Thank you for reading Episode 1 of Sun Wielder! A new episode will be released every Wednesday, so be sure to subscribe so that you’ll be notified with each new installment. See ya next week!

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PART ONE

THE BOY WHO DREAMED OF THE STARS

One thousand years ago, there was only Earth and the Seven Planets.

Now, in the year 4224, the planets discovered are countless, as are the undiscovered.

Welcome to Titareon.

The life of a Sun Wielder is chaotic, stressful, and outright life-threatening. So, why would a young lad like the bright-eyed Seb Verso want to become a member of the galactic hero group known as the Sun Wielders? Before we get to the question of the hour, allow me to introduce myself.

I am Gregorious Alto, lifetime historian of the immense Titareon Galaxy, the name given to the former Milky Way Galaxy after the Planetary Influx, or Plan-X for short. I am also quite the chef. Fried Warsch pickles are my specialty. My mother was a top line cook during the War of Thondra. The eight year long conflict gave Mother many days and nights of food experimentation, which she passed down to me. Soured bread topped with three golden layers of land-hawk egg, cheesy rice cakes alongside a mountain of honey ham, sweet cherry and gaspberry salad. Mother’s creativity was second to none, even during such a tumultuous time in Titareon’s history. It was the sign of a true artist.

The War of Thondra ended in the year 4194 after the 32nd class of Sun Wielders outlasted Admiral Davy’s final stand. The Sun Wielders attempted to peacefully end the conflict a quarter-year earlier, but Davy was persistent, just as you would expect from a radical ex-ballistics lead who had experienced the worst of humanity only to snap and create his own brand of violent extremists. I’d go as far as saying that I understood his cause, but I could never agree with the Admiral’s effect. Thondra was a beautiful planet ripe with lush vegetation and quaint cities that basked in the compliments of their masterful painters. After the war, Mother and I left the war-torn planet and moved to Earth, Helium City, the birth place of the boy who dreamed of the stars - Sebastian Hector Verso.

On Earth, my employer is Fairiff Star Way, a floating temple hosted by Luna-12. Fairiff is the galaxy’s leading historical archival unit, and I am assigned to the significant persons division. We specialize in chronicling the lives of those that impact our great galaxy in, well, historic fashion. The Quantum Academy has contacted the Head of Temple at Fairiff, Jericho Soulsapper, a Klondian with long hair and rocky skin, and indicated that they see great promise in Sebastian Verso, promise that reaches as high as Sun Wielder level.

And this brings me to this journal, reader. I have been tasked with following Sebastian and detailing the promising boy’s life, as well as giving you insight into the people and worlds that our hero encounters. Also, how about a quick anecdote here and there, eh? You don’t reach a senior level position at Fairiff by being a mouse!

Seb Verso is a quiet boy. He wanders around Helium City with his widowed mother, Claris, who wants only to protect her son from the horrors of a big city.

Seb also has a large appetite for adventure. He understands that Titareon is a massive galaxy full of wonders that he will never experience under the watchful eyes of his mother.

The grandest wonder on Seb’s list of must-have adventures is, of course, the star-powered trading card competion and training grounds for hopeful Sun Wielders, Quantum Cards.

This is where his journey begins.

Next: The Star-Crossed World

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The HCS crew had a great time hanging out and selling comics. We chatted with a bunch of folks about comics, creativity, and how the Houston heat makes it impossible to do anything outdoors for about a third of the year. Check out the Houston Comics Scene Instagram if you want to keep up with our shenanigans.

A New Pathway to the Stars

The heart of this month’s newsletter will center around a change in direction for my graphic novel Sun Wielder: The Card Warrior. If you read my last newsletter, you saw that I announced the upcoming Kickstarter for the new project and launched the pre-campaign sign-up page. For the last 4-6 weeks, driving people to sign up for the campaign has been extremely difficult, and quite frankly, any promotion that I have done to drive business (even paid efforts) has been dead. I’m not sure if it’s my tactics, the continually overhauled algorithms, or a mix of both, but nothing is working right now. This is a major red flag for the success of a campaign. Instead of continuing to try to walk into a glass door, I need to change my process. That’s the beauty of doing self-published projects.

I feel like I need to publicly build this world more for readers and fans. So, that’s what I’m going to do. I will begin serializing Sun Wielder right here on Substack next month, all at no cost. I will also accompany my serialization of the comic with more in depth introductions to the world of Sun Wielder, narrated by galaxy historian Gregorious Alto. Look out for The Chronicles of Titareon.

As an independent creator, the ability to be nimble is crucial. An eventual Kickstarter for the physical book is still not out of the question, but Sun Wielder needs more time to breathe and build. Stay tuned for Sun Wielder as a webcomic beginning September 2nd, with new episodes every Wednesday!

Out of Office

My wife and I will be going on our belated honeymoon for the first two weeks of September. The good news is that I will be able to schedule posting the Sun Wielder webcomic ahead of time.

We can’t wait to head out to Italy, and I’ve got my travel art kit all picked out. It’s funny how this was the first thing for my luggage that I organized (who needs clothes?!). I’m going to make time to sketch the beautiful scenery when we’re out there for two weeks.

What I’m Reading

I have been reading Barry Eisler’s John Rain series for over a decade now. John Rain isn’t just your typical assassin for hire. His specialty is making his jobs look like accidental deaths. The action and character building is top notch, but my favorite part of Eisler’s writing is his spy crafting ability. There is so much in his writing that makes you think, wow, alot of these tactics can be implemented into real life. One example that Eisler describes in The Killer Collective is that predators typically strike on rainy days because there are less potential witnesses out in the city. It sounds obvious, but it’s something that I’ve never thought about, and it totally makes sense. It’s a useful note when thinking about self-defense. Not only can his spy crafting be helpful, but it’s also just damn cool. I’m reading The Killer Collective now, a book that I missed out on when it came out in 2019, but I suggest starting with the first Rain adventure, A Clean Kill in Tokyo.

