Comic Books and the Christian Religion

One of the aspects of comic books I find interesting is how much some have in common with the Christian Bible. No doubt the Bible inspired some writers. I can understand why.

• Mythology. Gods, devils, heroes, villains, supernatural powers, etc..
• Such stories gain a following and read religiously.
• Open for interpretation.
• Contains a moral to the stories.
• Stories to inspire and to sometimes strike fear.

Further, the stories gain devout followers that are willing to devote a percentage of their income to it. These followers gather at their LCS and attend conventions and book clubs. And will vigorously defend their favorite publisher (book), character, theory, and arc.

In a sense, comics are a part of a religious movement. Many people have been inspired by comics to do great things. To find inner strength and to help their fellow man. To understand that there is a battle between good and evil, and we are called to pick aside. Many comics provide a message of hope and defeating evil. 

Both the Bible and comics contain "headspace." Headspace is room for you to use your imagination to fill in the blanks and expand the story. For example, the Bible is silent on the years of Jesus' life from the ages of 12 to 30. You can fill that missing time by using your imagination.

Perhaps:

At the age of 16, Jesus came upon a group of bullies. Jesus looked upon them and spoke, "You have sinned against God and man this day you shall die." The bullies ran, but all died that day just as the Lord had spoken.

Or:

Jesus caused a great stir among the people. Everyone in Bethlehem knew he was the Son of God and was fearful of him. They gathered their money and gifts as an offering to him. In so doing, he would allow them to live.

You are free to use your imagination to fill in the missing pieces. And I enjoy books that devise parts wide open for your imagination to run wild. Meaning you can have a different story every time you read. Maybe this why the Bible has so many interpretations?

I had a friend that told me, "I was born a Baptist, and I will die a Baptist." I asked him if that was on his birth certificate. It wasn't. But loyalty to a company, can in a way be the product of the home environment. If your parents or a loved one is predominate Marvel or DC, chances are so will you. 

The "Big Two" dominates the shelves at the LCS and have mass marketing. We see them in movies, on TV, clothes, toys, games, ETC. The "Big Two" have a smart marketing strategy that continues to gain more followers and more revenue for their respected companies. 

They are like the Catholic church of comic book publishers. They have a lot of power and wealth to sustain them. 

Companies like Image, Dynamite, Dark Horse, Boom!, Valliant, etc., are like the Baptist, Methodist, Protestants, Pentecostals, and Lutherans of comic books. They are known and have accumulated a following and are doing well. 

Then you have the Indies. Some Independently owned churches find it difficult to keep their doors open. Indie Comics also struggle to keep going. Like the churches, they are mostly local. [We have already talked about that.] 

You can compare underground comics to cults. [In my opinion, all organized religion is a cult.] and Web Comics to Cyber Churches. 

One big difference I suppose between church and comics is, faith and worship. {I have seen some fans that made me wonder if they may be worshipping a character}. We must have faith in the comic book writers and artists. You know when seeing names like Stan Lee, Chris Clairmont, Alen Moore, Rob Liefield, Steve Ditko, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Jim Lee, Gail Simone, Jack Kirby, G. Willow Wilson, etc. you are in for a treat. I imagine Christians have favorite authors and books as well. When a preacher says, "Turn to John chapter 3," some get excited. 

I have traveled a lot across this country. I have seen many empty church houses and empty LCS. I look at those buildings, and I can almost hear the echoes from the past. I can imagine all the happy faces and hearts filled with joy that no longer darken its door. 

We must support our LCS and Indie Comics. If not, they may become just another memory. 

Local Book Store Supports Omen Comics

Many Indie Comic Book publishers have used different methods of getting their books out to the people. From LCS ambassadors, campaigns on various websites, Go Fund Me, ads, greet and shares, ETC..

Today, we are happy to write that a local Book Store has decided to support Omen Comics. Here is the announcement:
"Omen Comics doesn't have agents or employees beyond the creative team. All of the footwork, hustle & PR is done directly by the owner/publisher Michael Nunneley. The first place beyond the digital markets that Michael Nunneley pitched Omen Comics to was a local book store in Susanville, CA called Margie's Book Nook. Since that day Margie's has been selling Omen Comics like hotcakes to the locals - 50+ comic in 2019 so far! Inspired by the quality of the comics and the sales of the books Margie's Book Nook has decided to start investing in the production of Omen Comics starting with Omen #2! That means that Omen #2, regardless of the Indiegogo campaigns results, will be funded and in your mailboxes!"



