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Underground > Comic Books >

The Slave Labor comic I wrote, Dead Eyes Open, ridiculously cheap

MattShepherd: I WEDDED KALI!

20:26 / 14.02.07

I hope this isn't seen as wanton spamming, but hopefully I've accumulated enough goodwill that I can mention that Slave Labor is currently unloading full sets of the comic I wrote at prices that are frankly embarrassing to me.

I'm torn about mentioning this, because I firmly believe that this is a good, good book that got lost in the shuffle of the bigger-press zombie projects and bigger-name ventures; BUT this is a kind of "OH GOD WE NEED TO UNLOAD THESE DOORSTOPS" pricing.

Really, it's a decent comic. I'm very proud of it. Please buy it if you have USD$7 and want to convince Slave Labor that maybe they should have me write another book some day.

The comic: Dead Eyes Open is a six-issue series that's a "zombie comic" in name and broad theme. It breaks from "zombie" conventions in that it's about people that come back from the dead, but retain their "normal" minds. It's a weird blend of politics, socioeconomics, and zombie tropes -- I've tried to stay faithful to the genre in a way by including at least one horribly gruesome "set piece" in every issue.

Art is by Roy Boney Junior, who is a hell of an artist and loves his zombies.

Preview stuff is available at the Dead Eyes Open site if anybody wants to see some pages before they shell out.

STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK

13:54 / 15.02.07

I've read it, and it's fucking ace.

14:04 / 15.02.07

I'm reading it, will get back to you soon, Matt.

17:20 / 15.02.07

did this series come out several years ago? Or is it brand-new?

MattShepherd: I WEDDED KALI!

17:46 / 15.02.07

It came out over about 19 months -- July '05 through last December, IIRC. Copies aren't available in stores (but comic shops might be able to order at the "special" price as part of a regular order -- I don't really know how this stuff works).

18:17 / 15.02.07

Hey Matt, I received the copies you sent me the other day, but I haven't yet had the time to sit down and read them. I will do very soon though! Thanks again!

STOATIE LIEKS CHOCOLATE MILK

12:37 / 18.02.07

I read it just before Christmas, and intend to give it a reread either tonight or tomorrow, after which I will attempt to explain to you all why you should buy it. Because you really should.

02:18 / 21.02.07

I KNEW I'd seen that cover before. Don't know if you want to know this or not, Matt, but my local store has a bunch of issue 3 in its dollar comic box. I picked one up last week and it's aces!

I need to juggle some finances and stuff, but if I can swing with the exchange rate and international postage, I'm gonna take this offer up.

In some ways what you're doing is reminiscent of Raw Fawkse's SPOOKSHOW. Extending the zombie concept, as it were. I like.

Rachel Evil McCall

04:01 / 25.04.07

Just got it a few weeks ago. Read it, loved it, forget to comment about it here until just now.

Political zombie thriller. I freakin' love it. The concept alone would get me to gush about it endlessly, but you really pulled it off, too. Great stuff.

'kay, I'm done gushing, now.

MattShepherd: I WEDDED KALI!

15:24 / 04.12.07

Update: SLG has enough faith in the book, God bless 'em, that they've decided to issue it as a TPB with a snazzy new cover. It's in this month's (December 2007) Diamond catalogue, with the order number DEC073340.

Annnd it's out now -- THIS is the Amazon link, but I'd feel better if you ordered from your friendly local comics shop.

I've PMed some 'lithers, and am extending a general invitation, for folks to write reviews on Amazon or wherever else. The book died on the vine when it first came out, thanks to the zombie glut, and I'm hoping it finds a second life in TPB.

Also: I'm taking a page from Jason Aaron's smart book and offering a refund on the TPB. If you buy it and hate-hate-hate it, mail it to me and I'll send your money back. Personally. This is for Barbelith folks only.