Thomas Jane fans will be familiar with Dark Country, the title of his 2009 directorial debut. Both the film and graphic novel are based on a short story written by Tab Murphy, Jane conceived of the film and graphic novel adaptions as stand-alone endeavors with unique artistic interpretations.

“Dark Country has long been a passion project of mine. In 2009, I was able to make the film a reality. And today, with Thomas Ott’s amazing work, we’re now able to release the Dark Country graphic novel exclusively with comiXology,” said Raw Studios co-founder Thomas Jane, most recently seen in HBO’s series HUNG. “Everyone at Raw Studios is excited about this exclusive agreement with comiXology who have far and above the best shopping and reading experience of any digital comics vendor.”

The Dark Country graphic novel features over 70 pages of world-renowned artist Thomas Ott’s one of a kind scratch-board illustrations.  In addition, fans of the cult favorite feature film will enjoy almost 50 pages of behind the scenes material about the Dark Country feature film that also includes the original Tab Murphy short story.

“Thomas and I both knew when we first read Dark Country that it would make a great movie and a great graphic novel and because we are just that crazy, we wanted both to be completely different experiences,” said Raw Studios co-founder and veteran comic artist Tim Bradstreet. “With this agreement in place, I’m stoked to see Dark Country be available world-wide digitally through comiXology.”

“We’ve been fans of what Tom and Tim have been doing at Raw for years, and I find the decision to make the graphic novel of Dark Country its own artistic creation a fantastic, bold choice,” says comiXology co-founder and CEO David Steinberger. “We’re incredibly humbled they would choose comiXology not only for an exclusive agreement, but the place to premiere Dark Country.”

In addition to the Dark Country graphic novel, Raw Studios fans will be able to find full story arcs of Bad Planet and Alien Pig Farm 3000 throughout the comiXology platform, including comiXology’s Digital Storefronts for brick-and-mortar retailers.

About Raw Studios
Actor/filmmaker Thomas Jane founded Raw Studios in partnership with Eisner Award-nominated illustrator/production designer, Tim Bradstreet.  Raw Studios is a leading producer of high end, “elevated genre” graphic novels using the best artists working today.  Several of Raw’s properties are currently being packaged for movie and television deals. Raw’s production arm, Raw Entertainment, has multiple projects in active development, among them: ALIEN PIG FARM, a comedy in the vein of Zombieland which Raw is developing with director David Gordon Green; and a western, MAGNIFICENT DEATH FROM A SHATTERED HAND. This fall, Jane will once again don a director’s hat to direct and star alongside Nick Nolte in A MAGNIFICENT DEATH.

About comiXology
Founded in 2007 with the mission of bringing comics to people everywhere, comiXology — in just five short years — has revolutionized the comic book and graphic novel world. From creating the industry leading platform for digital comics to tools and services for brick and mortar retailers, comiXology has lead the charge in exposing new audiences to the rich history and culture of comic books. With the development of the Comics by comiXology digital comics platform — available across iPhone, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire and the Web — comiXology provides the easiest way worldwide for people to enjoy comics at just the click of a button! Regularly ranking as the top grossing iPad app in the entire iTunes App Store, Comics by comiXology was recently selected as a preloaded app on Amazon’s Kindle Fire. Providing digital comics across multiple platforms, comiXology will not stop until everyone on the face of the earth has been turned into a comic book fan.

Sanctuary is also easily accessible for readers through various outlets as it’s available through Comixology.com, iTunes for iPad users, and B&N.com for those who own a NOOK.

Readers will enjoy Coughlin’s creative take on the murder mystery genre. They will have no regrets investing in the characters. Despite the fangs, fur, and extra legs, the animal characters are just as human-or even more so-as their human counterparts. There’s a realistic quality about them that will appeal to readers.

From its exterior, the story appears cute and innocent but once the reader begins turning the pages, they’ll see something more dark and sinister in this adventure that contains funny moments that are skillfully plotted at the right places. The story is superb and brings something new to the comic book table with its impressive depth and complexity. Readers will not want to miss this series.

In the midst of this struggle against annihilation, a young woman who has lost everything, Ellen Grace, braves the rubble-strewn streets to find lost children and bring them to a safe place. However, she soon finds that there is another enemy just as dangerous as the megafauna: other humans.

“By the time we enter the world of Enormous, being at the bottom of the food-chain is something humans have been experiencing for a while,” said Daniel in an April interview with Comic Book Resources. “As a result, there is no consensus around how we’re going to survive as a species.

“There are a few human factions, each operating with a fairly distinct agenda, the motivations of which may well be far beyond their understanding,” he added. “Regardless of what might prove to be the driving force for each character, the law of the land is simple: hunt or be hunted.”

