Author: stranger_adm_2016

Niobe in the New Year

Hello Strangers! How is everyone doing this 2020 year? All joined and subsequently canceled the gym? Just me...? ;) I wanted to share a huge thank you to everyone who continues to share in Niobe’s magical journey! The response has been fantastic from fans to retailers who we love to support. Apparently it has not gone unnoticed! NIOBE: She is Death was voted the #1 Indie comic of 2019 at Comic Attack! Crazy! It’s thanks to you guys though -- PLUS I (as in WE) made the Bleeding Cool Power top 100 list (99) – all thanks to you incredible...

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Thank You

Hello Stranger, Just a short note to say once again how much we appreciate all of the support on our current Niobe Kickstarter campaign. I also wanted to let you know that Paizo is getting closer to completing the Roleplaying Pathfinder game. So much so, the good folks over there sat down to talk with me about it. CLICK HERE TO READ COLLECTORS For all of the collectors out there, we have something cool on our Kickstarter. We have two homage comic covers paying tribute to A Tribe Called Quest, one entitled “She Tribe Called Niobe” and it honors Midnight...

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Niobe: She is Death #2 Preview

Niobe's adventure continues in the second issue of She is Death! Available to order on the Kickstarter linked below. bit.ly/niobe2ks

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Erathune Hardcover Preview

Erathune is being collected in an oversize hardcover edition, and you can get the special edition Kickstarter version of it on September 20th! bit.ly/niobe2ks

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Essessa: The Fallen #1 Preview

Essessa has pursued Niobe across the face of Asunda since she was a young girl, but relationships can change. After all, the young savior and Morka Moa have found common ground. What will her father's general have to tell her? Essessa: The Fallen #1 is available on the new Stranger Comics Kickstarter launching September 20th. You can find it at the link below. bit.ly/niobe2ks

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Hail to the King… and Queen!

Hello Stranger, What a time to be a creator… the world is upside down but the Black Panther has once again grounded our community with a hero we can get behind. I am so thankful for this opportunity to be a part of the movement in the global alliance. I just watched Chadwick Boseman talk about the impact the film has on children. It really affected me, after experiencing such a rush of love from young and old alike with what we experience for Niobe at conventions and from around the world… to all the cosplayers and folks getting ink...

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Stranger in the News

  Hello Stranger, Been a little while since our last update so I figured it was time to let you know some of the recent events. We finished our Niobe kickstarter a couple of months ago and we are so grateful for the overwhelming support. NIOBE: She is Death is coming soon with incredible art by Sheldon Mitchell. Tale told by Amandla Stenberg (Hunger Games, Everything Everything) and me (Sebastian A. Jones for the SEO heads). A huge thank you to all of those who participated by pledge or by post, surveys are on their way as soon as BackerKit...

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Untamed and Niobe

  Hello Stranger, A couple of months ago, we released the last issue of the series NIOBE: She is Life by Amandla Stenberg, Ashley A. Woods, Darrell May and myself. (Don’t worry, details on NIOBE: She is Death will be announced soon). We also released THE UNTAMED: Killing Floor, the sequel to THE UNTAMED: A Sinner’s Prayer. We returned the original Untamed team of myself, Darrell, and Peter Bergting along with cover artist Hyoung Taek Nam, but we expanded the team by adding superstar Jae Lee. The Untamed tells Niobe’s story as a young girl before the Niobe series. Incidentally,...

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Representation Matters

Representation matters. This is not a social media philosophy, a meme, a selfie with a sign, or a bullshit blog steeped in PC politeness - it is not woke – it is the truth. It is the lower octave, the bass and drum, kicking out the creator’s voice from deep within your gut, if you believe in such a thing. Sounds preachy, but recent times have left us smack in the middle of history. We are that crack in our own foundation. If we do not hold firm, it will be torn asunder. The creator and the creation. Let’s talk...

