Craig W. Chenery

Introducing Zubees: A New Era in Pop Culture Art

Comicones, my stylized pop culture art project, is something that has been near and dear to me for almost a decade. It’s a silly project that has been a wonderful stress reliever. The core concept is the base design for all characters is the same. A metaphor that at our most basic, all humans are built from the same foundations. It’s the details that make us unique. Indeed it is the details in the characters that makes them (hopefully) instantly recognizable.

Since 2016 I have created over 1,000 designs from all aspects of pop culture. My Teepublic store is an official licensee of Adventure Time, Cobra Kai, Jay and Silent Bob, Rick and Morty, Shaun of the Dead, Star Trek and Squid Game.

This year, I’ve decided to breath some life into the project. First off, I’ve decided to rename it to Zubees. I wanted something a little more playful. I feel it rolls off the tongue a little easier and us a more memorable.

I’ve also played with the core template. I’ve changed the position of the arms and added more life to the facial expressions. The neck has been shortened slightly and I think it makes a big difference to the cute factor.

Also, so I can keep a better inventory of characters I’ve created, I’m turning each character into a trading card.

With this new phase, I am not simply recreating the characters I drew under Comicones, I’m creating new ones to go along side them. For every three characters, I’m porting over, I am creating at least one new one. So far I have created characters from Sinners, K-Pop Demon Hunters, Creature Commandoes, and Super Mario Bros among others.

If you want to follow along on social media, you can find Zubees at:

https://www.instagram.com/official.zubees/

https://www.facebook.com/official.zubees

https://x.com/zubees_official

I will be posting unique designs over the various platforms to keep fans engaged.

Is there a character you’d like to see? Let me know in the comments.

Progress on My New Writing Projects: Updates Inside

After a little gremlin in the system, my site is back online.

A quick update on things.

Shadowblade

Issue #3 is still being finished. Kevin is still hard at work coloring. I have finished the lettering and all covers are done. We still have a little ways to go, but it is going to be worth it.

Death Just Wanted To Eat Waffles

I just reached page 200 and am deep into the second act. As this is the conclusion to the trilogy I have a lot of threads to wrap up.

*secret horror script*

Turned over to the director. More news coming as soon as I can. NDA’s and all that.

Trading Grandma

My new screenplay that is actually going to be a stage play first. It’s a dark humor script that I will reveal more later. Wrapping up the first draft. Hoping to get it finished on the flight to Tokyo next week. In other news, I’m going to Tokyo next week!!!

Are there any projects you’re excited for?

Shadowblade Concept Art -Terinn

The streets of Creymon are populated with all kinds of questionable characters doing whatever is necessary to survive.

Terinn can often be found lurking outside the various taverns waiting for drunken patrons to stumble out clutching a few extra coins for adult entertainment. Often times, she disappears with the money before revealing any skin, leaving her clients drunk, broke, alone, and confused.

Concept art by Shadowblade cocreator Kevin R. Phipps.

Kickstarter #3 launches February 3rd!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/shadowblade/shadowblade-issue-3

#comingsoon #badlands #comicart #postapocalyptic #shadowblade #Kickstarter #comicbooks #indiecomics #kickstartercampaign #kickstartercomics #newcomic #comiclife

Creating With Bipolar Disorder and Clinical Depression: Part Two – Impostor Syndrome: The Villain Within.

Well then, that is a rather long title.

Despite the medications, the therapy and the life changes, there is still one hurdle I continuously struggle to overcome:

The main villain in my story.

The impostor.

Impostor syndrome has followed (plagued?) me my entire life. Through relationships, friendships and my career. It’s everywhere I go. Am I a good enough husband? Father? Friend? Employee? …and yes, writer?

Despite all of my self-doubt, the evidence is there that combats the impostor. I’ve been married almost seventeen years, and every day I wake up excited to see my wife’s smile. So obviously I’ve done something right there. My wife and daughter adore me, just as I adore them. I’ve been at my current job 25 years next May. They wouldn’t keep me around if I were useless. I constantly wonder if I am good enough to release a novel, a comic or a screenplay? Despite the fact I Have released all three and for the most part reviews have been positive.

Even though there is tangible proof I am succeeding, I still feel like there is a smokescreen hiding a failure. I spend more time worrying if I am good enough than I do enjoying the successes I have achieved. And that is a problem.

