issue one preview

How's this for a preview?

Some of the pages from issue one.

Indie comics and silly ideals..

803 doing her thing
at Melb Supanova

Go hand in hand, in my opinion. My love of comics and story telling has always had a logical conclusion that sooner or later i would attempt to publish my own comic book. I won't go into all the doom and gloom of the current comic industry and how much tougher it is to produce and keep producing in Australia.. with pacific oceans, distribution and printing costs being very very persuasive reasons not to publish. I shell go straight to the book that i have in my hand.

When putting together GloomMACHINE my thought was that it needs to be as good a quality if not better then any product on the market.. including the US market. There is no point in releasing issue one in A5 size, in black and white and having everyone imagine how cool it would look full size, in colour if I invested some hard cash to do it properly.

I printed it full size A4 (cause I just love the size of the 2000AD mags), and because it is a cross between a magazine and a comic with it's photo spreads inside.
I printed it full colour.
I printed it using offset printing.. not digital printing. For the best print quality.
I selected the perfect paper, at extra expense. 100% recycled quality local paper. Which added almost $2k to the print cost alone.

Page from issue One

All so that from issue one you can see in your hands, what I would want GloomMACHINE to look and feel if no expenses where spared. And i am extremely pleased and proud of the final product.

Next came the price of the magazine. I didn't look at my total print cost, and add 200% on top so that i can break even as soon as possible. The price has to be competitive with magazines and comics of similar value. Just because I decided to spend a small fortune printing a high quality magazine doesn't mean I was going to charge $25 for a 44 page magazine.
The cover price is $8.95. And everyone that has seen the magazine, from comic store owners, creators and fans, have told me the price is way too low for the quality of the magazine. Maybe so, but I thought, how much am I willing to spend on a first issue comic that I know little about? Probably not much more then $10.

The comic was released at the Brisbane Supanova con in 2011 and on sale at the Melbourne Supanova con as well. It was wonderful and satisfying to be back behind the table, selling my own comic, talking to fans and hearing everyones feedback on GloomMACHINE. And the feedback told me that I was dead on target with the concept, the mixture of comic and live photo shoots, and is what has made it all worthwhile and makes me keen to continue.

My sales at both Brisbane and Melbourne Cons from general creator owned expected sales, was quite impressive for a first issue. The magazine found interest and fans in both males and females. 'Beautiful Girls, Big Guns and Evil Zombies' was my selling tag line... "What's not too like?" said one girl, as she approached the table and bought a copy.

803 taking care of the local zombie
horde at the Melb Supanova

My promise to everyone that bought issue one was that this was not a one issue wonder and that you can look forward to issue two very soon and lots of online content. With all good intentions, life always gets in the way of a big boys comic book dream.. so delays were inevitable.

Now issue two is due, (over due actually)... and those silly ideals come into play again. Even though sales for issue one started strong, they are not even close to covering the print costs.. and my ideals are not to compromise on quality. Do I bite the bullet and release issue two cheaper and at a higher cover price? Do I release a cheaper product now, or the better product, but it will have to wait. That is where we are currently at. Have considered the kickstarter/indiegogo option... and it could be an option.

805 turning her attentions to
Dr Gloom himself.

Everyones support, in purchasing issue one, sending those feedback emails, drgloom[at]gloommachine[dot]com and pressing 'Like' at the facebook page, goes a very very long way and is greatly appreciated. 'Cause as much as I love producing comics, my aim is to give you guys and girls the coolest post apocalyptic shit on the interwebs. But in the meanwhile, I will bring to you a free online comic story, more pretty girls and photos to drool over and a promise that GloomMACHINE will remain Undead.

This is what indie comics is all about, these are what silly ideals sound like.

Oh yeah, you can buy issue one at the facebook page here

Dr Gloom.

LIKE GloomMACHINE facebook PAGE HERE

WALLPAPERS!!!!

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Beautiful Gloom Machine photo set submissions.

With the launch of the new GloomMachine website on the 8th of May, we are opening the doors for all to be a part of the GloomMachine world. Gloom Machine is taking photo set submissions that will be featured in the special "Tough and sexy zombie killing machines' gallery. 

Send in your version of a zombie killing machine in a post apocalyptic world. There really are no rules and anyone can send in photos, take inspiration from GloomMachine's 4 Us. Uber Violent, Uber Sexy, Uber Gritty , Uber Twisted...and you'll be on the right track... oh and the zombie killing machine has to be a female.. sorry lads, it's just the way the Gloom Machine works. The photo set doesn't have to have a story, a cast of 50 zombie extras, or shot in outback Australia... it could just be a few pics of you looking sexy and badass. 

But if you want to go all out, with awesome outfits, guns, location and back story.. well you may impress Dr Gloom himself, enough, that he may select you to be one of the exclusive 9 numbered Beautiful Gloom Machine girls to shoot a special photo set with Gloom Machine creator and photographer Dante Sapienza, feature in the magazine, become a comic book character in your very own story, feature in short films and tour the Australian comic conventions with Dr Gloom, meeting all your fans. (for Australian submissions only)

So get your cool post apocalyptic outfit, cool make up and awesome hair... don't forget the big guns, grab a friend with a swanky DSLR and demand they shoot you. 

