JESUS HATES ZOMBiES - An Indie Comic's Journey

Really? A Whole YEAR?!

2009-08-21T07:28:00.000-07:00

Wow... it's been over a year since I updated this blog. What an ass. I think that's why I enjoy Twitter so much. I can update it with minimal effort on my part. And with about a dozen comics in the works, a full-time job and a wife and 2 kids, being able to update something quickly becomes increasing more appealing.

But, people seem to keep finding this blog or linking to it, so I figured I'd better put something out there.

There are a lot of places you can find me online. I'm a shameless self-promoter all over the internet. It actually takes up a shitload more time than the writing and lettering of the comics themselves! But it's gotta be done or nobody will know about my work. So here are the most frequently updated places to find me:

My website: captionsandballoons.com
My Facebook
My Twitter

I'll try my damnedest to pop over here from time to time to lay down an update, but I can't guarantee it.

I suck.

Non-Updating Ass

2008-07-16T07:56:00.001-07:00

Ok, Ok... I suck at updating blogs. I spend HOURS every day on the inter-webs, you'd think I could update the 'ol blog once in a while. Well, I'm going to try to be better. I promise.

So, the new book is in this month's Previews Catalog! Flip to page 190 and you'll see a nice listing for Jesus Hates Zombies featuring Lincoln Hates Werewolves in: Yea, Though I Walk... Vol. 1. Pretty sweet! The book is due to hit shelves in September!

Here's the gorgeous cover by my good friend Danilo Beyruth:

Ain't it amazing?!?

And with really freakin' cool interior art by Steve Cobb, trust me, this book ROCKS!

So please, please, please head down to your local comic shop and request that they carry the book! The Diamond Order Code is: JUL083613

Thanks!
~ Stephen

Today's the Day!

2008-04-09T05:28:00.001-07:00

Jesus Hates Zombies: Those Slack-Jaw Blues hits store shelves today.

Wow... I'm allowing that to sink in... the simple fact that my book is released NATIONALLY in store today and has already sold about 1000 copies! Crazy...

For anyone in the Rochester area, I will be at Empire Comics in Greece for a little while this evening (starting at 5:30 pm) for an impromptu signing of the book. If you're around, stop by! If you can't make it, don't worry... we're organizing a much more formal book signing soon!

~ S

JHZ in a movie?

2008-04-04T04:58:00.001-07:00

Check it out... A while back, I was contacted on MySpace by a filmmaker named Richard Massey. He said he was going to be shooting his next flick, "Back Page", and he wanted to know if he could put JHZ: Those Slack-Jaw Blues into the movie. Naturally, I said "Of course."

Well, I hadn't heard anything about it in quite a while and - to be honest - I forgot about it. Then I get this message from Richard through MySpace sending me a link to a couple of production stills from the movie. Lo-and-behold, there's the book!

http://www.richardmassey.tv/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/jhz1.jpg
http://www.richardmassey.tv/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/edit.jpg

Pretty sweet, huh? Thanks, Richard!
~ Stephen

New Review

2008-03-16T14:07:00.000-07:00

Chuck over at Comic Related posted his review of Jesus Hates Zombies: Those Slack-Jaw Blues.
Wow... Check it out.

~ Stephen

New series launch!!

2008-02-27T05:48:00.000-08:00

The first installment of The Slightly Askew Adventures of Inspector Ham & Eggs has launched over at captionsandballoons.com.

Give it a look!

Comics2Film Interview

2008-02-25T18:00:00.001-08:00

I recently participated in a short interview on Comic2Film's feature called The Elevator.
Check it out!

Also, The Slightly Askew Adventures of Inspector Ham & Eggs launches Wednesday at CaptionsandBalloons.com

~ Stephen

Something's Coming...

2008-02-12T07:32:00.000-08:00

Coming Soon to CaptionsAndBalloons.com

John Gunner - Galaxy Runner Preview Pages

2008-02-06T05:42:00.000-08:00

I've posted up a whole slew... that's right, a slew of new preview pages for John Gunner - Galaxy Runner over at captionsandballoons.com.

This book is my pulpy, 50s style Sci-Fi action adventure collaboration with artist Michael Bracco. He's really pushing the envelope with the art on this book, and it's incredible! So head over and check it out.

~ Stephen

Ebbing and Flowing

2008-01-30T15:29:00.000-08:00

Well, the new site's been up for a few days now, and things are going great! I've got tons of links, preview pages, and information on their now. If you haven't popped back in since the launch, or you just haven't been there at all yet, now's a great time to check it out.

www.captionsandballoons.com

In other news, I'm going to be appearing for both days of S.P.A.C.E. (Small Press and Alternative Comics Expo) in Columbus, Ohio on March 1st and 2nd. I'll be at the Alterna Comics table along with publisher Peter Simeti, artist Lauren Monardo, and fellow JHZ writer Michael Bartolotta. at the table right next to us will be good friend and fellow Alterna member Michael Bracco. Lots to see and lots to do. If you're going, let me know!

Work continues on the plethora of books I've got in the works! It's an exciting time, with so much going on... It's that amazingly fulfilling type of busy, where you love every second of it!

And tomorrow marks the close of the month-long appearance of Jesus Hates Zombies: Those Slack-Jaw Blues in Previews. In about a week, we find out the number of orders we've gotten. As a small indie book entering Previews with little fanfare (but some great reviews) I'm not expecting much... but DAMN it would be great to have some terrific order numbers! There's still time!! Get out to your local comic shop TODAY (or tomorrow) and ask them to carry Jesus Hates Zombies!

New Site Up and Running!!

2008-01-27T13:04:00.000-08:00

I've got a new site out here on the Internets that's dedicated to ALL of my comicbook writing.
It's called Captions and Balloons, and it can be found right here:
www.captionsandballoons.com

Pop on over, check it out, and let me know what you think!

~ Stephen

Wanna Read an Interview with Me?

2008-01-08T04:43:00.000-08:00

Looky, looky... I got interviewed on the website The Great White Snark about Jesus Hates Zombies.

