HISTORY OF UPDATES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Here's where all old updates and announcements are archived for record-keeping
reasons and such.
All items listed in reverse chronological order. (beginning with the latest
update, ending with the first)
Most links have been disabled because I don't have the time to update them
if they get broken.
DECEMBER 2007 |
DECEMBER 2006 |
DECEMBER 2005 |
DECEMBER 2004 |
GO TO UPDATES FROM MARCH 2002 - AUGUST 2004
10.12.2007 FOURTH QUARTER 2007 PRESS RELEASE
(Not really a press release, but an incredible simulation!)
Catomix is excited to announce the release of two long-awaited comic projects.
Both have been in development for several years, having multiple incarnations before finally emerging as full-blown comics.
Already having appeared on the internet, Urgent Transformation Crisis has been enjoying surprisingly wide readership. Its first chapter began on August 6, and will conclude later this month.
A printed "mini-comic" in the same style as previous Catomix titles Unfamiliar Reflection and Seven to Seven is being prepared for a first-quarter 2008 release. Unfortunately, the release will be just as limited as those aforementioned titles, only appearing in one comic store in the country.
Catomix press agent Jim Whaley had the opportunity to discuss matters directly with Catomix president Jim Whaley. "I'd love to find a publisher for UTC," he says, "But right now I want to just stick with on-line distribution. It's more cost-effective. The printed comic book is only serving as a way of advertising the website. No new material will be presented in the book, so the majority of readers who can only follow it on-line will not be missing out on anything."
Publication in comic book format was a no-brainer for all of Catomix's previous series, however UTC poses a unique problem in that it is the first Catomix series to appear in full color. Jim has confirmed that the printed issue will be in grayscale. "I don't know how difficult it will be to change the color to grayscale. Some of the darker colors may go totally black and remove image detail. It's something that will need to be worked out, but it will definitely be an inferior presentation of the comic."
The series is very dissimilar to last December's Urgent Transformation Crisis #0. Despite having the same name, #1 will exclude the characters of Kait and Neil, and the series will no longer be set in the previously established Re<Verse.
"When the direction of UTC changed last February, I realized there just wasn't a way to include these new characters and setting into the Re<Verse. The Re<Verse is all about magic. There is no magic here anymore. The story focuses on science." This doesn't mean Kait and Neil will not appear in future Re<Verse titles, but as of now there are no concrete plans to revisit that universe. "The one other problem with the Re<Verse is, most readers have trouble identifying with it. It's a whole different world with a slightly different technological and geographical base. Historical references don't match with our world's. Pop culture references are impossible. Computers don't exist. It's way too much new material for some readers to absorb."
"I'm not dropping the Re<Verse totally. And I want a Souzoku mini-series as much as anybody," Jim confesses. "But right now I'm concentrating on UTC and CCLB, neither of which happen to occur in that universe."
The "CCLB" that he refers to is the second project in active development. This project began in the holiday season of 2003, when an advertisement appeared on the Evil Jim website describing a battle of epic proportions.
The Crimson Christian vs The Little Blue Super Jew: "A Very Crimson Christmas" represents years of careful preparation and months of loving production. "Despite the confrontational title, this issue really is a labor of love between myself and the creators of CC and LBSJ," Jim explains. "We've wanted to do it for a long time, and one day we finally figured out a way to make it happen."
The issue will go on-sale at Spa City Comics in Saratoga Springs, NY, on December 5, 2007. It will appear on-line at catomix.com on Christmas Day. The issue is 23 pages in black and white with a color cover.
Although the issue is a self-contained story, plans call for a three-part arc. "We have an overall plan for three specials, all of which relate to each other but all of which are able to stand alone to an extent. Like the Evil Dead trilogy, we use cliffhangers, but the content of the story is not about leading up TO the cliffhangers. It just means the story has come to a point where it's okay to stop for a while."
Jim will not confirm or deny that the second issue will be greenlit for production, only that a script is in development. "If we can do it, we'll do it, but if we can't, it's really not that much of a priority at this time. A major reason I stressed not putting 'Issue 1' on the cover implies that there will be more. That's also the reason there's a '?' after 'TO BE CONTINUED'."
