…and thanks for all the fish.

370 comics later, we’re at the end. Thanks for reading!

Greetings all.

If your wondering what I’m up to these days, I have just launched my blog over at ghostfreehood.com. I hope to see you soon. Stop by and say hi.

Thanks and Art Fight!

Ghostfreehood

Back in 2005 and 2006, I decided I wanted to do comics. So I just woke up one morning and started doing them. I had no real formal training or anything. I have been teaching myself drawing and art on and off throughout my life so I just jumped in. Looking back on the last couple of years, it is clear I have become a junkie of sorts.

Relationships have actually deteriorated due to update schedules and my personal growth as an artist. I even broke up with a girl because I wanted to do this. That was a fucking retarded reason and there were more forces at work, of course. Growing through to 2008 as Dead of Summer rolled on, there was so much I wanted to do with the story. In my mind the story of “Nick” could go on forever. I plan on continuing this concept at some point. Dead of Summer isn’t necessarily over but for the moment. I can’t say when it could return but before my life’s work is over, it will be done. Also, the idea of having myself in a comic was never meant to last. It creeps me out a little.

Dead of Summer has put me in a union with many new friends, inspired others to follow their dreams and placed a title upon me I have been craving for a lifetime. DoS has given me the deepest fulfillment as an artist thus far. I’ve had painting exhibits and shit like that but story telling has been it! I’ve met Mike Mignola of Hellboy fame and Steve Niles of 30 Days of Night at the convention circuit and have been able to communicate with them on the level I needed to. Conveying experience and meaningful questions to your heroes was an all time high for me.

So why did Dead of Summer end? I didn’t feel the story was going to get to where it needed to go. One day I will arrive at the junction where Dead of Summer could be the novel or screenplay it needs to be. Tito became the science zombie angle while the unnatural undead were outside. I will be exploring that in the future. No doubt. Growing into Webcomics though, it would have been really hard to get the story to go that way. Well that, and it would take for fucking ever.

My love for the horror genre is the greatest of all the genres. Back in 2005 when the concept was birthed, I never would have guessed it would really grow into what it’s become. Dead of Summer has given me the reason to travel and pursue the dreams I have. Fuck me, it worked. The experience of webcomics and the machine Marty and I created has birthed Art Fight High School which will be our refined work. It will also be the opportunity for him to shine as a writer. Horror isn’t really his bag. But hey, it got us off our asses. Shit, it even got us teh ladies.

Marty, I would not be here if it was not for you. This is a letter to you, the fans, the readers and Protomen. My service is always a debt to you. A true honor to serve. I pledge my heart to you and promise my return. Art and the crafts of the world will take you many places if you are willing to go. For a few weeks now, Dead of Summer has felt like the proverbial girlfriend I had broken up with. Sorry this took sometime to write. It’s been a few weeks. I needed some time.

You guys are amazing. With the world that’s been invited onto my doorstep, I must conquest to comeback and serve the genre I care for most. When the dragon is slayed and my beard will result the conquering of vicissitude, I hope that I shall make you proud. Until then, this comic will remain up as witness to all the dreamers. Fucking get off of your ass and do something.

All the best.

Ghostfreehood

NickBorkowicz

As we promised, Nick and I have started one of our new projects, post-Dead of Summer.

So click the link and get ready, as we officially launch…

 ART FIGHT HIGH SCHOOL

Please note, there will be an extra week of blog posts as we catch up. I was recently layed off so I haven’t had much time to really process this comic coming to an end thing. You’d think I’d have a ton of free time.

In the comments, please leave a few words or a question if you got one, and I will be here to reply on Monday. Since this comic started in April of 2006, It’s been one hell of a ride. I’ll post my story about it on Monday for everyone to read. It’s juicy and one hell of a shocker in some cases. I just can’t believe some of this crazy shit happened. So yeah, talk to us. I’ll give a proper sign off, next time. I have a job interview I have to wake up for in a few hours.

See you soon.

…and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Art Fight High School is the next project for Marty and I. Above is page one, all but lettered. This comic will be in color and feature robots, space aliens, lucha libre, black metal monsters, ninja and all kinds of random awesomeness. Currently set for a twice weekly update schedule, you will find it featured at artfighthighschool.com.

If you like what you see, you can sign up for the mailing list, or “enroll” by visiting artfighthighschool.com. The comic goes live Monday and by enrolling, we can just notify you when it happens. Plus you’ll get exclusives and AFHS news from the mailing list.

