Announcing: The Monster Project
A few weeks ago, I had an epiphany. I was sitting at my desk, and I happened to look up at my shelf. Doing a quick scan, I immediately noticed a trend. Godzilla vs. The Smog Monster (DVD), Necronomicon: The Complete Works of H.P. Lovecraft, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Omnibus Vol 1, 1 Chinese knockoff Transformer (he turns from Dinobot into Kaiser Ghidorah. It’s hilarious), 1 Star Trek action figure (Worf), some monsterpocalypse figures, my DS (Pokemon in both cartridge slots) and a box of Magic cards (Eventide fat-pack). That’s one shelf.
It was at that point that it dawned on me that almost all of my hobbies, nearly everything I enjoy, comes back to a single unifying focus point. I love Monsters. Kaiju to Elder Gods to folklore to Pocket Monsters and back, it’s always been the macabre that’s drawn me in.
So now I’m gonna repay the favor.
What is The Monster Project?
Short answer is the Monster Project will be an art book. 60-80 pages of characters from all corners of the world. I’m taking the broadest, dictionary definition of the word “monster” and if it fits, it’s in consideration. The idea is to have an incredibly eclectic mix of creatures stuffed into one digest-sized book. Pikachu, Dracula, and Marquis de Sade, all on one page. Several of them will be original characters (maybe even some familiar faces for Sandgate readers), a lot will be public domain figureheads, and still others will be a weird combination of the two. It’s gonna be a celebration of creeps of every sort.
So, It’s a Book? We’ll have to buy it?
Yes, it’s a real book I’ll actually be selling. I’m not sure on the price yet, but printing through Comixpress costs a little more than $6 a copy to print, so I’m looking at $10-12 USD as a potential price tag. First edition will be a limited run of 100, and I’ll probably also do personalized editions for an extra dollar or two. The project is still in its early stages, so all of this is subject to change. I’ll keep you posted! This is the first time I’m doing anything like this, so I’m learning as I go.
I do plan on keeping a weekly update blog with samples from the book, short entries on my thoughts of horror, and updates on how the project is going. My goal is to have the book finished and ready for print by the end of August, 2011. We’ll see how that goes.
What about Sandgate?!
Sandgate… is still on hiatus. The plan is to resume updating after the book is done, possibly this Halloween (which will also be the comic’s 5 year anniversary, HOLY CRAP), but in the past few months I’ve looked back and really cringed at some of the decisions I’ve made regarding the comic. It’s basically all the things I like to read squashed together into some sort of horror-noir superflat shounen series… thing, and the tone and style is really all over the place. When I come back to it (and that is a when, not an if), I want to have a more focused purpose for it. So yeah, keep waiting, be patient, but don’t expect it to be the same comic you remember.
What now?
Now? Now you get hyped! Get excited! I know I am; this is a big deal for me. Come back next Friday and we’ll talk some more.
http://tekkactus.tumblr.com/post/3346728873/announcing-the-monster-project-a-few-weeks-ago
I'm pumped. This is a big deal.