Dororo has been an eye-opening dive into classic manga. I can’t stop gawking at the cartoony artwork of Osamu Tezuka. Even though his figures are completely shape based, there is still tons of energy in his lines. Most people who know me in the comics world know of my love for Stan Sakai and Usagi Yojimbo. Now that I am reading a Tezuka story, I’m quite positive that Sakai was very influenced by the Godfather of Manga himself, not only in art style but in panel composition as well. This was an amazing discovery! After Dororo, I’m definitely going to pick up some Astro Boy.

Thanks for tuning into this newsletter, and be on the look out for Sun Wielder the webcomic serialization coming to you right here on Substack. Tell a friend or two about it. Who doesn’t love free comics?

Thanks for you time,

Nico

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I had never seen anything like it. I fell in love. Suddenly, I understood that comics could be something so out of the norm, visceral, and abstract - entirely different from the house DC/Marvel style that I had only seen before. I cite Sin City as the creative spark that started my lifelong love for making comics.

While my artwork doesn't exactly look like Frank Miller's work, the spirit, the energy, and the determination to capture unique storytelling flows throughout my finger tips. I entirely connect with Frank's outlook on comics. Like Frank, I consider myself to be a storyteller above all. And for that reason, he's on my Mount Rushmore of creators.

I was fortunate enough to see Frank Miller in conversation with Robert Rodriguez in Austin, TX last week. It was a full circle moment. Here’s a quick sketchbook comic that I made after the event.

I can’t wait to get into Frank’s new auto-bio book Push The Wall. I read the first chapter, and it already looks like it’s going to be one of the great works of comic craft inspiration.

Sun Wielder Pre-Launch is Live!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/647014749/sun-wielder-the-card-warrior-an-all-ages-graphic-novel

Sun Wielder: The Card Warrior has finally returned from its year-long journey around the planet. I am happy to announce that the Kickstarter pre-launch page is now live! I’ve decided that a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign will be my initial method of getting the book out into the world, so I’ve carved out some time to begin putting the campaign together. The good thing is that the artwork for the entire graphic novel is now complete.

The popular opinion is that most successful Kickstarter campaigns always begin with a high pre-launch follower count. I’d like to boost this number as much as possible before launch, so please consider hitting the “Notify me on launch” button, even if you aren’t able to support when the time comes. Also, spread the word to your friends and family. Anything helps. My plan is to officially launch the campaign at the end of September, so keep your eyes peeled!

Strips and Stickers

A couple “life of a cartoonist" strips that I did this month:

Without going on too much about it, Project Hail Mary is my rec for the month (both the book and film). Project Hail Mary is feel good sci-fi at its very best. Yes, there are drastic circumstances in the story, but the means of getting there are joyous. I was seconds away from jumping for joy during the last shot of the movie. If you somehow missed it, do yourself the favor!

That’s it for now. I’ll post the Sun Wielder pre-launch link one more time for good measure. Sign-up now and tell your friends!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/647014749/sun-wielder-the-card-warrior-an-all-ages-graphic-novel

Thanks for your time,

Nico

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Behold, the greatest space fantasy comic in the cosmos…

SUN WIELDER: THE CARD WARRIOR

A sheltered boy named Seb discovers the wonderful world of Quantum Cards - the galaxy’s coolest, most action-packed card battling competition. The best part about the cards is that the competitors summon life-sized star-creatures! When he finally gets his hands on a Cosmoid deck, Seb realizes that he is linked to the legacy of the Sun Wielder, the title given to the elite Quantum commanders who patrol the galaxy. Can Commander Seb live up to the expectations of his past? Or will he crash and burn at the mitts of a massive, blackhole-spewing monster?

Sun Wielder: The Card Warrior is a middle-grade space fantasy comic. It’s the charm of a Studio Ghibli film meets the wild, sci-fi action of Ben 10.

This is what I have been working on for the last six months or so! I announced the project a few weeks ago on other social media, but I wanted to give all my awesome readers here a more in depth breakdown.

This is my first work in middle grade comics, and it has been an incredible journey so far. This series is for the kid who loves cards and wants to be immersed in a world where creatures based on actual stars and constellations come to life. It’s for the parent who would love for their eight-year-old to put down the screen and jump into a space adventure with tons of heart. It’s for anyone who enjoys a hero’s journey and wants to grow with a character as they find out what it truly means to become a Sun Wielder.

My goal here is to deliver an episodic story – to capture what novel and manga readers love about their content – an epic journey that grows with the reader. Think Avatar: The Last Airbender. We love those characters. We grew with those characters over the seasons as they changed and pushed through epic circumstances. Sun Wielder hopes to capture that same brand of magic.

Whether you’re a parent snagging a fun read for your kiddo, or if you’re a Magic: The Gathering player who also enjoys space fantasy action, or anyone else in between, this story is for you. It has heart, fun action, and an evolving story that will reach beyond the stars.

Mission Control

I’m deep into production on Sun Wielder already, right in the middle of chapter three to be exact. My almost confirmed plan is to bring the first volume, an 80 page-ish graphic novel, to Kickstarter initially. I can’t wait to get to work on the campaign, but my first course of action is to finish Volume One. I’m about 75% of the way there, so exciting times are ahead. Stay tuned for more news! Drop a message or leave a comment if you have any questions.

HCS Takeover 2026

My amazing comic creator collective and I had a great time at Comicpalooza this year. We combined forces and hunkered down at a well-viewed booth location in Artist Alley. What started as a “hey, let’s experiment with a new set-up” mission turned into a “holy moly, we’re doing this every year!”

