It's important to set new resolutions and goals and embrace change and progress, it's also crucial to reflect on past accomplishments. As I look back on the previous year, five particular publishing achievements stood out. These included one book, two facsimile editions, and two comic book covers that I had the pleasure of coloring.
Here are my five biggest 2023 wins.
World Famous Creatures, The Complete Collection.
This book was a colossal effort of scanning, restoring, and designing 288 pages, that took close to 2 months to complete. WFC was first released in 1958, little-known, but widely collected by Monster Kids, bringing this collection out of obscurity and to a new generation of collectors was important to me.
Weird 3 and 4
Adding to the run of facsimile editions of Weird magazine, I produced for FantaCo in 2022, these two issues felt like the perfect bookend to this run in 2023.
Dr. Korvus 1 and 2
I supplied color for the covers of Eric Stanway and Jeff Bonivert’s 4-issue comic series. I loved the concept and Jeff’s unique art presented a fun challenge for my digital coloring skills. Working with other artists and writers keeps my creative energy flowing and helps expand my process. Issues 1 and 2 came out in late 2023, with #3 and 4 due in early 2024.
2024 Goals
The thing I missed most last year, was publishing no new Margo Intergalactic Trash Collector adventures. So, to scratch that itch, I put aside all non-Margo projects for the time being and am focused on producing a new 60-page adventure and The Intergalactic Trash Manuel, featuring a ton of background material including maps, character designs, and ship schematics. Here is some WIP preview art.
I am planning to launch a new Kickstarter in early spring 2024, and I have been writing in my blog and newsletters about creating the new 8-page preview throughout 2023. I will be walking through the art, design, marketing, and process as I prepare the campaign.
I will be doing a collection of the Margo Intergalactic Trash Collection including Hand of Glom, Uprising, Apocalypse in Pink, Applicant, and Attack of The Space Vampire, including all the variant covers and pinups. There is a ton of material from that run and some great art from Joe Sinnott, Joe Staton, Richard Clark, Marcelo Trom, and many others.
Join me on my creative journey in 2024 - it's going to be a busy time!
I hope the year ahead brings you peace and creativity.
-Jim W
Good luck with Margo!