Upcoming: NEW COMIC pre-order! (Plus other stuff)

Hey friends!

I couldn't sleep well tonight. I woke up super early thanks to a combo of extreme dry mouth and that good old "just couldn't get comfortable" feeling. As always, I got a lot on my mind. Health stuff. Work stuff. Its all a jumble. But I felt like, lets get up and do something.

I'm in post-production of my latest comic. Its a short floppy horror anthology like the old EC horror books but its in honor of my friend Caleb who passed away last year. He was a massive horror fan and when I was in my own head about what I can do to help his family and his friend's family, this is what I came up with. It will be a 28 page book. Three stories, all ZOMBIE related. It will also have pinups, fun old fake ads like the old comics (Xray glasses, etc) and a few other surprises. Caleb himself appears in the book on a few pages intro-ing the stories as our resident horror host, cryptkeeper style! He would love this, I think. I hope. And most special of all: His daughter will see her first work ever published in the book! Its really gonna be a special occasion!

Yesterday, his pal Joe posted a pic of some of the pages from the book and people are saying some very kind words about the project. Its really got me jazzed to finish it and get the kickstarter up and running. I'm hoping to have all the art stuff done this week and finishing up final PDFs by next week. Then I will launch the Kickstarter for it. Incentives right now include digital copies, sketched copies, original art pages, commissions and other stuff. Its gonna be a basic and quick pre-order Kickstarter that I don't think will draw out too long. I'll order enough books to fill the orders and a few more for future sales at horror cons. Then the money that is left will be divided up between Caleb's family and then the Arlee Rodgers Surgery Fund for his friend Joe's daughter. I will not see a dime of profit from this project.

Right now, the title is "TALES FROM THE GORE" and its being presented by 12 Gauge Gore. I'm hoping to premiere it at Horrorhound Cincinnati in March. Here's some sneak peek pics of various things related to the project:

A look at our horror host CALEB in action!

A page I teased mid-last year finally gets a home in the new TALES FROM THE GORE! A special little tale!

Laying it all out...

A zombie story about Xmas time I drew a long time ago FINALLY gets a home in print!

And the book includes a faithful reprint of one of my favorite zombie related horror stories I have ever done.

 It has been a long time since I did just a quick 28 page comic like this. I tried to make it as painless as I could. Working on it was hard enough sometimes, but I just felt like I had to do this. I hope we sell a lot of copies with this project and the money earned can help out his family and friends as much as possible. It is also a form of therapy for me to just do something. Sometimes, you feel so helpless that just DOING SOMETHING makes one feel better.

The Kickstarter will launch before the month is over. A couple weeks. Look for an announcement very soon!

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I'm working through it folks. I'm trying my best to get back on the horse and finish this race. But I also am taking the time to slow down and just live a bit. I'm watching the movies I've always missed out on. I'm reading articles and chasing the whimsies. I'm taking the time to enjoy what I can and when I can around the craziness of my life. Some days I can literally feel my body breaking and my mind oozing out of my head. I need distractions.

Luckily, I got a great gal who listens to me, supports me and loves me. She always makes me laugh:

She's such a goof sometimes, I love it!

 I am aware fully that life is short. And I'm trying every day not to waste it. I saw this graphic the other day and it stuck in my head: 

I've worked hard at my dreams and day jobs since I was 16 years old. And there is so much more to do. New car, new home, new travels, raise my boys... so many things on the bucket list to get done. Not just artworking but life in general. But I am also noting that I deserve a break from it all too. I'm toying with getting a modern game system so that I am not out of the loop when it comes to what my kids will want someday, or to what my 16 year old is talking about. I'm tired of feeling like a man out of time, stuck in arrested development. And plus I deserve some fun too! So don't be surprised if I am posting some pics of a new PS4 sometime soon.

If my life has to drain a bit for me to stop and enjoy the smell of the flowers once in a while, so be it. Its a worthy life to live and I've earned some peace.... Don't you think?

U2 announced a JOSHUA TREE 30th Anniversary tour. I might go. Just because. Why not. Right?
Chase the whimsies! Carpe diem.

Maybe in these things, I am getting better. Healthier. I'm not beating myself up as much for not working as hard. Maybe thats a good thing. Instead of thinking where I SHOULD be, enjoy where I AM NOW... what a concept! Am I capable of relaxing? I'd love to find out.

