108 Pages of FREE Comics
I’ve got a lot of respect for Ben Glibert. Of course, I’m bias. I’ve known him for over a decade, lived with him for eight years and he stood with me at my wedding as my best man. There are a ton of reasons for me to respect the guy, but relevant to now, I respect him for his ingenuity. I look up to the guy for the way he runs his publishing company: Semantink.
Out the gate Ben knew Semantink couldn’t afford the overhead to print every single issue they released. Print isn’t cheap and nowadays it’s not easy to get noticed. He decided that Semantink would offer their single issues digitally at first, for $0.99 each. When people purchase the books they get a pdf actually sent to them — a file that they own. This was almost three years ago and Ben continues to be ahead of the digital curve.
Now, Ben also realized that we can’t remain digital-only. We have to get in stores and we have to offer incentives to retailers for Semantink books to grow in the public eye — unfortunately, we’re not quite there yet, but according to Ben, it’s where we’re headed. For now trades are offered in print but hopefully, sometime soon, single issues will be available in your local comic book shop.
The goal right now is growing the brand. To be honest, people don’t want to take a risk on creators they don’t already know (even if it is only $0.99), and I don’t blame them. Times are tough. That’s why Semantink does zero issues, and has since the company’s inception. Zero issues of each and every title are meant to give customers, readers and retailers a free taste of any particular product. They’re always available online and viewable through Issuu or downloadable through the site. They’re slightly smaller than a normal comic book, clocking in at 12 pages, but tend to set up the story, characters and theme so people can decide whether or not they want to invest $0.99 per issue moving forward.
I’m pleased to announce that, as of today, Semantink has 108 pages of free comic book available for public consumption. I thought I would take a minute to put a list together for you, my friends, to be able to view these titles at your leisure. Hopefully you find something in here you like and decide to make the coming issues a part of your future purchasing. As always, if you do find something you like, I hope you’ll share it with your friends.
Here’s the list and some sample pages. I thank you for your support.
DRACE GREY — View issue zero for free here.
Detective Drace Grey is about to have a really bad day… Demons are congregating to Grey’s hometown. Angels are en route to stop them. Somewhere in between good and evil, caught in the middle of a war declared at the beginning of time, a few souls are preparing to aid Grey in his battle against Heaven and Hell – a battle he doesn’t know he’s going to lead… This action-thriller from the mind James Ninness (MYTHOI, DUST and The Heaven’s) reunites him with artist extraordinaire Brian Soriano (MYTHOI #4-6), and introduces theater and webcomic scribe Michael Drace Fountain (The Undergrounds) in his first published role as a comic book writer. Utilizing the diverse streets of San Diego as a backdrop, Drace Grey blends noir, mystery and hyper-action to paint one of the most thrilling Semantink releases yet. There’s good. There’s bad. There’s Grey.
Sim-I — view issue zero for free here.
Sim-I, a monkey with the cognitive abilities of his scientist captors, uses his new sense of rational intelligence to find the escape route out of the laboratory known as F.E.A.S.T. Chased by a menagerie of animal creations – from an artistic snake to a sextet of plotting mice, to a group of dirt-devouring Fat Cats – Sim-I explores the deepest caverns and the most delicious heights of F.E.A.S.T., all while eluding Dr. Haslow Hope and his second brain, Einstein. Will the monkey hit the road to freedom, or will he instead succumb to the taste of the elusive golden banana? From the masterful mind of Joe Pezzula and the zany stylings of Daniel Touchet, Sim-I is sure to make you monkey-mad!
DUST — view the zero issue for free at PoP! here (Issuu link is here, but you’ll need to sign in as it is for a mature readership).
The world is dead. Government doesn’t exist. Humanity is scattered across the globe, not living but surviving. Deborah Adams may have discovered a way to bring vegetation back to the diseased soil of the world but she’ll have to get back to her laboratory across a land full of madmen and monsters – Deborah Adams needs a hero. Unfortunately the only one available is Jim Dust, a lone, old man with a fractured mind, an invisible friend and a penchant for killing. The two of them must move quickly as Blue, a disfigured mercenary, tracks them across the desert with his eyes set on Deborah’s promising breakthrough. Dust is murder. Dust is mayhem. Jim Dust is man’s last hope. DUST is a post-apocalyptic western from the unstable James Ninness (MYTHOI) and infamous dirty-dog John Narcomey (Smart Bullets, Ghost Face).
