Hey Fine Folks!

Issue 4, Reed Gunther in Fish Out of Slaughter is just about ready to be released (on June 30th)! We might have had it out a little earlier, but things have been pretty busy in the Houghton world.

This past weekend, I was in Michigan helping prepare my parent’s house for a wedding. And not just any wedding… CHRIS’ WEDDING!

That’s right! My brother and Reed Gunther illustrator was recently wed to his fiancee (and equally awesome artist) Kassandra! The wedding was amazing, beautiful, and wildly fun.

These two fine folks are going to have one heckava life together! I’ve never met a couple so perfectly suited for each other. Their creativity sparks back and forth like a bolt of lightning jumping between storm clouds. Constantly smiling and laughing, these two will be happy for a long time.

Kassandra has drawn a pin up for every issue of Reed Gunther except for issue 4. She’s been busy planning that wedding! Here’s one of my favorites from issue 1:

During the reception, Chris and I were trying to take a serious picture when we suddenly got photobombed by our new issue!

Thanks to Rosemary for snapping these photos!

Congrats to the happy couple!

- Shane

P.S. – Next week I’ll be doing a signing at The Comic Bug in Manhattan Beach, CA. If you’re around, I’d love to see ya! If you’re of the Facebook variety, there’s an event you can RSVP to here!

It’s starting!

With the fourth issue of Reed Gunther about to be released this Wednesday, June 30th, we’re starting to hear from a few choice reviewers who snagged an advance copy of the book!

Eric over at The Pullbox wrote the first review for Reed Gunther in Fish Out of Slaughter!

Eric says stuff like:

“When I was introduced to the wild adventures of Reed Gunther, I immediately fell back to being eight years old and reading the classic comics of yore.  That is to say, it brought me to that place of pure enjoyment… pure, simplistic, heroic enjoyment.”

“This book is nothing short than an independent gem!”

“I can’t thank Shane and Chris Houghton for reminding me what real joy in the medium can look like.”

Thanks so much for the kind words, Eric! We’re really happy you enjoyed the issue!

Be sure to read Eric’s full review at ThePullbox.com!

Issue #4, Reed Gunther in Fish Out of Slaughter! is available for pre-order in the Store section of the site. If you order now, your comics will be shipped out on Monday (June 28th) so you should receive them as close to June 30th as possible!

As always, every issue comes shipped in a plastic sleeve and cardboard backing to keep your issue fresh as it travels through the rough and tumble mail system! We also include free hand-stamped mini-comics with every order!

Thanks for reading,

- Shane

Agent-X Comics recently recommended Reed Gunther as a fun western comic to check out!

“The art is professional and captivating, while the storyline never fails to inject humor or kookiness without losing track of the excitement.”

Check it out here!

Hey folks!

You’ve GOTTA read the latest review for Reed Gunther in Fish Out of Slaughter! over at BrokenFroniter.com!

The incredibly generous Steven Surman wrote a rave review, saying stuff like:

“…this series continually raises its own bar of originality, humor, and wit—all the while maintaining a pace that few independent comics would ever dream of setting for themselves.”

“For anyone who hasn’t read any of the prior books and is curious, think of this comic as a hybrid between the folklore of Hellboy, the offbeat humor of The Far Side, and the everlasting charm of Calvin and Hobbes.”

“…writer Shane and artist Chris Houghton love what they’re doing. Perhaps their dynamic is due to the blood they share, but whatever the case may be, they’re producing one of my favorite indie books today.”

Whatta guy! Under all that fur, Sterling’s totally blushing.

Be sure to read the entire article here!

- Shane

Howdy Folks!

Tomorrow (June 30th), Reed Gunther in Fish Out of Slaughter! lands with a giant floppy thud!

To celebrate the new issue, I’ll be signing copies of Reed Gunther from 6 to 8PM at The Comic Bug (1807 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266) Swing on by to hang with me and snag the new issue, Reed Gunther poster, back issues, or even some free mini-comics!

Also attending will be Luis Calderon, the creator of the all-ages space adventure, Space Johny! It’s going to be a night of awesome all-aged adventure!

If you’d like to RSVP to the Facebook event, click here.

Hope to see you there!

- Shane

YEEEEEEE-HAW!

Today’s the day fellas (and fella-ettes? What’s the female version of “fella”?)! The fourth goofy, exciting, and wild adventure, Reed Gunther in Fish Out of Slaughter! is here!

If you remember from last time, the slimy and evil Mr. Picks stole the mysterious monster-creating Idol from Reed Gunther! Reed let Picks get away in order to find his best bear-buddy in the whole world, Sterling, but Starla, the saucy, take no-crap-from-you-in-fact-I’ll-kick-your-face-in-right-here ranchess followed Mr. Picks on a speeding train heading for New York City!

