Comic Book Squares: Mad Cave Review, Haydes Interview & More
Check out what's happening in indie comics
Welcome to the latest issue of the Comic Book Squares Talk Comics!
Before you scroll down to the reviews and interview, let’s catch you up on a couple of things. This weekend, Squares Ben and Shane will be part of the Flights of Foundry online conference for speculative fiction creators! They’re hosting a workshop on marketing comics using their decades of experience in marketing and video production. They’re also sitting on a couple of panels, including “When is a Comic Not a Comic?” and “Spotlight on Mythological Comics.” You can still register for FREE to attend!
Speaking of panels, the Squares will also be on stage at Phoenix Fan Fusion this year! The “Indie Comics LIVE” panel starts at 10:30 am PST on June 3. We’ll be releasing the interviews as episodes throughout June, so if you can’t make it to Phoenix, you’ll still get a chance to watch. Stay tuned for the guest announcements!
As always, we’re open to hearing your feedback and suggestions, so please let us know what you think or ideas you might have for additions to this newsletter. Oh, and help us grow our subscriber list by sharing out our Substack!
OK, let’s get this show started!
Last Week on Comic Book Squares …
Indie Comic Reviews
You’ve Been Cancelled
Review by Ben Rojek
Writer: Curt Pires
Artist: Kevin Castaniero
Colorist: Jason Wordie
Letterer: Micah Myers
Publisher: Mad Cave Studios
“You’ve Been Cancelled” follows Roland Endo, the world’s #1 ranked Canceller. He and other Cancellers are elite bounty hunters who kill individuals who society has voted to “cancel” following heinous actions or offenses. Their hunts - and the bloody kills - are live-streamed around the world as the popular program “Cancelled.” Roland has his work cut out for him, though, because being #1 also means every other Canceller is out to stop him.
The first thought that popped in my head when I read the synopsis for “You’ve Been Cancelled" was, “Oh, it’s like ‘The Running Man.’” But upon finishing issue 1, which comes out June 7, I see I was wrong.
Sure, both do take place in dystopian worlds (my favorite kind to read about) in which televised human hunting is the norm. But while “The Running Man” (the Stephen King book) poked holes in American’s fascination with trying to make it big through game shows, Curt Pires’ story takes our obsession with cancel culture and takes it to its most violent limits.
The artwork deftly supports this story through its own chaos and violence. Smears, splatters, locations tightly packed with people and props, arms and legs and eyes flying in all directions - there is no need for SFX. You can just feel it when Roland’s chin hits the pavement.
Issue 1 is an amazing set up to what’s currently set to be a four-issue series. I can’t wait to see how Roland’s tale unfolds.
“You’ve Been Cancelled” is now in Previews with a final order cutoff date of May 15. Ask for it at your local comic book shop, or pre-order it at Mad Cave Studios.
Stagnant Waters
Review by Ben Rojek
Writer: James Walton III
Artist: Team Diaverik, David Negrete
Letterer: Rob Jones
Publisher: A Gift Tomorrow Publishing
This first issue of “Stagnant Waters” feels like “Greatest American Hero” had a child with “Edge of Tomorrow” and it was raised by Funimation.
Time travelers, aliens, a criminal empire, eco-terrorists, and a high-tech corporation all collide … and two young friends are caught in the crossfire! When Ian and Quentin are seemingly imbued with superpowers after an alien abduction, they’re now sought after by mysterious forces. And that’s not to mention the other story threads started in issue 1.
The story was fast paced and covered a lot for a first issue, but I never felt lost. It was like watching the first episode of a Netflix sci-fi show - lots to cover, but you know it’s all going to connect. There’s a lot to read here, but you can’t build a massive world like writer James W. Walton III is trying to do without some exposition. Thankfully, the story didn’t suffer at all for it.
I was most enthralled by the wonderful artwork by David Negrete and colors by Rob Jones. I really felt like I was looking at screenshots from an animated series, that’s how good it was. The panel layouts kept the tension flowing, and there is a splash page I definitely want to see in print - two spaceships in combat over a cityscape.
Read issue 1 now on GlobalComix!
9 Questions with Paul ‘Haydes’ Hayden
(Note: Each issue of The Comic Book Squares Talk Comics will feature an interview with a comics creator. We’ll ask each person the same nine questions as a way of getting to know their current projects and a bit about them as well!)
