Spend enough time in comics, especially in various crowdfunding circles, and you’ll see creators make mistakes, it just happens. A book ships six months late. Communication dries up. Someone handles criticism poorly and explodes into the virtual void of social media. A creator disappears for a while because their personal life falls apart. Sometimes people simply bite off more than they can chew. It’s happened to quite a few creators…this biz is stressful AF. But unfortunately, we have a tendency to make those mistakes permanent and say “bad boy…go away forever.”

There is an important distinction here. Someone who repeatedly takes people’s money, never delivers, refuses to communicate, and shows no interest in making things right has broken the trust of the community. Also, forgiveness doesn’t mean pretending bad behavior didn’t happen, and accountability absolutely matters, but accountability should also leave room for redemption. If someone screwed up a campaign, acknowledged it, apologized, and is genuinely trying to make things right, shouldn’t we want them to succeed? I certainly do.

Think about it! If a creator went through a divorce, lost a job, struggled financially, dealt with family problems, or simply found themselves overwhelmed by life, maybe disappearing for a while wasn’t the best decision, but it also doesn’t necessarily make them a bad person either. We’re all just humanoids at the end of the day.

Indie comic creators aren’t giant corporations with big ole bucks and only 99 problems. They’re individuals, people going through the rat race of life. Of course that doesn’t eliminate responsibility, but grace and accountability can coexist and shack up from time to time, like Spider-Man and Black Cat.

Basically, we can expect people to fulfill their obligations while recognizing that people sometimes fail and need time to calibrate their lives. I respect people who try to make amends, it shows grit and accountability. But like I said, if you ride off into the sunset with a truck load of money and never own up to it, then I ain’t got no kind words for ya, bucko.

Alcee Issue 1 & 2 update

The spread is colored! The digital file is out in the world! The physical version is ordered from the printer! And the feedback from issue 1 has been stellar. I’m so happy to see my comics connecting with people. There’s so much more ID and Alcee planned, we are just getting started. For now though, I’m taking a victory lap and continuing to workaway on a few other projects until Alcee returns.

Alcee Issue 2 is underway though. All the covers are done, and we have 5 pages drawn and colored. I’m still likely eyeballing a late October launch date, and we’re up to 92 backers and without much promotion right now since Granite will launch next, so that makes me think we can easily hit 300+ on the prelaunch here. Happy to see that people are excited for the next issue. Give us a follow if you want to stay up to date on this crazy cat girl!

Interstellar Dust presents - Alcee #1 & 2 (God Drive) by C.J. Hudson — Kickstarter

Get 20% off forever

Granite: Powerless Issue 2 is live

We’re back baby! Granite is off to a fantastic start. Hard to imagine that Summit Comics is now 1 year old and is poised to have a dozen or so launches by the end of the year. For people who thought these series would be “one and done”…not so fast! Every Summit campaign has funded and exceeded expectations. It’s really crazy how we just formed out of a simple idea that joining forces could mean that an indie superhero universe could not only work, but it could also be popular enough to bring in nearly $100k in sales by the end of 2026. That’s bonkers. Summit Comics has been a very fulfilling experience for us creators, we can tell the stories we want how we want to tell them, in a combined universe!

200%+ of goal ain’t too shabby! Issue 1 brought in $7,200 so I’m going to try and beat that record if I can. Head over to the campaign page and snag a wicked cool cover! All variants are limited edition, only the standard edition cover is evergreen, so all variants are while supplies last! The Flops variant for instance is going fast, and likely will only survive into issue 3 of powerless.

Summit Comics - Granite: Powerless #1 & 2 by C.J. Hudson — Kickstarter

Get 20% off forever

What else?

Updates on a few other things:

• Torque is being drawn right now, with new colors being added too.

• Hunters Issue 2 has covers coming in and I hope to start receiving some interior art soon too.

• Inferna is still a work in progress, Damien is very busy, but we are hoping to make this a 2026 endeavor.

• Follow How to die in the Quad if you’re looking for more comics from me, as I have a short story in this really gorgeous looking book.

• Interstellar Dust vol. 3 is still on the way, Moy just wrapped up another issue, so we will probably Kickstart that sometime in 2027.

• Intergalactic Academy unfortunately still on hiatus for the foreseeable future. Read all the backstory now at Intergalactic Academy

Become a paid Substack subscriber!

Current Substack exclusive editions:

• Alcee #1 cover by Lane Lloyd

• Interstellar Dust - Omnibus vol. 1 TPB cover by Flops

• Hunters of the Outer Realm #1 cover by Orion Vang

Becoming a paid sub means you get first look access to artwork, scripts and tons of behind-the-scenes content that no one else gets to see (including the teases I share here). Hundreds of pages of artwork including NSFW interiors and covers will keep your eyes peeled open for hours and everything is always available for download :)

Beginning January 1st, 2025, all paid Substack subscribers will be eligible to receive a special free physical copy of select new single-issue or collected edition series released and funded through Kickstarter (or other crowdfunding site) while supplies last. This would typically be for new issue #1s and collected editions. This would be a paid tier Substack subscriber only variant, and unavailable through crowdfunding, my online store, or con exclusives. Basically, fully unique to those on Substack.

• Shipping is available anywhere in the world but would not be included for free. I will ask you, or you will confirm for me via Kickstarter or general outreach, if you would like your incentive cover before shipping (it will also be available digitally) and will send you a PayPal invoice for shipping costs. Rates for 2026 will be as follows:

  • USA: $6.00 USD

  • Canada: $20.00 USD

  • All other countries: $25.00 USD

• If you opt to support the Kickstarter campaign at any tier level, your Substack incentive cover would just be included with your standard order, and you would not be charged extra shipping, as you would already be paying it via the crowdfunding platform.

• Kickstarter now has secret reward tiers as well; I will be leveraging these going forward too and providing the links the Secret rewards behind my Paywall for subscribers. You’ll pay a small base price + shipping, the totals will not be greater than the shipping totals mentioned above though.

• Please note this is for select crowdfunded comics only, not comics that may be exclusive to the direct market, and not those comics that I did not crowdfund myself.

• You must be on the annual membership at the time the comic is successfully crowdfunded to receive your free comic. Monthly memberships are not eligible because they could just cancel right after they receive their rewards. The annual membership is actually much more cost effective compared to paying monthly.

• 2026 printed Substack Editions will be limited to 50 copies. First come, first serve.

• I will always note comics that are eligible rewards for paid subscribers.

Get 20% off forever

Extra content available! Access my exclusive google drive today!

Missed an issue? My online store is open!

Physical editions of my work are available for purchase through my online store. I have over 60 versions of my comics in addition to prints, trading cards and stickers available for purchase. This includes rare editions through Kickstarter, direct market comic book shops, and online store exclusives. Most everything I have ever worked on is available through my store including Interstellar Dust, Lycan, The Cauldron and much more.

My Online Store

Follow me on social media!

Never miss an update by following me on my social media accounts. I’m most active on X (twitter), Instagram, BlueSky and TikTok.

Social Media

Get 20% off forever

Extra content available! Access my exclusive google drive today!

Read more

All my standard covers and variants are here, some may be out of stock, but you can get an idea of the projects I have worked on over the years. Heads up, I no longer offer NSFW covers on my website, I reserve those for campaigns only. They serve as a pop-up incentive, and also, I don’t want the prudish payment processors to not track me down and make my life hard. Best thing to do is to limit those offerings to just active campaigns. Also, my NSFW covers and basic variants are single print runs only; I always let them fall out of print and only let the standard edition cover survive on. I can control the inventory a little easier this way too, as I want them to last through several campaigns.

Alcee Issue 1 & 2 update

Only a double page spread left to color?! That’s right! We are nearing the end of art production for Alcee Issue 1. The letterer has the issue and is cranking away on compiling the digital and print versions of the file. This project has been a long road, we started production last October, though only crowdfunded it a few months ago. I think this spread encapsulates what we were trying to accomplish though. Absolutely insane detail and off the wall adventure in the vein of Interstellar Dust.

Alcee Issue 2 is underway as well. All the covers are done, and we have 5 pages drawn and colored. I’m still likely eyeballing a late October launch date, and we’re up to 83 backers and without much promotion right now since Granite will launch next, so that makes me think we can easily hit 300+ on the prelaunch here. Happy to see that people are excited for the next issue. Give us a follow if you want to stay up to date on this crazy cat girl!

Interstellar Dust presents - Alcee #1 & 2 (God Drive) by C.J. Hudson — Kickstarter

Get 20% off forever

Granite: Powerless Issue 2 goes live next week

August 25th is one week away! Granite is ready to roll and smash her way back into your lives all over again. See everyone’s favorite female heavy grapple with being a powerless human while trying to take on the combined might of her old foes, the Iron Rift!

We are at 265 followers and zoomed past my 250-launch goal. Can we get to 300 pre-launch followers?! That would be fricken amazing.

Summit Comics - Granite: Powerless #1 & 2 by C.J. Hudson — Kickstarter

Get 20% off forever

What else?

Updates on a few other things:

• Torque is being drawn right now, with new colors being added too.

• Hunters Issue 2 has covers coming in and I hope to start receiving some interior art soon too.

• Inferna is still a work in progress, Damien is very busy, but we are hoping to make this a 2026 endeavor.

• Follow How to die in the Quad if you’re looking for more comics from me, as I have a short story in this really gorgeous looking book.

• Interstellar Dust vol. 3 is still on the way, Moy just wrapped up another issue, so we will probably Kickstart that sometime in 2027.

• Intergalactic Academy unfortunately still on hiatus for the foreseeable future. Read all the backstory now at Intergalactic Academy

Become a paid Substack subscriber!

Current Substack exclusive editions:

• Alcee #1 cover by Lane Lloyd

• Interstellar Dust - Omnibus vol. 1 TPB cover by Flops

• Hunters of the Outer Realm #1 cover by Orion Vang

Becoming a paid sub means you get first look access to artwork, scripts and tons of behind-the-scenes content that no one else gets to see (including the teases I share here). Hundreds of pages of artwork including NSFW interiors and covers will keep your eyes peeled open for hours and everything is always available for download :)

Beginning January 1st, 2025, all paid Substack subscribers will be eligible to receive a special free physical copy of select new single-issue or collected edition series released and funded through Kickstarter (or other crowdfunding site) while supplies last. This would typically be for new issue #1s and collected editions. This would be a paid tier Substack subscriber only variant, and unavailable through crowdfunding, my online store, or con exclusives. Basically, fully unique to those on Substack.

• Shipping is available anywhere in the world but would not be included for free. I will ask you, or you will confirm for me via Kickstarter or general outreach, if you would like your incentive cover before shipping (it will also be available digitally) and will send you a PayPal invoice for shipping costs. Rates for 2026 will be as follows:

  • USA: $6.00 USD

  • Canada: $20.00 USD

  • All other countries: $25.00 USD

• If you opt to support the Kickstarter campaign at any tier level, your Substack incentive cover would just be included with your standard order, and you would not be charged extra shipping, as you would already be paying it via the crowdfunding platform.

• Kickstarter now has secret reward tiers as well; I will be leveraging these going forward too and providing the links the Secret rewards behind my Paywall for subscribers. You’ll pay a small base price + shipping, the totals will not be greater than the shipping totals mentioned above though.

• Please note this is for select crowdfunded comics only, not comics that may be exclusive to the direct market, and not those comics that I did not crowdfund myself.

• You must be on the annual membership at the time the comic is successfully crowdfunded to receive your free comic. Monthly memberships are not eligible because they could just cancel right after they receive their rewards. The annual membership is actually much more cost effective compared to paying monthly.

• 2026 printed Substack Editions will be limited to 50 copies. First come, first serve.

• I will always note comics that are eligible rewards for paid subscribers.

Get 20% off forever

Extra content available! Access my exclusive google drive today!

Missed an issue? My online store is open!

Physical editions of my work are available for purchase through my online store. I have over 60 versions of my comics in addition to prints, trading cards and stickers available for purchase. This includes rare editions through Kickstarter, direct market comic book shops, and online store exclusives. Most everything I have ever worked on is available through my store including Interstellar Dust, Lycan, The Cauldron and much more.

My Online Store

Follow me on social media!

Never miss an update by following me on my social media accounts. I’m most active on X (twitter), Instagram, BlueSky and TikTok.

Social Media

Get 20% off forever

Extra content available! Access my exclusive google drive today!

Read more

I say this as someone who hasn’t used ads all that much. I’ve used them for my webtoon with Ad Astra Media in the past, but honestly can’t recall if Ive ever used them for a crowdfunding campaign. I didn’t for Alcee or Granite, and while those campaigns did well, it might have benefited me to also spend a little money on ads.

If you think about this wholistically, every creator has to solve the same problem…getting their project in front of people who might genuinely enjoy it. Whether you do that through convention appearances, an email newsletter, social media, a BackerKit Launch page, cross-promotions, or paid Meta ads, the goal is identical, you’re trying to put more eyes on your campaign.

Advertising is simply one more distribution channel. Think about it this way. If you spend years building an email list, nobody accuses you of “buying backers.” If BackerKit emails previous supporters because they backed similar projects, that’s considered smart marketing. If Kickstarter recommends your campaign through its discovery algorithm, that’s a feature of the platform. Paid advertising works the same way. It introduces your project to people who otherwise would never have known it existed. The advertisement doesn’t force anyone to pledge. Your campaign page, your artwork, your story, your rewards, and the trust you’ve built still have to do the selling.

In fact, ads often expose weaknesses, in my opinion at least. A poor campaign won’t suddenly become successful because money was spent on Facebook or Instagram. If visitors click but don’t convert, the ads simply reveal that the campaign itself needs work.

That’s why I encourage creators to think of marketing as building multiple paths to discovery. Your email list reaches one audience. BackerKit reaches another. Kickstarter’s algorithm reaches another. Social media reaches another. And on and on. Paid ads simply open another door. It’s comics…we need a lot of doors and maybe even a few windows!

So no, I don’t believe you’re buying backers. You’re buying the chance for someone to decide whether your project is worth backing. Keep creating, baby. And spend your money however you want.

Bearer of Ages update

Just a few pages left for the first half of Bearer of Ages. The dream sequence that Spell is coloring right now is absolute insanity. Completely gorgeous and evoking the exact feelings I wanted to capture in the script. I’m really proud of this work. Still likely a long way off from seeing completion as the art is only now nearly half finished. And if I want to do any justice to a reasonable release schedule, over the course of a year perhaps, then that means I probably wouldn’t be able to launch until late 2027 at the earliest.

And that’s fine. I’m a person who is ok making the investment up front and then having the project recoup its costs later. Working slowly allows you that ability, also, having a few hit comics makes it so that you have money on hand for these types of endeavors. This project is nearly a decade old at this point. And while I could press for more speed from the art team, it’s not worth it to me. I would rather everyone enjoy the process and produce their best work possible.

Alcee Issue 2 update

Only 7 pages left to color and 1 page left to draw! That’s it! Alcee issue 1 is nearly all done. Aside from lettering of course, but one thing at a time. This is a great comic with some fantastic art. Alcee is a character that I believe can sustain her own series as well as appear in the ongoing Interstellar Dust series. And we have plans for more character spin offs too! Vox has a script and artist assigned, with production starting this December. And Lake is in scripting process too with an artist in mind there too. Lots of moving parts! Lots of comics! I’m extremely fortunate to be able to create comics, and I never take that for granted.

Alcee Issue 2 is underway as well. All the covers are done, and we have 5 pages drawn and colored. I’m still likely eyeballing a late October launch date, and we’re up to 72 backers and without much promotion right now since Granite will launch next, so that makes me think we can easily hit 300+ on the prelaunch here. Happy to see that people are excited for the next issue. Give us a follow if you want to stay up to date on this crazy cat girl!

Interstellar Dust presents - Alcee #1 & 2 (God Drive) by C.J. Hudson — Kickstarter

Get 20% off forever

Granite: Powerless Issue 2 update

August 25th here we come! I think we are on track to hit the launch date. I just sent the colored pages off to the letterer to work his magic and then we will be 100% ready to launch and fulfill the campaign. Issue 3 is nearly drawn now too. I love working ahead, and you fans are the ones who made that possible, so thank you!

We are at 224 followers, within striking distance of my 250-launch goal. With about a month until the tentative launch I think we can get there.

Summit Comics - Granite: Powerless #1 & 2 by C.J. Hudson — Kickstarter

Get 20% off forever

What else?

Updates on a few other things:

• Torque is being drawn right now, with new colors being added too.

• Hunters Issue 2 has covers coming in and I hope to start receiving some interior art soon too.

• Inferna is still a work in progress, Damien is very busy, but we are hoping to make this a 2026 endeavor.

• Follow How to die in the Quad if you’re looking for more comics from me, as I have a short story in this really gorgeous looking book.

• Interstellar Dust vol. 3 is still on the way, Moy just wrapped up another issue, so we will probably Kickstart that sometime in 2027.

• Intergalactic Academy unfortunately still on hiatus for the foreseeable future. Read all the backstory now at Intergalactic Academy

Become a paid Substack subscriber!

Current Substack exclusive editions:

• Alcee #1 cover by Lane Lloyd

• Interstellar Dust - Omnibus vol. 1 TPB cover by Flops

• Hunters of the Outer Realm #1 cover by Orion Vang

Becoming a paid sub means you get first look access to artwork, scripts and tons of behind-the-scenes content that no one else gets to see (including the teases I share here). Hundreds of pages of artwork including NSFW interiors and covers will keep your eyes peeled open for hours and everything is always available for download :)

Beginning January 1st, 2025, all paid Substack subscribers will be eligible to receive a special free physical copy of select new single-issue or collected edition series released and funded through Kickstarter (or other crowdfunding site) while supplies last. This would typically be for new issue #1s and collected editions. This would be a paid tier Substack subscriber only variant, and unavailable through crowdfunding, my online store, or con exclusives. Basically, fully unique to those on Substack.

• Shipping is available anywhere in the world but would not be included for free. I will ask you, or you will confirm for me via Kickstarter or general outreach, if you would like your incentive cover before shipping (it will also be available digitally) and will send you a PayPal invoice for shipping costs. Rates for 2026 will be as follows:

  • USA: $6.00 USD

  • Canada: $20.00 USD

  • All other countries: $25.00 USD

• If you opt to support the Kickstarter campaign at any tier level, your Substack incentive cover would just be included with your standard order, and you would not be charged extra shipping, as you would already be paying it via the crowdfunding platform.

• Kickstarter now has secret reward tiers as well; I will be leveraging these going forward too and providing the links the Secret rewards behind my Paywall for subscribers. You’ll pay a small base price + shipping, the totals will not be greater than the shipping totals mentioned above though.

