ISSUE 241: MESSENGERS OF MAYHEM
If this doesn’t get your blood pumping straight away, nothing will.
This is, of course, the video for “Chainsaw Witch” by A Sound of Thunder. The song, I think, kicks much ass, and it is inspired by DEATH DUEL WITH THE CHAINSAW WITCHES, which is part of CULLEN BUNN’S TRIPLE THREAT OF TERROR.
The campaign is going strong, but we could definitely use your support to make it a reality! We have reward tiers for almost every budget and reading proclivity!
The past week was crazy busy for me… but crazy busy in a way that means I didn’t get any work done.
After returning from Cowtown Comicon in Fort Worth, my exhaustion levels were pretty high. We had some car trouble, so I had to get the vehicle to the shop. The cost of those repairs are going to be shockingly high, so… yay? Then, we hit up a Halloween trivia night, which was a lot of fun. On Halloween day itself, Cindy and I voted, then ran errands and enjoyed our traditional lunch at the Mexican joint. That night, we passed out candy and drank ciders and Fireball. Somewhere between all this, I took numerous meetings and phone calls, worked on some catch-up work, tackled some edits, and scraped a few words together.
I heard from a few people that I “sound like I’m feeling better” which is true. I DO feel a little better than I have in recent months years. I just thought I was doing a better job of tamping my feelings down deep inside and quietly waiting for a heart attack to take me out keeping my feelings to myself.
Thank Leviathan I’m better at hiding corpses.
I know a lot of folks think I’m a curmudgeon. Others think I’m depressed and broken. Others think I’m a pushover who can be grape-smashed into the wine barrel of life. Others think I’m a quick-to-anger monster surrounded by eggshells.
The truth is, I’m all of those things, sometimes one at a time, sometimes all at once.
But, as so many have pointed out, I’m feeling better.
In part, I’m feeling better because I’m feeling stability I haven’t felt in a long time. In part, it’s because I see a lot of awesome potential looming in the future. I mentioned that last newsletter. I also feel better because there are things I can do for myself that will make life even better for me and mine.
These changes won’t be easy, but I think I have the support system I need.
First up, I’ve gotta take my health a little more seriously. I mean, I’m not getting younger. In the past, I’ve done well for a month at a time, then derail. But I need to stick to it. I’m gonna get back to exercising and moving more. More importantly. I’ve gotta redefine my relationship with food. I have come to realize that I eat to punish myself… and I punish myself a lot. I’ll eat until I’m in physical pain, then say to myself, “You know what? I can handle one more Big Mac.” I see it. Now, I need to do something about it.
Second, I’m going to stop brooding over the folks who have wronged me in the past. This one might be tougher than the eating. I’ve taken a lot of slights (small and large) to heart over the years. They’ve burrowed in like rot grubs. But I need to move on. I will not necessarily forgive. I definitely won’t forget. But I’m going to make a real effort to scrape it off and tweezer the rot grubs out.
A caveat though:
I refuse—absolutely refuse—to suffer fools.
Not in my professional life, not in my personal life.
And, dear God, I’ve encountered quite a few of late.
I am not the aforementioned monster.
For fools, though, I will spread those eggshells out like a carpet of rose petals leading to paradise.
Walk very delicately.
(To which Cindy is thinking that I have never once spread rose petals in a path leading to paradise.)
Third… and this one is the toughest of all… I’m gonna forgive myself for all the many, many mistakes I’ve made over the years. I need to remind myself that… you know who else makes mistakes? EVERYONE! So, I’m gonna try to cut myself a little more slack.
There it is, then: the first three pillars of Self Improvement Fest 2025! There are a couple of more items I need to add to the list. But it’s early. Too early? Not for me. After all, I need a little more time than others to build up speed.
This Wednesday is another Whiskey and Words event! If you are in the Springfield, Missouri area, you should come on by and join us! It’s always a good time! The event is from 7 - 10 at Best of Luck Beer Hall, downtown Springfield!