Not only did having eight creators split one big booth drop each of our table fees, but we also had great financial and networking success. It seemed like our creator-owned comics finally broke through at a pop culture convention. All in all, the experiment definitely paid dividends and we are figuring out how we can keep this train rolling. Thank you to everyone who came out!

The High Republic

Recommendation this month once again comes in the form of Star Wars. I apologize to those of you who do not like the far, far away galaxy, but Star Wars is just one of those things that lives in my bones. I can’t help but to ramble on about it.

I finished the first novel in the High Republic series, Light of the Jedi by Charles Soule. This novel launched The High Republic initiative back in 2020, which was the first long-running book series in the official Disney canon timeline. I know that we all have our thoughts on what has transpired since Disney took over Star Wars, but the High Republic promised to give us a brand new, unexplored era that takes place 232 years before Episode 1, when Jedi were at their highest esteem. I was excited for these books when they were announced, but as with many things, I just never got around to it.

While I do really enjoy some of the things that we’ve gotten from Disney in the last decade (most notably Clone Wars, Rebels, Rogue One, and Andor), I have felt like I’m still searching for something that pushes the Star Wars universe forward - something that displays an entirely different sense of wonder, not just recycling items from the past. After all, going “retro” or “nostalgic” was the antithesis of what George Lucas wanted for Star Wars, and I’ve always sided with his perspective.

Luckily, Light of the Jedi gives readers something new. There are fresh ideas of Force use, new political ideologies, mysterious creatures, Jedi that feel entirely real, new technologies, races, worlds, and an incredibly engaging villain (not just a re-do of Darth Vader). I’m thrilled to say that the first of the nine book series entirely delivered.

I’m looking forward to sinking my teeth into the rest of High Republic era. If fresh Star Wars content from the Disney era is what you’re looking for, Light of the Jedi is my first recommendation.

That does it for this newsletter. More Sun Wielder news and updates to come!

Thanks for your time,

Nico

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Happy Star Wars Day to my fellow Jedi, Sith, bounty hunters, scoundrels, podracers, and everyone else in the great galaxy!

How about a treat for the Star Wars heads out there?

I finally have my very own Star Wars comic, The Night After Endor, up for sale on my webstore! It’s a survival-horror story set right after the Battle of Endor. If I could sum it up in one phrase - ZOMBIE EWOK. It’s a 24-page comic book written and drawn by me, and VERY limited. You can go snag one of your own right now!

Just go to my webstore nicocomics.bigcartel.com. Here are the two options to choose from:

1. The Night After Endor signed for $10 plus shipping.

2. The Night After Endor signed w/ customized 9x6 watercolor sketch of your favorite Star Wars character for $35 plus shipping. For the drawing, I will reach out to you via the email that you provide at check out.

Thank you all, and May the Fourth be with you!

Nico

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The Land of (Dinosaur) Announcements!

I received wonderful news last week. The Dinosaur Song, written by Art Gottschalk and Ramon Torres and illustrated by me, is finally complete! I was given the go-ahead to finally share the project.

I’ve shared a few images of the project on this newsletter before, but now you get the full announcement. This thing has been three years in the making! The Dinosaur Song is a fun and energetic romp through a cartoony dino adventure. There’s comic book elements and full illustrations of crazy cool dinosaurs in absurd situations. Most of the book follows song lyrics that are additive (like Twelve Days of Christmas), and the book also features an actual musical score. It’s an absolute blast.

The book is perfect for the dino-loving kiddos in your life, or if you just want to see me draw pictures of goofy dinosaurs. I will give you all more details on how you can a copy of your own soon. It’s very close to release. The final musical touches are currently being added to the book package.

Sometimes…

A couple weeks back I posted this short auto-bio comic to social media.

After posting this comic, I realized that my creative career has sort of went full circle. With my latest work, I’m channeling everything that I dreamed of as a kid when I watched Cartoon Network and Pixar movies. I’m reaching back in time and re-discovering the composition of those youthfully joyous moments. I’m finding those moments and filtering them through the way that I see art today. And luckily, it feels great.

If you ever find yourself in a rut or experience some of the same doubts that I do here, remember that there’s always a way out. Pencil. Paper. That’s all you need to keep pushing through and to find that creative spark.

That’s all for now. Just a short one this week. More big things to come!

Thanks for your time,

Nico

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The grind continues on my new project. I’m incredibly happy with the work so far. My favorite part of the process has been nailing down an efficient way of making this story. There have been two aspects to the madness. I’ll talk about just the first one in this month’s newsletter.

Drawing process efficiency. This one has been interesting because I’m only using digital means for the project. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE drawing and painting traditionally. It is the most authentic version of my art and it’s incredibly satisfying. There’s nothing like a swab of paint on an inked drawing. But, when you compare the time that I dedicate to a fully inked and painted comic book page to the time that it takes me to make the same page on the Ipad Pro, the difference is drastic.

It’s certainly a different result, but I think that the voice of the drawings remain, which is very important to me. I don’t want to use any fancy digital tricks. Cartoonist Matt Kindt is also an adopter of digital comic making, and he once said that he makes it a point to only use digital tools and techniques that he could also do by hand. I feel the same way when using Procreate.

It really comes down to a decision of efficiency and your project type. Since I’m planning for this project to be a long, epic story, digital really made sense. I basically double (maybe even triple) my weekly page output when working on the Ipad. My process has been the following:

1. create a 9x6 inch template in Procreate. Make a primary layer for rough thumbnails. I sketch very loosely here to get the images out of my head.

2. On the same 9x6, I create a layer on top where I do tighter pencils using either black or red color. This helps breakdown my lines clearly before inking. I still try not to get too tight in the pencils. I find that if I do, my inking loses a lot of energy.

   

   

3. Create an 11x14 template. I import my pencils file and use it as my guide for inks.

4. After inking, I color using a digital watercolor brush. This process is very different from my traditional watercoloring, but I think that it retains the same energy. It took a long time to nail down how I wanted this step to look.