Drawn in terrifying and haunting detail by Cheggour, a Morroccan artist whose MORNING GLORIES fan art caught Daniel’s attention, ENORMOUS is a 64-page saddle-stitched graphic novella in an oversized “treasury” format (10 x 13.5″).

Published under Image’s Shadowline imprint, ENORMOUS can be pre-ordered from the May issue of Previews (MAY120519) and is scheduled to be in stores on July 5. It has been supported by a campaign of “teasers” that appeared on top comic book sites such as Comic Book Resources, iFanboy, and Multiversity Comics, a “prequel” and article published at USA Today, and a preview at the Gawker site io9.

The general plot of the book is a man, Vol de Galle (a soldier from the crusades and ex-inquisitor for the church), has a holy vision and is charged to send escaped demons that have possessed men back to hell.  Of course, there is a run in with the church, this world’s central government, and the men who have been possessed get murdered, but I find that often the simplest plots are often the best ones crafted.  The character design for the demons in The Marquis are terrifying, the monsters are horribly marred versions of men that gradual grow more and more grotesque as the book goes on. The use of black and white in the book helps to separate objects from one another and make the complexity of the art understandable.  This could be easily a tough book to look at, however Davis transcends this difficulty without having to resort to toning or washes.  It reminds me of a different kind of etching that Bernie Wrightson has perfected.

The world is an alternate version of ours, but if the Vatican had obtained ultimate control of the world during its ascension and mutated itself into a dystopian fascist regime.  All citizens must wear masks and attend confessional daily.  However, in these confessionals the world we find is overrun with sin and sinners.  I got the feeling of a trade off between 1984 and Brave New World.  Though the book was a little hard to navigate at first, since its purpose and characters aren’t defined until page 6-8, it is the perfect way to begin the book.  What we are introduced to is a man who has been driven into madness and questions the validity of his visions.  The book arcs very well, like a snowball rolling downhill, ending with one of the best endings I’ve read in a very long time.  In short, go buy the book, then head over to the sock store and buy some socks, and when you go home read the book – and replace the socks that this book is about to blow off your stinky feet.

Publishers giving out free comics on a nation-wide scale is in general an awesome thing, but there is a way to do it, and there is a way to do it correctly. FCBD, despite what elitists may claim, can be a rich, cultural experience. Collector’sParadise (in this case) took the best course a comic retailer can take toward making it that kind of a shindig.

The most obvious thing a store can do right is, well, actually give out free comics. Some are so stingy that they will not even part with one unless a customer first purchases a non-FCBD book. It is almost as they only emerge temporarily to shout, “Please, we don’t want your business; take the money that’s burning a hole in your pocket and spend it elsewhere” and then return to the dank from whence they came.

Another thing, which can be difficult without social networking and connections, is the inclusion of reputable writers that will be willing to make a personal connection with fans. ED BRUBAKER, JIM MCCANN, RODIN ESQUEJO, KYLE HIGGINS, and JOSHUA FIALKOV attended the CP FCBD (SONIA OBACK was dearly missed), and fans were overjoyed at the opportunity to casually hang out with the brilliant people responsible for so many cherished stories.

These creators were particularly great choices because they have experience working for major publishers, as well as independents. Brubaker and the others cheerfully conversed with most fans for a good twenty minutes each. So many have had their dreams crushed when an inspirational celebrity turns out to be grumpier and even less interested in their supporters than a lobotomized rock star. It hurts, and although ethics may be optional when it comes to business, people will care a lot more for an artist when kindness is involved.

Speaking of ethics, a certain mainstream comic publisher is considered guilty (by many) of charging far too much for single issues, sometimes raising the price solely for a reprint in the back of an issue. Mind the Gap, a fantastic new series by McCann, Esquejo, and Oback, probably provides the best possible quality to date in a comic for such a reasonable price (thanks to Image). It’s finely printed, generous in its page count, and the lack of advertisements on top of everything feels like divine intervention.

Readers have a strong attachment to established characters, so in order to grasp their attention alliances must be forged. Retailers and writers alike: take a hint from stores like Collector’s Paradise–cooperate. Welcome the artistic community warmly, talk to them and remind them that we’re all mere mortals who simply love comic books.

Rieger packs a nostalgic punch reminiscent of Chuck Jones or Friz Freleng, not to be outdone by Wilson’s artwork, which boasts an uncanny command of color and  unique character design.

WNI sat down with Rieger to talk more about the book, his plans for the series, his thoughts on the indie community, and advice for being a writer.

