Samples and Monsters and Cares, oh my 👹❣
A monstrously romantic bi-monthly newsletter with gritty illustrations, comics and stories that stab your inbox (and your heart).
Hi monster-enthusiast,
I realise a newsletter is an odd choice for any illustrator or comic artist to share their work on. We all got our memes from Tumblr and in-depth character fan rambles threads on Twitter. Comic doses are best eaten on Tapas or WebToons, and we had an Instagram or TikTok in the middle for aesthetics. I've been most of these platforms at different lengths, they all have their boons and can be very fun.
But, you may have noticed that it's hard to see the art and stories you actually followed artists for. Algorithms bury things under innocuous cross-posts, which means the artists are burning out swimming against the current. Which sucks for everyone.
That's why I'm very excited to have you here! You signed up, tried out the Old School way, and will get in your inbox what you're really yearning for.
...
You are yearning for romantic monstrosities, right?
Just so you are absolutely sure you prefer my newsletter over the cross-posts, here's what to expect from me:
COMIC PROJECT
You might've noticed the poster kids on your way in: introducing Flores and Korumn, a soldier and demon rather fond of each other during a scouting mission on post-battle Mars. But despite their best efforts to remain chill, morbid reality seeps into their relationship. Will Flores' relaxed nature prevent words left unsaid from swelling?
A sci-fi romance with horrific elements and an emotional undertone, you'll find out about how I'm going with production and process of this comic and other fun trivia. Also, when it releases, obviously!
But I won't just be giving you project updates. I tried doing that last time, and ran out of material pretty dang fast.
ART WITH GRIT
Grit
Something coarse, grainy.
Courage and resolve, or a strength of character.
Monster romances with depth will be the meat of what I'll work on for a while. But the core of it all is outward harshness with an emotional centre.
So you can expect:
- snippets of stories and characters delving into urban fantasies where the 'magic' meshes in strange ways with reality.
- Tabletop RPG game summaries where miserable characters learn their much-needed lesson (in the above setting)
- newest illustrations of elegant skeletons, beautiful terrors and nasty bastards bathed in zany colours and grunge.
- genre diving and recommendations what's in (truly) monstrous romance and aligned.
- comics, zines and prints to hug to yourself when they're available and on sale.
- in the fan realms, a good chunk of Bionicle, a very specific quadrant of Star Wars, and slices of Grim Fandango and Skulduggery Pleasant.
Oh, yeah, and you might want to get ready to fall in love with these louts (Cad Bane and the Piraka), because you'll also see them pleeeeeeenty:
Suffice to say, art and text here will be [16+], or [MA15+] if you're familiar with Australian ratings. This means there will be illustrated blood, body horror, sexual references (but not so far as smut), coarse language and themes around death & violence, creepy things, and complicated relationships.
I will always provide content warnings where possible, and leave the most disturbing material in a separate link or blog post, but if blood makes you queasy at a minimum, take care of your mental health, check out these adorable projects, and feel free to unsubscribe. Otherwise, choose an email you feel comfortable having this content appear in.
If you're still here, still keen, and better yet: buzzing... welcome! And if you know a friend of yours would be too, forward them this email. The more, the merrier.
Catch you soon, either in a month or two weeks time as I get the hang of it all,
Jennifer
P.S. as much as I would be very happy to avoid social media forever, I will let you know what new platforms you can find me on when I have them set up.