Then submit your photo set, at least 4 images, no more then 8. In jpg, RGB, at a minimum of 1024px  at the short end at 72dpi. (get your friend with the swanky DSLR to help you out with this bit if you dont know what that all means), a list of all photo credits (photographer, make up & hair  artists, etc.), answer a few questions below and fill out the attributes states.

Questions.

• What is your name?

• When did you first realise you wanted to dedicate your life to killing zombies?

• What did you do before the whole world turned to shit (occupation, study, etc.)?

• What are you strengths when killing zombies?

• What is your one weakness that no zombie should know?

• What is your weapon of choice?

• Tell us about one memorable kill?

• Are you hanging to have some shnoo shnoo? or among the whole impending apocalypse you managed to get lucky recently?

feel out these attribute stats (and be honest)

(1-10.. 1 being a newborn, 10 being Captain America, Einstein and Angelina Jolie rolled into one)

Intelligence (1-10)

Strength (1-10)

Constitution (1-10)

Charisma (1-10)

Dexterity (1-10)

Luck (1-10)

Beauty (1-10)

Blood lust (1-10)

email everything to drgloom[at]gloommachine[dot]com

and if you want to be there are the website launch on the 8th of May, get those submissions in by end of April.

Dr Gloom

GloomMACHINE issue 1, AVAILABLE NOW

Head over to the new official website www.gloommachine.com to purchase your copy. Every online order gets a FREE 5x7inch print... for a limited time.

final Gloom MACHINE cover

Gloom MACHINE Issue 1

Issue One Launching at the Brisbane Supanova Con April 1st 2011, then available online worldwide.

become a Gloom MACHINE fan

'Gloom MACHINE the comic magazine'.

little over two weeks till the launch of the first issue at Supanova Brisbane.

Lets see if we can hit 1000 fans in the next two weeks... if we do, i'll give away a free gorgeous print of our 803 with every issue sold.

So girls and boys, invite all your friends and their dogs to 'LIKE' the official facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/beautifulgloommachine

picture above, featuring kick-ass artwork by BMB and colours by g. dante sapienza

Gloom MACHINE magazine UPDATE

preview from the first issue of Gloom Machine. Artwork by Federico Jose Mazza

Apologies for the lack of updates, as I still have no proper Internet other then via my iPad.

The magazine is almost complete and will be off to the printers next week. Once the complete mag is in my hot little hands I'll make some more detailed announcements. 

For now I can say that the first issue will be of a very limited run of a 1000, about the same price of most 40-60 page full colour magazines you see at newsagents in Australia. Will be available to purchase at the Australian Supanova conventions in Brisbane,Melbourne and Sydney and also for international orders and for those that can't make it to the conventions online through my website.

Will shortly announce more details about the Supanova conventions regarding guests, limited edition products and competitions.

I also have some very cool details regarding subscriptions and member registrations for those that consider, supporting a creator owned independent comic, will give you unparalleled cred among your peers.

There is a hell of a lot coming this year from the world of the Gloom MACHINE, the comic is just the beginning... So I hope to see you all stick with it at it's launch and as it grows, and don't forget to help spread the word once the first issue is out and the world of theGloom MACHINE takes on a life of it's own.

Dr Gloom

"That's some f!$ked up shit right there"

So.. my two scripts for the "Tales from the Gloom Machine" backstories are in from our two wonderful guest writers. Lets say they didnt hold back when i said i wanted stories to reflect the Gloom Machine motto, Über Violent, Über Sexy, Über Gritty, Über Twisted.

One of the stories I might as well colour it all in red with the amount of blood flowing. Story number two takes the concept of twisted to a whole new level, even gave me a shudder when first reading it' ... definitely r-rated and not your standard Disney land post apocalyptic story.

Now the scripts are off to our two awesome guest artists, who have some very very tight deadlines. Looking forward to seeing these great scripts brought to Über life.

Dr Gloom

Guest artist: Ibai Canales

Ibai, is our first guest artist, on board to illustrate one of the two 'Tales from the Gloom Machine" back stories.

Ibai is from Basque, north of Spain currently living in Bilbao. Mostly self-taught, Ibai has won several local art contests and most recently had work published in Heavy Metal Magazine. Currently working on his very own graphic novel titled "Destroyer of Worlds", Ibai comes to Gloom Machine to add his personal style to the very first issue.

You can find some of his work here canalus.deviantart.com/

Welcome Ibai, we all look forward to seeing the awesome illustrated pages.

Dr Gloom

thank you...

...to all the artists who answered our call for submissions. Way too many talented illustrators out there eager to put their talents at work and on show to the world. I had submissions from all corners of the globe. (the wonders of the interweb).

thank you again to all that took the time to submit, i tried to get back to everyone, but do apologies if i have missed anyone.