WNI: What is How I Spent My Summer Invasion about?

Patrick: It’s a comedy/sci-fi series about two best friends who discover a secret hotel for intergalactic travelers. They work there for the summer as bellhops. In the first issue they manage to capture a vicious alien stomach, fall in love with a beautiful alien starlet, and save the hotel from incineration all on their first day of vacation.

WNI: What inspired this project and what was the creative process?

Patrick: I had formed a small comic writers group in Burbank with my friends Jason Enright, Mairghread Scott, Jake Dickerman, Tim Palmer, and Jody Houser (remember those names, they’ll be big soon.) Later, Jason suggested I pitch him some ideas for his new publishing company called We Comics. He was looking for material that would attract younger readers, so I sent him a list of ideas I thought would fit. Once a script was finalized I went in search of an artist who would work best with the quirky, odd-ball style. Mark was perfect. He drew me a sample and I was hooked by the first panel. There were many things that went well on this project, but having a fast, efficient, wacky illustrator was by far the best part.

WNI: What can readers look forward to in this series?

Patrick: I think they’ll most enjoy the oddball characters and situations in the stories. Mark and have been given a great deal of freedom by We Comics to stretch our collective imaginations to the limit. These are the kinds of situations you crave when you’re a writer or artist. All sorts of alien characters that Mark and I dream up can be added into the story on a whim. Readers can expect to see many new and bizarre alien species in the issues to come.

WNI: What future goals do you hope to achieve with this series?

Patrick: Although each issue is designed to stand alone, there will be a broader storyline involving a rival hotel trying to destroy the reputation of La Galatique. I’m looking forward to completing this story arc, and introducing readers to some of the villains as the series progresses.

WNI: How did you get into comics?

Patrick: I’ve been reading and collecting trades for a few decades now, so I’m still just a newbie in the grand scheme of things. Every day job I’ve held has contained some form of storytelling (teacher, camp counselor, birthday party specialist, etc…) and the move to comics has been an unexpected yet delightful continuation of that trend.

WNI: What excites you about what’s currently going on in the indie community?

Patrick: I get really inspired by what some of my role models and colleagues are working on in the webcomic world. Ethan Nicolle (Axe Cop), Matt Wilson (Scrooge and Santa), Greg Weidman (The Ray Gun),  and Doug TenNapel (Nnewts) are constant inspirations. Viewing their work always challenges me to raise my game and stretch my abilities to the max.   

WNI: What inspires you to create comics?

Patrick: The warm fuzzy feeling I get knowing that somewhere out there…I killed a tree.

WNI: Are there any future projects that would like to do? What are your future goals?

Patrick: Right now I’m focusing on making HISMSI the best it can be. We Comics has been a great company to work, and I look forward to putting together many more issues of this series in the years to come. I do have a few other scripts that dive into matters such as time travel, reptiles, evil trees, and reality television, but readers may have to wait a little longer for those stories to be told.

WNI: What advice can you give writers and artists?

Patrick: Writers groups. Find one. Look for a group that focuses on exactly the kind of writing you want to do. If it doesn’t exist yet, start your own. I’m currently a member in three different groups for animation/comic book writing, and I try really hard to always have something prepared for each one. Once your group gets going, invite writers that share your passion. If possible, bring in writers that are better than you (which pretty much describes the other colleagues in my group.) Encourage your friends to be extra critical of your work. Invite some special guests to do an informal Q&A at the beginning of your meeting. All of this will grow not only your individual skills as a writer, but also your connection to the other writers in your group. You become almost like family, and in a city like Los Angeles a family is a very good thing to have.

WNI: What inspires you to write and when did you begin writing?

Patrick: I like challenges. When I was a kid I loved entering writing competitions, and found I always did my best work when assigned a topic and a deadline. Most of my ideas come from taking a simple concept and putting an unexpected twist on it. Last year I got married and discovered that my wife Bonnie is an excellent “idea filter.” If I can’t make her laugh, the idea may not be ready for the public, but if she starts giggling I know I’m on to something. For me, Bonnie’s love and support is my biggest inspiration. Well, that and long showers. 

“There is no time like the present to support the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund,” said comiXology co-founder and CEO David Steinberger. “With freedom of speech being encroached upon at every corner, especially as new digital content platforms arise, comiXology is happy to show our commitment to free speech and the comics industry with this donation. If you have yet to become a member and are a comic book fan, please do so today.”

