HijiNKS Ensue Volume 1: Godspeed You Fancy Bastard

UPDATE: YOU CAN TOTALLY PREORDER THE BOOK RIGHT NOW!!!

I’ve been working on this book cover for a week straight, so it’s the most I can muster today as far as comics go.

Here’s the deal: Starting Monday, July 27th you will be able to preorder the first HijiNKS Ensue Collection, Volume 1: Godspeed, You Fancy Bastard. I am super excited and crazy terrified about this news. I am also a little dizzy, slightly nauseous and I might be suffering from Braxton Hicks contractions and spontaneous ear wigs.

What’s in the book?

  • All of the HE comics from 2007-2008 in full color
  • “Directors Commentary” on each comic
  • A forward by Bill Barnes of Unshelved (it’s incredibly mean)
  • Early sketches of the HE characters
  • Never before seen comics from my Highschool Newspaper days
  • AND MORE!

If the Preorder goes well, the books should ship in mid to late September. The first books is always the hardest, so please bear with me on the preorder and shipping times.

Many of  you have emailed and twitters to ask me how The Experiment is going. I’m glad I can finally answer with a resounding “Not So Good!”

I’m going to level with you. I am pretty much out of funds to keep doing HE as my full time job. It only brings in about half the income my family needs to make it each month and the freelance gigs and such just aren’t coming fast enough. This book is either going to be the end of The Experiment or the beginning of the next phase. I’m all about beginnings, so that’s what I’m shooting for.

How can you help keep HE alive?
Simple. PLEASE PREORDER THE BOOK IN THE FIRST WEEK!

It’s going to cost me $6000-7000 to have the initial run of the books printed (HELLOOOO VISA!), but those books represent enough potential income to buy me a few months to figure out the next phase of The Experiment.

I’m offering the book in a few flavors for your purchasing enjoyment:

ULTIMATE SPECIAL FANCY EDITION (limited to 150): $50

  • The book, signed and numbered
  • A special limited print of the cover image, also signed and numbered
  • A “Godspeed, You Fancy Bastard” bumper sticker
  • Upgrade to “Artist Edition” for just $10 more and I will sketch in the book, essentially ruining it

This edition of the book is for you Super Fancy Bastards that want to help with the printing costs of the book. The price includes a $10-$15ish donation. No other Vol. 1 books or prints will ever be numbered so these are one of a kind editions. If I can sell all 150 of these I can pay for ALL of the books I am printing (and sleep at night).

Artist Edition: $35

  • I will sign, personalize and sketch in your book. You can specify which character you would like sketched (but don’t get crazy)

Regular Awesome Edition: $20

  • A book, with all that other stuff, minus the fancy stuff

So, there you go. I don’t want to sound desperate, but this is either the end of the most amazing, rewarding job I’ve ever had or the beginning of something even more amazing. If you enjoy HE and want to see it continue, PLEASE preorder the book, make a donation or pick up shirt or print. I love making these comics for you and I don’t want to stop. Now that I’ve done it for 2+ years, I really don’t know how I could go back to a regular 9-5. This is my calling.

Godspeed You Fancy Bastards,

-Joel

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63 Comments

  8. This is nothing short of awesomely epic!

    Joel, I will buy a book as soon as I start getting disposable income again (unemployment only goes so far). I only hope this is soon, as I fear these books will go fast.

    Wishing the best of luck! You're a true pioneer to try and run your own business in these troubled times, especially one based on your talents. I'm sure the next phase of the experiment will bring about some better tidings.

    All my best 🙂

  10. I'm potentially considering buying an artist edition ultimate fancy edition AND a regular boring one just to pass the boring one on to people who NEED to read this but apparently don't understand the internet.

  11. Saying this as a straight man, I think I want sex with Eli the Barbarian. Awesome cover! Seriously thinking of wasting money I don't have on this book.

  15. Put me down for an ultimate special fancy edition. If you're seriously granting number reserves, I might have to go for 37. If not, I don't care.

    Joel, I know this may sound crazy, but you could probably get 60 a pop for those without breaking a sweat. For the people who want to support you and have the 50, they have 60. It's also a tidy 3x the basic model for 3x the awesome. I know the artist edition upsell is there, but I just think it'd work even if you upped it. My .02, I am not a salesman nor in possession of any of Billy Mays' DNA.

    Anyway, I'll be there Monday.

  16. I know I don’t comment much on here but I have been reading this comic since the second comic, and got my husband equally obsessed. I started listening to the podcast from the first episode. I am so excited about this book!!! I can’t even describe how awesome that cover is. I found out my hubby is getting me the Artist version for my birthday which is Sept. 18th. I am so excited!!!

  17. By the way… if you can have any character sketched in the Artist Edition… I would like Emo Spock. That first comic is what first made me fall in love with all things HE! I need to have a shirt with just Emo Spock saying "Happiness is Illogical" SO much love!!!

