Release Is Nigh

Hey fans and friends. And friends of fans. (And fans of "Friends," although I don't know why you're here. I shut down my Marcel spin-off series petition site WEEKS ago.)

Here are a couple of exciting tid-bits to share to help the week go by. There are only two items, and the week is approximately five days long. So you might want to pace yourself a little bit.

First, a review! Luckily it was positive, and the best part is I didn't have to bribe ANYONE!
http://www.jimmyszombieblog.com/2012/09/yellow-not-just-color.html

Secondly, and probably more importantly (no offense, Jimmy), Yellow is now available for pre-order through iTunes! Issue #1 is only $.99, and it will be available for download on October 24th. Order now while digital supplies last. (Technology joke.)
Check it out here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/bobby-bierley/id568968244?mt=11

Hope you have a fascinating and legendary week, in all the best ways.

Going to California with an achin' in my wallet.

It's that time of the year again, ladies and germs. Upon us once again is the convention so large, folks in the know call it by its initials: SDCC

But this year, the San Diego Comic-Con will feature something never-before-seen on the convention floor: Me.

OK, so really that's mostly exciting for me. But if you happen to be going to the show this year, make a point to stop by the Viper Comics booth. I'll be there part of the time, signing copies of Yellow and selling them at a ridiculously cheap, SDCC-exclusive price.

The rest of the time I'll be wandering around like a n00b, spending all my money on the first high-quality Rocketeer helmet replica I see.

Hope to see you there!

www.comic-con.org

Blair Likes To Look At Yellow

The latest edition of G4TV's Fresh Ink Online includes a brief departure from graphic novel reviews wherein lovely host Blair Butler has some very flattering things to say about the covers for Yellow. Watch the reviews here. The Yellow stuff hits just before her review for Green River Killer, at about 5:18. (But just watch the whole thing anyway because Blair and Attack of the Show's Brian Compton have some great recommendations.)

Also thanks to everyone who came out to Free State in Lawrence and supported the book and gave me more motivation to continue this hippy lifestyle. If you want more up-to-date...uh...updates, be sure to 'like' my Facebook page, found here.

Update Dump (Updump?)

FRIENDS, Romans, countrymen. Lend me five dollars. Maybe if enough of you chip in I can buy myself a ticket to San Diego Comic Con this year.

What's that? It's sold out? Has been for a while? Oh, well. Easy come, easy go. It's not such a big deal, anyway, because I'll be there in spirit. You see, thanks to a curse from an old gypsy woman I almost hit with my car, every comic book I print is embued with a tiny bit of my soul. The bad news is it means a good chunk of my chi is going to end up in a landfill somewhere--or, at best, recycled into one of those cardboard rings wrapped around a Starbuck's cup...and then end up in a landfill. But the good news is it also means when I ship a load of issues of Yellow to the Viper booth (#1903) in San Diego, a bit of me gets smuggled into the con as well.

Yes, that's right. Yellow will be making a bit of a soft debut at the great mecca of all comic conventions. Hundreds, if not dozens, of people will feast their eyes on Ralph's and George's awesome cover art. Many may even be compelled to pick up a copy and flip through it to be enraptured by Zeu's whimsical inks, given depth by G's whimsical...Oh, I already used that one. Um...by G's eccentric colors. (Thanks, internet.) And if I'm lucky, some of them might accidentally read some of the words that I secretly slipped in there--actually, that Ed slipped in there--and I may be able to trick them into being entertained. (Boy, when you think about it, what does a writer really do anyway?)

I know Ralph is even working on a special, convention exclusive poster for the comic. I haven't seen anything myself, nor will he even tell me what the heck it's going to look like. But if it all works out, you're likely to see it featured at the Viper booth along with everything else.

Looking for me?

Hi friends, both new and old.

Glad you're here. Sorry the site is a bit disorganized. I'm working on that.

If you're looking for the latest news, it's probably best to wander over to Facebook.com/Zombietowne. That's where most of my updates happen first.

