D. Bethel Interviewed & Book Announcement

Mar27
by on 27 March 2015

In preparation for Free Comic Book Day this year (May 2nd), Long John creator, D. Bethel, will be participating with his local comic book shop––Empire’s Comics Vault––in their FCBD Mini-Con. To help get the word out––and to familiarize people with the local talent that will be in attendance––Ben Schwartz, owner of ECV, interviewed Dan about Long John.

You heard that right: a print version of  Chapter 1, “Sunza,” is being made (though not for free on FCBD)! Some final design decisions are being made, but the content is pretty much nailed down, not the least of which is that it will not only contain “Sunza” but also the Hellrider Jackie side-story, “Save the Bones.” From a print version of “Sunza,” you can expect the following:

  • Mildly revised dialogue for Chapter 1.
  • Mildly revised text for “Save the Bones.”
  • New, exclusive art for “Save the Bones” never seen before.
  • Other exclusive content never published before.

The book will be about fifty pages in length, all together, and we’re really excited to get this book to the printers and out to you. However, even though most of the content is nailed down, there is still some wiggle room.

With that, we ask you if there is anything you would like to see in a book version of “Sunza”? If so, let us know and we’ll consider it.

 

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New Page on Tuesday!

Mar20
by on 20 March 2015

Though you will have a wait until the next page, it will not be for very long! On March 24th, the next page of Long John will descend upon the internet and wreak senseless havoc. I would have liked for it to be at least two pages, but I was waylaid by the flu this last week and it really knocked me flat. Note to self: since you’re coming into regular contact with over 100 people a week, get the darned flu shot next year.

The next page is nearly done and it’s got a bit of artistic experimentation that I’m eager to share with you. Hint: white ink.

Sneak Peek at the next Long John page.

Sneak Peek at the next Long John page.

↓ Read the rest of this entry…

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Good News, Good News, and Sad News

Mar02
by on 2 March 2015

Sorry for the relative quiet over the last few weeks. Rest assured, I have been working hard on new Long John pages for you, which leads us to––

Good News––New Long John pages this week

On Thursday (3/5), three new pages will be posted for your viewing pleasure! In keeping with previous statements, I want each update to be slightly self-contained, so the three pages are a little scene unto themselves.

This update was particularly arduous specifically because of all the background detail needed and a realization that I needed to do more research before I actually started drawing. Who knew I would need to find images of late-18th century American West door locks and mining camp lanterns?

What’s better is that the update after that (only a single page, for effect) will only be a short time after (probably the following week). Things are in full gear at Long John HQ.

Here’s a little preview:

The finished linework.

The finished linework.

So, that is great news, if I say so myself. As indicated by the title of this post, I have only more good news to deliver on top of this.

More Good News––Vorpal: Shoot Between Heartbeats

Jason Tudor––most well-known to Long John fans as the illustrious host of the excellent podcast, The Science Fiction Show, who interviewed me during Chapter 1’s update––is preparing to launch his own webcomic. A science fiction, espionage, thriller, Vorpal: Shoot Between Heartbeats is premiering on March 3rd. 

Head on over to the official website, and if you like what you see, be sure to like their official page on Facebook (if you are on Facebook, that is––also, be sure to like the official Long John page, too). Jason will surely be re-interviewed on my podcast, For All Intents and Purposes, again at some point (which also has its own official Facebook and Google+ pages).

This does, however, leave what can only be described as––

Sad News––RIP Leonard Nimoy

Last week was rocked by the death of sci-fi hero and all-around good guy, actor Leonard Nimoy. Of course, he was best known for his role on Star Trek, but what’s most revealing is his influence in other roles as time has rolled forward. Everything from the video game, Kingdom Hearts, to more recent television work on Fringe, it seems his impact had a much wider reach than the confines of the Enterprise.

Though I am more familiar with Nimoy’s work in the Transformers (as Galvatron in the 1986 animated film and as Sentinel Prime in Transformers: Dark of the Moon) than I am from his Star Trek work, his contributions as Mr. Spock can’t be ignored.

Instead of going to bed Friday night, I stayed up late to draw this:

In Memoriam

In Memoriam

The image popped into my head fairly quickly and I had a bunch of work to finish before I could sit down and draw it, and I’m glad I did. Feel free to share (if so, be sure to give attribution!) around the internet or save for your own purposes. His life was long and he contributed a lot––a win in my eyes.

Until Thursday, then.

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