But also this week: I got asked from three different sources for commission work. The downloads of the Idiothead Morning Show Podcast and the blog hits remain constant. People are still out there and they care! I can't begin to explain what that means to me that you've stuck with me through all this shit! And all the positive words and vibes floating around about the Caleb comic really got me jazzed up, man. Seems like every day people are asking: When is Starslam 3 going to come out? How about the new Pleasant Life?

Point is, people care and still want me doing it. That is freaking awesome! I appreciate it, so much. I know I got an ending in site for all these things and I hope to achieve that. Its a ways off and I want to enjoy it while I can. Because life is a journey. Chase the dreams and whimsies and then come back to Earth and relax a bit with those you love in a home you earned. But I promise all these things to you. We're gonna land this bird and its going to be the best time ever. Maybe my zeal for these things is returning. Maybe I'm just ready to go again. Who knows, but right now, it just feels really good.

I'm keeping it together so far in 2017. How about you?

--T

MAYHEM and STAR WARS VII (plus Cherry Con)

Hey folks! All the TALES OF SEQUENTIAL MAYHEM #3 books have been mailed out. Thanks for supporting our Kickstarter! I do have about a dozen personal copies available if you need one. Simply EMAIL ME HERE to order one. OR I will have them at this next weekend's CHERRY CAPITAL CON! See you there.

This newest Kickstarter really went well and after seeing and talking with other friends about their success at KS, I got more ideas to make the next one even better. So when we rock #4, it will be even larger! but for now, I am enjoying the fruits of the labor and a job well done and finished!

So GODZILLA is in the theater and I haven't seen it yet. I'm waiting for the crowds to die down a bit. I don't really dig seeing movies in the theater for various reasons. I guess I'm an old curmudgeon and can't deal with crowds. But I will see it, as I am dying to. Its about the only current thing on my radar.

However, I cannot help but be excited about STAR WARS VIII beginning filming. Not only are some of my old heroes coming back but it also means fresh blood, new toys, new cards to work on, and more. Plus now my kids get the thrill of seeing Star Wars on their terms now. The old sting and fights about the prequels and their dissapointment seem a dim memory. All I am left with is the excitement. I really don't want to build it up too much in my head, but I cannot help it. I keep checking out the toy aisles and considering rebuying lots of my 90's Star Wars toys to have them in the box. Also get the vehicles to play with the kids. I just want to be ready! Yeah, I'm in my late 30's but I am not checking in my kid gloves yet. In other words, the force is strong with me! Always.

Okay, I got a TON of things to get done before next weekend. This week is going to be a complete blur. Really looking forward to the Cherry Capital Comic Con and I hope ya'll can make it out. See ya there!

Cheers, T

More Goingzzz On...

Hey all. Its late night and I just finished the original art for the bonus story in the upcoming Pleasant Life collected edition. Its 7 pages total and a nice cute little story. I am thinking I am going to fully color it and release it online in that version. But in the book it will be black and white like the rest of the comics. I'm really happy with how it turned out and I sped through the pages. Just like old times with the old gang! I can't wait to share it with everyone.

My youngest son had his surgery today. He had a small hernia and a cyst in his lower abdomen, also a chamber in his body wasn't closed and was draining fluid into it. He went in and it went smoothly. He's back home now and he's recooperating. The poor fella. But I knew he'd be okay.

I found out Steve-O from JACKASS is performing here in Lansing, MI (where I am at). So I am looking forward to seeing his show, possibly meeting him. We're big JACKASS fans here at the Talley homestead.

Lil' Poppy is adjusting to life living with us full time. We're still working on her potty training but she's doing better. She's certainly made our days fun around here. Glad we got her.

Our KICKSTARTER FUND for our TALES OF SEQUENTIAL MAYHEM horror comic is almost funded with 19 days left. But we'd love to be over budget! So if you haven't seen it yet, check out the link I just posted. Every dollar helps! Get yerself some great comics and original art!

The TREK TNG blu-rays are something I keep ignoring but man do they look awesome! I was looking at some footage of one tonight. I really gotta get on collecting those. I dropped out of blu-ray collecting for a while because I never have time to watch movies or anything at home. Plus the kids are so loud sometimes that watching something is a real chore. But I deserve a treat I think. I'd like to own things I love in the best form I can before I croak. Thats why I collect vinyl too! So I better get on these things. Of course, the 4k craze is coming too. Would I have to rebuy all of them? I don't know.

