Howdy Folks!

After taking some time off this year to work on some animation projects, Shane and Chris will be returning to the So-Cal area for some comic con appearances!

Join us at the Long Beach Convention Center on November 23rd and 24th for a weekend of comics, sketches, and stories! Ask us about the Reed Gunther Amazon pilot! Check out the books we’ve been working on this past year, such as FANBOYS VS. ZOMBIES, BART SIMPSON, SIMPSONS ONE-SHOT WONDERS, ADVENTURE TIME, and more! Have Chris draw you a custom sketch of one of your favorite characters… like Reed Gunther!

It’s the con’s fifth year anniversary so there’s tons of special guests, panels, and exhibitors this year. And if you swing by the Reed Gunther booth, we’ll even give you a free comic! Hot Dog – What a deal!

See you in November!

- Shane

Howdy folks!

I know it’s been awhile since we have updated anything relating to the whereabouts of new Reed Gunther stories, but I’m here to clear that up right now!

Our wonderful and devoted fans frequently ask us, “When are there going to be new issues of Reed Gunther?!” We usually cock our head, spread our mouth into a sly, knowing smile and tell them to be patient. Something cool is on the horizon.

I don’t want to get your hopes up, so I’m starting with the bad news first. That cool thing on the horizon isn’t going to happen.

And now what that cool thing could have been… A REED GUNTHER TV SHOW!!!

We have been pitching Reed Gunther around Hollywood as a TV show for over a year, and we found some traction with Amazon Studios. You may not know about Amazon Studios yet, but basically, Amazon.com wants to get into the content-creation and streaming game like Netflix or Hulu. Amazon has been developing properties and streaming the pilots online for free. Then, anyone on the web can watch and rate their favorite. Based on how much a pilot is liked by the general public, that pilot episode would be “picked up” and turned into an online TV series!

So. For the last year or so, we have been developing would could become a RG TV show. We first created a “bible” explaining what the show is, who the characters are, what the world is like, the rules of the universe… that sort of thing. Then we outlined what the first episode should be, and Shane wrote the script (a 22-minute 2D animated adventure/comedy), and Chris drew up some super cool new designs.

Then all that new stuff was sent to all the executives at Amazon Studios and they decide which projects will move on to become produced pilots (the first episode of a TV show and what would be streaming online for everyone to see).

Unfortunately, Reed Gunther did not make the cut.

The reason was that Amazon was looking for animated content for boys and girls, ages 6-12. The fundamental problem with a RG show is that there is an adult as the main character and the executives believed there would be a disconnect with kids watching the show. Most kids like shows with kid main characters.

We had an absolute BLAST working with Amazon and imagining what a Reed Gunther cartoon would be like. The executives are big fans of the Reed Gunther comic and really wanted to see it work as an animated show, but it just wasn’t going to work out with that age range they were looking for.

So, that’s what we’ve been working on in terms of Reed Gunther for the past year or so. We both love Reed, Sterling, and Starla so much, and we owe a lot to those characters. We’re still looking for new ways to make more Reed content available, and the next step might be just as simple as going back for more comics (we got the next 5 issues plotted out anyway).

We have to say a huge THANK YOU to all our RG fans who have stuck with it and continually ask us about what’s happening. We really do want more Reed Gunther stories out there and it’s great to know that there are other folks out in the world who feel the same way. We’ll do our best to get some new adventures coming your way as soon as we can!

Thanks again for the wait and HAPPY READING, FOLKS!

- Shane and Chris

…The Devil is almost always involved.

If you enjoyed this video, check out our similar video with a hard left turn:
Creator Interview (with added DANGER!)

Wowee! The second trade paperback collection of that silly bear-riding cowboy hits comic shop stands today! Chris and I are incredibly happy to have this second fantastic collection out there and we did our best to cram it full of awesome stuff!

Today, Chris and I will be signing copies at HOUSE OF SECRETS in Burbank, CA from 1-3PM! Swing on by during your lunch hour!

Just check out what this exciting collection contains:

- An introduction by hilarious Simpsons Comics writer, IAN BOOTHBY!

- Issues #6-10 with corrected spelling errors! If anyone can find a change (spelling or color change– here’s a hint, someone’s shirt changes color in one panel but it’s now fixed) between the single issues and the TPB, we’ll send you a free sketch of Reed Gunther!

- Seven pages of sketches and process work with commentary from me and Chris!

- A walk through of how a page of script becomes the final drawn and colored page!

- A collection of Reed Gunther short stories including “Animal Intimidation”, “Theater Thrills” (a cross-over short story with a character from SCRATCH-9), “Beauty and the Feast” illustrated by Kassandra Heller, “Comics For Everyone”, and a short story we only ever self-published, “Western Wit”!

- I’m thrilled that we also included Chris’ very first ever Reed Gunther story from FIVE years ago! Reed and Sterling are very different folks in this story written by Chris. But Chris only finished 2 of the 3 parts he had planned, so the story was never complete. But for this collection, I wrote an ending that Chris drew and we finally wrapped up the first ever story of Reed and Sterling! It was a blast and is really a gem in this collection.

- And to close it out, we’ve got pin-ups from ANDY SURIANO, CHRIS SCHWEIZER, SCOTT SHAW!, and VINCENT KUKUA!

So basically, it’s worth checking out.

You can snag a copy at your local comic shop, or online at Amazon.com or from CheapGraphicNovels.com (psst, who have it for only $7.94!)

