July 25th, 2021
My squirrels! I am beyond excited to finally reveal the cover for my upcoming all-ages (yes, this one is for everybody!) graphic novel, Brushfire.
I’ve been working on this story for a long time (and as you can see, it’s titled Wave 1, which means that it’s just the beginning of a series). There isn’t an official release date yet, but if I were a betting rodent, I would expect this before the end of 2021.
As you can probably deduce from the art, this is my love letter to the cartoons I grew up with in the 80’s and 90’s. Not everything from that era has aged particularly well, but I wanted to create a more timeless story that anyone from age 8 to 88 would get something out of.
I’ve described this as Chip ‘n Dale’s Rescue Rangers meets Agents of SHIELD or Fringe, but it’s also very much something all its own. It’s about adorable animals, yes, but it’s also about love and family and music and science and time and… well, adorable animals.
But what specifically is Brushfire all about? Well, let’s take a look at the official description.
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You have to memorize the Mission Statement: Brushfire exists to reveal and respect the truths of the universe, and to protect and provide for all of its inhabitants.
Brushfire is an advanced society of wildlife who live in the Burrow, a sprawling subterranean city built deep under Faribault’s Central Park.
Squirrels Bay and Elle are part of a specialized group within Brushfire called FLARE — Fair Leaders in Action, Relief, and Exploration. The members of FLARE are respected and admired throughout the community for their work, their honesty, and their bravery.
Years ago, a collection of scientists called the Ekpyrotic Ensemble were lost overnight while trying to tap into a vast source of mysterious power. In the present, a strange visitor lights a spark under FLARE to revisit the tragic events of that evening, and possibly discover a way to reverse them.
Brushfire is the work of acclaimed writer and artist Dennis Vogen, the creator of The Weirdos comic book series, novellas like Flip and Theia, and the collection of essays known as Time is a Solid State.
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I hope you dig the cover, and I can’t wait to share so much more to come!
The Den 