Ben Wright-Heuman - Cartoonist Extraordinaire

BWHComics Newsletter - 10/13/2018

10/13/2018

Greetings and salutations!

Some decent work updates, despite my bout of con crud. Without any further ado, let’s begin!

Released this Week

CosPain #65: John Hancock
(Patrons only) CosPain #66: Con Moms

Illustration of the Week

D&D Concept Art: Death

Inktober 2018

Inktober marches on! I’ve kept up so far. Enjoy this week’s art!

Inktober #8: STAR
Inktober #9: PRECIOUS
Inktober #10: FLOWING
Inktober #11: CRUEL
Inktober #12: WHALE
Inktober #13: GUARDED

Upcoming Events

I have a couple cons for next year that I’m finalizing my arrangements with. I should be able to announce them by the next newsletter.

If you know of any events that are accepting artists, let me know!

Experimental Offerings

For a while now, I’ve been looking for new things to offer my lovely Patrons, especially once higher reward tiers are revealed. Over the next couple of months, I intend to start testing out a few of my proposed ideas. These tests will not be exclusive to Patrons, as I need as much feedback as I can get.

Some of the tests I plan to roll out are:

1. Art Streams. Using a streaming service, I would regularly walk viewers through the live creation of a CosPain strip. Sometimes I would be working solo, while other times I would be bringing on a guest to talk about comics, cosplay, and anything else relevant to the strip.

2. RPG Podcasts. I am in a roleplaying group that meets online every week for a game, and we have discussed recording our game sessions for online distribution. I have been working on a new campaign setting that I hope to be able to roll out in the not-too-distant future, and I would be very interested in streaming it or posting an edited recording of it.

3. AMAs. I don’t know how often I would practically be able to do these, but I would love to have a stream where you can ask me questions directly. You get these newsletters from me every week, but I’d love the opportunity to talk to you guys and get to know you more.

I will give you plenty of advance warning once I have dates for these experimental offerings.

The Letters of the Devil

For the month of October, I’ve decided to drop my penciled pages per week to 10 to allow me to work on Never Go Home. More on that soon.

Wrap-Up

Nothing quite like a successful week after having been sick! If you want to support my work further, please visit my online store. I also have Patreon and Ko-Fi accounts if those are more your speed.

Rock on, guys, and never stop drawing.

BWHComics Newsletter - 10/7/2018

10/7/2018

Greetings and salutations!

Welcome, old friends, and some of the new friends I met at CXC. Without any further ado, let’s begin!

Released this Week

CosPain #64: Fakeout
(Patrons only) CosPain #65: John Hancock

Illustration of the Week

“SHAZAM! Starring Eugene Levy”

Okay, a quick explanation: I was talking to my friend Ian about the new Shazam! movie. He tried to name the lead actor, Zachary Levi, and accidentally said Eugene Levy. I couldn’t stop laughing for five minutes. I would watch the HELL out of that movie.

Inktober 2018

For those of you who are unfamiliar, Inktober is an annual event where artists around the country make one ink illustration a day, every day, for the entirety of October. I will be using the official prompts, available here. Since some of the illustrations are NSFW (‘tis the month of horror, after all!), I am providing links rather than dropping them into the newsletter. Enjoy!

Inktober #1: POISONOUS
Inktober #2: TRANQUIL
Inktober #3: ROASTED (NSFW!)
Inktober #4: SPELL
Inktober #5: CHICKEN
Inktober #6: DROOLING
Inktober #7: EXHAUSTED

Upcoming Events

Nothing for now. If you know of any events that are accepting artists, let me know!

The Letters of the Devil

Not quite as much progress this week as I’d hoped. Getting a last-minute table at CXC threw me for a bit of a loop, and I ended up contracting the dreaded con crud, which slowed me down a bit. I’ll make up the difference in the coming weeks. Once this crud’s been fully kicked, that is.