Now Reed has to find his friend Starla in a strange new and terrifying land! And if the Big City wasn’t scary and different enough, because of that mysterious Idol, monsters are infesting the city!

Join in the adventure by picking up a copy of Reed Gunther in Fish Out of Slaughter today!

You can purchase a copy online here. (Every order comes with FREE mini-comics!)

Or if you’re in Los Angeles, please visit the super amazing stores who carry our little indie book:

The Comic Bug
1807 Manhattan Beach Blvd.
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
(310) 372-6704

Secret Headquarters
3817 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026
(323) 666-2228

Meltdown Comics
7522 Sunset Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 851-7223

Or in Michigan, you can always find our books at the fantastic…

Green Brain Comics
13210 Michigan Avenue
Dearborn, MI 48126
(313) 582-9444

Thanks so much for reading everyone and we hope you enjoy the latest goofy adventure!

Happy Reading!

- Shane

Hey Folks!

I’d like to say thanks to all the folks who came out and visited me at The Comic Bug last night for the release of issue #4!

If you came out last night, you may have seen these jokers. In the middle is the always amazing, the most hospitable of hosts, and coolest dude in the world: Mike Wellman, co-owner of The Comic Bug! Mike is the nicest guy in the business. Why else would he let me hang out in his shop so much and shout at folks to buy Reed Gunther from atop a soapbox? I always have a blast with Mike and I owe him one thousand of my first borns (?) for letting me now do three signings at his fantastic shop.

The other finely dressed fella is Luis Calderon, the creator of the campy sci-fi comic Space Johny! I talked with Luis a while back and he was telling me about how excited he was to finally come out with his own comic. That excitement really showed when he arrived to the signing wearing a TUXEDO! Out-classing me in every sense (I gotta get me a tux!), Luis and I had a hilarious time signing together.

I drew a goofy pic of Reed Gunther and Space Johny for Luis and he (being a way better artist than me) returned with this awesome sketch:

Thanks Luis!

For everyone who already purchased an issue online or stopped by one of the stores carrying Reed Gunther, thank you very much! You guys rock. We’ve had a fantastic response to this new issue and we’re excited everyone is having a fun time reading it!

Ain’t It Cool New Comics included issue #4 in their Indie Jones round up (scroll about 3/4 down their page to see the write up) where they say stuff like:

“It’s another issue chock full of great stuff from Shane and Chris Houghton.”

“…there’s a whole lot of fun to be had with this comic that never takes itself too seriously.”

Scott Slemmons over at HeroSandwich.net reviewed Reed Gunther in Fish Out of Slaughter! and here’s his verdict:

“Thumbs up. Ye gods, this one was a lot of fun. Lots of very funny lines from Reed, lots of great shenanigans around the city, great depictions of 1880s NYC, excellent action, the grand comic reappearance of Grover Cleveland, and a bonus pinup by Stan Sakai!”

Thanks for the review Scott!

If you haven’t snagged this super-fun new issue, swing by the store to pick one up!

See ya!

- Shane

Hey Folks!

Have you snagged the latest issue of Reed Gunther yet? NOOOooooOOOO?!? (sorry, that was dramatic)…

Check out Chris’ awesome concept art for some of the new elements you’re currently missing out on from this exciting new issue!

Hey Bear-Riders!

Our fourth issue, Reed Gunther in Fish Out of Slaughter! was reviewed by Andy Frisk over at ComicBookBin.com!

Andy says stuff like:

“The fourth issue of one of the best and most fun indie series out there continues the slapstick yet oddly (albeit all ages friendly) spooky paranormal/comedic/action packed adventures of one of the most refreshing bumbling heroes in recent memory”

“It is perhaps the cover to this issue though that stands out the most. The dizzying perspective and feeling that Reed and Sterling are overcome with when they arrive in New York City is expertly conveyed.”

Thanks so much to Andy for reviewing the new issue!

Tomorrow… San Diego Comic Con news!

- Shane

Hey Comic  Trekkers!

Chris and I are happy to announce that we will both be in San Diego for the always humongous, COMIC CON INTERNATIONAL! We’ll be there all week from July 21st-25th.

Be sure to swing by Small Press Table M12 and say hello!

We are super lucky this year to be sharing a table with our friend Kevin McShane, creator of the hilarious comic, Toupydoops! Kevin was nice enough to share his table with our little bear-riding cowboy comic so be sure to swing by and tell him thanks. (And check out his great book!)

Chris and I will have a plethora of issues 1-4, tons of FREE mini-comics to give away, buttons, sketches, prints, posters, and maybe even some cool stuff we haven’t announced yet!

We’ll be sure to take lots of pictures and post ‘em here after the wild event for all those folks who can’t make it down to sunny Southern California.

Hope to see you soon!

- Shane