To recap, "A Very Crimson Christmas" will go on-sale December 5 and releases to the internet on December 25. Urgent Transformation Crisis #1: "Changing Times at Attic High" will be released in a double-sized 28-page black-and-white edition in the first quarter of 2008 and will continue to enjoy a full-color internet release for months to come.
08.06.2007 UTC LAUNCHES
The day has come. Change...is still for the better. The newly revamped Urgent Transformation Crisis is now accessable from the main page. This ongoing webcomic is the most ambitious Catomix production to date. It's also the first series to be released in FULL COLOR. Pretty revolutionary stuff. Updates will be Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays throughout August.
03.05.2007 THIS IS MY YEAR
After far too long a time, I'm making a comeback. And this time, it's for real. And personal. With a vengeance. Or your money back.
There has been a slight change to the content of the third annual free comic book. Mostly this has to do with format changes to UTC, but also I've had to strip a few pages out of the book to save money. (I'm losing money on this, ya know.)
-Evil Jim's "The Twelve Deaths of Pat"; the story arc that ran on-line in December 2002. Only the first four strips of this story will be included; that's EJ035-EJ038.
-The extra page for Unfamiliar Reflection #7. (You can cut it out and put it right into your copy of the issue. If you own a copy, that is.)
-The first 3 pages of CCvsLBSJ, coming this December.
-Urgent Transformation Crisis. The 1/2 issue is no longer being considered. Now that the format of the series has been changed to a webcomic, the first four strips of UTC will be included here to act as a sneak peak at the full series, launching this August.
02.02.2007 WHERE WE WERE, WHERE WE ARE GOING, AND FREE COMICS FOR ALL!
Let's reflect on the year that was 2006 before moving into the news:
-New Series 41 (DCO) premiered for April Fools Day, totally sucked, and disappeared forever.
-Unfamiliar Reflection started its on-line run in August.
-Urgent Transformation Crisis finally debuted with preliminary issue #0.
So where is Catomix going? Hopefully, in the right direction.
-Unfamiliar Reflection will continue to be released on-line until the series concludes in July. The readership continues to grow and the midpoint has been reached.
-Urgent Transformation Crisis' regular series is being primed for an August release hot on the heels of Unfamiliar Reflection. Ideally, there will be a small enough time gap that anyone who has been reading UR can easily jump into UTC when it starts rolling. The first three issues have been scripted and pre-production has commenced.
-The Crimson Christian vs the Little Blue Super Jew, originally planned for last Christmas, has been pushed back to December 2007. There will be absolutely no more rescheduling for this book, as it will be finished well ahead of time. The downside with a holiday-themed book is, if you miss the deadline even by a little, you've got to wait an entire year. It will be cool, I promise.
Finally, Free Comic Book Day is approaching once again. This May 5th, the third annual Catomix Free Comic Book Day Sampler will include the following:
-The extra page for Unfamiliar Reflection #7, which will debut on-line later this month. (You can cut it out and put it right into your copy of the issue. If you own a copy, that is.)
-The first pages of CCvsLBSJ
-Urgent Transformation Crisis #1/2. This is an entirely original, four-page story that will not be published in the regular series. This is to build anticipation for the series premiere as well as tell a story that I'm unable to tell in the format of the regular series.
-Evil Jim's "The Twelve Deaths of Pat"; the story arc that ran on-line in December 2002.
10.29.2006 ONLY ABOUT A YEAR LATE
Urgent Transformation Crisis is finally complete...over one year after the project had begun. The script and storyline changed drastically in the past two and a half years since its inception, and the delays have been for the better, but I'd really like to get a bit more productivity out of these comics. Sadly, I can't say whether or not there will be any more issues of UTC, since I'm also working on Heroes of Silvera and Christmas' CC vs LBSJ special. But rest assured you will continue to see comics from Catomix in the near future.
05.12.2006 THE MYSTERY SERIES UN-REVEALED
If you're wondering where DCO's main page banner went, I'm sorry to say that the series has been placed on an indefinite hiatus. The project had been little more than April Fools fodder, and my interest in continuing the series beyond a one-day joke waned considerably. The amount of time Urgent Transformation Crisis demands is too much to spend on any other comic project at this point, so for the future I am going to procede with that single comic until I have more time to branch out. The UTC-01 comic is still on-track for a late June release. Thank you, everyone who read DCO and gave your feedback, but it just wasn't meant to be an ongoing thing. (And no, it is not in Evil Jim/Evil Penguin continuity. Rest assured.)
