C.J. Hudson's Warn Everyone! - Newsletter #2
If you're new to creating, starting small is helpful, but not necessary.
How should you create?
I have writers ask me all the time “how can I make comics?” I think being relatively new to creating comics myself makes me approachable, and even relatable, someone who has gone to the other side and seen some shit and can report back what’s what. Of course, the slightly cheeky answer is “you can create comics however you want,” but it’s also a true statement, you really can go about it however you want. It used to be, maybe 10 years back, that starting small was advisable, and very small in fact. If someone came up to you a decade ago and wanted to know the secret to making comics you would tell them to submit to an anthology and rinse and repeat until they could afford to make something longer. Maybe teaming up with someone on a one-shot, maybe a joint ownership or backend payment agreement could get you a shoppable first completed to show off to some publishers. You also might just have a few pages of something commissioned and hope that said publisher would be willing to advance payment for the first issue, or even have a ghost of a chance of having the whole thing funded (rare…but we can dream, can’t we?)
Ultimately none of that is really necessary now if all you really want is to create comics, as crowdfunding has made it possible for anyone to create…anyone at all. Yes, you likely still need to payout something to get the project started, but a complete issue is not needed nor necessary in the crowdfunding realm. 5-10 pages and 2-5 covers is really all it takes to launch, and a few skills with photoshop would be a plus too. So, if you really want to make comics…make comics…and stop making excuses. Alan Moore (the GOAT) says the biggest enemy of the creator is procrastination, actually getting them to sit in the chair and creating whatever the hell they thought would be worth spending time on in the first place. So, write your script and move on from there. Whether it’s long or short, good or bad, you have to have something on paper before you can decide what to do with it.
Next issue we’ll talk about what you do after you get that first draft done and move through the life cycle of concept to creation.
Let’s chat some projects.
Elves have more fun than you.
Archetypes magazine is publishing a short story from myself Zukupow and Mesias. We’ll be publishing another longer form story later in 2025, but this short story serves a good introduction to the world we’re developing and will be different from our future story. Lots of great talent included in this mag, so follow along to be notified of when it launches.
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Tiny Island is available for preorder!
From crowdfunded darling to the direct market, Tiny Island is back with a brand-new cover from Antarctic Press. I’m a big supporter of comic book shops, always have been, always will be. Of course, crowdfunding has changed the game in terms of allowing creators to more easily create and distribute their works, but the direct market is still a special place to me, so anytime I can put something out in the direct market through a reputable publisher, I will. However, I want the direct market and crowdfunding experience to be different (not such the same thing at a different price point), and the easiest way to accomplish that is to release a cover that wasn’t available through crowdfunding. I feel like everyone wins with this approach, and I’m very happy to have this wonderful story available in comic shops across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.
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What else?
Updates on a few other things:
Gridlocked: Velocity is done! Well, the first draft anyway. I have asked the talented Giulia Lalli to start some character designs for me before I venture into some heavy edits. I do this to try and get a better visualization of the characters from time to time. I’ll start the second draft once I wrap up a work for hire gig I need to turn around.
Gridlocked: Torque is my next scripting project. A true one shot that helps build out the cuberpunk world and is more condensed than the OGN that Velocity became.
Intergalactic Academy will be on hiatus for a few months as Ad Astra looks to plan their summer release schedule. Hoping to make a comeback as soon as we can, as the current arc has been a lot of fun. Read it now at Intergalactic Academy
Follow How to die in the Quad if you’re looking for more comics from me, as I have a short story in this really gorgeous looking book.
Interstellar Dust vol. 3 is still on the way, but with Moy working at DC as well that means some things are delayed, but that’s ok, ID is always worth the wait.
Batgirl is be lettered as we speak. Then I’ll figure out if I want to print some bootlegs and give them out for free. More to come on that.
Become a paid Substack subscriber!
Becoming a paid sub means you get first look access to artwork, scripts and tons of behind-the-scenes content that no one else gets to see (including the teases I share here). Hundreds of pages of artwork including NSFW interiors and covers will keep your eyes peeled open for hours and everything is always available for download :)
And a new bonus! Beginning January 1st, 2025, all paid Substack subscribers will get a special free physical copy of any of my new single-issue series released and funded through Kickstarter (or other crowdfunding site). This would be a paid tier Substack subscriber only variant, and unavailable through crowdfunding, my online store, or con exclusives. Basically, fully unique to those on Substack.
Shipping is available anywhere in the world but would not be included for free. I will ask you if you would like your incentive cover before shipping (it will also be available digitally) and will send you a PayPal invoice for shipping costs. Rates for 2025 will be as follows:
USA: $5.00 USD
Canada: $20.00 USD
All other countries: $25.00 USD
If you opt to support the Kickstarter campaign at any tier level, your Substack incentive cover would just be included with your standard order, and you would not be charged extra shipping, as you would already be paying it via the crowdfunding platform.
Please note this is for my own crowdfunded comics only, not comics that may be exclusive to the direct market, and not those comics that I did not crowdfund myself (such as Vigia, Lycan or the Cauldron, which have their own specific publishing deals).
You must be on the annual membership at the time the comic is successfully crowdfunded to receive your free comic. Monthly memberships are not eligible because they could just cancel right after they receive their rewards. The annual membership is actually much more cost effective, only $40 per year compared to the monthly membership which comes out to be $48 annually.
I will always note comics that are eligible rewards for paid subscribers. The first comic that will be eligible for this offering will be Hunters of the Outer Realm Issue #1, which will be released in 2025.
Missed an issue? My online store is open!
Physical editions of my work are available for purchase through my online store. I have over 60 versions of my comics in addition to prints, trading cards and stickers available for purchase. This includes rare editions through Kickstarter, direct market comic book shops, and online store exclusives. Most everything I have ever worked on is available through my store including Interstellar Dust, Lycan, The Cauldron and much more.
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