Click here to give Part 1 a read!

Jesus Invades Diamond!

2007-12-27T10:33:00.000-08:00

Jesus Hates Zombies: Those Slack-Jaw Blues is in the January edition of Previews.

Please contact your local comic shops and ask them to carry the book! This type of national distribution is beyond my wildest dreams for the book, so anything you can do to help is appreciated!!

The Diamond Order Code is: Jan083325

Spread the word!
Thanks,
Stephen

Jesus Hates Zombies Toys...

2007-12-13T10:02:00.000-08:00

Wouldn't that be the coolest thing EVER? Can't you just imagine a line of Jesus Hates Zombies toys? Who wouldn't want those? Lauren could definitely do some sick designs.

Jesus with his red hoody, "I'm With Stupid" t-shirt, Jeans, and bloody baseball bat...

His side-kick Laz wearing his Job's Service Station coveralls...

A couple of different zombies in various states of decay....

If the line is popular, it would only make sense to add Lincoln and a couple of werewolves!

Wow, if anybody knows any sculptors or toy makers, hook a brother up! This toy line is RIPE for the making!

Little a This, Little a That...

2007-12-12T05:29:00.000-08:00

Not much new on the Jesus Hates Zombies front right now. Hopefully Lauren will be able to start busting out pages for Yea, Though I Walk... soon and I'll have something to really blog about.

Let's not forget that Those Slack-Jaw Blues is going to be in Previews next month! I need everyone to demand that their local comic shop order it!

Also, I've got 2 other comic projects in the works. I've been a busy little bee on the writing front lately. Both projects are vastly different from JHZ and from each other. One is a paranormal period piece, and the other is set in the world of tights and capes. I'm really proud of how both of them are turning out so far, and they're both really pushing me as a writer to expand, grow, and (hopefully) improve. Plus, I'm getting to work with a couple of kick-ass artists, which is where the real joy for me comes into play. There's nothing better than seeing the images that have been rattling around my brain come to life on the page by some ridiculously talented hands.

Once both of those projects are a little further along I'll start posting some previews and teasers.

Support Independent Comics!

2007-12-05T16:53:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone,

My good friend Michael Bracco's AMAZING graphic novel "Birth" is in the December Previews (pages #196 and #340).

Look, this is a special book which takes brilliant storytelling and amazing art and really elevates what can be said and done with comics. Believe me, I'm a selfish self-promoting whore, so to take the time to promote someone else's book means i think more highly of it than I do my own stuff... "Birth" NEEDS to be in every comic shop in the country. Yes, it's that good.

So how can you help? Go to your local comic shops and make sure they're going to carry it, that's how! ask for it. Demand it. Request it. Do whatever it takes to get them to order it!

The Diamond Order Code is: DEC07331

Thanks,
Stephen

Top 3, Baby!

2007-11-28T08:30:00.000-08:00

Jesus Hates Zombies: Those Slack-Jaw Blues has been selected as one of the Weeky Top 3 this week by Comic News Insider!

If you've never given Comic News Insider a listen, I highly recommend that you do. Jimmy and Joe know their stuff and never fail to entertain!

After the Con...

2007-11-23T12:56:00.000-08:00

Happy Day-After-Turkey-Day, all!

I hope everyone is feeling fat and happy today! Sit around. Be lazy. Give all of that food a chance to digest...

Last weekend was Big Apple Con, and Alterna Comics was there in full force. Here's a picture of all of us that were there - Michael Bracco (creator of "Birth", Me, Lauren Monardo (official JHZ artist), and Peter Simeti (President and Publisher of Alterna Comics):

We sold a bunch of books and shirts, met some terrific people, and a great time was had by all! To view more pics from the Con, clickity-click right here.

Also, the Official Jesus Hates Zombies site has been redesigned. Give it a look and let me know what you think!

I Wanna Be Laz, You Wanna Be Laz, We All Wanna Be Laz!

2007-11-13T09:57:00.000-08:00

Let's be honest... who wouldn't want to be Jesus Hates Zombies' resident lovable corpse, Laz!
Well NOW YOU CAN! (I'm doing my best TV announcer guy voice here) All you need is this handy-dandy tutorial put together and beautifully illustrated by our very own Lauren Monardo:

So, say you're heading to a Comic Convention and you're thinking to yourself, "Geez Loueeez, I'm gonna be the only one there not in costume... I don't have the physical prowess to go as Captain America (or even Bucky...) and everyone looked at me funny the last time I dressed up as Sailor Moon. Shucks! What am I gonna do?"

Might I suggest going as Laz?!? It'll be fun AND educational!

Why, you may want to even dress up as Laz for Big Apple Con this weekend! And while you're at it, stop on over to the Alterna Comics booth and say hi.

~ Stephen

Easily Distracted Dunce...

2007-11-09T05:05:00.000-08:00

So, I've got a few writing projects in the works, but nothing too major at the moment. The script for Volume 1 of Jesus Hates Zombies: Yea, Though I Walk... Featuring Lincoln Hates Werewolves (yes, I was going for the longest, most ridiculous title I could think of) is complete and to Lauren for her to make the pretty pages, so I'm not writing anything pressing... But I've got a couple of things cooking that I would like to finish up.

So what do I do? I go out last night and pick up Guitar Hero III. Now, I'm completely new to this series. In all honesty, I thought the whole idea was silly... Who wants to look like an ass holding a fake little guitar, pressing buttons on it to correspond to some lame ass songs, right?

But I'd heard nothing but great things about the franchise, and then I was walking through a store that had the game up and running on one of its myriad of flat screen TVs... and the song that was playing was Even Flow by Pearl Jam. Anyone that knows me knows that I am a Pearl Jam fanatic. I've even got a Pearl Jam tattoo! That was it for me... if my beloved Jam endorsed Guitar Hero, then I could to!

