"Weird Al" Yankovic in "Eat It", a FUBAR comic by McClelland, McMunn and McComsey

Read the story for free here!

I've been involved with FUBAR for about five years now, and there are a lot of stories that I'm proud of and enjoyed working on. A while ago, I wrote a story featuring Elvis Presley and the many conspiracies surrounding his death. It ran much longer than I had planned, so it was eventually decided that it could support its own single-issue book, which soon grew to a full 32-page issue to be filled out with a few backups. These backups would all focus on musical artists. I almost made the biggest mistake of my life (possibly) by not putting two and two together and writing one of the stories about "Weird Al" Yankovic. But soon enough I came to the obvious conclusion and the eight-page short "Eat It" was born.

The story itself might just be the easiest thing I've ever written in my entire life, as the inspiration was of course there. I tried to add in as many references as I could and sent the script off. Jeff McComsey provided the pencil roughs before sending it off to Jim McMunn for the finished art. I lettered the final product, which I'm very happy to see completed. McComsey and I decided to show the entire "Eat It" story online, and you can read the whole dang thing for free here: http://imgur.com/gallery/17maB/new

The entire issue, titled "All the King's Corpses" and featuring an Elvis cover by Danny Cruz and Paul Little, while be solicited in Previews soon. In addition to the Elvis and Weird Al stories by me, there's a Jim Morrison story by Michael McDermott and Will Perkins, a Waylon Jennings tale by your friend (and mine) Larry Franks and Kelly Williams, and a new Combat Quiz by Jennie Wood and Williams.

When I was at the Baltimore Comic-Con a few months ago, Jeff McComsey surprised me with the eight pencil roughs, all framed up and looking great. I was really taken back. This is hanging up right behind my computer, actually, so I'm looking right at it as I type this.

Not only that, but soon after, Jim McMunn was kind enough to send me the original page art for the story. Here are a few images of that.

Jim finished all of the artwork digitally, so the physical pages are in different states of completion. They look just fantastic and I'm absolutely thrilled to have them in my possession. This was a passion project that will hopefully have some appeal for others as well. I'm so glad that I finally got to write a Weird Al story. I'm even more grateful that some friends helped out and that it turned out as good as it did. I hope you all enjoy it as well!

Addendum: Sometimes I think, "what can I title this post that might make it show up earlier in search results?" Or, "if someone sees an image from this post on a Google search, how can I try to make sure he or she knows that I had something to do with this?" (this usually occurs when I am shouting into the void). And then, a title like the one at the top of this post is born. Carry on.

"Imaginary Drugs" Kickstarter: the Homestretch

The Imaginary Drugs Kickstarter campaign - coordinated by Michael McDermott and featuring a few stories written by me - has been a success to this point, I think it can be said.  With just under two days left before the end, it's raised more than double its initial goal.  There's one more stretch goal to go, and at $14,000, I think it's within reach.

The book has already expanded to include several new stories, such as Star Captain Apollo, as seen below.  In the campaign hits its final $14,000 goal, a separate Free Comic Book Day comic will be in the works.  If you've donated and helped to make this book a reality, I sincerely appreciate it!  We've had over 500 backers to this point.  If you're still on the fence, I hope you'll consider it as there are some great comics and other rewards to be had.

Check out the campaign here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1562823940/imaginary-drugs

Two more days!

"Imaginary Drugs" on Kickstarter

Hello, world.  There's a new comic on Kickstarter that I thought you should be made aware of.  It's an anthology titled "Imaginary Drugs" and it features a number of stories by different creators and it looks just swell.  Oh, and I'm involved in it.  Does that render my evaluations meaningless and this very post overly self-serving and egomaniacal?  No.  No, of course not.

This new collection is spearheaded by Michael McDermott and features a number of FUBAR alum, such as Jonathan Brandon Sawyer, Christine Larsen and K. Michael Russel.  For my part, I've got two never-berfore published stories, and I also did some lettering work on the flagship story, "Saint in the City" by McDermott, Sawyer and Russel.

Included in this comic is "Eternal Flame", a two-part story drawn by the inimitable Paul Tucker:

Paul really put a lot of work into making this story look both futuristic and old fashioned at the same time.  It's the space ballet that I've always wanted to write and I'm always happy to work with Paul.  He doesn't disappoint, if I can say so.

My other inclusion is a brand new Teddy and the Yeti short story drawn by the incomparable Pietro.  In the below preview, we see Ted, the Yeti, and a familiar pooch.  This is one of my favorite stories of all time, for reasons that should seem obvious if you know anything about me.

There are a number of great rewards in the offering, including prints, shirts, and even a set of coasters, one of which features the lead character from Eternal Flame:

There are a couple me-centric rewards, for those who are looking to see just what I'm coughing up to make this book a reality.  I'm offering issues of Teddy and the Yeti, some trading cards and a print with image of the cover to Teddy and the Yeti #2.  If you're super impressed by my lettering "skills", you can even hire me to letter your eight page comic.  Interestingly enough, three people have put a pledge down on the Teddy and the Yeti reward...I have no idea who these people saints are, but I thank them will all my heart:

So if you're looking for a fun comic and are so inclined to click on links to Kickstarter pages, I hope you'll consider Imaginary Drugs for a comic purchase-y buy.  You can find the campaign here:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1562823940/imaginary-drugs

We'll find out in about a month if this project gets funded or not.  I'll post updates here when I think it's prudent.  Wish us luck!

FUBAR: By the Sword #1 on sale now!

If you make it out to the comic shop this week, be sure to keep an eye out for FUBAR: By the Sword #1, the first issue of a two-part mini-series featuring medieval zombies in fantastic FUBAR fashion!  This issue is 44 pages and runs for only $2.99, which is, if I can say, a great deal.  Steve Becker outdid himself on the eerie cover that you see directly above.

I did some editing and production work for the book, and I also wrote one of the stories, featuring a guy who gets a bite taken out of his ass, apparently.  Actually, it's a zombified version of "The Miller's Tale" from Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales...so yes, I managed to embarrass myself by trying to adapt one of the most beloved literary works in human history, in case you were wondering.  But the ass biting thing has a little more context now.

Art on my story was provided by the extremely talented Rob Croonenborghs, who really outdid himself in bringing it to life...and afterlife, I guess.

The issue also has stories from FUBAR stalwarts like Jeff McComsey, Chuck Dixon, Jim McMunn, Michael McDermott and Julie Shelton, to name a few, plus some new faces to the FUBAR scene, including a special "Barbarian Lord" story from the always impressive Matt Smith!

By the Sword #2 is available for pre-order now and should be in shops in late September or early October.  It also sports a cover by Steve Becker and moves thematically from medieval times to feudal Japan!  The FUBAR machine keeps on rolling.