It’s time for another LB Bulletin, the newsletter for Limit Break Comics. This past month, we’ve busied ourselves with the start of a six-month string of events, some new releases and some longer-term planning for future titles to fall under Limit Break.

If you need a reminder of who we are:

• Paul Carroll - writer, runs a lot of the operations for the group (including this newsletter)
• Gareth Luby - artist, cover designs and comic interiors
• Gary Moloney - writer, law-talking guy
• Seamus Kavanagh - writer, runs panels on making comics

In this issue of the LB Bulletin, we’re going to look at upcoming events we’ll be attending, updates on existing projects, and a wee look at the other stuff we’re doing and reading.

Upcoming Events

September is mirroring August in a couple of ways, with two events on consecutive weekends for the gang to look forward to.

First up, on September 10th, is the Underground Cinema Comic Con in Dun Laoghaire. It’s a small-ish event, but one that’s sure to be fun for all involved.

The Comic Con is part of the Underground Cinema International Festival, running from September 8th - 10th, with only the Sunday for comic-y goodness. If you’re in the area, be sure to swing by and say hello!

On September 16th, the Irish-based members of Limit Break will be heading to Cork for the day for the Cork Comic Expo. The Expo is once again taking place in the Mahon Point Shopping Centre, organised by Cork’s own Will Sliney and one of Ireland’s beloved stores, Big Bang Comics. It’s free for all to attend, and will be the first Cork show for Limit Break! (We officially set up shop mere months after the last Cork Comic Expo in 2018 - Paul settled on the idea for Mourning Coffee on the train on the way home, to be included in Life & Death.)

Project News!

Fractured Realms

We’re due to put up a backer update, but for our newsletter subscribers, here’s the inside scoop - the book is almost finished!

We have a couple of stories needing completion, and then the book will be sent off for its foreword before finally landing with our printer. We should, hopefully, be able to begin fulfilment in October. We’ll let you - and our backers - know next month.

In the meantime, take a look at the beautiful work that Becca Carey did in logo design for our book of horror things happening to mostly not-horror people!

Shiny New Pins!

As well as the title logo, we have the enamel pin for Fractured Realms to share! This was designed by Paul, and will be on sale with the book when it’s launching in November.

This was just one of four pins that arrived earlier this month. Included in the order was the remake of the Reduce, Reuse, Reanimate pin that sold out last summer, and two super special designs that we’ve been biting our tongue on for a while. One of them will remain a secret until... Cork? Probably Cork.

Until then, we can proudly show off our Irish SFF pin, featuring a rocket flying across a space background made from a triquetra. The pin goes on sale at Octocon on October 7th and 8th, with sales going to support the convention.

We can’t wait to get to bring the new pin setup to shows next month.

Intro to Comics Tip

We’ve been publishing comics since July 2018, and now find ourselves in the position of offering advice to new creators at conventions. Each month, one of the team will be giving an insight into the lessons they’ve learned along the way. Last month, Gary shared some wisdom from a course run by PJ Holden. This time, stepping up to the batting plate is Paul, with some advice on keeping scripts short and to the point.

I came from a world of prose fiction and poetry, with some stage plays to add into the mix, and production of a documentary. I wasn’t exactly prepared for comic scripts, particularly not ones that are on a path towards getting printed. The first proper comic script I’d written for an artist was the first Meouch story (Operation: Bad Dog), which I immediately followed up with a 40-page script for issue one-of-six of a series.

As far as I’m concerned now, that’s the wrong way to learn, especially if you’re coming from an artform where the story can go on for as long as it needs to.

Comics with an intent to print need to stop somewhere - especially if you’re footing the bill. If I was to start over now, I’d have written a lot more short scripts. They can teach you about the economy of a page, and the value of page turns; when you only have two in a four-page story, they have to count.

My tip for anyone starting out now, or looking to improve: write a few four-page short stories.

My three tips for keeping a story short, especially for a beginner, are:

1. Start as close to the end as possible - you don’t have space for set-up.
2. Introduce the premise, character and their motivation as quickly as possible.
3. Outline in 3-5 bullet points. For a 4-page comic, try something like this:
   • Page 1: introduce the premise, character and their motivation
   • Page turn 1: Introduce an obstacle
   • Pages 2 and 3: Explore how the character will overcome the obstacle
   • Page turn 4: Climax
   • Page 4: Conclusion, wrap it all up.

Your page turns are a chance to surprise a reader. Make them count.

And if you love the characters enough (and haven’t killed them…), you can always write some more stories.

Art Drop

Our collective is made up of writers and artists. Each month, we want to show you some of the artwork that the team are working on to give you an insight into the people behind the comics.

Gareth Luby’s Star Wars Art

With Ahsoka hitting screens this month, it would have been remiss of Gareth not to put together some fanart!

And one more for good measure… a Boba Fett!

What We’re Reading

Every month, we’ll give you an insight into what we’re reading in the great big world of comics. This month, Gary tells us about Inferno Girl Red.

If you know anything about me then you’re probably aware that I have more than a passing interest in tokusatsu-style superheroes. When you’re from a generation that grew up with Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers that’s to be expected. As this week marked the 30th anniversary of that august institution, I thought it might be appropriate to give the spotlight to a book that very much wears that influence on its sleeve (or scarf as the case may be here).

Inferno Girl Red by Erica D’Urso and Mat Groom is a YA OGN which mixes the aesthetics and themes of tokusatsu with the emotional core of a boarding school teen drama. Shortly after moving to the futuristic bastion of Apex City, Cássia Costa finds her new home plucked from reality by the forces of entropy and despair. Imbued with the power of an ancient dragon bracelet, Cássia becomes the latest in line to assume the titular mantle of Inferno Girl Red as she fights to restore Apex City to its proper place and unravel the mysteries of these strange new abilities she has come to wield.

At its core this is a book about hope and how belief in one’s self can be the thing that saves us. There’s no denying that it’s an old theme in some ways but after the last few years we’ve had I think it’s one that is more resonant than ever.

As an OGN Inferno Girl Red understands that its form is its advantage effectively crafting a decompressed style of storytelling in a way that a monthly book would simply have the luxury to do. It affords its cast the quiet moments necessary to flesh out their characters and allow us to connect with them as a people beyond the superficial. It means that when the book indulges in a near eighteen-page fight scene towards the end of its inaugural volume each punch has more weight behind it because these are characters we’ve come to know and care about. Moreover, a spectacle of that scale, it’s action that you simply wouldn’t be tolerated or even advisable in the strict confines of the single-issue format. It’s an approach that’s often been the reserve of manga but now finds itself into mainstream independent superhero comics and we’re all the better for it.

The highest praise I can give Inferno Girl Red is that carries the spirit of series like Ultimate Spider-Man before it. It’s an intimate character-focused affair that alludes to a wider world (Inferno Girl Red is part of the Massive-verse line) but keeps our attention on this small pocket. Rather than focusing as much on its own lore and how Cássia gets her powers, it’s much more interested in what she’ll do with them. It’s the kind of book that is perfect for introducing new readers to the medium and showcasing the unique things we can do on the page. It’s a gorgeous read that through its craft and characters reminds me of why I fell in love with this medium in the first place.

If anything I’ve said has caught your interest, you can pick up the first volume through Images Comics or check out the Kickstarter campaign for the next entry in the series for more information.

Next month, we’ll have some event write-ups to share, and (hopefully) the video of our DCC panel interview with Declan Shalvey and Tríona Farrell.

Until next time!
The LB Team

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