Jamie S. Rich's Blog, page 3
October 19, 2013
FROM THE GUTTERS, EPISODE 3: ERIC STEPHENSON
This week, we talk to Image Comics publisher Eric Stephenson, writer of Nowhere Men Volume 1: Fates Worse Than Death Tp and Long Hot Summer.
Watch the first part of the show here.
And the second part here.
On a separate note, don't forget my latest comic, Spell Checkers Volume 3: Careless Whisper is going to be in stores this Wednesday, October 23!
Watch the first part of the show here.
And the second part here.
On a separate note, don't forget my latest comic, Spell Checkers Volume 3: Careless Whisper is going to be in stores this Wednesday, October 23!
October 13, 2013
FROM THE GUTTERS, EPISODE 2: BECKY CLOONAN
The second episode of my new webseries is now online.
From the Gutters is a interview program where I sit and chat with comic book creators.
This week, our guest is Becky Cloonan, the talented artist behind The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys and Pixu.
Check out the first part here. You'll find a link at the end of each segment for the next one. Subscribe to our channel to get all the updates.
For instance, did you know the extended version of our debut episode with comics creator Matt Wagner is now also online?
If you're following our blog at fromthegutters.com you can also get the recipe for the meal Matt makes during the show!
Next week: a chat with writer Eric Stephenson, who also happens to be the publisher of Image Comics.
From the Gutters is a interview program where I sit and chat with comic book creators.
This week, our guest is Becky Cloonan, the talented artist behind The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys and Pixu.
Check out the first part here. You'll find a link at the end of each segment for the next one. Subscribe to our channel to get all the updates.
For instance, did you know the extended version of our debut episode with comics creator Matt Wagner is now also online?
If you're following our blog at fromthegutters.com you can also get the recipe for the meal Matt makes during the show!
Next week: a chat with writer Eric Stephenson, who also happens to be the publisher of Image Comics.
October 5, 2013
FROM THE GUTTERS, EPISODE 1: MATT WAGNER
The online chat show where I interview comic book creators has launched. Our first episode features Matt Wagner talking about his process, his inspiration, and why he loves cooking.
You can watch all three parts now.
Matt Wagner, Part 1
Matt Wagner, Part 2
Matt Wagner, Part 3
Subscribe to our YouTube channel or take a look at the exclusive blog content on fromthegutters.com
And be sure to tune in next Friday for our interview with Becky Cloonan!
You can watch all three parts now.
Matt Wagner, Part 1
Matt Wagner, Part 2
Matt Wagner, Part 3
Subscribe to our YouTube channel or take a look at the exclusive blog content on fromthegutters.com
And be sure to tune in next Friday for our interview with Becky Cloonan!
SPELL CHECKERS VOL. 3 ON ITS WAY
The press release for the third volume of Spell Checkers went out yesterday. I'll paste it below, but before I do, I wanted to say two things:
1. Spell Checkers Volume 3: Careless Whisper is currently on NetGalley. If you read advance books via that site, please give us a look and consider posting a review here.
2. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed all my books in the past, good or bad, or even just given something a star rating. It means a lot and makes a difference. I love Goodreads, and like rating what I read, as well, so it's really gratifying to have you folks make it a two-way experience.
Anyway, here are the details on the new book:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
On October 23, Oni Press will release the third volume in their magical comedy series Spell Checkers. Written by Jamie S. Rich, with art by Nicolas Hitori de and Joëlle Jones, SPELL CHECKERS VOLUME 3: CARELESS WHISPER caps the first trilogy by ringing out the school year, sending its teen witch anti-heroines to prom.
“When Spell Checkers
Originally conceived by Rich and Jones, Spell Checkers has often been described as “Mean Girls with magic.” The comics follow three teenage witches–Cynthia, Kimmie, and Jesse–who rule their school with wicked spells and even wickeder one-liners. “I wanted to go with a pretty basic formula for rude comedies,” Rich said.
“Though the central characters may be on top of the heap, they are also pretty stupid and deserving of every comeuppance they get. At the same time, they’re the only ones who fail to see how badly they keep messing up. The plot of CARELESS WHISPER actually centers on them paying for past misdeeds, with a rival we’ve seen before teaming up with one we haven’t to cause all kinds of trouble on the dance floor.”
