The Venger Special- update 3 PREVIEW ART

Well work continues on the stories that will be in the special. I previously posted the cover choices for the issue. Now I'll start posting some preview art. One of the stories will be 'Crossfire' with pencil art by Matt Zolman. I had posted some of Matt's pencils for story a while back. Well the very talented Scott Shriver has come onboard as inker and grayscaler and finished the pages. He'll also be taking those positions on two other stories in the special- 'Venger: Deadly Beginnings' and 'Black Mercy: No Mercy'. Check out some of the 'Crossfire' pages...

The Venger: Dead Man Rising #2 NOW ON SALE

Finally, it is here and ready for purchase. Click on this link to purchase your copy of The Venger: Dead Man Rising #2.  Thanks for your patience and support- much appreciated. So go out there and buy one or two or more, and tell your friends to get their copies as well. Check out this preview of the issue as well.

Mid Ohio Comic Con

Well Brett continues his con season appearances. Hopefully next season I will have a few dates of my own. Anyway he will be appearing at this weekend's Mid-Ohio Comic Con, October 3 and 4. Brett will be there signing and sketching and selling copies of The Venger: Sins and Secrets #1 as well as posters of the cover to issue 2. He will also be selling copies of his new book with writer Eric Rampson, The Silver Bullet. So any of you comic book and Venger fans please stop by and see Venger artist Brett Wood.

Venger Promo Image

Some of you probably have seen this already but now as the publication of The Venger: Dead Man Rising #2 is almost here I thought I would post it again. This will be showing up around the different news sites soon as well as ads in several comics. Great job by Tim Baskin.

The Venger: Dead Man's Revenge 2

Here's page 2...remember to click to enlarge.

The Venger: Dead Man's Revenge

A couple of years ago I published a Venger short story in the first issue of the Ronin Studios flagship title, the anthology series Ronin Illustrated. The story was beautifully illustrated by Victor Cabenalas in a lush chiaroscuro style. The six page story was well received by readers.

Starting today and posting Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the next two weeks I'm going to publish The Venger: Dead Man's Revenge here for all to enjoy. So here we go...be sure to click to enlarge.

The Venger: Dead Man Rising #2 is at the printer!!

It feels so good to finally be able to type those words. After many twists and turns and personal and professional upheavals all the files were sent to the printer last weekend and I will have my copies in a few short weeks. So much time and energy has been spent on this project, both by me and by Tim that the thrill of knowing that we are almost there is very exciting, for me anyway.

My thanks go to all of you who purchased the first issue and have been more than patient waiting for this one. I truly hope you enjoy it and continue to stick with the title and all the other Venger projects.

The Venger: Sins and Secrets #1 ON SALE

As I mentioned in my previous post the first issue of The Venger: Sins and Secrets is available for sale at Indyplanet.com. To purchase just click on this link or click on the title to this post. Brett and I are very thankful to all the folks who have been following us and this project. Here is the solicit info for the book...

"Undead Rising" The city- in flames. The police force- shattered. With no hope left in stopping the zombie horde from wreaking total destruction who will the people turn to? The Venger! The first issue in a new series telling the Golden Age pulp adventures of the original Venger!

There is darkness and violence and evil in life. Most of the time the system works and all that is held in check. Most of the time. But sometimes the horror cannot be stopped and the innocent need protection and justice and vengeance. And for those times they have...THE VENGER.

Thanks again and remember to order your copy today or buy one directly from Brett at the Chicago Comic-Con this weekend.

Chicago Comic-Con

For all you fans who are planning on attending Wizard's Chicago Comic-Con, August 6-9, please be sure to swing by the Ronin Studios booth in Artist Alley. There you will be able to check out all the fantastic Ronin titles and meet many of my talented studio mates.

You will be able to meet Venger artist Brett Wood. He will be there selling and signing copies of Venger/Footpath: EndGame as well as the premiere issue of the new series we have been working on The Venger: Sins and Secrets. He will also have Venger t-shirts and copies of The Venger: Dead Man Rising #1 as well. So please check out the Ronin booth and support indy comics and Venger!

The Venger: Crossfire by Matt Zolman

As if I'm not busy enough trying to put together both Venger books- The Venger: Dead Man Rising and The Venger: Sins and Secrets- I've also been working on an over-sized Venger special. There will be several different stories in here by some different creative teams. I won't be writing all of them. One that I am writing is called 'Crossfire' and features the artwork of Matt Zolman.

This is a 10 page story featuring the new Venger. I don't want to give away too much yet because we are a ways away from publication but thought I would share a glimpse into it. So check it out...



Matt has a blog where he updates his progress on this and other projects he is working on. Please check it out to see a few other Venger images. Matt's doing a great job and I am so pleased to be working with him. So again click the link...

MATT ZOLMAN'S BLOG!!

Another Peek

Ok folks here is the final look for the Black Shroud, the villain that will be appearing in The Venger: Sins and Secrets #3 and #4. Brett made just a couple of tweeks to the other design to knock it out of the ballpark. When I was creating the character I had a few ideas on the design and sent them to Brett. And with a series of emails back and forth we were able to work on this until we got something we both really like.

I'll post some more on these issues in the future- I am way behind on getting the plot to Brett because of lots of real life stuff. But once we get cracking on it expect to see more.

