This Old House
Posted on November 18, 2009 - Filed Under Comics, The Tooth
What’s a good old-fashioned action/horror yarn without a haunted house? In these panels from The Tooth, we see Matt Kindt’s take on the home of Ezekiel Stone, estranged grandfather to Graham (pictured below with his fiancé, Beatrice). When old Zeke passes away, leaving all his worldly possessions to Graham, a terrifying, monster-filled adventure begins. As you can see, Graham doesn’t have a clue as to the strangeness that awaits him!
A Host of Hell-Bent Hombres
Posted on November 17, 2009 - Filed Under 6th Gun, Comics
Every good hero needs a great villain. For The 6th Gun (upcoming from Oni Press), I decided our hero needed not one but six dastardly foes to contend with. Here we have five of the vile varmints who’ll be raising Hell in the pages of the supernatural western (as only Brian Hurtt can depict them).
Never has a more fiendish posse blazed a trail across the Old West … and these cutthroats aren’t even the worst of the bunch!
(From left to right) “Bloodthirsty” Bill Sumter, Will Arcene, ”Filthy” Bill Kinney, Silas “Bitter Ridge” Hedgepeth, and Missy Hume.
In my 39 years, I …
Posted on November 14, 2009 - Filed Under Distractions, Slave to Nostalgia
- Completed the lengthy process to adopt our son, Jackson. He joined our family in September of this year.
- Had the distinct pleasure of collaborating with Brian Hurtt, Shawn Lee, Matt Kindt, and Jared Souza on a number of comic book projects.
- Wrote my first Marvel comic book, Immortal Weapons #2: Bride of Nine Spiders.
- Have had the pleasure of working with Marvel Comics, WildStorm, EvilEye Books, and Oni Press on a number of projects.
- Wrote the greatest horror comic script of all time–The Hollows–and had to come to grips with the notion that it will likely never be published.
- Worked with Universal Studios and Sony on a couple of film projects.
- Published The Damned: Three Days Dead and The Damned: Prodigal Sons with Oni Press.
- Have been obsessed with (at various times) Star Wars, Matchbox cars, Micronauts, Shogun Warriors, comic books, Dungeons & Dragons, professional wrestling, military surplus, paintball, G. I. Joe, Red Dawn, and Godzilla.
- Performed as “the world’s youngest hypnotist.” My signature trick? Having subjects attempt to smoke carrots. Hilarity!
- Wrote and illustrated 9 issues of X-Laser Knights Comics when I was in fifth grade. I no longer have copies of those comics around, but — trust me — they rocked. The X-Laser Knights (starring me) fought aliens and robots and “grogs” and medusa. That’s right. Medusa.
- Wrote and illustrated Fatman and Captain Cosmo comics when I was in eighth grade. I still have a couple of copies of those around.
- Almost ground my left hand to a stump on a machine shop jointer. As far as scars go, it’s not the only one I have, but it’s the worst. To this day I’m terrified of power tools.
- Amassed (and then sold) a HUGE comic collection, including every issue ofUncanny X-Men, Amazing Fantasy #15, and Spiderman #1 (God, I miss that collection).
- Have lived in houses ranging from mansions to hovels (with a house in Koshkonong, Missouri sporting a fair market value of around $5,000).
- Was attacked by a cougar at age 18. You might wonder who won the fight. It was a draw.
- Met some great friends over the years. I’ve lost more than I probably should have. Some I miss terribly.
- Wanted to be a firefighter, DEA agent, comic book writer and artist, Navy pilot, used bookstore owner, photojournalist, private investigator, special effects make-up artist, game designer, and teacher. I also wanted to drive around the country in a Winnebago and fight crime.
- Held jobs including door-to-door sales, short order cook, retail clerk, and sports section editor.
- Was named Vice President of Marketing with my current employer.
- Learned to make the world’s greatest margarita … not from a recipe, but from instinct.
- Earned my degree in Creative Writing from Missouri State University.
- Founded Undaunted Press and published more than 25 micro-press titles, including the magazine Whispers from the Shattered Forum (which I edited).
- Entered and won the World Horror Convention Gross-Out Contest four times. Favorite first sentence: “When she started puking, I didn’t know if I should fetch a bucket or keep frenching her.”