• Please note this is for select crowdfunded comics only, not comics that may be exclusive to the direct market, and not those comics that I did not crowdfund myself.

• You must be on the annual membership at the time the comic is successfully crowdfunded to receive your free comic. Monthly memberships are not eligible because they could just cancel right after they receive their rewards. The annual membership is actually much more cost effective compared to paying monthly.

• 2026 printed Substack Editions will be limited to 50 copies. First come, first serve.

• I will always note comics that are eligible rewards for paid subscribers.

Get 20% off forever

Extra content available! Access my exclusive google drive today!

Missed an issue? My online store is open!

Physical editions of my work are available for purchase through my online store. I have over 60 versions of my comics in addition to prints, trading cards and stickers available for purchase. This includes rare editions through Kickstarter, direct market comic book shops, and online store exclusives. Most everything I have ever worked on is available through my store including Interstellar Dust, Lycan, The Cauldron and much more.

My Online Store

Follow me on social media!

Never miss an update by following me on my social media accounts. I’m most active on X (twitter), Instagram, BlueSky and TikTok.

Social Media

Get 20% off forever

Extra content available! Access my exclusive google drive today!

Read more

Unlike novels or screenplays, comics don’t have a single standardized writing format, it depends on what your flavor is as a writer. Over time, two primary methods have pretty much stayed true: Full Script and Plot-First (often called the Marvel Method by old timers and mega nerds). Both have produced legendary comics, and both remain viable today depending on the creative team attached.

Neither is inherently better. They’re simply different tools for different situations. So let’s see what they’re all about.

The Full Script Method

The full script is what most modern comic publishers expect unless you’re a savvy vet and have a very close working relationship with your artist. In this approach, the writer breaks the story down page by page and panel by panel, describing exactly what appears in each image (to the best of their ability) while also providing all dialogue, captions, sound effects, and page turns. It’s the whole shebang.

A typical page might look something like this:

Page 4

Panel 1: Sarah pushes open the rusted warehouse door. Moonlight spills across the dusty floor as she cautiously steps inside, not noticing the decrepit old hag watching her from across the room.

SARAH: “I have a bad feeling about this.”

Panel 2: A shadow moves behind a stack of crates.

SFX: SHUFFLE

The artist then interprets these directions and brings the pages to life.

Pros of Full Script

Clear creative vision. The writer has precise control over pacing, storytelling, and emotional beats.

Fewer surprises. Artists know exactly what the writer intends, making scheduling and planning easier. Some artists like to know everything, because they want to plan everything out and not waste time.

Great for newer collaborations. If you’re working with an artist for the first time, detailed scripts reduce misunderstandings. If you don't know the artist that well, this is the way to start, not by saying lets chat every evening for 2 hours.

Cons of Full Script

Can limit artistic storytelling. Some artists feel confined when every panel is already planned. I’ve heard of many pro artists saying they don’t like this style.

Longer to write (obviously). Detailed descriptions take considerable time. Just ask Alan Moore.

Risk of over-directing. Writers sometimes forget that comics are a visual medium and end up “directing” every tiny detail instead of trusting the artist’s instincts. They yammer!

Plot-First (The Marvel Method)

The second major style is the legendary Marvel Method, popularized during Marvel’s Silver Age, a long ass time ago.

Rather than scripting every panel, the writer submits a story outline, sometimes only a few damn paragraphs, sometimes several pages, but basically describing the major events, emotional beats, and ending.

The artist then becomes much more than an illustrator; they are almost cowriting the comic at this point. They determine panel layouts, pacing, visual storytelling, action sequences, transitions, and often expand scenes creatively.

Then once the finished artwork gets returned, the writer writes dialogue and captions that fit the completed pages.

Pros of the Marvel Method

Artists have maximum creative freedom. They can solve storytelling visually instead of simply executing instructions.

Often produces dynamic layouts. Since artists control pacing and composition, action scenes can feel especially cinematic. Fight fight fight!

Can be faster. Writers spend less time scripting individual panels upfront. It’s maybe 1/4 of the time you would spend on a standard script, and even that might be generous.

Encourages collaboration. Writer and artist continually build on each other’s ideas. It’s probably where you’ll get the most spark of creativity, I know I did.

Cons of the Marvel Method

Requires tremendous trust. Both creator and artist must communicate well and share the same storytelling instincts. You might talk on the phone eveyr night…check in with your spouse first.

Dialogue comes last. Sometimes pages don’t leave enough room for the intended conversations, forcing rewrites. So you folks that think you’re Alan Moore, you gotta hold that shit back for a while until the art comes in.

Story pacing can drift. Without a detailed script, scenes may end up longer or shorter than intended. It’s not a tight way to write unless you have the major beats down.

History and Stuff

It’s important to remember why the Marvel Method became popular, well kinda. We can learn a lot from old things, so stay with me.

During the 1960s, Marvel was producing an enormous number of books each month with a relatively small editorial staff. Writers like Stan Lee needed a workflow that allowed them to oversee multiple titles simultaneously. So rather than scripting every page, Lee would provide plot outlines, artists like Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko would visually construct the story, and Lee would later add dialogue. The process allowed Marvel to publish books quickly. Oodles of comics’ most influential stories were created this way, for decades! That doesn’t mean it’s the right way though. So…which is the right way? The answer depends entirely on your creative team.

If you’re working with a newer artist, or you have a very specific vision, a full script usually produces the smoothest collaboration. If you’re working with an experienced storyteller whose visual instincts you trust, a plot-first approach can unlock creativity that neither collaborator would have reached alone. I tried a hybrid approach to this with my comic, Tiny Island, and really enjoyed the outcome. I still full script 99% of the time though. But you do you!

Comics are, after all, a collaborative medium. The best scripts aren’t the ones with the most words, they’re the ones that inspire great artwork, baby.

Whether you choose a detailed full script or embrace the flexibility of the Marvel Method, remember, my friends, that the goal is always the same: tell the best story possible by letting both the writer and the artist play to their strengths.

Alcee Issue 2 update

And here’s a fully colored cover of Alcee 2 from PVM and Leo! Now, we are just awaiting the final cover from interior artist Miranda Parkin, so we are just about locked and loaded on the covers. And Miranda is probably 1/4 of the way through the interior pages too. I really want to be halfway if not all the way done by launch date to ensure the issue goes out quickly.

I’m still likely eyeballing a late October launch date, and we’re up to 63 backers and without much promotion right now since Granite will launch next, so that makes me think we can easily hit 300+ on the prelaunch here. Happy to see that people are excited for the next issue. Give us a follow if you want to stay up to date on this crazy cat girl!

Interstellar Dust presents - Alcee #1 & 2 (God Drive) by C.J. Hudson — Kickstarter

Get 20% off forever

Granite: Powerless Issue 2 update

We have a tentative launch date! August 25th! I think I should be able to deliver my prior campaign (Alcee #1) digitally by the Granite launch date. Or close to it!

In other good news, we are at 214 followers, and I’m going to try and push that to 250 before launch. My goal is always to improve, always be better, so last time I launched with 125 followers, this time I’m going to try and double it. I made $7,200.00 last time, next time I want to try and push it to $8k. Would I like more? Of course! But I’m not greedy. Give the campaign a follow if you haven't already! It’s going to be EPIC!

Summit Comics - Granite: Powerless #1 & 2 by C.J. Hudson — Kickstarter

Get 20% off forever

What else?

Updates on a few other things:

• Torque is being drawn right now, with new colors being added too.

• Hunters Issue 2 has covers coming in and I hope to start receiving some interior art soon too.

• Inferna is still a work in progress, Damien is very busy, but we are hoping to make this a 2026 endeavor.

• Follow How to die in the Quad if you’re looking for more comics from me, as I have a short story in this really gorgeous looking book.

• Interstellar Dust vol. 3 is still on the way, Moy just wrapped up another issue, so we will probably Kickstart that sometime in 2027.

• Intergalactic Academy unfortunately still on hiatus for the foreseeable future. Read all the backstory now at Intergalactic Academy

Become a paid Substack subscriber!

Current Substack exclusive editions:

• Alcee #1 cover by Lane Lloyd

• Interstellar Dust - Omnibus vol. 1 TPB cover by Flops

• Hunters of the Outer Realm #1 cover by Orion Vang

Becoming a paid sub means you get first look access to artwork, scripts and tons of behind-the-scenes content that no one else gets to see (including the teases I share here). Hundreds of pages of artwork including NSFW interiors and covers will keep your eyes peeled open for hours and everything is always available for download :)

Beginning January 1st, 2025, all paid Substack subscribers will be eligible to receive a special free physical copy of select new single-issue or collected edition series released and funded through Kickstarter (or other crowdfunding site) while supplies last. This would typically be for new issue #1s and collected editions. This would be a paid tier Substack subscriber only variant, and unavailable through crowdfunding, my online store, or con exclusives. Basically, fully unique to those on Substack.

• Shipping is available anywhere in the world but would not be included for free. I will ask you, or you will confirm for me via Kickstarter or general outreach, if you would like your incentive cover before shipping (it will also be available digitally) and will send you a PayPal invoice for shipping costs. Rates for 2026 will be as follows:

  • USA: $6.00 USD

  • Canada: $20.00 USD

  • All other countries: $25.00 USD

• If you opt to support the Kickstarter campaign at any tier level, your Substack incentive cover would just be included with your standard order, and you would not be charged extra shipping, as you would already be paying it via the crowdfunding platform.

• Kickstarter now has secret reward tiers as well; I will be leveraging these going forward too and providing the links the Secret rewards behind my Paywall for subscribers. You’ll pay a small base price + shipping, the totals will not be greater than the shipping totals mentioned above though.

• Please note this is for select crowdfunded comics only, not comics that may be exclusive to the direct market, and not those comics that I did not crowdfund myself.

• You must be on the annual membership at the time the comic is successfully crowdfunded to receive your free comic. Monthly memberships are not eligible because they could just cancel right after they receive their rewards. The annual membership is actually much more cost effective compared to paying monthly.

• 2026 printed Substack Editions will be limited to 50 copies. First come, first serve.

• I will always note comics that are eligible rewards for paid subscribers.

Get 20% off forever

Extra content available! Access my exclusive google drive today!

Missed an issue? My online store is open!

Physical editions of my work are available for purchase through my online store. I have over 60 versions of my comics in addition to prints, trading cards and stickers available for purchase. This includes rare editions through Kickstarter, direct market comic book shops, and online store exclusives. Most everything I have ever worked on is available through my store including Interstellar Dust, Lycan, The Cauldron and much more.

My Online Store

Follow me on social media!

Never miss an update by following me on my social media accounts. I’m most active on X (twitter), Instagram, BlueSky and TikTok.

Social Media

Get 20% off forever

Extra content available! Access my exclusive google drive today!

Read more

A five-page short story can require a different approach than a thirty-page issue, which can require a different approach than a six-issue miniseries or an ongoing monthly title. Understanding the strengths of different story structures can help you create stories that feel complete without wasting those precious precious pages.

The 5-Page Story: The 5-Act Structure

When working with only five pages, every page really needs a purpose. One of the simplest ways to accomplish this is by assigning each page to a specific act.

Page 1: Exposition
Introduce the protagonist, setting, and central conflict.

Page 2: Rising Action
Complicate the situation and introduce obstacles.

Page 3: Climax
Present the biggest challenge or turning point.

Page 4: Falling Action
Show the immediate consequences of the climax.

Page 5: Resolution
Deliver the ending and leave the reader satisfied.

This structure is absolutely effective for anthology stories or backup features. Because the page count is so minimal you also have to be very diligent with how lay the story out, so a page breakdown is essential here. I mean, you should do that always, but here it’s pretty vital.

The Standard Comic Issue: The 7-Point Structure

For a typical 22-to-32-page comic, I prefer the 7-Point Structure because it naturally creates momentum while allowing enough room for character development.

The major beats are:

1. Hook

2. Plot Turn One

3. Pinch Point One

4. Midpoint

5. Pinch Point Two

6. Plot Turn Two

7. Resolution

This approach creates multiple turning points throughout the issue and helps avoid the common problem of spending too many pages on setup before the story actually begins.

A 24-page issue might spend the first few pages on the Hook, hit the first major turnaround page 5 or 6, reach the Midpoint around page 12, and then build toward a climactic finish in the final pages.

For many comic creators, this structure feels like the perfect balance between flexibility and discipline. I use this a lot with one shots particularly.

The Miniseries: A 3-Act Structure Built Across Multiple Issues

A 4-to-6 issue miniseries benefits from thinking bigger I feel. If I may be so bold, rather than treating every issue as an isolated story, consider the entire series as one large 3-Act Structure.

Act One
Issues #1-2 establish the world, characters, and central conflict.

Act Two
The middle issues escalate the stakes and create setbacks.

Act Three
The final issues deliver the climax and resolution.

The key is that each individual issue should still contain its own beginning, middle, and end. Readers want every installment to feel satisfying while still pulling them into the next chapter. Give them a reason to turn that page!

Think of the series as a season of television. Each episode tells a story, but all of them contribute to a larger narrative.

Ongoing Series: Hero’s Journey and Major Story Arcs

Ongoing comics present a unique challenge because there is no final page on the horizon. Instead of structuring the entire series, it’s often more useful to structure individual story arcs. This is where frameworks like the Hero’s Journey or the 7-Point Structure shine.

A hero might begin as an inexperienced newcomer, face trials, suffer defeats, gain allies, and ultimately emerge transformed by the end of a six-issue arc. The next arc then presents a new challenge and a new opportunity for growth.

Long-running superhero comics have used this approach for decades. While the series itself may continue indefinitely, individual arcs still provide complete character journeys and hopefully satisfying payoffs…hope being the key word, because its up to you to stick the landing.

Final thoughts…it’s all up to you, boo

Story structures are tools, not rules, doll. No structure will magically make a comic great, but the right structure can make it easier to deliver a story that feels complete and engaging, at least that’s what I believe.

The goal isn’t to force your story into a formula, it’s to choose a framework that helps your story reach its full potential. At the end of the day, you make the call though.

Keep creating, baby.

Gridlocked: Torque update

Torque is a slow and steady burn with pages coming in periodically and that’s all good because I want somethings to move slower so I can afford to focus on more comics. Like BoA, Torque will come out when it’s ready. I don’t like rushing through projects, some comics take a while to perfect, and that’s all good. One of the biggest issues creators have is forcing a project out before its ready. Take your time and let some things simmer if you can, put some thought into how you want it brought out into the world, and I think you’ll be better for it.

Alcee: God Drive update

Little taste of a new Alcee cover coming when issue 2 launches. We almost have a full slate of covers done and Miranda is cranking away on the interior pages. Still likely won’t launch until October at the earliest, but I’m getting more and more excited to see how Alcee fares against the new set of obstacles Chris and I have put in front of her. She’s a wonderful character to write, and the spin off has given new life to the ongoing Interstellar Dust series too.

More on ID, I actually just signed a translation deal with Polish publisher Diablaq to translate and distribute the ID omnibus in Poland. I’m hoping I can get more translation deals for my best-known series and keep grinding away on more one shots too to help the world I’m developing.

We’re up to 52 backers and without much promotion right now since Granite will launch next. Happy to see that people are excited for the next issue. Give us a follow if you want to stay up to date!

Interstellar Dust presents - Alcee #1 & 2 (God Drive) by C.J. Hudson — Kickstarter

Get 20% off forever

Granite: Powerless Issue 2 update

I think Clau has maybe 4 more pages to color and then issue 2 is ready is to launch! I’ll probably get the lettering started in the next few weeks. I’m stoked to get the next Granite issue out there. I love exploring the idea of a hero not only losing their powers, but their celebrity status too. Having everything ripped away from them in the blink of an eye. What becomes of that person, who even are they any longer? The second arc of powerless recently amps up that exploration and introduces a fun new villain too.

Sumit Comics continues to defy the odds and has funded every single one of their comics thus far. We’re just 7 backers away from our 200 prelaunch follower goal for Granite: Powerless #2. I’m honestly in awe at how many people follow the prelaunch for this little superhero comic book. I promise to make each issue something to look forward too. No filler, all kiler.

Summit Comics - Granite: Powerless #1 & 2 by C.J. Hudson — Kickstarter

Get 20% off forever

What else?

Updates on a few other things:

• Torque is being drawn right now, with new colors being added too.

• Hunters Issue 2 has covers coming in and I hope to start receiving some interior art soon too.

• Inferna is still a work in progress, Damien is very busy, but we are hoping to make this a 2026 endeavor.

• Follow How to die in the Quad if you’re looking for more comics from me, as I have a short story in this really gorgeous looking book.

• Interstellar Dust vol. 3 is still on the way, Moy just wrapped up another issue, so we will probably Kickstart that sometime in 2027.

• Intergalactic Academy unfortunately still on hiatus for the foreseeable future. Read all the backstory now at Intergalactic Academy

Become a paid Substack subscriber!

Current Substack exclusive editions:

• Alcee #1 cover by Lane Lloyd

• Interstellar Dust - Omnibus vol. 1 TPB cover by Flops

• Hunters of the Outer Realm #1 cover by Orion Vang

Becoming a paid sub means you get first look access to artwork, scripts and tons of behind-the-scenes content that no one else gets to see (including the teases I share here). Hundreds of pages of artwork including NSFW interiors and covers will keep your eyes peeled open for hours and everything is always available for download :)

Beginning January 1st, 2025, all paid Substack subscribers will be eligible to receive a special free physical copy of select new single-issue or collected edition series released and funded through Kickstarter (or other crowdfunding site) while supplies last. This would typically be for new issue #1s and collected editions. This would be a paid tier Substack subscriber only variant, and unavailable through crowdfunding, my online store, or con exclusives. Basically, fully unique to those on Substack.

• Shipping is available anywhere in the world but would not be included for free. I will ask you, or you will confirm for me via Kickstarter or general outreach, if you would like your incentive cover before shipping (it will also be available digitally) and will send you a PayPal invoice for shipping costs. Rates for 2026 will be as follows:

  • USA: $6.00 USD

  • Canada: $20.00 USD

  • All other countries: $25.00 USD

• If you opt to support the Kickstarter campaign at any tier level, your Substack incentive cover would just be included with your standard order, and you would not be charged extra shipping, as you would already be paying it via the crowdfunding platform.

• Kickstarter now has secret reward tiers as well; I will be leveraging these going forward too and providing the links the Secret rewards behind my Paywall for subscribers. You’ll pay a small base price + shipping, the totals will not be greater than the shipping totals mentioned above though.

• Please note this is for select crowdfunded comics only, not comics that may be exclusive to the direct market, and not those comics that I did not crowdfund myself.

• You must be on the annual membership at the time the comic is successfully crowdfunded to receive your free comic. Monthly memberships are not eligible because they could just cancel right after they receive their rewards. The annual membership is actually much more cost effective compared to paying monthly.

