Bluster - Progress Update & Bonus Kamandi Inspired Cover!

Just wanted to let everyone know where Andy Budnick and I are with Bluster right now.

1. We've got almost all the artwork for Issue #1 finished!

2. We're rewriting the series to be a bit leaner and meaner.

3. There have been some unexpected delays due to "shit happens" related stuff, but we're back on track.

In the meantime I thought I'd give you the Kamandi inspired cover that I whipped up during a homework break. Just playing around in illustrator. In no way would this be a finished product, but I thought it was a good way to kill a half hour.

Thanks for being patient everyone!

- Kenny

P.S.

I didn't put a date on it in the right-hand circle because I didn't want people thinking that's when the book was coming out, haha.

Comics Experience Make Comics Podcast Ep. 71 - Guest Appearance!

I was asked to talk on Ep. 71 of the Comics Experience Make Comics Podcast to talk about works inspire me to make my own comics. The other fantastic guests are Paul Allor, Amy Chu, Rich Douek, Bryan Richmond, and Joe Sergi!

Listen to the podcast

A big thanks to Joey Groah and Andy Schmidt, as well as the whole Comics Experience team!

Project Updates 6/11/2014 (Bluster, Western Comic, and More!)

Hey Everyone!

I know that I’ve been missing for a while, but I’ve got a few good excuses.

My first excuse is that I was attending conventions. I went to C2E2 in Chicago and Motor City ComicCon in Michigan. I had a fantastic time and got to meet some incredible creators. I was even asked to speak on a panel with writers Amy Chu, Christy Blanch, Shaun Manning, and artist Reilly Brown. We talked about making creator-owned comics and self-publishing, and we also answered questions from the audience. Let me tell you something, Amy Chu puts on a fun panel. If you’re ever at a convention and she has one of these lined up then you should definitely attend.

From left to right:
Kenny Porter, Amy Chu, Shaun Manning, Christy Blanch, and Reilly Brown

I was listed as a guest for Cherry Capital Con in Traverse City, Michigan, but unfortunately couldn’t attend. This leads me to my second excuse -- horrible food poisoning. It took a trip to the emergency room, my caring girlfriend, and a viewing of The Lego Movie to get me through the ordeal, but I came out alive.

Since then I’ve been working on Bluster with Andy Budnick and a top secret Western comic with artist Jim Towe, which we plan on putting on Kickstarter. I'm also writing as an intern this summer for Cosmic Book News, where I write the "Alternative Comics Beat" column. Keep your eyes peeled for those projects and Alt Beat articles!

Bluster is still on schedule and the first two issues should be done soon. Andy has almost finished the art for the first issue and is only a few pages away. We won’t release the first issue until we have the second issue locked as well. Then we’ll throw the first one up digitally and follow with the other three issues monthly.

I hope everyone out there is reading fantastic comics this summer. Preferably with a cool beverage, outdoors, and with friends. I know I’ve been doing it often.

Keep your eyes peeled, there’ll be more news to come!

(And more regular posts)

Bluster #1 - Project Update

Bluster Update

Andy Budnick and I are working hard to get the first issue of Bluster done and ready for digital release. While we do plan on doing some pitching with the story, the main goal is to put all four issues online for consumption on our own. After talking about the project we’ve decided we want complete creative control and would rather get the comic out there for people to read than wait for someone to pick it up.

Before we release the first issue we want to have a minimum of two issues in the can. That’s just because we don’t want any delays and want to make sure that, once the first issue comes out, we’ll be able to release one each month until it’s finished.

We’ve discussed a release schedule, and I’d expect a first issue somewhere in September or October based on my writing speed and Andy’s ability to crank out incredible pages. After the four issues are released we plan on doing a collected print version, which will more than likely be achieved through a Kickstarter.

Thank you to everyone for supporting the project so far! We’re excited to get it out there and into the world ASAP!

Writing Goals for the Summer

Things Are Happening...

This summer I've got a lot going on in terms of writing projects. I just started my internship at Cosmic Book News, where I'll be rebooting/restarting my "Alternative Comics Beat" column. If you missed it the first time around it's a place where I recommend comics you might not be reading if you only read the standard superhero fare. Even then, I still find some superhero gems that might have slipped out of your reach.

I've also got three comic book projects I'm currently working on. Bluster is the public project, the one I'm working on with Andy Budnick, but I've also got two secret projects going on right now. Once the scripts are done and there's artwork to show for it I'll gladly put it out there for the world to see.

On top of that I'm also slowly working on a novel. It's with a character that I've developed over the years, and admittedly is just a version of myself with black magic and a mean streak. But since the story is a personal one about the past and how people perceive you based on things that have happened to you, I think it's fitting to just openly admit that the character is heavily influenced on my life experiences.

What I've Been Pondering

I've been thinking a lot lately about self-publishing comics, especially with Bluster. Everyone who got a sneak preview of the comic at C2E2 this year really enjoyed what they saw, and it made me more excited than ever to produce creator-owned content. While I would love it if a bigger company picked up Bluster, I plan on releasing it first as a digital run and then collecting it in paperback or hardcover afterwards. There's something rewarding about doing everything yourself and being completely in control of the material, especially if you have a fan base. While we don't have one yet, the positive feedback we got tells me that Bluster is a story that people are going to be excited to read.

But For Now...

For now I just want to say that I hope anything I post on this blog inspires others to create. I don't care if it's comics, novels, music, web series, or even a blog or personal journal. Sharing and creating art, in any form, is best when someone connects with your message. So if you've got something to say, or an experience to share, don't hesitate. More than often someone else is looking to share that experience and can find it in your work.

Project Update: Bluster #1 - Cover

Our New Cover

This is our new cover for issue #1 of Bluster. I have to say that I'm very happy with the current version. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do!

Project Update #2: Bluster

Andy Budnick sent me the fifth page of Bluster #1 today. Holy shit! I love the attitude that Olive Robinson has in that panel. Not to mention her incredible Ghostbusters t-shirt.

I get more excited about this project each time he sends me a page.

More updates soon!

Bluster - Page 5

Project Update: BLUSTER #1

Things are coming along nicely with Bluster, the mini-series I'm putting together with artist Andy Budnick. The inks are coming back with a gorgeous finish, and I'm trying my hand at lettering. Once I get some sample lettered pages I'll post them here for the world to see.

We plan on pitching after the first five pages and the cover are finished. But Andy and I have solid plans to finish the whole series, even if it doesn't get picked up.

Why?

Because, as a writer or an artist, it's important to finish the things you start. I've written horrible novels and then tossed them in the dumpster afterwards, but I was proud that I finished them.

I'm happy to say this won't be one of those projects.

And so, sleepy and fueled by coffee, I carry on. I just hope college doesn't get in the way of making comics too much.

Biggby and MMPR are not official Kenny Porter sponsors