Rejoining Rich for this graphic novel are the series artists, Joëlle Jones and Nicolas Hitori de. As with the first two books, Jones provides the cover and flashback sequences, while Hitori de draws the main timeline. “It’s always fun to see how our work goes together,” Hitori de says. “Joëlle’s style is more realistic than mine, so it’s a bit backwards that she draws all the characters when they are younger, but it’s also sort of humorous. By the time the girls are in high school, they are, for lack of a better term, more ‘cartoony.’ They don’t live in the real world.”
“Writing Spell Checkers is a bit of a juggling act,” Rich added. “On one hand, you have these girls who are kind of cruel and never really learn anything, and on the other, I do want people to like them and care about what happens to them. Writers say this all the time and it sounds dopey, but the girls really did take on more dimension the more I hung around with them. The secret is that, deep down, they care the most about the things they claim to care about the least. Hence, in CARELESS WHISPER, Cynthia reveals that she wants to be Prom Queen. No tricks, no magic, she wants to win that crown. But, you know, famous last words….”
“People always ask how Jamie can write such bratty teenage girls,” Hitori de said. “I answer, ‘Are you kidding? Spend five minutes with him, he’s a jerk.’ But just like he does in real life, he makes me laugh when I read the scripts. The difference is, at least he’s not insulting me!”
“Well, except for that bonus comic I had Chynna Clugston Flores draw,” Rich replied. “That was written with the express intention of insulting you.”
“Mon dieu!”
SPELL CHECKERS VOLUME 3: CARELESS WHISPER goes on sale from Oni Press on October 24 and retails for $11.99. It has 152 black-and-white pages and is intended for teen audiences and older.
1. Spell Checkers Volume 3: Careless Whisper is currently on NetGalley. If you read advance books via that site, please give us a look and consider posting a review here.
2. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed all my books in the past, good or bad, or even just given something a star rating. It means a lot and makes a difference. I love Goodreads, and like rating what I read, as well, so it's really gratifying to have you folks make it a two-way experience.
Anyway, here are the details on the new book:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
On October 23, Oni Press will release the third volume in their magical comedy series Spell Checkers. Written by Jamie S. Rich, with art by Nicolas Hitori de and Joëlle Jones, SPELL CHECKERS VOLUME 3: CARELESS WHISPER caps the first trilogy by ringing out the school year, sending its teen witch anti-heroines to prom.
“When Spell Checkers
Originally conceived by Rich and Jones, Spell Checkers has often been described as “Mean Girls with magic.” The comics follow three teenage witches–Cynthia, Kimmie, and Jesse–who rule their school with wicked spells and even wickeder one-liners. “I wanted to go with a pretty basic formula for rude comedies,” Rich said.
“Though the central characters may be on top of the heap, they are also pretty stupid and deserving of every comeuppance they get. At the same time, they’re the only ones who fail to see how badly they keep messing up. The plot of CARELESS WHISPER actually centers on them paying for past misdeeds, with a rival we’ve seen before teaming up with one we haven’t to cause all kinds of trouble on the dance floor.”
Rejoining Rich for this graphic novel are the series artists, Joëlle Jones and Nicolas Hitori de. As with the first two books, Jones provides the cover and flashback sequences, while Hitori de draws the main timeline. “It’s always fun to see how our work goes together,” Hitori de says. “Joëlle’s style is more realistic than mine, so it’s a bit backwards that she draws all the characters when they are younger, but it’s also sort of humorous. By the time the girls are in high school, they are, for lack of a better term, more ‘cartoony.’ They don’t live in the real world.”
“Writing Spell Checkers is a bit of a juggling act,” Rich added. “On one hand, you have these girls who are kind of cruel and never really learn anything, and on the other, I do want people to like them and care about what happens to them. Writers say this all the time and it sounds dopey, but the girls really did take on more dimension the more I hung around with them. The secret is that, deep down, they care the most about the things they claim to care about the least. Hence, in CARELESS WHISPER, Cynthia reveals that she wants to be Prom Queen. No tricks, no magic, she wants to win that crown. But, you know, famous last words….”
