Burning Up For Your Love

Today's Indy Comics FAIL is a lesson in following your passion and Creating what you Love in comics. Check out the map to crashing and burning HERE.

To Infinity And Beyond

Via Twitter today, I found a review of the Robot Comics iPhone version of Robot 13 #1.

In it, the reviewer said : "Apps are great and they have one for just about anything, but it's the oddball free stuff that I really enjoy. Take Robot 13 as an example. I likely would have never discovered this comic without my i-Phone. Before I get to the comic itself, I have to give kudos to whomever designed the interface for Robot 13 on the i-Phone. It's a rich reading experience that makes each page feel like a story teller is unfolding it for you. I've read a lot of comics on my i-Phone but this interface was one of the best. Surprisingly better than many of the efforts by the major publishers. "

The idea that Mobile comics can be a fun experience has been touted for some time. many people have even gone so far as to suggest that existing comic readers may migrate to digital versions of their favorite comics completely. Here, however, I see actual evidence of a digital version of a comic creating a new comic reader... or at least, a new reader for R13.

Interesting. I wonder how many times things like this will repeat- giving away a digital copy of issue 1 and enlightening that person to what we comic geeks all know: Comics are alot of Fun.

In this case, the digital version impressed someone enough to make them want to talk about it with other people...

Here's hoping that such things become a trend.

Robot 13 For President!

Well... Not exactly.

It IS the last week to vote for the Rondo Awards, though! Check out the Rondo site HERE and cast your ballot via email for Robot 13 as Best Horror Comic Book for 2009! Sure, we are the longshot underdogs- we ARE Blacklist Studios after all!

Superheroes For Hospice Comic Book Show: April 24th

LIVINGSTON, NJ--March 25, 2010 - The Livingston Mall will be “invaded” by spandex-clad heroes, monsters, funny-talking animals, space men and an assortment of other colorful comic book characters on Saturday, April 24 as “Superheroes for Hospice” takes over the shopping center.

The effort, which will benefit the Saint Barnabas Hospice and Palliative Care Center of West Orange, features appearances by a host of notable writers and artists who will be signing autographs. The free event is designed to offer comic book fans a chance to enjoy their hobby in a casual setting. There will be comic books of all genres and from several decades available for sale.

Special guests include Jim Salicrup, former Spider-Man editor and current editor-in-chief of PaperKutz Comics; Archie artists Fernando Ruiz, Jeff Shultz and Glenn Whitmore; Archie editor-writer and co-creator of Mecha Manga Bible Heroes Paul Castiglia; Thomas Hall, writer and co-creator of Robot 13 and Mecha Manga Bible Heroes; John-Marc Grob, artist-creator of the FriendFish animated series and president of JMG Studio; sketch card and Femforce comic artist Manny Mederos; illustrator Bobby Vala, who has designed several action figures for Mattel and Hasbro Toys; Steve Conte, creator of Action Figure Kingdom; and Mike Arnold, creator of Jokester Magazine who will be doing caricatures at the show.

"Projects like 'Superheroes For Hospice' are like a superhero’s alter ego, not flashy, but still an important part of the story," says Spiro Ballas, SBHPCC’s Senior Volunteer Coordinator. "Fundraising enables us to provide care to those without insurance as well as additional support such as extra home health aide time. It's also just a fun event. People can meet comic book artists and writers and pick up something new for their collections, all for a good cause."

The event takes place from 10 am to 8 pm on Saturday, April 24th at the Livingston Mall, located at 112 Eisenhower Parkway in Livingston, New Jersey.
Established in 1981, the Saint Barnabas Hospice and Palliative Care Center (SBHPCC), located at 95 Old Short Hills Road in West Orange, provides comprehensive care for patients with advanced illness, and their families, throughout ten counties in the State of New Jersey.

The Saint SBHPCC supports inpatient units at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, and Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, NJ, as well as Van Dyke Hospice at Community Medical Center in Toms River. It also provides home care and services for individuals in long-term care and assisted living facilities.

