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LP National Convention
Big Head Press will be selling advance copies of its newest book, Roswell, Texas, exclusively to attendees at the Libertarian Party National Convention to be held in Denver, Colorado May 22-26.
Author L. Neil Smith is widely known among libertarians, and that's why we're is bringing him to the convention, where he will sign copies of R,T as well as his other books, and will talk about current and up-coming projects.
Illustrator Scott Bieser will also be at the Big Head Press booth in the convention Exhibits area, signing his books and previewing artwork for his next project, Odysseus The Rebel, being written by comics favorite Steven Grant.
The Eyes of Texas Are Upon Us
We got a brief but very nice review of Roswell, Texas in this week's Austin Chronicle. The article is a listing of favored graphic novels -- scroll to the bottom and there we are.
"An outlandish narrative that'll appeal to any pop-culture fans who like a bit of conspiracy theory sprinkled on top of their flakes of sci-fi goodness. Scott Bieser and Jen Zach's artwork, classic comic book rendering, effectively nails the tone and the times to each grayscale panel."
One great thing about this is that we get associated with indie-cartoonists-extraordinare Jaime Hernandez and Lynda Barry. Excellent company, to be sure.
The Chronicle is a venerable Austin, Texas institution dating from the early 1970s, one of the first arts & entertainment weekly newspapers that spawned scores of imitations around the country.
WE IZ NOW FAMOUS
Big Head Press is highlighted in the current Publishers Weekly/Comics Week webzine. They give us a really nice write up -- check it out!
Announcing ROSWELL, TEXAS trade pb
SIXGUNS, MOTORCYCLES, FLYING SAUCERS, AND INTERPLANETARY PASTIES will hit comics and bookstore shelves the first week of June, when the trade paperback version of ROSWELL, TEXAS debuts.
The 272-page sci-fi/western/romantic comedy has been serialized on the Big Head Press website over a nearly-two year span, steadily building an audience, and now readers can enjoy the story in meat-space with a printed book, said Scott Bieser, director for the publishing house.
The story, written by L. Neil Smith and Rex "Baloo" May, follows the exploits of some Texas Rangers in an alternative-timeline where Texas never joined the United States. They are sent by Texican President Charles A. Lindbergh to investigate reports of a flying-saucer crash in the far west-Texas town of Roswell in 1947. The story is illustrated by Scott Bieser with colors by Jennifer Zach.
In this story, familiar historical figures turn up in intriguingly different roles in the story, although some, such as FBI legend Elliot Ness and T.E. Lawrence, are ominously similar to our own history. Several intriguing fictional characters are added to the mix, from the classically "western" Rattlesnake Pete (who holds an Oxford degree in French literature) to the feisty Amber Rose Bierce, a news reporter who is the fictional grand-daughter of the real-life Ambrose Bierce.
The book is marketed for mature readers, due to some light nudity, and printed in black-and-white with a full-color cover. At a 6"x9" form-factor it is a bit smaller than the standard comic-book but considerably larger than most manga and competitively priced at $12.95.
"We are also heavily promoting the book with advertising placed in the major comics trade magazines and news websites, along with REASON Magazine, whose audience is heavily populated with L. Neil Smith fans," Bieser added.
Majesticon April 2008
L. Neil Smith, Mike Baron, Scott Bieser and Jen Zach will make public appearances at the upcoming Majesticon in Denver, which is happening Sunday, April 13. The show will open at 10am in the Ramada Plaza Convention Center, which is just off Interstate 25 at the 120th Street exit in Northglenn.
Smith, Bieser and Zach have recently completed their latest graphic novel, Roswell, Texas, and sample copies of the printed book will be available for viewing. The book goes on sale at the end of May. It can currently be viewed on-line in its entirety ad the Big Head Press website.
Mike Baron will be answering questions about his current projects and signing copies of his book The Architect, which was published by Big Head Press last year. This book was seriously under-ordered by comics shops but is a hot seller at conventions.
STAPLE! March 1
If you're going to be anywhere near Austin, Texas on March 1, then you can stop by the Monarch Event Center from 11am to 5pm and see me, Mike Baron, and several other indie-comics luminaries at the STAPLE! Independent Media Expo. A great deal for five bucks admission. For details go to http://www.staple-austin.org/ .
Call for Submissions
We have an opening in our schedule later this year so are calling for project submissions.