There are many textbook strategies to combat this. These include acknowledging my feelings, talking about it, and celebrating achievements. Another strategy is challenging negative thoughts. Finally, seeking professional help is also recommended.

I understand that this is common. It affects so many other people. Yet, this feels like one of the more personal mental health issues. Talking about it is a challenge for me as it always feels like I am just fishing for compliments. Am I? I don’t think so. That’s not to say I don’t like compliments, but when I discuss it, I feel I sound pathetic. But maybe that is just the impostor talking.

I try to celebrate my achievements. I am proud of what I have achieved so far. I have written movies that were released. I have released comics and novels. I have achieved the goals I set for myself as a kid. I am a screenwriter, an author, a writer. Am I a good one? Well, that depends if you ask me or my impostor. You will get two different answers.

I already see a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner twice a year for my bipolar disorder and anxiety. I’m not sure I can add yet another issue into the discussion.

I’m not sure where this particular blog is heading to be honest. Does it help seeing it typed out? Maybe? Am I just asking more questions I can’t answer? Also, maybe.

How does this effect me as a writer?

Well, I’m still writing despite the immense self doubt and fear. So maybe the impostor doesn’t have as much control as I think it does.

Yours,

CWC (The real one, not the impostor, hopefully)

Creating With Bipolar Disorder and Clinical Depression: Part One

On January 26th, 2008, my dad was in England celebrating his 54th birthday. At the same time, I was in Phoenix and I was sitting in my SUV and parked in my garage. The engine was running and there was a hose pipe running from the exhaust into the passenger window. I had downed two bottles of wine and was unconscious when the police found me. It would be the first of three suicide attempts over the next five weeks. The last of which involved an overdose of medication that put me in a coma for four days. I had taken what doctors consider two times a fatal overdose. I’m not even sure how I was found on each of those three times. I shouldn’t be here, but somehow, I am.

My name is Craig W. Chenery and I live with clinical depression, chronic social anxiety and bipolar disorder. Notice I say I live with depression, I no longer suffer from it. I suffered for 33 years with non-diagnosed mental illness. Despite the social stigma attached to these illnesses, I am not ashamed to admit I have them. There is far greater shame denying their existence and trying to live life like nothing is wrong. If I choose to ignore it, everyone else then has to deal with the fallout when I have a swing. Living with these illnesses is mandatory. It’s how I was programmed. I have no choice in that matter. Suffering, on the other hand is optional.

A lot has changed in my life since then. I am happily married to the most amazing woman I’ve ever met. I have a fifteen-year-old daughter who is kind, intelligent and considerate. I now have the life I never thought I’d have or deserve. I take my mental health very, very seriously. This was also my last go around with suicide. Everything changed.

I always try to avoid the big three topics on my blog and other social network sites. Sex, religion and politics are the easiest ways to alienate people. That’s not to say I will avoid controversial subjects. Far from it. As part of an ongoing blog series, I plan to start discussing depression and mental disorders. I aim to explore how creators can live with these illnesses. They can manage them and live full, productive lives.

As a quick disclaimer, I am not a doctor. I will not offer medication advice. We all work a little differently and what works for me, may or may not for you. We all react to medications differently. Medications that would give me nightmares and hallucinations work perfectly well for others. Finding the right mix is a discussion for you and your doctor. I wish you the best on this part of the journey. This was by far one of the hardest parts of my road to recovery.

As a society, we don’t like to talk about depression and mental disorders. Sometimes it seems that the only time it is socially acceptable is when a celebrity commits suicide. Then it becomes a buzzword spoken around the water cooler for a few weeks and it’s quickly forgotten. That is to not downplay the loss of a celebrity’s life. The loss of any life due to depression, whether it involves a celebrity or not, is a terrible thing. Yet, depression affects 8 – 18% of the adult population. Bipolar disorder affects approximately 5.7 million adult Americans, or about 2 – 4.4%. We’re not alone, not by a long shot. In the coming weeks and months, I will be discussing my journey with these illnesses. I will explain how I’ve managed to untangle the threads in my brain to allow myself to create. Hopefully this will generate a dialogue with others.

Much more to come soon.

Yours honestly,

CWC