The stars are entering their proper alignment...
12 months ago – Sun, Oct 16, 2022 at 11:24:32 PM

THE STARS ARE ENTERING THEIR PROPER ALIGNMENT...

Hello friends!

I just finished doing a final proofread on the print-ready files THE ADVENTURES OF CTHULHU JR. AND FRIENDS... and it felt good. Really good!

Once this final PDF is approved it gets sent right to the printer, who will then print and deliver the books to the warehouse, who will then pack and ship your books and Stretch Goal bonuses, as well as your plushies and anything else you may have ordered.

Because we're now this close, the BackerKits will be closed and locked in the next few days, with all ordered considered finalized. So...

• If you haven't completed your BackerKit yet, please do so immediately! 
• If you want to add any additional add-ons to your pledge, please do so immediately!

You can check your BackerKit and make sure everything is as you'd like it at https://cthulhujr.backerkit.com

Thanks all! I appreciate all your support very much! Looking through the whole book like this makes me more excited than ever for all of you to get this one in your hands... and I'll be in touch with another update soon!

Your friend in comics,

Dirk Manning

The Big Apple beckons... then production begins!
12 months ago – Sat, Oct 01, 2022 at 09:21:41 AM

The last chance...

Hey all!

With New York Comic Con on the horizon, I wanted to give you all a quick update on the status of production of The Adventures of Cthulhu Jr. and Friends as we enter the final stretch towards production!

As many of you know, I'll be at New York Comic Con (Artist Alley Table H8) this weekend, as will Source Point Press (Main Floor, Booth 2343). SPP is doing a major push for their Kudlee Kaiju line of plushies at the con (seriously -- I've seen the bag and bags of them... and it's A LOT)... so we decided to keep the BackerKit open until after the convention in order to give people one last chance to get in preorders for the Cthulhu Jr.  TPB and a plushie.

In full transparency, supply chain issues continue to be a minor factor, and this little extra time is also part of the process of us just getting "in que" with the companies who have the supplies we need to get our stuff!

Keep in mind, though, that all of YOU get the KS Exclusive Hardcover edition of the book if you ordered it -- and all the other KS Exclusive Stretch Goals, so by backing this campaign you got the most swag for the lowest price. So again -- sincerely -- THANK YOU.

And speaking of BackerKit...

Speaking of the BackerKit, huge congratulations on most of you filling out your BackerKit so quickly! Y'all rock!

There's a few of you out there who haven't completed your BackerKit yet, so if you haven't and you're reading this, please do so HERE: https://cthulhujr.backerkit.com

Also keep in mind that the BackerKit is open to the public, so if you know someone who missed the campaign but may want the TPB and/or the plushie feel free to share that link with them! After all, who among us doesn't need a little more Cthulhu in our lives, right?

And speaking of Cthulhu...

The Great Old one has always had a looming presence (to say the least) in my horror noir series TALES OF MR. RHEE, and that is especially the case in the brand new and latest installment of the series TALES OF MR. RHEE: "Rock Star Paranoia" by me, illustrator Austin McKinley, colorist/letterer Alessandro de Fornasari, and editor Drena Jo.

Well, I'm excited to announce that both Austin and Drena Jo will both be joining me at New York Comic Con next week! If you're coming to the show -- or know someone who is -- send them by to come say "Hello!" and maybe get a signed book or two, yeah?

Again, who among us doesn't need a little more Cthulhu in our lives, right?

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Again, friends, thank you so much for all your support on this campaign. Once NYCC is over production on this book is expected to proceed pretty quickly, so expect more updates soon!

In the meantime, THANK YOU for your support... and know I very much look forward to seeing some of you at New York Comic Con! If you're there, be sure to swing by the Source Point Press booth, too!

Your friend in comics,

Dirk Manning

Did you fill-out your BackerKit? Also, some HOPE-full news!
about 1 year ago – Thu, Sep 01, 2022 at 06:04:06 AM

Hey all!

It looks like about 90% of you filled-out your BackerKit! Yay! If you haven't yet, please take a moment to go here to do so:

https://cthulhujr.backerkit.com

YOU NEED TO FILL-OUT YOUR BACKERKIT TO GET YOUR STUFF, FRIENDS!

