Vicious Shivers, Issue 150
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Sometimes, when I’m sleeping really well—Like, the best sleep I’ve ever had—Cindy likes to reach over and pinch me. She says it’s because she thinks I’m dead. I think it’s because she’s jealous of my restfulness. That, my friends, is what just happened and spurred me into writing this newsletter.
Welcome to the 150th issue of Vicious Shivers!
Actually, if you were to track all of my newsletters, we’re much further along, but this is issue 150 since I started releasing the newsletter under the Vicious Shivers title. We’ve released through MailChimp, Revue, and now Substack, and I appreciate everyone who subscribes, reads, and shares these dispatches. In many ways, writing this newsletter every week is somewhat therapeutic for me. It helps me focus on what I’ve accomplished, plan for what I need to do, and—yes—vent a little. Thanks for being along for the ride!
Now that I’ve mentioned how much this newsletter means to me, here’s a little heads up that next week’s issue might be late… or abbreviated… or a complete mess… or all of the above. Lots of stuff going on next week, especially on Sunday, so it will likely throw the schedule off.
I’ve been very busy this week, both in terms of writing and writing-related tasks. I’ve been using a Capsule Gravity Timer (something I picked up off Kickstarter) to help me focus on 25-minute chunks of focused productivity. I flip it over and it switches from a clock to a countdown timer. It’s very similar to the hexagon clock I’ve mentioned previously, but a little more compact and easier to carry around.
Using that method, I finished three comics this week. One unannounced, one for DOOR TO DOOR, NIGHT BY NIGHT, and one that was announced (and is mentioned below) this week. I also did several lettering passes and a few lettering scripts. And I answered some interview questions. I really love the timer method of working. I fall out of the habit of doing it. I forget how helpful it is. And then I rediscover it and love it all the more!
I also used this week to reach out to publishers and editors about upcoming work. I hear it frequently. “You have so many projects coming out!” Right now, though, I may have a bunch of work coming out, but it doesn’t feel like I have a lot of paying work coming in. And, to be honest, there have been some real dry spells of late in terms of money. My Patreon helps. There have definitely been times where that support has helped me cross the finish line. The dry spell, though, scared me on a couple of levels. One, it worried me that I’m not doing enough. Two, it worried me that I don’t have enough lined up going forward (meaning… not enough new work that I’m actively producing). I aim to fix that, so I started sending queries out to editors about what’s next.
Lots of school new stuff on the horizon. I’m not just talking about 2023 and 2024. I’m making plans for years and years to come.
I was having drinks with friends the other night, and one of them mentioned how he’s looking forward to retirement. He asked how my retirement plans were going, and I told him I didn’t think that would ever happen for me, just like it didn’t happen for my old man. I’ll be working til the day they put me in the grave and… if those bargains I’ve made with lower powers hold… for some time after.
Yesterday, Cindy, Roman, and I attended a Christmas luncheon hosted by Cindy’s family.
Roman and his great uncle performed together, his uncle playing guitar and singing while Roman accompanied him on violin. It sounded amazing. It was even more amazing when Roman told me he was just improvising what he played. That kid… I gotta tell ya… he’s something amazing and he doesn’t even realize it.
During the luncheon, they do a White Elephant gift exchange. This was my gift I put into the mix this year.
I thought it was a devious little joke that would elicit laughter and a bit pure rage. Instead, the guy who picked it decided he wanted it. He said he was a comic fan and he knew this photo would go up in value once I was dead.
Also… on the way to the event, we packed a committee of vultures. I’ve never seen so many in one place. Hundreds.
Hopefully, these two happenings are not some sort of weird omen.
ComiXology Presents RETROVERSE…
At the end of every newsletter, I list all of the top secret projects I have coming out in the future. Somehow, it seems, I forgot this one! Well… surprise! ComiXology is releasing a new series that I’ve created with John Bivens!
RETROVERSE is a horror/sci-fi/monster-punching series about alternate realities and destiny and the value of every living soul. Five issues of mayhem that prompted John to send me this message:
Sketching out page 6, and pretty sure it will be one of the most insane things I’ve concreted from a script… bravo
The first issue comes out this week!
So sorry I’ve been keeping that one secret. That’s not like me. Everyone knows I can’t keep secrets!
The cat’s out of the bag now, though, and io9 has released a preview you can read here!
For the rest of the year, I’m running a wild sale on my web store. 25% off everything you order (and no extra charge on signatures) will be applied to anything you buy on the store. The discount will be taken at check out! This is a great chance to stock up on some really cool books!
https://cullen-bunn.myshopify.com/
Democritus Brand…
It’s down to brass tacks, folks.
We have less than a week to go on the campaign for DEMOCRITUS BRAND AND THE ENDLESS MACHINE issues 1 through 4.
By the time the next issue of this newsletter comes out, the campaign will be finished, for good or ill.
