If you haven't heard, JACK HAMMER is in this month's Diamond Previews under "ACTION LAB" and is now available for pre-order.

Please support your local comic shop and independent creators by ordering the book, using Diamond code APR120744, when you pick up your comic books this week.

Or next, but don't wait too long. The first printing of the book is limited to 500 copies, but each is individually numbered and hand-signed (by me and, yes, ouch cramptastic, but you're all worth it) and is sure to be a collector's item.

The book is scheduled out on 6/27/12 and pre-orders should be good until the end of this month.

You can also order the book online from a number of the big comic book dealers 
such as:

Discount Comic Book Service
(I'd suggest here, they have incredibly deep discounts on pre-order items. The
book is only $8.22!!)

Things From Another
World

Midtown
Comics

Westfield
Comics

And even good ol' Mile High Comics (if you are a
member of their NICE program)

If you are  outside of the US or Canada, I suggest Forbidden Planet (for the UK  and Ireland) and Archonia for Europe.

Regardless of where you order the book,  you have my deepest and sincerest thanks in advance. Supporting independent comics is critical to maintaining the lifeblood of the comics industry and we
can't keep making comics without you, the readers and fans.

In other news, I've updated my convention schedule for the year.

I've already been to one show, the awesome first annual Vermont Small Press & Comic Expo in Winooski, Vermont last month and this month I'll be at Boston Comic Con. 

The show runs the 21st and 22nd, but I'll actually be in town on the 20th, so if you see me, say hi. It's gonna be a massive show this year, with tons of big name guests. Regardless of what kinds of comics, or even era of comics, you're into there'll be someone of interest to you.

More news soon, 'til then, keep reading.

Pardon for the lack of updates, I've been extremely busy. Yes, it's an excuse, but you'll just have to live with it.

So, 2012 news...there's a lot of it. First the biggest news I can share (probably the biggest news I have right now, actually).

Jack Hammer has a new publisher. Yes, it's true!

I've gotten a fair number of emails over the last 6-8 months asking what happened to Jack since issue #3 of Political Science came out last June. I won't go into the details, cuz it's hardly necessary, but I do owe everyone who wrote, facebooked, tweeted, shouted at me in the streets, etc and especially those of you who waited patiently. I appreciate every one of those things, cuz it means you care.

_As of late 2011, Jack Hammer has moved to Action Lab Comics, publishers of such awesome comics as PrinceLess and Fracture.

In other news, Ionic and I are working on wrapping up book 1 of Voyaga. He is hard at work completing the art, and shortly after the last part of the serial will be released in the pages of Reasonably Priced Comics. After that, there is a standalone tale that will appear in another magazine, announced as soon as I am able to, then we'll see about wrapping the entire thing up a neat little book. But more on that later this year....

In fact, I'm gonna have a lot of stuff to mention in the coming few months, so I'll just leave you folks with this for now. (I promise to tell you more as soon as I can. 2012 is already shaping up to be a REALLY exciting year!)

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.

A few things to mention today.

First up, Reasonably Priced Comics #3 is out July 27th. It contains not just the third part of my sci-fi series Voyaga (with art by Ionic) but a preview of my western series Western Addition with art by Leandro Panganiban, as well as the first official appearance of Kidthulhu, by Martin Brandt and Jason Stephens. Below is the amazing cover by Ionic, and you can check Reasonably Priced Comics's website for more info.

Next, a request for assistance. Grim Crew, publisher of the Dead Future and Extraordinary anthologies series and the upcoming Kidthulhu on-going series, is looking to expand its distribution and audience.

You may remember that I did a story for the Dead Future series awhile ago with extremely talented newcomer artist Rowel Roque. That story, entitled "Lucid Moments" was meant to be a bonus story for the Dead Future trade paperback, collecting the last two years of Dead Future stories.

Grim Crew is looking to have this book done in a single print run for wide distribution (possibly even through Diamond) and, unfortunately, the cost is staggering. That's where you come in. They are running a Kickstarter campaign to try and raise the additional funds they need.

There are a ton of cool gifts in exchange for donating, and you'll be helping to further the comics career of well over a dozen comic creators, in addition to guaranteeing yourself a copy of the massive 246-page book.

The link to the campaign is below, as well as the horrific cover by Paul Petyo.

http://www.indiegogo.com/The-Dead-Future-Continues

Morning, party people.

