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 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.

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.

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.

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.

Hi folks, first and foremost: Jack Hammer: Political Science was been nominated for "Best Rookie Title" in the Project FanBoy Awards!  It's great to be nominated, of course, but that's just the first step.

Please go to http://awards.projectfanboy.com/?pageid=pfaabout and cast your vote. There are a bunch of great books, including some of my personal favorites, so I really need your help to put Jack Hammer in the running.

As they said on Reasonably Priced Comics website every vote counts, and we're counting on yours.

In other news, there's been a bunch of reviews of both Jack Hammer #1 and Reasonably Priced Comics lately.

Cosmic Book News's Byron Brewer, who reviewed Jack Hammer back in October, reviewed RPC #1. He seemed to really like Voyaga! Check out what he said here http://comics.cosmicbooknews.com/content/review-reasonably-priced-comics-1

Geoff Arbuckle over at A Comic Book Blog reviewed Jack Hammer, as well. He called likened to The Watchmen and Chinatown! High praise indeed! See what he had to say for yourself http://acomicbookblog.com/comic-book-reviews/jack-hammer-political-science-1-review/

And finally, but not least, Geoff also reviewed Reasonably Priced Comics #1. He gave glowing reviews to all three features and, here my writer's heart swells with pride, he called Voyaga "an instant classic" and a wonderful tribue to the Silver Age of comics. Thanks, Geoff! It really means a lot. You can read Jeff's review here http://acomicbookblog.com/comic-book-reviews/reasonably-priced-comics-1-review/

And, if you haven't already, you can pick up a copy of Reasonably Priced Comics #1 (or Jack Hammer #1, if you're late to the party!) over in RPC's store http://www.reasonablypricedcomics.com/store.html RPC#1 is only $2.50 print copy or $0.99 digital download. Hey, they live up to the "reasonably pric

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.

The first (advanced) review of Reasonably Priced Comics #1 was published today which, as I hope everyone remembers, includes the first installment of my new sci-fi series "Voyaga."

You can read it in its entirety at Project Fanboy

The "money quote" as it were:
"Voyaga is scheduled to be a four-part adventure, and I would love to see it go even further than that...the story hooked me in and the art was flat out gorgeous."

Thanks for the kind words! It's appreciated.

RPC#1 is officially out December 22nd in stores, and it'll be available December 15th on DriveThruComics.com.

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.

Kittyspryde.com gave Jack Hammer: Political Science #1 a nice review. Thanks, folks! It's appreciated!

Click below to read what they had to say for yourselves!

http://www.kittyspryde.com/?p=2672