Next Friday, May 18th, our first omnibus titled Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa – Beginnings will hit the digital market by storm! Published by Action Lab Entertainment in conjunction with MAW Productions Studio, this book marks the first time Jetta and company has been released entirely in color and specifically for digital release. Jetta: Beginnings is the first book in a series of digital omnibi that will hit periodically over the next two years. At 123 pages of martial arts action, we can’t be happier with the results! Here are a few exclusive preview pages that we have released just to get you ready!!
Jetta: Beginnings is the first time Shianndrea Toshigawa’s younger years have been depicted in detail. All of the key characters are here as well as some that you never knew played a part in her path to ninja master and Chosen One status.
One of the highlights for this book is the love between sword mates Shainndrea and Kim. Their love for each other is the one thing that keeps her sane. However, having to let go of each other almost tears her apart. Their story is the center of the Toshigawa Universe.
For new readers, this is THE jumping on point. For older readers, this book has new information and extra scenes that put a big spin on what you think you know about the Toshigawa Universe. Join us on this new and exciting ride next Friday, May 18th. I’m sure you will be glad you did.
Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa – Beginnings
123 Pages of Martial Arts action by Martheus Wade, Kevin L. Williams, Janet Wade
Available at these digital partners
NOOK
It’s that time again to Drink-N-Draw!! And we have a big reason to celebrate the art of putting pencil to paper!
MAW Productions Studio invites you to join us at The Spaghetti Warehouse on May 18th for a night of pencil pushing, copic slinging, and beer drinking!! This is in celebration of the digital release of our first omnibus titled Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa – Beginnings published by Action Lab Entertainment!! To kick this release off right, every 5th person to come to the Drink -N- Draw will get an offer for a free download of the new book! So, sign up at the link below and come hang out and draw (or write) with our art community. See you there!!
Sign Up for the FUN here!!
Free Comic Book Day is May 5th 2012 and we will be celebrating it in two different locations at the same time. (Crazy I know.)
First off Janet Stone Wade and myself along with Shawn Pryor of Action Lab Entertainment will be signing books, sketching, and meeting readers at Collectibles Etc in Lexington Ky! Janet and I will have copies of our new book, Jetta vs Turra that we will be giving away to everyone that stops by our table. If you will be in the area, make sure you stop by, grab a book and sketch and enjoy the festivities.
Back in Memphis, TN Kevin L. Williams, Muley and Turra will be signing copies of Muley the Mule and Friends, Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa and Turra: Gun Angel at The Comics Cellar along side members of the Mid South Cartoonists Association! If you are in the Memphis area, take a trip to The Cellar and find out more information on the MSCA, grab a book from the editor of MAW Productions and have Turra sign your books!!
June is going to be just as busy for us!
On June 7th-10th Kevin, Janet, Muley, Turra and myself will be at Superman Celebration with other special guest artists! Muley will be hosting SuperMule and the Cookie Caper, a show that will star all of the cast of Muley the Mule and Friends. I will also be teaching comic book illustration classes on Saturday and Sunday. If you want to know more and see who all will be there, check out the site at http://www.supermancelebration.net/specialguests/comicsguests
The very next week, we will be at Anime Blues Con June 15th-17th!
The entire MAW Productions Crew will be there in full force as we will be hosting a slew of panel discussion about the creation of comic books and manga, as well as a Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa panel filled with music and fun!! Also, look for our exclusive comic book for the convention called, “The Blues” that will only be available at ABC 2012! To see all of the panels we will be hosting as well as guests to this awesome con take a look at animeblues.com!
See you somewhere out there on the road!!
Here is a sneak peak at “Out of the BLUE”, a book that will debut at Anime Blues Con 2012 and stars convention spokes models, Trixi and Dax! See how the band get’s back together only at ANIME BLUES CON 2012
Illustrated and written by Martheus Wade
Inks by Janet Wade
Colors by Marvin Cheveallier
Edits by Kevin L. Williams
Free Comic Book Day is May 5th 2012 and we will be celebrating it in two different locations at the same time. (Crazy I know.)
