Birds of Prey, Black Cloaks, and Culls, Oh My.
(We've done a version of this headline before and, here's a shock, we'll do it again!)
I wouldn’t normally bother you guys on the weekend (a long one at that) but there IS A LOT HAPPENING.
But feel free to save this for a Tuesday read when you’re back at work and using coffee too keep you conscious, the weekend is for living, you have my permission…LIVE!
And when you’re ready…THE BIRDS OF PREY PREVIEW PAGES WILL BE HERE FOR YOU!
Plot/Words by me, art by Leonardo Romero, colors by Jordie Bellaire, and Lettering by Clayton Cowles and Romero. This is in all good shops Tuesday 9/5/23 and digitally via Comixology, etc.
Oh! I also posted these shots on social media over the last week that I thought you might enjoy — all of these are also from issue one:
Worth noting, for those who care about these things, that is NOT the first page of the book — I think those are pages 3 - 7 — ANYWAY — I can’t wait! I hope you guys love it.
AND. I saw that THE CULL #2 preview popped up on a site yesterday, so here’s your first look at issue 2. This is ALSO not the opening of the issue (this is pages 4-6). As all of you know well by now, THE CULL is words/plot by me, art/colors by Mattia, and lettering by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.
This is in stores everywhere (and here on the site) 9/13/23.
Holy hell is Mattia a comics god or what?!
Don’t forget, second printings of THE CULL #1 will be in shops the same day as THE CULL #2 if you’re looking for it.
AND BLACK CLOAK VOLUME 1 will ALSO be in stores 9/13/23. What?! YES!
I’ve got our first new contest winners to announce.
First up — Annual reader Thomas Duford got the Monthly Package for August! Congratulations, Thomas!
And Annual reader Klynngullo got the one time only THE GIRL WHO WOULD BE KING Package. Congratulations!
Both of you have been sent emails to notify you of this win with requests for your mailing addresses.
If you’re a subscriber that would like to be eligible for future Monthly Package Wins like what Thomas won, consider upgrading your subscription to an annual pass today — where you get everything you get now, plus entry into all of the drawings and contests.
Also for our paid subscribers only — the X-MEN WAR 2.0 Vote is Heating up! Check it out if you haven’t yet and cast your vote — or just debate with others in the comments ;D
X-MEN WAR 2.0 - PART 3
Welcome back! If you’re wondering what we’re doing you can read Part 2 here! Sorry this is going out so late — I had a ton of writing work this week and it took forevvvvver. I mean, let’s be honest it’s STILL taking forevvvvvver. Freelancers love a long weekend — it’s the dream of catching up on all your work! (never happens).
We also got the voting back on our second MARGOT & LAYLA MUST DIE! Poll — I ran that poll for 7 days instead of 3 days to see if we got similar voting numbers — and we did — which is great — because 3 days for the poll works much better for the ol’ writing schedule. The winner of the poll was FOSSIL VIDEO. So expect to see it integrated to Daphne’s LA neighborhood “The Coil” and if you want to read more you can click below!
MARGOT & LAYLA MUST DIE! - WORLD BUILDING - 1
As promised, back today with some fun world building decisions to be made on MARGOT & LAYLA MUST DIE! This first story of M&LMD takes place primarily in three locations. ONE The city Margot & Layla live (and were born in) — a fictional small-ish beach town north of Los Angeles called INDIGO BEACH.
We’ve been getting a lot of great press of late. Both official stuff like reviews and books showing up on fun lists and articles — and also a lot of really lovely private comments — especially about the start of THE CULL and the end of BLACK CLOAK’S first arc.
And I just wanted to say very quickly that while I obviously love the official public stuff — the private comments some of you all have sent in have truly moved me and buoyed my spirit in what has been a great but also tough year. This Substack has been a tricky thing to figure out at times, and I’m definitely not always nailing it, but throughout it all I have been so grateful that we started building this before social media really started to crumble and scatter everyone to the wind. I’m really grateful you’re all here with me and I hope we’re just at the beginning of something special.
I won’t bore you all with more rave reviews for THE CULL (still at like a 9.5/10 or something, you guys!) but there were two nice posts on CBR, one featuring BLACK CLOAK and one featuring THE CULL that I linked to below. We all worked so hard it just feels good when it feels like people are getting it, y’know?
Meredith has already been doing some incredible work for BLACK CLOAK VOLUME 2 — including an issue 7 cover I cannot wait to show you guys. And I definitely shouldn’t show you ANYTHING. But I am weak-willed. Always have been. So here’s a peak at a small (literally tiny, but also minor) character in the new arc… little Zin, great grandson of Jono (purveyor of fine ramen in The Trees neighborhood)
I love him. Meredith makes me fall in love too much. THERE ARE ONLY SO MANY PANELS, YOU GUYS.
This was Clivey’s favorite sitting box a few years back. Until someone accidentally threw it out. Monsters.
Okay. That was a lot for a Sunday. Thanks for listening. Love you, lamb-cat-fox-things. You’re the best.
~Kelly
I have you know, here in Australia (aka the arse end of the world. Seriously, one of our former Prime Minister's called it that) it is neither a long weekend nor a weekend. It was my birthday on the 3rd, but it was tragic as it was also my mum's and late dad's anniversary (no, I was born three years after the marriage) so eating Red Rooster roast chicken meal was as low as a highlight you can get.
So seeing some Semi Finalist artwork was a great way to get through a Monday!
I thought I couldn't get more excited about Birds of Prey (as I'm pretty damn excited already). but those BEAUTIFUL PAGES! OMG. I loved the Black Widow art that showed the flow of combat, and we're getting more of that here.. it's SO GOOD.