So this brings me to last night. I bought the game and the little guitar and set off on my personal Rock Opera. I named my band ZombyLuv (oh how clever I'm not) and fired it up. Nearly 3 1/2 hours later, it was ridiculously late, my fingers were cramping, and I was in the throws of ROCK STARDOM!

Oh, Guitar Hero III, you evil mistress... you've snared me in your web of Rock God Fantasy! Damn you! DAMN YOU!

I see very little writing in my immediate future.
Yep, I'm an easily distracted dunce...
~ Stephen

Da Bookz Are In!

2007-11-07T14:48:00.000-08:00

For all you folks who helped my first print run of Jesus Hates Zombies: Those Slack-Jaw Blues sell out so quickly, the books are in! I'm getting them sent out as fast as I can, so sit tight and rest comfortably knowing that they're FINALLY on the way!

International orders are going to take longer to get to you... well.... international folks, so please continue to have patience with me!

Once you get the book, if you enjoy it, please tell your friends, neighbors, Church Groups (well, maybe not your Church Groups) to head over to Alterna Comics website (http://www.alternacomics.com) and order it.

I... I really need the help right now. You see, I've got 17 1/2 kids to feed and clothe, and the cold, winter months are nearly upon us... we're all living in the hatch-back of a Chevette... my wife lost both of her ears and her right eye in a freak accident working a double shift at the local Gas-N-Sip... The medical bills are piling up... My bookie is about to sicks the dogs on me...

Damn, I can't lie to you folks... Things are actually going great. I only have 2 kids and we've got a great house in the suburbs. My wife still has both ears and both eyes, so there aren't any medical bills piling up And my bookie said I've got another week to pay (stupid Colts...).

But I'd still dig it if you'd pass on the good word about the book!
Nyuck, nyuck...
~ Stephen

A "Diamond" in the Rough? Nyuck, Nyuck!

2007-11-01T10:28:00.000-07:00

I just got word yesterday that Jesus Hates Zombies: Those Slack-Jaw Blues has been accepted Diamond Distributors.

More information, as well as the Diamond Order Code, to come soon.

But in the meantime, why not pop over to Alterna Comics and order the book yourself!?! Christmas is right around the corner, so what better gift can you give than the gift of the Lord... killing zombies.

~ Stephen

New Pin-ups From a New Friend

2007-10-31T07:14:00.000-07:00

I was recently searching the net and came across a really cool Jesus Hates Zombies sketch that I'd never seen. It was in the blog of Breno Tamura, an extremely talented artist from Brazil. So I left him a note saying how much I loved the sketch, and we've now started corresponding (gotta love the internet). Today, Breno was kind enough to send me 2 new Jesus Hates Zombies pin-ups that he did, and I think they're incredible, so I wanted to share them with you.

The level of talent this idea has attracted simply blows me away...
~ Stephen

Better View of the Shirts

2007-10-27T08:23:00.000-07:00

here's a better look at the awesome t-shirts that Michael Bracco created for us (he also did the new cover for the anthology):

Order yours at the Official Site.

Pack It Up and Ship It!

2007-10-26T12:28:00.001-07:00

I just received word that the first print run that I did through Ka-Blam has (finally) shipped! That means the books should be in my hands sometime next week, and which point I will promptly turn that around and get them shipped off to all of the fine folks who pre-ordered.

Also, I finished my first pass at the script for Volume 1 of Jesus Hates Zombies/Lincoln Hates Werewolves: Yea, Though I Walk... It clocks in at 78 pages, and it really wrote itself. It even progressed to a perfect point of ending Volume 1 which I hope will really make people go nuts waiting for Volume 2. I'm incredibly proud of the work I've churned out with this script. I think it's some of the best writing I've ever done. And I know that Lauren Monardo's art is going to simply knock everyone's socks off. Trust me, she's really going to be able to blow everyone away with her skills on this book!

~ S

The Proof is in... well... the Proof!

2007-10-23T12:38:00.000-07:00

Today I received the proof copy of the Jesus Hates Zombies: Those Slack-Jaw Blues from Ka-Blam. Although it took longer than I would have liked, I have to say that I'm absolutely delighted with the results. The book looks effin' phenomenal!

Here's a picture of your's truly mugging for the camera with the book.

And here's a shot of the inside cover and first page.

This is one of those days that is just surreal...

And now that I have the proof (and have approved it) the books are being printed right now and should be sent off to me in the next day or 2. So fear not, all of you that were awesome enough to pre-order... your books will be on the way soon!

~ Stephen

Order JHZ... you know, if you want to...

2007-10-22T07:12:00.000-07:00

Haven't ordered Jesus Hates Zombies: Those Slack-Jaw Blues yet? That's Ok.. God forgives you! After all, that's what he does. Me, on the other hand...

Grrrr....

But all that aside, now is the PERFECT time to order! Why? Because Alterna Comics is now publishing Jesus Hates Zombies: Those Slack-Jaw Blues with an alternate cover by Michael Bracco and a new, slimmed down price of $14.95. How can you go wrong? So head over to the Alterna Comics Store and place your order.

Your soul will thank you.

New Cover

2007-10-19T11:05:00.001-07:00

With Alterna Comics publishing Jesus Hates Zombies: Those Slack-Jaw Blues, we wanted an alternate cover to set it apart from our initial self-published print run. So I asked Michael Bracco if he would do me the honor of illustrating our new cover. He agreed, and the results speak for themselves. obviously this cover is an homage to the beautiful Steve Ditko Amazing Fantasy #15 cover. I LOVE this cover like I love the original cover by Jeff McComsey!

Over Exposed? Never!

2007-10-18T12:59:00.000-07:00

Check out an interview with Yours Truly over at Geeks of Doom!

~ S

Big Apple Con

2007-10-18T06:40:00.001-07:00

Going to Big Apple Con in November? So are we!!

THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

2007-10-17T13:09:00.001-07:00

Now that everything is finalized and the legal rig-a-ma-roll is taken care of, it is my GREAT pleasure to announce that...

*AHEM* Drum roll, please...

