State of the Beanworld 2008!

Let's do this the way all us old folks were taught in Civics class.
First the old business--which was Beanworld in 2007.

What a year it was.
The biggest Beanworld development in '07 was the launch of this blog in July.
I didn't really know why I started it...it just seemed like the thing to do that day--purely an instinctive decision, and one I'm quite glad I made.
The number of old friends and fans who "just showed up" has really been a terrific experience and I thank everyone who has read my posts and contributed responses.

The biggest Larry Marder development was my departure from McFarlane Toys after so many years.
No regrets.
And no looking back.

As I said at the time "After so many years of overseeing the business endeavors of others, it's time for me to manage my own creative efforts."

I've spent the last several months teaching myself how to draw digitally on a Wacom Cintiq tablet. The "Hoka-Hoka Happy New Year" drawing was done completely on the tablet.
To me it looks more or less like the work I did before I got discouraged with inking supplies over a decade ago. (I will post on that one of these days.) I still learn something new every time I sit down at my digital drawing board, but I'm believe I'm quite ready to begin creating finished pages with this method.

Now onto the new business--2008.
My first essential task is to nail down a publishing deal.
I believe this will take place rather rapidly. It is my goal to get the previously published, but out of print, original Tales of the Beanworld material back in print as soon as humanly possible.
I have some 500 pages of Beanworld continuity that will be packaged in, perhaps, three volumes--each to be released, hopefully about a season apart--you know, Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall--starting with whichever season happens to be scheduled first.
This will allow the Beanworld to re-establish its place within the world of publishing. The artwork will be reformatted to a slightly smaller page size, in keeping with today's publishing format trends.

Also, in the early part of 2008 I will launch a new, general interest Beanworld web site. There, I will be publishing color Beanworld web comics--short stand alone pieces perhaps 10 pages long or so. Leguminous interest stories--so to speak. More on par with things like "Proffy, The Snoopy Anthropologist" the back-up features from TOTB 3 and 5.

Back Issues.

I know a lot of you have holes in your Beanworld collections and have been inquiring about back issue availability.
I have a lot of back list comics in the Beanworld Archives.
I will make those available online.

The back list program will be tiered.
You will be able to purchase issues at the current market price.
Then there will be comics available at a premium that will include an original black and white sketch.
And topped by issues at an even higher premium including an original color sketch.
Of course, all issues will be signed.
As the program develops, I'll publish all the details here. But I plan to roll this out relatively soon.

Merchandise.

Everyone is asking for Beanworld merchandise. I haven't licensed any Beanworld merchandise in years since my favorite licensee, Libby Barry of Planet Studios, passed away. As the year rolls along, I will start working on good, solid, logical, reasonably thought out licensed goods as the opportunities arise.
And not necessarily just the obvious items.
I'd really like to have your input as to the sort of things you wish you had in your house!

Also, I'm going to continue making more hand-crafted items like the Beanworld Action Figure Frame that was in the recent CBLDF Holiday Auction.

CBLDF.
Oh yes, and I am going to continue my association with CBLDF's fund raising efforts through the entire year. I will be at CBLDF's table at WonderCon, SD08, and SPX. I'll be doing some new cool things with the Fund. Almost certainly a limited edition poster (in color?).

Stumptown.
In April I will make my first appearance solely as the Beanworld guy since 1990 at Stumptown

Comics Fest in Portland, OR. (Every convention I've been at since then I was also juggling some sort of responsibility for someone else's business.) I will definitely be doing something extra special and fun for Stumptown.

And then....

:: drumroll ::

New work.

Yes, it started out as Tales of the Beanworld #22.
Then I started calling it "The Float Force."
Several fragments have been published in various ashcans.
Hungry.
Professor Garbanzo's Joy Ride.

But it is so much more than those little slivers.
When I sat down last spring and started juggling the fragments and shards of stories I'd been accumulating for years, it fell into eight segments.
It was roughly 150 pages long.
What I've been doing the past few months is seaming it all together and creating bridging sequences between the segments.
So far segments 1,2, and 3 are now together.
People that have read it can't tell which pieces I wrote and penciled 12 years ago from the pages I did 12 days ago.

I can't imagine this piece ending up lass than 200 pages or more than 300.
A LOT happens in the book.
Everyone is in it including Heyoka.

When it will launch will depend on who will be publishing it.
But I'll keep you all informed of developments as they unfold.

Including the title.

I thought up the title four years ago in Antarctica while sitting on a rock looking upon the frozen three color world of black, white, and purest cyan.

And then....the next book after that!

What is it about?
Beans and Corn.
Things set in motion in TOTB #1 will come home to roost.

Beanworld is as alive now as it has ever been.
I'm ready for a good long fun ride and I hope you are too!

Larry Marder
1/2/08