SUPER REAL NOTES - 8/29/06

ISSUE 3

Okay folks, it's official!! Issue 3 is off to the printer as of this past weekend, and no one could be happier than me.
Also, things have been secured with Diamond, and so now the only thing between you and the books, is time.

Keep reading...
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PRINTER

This time around I went with a new printer.
Having already deciding I needed to switch from my previous international/overseas printer for issues 1 and 2, in the effort of decreasing leadtime (the previous printer took 8 to 10 weeks leadtime, standard for an overseas setup), I was willing to bite the bullet and have the book printed domestically, regardless of cost, because I couldn't afford more than the 2 weeks they could offer in turning around jobs, since the book was so behind schedule.
Well, one of the great things about comic conventions is there are a myriad of benefits, outside of publicly promoting and selling your book directly to the fans (my favorite aspect by the way), in this case, finding out about and making contact with a lead on a new printer. This is what happened at this year's San Diego Comic Con, and is also how I came to be with my previous printer.
Turned out a good friend had just received full color books from this new arrangement, and not only were they affordable, but also domestic (with short leadtimes).
A great prospect indeed.
Hopefully making the switch will be fairly invisible to you all, other than getting books in a more timely fashion that is.

So what are the details for issue 3?
What's the schedule?

Read on...
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ISSUE 3 SCHEDULE

Having the books at the printer, the next step is getting the proofs approved, and that's where we're currently at. In this case they're digital, so it should be only a short time before we clear that hurdle. At that point, the books are ready to roll, and this printer has a quoted leadtime of 2 weeks (from delivery of files, a clock that is already ticking).
So, the books should finish up with them by 9/11 or (hopefully) sooner.
At that point they must be delivered to Diamond, and Diamond must process them as well.
That makes the soonest the books would be in shops as 9/13 (if things go ahead of schedule...), or more likely the Wednesday of 9/20.
Fairly late in terms of what I'd most recently communicated, and I'm sorry. I can tell you though, that the book has benefited from this extra time, and I'm very excited to have it out at long last!

I will of course keep you updated as things move forward.

So, in light of things being officially on schedule and on target for release, here are the details for our third issue, and then the schedule beyond that...
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ISSUE 3 DETAILS

Originally solicited as two covers, a regular cover by myself, and a 1 in 4 variant cover (same as with issue 2), the final offering has changed slightly. Now instead of just having the 1 in 4 variant cover by HECTOR SEVILLA (ALIAS COMICS' LULLABY), we've added a third variant by FELIPE SMITH (TOKYOPOP's MBQ)!
The new cover is a 1 for every 5 incentive that was set up as a promotion through Diamond, with retailers who order 5 or more copies receiving the new incentive cover for free. In recent months, I've had the great fortune of picking up some great cover art and Felipe's cover fit perfect with issue 3, so we worked out this promotion to not only get that cover on the book, but to also generate some more visibility with retailers.

Anyone who would like to get the third cover, should first check with your retailer. Find out if they've ordered enough copies to receive one, or let them know they can/will (if they don't keep up with Diamond's many updates on products).

Here are the ordering codes for issue number 3:

COVER A and B (regular covers) - MAR063379
COVER C (free 1 for 5 incentive) - MAR068320

32 pages, full color, mature readers

If all else fails, you will be able to buy every cover directly from SuperRealGraphics.com, but as always we appreciate you sourcing things from your retailers first. In the past, we've offered website exclusive covers for each issue, so issue 3 will be slightly different in that regard, but still with 3 covers total.
(Let me just add, I absolutely love our variant covers, and couldn't be more proud of the creators and artwork they've provided for every cover to date! I feel very fortunate to have worked with such great artists!!)

As always, the variant cover (COVER B) will be included as a center page poster, with an interview of the artist. The book also contains the print version of TSL, as well as some letters, and fan art. Additionally, this time we have our first ever PIN-UP-AND-COMING contest winner/s (Russ Platt, and Jukka Issakainen) featured in a full page pin up on the back side of the poster! There is also one last surprise new addition to what I hope will be another recurring feature of the book!

