It's Dynamite.
Welcome back to Burnt Barn Business. It seems that the first newsletter reached people, so I call that an early win for this new communication method.
What have I been up to you ask?
Well, the print run of my latest book, Metallic Dynamite, arrived just over a week ago. All 30 boxes of it. So, my time since has mostly looked like this.
I’d been using a fulfilment company for the past few campaigns but they closed down, so I’m back on packaging duty. And to be honest with you, I’ve enjoyed it. I have a pretty good system for knowing the best packaging to use now so it’s not as time-consuming as it used to be, and I also feel better being back in control of it, so any mistakes rest on my head.
I’ve packaged up about 250 of the 380 rewards so not too much more to go now. Also, I’ve been overwhelming the post office so decided to take most of the weekend off.
The book itself looks absolutely beautiful. The artists all did such an incredible job and the design from Daniel Gruitt and printing by Comic Printing UK have produced a stunning book.
If you missed it, the book will be available as an ‘add-on’ via my Weird Work #3 campaign on Kickstarter launching a week tomorrow here https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/burntbarncomics/weird-work-3 or you’ll be able to get it through my Burnt Barn Store launching soon (I’m so modern and technical these days, just call me Mr Technology!).
In other comics news I’ve been working on a few new pitches with some very cool artists, so keep your eyes peeled for more details on those coming over the next 6 months.
WHAT HAVE I BEEN WATCHING?
Thought I might have an ongoing section of the newsletter where I chat about other media I’ve been partaking in. Part of spending hours every day putting comics in envelopes means I watch a lot of stuff.
I smashed through all three seasons of DETECTORISTS, the BBC comedy written by Mackenzie Crook (aka Gareth from The Office) and starring Mackenzie himself and the always wonderful Toby Jones. This is an absolute delight of a British comedy, that does everything that the land of my birth does well, strong characters, a lot of heart, and moments that make you smile. Big recommend from me.
I’ve also been alternating between THE AMERICANS and THE WEST WING two quite different American dramas but both very gripping in their own way. I imagine many of you will have seen them already but I’d say they are both very much worth watching.
As I’m home currently, my dear mother and I also watch an episode/episode and a half of a series each night depending on how quickly she falls asleep. At the start of the week, we finished BLACKBIRD, which isn’t for the faint of heart but features one of the best written and acted portrayals of a serial killer I’ve ever seen. And now we are watching the wonderful PACHINKO, adapted from one of my favourite books, it tells the story of a Korean family over around 80 years starting in 1910. It’s such a heartbreaking and life-affirming story of how life is mostly full of disappointment and loss but has enough joy and happiness in it to make the whole ordeal worthwhile. I spend most of the time holding back tears just at the thought of what I know is coming down the line for these endearing characters. Both of these are on Apple, which has started putting out some really great shows in recent years.
Finally, in my solo focused watching time, I finished season two of the engrossing, mind-bending, wildness that is DARK. A time travel show, that is more concerned with the emotions the characters go through whilst also weaving some of the most complex time-travel-tomfoolery I’ve ever seen on screen. I take a break between seasons of that one as it is quite intense, so yesterday I started the final season of one of my favourite current shows, the generally flawless, BETTER CALL SAUL. If you’ve never given it a try then you really should. It’s now Breaking Bad-level good as we barrel towards the end of the story. Both of these are on Netflix.
Finally, on the watching front, yesterday mother and I went to see NOPE, the new Jordan Peele flick, at the cinema, and unfortunately, it was a big ‘nope’ from both of us. I really enjoyed Get Out, and liked the first two-thirds of Us, but something about Nope just didn’t connect with me and I never engaged with stakes, which was disappointing.
WHAT HAVE I BEEN READING?
Travelling back to the UK means being reunited with my comic collection, so I always try and get through as many of the unread comics I have piled up here as possible when I visit.
This past couple of weeks I’ve been getting through the three-volume absolute set of Alan Moore, Steve Bissette and John Totleben SWAMP THING series. This was a big gap in my comic reading, and although some of the more standard issues could be a bit of a slog to get through, when it’s at its best such as in ‘Anatomy Lesson’ and that weird sex issue it is phenomenal comics. Everyone who enjoys and makes comics really should check it out.
I also read the ‘whole’ BALLAD OF HALO JONES from Moore and Ian Gibson, back in the 2000AD days. This one also took a while to grab me. The first two books, and I know this is considered heresy, I found to be perfectly fine. That level of quality two amazing creators can’t drop below, but not something I was gripped by. The (unfortunately) final book, however, is brilliant and keeps getting more brilliant the more I think about it. It’s a real shame issues between Moore and 2000AD meant it was never finished as I’m certain the full 9 book version Moore and Gibson intended would have been a masterpiece.
BLACK HOLE by Charles Burn is another book I’ve gotten through recently. I read it all in one late night sitting, which was a bit of a head-spinner. I won’t spoil anything for anyone that hasn’t read it, but if you like a comic far away from the superhero mainstream then you should certainly check this gripping and affecting story out. It’ll leave you with a lot to ruminate on.
I’ve also finished my Sandman voyage this week, getting through the final giant omnibus edition. DEATH: THE HIGH COST OF LIVING and DEATH: THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE were both great. I’m not a huge Gaiman fan, but I think he’s at his best writing Death and the Chris Bachalo art is brilliant. I also really enjoyed OVERTURE, which was up there with the best arcs from the main series for me and also had stunning JH Williams III art.
Finally, on the reading front, I finished book 8 of THE EXPANSE SERIES. I love these books with the power of a thousand suns. Science fiction, character and plot at their absolute best and I will take any opportunity to enthusiastically praise them. Can’t believe I only have one left to go. I’ll really miss these characters when I’m done.
I think that’s all for now as this has gone a bit long! I really do little else besides write, read and watch stuff whilst I’m back in England - mad how much I’ve gotten through in three weeks.
For those that have made it this far I believe you deserve a reward. So, here is a never before seen panel by Shaky Kane from the final issue of Weird Work.
I’ll be back soon with more Burnt Barn Business.
Thanks for reading.
Jordan