Seven lucky little notes about the future of Pixelton:

1. Book one of “Pixelton and the Helmet of Infinite Win” will debut Fall 2010 on the iPad. It will be 200 pages of interactive story love. It is quite fun. More to come.
2. The platform needed to make this possible doesn’t exist – so Cubicle Ninjas and a talented partner made it. Best of all, we’re opening up this platform to all comic artists for free distribution of their content. More to come.
3. Free expansion packs for Pixelton will be released bi-monthly until the book is complete. These will be voted on here, so your ideas will impact the story. More to come.
4. WelcometoPixelton.com will be relaunching. It will host the full book online for free. It will be approximately 100,000 times better than this current site. Consider this the official relaunch. More to come.
5. This progressive WordPress 3.0 theme will be released for free so other comic artists can take advantage of its features. More to come.
6. A new animation will be released each week online before the WelcometoPixelton.com relaunch. More to come.
7. A print version of Book One will be released in 2011. More to come.

On June 15th I’ll reveal everything about the launch of the first Pixelton graphic novel. I hope you enjoy what you see.

Much more cool info to share. I’ll wait. Expect this site to be town down and reappear shortly in a different form will all of the details.

Dancing,
- Josh

So, how are things kiddos? 2009 is wheezing on her death bed, so I’m here to pay my respects. Unfortunately I have no cartoon to share today. Please accept this ASCII representation of a lobster as payment (blog formatting makes it look eerily like fallopian tubes though):

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(If you’d like a comic update please skip to the end.)

What an amazing year. Cubicle Ninjas, my design studio, is growing fast. Our recent print and web design clients now include Google, JP Morgan, Northern Trust, The Smithsonian, American Express, and Rutgers University (just to name a few of the last six months!). I wake up each day amazed at the wonderful opportunities we have a chance to be part of. We are doing work I’m very proud of, that also happens to be with kind, intelligent, and passionate clients. They care as much as we do about making something worthwhile.

And as Cubicle Ninjas has grown I’m (finally) finding joy in adding talented designers and developers to our team. Unfortunately it started out a bit rough as I spent most of the year firing people. After letting over six people go, learning lessons, and hiring even better ninjas, I can confidently say we have the foundation of an unstoppable team.

We even have an arcade cabinet (named Esther) to solve disputes. And if that doesn’t work the nerf guns and nerf swords on every desk ensure a minimum of office shooting sprees that don’t end in laughter.

“WHAT ABOUT THE ONLINE COMICS/ CHOOSE-YOUR-OWN-ADVENTURE-COMIC-BOOK?!!”

The graphic novel is moving forward. I keep writing more (which may be good or bad depending on your POV). What was originally the whole book is now the first act of three. Act one is crazy. Act two is insane, Act three is awesome. If this were a regular book I’d release Act one…but as a CYOA it needs to be one big book. I haven’t counted lately but I don’t think it can weigh in below 350 pages (with giant 12″ x 17″ pages and 34″ spreads!).

When will it be done? Who the heck knows. But I’m now confident that no one could have made this book except me. It is the thing that I am most proud of on this planet. As soon as I can I would love for you to taste it. My greatest fear is that I will die before I have a chance to finish it. If the Apple tablet comes out I may have to split into two chunks…

How about the online comics? Honestly, they aren’t looking possible until the book is done. After the book I’m only doing online comics. Sorry. You’ve all probably moved on and found better comics anywho.

So what else?

• In January I’ll be launching a comic art tutorial series of videos. It will document the progress of the Pixelton book alongside share everything I know about making comics.
• A new Pixelton animation has been added to the bonfire! It is by far the most technically intense. It was animated using frame by frame animation from within Adobe Illustrator that creates a lush style which is a mix between John K and a Kandinsky painting. Looking forward to releasing these!

That is all I’ve got to yammer about for the year. How about you? Murdered any archenemies? Hugged your way to Nirvana? Recreated an accurate representation of the new testament manger out of sporks? Or is it some wonderful combination of all three? BOW BEFORE OUR ZOMBIE SPORK MESSIAH!

Gentle but meaningful hugs,
- Josh

Progress is seen from 50,00 feet:

• All pages are now with balloons
• All pages are now lettered
• All pages are now extra funny
• Two animations done
• Two animations close to being done
• I’m hiring someone full-time who’s time will be spent on this book.

The bear is suspicious.

A step back:

• I’ve decided to add 150 more pages, nearly doubling the size of the book to 300 pages.
• I’ve rewritten the intro over 40 times.
• Two new animations started.
• A nearly complete game was lost when my computer crashed.
• I can’t solve for x.

The benefits of any creative project is that you’re never sure where you’ll end up. Had the bear and I began with a map the journey wouldn’t have been as fun. So we float.

I want to bring my “A+” game to online Pixelton comic and I can’t while doing the book. I want to bring my “A+” game to the cartoon video series and I can’t either. So, for the moment, both are on hold. Bummer. But I will be back. And then the focus will be completely online.

We’ll smile. And then I’ll offer you a ride with the bear, in the bathtub, above a city that you helped make.

If you’d like to receive an email when the book is ready I also have an email list going. Please subscribe if you’re tired of sad RSS posts.

Thanks so much,
- Josh

Announcement #1: DAILY COMICS ARE DEAD. I tried. No deadline anymore. I can’t keep them here.

