Dear Diary (to My Friends),

A few days ago I just finished the first chapter of a yet unannounced horror graphic novel that I am so, so, so very excited about! The artist is one of my favorite collaborators, I’m finally getting to scratch that “Junji Ito” itch that I’ve wanted to explore for years, and — gah! — I can’t say more yet, lest I give it away. Point being, I’ve been staying busy the last six months amidst lots of changes.

The Kickstarter campaign for the newly updated  2nd Edition of Write or Wrong: A Writer’s Guide to Creating Comics was a smashing success, and I’m in the final stages of prepping the book to be sent to the printer, which should allow me to have it in hand when I return to the road this fall, wrapping-up the 2023 leg of the “20 Years of Terror Tour” with convention appearances including Monroe Pop Fest (Michigan), Cinema Wasteland (Ohio), New York Comic Con (New York), Fantasticon Fort Wayne (Indiana), and Grand Rapids Comic Con (Michigan). As always, full details are available on the Events Calendar here on the website, where you can add any of the events directly to your Google Calendar so you won’t forget about them during the hustle-bustle of life. Ain’t technology grand?

Upon hitting the road again this fall, new graphic novels and books I’ll have available at my table will include:

• Nightmare World: The Complete Collection
• Write or Wrong: A Writer’s Guide to Creatiing Comics (2nd Edition)
• Twiztid Haunted High-Ons Volume 2: “The Curse of the Green Book”
• Arn Anderson: My Life as the Enforcer

A new TPB omnibus collecting all four volumes of NIGHTMARE WORLD as well as numerous new extras!

I’ll also have some of the issues of Hope Volume 2 (which – fair warning – may prove to “catch you in the feels” even more than the first volume) as well as possibly even at least the first issue of  Homestead, an action-packed and emotionally walloping werewolf western story I’ve been waiting to bring to life for over a decade.

This October the graphic novel adaptation of London After Midnight with Chaney Entertainment will be launching on Kickstarter, too! Gah! Exciting times, indeed!

The Cthulhu Jr. plushies are continuing to sell very well, as are the “Desk Dirk” Dirk Manning figures from Knuckleheadz Toys, and I’m not sure how many of either I’ll have available by the end of the year. If you want one and aren’t sure you’ll catch me on the road this fall, reach out to me directly soon and I’ll get you squared-up with a “Direct from Dirk” order.

These limited edition “Desk Dirk” figures were produced by Knuckleheadz Toys — and once they’re gone, they’re gone! Get one now if you want one!

All of that aside, again, I don’t think it’s a secret that we’re all living in interesting times right now, friends. Writers and actors are on strike, the comic industry is continuing to shift and evolve, and… well…  I’m grateful to have the privilege to keep working with such great collaborators to bring you all graphic novels that you’ll be happy to have in your collections, on your bookshelves, and re-read and revisit often.

If you’re reading this, know I sincerely hope to see you on the road before the end of the year if possible. If that’s not possible, please stay in touch on your social media platform of choice (I’m most active on Facebook, but am continuing to try to up my game on Instagram (and now Threads)… and as always, I encourage you to make sure you’re subscribed to my monthly email newsletter on the front page of this website, as it’s the best way to stay up-to-date on news – and news on new books dropping either in stores or on Kickstarter.

(Remember: Kickstarter will be the only way to get the first print, deluxe, limited edition hardcover editions of my graphic novels before the TPB editions are then released in the mass market — so make sure you’re getting the monthly newsletter so you know when the new campaigns are launching so you can get yours!)

Thanks for your continued support, everyone. It means so very much to me to have you along for this journey, and I look forward to continuing to pay it forward to you all with great comics, graphic novels, and more! You’re support remains very, very appreciated more than you probably know, but, again, I look forward to showing it with more great comics and graphic novels coming your way!

Your friend in comics,
Dirk Manning

“What do you mean you only look like that on the Internet?”