Vicious Shivers (Cullen Bunn's Official Newsletter), Issue 141
Vicious Shivers is 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!
WELCOME TO ISSUE 141…
Every October, I make a couple of batches of chili. The first is the test batch, the second is the batch we eat while passing out candy on Halloween night. I think we skipped the second batch last year… because of… life… but I’m getting back into the swing of things this month!
I was up early this morning getting a big pot of chili ready. Today, I’m making turkey chili. It’s healthier, you know. On Halloween, I’ll use beef for the chili. Might as well go all out on the spookiest night of the year!
My recipe, which is not fancy, has always been a crowd-pleaser. It goes something like this:
Ground turkey or ground beef (2 pounds)
Turkey cutlets or sirloin steak (1 pound, sliced into small strips)
2 cans red beans
1 can black beans
2 cans crushed tomatoes
1 can corn
1 onion, chopped
A little minced garlic
2 packs of chili seasoning
I brown the turkey, seasoning it however I like, then throw everything into a crockpot and let it simmer all damn day long.
That’s it. No amazing secrets. I mean, the seasoning I use while browning the turkey changes every time I cook it, but that’s it. I just know it always turns out great, and I’m looking forward to tonight!
***
But, yes, it was an early morning for me. Last night, friends Josh, Scott, Brandon, and Melissa came over for a spell. There was bourbon and tequila to be enjoyed. As the night wore on, Roman joined us and we watched BEHIND THE MASK (but no bourbon or tequila). A few of us had intended to sit around a bonfire and smoke cigars, but we ended up getting too tired. Ah, well. Next time.
The night before, I took Roman and some of his friends to a local haunted forest—Field of Screams. And even though two of his friends lost their phones on the trail (the monsters helped us find them) it was a blast.
And the night before that, the “Last Trivia Table on the Left” attended trivia night at the Alamo Drafthouse. The theme was “paranormal movies” and we did not win. We came in third. My rage at the loss would have taken first place in the anger awards, though. Two of the categories were just not anything I have interest in. I mean, I know the hosts want to trip you up, but I just wanted to talk about spooky movies! Not “non-spooky paranormal” or “animated paranormal”! Next week, the theme is “slashers” and I have high hopes for a better showing. Of course, I’m trying to figure out the “gotcha” categories they’ll throw our way.
I’m hitting more haunted houses next week… and I’m already chomping at the bit.
***
Here’s a bit of unexpected and exciting news about DOOR TO DOOR, NIGHT BY NIGHT! The first issue is doing so well in pre-orders, it has been upgraded to an ongoing series!
Vault Upgrades Door To Door Night By Night to Ongoing, Based on Sales — bleedingcool.com Bleeding Cool has described Cullen Bunn as one of the most prolific comic book creators today, been on a roll as of late. With recent projects at Valiant
Pre-orders for issue 1 close on 10/17, so you have a bit of time to order yours, but don’t wait!
***
As I’m sure you’re aware, New York Comic Con is this weekend, and I’m missing it. I didn’t think it would bother me, but it really is. I know it is one of the conventions where I can actually get business taken care of, where I can score new assignments and launch new projects. Right now, I definitely need that. But I’ve been so overwhelmed I just didn’t think it would work out. What I didn’t expected was to feel so much remorse over missing the convention, but here I am.
Add lonely teardrops to the above chili recipe.
I hope everyone who attended had a great time. From reports I’ve seen, it looks like a blast.
***
I was planning on getting quite a bit of work done today. However, right before he went to bed last night, my son asked me if we could work on turning our garage into a haunted house for Halloween. And when my 14-year-old, who only rarely wants to be in my presence, wants to do something together, that’s what I’m doing!
***
And now… on with the show!
HARROW COUNTY: THE BOARD GAME...
Off the Page Games launched the Kickstarter for the HARROW COUNTY board game this week. The campaign reached its funding goal in under 3 hours and has been doing well since. Now, we’re trying to reach some awesome stretch goals. It’s a fun, gorgeous game, and I hope you will throw some support its way if you can manage it!
I’m writing a new HARROW COUNTY short story that is being published int he backer updates, too!
INTERVIEWS…
An interview has posted with the Paneloids. I had a good time with this one. We talked about… well… everything.
Cullen Bunn Interview | Paneloids: Comic Books & Nerd Culture — paneloids.com With Kyle & His Bestest Friends EVERY MONDAY 8AM EST Comic Books & Nerd Culture
And the Harrow County Observer has posted an in-depth interview with the team behind the HARROW COUNTY board game!
The Harrow County Observer: Harrow County: The Game of Gothic Conflict – Multiversity Comics — www.multiversitycomics.com Welcome to the Harrow County Observer, Multiversity Comics’ dedicated “Harrow County” column. In the latest installment we’re looking at the “Harrow County” board game from Off the page Games.
NEW COMICS THIS WEEK...
It appears I made a mistake last week. A LEGACY OF VIOLENCE did not come out as I had mentioned. That’s because it’s coming out this week, along with the CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SALEM one-shot!