The Heaven’s — view issue zero for free here.
MYTHOI — view the zero issues for free: Yuki, Taros, Wiglaf, Vito and Touch.
MYTHOI is Semantink’s inaugural title and the brainchild of writer James Ninness. Wiglaf, Vito, Yuki, Taros and Touch are five unique beings from various mythologies thrust together to defend humanity from an ancient enemy… MYTHOI is set now, not the now of mythological fiction, but the now of flesh and blood monsters where nightmarish beasts have skin, folklore wears clothes and the dreams of humanity hitchhike the roads of earth. With stories from James Ninness and art from the incredible Jed Soriano, Brian Soriano and Kevin Warwick, Semantink couldn’t be prouder of this flagship title.
Three Reasons I Wrote (And You Should Read) The Heaven’s
Lets get the most common criticism out of the way: The Heaven’s is singular possessive. I’ve heard it mentioned from several people as though I’ve made some sort of amateur mistake and I want to assure you, before you stop reading this under the same assumption, that this is not a mistake. It is intentional. To take this defense a step further I will tell you that the people of Zodiah, the setting for The Heaven’s, see heaven as a singular entity, not a collaboration of various skies and celestial properties. Therefore, the title of the book is a reflection upon the populations assumption that they belong to the skyward unknown.
Well… That was boring, eh?
2011 was good to me. MYTHOI sales are ever-increasing, an effort achieved by the amazing artistic stylings of Jed and Brian Soriano (no relation). Sim-I, in the hands of the ever capable pair of Joe Pezzula and Daniel Touchet, is doing quite well. DUST, my post-apocalyptic western project with John Narcomey, has started strong. And this year brought forth the genesis of a writers group I’ve been fortunate enough to work with going by the moniker Inky Ballz and consisting of Marcel Losada, Michael Fountain and the aforementioned Joe Pezzula. Inky Ballz has been able to knock out three projects this year and we’re currently developing three more — all over various mediums with new collaborators. I don’t say all this to toot my own horn but to illustrate a coming point. I did not write The Heaven’s this year because I would not of had the time. The Heaven’s was the second comic I ever wrote, just after the first arc of MYTHOI over two years ago.
It makes me giddy as hell to see The Heaven’s finally ready for consumption.
What follows are the three reasons I wrote the book. These are the motives for my excitement and the heat beneath my brimming love, ready to finally boil over.
Steam Minus the Punk
I enjoy Jules Verne. I am not as fond of the most recent version of the Wild Wild West. What do these two things have in common? The idea of steampunk: a subgenre of science fiction and fantasy featuring advanced machines and other technology based on steam power of the 19th century and taking place in a recognizable historical period or a fantasy world (dictionary.com). I’ve wanted to work on something “steampunk” for a while now. I enjoy the clothes, the wild gadgets and gothic archetypes present in most of the common steampunk media. I have not yet found the story for me within the genre. I am seeing a lot of interesting things but nothing particularly new. I have found that many steampunk fans have so closed defined what is steampunk they have restricted the amount of freedom storytellers have with which to create.
So, alas, The Heaven’s is not steampunk. It is not set in Victorian anywhere. It is not gothic, in the traditional sense. It does, however, have steam.
The entire universe was built around that singular idea; steam power. Zodiah is the singular city on the planet — that we know of. It is a desert planet of sand broken up by illusive fissures of steam. From there, the world came to life. All of the buildings in Zodiah are made of glass or common ore from within the fissures. The beasts that live in the desert have traits of Earth’s own desert-dwelling species. It is a hard place to live, but, as the natives have known no other life, it is lived with a finesse that comes with the ignorance of options.
Given that metal and steam do exist, there are machines. As a matter of fact, man’s inventiveness against ancient tradition is a pivotal issue of the book. I won’t give you any spoilers, suffice to say, the primary conflict stems from something deeper than initially revealed. Though the issue at launch serves as a catalyst for everything to come.