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Dear Comic Shop

Dear Comic Shop Owner, I am writing an open letter to say thank you for your support and to share with you one of our most important missions at Stranger Comics. It has been an exciting past few months releasing THE UNTAMED Graphic Novel, the NIOBE: She is Life comic series and the follow up series DUSU: Path of the Ancient. I wanted to say how much we appreciate all of your awesome support in sharing our comics with new fans and old customers alike. It is incredible to think that with your help, we have sold nearly 10,000 copies...

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THE UNTAMED KICKSTARTER

This Untamed journey has been ticking along for ten years now – mirrors Stranger’s own purgatory waiting for the Devil to unleash his torment on those who murdered him and his family. Well, things are not quite that serious although at times it has felt that way. A lot of people have sacrificed their time and time from their loved ones for this book. People have tried to make it, steal it, and obliterate it. So, from the depths of my soul I thank you for helping make this 248 page beast of a book and savage reality. kickstarter made...

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THE UNTAMED JOURNEY

Hello Stranger, Been a little while but wanted to keep you guys up to date with all of the happenings with The Untamed. Okay, first off we have the #kickstarterlaunch. It is going down February 17, 2015 and we are all very excited to share what we have been working on in the lab. Will put out another update very soon which will contain the link. For now it has been building the campaign through social media and working on the video. Fun stuff, a bit stressful but looking forward to it all going down! And on February 21st we are...

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Hello Stranger #9 The Untamed

Hello Stranger, Once again we have returned to the gritty Town of Oasis following our hero, the Stranger, as he travels on his path of vengeance. It has been a while since the last issue was released. We all have our own road to travel from dark to light to greatness. So, as we share in the struggles of this antihero, we know it will be worth the salvation that comes with fighting the “good” fight, slaying demons and embracing salvation. In other words, it is worth the wait. Peter Bergting has delivered a masterpiece, and the writing’s pretty good...

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Hello Stranger #8 Coloring Books

Hello Stranger, Such is the ongoing debate on the lack of color in comics and kids books that we have decided to attack the topic with passion. We took a good look at the subject last year, courtesy of Collectors creator and Stranger alum, Eddie DeAngelini, in his Comics 101 blog, but I think it is worth revisiting. Most folk seem to be at opposite ends of a multi-corner “spectrum”. We have the terrified and absurdly politically correct, the angry and educated, the ignorant, the happily ignorant, and the obtusely racist. To quote one of my favorite British comics, Al Murray, “the...

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What up!? It’s Kirby Time!

And so, another week, another blog, where does the time go? I can’t tell how quickly this year is beginning to run away from me. With each panel breakdown I finish, I look up and it’s a new day. A lot is in the works here at Stranger and the crew and I are manning the sails as best we can, juggling books and projects like crazy. I’ve got my editor down in the hold, filling in holes with a team of gnomes. Bang! Bang! Bang! is all I hear down there along with the ballads of Foozles and Tinkers....

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Stranger Cat Where Have All the Female Heroes Gone?

As I’ve said before, I’m really looking forward to the Avengers movie, but I’m kind of disappointed that Black Widow never got her own movie when almost all the other Avengers have one (or two) films under their super hero belt. I can’t blatantly call it sexist because Hawkeye didn’t get a film either (and has an even smaller role in Thor). But still, it bothers me. Not that I should be surprised, the female hero has kind of had a run of bad luck lately starting with the off-page Catwoman movie and the never-happened Wonder Woman movie and Wonder Woman TV show. And it’s...

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Stranger Dweef, The amazing Gene Ha

Ahoy Dweefs!!! What is up moyng friends!? I hope you all are lucky enough to be loving this Southern California weather like I am. I feel like Mother Nature stuck her finger into the face of the Winter Warlock and said “suck it!” Anyways, the new year is upon us and now is the time to start cranking away on all things that must be completed by end of year. My brain, nice and cooked, is still actively processing yesterday’s workload. What was the workload, you ask? Why issue 5 boards on Win City, boards on issue 2 of ERATHUNE,...