First off Janet Saltygirl Stone Wade and myself along with Shawn Pryor of Action Lab Entertainment will be signing books, sketching, and meeting readers at Collectibles Etc in Lexington Ky! Janet and I will have copies of our new book, Jetta vs Turra that we will be giving away FOR FREE to everyone that stops by our table. If you will be in the area, make sure you stop by, grab a book and sketch and enjoy the festivities.
Back in Memphis, TN Kevin L. Williams, Muley and Turra will be signing copies of Muley the Mule and Friends, Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa and Turra: Gun Angel at The Comics Cellar along side members of the Mid South Cartoonists Association! If you are in the Memphis area, take a trip to The Cellar and find out more information on the MSCA, grab a book from the editor of MAW Productions and have Turra sign your books!!
Also, don’t forget to download your FREE 200 plus page digital comic from Action Lab Entertainment, called Action Lab Confidential from digital comic providers such as Graphicly, Comics+, Drive Thru Comics and additional digital outlets.
Action Lab Entertainment, best known for the indie smash-hit comic book Princeless and the soon to be released Double Jumpers wants to give readers the opportunity to read extended previews of their entire catalog of comics and original graphic novels, including some titles that have yet to hit the shelves.
This means you can download a copy and get a free sneak extended preview of Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa – Beginnings!!
“Beginnings” collects Jetta – Last Chances (first published in 2003) and Jetta – Crucible (first published in 2009)into one 120 page full color graphic novel.
With all new story additions, art and ending commentary, Beginnings brings an entirely new reading experience to these exciting books and provides an excellent jumping on point for new readers who have always wanted to check out one of the most popular female characters in independent comics.
We will be all over the place this Free Comic Book Day!! Happy reading and we’ll see you guys somewhere out there.
The Turra: Gun Angel series is set to see publication in 2013. But, our very own Kevin Williams, sat down with series writer Sean Taylor and talked about his career and what he has planned for our favorite ninja with guns.
Interview by Kevin L. Willimas
Hi. My name is Sean Taylor, and I’m here because I haven’t had a drink in 21 days…
Wait. Sorry. That’s for the other group. Let’s try that again…
Hi. My name is Sean Taylor, and I’m here because Turra held me at gunpoint and made me answer these questions.
I write comics books and prose. And I get paid for it. How’s that? Any more compromising information you want to blackmail me with can be found either at http://www.taylorverse.com/ or my writing blog http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/.
I’ll admit up front it’s a mixed bag of goodness and badness. Coming from an English-Lit background, I’m the kind of guy who enjoys reading Shakespeare, Flannery O’Connor, Hemingway, and F. Scott Fitzgerald for fun. I’m also a big fan of Raymond Carver, Annie Dillard, C.S. Lewis, and Zora Neale Hurston.
But I love my thrillers too, and Ed McBain’s work is a huge influence as well as that of Donald Westlake and Christa Faust.
When I turn to sci-fi, I’m kind of old-school, and I prefer to read Vonnegut, Heinlein, and Bradbury, or sometimes Dr. Who novelisations (see that ‘s’ – that’s because it’s British… cool, huh?) from the old series. (And I cut my teeth on C.S. Lewis’ fiction.)
And I’ve recently rediscovered the work of H. Rider Haggard, particularly his brilliant She series of tales, and the exciting Mars saga by E. R. Burroughs.
For comics, I always inspired by books written by Chuck Dixon, Dwayne McDuffie, Steve Seagle, Beau Smith, or Gail Simone. Those guys (and that classy lady) really deliver the goods on a consistent basis.
I got my start in the pages of Shooting Star Comics Anthology. Some friends and I started our own company
and took the bull by the horns to show this industry we meant business. I had previously been a magazine editor, so I became the editor-in-chief of the company and helped us to develop publishing plans and publication schedules.
I took up lettering because I was too broke to hire a letterer, so I learned how to do it myself in the stories I had written, and thankfully, there was helpful information all over the Internet.
We had a blast putting out our books and eventually branching out to do other people’s work too, such as the critically acclaimed Children of the Grave and one of the graphic novels in the Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa series, and I was able to publish my Fishnet Angel: Jane Doe miniseries as well, but when it came time to close up the shop and move on, we instinctively knew it, and we all moved on to find our new places in the comics world. Fortunately several of us have landed in various spots from AC to IDW and beyond.
