Bastard Road

Funny Bones

2011-10-25T06:31:00.000-07:00

Michael Anderson is a fantastic, OKC-based illustrator and newfound Bastard fan who’s working with Brian on a teen/spy/action/musical graphic novel (you read that right). He recently surprised Team Bastard with this insane pin-up. Poor, poor miniachi.

BOURBON AND RAW EGGS!

2011-09-01T07:27:00.001-07:00

The best part of San Diego Comic-Con is meeting new friends in the industry and introducing them to gory glory of Bastard Road. This year I was excited to meet Shane & Chris Houghton, the sibling masterminds behind the new Image Comics series Reed Gunther.

In many ways, Reed Gunther is kind of an all-ages Bastard Road: a non-sequiter spouting protagonist and his exasperated pal (who’s actually the brains of the outfit) encountering dangers like giant rattlesnakes and zombies as they traverse the barren countryside. There’s also a flannel-clad potential love interest!

So I was thrilled to meet the guys and they quickly became fans of Bastard. Here’s a pic of them checking out some top secret goods on the iPad:

So when I mentioned that Dave & I are working on stories for Bastard Road Volume I and we’d lined up pals like Andy Suriano, Dan McDaid, Rob Guillory and Jeffrey Brown for pin-ups, Chris asked if he could do one as well. Little did I know that he’d bang something so awesome out so quickly:
Wow.

Chris sent it with this message: “Hope you don’t mind that I blew the boys up.”

When it looks this good, Chris, you can do anything you want with Bastard & Farel.

Now all we need to do is find the right publisher who wants to help us share Bastard with the world.

Thanks, Chris & Shane! Everybody else, go buy Reed Gunther at your local comic shop right now!

-Brian

Harvey Comics

2011-07-04T13:58:00.000-07:00

The phenomenal comics achievement known as Popgun volume 4 — home to two Bastard Road comics stories — has been nominated for two 2011 Harvey Awards! To celebrate, we’re sharing the entirety of the first tale in Popgun 4: “Elle Hath Fury!” Enjoy!

Congratulations to editors D.J. Kirkbride, Adam P. Knave, Anthony Go Wu, Joe Keatinge, Mark Andrew Smith, Image Comics and everyone else responsible for the crapdamn awesomeness of Popgun 4!

Luke the Farel Boy

2010-09-10T15:39:00.000-07:00

Our pal Luke Gaither illustrated a kickass Farel to accompany the Bastard he graced us with a while back. We think he really captured Farel the badass in this one (he’s not all about eating tacos and avoiding trouble). Thanks, Luke!

Andy Suriano!

2010-08-15T21:46:00.000-07:00

Hi guys, the mega-talented Andy Suriano hooked us up with a sexy Bastard pic, and he graciously gave me permission to color and post it at the blog.

What a drawing- you can really feel the Miniachi-smashing power in Bastard's gesture! Awesome. You can check out Andy's blog (and purchase his studly sketchbook) at the aptly named http://andyupdates.blogspot.com/ .

In other news- Comic Con was a blast, Brian was able to connect with all kinds of excellent creatives and fans, we won %2.87 of an Eisner award for Bastard's appearance in Popgun, and we've got good things happening outside of the printed page.

It should be an interesting Winter for Bastard and Farel!

Hooper Scooper

2010-03-29T21:25:00.000-07:00

Behold, Bastard & Farel as you’ve never seen them before, thanks to Raven Software effects artist Fred Hooper! Click the image to check out his DeviantArt site. Thanks for the awesome art, Fred!

Meet “Good Baby” Scales!

2010-02-26T09:07:00.001-08:00

He’s a cold-blooded bounty hunter (he’s a lizard…what do you expect?) who’s friends of our post-apocalyptic pals Bastard & Farel. But friendship has a price. Find out more by reading “This Bludz For You!” in Image Comics’ Popgun volume 4, on sale now!

Meet Elle Natural!

2010-02-26T09:01:00.000-08:00

She’s the sexy last logger of the post-apocalypse and she’s just caught Bastard’s eye. How will she react to our protagonist’s pitching of the woo? Find out by reading “Elle Hath Fury!” in Image Comics’ Popgun volume 4, on sale now!

KER-POW!

2010-02-24T14:53:00.000-08:00

Our pals at the Oklahoma Gazette (Metro OKC’s Independent Weekly) gave Popgun Friday at New World Comics a great write-up (though, since it was from an interview with Brian, we don’t want to ever downplay Dave’s massiveness in all that is Bastard Road). Thanks for the Bastard love, guys!

