With Inchi over in Mariam’s hands for a few more weeks I decided to pull 21 Steezy Snuffs back into the forefront! As many of you may know, this project was supposed to be released last year, but I stopped abruptly for “reasons.” However, I want to finish this, and it’s a perfect time to throw on some accelerant and get this done quickly!
21 Steezy Snuffs is twenty-one micro-stories of “stylishly easy” deaths. All told from the perspective of the deceased. While heavy in subject, it will also be rich in art and a fun visual experience. I plan to do this in the customary sequential art book size but with a thicker cover since its a one-shot. For those who may not be as familiar with the term “one-shot,” it’s a single standalone book rather than a series.
I’ll keep you updated on both projects, but please consider joining Voyages if you’d like the insider’s scoop.
Tonight is “the night”! Merry Christmas and Gruss Vom Krampus!
Once again, the MoonBlimp was passed over for Santa’s lead in favor of Rudolph. However, it seems the Krampus always needs a ride or a place to dump the bad kids! š I would never have expected that there was such an enthusiastic audience for all things Krampus. I think this is becoming “a thing” for me, and I’m not sad about it. Thank you for a great year and a wonderful Christmas season.
Enjoy your families the next few days. I’ll drop an update early next week!
The Hidden Legions (THL) is a 36-page “Limited Edition” one-shot comic, written and illustrated by yours truly, David Patton. THL is a physical 5″x5″ print version of the original webcomic by MoonBlimp. Because of its celebrity status as the first project, only 50 of these signed editions will be available outside of mass press runs.
THL takes place during WWI and is the opening story of the main character Collete. THL is interesting not just because of the fictional story itself but in the non-fiction associated with its creation. One would-be artist’s journey from not knowing anything to kind of knowing something. The webcomic was initially intended to stand alone and has sat dormant since 2018, but now we are saying why not? Why not release this to the world. Trust me; there are many reasons.
There is no way to say this other than to come right out and say it. This comic isnāt the best technically, artistically, or by any other accepted measure of what is or isnāt good. When I decided that I wanted to explore comics as a storytelling medium, I knew basically nothing about it. I had to begin as most do using nothing but my experience as a reader, Google, and some instructional videos. As someone with a creative career foundation before jumping into comics, I came with the correct growth mindset. Part of that growth mindset was knowing that if I was going to grow, get feedback, and ultimately get better, I would have to be vulnerable.
To that end, The Hidden Legion (THL) was originally released between December 2016 and August 2018 on Instagram. Thatās right. I put it right out there. You can think of THL as a webcomic of sorts. I tried to get one out as often as I could as I learned and struggled to communicate with the pen. However, from the very first frame (Somewhere in Paris), I realized I was in over my head. I had the will, but I didnāt have the skill or even enough knowledge to fully comprehend what I didnāt know.
So I worked and studied hard, all while continuing to make errors. But I didnāt stop to correct them. Instead, I kept pressing the story forward. Artist friends all told me this was the right of passage. The journey of self-discovery and finding your style, and I do have to agree with that. The proportional errors, the shoddy line work, the horrid framing, rough and laughable dialog are all necessary to learn and presented in their pure and unedited form.
As for the story, I initially picked this as somewhat disposable. What I mean is, I like period pieces, and you will see that throughout my catalog. However, I assumed (and still do) that the whole Uber-Soldat, Fascist evil doctor trope had been done so many ways that no one would care if this didnāt go anywhere. In other words, a perfect throw-away story while I figure out if I can do this medium or not. But then something happened. I really ended up loving this character Collete and her story. Much of which I should mention, you will learn nothing about in the following pages. That said, I have plans for Collete and her companion Eli that extend into other future projects. So the partial story here will serve as a fun easter egg for those āin the knowā when the more fabulous adventures of THL are finally released.