• 2026 printed Substack Editions will be limited to 50 copies. First come, first serve.

• I will always note comics that are eligible rewards for paid subscribers.

Get 20% off forever

Extra content available! Access my exclusive google drive today!

Missed an issue? My online store is open!

Physical editions of my work are available for purchase through my online store. I have over 60 versions of my comics in addition to prints, trading cards and stickers available for purchase. This includes rare editions through Kickstarter, direct market comic book shops, and online store exclusives. Most everything I have ever worked on is available through my store including Interstellar Dust, Lycan, The Cauldron and much more.

My Online Store

Follow me on social media!

Never miss an update by following me on my social media accounts. I’m most active on X (twitter), Instagram, BlueSky and TikTok.

Social Media

Get 20% off forever

Extra content available! Access my exclusive google drive today!

Read more

Have I rushed projects before? Absolutely.

I used to think getting a story out quickly would improve my chances of being noticed. I threw campaign pages together with minimal graphics or anything remotely eye-catching because I convinced myself it was “good enough,” and that the hard work behind the comic would speak for itself.

In the process, I neglected two steadfast rules:

• Comics are a visual medium, so your best visuals need to sell your idea.

• Always ask for a second opinion, because you’re biased toward your own work.

If you aren’t following those rules, there’s a good chance you’ve struggled to fund a Kickstarter. I know I have.

Now I make sure everything looks top-notch. I want visuals that demand attention and invite people to stop scrolling. And when I’m done, I ask people I trust what they think. If they disagree or suggest changes, I genuinely consider their feedback instead of brushing it aside. Of course, advice can sometimes be wrong, which is why you shouldn’t rely on just one opinion. Ask several people. But if you’re hearing a strong consensus that your Kickstarter page needs improvements, you should probably listen.

What’s two more pages of art or a few additional graphics when you’ve already invested hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars into launching your comic? Don’t rush your masterpiece. Give it the time and energy it deserves.

People are fickle, and attention spans are short. If your project isn’t firing on all cylinders, potential readers will move on to something else. No matter how strong the writing may be, if the visuals don’t immediately connect, getting your work out into the world becomes much harder.

Bearer of Ages update

Bearer of Ages issue 4 is halfway colored! I’m still a ways out from launching anything, here maybe once I have half the entire series done, I’ll consider launching, but that would be 2027 at the earliest. For now, feast your eyes on this beauty from Atula and Spell.

Alcee: God Drive update

We’re still working through both Alcee issues and I’m loving how God Drive is turning out. I’m working with one more cover artist to get all the cover offerings squared away and then it’s just the interiors we have to worry about. Once we get to the halfway point there, we will likely consider launching the next Kickstarter, but that wouldn’t be until October at the earliest.

The prelaunch for issue 2 is up now! We are still several months out before launch though, likely October.

Interstellar Dust presents - Alcee #1 & 2 (God Drive) by C.J. Hudson — Kickstarter

Get 20% off forever

Granite: Powerless Issue 2 update

Fulfillment of issue 1 is now complete. I sent out over 120 physical packages, which wasn’t horrible, but it’s definitely a whole thing to do too haha. I’ve now set my sights squarely on my next launch and everything is shaping up nicely. I just need a few more interior pages colored, and I think I’ll be all set to launch, which I’m aiming for in early July. I really need to have Alcee digital fulfillment started by then though, so I have a few things to consider there. Regardless, you will see another issue of Granite launch this year!

Last week I spoke about making some cover changes due to Kickstarter enforcing some of their NSFW policies, now it sounds like they have reversed course and won’t be nearly as stringent as they were before. I’ll probably still keep the same cover selections though…I like ‘em!

Follow along with the issue 2 prelaunch if you like buff women!

Summit Comics - Granite: Powerless #1 & 2 by C.J. Hudson — Kickstarter

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What else?

Updates on a few other things:

• Torque is being drawn right now, with new colors being added too.

• Hunters Issue 2 has covers coming in and I hope to start receiving some interior art soon too.

• Inferna is still a work in progress, Damien is very busy, but we are hoping to make this a 2026 endeavor.

• Follow How to die in the Quad if you’re looking for more comics from me, as I have a short story in this really gorgeous looking book.

• Interstellar Dust vol. 3 is still on the way, Moy just wrapped up another issue, so we will probably Kickstart that sometime in 2027.

• Intergalactic Academy unfortunately still on hiatus for the foreseeable future. Read all the backstory now at Intergalactic Academy

Become a paid Substack subscriber!

Current Substack exclusive editions:

• Interstellar Dust - Omnibus vol. 1 TPB cover by Flops

• Hunters of the Outer Realm #1 cover by Orion Vang

• Alcee #1 cover by Lane Lloyd (upcoming)

Becoming a paid sub means you get first look access to artwork, scripts and tons of behind-the-scenes content that no one else gets to see (including the teases I share here). Hundreds of pages of artwork including NSFW interiors and covers will keep your eyes peeled open for hours and everything is always available for download :)

Beginning January 1st, 2025, all paid Substack subscribers will be eligible to receive a special free physical copy of select new single-issue or collected edition series released and funded through Kickstarter (or other crowdfunding site) while supplies last. This would typically be for new issue #1s and collected editions. This would be a paid tier Substack subscriber only variant, and unavailable through crowdfunding, my online store, or con exclusives. Basically, fully unique to those on Substack.

• Shipping is available anywhere in the world but would not be included for free. I will ask you, or you will confirm for me via Kickstarter or general outreach, if you would like your incentive cover before shipping (it will also be available digitally) and will send you a PayPal invoice for shipping costs. Rates for 2026 will be as follows:

  • USA: $6.00 USD

  • Canada: $20.00 USD

  • All other countries: $25.00 USD

• If you opt to support the Kickstarter campaign at any tier level, your Substack incentive cover would just be included with your standard order, and you would not be charged extra shipping, as you would already be paying it via the crowdfunding platform.

• Kickstarter now has secret reward tiers as well; I will be leveraging these going forward too and providing the links the Secret rewards behind my Paywall for subscribers. You’ll pay a small base price + shipping, the totals will not be greater than the shipping totals mentioned above though.

• Please note this is for select crowdfunded comics only, not comics that may be exclusive to the direct market, and not those comics that I did not crowdfund myself.

• You must be on the annual membership at the time the comic is successfully crowdfunded to receive your free comic. Monthly memberships are not eligible because they could just cancel right after they receive their rewards. The annual membership is actually much more cost effective compared to paying monthly.

• 2026 printed Substack Editions will be limited to 50 copies. First come, first serve.

• I will always note comics that are eligible rewards for paid subscribers.

Get 20% off forever

Extra content available! Access my exclusive google drive today!

Missed an issue? My online store is open!

Physical editions of my work are available for purchase through my online store. I have over 60 versions of my comics in addition to prints, trading cards and stickers available for purchase. This includes rare editions through Kickstarter, direct market comic book shops, and online store exclusives. Most everything I have ever worked on is available through my store including Interstellar Dust, Lycan, The Cauldron and much more.

My Online Store

Follow me on social media!

Never miss an update by following me on my social media accounts. I’m most active on X (twitter), Instagram, BlueSky and TikTok.

Social Media

Get 20% off forever

Extra content available! Access my exclusive google drive today!

Read more

Technically, many of these guidelines have always existed, but for years they felt more like a “hey, don’t do that… wink wink” situation than something actively enforced. Now, however, creators are seeing real restrictions around what can and cannot be shown on campaign pages. Whether this shift is happening to appease payment processors or as part of a broader move away from smaller creators and mature content altogether almost doesn’t matter. The reality is simple: it just became harder to fund comics.

For many indie creators, Kickstarter represented freedom. It allowed creators to bypass the traditional gatekeepers; publishers and distributors who historically dictated what could and couldn’t be published, and connect directly with readers. For a long time, it worked beautifully. Creators funded projects, readers discovered unique books they’d never find in the direct market, and crowdfunding became a thriving ecosystem for experimentation.

Over time, though, more erotic and mature content flooded the platform. Some campaigns leaned heavily into “cover mill” tactics: minimal interiors, excessive variant covers, and in some unfortunate cases, projects that never fulfilled at all. That understandably left a bad taste in the mouths of some backers and many creators too.

But it’s important not to paint everyone with the same brush. Publishers like Lifeline Comics, Cheeky Comics, and Bad Bug have consistently produced quality mature books and fulfilled on their promises. Pat Shand’s Cheeky Comics in particular remains one of my personal favorites on the platform. They produce genuinely excellent comics…period.

That aside, an additional problem I foresee is that these new restrictions may hit newer creators the hardest. People came to Kickstarter looking for something different, something riskier, something outside the boundaries of the traditional comic market. That edge was part of the appeal. Sure, creators can adapt by toning down imagery or avoiding certain content, but experimentation becomes harder when creators are constantly worried about crossing invisible lines.

For many indie creators, mature content also financially supports everything else they want to make. Alcee, for example, is far from an erotic comic, but its success gives me the ability to pursue more experimental projects that might otherwise struggle financially. I can take risks elsewhere because I know Alcee (and Interstellar Dust) has built an audience and a sustainable brand over time. Many newer creators won’t have that luxury.

At the same time, larger publishers have increasingly begun testing the crowdfunding waters, and I suspect we’ll see far more of that in the years ahead. Why wouldn’t they? Crowdfunding offers direct consumer access, built-in marketing, and higher profit potential.

For a long time, I actually thought this would benefit indie creators too. More eyes on the platform meant more opportunities for everyone. But with the playing field starting to shift, I’m no longer convinced the ecosystem remains sustainable for smaller creators.

Indie comics often differentiated themselves through content mainstream publishers wouldn’t touch: mature themes, violence, sexuality, experimental storytelling, and niche genres. If many of those edges are now being removed, indie creators may lose some of the very things that helped them stand out in the first place.

Established creators will probably be okay. They’ve already built audiences and can pivot to other platforms if necessary. But newer creators? They may find themselves trying to compete against major publishers without the same resources, recognition, or safety nets…and that worries me.

Anthologies, for example, used to be how creators cut their teeth in comics. They were proving grounds…opportunities to build credits, experiment, network, and slowly establish yourself before carrying an entire book on your own shoulders. But many of those opportunities have dried up, forcing newer creators to jump directly into crowdfunding before they’re financially or creatively ready.

And that raises an uncomfortable question: if short story opportunities disappear, Kickstarter campaigns become harder to fund, and the direct market continues shrinking its acceptance of outside pitches…what happens to everyone else?

I hope I’ll be one of the lucky ones. But more than that, I want a thriving indie comics community on Kickstarter, not just a handful of survivors competing alongside major publishers.

BoA Issue 4 in living color

Bearer of Ages is still moving along. I have the first 3 issues loaded to my googledrive for paid subs if you ever want to check them out. Spell is doing a fantastic job with the colors here. Once he catches up to Atula, who is drawing issue 5, Spell is planning to move over to Interstellar Dust again. Here’s a cool spread of warring clans in feudal Japan!

Alcee: God Drive in production

Alcee issue 2 has 3 pages done and they all look awesome. Banger script from Christiopher Albright, gorgeous art from Miranda Parkin, and the covers, oh baby the covers! We will miss Sky Hawkins, but Sky has to work on some other projects, and honestly changing artists with every issue is my preference (we got her for a cover at least!). Right now, we have 3 issues planned, all standalone stories, but we may do more, we shall see.

The prelaunch for issue 2 is up now! We are still several months out before launch though, likely October. So I won’t be launching prior to fulfillment of issue 1 being done. Gotta deliver what I promised first!

Interstellar Dust presents - Alcee #1 & 2 (God Drive) by C.J. Hudson — Kickstarter

Get 20% off forever

Granite is powerless!

Powerless and Separation Anxiety are fulfilled! Nearly every package has been delivered and I’m getting some wonderful feedback from the readers. More Granite incoming!

On that note, I’ve been forced to make a few changes to the upcoming crowdfunding campaign. Interiors won’t change, but how I market them has to change due to the new Kickstarter rules (see above). There will still be loads of action and fun, but I just won’t be able to show them as easily as I once did. Unfortunately, that means pushing off my Kyler Clodfelter cover and replacing it with something a little tamer. I also clearly can’t use it as my banner image any longer either. Thankfully, I’ve been banking covers for months, so plugging in alternatives is no big deal, and I have a great cover to replace it in mind already, it’s just a bummer because it’s messing up my flow!

Powerless issue 2 is being colored at this very moment, and I plan on getting going on Powerless issue 3 soon enough, I just have to wrap up a few other things first. My goal is 200 followers before launch, so follow along if you like buff women!

Summit Comics - Granite: Powerless #1 & 2 by C.J. Hudson — Kickstarter

Get 20% off forever

What else?

Updates on a few other things:

• Torque is being drawn right now, with new colors being added too.

• Hunters Issue 2 has covers coming in and I hope to start receiving some interior art soon too.

• Inferna is still a work in progress, Damien is very busy, but we are hoping to make this a 2026 endeavor.

• Follow How to die in the Quad if you’re looking for more comics from me, as I have a short story in this really gorgeous looking book.

• Interstellar Dust vol. 3 is still on the way, Moy just wrapped up another issue, so we will probably Kickstart that sometime in 2027.

• Intergalactic Academy unfortunately still on hiatus for the foreseeable future. Read all the backstory now at Intergalactic Academy

Become a paid Substack subscriber!

Current Substack exclusive editions:

• Interstellar Dust - Omnibus vol. 1 TPB cover by Flops

• Hunters of the Outer Realm #1 cover by Orion Vang

• Alcee #1 cover by Lane Lloyd (upcoming)

Becoming a paid sub means you get first look access to artwork, scripts and tons of behind-the-scenes content that no one else gets to see (including the teases I share here). Hundreds of pages of artwork including NSFW interiors and covers will keep your eyes peeled open for hours and everything is always available for download :)

Beginning January 1st, 2025, all paid Substack subscribers will be eligible to receive a special free physical copy of select new single-issue or collected edition series released and funded through Kickstarter (or other crowdfunding site) while supplies last. This would typically be for new issue #1s and collected editions. This would be a paid tier Substack subscriber only variant, and unavailable through crowdfunding, my online store, or con exclusives. Basically, fully unique to those on Substack.

• Shipping is available anywhere in the world but would not be included for free. I will ask you, or you will confirm for me via Kickstarter or general outreach, if you would like your incentive cover before shipping (it will also be available digitally) and will send you a PayPal invoice for shipping costs. Rates for 2026 will be as follows:

  • USA: $6.00 USD

  • Canada: $20.00 USD

  • All other countries: $25.00 USD

• If you opt to support the Kickstarter campaign at any tier level, your Substack incentive cover would just be included with your standard order, and you would not be charged extra shipping, as you would already be paying it via the crowdfunding platform.

• Kickstarter now has secret reward tiers as well; I will be leveraging these going forward too and providing the links the Secret rewards behind my Paywall for subscribers. You’ll pay a small base price + shipping, the totals will not be greater than the shipping totals mentioned above though.

• Please note this is for select crowdfunded comics only, not comics that may be exclusive to the direct market, and not those comics that I did not crowdfund myself.

• You must be on the annual membership at the time the comic is successfully crowdfunded to receive your free comic. Monthly memberships are not eligible because they could just cancel right after they receive their rewards. The annual membership is actually much more cost effective compared to paying monthly.

• 2026 printed Substack Editions will be limited to 50 copies. First come, first serve.

• I will always note comics that are eligible rewards for paid subscribers.

Get 20% off forever

Extra content available! Access my exclusive google drive today!

Missed an issue? My online store is open!

Physical editions of my work are available for purchase through my online store. I have over 60 versions of my comics in addition to prints, trading cards and stickers available for purchase. This includes rare editions through Kickstarter, direct market comic book shops, and online store exclusives. Most everything I have ever worked on is available through my store including Interstellar Dust, Lycan, The Cauldron and much more.

My Online Store

Follow me on social media!

Never miss an update by following me on my social media accounts. I’m most active on X (twitter), Instagram, BlueSky and TikTok.

Social Media

Get 20% off forever

Extra content available! Access my exclusive google drive today!

Read more

The key to making it work is simple in theory but often ignored in practice: define ownership upfront, in writing, before anything goes to print. Every character should have a clear owner, and any crossover appearance should come with agreed-upon terms, especially when it comes to reprints, future use, and monetization. If one creator’s character appears in another creator’s book, both parties need to understand exactly what that means long-term. Can that issue be reprinted by both creators? Can the character appear again without permission? These aren’t necessarily fun or sexy conversations, but they’re essential ones to establish clear ownership for all participating creators and their characters.

Equally important is having a central framework that governs how the universe operates as a whole. This doesn’t mean stripping creators of their independence, it means creating a shared rulebook, so everyone is playing the same game. Things like branding, dispute resolution, and even marketing expectations should be standardized with lots and lots of policies. Without them, you risk fragmentation and open yourself up for potential legal dispute later. Tackle those hard questions early so you can focus on the good stuff later on. At Summit Comics we went through this exact exorcise and I’m very pleased we did it early, because if we waited too long it could have created a lot of confusion for creators when it came to defining the rules we all needed to adhere to.

At the end of the day, the goal is to strike a balance between collaboration and control. Creators need to feel protected in what they’ve built, while still being open to playing in a larger sandbox. When done right, a shared universe can elevate everyone involved, creating opportunities that wouldn’t exist in isolation. But getting there requires more than just good ideas, it requires clear agreements, mutual respect, and the discipline to treat creativity like a business when it needs to be. Simply put, creating comics isn’t all fun and games, there’s an essential business side that simply can’t be ignored.

Alcee: God Drive in production

Alcee is wrapped, and here comes Alcee! That’s right…we are working on a brand-new issue of Alcee with a plan to launch the new issue in October of this year. Provided that we have fulfilled issue 1 by then of course. I don’t want any more than 2 series in post-production at any given time, and never more than 1 issue of a series that still needs to be fulfilled. That’s just a personal standard I set for myself, as I want to ensure my primary focus in getting people what they paid for once a campaign wraps. If you missed the first issue, late pledges are still open, so feel free to check out the series at your leisure. There’s a little peek at the next issues art below too!

As a reminder for my dear readers, you can still access the Alcee Substack Exclusive cover while late pledges are active. I’ll continue to offer the limited-edition Substack exclusive cover for Alcee to all my paid annual subscribers for another month or so. The secret links are available below the pay wall at the end of the newsletter. The cover is $1 + shipping. Limited to 50 copies and released sporadically across my campaigns. It’s only available to you paid subscribers as a special thank you for putting up with my yammering’s.

