SOLD OUT

Well, it happened: I finally sold out…

OF HUSH RONIN #1!

That is correct, the first printing has completely sold out from the publisher on down. Fortunately, we are in talks for a second printing, which will feature a variant cover. Additionally, I am going through the rigamarole of making this first issue available digitally through Comixology. I will, of course, announce those details as they become available.

In short though, I want to thank everyone for making Hush Ronin the success it has been. The critical response I’ve been receiving from and for the book has been overwhelming, as has been the request for autographs (it still feels odd, even fake to sign something with my name and artwork on it, I don’t know).

In other news, Hush Ronin #2 is in full swing, as far as production. My writing partner, Mitch Kopitch, is hard at work turning my vague story ideas into actionable panel descriptions that I am then conveying to the paneled page. And because I cannot help myself, here is a sneak preview page from that issue:

I like to think I’ve improved a bit in the couple months that have passed since completing that first issue. Issue 2 promises to be packed with lots of samurai action, and a deeper dive into the mythos that drives this story. Ultimately, this first arc is propelling our hapless Ronin toward his blind date with fate, and the loss of his most dangerous weapon; his mouth. There’s still a lot more that has to happen along the way though, and I hope, if you’ve enjoyed what you’ve seen so far, that you’ll let me tear your ticket and take you on a ride you won’t soon forget.

Lastly, I’m updating the Hush Ronin section of this page with some fresh pieces, mostly some cover and pinup art I’m developing for a potential anthology of Hush Ronin short stories, including the Ronin’s run ins with kappa, werewolves and even Namazu, the giant earthquaking catfish at the center of the earth. This is going to be a good time, folks, so climb aboard and let Uncle J take you somewhere special!

Yours Sincerely,

J

Gratification & Gratitude

I got my comp copies of Hush Ronin, this week, and almost right away, I found myself humbled by the demand from friends and acquaintances wanting to support my work. I looked at my meager stack of comics and realized, rather proudly, that it would be not be enough. To be completely transparent, I handed over the lion’s share of what I had to SoCal Games & Comics in Temecula, California. Rachel, the proprietor there, had been kind enough to offer sometime back and now, finding that I had an actual physical book to represent my efforts, made good on her promise by letting me display my book alongside all of the other fantastic New Comic Book Day offerings this morning.

I came by about an hour into the business day and took this picture:

At that time, Rachel informed me, three copies had sold to two different customers. One of my cohorts from my day job was responsible for purchasing two of those copies. The other though, I was told, was one of SCGC’s regulars, and on top of spending their hard earned dollars on my book, had asked how they could get my content more regularly. The impact of this inquiry didn’t fully hit me until after I had made my own NCBD purchases and gotten into my car, bound for my secondary day job at Cal State Fullerton. But as I began thinking about it, what it would take to make Hush Ronin a monthly book, I thought of all the hard work, the writing and re-writing, the drawing and re-drawing (the finished comic is easily the fourth distinct version of these events and characters I have perpetrated in the past two and a half years) and I felt a simultaneous mixture of gratitude and despair.

Very recently, I made the decision to take on a Lead Writer to assist in putting the largely sprawling epic of the mouthless Ronin into script form, if only so that I can spend more time drawing. That writer is none other than my dear friend (okay, and brother-in-law), Mitchell Kopitch. Mitchell and I have collaborated extensively in the past, most frequently on YouTube videos like Zombie Slayer and various others.

When you're good at something, it's hard to walk away... Written and directed by and starring Jeremiah Schiek and Mitchell Kopitch. Music by Kevin MacLeod. Special effects and animation by Jeremiah Schiek.

Mitchell is very anxious to get started, and brings a LOT to the table. This past summer, he graduated from the University of Washington with his Masters Degree in Creative Writing. I’m extremely pleased to have him on board. Plus, as you saw, he’s no slouch when it comes to killing shitty, carbon copy NPC zombies.

Issue 2 of the Hush Ronin Saga is slated for July of this year, per Ashcan Comics Pub. If there is any chance it can be sooner than that, those of you reading me here or following me on Twitter will likely be the first to know. If you’re not already following me on Twitter, my handle, as of this writing, is @starshipronin76. You can also follow Mitchell at @MKopitch. We both look forward to bringing you LOTS more Ronin stories, both canonical and apocryphal. Thanks to everyone who has turned out to purchase Hush Ronin #1, either in person or online. There are still a few copies left in the Ashcan Comics Pub storefront. We are currently examining the possibility of a second printing, which may entail a new, variant cover to distinguish it from the first printing. Keep checking back, and stay awesome. Always.

Yours Sequentially,

J. Paul Schiek

Fullerton, California

February 6th, 2019

It's Here...

I had just arrived on campus at Cal State Fullerton today, getting ready for another day of working on comics and teaching young whippersnappers how to draw the nude, human figure (for animation purposes) when I received a text from my publisher, Ashcan Comics Pub, averring how hard Wednesdays seem to be. I responded in the commiserative affirmative; Wednesdays can be hard. Even when there are loads of new comics appearing that day, they can be tough.

And then he sent me this photo:

My first glimpse of Hush Ronin #1 in print.

I think perhaps you have to have made a comic to know what this feels like. I knew already what it felt like to muscle through 12 hours of touch ups and lettering. I knew what it was to format, format again and get the finished pages sent off for print. And I knew what it was to wait, with a solid idea in mind of what it was I was waiting for. But with all of the knowns, none of it—not ANY of it—prepared me for how excited, how gratified I was to see my work in print. Even as just a photo of the work.

Hush Ronin represents a herculean effort not just on my part, but on the part of Nate Lindley, publisher over at Ashcan Comics Pub, on my wife, who listened to me rant about this story from the initial germ of the idea to the sprawling, self sustaining mythology it is rapidly becoming.

I am immensely proud this day. A dream, really, THE Dream, has come true. This is what it feels like to be a published comic book creator.

I like it.

I want more.

J. Paul Schiek

1/30/2019

The Site Is Live!

Well, after years of subconscious conjecture, I've finally gone and created a site to host and connect people to my artwork. There have been a lot of exciting developments this past month, not least of which has been my signing contracts with Stewart Bros Studios, Inc, to provide the artwork for their historical graphic novel, tentatively titled, Tut. Additionally, I have been collaborating with another writer, Michael Derrick, on a couple of projects, one of which I can talk about and one which...Well, I can't right now. But soon!

June 2018 has been all about follow through. In May, I had been working on a new direction for the story and art of my own solo project, Hush Ronin, and sent the resultant pitch pack off to Image Comics for consideration. The general rule of thumb there is that if one has not heard back in a month, to consider the proposal rejected. Well, it had been three weeks and no response, so I rephrased the pitch for another run at AlternaComics just over a week ago. We'll see what happens. In the meantime, some of the pitch is available to view/read here on the site, and there is a strong possibility I will make the first issue available online, either through Tapas or as a direct download. Following the adventures of Jack Irons: Steel Cowboy (more its adventures in the online marketplace than the actual narrative of the piece) has given me both hope and notion to crowdsource Hush Ronin when its hour draws nigh.

Anyway, there's still a little bit of tweaking to do before I can set this thing live. If you're not already, be sure to follow me on Twitter (@hushronin) and Instagram (@schiekapedia). It is a bit easier for me to be more prolific there than here. Thank you very much for stopping by, please check out the site, and stay tuned! There is lots, lots, lots more coming!

Yours Indubitably,

J. Schiek