Without Fear

Ryan K Lindsay – Writer

Tag: dan hill

EVERFROST gets a Foreword by Lonnie Nadler

I am really psyched, and genuinely honoured, to announce that the EVERFROST tpb lands in December with a Foreword written by one of my favourite modern writers Lonnie Nadler!

You can still preorder the trade collection of all 4 issues of EVERFROST at your LCS so it’s ready for you when it hits shelves in early December! Here is all the info you’ll need.

We got two lovely pages of erudition from Lonnie Nadler for this collection, and I asked him along for the ride because he’s someone I massively admire, but he also fit the sensibilities of this book perfectly. It’s a big sweeping sci fi epic told in very specific and formulated chunks across 4 issues. It’s got structure, and huge ideas, and meaning behind it all and that all made me think of Lonnie.

To recap the brilliant work Lonnie has done, which I’m sure you’ve read, let me go through my highlights!

Before any comics were made, I met Lonnie at the Seattle Sheraton in 2013 and he instantly stood out as a Good Bloke. That kind of introduction is something you always file away for later use. And so, later, in 2017, when I’d meet him again, it would be as I tabled at ECCC with Eric Zawadzki who was in the midst of producing THE DREGS with Lonnie and co-writer Zac Thompson [another Good Bloke].

Now, I loved THE DREGS, it’s this insanely smart and disgustingly beautiful homeless noir story that grabbed me by the collar and shook me awake with each issue. So, naturally, I was stoked to make time with Lonnie throughout that weekend to talk comics, movies, and life alongside some burgers or just the buzz of the showfloor.

Since then, Lonnie has continually ascended in comics opportunities and quality. Putting out a few more creator owned books eventually led to some Marvel opportunities for him and Zac, which they both ran with through some wild storylines, and the whole time I could see Lonnie putting meaning into his writing, wanting everything to matter and be quality and use comics as part of the story, not just the final delivery method.

It’s then that Lonnie wrote BLACK STARS ABOVE with Jenna Cha co-creating as artist, and the book absolutely floored me. It’s eerie and beautiful and such a delight for the brain to read. It might be Lonnie’s masterpiece, which says something as it stands atop an already hugely impressive career.

Image

So, yes, when it came time to think of someone to write a Foreword for EVERFROST, there was only one name I thought of. Lonnie had already read the first few issues and given me some lovely feedback in am email, so I took my shot and was grateful he said yes.

The way I work with Forewords is I think of the one right person for the project and then I ask and hope. With every book I’ve written so far, I’ve asked just one person, and have usually been lucky enough to get them. If the book has no Foreword, it’s because that one person declined, or didn’t manage to make it in time. I was lucky enough to have Lonnie agree, and step up well before the deadline.

As such, this EVERFROST tpb now has this extra reason to buy it, so you can get more erudite words from Lonnie Nadler into your brain. You can also do this by subscribing to his amazing newsletter, so go do that now.

Thanks for choosing to preorder the tpb, indie comics are a small gig, and every single order matters, and tells stores that this book will sell, so then they’ll add another order for 1-2 for the shelf, particularly important as this lands right at the start of the holiday buying season. Thanks for telling your mates, or sharing my good word about the story, or for just being awesome. It is all appreciated.

EVERFROST the trade collection lands in December, preorder from your LCS today to get this epic sci fi tale from me, Sami Kivela, Lauren Affe, Jim Campbell, and Dan Hill, all through Black Mask Studios!

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The EVERFROST tpb Is All You Need

This has been a year of me hyping EVERFROST, so it makes sense we’d close the year with a trade paperback release of the whole story in December.

If you are a trade waited, we got you covered — if you dug the issues, well, it’s just in time to buy a copy for a mate as a holiday season gift [I swear, more people need to give random comics as gifts – gifts aren’t about finding exactly what someone needs and filling that gap, they’re about finding something they didn’t know they needed and then expanding that pocket for them; normalise giving random things you *think* they’ll love].

Anyway, EVERFROST, our sci fi story of heartbreak and a big sword, is being collected in a tpb and it lands in stores everywhere in December and you need to preorder your copy now to ensure your store has one for you!

The tpb has the same cover as #1

EVERFROST

Written by Ryan K Lindsay

Illustrated by Sami Kivela

Coloured by Lauren Affe

Lettered by Jim Campbell

Edited by Dan Hill

Published by Black Mask Studios

I’m crazy excited about this story dropping in one book. I’ve worked so long on it, and I’ve loved it so deeply for that entire time, so getting it in its final form is going to be a heartwarming pleasure.

