Endings and New Beginnings
Cat-Brained Comics Announces New Wave of Comics in 16th Year

--

     Jim Whaley announced today the long-term plans for the newly-named Cat-Brained Comics. "Last year was about finding a new identity, and we're not quite done with that yet. But we're still moving forward and pushing into new frontiers of storytelling and the form of the comic itself."

     The announcement detailed plans to end production of all current Cat-Brained Comics titles. "Seven to Seven's 12th issue will be its last, as that has always been the plan for that limited series. Production on that series was stagnant at best, but these last few months it's really turned around and the final four issues are being produced at a consistent monthly rate. The final issue will bow in late April." Jim continued to mention his side project, a fan comic of Star Trek: The Next Generation. "I started almost fifteen years ago in comics with TNG. It's always been a part of me and a big influence on jump-starting my imagination in the early years. The decision to finally cancel its run is something I've had in the back of my mind for years, but just didn't have the heart to do. Now I'm trying to establish my own series and characters, and TNG is obviously not something I own the creative rights to." Cat-Brained Comics' STTNG series will be ending in September 2005, eleven years and a month after its original debut. It is the only series Jim has produced that has surpassed 50 issues and has been published under all three labels; Jim W. Comics, Platinum Comics, and now Cat-Brained Comics. (One issue even ran under the short-lived name "Cobalt Kitty Comics" last August.) Its 83rd issue will be its last.

     Looking toward the future, Jim reminded everyone of Hero of Silvera, which has been in development for over two years. "I've finally made some headway on this series. A three- or four-page promo will be placed in this year's Free Comic Book Day Sampler. As for the official start of the regular title, I'm going to try to have two or three issues finished before the year is out." When asked if HoS will be another limited series of 12 issues, Jim replied "Absolutely not. If things go the way they are now, and the project reaches its full potential, I can see this going for dozens of issues and several years."

     Also referenced, but not explained in as much detail as the others, was a project referred to as New Series 37. "All I want to say at this point," Jim stated, "It's an idea I'm trying out. It will probably take the place of 727 as a monthly or bimonthly title with little production time. It won't be polished, but it'll be something zany and fun, which I think Cat-Brained Comics sorely needs. The working title is one of those random three-word titles they usually slap onto anime; Urgent Transformation Crisis."

     The details for the second annual Free Comic Book Day Sampler, now a company tradition, were alluded to. "It's not set in stone yet," Jim explained. "Right now the plan is to highlight the mini-issue of Hero of Silvera, as well as a few pages from random issues of Unfamiliar Reflection and Seven to Seven. Unlike last year, it will not contain a complete issue, save the small HoS story. Perhaps I'll throw a few strips of Evil Jim in there, and possibly some New Series 37 material if it's ready for public display by then."

     Information on the crossover mini-series with Sadistic Monkey comics, Shattered Genesis/Unfamiliar Reflection: Destiny's Cross, was sketchy, but Jim reassured the project would continue. When asked if the company had plans to do a special issue focusing on its 15th anniversary coming up in August, Jim gave us the old "Now that...is a secret" routine. We're getting tired of that routine.

-CBC Press