Interstellar Dust presents: Alcee - NSFW Sci-FI Action by C.J. Hudson — Kickstarte

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Fan fic is my jam

Ahmed Rafaat and I worked a short Daredevil fan fic project, and it turned out really well I think! It’s being lettered by Micah Myers right now and then we will figure out what we want to do with it. My fan fic collaborator, Frank Martin, is working on his own Daredevil fan fic, so we may just do what I did with my Batgirl fan fic and offera free bootleg as a limited printed run. We shall see…I’m working on a longer full issue Cable/Wolverine fan fic right now too. Not sure if it will see the light of day, but it’s fun to work on at least!

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Granite is ramping up

Granite will be back with a tentative launch date of June for issue 2 of Powerless, but for now feel free to follow along with the prelaunch page. We are up to 161 followers already, I think 2 weeks ago we were only at 114! The new covers are rolling in, and the interior pages are being colored right now by Clau Violette (small preview below). I’ll share more progress in the weeks ahead.

Summit Comics - Granite: Powerless #1 & 2 (Rated MA) by C.J. Hudson — Kickstarter

I’m also fulfilling solo purchases of Granite: Separation Anxiety and can hopefully start fulfilling Powerless issue 1 next week. The order is in with the printer so I should have those copies any day now.

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What else?

Updates on a few other things:

• Bearer of Ages issue 3 is completely colored and available to view via my googledrive. We will then move on to issue 4.

• Torque is being drawn right now, with new colors being added too.

• Hunters Issue 2 has covers coming in and I hope to start receiving some interior art soon too.

• Inferna is still a work in progress, Damien is very busy, but we are hoping to make this a 2026 endeavor.

• Follow How to die in the Quad if you’re looking for more comics from me, as I have a short story in this really gorgeous looking book.

• Interstellar Dust vol. 3 is still on the way, Moy just wrapped up another issue, so we will probably Kickstart that sometime in 2027.

• Intergalactic Academy unfortunately still on hiatus for the foreseeable future. Read all the backstory now at Intergalactic Academy

Become a paid Substack subscriber!

Current Substack exclusive editions:

• Interstellar Dust - Omnibus vol. 1 TPB cover by Flops

• Hunters of the Outer Realm #1 cover by Orion Vang

• Alcee #1 cover by Lane Lloyd (upcoming)

Becoming a paid sub means you get first look access to artwork, scripts and tons of behind-the-scenes content that no one else gets to see (including the teases I share here). Hundreds of pages of artwork including NSFW interiors and covers will keep your eyes peeled open for hours and everything is always available for download :)

Beginning January 1st, 2025, all paid Substack subscribers will be eligible to receive a special free physical copy of select new single-issue or collected edition series released and funded through Kickstarter (or other crowdfunding site) while supplies last. This would typically be for new issue #1s and collected editions. This would be a paid tier Substack subscriber only variant, and unavailable through crowdfunding, my online store, or con exclusives. Basically, fully unique to those on Substack.

• Shipping is available anywhere in the world but would not be included for free. I will ask you, or you will confirm for me via Kickstarter or general outreach, if you would like your incentive cover before shipping (it will also be available digitally) and will send you a PayPal invoice for shipping costs. Rates for 2026 will be as follows:

  • USA: $6.00 USD

  • Canada: $20.00 USD

  • All other countries: $25.00 USD

• If you opt to support the Kickstarter campaign at any tier level, your Substack incentive cover would just be included with your standard order, and you would not be charged extra shipping, as you would already be paying it via the crowdfunding platform.

• Kickstarter now has secret reward tiers as well; I will be leveraging these going forward too and providing the links the Secret rewards behind my Paywall for subscribers. You’ll pay a small base price + shipping, the totals will not be greater than the shipping totals mentioned above though.

• Please note this is for select crowdfunded comics only, not comics that may be exclusive to the direct market, and not those comics that I did not crowdfund myself.

• You must be on the annual membership at the time the comic is successfully crowdfunded to receive your free comic. Monthly memberships are not eligible because they could just cancel right after they receive their rewards. The annual membership is actually much more cost effective compared to paying monthly.

• 2026 printed Substack Editions will be limited to 50 copies. First come, first serve.

• I will always note comics that are eligible rewards for paid subscribers.

Get 20% off forever

Extra content available! Access my exclusive google drive today!

Missed an issue? My online store is open!

Physical editions of my work are available for purchase through my online store. I have over 60 versions of my comics in addition to prints, trading cards and stickers available for purchase. This includes rare editions through Kickstarter, direct market comic book shops, and online store exclusives. Most everything I have ever worked on is available through my store including Interstellar Dust, Lycan, The Cauldron and much more.

My Online Store

Follow me on social media!

Never miss an update by following me on my social media accounts. I’m most active on X (twitter), Instagram, BlueSky and TikTok.

Social Media

Get 20% off forever

Extra content available! Access my exclusive google drive today!

Read more

And it’s both an easy and hard question to answer because it’s often times something specific, or its often times anything and everything you could possibly imagine.

Confused yet? Me to.

I don’t always come up with ideas from a sense of, “here’s a story I want to tell.” Sometimes it’s like that, but often times it isn’t.

Vigia started as just a vision of a woman walking on a desolate planet with her AI companion floating alongside her, an orb, which could have been anything really, though I knew it would be sentient and could communicate with the lead character. The conspiracy, the alien zombies, the mechs…that all came later. The thing that stuck with me was this vision of loneliness, of isolation, I wanted to capture that and build a story around it. I quickly commissioned a character design and cover, and from there everything fell into place, the vision of this woman came first, everything else came afterwards. Hard to imagine a 5-issue mini-series, one of my first projects, just came from this still image, but it happened.

With Interstellar Dust I felt like I wanted to fill a void of a mature sci-fi comic. Something that I hadn’t seen outside of short stories in quite some time. Something raw and real, but also messy and insane. There wasn’t anything like ID when I first began publishing it in 2020, and there isn’t now either. It’s geared towards adults; it takes its inspiration from Heavy Metal Magazine and Euro comics with vibrant backgrounds and far-fetched ideas. I wanted a subtle commentary on prison reform; I wanted flawed characters who society had shunned and maybe even reviled. I like to imbed those characters into stories, not preach about them, but place them for people to enjoy and hopefully relate to, or even come to sympathize with.

For Hunters of the Outer Real, I knew I wanted a monster hunter story, something insanely gorgeous to look at. A ridiculous spectacle of art that’s only real purpose was to entertain. Why monsters? I have no idea; I just thought I had a fun angle on it. A man at the end of his ropes who would do anything to help his family. The story is simplistic, but the art is fantastic. Guns and monsters are a tried-and-true formula, never discount it. And if you want to tell your own story involving the same elements…please do. Every story has been done before to one degree or another, just make yours as original as you can.

My stories come from everywhere.

Some stories are complex and force you to question what the heck you’re even reading. Some stories are character driven, some are story driven, and some make sense only to the creative team who concocted them. All are acceptable and welcome forms of entertainment. Create what you want, however you want to create it. Just do it well. Ensure the writing and art are capable enough to highlight your skills and showcase what you want to say. Creating comics is a labor of love, so if you’re going to do it, put everything you’ve got into it.

3-day countdown for Alcee

Alcee is hovering around 1200% funded! Only a few days left now. As a reminder, variants are limited. NSFW covers are limited to 100 units, and other variants are all print to order plus a small batch of extras. I don’t reprint variants, only the standard edition cover is perennial. So if you see a cover you want, jump on it now as I have covers that have sold out and now live on eBay only through third parties. Just check out the Flops variant of Granite or the Angela Wu variant of Tiny Island. They are gone baby gone!

As a reminder for my dear readers, I have a limited-edition Substack exclusive cover for Alcee available to all my paid annual subscribers. The secret links are available below the pay wall at the end of the newsletter. The cover is $1 + shipping. Limited to 50 copies and released sporadically across my campaigns. It’s only available to you paid subscribers as a special thank you for putting up with my yammering’s.

Interstellar Dust presents: Alcee - NSFW Sci-FI Action by C.J. Hudson — Kickstarte

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My first work for Cheeky Comics

I snagged my first comic book work from Cheeky Comics! It was a complete dream come true for me, as I have a lot of respect for Pat Shand as a publisher, and particularly a writer. His Private Dance is easily the best slice of life comic being published right now, and Space Between Entertainment (Cheeky’s parent company) is an absolute force of nature putting out banger after banger. Fans are eating good right now!

So needless to say, when I got asked to pitch, I was elated, as working for Cheeky, one of the biggest publishers on Kickstarter, was a goal of mine for a quite a while. So after I tossed a few ideas their way one got picked up and the rest is history. I’m now a “cheeky” man! The short was released digitally the other day, and I believe will be collected with other shorts at some point in the future.

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Granite in prelaunch, Upheaval fully funded

Granite will be back with a tentative launch date of June, but for now feel free to follow along with the prelaunch page. We are up to 114 followers already! The new covers are rolling in, and the interior pages are being colored right now. I’ll share more progress in the weeks ahead and show you how things are progressing.

Also! Summit Comics has yet another Kickstarter rolling! Upheaval has returned and she is fully funded! That’s 4 successful campaigns in a row for Summit, with no signs of slowing down any time soon. Head over to the Upheaval page, brought to you by indie royalty Travis Gibb and Brian Wolf, and snag a cover or two. You can find all of Summit’s upcoming campaigns here.

Summit Comics - Granite: Powerless #1 & 2 (Rated MA) by C.J. Hudson — Kickstarter

SUMMIT COMIC - UPHEAVAL #1-2 - ACTION/ADVENTURE - SUPERHERO by Travis Gibb — Kickstarter

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What else?

Updates on a few other things:

• Bearer of Ages issue 3 is nearly completely colored. We will then move on to issue 4.

• Torque is being drawn right now, with new colors being added too.

• Hunters Issue 2 has covers coming in and I hope to start receiving some interior art soon too.

• Inferna is still a work in progress, Damien is very busy, but we are hoping to make this a 2026 endeavor.

• Follow How to die in the Quad if you’re looking for more comics from me, as I have a short story in this really gorgeous looking book.

• Interstellar Dust vol. 3 is still on the way, but with Moy working at DC as well that means some things are delayed, but that’s ok, ID is always worth the wait.

• Intergalactic Academy unfortunately still on hiatus for the foreseeable future. Read all the backstory now at Intergalactic Academy

Become a paid Substack subscriber!

Current Substack exclusive editions:

• Interstellar Dust - Omnibus vol. 1 TPB cover by Flops

• Hunters of the Outer Realm #1 cover by Orion Vang

• Alcee #1 cover by Lane Lloyd (upcoming)

Becoming a paid sub means you get first look access to artwork, scripts and tons of behind-the-scenes content that no one else gets to see (including the teases I share here). Hundreds of pages of artwork including NSFW interiors and covers will keep your eyes peeled open for hours and everything is always available for download :)

Beginning January 1st, 2025, all paid Substack subscribers will be eligible to receive a special free physical copy of select new single-issue or collected edition series released and funded through Kickstarter (or other crowdfunding site) while supplies last. This would typically be for new issue #1s and collected editions. This would be a paid tier Substack subscriber only variant, and unavailable through crowdfunding, my online store, or con exclusives. Basically, fully unique to those on Substack.

• Shipping is available anywhere in the world but would not be included for free. I will ask you, or you will confirm for me via Kickstarter or general outreach, if you would like your incentive cover before shipping (it will also be available digitally) and will send you a PayPal invoice for shipping costs. Rates for 2026 will be as follows:

  • USA: $6.00 USD

  • Canada: $20.00 USD

  • All other countries: $25.00 USD

• If you opt to support the Kickstarter campaign at any tier level, your Substack incentive cover would just be included with your standard order, and you would not be charged extra shipping, as you would already be paying it via the crowdfunding platform.

• Kickstarter now has secret reward tiers as well; I will be leveraging these going forward too and providing the links the Secret rewards behind my Paywall for subscribers. You’ll pay a small base price + shipping, the totals will not be greater than the shipping totals mentioned above though.

• Please note this is for select crowdfunded comics only, not comics that may be exclusive to the direct market, and not those comics that I did not crowdfund myself.

• You must be on the annual membership at the time the comic is successfully crowdfunded to receive your free comic. Monthly memberships are not eligible because they could just cancel right after they receive their rewards. The annual membership is actually much more cost effective compared to paying monthly.

• 2026 printed Substack Editions will be limited to 50 copies. First come, first serve.

• I will always note comics that are eligible rewards for paid subscribers.

Get 20% off forever

Extra content available! Access my exclusive google drive today!

Missed an issue? My online store is open!

Physical editions of my work are available for purchase through my online store. I have over 60 versions of my comics in addition to prints, trading cards and stickers available for purchase. This includes rare editions through Kickstarter, direct market comic book shops, and online store exclusives. Most everything I have ever worked on is available through my store including Interstellar Dust, Lycan, The Cauldron and much more.

My Online Store

Follow me on social media!

Never miss an update by following me on my social media accounts. I’m most active on X (twitter), Instagram, BlueSky and TikTok.

Social Media

Get 20% off forever

Extra content available! Access my exclusive google drive today!

Read more

Now, one bit of advice I found to be interesting most recently from being a fly on the wall to these debates was the notion that your social presence, and mainly your follower count, don’t always translate to sales, and more often than not mean jack shit to your overall success. It just means a lot of people follow you. Nothing more.

I was aghast by this very notion, as someone who has constantly strived for more followers it seems that the theory of “more followers = more money” was sound logic. I often thought that if I could get more followers or have one of my promotional tweets go viral that highlighted my current campaign, that I would surely be able to capitalize on it and turn those delicious likes and retweets into mega bucks from comic book sales.

And then it happened! A tweet of mine went viral thanks to a retweet from a well-known artist (also the cover artist on my series ‘Alcee’), it amounted to over 9,300 likes, 400 retweets, and 2,000 saves. Not bad, baby…not bad at all. That tweet also contained a link to my Kickstarter campaign, a fortunate occurrence for me I thought. And let me tell you, once I posted the image, the results flooded in almost nonstop for 2 days. I also gained a few hundred followers, something I’ve been angling for almost continuously for years now. But what about backers? Did people turn out to actually buy the comic based off this viral experience?

No. No they did not.

I gained a staggering 3 backers to my Kickstarter campaign since that tweet, and while the dollar amounts were large and averaged $40 per backer, the results from a viral tweet of that scale were pretty lackluster. Nothing bad came of it of course, but it’s easy to see that even though I had significant tail winds with that post, I essentially got nothing for it. Still, there’s nothing wrong with shooting for the stars and gaining followers, go nuts! But do those followers convert to fans and actually support your work?

No. No necessarily.

I say, keep trying to expand your presence on social media if you want to, just be realistic about what that means for your work. I’ve never had anything go viral before and maybe I won’t ever again. That won’t stop me from creating and leveraging other channels to ensure I keep moving forward.

Keep creating, baby.

Alcee is live & fully funded

Alcee is basically 1000% funded! Which is what happens when you set a low goal haha! She’s so close to $10k we can taste it. Soon enough I’ll be letting people know that they will get a snazzy art print, I can feel it in my bones!

As a reminder for my dear readers, I have a limited-edition Substack exclusive cover for Alcee available to all my paid annual subscribers. The secret links are available below the pay wall at the end of the newsletter. The cover is $1 + shipping. Limited to 50 copies and released sporadically across my campaigns. It’s only available to you paid subscribers as a special thank you for putting up with my yammering’s.

Interstellar Dust presents: Alcee - NSFW Sci-FI Action by C.J. Hudson — Kickstarter

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Gridlocked in beautiful color

I was toying with making Gridlocked, my Cyberpunk Noir hybrid, a black and white comic book, but then I realized it would be too much of a departure from the genre to make it marketable. Cyberpunk most typically relies on bright and neon visual aesthetic. I wanted something grim, that was more of an homage to Blade Runer in tone but with less visual glam. I think Mike Morroco found a nice balance here with a muted color pallet that stays true to the story’s genre and tone. Check out my Googledrive for all the pages to date.

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Granite ain’t done yet, not by a long shot

Since Granite has exploded in popularity, I’ll be spending a good amount of my time expanding her story in the Summit Universe. So that means I have a lot of comics to write, and that also means I need a lot of covers for each issue. 4 per issues to be exact! Not a crazy number by any means, but enough that I need to stay on top of it. So I’ve been commissioning artists the past few weeks pretty consistently so the Powerless mini stays on schedule. Below is one I just got back from JB Reis. It’s now off to the colorist to make it pop. Paid subs can stay apprised of progress with access to my drive and see what we have cooking on all my projects.

Summit Comics - Granite: Powerless #1 & 2 (Rated MA) by C.J. Hudson — Kickstarter

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What else?

Updates on a few other things:

• Bearer of Ages issue 3 is nearly completely colored. We will then move on to issue 4.

• Hunters Issue 2 has covers coming in and I hope to start receiving some interior art soon too.

• Inferna is still a work in progress, Damien is very busy, but we are hoping to make this a 2026 endeavor.

• Follow How to die in the Quad if you’re looking for more comics from me, as I have a short story in this really gorgeous looking book.

• Interstellar Dust vol. 3 is still on the way, but with Moy working at DC as well that means some things are delayed, but that’s ok, ID is always worth the wait.

• Intergalactic Academy unfortunately still on hiatus for the foreseeable future. Read all the backstory now at Intergalactic Academy

Become a paid Substack subscriber!

Current Substack exclusive editions:

• Interstellar Dust - Omnibus vol. 1 TPB cover by Flops

• Hunters of the Outer Realm #1 cover by Orion Vang

• Alcee #1 cover by Lane Lloyd (upcoming)

Becoming a paid sub means you get first look access to artwork, scripts and tons of behind-the-scenes content that no one else gets to see (including the teases I share here). Hundreds of pages of artwork including NSFW interiors and covers will keep your eyes peeled open for hours and everything is always available for download :)

Beginning January 1st, 2025, all paid Substack subscribers will be eligible to receive a special free physical copy of select new single-issue or collected edition series released and funded through Kickstarter (or other crowdfunding site) while supplies last. This would typically be for new issue #1s and collected editions. This would be a paid tier Substack subscriber only variant, and unavailable through crowdfunding, my online store, or con exclusives. Basically, fully unique to those on Substack.

• Shipping is available anywhere in the world but would not be included for free. I will ask you, or you will confirm for me via Kickstarter or general outreach, if you would like your incentive cover before shipping (it will also be available digitally) and will send you a PayPal invoice for shipping costs. Rates for 2026 will be as follows:

  • USA: $6.00 USD

  • Canada: $20.00 USD

  • All other countries: $25.00 USD

• If you opt to support the Kickstarter campaign at any tier level, your Substack incentive cover would just be included with your standard order, and you would not be charged extra shipping, as you would already be paying it via the crowdfunding platform.

