Spilled Ink #32

INTRO

Hi everyone!

As you read these words, one of the most important (and scary) things I have ever done is live for a week (and we are almost at a third of the campaign). And that is the crowdfunding campaign for Nightmare Tales the comic book I did with the incredible Damian Connelly. It will run for a little over a month and there are what I think are some pretty cool rewards. I wanted to add some more stuff and depending on how the crowdfunding goes I still might. I have some great ideas I wanted to try but I won’t lie, not having the drawing skills, and also due to some (inherent) cost-prohibitive restraints I had to ponder.

I had to use Crowdfundr instead of Kickstarter (which would probably give more exposure to the project) since Portugal is blacklisted by Kickstarter and for that Portuguese creators can’t use the platform.

All that said I’m really hyped with this experience but also really scared, as I haven’t done anything like this before. And of course, I had to mess it up… I wanted to make the campaign available until the end of April and only made it available for 30 days… Thankfully the platform support is amazing and they fixed my mistake rather quickly. Anyway, I’m hopeful about how the campaign will advance and I’ll keep you updated!

The project will be a 36-page comic, with 24 pages divided into three 8-page stories, all featuring black-and-white artwork by Damian and a story by me.

I created five tiers, that go from 5 to 25 euros and have various rewards.

You can find all about the campaign here or on the QR code below!

And now, let’s go on with it!

WRITER’S DESK

This week I did some writing work, and not only that, it was work I’m really proud of.

I wrote almost 1400 words for a submission call and I was really happy with it until I realized I mixed submissions and this one was for a 2500-word minimum. The good thing is that I still have some time and I’ll try to expand some parts of the story to try and meet the required word count. It was an 80s/SciFi (with a pinch of body horror?) that I really had fun writing.

After this, I’m doing a story for another submission call and I plan to try and go a bit off the rails with that one.

I also did the adaptation of one of my flash fiction stories to a comic strip format. This one is rougher as the story is so small that I just divided it into panels without any page layout or formating.

BOOK REPORT

I haven’t really read anything for a while but I have some books lined up to read.

The first is Monsters Within by my good friend Catarina Prata. It’s a short story anthology and from what I had the chance to see in the glance I gave it, it will be a great read. I know one of the stories already and I bet all the others will hold up to it, if not surpass it.

The other book I have on hold is BloodLily by Jessika Grewe Glover. This one is a little different from what I usually read, but I really like Jessika’s writing, and even with her telling me this one is different from her usual stuff I want to give it a try. I bet she can’t shock me all that much!

PULL LIST

This week I only read one comic but I’ve made my way through some more volumes of Berserk so it was a got week. I’m really enjoying the series but I’m starting to get close to the last of the published volumes (well, I still have 12 to go) I getting the feeling that I have to slow down so I can make the story last longer… I will talk about the manga again soon as it’s probably my favorite one, but I want to find the right place to stop a talk to you about it a bit more.

The comic I read was Jumpscare by Cullen Bunn so you know what’s coming… Fanboy mode is on!

As you know, probably because I might have told you, Cullen Bunn has a knack for weaving horror into unexpected places, and Jumpscare is no exception. This new series (published by Dark Horse Comics), which is brought to life with stunning artwork by Danny Luckert, introduces us to Allie—a horror fan turned vigilante with a terrifyingly fun ability: she can summon weapons from any horror movie she’s ever seen, a power as creative as it is gruesome, and Bunn uses it to full effect.

The first issue delivers everything you’d want from a horror-infused superhero tale—bloody action, sharp dialogue, and a protagonist who’s both unpredictable and engaging (and also the dreaded origin story every comic must have). Allie is a refreshing character, embracing the chaos with a twisted sense of humor that makes her feel right at home in the genre. The world-building is intriguing, setting up a grimy, neon-lit city filled with dangers lurking in the shadows that you may know if you read any of the Beyond Mortal Universe stories.

Danny Luckert’s artwork perfectly complements Bunn’s storytelling, capturing both the carnage and the eerie atmosphere with precision. The action sequences are dynamic and brutal, while the quieter moments carry a palpable tension that keeps you hooked.

Jumpscare is an absolute must-read for horror and superhero fans alike. If you enjoy fast-paced, blood-drenched storytelling with a dark sense of humor, this is one to add to your pull list. I, for one, can’t wait to see where this series goes next.

