Update and Goodies

by on March 5, 2021 at 12:41 pm
Posted In: Blog Entries

Sorry for the radio silence here, but between Patreon, Instagram, and the Runners Facebook Fan Page, I sometime forget to also post here. Argh. But that will change once the new series actually starts posting here! Anyway, onto news…

I now have some new RUNNERS goodies in the form of stickers and bonus character cards. The die-cut ship/logo sticker and the character sticker sheet will be available at conventions (once I start doing them again) and will be added to my store as well. They will also be FREE for Patreon backers based on reward tier.

I also did 2 new character cards for aliens that didn’t make it into the respective Vol 1 and Vol 2 card sets originally. These will be Patreon exclusives and FREE for all U.S. backers.

The image above also shows some toned-paper commissions I did last Fall as surprise Patreon rewards. These are really fun and I may consider adding commissions to my online store at some point.

Volume 3 update!!

I am now done with Chapter 2 of Volume 3! Woot! I originally wanted to start posting once I had Chapter 1 completely done. But I still had some kinks in the production process that needed ironing out before I felt comfortable with the amount of buffer to avoid running out of material as I worked on new pages. With two full chapters done, and those kinks worked out, I am now pretty confident in being able to finally start posting.

The next step will be to start uploading all the finished pages to date (Chapter 1 and 2) to RunnersUniverse, along with the usual page-by-page commentary. I’ll also be formatting the pages for Webtoon and prepping all the upcoming content for Patreon, including penciled and inked pages, as well as sketchbook pages with design commentary.

As of now, I am hoping to actually launch in EARLY APRIL!!! Stay tuned!

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Website Updates

by on September 22, 2020 at 1:41 pm
Posted In: Blog Entries

I just finished a number of updates on the runnersuniverse.com webcomic site, in preparation for Vol 3! Updates include:

  • Series Index layout change for easier archive navigation
  • New Readers page featuring intro to the series, sample pages, and cast profiles
  • Revised FAQ with info on publishing plans for the series, tools, and where to read
  • Updated Reviews page, now with links so readers can leave their own reviews on Amazon and Good Reads
  • Pronunciation Guide from Vol 1
  • Support page with Patreon info and samples
  • New side widgets for Patreon support, Buy the books from my Store, and Start Reading here, as well as a tag cloud

Feel free to let me know if there are other changes or additions you’d like to see on the site. I plan to eventually fill it out with more content, especially with additional art in the Extras category. But for now, I’m back on to Vol 3 production!

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RUNNERS Update and Stickers!

by on September 4, 2020 at 3:32 pm
Posted In: Blog Entries

Hey everybody! It’s been a little while, so I wanted to do a little update on all things RUNNERS. First off, progress on Volume 3 continues! It’s taken quite a bit longer than I expected, but I’m still working on it most of my working hours, and I’m really happy with how it’s turning out. My colorist, Cyril Vincent, is finishing up the last few pages of Chapter 1. As he gets pages to me, I do a pass on the colors to make minor tweaks here and there and then do the lettering. While that’s been happening, I’ve also been working on pages for Chapter 2, and as of now, most of that issue’s 24 pages have been fully penciled and inked. Here are some preview panels from the colored Chapter 1…

In preparation for the start of Vol 3 pages posting here on RunnersUniverse, I’m also in the process of reviewing this website to make some updates and changes. I’d like to make some improvements to navigation and functionality as well as including things like a cast breakdown and series info for new readers.

Once Vol 3 starts posting, I will also want to make more of a push for my Patreon account, which will be vital as the primary source of income for the series between Kickstarter campaigns. I’ll be posting lots of bonus content there, like higher-res finished pages, as well as pages in their penciled and inked stages. I’m also working on some sticker designs to mail out as physical rewards (for U.S. backers). The stickers will also be available in my store and at shows, whenever those happen again. Below are the rough mockups I’m toying with. These mockups use re-purposed art, but the final stickers will have all new art, including more action-y poses on the sticker sheet.

  • Options for die-cut sticker
  • Mockup for sticker sheet

I’ve also been doing some toned-paper commission rewards for Patreon backers. I just figured it’d be a nice way to thank the backers who have hung in there up to now while things are still in the “ramping up” phase.

Some sketch card sized toned paper commissions for Patreon

And as always, I do still have to do occasional freelance illustration work on the side to bring in income. I do feel lucky in that the freelance work is all very fun work, and I enjoy it a lot, but the downside is that it just pulls me away from RUNNERS work for a couple days or a week at a time. But RUNNERS is still the top long-term priority, and everything I do is still leading towards Volume 3 posting here, and many more volumes after that!

Thanks for hanging in there. It’ll be worth the wait!!

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ComiXology Sale and Unlimited

by on May 18, 2020 at 11:39 am
Posted In: Blog Entries

ComiXology is now running a sale on all Submit #1 Issues/Volumes, so you can buy RUNNERS Vol 1 for half price! Both graphic novels are also now part of the Unlimited program, so if you are a subscriber, you can read them for free! And remember, for those who want to try the series first, there is a FREE Preview that includes the entire first 2 chapters. Sale runs through June 4, 2020. Please spread the word and leave positive ratings! https://www.comixology.com/Runners/comics-series/131209

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Lettering Exercise Pages

by on April 16, 2020 at 4:51 pm
Posted In: Blog Entries

So here’s something fun and a little different. A while back, friend, comic creator, and instructor Roland Mann asked me for some blank RUNNERS pages for his comic class to use for a lettering exercise, making up their own dialogue in the process.

With Roland’s permission, I thought it would be fun to share some of them here. It was really interesting for me to see what students came up with for plot and dialogue based on the art alone. Please bear in mind that this is student work, and while some techniques may be a bit rough here and there, I don’t want this to be a forum for critique. I just wanted to show some fun takes on the characters and situations. So please be kind with any comments.

This first one captures the bicker-y nature of the scene pretty well. I especially like the characterization of Sky as a money-hungry leader type.

This one is a fun take on the exchange on Free Kespa. Bonus points for use of the term “small death ray.”

This one is pretty entertaining in having Roka conversing in Hulk speak!

And this last one is my favorite. The idea of the crew actually being a band trying to get to a gig is just too awesome. I feel this should have been the premise of the series all along. Ha ha.

I hope you enjoyed these. It’s like a weird RUNNERS mirror universe. Without the goatees.

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