Thank you.

...that we've just SIGNED A DEAL WITH ALTERNA COMICS!!! I think the press release that Alterna just put out sums it up best:

Levittown, NY - October 16th, 2007 - Stephen Lindsay and Michael Bartolotta's "Jesus Hates Zombies: Those Slack-Jaw Blues" now has a new official home at Alterna Comics. The book, which follows the travels of Jesus Christ as he's turned from holy savior to zombie slayer, is both a fan and reviewer favorite and has been critically acclaimed for its irreverent humor, fantastic artwork, and smart writing.

An Alterna Comics exclusive cover version by Michael Bracco (Birth, Novo) will parody Amazing Fantasy #15, with Jesus (instead of Spider-Man) jumping down into a crowd of reaching zombies with his zombie friend Laz, in hand. The original cover art that was drawn by Jeff McComsey (American Terror/High Noon Presents) will be available as an 11x17 promo poster and as a possible 2nd print run edition of the JHZ anthology book. The book is due out in time for Christmas and is sure to be on many comic fans' wish lists.

When Stephen was asked by publisher Peter Simeti if he was interested in signing on with Alterna, he enthusiastically replied, "Man, I can't tell you how excited I am about this!!". Peter Simeti states, "We're very happy to have Stephen and Lauren on board and we're happy to provide their Jesus Hates Zombies anthology with a larger production run and the attention it deserves. We can't wait until April when Jesus Hates Zombies will team up with Stephen's other creation, Lincoln Hates Werewolves, in its own 2 part Graphic Novel release! The art for those two graphics will be created by Lauren Monardo, who has got to be one of the flat-out best comic artists I've seen in years."

So be on the look-out for the Alterna version of Those Slack-Jaw Blues, as well as the up-coming Jesus Hates Zombies/Lincoln Hates Werewolves epic! And check out some of the other great titles from Alterna, including the books by a couple of my friends: Birth and Novo by Michael Bracco, and American Terror: Confessions of a Human Smart Bomb by Jeff McComsey.

Oh yeah, and one final announcement - Lauren and I will be appearing at the Alterna Comics table at the Big Apple Con this November 16, 17, and 18. If you're going, please drop by and introduce yourself!!

Thanks,
~ Stephen

T-SHIRTS! Get yer T-SHIRTS!

2007-10-15T11:37:00.000-07:00

That's right, folks... the very first, fully sanctioned, totally official Jesus Hates Zombies shirts are now available for mass consumption! For only $15.00 (plus shipping and handling) you can be the first kid on your block to sport this ultra hip, too-cool-for-Sunday-School shirt!

Check out this amazing design by my buddy Michael Bracco:

These shirts are available to order right here, at the Official Jesus Hates Zombies Website. They come in Men's M, L, or XL, and the shirts themselves are a 'yellow haze' color, which really makes the illustration 'pop'!

That's one of the big announcements I've been talking about... the other will be coming any day!
~ Stephen

Workin'

2007-10-10T06:58:00.000-07:00

There are a few big announcements on the way, the details of which I have to keep under wraps at the moment...

But I can let you know that Lauren and I are hard at work on the Jesus Hates Zombies/Lincoln Hates Werewolves story.

I can tell you that I've got the first 30 pages of the script written (just over the past few days!).

I can tell you that it's going to be 2 volumes, and each volume is going to be about 88 pages long.

And I can tell you that it's due out in the Spring of '08.

Now, who's putting it out... that I can't tell you yet. But soon, my friends... soon!

Oh yeah, and you can expect some artworks from it soon, too!

~ Stephen

Off Topic - Frank Miller

2007-10-07T06:02:00.000-07:00

I'm a huge Frank Miller fan. His stuff, both the art and writing, has such a hard, unapologetic edge to it. Yet it never comes off like he's trying to give his stuff an edge. It's very natural feeling. He is definitely what I would call a major influence on me in the realm of comics.

But sometimes, even your influences can let you down.

Yesterday I was flipping through 300 when I came upon the page where the messenger rides into town before good 'ol Leo kicks him into the pit. There's a panel of the messenger is riding straight toward the reader. His horse is in mid-gallop, and he's leaning forward and to the left (his right).

Something about that panel rang very familiar to me... like I'd seen it before. Then it hit me. So I rushed over to my bookcase, pulled out my copy of The Dark Night Returns, and flipped toward the back of the book... and there it was. A panel of Batman riding a horse. He's riding straight toward the reader and he's leaning forward and to the left (his right). The panels are nearly identical! From the position of the horses' legs to the background compositions of he other characters. It's like Frank just didn't feel like coming up with another shot, so he robbed Peter to pay Paul.

I put the 2 panels side by side for you to see (click to see it larger):

That panel from The Dark Night Returns has always been one of my favorite panels in comic book history. But now, it's lessened a bit.

Am I making a bigger deal out of this than I should? Probably. Frank Miller is still a genius who's produced some of the most amazing comic book work in history. But I'm still a bit bummed that he would take such a dynamic and powerful image and cheapen it a bit by recycling it.

Oh well...

How about a Jesus Hates Zombies update, hmmm? I'm due to get the first proof from the printers any day now. And as long as everything is good with the proof, I should have the book going out to everyone by Halloween!

We've got t-shirts coming out soon. They're designed by the insanely talented Michael Bracco, the creator of Birth and Novo. If you don't know his stuff (shame on you) then check out his Website. (look at his other t-shirt designs to get a taste of how awesome the JHZ shirt is going to be) And you can pick up both Birth and Novo from the fine folks of Alterna Comics!

And stay tuned for a BIG TIME announcement concerning JHZ coming soon!

~ S

I thought the 1st time hurt the most...?

2007-09-30T08:53:00.000-07:00

The very first full review of Jesus Hates Zombies: Those Slack-Jaw Blues has hit the good 'ol world-wide-inter-web. It's brought to you by the fine folks over at Geeks of Doom, and thankfully, it's a terrific review.