That is great news indeed. We need all the Omenaughts to unite and continue to spread the word about Omen. And of course to support Omen in any way possible.

Stay Ominous Omenaughts
@budkelly3

Breaking News: Gender Swap and Switching Authors

BREAKING NEWS: Mike DeCosta, the creator and writer of Eliteware Comics will no longer be writing Dragon Girl/Albino Warrior.

This came as a surprise to me. It was announced back on June, 30 that DeCosta joined the Omen Crew to work on this project. It was then announced that the original title character would be changed. Dragon Boy became Dragon Girl. Michael Nunneley, the owner and creator of Omen Comics was/is pleased with this change. Bringing more diversity to the Omenverse with a concept that promises to be exciting and a highly anticipated new series. Nunneley will resume writing the title effective immediately. The release schedule for the title has not changed however. It will still be released following Guardians of Elayim #1 by Steve Sellers.

The Omenverse is expanding and we anxiously wait to see what effect Blood Moon Fever has on the new characters.

Stay Ominous Omenaughts!

@budkelly3

Finding The Right Book For You

Have you ever heard comic books referred to as "kiddie books?" Those that say that is likely someone who hasn't read a comic or are insecure in their intellectualness. Movies are rated G-XXX. Comic books are rated AA-MA. If you spend time looking for a book that you will enjoy, you will find it.

Comic book genres are also much like the movies.

• Comedy
• Superhero [action]
• Kids
• Horror
• Sci Fi
• Romance
• Westerns
• Thrillers
• Mystery
• Mature Readers/pornographic

These include subgenres as well. Only someone that doesn't know or understands comics would think they're kiddie books.

Next, we need to understand the classes of comics.

• Mainstream; are a weekly, bi-weekly, monthly published books; popular.
• Indie; are a small independently published [self-published] comic book.
• Underground; are small self-published comic books. Underground comics depict social issues, sexuality, drug use, and mature content.
• Webcomics are comic books exclusively published and read online.

These are the basics everyone should know.

Different strokes for different folks.

Today, there are more comics and ways to read them than when I was growing up. I would go the market or filling station and select a book or two off a spinner rack. The spinner rack had a limited selection, and sometimes you could not complete the series. One month you might purchase the first book in the series, but you may not find the second the following month. Online shopping has made it easier to get our books. But the internet has also complicated it by giving us a broader selection.

If you need help, your Local Comic Shop will help you find the books that suit you best. Be informed and choose wisely. If you do, you will find the right book for you.

@budkelly3

Why Indie Comics?

Why support indie comics? That depends on the individual. Some like the freedom, others may be, getting in on the ground floor of something new. Sadly not all-new comics and publishers and artist become the next TMNT. Others like to root for the underdog. As I said in a previous blog, I want to see as many as possible realize their dream.

Do you remember Crossgen Comics? I thought they would succeed. Sigel was an entertaining read. Double Take was another I thought would last for many years to come. The Slab was one of the better horror comics. As said before, you must be willing to pay the price. Sustained success doesn't come easy. It takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and suffering for your art.

Unpopular opinion. Once a comic is distributed by DCD [Diamond Comic Distributors, inc.] you no longer are independent but have gone mainstream. My definition of Indie Comics is you are working and distributing your material independently of the mainstream. However, I think the goal is to be read by as many people as possible. Some have a small market that receives their books. Therefore, many miss out on these books.

New England Comics and Penny-Farthing Press are good examples of this. However, N. E. C. has a well-known character under their control; The Tick. So small distribution doesn't mean unpopular. The Tick had its TV series twice. All it takes sometimes is having your character seen by the right people.

Thus, you need to market the hell out of your books. The artist and writer need to utilize Social Media daily and get a following of loyal and dedicated fans. Further, doing press releases, videos, being reviewed, promotions, and guest appearances at LCS [Local Comic Shops]. ETC.