Wrap-Up

All right, time for some healing soup. If you want to support my work further, please visit my online store. I also have Patreon and Ko-Fi accounts if those are more your speed.

Rock on, guys, and never stop drawing.

BWHComics Newsletter - 9/28/2018

9/28/2018

Greetings and salutations!

Some solid progress this week. Without any further ado, let’s begin!

Released this Week

CosPain #63: Wigging Out
(Patrons only) CosPain #64: Fakeout

Illustration of the Week

Digital painting practice: “The Town of Cliffshadow”.

Upcoming Events

While I won’t be tabling, I will be stopping by CXC this weekend. If you’re in Columbus, you should stop by. It’s one of two big indie comic festivals in the city, and it’s a blast.

If you know of any events that are accepting artists, let me know!

The Letters of the Devil

Much better progress this week! I’m back on track.

Never Go Home

I started attending some meetings for writers that want to be held accountable for deadlines. It seems like a useful group that should help keep me honest.

At the first meeting, someone brought up the Delilah Devlin’s new project, Stranded: A Boys Behaving Badly Anthology. I am not including the link because it is erotica, but anyone interested can find the project very easily by searching for her name. While our group was not particularly comfortable with writing erotica (nor am I, for that matter), we did discuss using the other aspects of the pitch to create our own short stories, with a deadline of November 1st.

While discussing the idea, a horror story started forming in my mind. As soon as I got home, I wrote the first draft of the comic script. That’s what’s great about horror: it can come together in a flash. While my mystery and comedy work require a great deal of thinking and planning, my horror work is based more on gut-punch emotions than intellectual structure. Making them is relaxing, and they’re often my favorite works.

So anyway, keep an eye out for more updates about Never Go Home. I hope to have it done by the end of October.

Wrap-Up

And with that, I’m off to CXC! If you want to support my work further, please visit my online store. I also have Patreon and Ko-Fi accounts if those are more your speed.

Rock on, guys, and never stop drawing.

BWHComics Newsletter - 9/20/2018

9/20/2018

Greetings and salutations!

My Patrons got a little extra something this week. Without any further ado, let’s begin!

Released this Week

CosPain #62: Crazy Train
(Patrons only) CosPain #63: Wigging Out
(Patrons only) 2018 Post Con Season Wrap-Up

Illustration of the Week

Concept art for a new, yet-to-be-named Dungeons & Dragons setting.

Upcoming Events

I’m still waiting to hear back from a few upcoming cons. If you know of any events that are accepting artists, let me know!

The 2018 Post Con Season Wrap-Up

When I get the chance, I like to give people a peek behind the curtain, let them see how the sausage of comics is made. That’s a big part of why I make these newsletters. Well, as an extra special treat, I’ve written up a breakdown of all the cons I’ve done this year. It’s available to my Patrons here.

The Letters of the Devil

Progress has been slower than I had hoped, but that’s part of why I set big goals. Shoot for the moon, so that even if you miss, you may land among the stars! Hopefully I’ll catch up more this week.

Wrap-Up

All right, time for me to get back to penciling! If you want to support my work further, please visit my online store. I also have Patreon and Ko-Fi accounts if those are more your speed.

Rock on, guys, and never stop drawing.

BWHComics Newsletter - 9/12/2018

9/12/2018

Greetings and salutations!

Big news this week! Without any further ado, let’s begin!

Released this Week

CosPain #61: Overpacked
(Patrons only) CosPain #62: Crazy Train

Illustration of the Week

Gravity Rush Fanart: "Ice Cream Kat"

Upcoming Events

I’m still waiting to hear back from a few upcoming cons. If you know of any events that are accepting artists, let me know!

The Letters of the Devil

And now for that exciting news I mentioned!

When I launched the print edition of The Letters of the Devil, I announced that the sequel was in the works and would be released in 2019. I have been revising and thumbnailing the new story for months, and I am excited to announce that I have officially started the next big step: penciling!