“We’re grateful that comiXology is taking this leadership position in supporting the CBLDF’s important work,” says CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein. “We have already seen prosecutions resulting from comics delivered in the digital realm, and those prosecutions are still on the rise. The CBLDF maintains an active program of fighting back when those cases occur, and works hard to challenge unconstitutional laws that would restrict the rights of comics in this new environment. We’re gratified that comiXology recognizes the importance of our work in this area and are putting their financial support behind us.”

Recently, the CBLDF helped fund and guide the successful defense in R. v. Matheson, a case that involved a comic book fan who faced criminal charges in Canada relating to comic books on his computer. The total legal costs of this case exceeded $75,000. After taking the case last summer, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund contributed $20,000 to the defense and also participated in shaping the defense, including recruiting expert testimony for the trial. The CBLDF is currently seeking funds to help pay off the $45,000 debt the defendant incurred as a result of his case, and to create new tools to prevent future cases.

To make a contribution to these important efforts, please visit www.cbldf.org.

About Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of the First Amendment rights of the comics art form and its community of retailers, creators, publishers, librarians, and readers. The CBLDF provides legal referrals, representation, advice, assistance, and education in furtherance of these goals.

About comiXology
Founded in 2007 with the mission of bringing comics to people everywhere, comiXology — in just five short years — has revolutionized the comic book and graphic novel world. From creating the industry leading platform for digital comics to tools and services for brick and mortar retailers, comiXology has lead the charge in exposing new audiences to the rich history and culture of comic books. With the development of the Comics by comiXology digital comics platform — available across iPhone, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire and the Web — comiXology provides the easiest way worldwide for people to enjoy comics at just the click of a button! Regularly ranking as the top grossing iPad app in the entire iTunes App Store, Comics by comiXology was recently selected as a preloaded app on Amazon’s Kindle Fire. Providing digital comics across multiple platforms, comiXology will not stop until everyone on the face of the earth has been turned into a comic book fan.

Written by Kara Barrett, illustrated by Vinnie Rico with cover art by Tim Durning, letters by Rachel Deering, and published by Aria Comics; readers will journey through a world where a creative team has established an excellent story full of well developed characters, a well paced plot full of mystery, where nothing is as it seems with more than a few bumpy twists and turns on the road.

The passion for the medium shines through in Barrett’s writing. Her setups are brilliantly paced, and are only outdone by her knack for Whedon-esque witty conversation spread throughout the book. Rico’s art is vividly real and takes on a gritty feel tailor-made for black and white. Readers are in for a supernatural treat with this series.

WNI sat down with writer and creator Kara Barrett to talk more in depth about the project, her thoughts on indie creators, and what she hopes to accomplish with the book.

WNI: What is The End Is Totally Nigh About?

Kara: The End Is Totally Nigh is about a girl with a mysterious secret who is trying to help stop the impending demon apocalypse. At its heart, it’s a story about darkness, redemption and love all wrapped up in a bacon-y smattering of battles, demon possession and hellfire.

WNI: What inspired this project and what was the creative process?

Kara: The story started developing a few years ago. I’d have to say the inspiration is a mashup of lots of stories I’ve enjoyed over the years. There’s an obvious Buffy influence. How could there not be? She paved the way for strong female characters and is still dominating the genre of supernatural stories. But this is not going to be Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Jane is not a spunky cheerleader with a gang of Scoobies. That is not where this story is going. I am going to be taking the readers and my characters to some dark and gritty places. The artwork will be black and white, but good and evil will not. I think by the end of issue three you’ll understand what I mean.

The creative process? Well, I started writing a script and then wasn’t sure what to do with it. But the characters and the world were so vivid inside of my mind and they continued to take shape and grow. I finally sat down and plotted out every episode of season one. That’s my blueprint right now for the series. I keep it fluid and let the story take shape and change. But I know where it’s going.

WNI: Tell readers a little bit about Jane what type of person she is.

Kara: Jane is young woman who has recently gained a strange power. She has the ability to exorcise demons. How or why she suddenly has this power is a mystery that is going be revealed as the story progresses.

She has a lot of good qualities but she’s also got some unusual baggage. Jane is someone who wants to do the right thing. The trouble is that the ‘right’ thing can be subjective. More of that is going to be revealed in the series. I think she’s ultimately someone you will care about and root for to win.

WNI: What can readers look forward to in this series?

Kara: The End Is Totally Nigh will be brimming with demon baddies, apocalyptic drama and a cast of characters that readers can connect with and really enjoy. There’s plenty of action, supernatural creatures, sex, romance and some good old fashioned smiting. We going to [SPOILER ALERT] even a get a glimpse into Hell and its inhabitants! Fun for the whole family, right? There are also a lot of strong female characters who dominate in this story. As a female reader, I think that’s refreshing for a change. This is a series I would want to read.