I’ll post more about it in the coming month – about our excellent reviews, and why the story is a banger, and the awesome Foreword we got written by an absolute genius – but for now, short and simple: tell your local comic shop you want a copy and prepare yourself to read and enjoy when it drops in december [or to not read but gift it like a boss]. Here are all the details you need!

EVERFROST #2 in Stores This Week!

The second chapter to the sci fi comic miniseries from me and Sami Kivela lands in comic shops this Wednesday!

Love the colours on Sami’s cover!

EVERFROST #2 – Bootleg Fidelity

Artist: Sami Kivela

Colourist: Lauren Affe

Letterer: Jim Campbell

Editor: Dan Hill

Writer: Ryan K Lindsay

Publisher: Black Mask Studios

Van and Eight have stepped back into the bustle of the Precinct to discover her son is still alive, there’s an epic war between the Bloom and the Warlords bubbling over, and time has become a little fluid since she went out to live on the ice. She needs a whole mess of answers, so she goes to the one person she thinks might be able to help…her mother. Join us for a tale of echoes through time we could only call ‘Bootleg Fidelity’ as two key characters meet untimely deaths!

I’m really proud of this issue. The first one did a lot of heavy lifting and world building and brain stomping – so this one slows things down a little, we let van steep in this new world. I think you’ll dig it.

Hopefully you already asked your LCS to set you aside a copy, but if not, they should have some on the shelves so go in this week and get yourself the second issue to this series that’s been another hit for me and Sami!

“I am a huge fan of both Lindsay and Kivela; I love how neither are just settling as creators. Instead they continue to push their talent forward with stories that feel as diverse as any of the big indie publishers output. For a book that mixes scope of environment with the scope of human emotions, Everfrost, through Lindsay and Kivela, surely delivers.” – 10/10 Johnny Hughes @ Comic Crusaders

“EVERFROST #1 is a remarkably well executed debut issue that serves up a perfect blend of dystopian fantasy Sci-Fi with a heavy dollop of human drama threaded through it’s center laced in the tragedy of a world in turmoil and decline. Highly recommended to fans of esoteric Sci-Fi.” – 10/10 Ross Hutchinson @ Comic Watch

“Every page is a delicious treat that leaves one craving more.” – 9/10 Scott Redmond @ Comicon

EVERFROST #1 Launches Today

Okay, this is a big day.

Everfrost has been so long in the making, I’m now wildly excited to see it finally hit the shelves, and there are all kinds of emotions coming to the surface. The usual excitement mingled with fear is natural. Relief, pride, maybe even contentment. I’m really proud of this book, and it coming out heralds another new complete story I’ll have put into the world.

Getting the chance to tell a story is no small feat. I don’t want to brush over this, I never want to brush past this. Creating a full world, populating it, and finding some moments worth a damn that you want to share – that’s the alchemy of writing.

I really hope you like Everfrost, but honestly, I hope any of you get a chance to love it as much as I do.

Comic shops will have their copies this week – whatever day you head in, I hope you find a copy on the shelf [or you wisely preordered so they’d put one aside for you and you have no risk of missing out]. Buy it with a smile, tell your comic shop retail magus how excited you are to read it – I bet they love hearing that kind of thing. Comic shop peeps aren’t in it for the millions of dollars, either, they just love seeing stories connect from one human to another.

This sci fi heartbreak is full of passion and creativity and hope and lived experience and desire and energy and I could not have asked for a better team than Sami Kivela, Lauren Affe, Jim Campbell, Dan Hill, and Matt Pizzolo at Black Mask Studios to help bring it to the page.

Thus begins our 4 issue miniseries, each issue packed with fun back matter pages, and our whole walking hearts. Keep your eyes out for this cover, and if you get a chance let us know what you think.

ETERNAL Hits Best of 2018 Lists

2018 saw me publish only a small amount of comic work, but it was inspiring to end the year with one of those books getting a lot of attention in people’s lists of favourite work from 2018.


ETERNAL was created by me and Eric Zawadzki, with Dee Cunniffe on colours, and Dan Hill editing, with Black Mask Studios publishing it and it obviously stuck in people’s minds:
Paste Magazine lists us in the Top 25 Comics of 2018
Villain Media lists us as the best comic of 2018
Pipedream Comics lists us as one of the best comics of 2018
Big Comic Page gave us some end of year love
DoomRocket lsts us one of the best comics of 2018
Comicon puts us near the top of the list of best graphic novels of 2018
The Off Panel website rated us as one of the 20 best comics of 2018

If you want a copy you should talk to your local comic shop, they can still get it in, or it’s here on Amazon. Or if you dug it, drop it a quick star rating on GoodReads :]

Thanks to everyone who already bought a copy, loved it, or told a mate – this book is something I’m really proud of and it made 2018 a memorable year.

