The Show Goes On
Even If We'd Like To Pause
A ROUGH WEEK
I use these newsletters to promote my work. And sometimes that’s an uncomfortable fit with what’s going on in my life. Because ‘business’ feels ugly when there’s more important matters. But selling my comics is part of how I feed my family. And just like an HVAC guy, I go to work regardless of what’s going on. And there’s a lot going on.
First my neighbor I speak to every day either suicided in a very dramatic fashion, or was murdered in a very dramatic fashion. The community has definite opinions about which of those it is. I’m sad either way. This was a genuinely warm old man who always made a point to ask me about my family and career. It also doesn’t make sense either way. Which is maybe worse than sad.
And then my brother-in-law had a stroke and is currently fighting for his life. This is, without question, the easiest man in my family to get along with. An instantly likeable and kind person who leads a life that is in equal parts interesting and quiet. I am sad for both my sister and this good man. Hoping for the best.
In much less important news, I stink. I left Australia 6am Saturday (Australia time), arrived in the US 7pm Saturday (US time), left the US 7pm Monday (US time), and have now arrived home 7pm (Australia time). I was subject to two delayed flights, one of which spent three hours on the tarmac and was eventually diverted to Auckland. I smell like a man who has traveled for however many hours that is. I look older.
PAGES IN MY INBOX
EPHK and I just approved the proof for issue 5 of TIGRESS ISLAND. The finale! It’s a magnificent-looking comic and a (I hope) a lovely send-off for these characters. The response to the series has been beyond our hopes and we appreciate you. This is final call on ordering this issue, by the way. Tell your shop you want a copy. Let’s go out strong!
THEMES
I’ve been reflecting on what type of reader I’d like to reach. It seems that GEHENNA and TIGRESS ISLAND scratched an itch for many, and verified my belief that there’s an under-serviced exploitation fan out here. With that, I’ve also been thinking about what exploitation means in 2026.
To really say something, I think you may have to say nothing intentional. Characters in conflict don’t reveal anything about the storyteller. It unlocks something in the person experiencing the story.
I think about a film called Dark Age. It’s a crocsploitation movie from 1987 and it is fun as hell. Aboriginal culture is a big part of the plot. But I have no idea if it gets it right. I suspect it does not.
And here’s the relevant part: I don’t suspect, I know that no one came to a crocodile movie for lesson in aboriginal beliefs. No one. Not a living soul.
A month or so ago I watched a movie called King Of the Gypsies. I loved it. And I would bet my life the depiction wasn’t wholly accurate. Again, not a single person on this planet went to a film where Judd Hirsch plays a man named Groffo for the “real deal” on gypsy life.
So what’s necessary? Does all media have to accurately depict x culture or y perspective or z historical record? Or is it fair to say that a middle school textbook and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter have different obligations? Knowing that nobody comes to exploitation for reality, can we drop the fucking act? Why perform?
The story is the job of the storyteller. Truth is a reporter’s job, god willing. If the truth of life on Earth stands in the way of a story, a story that makes life on Earth more bearable, then to hell with truth.
I want to consume media that is not self-conscious or self-censoring. It must be dare to be stupid, as Weird Al says. It must deflect efforts to intellectualize it and maintain its course. That’s what I want my work to be. The actual id. Idiocy. Never sanctimony.
There’s other people out there like me. People who believe something is lost as soon as you start humoring “realism.” Does it make sense within the world the storyteller created? That’s all the sense it ever has to make. The only truth it needs.
PEOPLE I SPOKE TO
I am attending a memorial for my neighbor tomorrow. I expect I’ll talk to some locals. This fella was so loved and so much part of the landscape. I imagine it’ll be a rough one.
MEDIA CONSUMPTION
This audiobook was fun. Stupid for sure. But fun. Whenever fiction tries to add interest by giving someone an impossible hobby, such as field recording caves, it loses me a bit. SOFT RECOMMEND.
I knew there was a vigilante film trend that popped up post Dirty Harry, but I did not know that Death Wish had imitators. Makes sense though. This one dealt with race a little more than Death Wish did. Had some cool moments. RECOMMENDED.
This one was 3/5 of the way to a great movie. As it happens, it stalled out before it could reach beyond ‘pretty good.’ Strong acting; well-directed; fun premise. RECOMMENDED.
Klaus Kinksi puts on lipstick and projects Nuremberg footage onto himself before crawling into the ventilation to stalk women. BIG RECOMMEND.
This poster is not very accurate to the tone of the film. This is a sexless (and scareless) VHS horror movie. Same director as Crawlspace. Maybe not as fun, but I did not turn it off. Good cast, honestly. LITE RECOMMEND.
I also read all the Jamie Delano HELLBLAZER comics, but I think I’ll write too much about that next week.
FROM THE DESIGN FOLDER
Very striking negative space. I like designs that feel like a smart person just playing around and landing on something.
THANKS
Order TIGRESS ISLAND #5 this week! TODAY in fact! EPHK and I are proud of it and orders end very soon. And try not to get caught up in bullshit. There’s people dying out here. Do for self.
Damn, that just sucks. My condolences and I hope that your brother-in-law pulls through.
Sounds like some tough / brutal shit on a few fronts PK, especially on the family front - sorry to hear, hope you've got folks to lean on.