Rafer Roberts Archives

I've launched the Kickstarter campaign in order to raise the needed funds to print MAGIC BULLET #3. For those of you unfamiliar: MAGIC BULLET is a free semi-annually published comic newspaper focused on presenting the work of independent and underground cartoonists, with a bias towards DC artists. Each artist is encouraged to take advantage of the larger canvas to cut loose and experiment and to push themselves and the medium.

Past contributors include: Steve Becker, Carolyn Belefski and Joe Carabeo, Mike Brace, Andrew Cohen, Matt Dembicki, Mal Jones, Evan Keeling, Jeff McComsey, Dale Rawlings, R.M. Rhodes, Rafer Roberts, Jim Rugg, Jake Warrenfeltz, Scott White and JT Wilkins

One of the pledge levels this time out includes having your likeness drawn into a future installment of my NIGHTMARE THE RAT comic, most likely as a victim. Imagine! This could be you!

So, please head on over to the Kickstarter pledge page and give what you can. Thanks!

Over the course of a mere 7 days, a whole bunch of kick-ass comic creators cranked out some comics for the Small Press Commandos' KIRBY CHALLENGE. Here is my entry:

Here's page 1:

So click on over to the Small Press Commando site to read the rest! http://smallpresscommandos.com/2011/05/30/kirby-challenge-team-zulu/ Make sure to keep checking the site so you can read all the different comics too!

For immediate release.

Washington DC comics and drinking group publishes second issue of MAGIC BULLET comics newspaper to much fanfare.

Prepare yourself for the majesty that is MAGIC BULLET #2. The DC Conspiracy, a local group of comics creators and fans, have published the second issue of their groundbreaking and absolutely free comics newspaper and plan to bring it to you.

Featuring a cover by Mike O'Brien and including comics from local cartoonists such as Carolyn Belefski, Joe Carabeo, Andrew Cohen, Matt Dembicki, Evan Keeling, RM Rhodes, (and non-local ringers like Jeff McComsey and Jim Rugg), MAGIC BULLET #2 is designed to brighten your day while blowing your mind. Each comic contained within the pages of MAGIC BULLET #2 was created with love and with the greatest of care.

Rafer Roberts, editor of MAGIC BULLET (as well as a contributor) talked about this second issue. "Oh man," he says. "This paper is so completely awesome. It's the best thing ever and people are gonna want to get their hands on a copy. I mean, we have comics from Kevin Czapiewski, Jake Warrenfeltz, Jeff McClelland, Mal Jones, and Steve Becker. We even got Stephen Loya, and he doesn't even draw comics!"

MAGIC BULLET #2 has a wide distribution plan, as described by Roberts. "We've picked a day, probably March 28th, and a bunch of us are going to be handing these out at metro stations during the morning commute. Holy cow, can you image what it's going to be like starting your day reading comics from the likes of Marc Bryant, Scott White, Lonny Chant, or Michael Brace? Add in comics by Eric Gordon, Troy Jeffrey-Allen, JT Wilkins and me, and you've got the makings of the best commute of your life."

For those not fortunate enough to be handed a paper, all hope is not lost. MAGIC BULLET #2 will be available throughout the district at finer comic shops and clubs, as well as at local comic shows such as SPX. An ever evolving list of places interested readers can find the paper can be found at http://www.dcconspiracy.com

Andrew Cohen:
Kevin Czapiewski:
Marc Bryant and Mal Jones:
RM Rhodes and Evan Keeling:
Rafer Roberts:
Jim Rugg:
Jake Warrenfeltz:
JT Wilkins:
And much, much more!

...and PLASTIC FARM related things.

Hey everyone,

It was a pretty busy week for me, which is pretty unusual, so I thought I'd take advantage of my posting privileges and totally pimp myself.

First, I had a guest comic go up over at Danielle Corsetto's GIRLS WITH SLINGSHOTS. It's probably the first comic I have ever had published in color. Thanks again to Danielle for letting me do this. You can read the comic here. (Make sure to check out the rest of the strip. It's really good!)

Second, an interview I had done a few months back went online. In it I discuss the origins of the name PLASTIC FARM, how various new electronic devices change the very language of comics, the dwindling presence of mini-comics, and probably poop somewhere in there. Here's an excerpt:

"I think that it's funny that comics are getting classified not by content, but by format. Maybe I'm old and crotchety, but I don't know why webcomics get segregated to their own areas at conventions or even get thought of as a separate artform. It would be like if I published Plastic Farm in a manga format and sat with TokyoPop because, despite our content being in no way similar, our books were both five by seven and a half inches.

So, if people think of me as a webcomic creator, I can't stop them. I like to think that I make comics."

Read the rest here.

Third, Matt Dembicki and I have been nominated for some S.P.A.C.E. Prizes. In the general category, Matt's TRICKSTER got the nomination, and we both got nominations in the minicomic/short story category. Pretty awesome stuff.

Here's a pretty link.

And finally, there's a bunch of work going on for MAGIC BULLET and we've received a bunch of really cool submissions already. If you are interested in drawing something, or advertising, please click on the MAGIC BULLET link in the menu bar, or here.

In the meantime, here's a panels from an upcoming Nightmare the Rat comics which will be in MAGIC BULLET #2.

Thanks!