To all that submitted, your enquiries will not be in vain. See, i have a special folder in my mail program, all your submissions saved... with each new issue of Gloom Machine, i hope to use different artists, so you may yet hear back from Dr Gloom.

cheers

artists, writers, beautiful girls and the cavalry...

Jess, our very own 802. Will be appearing at the Brisbane Supanova looking great and signing prints.

UPDATE:  As we head full steam ahead towards the launch of issue one at the Supanova comic convention in Brisbane, Australia on the first weekend of April 2011, a lot has been happening at Gloom Machine HQ since our last post.

First of all, we have had an amazing response for our artists submissions. So many very unique styles of art that made it even harder to narrow it down to just two. The one key ingredient we were after was a unique gritty style with good story telling abilities, and I have to say there are a lot of very talented artists out there eager to show their wears to the world.  But two artists we had to choose and two very talented artists is what we found. We shell introduce those artists on this blog shortly.

Secondly, we have also attached our second guest writer, to contribute to our second back story. She's busy working on the script as we speak. Again, will make a proper introduction in a subsequent post.

Thirdly, I'm glad to announce we have found our new Beautiful Gloom Machine model. We will have a brand new tough and sexy zombie killing machine gracing our soon to be update Beautiful Gloom Machine website. And again, a special introduction blog post to follow.

Last but not least, a very good friend of mine, Andrew has come on board as assistent publisher/project manager for the Gloom Machine Comic to help keep this monster on time, on budget and most importantly me with my head down writing and illustrating rather then endless hours putting together to do lists and sorting emails.

Dr Gloom

gloom MACHINE t-shirts.

click on the image to purchase

and the merchandising begins... the first of many designs i'm sure.

Available in t-shirts, Vs, ladies fitted and hoodies. In black only.

to make this, the first official Gloom Machine tee special, i'll make it limited to 50. So as soon as the first 50 are sold this design will be taken down and never again to be sold. actually make that 49, cause I'll get one for myself before there are non left.

WANTED: sequential artists

cool Judge Dredd art, good inspiration for what we are after.

if you've got a cool post apocalyptic style, like drawing weird and twisted stories, can't seem to commit to a full 24 page comic then Gloom Machine is for you.

Gloom Machine is a 2000AD style comic magazine printed in full colour, with 4 separate short stories of approx 6 pages each written by one of our talented guest writers. All stories are based on the world of the Gloom Machine. Part Mad Max, part Resident Evil Apocalypse, part Silent Hill.

We are looking for artists to contribute art to short 6 page stories. it can be mono, inked, not inked or full colour (as long as the non inked pencils are tight enough to print).

if you want to be part of the first issue, get your interest in quick as it goes to print in March 2011

email some samples of your work to drgloom [at] gloommachine [dot] com

everybody wants some....

803 teaser trailer from dr gloom on Vimeo.

guest writer

Issue 1 guest writer Daniel Armstrong.

"Now I can open my very own tea plantation with the 6 figure payment I have secured for guest writing on the Gloom Machine" Daniel was heard saying to himself as he walked out of the meeting room.

Daniel writes, directs and producers feature films... has a fixation with comic book style movies, zombies, sexy heroic female leads and post apocalyptic mayhem and carnage... hang on a sec! Hell maybe I'll pay him 20 bucks and have him take over Gloom Machine for me while I sit on the beach drinking Pina Coladas.

Currently completing work on his first feature film "From Parts Unknown" a film about.. you guessed it.. zombies, sexy heroic female leads, female wresters and nano technology gone wrong. Check out the "From Parts Unknown" Facebook page HERE and official blog HERE

So it was a no brainer for me to ask Daniel to write one of the Gloom Machine's back up stories. A 6 page slice of life in the world of the Gloom Machine.

I bet you never thought going out to buy bread could be so über violent, über sexy, über gritty and über twisted.

Issue 1 cover.

a new bread...

not being able to sleep cause too much is running through your head, means getting up at 3am and sitting at my computer with nothing else to do but write on Gloom Machine. 4 hours later... we have a new bread of undead... not quite like your traditional zombie.

you dont turn if they bite you. their blood or what not doesnt infect you. but you will turn if you die.

they are slow moving and also fast moving.

they still retain most of their intelligence and skills, yet they will bang at a door for days to get at you, without realizing by simply turning the knob the door would open.

doesnt make sense? it all will.

its the new bread, i will refrain from calling them zombies, but for now i will call them undead.

promo poster

for those that haven't already seen this posted on every other site and blog of mine... here it is again.

44 pages of hot action..

....no its not an adult mag.

the final page break down: 44 page A4 full colour.

- 10pg 801 comic - the main Gloom Machine story following the adventures of our very first BGM, 801.
(written and illustrated by G. Dante Sapienza)

- 6pg comic based on our popular BGM model 803caesi.
(written and illustrated by G. Dante Sapienza)

- 8pg photo spread of our model 803caesi.
(photographed by G. Dante Sapienza)

- pull out poster of 803

- 6pg back up comic story from the world of the Gloom Machine

(with guest writer and artist)

- 2nd 6pg back up comic story from the world of the Gloom Machine

(with guest writer and artist)