Been awhile since I updated. I know, I'm bad about it sometimes but it's only cuz I'm busy and not cuz I've fallen out of love with all of you.

So, first, the Dead Future book I mentioned in July did not meet it's funding goals. However! Some of you did contribute and for that, everyone is grateful. The book is now available online, and possibly still at some point down the road in bookstores. As you'll recall, the book not only collects the first two years of the Dead Future zombie-based anthology series, it also contains three brand new, exclusive stories including one I did with talented artist Rowel Roque entitled "Lucid Moments". It's a story I'm pretty pleased with, so please let me know what you think.

Click this here spiffy cover image to buy the book or check out preview pages. (They used a page from my story, last I checked).

Speaking of Grim Crew, I've also got a story in issue two of their hero-based anthology Extraordinary. It's the first Stu solo story, art by Ionic natch, and it's pretty amusing from what I've been told. You can check out Geoff Arbuckle's (of A Comic Book Blog) review of it here. The book is officially out on 9/21, so....definitely look for it. Here's the cover, by Oscar Celestini, to entice you!

In issue three, I'll debut the first of a series of Detective Martin solo stories where we get a glimpse into the world Martin lives in when he's not being pestered by Hound or trying to cover Jack McGriskin's butt. It's a good, old-fashioned mystery solved by determination and solid police work. I'm very proud of how the story turned out.

Lastly, for now anyway, SCIENCE! from Reasonably Priced Comics came out late last month and it contains two stories by myself. The book is a 40-page standalone anthology of five science fiction tales with an ultra-sweet cover by Ionic.

The lead story, "Surefire Means" is a punchy five-pager I wrote awhile back for another publication that ended up being cancelled. It has art by Joel Cotejar and I VERY happy with the way the whole thing turned out. It's virtually perfect...no, really.

Also, I have a 10-pager done with Rowel Roque specifically for SCIENCE! It's got sort of a Twilight Zone feel and it, also, is very sweet.

You can check out Geoff Arbuckle's review if you don't believe me. It's right here on A Comic Book Blog.

You can get the book in print for $2.99 (for 40 pages? Crazy good deal, bro) here or $0.99 cents digital right here.

Oh...and one REAL last thing. Reasonably Priced Comics, with my sci-fi series VOYAGA, is now on Graphic.ly, for 99 cents a book. If you aren't familiar, Graphic.ly is a comic reader app for various mobile devices and it is pretty slick. I just entered the current decade and got a smartphone, and I've downloaded a crapton of comics onto it through Graphic.ly. Seriously, it's awesome. So...check it out.

Quick update, folks.

A book I did a story for back around the new year came out recently: Slam Bang #46, or volume 3, #6 if you prefer.

It's a story I did with Silvina Rinaldi, whom you may recognize from the books Stitchwork (a Small Press 2010 first place runner up) or Clockwork Angel (part of DC Comics' Zuda contest), and it's like nothing else I've ever written. Very pleased with the way it came out.

If you aren't familiar with Slam Bang, it's a long-running "anything goes" genre-wise anthology Fan-Atic Press has been putting out since 1984. It's currently being published as a 200+ page annual original trade paperback. This issue's theme is "robots" and features indy comic notables such as Matt Feazell (whose Cynical Man comics I've been a fan of since the 80s) and Dan Burke as well as 25 other awesome comic creators.

If you're interested in purchasing it, you can click the cover below or I'll have a few copies at conventions this summer/fall. I'll also try to get some into local comic shops in the Burlington, VT area.

Hey folks, first up today:

I wrote a guest strip for the webcomic Next Door. It was drawn by the very talented Jay Townsend. Check it out for yourselves here www.nextdoorcomics.com It should still be on the first page. My first foray into webcomics! Wheee!

Next, I'll be attending Boston Comic Con exactly a month from today; April 29th to May 1st (though the con technically runs the 30th and 1st, I'll be in Boston on the 29th). Tables assignments are being doled out in the first couple weeks of April and I'll let you know mine as soon as I get it.

If you're looking to chat, for books I've worked on or maybe an autograph for a copy you already have, swing on by and see me. I'll have copies of Jack Hammer: Political Science #1 and #2, Extraordinary #1, Reasonably Priced Comics #1 as well as #2.

That brings me to....the release of RPC#2 is 4/6/11! It contains the second installment of Voyaga (2 of 4), as well as two stand alone tales. As an added bonus, Reasonably Priced Comics is having a sale on digital copies of RPC#1 in their store. 24 pages of comics for only $0.49. Seriously, tere's good stuff in there so take advantage! Tell your friends, family, etc.

To trigger the sale price use this link. http://tinyurl.com/RPCMarchSale

That's it for now, folks. Be back soon.

Hey, folks. How's tricks?

First, I added a new page to the site: "Checklist", it's a link to the list of everything comics related I've done that's been published (that I'll own up to, ha!). I've had a few people ask what other stuff I've done besides Jack Hammer, they should be reading Reasonably Priced Comics clearly, but I thought this would be easier than just telling everyone who asks.

Anyway, it links to my Comic Book Data Base entry which some kind soul created last fall when Jack Hammer: Political Science #1 came out which I discovered while googling my name one day (I get curious what you're saying, I'm human too!) and it's relatively complete minus some reaaally old stuff I did that you don't wanna read anyway.

Second, two books coming out with my stuff in 'em.

Extraordinary #1, published by Grim Crew Comics, is out later this month. It has the first Hound story I wrote. "Hound", of course, is a spin-off of Jack Hammer which takes place in the same continuity but stars the titular superhuman smash and grab artist. It's tongue in cheek, and a fun read. The book also has stories by my friend Martin Brandt and Sebastian Piccone.

