Andrew Foley on Elk’s Run!

HH Skewed Perspectives - Elks' Run Bumper Edition

While each issue of the series provides an interesting read, I’m glad I read the first three issues in this collected edition, as it let me better appreciate the unusual structure Fialkov’s chosen to tell this story. Even though the first story page cleverly foreshadows the plot’s progression, read on its own, the first issue could give a misleading impression of what the book’s about--it appears to be a story of teenage rebellion. While that element is certainly a part of the tapestry ELK’S RUN’s creators are weaving, the story is much larger than that. It’s only by the end of the third issue that we get a sense of exactly how bad things are going to get for everyone in Elk’s Ridge.

Elk’s Run Art

Elk's Run Art Originally uploaded by Joshua Hale Fialkov.

Elk’s Run Art

Elk's Run Art Originally uploaded by Joshua Hale Fialkov.

Viral Marketing, eh?

BUZZSCOPE on Elk’s Run #4

BUZZSCOPE :: Weekly Review Roundup: December 21, 2005:"ELK’S RUN #4 – BUZZSCORE: A

By Joshua Hale Fialkov, Noel Tuazon and Scott Keating * Speakeasy, $2.99

If there were any reservations about declaring an 8-issue mini-series one of the best of the year based only on its first three chapters, Elk’s Run hits the halfway point with a bang, cementing its status in my mind as THE sleeper hit of the year. After last issue’s shocking turn of events saw two state troopers killed for prying too deeply into town affairs, Fialkov switches perspectives again, showing the immediate aftermath through the eyes of the four teenagers charged with disposing the bodies as they come to grips with what’s happened and debate their escape. “Who knows what else they’ve done…?” Flashing back periodically to a hunting expedition, Fialkov continues to unfold his story of a tightly knit community coming apart at the seams, deftly fleshing out motivations and balancing even the most extreme actions within a very human context. Tuazon and Keating complement the story’s mounting tension with atmospheric visuals that will look great when some smart director brings Elk’s Run to theaters, Sin City-style, in a couple of years. Don’t let the ghost of Christmas past pay you a visit and make you regret missing out on the source material. --Guy LeCharles Gonzalez"

Death Comes to Dillinger

Fwd: woop Originally uploaded by Joshua Hale Fialkov.

In Previews Now! Edited by yours Truly.

Livejournal Directing Comics Discussion

Over on my LJ there's a little piece I wrote about my background in directing, and how much I miss it. It's growing into a little conversation about film directing being a great bridge into comic writing. Chime in comic writers!

Marc Mason Reminisces about Western Tales…

Right here are some mighty kind words from Marc Mason about WToT. To answer his question of "When is there going to be a trade?" We're actually talking to some people right now. Chris Arundel (publisher and business partner extraordinaire) will read this and then IM me saying "What people?" cause I haven't told him yet.

David Welsh on Elk’s Run #4

When something like the Speakeasy situation happens, I usually just sit back and look at what smarter people have to say on the subject. Because really, what I know about the economics of comics publishing and anything resembling high finance could comfortably fit in half of a hollowed-out Skittle, with plenty of room left over. (And to anyone who got a good chuckle out of the use of “comics” and “high finance” in the same sentence, you’re welcome.) But reading the updates and analysis and noting that the fourth issue of Elk’s Run is due out today, I find myself a little more wistful than I would normally be at yet another industry implosion.

Click Here for the Rest

Happy Holidays from H&B

ER 4 Review/Preview Round Up

BUZZSCOPE Previews ER4 Fossen Reviews ER4

More to come...

Elk’s Run #4 Out Today And….

LOS ANGELES, CA 12-19-05 – Independent Sensation Hoarse and Buggy Productions Updates the World on Elk’s Run! “Hello comic fans, retailers, and creators! This is Elk’s Run creator Joshua Hale Fialkov writing to give a quick update on the status of the book, in light of Speakeasy’s recent announcement.

First and foremost, the book will be continuing in print, through the full run of the series. We have Speakeasy’s assurance that come hell or high water, the rest of the book will absolutely see print. The first all new Speakeasy issue, #4 (Diamond Order #SEP05 3086), is in shops this week. Issue #5 (OCT05 3177) will follow in January, with issue #6 in February or March. Make sure to get your orders in for Issue 6 (DEC05 3188) as they’re due this week!

In addition to all of this, we’re offering something special for fans and new readers during this holiday of giving, We’ve already offered the first issue of Elk’s Run for free at Newsarama (link: http://www.newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=41646 ), now we’re offering the third issue for free o hoarseandbuggy.com ! With these two free issues available, you know everything you need to know to dive in with this week’s issue 4! You can view the book, for free, here: http://hoarseandbuggy.com/news/release/38

Finally, we wanted to send a big thank you and a happy holidays to all of our fans and supporters! It’s been a hell of a year, and we’re eternally grateful for all of your supports, and we promise there’ll be some great stuff from the whole H&B team in 2007!