I like what Alterna Comics has done. You can purchase their books at Sheetz. Also, they print their inside pages on newsprint. Printing their books on newsprint cuts down cost and has that old fashion feel and yes, smell..

TKO Comics has revolutionized comics. You purchase the complete six issues series at once. Plus, you can read the first issue for free. Also, they sell directly to readers.

Technology has made it possible for almost anyone to self-publish their comic books. If you remember, back in the 1980s, the market was flooded with new publishers. The Boom and Bust of the 1980s spelled doom for many publishers.

Comic book sales are down. There are plenty of theories as to why they are down. I don't think there is a simple answer to be found. I would say, the flood of self-published books are not responsible. We buy self-published off the internet, not at the store. So there is no relation between the two. Though, some bigger publishers are nipping away at the Big Two. This doesn't explain the decline in sales at LCS. The reason folks are not buying as many books now, has many variables.

Investing in comics has become a risky venture. It is hard to predict if a comic will become the next [Superman] Action Comics #1. Not that it was ever easy. So investing may not be viable for everyone, but purchasing for the love of comics will never go out.

Some of my favorite Indie comics:

1. Omen
2. Aspen
3. Last Gasp
4. Zenescope
5. Vault

Some bigger publishers:

1. Image
2. Boom!
3. Valiant
4. Dark Horse
5. IDW

What are some of your favorite indies? Use the comment box below or Tweet me @budkelly3.

The Price

In the song, "The Price" by Twisted Sister, we're asked the question, "Makes me wonder if it's worth it to carry on?" Are we willing to pay the price to see our dream come true?  Are we willing to endure the hard times? Many have dreamt about becoming a comic book artist or writer only never to see it come true. As in all entertainment, it is hard to get your big break.

It takes hard work, dedication, perseverance, talent, and a bit of luck. One artist comes to mind; Greg Boone. Greg may be best known for his work in the Gannett News Service, Batman Annual #13, and the UFO Mafia. But in 1986, he self-published "Miss Ma'am's Intergalactic Fried And Superhero Club." Read his words on the inside front cover.

This comic was a one and done. The color copies never came to be. While it may be the end for this title, it wasn't the end for Mr. Boone.


Many struggles in comics, but are you willing to pay the price?  The geek community supports one another. The reason I want to help as many as I can is that I let my dreams slip away. I can't undo what has happened, but I can do my best to help someone else. Please Support Indie Comics. When you do, you are not just ensuring great books get published, but making dreams come true.

Here is the cover and samples from the inside pages. Miss Ma'am Intergalactic Fried Chicken And Superhero Club, September, 1986. Star-Shepherd Ltd.

Sorry for the piss poor quality of the pics.

Follow me on Twitter, @budkelly3

And The Kitchen Sink Too

Within the world of comic books, one is expected to be either Marvel or DC. Why? Sure, the majority of the comic book collection I own is dominated by them. But, I love underground and indie comics. The Big Two sometimes has that corporate control feel. Freedom is somewhat stifled and censored. The Marvel Max series was great. They were more adult-oriented. I believe art should be without borders. Self-expression should be without limits. That is why I love Indies and Underground Comics.

My art influenced by comics like the Freak Brothers (Gilbert Shelton) and Denis Kitchen. I like the expressionism and exaggerated forms. Heavy innuendo and what I call headroom is evident on the pages. Headroom is where the writer leaves it up to the reader to use their imagination to fill in blanks. They don't force their perspective onto the readers.

Denis Kitchen started to self-publish his comics in 1969. The age of self-expressionism was all the rage within the Hippie Movement. Freak Brothers took full advantage of the "Anything Goes" mantra. But Denis struck a chord with me. His relationship with Will Eisner helped [IMO] form even mainstream comics.

To make this story short, one of my favorite comics from Kitchen Sink Comix is Megaton Man. Issue Number 5, 1985, maybe my all-time favorite. The exaggerated physical appearances Megaton Man and Rex Rigid juxtaposed against Stella Starlight are wonderfully done. Megaton's small wrists make me smile every time. His chin is much like Jay Leno's chin. I enjoy the comical imagery playing against real world imagery. However, the cartoon style doesn't take away from the writing. They work well together.

