Dave Cook

Dave Cook

@davecook.bsky.social

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 / AI 🚫 Award-winning writer of comics + game history books. Killtopia | BPM | Hello Darkness | Boom! Studios | Titan Comics | Bitmap Books | Agent: Watson Little Hire me / portfolio: https://www.dave-cook.com All my links: https://linktr.ee/davecook

8.1K followers1.7K following5.5K posts

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Dave Cook
@davecook.bsky.social

Out now! A fresh print run of my beat ‘em up history book is available over at @bitmapbooks.com This sucker keeps selling out, so be sure to grab a copy during this wave! It features over 200 brawlers, I musing Streets of Rage, Final Fight, TMNT, Double Dragon and more.

Dave Cook
@davecook.bsky.social

Have to be honest here: Comic con tables are getting so expensive that I can see a point where indie creators are priced out of exhibiting. It simply won't be worth the cost / time. It's a worrying trajectory I don't see many discussing. If exhibitors can't afford to exhibit, there's no show 🤷‍♂️

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Dave Cook
@davecook.bsky.social

Cons do have value of course - and I know it's not always about the money, moreso getting your books out there. But to be honest, Kickstarter and digital stores are doing more for me on this front than conventions now. I have to ask myself why I need (most) conventions now. There are exceptions.

Dave Cook
@davecook.bsky.social

But as time goes on, there are fewer and fewer exceptions to this. Thought Bubble is an obvious one, as I always do big guns there, along with a few others. But yeah, I just don't see much value in spending my weekends working at cons now. I wonder where it's all headed...

Dave Cook
@davecook.bsky.social

Have to be honest here: Comic con tables are getting so expensive that I can see a point where indie creators are priced out of exhibiting. It simply won't be worth the cost / time. It's a worrying trajectory I don't see many discussing. If exhibitors can't afford to exhibit, there's no show 🤷‍♂️

Dave Cook
@davecook.bsky.social

I've already scaled my convention calendar right back, because I don't see the value in many shows now. They're either small shows charging ludicrous prices for tables, with no chance of a return on investment - or they're larger shows that are barely about comics anymore. Am I alone in this?

Dave Cook reposted

Dave Cook
@davecook.bsky.social

Many thanks to all who ordered some comics over the weekend! My store sale is now on, with all digital editions just £1 for a limited time...

Dave Cook@davecook.bsky.social

My comic store sale is on now! All digital editions of Killtopia, BPM and my other titles are now just £1 for a limited time. Print copies and merch are also discounted. Get yourself a wee deal while you can! davecookcomics.bigcartel.com

Dave Cook
@davecook.bsky.social

Many thanks to all who ordered some comics over the weekend! My store sale is now on, with all digital editions just £1 for a limited time...

Dave Cook@davecook.bsky.social

My comic store sale is on now! All digital editions of Killtopia, BPM and my other titles are now just £1 for a limited time. Print copies and merch are also discounted. Get yourself a wee deal while you can! davecookcomics.bigcartel.com

Dave Cook
@davecook.bsky.social

Japanese N5 practice is going well. I just passed my first mock exam, although I'm still sweating over the listening portion in the actual, live test come December. A passing grade is roughly 45% so there's still some work to be done before I can feel comfortable with it.

Dave Cook
@davecook.bsky.social

Killtopia: The Complete Collection spotted in the wild at the Topping and Co book shop in Leith, Edinburgh. The book is 260+ pages of award-winning, cyberpunk graphic novel carnage, available worldwide in your local comic / book store, Amazon etc. Check it out at Killtopia.co

Dave Cook
@davecook.bsky.social

Paid graphic design gig: I'm looking for a designer who has page-setting experience, who can help me format my new crowdfunding guidebook. If you're interested, please leave a comment below with samples, portfolio links, and contact details. Experienced designers only. Bots will be ignored.

Dave Cook
@davecook.bsky.social

Out now! A fresh print run of my beat ‘em up history book is available over at @bitmapbooks.com This sucker keeps selling out, so be sure to grab a copy during this wave! It features over 200 brawlers, I musing Streets of Rage, Final Fight, TMNT, Double Dragon and more.

