Under the Mask

My guest today is a published writer and creator. He first got on the scene with Junior Braves of the Apocalypse, which he describes as a “The Goonies meets The Walking Dead.”

His latest series, Starlite, features a group of former child superheroes trapped in space with space cat-pirates and trans-dimensional spider-wizards.

Starlite is LIVE ON KICKSTARTER through 6/2/21. Go support it HERE!

LINKS:

Starlite’s Kickstarter Page - www.starlitecomicbook.com

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Twitter - @ThatAmazingTwit

Instagram - @ThatAmazingTwit

Starlite on Twitter - @StarliteComic

Starlite on Instagram - @StarliteComic

My guest today is Curtis “Specks” Thompson, the writer and creator of the comic series Legacy of the View. His series follows southern high school student Chaz Johnson, as he comes to terms with his new superpowers while just wanting to live his normal teenage life as a baseball player.

After his first foray on Kickstarter failed, Curtis took measurable steps to increase his audience, and relaunched to success. We find out exactly how he did it in this episode (his current Kickstarter just passed his funding goal, and he’s on to stretch goals!).

Enjoy!

Legacy of the View is LIVE ON KICKSTARTER through 6/3/2021. You can support it HERE!

SHOW NOTES:

Legacy of the View on Kickstarter - www.kickstarter.com/projects/specks706/legacy-of-the-view-3

Legacy of the View’s Website - www.legacyoftheview.com

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Facebook - @LegacyOfTheView

Instagram - @LegacyOfTheView

KJ Kaminski had a problem. His first series, The Resistants (along with its spin-offs), had been fairly well received. KJ found himself attending conventions all across America.

But what do you do when your new title is coming out?

It’s totally new and totally different, so you might be worried about whether your existing audience will jump on board for another series!

KJ and I talk about his fears and apprehensions with launching his new series, Sophia Saturn, and what steps he took to launch this new title to the stars!

Enjoy!

Sophia Saturn is LIVE ON KICKSTARTER through 4/30/21. You can support it HERE!

SHOW NOTES

Sophia Saturn #1 - 5 Kickstarter - www.sophiasaturn.com

Big Blue Comics’ Website - www.bigbluecomics.com

SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook - @BigBlueComics

Twitter - @BigBlueComics

KJ on Twitter - @KJKaminski11

Instagram - @BigBlueComics

Enenra is LIVE ON KICKSTARTER through 3/26/21. You can support it HERE!

LINKS:

Enenra’s Kickstarter Page - www.kickstarter.com/projects/a-aron/enenra-issue-3-and-4

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Twitter - @Aaron_Wrob

Facebook - @EnenraGNovel

Facebook - @AJRoblewski1

Nicholas Mueller had a problem.

He had just launched his first book, Demon Hunter Raven, but it was barely getting any traction! After his first campaign barely funded, he realized something needed to change.

Now, Nicholas is four issues into his comic series, and his latest crowdfunding launch funded in mere days. We’re talking with him about his work and career, and how he grew his fanbase and built momentum by just “being a real person.”

If you’re looking for some strategies to build your brand, this is the one to listen to!

Enjoy!

Demon Hunter Raven is LIVE ON KICKSTARTER through 3/19/21. You can support it HERE!

SHOW NOTES:

Demon Hunter Raven #0 - 3 Kickstarter - www.kickstarter.com/projects/dhrchap1/demon-hunter-raven-chapter-3

BMR Comics Website - www.bmrcomics.com

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Facebook - @BMRComics

Twitter - @NicholasMulle7

Instagram - @BMRComics

My guest today is a comic book artist, writer, and creator who left her hometown in the United States to live abroad in Kushima, Japan. She’s the creator of Maiden in Disguise, a comic book following the coming-of-age story of a gamer girl and her epic hero avatar in an online MMORPG.

We talk about the highs and lows of writing AND creating, the differences between American and Japanese comics and culture, and so much more!

Maiden in Disguise is LIVE ON KICKSTARTER through 3/11/21. You can support it HERE!

SHOW NOTES:

Maiden in Disguise Kickstarter - www.kickstarter.com/projects/thebitzr/maiden-in-disguise-manga-1-gamer-girl-or-epic-hero

Eotera Website (Home of Bitsy’s Multiverse) - www.eotera.com

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Instagram - @BitsyTandem_TheBitzr

Twitter - @TheBitzr

Facebook - @theBitzr

In this episode of Under the Mask, we’re taking you back to a time where comic titles were liberally littered with colorful adjectives. Words like uncanny, fantastic, and sensational!

Randy Stone is a comic book writer and creator, known for his works Champion, published by Arcana, and Eskimo Kisses, published by Scout Comics. He’s also the creator of the crime-noir comic anthology Crime Pays.

His latest work, The Sensational Swan #1, features a psychiatrist by day who’s also a superhero when the sun goes down? How would he diagnose himself? We discuss The Sensational Swan as well as finding a creative team, how this and his last anthology have raised his visibility in the comics scene.

The Sensational Swan #1 is LIVE ON KICKSTARTER through 2/28/21. You can support it HERE.

Enjoy!

LINKS:

The Sensational Swan Kickstarter - www.altruistcomics.com/swan

Altruist Comics Website = www.altruistcomics.com

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Facebook - @altruistcomics

Twitter - @altruistcomics

Randy Stone’s Twitter - @randystonecotw

This week, I’m talking with Gustavo Soria, a comic book writer, creator, and artist based out of Guatemala.

Soria released his debut comic book, The Table, as a webcomic. He recently printed the book and put it on the #1 online sales platform, Amazon. We talk about his process behind creating, how an editor helped him focus, and also how the Guatemalan comic book scene is different than America.

Enjoy!

The Table is available to read for free as a webcomic HERE. You can also buy a physical copy of The Table on Amazon HERE.

SHOW NOTES:

The Table Webcomic - www.zigmacomics.com/thetable

The Table on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Table-Gustavo-Soria

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Facebook - @TheZigmaComics

Instagram - @Zigma_Comics

This is a candid discussion with J.W. Sims that was cut from the final episode. J.W. Sims has had a tough couple of years: he was diagnosed with cancer, and had to deal with several personal losses. I didn’t know this when going into the interview with him, and our talk took a small detour discussing those issues.

I’m sharing this mostly unedited because, even though we are comic creators, above all we are HUMAN, and oftentimes this is information that wouldn’t be shared.

I am sharing this in the hopes that, if you need to hear one of the many messages in this conversation, you hear it. And know that if you are in a bad place, there is help.

This week, I’m talking with comic book artist and colorist J.W. Sims, colorist of Broke Down and Four Dead Bodies. He’s also the owner of Hooligan Alley Comics, publishing books like Darkest Night and Project 34.

In latest work, Omni #1, we find out what happens when comic book geek Floyd Miller gains superpowers, and models himself after his favorite fictional superhero, Mega.

Omni #1 is LIVE ON KICKSTARTER through 1/28/21. Go support it HERE!

SHOW NOTES:

Omni #1 Kickstarter - www.kickstarter.com/projects/hooliganalleycomics1/omni-1

Hooligan Alley Comics’ Website - www.hooliganalleycomics.com

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Facebook - @TheHooliganAlleyComics

Twitter - @JWSims34

Instagram - @HooliganAlley_Comics