We get two splash pages side-by-side; pages 21 and 22. And we get Stella narrating her feelings: "My life was a nightmarish lie, but I didn't have the guts to end it, or the guts to change it. So, I stayed with the group, but my heart just wasn't in it anymore. I was too weak, on the inside, to do anything. But hang on to what I had." Stella in the foreground, while chaos and monsters are behind her. Powerful.

I respect the Hell out of guys and gals like Denis Sink, Todd McFarlane, Gail Simone, Bill Finger, Gilbert Shelton, Marie Severin, Julie Doucet, and many more. Too many to list. Another I need to mention that I have recently come to know, Michael Nunneley.

In closing, I want to share just a few pics from Megaton Man #5 here.

If you haven't read Megaton Man, or the no longer [end 1999] Kitchen Sink Comix, please do so if you can. Support Indie and Underground comics. Give it your all and throw in the Kitchen Sink too. 

Sample from My Book, Mountain Voices: The Language and People of Appalachia

A few years ago I wrote a book with the thought of helping folks understand the Appalachian Dialect. Growing up in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, it was hard enough being a nerd but being a hillbilly nerd was worse. Hill folk are mostly blue collar rednecks. Reading car magazines and manuels was the literary masterpieces they knew well. Reading comics and such made my life a living hell. I did not fit in anywhere. Being bullied and ostracized from my schoolmates was a daily occurance. I grew to resent being a Hillbilly. The nerd part I felt there was no changing that. I fell in love with Heavy Metal and became a metal head. I rejected the Mountain Speak for modern slang. I became wild and quite the hellraiser. Thus I took the nickname Hellbilly. After I grew up and began reflecting on my youth; I realized the language and people were not the problem [not including the dumbass bullies] it was me. I am proud of my Tsalagi [Cherokee] heritage (yes, that is where I got the name Tsalagi Hellbilly) so why not the Hillbilly side? I researched it and found there was and is a lot to be proud of. The language and ways are dying out so I felt I needed to preserve it the best I could. Here is a sample...

CHAPTER TWO

Not so Stereotypical, but are Traditionalists, and Superstitious

The people in this area has long been misunderstood, and culminated by the upper echelon, and in pop culture. In 1830, King Louis Phillippe called them, “The scum of America.” In 1935, British Historian Arnold Toynbee, called them, “barbarians.” And if I were to ask you to describe a hillbilly, you may think of Snuffy Smith or the Clampett family. I bring up this topic because, Appalachians are often referred to as hillbillies or mountain people. There are some Appalachian folks fully embrace, and proudly wear the moniker. But others decry it as a derogatory epithet.

For some Jaspers, familiar only with the popularized belie depictions and stereotypical images of dumb hillbillies glorified in such fictional characters as: Snuffy Smith, Lil Abner, Mammy Yokum, and Jed Clampett, will generally conjure up stereotypical images of an ignorant, unkempt, dirty, toothless, inbred person eating roadkill or from garbage cans, when asked to describe the people that call Appalachia home. Such unsubstantiated and defamatory inferences needs to be eradicated from our minds.

One of the most common misconceptions is that all, or majority of Appalachians are dumb hicks. This is a unmerited obloquy. One's ethnicity and genetics does not automatically determine intelligence. There is also environmental influences for phenotypic variations in intelligence within any given population. Further, intelligence must be cultivated and nourished with culture, environment and, educational resources and materials. I, for one do not fully subscribe to Machiavellian Intelligence Hypothesis. (human intelligence evolved to outwit other humans in social situations) But environment and social constructs has and does play a role in the development of intelligence.

Despite the stigma, challenges, and dangers of being raised in Appalachia, there have been many famous scientists, authors, poets, musicians, actors and actresses, inventors, entrepreneurs, athletes, scholars, justice workers, and heroes were born in and are otherwise from the area. To name a few: poet and author, James Agee; poet and author Marilou Awiakta; forensic scientist, Bill Bass; the famous railroad worker,John Henry; author, Napoleon Hill; novelist and autobiographer, Alex Haley; actress Ashley Judd; singer and songwriter, Loretta Lynn; singer and actor, Roy Rogers.