Sure school sucks. That’s why we write awesome stories to make it better. AFHS will have short stories, so an arch may take a month or two to complete. Plus, there will be a really awesome Christmas crossover story. I am working on a story with a certain Japanese Comic Action Punk band that runs 4 pages and promises to deliver. You might have heard of them or you may not. Keep an eye out for that as well. Enjoy.

H2O will be hitting the Ottobar to promote their recent album Nothing to Prove. Not since 2001 has the band released an album. That doesn’t mean they went to sleep though. You may have seen H2O in 2005 with Madball, The Used, Pennywise and Dropkick Murphys and in 2006 with Rancid.

Personally, I haven’t had a chance to sit down with the album yet so I can’t really say for feelings. However, based on their video for the track titled What Happened?, it would seem like their here to do some serious work. In the period between albums, their scene has been mutilated by media. With the rise of stores like Hot Topic and major labels making their life blood exploited, they had a lot to say. What Happened? features guest vocal work from Matt Skiba from Alkaline Trio and Sick Of It All frontman and founder Lou Koller.

H2O will be playing with Harcore legends Bane, and opening acts Cruel Hand and Energy.

click for ticket info

The Aquabats have hit the road and as the local DC show approaches, you still have time to win. Are you going to see the Aquabats soon? Want to make a poster for the show? There is still time. I have an entry in the works so you will have some competition, DC. Get ready!

You can find all the details for the Aquabats poster contest here!

Here is a sneak peak at my poster in progress. It’s a DC show so traveling bands tend to play to their crowd at times. This poster is surely working that angle. Text and color will soon follow along with the touch up. I want some competition. As far as I know, I have none. What’s up everyone?

After tinkering for a long time, I’ve finally figured out a way to do this story. Before Art Fight High School became the focus, Oh Perilous World was going to be it. The problem was, it was too expansive. I had an entire universe with a high populous and nowhere to start. I picked many launching points, but it would not work. There were also different formats considered to tell the story as well. Instead of making the novel or the comic of the novel, it’s been re-worked into episodes that will cover the universe a little at a time through smaller efforts.

The story is a tale about a boy who helps save the Underworld. That sums it up best. There is just about every monster you’d want to meet available in Atrocity. Atrocity is the name of the city from the Underworld in which the story takes place. The main monster character is a Scarecrow Frankenstein brought to life by sorcery. Through him, the boy will explore the unknown. You’ll also find themes from the Salem Witch Trials, Norse Mythology, the Aborigine’s Walkabout, Cannibalism, Faeries and more.

The thing to dislike most about this project will be it’s updating schedule. It will update once weekly. The comic will be in black and white but unlike Dead of Summer, there are chapters. Each chapter is approximately 10 pages. There will be often be closure.

We will be announcing the new website by the end of the week. It is currently unavailable. That is where you want to look for updates. Check back soon. Thanks for hanging around as we bring Dead of Summer to a close. You guys have been awesome.

Welp, we’ve been discussing it for months, but this week is the last you’ll see of Dead of Summer.

Of course, it’s not the last you’ll be hearing of Nick and I, as we’ll be launching Art Fight High School next week, but never the less, we’ll be going out with a bang.

The final pages of DoS will be going up all week, and I (if not Nick as well) will be posting my final thoughts on the project.  I know that I in particular have been somewhat silent on the site for some time, so consider this an effort to patch that up.

If all this wasn’t enough, this Saturday, November 1st, Nick and I will be guests attending at Tigercon in Towson.  I’m not entirely sure of our schedule, shy of a Super Art Fight ARTJAM, but pop in for what should be a rad day courtesy of Towson U’s Anime Club.

Last night’s Baltimonster show was a lot of fun. There are too many, seriously awesome talented people in this town. If I wasn’t a broke ass bloke that got laid off a week ago, I would have threw down ridiculous cash last night. I have my eye out for a few cats and when my bank is equipped with the flow a true baller needs to run his art game, I will come calling. Hopefully, I won’t be too late.

The Echo space is an awesome place to have events like this. The sound suffers a bit if your not close to the performing bands but, it’s an open space. That will happen. I look forward to the future of this venue and it’s always developing area. The neighborhood isn’t the greatest but it’s come so far. Artist are taking over and it was abundantly clear that we’re not stopping anytime soon. I have a cousin that was murdered a block or 2 from there. Things like this, really help heal. Awesome job.