You can also keep up with me on Twitter @Zombietowne, if you're into the short-and-sweet thing.

Or if you have something to tell me, shoot me an email at braaains@zombietowne.

If you want to order a book, well then you can email sales@zombietowne.com. (I had contemplated making it "saaales" but I thought it was just a bit too cute.)

But before you go asking me all kinds of questions, why don't you take a look at this interview on Viper Comics website. (That's my publisher's website, by the by.) It might answer a few things you needed to know before you even have to ask.

Planet Comicon & Stuff

Be sure to come see me this Saturday and/or Sunday at the Overland Park International Trade Center. It's the one and only Planet Comicon, Kansas City's answer to SDCC (only less pretentious).

I'll have copies of the first two issues of YELLOW for sale, and a special gift: Mention this blog post, and I'll give you a free ashcan preview of the highly anticipated third issue, LIVING DEAD GIRLFRIEND. I don't know if you're anticipating it highly, but I know I am.

If you have read and liked the first two issues but want to know what happens next, I think you'll be happy with the plot advances delivered in LDG.

If you have read the first two issues but didn't like them, you still might enjoy the third one because the pace is ramped up a bit.

And if you didn't read the first two issues but did like them...well, then, you're a liar. Or you're my mother.

Speaking of LDG, the colors are coming along quite nicely, thanks to colorist Giuseppe Pica. Head over the Facebook page if you want a quick look at one of the pages (sans dialogue).

New Cons

Come out and see me this weekend in Springfield for the Springfield Missouri Comic Book and Record Convention:

Join us for the sixth quarterly Springfield Missouri Comic Book and Record
Convention at the Lamplighter Inn 2820 N Glenstone (I-44 EXIT 80A).

New
and old dealers will be at the convention (dealer tables are sold out!). In
addition to comics and vinyl, this convention will also include toys, related
collectibles, Gaming and RPGs, and a COSTUME CONTEST to be held at 3pm (prizes
will be awarded) as well as COMIC BOOK WRITER Bobby Bierley, author of the comic
Yellow.

The event is open to the public from 10am to 4pm. Admission is
only $2. If you print the flier at missouricomics.com, admission is only $1. Get
a free gift when you sign up for our mailing list at the door! Early Bird
admission is $5 from 8am to 10am.

And after that, you definitely don't want to miss Hurley Con 2011. I'll be there in Artist Alley with copies of the first two issues of Yellow. If you haven't gotten on the Zombietowne Train yet, this is your chance. Planet Con special pricing: both issues for just $5! Come out and say hi, and see some of the other really cool stuff going on. What other cool stuff? Just check out www.planetcomicon.com to see for yourself.

Post-Hurley Con

Thanks to everyone who stopped by and said 'hi' at Hurley Con this year. It was the first time I've done that show and I think I'd definitely like to go back again. I sold out completely of issue #2, and sold quite a few copies of #1 as well. I hope everyone who went home with a copy will enjoy the crap out of it and write lots of nice things about me on Facebook.

I believe my next appearance will be at the Missouri Comic Book Convention in Springfield on March 13th. (Thanks, Josh!)

After that, Planet Comicon in Overland Park on March 26th and 27th.

Between keeping my show schedule booked, and Viper Comics pushing the series hard in the coming months, I hope YELLOW is really going to explode on the scene this year in a big way.

"Dead On Arrival" sneak peek...

HERE IT IS, FOLKS. Your first look at the soon-to-be-released Yellow #2, "Dead On Arrival."

The story will pick up right where #1 left off, of course, but really I don't want to say too much else about it because there are still a few people out there who haven't had a chance to read it yet.

I'm certainly proud of how it's come together, and can't wait to share it with you. Zeu did some great artwork and really captured some amazing moments that I think will both surprise and delight you.

And then before you know it, we'll be ready for issue #3 (for now, titled "Feels Like the First Time"). And if DOA takes things up a notch, FLtFT really kickes things into overdrive storywise.

