Just a quick post to say that I have two new books out this month. I hope you enjoy them.

Several non-comic readers asked me how to get a copy of  Indie Comics Horror #2.  So if you have no idea why a Diamond distributor is selling comics, read closely and all will be made clear.

ORDERS ARE DUE BY APRIL 21.

First a bit of background.  If you don't care and just want to know how to order, skip this.

There are two kinds of markets for comics: newstand and the direct market.  The Newstand market is exactly what you think it is, those now nonexistent spinner racks in drug stores and more recently the magazine racks in Supermarkets, Books A Million and Barnes and Noble.  Indie Comics Horror is not in this market.  Instead, it will be released in the Direct or specialty market.  The means that it will be only sold in comic shops and through mail order comic companies.  With very nearly nonexistent exceptions, these shops receive their books from a company called Diamond Distributors.  They don't sell diamond, they sell comics.  Each month they put a book called Previews, which  which contains new comics that can be ordered by comic shops (usually books come out 2 months after being in Previews. The book is divided with the big companies (Dark Horse, DC, IDW, and Image) are in the front, Marvel gets its own seperate book (I hope to explain why  my new non-fiction book), and everyone else is in the back.  As a practical matter, most shops don't ever order from the back of the book unless there is demand.  Indie Comic Horror #2 is in the back of the book.  Each book has an order code:

THE ORDER CODE FOR INDIE HORROR COMICS IS: APR130754

There are two things about Previews that. always amaze my non-comic friends and annoy my comic friends: 1) it is nearly impossible for a new creator/independant company to get in this book; and 2) Comic Fans are forced pay $4.50 a month to buy a catalogue so that they can spend money to buy books (there is no free digital version).  But, despite these 2 things 1) creators (like me) keep setting themselves up for rejection; and 2) comic fan (like me) keep paying for a catalogue.

Is Diamond a monopoly? Most likely 
Is Diamond evil? Probably. 
Is Diamond the only game in town? Absolutely

Because 1) Indie Horror Comics #2 is only available from Comic Shops and is in the back of the Previews Catologue, and 2) Comic Shops only really order their books from the front Previews, you will need to special order the book. 

This is done by going to your local comic shop (or an online seller) and telling them that you want Indie Horror Comics Magazine #2.  Even better is if you give them the order code. 

THE ORDER CODE FOR INDIE HORROR COMICS IS: APR130754

ORDERS ARE DUE BY APRIL 21.

Hopefully, the kind person at the shop will place the order and then notify you when the book comes in  (probably in June).

It's that simple.

If you still don't get it (or if you came here first, you are pretty smart).  Here is a step by step guide.

Let's say, hypothetically, you live in Washington, DC.  In order to get a copy you would need to go to a local comic shop such as:

Fantom Comic on the second floor of Union Station
50 Massachusetts Ave NE  Washington, DC 20002
(202) 241-6498

Atertime Comics in Old Town Alexandria
1304 King St
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 548-5030

Laughing Ogre in Fairfax
10647 Braddock Rd
Fairfax, VA 22032
(703) 250-6479 http://www.laughingogrecomics.com

Game On Comics!
310 Dominion Rd NE  Vienna, VA 22180
(703) 242-3838

Or you can go to any one of a number of online sellers (which may have discounts).

Here are two I use.

http://www.dcbservice.com/

http://www.midtowncomics.com/

Tell them you want to pre-order Indie Comics Magazine #2.  You can search for the book in an online shop, or ask the staff at your local shop to help you.  To help the shop, you should give them the Previews Diamond Order Number.

THE ORDER CODE FOR INDIE HORROR COMICS IS: APR130754

ORDERS ARE DUE BY APRIL 21.

If they have a Previews Catalogue, the book appears on page 240 of the April edition.

Alternatively, you can just print this and show it to them. 

If you ordered it online, the book should automatically be shipped to you.  If you ordered from a shop, they should notify you when they come in, or you should start to call them if you haven't heard back by June.

Now you have a copy of Indie Horror Comcis #2 (hopefully the shop saw your interest as a sign it should order multiple copies.)  Read, enjoy, and if bring it to me, I'll sign it.  If you like it

Tell the world.

Indie Comics Horror #2, 64 pages of the best horror from today's independent comic book creators, is available ONLY through pre-order in April 2013's Previews comic book order catalog, at your local or online comic book shop.

9 complete thrillers in this issue! Joe Sergi unmasks a stalker, Paul Bradford defends against marauders, and Dan Rivera meets a fiendish clown. Tease Fabian Rangel, Jr.'s "Stinky" at your peril. Then, Scott Schmidt battles undead gunmen, Anthony Cacioppo visits Transylvania, Glenn Møane introduces "The Drain," and Terry Cronin plunges us into a sinkhole. Monstrous Andy Bennett cover!

