True Noir Tales drags you into stark black and white stories so brutally honest they’ll slap you awake. This collection isn’t just a bunch of tales; it’s a wake-up call to explore the epic, hidden dramas playing out in the shadows of your life!
Stark black and white true-life stories so brutally honest they’ll slap you awake. This collection isn’t just a bunch of tale: it’s a wake-up call to explore the epic, hidden dramas playing out in the shadows of your own life.
Hardcover Edition
Subway Vigilante is the story that starts the book and answers the questions: Would you get involved during an attack? And, what are the consequences? From there it's a non-stop thrill ride with Crime in a Resort Town, True Noir Romance, and more!
These stories are 100% true! Either lived first hand or heard from the source. Drawn from memory in a visceral style that allows no embellishments and comes from no script.
TRUE NOIR TALES is a gripping graphic novel etched in striking black and white, where reality blurs into the surreal. Each story, plucked from the shadows of truth, is so outlandish you'd scoff if you heard it firsthand—but on these pages, they come to life with a punchy, raw authenticity. From gritty urban legends to bizarre encounters that defy explanation, TRUE NOIR TALES transforms the unbelievable into compelling comic book fun, weaving a tapestry of narratives that will leave you questioning the very fabric of reality.
There are several reward tiers at different pledge levels, from digital-only rewards to full cover sets and original artwork! Please see the pledge descriptions in the sidebar for complete details.
All cover art and designs is not final, we will keep fine tuning it.
Born on the mean streets of New York and schooled in the slums of Brooklyn and war torn Guatemala, Eric is the son of an advertising executive of the Mad Men era. Refusing to follow in the sellout family footsteps, Eric left home at 18 to forge his own path of poverty and struggle, seeking life experience fodder for his writing.
After a string of menial jobs ranging from electrician assistant in the subzero wastes of upstate New York to a brief stint as a Carvel Ice Cream cake painter in Guido-rich New Jersey, Eric took a job building giant satellite dishes on US embassies and consulates across South & Central America, the Caribbean, Asia, and Oceania. After being shot at in El Salvador, tear-gassed (also in El Salvador), receiving death threats in Colombia from the DEA agents that the show "Narcos" was about, and having a nervous breakdown in Mexico City, he retired from embassy work.
He then spent 20 years in the neurotic world of commercial TV casting in Los Angeles. He now has plenty to write about.
💥 Welcome to Comictopia — a celebration of creativity and collaboration from a diverse group of writers and artists collectively running comic book crowdfunding projects from July 18th -August 8th.
🔥 Cross-Collaboration Freebies — All 30+ Comictopia creators have paired up with a fellow participant to create two freebies together. If BOTH projects reach their initial funding goal, backers who support BOTH at a physical level will get the TWO [2] cross-collab freebies listed on their campaign page, one will ship from each creator. The more pairs of Comictopia creators you support, the more limited freebies you will earn ✨
In the gritty heart of Midtown Manhattan, there was a blind, homeless street composer named Moondog. This guy crafted his haunting music on handmade, totally unique instruments. That's the kind of vibe I bring to making True Noir Tales.
Creating True Noir Tales is a whole different ballgame compared to any other comic out there (at least, as far as I know). Picture this: I sit down at my XP-Pen screen, and I just start drawing the comic straight from memory. No scripts, no storyboards, no layouts. It’s a loose, impulsive, stream-of-consciousness type of art. Every black line you see is directly inked—no penciling. It's not about being perfect; it's about telling the story perfectly.
People often say my art reminds them of R. Crumb or Art Spiegelman. Now, I'm not claiming to be on their level, but I get where they’re coming from. Here’s a quirky habit of mine when creating TNT: I recycle the page layout. Yep, the same panels you saw in Subway Vigilante appear in every issue! Sure, I’ll whip up a new layout when necessary, but why mess with a good thing? Just look at page 4 from Crime in a Resort Town and compare it to page 4 from Subway Vigilante. See what I mean?
Let me take you back to the first True Noir Tale I ever created, Subway Vigilante. It was around 1999, and after a lifetime of being a comic nerd and collector, I was itching to make my own. I used ballpoint pens and Sharpies, printed it on an Epson home printer (which I bought, used, and promptly returned to Office Depot), and had my girlfriend at the time bind the pages with a sewing machine.
With my stitched edition of Subway Vigilante, I marched into San Diego Comic Con, ready to conquer the world. Instead, I got told at every portfolio review that my drawing sucked and I should focus on writing. "Put away your Sharpies and give it up," were the exact words. Ouch. My art has come a long way since then.
Subway Vigilante was based on a true story of when I defended a girl I didn't know from three thugs on a New York City train. (Kids, do not try this at home.)
When I first published my Espresso Detective comic, I took the original Subway Vigilante drawings, scanned them, and polished them up in Photoshop. I included the whole story in ED No. 1, but to save on costs, I printed it sideways, two story pages per paper page.
That no-holds-barred, get-it-done attitude carried over to future segments of True Noir Tales that came with later issues of Espresso Detective (though printed right side up).
Not everything in True Noir Tales happened to me. Some stories come from cousins, friends, enemies, and lovers. In that Sharpie-fueled rush to create, I crafted the pointy-haired hero who plays the part of these real-life characters.
Life throws us some seriously unbelievable experiences that trigger our bullshit detectors. But those incredible, too-strange-to-be-true moments? They really happened.
Or should I say, they are...
PS, Moondog's music went on to be performed by the world's greatest composers and symphonies. How unlikely is that?
I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering support and encouragement throughout the journey of The Espresso Detective comic, and now True Noir Tales. From our first campaign back in 2017, you have played a pivotal role in making this project a resounding success. I genuinely appreciate your commitment, and I want you to know that I take my responsibilities very seriously. In fact, I have a track record of exceeding funding goals and delivering all promised rewards in my six previous crowdfunding campaigns.
I personally handle all aspects of the comic's creation, to minimize any risks involved. When it comes to fulfilling rewards, I take matters into my own hands to guarantee that everything not only meets but surpasses your expectations. My ultimate goal is to ensure your happiness every step of the way. Undoubtedly, any worthwhile endeavor carries its share of risks and challenges, and crowdfunding is no exception. However, I firmly believe that preparation is the key to mitigating these risks. That's why I have invested time and resources into honing my skills through Comixlaunch courses and applying the valuable lessons learned to gain real-world experience.
With your continued support, I am determined to deliver on all my promises and enhance your experience with each campaign. You can back me with utmost confidence because I am committed to being there for the long haul.