WNI: What future goals do you hope to achieve with this series?

Kara: My hope is to be able to make enough money from sales so that the series can sustain itself and continue. What happens beyond that is icing on the cake.

WNI: You plan on making the comic available for free on May 5 for Comic Book Day what made you decide to do that?

Kara: Big name authors with marketing machines and money behind them can release a title and expect people to show up to buy it. But that’s not my reality, so I’m giving everyone a free taste on May 5th. Hopefully issue #1 will resonate with some people and I’ll have a small readership in place when issue #2 drops.

Please stop byhttp://www.facebook.com/TheEndIsTotallyNigh on May 5th for a link to the free digital download. Be sure and click the almighty ‘like’ button so you can get news about the series and find out about special promotions. I love giving away free stuff, so engaging with our facebook page is a great way for fans of the series to get prints and other goodies. There’s also a cool way for readers to get a free copy of issue #2 BUT you have to read issue #1 first to find out how to get it

WNI: How did you find your artist?

Kara: I posted an ad on conceptart.org. Like a lot of other creators, I lost money on a few other artists who didn’t work out on the project. Vinnie did the original concept sketch of Jane and we stayed in touch. When I launched my Kickstarter campaign he officially joined the project. It’s been a really enjoyable collaboration so far.

WNI: What made you choose a black and white format versus color for the comic?

Kara: I’d love to do the series in color, but I don’t have the budget at the moment. At first I was really disappointed that we were doing the book without full color, but then I read Terry Moore’s Rachel Rising and realized that an entertaining story can still translate in black and white, and in some ways it adds to the drama. Artist Vinnie Rico has done a great job with the artwork. I am really pleased. If we are ever able to get the funding, I’d love to hire a colorist.

WNI: How did you get into comics?

Kara: I initially envisioned The End Is Totally Nigh as something for television, but didn’t have a clue how to pitch it. I’m in the middle of Oklahoma. Not exactly the mecca for film and television. Then I remembered that the Buffy series had continued in comic books. I started researching and fell in love with the medium. I knew it was the right place to tell this story and share it with people.

WNI: 2012 has been declared the year of creator owned comics. What excites you about what’s currently going on in the indie community?

Kara: Crowd sourced funding sites like Kickstarter and IndieGoGo are really opening the doors for a lot of writers to fund stories that are outside of mainstream comics. It’s a very exciting time. New talent is emerging every day. I’m glad to be a part of that. If someone is motivated enough, they can find a way to to get their story created. It’s hard work, but totally worth it.

WNI: What indie books are you reading?

Kara: I’m addicted to Rachel Rising. It’s my must have. I’m definitely on the SAGA bandwagon along with everybody else. That’s an indie, right? I’m also looking for new titles all of the time.

WNI: What advice can you give indie creators who are just starting out?

Kara: Take out a loan and buy a big bottle of tums and Jack Daniels. Hah, I joke! I mostly joke.

My advice would be to focus on your story. If you have a story you love and are passionate about telling it, then that will help motivate you to overcome the challenges you will face. My other piece of advice? Find the right artist. One that you can trust, who can take art direction and deliver on time. Make sure they are willing to sign a contract. Find someone with experience and a professional work ethic. Then pay them as generously as you can afford to pay them.

WNI: What inspires you to create comics?

Kara: I have so many stories swimming around in my head and I just want to get them out there so I can share them with other people. It’s that desire to create, that ember that keeps you up late at night thinking about dialogue and inked pages. That’s what inspires me to keep creating comics.

WNI: What inspires you to write and when did you begin writing?

Kara: I’ve been writing off and on most of my life. I put it on the shelf for several years, but the stories were still there in my head, refusing to be silent. I needed to put them on paper. I know now that it’s what I want to do full time. I’m in my 30s and I finally know what I want to be when I grow up. A writer. That’s what I’m working towards.

What inspires me to write? Art, life, great characters and great writing. You name it. The characters and stories in my head just take over and I’ve got to get it down on paper. I don’t know how else to explain it.

WNI: What advice can you give writers and artists?

Kara: Just do what you love and keep doing it.

WNI: What’s the best thing about being an indie creator and what’s the hardest?

Kara: Seeing the final inked, lettered pages of your story. That’s a great moment. Sharing it with people and having them enjoy it. Nothing beats that. The hardest part? Trying to get your little comic book title in front of people when no one knows who you are. It’s expensive to produce a comic and then you have the daunting task of marketing your book. It takes a lot of work and dedication. You have to really want it.

WNI: Do you think that Kickstarter is the best way to go for indie creators?