04.01.2006 THE MYSTERY SERIES REVEALED
New Series 41, or DCO as it's really called, is now up for viewing! Please check out Catomix's latest webcomic and let me know what you think.
03.06.2006 CHANGE IS STILL FOR THE...YOU KNOW THE DRILL
At long last, some new material! Urgent Transformation Crisis issue 1.0 is now available in the UTC section. The full comic will be completed around June. After reading, discuss the story here.
02.15.2006 START YO' JIBBA JABBA!
Introducing the brand new Catomix Message Board! I'm always looking for feedback, and this is the perfect opportunity for you to tell me exactly what you'd like to see. Please feel free to join and chat.
02.11.2006 URGENT TRANSFORMATION CRISIS WEB PREMIERE
This is going to be released a bit differently from Seven to Seven. UTC will ultimately be released in book form, like UR and 727 were. However, it will first be released on this website. Because I haven't gotten all of the book finished yet, I decided to give you dear, patient readers a break. The first half of the issue (seven pages) will be released on the day after my birthday, as my present to you. The second half with the conclusion will be released as soon as it is finished. So come back on 3-6-06 and have some transformation fun!
01.13.2006 THE COMEBACK YEAR
We have finally arrived. Unfamiliar Reflection, Evil Jim and Seven to Seven are finished. The crossover with Matt Williams' "Shattered Genesis" series has also come to pass. What lies ahead for Catomix? Clearly, new things. Hopefully they'll be better things to boot. Here's a look at the stories I currently have in development:
URGENT TRANSFORMATION CRISIS
Coming soon is the first issue of UTC, a Re<Verse series staring a shapeshifting catgirl and her even more unusual partner chasing down the world's worst monsters. The first few pages are already completed, and hopefully the full issue will become available on-line before spring rears its head.
HEROES OF SILVERA
Trapped in development hell since late 2002, HoS is still dragging its feet. With this "prequel" Re<Verse series now into its third complete re-invention, a third draft of the script is in the works and character designs are still developing. Will we see it before 2006 is over? Perhaps.
NEW SERIES 41
All details on this series will be kept tightly under wraps until the first issue is complete. I'm aiming for a summer release with this one. Whether or not it will go beyond one issue is up in the air at this point.
THE CRIMSON CHRISTIAN VS THE LITTLE BLUE SUPER JEW
Announced back in the holiday season of 2004, CCLB issue one (of who knows how many) has a script in the can, and initial art has begun. The Christmas-themed story will be out in time for--you guessed it--Christmas 2006.
And there you have it. A lot of ambition, a lot of stories. Do I have a lot of stamina to back it all up? Time will tell, as it always does. Happy new year, folks, and stay tuned.
08.24.2005 BACK FROM OTAKON
For everyone who received a business card, or our free Otakon 2005 sample issue "Countdown to Infinite Comics," thanks for stopping by to check out Catomix. We're working hard to entertain YOU! Evil Jim's Otakon blog is available here.
08.05.2005 CATOMIX LIVES
At last, the beginning of a new dawn for this company whose poor identity is constantly in flux. Well that ends TODAY! Err...yesterday. With the name change comes a bolder, more professional direction and, hopefully, a publishing deal from a major distributor. (dream on) Let's just refresh a few things:
You can access each series' website using the logos on the front page, or down below. Their sites have remained relatively unchanged.
The address for the website has stayed the same, but I've added www.catomix.com as a redirect. So if you're trying to tell others how to get here, it's just become a lot simpler.
The Shattered Genesis crossover and Urgent Transformation Crisis are still in progress, but I'm working as hard as I can without totally burning out. You'll see both of them this autumn.
That's about it. Enjoy the new site, and thanks for continuing to support this not-so-humble artist.
07.24.2005 THE END OF AN ERA...AGAIN
The final issue of Seven to Seven is FINALLY here. Go read it, then make sure to come back here on August 4th. Be seeing you!