Sneak Peek at The Venger: Sins and Secrets #3

Here are a few character designs that Brett and I have been working on for the last couple of days. This is a character that will be appearing in The Venger: Sins and Secrets #3 and #4. We will be starting the production on that issue very shortly and will be announcing something very SPECIAL about that issue. Stay tuned for more info.

Venger vs. Kincaid

Here's a cool pinup featuring the Venger and Kincaid, star of Ronin Studios' Chronicles of a Bounty Hunter. The pic was done by COABH creator and artist Deandre Truesdale.

The Venger: Dead Man Rising now on Kindle

That's right. The first issue of The Venger: Dead Man Rising is now available for download to the Amazon Kindle. And for the remarkably low price of just $.99! So if you have a Kindle or your friend does, then click on the link and get yourself a digital copy of The Venger: Dead Man Rising #1!



CLICK HERE TO BUY FOR KINDLE

Venger/Footpath: EndGame

Just a quick update today since it has been awhile. Finally the long awaited crossover series between these two stars from the Ronin Studios universe is done- completed, lettered and off to the printers. It should be available very soon.

I'll be posting some more updates in the future detailing where this book and all Venger related books will be available for purchase.

In the meantime here is a look at a page from Venger/Footpath: EndGame by series artist Brett Wood. Put aside your $3.50 now!

The Venger Christmas Special!

Well not exactly but I do have some updates and images and special announcements for you all as promised. So lets gets started shall we?


The Venger: Dead Man Rising #2 is in the process of being lettered as we speak. My good friend Brant Fowler is doing a great job working on the pages as well as doing books for other companies like Image at the same time. So just keep hanging on- the book is coming, my plan is first quarter 09! Here are a couple of random pages from the issue to look at- I don't believe I have shown these before.

The Venger: Dead Man Rising #3 is still in production. I have some more of the script to do and the fantastic Tim Baskin is hard at work with the art. Tim is doing a great job with the look of the book. His art and grayscaling look perfect in #2 and will be even better in this issue. As we work on this my guess right now is 2nd half of 09 for it to be published. This is the unfinished pencils from page 2 of the book; I have previously posted page 1.

Venger/Footpath: EndGame is done. The pages have been lettered by Brant, Brett has done an awesome new cover for it and I have been trying to put together some bonus material for the back of the book to really make it special for everyone who has waited for this crossover. I'm planning a first quarter 09 release for this as well. Here is Brett's new cover and some random pages too.

And now for the special announcements. The first is regarding a new Venger ongoing- yes I said ongoing- series written by me and with art by my regular partner Brett Wood entitled The Venger: Sins and Secrets. This period book will feature the original Venger. Our plan is to do 'not quite full length stories'- around 16 pages- with bonus pages to bring this to you the readers on a regular basis and at a great price. The first issue will be the 'Undead Rising' story that I have recently posted about. Many thanks go to Brett on this because it was his enthusiasm and ideas that turned this one shot idea into a whole new freakin' series. Take a look at some of the pages Brett has completed so far.

The last announcement is of another special in development starring the original Golden Age Venger. The book is titled The Venger: Project Valkyrie and deals with Nazis, spies and mad scientists- oh my! This issue is a true partnership in that it is being co-written by myself and the book's artist Frankie Wessing. He has been providing some amazing breakdowns for the story. Here is the breakdown for the first 6 pages.

I want to thank everyone who comes here and checks in on Venger. I really appreciate it- supporting an indy title like this is fantastic. Thank you again. The Venger: Dead Man Rising #1 is still available for sale, click the link on the side of the page. The new year is looking like it will be a big year for us- hope you stick around for it.

Mike Campeau

Here is a real cool Venger piece drawn by my friend Mike Campeau, also known as MCREATOR on many comic forums. He is a fellow Ronin member and is the guy behind Krimzon Kaine.

I love the pose and the intensity of his picture. Check out more of his stuff on the Ronin site or over at deviant or many other places.

The Venger: Dead Man Rising #2

Like I have mentioned previously, we are this close to being done with the production of issue 2. I know, it seems like forever since #1 came out. And you are right. But 2008 will be a big year for us. My plan is to have 4 issues of the series come out as well as the Venger Special. So hopefully you will be seeing lots of the Venger very soon.

To give you more of a look into #2 here is a page by Tim. It has been posted before on the Ronin Studios forums. Enjoy!

Hope: New Orleans

Ronin Studios is producing a disaster relief book that will benefit the New Orleans chapter of the Red Cross. It features a cover by David Mack and tons of stories by Ronin members and other pros in the comic industry. It is listed in this months' Previews. So please contact your local comic shop and order this great book.

The Venger: Dead Man Rising #2 LINEUP

Well I just thought I would post a quick update on the lineup Tim and I have for The Venger: Dead Man Rising #2. Basically the book will run like this...

• first page recap, a la like the Marvel books
• 23 pages of story
• 4 pages of extras such as pin-ups and other background material
• 2 page letter/information column
• 2 pages of ads for some favorite indy comics of mine

I really try to put as much as I can into each issue to show my appreciation to those who support us. Tim and I have some other ideas for extra stuff for Venger #3. Maybe even a back-up story if the production schedule allows.