Queer and Trans Comics by Dylan Edwards
Valley of the Silk Sky turns 90 pages old, and is covered in weird growths. Goggle at them here:
Meanwhile, the digital edition of Valley of the Silk Sky: The Long Run Part Two is now available on ComiXology! If that’s your preferred platform, you need wait no longer.
I’m still recovering from TCAF (jetlag plus travel shenanigans), so that’s about it for this week. Next week, more VotSS, and WisCon news!
Cheers,
Dylan
Care for some overgrown ruins? Worry not, Valley of the Silk Sky page 89 has you covered (in weird plants):
That Patreon post has a little more info about said weird plants, so click through if you desire more knowledge (Patreon posts of VotSS pages are locked Monday-Wednesday, and become available to the general public on Thursday).
But also, TCAF is nigh!
If you’re going to be at the Toronto Comic Arts Festival this weekend (May 12-13, 2018), you should come find me at table 218 for the convention debut of the Valley of the Silk Sky: The Long Run Part Two print book!
I’ll also be on the Adventure Teens panel on Sunday at 2:00 PM, wherein we’ll talk about why we let our characters run around without adult supervision.
I’m excited for to return to Toronto, even if it means I have to get up ridiculously early for my flight tomorrow. See you there!
Cheers,
Dylan
The eighty-eighth page of Valley of the Silk Sky is carefully avoiding giant carnivorous fish swimming through a ruined city. Observe:
Don’t forget that the book containing the entirety of Part Two (including all of chapters 6-10) will make its official convention debut at TCAF (May 12-13).
(If you can’t make it to TCAF, you can of course buy the book online.)
Speaking of TCAF, they’ve announced the programming schedule, and you can come watch me yammer about VotSS on the Adventure Teens panel on Sunday at 2:00.
Table placements are still being finalized, so I’ll have more info next week about where to find me on the floor (I can tell you right now it’s the second floor, though, since that’s what I paid for).
Cheers,
Dylan
Chapter 9 proceeds apace, as page 87 emerges from the fog. It may be observed here:
In convention news, I’m on a panel at TCAF, but they haven’t officially announced the schedule yet, so I’ll reveal more about that soon.
WisCon panels HAVE been officially announced, so now I can tell you when and where I’ll be (besides the vendor’s room, of course):
What: Alternatives To Patreon: Direct Support To Creators
When: Sat, 8:30–9:45 AM
Where: Capitol B
What: Fantasy Worldbuilding In Comics
When: Sat, 10:00–11:15 AM
Where: Capitol B
What: Found Media in Mixed Objects (readings by various trans folk)
When: Sat, 2:30–3:45 PM
Where: Michelangelos
What: Beyond S/He
When: Sun, 10:00–11:15 AM
Where: Capitol A
Exciting, is it not? (Actually, yes indeed, it is.)
Also, this is a propos of absolutely nothing, but I got tickets to see Janelle Monáe, and I’m unreasonably excited about it (unless that level of excitement is to be expected, which probably it is, so I’m actually very reasonably excited).
Cheers,
Dylan
Chapter 9 continues with Chadsen’s exploration of the mysterious ruins of the Red City. Read all about it here:
That Patreon post includes a bit of world-building nattering about, well, buildings. Specifically, some of the architectural innovations in the Valley. Excite! Check it out if you happen to be a giant nerd.
I expect I’ll have some Important Announcements next week, regarding upcoming conventions and panels and whatnot, so check back, why don’t ya.
Cheers,
Dylan
Yes indeed, Chapter 9 has begun, and you can read the first page here:
As you might maybe have possibly heard, the entirety of chapters 6-10 are collected into the newest Valley of the Silk Sky book, The Long Run Part Two. As you may have noticed, Chapter 9 only just started posting online, so you can read ahead by way of this tome, which may be obtained here:
Print:
Digital:
Unfortunately, I won’t have my own copies of the book in time for DiNK this weekend (April 14-15, 2018), but I shall be there nonetheless.
I’ll be at table 232 on the second floor, and I’ll also be on three panels:
4/14 at 4:45 PM – Back to the Drawing Board: Non Digital Mediums for Creating Comics
4/15 at 1:30 PM – What is Queer: Discussions of Identity in Independent Comics
4/15 at 2:45 PM – Creating Comics and Community in Colorado
So! Come to by table and buy some comics, come to these panels and hear a bunch of cartoonists talk about comics. You cannot lose.
