Happy New Year!
2026 is just around the corner, and I want to go through everything coming this year from Pesto Comics.
Today is going to be a longer post (I know, it’s always a long post with me, and that is something I’m working on.)
There are so many cool projects coming in 2026, many of which are just waiting to be released. But first, I want to get into some changes regarding how Pesto Comics runs and how we are going to handle the business side of things in 2026.
Newsletter Update!
Starting next week, I’m going to shift this newsletter to Thursday. It’s a small shift, but will make my workflow a lot easier as Wednesdays have become a little crowded.
Business Changes
Comics Only Going Forward (on Kickstarter)
What is the first big change? We are going to focus on comics here on out.
Now, if you are new here, you might be wondering:
“Does Pesto Comics do things outside of comics?”
Yes. That has always been true.
We’ve been doing Big Smoke Pulp, a collection of short stories from authors all over the world, and that series does really well.
However, I’m rethinking it. Not just because mixing books and comics can be confusing, but because we have so many projects coming in 2026 that we are running out of space to do all the campaigns we want.
Prose books are going to take a different route, and Kickstarter will be exclusively for our comics.
Double the Comics Per Campaign
The new strategy for 2026 is double shipping campaigns.
This won’t be for every project, but you may have noticed with our newest project, Snip, that we are doing issues #1 and #2 together. We want to get this series out as quickly as possible.
The reason for that?
We’ll share the full details in mid-January, but the main point is that there are so many books waiting in the backlog plus we want to give you more for your money. This saves on shipping for you, meaning you get more comics in your hands for less postage cost. Shipping has been a concern for a while, so this benefits backers while helping us clear our inventory faster.
Double the Campaigns
We aren’t just doubling the content per campaign; we are doubling the amount of campaigns.
Last year we ran six campaigns. Those went well, but there were gaps and learning experiences.
This year, we are focusing on becoming a well-oiled machine. Each campaign will run for 23 days, and then five days later, we will launch the next campaign.
These campaigns are going to be hitting you fast and furious throughout the year, with a break in December as usual.
Help with Fulfillment
To make this happen requires pre-planning, but most importantly, help. I can’t physically run, fulfill, and manage all these campaigns alone.
We will be working with a third-party shipper. We are still finalizing who that will be, testing candidates to see who can get comics to you in the best condition possible.
If you are in the US, this means you will get comics straight from the fulfiller. You won’t have to wait for me to pack them or for them to cross the Canadian border. This solves a lot of problems, including allowing for Media Mail shipping (something not available to us Canadians).
More than Comics
I haven’t abandoned prose books entirely. We still plan to launch Backlot Babylon and Switch/Restart this year. However, we won’t do it via crowdfunding.
Instead, we are going where the readers are. We will be launching on Amazon, Kobo, Apple Books, Google Books, and ensuring audiobooks are available. The goal is that if you are into the literary side of things, you can find those books easily without depending on a Kickstarter timeline.
Less Focus on Conventions
I’ve really been pushing through the convention circuit lately, trying to table everywhere. I’m going to slow that down in 2026.
I already have tickets for San Diego, so I’ll be there.
I go to Fan Expo every year, though likely just for a day or two unless we land a table.
Generally speaking, I’m not looking to table at most conventions. I will apply for panels and try to do live editions of the Instant Ink Comic Book Podcast, but the focus right now is getting books into your hands. I want to spend less time sitting at a table and more time writing.
Focusing on the Back End
How am I going to juggle all of this? A lot comes down to project management—applying what I learned in my corporate day job to Pesto Comics.
I am treating this as my full-time job. I still have a day job, but I’m putting as much effort into the back end—the boring business stuff—as I do the creative front end.
A Huge Announcement... in January
I keep hinting at it, but there is one huge announcement coming at the end of January. I’ll be talking about it a lot from then through May. It’s a big thing, so enjoy the mystery now before you get tired of hearing about it!
The Comics of 2026
Now the meat and potatoes. Here are the comic projects you can expect this year…
Snip #1-2
This is the book we are launching in January. It’s written by me with art by Riccardo Faccini and color help by JP Jordan. We are already receiving pages for Issue #2. It’s a fun project I’ve wanted to do for a long time, and Riccardo is the perfect artist for it.
Crimson Frontier 1 & 2
This is a new miniseries with From Parts Unknown artist Daniel Caval.
It’s a western set on Mars about a rancher who has her life turned upside down by colonizers. She has to assemble a group of humans and Martians to fight back. Daniel draws fast, so expect this in Early 2026.
Naked Kaiju Woman #3 & 4
Rafael has been hard at work. He should be done with all the pages for issue #3 shortly. The plan is to have issue #3 out in the Spring and issue #4 to cap off the year—similar to how we released issues #1 and #2.
Prime Cut #1-2
This is a thriller about a former mafia enforcer trying to start a new life until his past catches up with him. It features art by Nate Walkington (From Parts Unknown #3 ‘bloodsoaked’ variant cover). The art looks slick, and this one is slated for Summer 2026.
Untitled Series w/ Mattia Monaco
Mattia just had a baby, which changed our timeline, but he is putting together incredible pages (inks and colors). Originally, this was a pitch package, but we’re considering pulling it in-house. More to come soon.
Untitled Mini-Series w/ Roberto Viacava
Roberto and I are finally doing a Pesto Comics book together! It’s a Sword and Sorcery story I’ve had in mind for a long time. His painterly style fits the vibe perfectly. We hope to get this out by Fall 2026.
The Books (Prose)
Switch/Restart
This sci-fi thriller novella has taken a backseat while I rework the release strategy. It doesn’t quite fit with Backlot Babylon, so I’m deciding if it should go wide or stay as a crowdfunding project.
Backlot Babylon
This is my main focus for prose—a historical fiction thriller series starring Leo Lucas. The first book should arrive in Fall 2026. I am writing way ahead (working on The Price of Fame and Cult of Glamour) to ensure a regular release schedule on Amazon/Kobo.
Other Projects
The Trading Card Game: Bite the Dirt, a TCG developed with Danon Hennessy from Dice and Development, is coming in 2026.
Social Media: Expect more “proper” Shorts on YouTube. I want to talk about indie & mainstream comics I’m backing and enjoying, not just my own work.
Let’s Do 2026 Right!
2026 feels overwhelming, but I’m not burnt out—I’m excited. I have been planning this since August.
If you are reading this in 2026: Welcome to the new year!
Whatever bad feelings you had in 2025, leave them there. Let’s have a good time.
Until next time!
Super Secret Epilogue: Too Early to Talk About
If you’re reading this, you’re getting just a taste of what’s in the full video - including art previews. See that at 18:48 onward, including…
Switch/Restart Rework: I am struggling with the “why” of this book. Is it a reader magnet? A wide release? I want printed copies for conventions (however few I may go to in the future), but I need to figure out the best path.
From Parts Unknown II: I have the sequel roughly outlined. It would be a 5 or 6-part series taking place after the first book. This is likely a 2027 project.
The FIVE Comic Strips: I have five different comic strip series written and ready. I’m stubborn and want to draw them myself, but I may eventually hire an artist just to get them out there on Webtoon/Tapas - and here on Substack.
Literary Graphic Novels: I have ideas for two semi-autobiographical, literary-style graphic novels. These would be more subdued than my usual pulp action comics. Ideally, I can take advantage of a grant to get these made without worrying about crowdfunding.
Backlot Babylon - a Long-Term Project: I have about 15 books roughly outlined for this series. The goal is to build a massive Michael Connelly “Bosch”-style series where the characters age in real-time.
Anything look exciting to you? Let me know in the comments!
They’re open for all once again!
