Skybreaker #3

When shit gets real.

Cover by Drew Zucker and Jack Davies. The third issue, of five, coming at you july 10 from Monkeybrain Comics.

Thoughts on the Hoax Hunters Being Optioned for a Movie

I'm willing to bet most of you have heard this news--Jeff Krelitz, the producer of Peter Panzerfaust and Red Brick Road, has picked up the option on Hoax Hunters with the intent of turning it into a movie. Suffice to say, this is an incredibly exciting development. The news broke last Thursday, and it has been a roller coaster since. Steve and I were slammed at C2E2 this past weekend, doing better business than we ever had at a con, fielding questions (casting, directors, etc), and receiving so many kind words, which we appreciate. It's going to be a fun couple months as this moves forward, and we look forward to sharing news as we get it.

So what does this mean for the book? Well, I can't say for sure, not yet. Hopefully good things. Hopefully great things. Because, as many people know, Hoax Hunters has struggled with sales. There's no getting around that fact. It's been a challenging few months for Steve and I--exhausting and stressful. It hasn't been easy watching the reviews get better and better with each passing issue while sales continue to slide down and down despite our very best efforts. Our backs have been against the wall, we've been pushed to a point where many other creators would've called it quits already and moved on.

But Steve and I are invested in this thing, all the way.

Thankfully, many of you are as well. I can't tell you how much the tweets and messages and facebook shares, the support of retailers and journalists, means to us. Hearing that Hoax Hunters is someone's favorite comic, among the myriad other choices out there, has helped ward off many nights where I'd lie awake, frustrated beyond repair, desperately trying to conjure a way to keep this book going.

The coming arc, which begins in August (we have the second trade in May, the annual in June, then July off--more on why later this week), is some of the best Hoax Hunters story I've written, that Steve and I have crafted. So much of what happens comes to a head, it's emotional, surprising, and really dark. And the ending for this arc, which marks the end of season one, is going to be killer.

Does the movie news validate our struggle? Well, yes and no. It's certainly beyond both Steve's and my dreams that this is even happening. It's incredible, and we are both grateful and aware of how lucky we are. But, ultimately, the book is what matters most. It's what we control; it's the story that we're telling, on our terms; it's where this all started over two years ago, as a small backup in Tim Seeley's (the generous and kind and amazing Tim Seeley) Hack/Slash. We want to keep the series going for a long time, and whatever helps us in doing so is more than we can ask for.

To those who have been with us from the start, thank you. Thank you thank you thank you. We wouldn't have made it this far without you, and I can't wait for you to see what's in store in the coming months. And anyone new to the Hoax Hunters world, welcome. Things are about to get really good.

-MM

C2E2

I’ll be at my hometown con this weekend, seated at table I4. Here’s a little map of where that’s located, as well as where some of my friends are located as well:

I’ll pretty much be there all weekend, save for a couple meetings and a panel on Friday afternoon. That panel, since we’re on the subject, is called “New Frontiers in Digital Comics” and features Josh Elder, Mark Waid, Michael Murphy, and a few other really talented folks. It’ll take place Friday, from 2:45 to 3:45 in room W 476. Here’s a link to the official description.

Drop by the table and say hello! Steve and I will have copies of Hoax Hunters 3-9, prints, the first trade, Mini Comics Included posters (courtesy of the awesome Sean Forney), and those limited edition figures mentioned right here. We’ll also be doing the world’s worst sketches, to the discomfort of us all. Addtionally, I'll have copies of the ReincarNATE trade and a special Skybreaker offer. We also have some announcements in the works so, all in all, a busy weekend.  

Oh, and the first person I see dressed as Murder gets a free Hoax Hunters and ReincarNATE trade!

Aw Yeah!

A little peek at my short that's forthcoming with Aw Yeah Comics--I got to write Daring and Darling Dog!

Jack Davies handled art and colors--absolutely amazing.

C2E2 Pre-Order!

Wow, we've got a lot going on for C2E2--secret announcements! Exclusive figures! Terrible sketches! The fun and surprises refuse to relent.

(Also, I should note, Steve and I share a table at I4, so come by!)

To make things easier, we're setting up a pre-order for our exclusive items, specifically the Murder figures that will make their debut at the show. Yes, debut! Let's start with ManOrMonster?'s amazing creation, a variation of the figure you may have seen during our Mini Comics Included drive (don't worry, those will be ready to ship come August):

SOLD OUT!

SORRY, MANORMONSTER? MURDER SOLD OUT IN THREE HOURS. CONTACT HOAXHUNTERSCOMIC@GMAIL.COM TO INQUIRE ON A WAIT LIST. THERE MAY BE MORE AVAILABLE AT C2E2.

Yeah, amazing, eh? We'll only have FIVE of these figures, so got on the pre-orders--they're going to all be gone by Sunday, without a doubt. They run $65/each and come carded with original header art, painted by Steve:

Next up is yet another awesome Murder figure, this one courtesy of our buddy Josh Crawley. Only TEN will be available at C2E2! Check this out:

This variation runs $15 and comes carded with this header:

Last, but not least, Steve and I will be doing THE WORLD'S WORST SKETCHES! Seriously, they're terrible, but also fun. For just $10, you can get something like this:

Or this:

You name it, Steve and I will combine to bring it to life (sort of). Whatever you want, we'll do it.

We'll also have prints, issues, and trades--in addition to Steve having original paintings and Michael having copies of his graphic novel, ReincarNATE.

Come see us at table I4 in artist alley all weekend. And remember, get those pre-orders in to hoaxhunterscomic@gmail.com.

Thanks!

Oh, also, not going to C2E2? No problem. We'll work something out--just drop us a line.

Skybreaker Reviews

Issue #1 of the revenge Western has been out about two weeks now and has already garnered some excellent reviews.

IGN calls the first issue "great", saying "One issue in and we've already got a rich and violent western world filled with compelling characters and plenty of blood."

Read Comic Books gave issue #1 a 9/10 rating, saying "Skybreaker feels like it could be a Vertigo series, printed on newspaper stock with a sixty issue run. For readers’ sakes, let’s hope there is enough story to carry us there, as Moreci and Zucker have established world from the outset that feels ripe with possibilities."

Comic Bastards raved about the first issue, saying "Seriously this is some of the most impressive narrative and dialog that I’ve read all year," in a 5/5 review.

Pop Culture Hound had some glowing things to say about the book on their podcast.

And Team Hellions gave it an excellent review, saying "Skybreaker is a brilliant presentation born in the American past. An unrelenting, fierce period, that has enemies on all sides, and has taken until now to be represented properly in popular culture. Moreci embraces all that this world has to offer and does so with a brilliant partner at his side in Zucker."

Convinced? Then check out Skybreaker #1 on ComiXology now!