Aazurn Publishing has been redefining heroes since 2006. Aazurn books are produced and edited by Gary Scott Beatty. Find out more at http://indiecomicsmagazine.com/

I have a story in Indie Comcis Horror #2 along with some mighty talented people.  I was also in the first issue of this series, which  was Aazurn presses bestselling book and was nominated for several horror awards.  

If you are interested, please remember to pre-order. As with many indie books, the shop will not carry it unless you do.

here is the information and a trailer:

9 complete thrillers! Joe Sergi unmasks a horrifying stalker, Paul Bradford's "Last Knight" defends against marauders, and Dan Rivera's "The Assistant" meets a fiendish clown. Tease Fabian Rangel, Jr.'s "Stinky" at your peril. Then, battle undead gunmen in Scott Schmidt's "Ghosts." Anthony Cacioppo visits Transylvania, and Glenn Møane introduces "The Drain." Terry Cronin looks at Bahamian mythos, and plunges us into a sinkhole. Plus, a monstrous Andy Bennett cover!

ORDER in April 2013's Previews comic book catalog ONLY at your local or online comic book shop! Mature themes!

It's Christmas Times in Hollis Queen. But also in Lanoka Harbor, NJ, where I'm visiting with family and amazed at both the destruction wrought by Sandy and at how quickly things  are being been repaired.

The day job has been incredibly busy, so I haven't had a cance to update this site and keep up with my other writing obligations. So here's what's been going on.

Indie Horror Comics

I got a great email from Gary
over at Aazurn Publishing that Indie
Comics Horror #1 is up for The Horror News Network's 2012 Horror Comic Award:

http://www.comicmonsters.com/award-vote-66-Best_Anthology_of_2012.html

My story, the Belt was in issue One.  So if you get a chance, please please please vote Indie Comics Horror in The Horror News Network's  2012 Horror Comic Award:
http://www.comicmonsters.com/award-vote-66-Best_Anthology_of_2012.html

You must register to vote. PLEASE take time to do this now! This is
just the kind of recognition a young indie publication needs! 

Especially since, I'm also  in Issue Two of the comic, I'll have more when it solicites.  

SKY GIRL LANDS IN A NEW HOME

I'm pleased to announce that Sky Girl and the Superheroic Adventures, the second book in the series, is due out from Martin Sisters Publishing,  I'mexcitedto be working with them.

I'll provide more information as it becomes available,.

GREAT ZOMBIES IN HISTORY IS OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED

McFarland has listed Great Zombies in History on their site for preorder.  Hereis the link

http://www.mcfarlandpub.com/book-2.php?id=978-0-7864-7456-1

RECENT CBLDF ARTICLES AND A TASTE OF THINGS TO COME

I've been chugging away with my little column on the history of comics and censorship.  Recent posts have incuded:

Tales from the Code: How Much Did Things
Change After the Enactment of the Comics Code of 1954?

The Amazing Adventure of The Man of
Steel and the Psychiatric Censor — Superman vs. Doctor Wertham

The Incredible True Story of Joe
Shuster’s NIGHTS OF HORROR

A History of Censorship, NYCC Edition —
CBLDF Defends Manga

Tales From the Code: Whatever Happened
to the Amazing Amazon–Wonder Woman Bound by Censorship

A History of Censorship, Halloween
Edition — My Ears Could Hear the War but the Censors Wouldn’t Let Me Read
It

I have also been working on a new edjucation initiative with them that hasn't been announced yet ( think). And have a very different Christmas column going up later thst week with the amazing Dafu Yu and E.T. Dollman.  Here are some character designs.

And if you get a chance, you should check out my nephews first Scifi book. Info is  available at http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/drsherrier

That's it for this month.  Happy Holidays to all, may all your gifts be geeky.

Joe 

I recently got a very complimentary email asking me where I have been lately because the person needed their "fix of fun anecdotes about the history of comics and pop culture."  I happily responded that I was still writing about the history of comics, just in a different place.

I started writing for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF.org).  I write about the history of censorship and comics.  I am proud and humbled to work with this amazing organization.

Recent columns have included:

I have many more articles planned and am actually working on one right now involving my favorite character of all time: Superman. 

But that's not all.  I was also happy to pass on that I am under contract to write my first nonfiction book. So, if you really need a fix of anecdotal comics.  More on that later as we get closer to publication.

On the new release front, look for these great issues available now in comic shops featuring some of my scifi and horror stories.

And finally, a preview of things to come.

And if you've made it this far. Hey, is that Sky Girl?

I just got back from a free Advance Preview screening of Brave at  the Hoffman Theater (Thank, Disney!). I took my seven year old daughter, who, as a result of her recent birthday, already owns eight Brave dolls, a bow and arrow, a costume, the Brave: Temple Run app and several story/coloring books about the movie. Needless to say, she was vested.

Brave tells the story of Princess Merida and her quest to change her fate. Until now, Princesses have been the purview of Disney's traditional  animation division.  With Brave,  Pixar breaks the royal seal and, as usual, who works excels.