Now that I have passed the more intellectual parts of planning and laying out the story, I get into the much-more-quantifiable portion of creation: actually drawing it. I have therefore decided to set more concrete deadlines and to regularly post updates regarding my progress. I present to you: The LOTD Progress Tracker!

Everything above is subject to change. Pages may be added or deleted, and deadlines may be moved up or down. For now, though, these are the estimated completion dates. The next major deadline is for the pencils, which I intend to complete by January 1, 2019.

I have also listed a completion date of July 1, 2019. I cannot emphasize enough that this number will likely change. I honestly hope to complete the book sooner than that, but it could go either way.

Wrap-Up

That’s it for now! I will be posting my con season wrap-up post for my Patrons next week.

If you want to support my work further, please visit my online store. I also have Patreon and Ko-Fi accounts if those are more your speed.

Rock on, guys, and never stop drawing.

BWHComics Newsletter - 9/7/2018

9/7/2018

Greetings and salutations!

Before I start, I wanted to thank everyone who sent birthday wishes. Y’all appreciated.

Without any further ado, let’s begin!

Released this Week

CosPain #60: Never to be Seen Again
(Patrons only) CosPain #61: Overpacked

Illustration of the Week

D&D Illustration: “The Monster Hunter”

Upcoming Events

I’m still waiting to hear if my table application has been accepted, but whether or not I get one, I’ll be attending MAGFest 2018 in National Harbor, MD! This will be my third time attending, and it’s one of my favorite cons. Hope to see you there!

New Children’s Book Project

I’ve been wanting to make more kid-friendly work for a while. Not exclusively, of course, I really enjoy my horror and mystery and jokes about boobs. It does bother me, however, when I see small children and I realize I don’t have any products for them. There’s nothing more awkward than telling a kid that walked up to my table and picked up one of my minicomics that they can’t read it.

When I attended the Center for Cartoon Studies, one of the projects we did involved making a children’s book dummy. I really enjoyed it, although I wasn’t happy with what I put together. I may redo that story at some point, which is about a grandfather and grandson going through an old photo album and discussing life and death. For now, though, I came up with a fun subject that I plan to pursue: my friend Ian’s cat, Luna.

Let me explain: my dad and I were discussing the subject of writing for kids. It came up that I have friends with young children, and that there may be a market for making custom children’s books that feature someone’s specific kid. While that sounds like a hell of a lot of work, it got me thinking of Ian’s three year-old daughter, Piper (okay, almost three. Happy early birthday, Pint-size!) and what kind of story I would make based on her life. The answer? I would write about her cat.

I believe young children’s literature should be in some way educational or inspirational. Media that does nothing but distract and flash is a wasted opportunity for people at such developmentally impressionable ages. Luna is an adventurous indoor cat, but every time someone opens the door, she tries to escape into the outside world. The lesson of the book, therefore, would be to show Piper why she shouldn’t let Luna out, even if she seems to want to go. Not the deepest of lessons, but a lesson nonetheless, and applicable to any family with small children and indoor pets.

The project is very early in development, but I will let you know as it progresses.

Wrap-Up

That’s it for now! Patrons, keep an eye out for my convention wrap-up post, which should be going up in the next few weeks.

If you want to support my work further, please visit my online store. I also have Patreon and Ko-Fi accounts if those are more your speed.

Rock on, guys, and never stop drawing.

BWHComics Newsletter - 9/1/2018

9/1/2018

Greetings and salutations!

I leveled up today! Thirty-three years old. I’m finally a man.

Without any further ado, let’s begin!

Released this Week

CosPain #59: Security Theater
(Patrons only) CosPain #60: Never to be Seen Again

Illustration of the Week

D&D Illustration: “Vennyx the Gnome Fighter”

Upcoming Events

With the wrap-up of the Bexley Local Author Fair, my schedule has opened up considerably! I don’t mind the break, as it gives me more time to work on my comic projects, but if you know of any other events accepting tablers between now and about mid-November in the Ohio area, please let me know.

