Arctic Ninja: Episode 4 - Protect, Preserve, Survive

And a little update on where the hell I've been

Sep 11, 2023

arctic ninja, the arctic ninja, arctic ninja comic, paul shirey

Soooooo…

It’s been a hot minute since I’ve posted anything, as much has transpired in the last few months, most notably a cross-country move, which has taken every ounce of my time and energy. It’s a welcome adjustment, as the move is long overdue and the course is being set for a great path forward, but as with all things in life, time doesn’t hold your place in line.

With a nice office area set up and a new drawing table purchased (after my last one was destroyed before it even got on the truck for the move), things are finally taking shape again. I have pages on the drawing board for The War/Scars, as I enter the finale of chapter one, which has long been in the making. I have made a tremendous (stupid?) effort to do everything myself, following the lead of those who inspired me with their early works, such as James O’Barr and Joseph Michael Linsner, where they poured their heart and soul into flagship works like The Crow and Angry Christ Comics.

While the vast majority will be done by me, I intend to hire a letterer and will be reaching out to any and all artists I can procure an incentive cover from. I have no idea how that will play out, but I’m confident I can nab a few of my heroes to help draw some folks in. Either way, the end of The War/Scars Book One is near and I’m excited to complete it and get the campaign underway and get the book in your hands. Book Two will begin immediately and the intent is for a three-part series that will later be collected into one volume.

For my movie news/reviews/commentary fans, I will most certainly get back to writing some thoughtful, fun, and interesting pieces on the moving pictures front, but it’s been a busy time and now we’re hitting the strikes and a lull in good theatrical fare, so all of that has been on pause for a minute. I shared on Twitter recently that I had a dream that I was back running JoBlo as Editor-in-Chief and it took me right back to why I don’t want to run a movie news site (or work for one) ever again. The stress of running something that stretches every interview comment, tweet, and press release as breaking, life-altering news is not something I ever intend to revisit.

When I feel like I need to catch up and see what’s going on, which is far less than it’s been in the last few decades, what I find is obnoxious prattle in a sea of movie “news” detritus. Gone are the thoughtful pieces that have a unique or interesting take on anything film-related, replaced by clickbait drivel that makes a mountain out of a molehill, attempting to capture the attention span of a Monster Energy-fueled social media addict who can only stay alert for ten-second intervals of information. Video was always going to lead the way, but at the risk of sounding like Walt Kowalski, does anyone read anymore?

Anyway, get off my lawn and stuff. But, for real, please subscribe. And share.

I hope to continue to contribute, if even to a select few readers, some thoughtful and entertaining pieces, including reviews, in the years to come, and there are more than a few other endeavors in the works that I hope you’ll also follow me down the yellow brick road for. One of those is, of course, my all-digital webcomic Arctic Ninja. Yes, I know it’s slow going, but that’s okay. There are big plans for this series, which has some exciting twists, turns, and bloody battles coming up, all of which will lead to a complete serialized tale by the end. It will take many years to bring it to completion, but I think it will be worth the ride.

And yes, a podcast of some sort is on the way.

So, without further ado, I give you Arctic Ninja Chapter 4, which consists of two full pages and a peek under the hood of the mythology that’s being set up for Arctic Ninja. Who is this mysterious Tundra Warrior? Where did he come from? Why can’t he remember who he is? And, most importantly, what does he have that would bring an army of assassins to his (cave) door?