Nocturnal Commissions: A macabre monster mystery!

Ghost Band is ready to rock!
over 3 years ago – Wed, Aug 19, 2020 at 11:00:29 PM

Friends,

I am stoked to announce GHOST BAND is live on Kickstarter! This 96-page graphic novel follows four strangers who discover the human race will be extinct in 24 hours. So they, of course, decide to start a band.

Joining me on this project is superstar artist Anke Gladnick! They are a fantastic illustrator and excellent human being, I can't wait for you to see what we've been up to. 

We are offering some unique rewards for the campaign. You yourself could make a cameo appearance in the book or you could take a comic book scriptwriting class with me! Some of these rewards are limited and will go fast. 

So please, if you haven't already, take a look at our campaign and consider joining the Ghost Band!

Let's rock. 

-Jason

Comic Writing Class
almost 4 years ago – Fri, Jun 12, 2020 at 03:38:08 PM

Have you ever wanted to write comics like a mercurial ginger shut-in? Do I have good news for you! Pacific Northwest College of Art is offering a summer session of my comic book scriptwriting course.

PNCA Comic Scripting Course

This course focuses on creating production-ready documents for comic books / graphic novels through instruction, peer review, and one-on-one mentoring. Master the three-act structure, learn the difference between plot and theme, and the importance of the Hero’s Journey. With an emphasis on visual language, students will learn every step of script development by taking an idea and evolving it into a production-ready document.

I programmed this eight work course to work for beginners and veterans alike. We start with the germ of an idea and develop that concept into a three-act outline, a page by page beat sheet, and a collaboration-ready script document. This is an adult class available open to anyone and everyone. 

Let's make some comics!

-Jason (always his own personal low point)

The final nail in the coffin!
almost 4 years ago – Thu, Jun 04, 2020 at 04:58:43 PM

Fiends,

Great news! If you completed your Backerkit survey, your rewards have shipped. If you are one of the few who haven't filled out your survey, I will be haunting your inbox soon.

(I did learn that the USPS is no longer shipping to Uruguay, which presents a challenge to our friend Fernando. Let's talk partner)

I want to thank everyone who supported the project and gave me something to positive to focus during a challenging time. I was hellbent on meeting our June shipping window, and it means the world to me that we kept that promise.  

 I bagged, boarded, packaged, and shipped 500 copies of Nocturnal Commissions from my home office.

I won't sugar coat it; I am exhausted. 

Tonight I am going to get good and drunk and watch the Omen trilogy from my bathtub. 

In two weeks, I will launch the Ghost Band campaign with artist Anke Glandnick. If you aren't sick of me yet, give that page a follow. 

Also, as we wrap up this campaign, I want to know if there is anything i can do to improve this experience for backers. Good or bad, I want to hear your thoughts. 

Greg and I are going to come back to these characters as soon as we can. If you enjoyed the book, please let your favorite publisher know you want to see more. 

Making comics with my friends is all I want to do in this life. Thank you for the privilege. 

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm late for a hangover. 

-Jason

Bloody Good Times!
almost 4 years ago – Wed, May 20, 2020 at 02:29:25 AM

Publishers,

I have dropped off the first hundred packages to the post office. I started with pledges that had original art involved because, quite frankly, I don't trust myself with all that gorgeous Hinkle art. It's too tempting not to keep for myself. I am updating your backerkit pledge pages with tracking numbers as I go. 

It turns out that instead of hoarding toilet paper we should have been stockpiling those clear shipping label windows that the Post Office used to give you for free. Live and learn. My goal is to have another 200 packages in motion by the end of the week. 

In other news, Greg and I have been lucky enough to get some positive attention for Nocturnal Commissions. 

"It’s funny, but also a bit disturbing, and it hints at the darkness behind the premise."

Our old friend Greg Burgas from Atomic Junk Shop gave us a warm review! 

"This is the perfect mix of comedy and horror."

James Ferguson from Horror DNA (and backer of this campaign) also took the time to give us a positive review.   

I was recently on The Escapist Comics Podcast and it was recorded via ZOOM, which means there is a video version that I can exclusively share with backers. Jessica, Jacob, and I had a ridiculously fun conversation and you can hear this and more podcasts at their site. 

And finally, Nocturnal Commissions will be available on Comixology tomorrow. If your pledge included your name in the book then it will also be included in the Comixology version.

Thank you for joining Greg and I on this bizarre adventure we call comic making. 

-Jason

The Mailing of the Dead!!!!
almost 4 years ago – Sun, May 10, 2020 at 06:36:22 PM

Night Creepers and Day Peepers,

I hope you are staying healthy and sane in this weird alternate dimension we have all found ourselves in (what's next, Land Shark?). I have a long-awaited update for our publishing partners and it's mostly good news!

We had to make some vendor adjustments (always have a back up) but overall production went smoothly. The rewards are here, and they look fantastic! The books, the stickers, the prints, almost everything I need to start shipping rewards is here with one exception...the hand of Hinkle!

The original plan was to spend my airline miles to fly Greg up to Portland for 48 hours to sign books and co-create a hangover. With the current health crisis, Greg and his wife, won't be breaking quarantine anytime soon (and by the time it's lifted they will have a newborn to contend with). So, unfortunately, due to unforeseen COVID-19 related issues, Greg will not be signing the KS copies of Nocturnal Commissions as planned. 

But Greg and I believe that if we take something away from your reward we have to replace it with something of equal or greater value. We put our heads together and come up with a plan. 

We will be including an additional postcard-sized print with every physical copy of Nocturnal Commissions Cover A and each of those will be signed by Greg. 

I hope this substitution is acceptable to everyone. It is the only way we could think to not break the bank and still include his signature with every order. Back in January, we thought we had thought of every single thing that could go wrong. The world surprised us. 

In the good news department, Anke Gladnick was able to get their signature on Cover C!

I am currently waiting for the signed postcards and sketches to be mailed to me from Greg. Once I have them I will start sending out copies ASAP. My local post office is aware of the Nocturnal mailing and they have arranged for me to drop off tubs of packages directly onto their loading dock. 

As crazy as things have been there are always solutions! Greg and I are committed to providing a quality experience to our backers and meeting the promise of you receiving your Nocturnal Commission copies by June. 

By hook or by crook. 

-Jason