crowdfund

So many things happening…

If you’re a fan of Wrestling & like things like Star Wars, Star Trek or Battlestar Galactica, then Battle Grapple: Rebel is for you! As I type this, Battle Grapple Rebel is over 100% funded and working to hit 100 backers to get the interior pages colored. Click here to tag in!

I also did a movie poster homage for David Schrader & Tony Donley ‘s latest project called Cannibals on Mars. If you’re a fan of The Thing from John Carpenter or George Romero flicks, I think you’ll dig this comic!

Retro (yes, the one where I posted storyboards!) is coming back in full force as a comic book and live-action short film!

Visit us on Facebook or Instagram to follow & when we launch. Aaron Lindenthaler writes, I do pencils & inks, Ellie Wright (Immortal Red Sonja, Batman the Shadow) colors & Jerome Gagnon (Holiday Spirits, Cthulhu Invades Wonderland) letters. Actor Reno Wilson (Mike & Molly, Good Girls) plays our titular character in the short film!

Pablo the Gorilla #2: Dropping the Deuce is in its way. I’m working on getting over 30 pages roughed out & I’m currently at 32. I’m working on the ending and then I’ll be heading to fine pencils next. So keep an eye out!

What a journey!

I know I don’t post as often as should, but that’s a good thing as I’ve been busy with projects. I thank you for hanging around and checking in on my blog every so often. Your company is greatly appreciated.

As you know, 2020 has been wild to say the least. Most of the time, it has been truly heartbreaking. I lost a good friend before the pandemic hit. I think about him in particular now because the Dodgers are in the World Series and he was a huge fan. He was also an amazing artist and we would have had a lot more conversations about this year.

I had my largest convention schedule planned for this year but COVID-19 took care of that. It was going to be a lot of firsts for me. Surprisingly, other opportunities have presented themselves. As you know, I was honored to be a part of Gerry Conway’s Skulls for Justice campaign.

Since then, I’ve had the privilege of doing a sketchcard set for Marvel & Upper Deck’s Marvel Anime trading card series. I started posting them on Twitter & I guess someone in Japan found the Venom card already. I’m fanning out that I’m in a set where Peach Momoko is the headline artist. Insane! Here’s a look at all of my cards:

I’ve also been working quite a bit with my friend Mike Korpi. He’s an amazing writer and I wanted to bring his stories to life. You may remember we were in Wannabe Press ‘ Cthulhu is Hard to Spell: The Terrible Twos right before the pandemic hit.

We now have an opportunity for a comic book anthology hat trick. Our second and third anthologies are live now on Kickstarter. The first one is from the creator collective we belong to: the Sketchy Bug Group. The book is called Danger Arcade and features 10 stories by 21 creators plus pinups. Click here to check out the campaign! The cover is by Mike Penn from Heavy Metal magazine. Ed Dukeshire (from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers & Hulk) is doing letters for some of the stories, including ours! Our project was recently backed by BOOM! Studios as part of their 100 First-time Comic Kickstarter Campaigns initiative. We have 2 weeks left to fund and we’re almost at 50%! I hope you’ll consider it.

Mike and I are also in great company with a horror anthology that we’re a part of called Nightmare Theater. This campaign just launched today and is over halfway funded. It features a ton of phenomenal talent like Ringo Award-Winners Rylend Grant (Banjax, Abberant), David Pepose (the O.Z., Spencer & Locke, Going to the Chapel), David Avallone (Bettie Page, Elvira: Mistress of the Dark, Drawing Blood), Terry Mayo (Wicked Righteous) and many more. It’s insane. The book is over 200 pages! Mike and I have a story in it we’re sure you’ll love and I did a pinup.

I also did a pinup for my friend Steven Prince and his book Monster Matador! It’s also live on Kickstarter with only 5 more days left, if I’m not mistaken.

I hope you enjoy these amazing projects. If you support any of them, sounds off below and let me know! If you find any of my sketchcards, let me know!

@PablotheGorilla & I need your help! Nominate us for the #Ringoawards! @Ringoawards

As you may know, creating Pablo the Gorilla has been an amazing journey but it’s not over yet! You can have a part in nominating Pablo for a Ringo Award!

The Ringo Awards are held at Baltimore Comic-con, which I’ll be at in their Artist Alley if everything goes back to normal.  It’d be great if a longshot like Pablo the Gorilla made it on the ballot. First, it’d be a special thing to walk into Baltimore Comic-Con with that nod. Second, and more importantly, the award celebrates Mike Wieringo, an artist that I admired and who believed in the fun of comics. Making Pablo was about making a fun comic and I believe it truly embodies the spirit of the award. You have the chance to affect the ballot simply by nominating the comic and me in all applicable categories! I hope you’ll consider it! Thanks!

