Hey all, been a little while since I updated you on things. It seems as if the publishing world works in ebbs and floes (flows?) around here. But I’ll offer a few little tidbits as things are starting to cook once again.
- Heroes Now #4 is taking shape. Tony Lorenz is working through pencils on the last installment of the Patriots arc that started in issue #1. (And Tony sends them to me as works in progress, which allows me to make process books like the Patriot Commentary Edition. But every time he drops a page on me, it’s like Christmas!) Tom Ahearn is drawing the first part of a new 4-issue arc, this one focusing on Laser-Disc. I have pinups from a few folks, and David Baf Gallart is working on the next homage cover – where we’re going back to the Golden Age of comics. Maybe a Spring 2023 release? It’s possible.
- Speaking of Laser-Disc, I had part one written for a while but only rough-plotted the final three installments. Well, I wrapped up the full scripts on the arc this week. That feels good; I hate unfinished projects hanging over my head.
- A future issue of Strange Times has moved into concept stage with an artist whom I am darned excited to spotlight. I’d say it was Strange Times #3, but that would be presumptuous. One thing I know about these single artist editions is that you don’t put deadlines on them. Let them percolate as long as necessary. There’s no pressure to complete, and then the final product is pitch perfect. (I also have an interesting idea for a future Strange Times multi-creator anthology. Just need to get some other stuff out of the way.)
- I have another couple of projects in the works. One, I’ll definitely be looking for an artist to complement but I need to work up the script. Another, I’m trying the art myself (with predictable quality…I’m just not that good of an artist). And then past that, I have an inkling of the continuation of the Heroes Now story thread (I think the word is continuity, but I hate being tied down to that).
- Lastly, Tetragrammaton Fragments #269 – the latest edition of the United Fanzine Organization newsletter – came out recently and is filled with some great response to Heroes Now #2, Heroes Now #3 and Strange Times #2. I plan to scan and post those comments/reviews in a future post right here on the Phoenix Productions website.
And I think that covers the latest! I hope you’ve been enjoying the zines so far…2022 was a great year of ramping up, and 2023 feels like one where I’m settling into a publishing groove. If you have any thoughts or comments, let me know.
Phoenix Productions 