimension or will the blights change the landscape of the Valiant Universe forever?
PATREON...
I publish quite a bit of behind-the-scenes material, serialized comics, short stories, scripts, and much more on Patreon. I try to post at least five new items every week. I use money generated from Patreon to fund the creation of new material. I hope you’ll consider checking it out.
The current Patreon Index can be found here - https://www.patreon.com/posts/64469540
Patron-only posts from the past week include:
On Titles - https://www.patreon.com/posts/64829566 - A process/how-to piece on choosing the perfect title.
Tremendicon Writer's Panels - https://www.patreon.com/posts/64674200 - A look behind the curtain of the writing track I’m developing for a local convention.
Wrightson Essay - https://www.patreon.com/posts/64506065 - A recent essay I wrote about Bernie Wrightson
The Sixth Gun Issue 5 Script - https://www.patreon.com/posts/64629872 - Another one for the archive!
Another Dusk Belongs to Us Preview - https://www.patreon.com/posts/64633374 - A preview of a comic I’ll be serializing on Patreon.
Won't No Bear - https://www.patreon.com/posts/64665582 - The story I’ve written for my first collectible postcard.
Work Update 4/3/22 - https://www.patreon.com/posts/64663171 - All the coolness I’ve been up to of late.
For next week, I’ve already scheduled more sneak peeks and some more scripts and some new fiction!
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.
APRIL 22 - 24, 2022 - Planet Comicon, Kansas City
MAY 7, 2022 - Free Comic Book Day at the Little Shop of Comics, Cuba MO
JUNE, 17 - 19, 2022 - Tremendicon, Springfield MO
SEPTEMBER 24 - 25, 2022 - Memphis Comic Expo, Memphis TN
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.
May 7, 2022 - BLOODBORNE kicks off with a Free Comic Book Day issue!
May - TALES FROM HARROW COUNTY: LOST ONES
July - BOOK OF SHADOWS, the Valiant Universe supernatural team book.
August 2022 - UP TO NO GHOUL, a sequel to THE GHOUL NEXT DOOR.
A LEGACY OF VIOLENCE - A horror maxi-series about a mysterious town and mysterious experiments that have played out there.
A sequel to a story about dreams and loss and adventure.
A sequel to a story of robotic mischief.
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.
A new series that will allow me to spin many, many horror stories.
WORK UPDATE…
So far this year, I wrote:
533 pages of comic book scripts (938 in 2021)
0 feature length screenplay (1 in 2021)
4 short stories (13 in 2021)
0 novellas (0 in 2021)
18 new comic book series proposals (25 in 2021)
0 podcast proposals (5 in 2021)
1 foreword for upcoming graphic novels (0 in 2021)
1 television series proposal (0 in 2021)
FINAL THOUGHTS…
Here’s a collage of all the books that have come out so far in 2022!
If you enjoy reading about all the nonsense I’m up to, I hope you’ll consider throwing some support toward my Patreon. I post something almost every day, and all the funds earned on that platform go directly into funding more and more comic book work!
If you want to keep the conversation going throughout the week, follow me on Twitter or join my Discord server! Thanks for joining me!
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.