Storycomic Weekly Newsletter: September 27th
ALWAYS POSTED A WEEK EARLIER ON PATREON
Ghosts, Kung Fu, and Kickstarters: Patrick Lugo’s New Comic Annual
Patrick Lugo is back on Storycomic Presents with a spine‑tingling, punch‑packed new project: Undead KungFu Ghost Killer #1, the Halloween Comic Annual now live on Kickstarter. This isn’t your average ghost story—expect kung fu fights, spectral villains, ghost‑killer heroes, and art that brings the undead to life in style.
In the interview, Patrick takes us behind the scenes: how he conceived the Ghost Killer character, what inspired the blend of martial arts and horror, and the creative process from sketches to full‑color pages. He also shares the backer rewards—special covers, limited prints, and extras only available during the campaign. For comic fans who love ghosts + fists + gore (tasteful gore!), this annual promises to bring chills AND excitement.
Whether you’re a horror comic fan, a martial arts enthusiast, or an indie creator curious about launching your own Kickstarter, Patrick’s story shows both the creative heart and hustle behind making something wild and fun. Be sure to check out Undead KungFu Ghost Killer #1 on Patrick Lugo’s Kickstarter page and support the undead uprising (in a good way).
When Tiny Groks Show Huge Courage: The Grok of the Rock
In the newest episode of Storycomic Presents, we welcome back Gene Roberts (one of the creative minds behind Zander Van Duff) to explore The Grok of the Rock, an action‑packed, rhyming children’s adventure that proves being small doesn’t mean being powerless. The story introduces us to Sidney, who can’t hold a candle to Harry in strength or skill, but learns that every Grok has worth—even those who don’t win the games.
We talk not only about character and plot, but about the joy of rhyme, crafting illustrations that make young readers want to “read it again,” and how underdog stories help build empathy and self‑confidence in early childhood. Sidney’s journey—of discovering his place, belief, and value—resonates beyond the pages. Whether you’re a parent, educator, or budding author working on your first picture book, there’s inspiration here. Let The Grok of the Rock remind us: strength comes in many sizes.
Find out more about this book and Gene Roberts’s work on BookBaby and local bookstores. Don’t miss the full interview for behind‑the‑scenes on illustrating, rhyming, and lifting up little heroes.
Project Update: Small but Steady Progress
This week brought some small but meaningful steps forward on the project front. I’ve been spending time rereading notes, making minor tweaks, and just getting myself re-immersed in the material. It’s not the kind of big, flashy progress that you can immediately point to, but it’s the sort of behind-the-scenes work that lays the foundation for bigger steps down the line.
I’ve also been jotting down new thoughts as they come, refining a few details, and letting the ideas simmer in the background while the busier parts of life take center stage. It feels good to know that even if things are moving slowly, the gears are still turning.
Slow progress is still progress—and sometimes it’s exactly what a project needs.
Book Review: Captain Underpants and the Big, Bad Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy – Gross-Out Greatness at Its Finest
Sometimes you just need a book that makes you laugh out loud—and Captain Underpants and the Big, Bad Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy delivers exactly that. Dav Pilkey is a master at mixing silliness, action, and a dash of toilet humor into something kids can’t put down (and adults can’t help but chuckle at too).
This two-part saga takes George, Harold, and of course Captain Underpants, into one of their wildest adventures yet. The villain? Melvin Sneedly, the brainy but annoying classmate who ends up creating the dreaded Bionic Booger Boy. It’s as ridiculous as it sounds—and that’s what makes it so much fun. Giant boogers, out-of-control robots, and non-stop chaos fill the pages, all wrapped up with Pilkey’s trademark comic panels and “Flip-O-Rama” action sequences that make reading interactive.
What I love most about this book is how it perfectly captures the joyful weirdness of being a kid. It’s gross, it’s over the top, and it’s downright hilarious—but underneath the slime and silliness, there’s also a celebration of imagination, friendship, and a little bit of rebellion against boring grown-up rules.
Reading it again brought me right back to the fun of discovering these books for the first time. The Big, Bad Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy is everything a Captain Underpants adventure should be: outrageous, clever, and endlessly entertaining.
Personal Update: Cool Weather, Warm Celebrations
This past week definitely felt like the official shift into cooler weather. I finally pulled the air conditioners out of the windows, and right on cue, the furnace clicked on for the first time this season. Fall is here for real!
On the radio side, I had my Outdoor Edge show, and this week’s topic was all about apples. A perfect theme for the season—there’s just something about talking apples in September that feels right. Behind the scenes, we’ve also been working on lining up our holiday greetings and basketball sponsorships. It’s a lot of prep, but exciting to see everything starting to fall into place.
The biggest highlights, though, were at home—we had two birthdays this week! Iggy turned 5 and Jordan turned 9. Jordan even gave us a backyard ukulele concert on her birthday, which was such a sweet and fun way to celebrate. Two birthdays, two cakes, and lots of joy.
Backyard concert
Thought I was hitting record, but ended up being a photo instead
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Thank you to our Founders Club Patrons, Michael Winn, Higgins802, Von Allan, Stephanie Nina Pitsirilos, Marek Bennett, Donna Carr Roberts, Andrew Gronosky, Simki Kuznick, and Matt & Therese. Check out their fantastic work at:
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Also to Michael Winn who is a member of our Founders Club!