I've been dreading that very first review, praying ti was a good one, 'cause that can really cause and indie project to sink or swim. Well, according to Geeks of Doom, we're SWIMMING!

Wow... what a combination of relief and elation I'm feeling right now...

Pop on over to Geeks of Doom and give the review a look!

~ Stephen

What Does Jesus Think of "Those Slack-Jaw Blues"...

2007-09-24T15:58:00.000-07:00

Only $17.00 for 138 pages of pimp-tastic goodness... ya can't go wrong!

Order here!

Staying Busy

2007-09-22T10:18:00.001-07:00

As we wait for the shipment of JHZ:Those Slack-Jaw Blues to arrive, we're hard at work on the follow-up project: dual mini-series of Jesus Hates Zombies and Lincoln Hates Werewolves.

These 2 mini-series will run together in each issue that comes out. Half of the book will be JHZ and the other half will be LHW. The mini-series is being written by me and illustrated by Lauren Monardo.

This spectacular cover to issue #1 was illustrated by Danilo Beyruth:

In case it wasn't already obvious, this mini-series is going to kick all sorts of ass!
~ Sephen

Waiting Waiting Waiting...

2007-09-22T05:28:00.001-07:00

Part of the whole self-publishing process is, well, the publishing... And even though it's "self-publishing", it's not "self-printing". What self-publishing mean sis that you're fotting the bill for the printing, not a publisher. And let me tell you, waiting for your very first proof of your very first book is TORTURE!

I had no idea how long this process was... and it's slowly killing me. I NEED to see that proof. I NEED to know it's OK. I NEED to hold that book in my hands, cradle it, wisher sweet nothing into its perfect binding...

But instead, I just sit here waiting.

What, you haven't ordered yet?

2007-09-20T07:02:00.000-07:00

Order now, before they're gone!!

Knowledge is Power!

2007-09-18T09:30:00.000-07:00

Order your copy today!

2nd Print Run Announcement!

2007-09-17T16:01:00.000-07:00

Hey everybody!

Due to the overwhelming success of the pre-sales on the first print run of Jesus Hates Zombies: Those Slack-Jaw Blues[, I'm pleased to announce the pre-orders for the 2nd print run are now being taken! Head over to the Official JHZ Website to order yours today.

These pre-orders will only be taken for a limited time, so don't delay!

Jesus is a SELL OUT!

2007-09-11T08:52:00.000-07:00

Wow... I can hardly believe it, but the initial print run of Jesus Hates Zombies: Those Slack-Jaw Blues has sold out!

A huge THANK YOU to everyone that ordered a copy. And if you didn't get a chance to order a copy but would like to, a 2nd printing will be coming soon!

The Law of Supply and Demand

2007-09-10T06:52:00.001-07:00

Sales on Jesus Hates Zombies: Those Slack-Jaw Blues have been terrific.
So much so that there are less than 10 copies left available for pre-order!

So if you think you want a copy, I suggest you cruise over to the site and order now!

~ Stephen

It's HERE! It's HERE!

2007-09-06T09:45:00.000-07:00

Order Your Copy Today!

Sales and a Podcast Mention

2007-09-05T05:22:00.000-07:00

Wow... the book is actually selling with the Pre-Orders. I'm so unbelievably happy that people want to see this book! So as long as the orders keep coming, I'll keep getting them printed! Tell your friends, neighbors, local comic shops... anybody! Remember, you can Pre-Order at the Official Website.

Also, in the latest episode of Comic News Insider (episode #104), JHZ: Those Slack-Jaw Blues got a great mention! I'm a big fan of CNI anyway, so to hear them talk about the book, pimp the website, and let people know what we're all about was really, really great. Now get over there and support them! (after you Pre-Order the book, of course)

~ Stephen

Pre-Orders Open!!

2007-09-04T07:15:00.000-07:00

Pre-Orders are now being taken for Jesus Hates Zombies: Those Slack-Jaw Blues. To pre-order your copy, head over to the Official JHZ Website now.

This behemoth weighs in at 138 pages, including 17 stories featuring the artwork of 16 up-and-coming comic artists! Also included are a guest artist pin-up gallery, and multiple artists interpretations of one of the stories.

This initial print run is very limited, so pre-order now!

~ Stephen

Off to the Printer!

2007-09-03T10:30:00.001-07:00

Jesus Hates Zombies: Those Slack-Jaw Blues has been sent off to the printer for its initial print run! This is going to be a very limited run, so if you'd like a copy, make sure you let me know early -- and often... The squeaky wheel gets the grease!

The anthology weighs in at a hefty 138 pages, complete with guest artist pin-up gallery and multiple artist takes on one of the stories.

The book will be $17.00 (which, for the size and quality, ain't a bad deal!)

So let me know if you're interested and I'll get you on the list. And believe me, it's an exclusive list.. a special list... a bad ass list. Hell, my Mom's on this list!

~ Stephen

Jesus Hates Zombies is DONE!

2007-09-02T14:00:00.000-07:00

Wow... I can't begin to describe how incredibly excited I am to report that Jesus Hates Zombies: Those Slack-Jaw Blues is finally completed!

After months of diligent work by our ridiculously talented roster of artists, each of the stories is complete, and the files are ready to head to the printer. The anthology comes in at an awesome 138 pages, including the pin-up galleryand the gallery of different artist interpretations of the story Low Rent Housing.

As soon as it's ready for mass consumption, I will let you know.

A monstrous THANK YOU to everyone involved in this book. You guys and gals are a creative inspiration!

Wow... this feels good!
~ Stephen

Damn, Jesus is FUNNY!

2007-08-29T12:05:00.000-07:00

Not much to update on the comic front today. Still waiting for the last of the pages from Mark for House of Worship. Once I get those, things will start to pick up again. But I've been prepping the rest of the pages, and right now it looks like the anthology is coming in at a whopping 138 pages! Now that's a hefty book! People will certainly be getting their money's worth.

