Some photos -- and videos -- you'll RHEE-ly want to see!
about 2 years ago – Tue, Aug 02, 2022 at 09:53:16 PM

Some process-work eye candy while we wait for the boat to arrive...

Hey all!

C2E2 in Chicago is this coming week (as always, at Artist Alley Table H8 -- #EmbraceTheH8), and while there was a time that I was internally entertaining the outside chance that just maybe the books would arrive in time to make the Kickstarter packages available for this upcoming show, but, alas, the boat is moving a little too slow to make that possible.

That being said, look what HAS arrived, though:

The Kickstarter Exclusive Bonus Book comics have arrived at the Source Point Press warehouse! This comic contains two stories that directly tie-into and enhance the experience of reading  TALES OF MR. RHEE Volume 5: "Rock Star Paranoia", so I can't wait for all of you to read them!

Here's a fun fact you may or may not be aware of, too: I've offered these "Bonus Comics" as Kickstarter Exclusive Stretch Goals ever since the Kickstarter campaign for TALES OF MR. RHEE Volume 2... but one thing I've never done is reprint ANY of these stories, anywhere, ever!

This means the only way to read any of these stories has been in these bonus comics, making them a truly -- and I daresay RHEE-ly -- exclusive collector's item!

Speaking of collector's items, as mentioned in the last update, RHEEv5 illustrator Austin McKinley has completed the remarks on the KS Exclusive Bookplates that will be accompanying every HC Edition of the book, and he shared this one minute video with me that  is just too cool not to share. Check it out:

I don't know about you, but I could watch stuff like this all day. I remain in awe of watching master illustrators like Austin McKinley at work.

Now, that being said, keep in mind that he also did this approximately THIS many times:

He's a national treasure, friends, and if you're not yet aware of his work -- he's also illustrated stories I've written in NIGHTMARE WORLD, TALES OF MR. RHEE Volume 3 (which, of course, will be included in the TALES OF MR. RHEE OMNIBUS: ACT ONE), BURIED BUT NOT DEAD, and BUTTS IN SEATS: THE TONY SCHIAVONE STORY -- I encourage you all to both keep an eye out for and support his addition coming work in the future. He's not only a master illustrator, but also one of the kindest and most talented people I've had the pleasure of working with throughout my career.

That being said, if you'll be at C2E2 this weekend, please come by, say hello (or Hell-O) at Artist Alley Table H8 ("Hate!"), and consider picking-up a book or two. If you get there early enough, I may even have a copy of some of those earlier (and never reprinted) TALES OF MR. RHEE Kickstarter Exclusive Bonus Comics as well as a few other RHEE-ly special surprises. Heh.

Thanks again, all! I appreciate you, I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible this coming weekend in Chicago -- or otherwise on the road soon!

Your friend in comics,

Dirk Manning

Big action! BIG ACTION!
over 2 years ago – Sun, Jul 17, 2022 at 04:29:25 AM

The books are on the boat on the way here...

The bookplates are signed and remarked by me and artist Austin McKinley...

James O'Barr is signing his bookplates for you after I signed them...

Oh, and the video game is being finalized too... and the multi-talented Austin McKinley (yes, he designed and animated the video game, too!) is CRUSHING IT on the graphics... take a peek:

The TALES OF MR. RHEE OMNIBUS: ACT ONE is almost here.

The TALES OF MR. RHEE Volume 5: "Rock Star Paranoia" Kickstarter Exclusive Hardcover is almost here.

All those amazing Stretch Goals we unlocked, including the TALES OF MR. RHEE: "Punch All Monsters" video game is almost here.

I know the wait has been long due to the supply chain issues we crashed into head-on right as the campaign ended... but we're close, friend. We're RHEE-ly close... and we're going to make sure your patience will be rewarded.

Thank you all for your support! I'll be in touch again soon with another update!

Your friend in comics,

Dirk Manning

Photos of so... many... signatures!
over 2 years ago – Mon, Jun 27, 2022 at 12:23:54 AM

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so...

I think, possibly forever, I will always joke (to myself, at least) about how you gotta leave it to me to launch a Kickstarter presale campaign for two books at once totaling over 700 pages in content... only for the whole industry to then go into a global paper distribution shortage.

It's exactly the type of scenario you'd expect to happen to Mr. Rhee in one of his adventures, and that irony makes the whole situation even funnier to me, honestly, even if it's a bit of gallows humor.

That being said, as mentioned in the last update, I've been notified by Source Point Press that the books will be shipping to them soon, and I got evidence of this being true (not that I needed it, as we're an honest and transparent publisher) when I received both the embossed book plates illustrated by TALES OF MR. RHEE Volume 5 illustrator Austin McKinley *AND* the prints of the TALES OF MR. RHEE OMNIBUS: ACT ONE cover illustrated by James O'Barr earlier this week... which meant I had a lot of signing to do:

These are, of course, the bookplates illustrated by Austin. I don't know how well you may be able to tell, but both the art and the Rhee sigil are embossed and "raise-up" off the bookplate, just like we did with the BURIED BUT NOT DEAD bookplate (if you backed that campaign).

These bookplates will be mailed to Austin for his signatures and remarks this week... and you may also notice that I also remarked thirteen of these bookplates as well as a little mystery bonus. Happy holidays (early) to the 13 of you who get one of those with a little doodle on it from me as well... and let it serve as a reminder as to why I am the writer and not the illustrator.