I've heard Tiana from Princess and the Frog described as the modern princess role model who works for her goals and doesn't need a prince to  make her whole.  However, at the
end of the day, Princess and the Frog is a love story and, like it or not, a  prince was a necessary prerequisite for a happy ending.  Brave is an  action movie, so Merida is allowed to take the modern princess to another  level.  Merida is as fiery as her  hair and challenges both fate and tradition to become the first truly free  spirited Princess.

But this is a Pixar movie, so while there is some great action and comedy, there is an emotional core and the movie has heart. This time, the focus is on the relationship between and mother and her daughter.  I should note that this is the first Pixar movie in a while that didn't  make me cry like a baby. But, perhaps I didn't relate as closely to the theme as I did in Toy Story 3 and Up!

Is this Pixar's best movie? Not by a long shot. While the animation is top notch (there is a close up of Merida's hair that boggle the mind with its detail), the movie lacks the whimsy of Toy Story, the characterization of  Finding Nemo, and the pure emotional of Up!  Still, Brave is a top notch film that is worthy of the Pixar name. And Merida easily stands with Cinderella, Snow  White, Aurora, Rapunzel, Ariel, Jasmine, and the other Disney princesses.  Brave could easily be adapted into a  Disney Channel Show, which expands the world of Merida and her family (of  course, I thought the same thing about the Incredibles, but it never happened.)

I should add that I did overheard some audience members say they were
disappointed that the themes in Brave not as "mature" as Wall-E, Up, or 
Rattatouile.  I'm not sure these people are correct since Brave takes on some
pretty lofty issues about the effects of tradition on society and the
ramifications of deciding whether to challenge that tradition.

I did want to mention La Luna, the short before the movie. La   Luna tells the story of three workers (a father, son, and grandson) with a unique  job.  But, really the short is
about finding your place in the world.  Like their other shorts, Pixar delivers a lot in a short amount of time and will clearly be a contender come Oscar time.  I really do like that Disney (and Pixar) have continued the trend of having shorts, since that is how Walt started.  But, I digress. 

My daughter wanted to pass on the following when I wrote my review. She says (and I quote), "Daddy, please tell them that you thought it was  great, but I only thought it was good. Some parts were too scary for me and kids should know that." When I asked her if she regretted getting all the  merchandise, she smiled and said, "don't be silly Daddy, the movie was only good. But Princess Merida, she's AWESOME!" And then mimicked shooting a bow and  arrow for emphasis.

Someone sent me a link to a shaky cam/found footage horror movie made for the Baltimore 48 Hour Film Project called the Munchies. 

Participants in this festival put out some top notch entries.  I attended a screening of a couple superhero ones.  On Friday, On Friday night, participants get a character, a prop, a line of dialogue, and a genre to include in their movie. 48 hours later, the movie must be complete. Then it will show at a local theater, usually in the next week.  A lot of them  are surprising good (some, sadly, are not).  But, this is one of the best I have seen.  It is a horror with a really creative premise, so obviously don't let the kiddies watch--unless your kiddies are into horror. :-)   I really enjoyed it even though I am kind over the shaky cam/found footage genre.

I hope you enjoy it.

I am very excited to be in Indie Comics Magazine Summer Issue (#6).  Even more so because I am joined by incredibly talented people like Rob Anderson, Frederick Kim, Don McMillan, Glenn Møane, and others. 

I should note that this is my first comic in Preview, which, if you don't know, is the Holy Grail of Comics.  Except that I am pretty sure that the Holy Grail is slightly easier to find than it is to get into previews.  That means that if you make it in there, you need to have enough orders to be respectable.  Sadly, Indie Comics Magazine is, as the title implies, an Indie Comic.  That means that if people don't go in to their comic shops and preorder the book, the shop probably won't order any.  But, sometimes, if they get people who ask or orders for a few copies, they order extra for the store.

Personally, I think you should buy  this book because it will be awesome.  All I am asking is that if you think you want to buy it, please preorder it. (or if you aren't going to buy it but still want to do us a solid, you can ask a comic shop if they plan on carrying it.)  Glenn Møane's site has these simple instructions on how to preorder:

"If you go down to your local comic shop you should find the newest edition of the Diamond Previews catalog (the June 2012 issue). Flip it to page 228 and you'll find both a solicitation for Indie Comics Magazine #6 and an ad for the issue taking up half the page. Tell your shop that you would really like to order one or more copies of this issue, and that the Diamond order code is JUN120752.

Or in the case that you don't have a comic shop in your immediate area, you can order the book online through stores such as Comics America or Midtown Comics." I will add my favorite online seller, DCBService.com to Glenn's list, who are offering the book at 30% off.

Here is a flyer you can print out and a youtube video for what is in the issue.  Thanks for the help. The Order Cut Off Date is June 27th, 2012.  I have a feeling, there won't be reorders filled (again, the word Indie is in the title)