Phoenix Productions

01/05/2024

What is FANzine One?

01/04/2024

We did it better.

Strange Times #4 - The Road Back - on sale now. https://amzn.to/3S5Sq8p

01/03/2024

The layers of mystery surrounding the investigation of (imaginary) Sherman, Ohio begin to peel back in Something in the Water #3!

Who knew? I had finished all the illustration work on Something in the Water #3 but had yet to script, letter and (digitally) paste it up. I’m genuinely trying to stay true to my New Year& #82…

01/02/2024

New Year's means (re-)committing oneself to resolutions for improvement. I'm no different.

Nope, I’m not announcing the next theme of Strange Times. (But it would be a good one.) This is a personal statement. Because if you write it down or type it out, there’s accountability…

12/31/2023

Special Thanks to the amazing people that made Phoenix Production's 2023 possible:

Tony Lorenz
Matt Levin
Thomas Ahearn
William Henry Caddell
Steve Keeter
Chuck Bunker
Marc Haines
Ryan Paul Holgersen
Iesorno Zines
Tony Lawrence
Joseph Morris
Keith Newsome
Sunny Ray
Mandy Shunnarah
Michael Waggoner
Teri S. Wood
Resa Challender
David Tryzenski
Terry Flippo
George A. Lane III
Rob Cooley
Bob Hall

You folks are the BEST! Thank you for being a part of my life...and my zines!

Have a terrific New Year!

12/31/2023

What a year...11 zines! A zine fest! The UFO Awards! Let's review Phoenix Productions over 2023.

What a strange trip this has been! So much happening in comics, at home and in the world. I don’t know as it’s entirely appropriate to share everything outside of comics (as this is a c…

11/30/2023

Strange Times #4 is on the street...or the "road" if you will, for it's "The Road Back" anthology.

Who has a copy already? What are your thoughts on it?

You can get a copy for yourself at tinyurl.com/strangetimes4 (physical copy) or at phoenixprods.gumroad.com/ (digital PDF copy).

11/29/2023

Heroes Now #4 is on the streets! Who's got a copy so far? What do you think?

If YOU want a copy, it's as easy as clicking: tinyurl.com/heroesnow4

11/24/2023

As of about an hour ago, all contributor, UFO and related copies of Heroes Now 4 and Strange Times 4 have been dropped in the mail (or UPS, in one case). The zines are on their way!

Thank you so much to the many incredible contributors to these zines. Together, we made a couple fantastic publications. I'm so sorry that you had to wait so long to get your copies of the zines.

It's a growing pains thing, learning how Amazon does business with self-publishers. There are some undeniable positives of going the Amazon route, low-cost (and fast) global shipping and print-on-demand chief among them. But I had no idea that I would have to RE-layout both zines to satisfy the quirkiest automated approval process...nor did I figure that author copies would be shipped via the slowest possible means imaginable.

Live and learn. I'll bank this knowledge for the next time(s).

None of it will matter, though, when the zines land in the laps of the people who I care about, who provide cameraderie and support (looking at you, United Fanzine Organization) and especially those with whom I collaborated in making two of the finest zines of my life.

If you haven't checked them out yet, please go to tinyurl.com/strangetimes4 and tinyurl.com/heroesnow4 to order print copies, or go to https://phoenixprods.gumroad.com/ to order PDF copies. Thanks for your interest and support!

11/12/2023

Concluding the 4-part Patriots arc and much more -- HEROES NOW #4 is HERE!

The Phoenix Productions hero anthology rolls on with another epic issue! Available in print on Amazon – Available in PDF on Gumroad Laser-Disc “Dark Knight Returns” homage cover b…

11/11/2023

It's here! Strange Times 4 - "The Road Back" anthology is available NOW. Check it out!

“The Road Back” – A 56-page, magazine-sized anthology of challenge, struggle and tragedy…and our will to overcome. Available in print at Amazon – Available in PDF at G…

11/08/2023

The moment you've all been waiting for!

