Comic Con 2010

Here there be Monsters Press will be at Comic Con tonight through Sunday, July 25th. For anyone and everyone attending, drop by our booth in the Small Press area! You can pick up an limited edition mini-comic for The Orchard (and get this: they are free!).

Also, you will be able to check out our fabulous trade edition of Eleison which includes some all-new artwork and sketches. Also, this year we are displaying in the gallery with plenty of new paintings from the artist. You can see some of that new work at his gallery here.

2010 is the year of the Trade

Howdy all! I am wandering through, having been rather negligent of updating for some time. We got the trade edition of Eleison off to the printer, which is exciting (that's the cover spread below). The book is very cool, includes the first six issues, and has a sketch gallery full of character and creature drawings. There is also new artwork included in the trade that was not included in the original issues. We have a new printer and we are excited about that as well (we had a lot of trouble in the past with the local printers, which is sad because you try to keep the work in the community, but it just wasn't working out). We're confident our new choice to shop the work out of state will have fabulous results.

And with the trade in hand, we're off to ComicCon later in July. Sadly we did not have time to get the werewolves onto the plate this year, but they will follow soon and you can see the promotional poster, which is pretty darn awesome.

Right now it's all i can do to try to wrap my brain around overhauling the website (it sorely needs it). If I can get this overhauled before ComicCon, that would be ideal, but don't anybody hold their breath.

Short but sweet San Diego Comic Con Podcast ~

Thank you to the guys at Forbidden Panel who came around to our booth and got me on the spot to offer a short promo podcast about our work with Here There be Monsters press. This was about the most coherent I was for the whole show ~ fortunately I sound like I know what I am talking about!

Click to listen!

For those of you who don't know me personally, this is your chance to hear my bizarre voice (ack!). Yes, I talk funny. Everyone says so.

Good news for Jack!

From the Tomb Magazine has a great review of the first issue of Jack, which was also featured last week at Comic Monsters and Comic Related News!

What a fresh and thrilling read this was. This is a book that just sums up what I want to spend my money on at the comic shop. A very clever and puzzling story highlighted by fantastic artwork. This one is worth taking a look at.

Read the rest of the review here. Many thanks to Dan Royer for great press!

Comic Con 2009!

We have returned from the insanity that is the San Diego International Comic Con. Though I feel like a walking, coughing, petrie dish of horrors after mingling with the record-breaking crowd of 125,000, we had a great show. After some initial wrestling with our set up (one of those hard lessons in trying out something new), we settled in with something that didn't look much like the picture here, but it worked. Apparently I was too overwhelmed by all the glitz to take many pictures at the convention because there were only a handful on my camera when I went to download them. I'll see if I can get others from other sources.

I hadn't been to the "big one" in a couple of years, so it was part nostalgia for me, but more educational than anything else. My brain is turning with a thousand gears for how to plan for next year. Lots of changes in the works, lots of new stuff potentially on the horizon. I think it's going to be an exciting year for our wee small press and I'm looking forward to sharing developments with you.

Special thanks to the fabulous Art, Franco & Co. who shared the booth row with us and made the experience easy and enjoyable! It's always great to sit next to motivated, enthusiastic artists (especially Eisner award-winning ones!).

ComicCon 2009

Tomorrow we're off to ComicCon 2009 (and really looking forward to it!). Despite these trying times recession-wise, the convention is sold out and I have a good feeling about it. We'll be taking a full complement of books this year (Eleison, Jack), as well as a good pile of stunning new original artwork.

If you are planning to attend ComicCon, please stop by our booth in the small press area (Here There be Monsters Press). I'm not completely sure what our setup is going to look like, but you can't miss it. We look forward to seeing the crowds, checking out new works, and having a great time as always. Pictures will be forthcoming!

Eleison no. 6

The sixth installment of the Eleison series has all but gone to press and we are excited to reveal the cover here. This forthcoming issue, titled "Truth", continues the story from issue no. 5.

Despite all appearances to the contrary, we're actually ahead of schedule getting the book to the press before heading out to San Diego. I think last year we were working on it literally about three days before the start of ComicCon. While we will only be bringing one new book to the convention this year (and a lot of original artwork that will be sold), this year's issue is definitely a quality book not to be missed (there were so many excellent full-page pictures, it was difficult to choose a cover!).

With the success of our webcomic, The Orchard, (launched at Webcomics Nation in January), we are rethinking some of our strategies with the Eleison series. No decisions have been made yet, but there may be changes in format next year and/or possibly a trade collection of the first issues of the series. We will be hopefully updating more regularly as we develop some new ideas.

Thanks for stopping in!

The Grim Reaper's picking up the breakfast tab ~

The Orchard officially launched last week (New Year's Day!). This weekly webcomic will update every Thursday and you can expect it to be a gritty slow burner. If you love meditations on death, war, and breakfast (and who doesn't, really?), then set a bookmark for The Orchard: Hosted at Webcomics Nation. We'll get it its own space on the server with special artwork and behind-the-scenes extras hopefully in the coming year!

