Hey Farmhands, it’s been a while since I did one of these updates and I apologize, things have been downright insane down here on The Farm…
Since last we spoke the Essex County TV show has kicked into overdrive. As I’ve mentioned before, I have been developing the series for five years and in the last six months things finally came together and we are now in full prep to begin shooting this Summer. For me, this means a big shift in my daily and weekly work schedule. I’ve spent the last twenty years focusing on comics every day, and it’s been hard to let that go and turn my full attention to the TV show, but at the same time, a short break from comics may be exactly what I need. I’ve come to realize that a forced break is probably good for me at this point, when I can keep busy doing something else and then come back to comics later this year refreshed.
So, what do my days look like now? I am “showrunning” Essex County and writing or co-writing all of the episodes. It will be a 5-part mini-series coming in early 2023. So, at this point, as we head into hard prep next month, my days are filled with meetings about locations, production design, casting, etc. In between all of that I am also rewriting, improving, revising the scripts, and working on some storyboards and illustrations for the production design team.
As we get into actual prep on location and then start shooting, I’ll try to use this Substack to share more teases and behind-the-scenes material from the show.
In terms of the books, I am currently releasing and have announced for later this year, this shift to the Essex TV show won’t affect those projects at all. I’ve known production was coming for a while and spent the early part of this year getting even further ahead on my various comics than usual. So, the release schedules for LITTLE MONSTERS, THE BONE ORCHARD, BLACK HAMMER, etc. will not be changed at all, thankfully.
So, let’s talk about some of those comics…
THE BONE ORCHARD
Last month was Free Comic Book Day and Image Comics released the first installment of The Bone Orchard Mythos, the ambitious new shared horror universe that I am creating with my Gideon Falls co-creator, Andrea Sorrentino. We did a stand-alone comic called THE SHADOW EATERS that acts as a prelude to the universe, and I am excited to share that full story with you here! Enjoy…
The next part of The Bone Orchard will be a full-length graphic novel called THE PASSAGEWAY out this month followed by a 5-part miniseries TEN THOUSAND BLACK FEATHERS in September. Here for the first time Andrea’s first three covers from TEN THOUSAND BLACK FEATHERS….
Make sure to grab The Passageway this month at your local comic book store.
AND BLACK HAMMER FANS…
In 2023 Malachi Ward and I will be bringing you the “final” Black Hammer series (at least for a little while) BLACK HAMMER: THE END a 6-part mini-series that is the culmination of everything I’ve been building in the Black Hammer Universe over the last few years. Below are a couple of Malachi’s amazing pages…
And, for paid subscribers, I will also have more “From The Vault” installments soon with a deep dive into the creation of Sweet Tooth and also a look at my early days writing for DC Comics and the creation of my books for The New 52!
That’s it for me this week. See you back here soon.
Jeff
Is there any news on a Descender Deluxe Book 2 reprint? I have Ascender Deluxe reserved, but Book two of Descender remains far out of my price range.
So much exciting news! I'm pumped to hear that Black Hammer The End is six parts. Back in April when it was initially announced, Jeff said it was only four parts. Exciting stuff! Also, this month is basically "Jeff Lemire month" for those who enjoy collected editions:
- Primordial - HC - May 18
- Mazebook - HC - June 8
- Black Hammer Reborn, Vol. 2 - June 15
- Bone Orchard Mythos: The Passageway - June 15
- Snow Angels, Vol. 2 - June 22