Kara: I don’t if it’s the best way, but it’s a way to go. Kickstarting is a lot of hard work. It’s a lot like getting a second job for a month and then not knowing if you are going to get paid when it’s over. You have to research and go into it with a solid PR plan. Crowd-sourced funding is really popular at the moment and there are other sites worth checking out like IndieGogo. It’s definitely a great way to take your story and go directly to the public with it.

WNI: Are there any future projects that would like to do? What are your future goals?

Kara: I have a couple of projects I’d love to work on as soon as I have some time in my schedule and extra money in the bank. I’m always getting ideas for new stories. Honestly, if I could do this full time I’d have 3 or 4 titles going at once. My goal is to be able to write full time someday. That would be amazing.

Tomorrow Jones

WNI: Give readers a little bit of background on Tomorrow Jones. What inspired this project and what was the creative process?

Brian: Tomorrow Jones is partly based off of an old idea I had in high school about a teenaged super heroine. It was the recent surge of discussions about gender disparity and the depictions of female heroes in comics that brought me back to the idea. I saw a lot of female and even male comic readers asking the bigger companies, “Why aren’t there more leading-women heroes with their own titles?” or “Don’t you think some of the posing the female characters do is over-sexualized?” These seemed like some really important issues to a lot of people that weren’t being properly addressed by the big companies. So I decided to try and create a book that would meet these requests by refining and retooling my old idea.

WNI: What makes Tomorrow stand out from other female superheroes?

Brian: Tomorrow won’t be wearing a traditional, skin-tight costume, but instead a jacket, t-shirt and jeans. She’ll also refrain from using a secret identity when she fights crime and be honest about who she is with the public.

WNI: How do you feel about the way females are portrayed and drawn in comics?

Brian: It depends upon the book and the attitudes of the creative team behind it. Most of the time the costumes of female heroes don’t bother me- Wonder Woman, the Invisible Woman, they’re fine. A tight or somewhat revealing costume is all right if the character is depicted in respectful manner. But then you’ll have examples like the current depictions of Harley Quinn and Starfire- characters and costume designs which function only to titillate the reader. This can often detract from the character and the book they’re featured in. Also, some of the over-sexualized posing during fight scenes (and sometimes even conversations) can get pretty ridiculous and distract readers from the actual story. There’s nothing wrong with appreciating beautiful women, but there’s also something to be said for giving women their due respect, especially in a medium like superhero comics that so often struggles to be taken seriously.

WNI: What can readers look forward to in this series?

Brian: Tomorrow is taking the road less traveled for superheroes by fighting crime without a secret identity. But it won’t be a consequence-free choice. She’s going to face a lot of difficulties when her superhero life bleeds over into her personal life. Not a lot of superheroes have successful marriages, let alone families. This makes Tomorrow’s parents unique, being a married superhero couple with nearly grown children. They want Tomorrow to fight crime the traditional way, but Tomorrow wants to follow her own path. They all love each other, but this is going to create a lot of friction in their family.

Most of all, Tomorrow wants to prove her mettle to the world. She’s a tough, confident girl, and woe to anyone who wants to make trouble for her.

WNI: What future goals do you hope to achieve with this series?

Brian: I’d really love to do Tomorrow Jones as a long running series. I have a lot of future stories in mind for the character and her journey into adulthood.

WNI: Who’s your artist and how did you and them begin to work together?

Brian: The artist is Johan Manandin. I found his work on Deviantart and thought his style would really suit Tomorrow Jones, so I sent him a message about the project.

WNI: How did you get into comics?

Brian: When I was very young I would read my sisters’ old Archie Digests, I think I learned to read with those. One halloween I received a Spiderman mini-comic in my candy bag, it was a reprint of one of his fights with The Scorpion drawn by John Romita. I read that little comic over and over again until it fell apart, it really fascinated me. It was the Death of Superman event that motivated me to go out and buy comics with my own money.

WNI: What inspires you to create comics?

Brian: Comics themselves and a lifelong diet of cartoons. I grew up on Disney’s Gargoyles, X-men cartoons and Batman The Animated Series. Those cartoons were a huge influence on me.

WNI: What inspires you to write and when did you begin writing?

Brian: I began writing fan fiction in the 8th grade, but it was all pretty horrible and never saw the light of day. I first started writing because I was disappointed by the end of a comic series I was reading at the time, and decided to make up my own ending.

WNI: What advice can you give writers and artists?

Brian: Don’t be afraid to show your work to people. Maybe their criticism will be harsh, but that’s exactly the kind of criticism you have to learn to take, because a lot of people in the professional field don’t have time to be nice. The best advice I’ve ever heard on when to take criticism to heart is “If one person says something about your work it’s an opinion, if three or more people say the same thing, it may be a fact.”