We're very excited to kick off 2009 with this new project!

If you're excited too, you are always welcome to Donate! to this small press. Your contributions help keep Here There Be Monsters happily humming and running!

ComicCon 2008 ~

Due to many inconvenient and unfortunate scheduling snafus and a family reunion in Costa Rica (who's complaining, really, right?), I was not able to make it to ComicCon 2008. Nevertheless, we had a fabulous set up (let the picture be evidence of that), and the books sold well! Every year we're bringing more books, more art, and more enthusiasm to this adventure and I'm only sorry to have missed the big show (2009, you are already marked on my calendar ~ hell or high water!).

It's especially difficult when you're not able to say hello to the wonderful people who are supporting the work (thank you fans!). We're always willing to sign books and talk with people who are excited about the art. This year, despite (or maybe as a direct result of) my absence, my brother made some stupendous contacts. Just in terms of networking, this was our most successful year yet!

Okay, so Jaime looks a little glazed over in the picture, but he was working hard and doing double duty to cover my absence. Many thanks for that and also to Ana and Elias for all of their hard work in getting us set up and running. Without you, it would have been impossible!

Eleison No. 5

It's always exciting to see a new book come off the press and this year's Eleison is looking pretty fabulous if I may say so myself. There was a brief moment, heading into the summer that I didn't think we were going to be able to pull off both Jack and Eleison this year, but, as always, we hitched out boots and waded through. This issue's got some fun new creatures and characters ~ a new baddie from the legion of Decimus Quintilus prominent among them. It's also the first story line that focuses more on the Fish Clan of than on the white settlement, so there's a nice contrast of locale here.

I feel like I have been away from this cast for too long! It was a real joy writing again for Father Jean-Marithé Baptiste, his affable hulking friend Horsewash, and even revisiting the angry and embittered Light Feather. You also get to meet Horsewash's family in this one.

This is part one of a two-part storyline, so expect a cliff-hanger ending (literally!).

Order Books!

NOTE: Your orders are secure through PayPal. Price includes shipping. All books have color covers and black and white interiors, and are 28-34pp.

ELEISON
	Eleison: No. 1 ~ $4.25		Eleison: No. 2 ~ $4.25		Eleison: No. 3 ~ $4.25
	Eleison: No. 4 ~ $4.25		Eleison: No. 5 ~ $4.25
JACK
	Jack: No. 1 ~ $4.25		Jack: No. 2 ~ $4.25
THE ORCHARD
	The Orchard: Free Online!

All artwork from Here There Be Monsters press is produced out of JCARR Studios.

To inquire about the availability of original artwork from these publications for SALE, or other commission work, please feel free to email the artist at: jcarr@elp.rr.com.

The Orchard Promo

This isn't the final image (notice the glare on the picture), but i couldn't wait to post it because it's still so cool anyway! Look for this series online at: The Orchard.

Coming September
2008

Gearing up for San Diego Comic Con 2008

It's hard to believe that this is the 4th year that we will be having a booth in the small press area at the San Diego Comic Con! And we're proud to be bringing more new work than ever before! Eleison no. 5, "Lies & Liars" part I kicks off a new storyline with new characters new horrors; Jack no. 2, "dark vision" part II has our intrepid amnesiac confronting a killer, and watch this space for information about The Orchard, and online webcomic parable about Death, war, and breakfast (bacon may be served!).

About Jaime Carrillo ~

Jaime always refused to buy posters or art to decorate his house because after viewing the art, he would think: "I think I could do that. Why buy it? I can do it myself." Years later, after realizing that he had nothing to show for all his claims of "being able to do that himself" he decided he should actually get to work. Mostly self-taught, he had no idea where to start.

After years of dabbling with oil paints, Jaime finally decided to try his hand at creating a real portfolio in 2001. He has since had his work published in some independent horror magazines, an RPG, and on the cover of Heavy Metal magazine, as well t-shirt designs for several mainstream rock bands. In addition to his freelance work, Jaime also illustrates two series of graphic novels written by his sister, Elena.

His influences and inspirations include: vintage Boris Vallejo, Simon Bisley, and Brom. His other inspiration comes from epic movies with awesome soundtracks such as Conan the Barbarian, Gladiator, King Arthur, The Thin Red Line, and Ben Hur. He considers "Saturn Devouring His Children" by Spanish master Francisco Goya to be one of the most fantastic paintings ever produced. Jaime aspires to better his technique and grow artistically so that one day, just maybe, his finished works will look just as he imagines them in his head.You can visit Jaime's online gallery here. For inquiries on commissions, artwork for sale, or just to tell him how cool he is, email him at jcarr (at) elp.rr (dot) com.

Jack the knife!