Plus I've been nostalgiac for my old VHS collecting habits. Better be careful! Too much vintage collecting and I'll be broke forever!

Anyway, thats whats up. This weekend: I got a party with friends on Friday, then Sat-Sunday full of solid work. I wanna push everything through to the completed stage. More STARSLAM pages to do. More writing to finish. All of it! I hit a wave of productivity and I don't want it to end!

Cheers, T

KICKSTARTER LAUNCHED!

We launched the Kickstarter two days ago for our TALES OF SEQUENTIAL MAYHEM #3 comic! Its our tribute anthology comic to the old EC HORROR comics of back in the day. Will have four stories, around 30 pages and You can see it and donate to it right HERE

See the funny video I recorded for it right Here:



Make sure you watch all the way to the end!

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And here is some art from the book to wet your whistles:

And once again, the comic will feature fake comic book ads like this:

Donate and get exclusive deals for the comic today! Original sketches, original art, commissions, prints and more! We appreciate the support!

Cheers, T

Whoa! New Stuff!

Hey all! Quick News. New Stuff from me!!!

New Idiothead Morning Show PODCAST is live  Download/Subcribe right HERE. Its FREE! Hear me talk in your ears every week!

We've been working on the next TALES OF SEQUENTIAL MAYHEM book. Its an old EC HORROR Comics tribute anthology that I am working on with Shane Logan, Robert Knight and Mike Pascale. Here's a look at the cover, done by Robert!

And I am doing an 8 page story in the book, plus fake ads, movie posters and more. Here's a look at the first page of art for my story that I wrote and illustrated!

We're very excited about this one. Its going to be a bloodbath. We're launching a Kickstarter for it very soon and it will be out around March/April time, in time for summer con season! Stay tuned for details on pre-ordering and incentive deals.

This week I worked on commissions and art for a Pinups/Pitbulls card set. I am almost complete with those. I will share when I can, of course. I think I can get away with sharing some of the cards I did for the upcoming DEAD DIVAS card set through Unstoppable Cards. Here they are!

See? I'm busy working, okay? :) Thanks for checking back. MUCH more to come!

Frayed Ends of Sanity

Hey all. Thanks for checking back. I don't have too much of good news about my dad at this point. They moved him from ICU, but then discovered bleeding in his upper stomach area and have moved him back in. More tests to run and then probably surgery I am guessing. He's not talking clearly and is in and out with talking normal and then into total nonsense. I'm just taking it as it comes at this point and just keeping my mind occupied. Come what may. I can't control it, so I am just thankful for each day that goes by with the hope that he might get better. Its all I can do.

Meanwhile, I keep myself occupied. Playing with the kids, hanging with the wife. I drew some more STARSLAM strips yesterday. Probably do more tonight. I got some commissions to do, which is good. I'm waiting on payment for a few others plus some card work I did last June (STILL not paid for that!). I finished one card set and I got another one I have to work on too. Markers need refilling, so there's that.

On writing, I haven't done too much progress as I haven't had much alone time as I would have liked to have. I've just sort of been keeping my mind occupied cleaning the house, watching old episodes of Roseanne, which I had NEVER watched before but am enjoying now. I did however sketch out a potential cover idea for the porn store book. Since I feel I owe you something for checking this out, I'll show ya:

A sort of James Bond vibe with a B&W "CLERKS" vibe I am thinking. Bright color letters for the words. Maybe. I got time to think about it. Gotta get a first draft done.

I've been talking with the boys about the final touches of the TALES OF SEQUENTIAL MAYHEM book #3. Everyone will be done on time and we're going to be shooting another video for the Kickstarter for it. I have the idea already and have talked to my actor involved. Its gonna be fun to do. Probably end of the month for that.

We're fast approaching Jan. 24th, where I turn the big 36. I wish I could say that my new year has started off good but all this with my dad obviously has derailed me a bit. But I'm trying to stay on the track and keep going. For sanity's sake, mostly. Just ignoring it. To focus on the things I can control rather than be upset at the things I cannot. Just keeping up with my work, to keep the focus. I really need a couple nights of hardcore progress and production. Nothing cleans my head like a good night of getting work done. Hopefully this week. As always, I'll keep you fine folks updated.

I didn't want to bum you out and make ya'll worry about me. I'll be okay, no matter what. My chin is up and I'm rockin' and rollin.' On to the next page.

Cheers, T