Some people juggle geese...

Just another quick update to see what Jac's been up to! It's not all champagne and caviar for Jean & myself. We also spend time cracking the whip over our Canadian wünderkind. (There's an ümläüt in that wörd, rïght?)

Jac's been hard at work on a whole passel of projects. It seems the world noticed what we've known for a long time, JAC TAYLOR IS FREAKIN' AWESOME. She's juggling work these days like a court jester trying to impress a wicked evil king who is only impressed by people who can juggle goslings. 

But really, we both know which of her projects you care about, so here's a sneak peak of what's in store in ADA #2.

Ouch. That's gotta hurt. Luckily Brody's got a hard head.

Release the Kraken!

Guess what? We have a release date! And a confirmed upcoming convention!

The elves we keep chained to giant gears have been pushing their hardest to get ADA #2 done, and there's finally an end in sight! (For the issue, not the elves. They're bound for an eternity. Also, it turns out, elves sweat agave nectar.)

American Dark Age #2 hit a few bumps in the road, mostly due to growing pains. After the successful launch of #1, we found ourselves so busy with interviews, other work, and self-adulation that it's taken us a little longer than originally planned to finish this one. 

So when does the subsequent issue finally land? Did Ben ever find out what happened on his soap operas? Where did Brody go? What's with the owl? Find out June 25! Mark it on your calendars, folks, for it will be a magical day, indeed!

This is what you get when you Google image search June 25. 

"But wait," you say. "I cannot wait so long for another taste of Megabrain goodness... I shall be woeful, pining until that day."

FEAR NOT! You can taste us on May 12! 

...

That didn't come out right. 

Listen, what I was trying to say is we'll be hanging out at our table at the Asbury Park Comic Con! If you're in the area, you seriously don't want to miss this one. It's in a bowling alley. Really. I can't wait to show off how bad of a bowler I am. If you bowl a strike on demand, you'll win a free t-shirt!

In other news, production is coming along well. The Kickstarter rewards are nearly all in from our vendors, and they look great. I can't wait to hear your reactions when you get your mitts on this sweet swag. 

As always, we're dying to hear from you, so write to me. I'm still looking for one or two more letters for the letter column, so sound off and get your name in print!

Hey Kids, Talkies!

It's like ghosts screaming from inside a little box...

You've read our words, now hear people talk about us! Like, actual talky words for your ears!

Jean's deep gravelly tones creep up your back like a dead hand in this interview from our pals at ComicBooked.com!
http://podcasts.comicbooked.com/cbp-13-interview-with-jean-michel/
True story, Jean told me he was nervous during the whole thing because he was talking to a girl.

And a chance encounter at a greasy fast food joint turned fortuitous as Megabrain collided with Gavin from KGBCast!
It's all good, but skip to 0:32 minutes to hear the lads talk about me being a weirdo.
http://traffic.libsyn.com/kgbcast/KGBcast43.mp3

Be cool and follow both of these podcasts after you give them a listen.

Spoilers!

Oh man... I wish you guys could see the pages that Jac's knocking out. The finished art for American Dark Age #2 is starting to roll in, and I'm just more impressed with each page I see. I wanna show you so bad, but I really can't yet.

Y'know what? Don't tell Jean, but I'll give you a sneak preview.

Sshhh....

Who's that girl?

It's the Comic Book Grrl, Blake Northcott! 

Hey, how you doin'?

We sent Blake a copy of American Dark Age #1 to review on her excellent site, http://www.blakenorthcott.com/ . If you don't know her, this is from her own site:

Author. Twitter-er. Slayer of vampires (only the ones that sparkle). I love reading, cooking, traveling and mixed martial arts. Dislikes include Wheel of Fortune and Ke$ha.
I live in a small, quiet town west of Toronto, and at the moment I'm writing and blogging full-time.

How can you not like someone who hates Twilight enough to list it as a profession? 

This picture makes me feel very small, but I kind of like it.

I highly recommend following her on Twitter and Facebook, especially so you catch her review of ADA when it hits the interwebs. And of course, make sure you check out her book, Vs Reality, because it's knock your socks off cool. 

Chugging Along... Issue #2 Production update

Hoo boy, has it been busy behind the scenes here at Megabrain HQ! 

If you got here from googling "wet beavers" you may be at the wrong site.

With our funding now successful, it's full steam ahead. Let me elucidate what's been going on over here, and try to give out an idea of when some of the awesome will be in your hands. 