If you decide to read this story, I know you’ll have many questions. Thatās understandable. Why is that guy running around trying to inject people? What is La Societe? Why is Eliās Springfield called Agnes, and whatās up with Colleteās crazy rifle? Two additional frames remain unfinished of this original work. However, those wonāt help to answer these and the many other questions Iām sure you’ll have. Iām saving those answers for a future book when THL returns to properly tell the story of Collete.
There is much to unpack, but I will answer one of those questions. Colleteās rifle is a modified version of the Model 1888 commission rifle, also known as the Gewehr 88. There are a few reasons she uses that rifle, including the axe-style bayonet attachment.
Please let me know your thoughts by either joining my newsletter Voyages via the website or emailing me directly. As always, thank you for your support!
The Will-o’-the-wisp is a folk tale present in many cultures around the world. For most people, the only familiarity with this strange and otherworldly being is from Disney/Pixar’s Brave. In Brave, Merida meets the more benevolent version of the Wisp, but the folk tales send us a warning.
Disney/Pixar’s Brave
The Wisp is characterized in at least a dozen ways in as many places around the world. In one version, a man who made a deal with the devil. In another, unbaptized trapped souls attempt to lure people into the water for a chance at redemption. Whatever the interpretation, you don’t want to meet the Malevolent Wisp.
In 21 Steezy Snuffs, I put a new updated twist on the Wisp. As the title suggests, he is not the forgiving kind. I look forward to bringing you this story and many more this spring!
If you like free stuff and you want Artbooks and Comics, I have something for you. I mentioned earlier, MoonBlimp is releasing its first product this spring. I want to keep you in the know, but I’m also aware of how lame joining mailing lists are. So if your willing and interested, I’d love to hear from you, and in exchange, I’ll start by sending you this 3-Page digital! It’s called Voyages, and it chronicles the journey leading up to 21 Steezy Snuffs, the current project.
It’s just one of the many free things I’d like to give to people interested in learning more about MoonBlimp. I’ll send updates and other goodies to you without abusing your trust on the regular.
I know this comes as a shock, but Moonblimp will be releasing a product this spring. 21 Steezy Snuffs is a collection of art and stories centered around death. Murder, to be more precise! Crossing boundaries of serious to satire and genres from gothic to sci-fi, this book has the macabre covered! 21 Steezy Snuffs is currently in production with a scheduled release before summer.
Art from the upcoming release
More details are coming soon, including the best ways to stay informed.
Recent inspirations have led me back to a project that I abandoned many winters ago. Thinking about it now, I don’t know why I looked the other way. I can’t help but recall some things that Elizabeth Gilbert said in her book Big Magic. I’m paraphrasing, but she talked about how ideas find you and then leave you if you don’t pay attention to them. Perhaps that’s the case here. I’m glad that when it went out into the world, it couldn’t find anyone else. So with great enthusiasm, I present to you Eyeser Wilhelm, a character from the story.
There is much that needs explaining here that will be in due course. For the time being, though, I will leave you with another great wisdom from Elizabeth’s book.
As determined as I am to finish the current project, sometimes you just gotta draw something else! In this case, I went with the pen and ink stand that I like to believe C.F. Ebbington would use. Mr. Ebbington being my fictional character from The Machinist’s Island, of course. As a person of refinement, taste, and a healthy appreciation for antiquities this is a good choice. I have no idea if this will even have a place in the future publication but it gave me a break tonight from water, seagulls, and kung fu mermaids.
Several weeks ago I was traveling in Asia when a man walked into a coffee shop wearing a helmet, sunglasses, a medical mask, and a dapper ass suit. I captured his likeness the best I could in a sketch form a day or two later. (left sketch) Then it occurred to me that he resembled Mumen Rider or at least, was an upscale Mumen Rider! (Right) LOL!!
While there is no replacing the One Punch Man hero, I feel like this guy is way more stylish and probably has an interesting story to tell. Needless to say the real life “Dapper Rider” grabbed his coffee quickly (must have been pre-ordered) and walked out as quickly as he came in. I can’t help but wonder though, what’s the plan for drinking it because I feel like Dapper Rider would never take off the mask.