CURRICULUM is live – sci fi webcomic 3 times a week!

Exciting times to be alive [and reading comics on the internet].

CURRICULUM is the story of an intergalactic class trying to get home from a field trip that goes, well, it goes pretty bad.

It’s got a wide cast, big ideas, and a rotating roster of writers and artists. The world/cast was created by me, Dan Hill, and Sami Kivela, and the first issue has Marissa Louise on colours and Ironbark on letters.

After us comes a cavalcade of talent, including: Danny Djeljosevic, Josh George, Ben Rosenthal, Daniel J Logan, Bryan Coyle, and more to come even after that. This comic has been years in the making, bubbling on the back burner a long while. Now, it is free.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE OPENING PAGES OF CURRICULUM

This comic is a love letter to old EC Sci Fi comics, with hints of Runaways and other insanity mixed in. We hit the ground running, and we’ve done our best to constantly throw new things at you, have fun, and give you every reason to return 3 times a week for new pages, or sign up for email blasts on the sidebar of the site.

CURRICULUM – a sci fi periodical slice of madness. Enjoy.

HEADSPACE Back Matter for Kickstarter

The HEADSPACE Digital Omnibus Kickstarter Campaign launches in one week.

HEADSPACE KS Promo 2

I’m excited to bring the whole miniseries back from me, Eric Zawadzki, Sebastian Piriz, Marissa Louise, Dee Cunniffe, and Dan Hill because I love this story we told about a sheriff trapped in the mind of a killer and trying to work out how to get out, and then figure if getting out is the best thing he can do for the world.

I think, if you haven’t read HEADSPACE already, you’re going to love it. But this campaign isn’t just for those who haven’t read it. I wanted to bring some extra material to the table so even those who’ve had a trip through Carpenter Cove might be enticed into another round.

Obviously this Digital Omnibus collects all 8 issues, making up 112 pages of this story. We’ll also include all the covers. Then we’ll wrap up all the original back matter from the digital releases in 2014 – all material never collected in the trade.

But what else makes this Digital Omnibus necessary?

  • All 8 scripts – you can peek behind the scenes with every single page of script.
  • All 8 issue annotations – I’m a massive nerd who likes to write about the things I’ve written. These are in-depth and I hope you dig them.
  • The Pitch Package – see and read the short pitch we put together and shopped around at ECCC 2013 and marvel at our original cover no one’s ever seen, or the first pages which Eric improved before final publication.
  • I’ll also write a little new extra back matter just for this edition.

Fun, I tells ya.

Carpenter Cove Postcard

So stay tuned for 7 days from now, because we’re going to bring you a bold and thick collection, something I think you’ll love, and something unlike anything else you’ve ever plugged into your screen before.

Oh, and it’ll all be just $5.

You’re welcome.

Especially because this doesn’t even begin to address all of the extra material and downloads, or the bigger and better pledge levels available, we’re going to unlock along the campaign trail. We look forward to seeing you there.

CHUM Free Digital Ashcan Preview

I’m really excited to bring you something rad that is totally free. To throw some blood and guts into the water to fuel the feeding frenzy for CHUM [my new book with Sami Kivela from ComixTribe, launching in April], we have put together a digital ashcan preview that you pretty much need to get your peepers on because it’s full of all the four colour good stuff you want and it is totally FREE.

[Download the CHUM digital ashcan process preview now]

aCHUM_AshcanCover_01Web

Well, why exactly do you need this digital bonanza in your life? I’ll tell you why.

Included in this PDF blast is:

  • 7 preview pages of the tale to wet your whistle
  • Character bios and sketches on all the fiends of Kingsford Island
  • Art process from Sami Kivela, including page thumbs and inks, as well as our original cover inks
  • All 3 covers for the series in beautiful colours from Sami [they are worth all this malarkey alone]

I’m also just excited that Tyler James at CT wanted to experiment with something like this because I think it’s a rad idea that I’d love to see on other comics that I love. Because I can never help myself when there’s a chance to peek behind the curtain. Plus, it’s digital, so we can kinda do anything with this so if it’s successful, I’d think we would do more like this in the future [which genuinely excites me].

I’m certain you’ll dig this PDF and feel free to share the link with your friends because preorders open soon and the book launches in April and we are all crazy excited for this.

