FUBAR: FDArrrgh! Part 2: "Presidential Counsel" with Leonardo Pietro

The second volume of FUBAR, a preview edition of which appeared at the Baltimore Comic-Con, is all set to show up in the October edition of Previews for a December release.  FUBAR head honcho Jeff McComsey has put online the final page of the volume for all to see, so I thought I'd post it here as well.

This single page is the second installment of the "FDArrrgh" continuing story, with art by the great Leonardo Pietro.  I had a great time revisiting this mini world that was at one point just a one-off joke in "Yalta!" (you can read that here).  The third installment is on the way, too...but for now I hope you enjoy this bastardization of a an incredibly weighty historic decision.  Here's a little easter egg for this strip: the background characters are all members of Harry Truman's cabinet at the time: Secretary of State James Byrnes, Secretary of War Henry Stimson and Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal.

Also, Alex McKinley wrote a review of FUBAR's first volume here: http://smartalexsays.blogspot.com/2011/08/tpb-tuesday-fubar-european-theater-of.html

FUBAR Kickstarter, new Franks and Beans, FF 50th and more!

It's time for more random updates!  YESSS!!!

- The good folks over at FUBAR central have put together a Kickstarter drive for the second volume of the WWII-zombie anthology, the initial print run of which is set to debut oh-so-soon at the Baltimore Comic-Con.  I've got some work appearing in this volume and more when the full, Diamond-solicited volume hits the shelves, so I'm excited to see it in print.  The Kickstarter page even features some clips from stories I was involved in, including the "Yalta!" story with Leonardo Pietro, near the top of the page.

The rewards section is pretty stacked, with prizes galore and more to come.  I snatched up a "Six Panel Cinema" reward, which will soon take form dramatically retelling Weird Al's magnum opus "UHF" in six small panels.

- I was pleasantly surprised to find a review of the recent Teddy and the Yeti's Back! mini issue over at the Comics Bulletin website.  Felicity Gustafson took a look at the issue and pretty much said that she thought it was funny, which is all I can ask for.  There are scans from the book and everything - it's really quite flattering.  Check it out at http://208.101.46.225/reviews/13088559494750.htm!

- My brother-in-law and his wife recently returned from a trip to Spain, and they brought back some treats in the form of Spanish-language comics!  The highlight was a copy of Fantastic Four #584, co-published by foreign language big dog Panini Comics.

It was fun to see this issue of the FF and learn that "Fantasticar" in Spanish is "El Fantasticar".  Awesome.

- And speaking of the Fantastic Four, yesterday was the 50th anniversary of the day that FF #1 went on sale in 1961.  As such, Marvel released this teaser image along with the date "November 2011":

Wh-wh-what could it mean??  It boggles the mind.

- Lastly, the wait is over and a new episode of the popular web series "Franks and Beans" is finally out.  This 53rd episode titled "Distraction Reaction" has even got Beast Wars in it, so you know it must be great.  Well, I suppose that doesn't implicitly prove that it's great, but...just trust me.  And watch it.

Fubar: in stores now!

Head honcho Jeff McComsey let it be known that the much-anticipated anthology/graphic novel Fubar has arrived in stores.  I did work on two entries in this 168-page collection: the short "Yalta!" story with Leonardo Pietro and some lettering on Dominic Vivona's "Stalemate".  As far as I know, you can get copies at just about any comic shop (you may have to place an order), or you can order directly from a few comic websites - specifically here.  So...you know...order one, or twenty.  Who knows how long they'll last?

art of the unknown

I got a page of artwork in recently from Leonardo Pietro (he of Yalta! fame) and I'm really excited about it. Paul Little colored it and I have to say, it looks really fantastic.  But I can't say what it is just yet...so I'll just post an obscure clip from the page.  EVEN A CLIP OF NOTHING FROM THIS PAGE LOOKS GREAT!

I'm hoping that I will be able to say what this artwork is for eventually, but one never knows.  I am getting close to (finally) being able to announce what this artwork from Alan Gallo is for.  So I thank the Lord for progress.

