Become My Patreon Sponsor & Snag My Autograph (and Other Goodies)

As the above video states, you can get an autographed copy of Always Punch Nazis by sponsoring me on Patreon.

(Or you can order Always Punch Nazis via Etsy...but no autograph)

Where Stories Come From: ALWAYS PUNCH NAZIS

(Revised 03/04/2024)

One year ago, Nazis and white supremacists held their "Unite the Right" protest in Charlottesville. A young woman who was protesting against white supremacy was run over by one white supremacist; a black man was violently assaulted by a group of white supremacists.

Pals Ben Ferrari and Silas Dixon of Pilot Studios (who graciously invited me to review Longhunters and Carriers in the past) held an open call for an anthology called Always Punch Nazis, focusing on efforts to fight white supremacy and to serve as a fundraiser for a noble organization.

And when they put out a call for stories, I said "Hell, yes"...and cranked out a script in an hour and a half. It was a story called "One Bullet Too Many." and was a relatively easy script to write based on an idea for an unpublished Black Bat story for Excelsior Webcomics. Rather than the original premise of a big game hunter gone rogue, the story focused on a Nazi whose intentions were to clear the way for the "Master Race"...by any means necessary.

(Plus, I was engaged in writing my Black Bat novel for Pro Se Productions, and writing a then-classic Black Bat helped me stay "in the mood" when revamping him for the 21st century."

Admittedly, it's a simple story (after all, I only had six pages of art), but after cranking out the script...the right art team came together. Stuart Berryhill drew the *hell* out of this story from Kurt Belcher's breakdowns. Micah Myers did a great job of lettering, and the colorist (whose name escapes me right now) hit the right Batman: The Animated Series vibe that I wanted.

The only bummer is that Breitbart decided to jerk Pilot Studios around, claiming that their Always Punch Nazis Kickstarter violated their terms of service. Between this and Facebook preventing online advertising of my friend Dawn Xiana Moon's fundraiser for immigration rights due to "political content", well...you might understand why I'm feeling outraged.

We're living in contentious times. Some people still don't want to see the pernicious and toxic role racism plays in American society. It's easy to adopt a philosophy that "both sides are equal"...but unfortunately, neutrality is no longer an option.

Both sides are not equal: one side wants to see the destruction and denigration of various groups due to skin color, religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity. The other side believes in the inherent dignity and worth of human beings.

You can order Volume One of Always Punch Nazis via Amazon, and you can find my other writings via my Amazon Author page. 

I'll Be Published: ALWAYS PUNCH NAZIS

I'm proud to announce that my Black Bat comic story, One Bullet Too Many, will be appearing in the Pilot Studios anthology Always Punch Nazis.

Proceeds benefit Southern Poverty Law Center; learn more about the Always Punch Nazis Kickstarter by clicking this link.

Review: CARRIERS: PIRATE BAY/WATCHERS IN THE NIGHT

(Special thanks to Pilot Studios for providing electronic copies for review)

I have to admit, much of my enthusiasm for comics has waned thanks to the ever-prevalent cycle of reboot/revamp/recon of the majors....but sometimes, a comic can serve as a reminder of the power of the medium....and that, despite the material, comics can be imaginative and fun.

Carriers: Pirate Bay # 1  and Carriers: Watchers in the Night from Pilot Studios are imaginative, fun reads...and deserve your attention.

Carriers' premise is simple: a group of anthropomorphic carrier pigeons fight fantastic menaces in New York City. Part of a series of graphic novels, Pirate Bay # 1 is the third of the series (and the first chapter of a multi-part story), and Watchers in the Night is the seventh, but both contain strong, well-written stories and...well, after reading these, you'll be heading to Indy Planet to purchase more copies. Yes, they're that good.

Pirate Bay starts in high gear with a group of seagull pirates engaging in arson...and a threat: release the Croc King or more damage will happen.

You read that correctly - seagull pirates. Part of the joy of JD Arnold's script is how it deftly balances high pulp adventure with a great sense of characterization. As the opening chapter of a series, Carriers: Pirate Bay lays out its scenario well, providing easy entry into this world.

(Plus, both series have a one-page introduction to the world of Carriers)

Although Arnold's script is excellent, I thoroughly enjoyed Luis Rivera's art and inking on Carriers: Pirate Bay. Even though disparate elements are provided (moving from seagull pirates to more high-tech setting to the sewers of New York), Rivera's art provides a nice continuity and never breaks tone or feels inauthentic. Micah Meyers' lettering and Grupo Escomics' colors also provide context and consistency. In short, this is a really good book.

I have to admit that although I also enjoyed Carriers: Watchers In the Night, the book didn't have the same excitement or discovery.

Part of it, I'll admit, is that it comes later on in the overall "series" (meaning that I may have missed some critical pieces). I think part of it also is that there are some blatant nods to the Watchmen movie which feel a bit forced...

Granted, it should be expected with the word "Watchers" in the title, but it does make sense in plot terms.

Jay Huwer's script (from a story written in collaboration with artist Jason Kimble) highlights one of the key themes, as the plot concerns how the Carriers interact with the Parliament, a group of owls protecting the city. As the plot progresses, it becomes clear that the Parliament has their own, more extreme way of protecting the city....

Carriers: Watchers In the Night focuses on a well-told story in comics: how far is too far in protecting the common good? Despite this common theme, the script actually does a great job in laying out the beats, and providing a natural new "rival" for the Carriers.

In fact, it manages to do in twenty-some pages what the Watchmen movie took four hours. And made it much more pleasant.

Jason Kimble's art brings fantasy-oriented, almost contemplative quality to the story. I'm not a fan of that particular style of art, but in this context, it works wonders, giving Carriers: Watchers In the Night a more fable/parable-like quality. Even though it's not quite my favorite, I have to admit that it tells a frequently-told story in very moody, thoughtful terms.

If you're suffering through a slight sense of comic burnout (like I am), you should pick up Carriers: Pirate Bay # 1 and Carriers: Watchers in the Night. You can purchase online via IndyPlanet, or you can ask your local comic shop.

After reading these books, you will rethink your pull list. I guarantee it.

Pilot Studio's THE LONGHUNTERS # 4: A Review

(Special thanks to Buck Weiss and Pilot Studios for the complimentary copy for review...and for their incredlble patience. Finally got around to this, guys - thanks again)

I've blogged previously about Longhunters (now published by Pilot Studios), and found it a really good comic. Focusing on a group of hunters making their way through the frontier in the early 19th century, Longhunters was a pretty solid series of tales....and now that issue 4 is out (and honestly - has been out for awhile), it's a great opportunity to jump onboard.

More Wolf Than Man is an origin tale for Whitewolf, one of the main characters, but don't let that bother you - it's also a great, Jack London-esque tale of a man discovering his true nature. But this isn't a comic that is easily pigeonholed - it's not historical drama, or neo-superhero, or even a "celebrity historical" (like some episodes of new Doctor Who), but simply tells some great tales. Buck Weiss' script is dead on, Ben Ferrari's art is exceptional, and Philip Nolte's lettering is really good. All in all, a great book.

Playing catchup in my blogging life has meant making time to enjoy creative endeavors. The Longhunters # 4 (available via Indy Planet) is well worth your time. It's simply that good.