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From Jurassic Park To Lost Cactus

John Hopkins writes,

What do you know? Here I am on Bleeding Cool to introduce everyone to my comic strip and tell you a little about my Kickstarter campaign. My name is John Hopkins, and I am the creator of the Lost Cactus comic strip. As a lifelong comics fan, I am proud to contribute to this essential art form.

lost_cactus_intro

Typically, when one embarks down a path, it's because they want to or feel that it will be advantageous in some form or fashion. But as with most things in life, want and desire only go so far. For a comic artist, in addition to a lot of practice and a modicum of talent, you're going to need the idea that carries your comic strip beyond the goofy scribbles populating the margins of your notebooks. The concept has to be relevant, unique, and something that will not only hold the reader's interest over the long term but your own as well!

The inspiration for my comic strip actually happened way back in the early 1990s. It came after reading the novel, Jurassic Park, by one of my all-time favorite authors, the late Michael Crichton. I realized a comic strip with a theme of scientific progress run amok would lead to many uniquely hilarious story opportunities, and I ran with it.

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Driven by my brainstorm of an idea, I embarked down the path of developing and drawing my genetically-created bee and dinosaur characters—who have evolved into the heart and soul of Lost Cactus. I inked cartoons, wrote a lot of funny gags and tried the syndication route, but after the rejection letters had poured in, I shelved my dream of becoming a comic strip artist and instead pursued my design and illustration career. However, my bee and dinosaur kept popping up on hand-drawn birthday cards and in those pesky notebook margins all through the years. So although I never really forgot about them, maintaining a roof over my family's head and food on the table definitely took precedence. And my first bee and dinosaur comic strips remained buried in my flat files all the way up until mid-2013. This is when the saying: "The perfect time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, the second best time is now," becomes extraordinarily relevant.

During this period, I had experienced a business deal go south. I was feeling a little down and killing some time filing away artwork when I came across the large, dog-eared folder stuffed with all of my old bee and dinosaur sketches and inked strips. I spent the rest of that afternoon rediscovering every scribble and note. On that day, roughly three years ago, I made the decision that the time was right to resurrect my comic strip. From that point forward, it's been like getting reacquainted with old friends. I've been writing, drawing, adding characters and fleshing out my comic, now entitled Lost Cactus, into its fully realized world. And I am taking full advantage of being an independent publisher—something that was unheard of back when I first started out.

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My mission is to present today's comic readers with my unique cast of characters and storylines set in a what-if world where science runs amok and chaos reigns supreme—all with tongue planted firmly in cheek. My efforts over the past three years have culminated in an anthology of comics, short stories, and essays all related to an expanded Lost Cactus universe published in print and eBook, and titled "Lost Cactus – The First Treasury." Readers will find themselves in the midst of aliens, classified bases, spaceships, science, tech and even a charismatic little bee named Bentley and his sidekick, Ty the Dinosaur.

lost_cactus_sample_strip

I'm here on Bleeding Cool to introduce Lost Cactus to as many new fans as possible, which is also why I'm currently on Kickstarter. My first anthology, as well as many fun and unique extra incentives, are available to backers of my Kickstarter campaign. And all backers, including those who make the trip from right here on Bleeding Cool, are honored with their name listed on a Special Recognition page in my upcoming Second Treasury, which is due out in December 2016, just in time for Christmas! I'm making up for a lot of lost time and enjoying fulfilling my life's passion. I believe everyone should have the opportunity to do that in their lives.

If you would like to ask a question, suggest a storyline, or say hello, you can send an email to info@lostcactus.com.

Kickstarter: http://kck.st/1QcTOLf 

Email: mailto:info@lostcactus.com

Website: http://www.lostcactus.com


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Rich JohnstonAbout Rich Johnston

Founder of Bleeding Cool. The longest-serving digital news reporter in the world, since 1992. Author of The Flying Friar, Holed Up, The Avengefuls, Doctor Who: Room With A Deja Vu, The Many Murders Of Miss Cranbourne, Chase Variant. Lives in South-West London, works from Blacks on Dean Street, shops at Piranha Comics. Father of two. Political cartoonist.
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