While Strange Times 4 and Heroes Now 4 were percolating at the printer, I found myself with the time to finally put together a legitimate catalog of Phoenix Productions zines. You can download a co…

11/02/2023

We're going back to SPACE - one of the best small press comics cons going! Mark your calendars!

I took a year off in 2023, but Phoenix Productions already is signed up for the Small Press & Alternative Comics Expo (SPACE) for 2024! One of the best small press cons around, SPACE is a great…

11/01/2023

Happy Halloween! Here's a little piece that John Muller and I made for his "Horrendous!: Halloween Special 2023". It's a great zine, perfect for the season and beyond. Click here to order: https://www.amazon.com/Horrendous-Halloween-Special-John-Muller/dp/B0CJSZW4DR/

10/25/2023

I'm winding down on The App Formerly Known as Twitter, but you can find me at BlueSky! Follow along at: phnxprodscomics.bsky.social

And while we're at it, I have 3 BlueSky invite codes. Anyone want one? First come, first served!!

10/25/2023

The wheels are in motion...two new Phoenix Productions titles coming soon!

Very quick update: Heroes Now 4 and Strange Times 4 have been sent to the printer! I’ll still need to see digital proofs, receive the zines and get them out to recipients, but it’s so s…

10/23/2023

Catching up on the assorted projects I'm working on in anticipation of a big end to 2023!

It’s been around a month since I last posted, and for good reason. Lots of stuff on the family front – three kids in the throes of fall sports season, along with evening practices and w…

10/06/2023

Something in the Water issue 2 is up on Instagram. (As is issue 1...) Check it out!

10/04/2023

A little off the Phoenix track...just received John Muller's Horrendous Halloween Special! This 70(?) page zine is filled with comic stories and activities...and includes a short story collaboration between John and me! Fun stuff all around, I hope you get it for less than five bucks at: https://amzn.to/45j2mPg

09/30/2023

Fun day at the 'brare!

Running through the haul! Very nice show.

09/29/2023

I'm excited to share some changes to how my publications will get into your hands!

Of course I couldn’t have picked a better time, but this has been percolating in my mind for a while now. It’s also been something that I’ve been working hard on over the last wee…

09/25/2023

Upon discovering that my nearly-complete version of Strange Times #4 has disappeared into the ether.

(Don't worry, I have everyone's source material. And I have an earlier version, saved under a different name. I just need to lay it out all over again. Sigh.)

[UPDATE: I found it! Full speed ahead!]

09/20/2023

The fall lineup at Phoenix Productions is taking shape! Learn more about Heroes Now #4 here.

A little update for those interested: Heroes Now #4 is complete. I’ve been hop-scotching back and forth between Heroes Now, Strange Times, Hologram and Something in the Water (much to the cha…

09/07/2023

Just received a piece of genuine, USPS-delivered fan mail from a reader who apparently doesn't involve himself in the digital communication sciences.

Pretty cool. Took me back.

09/04/2023

08/25/2023

Follow Phoenix Productions on Instagram for exclusive material! https://www.instagram.com/phnxprodscomics/

08/24/2023

Exciting News! STRANGE TIMES will be hosted in the Columbia University Libraries. Congrats to all of the contributors!

An incredible side effect of Stephen Bissette’s endorsement of Matt Levin’s Strange Times #3 collection of Walking Man Comics is that it grabbed the attention of the Curator for Comics …

08/24/2023

Oh wow...

It has been a while since I wrote and illustrated a comic book story for anything. But I'm working on one for Tom Fellrath's STRANGE TIMES #4. The theme of the book is "The Road Back". And my short story in it is about coming back from grief and loss and losing Jatina.

Tom says I can share the first page, so... :)

08/23/2023

Legendary comic artist Stephen Bissette offers a terrific endorsement of STRANGE TIMES #3 and its spotlight on Matt Levin's Walking Man Comics!

If you have enjoyed comics over the years, odds are you have heard of Stephen Bissette. While his most famous work comes out of his collaboration with writer Alan Moore and inker John Totleben on S…