Signs of the Zodiac
It was not enough to have a world, I needed a story. It should come as a surprise to nobody that I have a fondness for mythology… I know, it’s hard to believe. So I spent a few months reading on ancient tales of various civilizations, hoping to draw inspiration with which to fashion my tale.
It didn’t work.
It wasn’t until I was outside with my wife, stargazing (yeah, we’re an exciting pair), that my mind began to wander on various questions regarding the constellations. That night before bed I spent a good four hours devouring everything I could on the stories behind our 12 astrological signs: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces. It wasn’t enough to know the symbolism, I needed to know where the symbolism originated. Did I become a master of all things Zodiac and the wisest star-guru on earth? Certainly not. What I did find was a rich resource of mythology that has served as inspiration for millions, most of whom, I would assume, have no idea about the source of their influence.
The Heaven’s has 12 issues (not including the free issue #0). There are 12 signs of the Zodiac. This is not a coincidence. For those familiar with the mythology I reference, you will notice plot points, characters or themes significant to each sign as the issues continue. Hint: Keep an eye on the cover for references to any particular sign…
That’s all I’m saying. I’ll leave the rest up to you.
Turbo Qualls
I would venture to guess that most comic book fans have no idea who Turbo Qualls is. However, if you know tattoos, chances are you’ve at least heard his name. If not, well, I’m sorry. Turbo is an artist who has set up shop in Orange County, but often flies around the country tattooing various folks who are keen on his design. I am fortunate enough to have a couple of Qualls works on my own body. And, for what it’s worth, he’s a gentle giant.
Turbo is a religious man and some of his greatest work (in my humble opinion) is his iconography. The man draws saints like he was Simon Ushakov reincarnated. I don’t want to pigeonhole Turbo, he did an ocean piece along my wife’s side that solicits “ooohs” and aaahs” on regular occasion. Bottom line: The guy knows how to use a pen and put to flesh what is desired. But can he draw comics?
Thankfully, Turbo is an avid comic book reader. You can hear Turbo, Ben Glibert (Semantink head honcho) and I discuss comics on the recent Variant Covers Podcast to get a feel for some of his likes/dislikes. He knows his shit. Turbo understands line weight, anatomy, composition and (most importantly) story telling. Trust me when I tell you that Turbo Qualls can draw.
I feel like a I could continue to hype Turbo up or show you some of his stuff but, honestly, The Heaven’s #0 comes out tomorrow at Semantink’s site. Why don’t you check it out then and tell me your thoughts after reading?
Hope you enjoy the book. Thanks for reading.
**UPDATED: You can now check out Semantink’s The Heaven’s page here and read the issue for free here.
Comic News For My Earholes
I don’t listen to the radio. My car has an iPhone/iPod hookup and when I drive its either my music or my news. Yes, I’m fancy. Most of that “news” comes in the form of podcast. Of those podcasts a great deal or comic book related.
So when talking to friends or colleagues it is not uncommon for me to mention something I heard on one said podcasts and, without fail, I get a message from that person asking me a few days later, “What was the name of that podcast again?”
The below list is meant as a quick reference for anyone interested in the podcasts I find informative and entertaining. It’s not really a “best of” list since I’m sure I’ve only heard a small fraction of the comic podcasts that actually exist. I won’t be ranking them or saying which is my favorite… These are all very different podcasts put up by talented people coming from different points of view. If you try one and don’t like it, try another. I can promise that if you like comics there is at least one (thought probably more) podcast on this list that you will enjoy.
Here’s the list in alphabetical order:
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Hosts Aaron and Evie run their podcast like a weekly awards, which, to hear it described by Aaron, is similar to a various character each and every week (listen to the show and you’ll get what I mean). It’s simple but effective. Each week the couple goes through that week’s comics and discusses which had the best hero, best villain, etc. Aaron and Evie are charming, fun and manage to put out a podcast that reflects their character. Side note: I recently heard that Aaron and Evie are bringing a baby into the world — congrats to them! You can subscribe to Awesomed by Comics on iTunes.
