Storycomic Weekly Newsletter: January 31st
ALWAYS POSTED A WEEK EARLIER ON PATREON
Lovecraft in the Comics Aisle: Simon Birks on The Thing on the Doorstep
On this episode of Storycomic Presents, I’m joined once again by Simon Birks, the award-winning writer behind Antarctica, Sinners, Gone, and The Shadow Over Innsmouth—and now the mind adapting H.P. Lovecraft’s “The Thing on the Doorstep” for Top Cow / Image Comics.
The new five-issue series, The Thing on the Doorstep, drawn by Willi Roberts and lettered by Rob Jones, follows Daniel Upton and Edward Derby, best friends whose story ends with Daniel shooting Edward dead in Arkham Sanitarium—a killing he insists he didn’t truly commit. The comic digs into that friendship, Edward’s descent, and the eerie forces that warp their lives, pushing Lovecraft’s original tale toward a more character-driven, psychological horror.
We talk about what it takes to adapt Lovecraft for modern readers, how to balance cosmic dread with human emotion, and how Simon’s years building Blue Fox Comics and delivering over 80 crowdfunding campaigns prepared him for this leap into the direct market spotlight.
Issue #1 lands in shops February 11, 2026, with the full story collected in a trade paperback later in 2026.
Project Update: Slow and Steady Editing on Appliance
I’m still slowly working my way through editing Appliance. It’s been a steady, methodical process—rereading sections, making small adjustments, and tightening things up where they need it. Nothing flashy this week, but it’s the kind of careful work that really helps strengthen the foundation of the project.
Even at a slower pace, it feels good to stay engaged with the manuscript and keep moving it forward bit by bit. Editing is definitely a different mindset than drafting, but each pass makes Appliance feel a little more solid and cohesive.
Slow progress, but very much still heading in the right direction.
Book Review: Fairy Tale Comics – Old Stories, New Magic
Fairy Tale Comics, edited by Chris Duffy, is one of those books that reminds you why fairy tales have endured for so long—and why comics are such a perfect medium for retelling them. This anthology takes familiar stories we all grew up with and hands them over to a wide range of modern comic creators, each bringing their own voice, style, and visual flair to the page.
What makes this book such a joy is the variety. Every story looks and feels different. Some retellings stay close to the traditional versions, while others lean into darker moods, playful humor, or surprising emotional depth. Turning each page feels like stepping into a completely new world, even when the story itself is one you think you know by heart.
I especially appreciate how accessible the book is. It works just as well for younger readers discovering these tales for the first time as it does for adults who enjoy seeing how stories evolve. The artwork ranges from whimsical and light to moody and dramatic, showing just how flexible fairy tales can be when filtered through different artistic lenses.
There’s also something wonderful about the anthology format—it invites browsing. You can read one story at a time, jump around, or settle in for a longer sit. It never feels overwhelming, just inviting.
Fairy Tale Comics is a celebration of storytelling itself: how stories get passed down, reshaped, and reimagined. It’s familiar without being stale, creative without being confusing, and a real pleasure to read. A great reminder that fairy tales still have plenty of magic left in them—especially when comics creators get their hands on them.
Personal Update: Planting Seeds, Long Nights, and Introducing Weird Al
This is definitely the slower season for the paper, but we’re keeping things moving and, importantly, breaking even with sales. The sales team has been working hard, and I’m darn proud of them—not just for what’s landing now, but for the seeds they’re planting with local businesses that will pay off down the road. That kind of steady relationship-building matters.
It was also a very full week for me. On Tuesday, I moderated a panel on local media at the local chamber of commerce dinner, which was a great conversation and a nice chance to step back and talk about the bigger picture of what we do. Wednesday and Friday nights were filled with basketball broadcasts, and Thursday brought another Outdoor Edge show. All told, it made for several late nights getting home, but the kind that feel productive rather than draining.
The best part of the week, though, was carving out more kid time. I finally introduced the kids to Weird Al, and that was an absolute hit. Watching them laugh at the songs and realize that music can be funny in all the right ways was pretty great.
Busy, a bit tired, but grateful—and happy to be planting seeds both at work and at home.
🎙️ 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.
Let’s keep building the kind of community that lifts each other up