   

5. After everything is colored, I letter using a font that I created from my handwriting. This cut down my lettering time significantly.

As you can see, there are many steps. Having all these things at your fingertips on the Ipad where you can easily transition from each stage is a miracle for a cartoonist. Oh, and, no scanning! I can also do each one of these steps in the living room, or at a coffee shop, or in the backyard. The convenience factor is off the charts. I’ve done the above process over 30 times now so I’m getting it down to a science. It feels good. I still have some things to tinker with, but the machine is pretty well oiled at this point.

Lastly, on the drawing efficiency side of things, I made this handy Google sheet that tracks my page-by-page progress. At first sight, it’s nothing crazy. It’s just a list of pages that tracks each stage, pencils to final letters. But, in reality, this helps greatly with personal motivation. I get so happy when I get to mark a stage as completed. It gives you a holistic view of the entire scope, and it puts progress in a real, tangible layout. It's a very handy tool.

Parks & Rec

My wife and I got away for a few hours and took our elderly pup to the park for my birthday last week. I love sitting in nature and doodling. It’s great that modern tools have given us convenient travel setups. Again, convenience!

Jazz, Pirates, and a Wombat

I’m finally delving into manga at a higher clip, partially for reading pleasure, and partially for research. I picked up the first volume of Blue Giant, a manga about a saxophone player trying to become the best Jazz musician in the world.

It is lovely. It’s essentially a slice of life comic about a guy going through all the trials and tribulations of attempting to make it in the creative world. There are so many parallels to my life as a cartoonist - working around the clock, making time for practice, rude customers, determination, etc. It has been an unexpectedly personal read. Great stuff. Also, my friend and fellow artist let me borrow the first few volumes of One Piece. I figured that it was about time to explore what many consider to be the greatest manga of all time. I’m having a blast with it so far. I really enjoy the sense of grand adventure. Also, the hyper-expressive cartooned faces are chef’s kiss. Excited for more.

I’ve been playing Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart for PS5. I loved the Ratchet & Clank games growing up so I was excited to jump back into the joyous sci-fi world filled with anthropomorphic characters and big ol’ guns. My first reaction was WOW. The visuals in this game are incredible. In my early years, I didn’t look at R&C with too much of an artistic eye, but now? Holy crap, the character designs in Rift Apart are some of the best that I’ve ever seen in any sort of media. Period. I really hope that they make an artbook for the game. The weapons are extremely fun as well. I especially love the water sprinkler grenade that turns everything into heaps of flowery bushes. The world of R&C is so full of life.

Last thing before I roll out. A couple years ago I published a graphic novel called West, Not South. It’s a fun book, and has gotten some really high praise from cool people, like the afore mentioned Matt Kindt. It’s a cartoony comedy meets a surreal crime adventure. My most handy comparison is Bojack Horseman meets a Coen brothers flick (probably Raising Arizona). Ink and watercolor, 148 pages. If this sounds like a must buy to you, head over to my webstore (link below) and order a copy. I’ll sign and sketch in it for you!

My Webstore

Have a good one! Thanks for your time,

Nico

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What about a mundane job, you ask? Nope. The fire horse unpacks their shield and rams right through the ugly heap of lacking conversations and lowly ladder-climbing.

How about a snowstorm? Ha! An ink brush cackles in the face of the abominable snowman!

Oh, creativity is no match for the horrors of social media, right? WRONG. I’d rather format 300 comic pages for print before I listen to one more “pro” telling me how to draw a circle.

Ok, the last one might be pushing it because print formatting sucks, but hey, you get the point.

I’m trying to stay the course. I’ve got my goals set, and while they may be lofty, I still think they’re achievable. I just need the 24-hour clock to double so that I have more time to draw.

Le Pompe

Before I went head over heels for comics, playing guitar was my number one creative outlet. It was a beautiful thing. The guitar opened my creative heart. The hole was filled with artsy folk music and metalcore breakdowns, so much that I saved up all my money to buy an electric guitar. Gone were the days of playing metal riffs on my acoustic guitar. I finally got the aggressive down-tuned sound that I longed for when listening to heavy bands like Underoath and August Burns Red. These moments fueled the creative fire that I still have today.

I still love playing guitar. These days, I’ve gone back to my roots. My lovely wife got me an Altamara Gypsy Jazz guitar for Christmas, and oh man, it is one of the best things that I’ve ever played.

I’m very early on in my Gypsy Jazz learning journey, but I’ve picked up the “Le Pompe” rhythm and a few scales. It is a beautiful style, but a very difficult one for a non-music reading layman like me. Nonetheless, it’s a fun and fruitful journey.

So why Gypsy Jazz, you ask? The sound is the primary answer. The sweet notes of the lead guitar tickle the pulsing chords of the rhythm guitar. Slow it down and you get a romantic tune sure to swoon the angriest Scrooge, but speed it up and you’ve got Swing dancers huddling around you like a circle pit at a Born of Osiris concert. One jazz guitarist said that the rhythm guitar of Gypsy Jazz is structured like it is because it wants to simulate a jazz percussionist, which I found fascinating.

The father of Gypsy Jazz, Django Reinhardt, has an incredible story that formed the music. He lost his pinky and ring finger at an early age, so to continue his passion for playing guitar, he molded his own style of music that catered towards his finger loss. He eventually sparked an entire subgenre of jazz that people still celebrate today.

This is another beautiful and important lesson of artistic expression. There’s no one way to paint, draw comics, or play guitar. There is room for trailblazing, and really, that’s where the true creative icons are born. Give Django a listen and you’ll be able to feel the passion fuming out of his fingertips.

