Percolations v23

Ireland, DC Comics, Kukuburi, and Kickstarters.

Who’s running the show here?

Hallowe’en is around the corner, and I gotta figure out what I can cobble together out of my tickle trunk (if you know that reference — we are kindred spirits).

These past few months have been a whirlwind of work, fun, and, of course, shenanigans. I managed to sneak in a breather and embarked on a delightful trip to Ireland with my beloved friends. We witnessed a beautiful wedding, indulged in the finest Guinness and whiskey the country had to offer, and explored enchanting castles together.

In the photo from left to right: there's me, Marcus To (who had just arrived hours before the picture was taken), Andrew Healey, and Kyle. We had been gallivanting around Dublin for a couple of days, alongside Rob Coughler (who was a day into the trip) and Eric Vedder, the sneaky, lovable bastard who surprised us all by showing up unannounced for the wedding.

The Rock Of Cashel [Below] is the castle that sits high on a limestone outcrop in the city of Cashel where the wedding took place. I know, i’m a terrible person — not sharing wedding photos and all — but IT’S A CASTLE!

Truly amazing to walk through places and lands drenched in so much history. Fun tidbit — the most recent person buried on the castle lands was a few weeks prior to our visit. There is an official list kept in the town’s city hall dictating who is still allowed to be buried on the castle’s grounds. There are 3 people left on that list.

Conor Pass [below] — Following the wedding in Cashel, a convoy of cars set off towards Dingle on the western coast of Ireland. In an unexpected turn, Marcus and I, the last car in the line, mistakenly took a left instead of a right, leading us on a scenic route via Conor Pass. This route showcased a majestic landscape of majestic mountains, rolling hills, serene lakes, and narrow two-way roads barely wide enough for a single car.

The drive was nothing short of breathtaking, leaving us both inspired and awe-struck by the natural beauty surrounding us.

A bit of a climb up from this above photo and we found a Pedlar’s Lake — a glacial corrie lake that sits above the road on the north side of the Conor Pass. Look at tiny little Marcus in the photo. On he walk we dome some goats in the distance clambering up the sheer cliffs.

what a day.

Marcus and I truly lucked out with our left turn — as the next day the weather turned and the roads were so drenched in mist and fog that you could barely see 20 ft in front of yourself — which made for some interesting driving!

I'm certain that I'll revisit Ireland in the years ahead to reconnect with friends and explore more of this captivating country. The people I met were incredibly welcoming, the landscapes were truly stunning, and the food and drinks were a delightful culinary experience.

The low clouds roll in…

WHAT I’VE BEEN UP TO… TRAVELS ASIDE.

Ireland was a bit of a landmark My goal this year had been to finish off all large contractual obligations — and while some wrapped up earlier in the year (Stillwater ending in April), others lingered on due to their extensive workload — or life events that delay my ability to dedicate my time effectively.

The final project, which I wrapped a couple of days prior to flying out to Ireland, was issue 4 of Deep Cuts (I’m the reason the book is late — and for which I apologize). I’m super proud of the work I did on it though, and am excited to see it hit the shelves.

In a way, Ireland was a cleansing and reset.

Sure, I've still got a bit of work lined up (one has to eat and live), but now I'm approaching things with a clearer head and way less stress.

So, what's on my plate now?

Well, the big task looming over me is wrapping up the first volume of Kukuburi, fulfilling the Kickstarter, and focusing on fostering the growth of R.A.I.D. into a powerhouse studio, publisher, and agency. It’s a tall order — but my path is clear, and I’m thrilled with the road that lies ahead.

Now, don't get me wrong, I’m not ditching regular comics anytime soon! I'm super excited about sharing the worlds that have been living in my head for ages with all of you fantastic folks. But hey, I also love dabbling in other creative playgrounds. Stepping out of my comfort zone, learning new skills, and collaborating with fellow creators? It’s all part of the adventure.

Oh, and speaking of adventures, I’m in talks for a short run or two on a series in 2024. I’ll spill the beans on that as soon as I can.

VARIANT COVERS GALORE!

Stepping away from monthly comics has opened up some exciting doors, including the chance to create variant covers. It's such a blast to dive into a different universe, even if it's just for a short while, and put my spin on things. Sometimes, that's all it takes to create something special.

I hinted at these covers in my last post, but now that most of them have been released, I'm thrilled to share the full images with you. And trust me, these are just the beginning! There's a whole bunch more in the pipeline, and I can't wait to reveal them when the time is right.

First up — my first variant for DC Comic — and perhaps my favourite of the batch, was for issue 4 of Tales Of the Titans featuring Beast Boy!

Next up, I had the opportunity to create variants for some exciting titles: DC’s Flash #3, Shazam #5, Supergirl Special #1, and Mech Cadets #2 for BOOM! Studios.

It’s been a fun and diverse range of titles to dive into.

And the best part?

There's even more.

I believe some of these covers would look fantastic as prints too. If that's something you'd be interested in, please let me know! Your feedback means a lot, and I'm here to create stuff that excites you the most!

KUKUBURI

As mentioned previously — I haven’t been able to dedicate as much time as I would like to Kukuburi recently. But, Ireland being the reset that it was, a weight has lifted, I feel lighter and more energized — and am diving back into Kukuburi. I just had a meeting with my editor and we’re putting together a work-back schedule with the goal of getting the book done and wrapped over the next few months.

I know this is not what some people want to hear — I wish Kukuburi was the only thing on my plate, and that I could give it my full attention, and that is the goal. But this year has gone nowhere near as planned — but I am putting my heart into this book, and when it arrives on your doorstep it will be the most beautiful of things.

While I chip away at the book, I’m building out all the assets needed for fulfillment. The 5x7 postcards are now fully stocked, and the embroidered patch — a gift to all my newsletter subscribers who backed the campaign — arrived from the manufacturer recently, and I LOVE IT!

The last big thing to tackle, outside of the book, is the stretch-goal poster that all physical backers will receive — which I hope to share next update ☺️

Till next time,

Ramón.

PS/ I just received my comps for Tales Of The Titans — first person to let me know what the name of the purple octopus in my comic Kukuburi is, I’l send you a signed copy!

The variant covers are printed on card stock and just feel wonderful.