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Stranger Dweef 4, Before Watchmen

Hello, my fellow bearded Dweefs. I bring tidings of woe and elation. Last week, on Feburary 1, 2012, a date which will live in comic book infamy, the world was suddenly and deliberately attacked by Watchmen prequels. Now, I will not cast judgment as of yet, for Jae Lee is to draw the Ozymandias book and you all know how I love me some Jae Lee. But I cannot ignore the signs as all of the gods and fiends across infinite earths and alternate universes move towards us for the coming Ragnarok. Galactus has moved off the frontline of The...

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Hello Stranger #7 The Untamed Is Reborn

Hello, Stranger. We made it to 2012, and we’re already coming up to the love month and the celebration of black history. This year, Stranger Comics is going to celebrate a glorious mix of both (in between Ruining Christmas snippets and a new fairy tale from our legendary Viking, Peter Bergting). And to that end, I want to kick off this sprightly blog with a gentleman’s nod to Mr. Bergting, who it must be said, is a remarkable talent as a writer, painter, and Swedish meatball master chef. He is also a dear friend who has once again picked up...

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Stranger Dweef #3 Gabriel Hardman

All right my loyal little Dweefs! It’s a new week, which means it’s time for a new blog! Got something really cool to show you, so grab a Deeurp (Dr. Pepper), pop the tab and mash. So here is Gabriel Hardman! I recently discovered him and his work in the current issues of HULK. I consider it a miracle, due to the fact that as of late I have not been reading much of The Big Green, since lately it’s been The Big Red and I only like my gum in that color, not my HULK! But anyways, as I...

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Stranger Dweef Ruining San Diego Part 2

Hey there my loyal Dweefs, This week I am cramming away on Morka Moa boards like a beast. Comic Con was crazy this year, full of B.O., sweat and foot aches. But overall, my journey there was a success. While I was there I managed to snap a few photos of Christmas Elves Strangulfin and Belfy, two loseWeight Exercisers that are desperately trying to make it into the RUINING CHRISTMAS script. The problem is, this isn’t just some story that’s been made up. This shit is real! I tried to tell them why they didn’t make it into the script....

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Stranger Comics Ruining San Diego Part 1

Twas the night before Comic Con… Did you make it down to San Diego for the big convention this year? Did you have a good time? Well, if you didn’t there’s a very good chance it was because you ran into these two dweefs. Seriously, would you let these two anywhere near ANY convention, let alone the largest comic book and entertainment gathering in the world?!!! That’s right friends, Stranger Comics’ own demented elves Strangelfling and Belfie were in every nook and cranny of the San Diego Comic Con to spread their brand of gaseous cheer. There wasn’t a panel...

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Stranger Dweef #2 Frank Frazetta

Ok Dweefs…this is yet another blog of amazingness brought to you by none other than yours truly, Darrell May. This month’s Hero of the Month at Stranger Comics is the immortal Frank Frazetta. He was around for many, many years and his portfolio is massive. From movie posters to pulp comic covers to paintings, Frazetta was the master of the craft. There is no aspect of science fiction or fantasy that has not been affected by his existence. I love Frank’s work. My true love affair with Frank began with a gift from one of my post-college roommates and friends....

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Hello Stranger #6 Frank Frazetta

Hello, Stranger. It’s been a while since my last ramblings, but a lot has been going on in the fantasy world of my crazy life! That said, let me be the first to say that at Stranger Comics we’ve been sharpening our swords and growing beards of enormous Viking length. Why, you ask? Well – we are preparing for war! The latter part of the year we plan to annihilate with all new fantasy titles set in the world of ASUNDA! Beautiful violence for the dark fantasy fan who is sick and tired of characterless axe wielding carbon copies of...

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Stranger Dweef #1 Goodbye Gene

Goodbye Gene, Even though we never met, I feel like I lost a friend. It was earlier this year when I read issue 601 of Captain America and thought to myself, “There’s something different about this guy’s work.” Little did I know that you had been around for years, perfecting your craft. Gene, you’ve been around forever and I’m pissed that I just noticed you plowing your way through the Marvel and DC Universes. Now that I know a little about you, I know that next time I walk into a comic shop and see Gene Colan on a cover,...