Announcement #2: I’m finishing this story and we’ll go back to BIG COLOR PICTURES. YEAH! (Josh Engle of Chicken Baby Ninjas fame wrote a great article that pushed me over the edge. Thanks Josh. He also gave Pixelton an 85% which is higher then I would!)

Announcement #3: Once I get iPhoto 09 (tomorrow!) I’ll start up the weekly cartoon podcast. It will melt your eyes with joy beams. Posted here so stay tuned.

Announcement #4: The second Pixelton animation wrapped up this week. I’m shocked at the high quality talent I’ve been able to work with, and it has inspired me beyond words.

I personally have two animations, one claymation movie, and one new game I have in the works. Stay tuned

Thank you for sticking around. I promise you’ll enjoy where we go over the next year. Do you want to see these projects now or later? Let me know in the comments and your vote will decide!

The sound of one hand clapping,
- Josh

A giant glass of hot cocoa wishing you the best holidays imaginable. No, no, no - BETTER then your imagination. May your holidays blow your friggin mind with chestnuts and presents. I hope you recover from such a bitchin’ celebration…just in time to see the first weekly cartoon podcast next week.

Any fun plans? Any cool toys? Please share away in the comments. I realized all of my presents were meant for 5-year-olds including Triops, Magic Fun Flyers, and a sled. Race you to Florida!

Your snowy interfriend,
- Josh

Friday morning I turned on my computer but it never woke up.

The hard drive died. If my back-up was corrupt I’d lose everything. All of these web comic files, my two business’ files, and worst of all my upcoming graphic novel files. After the 55 hour restore time I came back and found Time Machine had made my computer good as new. Amazing.

So the lesson here is back-up often, use different methods, and always plan for failure. Backup now - the comics will wait.

Pixelton Hero: Ryan of bluboycomics.blogspot.com! I’ve mentioned before that for the most part I hate comics. Reading them makes me angry for a great art form which is wasted. But even being the cold, heartless bastard I am, I love BluBoy. Ryan is one of the few people who give me hope. Go Ryan Go!

Plugs #1! The Guest Strip Project raises money for the Make-a-Wish foundation. You visit, kids get their dream realized. Mike Rouse-Dean the creator works tirelessly to help others using comics. He is another shining example of good in this industry. Go there and make the world a better place. (And hey, I did a strip too!)

Plugs #2! Kidjutsu is a comic site geared for younger readers. It focuses on interesting stories that are also mom and dad approved. Brian from Kidjutsu was kind enough to pass along an invite, so Welcome to Pixelton also lives here for your viewing pleasure. Thanks Brian and best of luck with this exciting site!

Plugs #3! I’m now up on IsItFunnyToday.com. This means you can vote to tell others how funny this (or other) comics are. Brilliant idea and perfectly executed. If online comics are your thing, you need to bookmark this site. Please help spread the 8-bit hero love!

Oiled in hope/anchored in doubt,
- Josh

Hey you guy/girl on the internet. Thanks for reading and not doing something important instead!

Pixelton Hero: Mamacita! Technically my mom’s full name is “Mommy-shegomy-bologny-ladyman-the-supreme-zombie-chicken”. I’m not even joking. I called her this name each day for about ten years. She passed the endurance test and lived to see the ripe age of [age redacted for fear of retaliation]. Happy birthday mom!

As a special treat I’ve included a picture of my mom from the 80’s. Since this is a humor comic after all I’ve included one subtle addition. Can you spot it?

You could be a hero: Comment or I’ll be forced to worship the blank space that surrounds us all.

Tumbleweeds of fury,
- Josh

New to town? Enjoy a few comics.
Want to become a citizen? Free corndogs inside.

Pixelton Hero: Kyt from Millvexations.com! She appeared through the mist of Mill Ave to praise Kirby and Fil and then quietly vanish into the darkness. Beware Pixeltiers - she may compliment again.

I have a new sea friend and his name is Turritopsis nutricula. Oddly, these little fellows are nearly immortal as they can revert back and forth from their early form into a mature state. Since immortality is high on my personal to-do list I believe I’ve found a fair solution for both parties:

My life will now be devoted to teaching all that I know to these jelly warriors. Once I pass on they will propagate and spread my teachings. Soon the oceans will be a teaming mass of conspiracy theories and ideas for augmented animals in cartoon form. As their immortal kind evolves, they will grow arms and legs of infinite understanding inspired by my angry knowledge. Eventually they will be eaten by bears. The time is nigh!

Eggshell white,
- Josh

New? Read some colorful comics!
Not a member of the Happy Action Squad? Join now or not!
Looking for motivation or creativity advice? From me to you!
Or in a dark mood? Boy have I got a daily comic for you!

Make a comment and win your name on the next comic! Why does everything have to be an exclamation! WHY!

HELP ME! STOP THE TRAIN I WANT TO GET OFF! STOP THE ——

Exclamatory-ing in your expository,
- Josh

While I haven’t talked about the choose your own adventure Pixelton book for a few weeks, I’m thankful to say I can see how it came together now. I spent three years trying to create the best CYOA possible and I now know what I have, and it surpasses my hopes. Perspective is a nice thing.

Gasping for air underneath a mountain of stuffing,
- Josh

P.S. I ate the cheebear with some gravy. Delish!