Aliens in the Basement

I’m chipping away at my new mountain of a comic project. I love the work that I’m doing but it’s taking an incredible amount of time. There’s a constant start and stop action happening, and I’m trying to not let my day job deplete me so much that I don’t have the energy to draw after 5pm. I have to keep reminding myself that every small step forward adds up, and at some point in the coming year, I will be able to look back and see all the work that I’ve done.

One of the cool things is that the new comic is a space fantasy story, so I have the pleasure of making tons of alien-y characters. As a silly cartoonist, there’s not much better than drawing four-eyed worm creatures. If you can’t tell, yeah, I’m having fun.

Compact Dreams

DC has been releasing their 8.5” x 5.5” Compact Comics format. I think it’s a brilliant move. Let’s face it, the maneuverability of most American comics and graphic novels is inconvenient to say the least. I’m to blame for making unwieldy comics, too. Of course, if you’re collecting books for the bookshelf, a thick and tall spine is something to marvel at, but if you’re looking to actually consume the story, a 30 lb. book isn’t exactly easy to tote around. In fact, I’ve been thinking a lot about this principle in my own work. Would a graphic novel benefit if it could be read like a standard prose novel? Does the reader feel more engaged in the story when they can really tear into the pages, not having to worry about a blocky hardcover or scuffing the corners of a 40 dollar book?

I think that this is part of the reason why manga is so popular these days - it’s convenient content for a world that’s the busiest that its ever been. I think that DC has approached this Compact line very well. So far, they have released a good mix of classics like Watchmen and V for Vendetta, but they’ve also added modern comics like Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.

I recently picked up Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s We3. It’s a wonderful little story, quite tame when compared to the typical Morrison comic, and Quitely’s art is masterfully done as usual. The compact size is very comfortable to read, and for 10 bucks? It’s seriously a great product, and maybe a comic that I would have never purchased if it wasn’t so convenient. Good on you, DC.

That’s all I have for now. Until next time, readers! (I should come up with a cool nickname for you guys)

Thanks for your time,

Nico

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I got married! After the very stressful and lovely wedding week, it felt nice taking a break from social media and spending extra time with my new wife. Don’t get me wrong, I still did a whole bunch of drawing – just not with the added stress of posting and hoping for someone to see it. The other reason for a break was simply because I needed it. The year has been long and mostly fruitful, but it was time for a short detox as I gear up for 2026.

Year After Year

The conventions of 2025 were solid. The most notable ones were STAPLE! in Austin (my personal favorite) and Heroes Con in NC, which takes the cake for the year’s busiest and most stressful event. I also loved returning to C.A.S.A. for the second time – great people and a really cool venue.

Artistically speaking, I made comics! That’s my biggest creative win of the year. In fact, that’s my biggest win every year. I understand how important and enjoyable storytelling is for me, even if I don’t sell a copy, and 2025 was no exception. Raise a glass if you made a comic. Cheers!

So, what’s next? Does the comic maker guy return in 2026? Should I make a trailer for it like Avengers: Doomsday is doing just to announce that a high-profile billionaire actor is coming back?

Have no fear, of course I’m coming back. I’m already back and working on something epic. According to the Chinese Zodiac, 2026 is the year of the FIRE HORSE. Sounds metal, right?! The horse symbolizes freedom, passion, determination, creativity, and a drive to break from stagnation. Yeah, I’ll buy into that. In 2026, I think that I will focus much more on creating rather than doing shows – maybe something like an 80/20 split. My current project is a long one. It will take lots of focus. But it feels right, and I’m ok with putting touring on hold for a bit so that I can make the book.

I’m sorry for being coy about the new project. I’m not quite ready to spill the beans yet. I’ve recently got some advice from an industry professional to be selective when posting about a new project, which totally makes sense when you’re in the early/development stages. For now, I’ll leave you with a few things that are inspiring the foundation of this new project. Any guesses?

Speaking of the conventions for 2026, while I’m not planning on doing many, my Houston-based creator crew and I are planning to do something BIG for Comicpalooza – sort of a catch all for many of us. The theory is, instead of each of us doing many shows individually throughout the year, why not band together and do something epic once or twice. As of now, Comicpalooza is my only scheduled show for 2026. It will be a fun experiment!

The Photo Book

I’m about halfway through my “Polaroid” sketchbook. I’m still loving this thing. It’s the perfect size for painting memorable moments. Some scenes are visually interesting; some are just capturing everyday life. Here are a few of my favorites.

You’re Only Cool If You Were In a Band

I picked up Holler by Jeremy Massie at Heroes Con. He was a great dude and I instantly connected to the graphic novel when he asked the question, “Were you ever in a band growing up?” I answered yes, and he said, “This book is for you.” Jeremy was 100% correct. Holler captures the ins and outs of being in a high school band and navigating adolescence while hoping for something greater after those awkward years. The book realizes the nostalgia of high school band days in short story form. It will seriously have you reflecting on your childhood. Jeremy’s cartooning captures the 90s perfectly. His chunky brush lines and design-minded coloring really bring the world to life while making it feel like the kids in the book love reading Love & Rockets.

Holler was published by Dark Horse last year. Highly recommended for alternative comic fans and the grunge kids at heart.

That’s it for now. Happy New Year! See ya in the next one!

Thanks for your time,

Nico

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October was a great month filled with conventions, artwork, and the start of the NBA regular season - all of which are some of my favorite things. I’m hoping that the re-tooled Houston Rockets are poised to make a deeper playoff run in 2026. Only time will tell, but it helps now that we have a future, first-ballot Hall of Famer. I went to Toyota Center last week and witnessed the first win of the season.

March of the Empire

Good news, Star Wars fans! The Night After Endor is now complete. In fact, we just hit the go button at the print house, and a small print run is being made as we speak.