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This is a comic book podcast for people, like me, who tend to laugh at the inappropriate jokes made it dark corners. Michael LaMere and Ryan Carstensen describe their show as “the most absurd comic book podcast,” which might be true but it may also be the funniest. A few people I’ve share this with didn’t like. The ones who did like it, loved it. Let’s just say I was making a “favorites” list, perhaps a top five or some such nonsense… Chroinc Insomnia would be somewhere on the list. Love this show. You can subscribe to Chronic Insomnia on iTunes.
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These guys have been in the comic book podcast game since 2005 — it shows. CGS is professional, incredibly well informed and consistent. Brian, Peter, Shane, Jamie D, Matt, Murd and Pants are some of the nicest guys I’ve ever heard on a comic book podcast. No snark. No weird attitude. Just comic book news. Some podcast hosts try too hard to be funny or witty and while CGS is able to be funny and witty, it doesn’t feel forced. It’s the perfect mix of journalism and comics. *The rundowns of DC’s New 52 was exceptional. You can subscribe to Comic Geek Speak on iTunes.
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There are a ton of staffers over at iFanboy: Josh, Conor, Ron, Paul, Gordon, Matt, Chris, Ali, Ryan, Molly, Jim, Josh, Mike, Ben, John and Jason — all of whom are awesome. My favorite of their podcasts is “Pick of the Week,” a quick, hour-long show discussing the best of the best for that week in comics. Funny, informative and funny (yes, that funny), iFanboy is by far the most popular podcast amongst my suggestions to friends. I’ve never had anyone come back with a “what the fuck was that?” after checking them out. You can subscribe to iFanboy on iTunes.
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Stephen, Matthew and Rodrigo are some of the hardest working fellas in the podcast industry. They put out Critical Hit (a D&D podcast), Top Five (a list of… podcast) and, the one I listen to, Major Spoilers (a comic and pop culture podcast). The podcasts are put out regularly and always up-to-date (there’s nothing worse than a podcast filled with month-old news), making Major Spoilers one of the most relevant podcasts to fill my head. Also somewhat unique to this show is the actual discussion of headlines, filled with criticism and opinion, not a quick brush stroke of news to fill the hours. These guys are great. You can subscribe to Major Spoilers on iTunes.
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These guys have a very special place in my heart. Panels on Pages, specifically Jason Kerouac, were the first folks ever to review a comic I wrote. And they didn’t tear it to pieces. Bless them. Lee, Kerouac, Knize and Jose put out one of the funniest op-culture podcasts around. It’s a bit lengthy, usually clocking it at around three hours, but that’s because it’s a recording of their live show wherein they interact with fans, respond to emails and voicemails, review comics and talk about not one but six news stories at length. They have various other shows almost daily but my favorite is the Tuesday night Pop!cast. Good show by great people. You can subscribe to Panels on Pages on iTunes.
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I don’t know many Canadians. If, as a people, they’re anything like Mike, Remy or Red Shirt Ryan, I need to visit my Northern friends soon. Not only are these geeks hilarious, but their honest. More than any other podcasts hosts, the guys at WMD feel like a group of friends talking about comics and film. They’re honest, witty and smart. As a bonus, when you subscribe to Where Monsters Dwell on iTunes you get not only the WMD podcast but the Listen to Jimmy podcast, hosted by WMD and featuring the always entertaining Jimmy Palmiotti.
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If all of the above podcasts were characters on Gilligan’s Island, 11oc would be the Professor. Vince, Chris, David and Jason are, without a doubt, the connoisseurs of comics. I’m convinced that between them, they know everything that has ever happened in the history of the medium. This podcast is the most informative on the list as you will hear things here that you will not on other podcasts. These guys speak with authority and start each show with a drink roll call wherein they discuss the alcoholic beverage they are consuming fr the show. God bless ‘em. You can subscribe to 11 o’clock Comics on iTunes.
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That’s it. Well, that’s not it — I’ve heard other shows, most of which are great. These shows, however, are the ones on regular rotation in my car. Sample them. Love them. Listen.
If you think I missed a podcast that gives you goosepimples of geeky delight, let me know in the comments. I’m always looking for more.
