Brainstorm & Updates
Brainstorming – April 23rd Blog
I took a walk today to clear my head and ended up doing some brainstorming—so here’s a quick blog post to get some thoughts out.
New Metal Gear Solid T-Shirts and Poster Designs
I’ve been working on updating my Metal Gear Solid collage poster. The original was based mostly on memory and a few fuzzy references, but this new version is much sharper, more accurate, and more detailed. I started with Solid Snake, but after reworking his pose and gear (gotta show off the SOCOM pistol and stealth suit), I realized the whole piece needed a refresh. So I went back through every character—from Meryl, Liquid Snake, and Revolver Ocelot to Vulcan Raven and Sniper Wolf—to get their details right. Even the lesser-known characters like Decoy Octopus and Kenneth Baker got some polish.
I’m breaking the artwork into multiple pieces too—character collages, themed sets, and even standalone versions. Solid Snake, for instance, now exists in 19 variations with different color schemes, typography styles, and mood palettes. Think blue shadows, red highlights, minimalist black and white, and so on.
All of these will be available on my TeePublic shop: TeePublic.com/user/cooldojobro … probably by the time you’re reading this.
Tap or click the image to shop now!
Books & Projects in the Pipeline
Aside from posters, I’ve got a few books that need finishing touches—proofreading, artwork, formatting. One is almost ready to upload to Amazon Kindle. Another older one needs some fresh artwork and a possible redraft. And then there’s a long one that’s halfway illustrated.
I’m also planning to release a physical collection of all the Chasm of Sins short stories in time for Halloween. It’ll be a small-format book with QR codes linking to posters and prints from the stories on TeePublic. An accompanying art book with sketches and concept work is on the table too.
Beat ‘Em Up Level 2 Progress
Beat ‘Em Up Issue #2 is in the works—I’m 10 pages deep with about 20 to go. I’m aiming to finish it before Raptor Con in September. That means weekends and late nights are going to be packed with comic-making, but I’m excited to show it off. The response at conventions has been great, and I’m moving away from the craft fair circuit to focus more on cons like Raptor Con.
Speaking of which—last year they had the Hocus Pocus kids and Jim Cummings (Winnie the Pooh himself!) stop by. This year, it’s Bulk & Skull and Rob Paulsen. Love the guest list. I even got to talk to Jim Cummings briefly last year. He’s a legend.
Side Note: Ralph Garman & Promo Ideas
I’m a big fan of The Ralph Report (Patreon-only, worth it), and I’ve been meaning to write a short ad script for my store or books to get featured on the show. He offers free promos for subscribers, and I need to take advantage of that. Might use AI to help craft something short and sharp.
Spring Resolutions Over New Year’s
I always prefer springtime resolutions. Winter is a tough time to exercise or stay motivated. October to January is “eatin’ season”—Halloween candy, Thanksgiving feasts, Christmas dinners… you know how it goes. People say they’ll lose the weight in January, but most don’t make it past Valentine’s Day.
My strategy? Embrace the hibernation, play some games, and wait for spring. Now that it’s nice out, I’m back to walking daily and getting in shape. Two laps around the lake today, and I should hit 3.1 miles by the time I get home.
Also: Death Stranding 2 drops in June. We’re doing our vacation early, right after school ends, so the rest of summer can be a chill staycation filled with creative projects and quiet time at home.
If you’re still reading—thanks! This post was half-walk, half-journal, and 100% real-time planning. More updates to come as these projects come to life.
Shop now at: TeePublic.com/user/cooldojobro