And these, of course, are the prints featuring the artwork of James O'Barr. As I posted on my Instagram earlier today, it's still surreal to me to be in a position where the creator whose work set me on the path to being both a lifelong fan of comics as well as a professional comic creator has done work for me on one of my books (on what is quite possibly my favorite series I write, to boot) is just... surreal. I thank you all for your support in making this possible, and look forward to you all getting to hold BOTH books in your hands soon.

Oh... and I also signed only 13 of the prints in silver... so, again, if you get one of those variants... well, there's only 13 of 'em. Happy (early) holidays again!

I hope to have another update soon, friends... so watch this space!

Your friend in comics,

Dirk Manning

A quick (but RHEE-ly exciting) update... and another horror comic worth checking out!
over 2 years ago – Sun, Jun 12, 2022 at 12:56:56 PM

"The books are shipping soon!"

That's the update I received from Source Point Press, meaning that the books will soon be to the warehouse, and from there the packages will be assembled and sent-out to all of you! I've appreciated your patience on this project so very much -- we didn't know we'd be running into such a paper crisis when we launched this campaign that involved over 700 pages of material per pledge level (for those of you who pre-ordered both books)... but the light is officially at the end of the tunnel! Yay!

Source Point Press is also sending me the book plates and prints to sign as well now that they are being printed, so I'll then sign those all and get them to Austin McKinley and James O'Barr, respectively, to sign for all of you too!

I'll be sure to send you some sneak peek photos as I get them!

If you like horror, please check out this (fully funded) campaign in its last two days!

There's only about two days left on the Kickstarter campaign for dude Ben Goldsmith's long-awaited THE SEANCE ROOM Volume 2, a fully-funded horror graphic novel featuring the artistic talents of Alex Cormac, Drew Rausch, Dustin Irvin, and Ben Templesmith as well!

I was a "Day One" backed on this project, as I like Ben personally and also like his work, and if you're a horror fan I encourage you to check it out at well HERE.

***

Thanks all! I appreciate you all very much and will be in touch again soon -- most likely with some sneak peek photos of some of the RHEE materials!

Your friend in comics,

Dirk Manning

Some RHEE-ly exciting Cthulhu updates!
over 2 years ago – Fri, Jun 03, 2022 at 12:22:42 AM

Hey all!

This is a Cthulhu-filled update for all of you in regards to both TALES OF MR. RHEE Volume 5 and my new book -- which ends in less than 48 hours! So, without further ado...

THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO GET IN ON THE CTHULHU JR. CAMPAIGN!

The Kickstarter campaign for THE ADVENTURES OF CTHULHU JUNIOR AND FRIENDS ends this Friday at 3:30 PM -- which is less than 48 hours from when I'm typing this! We've unlocked SIX Stretch Goals in the campaign and -- again, as I type this -- we're less than $500 away from unlocking the seventh and FINAL Stretch Goal. Here's everything we've unlocked so far:

Yes, yes, I realize that most of you who backed the TALES OF MR. RHEE campaign did so because you like hardcore horror noir, and you may be looking at CTHULHU JR. and thinking that it may not be in your wheelhouse because it's... well... let's call it as it is: It's a cute looking book that's all-ages accessible.

Yes, it's a cute book -- and for my money Scoot McMahon is one of the best all-ages illustrators currently actively working in the comic book industry -- but make no mistake, friends: This is also, and still, a horror book with strong Lovecraftian themes of dread...

It just happens to be one that readers of any age can read, because, hey, it's important to have horror books that younger readers can read alongside us more seasoned horror veterans.

This is a book that we will read and get different things out of than younger readers who may lay hands on it, but it's a book you'll all enjoy if you like my other work as well -- including TALES OF MR. RHEE.

Oh... and this is also the first time in my career I'm having a mass-produced toy based on one of my works, too, so there's some historical value there, too!

If you haven't backed the campaign yet, consider taking a moment to do so at www.CthulhuJr.com before the campaign ends THIS FRIDAY at 3:30 PM EST, friends. It's a great book, and, really, there's always room for more Cthulhu, right?

AND SPEAKING OF CTHULHU...

Everything for both RHEEv5 and the TALES OF MR. RHEE OMNIBUS: ACT ONE is currently at the printer... but given I've talked to you so much about Cthulhu in this update, I figure I should share some RHEE-centric Cthulhu goodness with you too, yeah? So, without further ado, here's a peek at the art for the TALES OF MR. RHEE Volume 5: "Rock Star Paranoia" Kickstarter Exclusive bookplate that will be signed by me and signed and remarked by artist Austin McKinley (another one of the most dynamic artists currently creating comics today). Check this out, friends:

Waiting for books to arrive from the printer is always the hardest part of any campaign, and that's obviously been exasperated by the paper shortages and supply chain delays we've been dealing with across the industry... but I most sincerely can't wait for you to get your "Big Box of Rhee" from this campaign...

And, honestly, the "Big Box of Cthulhu Jr." from that campaign, too. Check it out and consider treating yourself on that one, too, friends! Here's the link one more time so you won't have to scroll back up:

www.CthulhuJr.com

Thanks again, everyone! I'll be in touch again about RHEE soon!

Your friend in horror comics (of all kinds),

Dirk Manning