A blinding future filled with daring adventure
Thanks goes to Cap’n Nobeard for a comment so good it revived me from my icy slumber.
So, how are things kiddos? 2009 is wheezing on her death bed, so I’m here to pay my respects. Unfortunately I have no cartoon to share today. Please accept this ASCII representation of a lobster as payment (blog formatting makes it look eerily like fallopian tubes though):
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(If you’d like a comic update please skip to the end.)
What an amazing year. Cubicle Ninjas, my design studio, is growing fast. Our recent print and web design clients now include Google, JP Morgan, Northern Trust, The Smithsonian, American Express, and Rutgers University (just to name a few of the last six months!). I wake up each day amazed at the wonderful opportunities we have a chance to be part of. We are doing work I’m very proud of, that also happens to be with kind, intelligent, and passionate clients. They care as much as we do about making something worthwhile.
And as Cubicle Ninjas has grown I’m (finally) finding joy in adding talented designers and developers to our team. Unfortunately it started out a bit rough as I spent most of the year firing people. After letting over six people go, learning lessons, and hiring even better ninjas, I can confidently say we have the foundation of an unstoppable team.
We even have an arcade cabinet (named Esther) to solve disputes. And if that doesn’t work the nerf guns and nerf swords on every desk ensure a minimum of office shooting sprees that don’t end in laughter.
“WHAT ABOUT THE ONLINE COMICS/ CHOOSE-YOUR-OWN-ADVENTURE-COMIC-BOOK?!!”
The graphic novel is moving forward. I keep writing more (which may be good or bad depending on your POV). What was originally the whole book is now the first act of three. Act one is crazy. Act two is insane, Act three is awesome. If this were a regular book I’d release Act one…but as a CYOA it needs to be one big book. I haven’t counted lately but I don’t think it can weigh in below 350 pages (with giant 12″ x 17″ pages and 34″ spreads!).
When will it be done? Who the heck knows. But I’m now confident that no one could have made this book except me. It is the thing that I am most proud of on this planet. As soon as I can I would love for you to taste it. My greatest fear is that I will die before I have a chance to finish it. If the Apple tablet comes out I may have to split into two chunks…
How about the online comics? Honestly, they aren’t looking possible until the book is done. After the book I’m only doing online comics. Sorry. You’ve all probably moved on and found better comics anywho. 
So what else?
- In January I’ll be launching a comic art tutorial series of videos. It will document the progress of the Pixelton book alongside share everything I know about making comics.
- A new Pixelton animation has been added to the bonfire! It is by far the most technically intense. It was animated using frame by frame animation from within Adobe Illustrator that creates a lush style which is a mix between John K and a Kandinsky painting. Looking forward to releasing these!
That is all I’ve got to yammer about for the year. How about you? Murdered any archenemies? Hugged your way to Nirvana? Recreated an accurate representation of the new testament manger out of sporks? Or is it some wonderful combination of all three? BOW BEFORE OUR ZOMBIE SPORK MESSIAH!
Gentle but meaningful hugs,
- Josh
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