Dave Cook
@davecook.bsky.social

Street Fighter was no way near as bad as critics are saying. If you’re a fan of the games you can easily add some points onto their scores. The casting is superb, the animated sequences are great, and the fights are ridiculous in the best ways It’s not perfect, but it’s a big, brash fun time

Dave Cook
@davecook.bsky.social

A new printing of my beat ‘em up history is now available! Get yours before it sells out again👇

Bitmap Books@bitmapbooks.com

Go Straight: The Ultimate Guide to Side-Scrolling Beat-’Em-Ups An exhaustive chronicle of games covering nearly 40 years of bare knuckle, street fighting action. Out now: www.bitmapbooks.com/collections/... #bitmapbooks #booksky #gaming #beatemup #retrogaming @davecook.bsky.social

Dave Cook reposted

Dave Cook
@davecook.bsky.social

This fresh uncoloured page snippet from Killtopia: Phantoms issue 2, Neo Tokyo’s former bloodsport star Bloody Mary reflects on her past. She visits her PR agency to explore new career options, now that the Killtopia bloodsport is dead. With… unexpected results. More: www.Killtopia.co

Dave Cook
@davecook.bsky.social

This fresh uncoloured page snippet from Killtopia: Phantoms issue 2, Neo Tokyo’s former bloodsport star Bloody Mary reflects on her past. She visits her PR agency to explore new career options, now that the Killtopia bloodsport is dead. With… unexpected results. More: www.Killtopia.co

Dave Cook
@davecook.bsky.social

Spotted in my home town… a laundromat that offers you whisky while you wait 🤔 The AI logo suggests this entire concept was suggested by ChatGPT.

Dave Cook
@davecook.bsky.social

I was just about to break 10k followers on Twitter, and it felt like a huge step back to abandon it. I still have my account but I’m far happier not using it since the ultra divorcee took over.

Jacob T. Levy@jacobtlevy.bsky.social

I am way too online for my own good, and I had an unreasonably large twitter following, and I really *enjoyed* twitter for a lot of years, and yet leaving there and never looking back was maybe the easiest what-felt-like-a-big-ethical decision I've ever made.

Dave Cook
@davecook.bsky.social

Happy Friday pals 👋 The world may be in a rough spot right now, but try to focus on yourself and your own happiness. It’s never selfish to do this. Whatever you need to get through the day; embrace it, enjoy it, and have fun while you still can And as always, fuck AI (Just wanted to add that 😅)

Dave Cook
@davecook.bsky.social

Check out the awesome graphic novel, Embers, by the supremely talented @lyndondraws.bsky.social It's funding right now on Kickstarter, and is well worth your attention. Don't miss out on this one!

Lyndon White MCM London AA A-05@lyndondraws.bsky.social

A fire demon threatens the town of Wispmire and it's going to take more than a wizard to stop it. Please check out my new fantasy graphic novel, Embers. Now funding on Kickstarter. www.kickstarter.com/projects/lyn...

kickstarter.comEmbers - A fantasy graphic novel full of monsters & magicA travelling wizard returns to his home town, to save it from a fire demon and the people who banished him as a child.
Dave Cook
@davecook.bsky.social

A wee snippet of the 2027 edition of Crowdfunding Comics - my complete guidebook to planning, running, marketing and fulfilling your comic campaign. What areas of crowdfunding would you like to see me tackle in this edition? Let me know :)

Dave Cook
@davecook.bsky.social

I've become so bad at not responding to messages lately, even from friends and family. On top of work, writing etc. I don't have the energy for my inboxes or extra screen time. It's hard to opt out of this without isolating yourself, losing relationships or falling off radars. But...

Dave Cook
@davecook.bsky.social

I'm just so fatigued by even the thought of getting my phone out to respond to a message lately. It's definitely put me out of touch with people more and more, the longer I avoid it. But it's all so tiring, living in your phone like this everyday. Is it just me, or are others feeling this way?

Dave Cook
@davecook.bsky.social

I always reply to my Japanese tutor’s emails in Japanese. It can take a while, but it’s a great way to keep practicing between exercises😳 I think I’ve made a few mistakes near the end, but getting more confident with it 😅

Dave Cook
@davecook.bsky.social

Preorders for the new printing of my beat ‘em up history book are open now! Hit up the @bitmapbooks.com site to get yours before this print run sells out!

Bitmap Books@bitmapbooks.com

Go Straight: The Ultimate Guide to Side-Scrolling Beat-’Em-Ups Featuring every major game in the genre, beautifully presented and expertly critiqued.  Pre-orders open now: www.bitmapbooks.com/collections/... #bitmapbooks #books #gaming #beatemup #retrogaming @davecook.bsky.social

Dave Cook
@davecook.bsky.social

What a stunning time at Oh!Con in Stornoway this weekend. The show was such a great vibe. The hospitality and kindness shown to all the con guests was wonderful, and today’s tour of Lewis was superb. Stornoway itself was lovely and I look forward to coming back one day. Thanks to the team 🙏