Another collaboration (and fancy hardcover graphic novel) of note!
11 months ago – Mon, Apr 28, 2025 at 08:02:12 PM

Hello friends!

I hope this update finds you all -- especially on the heels of so many great wrestling events recently!

I'm dropping you all a quick note to let you know about my newest graphic novel on Kickstarter, illustrated by one of the artists from BUTTS IN SEATS, written in collaboration with a NY Times bestselling author, and being offered with a limited edition lenticular leatherbound hardcover and several other Kickstarter Exclusive upgrades!

Written by me, adapted from an unpublished story by NY Times bestselling horror author Josh Malerman (BIRD BOX, INCIDENTS AROUND THE HOUSE), and illustrated by Joshua Ross (BUTTS IN SEATS: THE TONY SCHIAVONE STORY), this 120+ page graphic novel RSVP: E.S.P. is a deep dive into parapsychological horror!

Dr. James Massey is a scientist who has dedicated his whole life to proving E.S.P. is real at great cost to himself both personally and professionally.

Now, in a last-ditch effort to justify his studies, he has invited two children who may have such abilities to participate in a laboratory study at his home lab... only to unknowingly get caught in a battle between these two omega-level psychics that is re-writing his reality all around him.

I'm exceptionally proud of this book, and hope you'll consider pledging for a copy to add it to your bookshelf! You can see full details on the campaign (which offers free U.S. shipping!) at www.RSVP-ESP.comfor the next six days before the campaign ends.

Thanks all! I appreciate you!

Your friend in comics,
Dirk Manning 

It's Wednesday, and you know what that means...
over 1 year ago – Wed, Nov 27, 2024 at 08:31:13 AM

Hello friends!

I hope this update finds you all well and prepping for a wonderful Thanksgiving to those of you who celebrate it... or a wonderful Thursday for those of you who don't.

I wanted to drop you all a quick note about my newest graphic novel, as, while it isn't a wrestling book, I suspect several of you here, like me, are fans of classic horror, too:

LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT: THE OFFICIAL GRAPHIC NOVEL ADAPTATION is, as the name suggests, the official graphic novel adaptation of the long-lost Lon Chaney classic film adapted by me in conjunction with Chaney Entertainment.

The Kickstarter link is www.LondonAfterMidnightComic.comand as I'm sending this we've unlocked SIX Stretch Goals and counting for the Kickstarter Exclusive Leatherbound Hardcover Edition of the book.

The campaign ends this (Cyber) Monday at 5:30 PM EST, so if you want one, head over and reserve your copy now, friends! We've got several great pledge levels, and as always, we continue to offer FREE U.S. SHIPPING. What you see is what you pay with no hidden surprises.

Thanks again... and happy pledging!

Your friend in comics,
Dirk Manning

A new wrestling story!
over 1 year ago – Sat, Jul 27, 2024 at 09:58:18 AM

If you've been waiting for a new wrestling comic... your time is now!

Hello friends!

I hope this update finds you all well – especially given how much we’re living in a new “golden age” of professional wrestling in so many ways.

Many of you out there have been asking if/when I’ll be doing another wrestling graphic novel, and while I’m not in a place to announce another graphic novel fully committed to professional wrestling yet… I do have a new graphic novel with a professional wrestling story in it that’s live on Kickstarter at www.LoveStoriesAboutDeath.com right now!

LOVE STORIES ABOUT DEATH is a collection of seven full-length genre-hopping stories that explore the intersections of love and death with gorgeous art and plots that will tug at your heartstrings (and then tear them out), and one of the stories is a dynamic and emotionally investing pro wrestling story!

“A Rush of Blood to the Head” is a full-length story about an aging professional wrestler who finds himself literally fighting for his life in front of a sold-out live audience when he discovered that former tag-team partner turned opponent has agreed to a Mafia hit to kill him in the ring and make it look like an accident.

This is one of seven full-length stories in the book, with others ranging from science fiction to vikings versus vampires to pirates versus mermaids to zombies and more!

If you’ve yet to read any of my creator-owned work, this graphic novel is a great stand-alone place to start, and as an added bonus, we’ve already unlocked the “I Saw Red” super stretch goal which upgrades every Kickstarter Exclusive Hardcover Edition of LOVE STORIES ABOUT DEATH to a red leatherbound-style cover with red gilded pages, a sewn-in red ribbon bookmark and an autographed bookplate all at www.LoveStoriesAboutDeath.com!

I’m exceptionally excited about this new book (which includes FREE U.S. SHIPPING) and hope you’ll consider pledging to get a copy if you haven’t already!

Thanks all! Again, I’m exceptionally excited about this new book (as the wrestling story is one of my favorites I’ve ever written), I hope you’re all doing well, and I hope you’ll consider pledging to get a copy of LOVE STORIES ABOUT DEATH on Kickstarter at www.LoveStoriesAboutDeath.com if you haven’t already!

Your friend in comics,
Dirk Manning

Another wrestling-adjacent graphic novel of interest...
about 2 years ago – Tue, Jan 02, 2024 at 04:09:40 PM

Hey all!

I hope the start to 2024 is treating you well!

I just wanted to drop you a quick note to let you know about another wrestling-adjacent autobiographical graphic novel that's now live on Kickstarter:

DARREN McCARTY: LIFE IS A GRIND, ENJOY MY TRUTH is a 180-page graphic novel detailing the life and adventures (of which there are many) of four-time Stanley Cup winner Darren McCarty.

Wrestling fans (such as many of us) may also know Darren from his appearance at Impact Wrestling Slammiversary where he was a Special Enforcer and even squared-up against Bully Ray or from his continuing appearances as a wrestler, manager, and/or special guest at numerous independent wrestling shows.

Given Darren's fandom of -- and involvement with -- the world of professional wrestling, this graphic novel also features guest appearances by professional wrestlers including Ric Flair, Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock,  X-Pac, Bob Holly,and D'Lo Brown among others.

You can check out the campaign and pledge for a copy of the graphic novel -- or more -- at www.McCartyComic.com for the next TWELVE DAYS, so don't wait to check it out and get your pledge in! BUTTS IN SEATS illustrator John Marroquin illustrated the full book, so -- as you'll see on the Kickstarter page -- it's a gorgeous comic to add to your collection!

Thanks again all!

Your friend in comics,

Dirk Manning

The spine hits the pine this Friday!
over 3 years ago – Tue, Dec 13, 2022 at 06:24:21 PM

There's three days left to get your ARN ANDERSON KS Exclusive HC!

Hey friends!

This is one quick final check in to let you know that the Kickstarter campaign for ARN ANDERSON: MY LIFE AS THE ENFORCER -- which can be most easily accessed at www.ArnComic.com -- ends this Friday at 4:44 PM EST!

As I type this we're less than one book pledge away from the SEVENTH Stretch Goal of the campaign, which will unlock the gold gilded pages on the book along with the quadruple-autographed book plate (including by Arn himself, of course) and more:

Remember... ANY pledge level that includes the KS Exclusive Hardcover of the book gets ALL the Stretch Goals... so if you haven't jumped in yet, now's the time!

I'm thinking it's very likely if our support continues these last three days that we'll unlock the KS Exclusive hatpin, too!

Finally, as always, thanks for your support on our projects,  everyone! I'll close this out with a word about Arn from a man near and dear to all of us...

Thanks again! We appreciate you!

Reppin' team BUTTS IN SEATS,

Dirk Manning