- Published around 40 short stories, mostly in small press magazines. My favorite, by far, is “Remains,” published in Like a Chinese Tattoo.
- Wrote articles for Fangoria and White Wolf.
- Wrote a middle reader horror novel entitled Crooked Hills.
- Had The Damned optioned by Dreamworks.
- Married Cindy, who offers me more love and support than I could have ever hoped for.
- Can hardly believe 39 years have gone by in the blink of an eye.
Tooth Tuesday 11-3
Posted on November 3, 2009 - Filed Under Comics, The Tooth
Here’s a little more concept art for The Tooth! The look of the title creature went through a number of changes. In some of the earlier images, the Tooth had a very human-looking face. The monster’s propensity for ripping into people has been ever-present, though.
Related Posts:
RIP Brian Keene – The Bare Facts
Posted on November 2, 2009 - Filed Under Distractions, Other Amazing Talents
It’s Kill Brian Keene on Your Blog Day, and I thought I’d join in the fun, even though I have about 2 minutes to dedicate to this worthwhile endeavor. Among other things, Keene’s death benefits the Shirley Jackson Awards. Check out all the entries on Brian’s blog, and if you like these little stories, please consider a donation.
The Sad Facts Surrounding Keene’s Undoing
Flash Fiction by Cullen Bunn
For once, Brian’s tall tales about fighting ninjas and bigfoots and Russian-professional-wrestlers-turned-male-strippers proved true.
The End.
Tooth Tuesday!
Posted on October 27, 2009 - Filed Under Comics, The Tooth
The idea for The Tooth came to me while driving back home from Wizard World Chicago five years ago. I wanted to do a story that hearkened back to the monster-as-hero comics of the 70s, but I wanted to make sure it was unique enough to stand on its own with today’s readers.
I shared the concept with my pals, Shawn Lee and Brian Hurtt (since they were stuck in the car with me and had no choice but to listen to my ranting). The initial reaction was something akin to “That may be the stupidest thing we’ve ever heard!”
I knew I was onto something!
The original concept evolved over time. Shawn joined me in writing this horror epic, and once we started sharing our brand of storytelling and a few scripted scenes, even our most die-hard critics started to get it. Once Matt Kindt signed on to bring the story to life through his amazing artwork, there was not a naysayer to be found among my friends and colleagues.
(Seriously, there were naysayers, but they can’t be found. Shawn, Matt, and I are the only people who know where the bodies are buried.)
Even after all this time, the comic has remained true to the original idea that popped into my head on that long drive from Chicago to St. Louis, and I can hardly wait to share it with you.
Above, we have some early concept art Matt put together featuring the Tooth.
Stay tuned. There’s more to come!
Related Posts:
Happy Halloween 2009 – New Short Fiction
Posted on October 24, 2009 - Filed Under Distractions, Writing
Happy Halloween, everybody! Here’s another tale featuring that sweet Mrs. Friedly. I’ve also included links to previously posted Mrs. Friedly stories. Enjoy!
Gone Fishin’
By Cullen Bunn
“Another year,” Mrs. Friedly piped, “another Halloween Festival!”
The Elk Ridge Community Center was decorated with paper jack o’lanterns, dancing skeletons, and dozens of orange and black streamers. Children in costume—goblins and witches, vampires and ghouls, princesses and ninjas—scurried around the large chamber, and their laughter and squeals formed a constant din.
Mrs. Friedly clucked her tongue as she watched the children. Maybe she was old-fashioned, but some of the costumes just didn’t seem very… Halloweeny… to her. Ghouls and ghosts and monsters—those were fine. But the princesses and cowboys and monkeys just didn’t seem to fit the spirit of the occasion. Halloween, as the elderly woman saw it, was supposed to be a spooky night.
What on earth, she thought, is a ninja anyway?
The festivities were in full swing. Music swelled as a group of older children (and more than a few parents) took part in a cake walk. Screams and giggles rose from the make-shift haunted house the local Industrial Arts club was putting on behind the curtain on the auditorium stage. Groups of kids were playing Pass the Pumpkin and Candy Corn Catch. All around the perimeter of the massive chamber were small booths featuring all sorts of attractions and games. Fortune tellers, face painting, apple bobbing—there was something for everyone. There was even a kissing booth, sponsored by the Elk Ridge High School cheerleaders, and the line of teenage boys waiting for a smooch was impressive.