• Kickstarter now has secret reward tiers as well; I will be leveraging these going forward too and providing the links the Secret rewards behind my Paywall for subscribers. You’ll pay a small base price + shipping, the totals will not be greater than the shipping totals mentioned above though.

• Please note this is for select crowdfunded comics only, not comics that may be exclusive to the direct market, and not those comics that I did not crowdfund myself.

• You must be on the annual membership at the time the comic is successfully crowdfunded to receive your free comic. Monthly memberships are not eligible because they could just cancel right after they receive their rewards. The annual membership is actually much more cost effective compared to paying monthly.

• 2026 printed Substack Editions will be limited to 50 copies. First come, first serve.

• I will always note comics that are eligible rewards for paid subscribers.

Get 20% off forever

Extra content available! Access my exclusive google drive today!

Missed an issue? My online store is open!

Physical editions of my work are available for purchase through my online store. I have over 60 versions of my comics in addition to prints, trading cards and stickers available for purchase. This includes rare editions through Kickstarter, direct market comic book shops, and online store exclusives. Most everything I have ever worked on is available through my store including Interstellar Dust, Lycan, The Cauldron and much more.

My Online Store

Follow me on social media!

Never miss an update by following me on my social media accounts. I’m most active on X (twitter), Instagram, BlueSky and TikTok.

Social Media

Get 20% off forever

Extra content available! Access my exclusive google drive today!

Read more

• Interstellar Dust

• Alcee

• Vox

• Granite

• Bearer of Ages

• The Spyre

• Hunters of the Outer Realm

• Inferna

• Gridlocked

• Drudge

• One Moon

• Aeloria

• The Patrol

• and some fan fic and short stories that I really should avoid

I have a few other series that I’m pondering over too, but I sort of feel like I need to focus on the aforementioned things first, and even then, it’s a stretch if I’ll get to all of them before I croak. Obvjously the goal is to keep creating until the very end, writing and creating comics until my last breath escapes by withered body… but you just can’t count on that, shit happens in life. So I’ll prioritize the stuff that’s further along now and see if I can manage to get to the others before I hit the golden years. I would like to script everything at the very least. See all these tales to fruition in written word, even if I can’t see their adventures come alive via vibrant art. That at the very least would be a wonderful accomplishment. I’ll keep powering through whatever happens; you’ve got my word on that.

Stay hungry, keep creating.

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Interstellar Dust presents: Alcee is live on 3/17

The wait is almost over! Alcee is coming! This Tuesday! From Sky Hawkins Christopher Albright and me! Spinning out of the wildly popular Interstellar Dust series, see where it all started for Alcee, long before she was a wanted criminal, she was just a working girl looking to find her way in the world. You won’t want to miss this one, gang. I’m hoping to tell many more ID spins offs while the main series is between arcs. If this one-shot is popular then I’m hoping to work on many more stories in the ID universe.

Also, if you were wondering if there was going to be a secret reward tier for this campaign, well wonder no more, as there surely will be one! This fantastic cover from Lane Lloyd is available via a secret reward only to my annual Substack subscribers. All of the other prior secret rewards are available as well, but only while supplies last. I only print 50 of each secret reward and only release a specific amount per campaign until they runout, so get them while you can. Also, if you’re on the fence about signing up, you will get an additional bonus with full access to my Google drive, which houses thousands of pages of art and covers for your viewing pleasure. You’ll get early access to my projects and all the behind-the-scenes workings that go along with them.

Interstellar Dust presents: Alcee - NSFW Sci-FI Action by C.J. Hudson — Kickstarter

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Granite campaign is all done

We did it! Over 250% of goal. I can’t believe how popular my little rock skinned heroine is getting, it’s indescribably cool to see a new superhero connect with audiences, even after an unfortunately long hiatus since her debut. And as another positive, since we did so well, I get to keep making Grante comics! We’ve already got a prelaunch page up with quite a few followers already. So here’s to many more years of Granite and Summit Comics! The plan it to tentatively launch issue 2 in July…more updates soon.

Summit Comics - Granite: Powerless #1 & 2 (Rated MA) by C.J. Hudson — Kickstarter

Bearer of Ages

We’re a little over halfway done coloring issue 3 of BoA. Well, Spell is a little more than halfway, I’m just along for the ride. As for production, Given everything I have going on with Granite and the Interstellar Dust universe, I’m not certain if the first part of BoA will see print this year, but if not, it will surely be next year. As much as I want to get this out the door sooner, delays with my Hunters series have taught me that patience is much more palatable than rushing out a project. Whenever it sees the light of day, whether it be years from now or not, I think I’ve crafted a compelling world with some provoking characters that everyone will be enthralled with.

What else?

Updates on a few other things:

• Gridlocked: Torque is officially in production. Early access pages available via my google drive.

• Hunters Issue 2 has covers coming in and I hope to start receiving some interior art soon too.

• Inferna is still a work in progress, Damien is very busy, but we are hoping to make this a 2026 endeavor.

• Follow How to die in the Quad if you’re looking for more comics from me, as I have a short story in this really gorgeous looking book.

• Interstellar Dust vol. 3 is still on the way, but with Moy working at DC as well that means some things are delayed, but that’s ok, ID is always worth the wait.

• Intergalactic Academy unfortunately still on hiatus for the foreseeable future. Read all the backstory now at Intergalactic Academy

Become a paid Substack subscriber!

Current Substack exclusive editions:

• Interstellar Dust - Omnibus vol. 1 TPB cover by Flops

• Hunters of the Outer Realm #1 cover by Orion Vang

• Alcee #1 cover by Lane Lloyd (upcoming)

Becoming a paid sub means you get first look access to artwork, scripts and tons of behind-the-scenes content that no one else gets to see (including the teases I share here). Hundreds of pages of artwork including NSFW interiors and covers will keep your eyes peeled open for hours and everything is always available for download :)

Beginning January 1st, 2025, all paid Substack subscribers will be eligible to receive a special free physical copy of select new single-issue or collected edition series released and funded through Kickstarter (or other crowdfunding site) while supplies last. This would typically be for new issue #1s and collected editions. This would be a paid tier Substack subscriber only variant, and unavailable through crowdfunding, my online store, or con exclusives. Basically, fully unique to those on Substack.

• Shipping is available anywhere in the world but would not be included for free. I will ask you, or you will confirm for me via Kickstarter or general outreach, if you would like your incentive cover before shipping (it will also be available digitally) and will send you a PayPal invoice for shipping costs. Rates for 2026 will be as follows:

  • USA: $6.00 USD

  • Canada: $20.00 USD

  • All other countries: $25.00 USD

• If you opt to support the Kickstarter campaign at any tier level, your Substack incentive cover would just be included with your standard order, and you would not be charged extra shipping, as you would already be paying it via the crowdfunding platform.

• Kickstarter now has secret reward tiers as well; I will be leveraging these going forward too and providing the links the Secret rewards behind my Paywall for subscribers. You’ll pay a small base price + shipping, the totals will not be greater than the shipping totals mentioned above though.

• Please note this is for select crowdfunded comics only, not comics that may be exclusive to the direct market, and not those comics that I did not crowdfund myself.

• You must be on the annual membership at the time the comic is successfully crowdfunded to receive your free comic. Monthly memberships are not eligible because they could just cancel right after they receive their rewards. The annual membership is actually much more cost effective compared to paying monthly.

• 2026 printed Substack Editions will be limited to 50 copies. First come, first serve.

• I will always note comics that are eligible rewards for paid subscribers.

Get 20% off forever

Extra content available! Access my exclusive google drive today!

Missed an issue? My online store is open!

Physical editions of my work are available for purchase through my online store. I have over 60 versions of my comics in addition to prints, trading cards and stickers available for purchase. This includes rare editions through Kickstarter, direct market comic book shops, and online store exclusives. Most everything I have ever worked on is available through my store including Interstellar Dust, Lycan, The Cauldron and much more.

My Online Store

Follow me on social media!

Never miss an update by following me on my social media accounts. I’m most active on X (twitter), Instagram, BlueSky and TikTok.

Social Media

Get 20% off forever

Extra content available! Access my exclusive google drive today!

Read more

I’m going to start off be being very clear, I don’t support A.I for use in art. A.I. is trained off existing images, it steals art and creates images in a likeness that can be very similar to the true creations of flesh and blood artists. Artists are not compensated for this, that’s why its theft.

Now, is all A.I bad? Now at all. I see A.I. as being pivotal in research for curative disease states, advancing robotics to potentially take dangerous work out of the hands of humans, and numerous other services that can be used for good. But when it comes to art, I’m protective, as artists will be impacted by the advances in A.I. unless clear guidelines are set. I also think A.I. art looks like trash; soulless and lifeless junk that can easily be spotted by most people.

So to get to the point, I was surprised when someone actually thought I was using A.I for my series, Bearer of Ages. Which couldn’t be further from the truth. The person pointed out some sloppy inconsistences that he felt was A.I., some hands without all the digit present, legs disappearing, etc. And while I see what he meant, there is a difference between an artist cutting corners to hit a deadline, and A.I. I ask everyone to please consider the best course of action when accusing someone of something, as you could be wrong, and you could also damage someone’s reputation in the process.

My interaction worked out fine, and I use the term accuse lightly, as the person really was just asking because they didn’t know if perhaps I was using A.I., but in a public forum things can spread quickly and before you know it something seemingly innocent can get out of control. We need to be careful how we handle things of this nature. We live in a world where people glean joy from the downfall of others, so while you may be thinking questions are innocent enough, others will jump at the chance to pile on just because they can. Let’s not make comics a witch hunt. Ask questions but be mindful how and where you ask them.

Bearer of Ages update

Spell just hit the halfway point on coloring BoA issue 3. I really liked this double page spread from artist Atula Siriwardane and felt like it was a good tease of the insanity that encompasses this series. Three women separated by space and time, all connected via a sword of magical proportions. Targeting next year to get BoA out the door, and I’m pretty determined that it will be a 4-issue mini-series.

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Dr. Vane and Granite are trending

Summit Comics has two series live on Kickstarter right now! Dr. Vane has 10 days to go and has some absolutely gorgeous covers with a very fun concept to back it up. Who doesn’t love demons? Granite also has 11 days left and is well over 200% funded, which I’m incredible happy with. Muscled ladies are all the rage, I guess. Snag those variants now, as they are not evergreen printed, only the standard cover is. So after this campaign, I’ll print variants based off of initial demand and retire them.

Summit Comics Presents - Granite: Powerless #1 (Rated MA) by C.J. Hudson — Kickstarter

Hospice: The Curious Case of Dr Vane - A Summit Comics Story by Adam Barnhardt — Kickstarter

Remember, if you’re a paid subscriber, make sure to go to my google drive and get an advanced look of Granite: Powerless #2 as all the covers and pages roll in. The covers are colored and they look stunning!

Get 20% off forever

Interstellar Dust presents: Alcee

Alcee?! In her very own one shot?! Yes, it’s happening. Coming from Sky Hawkins, Christopher Albright and myself, we’re spinning Alcee off into her very own standalone story. Click the link below to sign up to be notified! Paid subs should check out my google drive for all of the dope covers we have planned! I’m also including a backup feature as a stretch goal by myself and Lane Lloyd, here’s a page from the 10 pages we have. Fingers crossed we can get that stretch goal. We are still thinking March or April for our launch. We’ve never been closer!

Interstellar Dust presents: Alcee - NSFW Sci-FI Action by C.J. Hudson — Kickstarter

What else?

Updates on a few other things:

• Gridlocked: Torque is officially in production. Early access pages available via my google drive.

• Hunters Issue 2 has covers coming in and I hope to start receiving some interior art soon too.

• Inferna is still a work in progress, Damien is very busy, but we are hoping to make this a 2026 endeavor.

• Follow How to die in the Quad if you’re looking for more comics from me, as I have a short story in this really gorgeous looking book.

• Interstellar Dust vol. 3 is still on the way, but with Moy working at DC as well that means some things are delayed, but that’s ok, ID is always worth the wait.

• Intergalactic Academy unfortunately still on hiatus for the foreseeable future. Read all the backstory now at Intergalactic Academy

Become a paid Substack subscriber!

Current Substack exclusive editions:

• Interstellar Dust - Omnibus vol. 1 TPB cover by Flops

• Hunters of the Outer Realm #1 cover by Orion Vang

• Alcee #1 cover by Lane Lloyd (upcoming)

Becoming a paid sub means you get first look access to artwork, scripts and tons of behind-the-scenes content that no one else gets to see (including the teases I share here). Hundreds of pages of artwork including NSFW interiors and covers will keep your eyes peeled open for hours and everything is always available for download :)

Beginning January 1st, 2025, all paid Substack subscribers will be eligible to receive a special free physical copy of select new single-issue or collected edition series released and funded through Kickstarter (or other crowdfunding site) while supplies last. This would typically be for new issue #1s and collected editions. This would be a paid tier Substack subscriber only variant, and unavailable through crowdfunding, my online store, or con exclusives. Basically, fully unique to those on Substack.

• Shipping is available anywhere in the world but would not be included for free. I will ask you, or you will confirm for me via Kickstarter or general outreach, if you would like your incentive cover before shipping (it will also be available digitally) and will send you a PayPal invoice for shipping costs. Rates for 2026 will be as follows:

  • USA: $6.00 USD

  • Canada: $20.00 USD

  • All other countries: $25.00 USD

• If you opt to support the Kickstarter campaign at any tier level, your Substack incentive cover would just be included with your standard order, and you would not be charged extra shipping, as you would already be paying it via the crowdfunding platform.

• Kickstarter now has secret reward tiers as well; I will be leveraging these going forward too and providing the links the Secret rewards behind my Paywall for subscribers. You’ll pay a small base price + shipping, the totals will not be greater than the shipping totals mentioned above though.

• Please note this is for select crowdfunded comics only, not comics that may be exclusive to the direct market, and not those comics that I did not crowdfund myself.

• You must be on the annual membership at the time the comic is successfully crowdfunded to receive your free comic. Monthly memberships are not eligible because they could just cancel right after they receive their rewards. The annual membership is actually much more cost effective compared to paying monthly.

• 2026 printed Substack Editions will be limited to 50 copies. First come, first serve.

• I will always note comics that are eligible rewards for paid subscribers.

Get 20% off forever

Extra content available! Access my exclusive google drive today!

Missed an issue? My online store is open!

Physical editions of my work are available for purchase through my online store. I have over 60 versions of my comics in addition to prints, trading cards and stickers available for purchase. This includes rare editions through Kickstarter, direct market comic book shops, and online store exclusives. Most everything I have ever worked on is available through my store including Interstellar Dust, Lycan, The Cauldron and much more.

My Online Store

Follow me on social media!

Never miss an update by following me on my social media accounts. I’m most active on X (twitter), Instagram, BlueSky and TikTok.

Social Media

Get 20% off forever

Extra content available! Access my exclusive google drive today!

Read more

Even the '“big 2” have tried their hands at other universes only to see them tank (though I think they wouldn’t mind what were once considered “cancellable” sale numbers so much now). New Universe, MC2, Ultraverse, and on and on. But this time different. I swear it is. And do you know why? Because we don’t need a direct sales channel through comic shops to sell our comics. We can do it all ourselves. We also don’t need to make a profit; we just need to cover our base costs and break even, baby. That’s it. Now will we ever have a bookstore, comic book shop, or even international sales strategy? Sure. But only after we’ve crowdfunded first. We’re not a bunch of dummies - we know what it will take to succeed.

We know that if we launched this new universe in the direct market, we would have been crushed like bugs - smash, splat! We would maybe have sold a bit for our debut issue, brought in some cheddar, but we would likely be toast by issue 3, broke and sad... We knew to make this work we needed to go the direct-to-consumer route. We needed to check our egos and be realistic about what we could accomplish as a collective of people who just want to tell superhero stories. Thank God we have a really solid group of creators and leaders who know what’s feasible and what isn’t. This is it; this is our time to try something new, innovative and fun. I think fans want change, they want to feel inspired and excited about what they read, and that means there will always be an opening for new stories and characters. That means we belong.

Will some series fail? Of course. Will our numbers always be this good on all of our series? Nah, they will fluctuate like everything else. There will be trial and error, there will be failures, but I know we are going to be looking at quite a few successes too. I’m also not saying I won’t ever release comics in the direct market again, far from it, but not everything is a good fit there, just like maybe not everything is a good fit on crowdfunding sites either. I love comic book shops, and I have plans, trust me. In the meantime, there’s going to be lots of Interstellar Dust and Granite in my future for years to come. I’m sure I’ll sneak in some fan fic and work for hire gigs too :)

Bearer of Ages update

2026 marks the 10-year anniversary of when I first started working on BoA and reached out to series artist Atula Siriwardene. That’s a long time ago now! You might be wondering what the hell happened, why the long delay? Well…life really. Atula got busy and had other commitments to wrap up first before he could commit to the series, and I am a very patient man, and I told myself I would rather this series look cohesive than alter the art needlessly mid-way through. So I waited. I focused on other things. Which I am happy to say I have many things to focus on, sometimes too many. But better more than less when it comes to wanting to get your projects out into the world.

Well anyway, here’s a cool splash from Atula and Spell. I’ll be ready to launch once everything is fully colored. I could launch now, but I would rather wait. I’m a planner, I’m methodical. The time for this series will come eventually, and until then, feel free to savor the richer detail with me.

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Pinnacle& Granite exceed expectations

Stop me if you’ve heard this, but the birth of a brand-new superhero universe is finally here! Funded in only 30 hours, and we are sitting pretty at 200%+ of goal…and baby does that feel good! I couldn’t be prouder of the creators at Summit, we set out to do something new and innovative, and we did it.

Summit: Pinnacle #1 - A heroic new universe begins by Summit Comics — Kickstarter

Granite is also shaping up to be another Summit Comics banger, currently at 150%+ of goal, with over 3 weeks left. Another campaign that hit goal right around the 24-hour mark.

Summit Comics Presents - Granite: Powerless #1 (Rated MA) by C.J. Hudson — Kickstarter

If you support both campaigns, you’ll also get this dope art print from the incredible Brian Wolf, absolutely free. Physical backers get physical prints, digital will get a hi-def file.

Remember, if you’re a paid subscriber, make sure to go to my google drive and get an advanced look of Granite: Powerless #2 as all the covers and pages roll in. The covers are colored and they look stunning!

Get 20% off forever

Interstellar Dust presents: Alcee

Alcee?! In her very own one shot?! Yes, it’s happening. Coming from Sky Hawkins, Christopher Albright and myself, we’re spinning Alcee off into her very own standalone story. Click the link below to sign up to be notified! Paid subs should check out my google drive for all of the dope covers we have planned! Here’s a little peek at yet another interior page from Sky. We are still thinking March or April for our launch. We’ve never been closer!