Big Head Press publishes graphic novels, and serializes them on-line in their entirety in order to help publicize and promote the works in advance of selling the dead-tree versions. All our projects are entirely creator-owned, and we offer a modest page rate as an advance on royalties in exchange for a fixed-term exclusive license.
We are looking for stories in any genre (although La Muse to the contrary notwithstanding, we are not keen on superhero stuff), which promote generally individualist themes -- standing up to the Man, struggling against conformist pressures, being your own person, that sort of thing. Not interested in "futility of life" or military-type stories unless they're really, really funny.
We also have a stronger preference these days for black-and-white or greyscale art, given the realities of printing costs. But if a story really needs to be in color, we won't pass on it just for that reason.
We are also looking for creative teams -- we aren't offering a writer/artist matching service. We're also not picking up stories that started with another publisher and failed for whatever reason. We want fresh work.
Deadline for entries is Feb. 24, 2008, at 11:59pm CST.
Send submissions or queries to submissions (at) bigheadpress (dot) com .
TimePeeper Launches
In 2080, three teen-aged students of Heinlein Memorial High School "borrow" a TimePeeper -- a time-traveling device designed for recording past events -- and promptly lose it in the past. To avoid discovery and harsh punishment, Bernie, Valerie and Arthur must themselves travel 75 years into the past to retrieve the gadget. But what they encounter in the dark and barbaric year 2005 will completely change their lives.
TimePeeper, a new graphic novel by L. Neil Smith and Sherard Jackson, debuts on the Big Head Press website Tuesday, January 15. The direct link to the story is http://www.bigheadpress.com/timepeeper. The story will begin with a 13-page opening chapter on that day and then present a new page every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday until the serialization is completed in September.
This sci-fi adventure story offers action, drama, a bit of romance, plus a modest dollop of the libertarian political commentary that is Smith's trademark, according to Big Head Press director Scott Bieser. "This is mainly a teen action story, with some twists, that should appeal to a wide audience," he explained, "but there is also enough classic Smithian brain candy included to satisfy Neil's legion of fans. I like to think of it as a descendant of the Robert Heinlein "juvenile" books."
This will be Smith's third published graphic novel, the previous two being Roswell, Texas, written with Rex F. May and with art by Scott Bieser and Jen Zach; and The Probability Broach: The Graphic Novel, which adapts his first prose novel. In addition to the original Probability Broach, Smith has written and published 24 other prose novels (not including foreign editions) since 1980, and has three more in the works, including a prose version of Roswell, Texas.
Sherard Jackson is a 12-year veteran comics artist, and drawing in an engaging "world manga" style. Recent works include Cthulhu Tales: Tainted (BOOM! Studios), Semantic Lace: Ghost Story (Devil's Due Publishing) and Assembly, (Antarctic Press). He has also contributed art for role-playing game systems and worked as an animator on the 2006 film "A Scanner Darkly."
A great big holiday gift from Joe
"Aided by Hugo Petrus' fine artwork, Adi has taken one of the most clich'd genres in comics, the almost godlike superhero, and then twisted and exploited the stereotypes and clich's we're all familiar with into new directions, with plot turns that have frequently taken me by surprise, which is incredibly refreshing to me, when you read a lot you often develop a sixth sense for a tale and can predict where it will go next, so to have one where I really don't know how it will turn out is immensely welcome. As is the wonderful layering Adi puts into La Muse, with finger-on-the-pulse observations of popular culture, celebrity, political machinations, political activism, celebrity, the media, he even manages to get sex in there in an adult way and not the cringe-worthy, exploitative way some mainstream comics use sex (which frequently leaves us apologising about it and trying to defend the medium as not all being like that, honest)."
Adi Tantimedh sent his "Best of the Year" graphic novel picks to Joe at the Forbidden Planet International blog, and Joe decided to preface Adi's remarks with a really huge plug for LaMuse. Thanks again Joe! We knew we had a winner when Adi sent his pitch, way back in late 2006, and we're glad you agree.
Forbidden Planet, in case anyone still doesn't know, pretty much rules the comics and graphic-novel retail business in Great Britain, with fifteen stores and two "associate" stores located throughout the kingdom. And one in New York City. Hmmm. Another British invasion, it seems.