A pudgy little boy approached Mrs. Friedly’s booth.
“What’s this all about?” he asked.
Mrs. Friedly looked the boy over in disappointment. His only attempt to get into the spirit of Halloween was to wear a t-shirt that read, “This IS my costume!” Still, she forced a sweet smile.
“This is the fish pond.” She motioned to the curtain wall behind her. The curtain was decorated with dozens of swimming fish, many with sharp, fearsome-looking teeth. “You cast a line over the curtain and fish for a prize.”
“What kind of prize?”
Mrs. Friedly eyed the boys round belly and smiled. “Usually something good to eat!”
“I’ll give it a try,” the boy said.
Mrs. Friedly giggled happily. “Oh, goody!”
The boy looked around the booth. His brow furrowed. “Where are the fishing poles?”
Just then, he noticed something large moving behind the curtain. It was the shape and size of a gorilla, but the head was misshapen and covered in what might have been wriggling snakes. The grotesque figure made awful grunting sounds as it approached.
“W-what’s that?” the boy asked.
He had his answer soon enough. The shadowy figure moved behind the curtain. A fishing line dropped down next to Mrs. Friedly. At the end of the line was a large, rusty hook. Mrs. Friedly grabbed the hook. Without a second’s hesitation, she flicked her wrist and drove the hook through the flesh of the boy’s mouth.
The boy screeched and trembled, pulled at the hook and flailed.
Mrs. Friedly looked around. No one else seemed to notice.
The elderly woman gave the fishing line two quick tugs. The line was quickly retracted, and the little boy was hoisted up. He vanished over the top of the curtain. The last Mrs. Friedly saw of him was his kicking legs flopping over the edge.
Mrs. Friedly smiled and hummed to herself as she waited for her next customer. Within a few minutes, she saw a princess walking her way, and she felt a little rush of Halloween excitement.
End
For other Halloween stories featuring Mrs. Friedly, check out…
Tooth and Consequences
Posted on October 21, 2009 - Filed Under Comics, The Tooth
A sneak peek at the shape of things to come …
Face front, horror hounds! Coming soon from Oni Press! The greatest of ghoulish gladiators gouges a gruesome gangway through your guts in the Grand Guignol tradition! The team of (Creepy) Cullen Bunn, (Sinister) Shawn Lee, and (Murderous) Matt Kindt brings you the most spectacular of the horror heroes—The Tooth! Be the first kid on your block to follow the off-beat adventures of the incredible incisor … the monstrous molar … the courageous carnassial … as he squares off against vicious demons, hell-bent sorcerers, vengeful spirits, and undead dragons! This new macabre myth cycle springs to life soon, only as Oni Press can bring it to you!
Stay tuned for updates and special previews of this new comic book project!
Ending One 2nd @ a Time
Posted on October 6, 2009 - Filed Under Distractions
For a little while now, I’ve been posting to a Tumblr blog. It’s a quick and easy way for me to spotlight the comics, books, toys, games, movies, and other nonsense that has consumed hours of my life like some sort of hungry Nostalgia Vampire. Want to know about my favorite G. I. Joe action figure? Want to read a few of my favorite quotes from movies or books? Want to know which issue of Famous Monsters gave me goosebumps while I was fishing creekside? Check out Ending One 2nd @ a Time.
Immortal Weapon #2 Reviews
Posted on September 4, 2009 - Filed Under Comics, Reviews
Here are a couple of reviews of Immortal Weapons #2 I thought I’d point you to. The book is on the shelves now. You do not have to follow Iron Fist to enjoy the story. I did my best to make spin a J-horror meets martial arts yarn that a first time reader could quickly jump into.
The Secret of Wednesday’s Haul
“… This may tie into stuff that was happening in the regular series but the story reminded me of some great horror/suspense comics from the 70s, where a lot of the story was about mood and plot ….”
“… The cover was done by a different artist and jumps. If you scanned a shelf with 150 new comic titles, this is the one that would visually capture your eye. And then the insides would capture your mind ….”
keep looking »