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Stranger Comics Ruining Valentine’s Day

Happy Valentine’s Day from the Crew at Stranger Comics. We chose our extremely popular “Ruining Christmas” boys to send their holiday greetings, but they got interrupted by Cupid. It’s no surprise to us. Screwing up holidays is what “Ruining Christmas” is all about.   I’m sure you’ve seen this scene played out a million times this last December… “Mommy I want this!” “Santa has to bring me this!” When did Christmas get so whiny? Well, we’ve got the answer and it’s coming this December 2011. But if you want to get a peek at how it all began and meet...

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Stranger Cat Valentine’s Day

As Valentine’s Day rolls around, I find myself wanting a good story about romance. One in which a happy couple lives years together and has a beautiful, happy life. It’s happened in real life, I can tell you stories of couples who were married over fifty years and still acted deeply in love. Yet, those stories are few and far between in pop culture. Why? We love conflict. As any good writer will tell you, a story is nothing without conflict. The hero or anti-hero must come across some force or person stopping him or her from getting what he...

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Stranger Visitor Striving to Be the Best

Many cultures teach the importance of striving to be the best, but when you’re the best at ending lives, what cost does that exact on a person’s soul? This kind of question has been examined in popular fiction and cinema, from Quentin Tarantino’s two-part (maybe three) opus, Kill Bill to Luc Besson’s brilliant Leon (known as The Professional in the United States). Even John Cusack had something to say about it in the 1997 gallows comedy Grosse Point Blank: “Some of these guys need some kind of ethical philosophy to justify it, some guys like ‘live free or die,’ but that’s all bullshit, I know that...

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Stranger Cat Pirates VS Ninjas

The internet meme about pirates vs. ninjas is about as old as the lol cats, but it’s a debate that probably won’t go away any time soon. It’s similar to the Angel Season 5 debate “astronauts vs. cavemen”. The side of the line you fall on is probably the same as the two main characters who debated it (Angel and Spike). It’s one of those nonsensical arguments that is about as pointless as arguing Mac vs. PC (and, by pointless, I mean Macs are undoubtably the winners). All this to say that ninjas and pirates have been set on opposite...

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Hello Stranger #5 A Trane Is A’ Comin’

Hello Stranger, A Trane is coming. I am hit with an audio assault that fills me with all colors of life, love, sex, wrath and unbridled joy. I hold my son close. My seed! Freedom! OLÉ! Once again, all things are possible. Gone are the self doubts, the indecisions, the muddled mind. Instead… I CAN. I AM. I BE. Stranger is. A close friend. Loving and cussing and walking tall. Humble. Complicated. Created for your well being. Do NOT come to Stranger Comics and expect. We be Joe Frazier’s left hook. Kid friendly. R Rated. And all of the above....

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Stranger Comics Ruining Golden Apple

Check out STRANGER COMICS’ maiden Christmas tale that’ll carve your heart with a peppermint shiv, and ream your soul with a 10 inch yule log. Written by Darrell May & Sebastian A. Jones. Art by Peter Bergting (only he’d never admit it). Music by Afua Richardson as Lil’ Rudolph, Blitzin’ & The N.P.Gs. “I loved it! Totally fucked-up and completely unexpected — the literary equivalent of waking up Christmas morning and finding Santa left a dead hooker under the tree.” – ANDREW COSBY (Co-Founder of BOOM! Studios, Creator of Eureka) If you enjoyed the video head on over to YouTube...

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Hello Stranger #4 Ruining Christmas @ Golden Apple

NO NAUGHTY KIDS SHOULD READ THIS. FOLLOWING BLOG IS FOR ADULTS ONLY! This month, something a little different for Christmas. From the pen and brush that brought you THE UNTAMED, comes a sordid tale that’ll remind you that Christmas is all giving and taking it. Written by Darrell May & Sebastian A. Jones. Illustrated by Peter Bergting (is the rumor). Also! The beautiful Afua Richardson stars as sultry Candie Canes & The Dr. Foo Mouth Orchestra. Check out her raspy version of WINTER WONDERLAND. Check out Seb and Darrell signing books, skin, and shirts, this Wednesday 15 at 12pm at...

