It was, thankfully, very mild cases of Covid all around (and I never got it). Get your boosters everyone!
Happy New Year!
2024 is starting off productive and positive for me. I am well in the thick of it writing a brand new middle-grade graphic novel, an official announcement about which, I hope to have in the coming weeks. I am working with some amazing arts organizations to expand and develop my comics making and cartooning workshops, to bring them to more kids and wider audiences. This too, I hope to have shareable news about soon. And I’ve got a lot of great school visits happening in the coming months, particularly during Read Across America week in the Spring.
If you would be interested in arranging an assembly presentation (suitable for multiple grade levels at once) or a cartooning workshop (great for somewhat smaller groups), more information about what I offer can be found here. I’d love to set something up.
Cartooning Lessons for Adults at The Middletown Public Library
A free program for grown-ups in Monmouth County at The Middletown Public Library on Thursday January 25th, from 7-8PM. If you’ve ever been curious to know what my “Cartooning Lessons” program is like, and have been mad that you’re not a fourth-grader, this is a great opportunity to come check it out. Registration is required.
“The Good War on Terror” and the *Almost* Monthly ‘Zine Club
I don’t promote it too often here, but it’s good to mention once in a while, that I have an *Almost* Monthly ‘Zine Club that only costs $5, and I think the comic I produced this month, The Good War On Terror, is worth calling a little attention to.
This is a twenty-page, full color, cartoon essay, adapting an excellent piece written by MSNBC anchor Chris Hayes, that examines the late 90’s obsession with World War II and “The Greatest Generation”, and argues that some of that nostalgia for a sense of National Purpose helped set the stage for much of what was to come, in the post-9/11 era. I’m very proud of it, and I think it’s something that everyone might enjoy.
There are two membership tiers. For $5 monthly, you receive between 10-12 print ‘zines from me each year, no additional shipping required. For $3, you get the 3 or 4 “prestige” comics that I produce (like this Good War On Terror one), and are sent all of the other in-between ‘zines and comics as digital PDFs. The best deal is to sign up annually for $54, and get a physical copy of every comic I publish that year.
The ‘Zine Club is something I almost do entirely for fun, I love self-publishing, I think it’s important to always create some art just for yourself, or at least with only a small audience in mind, and at heart I’m always going to feel like a small-press DIY making copies at Kinkos to sell to five people and my mother kind of a creator. This club is a great way to scratch that itch, and to have fun playing around with format and content. Here’s a sneak-peek at the cover to my next cartoon ‘zine, “Bad Batch”, which will be shipping to all members in February.
Thanks as always for reading along!
Mike