Cheers,
Dylan
Yes indeed, I have finished up the art for chapters 9 and 10, put together a cover, assembled everything in InDesign, and lo, off to the printer it goes.
I just ordered the proof this morning, so the next step (after getting it in my hands and peering at it with my eyeballs) is to check it for errors and then either smash the “publish” button or fix whatever needs fixing and proof it again.
Based on past turnaround times, this has me on track for a TCAF debut. So if you’re gonna be in Toronto for their very fine Comic Arts Festival, you will be able to purchase said volume at that time. If you will NOT be in Toronto, fear not. The book will be available for online order, and I will of course have it at all the other conventions I’m doing this year.
Speaking of conventions, I got off the wait list for STAPLE! (yay!), so looks like I’ll be in Austin in September.
Next show coming up is DiNK here in Denver, just a scant two weeks away. While I won’t have copies of the new VotSS book in time to sell there, I should have a proof you can peruse (unless it turns out looking terrible, in which case no).
ANYHOW. TL;DR: lots of things soon!
Cheers,
Dylan
Yes indeed, page 84 marks the EXCITING CONCLUSION to chapter 8, so check it out:
If you want to read the whole chapter through from the beginning you can do so either here on Studio NDR or here on Tumblr.
Chapter 9 is, of course, already finished. My plan is to start running it in early-to-mid April. I have some minor art corrections I want to do to previous pages before it kicks off.
In the meanwhile, I will indulge in the world-building appendix posts I usually sandwich in between chapters. These posts will just be on the Tumblr site, not here, JSYK.
Also, $1+ subscribers to my Patreon will get to peep some concept art during the break, so if you want in on that, gimme one whole dollar.
Spirit in Action Conference
I’ve just arranged to have a table at the Spirit in Action Conference, a community event for trans folks and their friends and allies, which is being hosted by the Mile Hi Church on Saturday, March 24. The conference is free, so if you’re in the Denver area you should come!
On Friday, March 23 the Mile High Church is hosting Janet Mock, which event is NOT free, but you should come to that, too.
Cheers,
Dylan
Now look here. Valley of the Silk Sky page 82 has something it wants you to see. Peep it in one of these fine locations:
The Patreon post, as is often the case with Patreon posts, contains a bit of additional world-building information. (Patreon posts go up on Monday for $1+ subscribers to have early access, and are unlocked for public viewing on Thursday. Just in case you were curious.)
Anyhow, if you’ve read my VotSS story in the first volume of the Beyond Anthology, you might have noticed Razi looking over xer glasses a lot. Well, now you know why.
Speaking of the Beyond Anthology, the reprint of vol 1 (as well as the first printing of vol 2) are, I believe, going to be available for sale from Beyond Press in April. So keep an eye out for that.
Cheers,
Dylan
Valley of the Silk Sky page 81 is up, and it contains both hijinks AND ensuement. Read here:
In other VotSS news, I finished painting chapter 9, which means I have a whole entire chapter done before I’ve even finished publishing the current one. TRULY, IT IS A CRISPNESS MIRACLE.
Now I just gotta complete chapter 10 and the cover, and I’ll have all the material ready for The Long Run part 2 book. I’m aiming for a TCAF debut, so let’s see how things go, eh?
SPEAKING OF BOOKS BEING PUBLISHED.
The Secret Loves of Geeks is now out from Dark Horse Comics!
The book has been getting a lot of very positive reviews already, so that’s exciting. I honestly can’t keep track of ’em all, but here’s a good comprehensive review/interview from the Nerdist.
Anyway, you can snag it right now from yer local comic shop or bookstore. I also left a couple posters at the Denver Public Library, and it sounded like the librarians were going to make sure they had the book in circulation. So, like, you can hit up yer local library, too. Neat!
Also, there’s the upcoming signing at Mutiny Information Cafe on Feb 21 if you’re in Denver. What time is it happening, you ask? Um. I’m not sure! Ha ha. I’ll have to find out.
Anyway, COMICS ABOUND.
Cheers,
Dylan