No matter what Jack does, he seems to wind up with knives ~ and yet he looks the most surprised when it happens. The real question is: is that just a steak knife for trimming the gristle off a t-bone or is Jack planning to make his new life even more complicated than it already is? I'm guessing a story about Jack eating dinner wouldn't exactly be a grabber (though I could be wrong!), nevertheless, rest assured: part two of "dark visions" will pit killer against killer with whatever weapons they can lay their hands on.



Check back for some interesting artifacts dug up from the scary archive, including very early character sketches!

About Elena Carrillo ~

Elena is a writer making a living on hopes, prayers, and the consumption of vast quantities of crackers while she pursues a new career path as a librarian, having recently transplanted herself from too-sunny Texas to not-cold-enough Minnesota.

She is a lover of history who draws inspiration from old books, mouldering 19th century periodicals, antique ephemera and especially photographica, and the diaries and letters of people long dead (but often not forgotten). She spends more money on books than on food and clothes put together (and isn't sorry at all about it).

Elena spends most of her time and energy writing and trying to learn how to draw. She also enjoys collecting advanced degrees which seem to bring her no closer to being reasonably employed than ever before. In her spare time, she works a job that almost pays her bills.

If you really want to read more of her silly bibbling, you are welcome to check out her blog. She's also the person to blame for everything wrong about this website.

Jack ~ issue no. 2 cover

The brand new cover for issue no. 2 of Jack ("dark visions" part II) is complete and ready for unveiling!

In the second part of the new series, Jack and his shady companion (the otherwise unidentified "Spring-heeled Jack" of lore) take on the serial killer whose murders have put Jack in hot water. This could be a difficult confrontation when Jack's in police custody and the killer is, himself, a police detective.

But then again, with a little supernatural help, it might not be too hard at all!

This two-part series kick-off features full-page sequential black and white art. Look for it in July of 2008!

Comic Con 2007 ~

Here there Be Monsters Press took a whopping five books to San Diego's ComicCon this year, including all four issues of Eleison (which just continues to look better and better every year!), and the debut of Jack, our first sequential art effort (which is fabulous as well. Even I'm thoroughly impressed with how well it turned out and I was working on it all along!).

It's never too late to order your copies today!

As he does every year, Jaime painted a promotional image for Eleison to make a display poster. You can see this year's poster in the background of the picture on the left (and here's a small gimme to readers out there: it will almost definitely be a future cover ~ that's not just random symbolism collected in the image there). For a closer look, check out JCARR studios, where in the gallery you can find the picture here.

Thank you to all the people who have supported what's been a somewhat frenzied year, particularly as we were in the home stretch toward the convention. We were super tight on the deadlines, but we made it with your help and encouragement!

Jack ~ origins

Synopsis: Can you reform a Ripper?

Dr. Marianne Gordon, a psychotherapist working in the criminal investigation department of the metropolitan police has a case file dropped onto her desk that she doesn't know what to make of: a twenty-something British amnesia victim who seems to be convinced that he is Jack the Ripper. Picked up on suspicion in a string of violent serial murders, "Jack" is both amiable and outright stupid ~ seemingly too stupid to have even committed the crimes he's accused of. Who is this tea-drinking, chain-smoking, affable anarchronism who talks to an "imaginary" incarnation of the notorious Springheeled Jack?

When Jack offers to help collar the real killer, strange and wonderful things begin to happen, proving this lost lamb has powers not only beyond belief, but beyond his own control. Dr. Caligari had nothing to compare to the creatures in the cabinet of this reincarnated serial killer's mind.

This graphic novel debuted
at Comic-Con 2007!
Some Background on this Project: A mild mania for urban legends, ghost stories, and the chilling true tales of ghoulish murder in East London in 1888 were the basis of this somewhat zany, but dark series.Jack transplants everyone's favorite psychosexual maniac to modern-day America to not only get him some much-needed therapy, but to atone for his violent misdeeds. Ripperologists and other "hunt the Ripper" fanatics may wonder which suspect plays the lead role in this particular drama, but our hero is an amalgamation of mythology and reality ~ even he doesn't recognize himself and has only the vaguest recollection of his murderous past.

Comic Con 2006 / thank you, Dave Baxter at Broken Frontier ~ !

The reviews are coming in for Eleison as we prepare to head out to Comic Con 2006 and this one is outrageously amazing (we are so pleased)!

Broken Frontier's reviewer Dave Baxter says:

Eleison (which means "mercy" in Greek), is an astonishing first book by a talented new duo. They’ve been lurking around the internet and comic con borders since late 2003, and it’s high time they were given a greater exposure to comicdom at large. Their gorgeously wrought, inspired story of a French-Native American penitent with uniquely western occult powers waging battle with a centurion-demon Hell-fiend with a small, rabbit-headed kid weighing him down…well…it’s by far the most unique composite of dark fantasy elements I’ve come across in a western comic book in years and years and years. Add to this a boatload of honest talent and I’m looking at the brother-sister creative team-up of the decade (though I suppose that may not be saying as much as I want it to).

Click the link to read the whole review!

This is very exciting!

Don't forget you can order online now just by clicking the link to your right!