My point being: a group of people cannot be lumped together and labeled as smart or dumb; good or bad, etc. There is good and bad in all peoples. We need to break the trend of stereotyping people based on ethnicity, creed, nationality, sex, and station in life. It was Martin Luther King Jr. that said we ought to judge a man by his character.... And you will be hard pressed to find any better people than Appalachians.

Traditionalists, and Superstitious

Along with being a rebellious and stubborn people, we are also somewhat superstitious. In some ways this vintage style of English reflects the outlook and spirit of the people who speak it; and, we find that not only is the language Elizabethan, but that some of the ways these people look at things are Elizabethan. Many superstitions exist here. Such as in some homes, when a death occurs all the mirrors and pictures are turned to the wall, or covered with a blanket. This belief goes far back in history. It was once thought that the mirror reflected the soul of the person looking into it and if the soul of the dead person saw the soul of one of his beloved relatives reflected in the mirror, he might take it with him, so his relatives were taking no chances.

Other superstitions such as the belief that if a bird accidentally flies into a house, or flutters at a window, a member of the household will die is very common. Also, cedar trees are not to be planted on one's property. The reason seems to stem from the conviction held by a number of people that if someone plants a cedar he will die when it grows large enough to shade his coffin. And if you are walking with someone and you split a pole, it brings you bad luck. This means one walks on left side of the pole and the other the right, so the pole passes between you. If this happens you must walk around the pole in full circle or be cursed.

These superstitions may sound silly to some, but they are taken very seriously by many Appalachians. I believe these stem from a deep rooted fear of change. I am not saying that everyone in the region suffers from Metathesiophobia, but unequivocally, fear of change plays a role in the preservation of the language.

Living in isolation makes one live depended upon themselves. Grocery stores may be many miles off into the nearest town. So learning to live off the land is vital. Grow your own food, hunt, fish, and gather the rest that cannot be grown in a garden. Doctors and medical care may be hours away. So there is a dependency upon home remedies, and/or Granny's Magic.

Granny's Magic (folk magic), are traditions passed down through generations. It blends old Scotch-Irish magical traditions with old Cherokee Native American practices. Some have adopted the term “witch” but again, many traditionalists are superstitious and will stay away from anyone calling themselves a witch.

Granny's Magic is widely accepted more as remedies than actual magic. Some examples:

For Poison Ivy rash: Bathe in oatmeal while rubbing a blue stone over the sores.

For Wart Removal: rub the wart with a half a tater (potato) then bury said tater in the ground.

For Bee Stings: remove the stinger and wash the area with vinegar.

For Headaches: rub mint in the cup of your hands.

Some common ailments, and natural occurrences are viewed as omens, or a foreshadow. Such as itching. What area that itches could mean something is, or is about to happen. Examples:

Left palm: You are about to receive some money.

Right palm: You will shake hands with a stranger.

Back of hand: You will give away some money.

Left eye: You will be made happy.

Right eye: You will be made sad or angry.

Also burning sensation could have meaning. Such as burning ears could mean someone is talking about you. If you correctly think of the person that is talking about you, your ears will quit burning.

These, with many other traditions have survived through the years largely due to the sheer grit and determination of the people.

One tradition that has helped immensely with the preservation of culture, history, and language is music. Many oral traditions are kept alive through song. It is a custom to play away misery. Songs such Tom Dooley, Down by the Ohio, Ballad of John Henry, Sixteen Tons, give a glimpse of life and times living in Appalachia. Still today the hills, and mountains ring with merriment and rhythm of the Appalachian people. From front porches,to churches, to barns, to camp meetings, folks still sing, play and dance the pain of life away.

You can find more information on the book by clicking the link below.

Mountain Voices

Yes, Mike Slusher is a spuedoname. Maybe one day I will share that story with y'all.

Words Are Super

Words are powerful. They can cause pain, sorrow, anger, happiness, comfort, anger, strife, stress, frustration, and run the gambit of emotions. Words can, in a way heal and kill. When hurting, a gently spoken word can heal our distress. They can harm our reputation, lead to conflicts, fighting, and even to war.

