The Battle Of Blood And Ink Preview Is Up!

Want to see a preview of The Battle Of Blood And Ink, the graphic novel that I've been talking about so much lately?  Well, Tor.com has a preview up right now!  Check it out here:

The Battle Of Blood And Ink Preview
I figure that some of you want to try before you buy, and this is a nice 18 page chunk of our story about this dread-locked seeker of truth and her life on a flying city.  The book is hitting on May 22nd, and is still available for pre-order through Amazon.com You can pick it up here:

http://www.amazon.com/Battle-Blood-Ink-Fable-Flying/dp/0765331306 

Things have been insanely busy lately, which is wonderful.  The push has begun for the Battle Of Blood and Ink, my latest graphic novel which hits bookshelves May 8th.  Jared and I were talking the other day and it both hit us that it's been a 5 year journey to bring this book to you, and now all that sweat and hard work is finally going to pay off.  Want to pre-order the book?  It's available through Amazon.com here:

http://www.amazon.com/Battle-Blood-Ink-Fable-Flying/dp/0765331306

We've got a ton of stuff upcoming to coincide with the release of the book, appearances and the like. We'll be at Brooklyn Comics on May 5th for Free Comic Book Day, giving out some free comics and I'll be doing sketches and generally being silly.  We'll be doing a meet and greet and talk at the U Penn Bookstore  in Philadelphia on May 8th, Release Day! Come out and say hi.  Also, we will be at Balticon May 25th-28th for a big launch party as well as to announce a few other goodies, give away prizes, and of course sign your copies of The Battle of Blood And Ink.

So, like I said it's been busy:)  There's a few more things happening, and as the details are ironed out I will be announcing them here as well as a few other places.  so with that I take my leave, but not before I ask you to once again pre-order your copy of The Battle Of Blood And Ink, buy early, buy often, and to give you a little taste as to what has been going on with me artistically, here's the cover to the third Fables Of The Flying City mini comics!


 

I've made it a mission in my career to work with people who share my ideas about storytelling and aesthetics in order to make really kick ass books.  When I met Jared I realized it was inevitable that we would be working together on something.  A simple conversation gave birth to the idea that nearly 6 years later would become The Battle Of Blood And Ink.  The ride has been absolutely incredible right from the start, and as I look back on the journey it has been a complete dream.  So much good has come out of being determined to create something that we would love.  We're now a month away from the books release.  We've got a ton of stuff planned to celebrate and usher our endeavor into the world.  Events in Baltimore, Wilmington, Brooklyn, and our home base of Pennsylvania.  More on these to come.  If you'd like to pre-order a copy of the book you can do so through Amazon here:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Battle-Blood-Ink-Flying/dp/0765331306

or through Barnes and Noble here:


http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/battle-of-blood-and-ink-jared-axelrod/1103277235

In the end, I love telling stories.  I cannot wait to bring you another kick-ass book.

I've been working on a ton of stuff since the start of the new year, and sadly mourning the loss of my Grandfather, who passed just before Christmas.  I've taken some time away from posting due to that, but I never stopped working.  Besides finishing up the Battle Of Blood And Ink, which is now available for pre-order from Amazon, just go to http://www.amazon.com/Battle-Blood-Ink-Fable-Flying/dp/0765331306 to reserve your copy today, Jared and I have been working on web only mini-comics that help to enrich the world of Blood And Ink and add to the Fables Of The Flying City.  You can read these mini comics at www.fablesoftheflyingcity.com.  Now, enough shameless self-promotion, onto the art!  Here's preview pencils for the cover of the next Fables Of The Flying City mini comic.  I really like the art deco graphic design feel that the image has.

Busy busy busy week.  I've been working on the second mini comic for fables of the flying city as well as wrapping up some commission work that had come in and finishing thumbnails on a 3 Musketeers adaptation.  needless to say I've been putting in the time.  So now it is Friday and I'm off to New York for what may be an extended visit.  I promised a Sketch Monday post and there may be one if I can get back home.  If I can't, I wanted to at least show something of what I've been up to, so here is one of the commissions I finished.

Free Comics!

