My newest graphic novel isn't funny, but I think you still may like it...
12 months ago – Fri, Nov 24, 2023 at 08:58:32 AM

Do you have HOPE? If not, you should get some!

Hello friends!

I hope the holiday season is treating you all well, and wanted to take a moment to let you know (or perhaps remind you) that the Kickstarter for my newest graphic novel HOPE Volume 2: "Masks" (with illustrator Sally Scott, letterer Dave Lentz, editor Drena Jo, and publisher Source Point Press) is now live at www.AHeroForHope.com right now.

HOPE is a story about a mother who moonlights as a superhero (not that all moms aren't superheroes, mind you!) and what happens when  -- in the first five pages of the first chapter of the first volume --  she must reveal her secret identity to the world to protect her family  from a car accident.

To say too much more of what happens next would ruin the journey, but I can say with the utmost sincerity that HOPE is among the scariest stories I've ever written. I wrote CTHULHU JR. to make people laugh... and I wrote HOPE to create a very different set of emotional reactions.

If you're new to the series there's a nice "I'm New Here, Too!" pledge level that gets you the whole story so far -- and all SEVEN unlocked Stretch Goals (and counting) -- at a special bundled price... or there's other pledge levels with even more rewards.

Again, the campaign is live now at www.AHeroForHope.com, and if you're looking for some entertaining, exhilarating, and  emotionally investing reading... this is the series for you, friends. Go  check out the campaign page for more details, pledge at the level that  speaks to you, and get ready to be treated to one of the scariest comic  series I write!

Thanks, all! If we haven't spoken in a bit I hope you're doing well and to see you over there for the HOPE campaign!

Your friend in comics,

Dirk Manning

A matching set... and a peek behind the curtain!
over 1 year ago – Sun, May 14, 2023 at 07:03:37 PM

Thank You for the Buzz and Hype!

Hey all!

First and foremost, on behalf of team CTHULHU JR., we want to offer you all a very sincere THANK YOU -- again -- for your support of the since you've gotten your KS pledge packages. The word of mouth "hype" on both the book and the plushies has been amazing and had a very real and measurable impact... so, again, THANK YOU!

How about a (kind of) matching set?

In case you haven't seen the news, in March, and in partnership with me to celebrate my 20th Anniversary as a published comic writer,  Knuckleheadz Toys released a limited edition Dirk Manning figure as part of their toy line alongside such lumanaries as GWAR, Twiztid, and Art the Clown from TERRIFIER among others.

I have specifically not offered these figures via mail order... until now, where you can get them as part of the new Kickstarter campaign for my new book WRITE OR WRONG: A WRITER'S GUIDE TO CREATING COMICS, which is running live now (and fully funded with several Stretch Goals already unlocked!) at www.WriteOrWrongBook.com.

As part of the campaign, you can just get the figure (which is most likely as close to getting a "Dastardly Dirk" figure as we're going to get) or you can get a "Combo Set" of both the WRITE OR WRONG book and the figure!

The WoW/CTHULHU JR. Connection...

I mention this to all of you here -- and getting a copy of WRITE OR WRONG: A WRITER'S GUIDE TO CREATING COMICS -- for a few reasons:

1) As mentioned a moment ago, the "Desk Dirk" figure will probably be the closest we get to a "Dastardly Dirk" matching set with the plushies.

2) As part of the WRITE OR WRONG Stretch Goals, we've recently unlocked a CTHULHU JR. Digital Comic Pledge Level which includes a digital comic of the first issue/chapter, the full script to the first issue, and a special commentary on how the series was made! Here's the full details:

If you'd like to learn more about how the series was made, you'll get all these CTHULHU JR. extras FOR FREE with any pledge level that includes a copy of the book!

3) Finally, while CTHULHU JR. contains a character who is loosely based on my public persona/image, WRITE OR WRONG: A WRITER'S GUIDE TO CREATING COMICS  offers a real-life look at my life -- specifically my journey to becoming a bonafide comic book creator -- in a book designed to help guide other people on how to create comics. If you -- or someone in your life -- is interested in creating comics, I can guarantee that this book will help them move towards making that dream a reality.

I hope you'll all take a moment to check out the campaign and get the "Desk Dirk" figure, a copy of WRITE OR WRONG: A WRITER'S GUIDE TO CREATING COMICS, or perhaps even the "combo" pledge package here:

www.WriteOrWrongBook.com

Thanks again, everyone, for everything! I appreciate you all so much!

Your friend in comics,

Dirk Manning

The last packages (the shirt/plushie) combos are shipping!
over 1 year ago – Sat, Apr 08, 2023 at 11:28:35 AM

And with that, we're a wrap... with a final word of thanks (and a note about what's next)!

Hey all!

The T-shirts arrived at the warehouse and the final CTHULHU JR. shirt/plushie combos are now all shipping-out to their forever homes! Yay!