Words have no power of their own. They create laws, governments, relationships, create worlds within books, and they transmit information about the world around us.  The power is not in them but the receiver. We hear, or read these bits of information, we process that information, and our brain then sends out a response. How we respond is often the result of programming we received from other prior communications. For example: when I was growing up, I was told not to use curse words. However, dad used curse words every day. Somehow, these words I heard my dad speak were wrong for me. The first word I spoke was a cuss word. But yet if I spoke like dad, I was punished. As I grew older, those words were taboo; off-limits. Talk about a double standard.

Let me be clear; I hate censorship. It can stifle the creativity of the artist. I think of all the hell Lenny Bruce went through and it pisses me off. We have been programmed from a child to believe that certain words are wrong to use. George Carlin spoke of this in his Seven Words bit. There are no "bad words" only context.

Comics had the "Comics Code Authority." A committee became the moral compass for the readers. After all, kids did not receive proper home training, and adults were too stupid to know right from wrong. So we needed to be told. Talk about bullshit.

Still, to this day, people are afraid of certain words. They believe, by hearing, or reading these words, they corrupted their minds. Spoken words are no more than vibrations of air that our mind's interpretation. When we read words, our brain comprehends the text based on what it has learned. We are a product of conditioning and programming. Few have either the skills of critical or forward-thinking. Schools are factories that pump out programmed robots that dare not question authority.

It is my personal opinion that comic books should encourage critical thinking. We need to question authority. Preachers, tell you you not to lie and steal while lying and stealing. That is just one example of the double standards in our society. From the outhouse to the White House, everyone it seems lies and steals. That is where comics should come in and say, You have a hero within. Stand up to these villains and fight for truth and fairness.

Comic books to me tell more than just a good story. They have [or should] a message that inspires us to make a stand. When we see injustice, we need to fight against it. We can't be a Frank Castle and turn our streets into War Zones. But we can be heroes. Why do superheroes exist? Because the authorities and laws are not enough. Our cities and towns need people unafraid to stand up and be counted. Superheroes do exist in our world. They may not wear a cape and a mask, but they do exist. You can find them in hospitals, schools, outreach programs, and average Joes walking the streets.

Be inspired and tap into your superpower. You may not be able to fly or swing from a "web." But you can make a difference. The power to do extraordinary things lies within ordinary people.

Looking into New Worlds

The world you create is the world you become as a god. A world of hopes, dreams, and imagination. This may be most true when it comes to comic book universes. The artists and writers are ever looking through the lens to the countless worlds beyond the thin veil of fantasy and gaze through time and space.

Each time I read a comic or graphic novel, I feel I have been transported to another world. Peering through the lens at something these gods [creators] bring into existence. In last night's episode of Legion, David taught his father [Charles Xavior] how to pull something from his mind into reality within the astral plane. This is a beautiful metaphor of these creators bringing forth from their minds onto comic book pages worlds for us to explore.

As a child, I created many worlds from my imagination. At times I would lose myself within that world to hide from the pain of reality. I loved to draw and write, but sadly, it wasn't enough to keep the pain away. My worlds went from vibrancy to darkness and dread. A supervillain like Galactus was devouring and killing all within. This supervillain was Depression along with his heralds, Drugs, and alcohol.

But my love for comics never went away. If I could, I would spoof Dee Snyder's song, "For The Love Of Metal" and call it "For The Love Of Comics." I continued to collect and deal comics pretty successfully. Watching new worlds being lost and others birthed into existence. One that I am especially excited about is, The Omenverse.  Check out the preview pages below.

This is a small glimpse into this universe. If want to know more about...

 Feel free to ask below. Also, any comments you wish to make is welcomed.

Bud

EXCLUSIVE! Interview with Michael Nunneley.

This is such an honor to conduct an interview with you. Howbeit, via email, it is nonetheless an honor.

1. Begin with the most obvious question, how did you get into writing/creating comics?

• The easiest answer is that I was "hired" to create a character called Omen and build a universe around him. I have been writing characters since I was 12 so this was no problem for me - I had tons of material ready to go. But, I was ignorant of how things should be done & I didn't get paid right away because I was willing to wait until the Kickstarter they were going to launch. 3 issues into writing the Omen title they quit and refused to pay me for my work. SO I walked with the rights to my characters, including Omen, and I made lemonade out of the lemons I was dealt. I started my own label and called it "Omen" Comics to spite those that had spurned me. I reworked the Omen title and my other characters to fit in a universe all my own and thus was Omen Comics born in August 2018.

