Indy-Pendant is the first column ever written by Brant W. Fowler running from May 2005 to January 2007. It's a focus on independent comics creators, publishers and titles. These are the reprinted archives, which were originally published on www.comicavalanche.com.
[Infinity Uprising's website is gone, so all related links have been removed.]
Week 12 - Originally published on August 20, 2005
What up my peeps? Ok, we're finally back to features this week. Now, as promised, this week I bring to you an uprising company for years to come...
INFINITY_UPRISING
First off, congratulations are in order.
After a little over a year in existence Infinity_Uprising (I_U) has
recently celebrated its 10,000 hit! In small press that's a
decent feat, and my hats are off to them.
For anyone who regularly visits comixpress.com you have probably seen some of I_U's titles and may even have wondered to their site and helped contribute to the aforementioned 10,000 hit success. But what do you really know, if anything at all, about the machine that is Infinity Uprising? That's what we're going to unearth today. And in the process maybe we'll learn a little about the titles too.
Infinity_Uprising was started like many small press companies, in that the creators were displeased with the lack of sufficient entertainment in the comics on the market. But better than trying to explain this myself, I got the scoop from the creator and owner of I_U, Doug Bryan.
"Infinity_Uprising got started as a germ of an idea back in 2000 when I started using it to refer to the stories I was writing at the time. I had always been a comic fan and, to me, a lot of the fun in the current comics went missing. I had an idea to begin working on comic scripts using the heroes created over years of role-playing and reading comics to put the fun and sense of wonder back in comics. I got a DBA license to register the name and then set out to writing a Sci-Fi/Superhero script that was shopped around and drew interest from MTV at the time. Faulty agent representation allowed the deal to fall through. Undaunted, I rewrote the script and now have storyboards being done for a second round of shopping it.
I was writing scripts and novels at the time when in 2004, just last year, my fiance (now the missus! So, yes, it did work out), saw me writing comic scripts to enter into a contest. She urged me, that April, to shop them around and see if they could garner interest. All three of them did with various companies and, that's how it got started on the comic end.
The Small Press/Independent field being what it is, we ran into more work stoppages than forging ahead. That's when we decided to do it ourselves. Those first three books were ThugZ (Available Now), HoriZon (Available Now) and Under (which is being worked on now). It takes a willingness to not be deterred from your goal to keep plugging away.
I'm proud to say we've made some good strides in a little over a year of actual, work producing, existence and we're always looking to up the ante.
The current ThugZ line is expanding to include:
Mission X
ThugZ: OneShot
ThugZ: Community (an anthology)
ThugZ: UK
HoriZon will be expanding to include:
HoriZon: UNIVERSE
HoriZons (an anthology)
HoriZon: Faith
Centurians: The First 100.
Not to mention the current series we have out:
INFINITE PREVIEWS (available Now) An anthology featuring more from our stable of characters fans will see spinoff into their own titles down the line after their debut adventures in this book.
INFINITY_UPRISING PATHWAYS (Available Now) Our catalog of offerings ranging from comics to posters and merchandise."
Okay, so as I mentioned earlier, it's not entirely unlike other small press companies, which prompted me to wonder what made I_U different. Again, I defer to Doug to answer:
"I_u is different from the standpoint that we are DEDICATED to making it. We have seen the mistakes made by others and believe we have learned from them as well as utilizing our own experiences and knowledge of what works, what hasn't and what was not executed correctly.
I_u works on deadlines and we don't release a series until the series is ready. The only way to make it in ANY business is to treat it as such and love what you do. Comics is the same.
Mistakes will be made. I_u may bend along the way but we will not break. There is no going under.
We have numerous series and short stories in the works, but our intent is not to flood the market. Our plan is to build the titles above, allow the audience to grow and sprinkle new offerings among the path paving titles already out.
We have a very active website. Something is always going up in the galleries or the forums. We have just added an art site for those artists wanting to show their works around. We have over 10,000 hits on the site (actually nearing 11, 000 as I write this) in just over a year of the site being active (June 2004). Take a look by going out to: www.infinityuprising.com
Another difference lies in the creator-owned works we are also putting out from creators, not directly affiliated with I_u but we just HAD to be associated with their works ranging from Sci-Fi/Fantasy, to Horror, to Police drama.
The biggest difference is I_u is not haphazardly releasing titles. The majority of the titles coming from I_u are laying the ground work of the Infinity_Uprising Universe. Titles will have bearing to the overall framework of Infinity_Uprising. Creator-Owned titles don't necessarily fall into that category, but some will.