Have a happy new year and enjoy your free Elk’s Run!

--

Hoarse and Buggy Productions is an independent comics studio and production company focusing primarily on comics, but with forays into filmmaking, music, and animation. Founded by Joshua Hale Fialkov and Christopher Arundel in 2003, H&B was responsible for the Cult Hit Western Tales of Terror, featuring the biggest and brightest creators in comics, and the Critical Success Elk’s Run. You can visit them online at http://www.hoarseandbuggy.com for more information!

Christmas Present

Got this in the mail today from friend and artist extraordinaire Marco Magallanes. One of our earliest conversations was about how much I loved the Thing, and Marco tried his damndest but just didn't know what he looked like. Well, for the Holiday Season, he figured it out, and it's fucking outstanding. Many thanks, Marco, and congrats on the new baby.

Happy Holidays, mein freund.

In case you need another reason to order Elk’s Run #6…

Elk's Run #6, Page 1 Art by Noel Tuazon and Scott Keating Order #DEC05 3188

More Tits Than Any other Issue of Elk's Run Yet.

J-Rod Attempts to Change the World

Editor Extraordinaire Jason Rodriguez is out to change the world. The guy's got stones. I'm too busy trying to stop hemmoraghing money and get my book done to worry about fixing the world. Of course, J-Rod thinks this IS the way to save the book, so...Read it Here.

IGN’s Year End Award Noms Are In!!!

IGN.com's year end awards are up, and Elk's Run is nominated for Best Indie Book, and H&B is nominated for Best Indie Publisher! Go team!

Elk’s Run Review… In German!

Elk’s Run Review is in German! And he likes it! I think. Damn google translator.

Buzzscope on Speakeasy

Buzzscope's massive article about the Speakeasy situation is now up. It's a doozy. Here's what I have to say.

Honestly? The numbers didn't move much at all. Had we continued self-publishing, our numbers would probably be at about the same plateau. The constant delays and miscommunications between Speakeasy and the printers have in fact probably hurt us in the long run, because when we self-published, we had every issue out not just on time, but usually early, and now issue 4 is two months late, issue 5 will be two months late, and hopefully, we'll be caught up by issue 6.

As to how it's going to affect us... Well, despite any animosity that comes out of my big stupid mouth, Adam's been doing his best to be a stand up guy. He assured me that Elk's Run will see print and that together we're finding a way to make it happen. I announced over on my blog a few of those steps. First, we're raising the price on issue 7 and 8 up to $3.99. This sucks. This kills me, because I've spent years criticising the pricing of comics, but, at the end of the day, I have a responsibility to my co-creators and to my business partner to lose as little money as possible, and that extra dollar means that we can actually afford to pay our letterist and colorist without having to take it out of my already quite depleted grocery money.

As to Diamond, we're well above their cutoff, and they've been huge supporters of the book from day one, so, for the time being, that's not a concern. Where all this stuff really affects us is in marketing and promotion. We can't afford Previews ads anymore; we�re drastically cutting back on our convention appearances this year; and, we're switching all of our comp list over to digital copies of the books. Right now, all we care about is getting the book out, and come hell or high water we're going to do it.�

I’ve Done Opened My Big Mouth

Speakeasy had Rich Johnston let the cat out of the bag about their new 'policy shift' regarding their lagging creator owned comic series. A day passed uneventfully. Then all hell seems to have broken loose. Here's a few of the conversations going crazy about it:

Focused Totality The Beat The Engine The Bendis Board The Speakeasy Forums

So, in any event, here's the skinny for Elk's Run, and I'm doing an interview with Buzzscope later this week to give some more in depth insight into what it means for us.

Essentially, it means nothing for us. As of right now, despite our shit-tacular sales, Speakeasy is just as committed as they were day one, and the book will continue to come out for the forseeable future. There will however be a couple of minor changes. We are literally fighting tooth and nail to fight and make sure the book sees print as issues.

1) (I'll start with the smallest and stupidest) The Inside Covers of the book are now Black and White... it saves some money, in theory.

2) Issue 5 is due out next month, Issue 6 in February/March, Issue 7 in March/April, and Issue 8 in June/July.

3) We're IDW-ing up the place. Issues 7&8 will cost $3.99. It's pretty much what we have to do in order to survive. Issue 7 will have a 5 page backup from Event Horizon, and issue 8 will most likely be oversized, so, hopefully the price increase will feel worth it.

4) Same Great Story, Same Great Art.

Alright, so that's all the important stuff. You'll get to here more from me later this week from Buzzscope, so keep an eye out.

IGN: Ten Books Everyone Needs to Read

IGN has declared Elk's Run one of the Top Ten books that everyone needs to read, along with some very esteemed titles. Check it out.

Which for those keeping track, is our 2nd Top Ten of 2005 list.