Comics writer Gail Simone recently said:

“I didn’t even know I could love an orc until I read Paul Allor’s ORC GIRL. Funny, charming, bittersweet, and moving, I found myself dreading the end and demanding a sequel at the same time. Absolutely lovely in story and art, a perfect little comic, realized brilliantly.”

You can see a six-page preview at the Challenger Comics web-site. After you’ve grabbed a copy of Orc Girl, please check out all the other awesome comics Challenger has to offer!

I will look over your 22 page script, giving you an in-depth written critique, followed up with a Skype or phone call to discuss the script, and your writing in general, more in-depth.

All this, and you’ll be helping out some very nice comics creators with their super-cool project.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1986429142/destinys-fate-round-two

Check it out below (click on it for a larger image):

First, I’ll be at the Comix Tribe booth (2380) on Friday from 12:30-2:00, where I’ll be signing copies of the Oxymoron anthology (my story features gorgeous art by Aaron Houston — check out the first page below), and anything else you bring my way.

Second, I’ll be on two panels, both during pro hours on Thursday, and both run by Comics Experience. Here the info, from the Comics Experience web site:

Pitching for Professionals
Thursday, October 11
2:30PM – 3:30PM
Location: 1A04

Speakers: Andy Schmidt, Bob Schreck, Nick Lowe, Paul Allor

When you finally have an editor willing to hear your ideas, will you be ready? From tips on how to succeed in a “bake-off” competition to how to present ideas cold, this panel will help you and your project get the green light it deserves! Listen in as former Marvel and IDW editor Andy Schmidt, Marvel Editor Nick Lowe, writer Paul Allor, and Bob Schreck, Editor-in-Chief of Legendary Comics and former DC Comics, Dark Horse Comics, and IDW Publishing editor, discuss the ins-and-outs of pitching!

Surviving Collaboration
Thursday, October 11
Time: 7:45PM – 8:45PM
Location: 1A01

Speakers: Andy Schmidt, Chris Sotomayor, Paul Allor, Robert Atkins

Comics are a collaborative medium. Do you know how to bring out the best from your collaborators? Join former Marvel and IDW editor/writer Andy Schmidt, penciler Robert Atkins, colorist and former editor Chris Sotomayor, and writer Paul Allor (TMNT Micro-Series, Clockwork) as they discuss collaborative best practices, tips for writers and artists, and strategies for handling editor feedback. Become the kind of creator everyone wants to work with!

So, that’s where you can find me. I’m very excited about this show, and I hope to see some of you there!

And, Kokomo Con will be the first place you can buy copies of Orc Girl, my fantasy one-shot with art by Thomas Boatwright and published by Challenger Comics.

And AND, I’m partnering with Kokomo Con’s organizers to bring you an exclusive Kokomo Con variant edition, with a signed and numbered print-run limited to only 100 copies. If you’re coming to the con and would like to reserve a copy, head over to the con’s Facebook page, and let them know.

The convention’s organizers are good guys, and they put on a great show. I am very happy to be partnering with them on this.

After the con, Orc Girl will be available to order online in both print and digital form.

Orc Girl is a 48-page book, with a 22-page main story and four backup stories (two of the backup stories also appeared in Clockwork, Volume One).

Here’s a teaser image. As you can see, it’s being put out through Challenger Comics, the imprint of writer, designer, publisher and all-around great guy Ryan Ferrier.

More info coming soon…

This issue introduces the Fugitoid character into IDW’s continuity, and features a cool mix of action-packed fun and compelling drama.

So pick it up, check it out, and let me know what you think. If you aren’t sure where your nearest comic shop is, drop me a line at paul@govtcomics.com, and I will help you out.

I did a quick run-down of what we talk about, with some annotations. There will be stuttering. Oh, yes. There will be stuttering!

0:00 – Canadian prog-rock

1:00 – Introductions.

1:18 – I contribute to the conversation by saying, “Yep.” People begin to suspect I sound like a cartoon bear.

1:44 – I speak a bit more, confirming that I sound like a cartoon bear.

2:05 – I get confused!

3:00 – Clockwork talk.

4:44 – I plug Comics Experience, and talk about writing five-page scripts to build your craft

6:20 – I say that I spent around a year writing 40 five-page comics. I double-checked, and it was 37. Sorry!

7:35 – We talk about The Day I Go Home, my story for the Comics Experience intro to writing class. And I talk about why I don’t think it was a success. If you’d like to read it before having it spoiled by the podcast, check it out.

11:40 – Still talking about The Day I Go Home! I spell out Leandro Panganiban’s name instead of pronouncing it, and then talk about why I think the story is a failure (because I am a marketing genius).

14:41 – Our long national nightmare ends, and we start talking about the other stories in the collection.

15:33 – We talk about Cage Around My Heart, with art from Jesse Hamm, and how I slapped Jesse’s robot design on every single thing I do (including the banner at the top of this Web site!)

17:32 –   Matt mentions Volume 2, and I ramble on in a self-conscious manner about why it won’t be coming out for a while.

19:10 – We talk about short comics, and I name-check Monkeybrain Comics, my favorite new publisher.

20:43 – Carpet-bombing the comics industry with Clockwork.

21:20 – My Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles one-shot for IDW Publishing, and the process of getting it.

22:35 – I talk about Paul McCaffrey, the awesome artist on my TMNT book.

23:38 – How the TMNT project came to be.

25:20 – I gush on about my love of Ninja Turtles, and how the franchise affected my development as a writer.

27:15 – Talking about the turtles as a cultural phenomenon.

31:17 – We talk about the future of my career (specifically the fact that I would really like to have one).

33:30 – We talk about when the book is coming out (September 26!).

34:22 – We talk about breaking into comics, while living in the middle of nowhere.

37:07 – A brief discussion on the universality of the Turtles.

38:24 – How nervous I was to write my Turtles issue.

39:30 – More Comics Experience talk!

40:50 – I get all cryptic about future projects.

42:38 – I talk about the art in Clockwork, and it’s general awesomeness, and name-check some of the artists. Please check out the full list.

I also talk about Ben Dewey’s Tragedy Series.

44:05 – ANOTHER cryptic project! Then more Clockwork talk.

46:08 – I announce my presence at NYCC and Emerald City Comic-Con (with MORE crypticness!).

47:20 – Some talk on Comics Experience’s other classes, including coloring, art and lettering.

And then we call it a day! Hope you enjoy.

I’m very happy to say that I recently received my comp copies of Barsowia #16 in the mail. The book is beautiful, with stunning art. Ken and I are in very good company.

If you’d like to read the English-language version of “Warlord,” you can find it (along with several other stories I’ve written) at www.clockworkcomic.com.

Many thanks to Ken for his awesome work on this book, and to the people at Barsowia for choosing our story and making it happen.