Or you can read it digitally from Comixology or Graphicly.

And if you haven’t seen it yet, I’ll leave you with the new video trailer for the second trade.

Happy reading everyone!

- Shane

It’s all happening again!!!

REED GUNTHER will once again be at the San Diego Comic Con International! Chris and I will be stationed at the Image Comics booth (#2729), which is located right in the very center of the convention floor. Come find us and hang out!

We will have ADVANCE copies of the second RG trade paperback on hand, but they are limited so get there early! MONSTERS AND MUSTACHES will be officially released July 25!

If gabbing with us at the Image Comics booth isn’t enough and you want to see us in some panels or other signings, here is our schedule for other event we will be a part of:

FRIDAY

2:00-3:00 BOOM! Studios: Adventure Time Comic Book (Room 23ABC ) — What time is it? It’s Adventure Time! The top-rated Cartoon Network show is now a bestselling comic book published by KaBOOM! You won’t want to miss this all-star panel featuring the show’s creator Pendleton Ward, along with series artists Shelli Paroline and Braden Lamb (Ice Age) and writer/artist Meredith Gran (Octopus Pie) of the new miniseries Marceline and the Scream Queens, as they discuss what’s next for the Land of Ooo in the world of comics. (CHRIS HOUGHTON WILL ALSO BE A PART OF THIS! WHOO!)

3:00-4:00 Peanuts: The New Comic Book Series (Room 32AB) — Discover the origins behind KaBOOM!’s new Peanuts comic book series. The creative talent behind the new adaptations of Charles M. Schulz’s classic comic strip offer an in-depth look at how the project began, the challenges of adapting the comic strip master, and the exciting new places Charlie Brown and Co. are going next. Participants include Paige Braddock (Jane’s World, The Martian Confederacy), Alexis E. Fajardo (Kid Beowulf), Shane Houghton (Reed Gunther), Vicki Scott (Happiness Is a Warm Blanket), Adam Staffaroni (BOOM! Studios), Justin Thompson (Mythtickle), and Matt Whitlock (Family Guy). 

5:00-6:00 Peanuts Signing at BOOM! Studios booth, near the Image Comics booth (Shane)

SUNDAY

1:00-2:00 All-Ages Comics: A New Hope (Room 24ABC)— A surge of successful all-ages comics are hitting the scene, and the demand just keeps growing. Roger Langridge (Snarked, Popeye), Chris Houghton (Reed Gunther), Shane Houghton (Reed Gunther, Peanuts), Matt Whitlock (Peanuts), and others discuss the role of all-ages comics in the industry, their power in developing new readers, and what it takes to make a comic book that children and adults will both enjoy.

3:00-4:00 Creating Comics for All Ages (Room 4)— Victor Flores (High Tech High Graphic Novel Project student host) interviews fellow HTH GNP members and guest professional comic artists Shane Houghton (Reed Gunther, Peanuts, Casper’s Scare School) and Chris Houghton (Reed Gunther, Kung-Fu Panda Comics, MAD magazine, Adventure Time) about the challenges and advantages of creating comics for all-ages audiences.

Hope to see you there! Have a super fun convention!

- Shane

Chris and I were interviewed by Liz Ohanesian for her write up about the San Diego Comic-Con! We are mentioned along with our good buddy, Sam Humphries, the unstoppable comic writer who currently has about 4,000 monthly titles out right now.

Reed Gunther will once again be set up at the Image Comics booth, right in the middle of the entire con floor!

See you in San Diego!

- Shane

CANNED LETTUCE! We made it! After a brief delay, the tenth issue of REED GUNTHER hits stands with a bang!

I don’t want to give too much away about this story, but I will say that Chris and I are extremely proud of this one so we hope you check it out!

Newsarama recently said about this issue:

“There’s just something about this book that’s been hard to explain to other readers I’ve tried to get them reading. It’s just old-fashioned fun. In a market with a lot of grim and gritty expressions and world-ending scenarios, Reed Gunther is like a smile that greets you in your pullbox.”

Hit up your local comic shop to find an issue, or buy it digitally through Graphicly or Comixology!

Or read it right here on your computer!

Thanks for reading everyone!

- Shane

REVIEWS!

FreakinAwesomeNetwork.net says:

“Shane, Chris and Josh’s work on Reed Gunther always bring a smile to my face and showcases how a comic can dip its toe into the realm of all-ages comedy without sacrificing a witty sense of humor to pander to a younger demographic. Above all, Reed Gunther is a comic about friends, fun and fightin’. And pickles. Who doesn’t love pickles?”

FanboyComics.net says:

“Shane and Chris Houghton have earned many adjectives for their comic series, Reed Gunther – awesome, hilarious, heartfelt – but now they can add epic to their list.”

iFanboy.com recommends REED GUNTHER #10 this week!

“Did you SEE the video we posted yesterday? If that doesn’t make you go buy every issue of Reed Gunther, starting with issue #10, I don’t know what will. Hands down this has been one of the best all ages and best all around comics on the stands. And most importantly, it’s fun.”

If there’s one ridiculous, goofy, and all-out strange video you watch on the internet today, we hope it’s this one.

Many thanks to Jennifer Ruiz, Andrew Adams, Ryan Howard, and Willy Roberts for their help making this video.

Here’s a small peek into RG #10! What’s he saying? WHAT’S HE SAYING?!?!