Branch out and read stories and watch movies and shows you don’t normally enjoy. Expanding your horizons can make you a stronger writer.

Specifically to artists, don’t just learn how to draw comics from comics. An education in fine art with life drawing classes will make you a much stronger artist. Learn to draw from life.

The best overall advice? Keep trying. There’s no age limit on creative success. You only truly fail when you give up. Every unsuccessful attempt can be a learning experience on what to do next.

WNI: What’s the best thing about being an indie creator and what’s the hardest?

Brian: The best thing is the freedom. Everyone wants to be their own boss, creative people especially. The hardest thing is promoting your work. It’s either expensive or very time consuming to self-promote, often both. When you’re not a big-name creator it’s tough to get your foot in the door with publishers. It can get really discouraging, because so many people are competing with you to break into the industry. But you’ve got to be tenacious.

WNI: Do you think that Kickstarter is a good method for indie creators to use?

Brian: It’s certainly seemed to work for a lot of people. I’m fairly new to it though, so I can’t really give advice on it. But I do think it’s created a unique opportunity for a lot of creators just starting out. This is an unprecedented time in the entertainment industry, with Kickstarter and similar websites offering creative people a way to fund their ideas and keep control over the process.

WNI: 2012 has been declared the year of creator owned comics. What excites you about what’s currently going on in the indie community?

Brian: I really feel like now, everyone has a chance to make their creative ambitions come true. Kickstarter, digital publishing, e-book readers, tablets, all of these innovations from the past decade have completely changed the game. The variety of stories is growing, the audience is growing, and we have new means of reading and distributing comics. It’s like a new frontier and we’re all the pioneers.

WNI: What indie books are you reading?

Brian: I’ve been a fan of Usagi Yojimbo for a few years now. Stan Sakai is really brilliant. Jeff Smith has been a hero of mine since I was a kid. Aside from superhero comics I read a lot of web-comics. Meredith Gran’s Octopus Pie is wonderfully funny, and I’ve been reading David Willis’ comics for years. Girl Genius is a great series published both in print and on the web.

WNI: What advice can you give indie creators who are just starting out?

Brian: Have fun. Your first few attempts probably won’t be the ones which will really succeed. So do the stories you want to do and enjoy. If you’re having fun, your audience will follow.

WNI: Are there any future projects that would like to do? What are your future goals?

Brian: Right now my primary goal is making Tomorrow Jones a success. But there are a lot of projects I hope to do in the future. There’s a SciFi comic I’ve wanted to make for a very long time, so hopefully in the future I can tackle that one.

Archaia is making history by releasing the very first Free Comic Book Day hardcover book: Mouse Guard, Labyrinth, and Other Stories, an anthology of six, all-ages-friendly, short stories. Creators marked with an asterisk (*) below are contributors to this book.

CALIFORNIA
*Adrianne Ambrose (co-writer, Jim Henson’s Labyrinth)
*Ted Naifeh (co-writer, Jim Henson’s Labyrinth)
11am – 3pm
Isotope Comics
326 Fell St.
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 621-6543

Tim Beedle (editor, The Dark Crystal: Creation Myths, Fraggle Rock, Mouse Guard, Labyrinth, and Other Stories; writer, Fraggle Rock)
Mike Kennedy (writer, Bleedout)
Heather Nuhfer (writer, Fraggle Rock)
11am – 2pm
Meltdown Comics
7522 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA
(323) 851-7223

Josh Fialkov (writer, Tumor)
*Jim McCann (writer, The Dapper Men)
12 – 3pm
Collector’s Paradise (Valley location)
7131 Winnetka Ave.
Winnetka, CA 91306
(818) 999-9455

Alex Sheikman (writer/artist, Robotika; artist, The Dark Crystal: Creation Myths Vol. 1)
2 – 5pm
Red Sky Comics
617 West Main Street
Merced, CA 95340
(209) 726-0667

Jeff Stokely (artist, Fraggle Rock)
11am – 4pm
The Comic Bug
1807 Manhattan Beach Blvd.
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
(310) 372-6704

COLORADO
*Nate Cosby (writer, Cow Boy ; writer/editor, Jim Henson’s The Storyteller)
11am – 3pm
Mile High Comics
98 Wadsworth Blvd.
Lakewood, CO 80226
(303) 238-8125

FLORIDA
Jason Becker (writer, Killing Pickman)
11am – 6pm
Universe of Superheroes
2724 Park St.
Jacksonville, FL 32205
(904) 389-3312