Ballas founded Superheroes for Hospice in December 2008. After three successful shows within the SBHPCC building, the Livingston Mall event is the first Superheroes for Hospice convention to be held in a larger venue. To date, nearly 100,000 comic books have been donated to the project. Comic books are still being collected for this and future shows.

For more information about Superheroes for Hospice, the upcoming show, or to make a comic book donation, contact Spiro Ballas at sballas@sbhcs.com or 973-322-4866. Details are also available at www.sbhcshospice.com/comics.

Craft Is The Frienemy!

Check out my latest Indy Comics FAIL installment "Craft Is The Frienemy!" and chime in on the fray before it turns violent...

Comic Shop Shout Out- Hero Comics!

I got an email today from Todd of Hero Comics in Arizona who wanted to let me know that Robot 13 #3 is available NOW! As you can see from the pictures above, Robot 13 is in some fantastic company. If you are a comics fan in the Phoenix area, hop on over to their 3415 W.Thunderbird location and get yourself some Skull Headed Robot Goodness!

Around The Horn V 3.4

Comic Book Bin Says: "This third installment of the "Colossus!" story arc has been the most solid and entertaining issue thus far. Thomas Hall throws in a brilliant homage to Frankenstein as the blind hermit Oliver takes the unconscious (due to a crash-landing atop a Phoenix) robot into his home, believing 13 is a downed fighter pilot. Bradford's artwork is exquisite as usual. Strangely angular and asymmetrical profiles, heavily inked shadows, and tons of terrifying beasts: this is some of the most unique and enthralling horror illustrating I've seen in the past decade. There's never a dull moment within the pages of Robot 13. This is a must-read. " Rating: 9.5/10


SP! Nexus Says: "Pick this book up, and get in on the ground floor of something big and special." 5 STARS (OUT OF 5)

Today's image is a pin-up from Robot 13 #3 by the FANTASTIC Kim Loh! See more of her work here.

Robot 13 Meets Heavy Metal!

Jeff Slemons, cover artist for Robot 13 & all around awesome artist, is featured in this month's Heavy Metal! The 2 cover images that Jeff did for Robot 13 are included in the spread, along with amazing shots like this.

Back To Square One

Today, I have been working on the script for a Robot 13 one shot project that should see the light of day later this year. While I don't want to give away too much, I will say that in working out the story I have been forced to go back to my earliest notes on Robot 13 and pull out some very specific details. One of the memories of Robot 13 will become explained in this story, but I am sure it will raise even more questions in doing so...

Today's image is a colored version of the very first R13 sketch that Daniel did. We used it as the cover for a promo sketchbook we sold at the last New York Comic Con, which featured early R13 designs & B&W pages from what eventually became issue 1.

If you have one, it's a rare thing indeed...

Harlan Ellison & Robot 13

Sometimes, I like to give you a blurb out of a review that captures the feel of what a person said. In this case, I don't want to misquote or misinform....

Harlan Ellison, from his website:

"R 13

and at first you'll think the art is more than a bit hommage to Mike Mignola--and it is, because the artist on R13 is a gent named Daniel Bradford, himself a great MignolaHead--and that it is deceptively simple. Yeah, right. The way Astaire could tickle a foot...a little. You'll find yourself going back after inadvertently skim-reading (a very accesible storyline) and realizing you'd missed a dozen tasties per page.

No sense my revealing any part of the story but I think you will come to love me for recommending author Thomas Hall's literary conceit in R13. I was blindsided, enriched, captivated. The writing, in three issues, has only made one (1) scratch-the-noggin "gaffe," that may only be me not being smart enough to understand why Hall did it. Not a major point, a small thing.

There are three issues so far, published by Blacklist Comics, at the usual modern-day price, like a sock in the stomach. (I actually bought most of my early comics in the '30s and '40s for 5 or 10 cents, NICKEL COMICS with Bulletman...and when they were WORLD'S FAIR COMICS, 15 cents. And still have most of them.)