How did you get into working in comics?
I'm a lifelong comic book nerd, I've wanted to do this since I was knee high to a grasshopper, in 2020 I decided to take the plunge.
What is the name of the project you’re currently working on/promoting?
Through ASAP Imagination’s 'Our World' platform we currently have six titles that all tale place in one world.
I've written/am writing for:
Points of Villainy Trilogy - A comic series based on a prose book I co-wrote, this covers the catalyst of our world known as The Event.
Points of Virtue Trilogy, which is coming soon.
Messiah - A unwilling hero with a flawed healing power is on the run from the mysterious Level 8.
Dead of Knight - This follows the story of fallen hero who is driven insane by The Event and becomes a medieval style vigilante.
Who is everyone on the creative team?
I'm very lucky to have a huge team of creative people, including Laurie, Nem, Jorge, Mateo, Chess, Matias, Letzy, Nicholas, Loly, Huitzi, Martin, and Bruno. This is my ASAP family.
If you were to compare your comic to any two movies/shows/books, what would they be?
Oh god, I think there's a hint of “V for Vendetta” with a smidge of Batman ‘89.
Who are your biggest creative inspirations?
Oooooooo, I still love creators like Alan Moore and Neil Gaiman. I'm really inspired by a lot of my indie peers though, watching them working their backsides off and create amazing things is awesome!
What was the first comic you remember reading?
I don't recall the exact issue but when I was 8, my older brother wanted me to "bugger off" so handed me a Batman comic and said “Shoo!” I was hooked from that point.
Besides yours, what are some comics you’re currently reading?
I have a Firefly graphic novel that my daughter got me! Love Firefly!
I'm also incredibly lucky to be able to read amazing indie comics as we publish and distribute other creators stories through our NE1 World platform.
Where can people go to learn more about and buy your comic?
For Our World comics and books please visit asapimagination.com.
For NE1 World comics and books please visit Ne1world.com.
We also have a children's book platform called ASAP Minis at asapminis.com.
Crowdfunded Comics Recommendations
Getting Back to Normal
Raccoon has been living on the streets of Reno, NV, for longer than he can remember. To be fair, he can't remember much more than yesterday, so lets just say he's had a tumultuous life for a few solid decades. In fact, he's gone by the name Raccoon for so long that the life he lived before the streets is as memorable as a fart in the wind.
One night while out searching for food, Raccoon discovers the body of a young man, murdered on the sidewalk, left to be forgotten by a world that never knew he existed.
Raccoon knows that world, and he has seen that fate time and time again. He makes it his mission to know who this man was and find his killer. Will our detective of the streets find the clues that will bring justice to the forgotten man? Or will his stoned confusion just have him leaping down one rabbit hole after another?
Back “Getting Back to Normal” on Kickstarter!
Resolution
A legendary member of an outer-space corps of heroes has withdrawn to a remote world in solitude. But her past catches up to her as former comrades arrive to convince her to come back and bring a former arch-nemesis to justice.
RESOLUTION is an epic new tale by the masters of cosmic storytelling, presented as an oversized hardcover graphic novel. It is written by Ron Marz and Andy Lanning, who’s also handling inking duties for the project. Originally slated for Rick Leonardi on pencils, changes occurred that took him off the project, but not before he provided the main cover artwork, character and world designs and a few interior spreads for the book. Fortunately, Marz and Lanning were able to recruit rising superstar Netho Diaz to take over the remaining art duties, and enlisted Paul Pelletier, Bart Sears and Tom Raney to handle bonus stories and flashbacks.
Also includes pin-ups by Liam Sharp, Phil Jimenez, Greg Broadmore, Wes Craig, Paul Pelletier, Ron Lim, Bart Sears, Luke Ross, Jeff Johnson and others.
Back “Resolution” now on Zoop!
Limbo: Open Almost All Eternity
This is the latest book from Unstoppable Comics and explores the idea of the Lord of the Underworld vacating his throne and leaving it in the hands of a former priest. This supernatural fantasy finds an average human woefully unprepared for the role he is in and seeking allies to help him against those looking to remove him from his current position.
Back “Limbo: Open Almost All Eternity” on Kickstarter!
I also loved you’ve been canceled, I cannot wait for the preview of issue 2 to drop!