You know, a list will be easier. Here are a few I’m really, really proud of.
Coming soon:
The Ruby Files Volume 1, Airship 27 Productions, 2012
Price of the Missionary’s Gold: The New Adventures of Armless O’Neil Volume One, Pulp Obscura (Pro Se Productions), 2012
Prose:
Blackthorn: Thunder on Mars, White Rocket Books, 2011
Dreams of Steam II: Brass and Bolts, Kerlak Publishing, 2011
Lance Star: Sky Ranger Volume III, Airship 27 Productions & Cornerstone Book Publishers, 2011
Pro Se Presents #1, Pro Se Productions, 2011
Required Reading Remixed, IDW Publishing, 2011 (Wal-Mart exclusive)
Show Me A Hero, New Babel Books, 2011Zombiesque, Penquin/Daw Books, 2011
Classics Mutilated, IDW Publishing, 2010
Comics:
All-Star Pulp Comics #1, Airship 27 Productions and Redbud Studios, 2011
Feline Force, Mini-Komix, 2011
Adventures of the Bad Girls Club: An Illustrated Episode #0 , IDW Publishing, 2011
The Invisible Man graphic novel adaptation, Campfire Publishing, 2009
Gene Simmons Dominatrix Trade Paperback, IDW Publishing, 2008
Gene Simmons House of Horrors Trade Paperback, IDW Publishing, 2007
Fishnet Angel: Jane Doe #1-2, Shooting Star Comics, 2005
Shooting Star Comics Anthology #1-6, Shooting Star Comics, 2002-2005
What has it been like to work with Gene Simmons (have you met him, talked to him)?Working with Gene was actually a lot more fun that I had previously been led to believe by others who had either worked with him or known people who had worked with him. He was usually very quick to approve the stories I submitted to him, and typically only with minor changes. I think the only major change he made to a pitch I sent him for Dominatrix was to change the lead heroine’s civilian name from Danika (my preference) to Dominique (the one in the books). Other than that, Gene’s ideas for the book must have really meshed with mine. Either that or my editors had all the fun of butting heads.
I did get to meet him once during the book’s run, and that was at San Diego Comic Con. I remember that moment because I learned something about him that I’ll remember and try to emulate until the day I die — that man really loves and appreciates his fans. Even when it made life hell for the people trying to organize the line around the various booths, and even when it ticked off the other booth owners (even the big two), Gene insisted that all the fans in line got to see him and that he only did his signing in an area where the fans could be easily accessed.
I usually write at Starbucks. That way I can simulate the “office” experience and stop every now and then to talk to the folks at the counter. I’ve tried writing at home, but there are just too many distractions unless I’m writing late into the night. Maybe it’s my ADD and the voices in my head that compel me to check out what new movies have been added to Netflix. Or, maybe it’s the “Dad, what do you think about this?” or my wife’s thinly veiled threats of what might happen if I don’t stop long enough to help her fold the laundry or set the table for dinner. (And yes, “thinly” was used sarcastically, for those of you who don’t pick up on this kind of thing naturally.)
For editing though, I have to lock myself at my kitchen table and turn off everything in the house that makes noise except ambient music really low. Then I just work until I hear my kids’ buses drive by the house.
Primarily I listen for clues that might surprise me in songs and from other media. About two years ago I was
listening to “The Beautiful Ones” from Prince’s Purple Rain soundtrack and it hit me what a cool comic book title that could be. From there, a sort of War of the Worlds meets Sex and the City plot entered my head and the characters naturally developed from there. Or there is the time I went to a comic book creator get-together wearing my Hot Rod Girl t-shirt with the art from the old movie. A guy asked me if Hot Rod Girl was the new comic book I was working on, and I thought for a moment, then said, “It is now!”