I’m very proud of this comic. It was my first time playing in an already established sandbox, and I had a joy doing so. I think that I proved to myself that I could do some cool stuff if I was ever given the opportunity to do licensed work. I’m excited to show off the comic. Unless something crazy happens, I will have a limited print run on my table at San Antonio’s CASA comic book show on November 15th. I will have them up on my webstore soon after.

Speaking of CASA, this will be my last show of the year. It has certainly been an interesting year for cons. I’d say that the cons of 2025 have been a roller-coaster ride, but as always, the experiences are invaluable. I’m looking forward to capping the year off with my comic buds at an awesome show that’s 100% dedicated to spotlighting comic books.

Painting Buddy

October has also been filled with a bunch of watercolor sketching. I bought these delightful little sketchbooks.

They’re perfectly portable coming in at 5.5” x 5.5” and filled with watercolor paper. I have fallen in love with them. I’m bringing this little guy around with me all the time to capture scenes and moments when I can. It’s almost as if I’m making hand-painted Polaroids - quick snapshots so that I can remember the moments later on.

I’ve mentioned it here before, but there’s really nothing like hanging out in the outdoors and painting the things you see. I already can’t wait for my next vacation. This sketchbook is the first thing that I’m packing.

The Creature

Guillermo Del Toro’s Frankenstein has been playing in select theaters for the last few weeks, and my fiancé and I caught a matinee showing of the movie on Saturday at Houston’s lovely River Oaks Theatre. Frankenstein is a beautifully tragic gothic horror that is part adaptation of Mary Shelley’s trailblazing novel and part visionary field day by the one and only Guillermo Del Toro. If you are able to, please check this one out in theaters before it goes to streaming on November 7th. The movie is epic and it deserves to be seen on the big screen.

Without giving away too much context, there is a set in Frankenstein that involves a wrecked ship and snow that is flat out mesmerizing. We revisit this set multiple times throughout the movie and it gets more beautiful each time. The artistry of the movie is inspiring. I’d love to take a peek at Guillermo’s sketchbook as he was nailing down the atmosphere of Frankenstein. I’ll be first in line to buy The Art of book.

There’s really not much more for me to say. Are you a Guillermo Del Toro fan? should be synonymous with the question Do you have a brain? See this movie!

Brick By Brick

Before I run back to my creator cave, I mentioned last month that I’m working on a new, long-form project. Staring at a blank page is just as exciting as it is terrifying, but I think that this is how it should be. If you’re doing something in complete comfort, chances are that the result will feel like an old trick - easy to perform, but creatively stagnant after you do the trick 20 times. I think that the reader can sense this as well.

I’m embracing the newness of the experience. I won’t reveal what the project is right now but below are a couple rough concept sketches. I’m putting a lot of time into building the world. I’m loving the journey so far.

That does it for now. If you’ll be at CASA in San Antonio on November 15th, I will see ya then!

Thanks for your time,

Nico

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Do we just remain happy having the opportunity to make comics, to make stories that form in our heads and become real, visual experiences? The thought of one person being able to make a production like this will forever be exciting. But, who will read it? Who will purchase it? Is it good enough? Is there an audience for it? If so, how big and how do you find them?

The original mission evolves into a two-headed beast - love of the game or practical sustainability. It’s a difficult choice. I think we all want people to see our work. We spend days, weeks, months making these books. Once the work is done, it’s all easy from here, right? Nope. The decision tree only gets more complicated.

Do we sacrifice art production for marketing production? Do we cut say 3-4 hours out of our limited, weekly art time to film and edit a video? Perhaps more? An even better question, is doing this a chore? Suddenly, the cartoonist turns into a part-time drawer, part-time digital content creator. A few years ago, it was enough for an artist to make a drawing, snap a picture of it, and post it to social media. Now, the same action will only be seen by your mom and the squirrel who watches you draw from your studio window. The marketing role continues to expand, and that worries me. The act of yelling at people to “look at me!” is hard enough. Now you must actively create produced content to even begin yelling.

My own personal goal is to find the balance. What brand of work fulfills my passion for creating stories and characters, but could also find a sustainable audience? Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to do exactly what I want to do, all the time. For the most part, that’s what my books and comics have been thus far, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Luckily, some amazing people have found and appreciated my work. It has been great for my artistic growth.

Now the question becomes, how can I expand the growth? How can I connect with more readers while still giving them a story in my voice? It’s an exciting challenge. Maybe this is how cartoonists survive in the current landscape.

The creators you look up to have the success stories that you want to achieve. It’s hard not to say, “hey, this creator, who greatly inspires me, did this thing, and that’s how they became a mainstay in the industry… why can’t I do the same?”

The hard truth is that the comic industry (and the art industry in general) rapidly changes over time. It might even change on a weekly basis. The tricky part is understanding how to adapt with it and move on from methods that may have worked in the past.

There are so many things to think about. It’s not just drawing, or painting, or making comics anymore. It’s a damn confusing time for a cartoonist.

Ewok Bait

The Night After Endor, my very own Star Wars comic, is progressing nicely. It will be a 20-page story, and I have about four pages left to complete. There are major spoilers in the book, so I don’t want to preview too much before the book is released. The unofficial feedback that I have received about the comic so far is “this is the best Star Wars comic of the year”. Star Wars fans, be prepared. I think you’ll love it.

I have a new thing that I’m constructing as well. The working name for this project is The Big Pivot. It’s very different from my already released work, but it also makes sense in a lot of ways. It’s too early to talk details right now, but it will be a long form thing and very exciting.

Paint-tober?

The 1st of October has arrived, which means that it’s also Inktober season. It’s a cool event in the art community, but it’s also a very dedicated one. I’ve been inspired to paint a bunch more lately, so I guess it’s more of a Paint-tober for me? I dig it. Here’s a few from this week.

The Change-Up

As you regular readers may have noticed, I took a couple weeks off. Over a year ago, I made it my mission to send out a newsletter every week for one year. I went over the year mark! That’s pretty awesome. Thank you all for tuning in.