Which brings me to...
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FUTURE PLANS FOR SUPER REAL

As you may have noticed, I have not solicited anything beyond issue 3. The reason being, not because I don't have big plans and exciting things to come, but that issue 2 ran a bit late, and issue 3 was way behind schedule. I didn't want to chance having any further product shipping past the scheduled and promoted release dates, so I've held the next issue until I've had a chance to get my production schedule back under control.

Believe me, I'd like nothing better than to ship you a book every other month! Every month is just not feasible for one person to accomplish when you do every aspect of the book, from artwork to coloring, lettering, and publishing (and also, while maintaining one's day job of sorts). However, my goal starting out was every 3rd month, and that was something that didn't materialize either. So, I've done two things to get back to that schedule:

1) The next issue will be a special: SUPER REAL SPECIAL - Super Real VS The Comic Book Industry
The special will be completely written by me, but features artwork from other exciting creators! Not only is it a ton of fun to watch other artists work from my scripts, with my characters, but the concept itself is just brimming with potential! However, having this next on the schedule, it also gives me extra time to get issue 4 underway, while still keeping the book out in shops.
Also, the book features the cast fully enhanced, in all out action throughout, two elements fans and myself have been dying to see! While also keeping the story in continuity, taking place between the events of issues 3 and 4!!

2) Not solicited future issues through Diamond, until issue 3 is done, while production of the special is already well underway.

At this point the special is planned for January of 2007, while that is 4 months following the release of issue 3, and while a break of that length isn't preferred, issue 3 took almost 6 months to come out, so it is definite improvement over the last gap between issues. I plan to then solicit and release issue 4 three months after the special, which gets me back to the original release format.

____

So there you have it!
All the details on the book for the foreseeable future.
While we lost some battles, we won some too, like maintaining the full color format, and getting an exciting incentive cover promotion to the shops!
And while the schedule is still a bit off, we've got some exciting plans to get things back to the way they should be!!

Since I covered a lot this time out, I'll return with more details on specific items in the near future, but this should give the curious all the information they could be looking for.

So, to fill the gap until issue 3 hits shops, be sure and stop by the website and check out the recently created, and totally awesome, Super Real flash trailer, or the first five pages of issue 3 in the previews section!

SUPER REAL TRAILER

ISSUE 3 PREVIEW

Stay tuned,
jason

eBay TIME!

Haven't gone through my read comics (the ones I've read but not filed) in quite some time (filing them is a whole nother story...), and hadn't put anything on eBay in about a year. I usually put anything that can sell that I don't absolutely have to keep on eBay, because well, I'm always in need of cash (starving no, but perennially broke yes!)...

Soooo, it's way past time for some clearing out, and I've put over 20 lots on since yesterday, with perhaps a few more to come. All current/recent and many "hot" items, a couple have already sold (the Ultimate Spider-Man lot, and the Ultimate FF 21-23 debut of the MARVEL ZOMBIES) with other Ultimate titles, Brian Wood books, New Avengers, Girls, Godland, etc etc!

Have a look HERE and see if there's anything you've been meaning to add to your collection.

The sets are quite affordable, and I can always use the support! :)

THANKS!

IN CASE U MISSED IT: Random goodness!

SUPER REAL NOTES - 8/23/06

ISSUE 3

Hello all, just writing real quick, since I've been quiet for so long about the status of the book, and not continued with updates, to assure everyone that things are moving forward...

First off, the book is nearly upon us, honest!
Just been wrestling with some issues that took much longer than expected, namely:
1) Trying to set up a new printer
2) Previously set up a new promotion with Diamond
and 3) Finishing up the book itself.

Throwing a wrench in all of this was the peak con season, making things very difficult to wrangle on all angles, it's just not a good time to try any of those items as everyone is pulled and stretched to the limit in the comic biz from mid July to mid August.