On an unrelated note, I found this today:

This is an honest-to-God, no bullshit flick! I mean, damn, I didn't even throw JC into spandex in the comic... although after laughing myself silly at this poster, I many have to at some point.

I love the notion of stuff like this - juxtaposing a known figure against something completely bizarre. It would be like taking Abe Lincoln and making him a werewolf hunter...

Say, that's not a bad idea. No stealing it! I wrote it here first, so it's my IP!

Yeah... honest Abe running through the woods at night... a thick fog hanging in the air... Suddenly a cry rings out, shattering the silence. It is the cry of a wolf! Abe's hand tightens around the handle of his ax... Sweet! Now I know what my NEXT project will be.

Hell, since all of this shit is 'supernatural' in nature, I can even through an ancient 'relic' into the mix that will transport Abe into the future where he will have to team up with -- you guessed it -- JESUS to fight zombies and figure out a way to get Abe back to his own time!

I'm an effin' under-appreciated genius -- or a shameless hack. Either one works for me!

~ S

Who Dat Angel?

2007-08-28T10:53:00.000-07:00

One of the main character of the upcoming mini-series Jesus Hates Zombies: Yea, Though I Walk... is the Archangel Gabriel. And as I first thought about him, I pictured him as a beloved character from my youth... a hero from a little fantasy film from 1981 that featured awesome stop-motion goodness from Ray Harryhausen.

I told this to Lauren (actually, it was much shorter when I told her - I simply told her the name of the film and character) and she came back with this:

It's freakin' PERFECT! Of course, she also hit me with another image, but that would be giving too much away in one post...

So 10 points and much respect to the first person to correctly figure out who Gabriel is modeled after.

~ Stephen

Yea though I walk...

2007-08-27T14:48:00.000-07:00

Now that the anthology is just about finished, work has begun on the JHZ mini series that is being written by me, with artwork by Lauren Monardo. I've decided to put out a little 'teaser' image that Lauren recently did. This 'teaser' will also be going in the anthology.

And, obviously, the name of the mini series will be Jesus Hates Zombies: Yeah Though I Walk...

~ Stephen

One Page to Go!

2007-08-26T09:10:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning to find that Jordan Dalton had emailed me all of his pages, so the first story in the anthology -- Beginnings -- is complete. I also had an email with another page from Mark for House of Worship. That leaves only one final page from House of Worship to go. Once Mark turns in that page, everything for the anthology is DONE.

It looks like I'm going to be going through Ka-Blam Digital Printing. I've heard nothing but good things about them, and they've got reasonable rates.

So get ready, folks... Jesus Hates Zombies: Those Slack-Jaw Blues is going to be unleashed very, very soon!

~ Stephen

Who We Are

2007-08-25T09:59:00.001-07:00

So I received pages from the 2 artists still completing their stories with assurance that this will be the week that they're done, AND I got the inside cover finished. We're sooooo close!

I decided a long time ago that since so many people were contributing to this anthology, I wanted a unique way to showcase who everyone was. So I enlisted Lauren Monardo (as I tend to enlist her for everything I possibly can) to create zombifications of all of the contributing artists. These zombifications will make up a big portion of the inside cover -- and they're done!

So here they are, the JHZ faithful in all of their zombified glory!
(obviously you need to give the image a 'click' to actually see them)

~ Stephen

Cool Piece

2007-08-24T08:59:00.000-07:00

I thought it would be interesting, as the anthology gets so close to being finished, to see all of the different interpretations of zombie ass whoopin' Jesus. So I put this piece together featuring a shot of Jesus from a panel from every story in the anthology. Damn all of these artists ROCK!

Click on the image to enlarge it.

~ Stephen

Pencils and Inks

2007-08-24T05:13:00.001-07:00

I'm a major appreciator of art. I love it. I love sketches, rough pencils, layouts, inks, tones, colors, paintings... you get the idea -- I love art in all its many forms. So I figured for my post today I'd show you guys two examples of some great art in its various stages. First up is a penciled panel by Mark Lauthier from the story House of Worship:

That's Mark's interpretation of JCs faithful zombie sidekick Laz.

And here we have a completely inked and toned panel byJordan Dalton from the story Beginnings:

I'm like a kid on Christmas morning when I open my email to find artwork waiting for me.
~ Stephen

For God's Sake, Cover Yourself!

2007-08-23T15:22:00.001-07:00

Here they are, the front and back covers of Jesus Hates Zombies: Those Slack-Jaw Blues. Click on them to see larger versions.

Let me know what you think!

~ Stephen

Teaser-tease...

2007-08-23T13:19:00.000-07:00

Just popping in to drop a tidbit from a panel by my boy Down Under -- Mark Lauthier.

Like I said, that's not the whole panel, just a tasty treat to wet your whistle...

Believe me, the story Mark is working on, House of Worship, hits so many levels of bad-ass-ish-ness that you're going to feel like you took a Holy Louisville Slugger upside your noggin'!

~ Stephen

Why I'm a Writer

2007-08-23T07:56:00.000-07:00

My plan from now on is to drop a blog a day in here, regardless of what's going on (or not going on, as the case may be).

Today, there's not a whole helluvalot goin' on with the comic. I did receive an update from each of the artists still working no their stories, which is encouraging. I'm ok with waiting, as long as I know the work is being done. Hell, when you can't afford to pay your artists, patience is a BIG TIME virtue! You've gotta have flexi-deadlines because it's not like the artists involved can afford to drop everything and work on this project since it ain't puttin' food on their tables. (yet!)

One of the artists, Jordan Dalton, sent me a GORGEOUS page that he's just completed. His ability to use tones to bring a black & white page to life amazes me. He creates a living, breathing world that is devoid of color... and that's no easy feat! Wanna see what Jordan's view of my idea of downtown Heaven looks like?

Simply awesome... it's as gaudy and obnoxious as any large city here on Earth!

And now it's time for a little laugh at my expense. Here's the reason why I must rely so heavily on the talents of others to bring the JHZ world to life:

Yes, that is what JC would look like drawn by me...