Also, if you know someone who may have missed the campaign, feel free to share the BackerKit link with them so they can still get the TPB (and more, such as the plushie) with free shipping:

https://cthulhujr.backerkit.com

That aside, if you don't mind me offering you a little cross-pollination, I wanted to make you all aware that Source Point Press is offering a "Special Edition" reprint of my graphic novel HOPE Volume 1: "Mother" that's now available for pre-order through comic shops everywhere! If you have a local comic shop, I encourage you to ask them to pre-order you a copy so you can get it day-of-release this November HERE.

Thanks again, everyone! I appreciate you and will be in touch again soon!

Your friend in comics,

Dirk Manning

The BackerKit is LIVE! Complete it to finalize your order!
about 1 year ago – Sat, Aug 13, 2022 at 04:12:20 AM

Here's the BackerKit link if you didn't get it yet!

Hey all!

As of earlier today you should have all gotten a link to the CTHULHU JR. BackerKit, which is where you need to go to verify your address and finalize your order.

If you didn't see (or get) the email, you can access your BackerKit HERE:

https://cthulhujr.backerkit.com

As mentioned a moment ago, through BackerKit you'll also be able to  provide us with  your shipping address and specify any other details...  including adding on any bonus items you may want.

You can also share the BackerKit link if you know anyone who perhaps missed the initial campaign but may want to get a copy of the book, the plushie, or more. (Fear not, the hardcover edition and the Stretch Goals are NOT being made available to anyone who didn't preorder it through the Kickstarter Campaign. Only YOU get those numerous perks for preordering!)

What You Need to Know About BackerKit (Especially if You've Never Used it Before)

Your BackerKit will be pre-populated with the rewards you pledged for during the campaign. After you answer the  questions related to your   pledge level (if applicable), BackerKit will take you to the Add-Ons  page. The Add-Ons  page is set up just like a web store where you'll be  able to include any  Add-Ons you may have wanted by adding extra money  to your pledge during  the campaign. Basically, it's just like you're  shopping online -- if you want anything extra.

Otherwise, just confirm your pledge and shipping address and you'll be good to go!

If you have any questions, please send a message through the BackerKit page -- or send me a Direct Message through this platform -- and I'll be in touch soon!

(Give me a few days, though, as I had C2E2 this past weekend and now I'm doing a signing at a library comic con tomorrow!)

Here's the BackerKit link one more time:

https://cthulhujr.backerkit.com

Enjoy, all!

Production Update

That aside, the book is done, the prose story is written, and next week I have a meeting at Source Point Press headquarters where, among other things, I'll be working with the production team to layout the bonus prose story and do the final production work we need to finalize to send this book to the printer!

Your friend in comics,

Dirk Manning

BackerKits should be launching this week!
about 1 year ago – Mon, Aug 08, 2022 at 09:19:03 PM

The  "Smoke Test" is coming this week... then all the BackerKits launch!

First and foremost, it was nice to see several of you at C2E2 this past weekend!

The intent was to get the BackerKit surveys launched before I left for the show, but we've been working with BakcerKit over the weekend (usually before and after show-hours) to iron-out a few final kinks in the survey process to make sure it will run smoothly.

I *think* we've got everything sorted, and if they sign-off tomorrow, we'll then be able to send the "Smoke Test" to 5% of you to make sure it's working without a hitch before then launching the full BackerKit for everyone.

For those of you who've never used BackerKit before, I like using it because (once we get the back-end kinks worked out) it provides a smooth and seamless way to finalize your order, including per-populating your cart with everything you ordered and allowing you to make any final add-ons should you so choose. After all, the holidays will be here before we know it, you know?

Point being, watch your email for the BackerKit link this week (especially if you're one of the random 5% of people who get the "first wave" of links as the final protocol check), and rest assured that I'll also be providing you all with the link via an update like this when it's live, too!

Thanks all! If you have any questions, please reach out and let me know! Otherwise, I'll be in touch in a few days!

Your friend in comics,

Dirk

P.S. -- In exchange for your patience, here's a previously unseen (and spoiler-free) preview sneak peek from the book! Enjoy!