CHUMa surf noir book that’ll dump blood in the water this April

Art by Sami Kivela [forever dominant]

Colours by Make Dale [so damn good]

Letters by Nic J Shaw [always doing ace things]

Written by Ryan K Lindsay [Hi!]

Edited by Dan Hill [the genius keeping me in check on HEADSPACE, DEER EDITOR, and other shorts and upcoming business]

Published by ComixTribe

April – 2016

[Download the CHUM digital ashcan process preview now]

STUCK IN THE GUTTERS #2 is Live

STUCK IN THE GUTTERS is a digital magazine about comics featuring essays and comics mashed together just how you like it. I mean, it’s def how I love it, so I assume if you’re here you’d probably dig it. Just a little. Trust me,  yeah?

STUCK IN THE GUTTERS #2 just went live on Gumroad [LINK] – and it’s a ‘pay what you want’ thing, so, y’know, ‘pay what it’s worth’ :]

SIG_20cover

This issue features a new Jam Session from Dan Hill and myself where we really dig deep into the recently wrapped HAWKEYE run, focusing mostly on Annie Wu’s Kate Bishop storyline, but also just analysing themes from the whole thing. In writing this, I came to better love a run I already loved so much. We really unearthed some stuff that got me thinking, which was nice.

There’s also comics from Dan Hill and Alex Diotto, Kelly Williams [who also rocks the above cover], and majordomo Leo Johnston writes about SOUTHERN BASTARDS, as well as there being multiple instances of malarkey from Ricardo Mo, amongst other radness.

In all, get down on this, it’s a thick digital tome, it’s ace comics and four colour discussion, and I want to write for it forever so fund it a little so we can keep going. You can do this also by buying #1, too, if you haven’t already, thanks [LINK]

Sidebar – I love writing these Jam Sessions for the mag because it gets me thinking about comics in an analytical way and that’s always going to help you level up in making your own comics, also. It’s why I’ll always enjoy writing about comics nearly as much as I love writing them. It’s all good verbiage flow.

STUCK IN THE GUTTERS #1 – Digital Comics Magazine

For a long time, I’ve wanted to put together a digital comics magazine. Something to download, to squirrel away on the iPad for a rainy train trip, to savour and enjoy in its levels/layers of interrogation and design. I’ve wanted this thing but I lack the time to write it, even the time to edit it, and certainly the design fu to put all the pixels in the right place. But that want only grew and grew.

Then, enter Leo Johnston, comic commentary enthusiast/wizard, who has created and curated STUCK IN THE GUTTERS, a digital magazine about comics and also featuring comics. An initiative that brings together an array of creative/analytical minds to pull apart comics and put them back together again.

You can back the Patreon to support the issues [LINK]

Or you can go to Gumroad and get the first issue right now for PWYW [pay what you want], so that could be zero dollars, or maybe a little more to share around the bullpen kitty [LINK]

stuck in the gutters cover 1

Cover by Alberto Muriel

So, what are you buying? Well:

THOR & WONDER WOMAN: MODERN MYTHOLOGICAL HEROES – a great article by Rudy Trevizo about the two titans from the Big Two and their recent runs.

STRANGE LOVE – a column by Jeremy Holt about breaking into comics.

LICENSED COMICS DON’T HAVE TO BE BAD – an argument by Jess Camacho that some licensed comics can be very good.

CAST OUT: PART I – a slice of a comic by Kelly Williams that’s absolutely gorgeous.

THE CIRCLE GAME – an article by Alex Mansfield that discusses the rotating wheel of nostalgia and comics.

USING COMIC INFLUENCES IN YOUR WORK – is a great article about, well, it’s in the title, and Tyler Hallstrom lays it all out against Jack Kirby, Todd McFarlane, and Mike Mignola. It’s a great exploration.

And FURY MAX JAM SESSION – wherein Dan Hill and I just loosely chat about the FURY MAX run from Goran Parlov and Garth Ennis. There’s no structure, just a chat, and it was loads of fun. You can expect:

Dan Hill: But in the ‘real world’ of the MAX universe (which for all intents and purposes is *our* world), what would this entail?

Ryan K Lindsay: Whoa, whoa, whoa! The MAX universe is really just our world, whoa, shit, [grawlix] you’ve just blown my pea-sized mind. That’s so goddamn true. Oh, man, I’m not recovering from that at all.

So if all that seems like it’ll be up your alley – and why gd wouldn’t it be – then get on over and pick up a copy. Because the world needs more comics analysis and stuff, get some.

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