If I already have a character I have to write, then the process is a little different. I never use a set formula, but I do pull from a similar group of tools. For example, I used to fill out questionnaires as my characters or answer a list of questions about them or even fill out a credit card application as the character (but never sent it in, of course), but I no longer have to do that because after a few years, those kind of things became internalized and a matter of habit when I pre-write. When you know those kinds of things about your characters, the story ideas naturally begin to flow. And if I ever get stumped, I just ask, “What’s the worth thing that could happen to this character at this point?” Those always turn into some fun tales for me to write.
What is your favorite genre of writing (noir, mystery, martial arts, comedy)?I think that whatever genre I’m writing in, I tend to funnel everything through the same well, funnel. It’s a weird amalgamation of character-driven pulp action writing. I just can’t get away from it.
I’ve worked in so many genres and enjoyed them all: pulp, sci-fi, fantasy, super-heroes, mystery, drama, literary, horror, steampunk. What I really enjoy, however, is throwing combinations of them in a blender and seeing what develops.
• A steampunk horror tale with sci-fi overtones? Sure.
• A literary horror tale about saving a marriage after the dead rise? Why not?
• A pulp tale of time-displaced hero on Mars battling snake women who question what it means to deny their culture and make an individual choice to be a better person? Absolutely.
• A literary sci-fi tale about whether a baby is a curse, a blessing, or merely an organ? Is there a better way to explore such an idea?
• A love story about two supervillains who just want to be good neighbors in their subdivision in spite of their choice of career? Of course.
That said, comedic writing (other than characters quipping one-liners) is definitely not my forte. I bow to Erik Burnham’s superior ability in that genre.
The first time I met Martheus was at Mid South Con several, several, way too many years ago. Scott McCullar introduced us and recommended that we bring Martheus and the Jetta book into the Shooting Star Comics fold. After I saw the book, how could I argue with him? And that, as they say in Casablanca, was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
connects you with the story line and characters?As I said earlier, I first read the book at Mid South Con quite a few years ago. I immediately recognized a sort of rough genius in the book. Sure, Martheus was still coming into his own as a story teller, but geez, the art was gorgeous and talking with him about the characters… well, the passion was clearly a driving force for him. I think the thing that resonated with me and helped me connect with the book was more Martheus’ passion about it.
It’s like of like the story of the person who didn’t like jazz because they didn’t give it a fair shake, then after watching a true jazz aficionado listen to jazz, he learned to enjoy it as well simply by observing the passion of the aficionado.
Mostly I listen. (For once in my life, yes.) Then I ignore whatever Martheus has said, throw out some crazy idea like riffing on The Most Dangerous Game or raising hillbilly zombies from the dead, and then let him tell me how to fit my strange ideas into his universe in a way that doesn’t degrade the glue that holds it together. And I do keep our boy Martheus on his toes that way. Trust me.
Discuss your thoughts about the Turra series and what you’d like to do with it/where you’d like to see it go?It’s going to be all about fun. Jetta had the weight of the world (literally) on her shoulder. Turra, on the other hand, has Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” playing on repeat in her head. Turra has a lot of responsibility to live up to in her role leading the Toshigawa in Jetta’s absence, but she’s not going to mop about it like her best friend did.
Not just fun for Turra though. I’m trying to think visually also and ask myself, “What would be fun for Martheus to draw?” That’s where the lingerie shoot-out in a busy mall came from. And I ask, “What would be fun for readers to see?” That’s where redneck zombies and bikini gunfights come from. (For the record, the redneck zombies is from a fan, and what a great idea it was.) Then every now and then, I hit on some ideas I really want to play with, like the potential papal assassination to prevent a one-world government. You know, fun stuff like that.
Turra’s definitely not going to be stuff in Japan and America. Her frequent flyer miles are going to rack up as she explores what the world has to offer the current leader of the Toshigawa clan.
For Jetta, I hear lots of thump like the soundtrack to Blade, well, that and about anything heavy by Linkin Park. But for Turra, it’s mostly pop stuff. Where Jetta broods, Turra’s the type to dance around the homestead to the radio in her underwear, then turn on a time and drop you with a single shot to the forehead for sneaking up on her.
personalities?It’s unfair because I’m writing her, but I really do connect with Turra. She’s just so much the kind of character I live to and love to write. A tough as nails female buttkicker. We really don’t share any personality traits at all, since I’m basically a pacifist, but I can dream, right?