Any way, I should be moments away from finalization on the last hurdle, and once things are firmed up I'll be glad to share the exact details with everyone far and wide!

Let me just say, as I have before, no one could be more sorry about having the book this late than me, something that I never wanted to have happen on all accounts, but it has, and for that I apologize. However, I'm becoming more and more proud and excited about the finished product (the third issue), and the upcoming plans beyond that!
Can't wait to share all soon!

Thanks, and STAY TUNED,
Jason

INDUSTRY RANT: Digital VS Print - is it over already?

Call me crazy, but winds of change are in the air...
I've spoken often about digital replacing print as the main source for comics, at some point in the near future, mostly positing that there needed to be something one step beyond the current batch of iPod's, PSP's, eReaders, and technology to accommodate it, but lately there's a real sense, if you read between the lines in the comic internet, that things are possibly steering that way sooner.

And when I thought on it for a moment, whether that's possible, it hit me, it could easily happen any day, regardless of technology, because there's a failsafe. All we need is a big publisher to take the leap, let's say Marvel. Say they stopped printing comics tomorrow, seems crazy at first, that is until you think it through and come to tradepaperbacks, they're already selling increasingly more, and across the board, so that's the key. You can abandon print comics because you still have the trade collections to offer all those left behind the digital bandwagon. The best of both. You've got the format, process, and channels already existing to accommodate trade publication, you just flip the switch to digital, and increase production for trade collections. Then you have your monthlies, pamphlets, or singles, whatever you want to call your standard comic book, available online, digitally, and collect those now digital serials into print tomes for any and all.
Regular comics in small digital doses, and longer collections in print.
Bases covered.

There's not much to lose.
Sure there'll be some fallout from those who won't switch to digital, nor want to just read trade collections, but it's likely such a negligible amount, that you could take the bold step, or leap of faith. The comic industry, for all it's recent growth and success, is still incredibly burdened by rising costs and utterly outdated in terms of systems of distribution and reach, and with corporations running the big publishers, as mere licensing units for other media, there's no onus to ride the market til it's eventual last gasps. Just switch to digital, take your lumps, improve/expand your trade production/distribution, and start chasing that younger, larger, and very much needed, young demographic that wants all things digital any way!

So, yeah, digital is coming, it's eventual, I don't think there's any way you can argue the cost benefit of digital to print, it has to win because of that, it just makes too much business sense to continue and ignore, but it may be a lot sooner than most anyone thinks, or realizes...
With comics cheap and easily accessible again, the way they used to be!
Call me crazy.

Super Real PinUp

Here's the finished pinup from Daniel Campos that I posted about earlier, with colors by Jukka Issakainen.

This is a great pinup with all five cast members in full Super Real enhancement gear, and I love it!

You can check out more of Daniel's art at his DeviantArt page where he's known as Stalk!

I hope to fit this into the book somewhere down the line!

Thanks guys, great work!!

Super Real PinUp

Here's another awesome Super Real pinup!

This time it's my bud Randy Kintz, aka Rantz, and his take on super babe, Holly!

You can check the full view on his DeviantArt.com page HERE, and while there, gander at more of his cool work.
Randy is another local Portland area comic artist, currently working on a new series for BlueWater Productions, The Muse!

Thanks Randy!!

MEANWHILE AT THE MOVIES... Snakes On A Plane

The latest motherfuckin Netflix envelope advertising...Mother Fuckin Snakes on a Plane!
T-minus one week til SOAP folks!!!

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Josh Howard commissions!

Over on Josh Howard's blog, he's got a posting with some recent commission pieces he's worked up.

They're very much worth a look if you're a fan of his art, with Supergirl, Red Sonja, and Padme Amidalla getting the ol' JH treatment!

Just click HERE

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: I love Gen13

Yes, it's true, and I'm not afraid to admidt it, I LOVE GEN13!