ON-SCREEN

I tried to watch the 2016 Berserk adaptation but there’s something in the art that really doesn’t connect with me. I then started watching the adaptation of the Golden Age Arc from 2012 (I think?) and even if it’s not as good as the original anime at least I can watch it. And the Golden Age Arc is one of the best (and most important) of the series so it’s a good watch for anyone who wants to give Berserk a try.

But if you want the real experience I recommend the original anime series from 1997. That is the absolute best!

Some examples of the various artwork: from top left to bottom right: Manga, original anime (1997). Golden Age Arc (2012), new anime version (2016)

I also find the time to start a new series and I have to tell you something… Why did I wait so much to watch this?

So, growing up, ER was one of my favorite shows. The high-stakes medical emergencies, the flawed but brilliant doctors, and the sheer chaos of the ER made for some of the most gripping television I’d ever seen. So when I finally sat down to watch The Pitt—after letting 12 episodes pile up and having my friend Daniel nagging me about it (thank you for that)—I wasn’t just hoping it would be good. I needed it to be.

Could it capture the intensity and realism of ER? Absolutely. In fact, it surpasses it.

The Pitt is hands down one of the best shows of the year. Its structure is brilliant—each episode covering a single hour of a grueling 12-hour ER shift (with an extra three episodes that will make sense when you get there)—making you feel like you're right there in the trenches. But what really sets it apart is the sheer accuracy of the emergency room procedures. This isn’t just a drama using medical jargon to sound smart. It gets everything right—the frantic decisions, the exhaustion, the impossible choices, the barely controlled chaos of a trauma center trying to function under constant pressure. If you’ve ever wondered what a real ER feels like, this show nails it.

Another aspect that makes The Pitt stand out is its focus on student doctors and teaching. It doesn’t just show the veterans running the ER—it highlights the next generation of doctors being thrown into the deep end, making mistakes, learning in real time, and experiencing the brutal reality of emergency medicine. Watching these students struggle, adapt, and try to survive in one of the most intense environments imaginable adds another layer of authenticity and tension.

And then there’s Noah Wyle. Seeing him back in scrubs is a full-circle moment, but this isn’t ER’s John Carter. His character, Dr. Michael Robinavitch, is a man at the breaking point, barely holding things together with duct tape and sheer willpower. But what The Pitt does so well is balancing the personal turmoil of its doctors without it ever feeling like a distraction from the main narrative. We get glimpses into their struggles—their exhaustion, the toll the job takes on their personal lives and the mental, physical, and emotional strain—but it never overshadows the core of the show. Instead, it enhances it, making the stakes feel even more real.

By the time I hit Episode 12, I was more than hooked—but that episode? One of the best I’ve ever seen. The chaos, the mayhem, the overwhelming stress—I felt it all. It was more than real.

Honestly, if this show doesn’t get some serious awards attention, I’ll be shocked. If you haven’t started watching The Pitt yet, now’s the time. It’s the kind of TV that reminds you why great storytelling matters.

NIGHTTRACK

Lately, I’ve been diving into the podcast Hello from the Magic Tavern, and I have to say—I’m hooked. The premise is delightfully weird: a guy named Arnie falls through a magic portal behind a Burger King (who never) into a magical land called Foon, Fortunately, he has his podcast materials with him and starts a podcast from the Vermillion Minotaur along with Chunt, a shapeshifting badger (I won’t go into details here on what he has to do to change shapes) and Usidore, an overdramatic wizard (who always makes a point of introducing himself by his full name and titles).

It’s improv comedy meets fantasy nonsense, and it’s exactly what I was lacking on my way to and from work. I’ve only made it to episode five, but I’ve already laughed way too hard at Flower, an extremely aggressive talking potted plant, and the Foon Mittens League (FML, for short), Foon’s version of the NFL—where the rules make even less sense, and injuries sound way more horrifying.

It’s weird. It’s chaotic. And it might just be my new comfort listen.

If you’re into fantasy but want something a little lighter, or if you like improv-style comedy, I’d definitely recommend checking it out. If you’re already a listener, let me know—who’s your favorite guest or recurring character?

One last note, this is filled with adult content so be careful where you listen to it.