Done laughing? Yeah... I know... thank GOD I have artists who are willing to work with me! LOL!

~ Stephen

New Look, Same Blasphemy

2007-08-22T16:01:00.000-07:00

Ok, ok... so it's been 3 months since I last posted... I've been busy! I've had... er... stuff and things going on... Yeah, that's it. But I'm back now, and I PROMISE to be more diligent with my posting!

So what's going on with JHZ?

LOTS and LOTS and LOTS!!!

First, the anthology is nearly done. There are only 2 stories left to be completed. Once that's done, I'll somehow scrape together the money to start printing this thing! Please check out the ComicSpace page to see some really great stuff from the book. Each and every artist involved in bringing this crazy idea to life is my hero. They've rocked my socks off with the level of work they've done!

I also just recently turned in an exclusive 12 page JHZ story to Alterna Comics for a book they're publishing in October called Alterna Tales #2. Lauren Monardo provided the art, and we both feel like we've turned in a pretty sweet stand-alone JHZ story that you're not gonna find anywhere else but in that anthology! It's only gonna cost a couple of bucks, so if you dig JHZ, please please please pick it up! The more they sell, the better our chances are of getting a mini-series run for JHZ with Alterna Comics. And 2 creator/artist friends of mine have amazing books publishing through Alterna: Jeff McComsey's American Terror: Confessions of a Human Smart Bomb and Michael Bracco's Birth and Novo. Both books absolutely rule, so I highly recommend picking them up!

Wanna see the latest JHZ ad? It features artwork by Steve Willhite, one of the talented artists who's contributed to the anthology:

The cover to the anthology is also finished, and it features an amazing painting by Jeff McComsey:

The back cover is also completed, and it features more kick-ass artwork by Lauren Monardo. I was also lucky enough to get 2 terrific endorsements for the back cover by 2 people in the comic business that I really respect: Chris Ryall, the writer of Zombies Vs. Robots and the Editor-in-Chief at IDW Publishing and Matt Billman, the co-creator of the brilliant comic Living With Zombies. The simple fact that these guys would take the time to check out JHZ and then allow me to use a quote by them for the book blows me away. I'm eternally grateful to them both.

Well, I guess that's a pretty badass update for now, ain't it? There will be a lot more to come soon, I promise!

~ Stephen

Promo Materials

2007-05-22T06:10:00.000-07:00

Hello my faithful faithless!!

I've now received 6 completed stories, with a bunch more due in at any time, and things are really moving along with JHZ!! So, now comes the part where I start to try to push this thing hot and heavy here on the 'ol Internet!

To start off the promotional BLITZ (ok, so it's not really a blitz... more of a one-legged hop-a-long), I've got these 2 beautiful pieces of promotional material.

Check them out, copy them, and post them anywhere you see fit!!! Trust me, I don't mind at all!!

~ Stephen

Still Kickin'

2007-05-01T11:34:00.000-07:00

Hello?

Hello...? Is anyone there? No...? That's Ok. I don't blame you. Updates to the 'ol blog have been few and few between, and hat's my fault. So now I'm left typing into the vast void of the loney 'net.

*sniffle*

But just in case anyone stumbles upon this blog, work on the JHZ Anthology (title JESUS HATES ZOMBiES: Those Slack-Jaw Blues) is coming along splendidly! There are 17 stories in the anthology, each 5 pages long, and I've got 16 different artists working on it. My best friend Bart joined me in the story writing fun, so we've got a diverse set of tales to be told.

Here is a terrific piece of promo art for the anthology:

And so that's where we're at. There's a mid_may deadline for the artists to get their work in, and hopefully it won't take much longer after that to get the files to the publisher...

Exciting times!
~ Stephen

JHZ Anthology

2007-03-30T15:30:00.000-07:00

As the artist search continues, I got a great idea from my friend (and terrific artist) Justin Stewart (check out his web comic, Popped Culture). He suggested I try to set up an Anthology with a bunch of short 1-shot JHZ stories, each drawn by different artists.

So that's what I'm doing. Each short story is 5 pages in length, and so far there are 8 artists committed. I've also brought my best friend Mike Bartolotta on to do some writing with me. We've been writing together since we were about 13 years old, so our sensibilities, style, and tastes are very much in line with one another. Thus far, we've got 5 scripts out to artists, and the work has started!

One of the great artists working on the anthology, Mark Lauthier, hit me up with this, his first sketched idea for Jesus:

Pretty bad ass take on the J-Man, no? Needless to say, as I search for a new artist, this project has me stoked!

~ Stephen

DARK TIMES...

2007-03-26T08:45:00.000-07:00

Well, I said that this blog was going to be about the ups and DOWNS of trying to self-publish this comic... so that means there are bound to be downs.

As of now, JHZ is without an artist. Although I love Daryl and his art to death, the style change just wasn't working for the book. That, coupled with a great new project that Daryl has in the works, has us parting ways for now.

It's not a bad split. Like I said, I have all the respect and admiration in the world for Daryl and his work, it's just different directions we're heading in. but we'll be working together on a new project in th enear future!

So what does that mean for JHZ? It means I'm without an artist and the book is in a bit of a limbo right now. I've start an anthology, which will have a bunch of 5-page JHZ stories in it, all written by me with art by various artists. it should be awesome, and it should satiate me as I search for a new full-time JHZ artist.

In the meantime, the web comic will be on hold, as will issue #1.

So stick with me as I sort through all of this...

~ Stephen

OFF TOPIC (but explains a lot)

2007-03-07T16:14:00.000-08:00

have you ever traveled into your past a bit and found something that makes you go, "Ooohhh... that's DEFINITELY got something to do with why I'm such a weird sonofabitch!"

No? Just me? That's Ok. Just roll with me here...

So I found a bunch of comics from when I was a kid in an old trunk of mine in my garage. to put "when I was a kid" into perspective, I'm turning 30 on Saturday (March 10th).