Sure, for the most part, even though it captured the young, fun, and hip spirit of youth, and had often times brilliant artwork (like J Scott Campbell), it was saddled with some mostly dreadful writing, and was essentially an X-Men riff. But hey, it was the X-Men done right, with cutting edge artwork, and amped up sex, and style to suit the teen themes. Not to mention, Adam Warren turned in some phenomenal scripts towards the end of the run, with his 2 issue fill in (before eventually taking over) that had one of my single favorite issues of all time, the writing litterally had me intoxicated.

So yeah, I love Gen13, unconditionally. I looked past it's faults, and beyond it's shortcomings, because I loved the concept, cast of characters, and what it aspired to so much. So when it was announced we were getting yet another relaunch, and with Gail Simone (who can write some really tweaked, offbeat stuff), and Talent Caldwell (a popular artist in the same vein as the original co-creator Campbell), I was pretty excited, and optomistic that it may get done right!

As we close in on the release, I've learned it's not just a relaunch, but a reimagining. I'd wondered how they were going to bring back the original cast, but I'd never heard it was by wiping away the previous series, so that has me a bit worried. Then Caldwell spoke with Newsarama.com recently about the book, and had some questionable comments about the original series, essentially admitting he was a fan, while somewhat dismissing it as T&A (as well as some other elements that I don't agree with). Now, Gen13 had T&A, and I can see folks dismissing it as such, but if you ever gave it a chance, or really knew the book, you know it wasn't about that, it had a lot going for it besides cheesecake. A whole forest for the trees scenario, that I think Super Real suffers from a bit. But hey, I like my comics loose, and sexy, with pretty art, it's true...

Anyway, I'm excited to see Gen13 back on the racks, regardless. It's one of the handfull of books that got me back into comics, I'll never forget picking up issue 2 of the regular series peeling back the cover and seeing the J Campbell splash page that seemed to just pop right out of the book! So, I'll always hold it in high regard, but mainly, I think it's a concept that's worth continuing, anxious to see if they can ever recapture the magic that I found in that issue, and I'm glad to see it's getting another shot, and eager to give it one myself!

Plus, I really love the new J Campbell cover for issue one!
:)
drool

San Diego Comic Con - House of Blues dinner sketch off '06

As I mentioned briefly in my con wrap up for San Diego, one of the nights my wife and I went out with a large group of artists and friends, who've either worked on Super Real or are friends of me and the book. One of the great things about doing cons is getting to know your neighbors, or other local artists, as well as meeting artists that you've only known online until a big show like SDCC (and then sketching to the death!).

This year I'd made tentative plans to have dinner with my neighbor from last year's show, David Montoya (Moho). The night we'd worked out getting together, I'd also invited along some other friends, Clay Hollifield (Alien Boy) who I've known for some time from local NW area shows, Edward Pun (Super Real issue 2 variant artist, upcoming Super Real Special) who was at the show for his work and hanging out at the table occasionally, and Hector Sevilla (Lullaby) issue 3 variant artist and his friend Simon Bork (colorist - Seed). Quite a diverse group, with Ed and Clay being from the NW like myself and my wife Tami, and then David from New York, with Hector from Chihuahua Mexico, and Simon all the way from Germany! With all of us involved in comics at various levels (and willing to enter a no holds barred sketch off at a moments notice!!).
Since it was a good sized group, and the con spills out into the neighboring Gas Lamp district post show each evening, we knew it may be a struggle to find a spot for dinner, therefore my wife suggested the House of Blues, since we had dined their last year and knew it was on the other end of town (thus hopefully increasing our chances of finding space). The only problem was that we were following my wife, who is a bit directionally challenged... but after only a minor setback we arrived at the House of Blues, just in time for a canceled reservation of 6 to open up space for us. What luck! (Now our sketch session of doom could begin!)

