Nonplayer

Nonplayer Goes Hollywood

2011-08-09T22:30:00.000-07:00

The cat's out of the bag: Nonplayer has been picked up by Warner Bros.!

From Variety:

Warner Bros. has acquired feature film rights to Nate Simpson's comicbook "Nonplayer" from publisher Image Comics and has set up the potential tentpole project with producers Roy Lee ("The Ring") and David Heyman (the "Harry Potter" series).
"Nonplayer" is a sci-fi/fantasy story about Dana Stevens, a brilliant young woman who retreats from the dismal workaday world of the future into the digital fantasy realm of Jarvath, where she's a fearless warrior.
First of six issues went on sale in April.
Prior to "Nonplayer," Simpson worked as a videogame concept artist.
Heyman most recently produced WB's "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2," which has grossed more than $1 billion worldwide since opening last month. He's in production on Alfonso Cuaron's Sandra Bullock starrer "Gravity," which WB recently skedded for release on Nov. 21, 2012.
Lee recently produced Lionsgate's upcoming Taylor Lautner thriller "Abduction" and served as an exec producer on CBS Films' Daniel Radcliffe starrer "The Woman in Black." He's developing a remake of the South Korean classic "Oldboy" for Mandate Pictures.

In other news, my interview with Ben Peirce over at the NEAR MINTerview podcast went up today. If you're interested in hearing the details about how Nonplayer evolved from pictures on a blog into a full-on Image comic, you may find our chat illuminating! We also talk about the reasons for the issue 2 delay, as well as what's being done to get it finished. Plus lots of other stuff. Thanks for the great interview, Ben!

Nate Won the Russ Manning Award!

2011-07-29T12:17:00.000-07:00

From the Eisner Awards Website:

Nate Simpson, artist of Nonplayer(published by Image), was the recipient of the 2011 Russ Manning Promising Newcomer Award (commonly referred to as The Manning Award) as part of the 2011 Eisner Awards held Friday, July 22nd, as part of Comic-Con International: San Diego, North America's largest comic book and popular arts convention.
The Manning Award has been given out annually at the San Diego Comic-Con since 1982. It is presented to a comics artist who, early in his or her career, shows a superior knowledge and ability in the art of creating comics. It is named for Russ Manning, the artist best known for his work on the Tarzan and Star Warsnewspaper strips and the Magnus, Robot Fighter comic book. Russ was a popular guest at the San Diego convention in the 1970s. The first recipient of the award was former Manning assistant Dave Stevens. Other past recipients include Jan Duursema, Steve Rude, Scott McCloud, Art Adams, Eric Shanower, Dan Brereton, Jeff Smith, Gene Ha, Alexander Maleev, Goran Sudzuka, Eric Wight, David Petersen, Cathy Malkasian, Eleanor Davis, and Marion Churchland.
The 2011 nominees were:
Janet Lee, artist of Return of the Dapper Men (published by Archaia)
Adam Hines, writer/artist of Duncan the Wonder Dog (published by AdHouse)
David Marquez, writer/artist of Days Missing and Syndrome (published by Archaia)
Paul Roman Martinez, artist of Adventures of the 19XX (published by Kopetkai)
Nate Simpson, artist of Nonplayer (published by Image)

Thanks guys!

Nate at San Diego Comic Con

2011-07-15T11:04:00.001-07:00

I've been making noises like I wouldn't be making it to San Diego Comic Con this year, but it turns out those noises were inaccurate. I'll be at the Image booth next Friday from 3:45 to 4:45. Feel free to swing by and say hello -- I'm happy to answer questions, talk shop, smile at babies, sign stuff, talk with babies, shop for questions, quest for answers, and sign babies.

See you there!