07.08.2005 MY VERSION OF "IDENTITY CRISIS"
Okay, we've all been through this before. Name change. New identity. New direction. Yadda yadda. Well, this is the LAST TIME. Or, at least, the last time in what will be a very long time. You see, Cat-Brained Comics is a very stupid name and I apologize for it. That is why CATOMIX shall reign supreme as the one, definitive name for this company in the years to come.
The flagship title of the new company, Urgent Transformation Crisis, will launch this fall. The name of the company will officially change on our fifteenth anniversary on August 4, 2005. See you then!
Oh, and 727-12 is coming July 24. Ha-HA!
05.09.2005 GETTING THE BOULDER ROLLING
I see my workload as a boulder that I must push at a steady rate so that I get it moving but don't wear myself out too quickly. When I stop to take a break after one final big push, I'm exhausted and frustrated. I know I have to push it again, but getting it rolling from a stop is ten times harder than keeping it in motion. So while I put off my task, the boulder just sits there growing moss and I get nowhere. That's pretty much how I feel right now.
You've noticed the Fenix Gear and Hero of Silvera logos and pages are now missing from the main page and the sidebar. I have fulfilled my obligations with Mr. Breidbart, creator of Fenix Gear, so it is no longer a joint production. The webcomic's site link has moved to join Evil Penguin's down below this news section. Hero of Silvera is officially back on the shelf, where it will collect dust for however long it will take me to rethink a decent storyline for it.
Seven to Seven's final issue is in production. Urgent Transformation Crisis, oddly enough, may be the next project I produce. But I don't want to go making more promises my lazy body can't fulfill. Because I don't have much going on now, I've removed the progress bars from the main page. Stay tuned for information on when 727-12 will be debuting.
04.20.2005 I BET I COULD KILL A GUY WITH MY TOES
And I FEEL like killing a guy right now... Sorry to say this, but due to circumstances beyond my control, I won't be participating in 24 Hour Comic Day. Therefore, Seven to Seven's 12th and final issue will not be on-line next Monday. Sorry, everyone. I'll try to get it done as soon as I can.
03.21.2005 CREATIVE SUUUUUUUURGE
So I spent the night working on Hero of Silvera, since it's been sorely missing my attention lately. The two-page teaser issue #0 (which will be appearing in the Free Comic Book Day Sampler) is on-line and ready for your approval.
03.18.2005 THIS PAGE GOT A LITTLE BUSIER
Wondering what happened to the Progress Report section? It's on the main page now. The progress bars you see on the right indicate the status of each issue I'm currently working on. Wondering about the new series logo that just showed up? You'd better check the new press release. Want to know why the Gallery hasn't been updated in forever? Well, it HAS! Check the new sketch. Or don't. Whatever.
02.22.2005 I SHOULD PROBABLY PUT SOME WORDS HERE
So...nothing really to report. Scripting of Hero of Silvera continues, and 727-11 is just beginning production. That's about it. Oh, and I FINALLY fixed the Evil Penguin link in the Links section. That thing's been broken for over 15 months and nobody told me. Way to go, everybody. It's not like I'm supposed to meticulously check this site for errors and...oh, wait. I am.
02.01.2005 IT'S PRIME TIME!
The year is already 1/12 over. Get to work! But before you do, have a looky at my trip to Genericon.
01.15.2005 I HAVE NO CHANCE TO SURVIVE MAKE MY TIME
So perhaps some of you want a status update. Well, things are just peachy here. And by "peachy," I mean "incredibly f**ked." But enough about how I spent the last semester flushing my own bright, shiny future down the toilet. Let's talk comics. Fenix Gear is on schedule, and more and more creative power is being transferred to Josh. I'll still help with an occasional strip, but the little dickens is finally about to take off the training wheels and take his own creation to wherever he wants it to go. (Did I just refer to myself as a pair of training wheels? I really AM ruining my life.)
Seven to Seven is going steadily, though 727-10 has seen three rewrites, and 727-11's been rewritten twice already as well. But progress is being made! I'm half done with the art for 727-10 and it will be done in the time alloted.
Hero of Silvera is finally in the scripting stages. Not much to report on that, other than the existence of a mini intro-comic that acts as a prologue to the series, which will be released on-line and as part of the second annual Free Comic Book Day Sampler in July. It's too early to tell when the regular title will begin publishing, but it probably won't be earlier than fourth quarter 2005. Okay, back to work.
