Issue 24: Voyager Homecoming, Kickstarters, and Star Trek Adventures!
Listen to us.
Listen to us right now.
…coffee is great.
NEW STUFF
That purple “Whatever You Want” logo at the top of the newsletter is the title graphic for our short in the Witching Season anthology, which is now live on Kickstarter!
Here’s a few sneak peeks at some panels from our story with art by Rye Hickman!
It’s a very trans (and very gay) story about the way society continually bombards us with messages about how you should “be yourself” until you say “okay, I’m trans,” and then society says “No, not like that!”
The book’s also absolutely brimming with amazing comics talent, so you’re def gonna wanna pick it up.
And of course, Star Trek Voyager: Homecoming issue 2 is out today! Finally!
We’ve got limited signed copies up in our Ko-fi shop, if you’d like one, get them soon before they’re gone! As with issue 1 (which we sold out of really fast), the single issues are periodicals and not likely to be reprinted. Once they’re gone, they’re gone!
And some early reviews are in!
9/10! “Species 8472… is truly terrifying. It’s absolutely frantic, completely enthralling, and just brilliant. You reach the final page thinking, ‘No! This can’t be the end!?’”
9/10! “Brisk and entertaining. The writing feels like watching an episode of Voyager (probably even better…) … If the first two issues are any indication, the bet is paying off.”
In more Voyager Homecoming related news, we were on the Treksperts Briefing Room podcast to talk about a Voyager episode we love, “Night.” It’s classic Trek, and the kind of episodes modern Trek doesn’t get to do much of anymore, with its drastically reduced episode counts. And, of course, we talk about Homecoming!
In prose news, the Curiouser and Curiouser volume 2 anthology, Beyond, has successfully funded! It’s still got over a week to go in its campaign if you missed it, and there are some stretch goals to hit. This is full of amazing writers too, so get it for them and so you can read our first prose short story, Finches!
Also, the Star Trek Adventures 23rd Century Campaign Guide went up for pre-order, and we contributed to this book too! It’s always a joy getting a chance to work on this game, so check out the book if a Trek tabletop roleplaying game is a thing you’re into!
Here's a couple of our favorite bits that we wrote for this book!
To wrap up this section with something that doesn’t fit much of anywhere else, Tilly was on the Progressively Horrified podcast to talk about Jane Schoenbrun’s We’re All Going to the World’s Fair, which is a deeply trans horror film. Have a listen if that’s your jam!
WHAT WE’RE WORKING ON
We got to see some early cover designs for our graphic novel that won’t be out until 2027, and likely won’t be announced until sometime in 2026. They were so stunning we almost passed out. You’re gonna love this book so much!
The comic IP we pitched on got picked up! It’s a one-shot that’ll be out next year, but the script is due in early November, so we’re full steam ahead on that. It’s thirty pages, which is kind of like a normal issue and a half. It’s nice to have a little more room! Stay tuned for an announcement at… some point.
We’re also contributing to another Star Trek Adventures book, and our portion of that is due by the end of November, so we’re sort of noodling on that too.
And then we’re going to get to scripting that new pilot.
Really.
Really really.
Really.
TRANS TUESDAY UPDATE
We had an interview with CicadaQueenV about her indie (and very trans) videogame When Summer is Over… . It’s about a trans woman having to leave the only home she’s ever known, and utilizes 8-bit original Gameboy style graphics really well. It’s free to play, and something we think even cis people can get a lot out of.
Then we covered NO ESCAPE. It’s about how, when you’re trans, society won’t ever let you forget that you’re trans, because it reminds you of that fact every moment of the day as it continually otherizes you for it. It’s not fun!
RECOMMENDATIONS
Since we interviewed the game’s creator, it seems apropos to direct you to the game itself! When Summer is Over… can be played right in a web browser, or even downloaded to your computer to play without an internet connection.
The controls are simple, and it’ll put you in the shoes of a trans woman for a while, and show you about some of what we go through (much of it being what its creator personally went through).
You can play through the entire game in about an hour, so check it out! But do read and heed the content warnings.
THE DIRTBAG DISPATCH
The Dispatch has a special guest star this week, who’s made appearances before both in photos and text. This is Mx. Munchies, the squirrel who continually eats the leaves off our jade plants, uses our railing and windows as a cross-building highway, and generally seems to delight in torturing the household felines.
You’ll excuse the dirty window, we were inside and our windows are perpetually dirty because this is Los Angeles and dust in the air is praxis.
In addition to (we think intentionally) driving Henry bananas, they also sit there staring at Izzy, who’s so sure this critter would be a tasty treat, if only this annoying glass pane wasn’t in her way.
In fact, on the times she sleeps with us in our bed, not only does she get up very early most mornings to head out to the balcony to be sure she doesn’t miss the squirrel, when she does see it… there’s no stopping her as she goes into lil’ huntress overdrive.
Mx. Munchies destroys our plants and taunts our cats, so they’re presumably just an asshole.
But at least they’re cute.
WHAT’S IN THE BIG TIME?
Big Time issue 24 talks about cinematographers, what they do and how vital they are, and includes the second part of our exclusive audio commentary on Star Trek Voyager: Homecoming issue 1!
Sign up for it at birdguestbroadcast.com and help us pay rent and eat food and stuff!
THE END
Down with fascism!
Up with cool people!
You’re cool people, aren’t you? Of course you are, you’re reading our newsletter!
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