I hope you all enjoy the tale I'm spinning and keep checking back here for more updates. Don't forget you can also find me on Twitter and Facebook.

Thank you to everyone who came out and saw me at Rock and Comic-Con Saturday night. In case you couldn't tell by the dumb smile on my face, it was a great time. I sold a few books and gave away a few tattoos. (Send pics if you got 'em!) I even had someone come in with my book already in-hand and ask me to sign it. They bought it at B-Bop Comics on Barry Road and brought it specifically to have me sign. How awesomely sweet is that!

Got to hang out with my comics buddy Mike Sullivan (Tales of the Infinite), as well as make some new buddies in Jai Nitz (TRON: Betrayal) and Harold Sipe (Screamland).

As usual, I spent more than I earned but I kept it at a reasonable amount. Picked up a few books from the aforementioned Sullivan, Nitz, and Sipe. (That sounds like a shady law firm if ever I heard it.) I also got an old Little Big Book from Missouri Comics, up from Springfield. And a paper robot toy battle...thingy...from Matt Hawkins of Custom Paper Toys.

And if this photo Mike took is to be believed, I even got a little bit of work done in the middle of it all. (Note: Don't believe this photo.)

Store update

You can now purchase books and shirts via the store page thanks to the nifty, if not a bit awkward, "add to cart" buttons. When you click it, a new window will open that takes you to Paypal.

Step by step, day by day...

Oh, great. Now I'm going to have that theme song stuck in my head all day.

In other news, progress on Issue #2 is coming along nicely. I should have the pencils back from Zeu by this weekend. Work on the cover should be underway by then, as well. (I hope to have the cover ready by Dec 4th, so I can preview it for anyone who comes to see me at Rock and Comic Con.)

In the meantime, does anyone have a better theme song to insert into my brain? Something less...Alan Thickey?

Issue #2 Update

Script for Issue the Second is DONE. It's entitled "Dead-On Arrival."

Are there more pages? Yes.

Is there more humor? Yes!

Are there more ZOMBIES? Yes, yes, a thousand times YES!

The 20-page follow-up to the newest zombie-themed starcrossed lovers comic book hits stands in January. Stay tuned...

Correction...

You know, sometimes when you're trying to get something done under a deadline little things tend to slip through the cracks. I have to issue a minor correction for 'Auld Lang Zombie' for just that reason.

On the second to last page, Mayor Bright tells Simon "Tomorrow is Friday..." This is a lie. Tomorrow is not Friday. Tomorrow has never been Friday. (That's ironic, considering that right now I have an ongoing philosophy of mentally making every day Friday, but never mind...)

The point is, that line was just thoughtless on my part. It should say "Tomorrow is Wednesday," but to be honest in future printings I'll probably just nix that line altogether.

I know it's a minor thing for most readers, but the timeline of this story is rather important, at least to me, and that's just the kind of continuity error that would bug the heck out of me. And ya'll deserve better!

Where to buy?

Good news everyone: Now if you want a copy of Yellow you don't have to know me personally, or follow me home from work and pretend like you're a delivery person and ask to use my phone because your truck broke down just to get inside my house and then steal a copy.

You can just head over to Clint's Comics at 39th & Main, or across the street to B-Bop. They both carry the books. (If you buy it from that B-Bop location you should find a nice freebie inside. You're welcome. And no, it doesn't wash off easily.)

For my fans north of the river, you can drop in at B-Bop near I-29 and Barry Road to grab your copy. (Sorry, no freebies there, unless you count the free conversation with a couple of cool guys behind the counter.)

More locations will hopefully be on the map soon. I'll keep you posted, of course.

Until then, remember to aim for the head.

The story continues...

Attention new and old Yellow fans alike: Here's my big announcement.

Thanks to the overwhelming positive feedback I've gotten so far, not to mention the death threats from people demanding a follow-up, I'm pround to announce that issue #2 will be dropping sometime in early January of next year.