But a good read is nonetheless a good read.

If you would talk this up here'n'there, get the 3 issues for yourself somehow, and enjoy them, it would likely save the ass of Hall, Bradford and Blacklist. As with so many of you naifs, they put it up on the internet, hoping an audience would find its way to them, and the dealers would order&stock the book. Well, naive and innocent, what happened was, of course, inevitable. Anyone who came to R13 dowloaded it, stole it, sent it out to friends and strangers, and so WHO, one asks, will pay the writer? Who will pay the artist? Printers don't work for free. And these guys are getting their artful asses handed to them.

I don't know where to send you online to find R13, but I know you will not let a good deed go undone. They are swell books!

Yr. Pal, Harlan"

Enhancing The Legend

By now, you may have read our review in Newsarama where they say :

"Still impressive, this book is, and easily one of the top three books on the shelves these days. I'll even go so far as to say that, yes, this is a better book right now than even BPRD. And that's saying something because I love that series. Daniel Bradford continues to do amazing visual storytelling, and the mystery behind the hero that Thomas Hall is brewing is simply addicting. This isn't a book you read once then put down. You read the latest issue, then go back to the beginning of the series and read them all again. All comics should be this good. "

While we love seeing reviews like that, what makes us even happier is feedback like we got from the blog over at The 4th Wall :

"Robot 13 from Blacklist Studios was one of the most successful indie comics we carry at The 4th Wall, with issues #1 & #2 selling out in a mere week!"

We love knowing that Robot 13 means alot to comic fans, and that they are excited to pick it up and that in most places it's running out of the stores...

There are many things in the works for Robot 13, but we keep in mind through all of it how YOU have embraced the book. Everything we do is based on what we hope will give you great experiences with our robotic Hero. Hopefully, we keep hitting that mark.

Need a copy of Robot 13 #3? Check out our list of stores here.

Comic Shop Shout Out- Clifton Comics!

For those of you in the Cincinnati, Ohio area, I'd like to point out to you one of our favorite comic shops- Clifton Comics! For those of you that have been there, you know Steve loves to bring you the coolest comics out there-and as you can see from this shot of their new comic racks, Robot 13 is in the hoooouse!

Check out their website here for more info...

Know Thyself

My ongoing column, Indy Comics FAIL, continues today on Backroompodcast.com with a frank discussion about why YOU are not Dave Sim....

For those of you too lazy to check that out, enjoy your Ding Dongs!

4 On The Floor!

As I mentioned in a previous post, Issue 3 of Robot 13 is in stock.

As of today, however, we are down to our last 4 cases of books! Every issue is moving faster than the one before it, and we couldn't be more pleased! If you are looking for a print copy of Robot 13 issue 3, you can order direct from Blacklist Studios at our online store, Check out our website for the updated list of retailers who carry Robot 13 or ask your local shop to order the book. If your local comics dealer wants to get Robot 13 for your local store, they can either email Tony Shenton at Shenton4sales@aol.com or blackmail@blackliststudios.com and we'll take care of them!

Supplies are moving more quickly than we anticipated, so if you want Issue 3, jump on it today!


Today's image is from HotrodShifterKnobs.com- a sweet website that's payin' me zilch to plug them... if you need a shifter knob, though, check them out!

Zombos Contest Of Horrors!

One of the coolest Horror related Blogs out there is Zombos Closet Of Horrors! Not only is it up for a Rondo Award just like Robot 13 is (Vote NOW!), but they are running a contest, giving away a complete set of the Robot 13 mini-series along with a set of our new 1" buttons that we produced especially for the release of Issue 3! To find out what you need to do to WIN all 3 issues of Robot 13: Colossus!, just click here! The contest ends March 31st, so enter TODAY!

Going With The Flow

What a sight! Robot 13 #3 has arrived & is already on it's way to stores all over the country! We have close to 200 pounds of comics to ship out, but we are burning the midnite oil to get everyone their copies as soon as humanly possible...