ILLINOIS
Andrew Rostan (writer, An Elegy for Amelia Johnson)
11am – 3pm
First Aid Comics
1617 E. 55th St.
Chicago, IL 60615
(773) 752-6642

Brandon Thomas (writer, The Many Adventures of Miranda Mercury)
12 – 2pm
G-Mart Comic Book Store
2641 North Kedzie Ave.
Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 384-0400

IOWA
Phil Hester (writer, Days Missing and Days Missing: Kestus; artist, Immortals: Gods and Heroes)
10am – 2pm
Daydreams Comics
21 South Dubuque Street
Iowa City, IA 52240
(319) 354-6632

MARYLAND
David Rodriguez (writer, Starkweather: Immortal)
10am – 5pm
Third Eye Comics
2027-A West St.
Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 897-0322

MASSACHUSETTS
*David Petersen (writer/artist, Mouse Guard)
9:30am – 12:30pm
Larry’s Comics
66 Lakeview Ave.
Lowell, MA 01850
(978) 459-5323

MICHIGAN
*Jeremy Bastian (writer/artist, Cursed Pirate Girl)
12 – 3pm
Comic City
42727 Ford Rd.
Canton Corners S/C
Canton, MI 48187
(734) 981-3561

NEW HAMPSHIRE
*David Petersen (writer/artist, Mouse Guard)
2:30 – 4pm
JetPack Comics
37 N. Main Street
Rochester, NH 03867
(603) 330-9636

NEW JERSEY
Chandra Free (writer/artist, The God Machine, Fraggle Rock Vol. 2: Tails and Tales)
Andrew Gaska (writer, Conspiracy of the Planet of the Apes, Critical Millennium: The Dark Frontier)
May 5: 10am – 6pm
May 6: 10am – 5pm
The Super Wildpig Show
Embassy Suites Piscataway-Somerset
121 Centennial Ave.
Piscataway, NJ 08854

NEW YORK
Rachel Hope Allison (writer/artist, I’m Not a Plastic Bag)
May 6: 2pm – ?
Barnes & Noble (Park Slope)
267 7th Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11215
(718) 832-9066

NORTH CAROLINA
*Janet K. Lee (artist, The Dapper Men)
10am – 4pm
Ultimate Comics
1322 N. Fordham Blvd.
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 960-8107

OREGON
Jeremy Shepherd (co-writer/colorist, The Engineer: Konstrukt)
11am – 2pm
Cosmic Monkey Comics
5335 NE Sandy Blvd.
Portland, OR 97213
(503) 517-9050

PENNSYLVANIA
Jon Rea (artist, Killing Pickman)
12 – 2:30pm
Wade’s Comic Madness
8750 New Falls Road
Levittown, PA 19054
(215) 946-9381

SOUTH CAROLINA
*Cory Godbey (artist, Jim Henson’s Labyrinth)
12:30 – 2pm
Richard’s Comics and Collectables
1214A Laurens Road
Greenville, SC 29607
(864) 271-1104

*Cory Godbey (artist, Jim Henson’s Labyrinth)
2:30 – 4pm
Borderlands Comics and Games
1434 Laurens Road
Greenville, SC 29607
(864) 235-3488

TENNESSEE
Michael Lapinski (artist, Feeding Ground)
10am – 2pm
Rick’s Comic City
2710 Old Lebanon Road, #3
Nashville, TN 37214
(615) 883-7890

TEXAS
David Marquez (artist, Syndrome, Days Missing: Kestus)
Yehudi Mercado (writer/artist, Pantalones, TX)
12 – 4pm
Austin Books & Comics
5002 North Lamar Blvd.
Austin, TX 78751
(512) 454-4197

TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA
Josh Tierney (writer, Spera) – Table 259
Kyla Vanderklugt (artist, Spera) – Table 259
Hwei (artist, Spera) – Table 259
Emily Carroll (artist, Spera) – Table 105
Jordyn Bochon (artist, Spera) – Table 206
Luke Pearson (artist, Spera) – Table 246
Noel Tuazon (artist, Tumor) – Table 152
May 5: 9am – 5pm
May 6: 11am – 5pm
Toronto Comics Arts Festival (TCAF)
789 Yonge Street
Toronto, ON M4W 2G8

WASHINGTON
*Royden Lepp (writer/artist, Rust)
10am – 12pm
Zanadu Comics
1923 Third Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 443-1316

*Royden Lepp (writer/artist, Rust)
1pm – ?
The Comic Stop
3333 184th St. SW, Suite G
Lynnwood, WA 98037
(425) 744-2767

Happy Free Comic Book Day!