Interstellar Dust presents: Alcee - NSFW Sci-FI Action by C.J. Hudson — Kickstarter

What else?

Updates on a few other things:

• Gridlocked: Torque is officially in production. Early access pages available via my google drive.

• Hunters Issue 2 has covers coming in and I hope to start receiving some interior art soon too.

• Inferna is still a work in progress, Damien is very busy, but we are hoping to make this a 2026 endeavor.

• Follow How to die in the Quad if you’re looking for more comics from me, as I have a short story in this really gorgeous looking book.

• Interstellar Dust vol. 3 is still on the way, but with Moy working at DC as well that means some things are delayed, but that’s ok, ID is always worth the wait.

• Intergalactic Academy unfortunately still on hiatus for the foreseeable future. Read all the backstory now at Intergalactic Academy

Become a paid Substack subscriber!

Current Substack exclusive editions:

• Interstellar Dust - Omnibus vol. 1 TPB cover by Flops

• Hunters of the Outer Realm #1 cover by Orion Vang

• Alcee #1 cover by Lane Lloyd (upcoming)

Becoming a paid sub means you get first look access to artwork, scripts and tons of behind-the-scenes content that no one else gets to see (including the teases I share here). Hundreds of pages of artwork including NSFW interiors and covers will keep your eyes peeled open for hours and everything is always available for download :)

Beginning January 1st, 2025, all paid Substack subscribers will be eligible to receive a special free physical copy of select new single-issue or collected edition series released and funded through Kickstarter (or other crowdfunding site) while supplies last. This would typically be for new issue #1s and collected editions. This would be a paid tier Substack subscriber only variant, and unavailable through crowdfunding, my online store, or con exclusives. Basically, fully unique to those on Substack.

• Shipping is available anywhere in the world but would not be included for free. I will ask you, or you will confirm for me via Kickstarter or general outreach, if you would like your incentive cover before shipping (it will also be available digitally) and will send you a PayPal invoice for shipping costs. Rates for 2026 will be as follows:

  • USA: $6.00 USD

  • Canada: $20.00 USD

  • All other countries: $25.00 USD

• If you opt to support the Kickstarter campaign at any tier level, your Substack incentive cover would just be included with your standard order, and you would not be charged extra shipping, as you would already be paying it via the crowdfunding platform.

• Kickstarter now has secret reward tiers as well; I will be leveraging these going forward too and providing the links the Secret rewards behind my Paywall for subscribers. You’ll pay a small base price + shipping, the totals will not be greater than the shipping totals mentioned above though.

• Please note this is for select crowdfunded comics only, not comics that may be exclusive to the direct market, and not those comics that I did not crowdfund myself.

• You must be on the annual membership at the time the comic is successfully crowdfunded to receive your free comic. Monthly memberships are not eligible because they could just cancel right after they receive their rewards. The annual membership is actually much more cost effective compared to paying monthly.

• 2026 printed Substack Editions will be limited to 50 copies. First come, first serve.

• I will always note comics that are eligible rewards for paid subscribers.

Get 20% off forever

Extra content available! Access my exclusive google drive today!

Missed an issue? My online store is open!

Physical editions of my work are available for purchase through my online store. I have over 60 versions of my comics in addition to prints, trading cards and stickers available for purchase. This includes rare editions through Kickstarter, direct market comic book shops, and online store exclusives. Most everything I have ever worked on is available through my store including Interstellar Dust, Lycan, The Cauldron and much more.

My Online Store

Follow me on social media!

Never miss an update by following me on my social media accounts. I’m most active on X (twitter), Instagram, BlueSky and TikTok.

Social Media

Get 20% off forever

Extra content available! Access my exclusive google drive today!

Read more

After about five months of planning, a group of ragtag indie comic creators joined forces to build what we believe can become the next great superhero universe. Born from the idea that we’re stronger together than we are apart, Summit Comics brought some of the most original superheroes around and mashed them into a shared reality.

And honestly? We cooked.

We laid out a cohesive strategy, guided by a truly visionary leadership team, and executed on it nearly flawlessly. I don’t say that out of conceit—no one really knew if this would work. We just believed in ourselves and committed to giving it everything we had. In the end, that turned out to be enough: a lot of hard work, a little bit of luck, and a whole lot of trust in one another.

There’s plenty to be proud of with this campaign, but there’s also a lot more ahead. We’re gearing up for additional comic launches and have a jam-packed list of goals for the year. Honestly? Bring it on.

My only real fear at this point is letting off the gas—losing sight of what we set out to build in the first place: a bold new superhero universe without editorial mandates or endless relaunches. Just good comics, told by some of the best creators the industry has to offer.

We have so much to be thankful for. So thank you for letting me gush a bit—and for reading along. We truly can’t do any of this without our fans. You’re pretty much everything.

Pinnacle is here! Granite & Upheaval incoming!

Pinnacle ascending! The birth of a brand-new superhero universe is finally here! Funded in only 30 hours, we are cruising to crush our goal and establish a fun alternative to everyday superheroes. I couldn’t be prouder of the creators at Summit, we set out to do something new and innovative, and we did it. And this is just the beginning! We have more stories coming very soon, including the long-awaited return of Granite and fan favorite series, Upheaval.

Check out the Summit store for a look at what Summit has to offer (the Sneak Peak is nearly sold out though) and the Pinnacle campaign and also be sure to follow along with the Granite prelaunch page to stay up to date for when we go live. Also, if you’re a paid subscriber, make sure to go to my google drive and get an advanced look at all the covers and pages as they roll in. The covers are colored and they look stunning!

Summit: Pinnacle #1 - A heroic new universe begins by Summit Comics — Kickstarter

Summit Comics Presents - Granite: Powerless #1 (Rated MA) by C.J. Hudson — Kickstarter

SUMMIT COMIC - UPHEAVAL #1-2 - ACTION/ADVENTURE - SUPERHERO by Travis Gibb — Kickstarter

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Interstellar Dust presents: Alcee

Alcee?! In her very own one shot?! Yes, it’s happening. Coming from Sky Hawkins, Christopher Albright and myself, we’re spinning Alcee off into her very own standalone story. And now I have a prelaunch page to share to help whet your appetites a bit. Click the link below to sign up to be notified! Paid subs should check out my google drive for all of the dope covers we have planned! We are looking at early 2026 to get Alcee out into the world. This campaign will have a secret reward that own my paid subscribers will be able to access, a lovely cover from the one and only Lane Lloyd. I’ll provide details of that before we launch. Also, Lane will be drawing a special bonus story in the comic as a stretch goal too!

Interstellar Dust presents: Alcee - NSFW Sci-FI Action by C.J. Hudson — Kickstarter

Get 20% off forever

What else?

Updates on a few other things:

• Gridlocked: Torque is officially in production. Early access pages available via my google drive.

• Hunters Issue 2 has covers coming in and I hope to start receiving some interior art soon too.

• Bearer of Ages issue 3 is being colored right now.

• Inferna is still a work in progress, Damien is very busy, but we are hoping to make this a 2026 endeavor.

• Follow How to die in the Quad if you’re looking for more comics from me, as I have a short story in this really gorgeous looking book.

• Interstellar Dust vol. 3 is still on the way, but with Moy working at DC as well that means some things are delayed, but that’s ok, ID is always worth the wait.

• Intergalactic Academy unfortunately still on hiatus for the foreseeable future. Read all the backstory now at Intergalactic Academy

Become a paid Substack subscriber!

Current Substack exclusive editions:

• Interstellar Dust - Omnibus vol. 1 TPB cover by Flops

• Hunters of the Outer Realm #1 cover by Orion Vang

• Alcee #1 cover by Lane Lloyd (upcoming)

Becoming a paid sub means you get first look access to artwork, scripts and tons of behind-the-scenes content that no one else gets to see (including the teases I share here). Hundreds of pages of artwork including NSFW interiors and covers will keep your eyes peeled open for hours and everything is always available for download :)

Beginning January 1st, 2025, all paid Substack subscribers will be eligible to receive a special free physical copy of select new single-issue or collected edition series released and funded through Kickstarter (or other crowdfunding site) while supplies last. This would typically be for new issue #1s and collected editions. This would be a paid tier Substack subscriber only variant, and unavailable through crowdfunding, my online store, or con exclusives. Basically, fully unique to those on Substack.

• Shipping is available anywhere in the world but would not be included for free. I will ask you, or you will confirm for me via Kickstarter or general outreach, if you would like your incentive cover before shipping (it will also be available digitally) and will send you a PayPal invoice for shipping costs. Rates for 2026 will be as follows:

  • USA: $6.00 USD

  • Canada: $20.00 USD

  • All other countries: $25.00 USD

• If you opt to support the Kickstarter campaign at any tier level, your Substack incentive cover would just be included with your standard order, and you would not be charged extra shipping, as you would already be paying it via the crowdfunding platform.

• Kickstarter now has secret reward tiers as well; I will be leveraging these going forward too and providing the links the Secret rewards behind my Paywall for subscribers. You’ll pay a small base price + shipping, the totals will not be greater than the shipping totals mentioned above though.

• Please note this is for select crowdfunded comics only, not comics that may be exclusive to the direct market, and not those comics that I did not crowdfund myself.

• You must be on the annual membership at the time the comic is successfully crowdfunded to receive your free comic. Monthly memberships are not eligible because they could just cancel right after they receive their rewards. The annual membership is actually much more cost effective compared to paying monthly.

• 2026 printed Substack Editions will be limited to 50 copies. First come, first serve.

• I will always note comics that are eligible rewards for paid subscribers.

Get 20% off forever

Extra content available! Access my exclusive google drive today!

Missed an issue? My online store is open!

Physical editions of my work are available for purchase through my online store. I have over 60 versions of my comics in addition to prints, trading cards and stickers available for purchase. This includes rare editions through Kickstarter, direct market comic book shops, and online store exclusives. Most everything I have ever worked on is available through my store including Interstellar Dust, Lycan, The Cauldron and much more.

My Online Store

Follow me on social media!

Never miss an update by following me on my social media accounts. I’m most active on X (twitter), Instagram, BlueSky and TikTok.

Social Media

Get 20% off forever

Extra content available! Access my exclusive google drive today!

Read more

Once again, I’m aiming for 24 full scripts at roughly 22 pages each (and let’s be honest, they’ll probably be longer, because 22 pages is tough and I’m a long-winded sort of fella). That breaks down to two full scripts per month, on top of any pitching, short stories, or outside work-for-hire that may come my way.

Can I do it?
We shall see.

Last year I fell a few scripts short and only managed 18 of the 24 I wanted to complete. Not bad, sure — but not what I set out to do either. This year, I’m hoping to improve on that and finally hit the goal I keep setting for myself.

Yes, I understand that some people can write a full script in an hour or two.
I am not one of those people. It takes me time to get a script where I want it. I rewrite constantly. I edit obsessively. I polish before anyone ever sees a first draft. I’m slow. And you know what? That’s totally fine. Being aware of your strengths and weaknesses is a positive. It means you’re intuitive enough to know what’s realistic and what’s fantasy.

That said, no matter where your skills fall, you should always be setting goals. You should always be asking: “What do I want to accomplish this year?”And then building a plan you can actually execute — your writing schedule, your convention calendar, your pitch packets, your release strategy.

If you’re not setting goals, you have nothing to aim for. And if you have nothing to aim for, it’s much easier to fall behind and delay the projects you want to see in the world.

One thing that pushes me is the idea that maybe — just maybe — I’ll land paid work that suddenly needs to be prioritized (which actually just happened… more on that later). I never want to put my creator-owned projects on the back burner because something else popped up. I want to work ahead. I want to be ready when opportunity knocks.

So here’s what 2026 is shaping up to look like:

2026 Goals:

• Write 24 full scripts (22+ pages each)

• Launch 3 Kickstarter campaigns

• Attend 2 comic conventions

• Pitch 1 original concept to a direct market publisher

Ambitious? Absolutely.
Impossible? Not even close.

So… what are your goals?

Bearer of Ages coloring process

It’s hard to believe we are already onto coloring issue 3 of BoA. Well, Spell is coloring it, I’m just enjoying the process. And let me say, the results are incredible. Spell is certainly a top tier colorist, and his skills coupled with Atula Siriwardane’s crisp pencils, make for a visual treat. Be sure to check out all the pages on my google drive to get an advance look of what we have in store. All penciled and colored work to date will be available for hi-def digital download.

Get 20% off forever

A short story in a spooky anthology

Don’t delay! This campaign is nearing its end! You may recall me mentioning that I had a few short stories coming out in two upcoming anthologies, well one of those anthologies is officially live but the curtain call is upon us! The next installment of Holiday Spirits from Orange Cone Productions is nearly to goal and could use your support. Please do check the campaign out, it’s loaded with delicious art from some of the best creators in indie comics. Last time I wrote a story in this anthology it had Santa and zombies; this time it has Santa and the goddamn Mummy.

HOLIDAY SPIRITS - MONSTERS SPECIAL by Travis Gibb — Kickstarter

Granite returns and Pinnacle is upon us!

The next issue of Granite is in prelaunch mode. Drawn by Fritz Casas, colored by Clau Violette and written by yours truly. Granite is part of the Summitverse of superheroes and follows the story of Alaina Callan, otherwise known as Granite! A hard living, hard hitting superhero with massive strength and gargantuan potty mouth. I’ve been told by quite a few people who don’t normally like superhero books that that really enjoyed my one-shot ‘Granite: Separation Anxiety’ so the team is continuing the story and making Granite an ongoing series, engraining it into the Summit line of books with the likes of Upheaval and Noir.

Check out the Summit store for a sneak peak of what Summit has to offer (the Sneak Peak is nearly sold out though) and be sure to follow along with the Granite prelaunch page to stay up to date for when we go live. Also, if you’re a paid subscriber, make sure to go to my google drive and get an advanced look at all the covers and pages as they roll in. The covers are colored and they look stunning! Summit’s first launch, Pinnacle, is also gearing up for its debut very soon. There’s some serious hype around this line, and I couldn’t be happier to be part of it.

Summit: Pinnacle #1 - A heroic new universe begins by Summit Comics — Kickstarter

Summit Comics Presents - Granite: Powerless #1 (Rated MA) by C.J. Hudson — Kickstarter

Get 20% off forever

Interstellar Dust presents: Alcee

Alcee?! In her very own one shot?! Yes, it’s happening. Coming from Sky Hawkins, Christopher Albright and myself, we’re spinning Alcee off into her very own standalone story. And now I have a prelaunch page to share to help whet your appetites a bit. Click the link below to sign up to be notified! We just hit that coveted 200 followers tipping point that I always aspire to! Paid subs should check out my google drive for all of the dope covers we have planned! We are looking at early 2026 to get Alcee out into the world. This campaign will have a secret reward that own my paid subscribers will be able to access, a lovely cover from the one and only Lane Lloyd. I’ll provide details of that before we launch.

Interstellar Dust presents: Alcee - NSFW Sci-FI Action by C.J. Hudson — Kickstarter

Get 20% off forever

What else?

Updates on a few other things:

• Gridlocked: Torque is officially in production. Early access pages available via my google drive.

• Hunters Issue 2 has covers coming in and I hope to start receiving some interior art soon too.

• Inferna is still a work in progress, Damien is very busy, but we are hoping to make this a 2026 endeavor.

• Follow How to die in the Quad if you’re looking for more comics from me, as I have a short story in this really gorgeous looking book.

• Interstellar Dust vol. 3 is still on the way, but with Moy working at DC as well that means some things are delayed, but that’s ok, ID is always worth the wait.

• Intergalactic Academy unfortunately still on hiatus for the foreseeable future. Read all the backstory now at Intergalactic Academy

Become a paid Substack subscriber!

Current Substack exclusive editions:

• Interstellar Dust - Omnibus vol. 1 TPB cover by Flops

• Hunters of the Outer Realm #1 cover by Orion Vang

• Alcee #1 cover by Lane Lloyd (upcoming)

Becoming a paid sub means you get first look access to artwork, scripts and tons of behind-the-scenes content that no one else gets to see (including the teases I share here). Hundreds of pages of artwork including NSFW interiors and covers will keep your eyes peeled open for hours and everything is always available for download :)

Beginning January 1st, 2025, all paid Substack subscribers will be eligible to receive a special free physical copy of select new single-issue or collected edition series released and funded through Kickstarter (or other crowdfunding site) while supplies last. This would typically be for new issue #1s and collected editions. This would be a paid tier Substack subscriber only variant, and unavailable through crowdfunding, my online store, or con exclusives. Basically, fully unique to those on Substack.

• Shipping is available anywhere in the world but would not be included for free. I will ask you, or you will confirm for me via Kickstarter or general outreach, if you would like your incentive cover before shipping (it will also be available digitally) and will send you a PayPal invoice for shipping costs. Rates for 2026 will be as follows:

  • USA: $6.00 USD

  • Canada: $20.00 USD

  • All other countries: $25.00 USD

• If you opt to support the Kickstarter campaign at any tier level, your Substack incentive cover would just be included with your standard order, and you would not be charged extra shipping, as you would already be paying it via the crowdfunding platform.

• Kickstarter now has secret reward tiers as well; I will be leveraging these going forward too and providing the links the Secret rewards behind my Paywall for subscribers. You’ll pay a small base price + shipping, the totals will not be greater than the shipping totals mentioned above though.

• Please note this is for select crowdfunded comics only, not comics that may be exclusive to the direct market, and not those comics that I did not crowdfund myself.

• You must be on the annual membership at the time the comic is successfully crowdfunded to receive your free comic. Monthly memberships are not eligible because they could just cancel right after they receive their rewards. The annual membership is actually much more cost effective compared to paying monthly.

• 2026 printed Substack Editions will be limited to 50 copies. First come, first serve.

• I will always note comics that are eligible rewards for paid subscribers.

Get 20% off forever

Extra content available! Access my exclusive google drive today!

Missed an issue? My online store is open!

Physical editions of my work are available for purchase through my online store. I have over 60 versions of my comics in addition to prints, trading cards and stickers available for purchase. This includes rare editions through Kickstarter, direct market comic book shops, and online store exclusives. Most everything I have ever worked on is available through my store including Interstellar Dust, Lycan, The Cauldron and much more.

My Online Store

Follow me on social media!

Never miss an update by following me on my social media accounts. I’m most active on X (twitter), Instagram, BlueSky and TikTok.

Social Media

Get 20% off forever

Extra content available! Access my exclusive google drive today!

Read more

Honestly, it was a great one for me in comics. While my overall output wasn’t especially high, I still managed to run two successful crowdfunding campaigns that brought in over $20K in sales—not too shabby. I also hit a personal milestone by breaking the $10K mark on a single campaign, and next year I’m aiming to push past that again. Will it happen? I don’t know—but I’m absolutely going to try.

