Hey, hey! Welcome to my monthly newsletter for anyone who subscribed since last year. I hadn’t updated much during the holidays and nothing in 2023 so far mostly due to busyness. Sorry about that, but it’s probably healthy for your inbox glut to not have too many messages to read.
Spider-Squirrel Volume One is Available for Pre-Order!
If you didn't back my latest campaign and wish to jump in to get your very own copy, now’s the time! Over on Backerkit you can join the fun and get yours today! Here are a couple of benefits to securing a copy before the Pre-Orders close:
Every physical copy ordered through Kickstarter and/or Backerkit will get a unique honko stamp of my “signature”, Risu (which means squirrel). I will not “sign” books with this stamp anywhere else.
You can purchase a limited edition bookplate to stick inside your trade paperback softcopy, signed by me! Also not available after this Pre-Order Store closes.
You can be amongst the FIRST persons to purchase the Pizza Box add-on to store your Spider-Squirrel TPB (and/or comics, and/or swag) inside! This custom item is strictly limited to 200 pieces, and over 100 have already been claimed!
So, what’re you waiting for?? Go grab it today! Digital versions are available as well! The Pre-Order Store also contains cool exclusives and limited edition books from recent conventions. Be sure to scan the whole catalogue before checking out.
Pledges Are Available, But This is Still a Free Newsletter
If you are so inclined to support my work, please consider making a Pledge to support my writing & other works. That means more goodness for you! Plus, if I ever convert this to a paid newsletter (or, portions placed behind a paywall), you’ll already be a subscriber.
“That’s cool, but what else is in it for me, Charlie?”
I’m glad you asked!
I’m going to start hosting a monthly giveaway to subscribers. That giveaway will be for readers who answer my polls in every newsletter and will include FREE copies of various indiecomics from all over our community in a “grab bag” format. For US-based readers, there is no charge — shipping is free as are the books. For international readers, you will simply pay for shipping to your country. No packaging or handling fees, just the cost of the shipping option you select (from those available for your country). Of course, international winners you can ask what books are being included and opt out, there’s no obligation here.
As the Pledges grow, so will my ability to ship to international winners for reduced shipping or even free.
Winners will be selected randomly using RandomPicker and posted in the subsequent newsletter.
What I’m Working On…
A LOT!! Haha
Okay, not sure which project is next because they’re all in-production right now, but here’s what’s coming from Xion Studios in 2023:
Rook: Return To Sender (one-shot) — by Dan Faust, Dexter Wee, and Full Court Press (variant covers by Marcus Jimenez and Fábio Simão!)
Bluechip & The NEW Teen Force 5 (mini-series) — by DT “Sketch” Butchino, Kenan Halilović, Omi Remalante, and Full Court Press
Alpha-Elite (double-sized one-shot) — by Daniel Kalban, Davide Tinto, POW Rodrix, René Cordova, Saul Shavanas, and HdE
Spider-Squirrel & Trash Panda Titan-sized Special! (+80pgs one-shot) — by Charlie McElvy, Chris Campana, Dean Haspiel*, Russell Nohelty, Kathryn Calamia, Kurt Belcher, JC Carter, Greg Maldonado, HdE, Saul Shavanas, Ross Hughes, Daniel Kalban, and more…!
The Fundamentals: Welcome to the Family (one-shot) — by Scott Fogg, Craig Shepard, Ross Hughes, and Ringo-award winner Micah Myers
*Dean is creating a BRAND-NEW character for this special!
…and to add a little more fuel to that fire, I’m over 15,000 words into a sci*fi light novel set in the Xion Universe’s far future. The book will likely finish around 35-50k words, with gorgeous cover and pinup art by Elmer Santos. I really think you’re going to LOVE this entry! Here’s a WIP of the logo (also shared on my various social media):
Astute fans of the Xion Universe will recognize the 7Ronin logo from my gaming supplements. This is a “descendent” title of that line of characters (who have a short story in the upcoming Spider-Squirrel & Trash Panda Titan-sized Special! by Joshua Pantalleresco and Paul Gori).
This book I’ve been describing as part-Buck Rogers, part-Gundam Wing, part-Rogue Squadron (Star Wars), part-Top Gun, and all Xion fun! It will likely debut in 2024, but we’ll push hard to try and get it in by the end of 2023…!
If this book gets translated into a graphic format, I’ll be looking to do so as a manga. For now, I’ll just be happy to finish writing it and then sending it off for edits. 😊
Best to you ALL!
Charlie aka Risu