🎲 The Player
Behind the Scenes on RYSK
Every episode of Into the Storymaze = writing ideas or writing-in-progress; something creative I’m excited to share; a highlight from my comic book writing; and a quote that’s worth a think.
A favor — check out my Kickstarter comic now in prelaunch: tinyurl.com/axlesinfernal
For the next 5 newsletters I’ll be sharing the original pitch for RYSK, my new comic coming from Blackbox Comics in late April. This built off of and expanded on initial ideas from publisher/editor Dimitrios Zaharakis, and we share co-creator credit on this exciting world. Here’s part 1, watch or read:
The Player
“If you look at the date, it seems like it’s the future.
“Still no flying cars.
“But we’ve got code. The DNA of AI.
“And everyone wants a piece of that action.”
Ruby Chance knows all about action. She’s been taking it since grade school.
Bets from her classmates on whether Mrs. Kerstin would pop quiz them on Tuesday or Thursday. Lunch money on the line for how many snow days. Laying odds on which act would nervous Vinnie Deragon faint during the school play.
As the years progressed, so did the bets Ruby would make book on. Could Ronnie Feldman grind the whole length of the rails at the hang out park? Which teenage romantics would stay a couple, and which would hit a big breakup? Would the varsity team cover the point spread in the big game?
And getting a piece of it all was young Ms. Chance. She became profitable enough that she’d need to enlist an odd mix of high school jocks, gangsters and goths as her protection and collection. But her plans were always bigger than what she collected on every bet.
Check out next week for Part 2: The Bet.
Andor caught flack from some corners of the galaxy for being “too slow.” And while I count myself a big fan, I thought it was a slow burn on first watch. But having rewatched it recently in prep for season 2 I’ve erased that misconception.
I think any sense of “slow pace” is that you’re going into a Star Wars series that doesn’t coddle you with the Force or Skywalkers. Instead, you’re tasked with with keeping up on new worlds and new characters. With more to process, the sense of time expands a bit. The payoff is a a banger of a series, that starts hard and never lets up. It is precision, relentless storytelling with absolutely killer monologues and a payoff for every setup.
The fact that it’s a rousing story of oppression and uprising is much needed in these darkening times. Wake up and fight these bastards.
My good friends at “The Chichester Chats” — excellent name for a podcast, by the way 🤪 — did a “very special episode” last year as me and Karl Waller were launching issue #1 of our Kickstarter comic, Axles Infernal. Have a watch/listen — and if you’re into it, *please* check out our pre-launch for issue #2.
It really cranks things up, and accelerates this wild/weird supernatural adventure. We’re ready to go — but really need to get the numbers up to turn the launch key on the campaign.
“If you can convince the lowest white man he’s better than the best colored man, he won’t notice you’re picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he’ll empty his pockets for you.”
- Lyndon B. Johnson
Amazing Times
I’m D.G. Chichester. If that looks pretentious, feel free to just call me “Dan.”
I earned my storytelling cred writing comic book titles like Daredevil, Terror Inc., Nick Fury Agent of SHIELD and Clive Barker’s Hellraiser, along with digital widgets in the world wide web of advertising. I like weird tales, so if things here bend that way — now you know why!
Folks seem to like the comic book adventures I’ve written, so if you haven’t checked one out — please do. Many are now available in fab collected editions.
For the eager moments between newsletters…
@dgchichester — 280 characters from the Twitterverse
@dgchichester — images via Instagramland