Storycomic Weekly Newsletter: November 29th
ALWAYS POSTED A WEEK EARLIER ON PATREON
Moonshine, Murder, and an Ancient Evil: Jon Dexter’s Dime-Store Detective
On this episode of Storycomic Presents, I’m joined once again by Jon Dexter, the creator behind Alpha Dogs and the supernatural crime series Dime-Store Detective. His new Kickstarter campaign for Dime-Store Detective Volume 1 collects issues #1–5 into a full graphic novel, and it’s a wild ride through time, trauma, and Appalachian folklore.
The story begins in 1981 North Georgia, where a violent clash between moonshiners cracks open a hidden cave and lets something old and hungry slip into the world. Forty years later, Detective Donald Mackinder is chasing a serial killer who stages bodies in disturbing ways, even as his own family history keeps dragging him toward that same darkness. It’s gritty Southern noir wrapped in a supernatural mystery that fans have compared to True Detective smashed together with IT.
In our conversation, Jon talks about writing flawed but determined characters, weaving a decades-spanning plot, and using horror to explore grief, guilt, and small-town secrets. We also dig into his experience crowdfunding indie comics and building a loyal readership one campaign at a time.
If you love crime stories with a chilling twist, this is an episode—and a comic—you won’t want to miss.
So-Called Living: When Becoming a Vampire Is Only the Start of Your Problems
On this episode of Storycomic Presents, I sit down with Mark Maia, creator and writer of the dark comedy comic series So-Called Living. What started as his first attempt at making a comic has grown into a fully funded 8-issue series, now wrapping up with the Kickstarter campaign for Books 5–8, billed as “The Final Chapters: The Saga Concludes.”
So-Called Living takes place in a world where vampires, werewolves, zombies, and regular humans all coexist, trying to deal with rent, relationships, and apocalyptic nonsense at the same time. At the center of it all is Jack, an ordinary guy whose life is upended when he’s turned into a vampire against his will. With the help of his questionable friends, he stumbles through this new “unlife” while getting tangled up with exactly the wrong kind of people—and monsters.
Mark talks about building a sitcom-style cast in a horror-flavored world, collaborating with artist Marco Leone and a roster of variant-cover artists, and learning how to keep readers laughing and wincing in the same panel. We also chat about juggling his BAFTA-winning game design career with long-form comics and what it means to actually finish an indie series.
If you like your vampire stories sharp, snarky, and full of heart, you won’t want to miss this conversation—or this comic.
Project Update: A Little More Work on Appliance
This week I was able to put a bit more time into Appliance. Nothing dramatic, but enough to feel like the project is inching forward again. I’ve been revisiting some of the earlier concepts, tightening up a few ideas, and reminding myself of the tone and world I’m building. Even small steps like these help keep the momentum alive, and it’s been nice to dip back into that creative headspace for a bit.
Slow progress, but steady—and it feels good to be working on it again.
Book Review: Clocks and More Clocks – A Timely Delight
This week I pulled out a charming little classic, Clocks and More Clocks by Pat Hutchins, and it was such a fun read. There’s something wonderfully simple and clever about Hutchins’ storytelling, and this book is no exception. It follows Mr. Higgins, who discovers that every clock in his house seems to be telling a different time. Off he goes—upstairs, downstairs, into the hall, the kitchen, even the attic—checking each one, trying to figure out which clock is “right.”
What I love is how Hutchins manages to take a concept that could be confusing for young readers—how and why clocks don’t always match—and turns it into a playful mystery. The illustrations are classic Hutchins: clean, engaging, and full of little visual details that make rereading a treat. The pacing is light, the humor gentle, and the payoff at the end is just the right kind of satisfying.
Reading it again reminded me why these older children’s books have so much staying power. They’re simple without being dull, thoughtful without being heavy, and they invite kids to think while still letting them enjoy the adventure. It’s exactly the kind of book that makes bedtime reading cozy and fun.
Clocks and More Clocks is a delightful reminder that sometimes the journey from room to room—and from clock to clock—is half the fun. A lovely little gem that still holds up beautifully today.
Personal Update: Big Pages, Bright Progress, and Thanksgiving Momentum
This has been a really good week all around. We’re gearing up for the Thanksgiving edition of the paper, and we ended up needing to go up to 28 pages—the largest issue we’ve put out since I bought the paper. It’s been many years since The Bridge has run that big, and while a lot of it is thanks to the Thanksgiving greetings, I’ll absolutely take the win. Seeing that page count climb feels like a milestone worth celebrating.
On top of that, I finally put together a tangible system for tracking how well my sales folks are doing. After digging into the numbers, I was pleased to see that, overall, they’re doing a solid job. It’s reassuring to have the data match the effort I’ve been seeing day to day.
I’m also making steady progress on putting together a plan to lower costs on our AM tower. It’s one of those behind-the-scenes projects that doesn’t get a lot of fanfare but makes a big difference in the long run. Slowly but surely, it’s coming together.
All in all, things are looking bright. It’s one of those weeks where the little wins stack up into something you can really feel good about.
Iggy is getting classically trained in video games. 8 Bit Nintendo!
Older sister annoying her younger sister.
🎙️ Been Here. Still Awesome. Still Limited. 🎨📚🎲
For a while now, we’ve been offering a tried-and-true promotional opportunity through the Storycomic Patreon—and if you’re an independent creative, it’s still one of the best ways to sustainably share your work and grow your audience.
Here’s what our Patreon members have been benefiting from:
✅ Permanent Promotion
Your website or project link is featured in the show notes of all podcast episodes for as long as you're a patron. That’s long-term visibility across every platform where our show is streamed.
🏆 Founders Club Access
The Founders Club remains limited to just 15 spots. No expansions, no waiting list—once it’s full, that’s it. These early supporters have their names (and links) locked into the Storycomic platform.
📢 Monthly Promotion at the Super Club Level
At the Super Club tier, members receive a minimum of one promotional post per month—whether it's a new release, project update, or spotlight on their creative work.
Founders Club patrons include amazing creators like:
Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, and Matt & Therese.
Explore their work:
🎯 If you're a creator—author, game designer, comic artist—this is your signal. This system is working. Don't wait until the last spot is gone.
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—Barney Smith