2010-02-19T11:29:00.000-08:00

Click the logo above for the announcement on Boing Boing, “A Directory of Wonderful Things,” of the release and signings for Image Comics’ Popgun Volume 4. Amongst the listed contributing luminaries such as Ben Templesmith, Erik Larsen and Jeffrey Brown you’ll find the names of your favorite Bastard Road co-creators! Big Bastard thanks to Scott De Las Casas & Mark Frauenfelder for the shout-out!

The Champagne of the Post-Apocalypse!

2010-02-16T15:18:00.001-08:00

We've decided that delicious Miller High Life will be the Unofficial Beer of Popgun Friday™. Why? Well, it's got a Bastard Road-esque color palette (though we won't have the special camo-edition can as pictured above), it's smooth, it's masculine, and it's affordable.

We're still on the hunt for an Official Food Sponsor of Popgun Friday — we'll make do if we can't make a deal with a local proprietor of deliciousness.

See you next Friday!

THANK GOD IT'S POPGUN!

2010-02-08T15:40:00.000-08:00

The official BASTARD ROAD celebration for the release of POPGUN volume 4 will be Friday, February 26, 2010 from 5:00pm-9:00pm at New World Comics!

Brian & guest-artist Eric Sandhop will be signing and sketching (well, Eric will sketch - Brian may attempt to perfect a Bastard head over the next 2 1/2 weeks just in case), there'll be food & drink (since we're on a budget we're hoping to make a trade deal for food) and, if all goes according to plan, Brian will talk to Ferris O'Brien on THE SPY the week before the event!

New World is located at 6219 N. Meridian Ave. If you're a fan in OKC, join us for POPGUN FRIDAY and call 405-721-7634 to reserve your copy!

POPGUN 4 PIMPAGE #1

2010-01-29T11:34:00.000-08:00

Our pal Popgun editor D.J. Kirkbride shares some Bastard love in his interview with Geekweek.com!

CARRETERA BASTARDA!

2010-01-29T09:35:00.000-08:00

At long last - evidence of our European debut! Ricardo at dibbuks sent us copies of El Manglar #11 featuring the fully-translated first CARRETERA BASTARDA story (AKA "Bastard Road")! It's a gorgeous, oversized, squarebound anthology with wonderful work from what looks to be mostly Spanish artists, the superstar French team Dupuy et Berberian and two ugly Americans: Dave & Brian. Check us out on the cover credit block:

We can't wait to see more Spanish adventures of "Carretera Bastarda!"

-Brian

Four-Letter Words

2009-12-02T13:12:00.000-08:00

February, 2010. That’s when the long-awaited Popgun 4 drops and 28 pages of Bastardy goodness are unleashed upon an unsuspecting public. Dave’s story “Elle Hath Fury” runs 16 pages while our pal Eric Sandhop’s “This Bludz For You” is a tight 12. Plus, Dave created additional art for the book featuring his solo creation, the low-rent demigod “Wamgud!” soon to re-appear in the next Bastard tale we’re cooking up right now! And here’s our promotional banner for the book:

The Road to Barcelona

2009-12-02T13:03:00.000-08:00

Bastard Road is international! We’ll soon be receiving our copies of Dibbuks’ EL MANGLAR #11, featuring the Spanish language debut of our story in Popgun 2: “Bastard Road,” (aka “Carnage Asada”). Here’s what “Carretera bastarda” looks like en Español:

Big thanks to our amigo Ricardo Esteban for including us in El Manglar. We’re the first American comic artists who’ve been personally invited to appear in the publication and it’s a huge honor. Coming up: “Cockfighter Blues” in Spanish! Ay yi yi!

Introducing…SAVAGE BASTARD!

2009-09-14T12:55:00.000-07:00

Attention BASTARD ROAD fans. Run out to your local comic book establishment and buy this book:
Why, you ask? For a rollicking SAVAGE DRAGON adventure, of course! But there’s more! Once you’ve finished absorbing all the Erik Larsen madness you can handle, turn to the back cover to witness this:
That’s right! Dragon vs. Bastard, courtesy of Dave. Erik promised to run the image in the book when it was given to him at San Diego Comic-Con…little did we know he’d give us the back cover! Will this be the last word in Dragon & Bastard existing together? Keep checking in and we’ll let you know! Many thanks to Mr. Erik Larsen for giving us this great opportunity, and Scott De Las Casas for greasin’ the wheels.

SDCC 2009 #1 - Finally!