I pulled out the box of comics and nostalgically started thumbing through them when I happened upon this:

Yep... that's right, a CHUCK NORRIS KARATE KOMMANDOS comic! Holy shit!! No wonder I can't spell... I've always thought commandos was spelled with a "K".

I mean, I've always blamed my 7 years of Catholic schooling and 2 years of altar boy service for how screwed up I am... but NO! It was Chuck Norris' fault all along!

I mean, look at this. This poor woman is being abused by a bunch of low-rent ninja types!

And what the hell is Chuck wearing in this thing?!?!

Granted, it's Chuck Norris, so naturally he's kickin' some serious ass... but in a red-ish/orange shirt and white vest thingy?? Oh no, no, no... The Chuck Norris I know and love only wears denim and/or flannel shirts!!

Regardless, if anyone ever sees you looking at some JESUS HATES ZOMBiES! material and says, "What kind of fucked up individual comes up with an idea like THAT?!?", you can say, "The kind that was subjected to CHUCK NORRIS KARATE KOMMANDOS comics as a kid...

Wow... this explains SO MUCH! (now I need to give Father O'Malley a call in prison and apologize... I guess it really wasn't his fault..)

~ Stephen

JC - Zombie or Not?

2007-03-05T11:11:00.000-08:00

Ok, this is something that keeps coming up in comments on various message boards when dealing with JESUS HATES ZOMBiES!

"Isn't Jesus a zombie himself?"

"How can Jesus hates zombies...? He's the first zombie!"

People, people, people... have you ever seen JC gnawing on somebody's skull, trying to eat their brains? Is that in the bible somewhere? 'Cause if it is, I seriously got screwed during my tenure at Catholic school as a young lad. Jesus was resurrected, sure... but not as a mindless zombie. He retained motor function, cognitive thought, a healthy appetite, and a general sense of personal hygiene... none of which matters to the walking dead.

So please, can we put to rest the "Isn't Jesus a zombie?" nonsense...

I swear, if he heard you calling him a zombie, you'd probably catch some Holy Wood upside your head! (I'm talking about his baseball bat, ya sick bastards!)

~ Stephen

A Little Bit 'O Back Story

2007-03-05T08:19:00.000-08:00

And here I sit... blogging for the first time about the process of getting an independent comic out there for mass consumption. But in order to properly do that, I have to take a few steps back and catch everyone up on where I am in the process and how this whole thing came to be.

I'm a writer. I've been writing since I was a child, and it's something I never get tired of. Part of it is the joy that can be felt when you're writing something and it's just flowing... as if it's coming from someplace completely separate and outside of you. Part of it is the ego trip of creating and manipulating an entire world. Normal rules need not apply when YOU'RE the creator... and I like that. But mostly, I think it's a deep seeded need I have to tell stories. No matter the medium, I just like telling stories. And comics offer a unique story-telling venue.

Ok, so that's a bit about where I'm coming from. But where did the comic come from? Last year, I embarked on a journey into writing a novel. More specifically, I zombie novel. You see, I'd been searching for a good zombie novel for a while, and they proved to be few and far between. So I decided that I was going to write the type of zombie novel I'd want to read. But as I wrote and wrote and wrote, the book was becoming more bloated than a rotting corpse... and I just couldn't seem to end it! So, like any frustrated writer, I shelved it, vowing to one day come back and finish my zombie opus!

Since my creativity lies with writing, yet I love all types of art, I find myself frequently lurking on artist message boards. I love seeing what types of art people are producing, even though I myself am I not capable of it. So while lurking in a place called The Drawing Board, I happened upon a few zombie-themed threads. This got the wheels turning... what if my novel wasn't a novel at all, but a comic! Then I could work with an artist to bring what was languishing in my head and in words to a visual medium! So I went back and turned the first several pages into a completed single comic script. With script in hand, I went back to The Drawing Board and posted, letting the artists who's work I had been admiring know that I had a script and was looking for an artist.

One of the artists who responded was Daryl Walker, a guy with a style unlike anything else I'd seen in comics. (Check his stuff out here.) We chatted online and through email a bit, and seemed to hit it off quite well. The decision was made... Daryl and I would work together to make After the Rising a reality!

So, Daryl went to work mocking up the first page, and I kept on writing. In one of our online chat sessions (Daryl lives in the UK and I live in the US, so online chatting is our creative life-blood) I made a comment about how it would be funny to see Jesus fighting zombies. We both got a laugh out of it and went on with whatever it was we were doing... but for some reason, that image stuck with me. So, later that day, with the idea percolating in my head -- expanding, growing, fleshing itself out more and more -- i decided I had to write it down. And, to my surprise, as I started to write it, it just began to flow. I wrote and wrote and wrote... and then I emailed it to Daryl.

He dug it, but neither of us knew how we could accomplish 2 comics at the same time. (Lord knows it's hard enough to create 1!) A decision had to be made, and as much as I loved what we were doing with After the Rising, I knew we should be working on the Jesus comic instead. It felt fresh and new, and it had the opportunity to do and say things that a more conventional comic like After the Rising couldn't. So I wrote to Daryl and told him that I wanted us to concentrate solely on this Jesus/Zombies idea... and luckily for me, he was into it! And thus, Jesus Hates Zombies! was born...

We decided early on that, in order to sell an indie comic, you need to generate some grass-roots style buzz. You need to let people in on what you're doing - give them a taste of what they can expect to find in your book. So Daryl and I agreed that the best way to do this was going to be to work on the first 5 pages and get them completed so we could post them as a "Sneak Preview" of the issue to come.

To our surprise... the reaction thus far has been great. People dig the art, the concept, and the direction we're taking it.

And so now, Daryl and I are working to finish the first issue. I'm looking into this whole 'self-publishing' thing (and having minor heart attacks at the costs involved). And we're making this strange little book about a foul-mouthed, cocky Jesus who's been sent back to Earth to join a unlikely band of survivors as they combat a zombie plague into a reality.

I hope you'll join us for the ride...

~ Stephen