Issue 33: Upcoming Events, Commissions, + New Comic Scripts!
Upcoming Events, Commissions, + New Comic Scripts
Graphic Design by Toby Fan | @astrovvitch
Hello hello, friends and good folk!
Just a reminder that next week, I’ll be moderating this panel Beginning to End: A Creative Process Conversation on May 24 at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET! You can add it (and the other wonderful NIF events!) to your calendar on that landing page.
I’ll be talking with the delightful Ashanti Fortson, Jasmine Walls, Kody Okamoto, and Blue Delliquanti all about one of my favorite topics— their creative processes! If you’re nosy like me, join us in the Zoom room the day of the event where you can chime in with your questions for these seriously cool cartoonists.
Can’t make it that day? It’ll be up on the Co-op’s YouTube for you later! You can also catch up on the other NIF events that have been recorded and shared there, and I highly recommend that you do— they’re chock full of interesting and informative details!
Two of my favorites so far have been Melo/Drama: A Dramatic Tension Workshop with Rivkah LaFille and How to Print a Comic: A Prepress Panel with Joan Zahra Dark, Carina Taylor, and Hye Mardikian. I tell you, after that second one, I went through and updated all my comic page templates— thank goodness I went to that when I did because I would have been VERY sad later on if I hadn’t 😂
Also, a quick note that I’ll be sending one of those rare third newsletters on the day of our event as a reminder and introducing the fine folks I’ll be speaking with.
IN THE PRESS
You can check out my NIF Interview with the Co-op Journal, where you’ll get to read a bit about my approach to my work:
“What other work are your comics in conversation with? Could be any medium, inspirational or bad work that you’re kind of responding to.
JE: A lot of my work is in conversation with both my personal experiences in life and with the mainstream and societal norms that influence those experiences. It’s often about challenging accepted narratives in some way, whether it’s about exploring the impact of those attitudes or outright defying them.
A lot of societal change comes gradually– painfully slowly– until all of a sudden, it seems to be bursting out everywhere all at once as a result of those years of smaller efforts put forth by lots of people in lots of ways, and I think of my work as one of those small things that I can do to help that along.“
…as well as this incredibly cheesy, 100% sincere comment I made without a drop of irony:
“What would you say to someone considering joining the Co-op?
JE: There are a lot of ways to give into hopelessness and despair. It's easy. It's designed to be easy. But you know what else is easy? Joining and being part of the Co-op.
You get to make your Co-op experience what you want it to be for yourself and for others. You get to help create a space that's affirming, welcoming, and proactive about the things you care about. Not to be cringe, but that's fucking magical. Come make magic with us.“
IN THE STUDIO
Believe it or not, I’ve made several mini comic scripts these last few weeks— don’t ask me how I managed to squeeze those in, though, because I have no idea lol. I can’t share them just yet since they’re submissions for anthologies, but here are the loglines for them:
Human Again: Fresh off another horrific punishment from their coven for using a forbidden source of natural magic, Lyle is determined to make it the last one– one way or another. (Body Horror)
cloudberry: Old tensions rise with the altitude as two sisters search for a rare medicinal plant; will their relationship survive something even bigger than the trolls rumored in this rugged landscape? (Folk Horror)
The Death of XXXXXXX: XXXXXXX seeks out the goddess of war, the Morrigan herself, with a request for a vision– is happiness in this life possible for XXXXXXX? (Fantasy)
I’m making a promise to myself to make these even if they don’t get accepted into the anthologies they’re for because A: I love these scripts and B: because writing scripts is probably the most difficult part for me, so that means the hardest part for each comic is already done! 😆
I’m also trying to get better at sharing my process more, too, so I’ll work on making some accompanying blog posts to go with them now that the blog is back and needs some populating.
IN THE SHOP
Okay, so this isn’t strictly in the shop, per se, but I did want to share that I’m open for commissions and that I’m also now offering editorial services for cartoonists and other creatives!
For commissions, I’m available for:
book art for individuals and businesses
personal illustration commissions
commercial illustration commissions
For editorial services, I’m available for:
transcribing comics (alt text, image descriptions, transcripts)
copyediting comics (proofreading, grammar, style guide adherence)
sensitivity readings for comics and picture books (disabled, neurodivergent, fat, queer, trans, and nonbinary characters)
I’m happy to offer a community discount of up to 20% off for disabled, BIPoC, and trans clients. It’s based on the honor system, so feel free to mention it when you reach out!
MAY EVENTS + ONGOINGS
In all the excitement of NIF, I think I may have forgotten to share that we on the Cartoonist Co-op’s Events Committee are planning the Co-op’s first ever SUMMER CAMP!! 😃
It’s an entirely online event during July and August exclusively for our lovely members and volunteers, and it includes comics workshops, Art Fight raids, community events, cute badges, and more! Here’s a sneak peek at the calendar design I created for the event:
I love these colors together so much 💖 I can’t wait to add all our events here and share them with you— I’m VERY excited for Summer Camp!
If you make comics and you’d like to join us for these free events this summer, join us today!
RECENT READS + FAVORITES
This issue’s Recent Reads will be a little different— I’ll be recommending some of my favorite comics in NIF this year! As you may recall, I was one of the members of the Submissions Team this year, so I had the honor and pleasure of reading all of these last year.
I couldn’t fit them all into this newsletter, so I highly recommend checking out the full Marketplace and getting the Sampler before the end of the month.
Let’s start with 17 of my favorite Marketplace pieces that you can get a copy of right now!
And next, we have 7 of my favorite comics from the Sampler! The NIF Sampler is a juicy collection of preview pages from ongoing webcomics you can read online for free. So pick up a copy of it and take a gander at these beauties!
And here are some of my favorite things from the past few weeks:
Watching: Train to Busan (2016)(rewatch) and Squid Game, season two— can’t wait for the final season next month!
Experiencing: I know I keep going on about them, but genuinely the NIF events! I’ve learned so much and have had fun with all of them
Doing: Finishing the baby quilts for my twin nieces!! It took over a year, but they’re finally done, and I’m so excited to gift them this coming weekend 🥲
How about you? What have been some of your favorite things lately?
Hope this week is kind to you 💖 Thanks for reading!