Vancouver Comic Con

2011-05-15T07:43:00.000-07:00

I'm in Vancouver -- Canada's life-sized Sim City map! You can find me at the Vancouver Comic Con today from 11 am to 5 pm. I've brought a few stacks of Nonplayer #1 to sell, as well as some new posters (the first four pages of the comic are now available in poster form). My studio mate Moritat (The Spirit, Elephantmen) will also be attending. If you're in a gift-giving mood, I quite enjoy donuts, while Moritat prefers alfalfa sprouts.

See you there!

Free Comic Book Day Signing at Arcane Comics

2011-05-05T09:57:00.000-07:00

Free Comic Book Day is this Saturday, May 7, and I'll be making an appearance at Arcane Comics from noon to 4pm! I will be selling and signing advance copies from the second printing of Nonplayer #1, as well as selling some very handsome little posters. Please drop by to say hello!

Arcane Comics is located in Ballard:

5809 15th Avenue Northwest
Seattle, WA 98107-3006

Hope to see you there!

-Nate

Nonplayer Now Available at ComiXology

2011-04-21T09:26:00.000-07:00

I'm happy to report that Nonplayer has gone digital! Issue #1 is now available for download at comiXology!

They've also posted a nice little interview with me.

If comics on paper are more your speed, the second printing of issue #1 will appear at your local comic shop on May 11.

Thanks!

Stumptown Comics Fest This Weekend

2011-04-14T09:56:00.000-07:00

This weekend, I'll be at the Stumptown Comics Fest in Portland, OR. If you're in the area and you'd like me to sign your copy of Nonplayer, please visit! I've got my signin' wrist all limbered up. I will also be selling (and, if you like, signing) posters.

I had not anticipated the shortage of issues of Nonplayer #1, however, and I'm only able to bring ten copies to the convention. There will be a raffle, with five issues given out on Saturday at 4pm and the other five awarded on Sunday at 4pm. But wait, that's not all! When you enter the raffle, you're guaranteed first priority when second-printing copies of #1 go up at the Nonplayer store on May 11. So in the loosest possible sense, everybody wins! I'm hoping that everybody who wants one will get one this time around.

On a related note, the second printing of Nonplayer #1 will be hitting stands everywhere on May 11. Image bases the size of their print runs on the number of preorders they get from retailers, so if you want a copy, now's the time to call up your local comic shop and reserve one. The deadline for ordering is April 18 -- this coming Monday. Please tell your friends!

Also, if you have sent me a message online over the last couple of weeks and haven't yet received a response, please know that I am not ignoring you! I am slowly chipping away at my inbox, but I'm doing my best not to let the internet derail my work on issue 2. I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

Thanks to everybody who bought (or attempted to buy) Nonplayer last week. It's been a very exciting time, and I owe it all to you guys!

Nonplayer #1 Released

2011-04-06T08:16:00.000-07:00

Nonplayer #1 appeared on stands all over North America today, and the early word is that people like it! If your local shop has already run out of copies (the first printing wasn't huge), be sure to get in your orders for the second printing, which is right around the corner!

Thanks for your support!

Nonplayer Online Press Roundup

2011-03-29T11:00:00.000-07:00

Nonplayer #1 (out on April 6) has gotten a few more mentions online:

Over at CBR, Tim Callahan writes a great article about the emerging genre of "Gamer Comics," and says of Nonplayer -- "...one of the best-looking comics, of any sort, you're likely to read in the next few months. Is it the best-looking comic of the year? Three months in, the answer is: definitely."

IO9 has this to say -- "Simpson, who worked as a video game designer before working on comics, depicts Dana's ye olde digital playground and her futuristic world with equal aplomb."

And over at the Comic Book Road Show podcast, I got to chat with Chris and Darrell about the process of making the comic. A nice, meaty interview, topped off with my awful Frank Quitely impression!

For those of you who live in the Bay area, I'll be at WonderCon from April 1-3. It looks like we may have a few advance copies of Nonplayer #1 on hand, but supplies are limited, so swing by early if you want one!

See you in San Francisco!