FUBAR's Diamond order code: do it for zombie FDR!

Jeff McComsey sent me this image today for the worldwide release of the Fubar graphic novel, which includes my short "Yalta!" story and a bunch of other stuff.  Not only is this image pretty awesome, but it's significant in that it includes the all-important Diamond order code, which as we all know is crucial to the book's success: whether or not Diamond ultimately carries the book will be determined by the number of pre-orders it gets.

If I had to guess, I'd venture that Fubar will meet its benchmark quota with no problem - if nothing else, a large number of creators means that friends and family of those creators will be ordering a nice chunk.  But just to be sure, we should all reach down deep into our souls, write down the order code, drive on over to the local comic shop, and order the heck out of this book.  Seriously, do it.  If it does well, we just might get another Yalta-inspired tale out there.

So, to reiterate: pre-order Fubar with Diamond order code SEP100743!  Your country will thank you.

Back to it.

As I'm sure many many people have been fretting over when I would get back from vacation so I can update this blog, I feel that it is my duty to let everyone (EVERYONE) know that I've arrived home safely.  Most of my plants even made it (the strawberries took a hit, sigh), and I even picked a zucchini that grew in the garden while I was away.  Fantastic.

There's some new comic news to relay!  Some of it can wait, but the most immediate deals with the upcoming "Fubar" anthology, which will include the "Yalta" story by me and the fabulous Leo Pietro.  I'm helping out by lettering another story, "Stalemate", written and drawn by Dominic Vivona, of which you can see a clip above.  This is the first lettering work I've done on a story other than my own, so I'm excited to see it come out.  The book is apparently going to press soon, so I'll be sure to post some more updates on this when I hear 'em.

Now, back to lettering.

Yalta revealed!

I wrote a few vague posts recently regarding the short story "Yalta!" that I put together with super artist Leonardo Pietro.  I didn't want to give too much away because I wasn't sure if the book I was submitting it to would accept it or not, but I recently got word from none other than Jeff McComsey (of American Terror fame) that this story (with the alternate title "F. D. Arrrgh") will indeed appear in the anthology FUBAR, set to be released this fall.

Jeff posted the page on the book's blog, so I feel comfortable loading it here, as well.  Check it out and let me know what you think - and when the book does come out, pick up a copy or two.  I mean, it's one thing to read the story on a computer screen, and it's another to actually hold the book in your hands, turn the pages and read it, right?  Of course it is.

FUBAR is a collection of stories with the cohesive themes of the Second World War and zombies, and I'm pretty sure that most will not be comedic in nature.  Humor just seems to work well in small doses, at least for me, and there's not much I could do to make this story shorter than one page.

Jeff announced this page's inclusion on his blog, where he also wrote a quick blurb about the story.  Check it out here, and keep an eye out for the book in just a few short months!  I'll be sure to announce a date when I hear one.  I'm psyched to have this story published among those of the other talented contributors that are working on this book...it should be lots of fun.

More Yalta

The first sketches have arrived for the one-page extravaganza that is "Yalta", and boy!  Do they look great.  Artist Leonardo Pietro is putting in some fine work, I'm sure you'll agree.  More to come on this story in a bit - we'll see where it lands.  In the meantime, who doesn't like undead Lincoln?  Besides those he feeds on, of course.

Yalta!

I recently wrote a one-page story tentatively titled "Yalta!" (that's all I'm going to say about it at this point), and yesterday Argentinean artist Leonardo Pietro agreed to put the pictures to my words.  The above artwork isn't from that story, but it's an example of Leonardo's work, and I think you'll agree that regardless of the script, Yalta! should certainly look pretty.  He has a unique style that I think really stands out.

I look forward to working with Leo - and perhaps one day I'll add the rest of the Ninja Turtles to my artistic companions.  Really, Jeff - a Turtle joke?  I'm sure he's never heard that one before.