Joe Keatinge's Comics & Stories

HELL YEAH debuts POPGUN 2.0 (kind of)

I really like anthologies.

Way back in the year 2006, Mark Andrew Smith and I started an anthology entitled PopGun, published by Image Comics. It did pretty well over its four volumes, winning such acclaim as the much coveted Eisner Award and even a couple of Harveys. To me, that was all icing on a cake filled with some of the most amazing talent in comics, both new and old. We premiered some of the first full-color Image Comics-published work by folks like Brandon Graham, James Stokoe, Angie Wang, Frank Stockton, Alexis Ziritt, JM Ken Niimura, Jim Zubkavich among others as well as featured stories and covers by some of comics best veteran creators like Erik Larsen, Michael Allred, Paul Pope, Rick Remender, Andy Kuhn, Jeffrey Brown and many, many more. At this point it’s on an extended, indefinite (possibly infinite) sabbatical. Everyone involved in our editorial team have gone our separate ways creatively, for the time being.

I got into comics to write, but as I came up through the ranks I got a big bug for other things. Working at Image Comics, I got exposed to a huge amount of amazing new talent. PopGun was born out of wanting to give this talent a place to start. From there, editing and project management became something of an itch I loved to scratch.

As my focused shifted to writing, the opportunities to edit were offered, but I wasn’t able to pursue all of them. Furthermore, the opportunity to anthologize newer talent or established talent wishing for a place to experiment wasn’t there as much. I saw places like Dark Horse Presents cropping up as good alternatives, but even still, it was something I really, really enjoyed.

So, I’ve decided to do something about it.

Beginning in Hell Yeah #3, I’m starting a sort-of POPGUN 2.0. Not officially on in name, but we’re going to start anthologizing comics by creators I’m really excited about, much in the vein of POPGUN. This is an invite-only series of creator-owned shorts by cartoonists, artists and writers I think either are or will someday be a way big deal. I’ve been lucky to have a good amount of success in comics, in good part because of help I’ve had along the way, and I think it’s really, really important and essential to pay that forward.

First up:

To kick things off, we’re running a three-part serial illustrated by one of my favorite artists (and people in general), David Hahn, written by a new collective of writers coming out of Arizona, The Three One Five, entitled Baby Girl. It’s a pretty sweet bit of action comics I first came across at Emerald City Comic Con last year. I’m really stoked to debut it in Hell Yeah.

Baby Girl will run in Hell Yeah #3-5. Here’s a short preview:

In addition, beginning in issue #4, I’m also running one-page strips of my favorite new comic:

Yeah, that’s right. TIGER LAWYER. It’s a comic book about a tiger who is a lawyer. I was sold at the concept alone. Oh, also, he talks.

I got to read the comic and was really impressed by how unique, hilarious and interesting it was. Good times. I immediately asked writer Ryan Ferrier if he was cool with doing one-pagers. I was very happy when he said yes. 

That’s just the beginning. Starting in issue #6, I’m going to be serializing something by a writer I am very, very, very excited about. I hope you will be too.

Here’s to The Future! I’m excited!

STUFF I WROTE: July 2012

Somebody call your mama! Solicitations for comics I wrote are here once again!

FIRST UP…!

GLORY #28
story JOE KEATINGE
art / cover ROSS CAMPBELL
JULY 18
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$2.99
“DESTROYER,” Part Three
Mont St Michel is on the brink of annihilation. Riley Barnes is in the hands of the enemy. Gloria West is on the verge of death. All of it’s Glory’s fault and only her friends can stop her. All this plus the face smashing introduction to the newest, most deadliest member of the Extreme universe!

—-

This issue is fucking nuts. For real, y’all, this issue gets intense as of page one, panel one and doesn’t let up, ending in three pages of the craziest ultra-violence this book has ever seen. Plus, y’know, character development and everything. This ends our second arc on the book, which really, really lives up to its title of “DESTROYER.”

AND THEN…!

HELL YEAH #5
story JOE KEATINGE
art / cover ANDRE SZYMANOWICZ
JULY 6
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$2.99
“LAST DAY ON EARTHS,” Conclusion
Benjamin Day lays dying as HELL YEAH’s first storyline comes to its bloody end! Secrets blowing out of issue one, page one finally come full circle as the truth behind who Ben really is, who’s trying to kill him and what this book is actually about all come to a head. This is creator-owned, so when we say nothing will ever be the same again, we’re not screwing around!