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Stranger Cat Endings Are Hard

As Supernatural said at the end of last season: Endings are hard. Any chapped-ass monkey with a keyboard can poop out a beginning, but endings are impossible. You try to tie up every loose end, but you never can. The fans are always gonna bitch. There’s always gonna be holes. And since it’s the ending, it’s all supposed to add up to something. Last season was the end of show creator Eric Kripke’s run. Effectively it was the end of his story. When Chuck, the character who said those words, moaned about endings, I think it’s safe to say it...

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Hello Stranger #3 Stranger Kids Pinata Sneak Peek

Hello Stranger… It’s been a savage couple of weeks. Two dear friends, Britta and Lee, have taken flight on their next spirit journey, so I wanted to honor them this month by talking on the importance of family… and what it means to us. I know this isn’t your typical comic blog, but it fits with what Stranger is doing to build foundations. We are creating our STRANGER KIDS division, which will be up on the site very soon. Children’s stories and folk tales will be presented with heart and soul. The classic fables of yore had a way of...

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Stranger Cat The Legacy of a Legend

There are some words that I think are used too freely. Legend or legendary is one of them. When society can apply the same descriptive word to a historical genius and a hamburger, we have some problems. The same applies to the word epic. Both words, I try not to overuse or abuse. Yet, sometimes the words just beg to be used. Like when you talk about Bruce Lee. I’ll be the first one to admit; I’ve only seen a couple of Bruce Lee films. I’m not of the generation who fell in love with Bruce Lee, but I am...

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Hello Stranger #2 Untamed Film Announcement

Hello Stranger, Perhaps by now you have heard of the film announcement on THE UNTAMED, and might have wondered how we arrived at such an auspicious event. It hasn’t been easy. Hollywood has been described as a “journey,” and for me that journey is the measure of a person. Having arrived at the city of angels half a lifetime ago, I have waited for doors to open and unknowingly invited demons to enter. Some wore beaten T-shirts and snaggle-toothed smiles, some came wielding sage and rocking ‘fros, and others were suit-wearing mother f@#!ers with dollars for your rent and a whole...

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Stranger Cat Some Tales Never Get Old

With his first step into the written word in 1886, Sherlock Holmes captured a fan base that will not die. Holmes’ iconic (though mis-appointed) deerstalker and pipe is recognized the world over. In 1893, when The Strand published The Final Problem, featuring Holmes’ apparent death, readers took to the street in mourning. Black armbands were worn all over England in remembrance. But that was not the end of Holmes. The character has lived with us for over a century, guided by many hands other than Doyle’s. Over the years, some of the great writers have played with Holmes, including Stephen...

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Stranger Visitor The Lone Anti Hero

The tradition of the lone anti-hero who rides into town and upsets the status quo with bloodshed and vengeance is one that shines bright in global consciousness. The model purports that one person with steel in hand (regardless of whether it’s a sword or a gun) can march into a town haunted by corruption and put things right with a righteous expenditure of carefully selected violence. Many consider the 1961 film Yojimbo to be the highest expression of this model, which is either inspired by the 1929 novel Red Harvest (itself vaguely adapted into Roadhouse Nights with comedian Jimmy Durante) or the 1931 novel The Glass Key (itself...

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Stranger Cat California Fan Girl Seeks Great Stories

Stories. We’ve all got them. From the moment we were born, stories became part of our subconscious, our DNA, our culture and our identity. Some of these stories have survived the ages: David vs. Goliath; The Three Musketeers; Romeo & Juliet; Anansi, the spider; and even the Cat in the Hat. In this blog, I want to look at stories from pop culture. Unlike some of my esteemed co-workers who love picking on popular culture, I’m an omnivorous consumer of stories. I find redemptive qualities in almost everything I watch: from the 1950s noir show M-Squad to Joss Whedon’s Sci-Fi...

