You may recall I created a 5 page story for Tom Dell’Aringa’s first Marooned collection Out of Orbit last year. Well, Out of Orbit is sold out, and I don’t know if Tom is ever going to order more copies. But I do know that he’s making it available as a digital download through his store for only 99 cents! You can also find our collaboration Rag the Viking: The Cubicles of Valhalla and a digital copy of Out of Orbit over there. (Click the image above for a preview).
All right, everyone – time for my last sneak preview of “Thanks for Nothing”, the two-page story I did for Tom Dell’Aringa’s forthcoming second Marooned collection, and that book is shaping up to be even more fantastic, beautiful and way longer than the first. You may remember I showed you the inks for one of the panels a few weeks ago. Above, I’m showing you the finished colors for that panel. Below, to reward your patience, I present another completed panel. But to read any more than that, you’re going to have to buy the book. But then, if you like good story and good characters, you’re already a Marooned fan, and you’ll be wanting that book on your shelf anyway, wontcha?
Well, if it’s August, I must be working on a story for Tom Dell’Aringa’s Marooned book. The book in question is the second collection of Marooned stories, currently in development, and the story we wrote for it is called “Thanks for Nothing”. Above is a sneak preview of the inks for one panel. More bulletins as events warrant…
After much secrecy and sneaking around, I’m excited today to announce Wishtales Publishing Studio! What is Wishtales you ask? This pretty well sums it up:
Once upon a time, the path for an aspiring artist/creator was clear: Get an agent. Get a publisher. Get that comic of yours syndicated. Go for the Big Time.
We are all awakening to a publishing reality that looks very different. That path may be changing. It may have completely gone away.
Agents are swamped with wannabes. Big publishers are too large and too conservative to take chances on anything. And syndicates make an increasingly small living by keeping the newspaper comics section exactly as it is today. Basically, the publishing structure exists to say “NO”.” NO” to new ideas. “NO” to new creatives. “NO” to anything that looks like a chance, anything that hasn’t been tried before, anything that isn’t a sequel or a sequel to a sequel to a spinoff.
In short, we didn’t want to start a publishing company; They made us do it. We’re putting our money where out mouths are. If no one wanted to take a chance on us, OK. We’ll do it. If no one wanted to let us choose non-standard formats for our books, OK. We’ll do it. We’re taking a chance on us, and if it works out, who knows? Maybe one day we’ll take a chance on you. Somebody has to do it.
- Tom Dell’Aringa and Steve Ogden
Yes, this is a joint venture between me and my good buddy Tom Dell’Aringa. We’re tired of trying to play corporate games and trying to fit into a mold that is constricting and limiting. We’re going to forge our own path. The first step along that path is Tom’s Marooned book, Out of Orbit, which will be a Wishtales imprint. We’re just getting started, but there’s some interested posts over there already. We’re looking forward to publishing a Moon Town book as well, and we’ve got lots more ideas cooking in the pot. So head over to Wishtales and take a look, and let us know what you think!
It’s been a long time coming, but my six-page story for Tom Dell’Aringa’s Marooned book is finally done and off tothe printers. Tom demonstrated patience beyond belief as I dragged this project out over the summer and into the fall while I took care of various other things that came up. But he had faith in me getting it done, and I’m sure he’s relieved now that he can stop holding his breath and get his book out the door! And just in time for Christmas pressies, eh? Perhaps someone you know would like a copy of this fine book? There’s a ton of extras…
See more about it HERE. And now I’m going to go celebrate. Cheers!
Tom Dell’Aringa asked me to do a five-page story for his upcoming Marooned collection “Out of Orbit”. Who am I to say no? The story is a five-pager involving the mysterious Lian Fisher, and is a lot of fun to draw. In fact, let’s make it six pages… Track progress on the story in my projects page, and track Tom’s progress on the book - and pre-order the collection when it’s ready, cuz this story won’t be available anywhere else in the forseeable future!
Marooned is on its 100th episode, and looking better than ever. As many of you know, my buddy Tom Dell’Aringa writes and draws the strip, and sometimes I go over plotting and story issues with him. I have enjoyed working on the strip with him, watching it mature, and watching Tom get better at drawing and writing it. Most webcomics don’t get to 100 episodes, most don’t even get close. So if you have a moment, pop over to his site, maybe drop him a note of congratulations.
I was also fortunate enough to work on a trailer for the strip with him last year.