And with that, this campaign is now at an end, friends. I appreciate all of your support so much, especially as this campaign dealt wit the lingering effects of the supply chain issues from the pandemic.

Also, on behalf of myself, Scoot, Sean, and Leah... THANK YOU for your kind words and posts across social media. A lot of here know the bulk of my work rated more more teen+ (at least), so the fact that so many of you have young readers in your life who've also been able to enjoy this book right along with you has really meant a lot to me.

With this campaign ending, I'm now turning my attention to the next one, which is a long over-due re-release of WRITE OR WRONG: A WRITER'S GUIDE TO CREATING COMICS, also from Source Point Press. I'll drop you all a note when it goes live so you can check out the campaign, share it with your friends interested in writing... or get your hands on one of those limited editions Dirk Manning Knuckleheadz figures before they're sold-out forever!

If you have a question of concern about your pledge...

I partnered with WhaleBacker to fulfill this campaign, and have been very happy with how well they have packed and protected all the CTHULHU JR. packages!  If you have any questions or concerns about your pledge delivery, please  email them at [email protected] so they can help you get it resolved.

That being said, of course and as always, you have any additional concerns, please email me  directly through here as well, OK?

Thanks again, everyone! I appreciate you... and as always, thanks for your continued support!

Your friend in comics,

Dirk Manning

Shirts are almost here! Final shipments are on the horizon!
over 1 year ago – Fri, Mar 24, 2023 at 07:07:28 PM

The shirts are coming to the warehouse!

Hey all!

I have received word that the CTHULHU JR. shirts will be at the warehouse between March 28-30th, and at that time they'll be packed-up with the final plushies and shipped out... so if you haven't received your plushie yet, it's because we're going to ship your "Don't Be Evil" shirt with it!

Obviously under normal circumstances it's arranged that everything arrives and ships at once, but as has been well documented, this campaign was largely caught-up in the throes of several production delays and supply chain issues that are thankfully now behind us. Regardless, again, I want to THANK YOU all for your support and patience as we've pushed through them all to get you what you hopefully find to be some high quality product.

I've been LOVING hearing all your kind words about the book, the plushies, and even the cookie recipe! Thank you all so much! I can't tell you enough how much it all means to me!

What's next...

As we wrap-up final delivery of this campaign, I'm already eye-balling the next one -- one that will offer a quick turn around and bring back a book people have been waiting to return for quite a bit: a newly revised 2nd Edition of WRITE OR WRONG: A WRITER'S GUIDE TO CREATING COMICS from Source Point Press! I mention this here because, along with the book, I believe I'm going to be offering a limited amount of the limited edition Dirk Manning figures from Knuckleheadz Toys as part of the campaign... meaning you could have a collection like this:

I'll have details in the coming weeks, but, you know, I figured I should at least give all of you a heads-up that this is on the horizon so you can make plans to keep your figure/toy collections complete! Who wouldn't want a limited edition "Desk Dirk" after all, eh?

(And, yes, there will be an option to just get the limited edition Dirk Manning figure!)

First things first, though, as that's getting the final orders fulfilled as the shirts arrive... so mark your calendars accordingly and I'll keep you posted!

Thanks again, all! I'll be in touch soon!

Your friend in comics,

Dirk Manning

Surprise! Sometimes you unexpectedly get twins!
over 1 year ago – Mon, Mar 20, 2023 at 09:38:44 PM

The Cthulhu Jr. Plushies have arrived and are shipping... sometimes in pairs!

Hey all!

The CTHULHU JR. plushies have arrived, and as promised, the warehouse immediately started shipping them out to many of you!

That being said, given that they were so delayed, a random sampling of you who ordered one plushie many have opened your box to discover that you have two! Twins!

If you are one of the lucky and (completely random) "chosen ones" who got twins, I encourage you please accept the extra plushie and to make sure to give it a good home with a young person in your life who would appreciate it.

After all, it's never too early to start growing the next generation of horror fans, right?  ;)

And again, seriously -- THANK YOU for you patience during the unexpected issues with paper shortages and such during this campaign. I most sincerely appreciate all your support so much, and it's never something I take for granted.

I'm in the process of finding out where the shirts are, and once they arrive they'll be shipped out too... clearing the way for my next "surprise" campaign to launch towards the end of April -- one bringing a long unavailable book back to print with a new edition... and it's through this upcoming late April campaign that I'll be offering the limited edition Dirk Manning toy figures from Kuckleheadz toys as an add-on, too.

Plushies this month... and toy figures made available for shipping next month -- all paired with a great new edition of a classic book of mine. If that's "wrong," well, I don't want to be "write." Heh.

Thanks, friends! I appreciate you, and I'll be in touch again (and answering a few outstanding messages) very, very soon!

Your friend in comics,

Dirk Manning