—-

This issue? Also nuts. This issue? Also the end of the arc, albeit HELL YEAH’s first, thus ending the worst day in Benjamin Day’s life and getting the table set for our next arc, which takes things in a way different direction. 

THATS IT. NO MORE COMICS.

JMFK @ ECCC 2012!!!

FINALLY! THE MOST ANTICIPATED EVENT OF THE YEAR IS HERE!

BOTH EMERALD CITY COMIC CON 2012 AND WRESTLEMANIA XXVIII ARE THE SAME EXACT WEEKEND! GUESS WHICH ONE I’M GOING TO!

That’s right, despite the fact that The Greatest Human Being Of Our Time is facing off against John Cena, I’m going to one of my absolute favorite comic book conventions, Emerald City Comic Con. As you can see from the above map, I’m sharing Artist’s Alley table C-06 with Emi Lenox, the cartoonist behind Emitown. Near us will be some of our favorite folks, like Brandon Graham, Joe Eisma, Michael & Laura Allred, Erik Larsen, Chris Giarrusso and many, many more.

As usual, I’ll be hanging with this banner:

I’ll have a number of books for sale, including very rare first prints of GLORY #23, #24 and HELL YEAH #1. I even have a select few of the GLORY #23 convention exclusive sketch cover and CBLDF variant as well as the HELL YEAH #1 retailer variant.

The huge rarity is I have a very, very, very small stash of misprinted HELL YEAH ashcans. A small amount of the HELL YEAH ashcans were misprinted with two pages swapped, but it doesn’t affect the exclusive, never-to-be-reprinted epilogue.

Here’s the full price list:

GLORY #23 & 24

first printings + exclusive variants

personalized $5 — non-personalized $10

second printings

personalized $3 — non-personalized $5

 

HELL YEAH #1

first printing + retailer variant

personalized $5 — non-personalized $10

second printing

personalized $3 — non-personalized $5

misprinted ashcan

personalized $5 — non-personalized $10

 

ANNOYING EMI BY TALKING ABOUT WRESTLEMANIA

FREE!!!

Lets be real here, annoying Emi with Wrestlemania talk should be listed as ‘priceless.’

Anyway, I’m also on a couple of panels on Saturday, March 31st. 

Image Comics - 20 Years of Creator-Owned Independence

Room: 4C3-4 @ 12 PM

Some of the most exciting rising stars in comics today and established creators alike will be coming together to talk about the past, present, and future of Image Comics. Join Ed Brubaker (Fatale), Joe Casey (Butcher Baker, Officer Downe, Haunt), Brandon Graham (King City, Prophet), Joe Keatinge (Glory, Hell Yeah), Emi Lenox (Emitown), Nathan Edmondson (Who Is Jake Ellis?, The Activity, Dancer), and Natalie Nourigat (Between Gears) to experience this lively conversation and be among the first to hear some big announcements! 

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!

Writers Unite! Pitching Your Creator-Owned Comics
Room: 201 @ 3:00

Creator-owned comics have grabbed the imagination of the comic-reading community all over again and publishers are looking for fresh ideas from a new generation of talent. Listen closely as independent comic creators discuss pitching their hit comic series and offer advice on how to climb to the top of the treacherous submission mountain.

Featuring Jim Zub (Skullkickers), Ray Fawkes (Possessions, Mnemovore, One Soul), Joe Keatinge (Glory, Hell Yeah!),Charles Soule (27, Strongman) and Kurtis Wiebe (Peter Panzerfaust, The Intrepids, Green Wake)

BUT WAIT, THERE’S NO MORE!

KHEPRINGE

We’re living in a good era of comic book stores. There are a number of them within Portland, Diamond Comics has a locator, Comic Book Resources has another, plus there’s a whole list of folks here and here. I do encourage you to find a local comic shop. They’re pretty sweet places to go and you can usually find a number of comics you may never have known about suggested by people who are very passionate about the medium.

That being said, I have also been contacted by a number of folks without a comic shop near them, who were hoping to preorder upcoming issues of Hell Yeah and Glory or order ones they may have missed. 

