SPAKOW!
ACTION/ADVENTURE IN THE PULP TRADITION!
WHAT IS SPAKOW?
SPAKOW!:
noun:
the sound effect of bullets bouncing off of metal.
noun:
A magazine of pure comics fun keeping Jamie Jones protected from the burnout that comes from making stuff for a living.
ACTION ADVENTURE IN THE PULP TRADITION!
I like pulp. The the feel of the books in my hands, the types of stories told, the melodrama. AH, the melodrama! I think I think in pulp. When I dream it’s for the pulps. I hitched my wagon to the “old stuff” pretty early on in my career. And I like the old stuff.
I wear my influences on my sleeve. Will Eisner, Jack Cole, Milton Caniff, Mike Mignola. The list goes on and on… When I was younger I would ape and study these creators, doing poor versions of the characters and stories I loved. But, there was a huge shift, not only in the works I was making, but the response I received from my audience when I shifted my creative intent from trying to make stories like my idols to having a conversation with them. The tropes that are built in those old pulp stories are some of my favorite things: pirates, dog fights, swashbucklers. When sitting down to write a story I’m not playing at a take or a riff on the elements of pulp, I’m writing in earnest. Attempting to write something that could have been a contemporary of my favorites, but still writing for a modern audience. Because at the end of the day, story is story. Pulp is pulp.
Like the conversations I have with past artists through my own work, I continue to grow and change my way of thinking about the work I make. Evolving my perception of what pulp means today. I hope to, through the pages of SPAKOW!, make something that will stand on its own as a of work pulp.
STORY BEGETS STORY, IDEA BEGETS IDEA.
At the time I am writing this, two issues of SPAKOW! are out in the world. Issue 3 is slated for the next month and I am deep into writing issues 4 and 5. Crazy how this one creative project has rekindled the fire within me and made me want to create again.
I used to have this fear that I would never have the next idea. Or that the idea that I had was super precious. Then I started creating The Baboon and I had so much that I started combining stories. And then the world got bigger and I wanted to do spin-off stories. And then I had a bunch of those stories. The machine just kept pumping out ideas. They needed a place to go. Enter SPAKOW!
Now, I’m even enlisting the work of other creators to bring some stories to life. SPAKOW! is the place that I feel I can finally cultivate and showcase talent that I enjoy. I like old comics, but guess what gang? I read a love a ton of new creator owned comics too. And I’m friends with those people and I want to make stuff with them! MAHDI KHENE supplied us with art for a story in issue 2 and in issue 3 ANTHONY BARABRA is featured and my friend, OREN MORGAN debuts with a Wizard Cowboy story he wrote. It’s exciting times!
WHY BECOME A PAID SUBCRIBER?
For $5 a month you’ll get access to the magazine as it’s being made. And there will be some behind the scenes talk, process essays and musings. Plus, subscriber exclusive goodies once the book is printed.
Oh and did I mention that paid subscribers get the printed magazine mailed to you? You like mail, I know you do! The price break down of quarterly SPAKOW! comes out to $15 so, supporting the book early, basically gets you free shipping and my undying gratitude.
ADVERTISING OPPERTUNITIES
SPAKOW! is now selling ad space! I never thought this would be a thing but it’s an integral part of making a Magazine work. If you have a business, or a comic, a wedding proposal… or anything really that you would like advertise and show off SPAKOW! is the place to do it! Our breakdown is pretty simple and we would love to hear from you!
I really hope you join me in making this Magazine.
I’m having a ton of fun and wanting to make this project my only project is the dream. I think it’s pretty do able too. So, here’s to making more stuff, here’s to SPAKOW!
wonderful stuff, Jamie!