ThugZ, HoriZon, Under and the others to come will all take place in the I_u Universe in one facet or another. You may as well get in on the ground floor.
Coming Soon:
Under (Superheroes)
Metro (Superhero)
Kayla (Our fantasy title)
The Curse of Honor (Samurai miniseries)
Worlds (Creator Owned Title)
There is a plan and there will be surprises. There will be stories
told that you have not seen done.
Infinity_Uprising. Putting the FUN back in comics"
So I_U's claim to fame is that they are actually out there making it happen, which is the step many upstarts can't seem to make. Like other small yet successful companies, such as Ronin Studios (covered in this very column a few weeks ago), I_U has exceeded the planning stages and has put their money where their mouth is and published product after product. This is where you separate the wheat from the chaff.
So just how does I_U work? What kind of strategic, in-depth planning takes place behind the scenes?
"How I_u works is quite simple:
We begin with the idea and write it. Have it drawn, inked colored (where applicable) and lettered, all going by deadlines, then we send it to print. The bill is footed entirely by I_u...which is one reason we will NOT flood the market. Funds need to be spent wisely.
We're not genre limited either. We run the gamut from Science Fiction to Horror, Urban Action to Black/Psi-Ops, Fantasy to Far Future. And. yes, Super Heroes.
And I_u will always look out for those that have done right by us as we continue to grow.
Something is ALWAYS in the works at Infinity_Uprising Studios and Entertainment.
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL UPRISING!!!!" http://www.infinityuprising.com
So there you have it. Inifinity_Uprising simply makes it happen. And what exactly do they make happen? Let's take a look, shall we?
Following is a brief description of the titles available and upcoming from Infinity_Uprising and where to get the goods!
First of all, as mentioned by Doug, there are several genres represented at I_U, each representing unique storylines and "tales that will leave your head spinning".
URBAN ACTION-SCI-FI
Creator/Writer: Doug Bryan
Artist: Ryan T.
ThugZ is a tale of a group of urban residents operating in the real
world with a sprinkling of science fiction trappings all against the
backdrop of a Mob war on the Inner City streets.
Creator/Writer: Doug Bryan
Artist: Garrie Mukharwarman
They're Inner City's answer to the ThugZ Community. Badge, Madame X,
DeadEye and RedLine. Mission X is charged with cleaning out the
ThugZ infestation and handling some of the greater crimes plaguing
Inner City. If they are Inner City's "Ultimate Solution". then who
are the Stealth Justice Squad?
Creator/Writer/Artist/Letters: Ken Krekeler
Lost in a world he doesn't know...Hunted by a foe he doesn't understand.
Now, pursued by assassins who hunt him and a warlord who hates him, Quinn will make new enemies and new friends in an effort to get home... before it's too late.
SCI-FI/HORROR
Creator/Writer: Doug Bryan
Artist: Alessio Nocerino
Across years of despair...from an age yet to come, Xyla DeMarca travels to the year 2005 to prevent the origins of the tragedy known as 'Shade Zenith' in her home era of 5643AD. When the Daemon Realm opened, vomiting its foul Essences on the unwitting men, women and children of Earth on hour 23 of the 3rd day of the 5th month of the 5643rd year of Being, war was declared.
A lot can happen in 36 centuries. Whichever way you approach it from.
Creator/Writer: Doug Bryan
Artist: Harvey N. Bunda
What we don't know MAY hurt us. What we uncover...KILLS.
Sometimes NOT knowing is preferable to knowing the inevitable is just around the corner.
SUPERHEROES
Creator/Writer: Doug Bryan
Artist: Vince White
Five Government Supers go under deep cover into the heart of the maximum security villain containment facility known as "The Ice Palace" and attempt to live long enough to get out.
The deepest cover is your only security
Doug Bryan
Writer: Adrian Wilkins
Artist: Hany Khattab
He's possibly the most powerful man on the planet. He is prophesied to end it.
Destiny contested. One man's battle to make his own fate begins.
Creator/Writer: Doug Bryan
Artist: Dan Carreira/TBD
We all wish we could just get away at some point. Rob does. Right into the heart if his favorite video game.
It's Only A Video Game...Isn't it?
GOVERMENT OPS/PSI-FI
Writer/Creator: Keith Holmes
Artist: Andrea Coggiati
Heavily Funded, Super High Tech Psychics Seek Nightmare Creatures From Hell For Meaningful Revelation. Note: We're All Just A Little Unstable.