I discussed this situation with my buddy Brian at Khepri Comics and Khepri’s now my official shop for anyone without a comic shop. At Khepri you can preorder comics like the already infamous ‘500 Years Later. Mars.’ issue of GLORY or the 2nd printing of the super sold out HELL YEAH #1 at a discount. He’s also keeping a good stock on what’s come before, so you can grab copies of GLORY #23, #24 and even some remaining HELL YEAH #1 first printings. These will all be mailed to your door. It’s a pretty sweet deal.

Huge thanks to Brian and Khepri for partnering up with me here. I’ve known the dude for a long time and I’m thrilled to have them be home to my online sales. CHECK ‘EM OUT.

Stuff I Wrote: JUNE 2012

The wait is over! June 2012 solicits are here! Celebrate my 30th birthday in style by reading these two fine funnybooks.

FIRST:

KRIS ANKA IN THE HOUSE, Y’ALL. Is that one sweet cover or what? Dude killed it.

GLORY #27
story JOE KEATINGE
art ROSS CAMPBELL
cover KRIS ANKA
JUNE 20
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$2.99
“DESTROYER,” Part Two
Glory’s home in Mont St. Michel is under siege. Her allies are not prepared. Not everyone survives.

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!

Having already written this issue, I can confirm it’s one huge, bloody mess. Swords fly. More heads blow up. Ben finds out a big secret I hinted at in issue one. 

Shit gets real. 

HELL YEAH #4
story JOE KEATINGE
art & cover ANDRE SZYMANOWICZ
JUNE 6
32 PAGES / FC / T+
$2.99
“LAST DAY ON EARTHS,” Part Four
The penultimate chapter of HELL YEAH’s first storyline brings an unexpected enemy set on destroying Benjamin Day once and for all. She’s not alone.

MILLAR APPROVED

Mark Millar is a name familiar to just about every single person in comics. He first came onto the mainstream scene in an amazing run on Superman Adventures, but then exploded to stardom in no time once he teamed up with artist Frank Quietly on a hugely acclaimed run on Wildstorm’s The Authority. From there he hit his career with one hit after another including Superman: Red Son and the super-hero game changer (as well as basis for the upcoming Avengers film), The Ultimates with Bryan Hitch.

From there there was no slowing down. The hits kept coming with Ultimate Fantastic Four, Marvel Knights Spider-Man (which featured a run with BRUTAL co-creator Frank Cho), Marvel 1985, Wolverine: Old Man Logan and the blockbuster mega-crossover, Civil War.

He’s used this success to launch a number of massive creator owned titles under his MIllarworld umbrella, including Kick-Ass, Wanted,  The Secret Service, Supercrooks Superior, Nemesis, American Jesus,  War Heroes and the upcoming Jupiter’s Children, reuniting him after far too long with his Authority collaborator, Frank Quitely.

Today? He’s read HELL YEAH and GLORY.

And he loves ‘em.

“With Hell Yeah and Glory, Joe Keatinge has established himself as the latest new writer I want to undermine and destroy. It’s just top class stuff.”

HELL YEAH LOS ANGELES RELEASE PARTY!

I was born in Los Angeles. Spent a lot of time in both the Pasadena and Valley areas in that time. My love of comics came from a variety of shops, especially Superior Comics, Hi-De-Ho Comics, Cool City Comics, Wow Comics, Legend, Golden Apple, Comic Odyssey and countless others. I left ten years ago to do the whole ‘find my place in the world’ thing people that age tend to do.

This Wednesday, I’m back.

These are the “both stores” of the Collector’s Paradise empire, with a day time signing in Canoga Park and an 18-and-over night time release party featuring free beer (!!!) in Pasadena. If you’re on the Facebook, you can RSVP for it right here.

I’ve been a friend of Collector’s Paradise for quite a while, so to come down for the release party of a book first inspired by those LA area comic shops with one my careers already been tied with seems very appropriate.

Even more so that they have the west coast exclusive for this sweet HELL YEAH #1 variant.

I’m told they’ll also have a bunch of (now out of print) first printings of GLORY #23 as well as a very limited amount of those extremely rare HELL YEAH #1 ashcans.

LOOK OUT!