Hell no. I’d best serve as cannon fodder.
Any closing words you’d like to share, or anything you’d like to plug?Be on the lookout for the book. It’s gonna be incredible. And don’t miss any of the other projects Martheus and I are working on, including A Stitch in Time: The Return of the Invisible Man for IDW Publishing.
And please hit up my blog as often as you can. It’s been a labor of love and a lot of fun. It’s at seanhtaylor.blogspot.com and it’s all about not just my writing, but also tips for up and coming writers, and even markets looking for submissions and lots of interviews with other writers and artists.
And be sure to bookmark my official website too at www.taylorverse.com.
Free Comic Book Day with Action Lab Entertainment

On May 5, 2012 Action Lab Entertainment is going “Confidential.”
For those of you who frequent the website and my gallery on Deviant Art, you probably noticed that I have self published my own graphic novel series titled, Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa for many years. Coming in May, the Jetta series is being collected digitally for the first time from Action Lab Entertainment. Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa – Beginnings is the first digital omnibus in a series that will collect all of my previous books into one full color book!! But that’s not all!
This Free Comic Book Day sees the release of Action Lab Confidential; a 200 page Free Comic Book Day digital download on sites such as Graphicly, Comics+, Drive Thru Comics and additional digital outlets.
Action Lab Entertainment, best known for the indie smash-hit comic book Princeless and the soon to be released Double Jumpers wants to give readers the opportunity to read extended previews of their entire catalog of comics and original graphic novels, including some titles that have yet to hit the shelves.
This means you can download a copy and get a free sneak extended preview of Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa – Book One!!
The goal is to continue to get readers excited in what Action Lab Entertainment has to offer with its diverse lineup of books, ranging from all-ages to mature readers. After reading this FREE 200 page monster you’ll want to rush to your local comic shop or digital tablet and demand for more Action Lab comics!
The following titles are featured in Action Lab Confidential:
Princeless – By Jeremy Whitley & Goodwin
Double Jumpers – By Dave Dwonch & Bill Blankenship
Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa – By Martheus Wade
Fracture – By Shawn Gabborin & Chad Cicconi
Globworld – By Jeremy Whitley & Andrew Charipar
Snowed In – By Shawn Gabborin & Rick Lundeen
Back In the Day – By Dave Dwonch & Daniel J Logan
Monsters Are Just Like Us – By Superugly
Exo-1 & the Rocksolid Steelbots – By Shawn Pryor, Adam Besenyodi & Daniel J Logan
Space Time Condominium – By Dave Dwonch
Jack Hammer – By Brandon Barrows & Ionic
It also features a front cover by the talented Rusty Shackles!
200 Pages. And it’s FREE!
So this Free Comic Book Day, after you finish your journey to your comic book store, stop by Graphicly, Comics+, or the additional Action Lab Entertainment digital outlets and download your copy of Action Lab Confidential!
Since the Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa graphic novel series is considered a males dream, I love to see reviews from female readers about our beautiful leading lady.
Check out what some of our female readers are saying about the Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa series. Our books where reviewed over at Space Gypsies http://spacegypsies.com/archives/6204!
Big thanks to the site for an awesome review!
Martheus Wade’s Jetta Gets Collected By Action Lab! | Action Lab Comics
www.actionlabcomics.com
She is the only warrior powerful enough to save the world from the wrath of the Knave, a demonic samurai army led by her father, Terminus. Although Shianndrea longs for a normal life away from the weight of her destiny, she is hunted at every turn.
Action Lab Entertainment is proud to present Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa as a digital exclusive comic, available in Nook, iOS, Android, Kobo, Kindle, Graphicly and additional formats in Mid-May.
Created by Martheus Wade and optioned for a motion picture, “Beginnings” will be the first in a series of Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa digital omnibus collections to be released over the next two years. “Beginnings” collects Jetta – Last Chances (first published in 2003) and Jetta – Crucible (first published in 2009) into one 120 page full color graphic novel.