There wasn't a Sketch Monday this week, and I know you are all gnashing your teeth and wailing in dismay, but I am currently trying to get a bunch of stuff wrapped up by the end of the month.  That sounds silly I know, but December, of all the months, seems to fly by the fastest.  So Sketch Monday will be back next week, and actually on Monday rather then Tuesday.  Until then, I have a slew of free comic pages for you all:



http://www.fablesoftheflyingcity.com/news/free-comics/

This is the mini-comic that Jared and I produced for New York Comic Con in October.  This is the first of six planned mini comics that will lead into the release of our graphic novel The Battle Of Blood And Ink in May from Tor Books.  I hope you all enjoy!

New York Comic Con 2011 in photos

To continue on the madness that was NYCC 2011, I present a bunch of pictures that I took at the con and at least one that I did not, but rocks. It is of the lovely Liza James, who was gracious enough to dress up as Ashe and hawk our wares for the weekend.  Onto the pictures!

                           
Our table setup with our new and improved Fables Of The Flying City Banner.

                        
Legendary Pictures had a display, so naturally I had to shoot the Dark Knight.

                              
Writer and founding member of Rat Ronin studios, Kieth Miller.
                                                                               
High Moon, Box 13, and now artist on the AMC Walking Dead Game as well as caffeine freak Steve Ellis.

                                                  
pretty self explanatory.

                   
Jared holding up the 1st second previews guide featuring the Blood and Ink sampler!

                               
The Battle of Blood and Ink crew.  Good looking clouddogs all.

                                 
The creation inevitably turns on its creator.  Ashe gives me a noogie.

                                         
and finally Liza James as Ashe in her Amperstamian finest.

We all had a blast this year at comiccon and quite honestly I'm looking forward to next year when we will have the physical book in hand for everyone plus a few other fantastic goodies as well.  now if only I could figure out how to get the entire cast there...:)

New York Comic Con '11

This past weekend was New York Comic Con.  The Con has always been big, and has just grown exponentially since it's inception.  To say that it is a bit of a sensory overload would be a gross understatement.  The show itself, with all of its bright colors and big displays, the celebrities and all the fans who dress up in fantastic costumes, is a remarkably fun show. 

Jared and I went to promote The Battle Of Blood And Ink, and it was a resounding success.  Not only did we make some new fans, The phrase of the weekend was, "I can't wait to read this", but we were approached by several fans of the podcast!  What a great treat that was.  Not wanting to go to the con empty handed, we prepared a special Fables Of The Flying City mini comic, and people loved it. I'll be posting up the cover here in a bit, plus we will have the entire comic available for reading and download at www.fablesoftheflyingcity.com. I will of course announce when it goes live.  That will be followed by 5 more Fables Of The Flying City mini comics, which will be posted once a month until the release of the graphic novel.  Now, the con didn't inspire this, but it sure as hell motivated us to get these lead ins up and running. 

My favorite part of the con was the sketches.  I love meeting people, talking with them about comics, and doing a piece of art that is just for them.  I did a few Ashe sketches this weekend, but the ones that really stick in my mind are the Batman punching the shark I did and a Spider-man and Maryjane piece.  I've got a few here for you to look at as well!

  The Nightwing is for my friend Adrienne who absolutely loves Dick Grayson, almost to creepy stalker levels if he were flesh and blood.  The robot pinup is something I've been doing since the first New York Comic Con.  I just like drawing robots.

Overall this NYCC was a tremendous success!  More pictures and artwork to come over the next few days so keep your eyes peeled!                                                  

ever wanted to know how I got into comics or what I sound like?  well listen here as Jared and I launch our first Jared and Steve Read Comics podcast! 

http://www.fablesoftheflyingcity.com/interlude/jared-steve-like-comics-0/

Here for the first time ever my secret origin!

Fables of the Flying City is Live!

Fables of the Flying City, a podcast created by myself and Jared Axelrod went live at Balticon and I'm super excited about it!  Fables of The Flying City is the prequel story to my upcoming graphic novel from Tor Books, The Battle for Blood And Ink, by myself and Jared Axelrod and will give unique insight into characters and situations that appear in the book.  The podcast follows Ashe, a young street urchin living on the floating city of Amperstam and her adventures as she joins the Amperstam Aerial Guard.  Each Podcast is read by Jared Axelrod of The Voice of Free Planet X, and the website features tons of other goodies.  Here is the link:

www.fablesoftheflyingcity.com 

keep checking back here and at fables of the flying city for updates on the book, new artwork, and whatever other trouble I may find myself in.