Quick update today:

John Lees, a member of the Comix Tribe reviewed the first issue of JACK HAMMER over on his website. Check it out, if you're interested here.

Thanks for the kind words, John! Glad you liked the book.

Second, Extraordinary #1 came out this past Wednesday. Extraordinary is a new superhero-related anthology from Grim Crew Comics, publishers of DEAD FUTURE (the next issue of which I also have a story in), KIDTHULHU and GRIM FURRY TALES. The lead feature in Extraordinary #1 is a Hound story I did last year, Hound being a character in the JACK HAMMER continuity who'll appear alongside Jack in a future issue of that series.

I'll let you folks know where/how you can get a copy when I get mine, or you can reach out to Grim Crew through their website.

What it is?

Haven't updated in a bit, so here's what's new.

Two weeks ago, I was a guest at Boston Comic Con and, as expected, it was great. I got to meet a lot of cool people, a couple not so cool people (but that's expected anywhere you go, of course) and made a lot of new fans. At least based on sales, and for that I thank everyone who decided to support independent comics. I nearly sold out of Jack Hammer #1 copies, and sold a good two thirds of the copies of #2 I had, so my sincerest thanks go out once again to everyone who bought comics.

I also got a chance to pick up some great back issues (including the entire run of the Renegade Press issues of "Ms. Tree", whoo hoo!), but the real  treasure I added was an original sketch of Jack McGriskin by one of my favorite writer/artists of all time...Howard Chaykin! My scanner is borked, but the photo below came out pretty well.

Mr. Chaykin was extremely friendly and it was a pleasure chatting with him while he worked. I am thrilled to have a new piece of art to add to my "Wall of Jack", art all drawn by my favorite artists.

This past weekend, I was a guest at Granite Con in Manchester, NH. I wasn't sure what to expect of the con, as I'd been told it was pretty small (and the one "big name" guest cancelled a couple days before the show) but it turned out to be pretty fun. I met several folks I've only known online previously and made quite a number of new acquaintances. I also completely sold out of Jack Hammer #1 and sold a ton of copies of Reasonably Priced Comics #1 and #2. A bunch of people have already contacted me regarding Voyaga and I am very gratified that people are enjoying it. Voyaga started out as an experiment that I wasn't even sure I'd take beyond the first story, and it is truly a joy when someone tells me that they can't wait to read the next installment. So, again, my heart-felt thanks!

Speaking of Voyaga, next month is the release of Reasonably Priced Comics #3 which has (count 'em) TWO stories by yours truly. The first is part three of book one of Voyaga and if you read the last issue, I've got some surprises in store for you with this one. RPC#3 also has the first installment of WESTERN ADDITION, a new series I've been working on with artist Leandro Paganiban. As you can probably guess from the title, it's a western. You know, cuz I love me the classics and nothing is more classic than a good western.

Also this summer, Reasonably Priced Comics is doing a new over-sized one-shot of science fiction stories called "SCIENCE! Tales From the Edge of Human Knowledge" in which I'll have two stories. One is a short sci-fi story I originally wrote for another publisher who cancelled the book it was to appear in, but the second is a brand new story I did with Rowel Roque, an artist you may not have heard of but who is VERY talented and I feel very lucky to have stumbled across. Rowel also did the art for the story I have in the upcoming DEAD FUTURE graphic novel (out August 17th!) and it came out beautifully!

Long before that, though, at the end of this month (on the 25th) the first issue of EXTRAORDINARY from Grim Crew Comics is out. It's been delayed a bunch of times, but it's almost here finally. As you may recall, it has the first Hound story I wrote last year. Hound, of course, is another character in the world of JACK HAMMER, though he's got a little bit of a different perspective than Jack. Incidentally, the second issue is out this summer and it'll have a solo Stu story I'm working on with Ionic. I warn you, though, there are fart jokes.

Lastly, a story I did around the new year for Fan-Atic Press will be out in their new issue of Slam Bang (#46, or vol.III #5 if you prefer) in a couple weeks. It's a very different style of story than anything else I've done and I think you'll enjoy it. I'll let you know exactly how you can get a copy shortly or you can check out http://fanaticpress.com/.

That's it for now, but check 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.

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

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.

The project I've been alluding to for a few months now is nearly completed!

Reasonably Priced Comics, if you've been paying attention to their twitter feed (twitter/@RPComics) , is doing a black & white anthology for which I have written the lead story. It's a sci-fiction tale, the first of a 3-part introductory story arc. It's the story of Dean Kirkland, the first astronaut NASA plans to send beyond the limits of our solar system. I say "plans" because...well, check out the story. You'll see. ;)

The story has been penciled/inked by the very talented Rudolf Montemayor, whom some of you may know from his work on Devil's Due Publishing's "Hollow-Eyed Mary" graphic novel or the Outer Space Men graphic novel based on the classic toy series. It looks amazing and I can't wait for you guys to see it!

In addition, I was invited to contribute a short-story to Grim Crew Comics' new superhero anthology series. They've previously published horror comics such as the zombie anthology series "Dead Future" and the "Grim Furry Tales" graphic novel. My contribution to this new anthology features a new character within the same continuity as Jack Hammer. It's not so much a superhero story as a story about a guy with a power, but I'm pretty proud of the way the story has turned out and I think it'll look great once the art is done. More details to come!