Paz!
Help Me Help the MDA
I owe Jill Pantozzi, aka The Nerdy Bird, a great deal.
About a year ago Jill helped me get a bit of attention for my first comic book trade MYTHOI Book I: Birth. Her review was gracious and a blessing, telling her innumerable readers to “Jump onto the ground floor of MYTHOI: Birth now, it’s gonna be huge.” For a writer trying to break into an industry flooded with writers like Gaiman, Snyder, Hill, Morrison, Millar and Moore (yes, him as well), any endorsement is a good endorsement, but a kind review from someone like Jill is godsend. Readership quickly multiplied and I have been blessed with a small but steady group of fans that I am ever thankful for.
Just over two months later Jill interviewed Benjamin Glibert, Director of Publishing for Semantink. As Ben’s primary author at the time, it helped spread the Semantink/MYTHOI word a bit further. On New Years Eve of 2010, Has Boobs, Reads Comics (Jill’s blog) featured an interview with the talent behind another book from Semantink titled Sim-I. Writer Joe Pezzula and artist Daniel Touchet are the creative force behind that story, but it was created by me, placing me once more in Jill’s debt. And finally, in January of this year, Jill reviewed a webcomic I created called The Undergrounds. I have been fortunate enough to work on this weekly with a host of writers far more talented than I, and Sim-I artist, Daniel Touchet.
Bottom line: I owe The Nerdy Bird more than I can repay for the jump-start she has offered my career early on.
In an attempt to repay Jill, I promised her that I would donate a year’s worth of income from MYTHOI to the 2011 Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Labor Day Telethon. Jill was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy when she was two and a half. At age seven she was on the MDA Jerry Lewis Telethon. She’s been a comic icon, MDA activist and a geek goddess ever since.
For MYTHOI, I make a very small percentage of all sales, both digital and trade. All of my MYTHOI money, small as it may be, from June 2010 to September 4 2011 (the day of the telethon) will be going to the MDA. As of right now I’ve got a couple hundred bucks headed their way… I want more.
I am asking everyone I know to buy something MYTHOI — I don’t care if it is the $20 trade or the $0.99 digital issue. You buy a comic (which you will hopefully love) and help the MDA. You can pick up any of these graphic goodies through Drivethrucomics here, Graphic.ly here, or Semantink here.
Don’t want to support me? That’s okay. I still love you. Not as much, but there’s still love here. You should still support the MDA and donate. You can do that here.
Please share this as often as possible.
We’ve got two weeks.
Thanks.
DUST (3 of 3): Caricatures and Characters
DUST #0 is officially out! If you haven’t read it yet — do so! Check out Semantink’s site for a FREE download of this introductory issue. And before we move on let me give a HUGE thank you and shout out to Panels on Pages. If you aren’t following their site/podcast on a regular basis you’re missing out on some of the most entertaining and informative stuff in the comic industry.
Now back to DUST.
I mentioned in the first of these blogs that my father, Gib, was an inspiration for the book itself. I did not, however, tell you that the character of Jim Dust is my father, or a caricature of him.
My dad spent over 30 years protecting the streets of San Diego as a police officer. Most of my young life he worked graveyard shifts (6pm-6am). He didn’t do this because he had to, he did it because he wanted to. By working the late nights my dad was able to spend days with me and my brother. He made it to most of our baseball games, karate tournaments, band recitals, and all the other things my brother and I tried out. He was always there. There wasn’t a whole lot of time for him to sleep or rest, and given his profession, it was time missed.
My dad showed me the truest sense of dedication a child could ever ask for but don’t let that fool you — Gib is a bad ass mother fucker. You know when you’re younger and you and your friends argue about whose dad could beat up the others? My dad would whoop your dad’s ass. My father isn’t a martial arts expert or a gym buff. My dad isn’t ex-Black Ops or some sort of secret government project. My dad would mop the floor with your father because he wants to see his family when it’s over. He doesn’t fight clean or dirty, he fights to live. At the end of the day Gib is going to see his family and if you get in the way, you’re done. It really is that simple.
Enter: Jim Dust.