  20. If there are any left by the time I get to order (I will be out of town most of the day), I will be ordering the Ultimate Special Fancy Edition. When on the 27th will it be available for preorder?

  21. Man that cover is EPIC! Sadly I don't have any spare monies for it. But I have referred my friends to your comics a lot of whom are now hooked, that's the best I can do.

  23. Shit, I'm nearly out of cash, but I think I can shell $25 if I'll stop smoking for a week. 🙂

    Any idea about shipping costs to EU? If I'm going to throw another $20 for shipping I'd rather donate $30 and skip book.

  24. I can't spring for the $50 mark (unfortunately), but I will be jumping on the $35 one. It will be situated (on my future/hypothetical bookshelf) right next to my Bloom County, C&H, Doonsbury, and Foxtrot books.

    Side note, regardless of how the Experiment fares from this point forward, be satisfied that you have reached this point, which is much further than…god, I wanna say 95% (at least) of webcomics do. 😀

  26. How many typos are in the book?

    The last two webcomic archives I purchased were full of typos (specifically, the commentary) and it nearly drove me insane. A few are always expected, but the last Theater Hopper book had them on like every other page, and now I can't even go to that website anymore. When the content is free I don't care, but when I pay for something…well, you get the idea. Grammatical errors don't bug me, just the typos. Yes, I am aware of my craziness.

    Please let me know! I wouldn't have written all this if I didn't want a copy of the book, I just don't want to get burned again!

      • I would consider it an honor! I'm the head file clerk for a district judge, and I genuinely enjoy editing and correcting legal documents (I told you I was crazy). Proofreading an actual book sounds like a lot of fun! Please e-mail me any information I might need and I'll happily volunteer my time to the cause. Thanks for the opportunity!

      • I've mostly just lurked here, but I love your stuff, and I'm a damn good proofreader (if I do say so myself!) So if you need any extra proofreading drop me a line, I'd be happy to help out.

      • I have an English degree. I will TOTALLY proofread it for you.

        Also, I hate to use this excuse… I have no money. Let me put in perspective… I've been waiting to buy the Firefly dvd set. That's how little money I have.

        I will do my very very very best to buy the book, but I need to know I can stay afloat first.

  28. WAAAH! I think ID is broken–I've been sent an email notification of every comment posted since I made my first one. My email inbox is being gangbanged! 🙁

  30. Are you taking pre-preorders? I want a shot at the ultra-fancy edition! Plus I'll buy at least one more book for a present.

    Wow, I've been following this comic since before The Experiment, and I wish you nothing but the best. You fucking rock.

  32. AWESOME.
    I want the artsy-fartsy special edition whatsoever so bad!
    I'd like to know more about the preorder and how and when to pay and all that, (plus about the shipping all the way to here) but got a family gathering-thingy to attend right now.
    But well done, this is so amazing!

    -D

  33. I'm totally in for a supermegaultra bastard edition with extra arts. Can we make requests on the sketching?

  34. Is this first order US-only or will you be able to ship over the pond? I'm always a bit worried when it comes to pay dollar-stuff with euro-bills.

  37. Oooh! If you can hold me a Super Fancy (with artist upgrade), an Artist Edition and a Regular until the 1st them I am totally in and will love you long time…but not in THAT way! Congrats and good luck on this one!

  38. If i can get the money together, i'll buy the most expensive and ultimate version provided.
    what your doing is kinda an inspiration to me to keep working for what i want to do, not to mention, its funny as all hell.
    I'll buy just as much for the sake of keeping this going, as i would the humor, i'd hate to see this all come to an end

  39. I wish you loads of luck with this! Being an unemployed student, I can't guarantee I can buy a book, but I will tell as many people as I can all about it and that they totally need one.

  40. Bale knows how long I've been reading this webcomic, Joel, and I can't even remember how I discovered it, me, a Greek geek living in Germany. It is one of the best things to do with your DSL and I would hate to see it gone. I donated already twice and I will preorder this fancy bastard. Godspeed, man, godspeed!

  41. I would be honored to support your webcomic Joel. The book itself is worth it and keeping your comic going is enough to opt for artist edition or Ultimate Special Fancy Edition

    *salute*

  42. just orderd my copy of the special fancy edition, with the artist upgrade. I am sure the book will be as awsome as the cover is. I like the comic its great. I will recomend this to the people i know….

  43. Pre-ordered! I requested a minor [but only minor in HE] character sketch: Jobs-El, His Steveness, El Jobso, Lord and Master.

  44. Jeez, I take a coupla days off work!

    I might not be able to afford the Ultimate Fancy Bastard edition – I'll have to wait until payday to know – but if not, I'll be getting the Artists edition.

    Can. Not. Wait!

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