Jac's been burning the candle at all three ends to finish up the inks. Of course, she's no longer the insanely talented unknown we found in a lonely drainage ditch, mewling for milk on a rainy night all that time ago. (not a true story. Wanna know how I got these scars?) These days, she's an insanely talented up and comer, angrily demanding Scotch and poutine covered fries when she has a moment to breathe through the multiple projects she's working on. (completely true.) So when that's closer to done, we'll definitely give you a better idea of exactly when issue #2 is landing.

Of course, once she's done, there's printing, which takes about 2 weeks. I'm super excited with the new printer we're going with. They're a local company who's customer service is insanely good, and the samples they sent are outstanding. Once a contract is inked with them I'll post links. If you're looking to print your own comic (you totally should, it's a f&^%ing rush) then I'd use these guys in a heartbeat. If you need their name sooner, shoot me an email, k?

Speaking of vendors, our shirts and messenger bags ought to be heading to print any day now. Like last time around, we're working with the fine chaps at Silky's Brooklyn. Rob & Steve have been two tons of cool stuffed into a one ton bag, and you will love the quality of these products.

Stickers and posters are likewise getting sorted, and we should have the first round of rewards out to you pretty soon. The plan right now is to get out all the non-comic rewards first, and the comics following in a couple of weeks.

In non-reward news, Jean & I have been working on expanding our retail base. We're in 8 stores around the NYC area now, check if yours is on the list by clicking here. If your store isn't on the list (yet), then you're in a pickle, my friends. Luckily, we've provided a fork so you don't have to get brine all over your fingers to eat that delicious pickle. Just print out this handy dandy order form and bring it to you local peddler of funny books, slam it on the counter and demand some ADA!

Do it... do it now!

Also, we've been hitting the twitterverse and blogosphere, and are looking for comic and media podcasters who are masochistic enough to sit down and talk to us for a bit about our book. If you've got any suggestions, or you're a journalist/podcaster/stalker who wants some face time, drop us a line at.. uh... well at dropusaline@megabraincomics.com. Damn fine original email address, that is right there.

I'm still on the prowl for fan letters, fan art, letter column naming suggestions, and any other drunken proposals you send our way, so send those in to mike@megabraincomics.com, and I'll about getting them printed!

As always, keep an eye or ear on this space, Twitter, Facebook, Megabraincomics.com, the voices in your head, and the dirty, dirty rumor mill for news about American Dark Age. Until next time, my dear friends,

-Mike Vuolo, Editor-in-Chief

Fan Letters!

Did you love Issue #1? I knew it! So why not share some of that love and show off what a big fan you are by writing a letter to the editor! I'm looking for love letters, fan mail, illicit propositions, fan art, cosplay pics, dirty pics, or pretty much anything you want to send our way and have printed. 

Just shoot me an email at mike@megabraincomic.com and mark it "OK TO PRINT" in the subject line. 
While you're at it, do you have a great idea for a title for the letters page? We've got a couple of great submissions for that one already, but I want a few more to widen the field. Get them in by midnight on Friday, and this weekend we'll pick our favorites for you guys to vote on. 

Kickstart My Heart

Whoa... yeah! So there's 10 hours to go on our Kickstarter to fund printing of issue #2. This one has been a quiet rollercoaster for us. With issue #1, we publicized the hell out of it, we were at NYCC to celebrate, we begged, pleaded, tweeted, Facebooked (pretty sure that's not a verb), and yelled it from the rooftops.

This time around, not so loud, at least not til the end. I mean, it's issue #2, so there's less of a launch party vibe. But that doesn't mean that for us it hasn't been as nerve wracking and exciting. You know what? More so.

We were worried about a sophomore slump. We were worried about keeping the momentum. We were worried about looking unsuccessful if we were asking for pledges again. We were worried that we'd have less time to raise the cash. We were worried that we were going to have to only distribute digitally instead of print. We've been just a ball of nerves with all these things to think about.

But you... oh you... C'mere you! Give us a hug!

With just about 10 hours to go, we've exceeded our goal and are so close to $3500. And that means we're alive to deliver to you another pulse pounding, tear jerking, head scratching tale of Katherine Brody in the post-Blackout world. I can't wait til you read it.

No, screw that. You'll be able to read it online. I really can't wait til you smell it. Til you feel it in your hands, til you slide it into a board and bag and add it to the library of all the legendary comics and creators that keep you dreaming. Because that's what this is about.

It's about making comics.


Go see what the hell I'm talking about on our Kickstarter page. You've got 10 hours left to get in on the ground second floor

ADA #1, Kickstarter and NYCC!

Whoa.

It's been a busy summer for Megabrain. We've been so busy, it's been a little hard to find time to update the Blah too much, so here's a recap!

American Dark Age Issue #1 is all done, and it's off to the printers. We had a super successful Kickstarter Campaign and so those who backed the project should already have their own exclusive PDF copy of the comic in their inbox. In fact, we've already had a few responses! Here's a couple that'll make it into Issue #2's letter page:

Hi!


