Zombie Marge #2 Review

My great friend, Todd Goodman, head honcho of Old World Comics, wrote a very good, and very funny review for the new issue of Zombie Marge. You can find it at his site, at the bottom of the page, along with and older review of my Midnite Matinee book:

http://www.oldworldcomics.com/cool-stuff.html

Buy his comics while you're there.

Johnny Sassback is on the case

Here's a sample of a new SHAM Comics project nearing completion. It's one of a series of mini comics for a SHAM value pack. I found a Johnny Danger #1, (and only), on ebay for a reasonable price. (Could Johnny be a distant relative for Nick's? Could be, could be!) I scanned the comic and ran it through my warped filter, upping the cynical factor. It's scary how much I identified with this character who says all the mean things I keep to myself. It was great fun messing with the cliches of detective fiction. Finally I added a series of crime-related ads to round out the book, and I'm done! Watch for it at comic conventions in the near future.

Episode 54

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Mothman seems to have the solution to the current zombie problem.

Good news, indeed!

Zombie Marge Comix & Stories #2 is finally available. It features the first half of Marge’s adventures with UFOs, abduction, Men in Black, glowing balls of light, alien invaders and, of course, the mysterious Mothman. Oh, and zombies figure into the story too. All this and some exciting back-up features, like an interview and Marge-flavored pin-ups by some of my cartoonist pals. The comic is available online through Indy Planet in two versions. The print edition is $5.00 and the digital download is 99 cents. The direct link is at the left.

I will have copies of the comic at the upcoming local shows, Cincy ComiCon on September 5-7 and the Cincinnati Comic Expo on September 19-21. See you there!

Episode 53

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At long last, another action-packed episode!

HooHa Goes Digital

I enjoy reading comics on my iPad. After a lifetime of collecting, storage space gets pretty tight. So having a nice little collection that only takes up a few gigabits on a hard drive is very convienent. Since I started this little publishing venture, I’ve been working to be able to offer my books as downloadable PDFs. I’m happy to say that, with the help of Ka-Blam and Indy Planet, they are ready.

The links to the left go to Indy Planet’s online ordering site where you can choose between print versions of the books at regular price, or full digital versions for only 99 cents for the regular issues and $1.99 for the longer books, like 12-Way. Choose from the menu options under the book description, checkout and download the comics. Easy and painless.

Episode 52

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Sometimes Zombie Marge and I just need a break from each other. It was great to take a month off from the strip and work on some other ideas for a change. But I wasn't even that far from good ol' Zombie Marge. I was putting the finishing touches on the second issue of ZM Comix & Stories, which should be on sale at the fall conventions. It will have the first half of The Mothman Cometh! storyline, plus some surprise backup features.

But now it's time to get back to work. We pick up the story in mid-escape with the human survivors of Purgatory Park's zombie infestation. Meanwhile Zombie Marge remains in space, a prisoner of the invading aliens who are in control of the zombies. We will get back to her in a couple of episodes.

Pool Thing page 10

 

Well, there you have it. An innocent young couple dies and the monster goes free, gotta love these morally uplifting tales from the fabulous fifties. That concludes the preview of the next issue of SHAM Comics. Zombie Marge returns tomorrow with even more mayhem. See you!

Pool Thing page 9

Pool Thing page 8

Pool Thing page 7

Pool Thing page 6

Pool Thing page 5

Pool Thing page 4

Pool Thing page 3

Pool Thing page 2

Pool Thing page 1

The original story was the cover feature in Tales of Horror #2 in 1952 and featured one of the oddest monsters who did, indeed, live in a swimming pool. My version mixes in a little H.P. Lovecraft and some good old real estate scams. Enjoy!

Sneak Peek

The next issue of SHAM Comics is coming along nicely. It's an all-horror issue, featuring some grisly pre-code tales of murder and mayhem, completely rewritten as cynical, sarcastic satire in the SHAM tradition. It starts off with Frank Frazetta's only horror cover and contains four morbid stories plus horror-related ads.

While I work on the next episode of Zombie Marge this week, stop by the blog every day and read  pages from the lead story "The Pool Thing," a torrid tale of lust, revenge and real estate.