I know plenty of my peers are further along than I am, and my current catalogue and successes might pale in comparison to theirs. They’ve produced more comics and built much larger audiences. And that’s totally fine. I can only control what’s in my control, and for me that means focusing on putting out the best comics I possibly can.

All things considered, I’m incredibly happy with how 2025 turned out creatively. I was invited to contribute to anthologies. I scripted 10 issues across multiple series—including Hunters of the Outer Realm, Granite, Gridlocked, and more. I also became a founding member of a new comic publisher, Summit, which aims to tell creator-owned superhero stories within a shared universe. On top of that, I had the opportunity to share my portfolio with a fantastic publisher and landed my first work-for-hire gig in well over a year.

For someone who’s primarily in this to have fun and tell compelling stories, I really couldn’t ask for much more. Sure, having a fully self-sustaining creative output would be amazing—but I also value being able to wake up each day and work on something simply because I love it, not because it has to pay the bills. If something bigger comes from this, awesome. If it doesn’t, I’m still perfectly happy building worlds in my spare time.

So… what’s coming in 2026? A lot.

I’ve got two campaigns currently in pre-launch (see below), with a few more in the early planning stages. I’m hoping to pitch a couple of projects to the direct market as well—just to mix things up. I’ve also got plenty of scripts ahead of me, with most of my writing time likely focused on Granite, Interstellar Dust, and various fan-fiction projects to help keep myself sane.

And yes, there are some bangers in that fanfic pipeline: ideas for the Green Lantern Corps, a Cable/Wolverine team-up, and even Archie Meets Youngblood are all plotted out. I’m excited to partner with artists and bring these stories to life.

Looking ahead, my hope is that 2026 is a year of progress—not just for me, but for my creative friends as well. I know so many creators who grind every day trying to make their dreams a reality. Comics aren’t for the faint of heart, and the road can be brutal at times—but that comic-book pie still looks pretty damn delicious. I’d love a slice for myself, and even more so if I get to share it with friends along the way.

Gridlocked: Torque is under way

I’ve aways wanted to dive into an expansive cyberpunk world that combines glitz and grime. Of course, Blade Runner and Edgerunners have already done that, but I can do it too if I wanna. I’ve started working with Mike Morrocco on the first project, with Torque being the first entry into the series. I have another entry, Velocity, that is also fully scripted. I’ve always wanted to do a black and white comic book, despite them being not really marketable, but we may decide to add color later. I won’t give too much away, but it has biker gangs.

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A short story in a spooky anthology

You may recall me mentioning that I had a few short stories coming out in two upcoming anthologies, well one of those anthologies is officially live! The next installment of Holiday Spirits from Orange Cone Productions is nearly halfway to goal. Please do check the campaign out, it’s loaded with delicious art from some of the best creators in indie comics. Last time I wrote a story in this anthology it had Santa and zombies; this time it has Santa and the goddamn Mummy.

HOLIDAY SPIRITS - MONSTERS SPECIAL by Travis Gibb — Kickstarter

Granite returns!

The next issue of Granite is in prelaunch mode. Drawn by Fritz Casas, colored by Clau Violette and written by yours truly. Granite is part of the Summitverse of superheroes and follows the story of Alaina Callan, otherwise known as Granite! A hard living, hard hitting superhero with massive strength and gargantuan potty mouth. I’ve been told by quite a few people who don’t normally like superhero books that that really enjoyed my one-shot ‘Granite: Separation Anxiety’ so the team is continuing the story and making Granite an ongoing series, engraining it into the Summit line of books with the likes of Upheaval and Noir.

Check out the Summit store for a sneak peak of what Summit has to offer and be sure to follow along with the Granite prelaunch page to stay up to date for when we go live. Also, if you’re a paid subscriber, make sure to go to my google drive and get an advanced look at all the covers and pages as they roll in. The covers are colored and they look stunning! Summit’s first launch, Pinnacle, is also gearing up for it’s debut in 2026!

Summit Comics Presents - Granite: Powerless #1 (Rated MA) by C.J. Hudson — Kickstarter

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Interstellar Dust presents: Alcee

Alcee?! In her very own one shot?! Yes, it’s happening. Coming from Sky Hawkins, Christopher Albright and myself, we’re spinning Alcee off into her very own standalone story. And now I have a prelaunch page to share to help whet your appetites a bit. Click the link below to sign up to be notified! We just hit that coveted 200 followers tipping point that I so covet! Paid subs should check out my google drive for all of the dope covers we have planned! We are looking at early 2026 to get Alcee out into the world.

Interstellar Dust presents: Alcee - NSFW Sci-FI Action by C.J. Hudson — Kickstarter

Get 20% off forever

What else?

Updates on a few other things:

• Gridlocked: Torque is officially in production. Early access pages available via my google drive.

• Bearer of Ages has 4 issues drawn and 2 colored. Check out the progress via my good drive.

• Hunters Issue 2 has covers coming in and I hope to start receiving some interior art soon too.

• Inferna is still a work in progress, Damien is very busy, but we are hoping to make this a 2026 endeavor.

• Follow How to die in the Quad if you’re looking for more comics from me, as I have a short story in this really gorgeous looking book.

• Interstellar Dust vol. 3 is still on the way, but with Moy working at DC as well that means some things are delayed, but that’s ok, ID is always worth the wait.

• Intergalactic Academy unfortunately still on hiatus for the foreseeable future. Read all the backstory now at Intergalactic Academy

Become a paid Substack subscriber!

Current Substack exclusive editions:

• Interstellar Dust - Omnibus vol. 1 TPB cover by Flops

• Hunters of the Outer Realm #1 cover by Orion Vang

• Alcee #1 cover by Lane Lloyd (upcoming)

Becoming a paid sub means you get first look access to artwork, scripts and tons of behind-the-scenes content that no one else gets to see (including the teases I share here). Hundreds of pages of artwork including NSFW interiors and covers will keep your eyes peeled open for hours and everything is always available for download :)

Beginning January 1st, 2025, all paid Substack subscribers will be eligible to receive a special free physical copy of select new single-issue or collected edition series released and funded through Kickstarter (or other crowdfunding site) while supplies last. This would typically be for new issue #1s and collected editions. This would be a paid tier Substack subscriber only variant, and unavailable through crowdfunding, my online store, or con exclusives. Basically, fully unique to those on Substack.

• Shipping is available anywhere in the world but would not be included for free. I will ask you, or you will confirm for me via Kickstarter or general outreach, if you would like your incentive cover before shipping (it will also be available digitally) and will send you a PayPal invoice for shipping costs. Rates for 2026 will be as follows:

  • USA: $6.00 USD

  • Canada: $20.00 USD

  • All other countries: $25.00 USD

• If you opt to support the Kickstarter campaign at any tier level, your Substack incentive cover would just be included with your standard order, and you would not be charged extra shipping, as you would already be paying it via the crowdfunding platform.

• Kickstarter now has secret reward tiers as well; I will be leveraging these going forward too and providing the links the Secret rewards behind my Paywall for subscribers. You’ll pay a small base price + shipping, the totals will not be greater than the shipping totals mentioned above though.

• Please note this is for select crowdfunded comics only, not comics that may be exclusive to the direct market, and not those comics that I did not crowdfund myself.

• You must be on the annual membership at the time the comic is successfully crowdfunded to receive your free comic. Monthly memberships are not eligible because they could just cancel right after they receive their rewards. The annual membership is actually much more cost effective compared to paying monthly.

• 2026 printed Substack Editions will be limited to 50 copies. First come, first serve.

• I will always note comics that are eligible rewards for paid subscribers.

Get 20% off forever

Extra content available! Access my exclusive google drive today!

Missed an issue? My online store is open!

Physical editions of my work are available for purchase through my online store. I have over 60 versions of my comics in addition to prints, trading cards and stickers available for purchase. This includes rare editions through Kickstarter, direct market comic book shops, and online store exclusives. Most everything I have ever worked on is available through my store including Interstellar Dust, Lycan, The Cauldron and much more.

My Online Store

Follow me on social media!

Never miss an update by following me on my social media accounts. I’m most active on X (twitter), Instagram, BlueSky and TikTok.

Social Media

Get 20% off forever

Extra content available! Access my exclusive google drive today!

Read more

Margins in comics are tight, and production timelines are almost always fragile. Delays are common, schedules slip, and projects stretch longer than intended. Add in the variable of someone taking money and never turning in the work, and you’ve got an entirely different, and far more serious, problem. One that ultimately forced me to completely reevaluate how I pay collaborators.

For a long time, my default approach was 50% up front and 50% on delivery. On paper, it felt fair. Everyone had skin in the game. And comparatively to other forms of payment it made sense. Paying only after completion puts all the burden on the artist, while paying everything up front puts enormous risk on the writer or publisher—risk that now feels almost unfathomable to take.

Context matters, of course. If it’s a cover and I know the artist, I’m still comfortable with a 50/50 split. It is fair in that scenario. The artist withholding final high‑resolution files until the last payment is made makes perfect sense—anyone can review a low‑resolution proof and make an informed call from there.

Interior work is different though. For sequential pages, I now pay in milestones: five pages, ten pages, and so on. Payment follows progress. I haven’t received any complaints about this approach, and it’s helped me feel like I’m back on track—projects move forward, accountability is clearer, and output has improved across the board.

And to be clear, this problem cuts both ways. Plenty of artists have been victims themselves—never paid by publishers or creators, left in genuine financial hardship. Until relatively recently, even speaking up about this issue carried the risk of being blackballed in an industry where it’s easily six degrees of separation or less from one creator to another. That history matters, and it’s part of why trust is such a loaded issue in this industry.

Which brings me to the bigger question: why so many people struggle to create consistently.

This goes back to the first point. Often, it comes down to financial instability and a vicious cycle that’s gone on for God knows how long. Someone doesn’t get paid, panics, scrambles for deposits just to get by, and suddenly finds themselves buried under more work than they can realistically complete in any reasonable amount of time. Layer on inconsistent schedules, a lack of accountability for working hours, and endless distractions and justifications—and in a medium that demands focus and precision—you end up with unfinished comics everywhere.

The lessons, at least for me, are pretty clear. If you’re creating, be consistent and be mindful. Protect yourself but be fair to others.

Contracts should aim for balance, not leverage. While 50% deposits sound fair in theory, they often fail in practice due to workload imbalances—especially on long‑form interior work.

Manage your time honestly. Understand what a project actually demands and plan around reality, not optimism.

And finally, it’s okay to walk away when something isn’t working. In most cases, you’ll be better off in the long run.

Bearer of Ages Issue 2 update

Bearer of Ages is nearly finished with the coloring phase, then Spell (colorist) will move on to issue 3. I’m very pleased that Atula (artist) has four complete issues drawn and is now in the trenches of issue 5. This was scheduled to be an 8-issue miniseries but I’m very much debating on how many issues to combine together, as some issues are larger than others. It might be worth just making this a two parter and have them be two perfect bound issues, but I’m unsure if that’s the best course of action just yet. That’s anywhere from 2-4 Kickstarter campaigns and I am always a believer that less is more in terms of how many campaigns you should be running in order to maintain momentum. Attention spans amongst consumers are minimal now, and I’m fighting for space in relatively niche but otherwise crowded market.

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Granite returns!

The next issue of Granite is in prelaunch mode. Drawn by Fritz Casas, colored by Clau Violette and written by yours truly. Granite is part of the Summitverse of superheroes and follows the story of Alaina Callan, otherwise known as Granite! A hard living, hard hitting superhero with massive strength and gargantuan potty mouth. I’ve been told by quite a few people who don’t normally like superhero books that that really enjoyed my one-shot ‘Granite: Separation Anxiety’ so the team is continuing the story and making Granite an ongoing series, engraining it into the Summit line of books with the likes of Upheaval and Noir. Check out the Summit store for a sneak peak of what Summit has to offer and be sure to follow along with the Granite prelaunch page to stay up to date for when we go live. Also, if you’re a paid subscriber, make sure to go to my google drive and get an advanced look at all the covers and pages as they roll in. The covers are colored and they look stunning!

Get 20% off forever

Interstellar Dust presents: Alcee

Alcee?! In her very own one shot?! Yes, it’s happening. Coming from Sky Hawkins, Christopher Albright and myself, we’re spinning Alcee off into her very own standalone story. And now I have a prelaunch page to share to help whet your appetites a bit. Click the link below to sign up to be notified! We just hit that coveted 200 followers tipping point that I so covet! Paid subs should check out my google drive for all of the dope covers we have planned! We are looking at early 2026 to get Alcee out into the world

Interstellar Dust presents: Alcee - NSFW Sci-FI Action by C.J. Hudson — Kickstarter

Get 20% off forever

What else?

Updates on a few other things:

• Gridlocked: Torque is officially in production. I’ve seen a few pages and it’s looking fantastic!

• Hunters Issue 2 has covers coming in and I hope to start receiving some interior art soon too.

• Inferna is still a work in progress, Damien is very busy, but we are hoping to make this a 2026 endeavor.

• Follow How to die in the Quad if you’re looking for more comics from me, as I have a short story in this really gorgeous looking book.

• Interstellar Dust vol. 3 is still on the way, but with Moy working at DC as well that means some things are delayed, but that’s ok, ID is always worth the wait.

• Intergalactic Academy unfortunately still on hiatus for the foreseeable future. Read all the backstory now at Intergalactic Academy

Become a paid Substack subscriber!

Current Substack exclusive editions:

• Interstellar Dust - Omnibus vol. 1 TPB cover by Flops

• Hunters of the Outer Realm #1 cover by Orion Vang

• Alcee #1 cover by Lane Lloyd (upcoming)

Becoming a paid sub means you get first look access to artwork, scripts and tons of behind-the-scenes content that no one else gets to see (including the teases I share here). Hundreds of pages of artwork including NSFW interiors and covers will keep your eyes peeled open for hours and everything is always available for download :)

And a new bonus! Beginning January 1st, 2025, all paid Substack subscribers will be eligible to receive a special free physical copy of select new single-issue or collected edition series released and funded through Kickstarter (or other crowdfunding site) while supplies last. This would typically be for new issue #1s and collected editions. This would be a paid tier Substack subscriber only variant, and unavailable through crowdfunding, my online store, or con exclusives. Basically, fully unique to those on Substack.

• Shipping is available anywhere in the world but would not be included for free. I will ask you, or you will confirm for me via Kickstarter or general outreach, if you would like your incentive cover before shipping (it will also be available digitally) and will send you a PayPal invoice for shipping costs. Rates for 2025 will be as follows:

  • USA: $5.00 USD

  • Canada: $20.00 USD

  • All other countries: $25.00 USD

• If you opt to support the Kickstarter campaign at any tier level, your Substack incentive cover would just be included with your standard order, and you would not be charged extra shipping, as you would already be paying it via the crowdfunding platform.

• Kickstarter now has secret reward tiers as well; I will be leveraging these going forward too and providing the links the Secret rewards behind my Paywall for subscribers. You’ll pay a small base price + shipping, the totals will not be greater than the shipping totals mentioned above though.

• Please note this is for select crowdfunded comics only, not comics that may be exclusive to the direct market, and not those comics that I did not crowdfund myself (such as Vigia, Lycan or the Cauldron, which have their own specific publishing deals).

• You must be on the annual membership at the time the comic is successfully crowdfunded to receive your free comic. Monthly memberships are not eligible because they could just cancel right after they receive their rewards. The annual membership is actually much more cost effective compared to paying monthly.

• 2025 printed Substack Editions will be limited to 50 copies. First come, first serve.

• I will always note comics that are eligible rewards for paid subscribers.

Get 20% off forever

Extra content available! Access my exclusive google drive today!

Missed an issue? My online store is open!

Physical editions of my work are available for purchase through my online store. I have over 60 versions of my comics in addition to prints, trading cards and stickers available for purchase. This includes rare editions through Kickstarter, direct market comic book shops, and online store exclusives. Most everything I have ever worked on is available through my store including Interstellar Dust, Lycan, The Cauldron and much more.

My Online Store

Follow me on social media!

Never miss an update by following me on my social media accounts. I’m most active on X (twitter), Instagram, BlueSky and TikTok.

Social Media

Get 20% off forever

Extra content available! Access my exclusive google drive today!

Read more

But what about us indie folks?

For the past few years, we’ve relied almost exclusively on crowdfunding to get our work out there — with mixed results. Some creators obviously do really well and certainly should, because their comics are amazing (White Ash, Space Between, etc.), but some don’t do so well, and the reasons vary: weak art, poor marketing, limited reach, and so on. When a campaign doesn’t fund, it’s usually obvious why. I’ve been there myself. You adapt, you learn, you come back stronger.

I’m sitting at a 6–2 record overall (3–1 on solo campaigns), and those losses taught me more than the wins ever could. I’m sure many creators are getting those lessons right now, because things are getting dicey out there.

There’s been some froth in the crowdfunding space for a while — creators chasing a quick $20K payday, the "no fulfillment” crowd, plus a big influx of established IP moving into the crowdfunding realm. Vault, Heavy Metal, Boom, and plenty of others are using these platforms to build direct-to-consumer pipelines. And why wouldn’t they? Even with solid direct market numbers, it would be foolish to ignore a channel where your per-unit margin is dramatically higher.

It all makes sense. And it’s only the beginning.

But the combination of subpar indie campaigns, cash grabs, and major IP entering the space is going to put real pressure on indie creators who should be funding. Over the next year, I think we’re going to see everyone take a hit. Unless you have a major publisher or well-established property behind you, funding isn’t going to be a given — and even then, nothing’s guaranteed.

Sure, campaigns like Jem & The Holograms, SWAT Kats, and the Heavy Metal back catalog are crushing it, and there will always be some indie success stories sprinkled in the mix, or a titty book or two. But I think most are going to feel the squeeze for a while.

Do I think it’s permanent? Nope.

Things will eventually stabilize, and the strong indie comics will rise to the top, like so much delicious cream. But the economic environment and the sheer amount of “froth” out there can’t be ignored. There are a lot of weak campaigns right now, and when you’re competing against licensed IP vacuuming up a big chunk of the available dollars, even great indie books are going to potentially take a hit.

I’ve seen some truly spectacular campaigns barely fund — or fail outright — recently, and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t concern me. Especially with at least two launches planned for next year (see below *hint* *hint*).

But with that said: I’m not going anywhere.

We can weather this storm. And when it passes, the comics that survive it — the ones built by creators who kept grinding, who put the time and effort into their works, who didn’t chase a quick buck — those are the creators who going to come back stronger than ever.

Granite returns!