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Hello Stranger #1

Hello Stranger, Welcome to the first of many insightful and exciting letters. Please forgive any future transgressions as I have been known to be a wee bit blunt regarding our realm of popular culture – A strange world where art is bludgeoned with commerce and smiles. In fact, smiling is something that intrigues me. Thailand is “the Land of Smiles”. I found it to be a most genuine country where the people who smiled did so in earnest, and often. It blew my doors off as I had always lived by a simple edict: Never trust a man who smiles...

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Stranger Scribbles #7 Meet Richard Thornsberry

Dear Scribblers! As we have been put on hiatus for the last couple of weeks thanks to the roguish “elves” running around Comic Con, we have decided to make this week’s blog about another very naughty lad. In fact, we call him the Captain, not because he sails a ship, or because he is a defender of liberty and the American way… we call him this because a wise man once said… “You know your shit, captain.” And – well, it stuck. Richard Thornsberry is a savage. With a brush, quill… and whatever stabbing instrument he can use to draw...

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Stranger Scribbles #6 Galemren (Wild Elves)

Okay folks. So I am uber geeked out this week to unveil our latest and greatest addition to the Stranger family. Drum roll please – Timba style – for James Cory Webster (JCW)! We are heading deep into an emerald Jungle in the heart of Ujoa to immerse ourselves with the Lords of the Ugoma. We are very proud of this title that is a fantasy play on The Last of the Mohicans or even The Jungle Book, where we find a man out of his element raised by Galemren (Wild Elves). It is here we find our hero is...

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Stranger Scribbles #5 GALEMREN Wild Elves Racial Study

GALEMREN (Wild Elves) – Racial Study by Darrell May for projects: THE UNTAMED and MORKA MOA In the land of Asunda (which, if lyrically phrased, sounds like a Men at Work song) we go for cultural diversity, unlike some fantasy worlds that have been bleached down to bunny rabbits and brigands shouting “You, sir!” “Me, sir?” “Have at thee.” So, while we have our own organic take on medieval Europe, we also have our take on the nomadic tribes who have existed since the birth of man and will continue to exist as a major force for the lifetime of...

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Stranger Scribbles #4 Morka Moa Character Study

Stranger Scribbles is going to hit you now and every Monday with sketches from our various projects and genius artists. They are going to come from artists like Peter Bergting, Hyoung Man, Sheldon Mitchell, Steph Stamb and newcomer James Cory Webster to name a few. This week we are going to have a glimpse into the world of Asunda. I managed to hijack our resident gloomy Harvey Pekar Art Director’s (Darrell May) computer, and grabbed a couple of hot chick sketches— You ever wonder what a female Orc looks like? I do. Lay awake at night dreaming of rough green...

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Stranger Scribbles #3 The Crocodile

The elusive character THE CROCODILE was originally created by Darrell May. After many tweaks from Darrell and Seb (at one point he had a tail!) we see the illustrated progression by Peter Bergting. From concept to final image… and possible showdown! (It was a last minute decision to ditch the cloak feeling it was too cumbersome for the loathsome creature!)  

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Stranger Scribbles #2 Hyoung’s Kersheg Progression

Stranger Comics presents artist Hyoung Taek Nam’s progression in creating THE UNTAMED LE Cover of Kersheg, the mute. You can purchase a lithograph of the final image at our store.

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Stranger Scribbles #1 Stranger Comics

Dear Scribblers, Our first entry highlights a snippet of early concept art for THE UNTAMED comic book. The illustrious artists contributing are – Darrell May, Peter Bergting, and Hyoung Taek Nam. More will be available soon, and some will be discovered in the graphic novel. The Sketchy Stranger (Click for larger) Darrell May’s First Stranger Sketch Peter Bergting’s Second Stranger Hyoung Taek’s Early Stranger Design Hyoung Taek’s Final Stranger Design  

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