August Roundup #1

Greetings, and welcome to the very first Roundup post! In the future I'll probably be writing these around the middle and end of months, but I wanted to kick things off with a little update on what I've been up to! 

OTAKON 2021

Tomorrow, I'm hopping on the Amtrak and going to my VERY FIRST CONVENTION since before the pandemic. I'm vaccinated but cases are rising everywhere, so it's a little scary! Masks are required for the entire event, and I'm planning to get tested after I return but still! AAH! Despite all that I'm TENTATIVELY VERY EXCITED. I really enjoy the exhausting marathon that tabling at a convention can truly be. As per usual, I'll be tabling with super pal LIZ FLEMING, who will have lots of FF14 goodies! Check her out!! https://twitter.com/itsureisliz 

Sakana has been on Hiatus since early 2020, so I've switched to mostly stickers as my convention offerings! I'll still have books and all the bells and whistles, just with a few more fish and wizards and stuff mixed in. Also Robber/Robert stuff! WOW! 

Here are a few con pics from 2019 (quiet sobbing). My mom made a guest appearance at Anime NYC!  

And here's some of the newer stuff I'll have! 

SAKANA

As mentioned, SAKANA is still currently on hiatus! BUT! I'm planning to relaunch in early 2022, and I'll be starting the writing and thumbnailing process in late 2021. Some Sakana guys made their way into an illustration I did for the Check, Please! Year 4 Kickstarter! I'll be sharing LOTS of process work for this illustration to the $5 tier! 

ROBBER/ROBERT

CHAPTER 1 IS FINALLY COMPLETE!! I started RR in late 2018 thinking it would take me like a single year to finish but HEY THAT WAS A DUMB ESTIMATE! All things considered, I'm so proud of how this project wrapped up, and I'm really excited for the upcoming Kickstarter! No hard dates on the KS yet, but I'm meeting with Slipshine on the 16th to go over final details! I'll keep everyone updated! I recently finished a 14 page bonus comic, the front cover of the book, and an illustration for the back cover! I'll be posting more about the cover to the $5 tier and the bonus comic to the $7 tier! 

UNANNOUNCED GRAPHIC NOVEL PROJECT

You may have already heard that I'm doing art for a graphic novel being written by good pal Ngozi Ukazu, of Check! Please fame. I'm a little over 2/3rds of the way through pencils! Hooray! I'll be switching to this project full time now that Chapter 1 of ROBBER/ROBERT is over, hopefully finishing up pencils and inks before the end of the year! Here's a page I recently penciled: 

PROJECT "OBELINE" 

Obeline is what I call the fantasy story I've been puttering away at for the past year! I won't be starting it anytime soon, but I've got it tentatively penciled in for AFTER Sakana ends. Look out for more info on these bozos. 

OTHER STUFF

It's no secret that I love wizards and fish and farm stuff. When I'm not drawing comics, I'm usually drawing those things! Here are some new sticker designs I recently came up with! Might do some root vegetables next?? Love me some beets and turnips. :9 

ANYWAYS, THAT'S IT FOR WHAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON. It's a lot! I'm doing too much! Good thing I love comics, my greatest vice u___u 

Wrapping up, rapid fire: 

• In personal news, I'm experimenting with genderfluidity?? I'm still primarily using feminine pronouns, but if you'd like to use masculine or neutral with me, that would be cool too!! 
• I went like 95% vegetarian/vegan over the pandemic! I love to eat vegetables, and not eat animals!! I'm still eating fish sometimes, but I don't think it's often enough to be called a pescatarian?? It's a work in progress! I've finally learned to love faux cheese, which I think is a difficult step to overcome lol. 
• I also started running long distances over the pandemic, and working out more regularly. Maybe someday I'll get that 6 pack :'v

Going forward, these roundups will probably be a little shorter, there's just so much to catch up on in this first one! Let me know what you think, and if you'd like to see anything different! I hope this was an interesting read, thanks so much for your support on Patreon!

-Mad