THE CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SALEM #1
Salem the Cat has always been known as Sabrina's familiar, but what happens when Sabrina's not around to protect him (or, as is more the case, when he doesn't have to protect her)? This special one-shot explores a different side of Salem's life, one in which he acts as an anti-hero enacting vigilante justice on those who hurt others like him... animals, in a horror story that's equal parts Pet Sematary and Hereditary.
A LEGACY OF VIOLENCE #1
A Legacy of Violence, by masters of horror Cullen Bunn and Andrea Mutti, with letters by Rus Wooton, follows Dr. Nick Shaw; an honest doctor just trying to help people. But one day, when a patient gets out of control, Nick suddenly begins recalling past memories he had kept hidden away. That's when he decides to join Doctors Without Borders and heads straight for Central America. But his past still comes calling. With a serial killer on the loose in the small town of Disante, Honduras, Nick's flashbacks begin to intensify-and become clearer. Was Nick meant to go to Honduras? Is this all part of the killer's plan? Find out what Nick has been repressing all these years and why.
NEW VARIANT COVERS NOW AVAILABLE…
If you’re into variant covers, man-oh-man, do I have some good ones for you. I’ve been commissioning exclusive variants that you can only get from me! They’re available at my online store. Check them out when you get the chance.
THE CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SALEM - Creator Exclusive Variant (Danny Luckert Cover) | Cullen Bunn's Shock Shop — cullenbunn.bigcartel.com This is a LIMITED EDITION This is a LIMITED EDITION variant cover for THE CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SALEM #1! This variant is only available directly...
DOOR TO DOOR, NIGHT BY NIGHT #1 - Creator Exclusive Cover (Danny Luckert Variant) | Cullen Bunn's Shock Shop — cullenbunn.bigcartel.com This is a LIMITED EDITION This is a LIMITED EDITION variant cover for DOOR TO DOOR, NIGHT BY NIGHT #1! This variant is only available directly from...
A FOULNESS IN THE WALLS - Creator Exclusive Cover (Sami Kivela Variant) | Cullen Bunn's Shock Shop — cullenbunn.bigcartel.com This is a LIMITED EDITION This is a LIMITED EDITION variant cover for A FOULNESS IN THE WALLS! This variant is only available directly from Cullen...
October 2022 Variant Cover Bunndle | Cullen Bunn's Shock Shop — cullenbunn.bigcartel.com Our special for spooky season 2022 is pretty special indeed! Here we have a collection of 6 creator-exclusive variant covers, available exclusively...
And would you like a sneak peek at one of the next ones? It’s not available for pre-order yet, but take a gander at Danny Luckert’s awesome variant to NIGHTWALKERS!
WEEKLY OBSESSIONS…
With Halloween rapidly approaching, I’m entrenching with horror movies aplenty. There’s little rhyme or reason to my viewing choices. It’s whatever strikes my fancy at the moment. So far, I’ve watched the following (in this order):
Phantasm 2
Hellraiser
My Best Friend’s Exorcism
Crawl
Hellbound: Hellraiser 2
Poltergeist
The Cabin in the Woods
Halloween
A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Dream Child
Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare
Werewolves Within
Hellraiser (2022)
Friday the 13th
Behind the Mask: the Rise of Leslie Vernon
Phantasm 3: Lord of the Dead
EVENTS…
Keep in mind, these days, "finalized" doesn't mean as much as it once did. All events are subject to change.1
FEBRUARY 4, 2023 - ArtCon, Neosho, MO
MARCH 17 - 19, 2023 - Planet Comicon, Kansas City MO
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.
THE CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SALEM - A one shot following Sabrina’s mischievous cat on a wild adventure.
DOOR TO DOOR, NIGHT BY NIGHT - A horror/comedy series about a door-to-door sales team that moonlights as monster hunters.
A FOULNESS IN THE WALLS - A horror one-shot about loss and grief and guilt.
NIGHTWALKERS - A survival horror series that sets up a whole world of apocalyptic nightmares.
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 new licensed horror comic series
Another new licensed horror comic series
A horror maxi-series exploring a side of horror you might not expect
A horror/thriller I’m co-writing
A horror limited series I’m working on with one of my best friends and long-standing collaborator
An action/horror story of destiny and demonic blood
A horror prose anthology I’m editing
A return to a fan-favorite character I haven't written in quite a while.
More kaiju craziness.
WORK UPDATE…
So far this year, I wrote:
1425 pages of comic book scripts (938 in 2021)
0 feature length screenplay (1 in 2021)
1 half-hour comedy pilot (0 in 2021)
1 short film script (0 in 2021)
6 short stories (13 in 2021)
0 novellas (0 in 2021)
29 new comic book series proposals (25 in 2021)
0 podcast proposals (5 in 2021)
1 essay (0 in 2021)
1 foreword for upcoming graphic novels (0 in 2021)
1 television series proposal (0 in 2021)
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
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.