RIDE THE LIGHTNING
- oo7
Oh hey, I hope everyone’s doing super good out there!
Please forgive the big gap between newsletters, I’ve been a bit busy with TIGRESS ISLAND these last few days, weeks... these last 5 months. Issue 1 was released a few Wednesdays ago (I couldn’t even find time to write about the launch then) and apart from a weird speculation thing happening with indie number ones these days, I think the book has been very well received! The reviews are great and people seem to genuinely like it!!
(We actually got the numbers for issue 2 just now and I can confirm, it’s official, TI is a complete hit!!)
Working on a floppy run is quite the gig, I have learned. It’s my first time and it’s pretty intense! I won’t lie, It’s by far the most stressed I’ve ever been working on a book but I guess I work well under pressure because I absolutely love the work I’ve been producing for the last few months. My best pages, in my opinion. I’d love to hear what those of you picking up TI think about it.
Issue 2 comes out in a few weeks and it is a lot of fun too!! I think this book gets better and better as it progresses and that everyone who liked issue 1 will love the rest of the story. Working with Patrick has taught me a few things but none more important than the art of pacing a story, perfectly nailing all the beats, with great dialogue. Expect me to put in a lot more work on dialogues for my future personal projects.
So it’s been pretty stressful to be handling the art, colour, layout and most things cover and pre-press related for this book but we’re actually super good on time. The main reason behind all the stress on my side is that I went ahead and signed a sequel to MAWRTH VALLIIS (Image comics 2021) with a French publisher (404 Graphic) scheduled for release this September. Work on this should start in April and I’ve been trying to avoid ending up working on two books at the same time. I have failed, and April is going to be completely nuts with both the end of TIGRESS ISLAND (what an epic finale, by the way!!) and the beginning of MAWRTH VALLIIS 2. But, I think I can contain all the nutsness to the first few weeks of April and everything after that will start to gradually calm down. Which will be great because I really need just one day off really soon!
All this to tell you that I’m starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. My schedule is going to start to be a lot less stressful and I will therefore start being a bit more present again soon. The next book has a much easier schedule.
I’ll make sure to keep everyone in the loop with more regular updates about that project too.
That said, here’s all the news that’s fit to type for the next month or so…
TIGRESS ISLAND 1.2
Issue 1 sold out quick but it got a second printing (available this Wednesday) and might even get a third printing (maybe) so there is zero need to go and buy this on eBay for a crazy amount. TIGRESS ISLAND issues are 3.99$ , no more (9.99$ for NSFW variants).
TIGRESS ISLAND 2
Issue 2 comes out on Wednesday April 15th and it is a blast! That’s the Nick guarantee!!
ORIGINAL ART
So like I was whining about up there, I’ve been so busy I haven’t even managed to find the time to reopen my online shop after Christmas. I wouldn’t be able to deal with shipping orders anyways. But my original art site ( EPHKOA ), although not regularly updated, has been open for business. As soon as I get a second, I will be adding some new stuff there but feel free to DM me on Instagram if you ever see anything passing by that you like. These TI covers have been going like hotcakes!
TIGRESS ISLAND Pages
Many have asked and the answer is absolutely, yes! All TIGRESS ISLAND interior pages will be up for grabs. I’m planning on waiting about 2 months after each issue has been released before making them available. I have kept them hidden from my usual super collectors to make sure everyone gets a chance at them.
TI issue 1 interior pages will go up on the EPHKOA front page on Monday May 11th at 8 PM (CET/ GMT+1).
I will, absolutely, post about it here and on Instagram just before to remind you.
*These are all pretty intense as they are all hand painted (in black and white) but I like to keep things affordable too so expect reasonable pricing.
FFF / Web-shop opening
FFF/A Game of Death books are flying out to Kickstarterers. Although slowly, books are regularly shipping out.
*Most US addresses can expect their books to come from within the US. Everyone else, will have them coming from France. Please let me know when you finally receive yours so I know to stop stressing about them!
Once all Kickstarter books are shipped, I will reopen my web-shop with the rest of the FFF books available for anyone who missed the campaign. I should have some extra sticker sets from the Kickstarter too. All of this should happen this summer… I’m going to say June, but I’ll have more news about this ASAP.
MAWRTH VALLIIS 2
Hell yes, for those who didn’t know, MAWRTH VALLIIS is getting a sequel. So this is going down with a French publisher (404 Graphic). They got the rights to part 1 and wanted to have a sequel so yeah… That’s happening. These two books will be sold in France but I will have copies of both (1 and 2 French editions) on my web-shop too. But I’m also pretty sure the sequel will be available in the English speaking world not too long after. Either way, all issues of both books will always be in Martian so any edition will always be readable by anyone!
I came up with such a great script for MV2! I can’t wait to start showing these pages off and I think fans of the first one will be into the second one if not more!!
Media consumption? What is “media consumption”? I only know one thing… Making pages!!
More amazing news about HARPY, some cool shorts appearing all over the place, my next big project after all this and other comic awesomeness very soon!
Take care out there, stay safe and have an awesome time!
hell yeah !! Sounds like you learnt a lot and having fun with it .
Loving the endless burst of creative energy, as long as you don’t burn yourself out! I’m here for any and all of it 🤘