Death Sentence Liberty #1-4

Comic arrived!
over 3 years ago – Tue, Dec 22, 2020 at 04:36:39 PM

The comic arrived from the printers and it reads great. There’s a few things to adjust - colour levels mostly - but that’s the point of printing a test copy. I also felt, reading it through, there wasn’t quite enough foliage in the later scenes. That’s a plot thing, as well as a visual thing, so I’ll show it to a few people and get feedback on how much it matters. We shall see.

Next stage is to get these changes made and sent off to the printers. I’ll do that this week. Then the full print run will commence, get sent to the warehouse, and I’ll make the final comic for digital distribution from those same files.

Obviously, it’s into xmas and new year now so I’ll have to see when the printer will be open. My joy at getting the comic ready is tempered by the sudden news we’re all going back into lockdown for at least another three weeks! It’s a real kick in the nuts for everyone and the last minute nature of the reversal completely screws up all our Xmas and work plans. I’ve been on the phone today trying to find out the ramifications personally and professionally and the truth is no-one yet knows for sure. A lot depends on what the state schools do in January and whether workers have to do home schooling again on top of their jobs. We’re all just worn out from it all. Fuck off, 2020!!

I’m sure a lot of you feel the same way. It’s important at times like this to remember all the lives you’ve saved by observing the lockdown rules. Tough though it is let’s all stay positive, do what we can to help each other, and help end this Covid nightmare for good in 2021.

Wherever you are, whoever you’re with, you made it through 2020. You deserve a happy Xmas. Enjoy it.

All the best

Cheers

Monty

This week!
over 3 years ago – Tue, Dec 15, 2020 at 08:06:39 PM

This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.

Weekly update!
over 3 years ago – Sat, Dec 05, 2020 at 04:17:58 PM

Hiya

Been in touch with the printer again this week to hurry things along. They tell me it's all in hand, though they are busier than normal given the time of year. First stage is to print test copies and send them to me so I can approve everything for the full print run. (Digital copies will be made from the final version.)

Also been in touch with the distributor to check they are ready and have the other stock (prints, gold foils, graphic novels) which I sent to them earlier in the year. They're all good. They're in a high COVID area but everything is working as it should in their warehouse.

So just waiting now for the first test print copies of issue 4 to arrive. Nggg!!

More as it happens.

All the best

Monty

Printing update!
over 3 years ago – Fri, Nov 27, 2020 at 03:36:17 AM

Good news! I've been working hard on Death Sentence Liberty this month and am finally able to send the  print files to the printers. Thank god!! I'll keep you updated as that progresses. When it's all done I'll send all the files and postal packages to the distributor at the same time.

Definitely later than I wanted - it's certainly been a long road this year, and I don't think anyone could have forseen all the unusual bumps in the road which Covid-19 threw up creatively and practically. It's been tough just to keep working and living at times. But we're at the end of the tunnel, clear of all obstacles, and I'm determined to get this issue out to you all this year. So I'll be putting everything into that.

I don't want any long delays to Death Sentence issues in future so have changed many things to turn each Death Sentence Liberty future issue around in four months from campaign to folks reading the comic, going forward. That's what we all need. It meant a lot of reorganisation, in how the comic is distributed and in terms of my own life foresaking other work and projects, but it's been done and I'm sure we'll see all the benefits in 2021.

Thanks for sticking with us during this awful time. You'll see a lot more Death Sentence activity generally going forward, in terms of new artwork, stories and updates. Some cool stuff coming. 

I'll keep you posted as I hear back from the printers on #4, and so sorry again for the long wait for the comicb this time around.

All the best.

Monty

Death Sentence on screen and some new rarities
over 3 years ago – Tue, Oct 27, 2020 at 06:04:30 PM

One bizarre consequence of this horrific Covid pandemic blighting our lives is a renewed interest in Death Sentence on screen. It's not hard to see why given the parallels. I've had three different parties get in touch this year, all with varying pedigrees and approaches to the material, though with the entertainment industry badly affected nothing is happening speedily.

It always sounds exciting but my experience with film and tv companies is underwhelming. I've had the biggest Hollywood companies get in touch and they all tend to express great enthusiasm for the comic but I've never truly connected with any of them creatively. I wrote an outline for a Death Sentence TV series a while back and it's that which seems to be piquing interest again, in the age of Netflix and home streaming.

Will anything come of Death Sentence on screen this time? I'm not holding my breath. I've always made comics because I love them and I get to keep creative control, so anything that happens after that is very much secondary to my plans.  It could be cool, but only if it improves and builds on the comic. Comics aren't TV shows, so it'd have to be very different in approach while respecting the characters and central themes. Not simple, but nail the right tone and the potential is limitless.

Talking of Death Sentence everything is going to plan -- though the gold foils have still not arrived at the warehouse so I've been chasing that up.  I also rediscovered an airtight box of the original run of Death Sentence London 1-6 in the attic last month. 

Writers and artists get sent these by the publisher on release. They include all the first editions including copies of all the rare variant covers by Martin Simmonds and Mike Dowling and so on  I wondered where the hell these had gone!! I was delighted as you can imagine and will be keeping a stack for posterity. But I'm also putting the remaining five copies up for sale as add-ons in the current Frenemies campaign. Add-ons are selected when you check out in Kickstarter, you see them listed at the bottom of the final screen when you pledge. It's a new feature they've introduced so you don't just overpay as you used to you - instead you select a specific add-on reward. You can get the variants singly, or buy the whole set of six. 

Meanwhile, Frenemies: The Lost Planet is going great guns and deep into stretch goals. Whatever you order there you'll get a short sci-fi novella by me added as a PDF, and there's an amazing fan-favourite artist lined up for the next art reward. Not to mention the amazing stickers, variant covers, prints, original artwork, books and bonus story content on offer too.

http://kck.st/374KJIw

All the best

Monty