New Nonplayer Reviews at Comics Alliance, Multiversity Comics, and Bleeding Cool

2011-03-14T09:46:00.000-07:00

Advance reviews of Nonplayer are starting to pop up on the web, and so far the response has been pretty positive!

Comics Alliance had this to say:

"Simpson fully utilizes the comic book page to depict spectacular worlds with such detail and authenticity that it's almost like reading a lettered printout of a Miyazaki film... Whoever coined the old adage "comic books are movies with unlimited budgets" anticipated the arrival of Nonplayer." (Go here for the entire review)

Multiversity Comics says:

"It is without a doubt in my mind that I say this comic will make Simpson's career... when a comic comes out and not only immediately catches your eye but completely reinvent the standards of what to expect from up and coming creators in the medium, it comes out as a deafening roar that no one can ignore." (Whoa. Go here for more)

And Bleeding Cool had this to say:

"...Jamie McKelvie meets James Jean meets Jeff Smith meets Geoff Darrow meets Art Adams in a massive orgy with Moebius in the middle of it all." (Read the rest here)

If you're interested in picking up a copy of Nonplayer #1 at your local comic shop, be sure to give them a call today and remind them about Nonplayer. Today's the last day that the distributor is taking orders, so this is your last chance!

Thanks, guys!

Nonplayer Posters Available Online

2011-03-07T15:00:00.000-08:00

The Nonplayer online store is open for business, and there are already a couple of posters you can order. They're both 11" x 17" on silk cardstock paper, and they came out great:

Leave a note in the comments section of the order form if you'd like your poster signed by Nate Simpson!

Emerald City Update

2011-03-05T09:01:00.001-08:00

Nonplayer now has a table at Emerald City: L-10, at the rear of the main hall to your left as you enter (against the wall, to the right of the men's room). Poster signing at the Image booth is still scheduled for 11am - noon today, but I'll be at L-10 doing exactly the same thing at all other times.

I've really liked the people I've met so far. Lots of folks making their own ways up Mount Comics, and it's all very inspiring.

Hope to meet more of you today!

Convention Schedule Correction

2011-03-03T20:17:00.001-08:00

It looks like my initial poster-signing schedule was erroneous. It turns out the convention center opens at 2pm tomorrow (Friday), which, it turns out, is after the planned 11am signing. So it looks like I'll just be doing it on Saturday from 11am to noon.

I'll be at the convention all three days, and the posters will be in boxes behind somebody's table, somewhere. If you see me roaming the floor and you want a poster, we may have to conduct the transaction like a smack deal. I'll send a runner to the stash and have it brought out to you, barring the appearance of 5-0.

Nate Simpson at Emerald City Comicon, March 4-6

2011-03-02T09:52:00.000-08:00

Nate Simpson will be attending Emerald City Comicon this weekend in Seattle. He'll be signing posters at the Image booth on Friday, March 4 and Saturday, March 5, from 11am to noon. Feel free to drop by and say "hi!"

The posters are 11" x 17" prints on silk cardstock paper, and there are two designs available (click to enlarge):

Nate will be wandering the convention floor on all three days, so if you don't see him at the Image booth and you'd like to talk to him, just scream his name really loudly while jumping up and down. He will find you.

In other news, Nonplayer has gotten a few mentions over the past two weeks:

Warren Ellis said some very nice things about Nonplayer over at his blog.

Bob Bretall, co-host of the Comic Book Page podcast, interviewed Nate about Nonplayer at around the 23rd minute of this podcast. He also reviewed the comic (quite favorably) in this other podcast (at about 28:30). Bob and John's other podcasts are highly recommended -- it's hard to find a more comprehensive survey of the state of comics. These guys give new meaning to the word "superfan."

You can also find an in-depth written interview with Nate at Good Comic Books. Joe Innes asks some great questions about the similarities and differences between drawing comics and making video games.