“People always ask how Jamie can write such bratty teenage girls,” Hitori de said. “I answer, ‘Are you kidding? Spend five minutes with him, he’s a jerk.’ But just like he does in real life, he makes me laugh when I read the scripts. The difference is, at least he’s not insulting me!”
“Well, except for that bonus comic I had Chynna Clugston Flores draw,” Rich replied. “That was written with the express intention of insulting you.”
“Mon dieu!”
SPELL CHECKERS VOLUME 3: CARELESS WHISPER goes on sale from Oni Press on October 24 and retails for $11.99. It has 152 black-and-white pages and is intended for teen audiences and older.
September 16, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FROM THE GUTTERS
Jamie S. Rich hosts new comics interview webseries 'From the Gutters'; sneak peek set for Rose City Comic Con Sept. 21
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 13, 2013
More info: Ryan McCluskey & Martin Vavra, fromthegutters.show@gmail.com
Writer/editor Jamie S. Rich is hosting "From the Gutters" -- a new original online show featuring in-depth video interviews with comic-book industry professionals. The nine-episode first season debuts on YouTube on Oct. 4 -- with a special sneak-preview event set for Portland's Rose City Comic Con on Sept. 21.
To see preview videos, visit the show's YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/fromthegutters/.
ABOUT 'FROM THE GUTTERS'
Produced by Martin Vavra and Ryan McCluskey, "From the Gutters" will begin as a weekly series, with its initial season consisting of nine episodes, each spotlighting an individual comic book personality.
"From the Gutters" Season One will feature a diverse collection of industry vets and on-the-rise superstars -- including Eisner Award-winners Matt Wagner ("The Tower Chronicles"), Becky Cloonan ("True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys"), and colorist Dave Stewart ("Hellboy"). Established behind-the-scenes pros including Bob Schreck (editor, Legendary Comics) and Eric Stephenson (publisher of Image Comics, as well as the writer of "Nowhere Men") will share the spotlight with newer talent including Ming Doyle (artist of "Mara") and such indie pioneers as Mike Allred ("Madman"), Michael Avon Oeming ("Powers"), and Ted Naifeh ("Courtney Crumrin").
Each interview will be serialized in edited segments, followed by the full-length session for those looking to go deeper into the comic-book process.
ABOUT THE PRODUCTION TEAM
The show is produced and directed by McCluskey, with camerawork and editing done by co-producer Vavra. Each has a long resume in front of and behind the camera. The pair hatched "From the Gutters" as a way to learn more about an art form they both loved.
"Living in Portland, Oregon," McCluskey said, "we regularly bumped elbows with comic-book creators. I’ve been an avid comic book fan for years. Getting a chance to have an ‘All Access’ pass with these creators was a dream come true. Generous and amazing…every single guest.”
ABOUT HOST JAMIE S. RICH
McCluskey and Vavra approached Jamie S. Rich, veteran graphic-novel writer and editor they knew socially. "We'd have drinks with Jamie and he'd tell us a bunch of stories about his years in the comic-book industry," McCluskey said. "He knew everyone and had an opinion about everything. Someone needed to stick a microphone in his face."
Rich began his career in comics as an editor at Dark Horse Comics before taking over as editor-in-chief of Oni Press. He has since established himself as a writer on books that include "12 Reasons Why I Love Her" and "It Girl & the Atomics." His next major release is the original graphic novel “A Boy and a Girl,” drawn by Natalie Nourigat and set for publication by Oni Press on November 27.
"My friend and collaborator Joëlle Jones had been joking for a while that I needed to do a podcast or some kind of history about comic-book creators," Rich said. "It was kind of a no-brainer when Ryan and Martin approached me. I had grown tired of the treadmill of comics press. It's all too often a hype machine: Promote this one book that you're doing right now. It got so impersonal -- most interviewers wouldn't even ask me how my day was going. At the same time, most readers and curious laymen I'd run into had very little idea of how a comic book was made. 'From the Gutters' was a chance to change that."
ABOUT THE SHOW'S APPROACH
In addition to discussing what inspires each creator to do what they do, each episode will showcase the art process.
