Hello Again!
And welcome back to another issue of The Omninaut, where we explore the infinite realms of the multiverse together … through reading, writing, comics, and pop culture!
As a reminder: The Omninaut normally publishes bi-weekly, but during this Kickstarter campaign, it will publish more frequently (likely 1x per week)
Before we dive into the body of this email:
MANDRILL P.I. Issue #8 is live!
We’ve got an awesome issue with amazing art by Carlos Trigo, plus covers by the ridiculously talented Dave Law, Jake Smith, and Carlos Trigo.
If you are a DUNGEON CRAWLER CARL fan, Dave Law is the ridiculously talented artist who illustrates the cover art for the Soundbooth Theater full audiocast version of the Dungeon Crawler Carl series (and the guy who did the super cool Green Day Dookie homage). He’s also the artist behind the awesome comics California, Inc. and The Space Odditorium.
Jake Smith / Dead Gremlin Comix creates a series called Robo Wolf, which is everything you could ask for from a The Warriors style 80s action movie, but infinitely more over the top and funny + he’s the artist behind Godzilla: War for Humanity.
It would make me the happiest author in the whole world if you would click on the images above and back the book. The action gets heavier between Mandrill P.I., the mysterious luchador, “El Codo” Jefe Jaguar, and a ton of manatee mer-people.
And if you’re a Lego individual, you can snag this awesome Jefe Jaguar mini-fig and recreate your own Lucha and MANDRILL P.I. battles:
PLUS, there are SECRET REWARDS (AKA huge discounts) exclusively for members of The Omninaut (that means you!).
For physical book lovers: Click here to snag Issue #8 + 33% off physical copies of my Comedic Sci-Fi series, The Multiverse Askew
For digital book lovers: Click here to snag Issue #8 + 33% off digital copies of my Comedic Sci-Fi series, The Multiverse Askew
And now, on to the body of this email!
It’s Thanksgiving here in the U.S.A.!
And as such, I think it’s my duty as a lover of the high cinematic arts to remind you that this gem exists:
Some people might claim that quintessential Americans are out there watching football and eating turkey today. But the cool Americans are celebrating by watching Thankskilling. Be one of the latter.
But seriously:
I know this sounds cliche, but I’m thankful for YOU. I can’t think of a more delightful group of people with whom to share this newsletter.
As an indie author and comic creator, your support means the world to me, and I can’t thank you enough for coming along for this journey. Without you, this wouldn’t be possible.
Here’s the winner for last post’s contest for a free copy of Beneath The Trees Where Nobody Sees:
It’s Tobey! I’ll connect with you via DM to arrange for shipment.
Here’s a new contest for this week:
This is another of those comics I wish I’d written. It’s The Wrestler by John Kenn Mortensen! The art is amazing and the story is ridiculously entertaining.
Here’s what it’s about:
Freestyle wrestler The Sledgehammer has never met defeat, not at the hands of Painkiller, Handsome Jens, Fezzik the Giant or the Angel of Death. But over the course of 80 pages, Danish illustrator John Kenn Mortensen’s surreal black and white graphic novel will take Sledgehammer to the limits of reality, to show that he’s motivated by far more than hubris--it’s also love.
Mortensen’s first English-language graphic novel delivers on the promise that his delightfully macabre books of illustration had previously made to readers around the world. With his spidery black-ink style, reminiscent of Edward Gorey’s gothic line, we’re taken to a world in which heavy metal mixes with the WWE by way of The Seventh Seal and Faust.
I’ve finished it and don’t have room on my shelf to keep it, so you are in luck! Here’s how you can get your hands on it: Simply back the MANDRILL P.I. Issue #8 Kickstarter, and then comment “backed!” on this post! Not many people entered the last contest, so the chances of snagging this are pretty high.
You get a bonus entry if you share the project on social media and tag me in the post (it would help if you let me know in your comment on this newsletter what site you tagged me in so I know where to look)!
I’ll pick a random winner and announce it in the next edition of The Omninaut.
Just a heads up: this copy is used. As such, it’s been read and loved (by me!).
Recommendations from around the Multiverse:
I just finished the first book in the Red Rising series, and it has been a fun ride so far. If you’re into dystopian science fiction where the protagonist works to overthrow the dystopian society, then you’re in luck. I haven’t finished the rest of the novels in the series, so no promises on whether it sticks the landing, but I’d love for you to come along on this reading journey. Let’s have a book club!
If you’re unfamiliar, here’s what it’s about:
Darrow is a Red, a member of the lowest caste in the color-coded society of the future. Like his fellow Reds, he works all day, believing that he and his people are making the surface of Mars livable for future generations. Yet he toils willingly, trusting that his blood and sweat will one day result in a better world for his children.
But Darrow and his kind have been betrayed. Soon he discovers that humanity reached the surface generations ago. Vast cities and lush wilds spread across the planet. Darrow—and Reds like him—are nothing more than slaves to a decadent ruling class.
Inspired by a longing for justice, and driven by the memory of lost love, Darrow sacrifices everything to infiltrate the legendary Institute, a proving ground for the dominant Gold caste, where the next generation of humanity’s overlords struggle for power. He will be forced to compete for his life and the very future of civilization against the best and most brutal of Society’s ruling class. There, he will stop at nothing to bring down his enemies . . . even if it means he has to become one of them to do so.
That’s it for this issue. Thanks again for hanging out with me this week, and I look forward to continuing this journey together!
-Chris









BACKED! (And Happy Thanksgiving!)