2. Early influences?

• Literary influences would be: JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis, Greek, Norse, Egyptian & Celtic mythology, Dante Alighieri & John Milton. I spent a lot of time reading up until I was 16. But I also watched a lot of horror, sci-fi and action movies growing up in the 80s & 90s and I must give credit there. A Nightmare On Elm St, Star Trek, Friday the 13th, Alien, Star Wars, Predator, Event Horizon, Pumpkinhead ...Lots of good movies - too many to list here. 

3. How did the union of Nunneley and Sellers come about?

• I used to run the Chico Comics Page - an Indie Comics Online Magazine - and Steve Sellers was one of my better review writers. I felt like he understood storytelling and comics and I knew he also did some writing of his own (Blitz). I had created the plot & characters for White Druid/Michael Nero but I just couldn't quite get the character personalities & voice patterns down to a way that I liked. So I asked if he was interested in writing about a punk rock-Sherlock Holmes type of character & a Celtic deity. He agreed and out came White Druid & Michael Nero #1. I was so impressed that I hired him to write another title: Guardians of Elayim.

4. Are you intimidated by the Big Two and their dominance of the industry? 

• No. I am not here to compete. I have wanted to make comics since I was 12 years old (1988). I just want to tell my stories & get them out there for people to read because it's a lifelong dream of mine. Success to me is based on doing my best and leaving it all in the ring. I can walk away from a finished project proud, regardless of the outcome, if I can honestly say I did all I could.

5. We see publishers like Image, Boom, Dark Horse, and Valiant nipping away at the Big Two, is that what you hope for Omen/Revelation Comics to catch up to them?

• I'm more hoping for a cult following like Mignola's Hellboy or even something more exclusive like the Jhonen Vasquez's Johnny the Homicidal Maniac. I think my biggest aspiration is to have Omen Comics be self sustaining.  

6. Are there more titles coming from Omen soon?

• Yes there are! Right now Omen #2 is on Indiegogo to get printed, and White Druid/Michael Nero #2 and Gallows Men #2 are coming immediately after that. But then you going to see 3 more brand new titles within the Omenverse: 1) Guardians of Elayim #1 about time travelers from the Roman Era tasked with protecting the Elayim Tree 2) Dragon Girl/Albino Warrior #1 about a girl with MD who is given a serum that cures her muscular dystrophy but makes her half dragon & her mystical martial arts mentor Pai Lung who is the greatest martial artist to ever live. 3)There are several side stories and back stories that need to be told to fully understand the Omenverse and its characters. Collecting these short stories & mini-series will be a title released only in graphic novel trade paperback form called Dark Oracles.

7. What can we expect from Revelation comics moving forward?

• For right now, Revelation Comics is an imprint label for telling the Blitzverse stories by Steve Sellers. But I hope that it will expand to multiple creators who have their own shared universes. Each new universe would have it's own heading like Omenverse, Blitzverse, etc..

8. Is Blitzverse separate from Omenverse? 

• Yes they are entirely separate. I have told Steve that under the heading of The Blitzverse he could have any universe he wanted to have without having it be a part of Omenverse. Mostly because Omen Comics are superhero/horror type of stuff and Blitzverse is more of a light hearted superhero universe. 

    If so, are there plans for a crossover? 

• No. the types of stories in the two universes would be too conflicting for a cohesive and fluid story.

9. With a Superhero mystery comic do you think it needs to be closer to Detective Comics or Nancy Drew or a mix a both? [This was answered by Steve Sellers, the creator and owner of the Blitzverse.]

• Superhero mystery comic... I'm leaning somewhere between the two. I'm not really aiming for Batman, as that's more Holmesian mystery and a lot more urban. I'm really thinking more in terms of other kinds of mystery outside of superhero comics... things like Fletch, or Veronica Mars style PI stuff, it's just that the mysteries have a lot more in terms of superpowers.

     And is there room left to explore this genre without stepping on Batman's cape?