That's not as far off as it sounds, trust me.

The issue doesn't have a title yet. I'll update you when that changes.

Thanks for reading!

A Big, Fat Helping of Thank You

Friday's debut party was an overwhelming success. I can't believe the number of people that turned out. I sold a good amount of comics and everyone seemed to have a great time.

I have to thank a few people for making it a possibility:

- The Straight Ups, Kansas City's awesomest, rockingest, face-melting-est rock band. If you missed their fantastic show Friday night, be sure to check them out this coming Friday at the Brick!

- The Dead Girl Derby, the area's hottest new league of fast-moving, hard-hitting dames. Get more info on their Facebook page; and if you're interested in helping out, either on skates or off, drop a comment or send a message. They're having a recruit night November 16th!

- Jeff Mullikin, owner of one3studios, the amazing venue that hosted the party. Jeff is a terrific, friendly, easy-going guy who also happens to be an excellent photographer. You can check out his work on his website.

- Takes the Cake Bakery, provider of the delicious cupcakes mentioned in the "cupcakes & braaains" of the party's title. If you didn't arrive early enough to grab one -- and they went fast -- keep your eyes and ears peeled for her next appearance. You can find her online at TakesTheCakeKC.com.

- DJ Kreations, otherwise known as Kenneth "KC" Hamm, who spun some fantastic tunes all night long. Punctual, professional, and pretty damn sexy, I would recommend Mr. Kreations to all my friends. He doesn't just do kick-ass comic book debut parties; get in touch with him for your next Wedding, too!

- Everyone else: So many other people came through for me that night. Too many to even list. But they know who they are, and hopefully they know how much their help was appreciated. It truly couldn't have happened how it did without everyone's assistance. I only wish I could've experienced it all from in front of the merchandise table instead of behind it!

Speaking of merchandise, if any of you have breezed through your copy of Yellow #1, "Auld Lang Zombie," and are looking forward to the next installment... stay tuned. I've been asked a lot since Friday night about when the next issue drops, and I'm going to make a post about that shortly. I promise. I'd like to first get in touch with my artists and let them know how much everyone liked their work...and then drop the bombshell that they need to start getting ramped up for #2.

Follow me on Twitter or friend me on Facebook if you want to make sure you get the latest.

Is this real life?

The books are in! I felt just like George McFly opening his box of books for the first time at the end of Back to the Future. Ok, it was Biff that opened the box. So I felt like Biff and George. But it was all kind of surreal, so I also felt like Marty. So basically I felt like 3/4 of the cast of Back to the Future and now all I want to do is watch Back to the Future.

Anyway, here are the books!

Whoops. Wrong file... Here you go:

Coming Through Your TV...

As the release date for Yellow approaches, the debut party is really gathering steam.

I'll be on NBC Action News Midday on Friday (11 a.m. on your NBC station) to talk about the book and the party.

I hope you are all able to stop by. I should have plenty of books for sale in case anyone wants multiples (I've heard tell that's what some people want), plus posters and t-shirts. In fact I just picked up the shirts today and they look terrific. I can't wait to wear mine proudly.

Plus you can grab a temporary tattoo, play some old-skool video games on a custom arcade cabinet, listen to the mellow, face-melting tunes of The Straight Ups and the smooth turntable stylings of DJ Kreations, and of course nosh on a cupcake--or two--from Takes the Cake Bakery's mobile cupcakery. (Wow, that was fun to say...)

And when you're plenty liquored up--Oh, did I mention there will be a cash bar hosted by Grinders, too?--and you're ready for a nice relaxing cruise around the Crossroads district, just step outside and grab a TricycleTransit pedicab. (You know, three wheels, a pedal-pusher and a big seat for you and your squeeze?) They'll be making their own debut Friday and touring all over the district so you can hop on and take one for a spin.

Presenting...

artwork: Ralph Abou Raad