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.

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 guys, just a reminder that I'll be at Boston Comic Con this weekend the 30th of April and 1st of May at the Hynes Center. I'll be at table AA 304.

I'll have copies of both the first two issues of Jack Hammer and the first two issues of Reasonably Priced Comics, as well as my winning smile. So, come on down, I'd really love to meet you!

If you need directions or want to read the massive guest list, you can find 'em both at www.bostoncomiccon.com.

I'd like to address my fellow indy comic creators for a few moments, and please understand I mean this in all seriousness and with the best of intentions. 

As members of the small press and independent comics community, most of us dream of someday making this our full time job. In addition to perfecting your chosen craft, be it writing or art, part of your job while you're learning the ropes is to learn all you can about the comics market.

A huge part of learning the market is learning what sells at what price point. I know your work is near and dear to you, but $7 for a 20 page black & white comic (or any similar example) is absolutely ridiculous.

I hear many folks complain that they worked so hard to put something together and then their books don't sell. Sometimes they just aren't good, but frequently it's because you have no idea what your work is worth and you're simply asking far, far too much from your potential readers. People are willing to take a chance on something that seems like a good value, or at least like a reasonable risk, and you have to make it as attractive as possible for them. And that doesn't just mean a flashy cover, it means a price tag that is affordable.

So please, for your own sake and for those, including myself, who WANT to take a chance on you, don't go nuts. Look at similar books (in terms of quality and page count) and see what they sell for, then price your own appropriately.

I say this both as a creator and as a reader. I really do want to read as many indy comics as I can, but you gotta make it possible. I used to buy up every interesting looking independent book I could, but increasingly I've had to pass things up because they simply were too expensive to be worth the buying.

So please, help me support you. I really want to, and I know others do, too.

Thanks for letting me say my piece and I hope to be reading your book soon.

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, 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.

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.

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!