Mistakes, Successes, and Lessons

A long-overdue update on my current situation! And just how much comics can evolve in five months!

Hey everyone,

It’s been a long time coming, but I wanted to share what I’m working on right now, following a post I made in February. I also want to demonstrate the comic book industry’s unpredictability, both in positive and negative ways, by illustrating the evolution of my project slate.

If you want to read that post for context, although I will be very descriptive here as well, click the button.

Let’s dive into it!

Face Their Fears

Volume 1 of 3, 96 pages. Created by David Escobar and me, we planned to launch the first volume of this series by July of this year. We worked very hard, but in the meantime, I submitted this book to multiple publishers. In May, we were approached by one, which led us to rework the entire story, and hopefully, it will get officially picked up for worldwide distribution next year. This was my first interaction with a big publisher, and even though the book has been delayed, I’ve learned a lot and worked firsthand with some of the biggest editors in the US industry. It’s been a surreal experience and a glimpse into the industry I want to break into.

What I’ve Learned

Besides the technical skills, as I think this experience made me a much better writer in just a couple of months, I witnessed how comics can change in just a matter of weeks, and properly adapting is key to taking advantage of all the opportunities you get (which are much less than the rejections).

Despite not finishing this book, at least according to plan, I had other projects…

The Misadventures of Fabulous Francisca

Issue 1 of 4, 24 pages. Created by Francis Francia S. and me, we made this book!

We had so much fun working on Fabulous Francisca. I love the overall aesthetics, the colors, the pop-culture references, and its powerful message about living life before it’s over. We printed it in July in Spanish, and I’ll look for a way to get it to US readers. I’m also preparing to pitch this to publishers. So, fingers crossed!

What I’ve Learned

Given the usual pressures of any industry, I believe this book went most according to plan. The lesson is that proper planning, organization, and communication, without unforeseen events, will help you deliver a book on time and in great shape. This might seem obvious, but I started planning for this project at the end of last year. Some people think comics appear within weeks, and that isn’t true. So, plan ahead, communicate clearly, and your chances of success will improve. But things can still happen…

Charla Reaper and the Soul Collectors

One-Shot, 32 pages. Created by Daniela Hung (Isolde) and me, we had planned it for July, but we didn’t finish this book. In fact, it might never be released. Isolde is busy with other ongoing projects, so this book is on an indefinite hiatus.

What I’ve Learned

Again, comics are unpredictable. Despite careful planning and communication, other projects can still emerge, and people will make their choices. Sometimes, they won’t pick you, and that’s okay. We all decide which projects to work on. Even though I want to collaborate with all the creators, factors like time constraints, budgets, and personal preferences come into play. As long as you’re not violating any contracts, you’re free to do whatever you want. Unfortunately, in this case, I had to postpone a project I was excited about. But that’s life. Maybe in a few years, this project will see the light of day and become the hit I believe it can be.

However, as projects fall, new projects rise!

Cut the Roses

Issue 1 of 3 (or 4). 24 pages. Created and written by me, art by El KRP. We made another comic book!

As you saw earlier, there were many rearrangements and cancellations that gave me extra time to work on another project. For this one, I explore my love for slashers and horror, like A Nightmare on Elm Street and Terrifier, along with comic books that mix eroticism with other genres, such as Lovesick and works by Maria Llovet. I wanted to create a new iconic slasher, and The Hell Muse (from the cover) came to me, as I aim to break the mold of the male, monstrous serial killer in the movies I grew up watching. I also want to address society’s reaction to a conventionally beautiful, yet twisted, female killer.

I also made STICKERS!

I’m really excited about this project and will find a way to send it to the US soon, as well as pitch it to publishers. It’s a more complex sale because of the explicit imagery, but I’m confident I can make it happen.

What I’ve Learned

When one thing falls, another rises. This comic book wasn’t even in my February post because it wasn’t part of my plans at all. Still, with the help of a talented artist whose work is impressive given the limited time he had, we created a heartfelt story about desire, blood, and passion. So, pivoting from one thing to another is essential for a comic book creator: no matter how much you enjoy a story, it may fall through, usually due to factors beyond your control. So, heads up, and onto the next!

And to the last one we go!

The Childless

A 110+ page anthology featuring thirteen stories. Created by me, this comics anthology explores a dystopian world where a law states that when parents end their relationships, their children will be sacrificed.

It’s coming VERY soon to Kickstarter!

Please follow the campaign and check out the 24-Page FREE Preview.

It’s a Free Comic Book!! CLICK HERE!

What I’ve Learned

Although this project is nearing its launch, we experienced delays from the initial schedule. I had to make some changes, including parting ways with great creators who couldn’t follow the schedule. I was hesitant to make changes because I had a whole team of creators waiting for this project to see the light of day, and I didn’t want to disappoint anyone. Still, my other projects kept me busy, and I wasn’t available for a month to handle campaign duties like promotion and design, so I had to postpone some tasks. Just so you get an idea, based on my initial schedule, we should have already funded the campaign and be a few months from having the book done.

This experience taught me the value of patience and not rushing a launch, especially when waiting meant having more campaign assets, such as finished scripts and stories that support the campaign, along with a promotional campaign at San Diego Comic Con that helped attract more attention to the project. I firmly believe the current version of the campaign is its best, and I’m very excited for the launch.

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As you can see, the past few months have been a mix of learning, mistakes, successes, new books, and archived books. But overall, it’s been tons of fun. I’m really enjoying creating, and I can’t wait for you to learn more about these projects.

Until we meet again, stay awesome and go read something!