Robot 13 Issue 3 on Panelfly

You may have checked out Comic Book Resources today and read the review of Robot 13 Issue 3 where they said, "this issue has the most story of all three, and it's the most satisfying issue to date. If issue #1 was about rip roarin' sea monster action, and issue #2 was about rip roarin' phoenix fights with a bit of unexpected backstory, then issue #3 is about rip roarin' Cyclops fisticuffs with even more explicit information about the creature called Robot 13."

If you did, you may be too excited to wait until your store has their print copies in late this week... If you have an iPhone, however, you can read the issue NOW.

The comic reader from Panelfly.com has all 3 issues of the current Robot 13 mini-series available- it looks great & works on any iPhone or iPod Touch! Just open up your Panelfly App & you can forget that pesky thing called "Patience!"

Download and enjoy some Robot Vs. Cyclops battling today!

Around The Horn V 3.3

Comic Book Jesus Says: "Every issue has been filled with pages designed with such gusto that they demand to be gazed at. With #3 Bradford pulls out all the stops and fills these 32 pages with many moments like that. He has an uncanny knack of just knowing what looks unashamedly cool on paper, and it’s all done with so few lines and such subtle colouring, that it makes it even more impressive. The hard-edged approach to every shape, use of silhouettes and great tension building arrangement of panels all work splendidly to make this an engaging, and easy to follow tale. I could easily see Hall and Bradford working on a Clash of the Titans comic with the same vigour they show here."

Broken Frontier Says: "I’m happy to say that I cannot get enough of this book, and I recommend that everyone shell out the few dollars it takes to join along with Robot 13 on his journey of adventure and discovery. "

Why Bother?

Indy Comics FAIL is my new weekly column on Backroompodcast.com. Check out today's lesson in Failure titled "Why Bother?"

Or be lazy and don't.

FYI: Today's image is an etching of what medeval people thought would happen to the Slothful in Hell...

Making Hard Choices Part 1.

You probably know by now that Robot 13 has been nominated for a Rondo Hatton Award for Best Horror Comic Book. While voting for Robot 13 is easy (and highly recommended), picking the best in some categories is MUCH more difficult.

Take for example The Best Horror Blog- in that category, you have to choose from some of the following:

Frankensteinia: A blog dedicated to Frankenstein in every form & media imaginable! A real must read for any monster fan- it's a truly fun read and I always learn something from it.

The Drunken Severed Head: Come for the title, stay for the wacky sense of humor! Random-ish blogs almost never grab me, but this has personality galore.

The Good, The Bad and The Godzilla: If you know me at all, you'll know enough to say that this blog is a given destination for me. Japanese Sci-Fi in all it's forms with a healthy dose of Giant Monsters!!!

Vampiros and Monstruos: Mexican Horror/Sci-Fi/Weirdness! Run over there now and check this out- amazing stuff!

Zombos' Closet of Horror: A total must read and one of my daily rituals over coffee, Zombo's Closet is literate, informative, opinionated and fun all at once.

Scared Silly: An open love letter to classic Horror Comedies, Scared Silly is passionate about it's subject without being dry or academic. An excellent read highlighting many films you may have never heard about but will seek out after reading about them here!

Now- I won't tell you who I personally voted for, but I will say that this is just a list of my personal high points of the category...

So when you vote for Robot 13 for Best Horror Comic, take your time and check out some of the other categories as well. Voting for the Rondo Hatton Awards is open until April 3rd, so go here for more details!

Remember The Name

Jesus Marquez.

Remember that name.

J*E*S*U*S* M*A*R*Q*U*E*Z*

I mean- Dude draws some amazing @#$%!

Daniel and I got a pinup from Jesus for the upcoming KING!, and it was just amazing...

When you see it, you'll want to know who he is. Guaranteed.

Check out the art of Jesus Marques here.