Finally, stalwart defender of quality comics Joe Keatinge over at the Robot 6 blog said some very flattering things:

I’ve been lucky enough to know cartoonist Nate Simpson during the majority of Nonplayer’s development (previously known as Project Waldo). However, despite seeing his process and almost every page as they’ve been drawn, the moment I sat down and read a print out of the book, I was seriously knocked on my ass like I had never seen a single line before. This dude’s comics debut is ridiculous and puts many a veteran cartoonist to shame. It’s one of those books I don’t want to describe too much, as I’d rather you experience it, but if my word’s not good enough for you know I showed a copy to that Jean “Moebius” Giraud dude during Angouleme and after saying it was “Very cool! Beautiful!” he asked me to keep it. That’s pretty much the greatest comics endorsement of all time.

Joe's the most passionate, energetic person you'll ever meet, and talented, too! Keep an eye out for his comics in the near future, and check out his other blog entries -- this guy knows comics!

See you at Emerald City!

Moebius Approved

2011-01-28T15:35:00.000-08:00

The man himself, holding a copy of Nonplayer #1.

Thanks to Justin Norman for making me print out a copy before he left for Angouleme, and to Joe Keatinge (pictured above) for having the nerve to show it to my all-time comics hero. Moebius asked if he could keep it, to which Joe graciously assented. Joe really made the right call on that one. I really need to get out to Angouleme next year.

I still feel like I'm dreaming this.

Image Comics Announces Nonplayer

2011-01-27T19:10:00.000-08:00

Image Comics has announced the April 6 release of Nonplayer #1, by Nate Simpson! Also, there's an official Nonplayer website (which you have found). Also, a store with nothing in it yet. If you have any ideas about what you would like to see there, drop me a line! I'm thinking Nonplayer brand fishing lures. No, wait. Tires.

Here's the official press release:

ESCAPE INTO THE FANTASY OF NONPLAYER
Newcomer Nate Simpson Makes Monumental Debut at Image

Berkeley, CA - 25 January 2011 –

Image Comics carries on its tradition of introducing the best new talent with an all-new title from rising star Nate Simpson. Combining references to massively multi-player online roleplaying games and science fiction/fantasy mainstays with exquisite illustration, Simpson's NONPLAYER is planned as a six-issue miniseries, with the first installment out in April.

NONPLAYER is the story of Dana Stevens, a young woman who retreats from the dismal workaday world of the future into the digital fantasy realm of Jarvath, where she's a fearless warrior. Dana is not alone in her pursuits, however, and before long her adventures begin to cat-and-mouse back and forth between the two worlds.

Prior to NONPLAYER, Simpson made video games come to life for their players in his previous job as a concept artist. After taking a year off to "learn how to make comics," though, he is quickly establishing himself as not only as a gifted illustrator, but as a storyteller with a wonderfully unique voice as well.

“A comic book is just about the most elaborate thing a person can create without assistance, which sounds like heaven to somebody who's spent fourteen years in video game development,” Simpson explained. "I've had a lot of fun putting all the nuts and bolts of this story together and figuring out how best to approach everything in terms of production, and I can't wait to share this story with people."

Added Image Publisher Eric Stephenson, "It's always a pleasure to link up with a creator as well-rounded and imaginative as Nate. Every aspect of NONPLAYER is so well-considered, it's like working with an old pro. As first timers go, Nate is one of the most impressive I've ever seen."

Indeed, Simpson has built a panoramic world through sequential art, with each interior page more lovingly executed than the last. The dual worlds of NONPLAYER are depicted with detailed rendering, whether in Dana's real world or in the lavishly real game world. The overall effect is not dissimilar to the lush artwork found in some of Europe's best and most loved comics, but with a distinct flavor all Simpson's own.

NONPLAYER, a 32-page full-color science fiction and fantasy comic will be in stores April 6, 2011, for $2.99. For more information, visit www.nonplayercomic.com.

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Sarah deLaine
PR & Marketing Coordinator
Image Comics, Inc.