Making Axe Cop had a big impact on me, not just professionally, but also on my entire view of the creative process. Before, I wanted to be some combination of Quentin Tarantino and Edgar Wright (which has its merits for sure. They are two of my favorite directors to this day), but when I saw that I had created something that dads and sons could both genuinely enjoy together, that was powerful to me. I wanted to keep making stuff like that.

My new project is called THIS BOOK MIGHT EXPLODE, and it’s being released by my new company, Explodey World. The book features comics, stories, cartoons, games, crafts, how-to-draw lessons, story writing exercises and more. It’s an omnibus of everything in the kids’ section at Barnes and Noble, created by me, my writing partner Eric, and a bunch of other artists and writers I have worked with over the years, including Doug TenNapel, Michael J. Nelson, Rich Werner, and many more. When I invite someone to work on this book, my one requirement is that they make the kind of thing they would have been thrilled to find in a big random book when they were kids.

Here are some of my contributions in this book. First, Corn Doug and Diggity Dog, about a dad who eats an over-microwaved Corn Dog and becomes a super corn dog, and he has a dog who is way cooler than him. I co-created Corn Doug with Eric Branscum. Part of the fun of Corn Doug is we leave little parts of the comics unfinished and ask kids to fill those spots in, whether it’s writing in dialogue for a character, coloring, or drawing something into the panel.

Up next is LEGION OF FLUFF. This is my comedy horror adveture for kids about two step-siblings whose plush toys come to life and become giant monster fighters, which is good because their apartment complex is being attacked by a horde of goblins. This is an ongoing story with a few new chapters in each edition of This Book Might Explode.

I also write and illustrate a short story in every book that is a true story from my life, like the time I sucked all the ink out of a pen during a science test, or the time I got my head stuck in a door and peed myself.

I’m also doing the illustrations for Eric Branscum’s awesome Roald Dahl-esque Fish Can Talk And Always Could.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg. I have funny safety guides for kids that I created with Frank J. Fleming, similar to those in my book Bears Want to Kill You. Not to mention the other amazing comics and stories by our other contributors.

The book comes out every other month. It’s big, thick, and colorful. It’s like a super-premium magazine subscription made by a farmer’s market of the greatest indie creators in kids’ entertainment. I’m very proud of it, and I have yet to meet a kid who didn’t love it.

So if you have kids in your life, please give it a try. This Book Might Explode not only entertains your kids, but it also introduces them to the creative process and invites them to be a part of it.

Emerald City Comic Con is the first Con I have done in years! It’s a special year for me because the book I have been working on with the Make a Wish Foundation and one incredibly creative young man is finally done! I will be attending ECCC Friday afternoon through Saturday. I will not be there Thursday or Sunday due to limitations in my own schedule and flight availability. As this kind old gentleman is pointing out for you, I will be at booth C14. (For reference that is right between C13 and C15).

Here are some of the things you can get from me at ECCC. These are exclusives for this con:

PRINTS

Axe Cop 11×17 Space Needle print by Ethan Nicolle and Brynn Metheney

This was the cover of issue #2 of the President of the World miniseries. It has never been sold as a print and I decided it was high time it was.

$20. Only 25 available

Bearmageddon Cover Painting

This will be the cover of the spanish edition of Bearmageddon. It’s pretty sweet. This is my first fully painted cover, done without help from any other artists. I made a special version for ECCC with the Space Needle on the skyline.

$17.50. Only 25 available

COLORING FUN KITS!

I’m kind of ridiculously excited about these. I have never sold anything like this before, but there is 12 pages of art, crayons, a Wexter or Octobear sticker and a lollipop in each one. You can pay extra to get a custom coloring page drawn by me at the Con if you choose.

$10. Only 25 Available

Sticker Sets!

These have never been available before. I’m going to test them out at the show and see how they do. The Axe Cop ones are from the very first limited edition screen print I sold a long time ago back when Axe Cop first came out. It’s like classic Axe Cop art. NOTE: These will be available if they get done in time

Bears of the Apocalypse

Axe Cop Classic Bad Guys

Axe Cop Classic Good Guys

I will also have Time Wreckers posters to give out. Time Wreckers is the big book I worked on with the Make a Wish Foundation. We will be doing a panel about it on Saturday evening. The book took 3 years and 50 artists, but it’s done! I’m really excited to hand the finished product off to Noah. 

Besides all that, I will be taking commissions in sumi ink. Feel free to email me if you want to put an order in. I will also have all the Axe Cop volumes and a few copies of the cancelled Bearmageddon printed editions and a few Dickinson Killdeer’s Guide to Bears of the Apocalypse. I will also have the limited edition Axe Cop Songster Screen Prints.

I love to work with you on price and am happy to bundle stuff up at a reduced cost.

That should pretty well cover my little table. I hope you’ll come see me. Patreon members be sure to check the Patreon blog or secret Facebook group for our meet up. 

And please remember, I will be there Friday afternoon until Saturday night. I will not be there Thursday or Sunday.

See you there!

Ethan

My new online store is here! You can buy original art, prints, books and there are a bunch of new shirt designs. Check out this video for a quick intro or go ahead and dive in by clicking the Axe Bear below.

Hey everyone in Bear country, Duran’s here again to bring you another fantastical webcomic review! This week’s selection is the amazeballs webcomic simply called NHOJ by the stupendously talented creator simply referring to himself as John Cullen. It’s a quirky daily comic that makes me think of the fantastically weird and hilarious The Far Side comics by Gary Larson.

It’s amazing that he’s been doing this comic DAILY for almost 3 years! His dailies (incorporating everything from journal comics to absurdist humor, to riffs on pop culture), since January 2014. That takes serious dedication! One has to admire the time and the effort he put into this labor of love. It’s an amazing accomplishment that should be applauded. Each comic has the same high-quality visuals, lettering, and sardonic humor. I must say, I want whatever high-energy protein bars he’s been taking!

READ MORE AT BEARMAGEDDON.COM

Rising Sands is a webcomic series by Ty Dunitz and Jenn Lee. With luminescent artwork and multi-layered storytelling. This looks to become a solid classic and obligatory reading material if it isn’t already.

The story centers around two well-intentioned hustlers who live in the outskirts of Ras Huran which is a port city in a world named Erj. The youngest is a witty and resourceful 13-year-old female Sylph named Dal. Dal ran away from her family to survive out on her own in the hustle and bustle life of the shanty and crowded port city. She survives by thieving and hustling through the local markets. Her friend and protector, Qebrus is the muscle of the two. He believes if he collects enough wealth (gold and glass being of value), he can make it to a heavenly afterlife and become one with the Luminous Body cult. READ MORE AT BEARMAGEDDON.COM