12.06.2004 CLARIFICATIONS
Some of you have been expecting a sensational Crimson Christian/Little Blue Super Jew smack-down all-out brawl in a holiday-themed comic. It pains me to say that many things (mostly schoolwork-related) have prevented me from getting this project finished on-time. I apologize to those who have been holding their breath...you can let go now. Perhaps next year...
On a brighter note, SEVEN TO SEVEN #6 is up.
11.29.2004 HOME SWEET PHOTOGRAPH
I updated the Extraordinary Cat-Brained Comics Creation Superstation with my current dorm arrangement, and tweaked some stuff on the About page
11.26.2004 FEEL THE FENIX
Today is the day. The Cat-Brained Comics co-production of Josh Breidbart's Fenix Gear has begun. Also, it's a little late, but Seven to Seven #5 is on-line. Check them both out.
11.19.2004 TRA-LA-LA, DING-DING-DONG
It's finally here. Almost. Fenix Gear, a co-production between myself and one of Evil Jim's "minions," Josh Breidbart, has finished production on the first ten strips and will begin running over on Keenspace every Friday beginning November 26.
11.08.2004 EXPLODING PANTIES
I got rid of that crappy-ass logo and made a supacool drawing to replace it. Like? Sweet. Now all that's left is to think of a better company name. Sigh.
10.25.2004 GEE, I WONDER WHERE I GOT THAT DESIGN FROM?
The very first major redesign of the Seven to Seven section--EVER--is complete, a month before the new issues will have their on-line debut. (That section has looked more or less the exact same ever since we went on-line back in 2002.) I've given it a format much like the Evil Jim section. It's more self-sustaining and has its own news column now. Also, the third issue is now available for reading. I've taken a lot of time to bring this to you, so please check it out.
10.14.2004 I'VE GOTTA JIMIHAND IT TO ME
The second issue of 727 is now on-line for the first time in history. Read it at your leisure, and check back on the 25th for hour three!
I've taken the "Release Schedule" page off-line. That thing was never accurate anyway.
10.04.2004 IN THE NAME OF FATHER TIME...I SHALL FINISH YOU!
I stayed up until 3am working on an experimental film, and simultaneously converting 727-01 into JPG format so you can all view it--FOR FREE--right here on this website! This is in anticipation of the remaining issues of the series which have yet to be completed. Each issue of 727 will be uploaded on a biweekly basis through the all-new issue 9. After that, the plan is to release one on-line each month until the series ends. So, for those of you who've never read it before, please enjoy.
09.17.2004 THESE UPDATES HAVE TITLES NOW
A couple major announcements; I've been keeping you in the dark about a new joint project I'm developing. And...I still am. ^_^
Second, SEVEN TO SEVEN IS COMING BACK...again...eventually! Yes, I'm writing the final four and they'll be out by January 2005. Check the tentative schedule, which is never right anyway, but it's got episode titles. Also, these issues will not cost me a single cent to produce, because they'll be posted directly on-line. That means NO COST TO YOU! Horray! There goes $4 you'll never have to spend. Furthermore, I'm also compiling the first six issues into a trade paperback, to be sold through CafePress. Keep checking back for details.
I know a few links don't work and there are some glitches...I'm still trying to get this new site up and running. Should be fine by next week. The Progress Report will be up soon...although there's nothing much to report as of late.
08-09-04
I'm still working on the new site design, but for the time being check out
the official (and semi-incomplete) UNFAMILIAR REFLECTION
SERIES BIBLE. Whenever a tv series, comic book series, or other such
thing is created, the makers begin drawing up a series bible. This tome is
the definitive source of information, updated whenever possible in order
to keep every single fact straight. Creators will consult it when they need
to make sure they don't write something contradictory to what's already been
established, and to keep track of facts that are never actually revealed
in the series itself. For example, this UR Bible has a complete timeline
of events in the series and also includes info you've never actually
discovered...until now!
08-04-04
Yes, it's that time of year again. AND, it's time for the biggest thing to
happen to the company since Unfamiliar
Reflection...a name change!
08-02-04
Major announcement coming on Wednesday. Hmm...I wonder if it might have anything
to do with the fact that it cooincides with the company's 14th anniversary?
UPDATES FROM MARCH 2002 - AUGUST 2004