Check it out! The OVER graphic novels are finally here, and I couldn’t be more thrilled with the finished product.

There is something surreal about holding two years worth of work in your hands. But there’s no time for me to get sentimental…I have a TON of artist edition sketches to do for all of the awesome people who pre-ordered and helped make this print run possible.

I’ll be scanning and sharing some of the sketches here on the blog over the next few weeks. But…if you want an original one of your very own, well, here are the deets on how to get one:

Artist’s Edition Special

The 188 page graphic novel is now available! This print collection contains the entire OVER tale, along with an additional 10 pages of content never shared online!

The OVER Graphic Novel Artist’s Edition Package includes:

• A SIGNED copy of “OVER”
• FREE SHIPPING
• ARTIST’S EDITION Sketch on a blank page inside the book.
• An “I Support Indy Comics!” Button (while supplies last.)

The Artist Edition Package is just $20, and yes, that includes shipping to the US & Canada. (Add $5 for international shipping.)

US/Canada – $20 (includes FREE shipping)

International $20 + $5 shipping!

The initial print run of books should be delivered to my doorstep no later than November 1.  Once they arrive, I’ll start working on Artist Edition sketches for people who pre-ordered the book.  I’ll be doing them in order, so the sooner you pre-ordered, the sooner you’ll get your books!  (Early birds and worms and all.)  All pre-orders will be shipped withing the first two weeks of November!

If you haven’t had a chance to pre-order the book, and were still hoping to, I’ll be honoring the pre-order special for another couple of weeks.  Here’s the link for all the details.

Here’s a preview of the wrap-around cover, done exclusively for the print collection.

Hey, guys! I’m excited to tell you that I’m now accepting pre-orders for the OVER graphic novel!

A week from today, the fifth and final chapter of OVER begins. (With no more breaks, I promise…3 days a week, straight on ’til the end!) However, NOW is the best time to place your order for the 180-page print collection of this story, which will contain 10 pages of content
never released on the web!

Why is now the time to buy?

Everyone who pre-orders OVER before August 31, 2010 will receive:

• A SIGNED copy of “OVER”
• FREE SHIPPING
• ARTIST’S EDITION Upgrade- That’s right, all pre-ordered copies will include a one-of-a-kind sketch on a blank page inside the book.
• An “I Support Indy Comics!” Button

The cost for pre-ordering is just $20, and yes, that includes shipping.

OVER is expected to go to print in early September, with Pre-Ordered books expected to ship in early October.

Why is Pre-Order So Important to Indy Creators?

Pre-order is a way for small-press and indy creators to judge demand for our products before putting in our print orders. It is also a way to raise capital to help cover the substantial cost of printing our books. Pre-ordering products from indy creators is one of the most powerful ways you, the reader, can support you favorite creators.

I’ve set a modest goal for my pre-order campaign, which I will be updating every few days to let you know how I’m progressing. (And as you can see, this campaign has just kicked off and I’m already 12% there!)

Will you help me reach that goal, and pre-order the OVER graphic novel today?

Wow, it’s been a long while since I’ve done a projects update. Guess that means I’m busy, huh? Let’s dive right into it, shall we?

The 30 Characters Challenge

• We’re sitting here on day 24 of the challenge to create a new character each day for 30 days. Though we’ve still a week to go, I have to call the challenge a resounding success. Hundreds of new characters have been created and some of the artwork has been simply astounding. If you haven’t checked it out, what the hell are you waiting for? Click here immediately!

• I am looking forward to the completion of the challenge, however, because, low and behold, it IS a challenge… and I haven’t even been cranking out top caliber artwork like some of the creators. But it’s done exactly what I hoped it would…encourage experimentation and creativity. (Case in point, Jot and Nub here.)

Over

• Over soldiers on. My first foray into online graphic novels continues to pay dividends. Slowly but surely, I’m adding readers and am always surprised to find how many people are digging my story. It’s been a quality experience for me and I’m learning a lot committing to the story and delivering it consistently. Glad people are enjoying it as well.
• That being said, Over will be taking it’s longest break of it’s run shortly. I don’t want to post throughout the Christmas holiday, because let’s face it, people have better things to do than read my comic. And I also want to break on a good stopping point…luckily, I have that stopping point, but it will probably be the second week in December that we pause our update schedule until the new year. The good thing about this is that it will allow me to build my buffer again. And the pages that will start the new year…they’re some of the funniest stuff in the entire book. It’ll start the new year with a bang.
• I’m starting to do some prep work and research into printing costs for the Over graphic novel. My goal is to have the book ready for the New York Comic Con. We’ll see if I can make that happen.

Tears of the Dragon

• I want to finish chapter 1 starting mid-december, and have been coloring the new pages myself. I will probably need to pull on a new color artist to make it happen, and will be looking for one over the Thanksgiving holiday.
• Received some dazzling new pages from Koko Amboro over the weekend. I love his art and I love this book. Hope you all do too.
• If you haven’t read any Tears yet, you can read the first 10 pages with a killer cliffhanger (literally) here.

Colosseum X

• Colosseum X will be my next (and final?) Zuda Comics submission. The script is written and it’s gotten positive feedback from a number of creators, which is great. I’ve delivered it to the artist and co-creator I’m working with, local talent Erique Savory, Jr. He’s been working on concept sketches for characters (there are a TON of characters), and I have too. This is a “go big or go home,” ambitious as hell project. If done right, it could be really huge. So, I guess we better do it right.

Creating Comics! @ Comic Related

• You’ve been reading my articles, haven’t you? If not, here’s the archive. I’m 27 articles in.
• I continue to get a lot of positive comments and feedback from people who tell me the articles are helpful. That means a lot, as do the retweets whenever I tweet a link to my latest column. Thanks guys!
• Haven’t announced it over there yet, but next week’s column will be my final column for 2009. No, it’s not that I’ve run out of things to say…it’s more that I have some other things that I need to direct some effort into that will also help the larger comics community, and I need the writing time to do it. So fear not. If people have found my articles useful this year, just wait until 2010…I’ve got some BIG ideas I want to implement that I think will be a serious help to a lot of creators.

Other Stuff

• TylerJamesComics.com will be getting a total facelift. I hope to unveil a brandnew personal webpage in time for the new year. Blogger has been a great home for the past two years, but it’s time I stepped up my presentation to the world at large. I want a clearer, more professional site that showcases my comics, links more clearly to all of my work, highlights the colloboraters I work with, and has an appealing storefront for me to sell my wares.
• Several projects are still sitting on the backshelf, including Super Seed, ICE, CounterTerror, and a very cool horror/sci-fi/mythology series tentatively titled “The Box” (although probably gonna have to change it since there’s currently a big budget movie out with the same name.) If I had unlimited time and money, I’d be working on them all. Since I have neither, I’m just trying to pace myself. Once I finish the art on Over, I’ll be taking a few months off from drawing to WRITE MY ASS OFF. In that time, I’d like to finish both the Super Seed and ICE screenplays and write at least 64 pages worth of “The Box.” That way, I’ll have those done and out of the way, and can turn my attention to drawing the remaining pages of the Super Seed graphic novel, without being held up by the writing of my other stories. Between that and writing Colosseum X for Zuda next year (play to win, remember) I’ll be very busy.
• Continuing to look to other avenues of getting my name and work out there in the public eye, and am lining up podcast appearances. I also hope to have an aggressive convention schedule in 2010. Should be a big year for me. Can’t wait.

That’ll do it for the update! Thanks for reading!