Forbidden Planet still loves LaMuse
LaMuse has been getting fairly consistent and positive attention from the Forbidden Planet Blog. Forbidden Planet is one of the premier comic-book / graphic novel shops in the United Kingdom. Here is what they had to say today:
"After dropping in a surprise return from La Muse's parents asking about her use of her near-omnipotent powers to alter the world (almost a classic Star Trek-style moment before Adi then kicks things sideways again) and then a real bombshell in her life, Adi Tantidmedh once more takes a little side-swipe at our media-obsessed world: with the entire global economy transformed almost instantly, with all the chaos that can bring, the Hollywood power lunch meeting in a posh restaurant to secure a new show deal still goes on. Get your people to call my people, we'll do lunch."
The Architect Re-Listed at Diamond
Mike Baron's horror graphic novel The Architect , illustrated by Andie Tong, will get a re-listing in the October Diamond Previews catalog, according to publisher Big Head Press. "We're getting a second chance!" exclaimed the delighted Scott Bieser, director for the small-press publisher.
"Diamond is re-listing the book because they agree that retailers and fans should have a chance to order it after they've seen some of the tremendous art for this book, which will appear in a Previews ad and in an ad campaign both during October and in the December sales period," Big Head director Scott Bieser said.
This time around, Big Head Press will have a half-page ad in the Previews catalog, and is placing ads on consumer-oriented websites both during the October ordering period and the December sales period. "We've already had advance review copies of The Architect out for a while, and several favorable reviews have come back in," Bieser said.
He added that British comics retailers should pay special attention to the listing, because illustrator Andie Tong is gaining an enthusiastic fan following in that country as the penciler for Marvel UK's version of The Amazing Spider-Man.
The Architect is a horror story loosely based on the life of Frank Lloyd Wright. The book contains 70 pages of full-color story art, plus a seven-page bonus prose story, "Dream House Turns to Nightmare" perfect-bound in a wraparound painted cover. It retails for $9.95. The Diamond order number is OCT073345
Forbidden Planet gives more props to LaMuse
The Forbidden Planet Blog continues its praise for La Muse by Adi Tantimedh and Hugo Petrus. "Joe" also seems to like our new page-a-day upload schedule:
"Frankly it is probably just as well that Big Head Press has been posting La Muse one page at a time now on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, because otherwise I think I might have rushed through it all at breakneck speed .... Posting the pages this way actually pushed up the dramatic tension for me, almost like a cliffhanger from an old movie serial or even the old Doctor Who, but not as contrived (or cheesy)."
Adi has been providing a sort of running commentary on the pages as they get uploaded over on the the Panel & Pixel comics forum, which is where all the "cool kids" hang out (when they're not at our own forum, that is).
Another Rave Review for The Architect
Lewis Fowler, writing for the site Bookgasm, is excited about The Architect:
"Ever wonder what THE FOUNTAINHEAD would have been like if it were written by Aleister Crowley? Of course you have. We all have! But where would one even start to find a book like that?
"Let's all take a collective breath and pick up a copy of The Architect, a highly entertaining one-shot, prestige-format graphic novel written by comics legend Mike Baron (NEXUS) with art by Andie Tong."
Read the rest of the review here.
Not Your Daddy's Architect
Aaron Stueve, on Broken Frontier, gives The Architect a rave review. Click here and check it out.
Steven Grant To Pen Story For Big Head Press
Hardly anyone knows this, but there is a special reason why the classical Greek hero Odysseus was reviled by his fellow kings and warriors, and a reason why The Odyssey, the story of this hero's 10-year voyage home from the Trojan War, was the last of the great Grecian epic stories. And Steven Grant is going to explain it all in a new graphic novel to be presented in 2008 by Big Head Press.
"This is a hero the gods are determined to break, to prove forever to men that even the greatest of men is less than nothing to the smallest of gods, but he is a hero who will not be broken, even when his goal is snatched right out of his grasp, when the men under his command are butchered and crushed around him, when his comrades-in-arms are made to share his punishments only because they fought alongside him, when he is even cast down to hell, " Grant explained.
"We think Odysseus The Rebel is a great fit, thematically speaking, for Big Head Press," said publisher Frank Bieser. "Of course, we're also thrilled to be working with a writer of the caliber and industry stature of Steven Grant."
Grant has commenced work on the script and Scott Bieser has begun some preliminary design work. Under a production system adopted this year by Big Head Press, the entire script will be completed before major art production begins. "This is how movies are usually made, and we see no reason why this shouldn't also be the case for graphic novels," the publisher explained.