"We look over Oeming's shoulder as he inks," Vavra said, "and get a breakdown from Dave Stewart of how a digitally colored page comes together. Each session is practically a master class. It's 'Inside the Comic Book Creator's Studio,' in a sense."
"That's not just figurative," McCluskey said. "When we can, we go to the artist's space an see what they do and where they do it. That means looking at the art on the walls at Bob Schreck or Mike Allred's house, or getting a cooking lesson from Matt Wagner. It's not just about ink on paper -- it's about the whole lifestyle."
ABOUT THE PREMIERE
"From the Gutters" will debut on a dedicated YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/fromthegutters/ on Friday, Oct. 4, following an official unveiling at Rose City Comic Con on Saturday, Sept. 21.
For more information or interview requests, contact Ryan and Martin Vavra: fromthegutters.show@gmail.com
Twitter: @fromthegutterz
Facebook: www.facebook.com/fromthegutters
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 13, 2013
More info: Ryan McCluskey & Martin Vavra, fromthegutters.show@gmail.com
Writer/editor Jamie S. Rich is hosting "From the Gutters" -- a new original online show featuring in-depth video interviews with comic-book industry professionals. The nine-episode first season debuts on YouTube on Oct. 4 -- with a special sneak-preview event set for Portland's Rose City Comic Con on Sept. 21.
To see preview videos, visit the show's YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/fromthegutters/.
ABOUT 'FROM THE GUTTERS'
Produced by Martin Vavra and Ryan McCluskey, "From the Gutters" will begin as a weekly series, with its initial season consisting of nine episodes, each spotlighting an individual comic book personality.
"From the Gutters" Season One will feature a diverse collection of industry vets and on-the-rise superstars -- including Eisner Award-winners Matt Wagner ("The Tower Chronicles"), Becky Cloonan ("True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys"), and colorist Dave Stewart ("Hellboy"). Established behind-the-scenes pros including Bob Schreck (editor, Legendary Comics) and Eric Stephenson (publisher of Image Comics, as well as the writer of "Nowhere Men") will share the spotlight with newer talent including Ming Doyle (artist of "Mara") and such indie pioneers as Mike Allred ("Madman"), Michael Avon Oeming ("Powers"), and Ted Naifeh ("Courtney Crumrin").
Each interview will be serialized in edited segments, followed by the full-length session for those looking to go deeper into the comic-book process.
ABOUT THE PRODUCTION TEAM
The show is produced and directed by McCluskey, with camerawork and editing done by co-producer Vavra. Each has a long resume in front of and behind the camera. The pair hatched "From the Gutters" as a way to learn more about an art form they both loved.
"Living in Portland, Oregon," McCluskey said, "we regularly bumped elbows with comic-book creators. I’ve been an avid comic book fan for years. Getting a chance to have an ‘All Access’ pass with these creators was a dream come true. Generous and amazing…every single guest.”
ABOUT HOST JAMIE S. RICH
McCluskey and Vavra approached Jamie S. Rich, veteran graphic-novel writer and editor they knew socially. "We'd have drinks with Jamie and he'd tell us a bunch of stories about his years in the comic-book industry," McCluskey said. "He knew everyone and had an opinion about everything. Someone needed to stick a microphone in his face."
Rich began his career in comics as an editor at Dark Horse Comics before taking over as editor-in-chief of Oni Press. He has since established himself as a writer on books that include "12 Reasons Why I Love Her" and "It Girl & the Atomics." His next major release is the original graphic novel “A Boy and a Girl,” drawn by Natalie Nourigat and set for publication by Oni Press on November 27.
"My friend and collaborator Joëlle Jones had been joking for a while that I needed to do a podcast or some kind of history about comic-book creators," Rich said. "It was kind of a no-brainer when Ryan and Martin approached me. I had grown tired of the treadmill of comics press. It's all too often a hype machine: Promote this one book that you're doing right now. It got so impersonal -- most interviewers wouldn't even ask me how my day was going. At the same time, most readers and curious laymen I'd run into had very little idea of how a comic book was made. 'From the Gutters' was a chance to change that."
ABOUT THE SHOW'S APPROACH
In addition to discussing what inspires each creator to do what they do, each episode will showcase the art process.