If you haven’t had the chance to take a look at it, I hope you will.
Your support would mean a great deal.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cullenbunn/democritus-brand-and-the-endless-machine-the-return
Interviews…
I spoke to Brendan at Comicon.com about DEMOCRITUS BRAND AND THE ENDLESS MACHINE. Of course, it derailed into nonsense, but it’s a fun short interview.
New Comics This Week…
Well, as mentioned above, I have a new comic dropping on ComiXology this week.
RETROVERSE #1
The first issue in a new sci-fi horror series from Cullen Bunn and John Bivens.
Kacy must convince her boyfriend T.J. and BFF Krissy that she is who she says she is and traverse this new and scary reality-where she's not supposed to be alive-and all that comes with it. Is it a nightmare or was she made for this
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.
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.
RED ZONE - An action/comedy thrill-ride. unlike anything else I’ve ever written.
PROJECT: GHOST - A horror maxi-series exploring a side of horror you might not expect
BLOODBLADE - An action/horror story of destiny and demonic blood
PROJECT: BOT - A sequel to a story of robotic mischief.
PROJECT: MASK - A horror OGN where reality and surreality clash in a murderous way.
PROJECT: WATER HEATER - An apocalyptic horror/fantasy maxi-series.
PROJECT: DUNGEON - A new licensed horror comic series
PROJECT: CONVOY - A horror/thriller I’m co-writing
PROJECT: MATINEE - A horror limited series I’m working on with one of my best friends and long-standing collaborator
PROJECT: SWORD - A horror prose anthology I’m editing
PROJECT: V - A return to a fan-favorite character I haven't written in quite a while.
PROJECT: PREHISTORY - More kaiju craziness.
PROJECT: MEGA-BATTLE - Even More kaiju craziness.
PROJECT: LAST - A horror prose anthology I’m editing.
PROJECT: RUSH - A horror prose anthology I’m editing.
PROJECT: GALLERY - An RPG project I’ve been quietly developing.
PROJECT: CARD - A magical one-shot.
Work Update…
So far this year, I wrote:
1697 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)
9 short stories (13 in 2021)
0 novellas (0 in 2021)
8 two-sentence horror stories (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)
Events…
Keep in mind, these days, "finalized" doesn't mean as much as it once did. All events are subject to change. I hope to be adding more conventions in the near future! Stay tuned!
FEBRUARY 4, 2023 - ArtCon, Neosho, MO
MARCH 17 - 19, 2023 - Planet Comicon, Kansas City MO
JULY 7 - 9, 2023 - Tremendicon, Springfield MO
Weekly Obsessions…
Of late, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about my collecting practices. I have decided it is time to prune the collection, to get rid of a huge chunk of my comics, books, and games. At least 25% of what I have, maybe more. I’m only going to phase out the stuff that doesn’t mean anything to me, the stuff I’ll never look at again. I’m also going to put a little more effort into focusing my collection going forward. I may be done with physical copies of singe issue comics. I can read those digitally. But I will still get some graphic novels. My primary focus, I think, will be limited edition horror books and vintage role-playing games. Those things tend to bring me the most joy.
I finished THE SCARLET GOSPELS this week and, in some sort of weird kismet, I discovered a new (well, new to me) book titled SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE SERVANTS OF HELL. Written by Paul Kane, this is the story of the world’s greatest consulting detective encountering the denizens of the Hellraiser universe. It apparently came out last year and is out of print, but I was able to start reading it on my Kindle. So… that and the LORDS OF SALEM novel by Rob Zombie and B.K. Evenson are next on my list.
I’ve been continuing to watch DR. WHO, but I slowed down a bit to watch the rest of WEDNESDAY. I liked the way the show wrapped up. I think Jenna Ortega was great in it. In fact, I think the entire cast was pretty terrific. I also caught a few minutes of ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD again and, like every other time I catch a few minutes of that movie, I want to watch it again.
In terms of gaming, my son got me interested in CLASH ROYALE on my phone. It’s sort of a tower defense game by way of MAGIC: THE GATHERING. I’m terrible at it, but I like playing.
Where to Find Me Online…
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.
1. Best white elephant gift ever 😂 but then the vultures started eye-balling you 😳
2. Retroverse--added to my saver ✅
3. Democritis Brand--backed ✅
Hahaha. I figured I wasn’t the only one, but you’re the first I’ve heard tell.
I get thumped in the middle of the night if my wife thinks I’m dead. Or I sense a presence and open my eyes to an ear hovering over my face.
“I couldn’t hear you breathing!”
I also used to get thumped for snoring. 🤦♂️ What a no-win scenario. Queue Kirk: “I don’t believe in no-win scenarios!”
QUESTION: Based on your Project: CODENAME list, I’d imagine you’ll stay busy into 2023. Is that accurate, or would you say that list will only get you part way through? Also, do you have a separate project list for 2024, or are you just capturing ideas right now?