• There may be a dash of Batman, but that's not really the intent. I think you can explore a lot in terms of mystery outside of the usual genres, especially if you dig into other mystery subgenres that haven't been touched as much.  

     Can you give an update on Blitz?

• As far as the status of Blitz, the first issue is written. I can say that the storyline involves the return of an old enemy, who will be uncovering a dangerous old secret the city's been hiding for decades. You will see Blitz's origin in flashbacks, in parallel with the present-day mystery.  

     What is the creative process of these characters? Does Awosika Tosin have any say in the appearance of the character?

• With the creative process, I created the Blitzverse characters many years ago, and I have a pretty set idea of how they look in my head. That said, Awosika does have room to develop his own interpretation of them, particularly in terms of costumes and how the setting looks on the page.  

10. Had your time doing reviews help form the designs and understanding the trends within comics?

• It helped a lot as far as understanding what could be done with comics and how to do it. I learned strategies on marketing, self-publishing and what I would need to prepare myself for if I wanted to work in this industry. I saw what worked and what didn't as far as storytelling in comics. But I owe credit to Terry Mayo & Scott Tipton (who I met during my Chico Comics Page years) for their advice on writing comics & tricks of the trade - their advice has helped me improve as a comic book writer quite a bit.  But as far as trends go I can't say that I'm all that knowledgeable. Especially since I mostly read indie comics at the Chico Comics Page - which tend to be more unique.

11. Can you explain the importance of Creator-owned comics?

• A writer pours their very souls into their creations - as do all creators I suppose. To create something is in many ways like having a child - though not quite as intense. It's a laborious process full of ups and downs and nights of doubt, but you are so happy and in love with it when it's over that it's all worth it. Only the creator truly knows & loves the creation and only the creator can nurture and guide it to proper maturity. 

12. Would you like to see your characters in a movie? If so, which ones do you feel translate best to the big screen?

• I would love that!! That would be a lot of fun. I think Omen would probably translate best into a live action movie. However I think Dragon Girl/Albino warrior could work well too. But I think animation would work well with Steve's title White Druid/Michael Nero & Guardians of Elayim.

    Do you see the Comic Book Based movies and series as something that will burnout?

• It will eventually lose some of its luster I think. But there's just too many geeks out there for it to die out now.

13. Are you concerned that print comic books may one day cease to be? Replaced by digital?

• Not really. If demand for printed books stopped it would cut down on my costs considerably. lol But I'll never stop printing Omen Comics for my fans and patrons - plus I want my own printed copies!

15. Is the price point for most new prints ranging anywhere from $3.99 - $8.00 [more for variant covers] affecting the sales or loss of interest, something else?

• I have never been a fan of variant covers myself. But to be fair I've always been more of a reader than a collector. 

    Which is better, mainstream, indies, or underground comics?

• That's entirely subjective. But for me, I tend to prefer Indie comics. However we're not exclusive. lol

17. For those that may not have read Omen Comics yet, can you sell them on it? [I mean I am already sold but for those potential new Omenaughts out there.]

• The Omenverse is an amalgamation of mythologies & legends from around the globe seasoned with classic religious literature like The Divine Comedy & Paradise Lost. Then it's skewed by elements of horror, graphic violence & eschatology to a twisted alternate reality where madness is the door to cleansing our perceptions.

18. Where can folks purchase Omen?

• Amazon Kindle, comichaus.com, drawmeincomics.com, comixcentral.com, Indiegogo & patreon.com/OmenComics or physical copies can be obtained by contacting me through my email directly (comicsomen@gmail.com).

19. What new characters are you most excited about introducing?

• I'm really excited to introduce a villain named Mad-Man that you'll meet in Omen #2. He's def going to be a challenge for Omen. I'm also pretty excited about Dragon Girl & the Albino Warrior. That's just flat out going to be fun.

20. Anything else you want folks to know?

• Thank you very much for your interest in Omen Comics. And thank you Bud for the interview. For all of you curious about Omen Comics, send me an email and I'll shoot you a digital copy of your choice for free so you can check us out. Qapla! Slainte! Skol! Nanu Nanu!

Thank you, Michael Nunneley for your time.