Sequential Tart interview

Well, lookie here! There's a very nice interview with me over at Sequential Tart talking about the Zombie Marge strip. Here's the link:

http://www.sequentialtart.com/article.php?id=2586

Episode 51

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With this installment of Zombie Marge, we’ve reached the halfway point in the story. From here on buckle up for non-stop action. Will Marge be the hero of this story or not? And what of the mysterious Mothman, is the alien commander right about him? What is his motivation in this story?

You won’t have long to wait. I will be kicking off the second half of the story in just a few weeks. But first, I need to take a little break to get caught up on some other projects, like editing the second issue of the comic and illustrating some pin-ups for other books. Don’t worry about the blog, it won’t be idle. I will be posting some new material here as I finish it. Maybe even another of Zombie Marge’s Fun Pages. In fact, check in next week for some news on the next issue of SHAM Comics, the all-horror issue. I might even run a full story from this issue. Stay tuned!

Episode 50

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"Where's Zombie Marge?" you ask. Don't worry, she'll return soon. But some of the supporting characters have some business to do first. Stay tuned.

Zombie Marge's Fun Pages 1

These "Fun Pages" may end up as back-up features in future Zombie Marge Comix & Stories. Print this out and keep your children entertained for 3-to-4 seconds.

The reviews are in...

...and they are good! Below are the links to some very insightful reviews on Sequential Tart by Sheena McNeil for Zombie Marge Comix & Stories #1 and Cap'n Catnip #1. I spoke with Sheena at the Lexington con and am delighted she enjoyed the books so much.

http://www.sequentialtart.com/reports.php?ID=9066&issue=2014-03-24
http://www.sequentialtart.com/reports.php?ID=9065&issue=2014-03-24

Episode 49

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In classic zombie movie fashion, the surviving humans regroup and hold up in a "secure" location. Will they be able to find help in time?

Episode 48

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With Marge locked away on the orbiting spaceship, all hell is breaking loose back in Purgatory Park.

Episode 47

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Because it’s Valentine's Day and because Zombie Marge has such a big heart, (several, in fact. She’s chewing on one now.) here’s a new episode. Feel free to share with friends and neighbors.

Next episode, we check back in with Lois Lame as she copes with the zombie outbreak.

Episode 46

 

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Marge mixes it up with the Plan 9 aliens. Will she get the better of them? Only time will tell.

This just in...

Great news for everyone who enjoys reading their comics digitally. (And, face it, who doesn’t?) ComiXology, the leading provider of downloadable comics is offering Cap’n Catnip #1 for the low, low price of 99 cents. ComiXology is a free app for your favorite device that gives you access to over 40,000 titles, new and old, in one convienent, easy to search location. The New York Times calls it “the iTunes of comics.”

Here’s a little background on Cap’n Catnip, he was created in 1981, written by John Leasure and drawn by me for Charlton Comics’ Bullseye #2. More stories followed, but Charlton stopped publishing before the other stories could run. Now all the work has been collected in a newly colored collection that also includes some new pin-ups and other material. It’s fun for all ages.

Just follow this link: http://cmxl.gy/1byWyQj

Episode 45

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 At last! This is one of the strips that I've been looking forward to working on for a long time. I knew when I started this UFO storyline that the aliens would be the lovable, bumbling, effeminate crew from Plan 9 From Outer Space (or are they?!) And I knew I had to set up a lot of others plot points before I could introduce them at about the mid-point in the story. So it was fun to watch the movie again with my sketchpad and try to get, not quite caricatures, but more like characters. And to get their stilted dialogue down as well. The next few episodes will take place on board the Mothership as they lay out their master plan for Zombie Marge. Stay tuned!

Episode 44

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You would think by this time Marge would be used to waking up in strange places.

Episode 43

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Zombie Marge took some time off during the holidays to deck her halls and jungle her bells. But she's back, baby! If this episode looks familiar, it's because it's nearly the same as Episode 26, with one very big difference.

Do I hear you say "Where is Magre?" She vanished in a ball of light some time back. Join us next time to find out just where she went. See you soon!