"We look over Oeming's shoulder as he inks," Vavra said, "and get a breakdown from Dave Stewart of how a digitally colored page comes together. Each session is practically a master class. It's 'Inside the Comic Book Creator's Studio,' in a sense."
"That's not just figurative," McCluskey said. "When we can, we go to the artist's space an see what they do and where they do it. That means looking at the art on the walls at Bob Schreck or Mike Allred's house, or getting a cooking lesson from Matt Wagner. It's not just about ink on paper -- it's about the whole lifestyle."
ABOUT THE PREMIERE
"From the Gutters" will debut on a dedicated YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/fromthegutters/ on Friday, Oct. 4, following an official unveiling at Rose City Comic Con on Saturday, Sept. 21.
For more information or interview requests, contact Ryan and Martin Vavra: fromthegutters.show@gmail.com
Twitter: @fromthegutterz
Facebook: www.facebook.com/fromthegutters
September 13, 2013
YOU READY FOR A NEW "SPELL CHECKERS"?
Spell Checkers Volume 3: Careless Whisper is due out on October 23.
It's time for prom!
Here are some character sketches by Nicolas Hitori de to whet your appetite.
Published by Oni Press. Available in comics shops, bookstores, and via online retailers.
It's time for prom!
Here are some character sketches by Nicolas Hitori de to whet your appetite.
Published by Oni Press. Available in comics shops, bookstores, and via online retailers.
September 6, 2013
IT GIRL & THE ATOMICS, ROUND TWO
We're only a few weeks away from the release of It Girl and the Atomics, Round 2: The World Is Flat Tp, and I thought I should make a note that, in addition to six great issues with art by Mike Norton, Natalie Nourigat, and Chynna Clugston Flores, and chapter breaks by Mike Allred and Laura Allred, we have a ton of awesome pin-ups.
The list of contributors:
* Monica Gallagher
* Megan Levens
* Mike Russell & Bill Mudron
* Christopher Mitten
* Ming Doyle
* Brian Churilla
* George Kambadais
* Brennan Wagner
* Matt Wagner
That's a pretty impressive group, don't you think?
You can see them under the "It Girl and the Atomics" tag on my Confessions of a Pop Fan blog.
You can also read this volume even if you never read volume 1...but why not try both? :)
It Girl and the Atomics, Round Two: The World is Flat will be released the first week of October by Image Comics.
The list of contributors:
* Monica Gallagher
* Megan Levens
* Mike Russell & Bill Mudron
* Christopher Mitten
* Ming Doyle
* Brian Churilla
* George Kambadais
* Brennan Wagner
* Matt Wagner
That's a pretty impressive group, don't you think?
You can see them under the "It Girl and the Atomics" tag on my Confessions of a Pop Fan blog.
You can also read this volume even if you never read volume 1...but why not try both? :)
It Girl and the Atomics, Round Two: The World is Flat will be released the first week of October by Image Comics.
September 4, 2013
THANKS FOR ALL THE GREAT REVIEWS
The early readers giving write-ups to A Boy and a Girl have made me even more excited to see this book come. The reactions have been wonderful and folks are really seeming to get what we tried to do.
So, from what I was told yesterday, presses are about to run on A Boy and a Girl for an advance printing, ahead of its November release. Preorder it in comics shops with the Diamond Order Code: JUL131213 or in bookstores, ISBN: 978-1620100899.
Natalie Nourigat and I are very excited about it. She finished drawing the book in December, 2011, so it's been quite the wait for us.
A few kind words from other places have alsp been lobbed our way, such as Casey Burchby including us in his round-up of the fall's big comic book releases for the SF Weekly . You can see all his picks online, but he calls A Boy and a Girl:
"...a completely disarming take on the world's oldest storytelling trope."
The back cover will also feature a quote by the awesome and talented David Lafuente, whose work on Patsy Walker: Hellcat and Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man was a big inspiration to both Natalie and me.
"Jamie and Natalie enter the sci-fi realm to tell a love story full of secrets that echoes Michael Winterbottom. Charming characters, tight plot and beautiful lines. A fantastic book, I couldn't put it down."