Grinding Elder God style with @Wannabepress & @Mikekorpi #MakeDreamsHappen

My friend Mike Korpi is a fantastic screen writer. He writes these amazing stories that remind me of Tales from the Crypt and the Twilight Zone. He now has his first opportunity to become a published comic book writer! It can only happen if the Kickstarter campaign for Wannabe Press’s Cthulhu is Hard to Spell: The Terrible Twos fully funds.

If any of you have ever bought a Wannabe Press anthology, you know the quality they bring. The stories and art are curated by the editors and the talent level is always high. Cthulhu is Hard to Spell : the Terrible Twos USA no different. In fact, they believe in the product so much, you can preview it by going to the Kickstarter page. This book features a bevy of talent that Mike and I are proud to join. Paul Jenkins who worked with an art hero of mine, Humberto Ramos, is on this book. You may know him from Hellblazer or Spectacular Spider-man & Fairy Quest with Humberto. He has a piece with Tony Donley from Myth and Legends. Ray-Anthony Height, artist on fan fave titles Spider-man, Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur and Wakanda-verse has an entry. The cover is done by Aaron Alexovich from Invader Zim! Wild!

There are other talented from publishers like Vertigo, Image and brands like My Little Pony. There really is something for every comic fan. You don’t even have to know anything about Lovecraft or the Elder Gods to enjoy these stories. Let it serve as a key to the gateway. So join us and get your free preview!

@Pablothegorilla preview & touring info

2019 was personally a great year for me. Retro debuted at the Dances with Films festival. Siren’s Song with Andy Nordvall hit #1 on the Amazon Kindle in science fiction and fantasy illustration. We even broke into the print top 100 of ART! Pablo the Gorilla was funded and delivered on Kickstarter! It even sold out at my local comic shop. They’re on their second helping!

How is 2020 so far? Well, it’s going crazy!

I have 7 conventions on my schedule!

My first one of the year was Long Beach Comic Expo and I’d say it was a rousing success😊

Pablo and I got some shine on KTLA Weekend Morning News live from Long Beach Comic Expo!

Next up is Wondercon in Anaheim. Find me at Artist Alley table B-50 April 10-12th !

Preview of another collab with @brianluesang of @pablothegorilla & #GodloreComic

Why yes, that is a sword wielding Pablo the gorilla!

@brianluesang has a #crowdfund campaign on @indiegogo & needs your help! I did this piece & he’ll be inking it for his book Godlore vol.2 #collab

Check out Godlore Vol.2 on indiegogo! Brian will be inking this piece and I’m sure he’ll kill it. He successfully funded volume 1 on Kickstarter and needs your help to see this project through.

Overwatch #Batman @Pablothegorilla sketch fulfillment for #kickstarter

I think someone will be pleasantly surprised when they get this. The 2 most popular requests for sketches were Pablo and “surprise me. ” Lol.

Started from the bottom

Last 48 hours of Pablo the Gorilla on Kickstarter. Can you believe it?!

If you’ve been following the process behind Pablo, you know how much work has gone into creating this comic.

The comic is now waiting its final funding count. It was fully funded after 72 hours and stands at 143% right now. It now is $73 away from hitting $5400 in funding. The second stretch goal (a funding goal that stretches beyond the original amount) is in reach. That goal would produce the first pin design.

We are now in the final 48 hours. It’s been a blast! There are three last stretch goals and a bonus. If you’re in the Los Angeles area and have backed, you’ll love this- a pizza party if Pablo the Gorilla reaches or exceeds 200% funding!

This has been an incredible experience. It’s like living a dream having not only the comic being made but also having two- time, Eisner Award winner Dustin Nguyen creating a variant cover. It’s been a really wild ride this past month. So if you’re a comic book fan, especially of indies, hope you’ll love this one. Like I’ve been saying, “I’m not saying it’s going to be the next Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but I’m not not saying it either.” 🤣

@Pablothegorilla looking to hit 2nd stretch goal

This has been a great year so far. There’s still a lot of work to be done. Since Pablo the Gorilla’s kickstarter campaign started, I’ve been reiterating the mantra, “Kickstarter is a team sport. ” It really is. With only 11 days left on the campaign, or is already heading toward the second stretch goal. The are three fun (and super difficult to guess) pin designs waiting to be made if the stretch goals are hit. They don’t have to be made. They’re just tertiary rewards as a thank you to those who came in at $35 or higher, should they be produced.

The campaign is already at 136% funding. It currently stands at 104 backers. I’m honored to have two time Eisner Award winner Dustin Nguyen (no relation) doing a variant cover. It really had been amazing. Thanks to everyone who has pledged, shared, commented or helped in anyway. I can’t wait to put this book in your hands!

Here are some early reader reviews.

“Pablo the Gorilla is great fun, and really packs a pizza-delivering primate cyborg punch.”
– D.E. Schrader, co-creator Baby Badass