CYBERPUNK OMNIBUS Hardcover
A collection of over 300 pages of blood, flesh, and steel cyberpunk action!
In Trauma Team, the sole surviving member of a trauma team squad goes back into the field only to face her living nightmare once again. In You Have My Word, a family is torn apart, forcing a grandmother to return to a life she left behind to seek revenge. And in Blackout, a braindance technician fights his inner demons while planning the perfect heist.
Collects Cyberpunk 2077: Trauma Team #1–#4, Cyberpunk 2077: You Have My Word#1–#4, and Cyberpunk 2077: Blackout #1–#4, and features a cover gallery and expanded sketchbook section!
This is a really pretty edition. Writing my “Trauma Team” series, I knew I was doing something that was action-packed and fun, but I was also trying to say something without being too heavy-handed. This is one of those books that I get a lot of great comments and feedback on. I’m glad it has spoken to readers the way it has!
MAGIC BOOK TWO DELUXE EDITION
The second book collecting the entire Magic: The Gathering storyline–the main series and additional stand alone stories!
The great mind mage Jace Beleren has been reunited with his friend and fellow Planeswalker Chandra Nalaar and her companions. Jace, Chandra, Garruk Wildspeaker, Niko Aris and many more Planeswalkers must break into Ravnica to defeat the metal mage Tezzeret, who has usurped the Guildpact Chair of the city-world Ravnica, before he can cast the Elderspell and become a god! And in the aftermath, Isona Maive, the unwilling tool of Tezzeret with powers like a prism for magic, will form an unholy alliance with the mysterious Planeswalker Aminatou and the notorious Elder Dragon, Nicol Bolas. But Bolas will be partner to no one. The final battle against Bolas will push the fellowship of Planeswalkers, and their powers, to the limits of magic and beyond. Based on the global sensation Magic: The Gathering card game, this is the second of two volumes collecting the entirety of BOOM! Studios Magic comics--the longest continuous run of Magic comics stories ever–plus extras in a premium hardcover format for collectors and super fans. Includes the explosive conclusion to the main series by writers Jed MacKay (Moon Knight, Avengers) and Rich Douek (Wastelanders: Star-Lord, Drive Like Hell) and a world-class team of artists, as well as standalone stories by New York Times bestselling and Alex, Nebula, and Hugo-Award-winning writer Seanan McGuire and many more! Also collects for the first time MAGIC PLANESWALKERS: NOBLE and NOTORIOUS team-up specials with stories by Cullen Bunn, Stephanie Williams, and more. Collects Magic #13-25; Magic: Ajani Goldmane; Magic: Nahiri the Lithomancer; Magic Planeswalkers: Noble; Magic Planeswalkers: Notorious.
It’s me. Hi. I’m the afterthought. It’s me. I’m KIDDING! I’m KIDDING! I just got my copy of this book, and it is gorgeous! In the grand scheme of things, I only wrote 15 pages of this mammoth collection. I’m pretty proud of the story, though.
Here are some other comics, books, games, Kickstarters, and more for you to peruse.
STARVED ROCK #1
When a group of hunters accidentally kill a famed local deer, an ancient deity is awakened, and the only way to survive is to venture deeper into the forest.
I’m a huge fan of John Avina’s work… and his creativity and passion and drive in general. You owe it to yourself to check out some of his books if you haven’t already
A visual representation of some of the things that I’ve been geeking out over of late.
THE SHOCK SHOP - My online store, where you can find exclusive covers you can only get directly from me!
PATREON - Here, I post a serialized novel, a serialized comic book, short stories, and other cool materials.
THE CULLEN BUNN DISCORD SERVER - A place for fans to hang out and talk about comics, books, movies, games, collecting, and whatever else strikes their fancy.
MY AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE - Listen. You should always shop at your local comic and bookstore first, but if they don’t carry the books you want, you might be able to get them here. And, if nothing else, leave some reviews of the books you love!