Published X Self-Published

Lights Out and The Chest Face Challenge

Arm-wrestling Geof Darrow at New York Comic-con 2024

Whenever I've been published by someone else, whether it was creator owned (The Red Hook, Billy Dogma, etc.) or for a company owned franchise (The Fox, Superman, Spider-man, Batman, Godzilla, etc.), or semi-autobiographical graphic novels (Harvey Pekar's The Quitter, Jonathan Ames' The Alcoholic, Inverna Lockpez's CUBA: My Revolution) there was a good chance places like Publisher's Weekly, Kirkus Reviews and other book publishing news and review venues would write about it. But when you self-publish books that get mailed directly to customers doorsteps, you lose the review. You miss the in-store impulse buy.

These days, a comic book in the store goes for $5. I'm charging more. But I'm not a Marvel or DC comic book. I don’t have toys, television and Hollywood support. I'm not on the rack in an airport or drug store. You're my Hollywood. You're my first supporter. And some of your support goes to printing. Some of it goes to the writer, artist, colorist, letterer, editor and promoter. The person/s who risks 4-5 months of personal investment (time, talent and money) creating and crafting something that might sell — or become a cult classic — or flop.

It's stressful.

Are "Dean Haspiel Deep Cuts" a publishing gamble? Like you wouldn’t believe. Are my comix limited edition collectors items? You betcha. Would I rather more people see and read my work? Absolutely! My stories aren’t finished until you receive it. But how do I pay to play like proper publishers without losing my shirt? What's the game plan? What's next?

Stay tuned.

Take the CHEST FACE challenge!

Calling artists living in the USA. Draw your version of CHEST FACE and link to the campaign page on social media -- and I'll draw you an original CHEST FACE on a piece of cardboard and mail it to your home as a big ol' thank you very much!

Here's the link:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/deanhaspiel/chest-face

Don't forget to tag me and link to the campaign (and DM me your mailing address).

CHEERS!

TAKE A LOOK at the great CHEST FACE portraits that have already helped promote the Kickstarter!

I talked to Jace Milam about CHEST FACE at the Comic Source podcast!

I provided the cover graphic for DJ Ray Velasquez presents Apocrypha Now! (Revenge of The Orange Skull)

Listen HERE.

And don’t forget to vote on November 5th.

I produced an original 20 page comic book horror story for LIGHTS OUT.

Rocketship Entertainment and Black Eye Entertainment present the LIGHTS OUT graphic novel revival and remastered original recordings on a 5 record vinyl set.

The graphic novel revival features all-new stories from comic superstars:

Leeanne M. Krecic - the creator of Let’s Play and Dragon King Oath
Kevin Grevioux - the creator of the Underworld film franchise
Justin Jordan - the co-creator of Urban Animal and Spread
Warren Ellis - the showrunner of Netflix’ Castlevania
Madeleine Rosca - the International Manga Award winning creator of Rise From Ashes and Hollow Fields
Dean Haspiel - the Emmy Award winning creator of The Red Hook
John Bivens - Eisner and Harvey Award winning artist
Kody Chamberlain - the creator of Image Comic’s Sweets and artist of 30 Days of Night: Bloodsucker Tales
Xerx Javier - the artist of Clive Barker's Nightbreed

Click here to learn more about the LIGHTS OUT campaign.

A teaser for my LIGHTS OUT story, “To Have And To Hold.”

Okay party people. We’re THIS close to making my initial CHEST FACE Kickstarter goal. And once we get that — the real push to double that number begins.

Thanks for your love and support.

—Dino

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