This Friday comes a quick but important update for Chapter 5––the reveal of the cover and the title of the chapter!
Updates have been sparse and I’m sure it seems like progress has been slow. However, progress has been steady and true even if it hasn’t gone as quickly as anyone wanted it to go. I have made a short video that explains where we’re at with Chapter 5 and, at the end, reveals the cover and title for all to see. The video will premiere at 10am PST on YouTube and will, of course, be posted here and on the official Long John Facebook page.
At the beginning of this month, it was announced in the entertainment industry trade publication, Deadline, that Long John was a show in development by Barry Linen, a production company started by actor Chris Pine and producer Ian Gotler.
This has beenin the works a very long time––this whole thing started back just before Volume 2 was released in 2016––and it has been tough to not really be able to talk about it. What I can say is that it all sparked with a single post––me answering a question posted by reader on the internet:
This all started because a reader said that Long John looked like actor, Robert Baker.
A year after that post, Robert Baker reached out and we started talking. The road from there to here has been wild, but I’m incredibly happy with where it ended up and the talent attached to it so far (the people you see named in the article; I don’t have any extra information). All that being said, you can imagine the relief of this news finally being out there in the world and able to share with everybody.
There’s not much I can say about it, mostly because it’s in the hands of the production company and the animation studio at this point and I’m here focusing on making my comics.
Like everything else, things completely changed in 2020. Among the losses was the annual CrockerCon––the pop culture convention held at the world class Sacramento art museum, the Crocker Art Museum. Sadly, COVID brought me the distinct honor of being the poster designer for the last in-person CrockerCon in 2019. With time, patience, and vaccines, the Crocker and the con organizers feel it is safe enough to bring the event––my favorite event––back into its hallowed halls. And I couldn’t be more excited!
I should say up front that the Crocker is taking COVID very seriously, and attendees are going to be required to provide proof of vaccination for entry and have required its exhibitors to do the same. They’re being as cautious as they can possibly be and I am incredibly thankful for it.
Of course, what I’m most excited about is to see all my local artist friends again, to catch up and hope, if even for a single even, to feel like old times again.