I wanted to sustain the pace, but in all honesty, it can be difficult finding the time to put out meaningful posts. I’ve also noticed that the readership has been steadily slumping over the last couple of months, so something is happening, and I need to recalibrate this operation before the point becomes moot. It could be due to an overabundance of posts. Content in general is hard to keep up with these days, so as I said in the first part of this newsletter, adapting to industry change is important.

So, I’m going to take this newsletter off the weekly schedule for now. I think that I will just go monthly, but that can change if I see reason. This will also free up a weekly block of time for me so I can focus more on my project queue.

Sorry to the weekly readers! I wish that I could keep rocking along. I need to find a new approach so that this Substack is inviting enough to keep everyone engaged. I’m just not quite sure what that looks like at the moment. Any ideas/suggestions are completely welcomed!

Thank you all for reading, and as always, thanks for your time.

Nico

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My fiancé and I have recently gotten into our first trading card game, Star Wars Unlimited. We had been looking for something different that offered longevity. We love playing board games, but we tend to play them regularly for a couple weeks then put them away after the fun meter begins to dwindle a bit.

With Star Wars Unlimited, it has been a game that never repeats itself. The basic game mechanics are pretty simple (simple enough for a non-TCG player to understand in the first play through) but the possibilities for strategy are nearly endless because of the variety of cards that are in the game. The setup for SWU is each player has a leader and a base that total up to 30 health points. You win the game by being the first to get your opponent to 0 health points using the cards in your deck - a simple goal with a bunch of nuances.

With the wide array of cards, this inherently means that no two games are the same. The fun part is that since it is all themed in the Star Wars universe, you can build a 50-card deck based around your favorite character or character type. Favor the Jedi and Sith? You can put a bunch of force character and event cards in your deck. Or are you more of bounty hunter fan? Grab a leader like Cad Bane or Boba Fett. I think a new card set is introduced every four months or so, and the next set is promising to appeal to the political intrigue aspect of Star Wars. As a Star Wars fan, this is really exciting because new themes will continue to be introduced as long as the game sticks around.

Once you establish your style of deck, you can constantly upgrade and re-tool according to what strategy that you are trying to achieve. I underestimated how fun this would be. A deck that I’m working on now is centered around creature cards. I have Taun-tauns and Porgs in there that get beefed up by Jedi cards. Ever see a Porg wielding a lightsaber? No? Well, now you have…

This game has been the perfect break from the drawing board. Making comics takes a toll on you. Six images per page, 24 pages, and they all need to make sense in sequence. It’s mentally taxing. Jumping off for a couple hours and building a goofy SWU deck has really helped me reset after a long day. If you’re looking for an easy game to jump into where half of the fun is keeping up with new play pieces and interesting mechanics, I give Star Wars Unlimited a big recommendation. And if you’re already a Star Wars fan, it’s kind of a no brainer.

Baytown’s Finest

Lastly, this coming weekend is Eastern Rim Funny Book and Vintage Con in Baytown, TX! This is a local favorite of mine and I’m excited to be back in the Hall of Creators. Jerry Shafer has rounded up an amazing group of creators this year. Be sure to come by and check it out! You can’t beat free entry.

Thanks for your time,

Nico

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If you haven’t had a chance to check out my recent newsletters, please do! They are some of my favorite that I’ve done. I think the last one got buried because of the holiday weekend. If you’re feeling it, share around to a friend or two.

Thanks for your time,

Nico

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It takes time to be comfortable with rejection letters. The hard part is knowing that you probably took months or years putting a pitch package together, only for it to be shot down with a brief “No thank you” email. A creator friend of mine posted this week about a DC Comics competition that he entered years back. He penciled a fantastic 6-page sample for the contest, only for the email to be left unread my the DC judges. Situations like this are demoralizing. It almost makes you want to stop trying. But, as a creator, you can’t give up. We’re boxers in a long, long fight.

We take the jabs to the nose and the uppercuts to the ribs. We might be a bit weary, but if we keep our feet, we’re still in the game. You miss every shot that you don’t take, right?

Thanks for your time,

Nico

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I dreamt of being in a metalcore band with my best friends.

I dreamt of creating unique and jammy songs that would make a crowd throwdown in a mosh pit.

When my friends stopped playing and moved on with their lives, I met my new best friend, the acoustic guitar.

I sang to her, wrote songs for her, and played a live show or two with her by my side.

There was nothing more helpful for me than learning guitar. That first strum that I played when I was 15 years old was the catalyst for everything creative that I love doing today. Making comics, painting, playing music, writing…it all started with my first guitar. Her name was Eloise, named after a song by Say Anything, who was one of my favorite bands at the time. I will cherish Eloise forever.

Last weekend, I purchased a guitar that I’ve been wanting since the beginning – a Martin acoustic.

It’s perfect. Here’s to making more songs when I’m not making comics.

Thanks for your time,

Nico

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That was until a wrench was thrown in the mix one sunny afternoon when a team of yo-yo demonstrators entered homeroom and opened our eyes to the wacky world of throwin’ yo-yos. For two or three months, the entire school was entranced with the circular trick toys. We started off with buying 99 cent Duncan Imperials from the local Wal-Mart. They were cool. We could learn a regular throw, or if you were lucky enough to make it sleep, a snazzy, two-second Walk the Dog. But you were not the cool kid on the playground if you had the basic model.

Enter the Yomega X-Brain. THIS was what you wanted. It had funky metal bearings in its body, and when you threw this thing down, it SLEPT. I’m talking winter hibernation-type sleep. When I nabbed a green X-Brain at the toy shop, I could finally do the (at the time) amazing Rock the Baby trick. This was the height of my fourth-grade career. Then, four weeks later, the bearings stopped working, the string knotted about three times, and I smacked it on the concrete so much that it looked like lumpy booger. It was time to retire the X-Brain. Poor guy. I might have given him a proper funeral in my backyard. Gizmo, my brown Chow-Chow, was the only person in attendance.