Matsuricon 2018

Matsuricon was a blast! It was my first time attending, but I definitely plan on doing so again in the future. Hopefully I can get a table next year, especially since they just announced that Matsuricon 2019 will be mystery-themed!

I had told you all about the situation with the Republican dinner featuring President Trump that occurred at the same time as the convention. Thankfully, the effects were minimal. There were many well-dressed, very confused people staring uncomprehendingly at the con-goers, and a few small protests happened outside of the convention center. Friday attendance was also very low, so I made a point of going to the Artist Alley and buying some comics from several of the tables. It really sucks when you sign up to do sales at an event then get hit with bad traffic due to no fault of your own, so I had to keep my people’s spirits up.

The dance events with Trickssi were fantastic! By far the best part, however, was this photograph of Trickssi and me dancing that our friend Niho took, which caught me making faces at a friend on the sidelines. Caption it as you will.

Wrap-Up

And now, on to the birthday festivities! Here’s to another year of making comics!

If you want to support my work further, please visit my online store. I also have Patreon and Ko-Fi accounts if those are more your speed.

Rock on, guys, and never stop drawing.

BWHComics Newsletter - 8/23/2018

8/23/2018

Greetings and salutations!

An exciting week for me! Friends in town, an author event, President Trump at the anime con I’m attending … it’s gonna be interesting.

Without any further ado, let’s begin!

Released this Week

CosPain #58: Busy Schedules
(Patrons only) CosPain #59: Security Theater

Illustration of the Week

Critical Role Fanart: “Caleb and Jester’s Waltz”

The Letters of the Devil

I’ve spent the last few days getting the thumbnails scanned and all 222 pages prepped for the second book of The Letters of the Devil. With this step done, and with my shiny new tablet display, I’m ready to start my digital penciling!

Matsuricon 2018

I mentioned in my last newsletter that I will be attending (but not tabling at) Matsuricon 2018 this year, both to have fun with some friends from out of town and to assist the phenomenal Trickssi with her dance events. That has not changed, but recent developments are worth mentioning.

Matsuricon is held at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Last week, around the same time my newsletter was getting distributed, it was announced that a Republican fundraising dinner would also be held at the same center, at the same time as Matsuricon … and that President Donald Trump would be in attendance.

Matsuricon, to their credit, had answers for us within about 48 hours. They explained what would be different and reassured us that the events would be kept wholly separated. I hope they are correct.

I try to avoid talking too much about politics, not because I don’t have strong opinions, but because modern politics has become too alienating. I will not denounce one side or the other publicly, because my work is meant to be enjoyed by anyone regardless of political affiliation. If you plan on attending Matsuricon this year, however, I do have one very strong request: please do not protest. I am not denying your right to protest, nor am I saying that there is no reason to protest; I am asking you not to protest at this event because I can think of few more dangerous places to protest than at an anime convention. It would only take one person waving a prop gun to start a bloodbath. Live to protest another day.

Wrap-Up

And that’s all I got! Hopefully I’ll have positive reports about this weekend in the next newsletter.

If you want to support my work further, please visit my online store. I also have Patreon and Ko-Fi accounts if those are more your speed.

Rock on, guys, and never stop drawing.

Bexley Local Author Fair 2018!

8/14/2018

I have been honored with an invitation to the Bexley Local Author Fair this year! The event takes place on Sunday, August 26 from 2:00 PM-4:00 PM at the Bexley Public Library. Please stop by and support Columbus authors!

Author Appearance in Lancaster, PA!

7/26/2018

Hello all!

Sorry for the last-minute notice, but I wanted to let you know that I will be doing an author appearance at The Comic Store in Lancaster, PA on August 4th from 12pm-3pm! I'll be meeting people, selling comics, and promoting the hell out of my Otakon appearance the very next week! Here's the address:

The Comic Store
28 McGovern Ave.
Station Square
Lancaster, PA 17602

If you can make it, come on out!