Once inside my wife took out a notepad and asked all of the artists to do a little sketch for her... (under penalty of death at rebuffing her request, or course!)
In the meantime once drink orders were placed, we discovered Simon, although he'd been legal to drink beer in Germany for anywhere from 4 to 2 years, was only 20 and could not legally do so in our great country. That was the only downer of the evening, but it made for good material in the sketchbook (of doom)!

Here are the sketches from each of us (dealt out with punishing brutality and fury!!), with links to the artists featured.
ENJOY! (CLICK TO VIEW LARGE VERSIONS)
(okay, so it wasn't really sketch or be killed, just some fun doodles while waiting for food!)
This is Hector's take on the group, with Simon at the bar dealing with his lack of service... notice the small Sgt. Frog behind Hector (on the floor) at the table!
Dave was apparently hungry while sketching (pre dinner), but to my memory, did not actually order chicken (nor does he much resemble Street Fighter II villain Blanka, as rendered here)
Ed gives us the rundown on the toll the con has taken on him...
Apparently Clay was feeling saintly!
Here's a quick shot by me of my wife en route to the House of Blues (or rather not, as the case was)...
And finally we have Simon's valiant effort to draw (he's a colorist ya know), with visions of inferior American beer still in his head...

This was great fun, hope it comes across in the translation!
Looking forward to San Diego next year already!!
(And this time we sketch to the death I say!)

Super Real PinUp

Here's another pinup, this time from Daniel Campos. I met Daniel on DeviantArt.com, where he's known as Stalk, and I'd seen some great sequentials in his gallery for a comic he did for a wrestling company, Project Diva.

I got to meet Daniel at the recent San Diego Comic Con and he worked up this Super Real pinup during the show. He never gave it to me though, because he decided to do a "better" (notice I'm quoting him) one and then hand that over...
Well, if this is his warm up, I can't wait to see the next one!?!

Click the image to view it and his DeviantArt page...

Thanks Daniel!

Super Real PinUp

I met the cool dudes behind the upcoming After Hours Press release, Model Operandi, at the recent Wizard World Philly. Since I'd already seen MO online a while back, I let the guys know I really dug their stuff and artist Dennis Budd has since worked up this awesome pinup for Super Real!

While it was created as a pinup, I like it a lot, and may work it in for a cover on the book... we'll see!

In the meantime, enjoy Dennis' great linework (before it gets the color treatment), and check out their book, Model Operandi (out September) HERE

CON SWAG: San Diego Comic Con 06 #2

I'm still recovering from San Diego, but it's time to visit another cool item I scored while at the con!

This time it's: MANAGA TOONZ - SKETCHBOOK by EDWARD PUN

For those that follow SUPER REAL or TSL close enough, you'll recognize the name, Edward has contributed the variant cover to issue 2 of SUPER REAL, as well as 5 interior pages on the upcoming SUPER REAL SPECIAL! Ed's a video game artist for Suckerpunch (makers of the SLY COOPER franchise) up in the Seattle area, and I'd been impressed with his various mini comics at Seattle cons over the years, so one thing led to another and I was fortunate enough to work with him. I say fortunate because Ed's quite the talented comic book artist, with the skill and ability to tell manga style or more traditional comics (if only he didn't make that big video game money to keep him from pursuing comics full time!)...

Ed was going to be at San Diego con for his day job, so I offered to put one of his books out on the Super Real table, and this awesome new sketchbook was born! MANGA TOONZ is a 24 page black and white ash can size book, but it's primo quality and chocked full of Ed's sketches, designs, characters and comic samplings. From his manga inspired character JADE: MONSTER HUNTER to his upcoming one-shot SCARLET FIELDS, with movie pin ups from SIN CITY and PULP FICTION, and no shortage of cute girls, MANGA TOONZ is a hoot! Ed also adds a quick sketch to the back inside cover of each copy, all for only $5.

I think he still had a few copies left after the show, so you might be able to score one directly from him at his website EdwardPun.com