Next up was the classy Yomega Fireball. While not as flashy as the X-Brain, the Fireball played much better. There wasn’t a crazy bearing system in it, but it was the perfect combination of a classic throw and a more modern, trick-centric yo-yo. It was fun, but unfortunately by the time the Fireball entered my arsenal, the yo-yo fad had fallen out of my elementary school zeitgeist. It was back to Pokémon, DBZ, and Beanie Babies. It was a sad time, but I will always cherish my days as a wannabe yo-yo champion at the mere age of 9.

Fast Forward to 2025. I’m walking by the board game section of my local Target. I see a familiar face peeking out from the toy rack. It’s an old friend. He’s a little red in the cheeks, maybe a little chunky, but still spry and down for a good time. He’s also only 5 bucks.

“Duncan?” I ask hesitantly. “Yo-yo? Is that you?”

The red and yellow old-timer opens his eyes. I could tell he’d been sleeping for a while. He might have been hungover.

“Yo, Nico! It’s been a minute!” I’m surprised by how cool he sounds. His bearings must have gotten an update.

“I know, man,” I say. “I missed you.”

“Same, bro,” Yo-yo says. “So, wanna play?”

I smile, raise my arms, and give ol’ Duncan a big, warm hug.

It feels great throwing a yo-yo again. Maybe my yo-yo champion dream is still alive.

Thanks for your time,

Nico

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I did some quick sketching throughout the weekend, which was very relaxing. On the third day, we did a Tulum Ruins excursion then went to swim in a cenote, a freshwater sinkhole that was once used to store dead bodies. Yeah, I was shocked when the tour guide casually mentioned that as well.

I really enjoy using the Pentel watercolor brush pen on vacations. It allows for on-the-go painting with its featured built-in water reservoir. No need for a water cup. Just squeeze the pouch and you’re ready to paint.

Hard At Work

Being back home means that it's time to put the hard hat back on. The “main” project is getting closer to completion, so I should be able to start focusing more on the Star Wars comic and The World is a Funny Page #4. I'm still trying to put a few puzzle pieces together for the latter. There’s a significant amount of work done on Funny Page #4, but I need to put some finishing touches on the structure of the final issue. I’m excited for it.

For The Night After Endor, my fan-fic Star Wars comic, I’m trying to stay on a page per week pace - no more, no less. I mentioned it in a previous post but sticking with an achievable weekly goal and not overexerting myself has really helped me manage the stress of creating. Every week that I complete one page is a win.

Return of the King

When I was a kid, there were two TV shows that I’d watch daily: The Simpsons and King of the Hill. They’d come on back to back after school on Fox at 5 and 5:30 pm. I grew attached and I still love the shows today. The return of King of the Hill just launched on Hulu this week and I’m entirely happy to report that season 14 of the show hasn’t missed a beat. The characters have aged and changed since season 13 in hilarious and completely appropriate ways.

Hank deals with a weird and modern Texas, while his son, Bobby, basks in the glory of his quirkiness finally being accepted in the modern world. I always thought that King of the Hill was a show ahead of its time. It put real world issues into context through relatable storylines and character arcs, especially for someone who has lived most of their life in Texas. Season 14 continues to do that, and frankly, it’s a show that we need right now. It’s fantastic.

Side note, one of my favorite lines in the season is Dale shouting out his Substack. It makes total sense that he would be on here writing about his latest conspiracy theories and doomsday prep. The entire series of King of the Hill is streaming on Hulu right now. Watch it!

Until next week!

Thanks for your time,

Nico

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Here’s this week’s newspaper toon…

See ya later!

Thanks for your time,

Nico

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Space combat stuff in Star Wars is the best. When I was younger, I would always go back and forth between the Jedi and the spaceships trying to choose which one I liked most. Do I want to be a laser-sword wielding wizard or a hot-shot pilot roaming the galaxy? That was the extent of my worries as an eight-year-old. Now that I am an entirely mature adult (kidding), the space combat and ship design aspects of Star Wars have risen to the top. It was very fun implementing starfighters into this scene. This page is mostly done with the exception of doing the last bits of lettering.

The concept of a reader’s time spent on a page has always been funny to me. This space battle page may have taken me three days to complete, but the reader will usually breeze by the images in a blink of an eye. I wish there could be some kind of hologram that pops off the page with artist stats like “time taken to complete” just to let the average reader know that this stuff doesn’t appear out of thin air. Idea generation, planning, writing, layout, penciling, inking, coloring, lettering - it’s a whole lotta stuff!

Onitama: A Game of Kicks and Punches

Here’s a different sort of recommendation for you this week. My fiancé and I have been playing boards regularly for the past couple of years and we have some favorites. We tend to gravitate to simple games that have a tremendous amount of strategy once the basic rules are set. Onitama does this greatly, and it has quickly risen to the top five of our go-to game list.

First off, the theme is awesome. The players assume the role of a warring martial arts clan designated by red and blue game pieces. The object of the game is to move along the game board strategically taking out enemy fighters. You win by either taking out the enemy’s master piece or by moving your own master piece to the enemy’s base. It’s similar to chess in objectives, but the real strategy is in using the various cards of the game to either move on the board stealthily or strike down your opponent. The result is a highly intense and fun game. You quickly realize how important each decision is once you get a couple turns in.

We have two expansions for the game but have not dug into them yet. They look fun, but the base game is great as is. The added bonus is that the game features lovely artwork. A-plus for me. You should definitely check it out!

I’ll leave you with a pic of my pup, Alfred, stalking his prey. And by prey I mean a second bowl of kibble.

Have a good one!

Thanks for your time,

Nico

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