2009-09-14T12:45:00.000-07:00

In the first of many long-in-the-gestating updates, here’s a list of comic creators who, for at least a minute or two, possessed BASTARD ROAD swag at San Diego Comic-Con 2009, with a specific shout-out to John Layman & Rob Guillory, creators of the supermegahit CHEW. Quoth John: “Tell me what I can do to make Bastard Road its own comic.”

Erik Larsen
Mike Allred
John Layman
Rob Guillory
Tyrese Gibson
Seth
Sterling Gates
Jamal Igle
CS Jennings
Duncan Rouleau
Joe Kelly
Steven Seagle
Jeffrey Brown
Greg Rucka
Gabriel Hardman
Clayton Moore
Arthur Suydam
Glen Brunswick
Robert Kirkman
Mark Waid
Matt Gagnon
Joe Keatinge
Derek McCulloch
Jimmie Robinson
Matteo Scalera
Eric Powell

Luke It Out!

2009-09-14T12:42:00.000-07:00

Introducing a kick-ass piece of art from BASTARD fan Luke Gaither. Thanks for the Bastard love, Luke! Keep rockin’ it!

Bastard at Comic-con!

2009-07-24T14:31:00.000-07:00

Howdy gang, a quick update! Brian is in lovely California talking about the big red Bastard, and meeting a ton of cool, friendly people. Meanwhile I am in Wisconsin and I ate some cheese. So I've got that going for me. Here's some artwork from Popgun 4 to whet your appetites! Who could be smashing Bastard so thoroughly?

Enter Sandhop!

2009-06-23T15:38:00.001-07:00

So what’s the big news we’ve mentioned far too long ago? Only this: the upcoming POPGUN volume 4 will feature TWO tales from the Bastard Road! Dave’s busy putting the finishing touches on sixteen pages of Bastard kickassery entitled “Elle Hath Fury!” while our pal Eric Sandhop joins Team Bastard® for the twelve-page, Farel-centric tale: “This Bludz For You!” Twenty-eight pages of awesome in the undoubtedly legendary POPGUN volume 4, out late 2009/early 2010!

The art above is an early take from Eric on our pals Bastard & Farel. He’s refined their look for the comic, so expect a fresh visual take on the unlimited potential of The Bastardverse!

Look Who’s Talkin’!

2009-05-21T14:51:00.000-07:00

Rob at “Talkin’ ’Bout Comics” has read “Cockfighter Blues,” and proclaims it funny x3!

“I said of a previous Bastard Road from a previous popgun, that I didn't want to like it, but it grew on me. This one has the benefit of it having already grown on me, as well as the fact that it is extremely funny, with exceptionally distinctive and humorous art. This comic is filled with as many penis and vagina references as you can fit into one comic without actually talking about penises or vaginas. If this took itself seriously for a second, none of it would be funny, but everything about it is tuned to make it work. Very funny stuff.

Addiction & Subtraction

2009-04-20T10:46:00.000-07:00

Chris Partin with The Comic Addiction judges “Cockfighter Blues” and finds us lacking. 6 out of 10. Fair enough…we can see where 14 pages of awesomely-illustrated cock jokes may not be the full meal deal for everyone. Here’s hoping Chris digs up Popgun volume 2 to see where our tale began and finds the stories in the upcoming Popgun volume 4 to be of a meatier consistency.

Golden Graeme’s Shower of Interview Questions

2009-04-13T09:53:00.000-07:00

Graeme Flory interviewed Dave & Brian (along with Popgun’s D.J. & Adam and fellow contributors Derek McCullough, Guillaume Singelin and Peter Krause) for his Fantasy Book Review Blog. Check it out here!

International Velvet

2009-04-08T11:59:00.000-07:00

Our pal Adam P. Knave talks to Jeff Lester about Popgun 3 and dreams about Bastard, velvet and a huge black cock.

The Daily Show

2009-04-08T11:47:00.000-07:00

Osizimete Aken'Ova from the OU Daily interviewed Brian about his inspiration for Bastard Road.

Skeevy “Wonder”

2009-04-03T11:34:00.000-07:00

Our new friend Daniel Crown at Wonderchroma interviewed Dave & Brian about our “...unrepentantly filthy…frightening debauchery…” What resulted was a fairly insightful exploration of the personal origins of the comedic sensibilities behind Bastard Road at a cool, new, pop culture site that everyone should immediately bookmark. Thanks, Daniel!