The next issue of Granite is in prelaunch mode. Drawn by Fritz Casas, colored by Clau Violette and written by yours truly. Granite is part of the Summitverse of superheroes and follows the story of Alaina Callan, otherwise known as Granite! A hard living, hard hitting superhero with massive strength and gargantuan potty mouth. I’ve been told by quite a few people who don’t normally like superhero books that that really enjoyed my one-shot ‘Granite: Separation Anxiety’ so the team is continuing the story and making Granite an ongoing series, engraining it into the Summit line of books with the likes of Upheaval and Noir. Check out the Summit store for a sneak peak of what Summit has to offer and be sure to follow along the Granite prelaunch page to stay up to date for when we go live. Also, if you’re a paid subscriber, make sure to go to my google drive and get an advanced look at all the covers and pages as they roll in. The covers are colored and they look stunning!

Get 20% off forever

Interstellar Dust presents: Alcee

Alcee?! In her very own one shot?! Yes, it’s happening. Coming from Sky Hawkins, Christopher Albright and myself, we’re spinning Alcee off into her very own standalone story. And now I have a prelaunch page to share to help whet your appetites a bit. Click the link below to sign up to be notified! We’re up to 181 followers already and would love to get 200! Paid subs should check out my google drive for all of the dope covers we have planned! We’ve had to move the launch out a bit, but are now looking at early 2026 to get Alcee out into the world

Interstellar Dust presents: Alcee - NSFW Sci-FI Action by C.J. Hudson — Kickstarter

Get 20% off forever

What else?

Updates on a few other things:

• Gridlocked: Torque is officially in production. I’ve seen a few pages and it’s looking fantastic!

• Hunters Issue 2 has covers coming in and I hope to start receiving some interior art soon too.

• Inferna is still a work in progress, Damien is very busy, but we are hoping to make this a 2026 endeavor.

• Follow How to die in the Quad if you’re looking for more comics from me, as I have a short story in this really gorgeous looking book.

• Interstellar Dust vol. 3 is still on the way, but with Moy working at DC as well that means some things are delayed, but that’s ok, ID is always worth the wait.

• Intergalactic Academy unfortunately still on hiatus for the foreseeable future. Read all the backstory now at Intergalactic Academy

Become a paid Substack subscriber!

Current Substack exclusive editions:

• Interstellar Dust - Omnibus vol. 1 TPB cover by Flops

• Hunters of the Outer Realm #1 cover by Orion Vang

• Alcee #1 cover by Lane Lloyd (upcoming)

Becoming a paid sub means you get first look access to artwork, scripts and tons of behind-the-scenes content that no one else gets to see (including the teases I share here). Hundreds of pages of artwork including NSFW interiors and covers will keep your eyes peeled open for hours and everything is always available for download :)

And a new bonus! Beginning January 1st, 2025, all paid Substack subscribers will be eligible to receive a special free physical copy of select new single-issue or collected edition series released and funded through Kickstarter (or other crowdfunding site) while supplies last. This would typically be for new issue #1s and collected editions. This would be a paid tier Substack subscriber only variant, and unavailable through crowdfunding, my online store, or con exclusives. Basically, fully unique to those on Substack.

• Shipping is available anywhere in the world but would not be included for free. I will ask you, or you will confirm for me via Kickstarter or general outreach, if you would like your incentive cover before shipping (it will also be available digitally) and will send you a PayPal invoice for shipping costs. Rates for 2025 will be as follows:

  • USA: $5.00 USD

  • Canada: $20.00 USD

  • All other countries: $25.00 USD

• If you opt to support the Kickstarter campaign at any tier level, your Substack incentive cover would just be included with your standard order, and you would not be charged extra shipping, as you would already be paying it via the crowdfunding platform.

• Kickstarter now has secret reward tiers as well; I will be leveraging these going forward too and providing the links the Secret rewards behind my Paywall for subscribers. You’ll pay a small base price + shipping, the totals will not be greater than the shipping totals mentioned above though.

• Please note this is for select crowdfunded comics only, not comics that may be exclusive to the direct market, and not those comics that I did not crowdfund myself (such as Vigia, Lycan or the Cauldron, which have their own specific publishing deals).

• You must be on the annual membership at the time the comic is successfully crowdfunded to receive your free comic. Monthly memberships are not eligible because they could just cancel right after they receive their rewards. The annual membership is actually much more cost effective compared to paying monthly.

• 2025 printed Substack Editions will be limited to 50 copies. First come, first serve.

• I will always note comics that are eligible rewards for paid subscribers.

Get 20% off forever

Extra content available! Access my exclusive google drive today!

Missed an issue? My online store is open!

Physical editions of my work are available for purchase through my online store. I have over 60 versions of my comics in addition to prints, trading cards and stickers available for purchase. This includes rare editions through Kickstarter, direct market comic book shops, and online store exclusives. Most everything I have ever worked on is available through my store including Interstellar Dust, Lycan, The Cauldron and much more.

My Online Store

Follow me on social media!

Never miss an update by following me on my social media accounts. I’m most active on X (twitter), Instagram, BlueSky and TikTok.

Social Media

Get 20% off forever

Extra content available! Access my exclusive google drive today!

Read more

Personally, I’ve always preferred viewing it that way. It gives me freedom. It removes the pressure of “making it,” a concept that’s relative anyway. Success in comics isn’t one universal milestone—it’s completely in the eye of the beholder.

Years ago, I told myself that my definition of success was simple:
If someone paid me to write comics—any comics, for any publisher—I’d consider that a win.

Did I have dream publishers in mind? Of course. Who doesn’t? But even as someone fully embedded in worlds of make-believe, I try to stay grounded. Keep my head down. Focus on the work. Don’t expect anything. Don’t assume I’m owed anything.

And eventually, I hit that goal. I was paid to write for small presses like Ad Astra Media and Wolven Press. That scratched the itch and made me believe the sky was the limit—that more work was right around the corner.

And then… it wasn’t.

The work dried up. Suddenly I wasn’t sure what came next. Should I keep pitching, chasing more work-for-hire opportunities? For me, the answer was no. Instead, I chose to view the quiet as freedom—a chance to reinvest in my own projects and strengthen my portfolio in case more work came along someday.

For the past two years, I pretty much convinced myself that ship had sailed. The industry shifted, even established writers were struggling. And the realist in me kept repeating:
Control what you can. Write the best stories you can. Let the rest go.

Then, late Wednesday night, an email popped into my inbox from a publisher I’ve admired for years. A simple request:

“Could you please send us some samples of your work?”

I’ll be honest—I thought about waiting a day to respond. But I have absolutely zero game face. I shot out of bed and spent the next half hour prepping files. And just to be clear: I have no expectations here. There are incredibly talented writers out there. I know—I’ve read a lot of scripts through my own open submissions. Some of you are seriously good.

But to me, simply being asked is a win. It means someone is paying attention. It means the years of work, the discipline, the head-down grind, the commitment to fans and collaborators—it’s resonating.

Am I excited? Absolutely.
Could this be a big break? Possibly.
Could it end with a polite “Thanks, but no thanks”? Also possible.

And both outcomes are okay. As long as I’m creating, I’m happy.

So here’s my encouragement to you:
Don’t be afraid to take chances—but don’t let the outcome define your worth.

I’ll keep you posted if I hear anything back. 😊

Granite returns!

The next issue of Granite is in prelaunch mode. Drawn by Fritz Casas, colored by Clau Violette and written by yours truly. Granite is part of the Summitverse of superheroes and follows the story of Alaina Callan, otherwise known as Granite! A hard living, hard hitting superhero with massive strength and gargantuan potty mouth. I’ve been told by quite a few people who don’t normally like superhero books that that really enjoyed my one-shot ‘Granite: Separation Anxiety’ so the team is continuing the story and making Granite an ongoing series, engraining it into the Summit line of books with the likes of Upheaval and Noir. Check out the Summit store for a sneak peak of what Summit has to offer (see above image) and be sure to follow along the Granite prelaunch page to stay up to date for when we go live. Also, if you’re a paid subscriber, make sure to go to my google drive and get an advanced look at all the covers and pages as they roll in. The covers and colored and they look stunning!

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Interstellar Dust presents: Alcee

Alcee?! In her very own one shot?! Yes, it’s happening. Coming from Sky Hawkins, Christopher Albright and myself, we’re spinning Alcee off into her very own standalone story. We’re eyeballing an October launch! And now I have a prelaunch page to share to help whet your appetites a bit. Click the link below to sign up to be notified! We’re up to 175 followers already and would love to get 200! Paid subs should check out my google drive for all of the dope covers we have planned!

Interstellar Dust presents: Alcee - NSFW Sci-FI Action by C.J. Hudson — Kickstarter

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What else?

Updates on a few other things:

• Gridlocked: Torque is officially in production. I’ve seen a few pages and it’s looking fantastic!

• Hunters Issue 2 has covers coming in and I hope to start receiving some interior art soon too.

• Inferna is still a work in progress, Damien is very busy, but we are hoping to make this a 2026 endeavor.

• Follow How to die in the Quad if you’re looking for more comics from me, as I have a short story in this really gorgeous looking book.

• Interstellar Dust vol. 3 is still on the way, but with Moy working at DC as well that means some things are delayed, but that’s ok, ID is always worth the wait.

• Intergalactic Academy unfortunately still on hiatus for the foreseeable future. Read all the backstory now at Intergalactic Academy

Become a paid Substack subscriber!

Current Substack exclusive editions:

• Interstellar Dust - Omnibus vol. 1 TPB cover by Flops

• Hunters of the Outer Realm #1 cover by Orion Vang

• Alcee #1 cover by Lane Lloyd

Becoming a paid sub means you get first look access to artwork, scripts and tons of behind-the-scenes content that no one else gets to see (including the teases I share here). Hundreds of pages of artwork including NSFW interiors and covers will keep your eyes peeled open for hours and everything is always available for download :)

And a new bonus! Beginning January 1st, 2025, all paid Substack subscribers will be eligible to receive a special free physical copy of select new single-issue or collected edition series released and funded through Kickstarter (or other crowdfunding site) while supplies last. This would typically be for new issue #1s and collected editions. This would be a paid tier Substack subscriber only variant, and unavailable through crowdfunding, my online store, or con exclusives. Basically, fully unique to those on Substack.

• Shipping is available anywhere in the world but would not be included for free. I will ask you, or you will confirm for me via Kickstarter or general outreach, if you would like your incentive cover before shipping (it will also be available digitally) and will send you a PayPal invoice for shipping costs. Rates for 2025 will be as follows:

  • USA: $5.00 USD

  • Canada: $20.00 USD

  • All other countries: $25.00 USD

• If you opt to support the Kickstarter campaign at any tier level, your Substack incentive cover would just be included with your standard order, and you would not be charged extra shipping, as you would already be paying it via the crowdfunding platform.

• Kickstarter now has secret reward tiers as well; I will be leveraging these going forward too and providing the links the Secret rewards behind my Paywall for subscribers. You’ll pay a small base price + shipping, the totals will not be greater than the shipping totals mentioned above though.

• Please note this is for select crowdfunded comics only, not comics that may be exclusive to the direct market, and not those comics that I did not crowdfund myself (such as Vigia, Lycan or the Cauldron, which have their own specific publishing deals).

• You must be on the annual membership at the time the comic is successfully crowdfunded to receive your free comic. Monthly memberships are not eligible because they could just cancel right after they receive their rewards. The annual membership is actually much more cost effective compared to paying monthly.

• 2025 printed Substack Editions will be limited to 50 copies. First come, first serve.

• I will always note comics that are eligible rewards for paid subscribers.

Get 20% off forever

Extra content available! Access my exclusive google drive today!

Missed an issue? My online store is open!

Physical editions of my work are available for purchase through my online store. I have over 60 versions of my comics in addition to prints, trading cards and stickers available for purchase. This includes rare editions through Kickstarter, direct market comic book shops, and online store exclusives. Most everything I have ever worked on is available through my store including Interstellar Dust, Lycan, The Cauldron and much more.

My Online Store

Follow me on social media!

Never miss an update by following me on my social media accounts. I’m most active on X (twitter), Instagram, BlueSky and TikTok.

Social Media

Get 20% off forever

Extra content available! Access my exclusive google drive today!

Read more

That’s not to say I wasn’t interested. After all, children’s media is where storytelling truly begins. It’s the foundation of imagination and adventure—the spark that shapes young minds into lifelong fans of stories and art. I had just never tried my hand at creating it before.

When I first thought about how to adapt my storytelling for a younger audience, I became fixated on the idea that it might not be good enough—that because I hadn’t done it before, I’d somehow fall short. It was a classic case of fear of the unknown, but because I’m me, it was amplified 10X. But honestly, I was legit worried that the story wouldn’t connect with readers, despite my ample experience writing in the science fiction genre.

Eventually, after a few false starts and some internal pep talks I had a moment of significant clarity. I realized the target audience was actually the simplest part to adjust. I was still me. I still had my strengths. I just needed to make sure everyone could enjoy the story—not just adults. Once I embraced that idea, something clicked. I wasn’t limited or unqualified after all. The possibilities were endless.

What happened next was a creative firestorm I hadn’t felt in years. The publisher’s open-minded approach gave me almost unlimited freedom to tell the stories I wanted—so long as they could resonate with all ages and adhere to the STEAM based approach they were meant to inspire. Out of that came Intergalactic Academy, a comic about a group of kiddos enrolled in an academy to help solve the problems plaguing mankind and the cosmos. What followed was a rush of creativity that marked the moment I truly found my groove as a writer. And after all that worrying, people seemed to really dig the comic, which was a nice bonus.

The biggest lesson I took from that experience? Don’t question your abilities—question your desire. The only reason not to take a job is if you don’t want it, not because you think you can’t do it. Challenge your skills, challenge your thinking, and you’ll come out stronger for it. You never really know what you’re capable of until you try.

Bearer of Ages update

The incredible Atula Siriwardane has just completed the pencils for issue 4 of Bearer of Ages. This one took about a year to complete, but the wait was well worth it. I always have people say that I seem to have a lot of projects going on, and I do, but they typically go very very slowly. Not always by intent of course, but things just seem to always pop up for me with my projects, so I typically have multiple going on at any one time just to always keep moving forward with something. The work and payment structures are always staggard though to help keeps costs in alignment. It means I push content out more slowly, but it ensures quality. It might not work for everyone, but it’s a model that has worked for me, even if I never set out to follow it in the first place. This page here is one of my favorites from the new issue, the complete black and white pages, as well as all the recolored pages from issue 1 (and soon to be colored pages from subsequent issues) are all available for digital download via my drive for paid subscribers. You always get a firsthand look at what I’m working on.

Get 20% off forever

Interstellar Dust presents: Alcee

Alcee?! In her very own one shot?! Yes, it’s happening. Coming from Sky Hawkins, Christopher Albright and myself, we’re spinning Alcee off into her very own standalone story. We’re eyeballing an October launch! And now I have a prelaunch page to share to help whet your appetites a bit. Click the link below to sign up to be notified! We’re up to 169 followers already and would love to get 200! Paid subs should check out my google drive for all of the dope covers we have planned!

Interstellar Dust presents: Alcee - NSFW Sci-FI Action by C.J. Hudson — Kickstarter

Get 20% off forever

What else?

Updates on a few other things:

• Gridlocked: Torque is officially in production. I’ve seen a few pages and it’s looking fantastic!

• Hunters Issue 2 has covers coming in and I hope to start receiving some interior art soon too.

• Inferna is still a work in progress, Damien is very busy, but we are hoping to make this a 2026 endeavor.

• Follow How to die in the Quad if you’re looking for more comics from me, as I have a short story in this really gorgeous looking book.

• Interstellar Dust vol. 3 is still on the way, but with Moy working at DC as well that means some things are delayed, but that’s ok, ID is always worth the wait.

• Intergalactic Academy unfortunately still on hiatus for the foreseeable future. Read all the backstory now at Intergalactic Academy

Become a paid Substack subscriber!

Current Substack exclusive editions:

• Interstellar Dust - Omnibus vol. 1 TPB cover by Flops

• Hunters of the Outer Realm #1 cover by Orion Vang

• Alcee #1 cover by Lane Lloyd

Becoming a paid sub means you get first look access to artwork, scripts and tons of behind-the-scenes content that no one else gets to see (including the teases I share here). Hundreds of pages of artwork including NSFW interiors and covers will keep your eyes peeled open for hours and everything is always available for download :)

And a new bonus! Beginning January 1st, 2025, all paid Substack subscribers will be eligible to receive a special free physical copy of select new single-issue or collected edition series released and funded through Kickstarter (or other crowdfunding site) while supplies last. This would typically be for new issue #1s and collected editions. This would be a paid tier Substack subscriber only variant, and unavailable through crowdfunding, my online store, or con exclusives. Basically, fully unique to those on Substack.

• Shipping is available anywhere in the world but would not be included for free. I will ask you, or you will confirm for me via Kickstarter or general outreach, if you would like your incentive cover before shipping (it will also be available digitally) and will send you a PayPal invoice for shipping costs. Rates for 2025 will be as follows:

  • USA: $5.00 USD

  • Canada: $20.00 USD

  • All other countries: $25.00 USD

• If you opt to support the Kickstarter campaign at any tier level, your Substack incentive cover would just be included with your standard order, and you would not be charged extra shipping, as you would already be paying it via the crowdfunding platform.

• Kickstarter now has secret reward tiers as well; I will be leveraging these going forward too and providing the links the Secret rewards behind my Paywall for subscribers. You’ll pay a small base price + shipping, the totals will not be greater than the shipping totals mentioned above though.

• Please note this is for select crowdfunded comics only, not comics that may be exclusive to the direct market, and not those comics that I did not crowdfund myself (such as Vigia, Lycan or the Cauldron, which have their own specific publishing deals).

• You must be on the annual membership at the time the comic is successfully crowdfunded to receive your free comic. Monthly memberships are not eligible because they could just cancel right after they receive their rewards. The annual membership is actually much more cost effective compared to paying monthly.

• 2025 printed Substack Editions will be limited to 50 copies. First come, first serve.

• I will always note comics that are eligible rewards for paid subscribers.

Get 20% off forever

Extra content available! Access my exclusive google drive today!

Missed an issue? My online store is open!

Physical editions of my work are available for purchase through my online store. I have over 60 versions of my comics in addition to prints, trading cards and stickers available for purchase. This includes rare editions through Kickstarter, direct market comic book shops, and online store exclusives. Most everything I have ever worked on is available through my store including Interstellar Dust, Lycan, The Cauldron and much more.

My Online Store

Follow me on social media!

Never miss an update by following me on my social media accounts. I’m most active on X (twitter), Instagram, BlueSky and TikTok.

Social Media

Get 20% off forever

Extra content available! Access my exclusive google drive today!

Read more