Other creator blurbs we've gotten so far include Ben Acker, co-creator of The Thrilling Adventure Hour:
"A Boy and a Girl is a wonderful sci-fi romantic comedy, but not necessarily in that order. If you like people and/or things, this is the book for you."
And our pal Mike Allred had this to say:
"I've been a huge fan of Jamie S. Rich's writing since day one and am always crazy excited to see each new project. That excitement is multiplied as he joins Natalie Nourigat's exploding artistic talents on A Boy and a Girl. This book is a beaut'! Incredibly clever and charming, it gets my highest recommendation!"
So, you don't have to take our word for it. Those are four big guns right there!
So, from what I was told yesterday, presses are about to run on A Boy and a Girl for an advance printing, ahead of its November release. Preorder it in comics shops with the Diamond Order Code: JUL131213 or in bookstores, ISBN: 978-1620100899.
Natalie Nourigat and I are very excited about it. She finished drawing the book in December, 2011, so it's been quite the wait for us.
A few kind words from other places have alsp been lobbed our way, such as Casey Burchby including us in his round-up of the fall's big comic book releases for the SF Weekly . You can see all his picks online, but he calls A Boy and a Girl:
"...a completely disarming take on the world's oldest storytelling trope."
The back cover will also feature a quote by the awesome and talented David Lafuente, whose work on Patsy Walker: Hellcat and Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man was a big inspiration to both Natalie and me.
"Jamie and Natalie enter the sci-fi realm to tell a love story full of secrets that echoes Michael Winterbottom. Charming characters, tight plot and beautiful lines. A fantastic book, I couldn't put it down."
Other creator blurbs we've gotten so far include Ben Acker, co-creator of The Thrilling Adventure Hour:
"A Boy and a Girl is a wonderful sci-fi romantic comedy, but not necessarily in that order. If you like people and/or things, this is the book for you."
And our pal Mike Allred had this to say:
"I've been a huge fan of Jamie S. Rich's writing since day one and am always crazy excited to see each new project. That excitement is multiplied as he joins Natalie Nourigat's exploding artistic talents on A Boy and a Girl. This book is a beaut'! Incredibly clever and charming, it gets my highest recommendation!"
So, you don't have to take our word for it. Those are four big guns right there!
July 9, 2013
A BOY AND A GIRL on Netgalley
Hey, fellow Goodreads users!
My graphic novel with Natalie Nourigat, A Boy and a Girl is now up on Netgalley for review.
We'd love for the legion of advance readers on here to take a look at the book and start sharing opinions. We're really proud of how it turned out.
The book version will be published in November.
Please keep an eye out for my other two books, as well. I have It Girl and the Atomics Round 2: The World Is Flat Tp in September and Spell Checkers Volume 3: Careless Whisper in October.
My graphic novel with Natalie Nourigat, A Boy and a Girl is now up on Netgalley for review.
We'd love for the legion of advance readers on here to take a look at the book and start sharing opinions. We're really proud of how it turned out.
The book version will be published in November.
Please keep an eye out for my other two books, as well. I have It Girl and the Atomics Round 2: The World Is Flat Tp in September and Spell Checkers Volume 3: Careless Whisper in October.
February 20, 2013
IT GIRL & THE ATOMICS trade paperback on its way!
It collects the first six issues of the comic books series. We're very excited by it. Add it to your Goodreads account!
It Girl & The Atomics, Round One: Dark Streets, Snap City TP
Story by:
Jamie S. Rich
Art By:
Mike Norton & Chynna Clugston-Flores
Cover By:
Aaron Conley, Michael Allred, Laura Allred
Price:$14.99
Diamond ID:JAN130497
On Sale:March 27, 2013
Series:It Girl & The Atomics
It Girl & the Atomics Round 1: Dark Sreets, Snap City Tp
It Girl & The Atomics, Round One: Dark Streets, Snap City TP
Story by:
Jamie S. Rich
Art By:
Mike Norton & Chynna Clugston-Flores
Cover By:
Aaron Conley, Michael Allred, Laura Allred
Price:$14.99
Diamond ID:JAN130497
On Sale:March 27, 2013
Series:It Girl & The Atomics
It Girl & the Atomics Round 1: Dark Sreets, Snap City Tp