“Rooster” Gold

2009-04-03T09:01:00.000-07:00

Matthew Price interviews Brian about Popgun 3 in today’s edition of The Oklahoman. Amazingly, this most conservative newspaper allowed the word “Bastard” fourteen times within one article. Kudos to our pal Matt for getting us in - we’re not yet sure if Brian will be allowed to pollute his NerdAge podcast with multiple “uh”s like he did for Popgun 2.

(Photo courtesy Brian’s father-in-law’s iPhone)

Wham Bam Thank You, Graeme!

2009-03-27T22:27:00.000-07:00

The first review of Popgun 3 has appeared at Graeme’s Fantasy Book Review and not only does Graeme love the book (with a 9 out of 10 rating), but he loves Bastard Road, too, saying “I laughed out loud (and sniggered like a schoolboy).”

He neglected to credit Dave in his review so I made sure to correct that in his comments.

More reviews to come. Stay tuned!

See BR in CBR!

2009-03-23T14:39:00.000-07:00

Our handsome, virile Popgun editors Mark Andrew Smith and D.J. Kirkbride give Dave, Brian & Bastard a shout-out, and display the handsome mini-poster that acts as the intro to our new story, at Comic Book Resources.

Looks like the book’s been pushed to Wednesday, April 8, 2009, thereby giving us one more week to get the Bastard Road pimpage going. Expect more buzz ’round these parts in the next 2 weeks as we gear up for the well-worth-the-wait release of Image Comics’ graphic mixtape, Popgun volume 3!

And while you wait, go ahead and pick up Mark’s new book The New Brighton Archeological Society. Good times!

The Knave & The Bold

2009-03-09T15:38:00.000-07:00

Long time no see, Friends o' Bastard! We've got a lot of news we'll be unleashing on a regular basis, and first off, here's a link to a great interview our pal Adam P. Knave just gave Comicon's PULSE about the upcoming PopGun volume 3.

APK has some awesome stuff to say, so make sure you read the whole interview (he's a clever, charming bastard), but here's our favorite quote:

“…I have to mention this all the time, BASTARD ROAD. Dave Curd's art and Brian Winkeler's writing merge to form mighty things - I am never supposed to admit favorites, and I won't REALLY, but if BASTARD ROAD doesn't become some hit book/video game/movie I will be surprised.”

Bastard's face would be totally red if it weren't already totally red.

So check out the interview, order your copy of PopGun volume 3 (in stores April 1, 2009), and, while you're at it, buy all of Adam's books on Amazon.

Keep your eyes here for the long-promised big news, now even bigger!

2009: The Year of the Bastard!

2009-01-12T21:49:00.000-08:00

Set your calendars for March 29, 2009. That's when PopGun volume 3, featuring the second comic book adventure of your pals Bastard & Farel, drops from Image Comics. So go to your local comic book store, hammer the counter with your fist and shout, "Make Mine PopGun!" And then tell them to order the book for you because otherwise you won't be making any sense.

Coming soon: THE BIGGEST BASTARD ROAD NEWS YOU'LL EVER READ!!!
(until the next big Bastard Road announcement).

Now in color!

2008-11-18T22:50:00.000-08:00

Brian and I just wrapped up the next Bastard Road 13 pager (appearing in popgun 3), so as a little tease I wanted to post the colored version of the previous image.

More soon! =)

This ones gonna be gross!

2008-11-05T18:39:00.001-08:00

Hey guys, we are wrapping up our next Bastard story for Popgun 3, and Brian asked me to share some of the B+W line work. The work he suggested was a pretty good money shot, so I kinda wanted to save it for the big reveal, so in the mean time, here's Bastard trying to get a handle on a big, angry cock!

WE HAVE A WINNAH!

2008-11-05T18:29:00.000-08:00

File under "Better late than never". We've got a winner for our first contest! Red Chuck's suggestion: Carnage Asada, proves he is an ultimo amigo after our own hearts! We really dug all of the entries, and decision came only after much heated debate. So look out Chuck, you've got the pictured print (11x14) coming in the mail, and in the next BR collection, we will use your sexy, sexy title.

Thanks for playing everyone!

Black & White & Red All Over

2008-08-17T19:06:00.000-07:00

Bastard Road continues its media domination with a sizeable article in the Friday, August 15, 2008 issue of the Oklahoman, online here. Big thanks again to Matt Price for showin' us the love.

Bastard in the Gutters

2008-08-11T15:20:00.001-07:00

Bastard Road gets some love (or at least a mention) from Rich Johnston in this week's "Lying in the Gutters." It's near the bottom, just a few lines underneath the sexy lingerie ladies, AKA, exactly where it should be. Thanks, Rich!