Creator: Doug Bryan
Writer: David Cunningham
Artist: TBD
Silhouette Angels are an Ultra secretive government Operations Unit. Beyond Black Ops, the Angels are UV Ops. Knowing of their existence serves as warrant enough to order EXTREME SANCTIONING of the violator. The identities of the Angels are one of the world's ultimate secrets.
Who then knows of the Angels? Who is connected enough to survive concerted efforts at unearthing his/her identity while attempting to eliminate the Angels? And is the enemy one of the Angels' own?
Creator/Writer: Matt Blissett
Artist: Rick Jaime
What if the world ended with a whimper? .
FANTASY
Creator/Writer: David Cunningham
Artist: Adriano Desideri
When the tyranny of a ruler goes too far, one person rises to stand against him. His daughter.
HORROR
Creator: Doug Bryan
Writer: Doug Bryan
Artists: Various (including Alberto
Silva, Paul Caprio and Emil Akiah)
A manual of Monsters, Mayhem and Madness. This comic-pedia is full of the creatures, aliens and in some cases technology that will plague the majority of the Infinity_Uprising universe. Also ncorporating short stories for some of the entries, this book will be sure to cause a more than a few NightMares.
Also, in 2006 look for Infinity_Uprising to be hitting the convention scene:
At the NY Con in February
At PittCon in Pittsburgh in April
At Heroes Con in North Carolina in June
"Iu Personnel will be at the above conventions and we are looking to add more appearances to our schedule.
And just in case you didn't catch their names before, here's a list of all the creators involved with Infinity_Uprising prefaced by a special thanks from Doug Bryan:
"We're really
blessed to work with the caliber of creators we have in-house right
now. We wouldn't be able to do ANY of this without their skillful
additions to I_u!"
ThugZ:
Writer: Doug Bryan
Artist: Ryan Tumaliuan
Letters: Bernie Lee
ThugZ: OneShot
Writer: Doug Bryan
Art/Colors: Rashad Doucet
Letters: TBD
ThugZ: Community
Writers: Adrian Wilkens, Keith Holmes, Sergio L and Tommy Hancock.
Artists: Sergio L., Richard Zajac, Ryan Smith, TBD and TBD
Letters: TBD
Mission X
Writer: Doug Bryan
Artist: TBD
Colors: TBD
Letters: TBD
HoriZon
Writer: Doug Bryan
Artist: Alessio Nocerino
Colors: LAB!
Letters: Bernie Lee
HoriZon: UNIVERSE
Writer: Doug Bryan
Artist, Colors: TBD
Letters: Michelle Fiorucci
HoriZons
Writers: Keith Holmes, Matt Blissett, Adrian Wilkens, Richard Pulfer
and Tommy Hancock
Artists: Wendell Cavalcanti, Carlos Alberto, Fritz, Adriano Desideri,
Eric Dima-ala and Stephen Holcomb
Colors: Andrew Hurst, Steve Beeny
Letters: Fritz, Brant Fowler and Michelle Fiorucci
HoriZon: FAITH
Writer: Keith Holmes
Art/Colors/Letters: TBD
Centurians: The First 100
Writer: Richard Pulfer
Art/Colors/Letters: TBD
Under
Writer: Doug Bryan
Artist: Patricio Sole
Colors: TBD
Letters: Michelle Fiorucci
Metro
Writer: Adrian Wilkens
Artist: John Dacosta
Inks: Carlos Alberto
Colors/Letters: Lula Borges
Kayla
Writer: David Cunningham
Artist: Adriano Desideri
Colors: Leif Giese
Letters: Bernie Lee
The Curse of Honor
Writer: C. William Russette
Artist: Dwayne Biddix
Inks: Chris Carpenter
Colors/Letters: TBD
Worlds (Creator Owned)
Writer/Artist/Colors/Letters: Ken Krekeler
Hat's off to Doug and the fine folks at Infinity_Uprising for fighting the good fight (fight...comics...heh...okay, that was lame) and daring to offer something different than the same old stuff for your hard earned ca$h.
Next week who knows what will happen? You'll just have to check in to find out, 'cause that's how I roll!
B.-Out
Brant W. Fowler / Writer, Letter, Creator, Reviewer, Columnist and Comic Related PR Coordinator
Brant W. Fowler has been a professional comic book letterer and logo designer for three years, and has been a freelance editor for the past five years. He has also worked with graphic design, writing and many other area of skills for several years honing his talents. You can learn all about what he's up to by visiting Gonzogoose
Design. Brant is also a member of the core
operations team at Comic Related.
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