Scott will begin full production for Odysseus The Rebel in November 2007, after he completes work on his current project, Roswell, Texas. As with its other books, Big Head Press will serialize the story in its entirety on the company's website before releasing it as a trade paperback. Serialization of the 156-page story is currently scheduled to begin in January 2008.
Steven Grant is perhaps best known for converting The Punisher from a third rate supporting character to a major star in Marvel's PUNISHER MINI-SERIES, but his career ranges three decades and virtually every major American comics company, including DC (Batman, Ghost Rider, Superman, Catwoman, Challengers of the Unknown), Marvel (Spider-Man, X-Men Unlimited, The Punisher War Journal, Captain America), Dark Horse (Invasions, Enemy, Alien 3), First (Whisper, Grimjack, American Flagg), IDW, Malibu and Avatar. His range extends to novels, short stories, film and music criticism and screenplays, and he pioneered the modern crime comic with works such as Whisper, Badlands, Damned and the currently running Two Guns from Boom! Studios. Permanent Damage, his Internet column of cultural criticism and political commentary, runs every Wednesday at www.comicbookresources.com.
Mike Baron On Writing
Our talented Mr. Baron was strangely coerced by one Michael Davis to write this short treatise on writing comics. Check it out. www.comicmix.com
The Architect In Print
After nearly a year of waiting, The Architect, the horror thriller by Mike Baron and Andie Tong, is set to be printed and available on store shelves in August 2007. First serialized here, The Architect was one of two stories by Mr. Baron to help launch the Big Head Press web site. If you haven't read it yet, or want to refresh your memory before buying the printed book, just click on the button under Complete Stories: on the left side of this page. The printed version has an added bonus by Mr. Baron we think you'll enjoy.
The Brothers Bieser In NYC
Our intrepid duo, Scott and Frank, head to the concrete jungle this week for the second annual New York Comic Con and ICv2 conference. For several months, the brothers have endoured rigorous preparation for the anticipated sensory overload of the con, as well as designing and implementing new ways to conceal their bowel disruptors. They hope to see you there.
Thoughts On The Architect From The Land Of Frost
Alex Ness weighs in on Mike Baron's and Andie Tong's The Architect. Check out his review.
La Muse in La Beat
Heidi MacDonald gives La Muse a nod in her blog The Beat. Sweet.
A New Story From Big Head Press!
"This is my sister.
She's the latest Big Thing everybody wants a piece of.
She's the sexy tomboy you're all in love with.
She's arrogant, spoiled, and selfish.
She could kill every living thing on Earth in one afternoon.
And she's going to save the world, whether you like it or not."
Big Head Press is proud to announce its newest feature story, LA MUSE, a graphic novel by Adi Tantimedh and Spanish artist Hugo Petrus, which will debut in January 2007 on the Big Head Press website, www.bigheadpress.com .
Tantimedh describes La Muse as "a science-fiction comedy about Power, the horrors and absurdities of Celebrity, moral dilemmas, and the love-hate relationships between sisters."
"Think of an updated STRANGERS IN A STRANGE LAND, and the works of Olaf Stapledon, Bruce Sterling, Noam Chomsky and Harlan Ellison, with all their crazy, mind-blowing ideas and sheer irreverence, and you have LA MUSE."
Adi Tantimedh has extensive credits in comics, film and television in Britain and the United States and earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from New York University in 1995. His recent works in comics include JLA: AGE OF WONDER for DC, and the graphic novel BLACKSHIRT for Moonstone Books. He is currently working as an editor for a genre pilot for MTV.
Hugo Petrus is an up-and-coming artist from Barcelona, in Spain, who has previously drawn the 8-page short story "Fracture" for Dark Horse Comics, and a Doctor Strange story for Marvel Entertainment. He also works as a graphic designer and advertising artist in his home country.
"We are very fortunate to have connected with Adi Tantimedh, and he is bringing us a powerful story that we think will turn the comics industry on its ear," said Scott Bieser, creative director for Big Head Press. "I think it will also become something of a milestone for the science-fiction genre in all its forms."
"Hugo is proving to be an amazingly capable artist. His drawing style is well-fitted to the story, and he and Adi work very well together," Bieser said.
The story will be presented in full color, with coloring work provided by the artist "~3~" who has colored two previous books for Big Head Press, THE PROBABILITY BROACH: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL and A DRUG WAR CAROL.
LA MUSE will be serialized on the Big Head Press website, and after the serialization is completed in mid-2008, plans call for a full-color trade paperback to be distributed both in the book trade and the direct market, Bieser added.
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