A quick update; Jack Hammer: Political Science #3 is out June 29th. It's late, due to some production issues, but it's almost here and it's awesome.

Jack finally confronts the puppeteer and we learn a little more about what, exactly, is going on in Jack's world.

Check out the incredible cover Ionic did featuring Night.

It'll be available the usual places and I'll remind everyone, of course.

If you're new to Jack Hammer, there's still time to pick up the first two issues and see what you missed. Head on over here or you can find copies at Earth Prime Comics in Burlington, Vermont and select other comic retailers.

Hey folks, been a few weeks and I got a few things to share.

I'll be attending Boston Comic Con from April 29th to May 1st (though the con technically runs the 30th and 1st, I'll be in Boston on the 29th so wave if you see me!). Table assignments should be out soon and I'll let you know mine as soon as I get it.

Next up, Reasonably Priced Comics #2 came out a couple weeks ago and so far people have loved the second installment of Voyaga, as well as the other two great stories (MY WAY and THE COMMUNICATORS). There's a few reviews linked here if you want to read 'em for yourself.

@ A Comic Book Blog (by Geoff Arbuckle)

@  Kitty's Pryde (by John Withers)

@ Cosmic Book News (by Byron Brewer)

@ Michael Roberts's Pop Culture Blog

Thanks to all the reviewers for the kind words and thanks to everyone who picked up the issue. If you haven't yet, you can get it in print for only $2.50 here http://tinyurl.com/RPC002 or a digital copy for only 99 cents here http://tinyurl.com/RPC2Digital . I'll of course have copies of RPC#1 and #2, as well as Jack Hammer: Political Science #1 and #2 in Boston later this month.

I've got a few new projects in the works here, and I'll share what I can.

First up, a short story I did with Silvina Rinaldi called "Motherhood" has been accepted for ANA Comics' "We're Indy! #2" anthology. I think it's out in August, but I'll let you folks know. It's scheduled to be an 80 page original TPB, so there'll probably be at least 10 or 12 stories in addition to my own. I'm really pleased with how "Motherhood" came out, and it's far and away an entirely different type of story than those I usually write so I hope you all pick it up and check it out. You can read more about the book at www.anacomics.com.

Speaking of anthologies, I was asked to pitch a story for the new Dead Future graphic novel from Grim Crew Comics. If you aren't familiar with it, Grim Crew published a 6 issue limited series called "Dead Future" over the course of 2009 and 2010. Each issue is a collection of 3 to 5 short stories of various genres (sci-fi, crime, horror, humor etc) with the common denominator of zombies figuring into the story somehow. The new book will collect some of the material from the original series as well as a number of new stories and material. I'm told it's gonna be a massive 250 pages (or larger). I'm fairly pleased with the way my story has come out so far, and I think it's gonna be dynamite when it's in print. You can go to Dead Future's website or Grew Crew's for more info. www.deadfuture.com or www.grimcrew.com

And, lastly for now, you may recall that the first issue of Extraordinary, a new superhero anthology also from Grim Crew Comics, contains the first Hound story I wrote quite awhile back. It's been delayed, but it'll be out soon I'm told, though unfortunately not in time for BCC. However, I was asked recently to do a story for the second issue out late this summer and I've written a solo Stu story (yep, that Stu. From Jack Hammer). Stu is a character that I've always felt had adventures of his own that we know nothing about, seeing as how he's not with Jack most of the time and he seems to attract strange folks and all sorts of trouble. It's definitely a tongue in cheek story, but I think you'll enjoy it.

I think that's it for now, but as always, drop me a line or post here if you think of something. I always want to hear from you.

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.

Been meaning to post these, and finally getting around to it.

First, I did an interview with Geoff over at A Comic Book Blog. You can read it here http://acomicbookblog.com/comic-book-blog/interview-with-writer-and-editor-brandon-barrows/. We talked about the origins of Jack Hammer and Voyaga and about some new projects for 2011.

Next, a bunch of reviews of Jack Hammer #2.

At A Comic Book Blog http://acomicbookblog.com/comic-book-reviews/jack-hammer-political-science-2-review/ 

At Cosmic Book News http://comics.cosmicbooknews.com/content/review-jack-hammer-2-4

At Project Fan Boy http://forums.projectfanboy.com/showthread.php?t=11340

At Kitty's Pryde http://www.kittyspryde.com/?p=8806

That's it for now. See ya later, folks.