With all new story additions, art and ending commentary, Beginnings brings an entirely new reading experience to these exciting books and provides an excellent jumping on point for new readers who have always wanted to check out one of the most popular female characters in independent comics.
http://www.actionlabcomics.com/2012/03/09/martheus-wades-jetta-gets-collected-by-action-lab/
Additional previews to come soon. Get ready for Jetta!
Alter Ego: NONE
Occupation: Ninja Warrior
Marital Status: SINGLE
Known Relatives: Master Gaudient (father), Kim Shibata (brother)
Group Affiliation(s): The Toshigawa Clan
Base of Operations: Japan / USA
Height: 5’7’’ Weight: 130 lbs
Eyes: Brown
Hair: White
First Appearance: Jetta: Revenge (Comic strip in Dateline Memphis 1999)
Revealed Background: Turra Shibata is a ninja of the Toshigawa Ninja Clan and is considered the “black sheep” of the Shibata family. To the TOSHIGAWA COUNCIL OF ELDERS, Turra was a wildcard. She is the oldest of the three main ninja of the clan (Shianndrea, Kim, and herself) and used that to her advantage. Her father was very disappointed in the lack of attention she paid to the rules. Gaudient always saw much potential in his daughter. However, the loss of his wife, the fear in losing his children and the guilt he felt over the near destruction of the Toshigawa resulted in an overbearing and bitter man. This caused many heated arguments between them which fueled her defiance of his teachings.
Shortly after she moved to America with Shianndrea and her father, Turra struck out on her own after continuing disagreements with Gaudient over his harsh teachings and overbearing demeanor. On her own, she became a freelance bounty hunter earning money by taking on bounties assigned to her by the mysterious Mr. G. However, she secretly hated leaving her best friend behind and longed for acceptance by her father. After three years on her own, Turra was pulled back into the heart of the Toshigawa Ninja and found herself back in Japan trying to hunt down survivors of her lost clan. With her boyfriend, Cyan and the streetwise kickboxer named Cat, Turra embarked on a journey of revenge and redemption!
Powers and Weapons: Turra has no special powers. However, she is a deadly warrior and her skill with a katana is unmatched. It has earned her the title of “Women’s Champion” in the sparring ring. Her carefree charm and attractive allure hides the fact that TURRA WILL KILL YOU! And she will do it with a smile. What makes Turra most dangerous is her defiance of the rules. She will “cheat” in a fight without hesitation. She even carries two silver USP guns as her primary weapons instead of a katana.
Romance: She has an on-again off-again relationship with Cyan which is almost purely physical. However, deep down, she has the burning desire to be only with him. This fact is something that she keeps deeply hidden. Or so she thinks. Cyan is quick to push just the right buttons in order for her to lose her cool and reveal her true feelings much to her dismay.
Weaknesses: Turra’s strength is her weakness. She is so confident, that she will leap first and ask questions later. She is very “flashy” and loves to be seen while kicking butt. However, her friendships are everything to her and she would willingly sacrifice herself to make sure they lived.
Idiosyncrasies: Turra mocks Shianndrea for her breasts size. Since the two friends started “developing”, Turra has nick-named Shianndrea B.B., meaning “Balloon Bod”.
Behind the Scenes: Turra was first developed to be the anti-Jetta. She was to be a bad girl who had all the same powers as Jetta but was an evil operative for the Knave Army. Because her clothes and hair are white (which is the opposite of Jetta’s ninja outfit), she was supposed to have a strikingly different look from her good doppelganger. Even her name was the second half of the word “JETTATURA” (the woman’s evil eye). However, once I entertained the idea that she could be a good guy, a wealth of story possibilities were instantly thought of. I quickly decided to make her part of the good guys. I’m glad I did!!
Want to read more about this awesome character? Below is a list (in reading order) of must read books and webstories that will shed more light on this character and begin your journey into the world of the Toshigawa Ninja Clan.
Jetta VS Turra: Round One (Web Story)
Jetta: Tales of Toshigawa – Last Chances (Graphic Novel)
Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa – Significant Encounters (Web Story)
Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa - Black Sheep (Web Story)
Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa – Rain (Graphic Novel)
Turra: Bombs and Betrayal (Graphic Novel)