Jim Dust
Jim is what my father would become if everything was taken away from him. Jim wanders the desert with his invisible friend, Buddy. Buddy is Jim’s world and he’ll do whatever he has to do to survive with Buddy for one more day.
Is he crazy? Hell yes. He has an invisible friend. But the focus of his love doesn’t matter, it’s the love itself which powers Jim. He is pushed to live in the harshest of realities because that’s what he has. It’s the hand he was dealt and he doesn’t bitch or moan — he lives. With Buddy.
So who’s Buddy? You’ll see…
The world of DUST is a harsh one. The entirety of the world is made up of primarily desert. Vegetation comes in spots and even then in patches of grass — just enough to keep horses alive (this is a Western after all). Sustenance for humans is almost nil. The primary plot device for this six issue story is the hope to change that world — to bring plants back to the world.
A small group of botanists in what was Western San Diego are trying to work through the vegetation problem, struggling to bring life back to the wasteland. One of these scientists is sent to Mexico City to find what the group believes could be the key to their success. Deborah Adams, the young, inexperienced woman chosen to head up the expedition was not sent alone. A group of mercenaries known for their ability to complete any job if the pay is right has gone with her.
Deborah Adams
DUST #1 picks up with Deborah’s trip home from Mexico City.
I needed Deborah to represent the hope of her task. I’ve seen several stories wherein a character possesses man’s last hope (The Book of Eli), or is, quite literally, man’s last hope (The Fifth Element), but I wanted to try something a bit different. Deborah’s mission is to save mankind from starvation and, with a little luck, end one of the many epidemics this world faces. On a more human level, amongst all of the disgusting situations she faces, I wanted Deborah’s ignorance to transform into a beacon in and of itself. By no means am I suggesting that ignorance be celebrated, but the digestion and interpretation of knowledge, no matter how filthy, can lead to a symbol of hope depending on how the person in question handles it. For me, Deborah needed to learn, comprehend and react in a way that separated her from every other character in the book — not because she’s stupid, but because she chooses to take the higher road, despite insurmountable odds.
My gandmother, Barbara, is one of the strongest women I’ve ever met. Forget the fact that she had four daughters (and knowing my own mother, her first born, I can only respect her for what she must have endured — I love you mom) and grew up in some of America’s most uncertain times, the most defining feature of my grandmother is her faith. Her faith in God, her faith in family and most impressively, her faith in me. I did a ton of very stupid shit when I was younger — a few people actually gave up on me — but never my grandmother. She hoped knew I’d come around in the end.
It’s amazing how much better a person one wants to be when those around them believe in what they can be.
The greatest heroes are defined by their villains. Without the Joker I’m no really convinced anyone would give a shit about Batman. Superman has Lex Luthor. The Power Rangers had that cackling, old, Asian lady. Jim and Deborah have Blue.
Blue
To chase our protagonists across the desert I needed a man who would scare the piss out of anything he came across. Anything.
Blue is the scariest bastard I have written to date. Blue is the leader of the mercenaries Deborah originally hired to get her safely home from Mexico City. Well, once Blue learns of her cargo and mission he crafts plans of his own…
This is already a man who would shoot a baby for the buck and walk away conscious clear. So pissing him off and having him chase after you with absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain is absolutely terrifying to me.
I don’t want to say too much more about this guy but I will tease this: There is a scene at the end of DUST #2 that hails about two pages in length with little dialogue. That scene was the hardest scene I have ever had to write in my life. I wanted to change it. I wanted it to be something different. I didn’t want Blue to do what he does, but it was too late. Blue was living in the world I had created. I had made a monster and the story demanded he act monstrously, which he does.
And he has no lips.
NO. LIPS.
I remember writing Blue, whenever I’d be somehwere public, I’d wrap my lips inside my teeth and try to nail the dialogue as close to true as possible… I cannot tell you how many people gave me crazy eyes and secured their children in a hustle away from me, talking to myself like a mad man minus lips.
That’ll do it for the DUST introduction series. If you have any questions, comments or concerns about the series, PLEASE shoot me an email. I love feedback and will try to answer every question that comes my way.
Be well, all.
James