I loved the first issue! I hadn't heard of American Dark Age before backing the project so I didn't know what to expect... I was blown away by the story and the art! I really liked how you broke the chronology of the story to go back to how it all started. Now I HAVE to read issue #2, you created such a good cliffhanger with those last panels!


Also, I wanted to contribute a suggestion for your "letters page". I immediately thought of "Blackout box". Merging black box (from airplanes) with the blackout of the story and with mail box. Just a thought... good luck with the next issue!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Ashley R.

 Thanks Ashley! I love the idea for the letters page name. I can not wait to read what you think of issue #2...

This next one is from a US Navy officer currently serving overseas:

Megabrain,


Congratulations on ADA issue #1! I just finished reading my copy and have to say WELL DONE! When you put your lobes together, great things happen. Looking forward to issue #2!


Mark Y.
Norfolk, VA by way of Ridgewood, NY


P.S. Some ideas for your letters page, listed in order of personal appeal:


1. “Reality Bombs” – the tribute is self explanatory. In the context of the name of the letters page, “reality” implies those outside of the story; i.e. readers. And “bombs” are typically dropped, much like mail into a mailbox.
2a. “The Renaissance” – the end of the real life Dark Ages, and the letter page is, well… at the end. To many people the dark ages were a time of little scientific or cultural advancement and even less literary creativity. As letters can be a form of creative writing, the name seems to fit.
2b. “Age of Enlightenment” or “Enlightenment” – another name for the end of the Dark Ages. Same reason as above.
3. “Dear Dan…” – the guitar is a big part of Kat’s life, the name involves good old alliteration, and it’s a familiar format for Q&A.
4. “Broodings” or “Broodyngs” – as a play on Kat’s last name.

Mark, I'm loving these ideas. Everyone else who's read it yet, send in those letters and fan art to mike@megabraincomics.com and make sure you make the subject "OK TO PRINT".

Now, in other news....

We've got our booth for New York Comic Con! We'll be at booth #1915, so make sure to come and see us. That'll also be the first place to pick up a print copy of American Dark Age Issue #1 (if you haven't already ordered it via our Kickstarter Campaign. The whole crew will be on hand, so you can get yours signed at the booth by artist Jac Taylor and writer Jean Michel (and your bitchin' EIC too!)

We're working on a web store so you can order our comic through our site, as well as other places where you'll be able to buy Megabrain Comics. So keep your eyes on this space for more news in the coming days!

Don't forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook!

Excelsi- no, wait, that's taken.

I'll have to think of something cool to say at the end of these things...

-Mike Vuolo
Editor in Chief

Who Wants to Read American Dark Age, Before Everyone Else?

Megabrain Needs You, Megafan!

Calling All Megafans; Issue One of ADA is almost here.

Jacqueline Taylor is diligently sketching her heart out on the last few pages and we are so excited for you to get a hold of it, but as we all know, comic book production costs money.

If any of you can dig deep and donate whatever you can to the Megafund, we will be able to get this book off the ground sooner than later.

Anyone who donates $5 or more will get an exclusive digital, advanced copy of the book next month, to read before anyone else as an incentive and $12 or more gets you the digital copy and when the hard copy is released, we will send you your very own copy of issue one right to your mailbox.

To donate to the Megafund, all you have to do is go to our website here:
http://megabraincomics.com/
and click the "Chipin" button on the left side of the screen. You'll then be taken to a secure site where you can make your donation.

All of us here at Megabrain truly appreciate all of your support and are working hard to deliver the best product we can for you, our Megafans.

Thank you, very much!

Welcome, Megafan!

I know, I know. I've been a horrible friend. Haven't been keeping you abreast of anything going on in the lobes of the Megabrain.


Well, fret not. From here on out, it's you an me, chum. You will be the first to know what's going on at Mega-HQ and to show you that I'm on the level, I'm gonna let you in on a little secret. Yeah.


That first issue of American Dark Age. You ain't gonna get to read the rest of it till MoCCA Fest 2011 (April 9th-10th) where the Megabrain will be in attendance selling pre-releases to the masses. 


After that, you'll have to wait till the full print run in October when you can get a copy from us at NY Comic Con from the 13th-16th. 


Yeah, yeah, don't gimme no lip. If you were the type of person who'd be happy with a mediocre book with mediocre art, then sure we'd kick it all out for you in the next day or two, but I know you. 
You want a book that will make your nipples hard and your toenails sweat and that my friend is why we are takin' no shortcuts.


It's all for you. 


Till the next time, keep that grey matter flexin'
THE BENJ