Reasonably Priced Comics #2, published of course by Reasonably Priced Comics, is out April 6th and contains the second installment of Voyaga with new series artist Ionic. If you read the first issue of RPC, you'll know Dean Kirkland found himself stranded in the 31st century last time and now he begins his exploration of this new world. The book also has a story about alien gangsters by Alex De-Gruchy and Robert Durham (writer/artist of several "Cavewoman" one-shots from Basement Comics) and a pretty nifty slice of life story (which an awesome ending) by comics virgins Mike Nichols and Josh Calloway.

I'll have copies of both, as well as the first two issues of Jack Hammer and the first issue of Reasonably Priced Comics, during my days at Boston Comic Con the last weekend in April (you should totally go, Howard Chaykin and Matt Wagner, among many of my other favorite artists/writers will be there. It's gonna be awesome) and at Granite Con in Manchester, NH (guest of honor: Tony Moore, original artist on The Walking Dead) May 15th.

First up, two interviews I did recently.

I chatted with Byron Brewer over at Cosmic Book News, and you can read it here. Lots of stuff on my upcoming projects. http://comics.cosmicbooknews.com/content/brandon-barrows-interview 

I also did an interview for Kitty's Pryde with their editor John Withers http://www.kittyspryde.com/?p=9737. We discussed the future of comics, and the current state of the independent comics scene.

Next, I'm told both Extraordinary #1 and Reasonably Priced Comics #2 are going to press next week, so look for those soon.

Extraordinary has the first "Hound" story I wrote and, as you may recall, takes place in the same continuity as Jack Hammer.

RPC #2 contains the second installment of Voyaga. Dean begins his exploration of world of the 31st century, and it's not exactly what he expected.

That's it for now, but check back soon. I got a ton of stuff coming down the pike this year.

Jack Hammer: Political Science #2 is out! It's a little late, but it's absolutely, 100% worth the wait. Ionic has changed the way he inks and colors the book and it looks extremely slick.

It's available in select comic shops and in our Reasonably Priced Comics' store. Get your copy and let me know what you think. I sincerely want to hear your thoughts!

I'm looking to attend some cons this spring and summer. If you know of any in the north east, please let me know. I love comic conventions and I'd really like to take some time to make some appearances and spread the word about our buddy Jack (as well as our friends Hound and Dean, of course).

While I'm thinking about Hound, I talked to the editor of Grim Crew Comics the other day and it looks like Extraordinary, which contains the first Hound story, will be out a few weeks earlier than I had thought. Look for it in late February/early March instead of the end of March.

If you don't recall, Hound is a character within the same continuity as Jack Hammer, but you'll have to check out t

Hey folks. Short update:

Graphic Policy reviewed the first issue of Jack Hammer: Political Science. They gave us a pretty decent review and I'd like to thank them for the kind words! You can read it for yourself over at their site http://graphicpolicy.com/2011/01/06/review-jack-hammer-political-science-1/

Also, if you're reading this, you've probably noticed I messed around the site design a little. The old design was only supposed to be temporary and I've only just now gotten around to doing anything about it. Sorry.

Let me know if anything has stopped working and I'll do my best to get on it.

Kitty's Pryde, who reviewed Jack Hammer a few weeks back, posted a review of Reasonably Priced Comics #1 (which you'll recall contains the first installment of my Voyaga series) today. Go read it, if you haven't already. http://www.kittyspryde.com/?p=5807

Also, and I can't believe I forgot to post this, Reasonably Priced Comics #1 is now available on both DriveThruComics (in digital format) and IndyPlanet (in print). It'll also be available at select comic book shops on December 22nd.

The second issue of Reasonably Priced Comics is scheduled for release this spring and includes the second issue of Voyaga in addition to a second science fiction short-story from the British team of Alex De-Gruchy and Richard Durham and a slice-of-life feature from my friends Mike Nicols and Silvina Rinaldi (whom you'll note drew the story "Laces" in RPC#1 when you buy your copy, hint hint).

Before that's out, though, Jack Hammer: Political Science should be out the last week in January. Click here for a sneak preview of that issue's cover. Ionic has outdone himself again, you'll agree.

More to come, but in the meantime please let me know what you think of Voyaga. I really want to know! And remember, we're still collecting letters for the letters page in Jack Hammer #2.

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody! I hope everyone's looking forward to the holiday as much as I am. It's a great day for family, friends and reflecting on what we have to be thankful for and I look forward to it every year.

At the moment, I'm thankful to BottleImp over at Ain't It Cool News who wrote a great review of Jack Hammer: Political Science #1. Check it out! http://www.aintitcool.com/node/47566#4

My personal favorite quote is:

"JACK HAMMER is not only a fun genre-twisting tale, but is also a sterling reminder to those readers who normally eschew the fringe publishers in favor of the Big Two and the Slightly Smaller Two or Three...that smaller publications do not mean lesser quality. Barrows and Ionic have created something which can proudly stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the mainstream fare..."

Also, while I'm here, I just got word that the issue of Grim Crew Comics' "Extraordinary" series that I wrote a story for will be out March 23rd. In additional the Hound story I did, there are two additional stories by Sebastione Piccione (writer of CAT-5) and drawn by Nelson Ortega (NIGHTTHRASHER , SONIC THE HEDGEHOG) and Martin Brandt (DEAD FUTURE, STITCHWORK) and Martinho Abreu (DEAD FUTURE). An official release should be forthcoming. More details as I get 'em.