Friend Farel.

2008-08-09T10:54:00.000-07:00

Whadda Pal!

Brian talks "Bastard," says "Uh"

2008-08-08T11:53:00.000-07:00

Check out my interview with Matt Price for The Oklahoman's comics blog.

Brian's gonna work on butching up his voice if future vocal promotional opportunities present themselves.

And the reviews have begun!

2008-08-05T00:05:00.001-07:00

And the reviews have begun!

From eyeoncomics.com
"Popgun Volume Two trade paperback (Image Comics)
by various creators

This volume is self-described as “a graphic mix tape,” and given the hip quality of a good deal of the material, it’s a fitting description. This is the second go around for this anthology book, which boasts no central theme. There’s plenty of strong, entertaining material to be found in this book, more than enough to offset the weaker segments or the one-page gags that are cute but ultimately disposable. I find it interesting that Image Comics have ventured into territory that once belonged almost exclusively to smaller publishers of more avant-garde work. Image is a major force in North American comics publishing, but there’s no denying the indy/small-press spirit of this material. There are some hidden gems here, not the least of which is a short story by Brandon (King City) Graham. Not only does it offer material from some strong, well-established talent, but it also introduces the readership to new creative voices. Image and the various editors with which it’s worked seem to have revived the comics anthology, or at least brought it to the attention of a wider audience. Starting with Flight (which has since moved to another publisher) and moving onto 24/7 and Popgun, short-form, unconventional comics storytelling has found a new home. I actually prefer the Popgun approach than the themed anthology; sometimes, a theme (such as 24/7’s sci-fi, robotic motif) wears out its welcome. With Popgun, the variety keeps things fresh. 7/10"

And TheComicCollective.com give's Bastard it's 2 cents!

"Bastard Road:
Crazy. A bit non-sensical. And crazy. Did I mention that? A whole lotta fun with some beautiful artwork. It’s the kind of artwork with really solid lines that you could hang off of. Kind of like Clowes. With a little Kirby. Or Charles Burns."

This guy knows his stuff! I don't know if he's that good, or I'm too obvious with my influences/heroes...

But he had fun, and that's our aim. Howabout you, dear reader? What did you think of Popgun2 and the first Bastard Story?

Oh! We announce the contest winner and prize soon!

Glamor Shot!

2008-07-28T00:14:00.001-07:00

Here's just a basic, happy little 3/4 view of our big bastard. So far so good on the tittles contest- Keep'em coming!!!

CONTEST: Show Us Your Titles

2008-07-22T12:32:00.000-07:00

This blog here's gonna have ourselves a contest. When does it end? When we say it does. What can you win? Who knows? So what's the contest?

WHAT SHOULD THE NAME OF THIS STORY BE?

Right now, the only title is "BASTARD ROAD," 'cause we didn't get around to actually naming it (or putting our freakin' names on the splash page) before it was due to Popgun. I've always been partial to "TACO HELL!" but that's maybe too easy.

So, Friends of Bastard*, we want some suggestions! After you read the introduction of Bastard & Farel to the world, drop a comment and give us some ideas for a story name. If/when we collect all of Bastard's comic adventures under one roof, we'll re-title the story and maybe give you a little shout-out somewhere. Sound like a deal?

So go forth and make mama proud. [click on the page above to read the story]

*And while you're at it, what's a good name for Bastard's fanbase? Extra points for anyone who can work "'tard" in there.

WIP It Good!

2008-07-20T19:58:00.001-07:00

Here's a look at page 3 from the upcoming Popgun 2 anthology. On the left we have the sketch, on the right, of course, the completed page. Yeah, I don't really get a whole lot figured out in the sketch stage, what I'm really concerned with is composition. Actual detail, line thickness, these are things I kind of hash out on the fly, once I'm happy with placement. Overall, I'm happy with the page, but I hated having to cut Farel's weird little hands from panel 2. Oh how I love those little hands!

Hot dammit! Popgun's almost here!

2008-07-20T19:37:00.000-07:00

Bastard's first tangle with the printed page debuts Wednesday the 23rd in Popgun Volume 2.
Me and Brian feel terribly honored to share space with such talented individuals, and can't wait to read all 400 pages. Sweet lord, 400 pages? AWESOME! If you can't wait for the street date (and let's face it, you can't), head on over to popguncomics.com and read the preview. Check it out and tell us what you think!

Walking the Bastard Road

2008-07-13T12:54:00.001-07:00