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Daniel McCloskey

@beancandan

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PERFECT is the enemy of the STRANGE. CLK 4 STRANGE✍️🥸👇 “Weirdly & unexpectedly wonderful”-Kirkus “Controlled chaos that wins me over”-Comics Grinder

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5 years ago

What do you think? What’s the most messed up kids book to you? by @beancandan

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5 years ago

Hi, I’m @beancandan and I think life is about discovery. I think discovery is best done in the strange …that’s why I make the kind of books Kirkus Reviews call “weirdly and unexpectedly wonderful” and Comics Grinder called “Controlled chaos that wins me over.” I have a kickstarter launching my newest and weirdest book yet around the time of this post, and you can find your way there by looking for the shortcut @beancandan And of course please like share and follow, if this little vid does well I’ll keep doing more✍️🥸🤘 lots to do as a cartoonist and I only want to make these if yinz actually want to see em🙂👍 #indieanimation #comix #graphicnovels #comicsforteens #comicsforkids taken in Oakland, California by @beancandan

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4 years ago

Artists are famously willing to work for the trappings of a career or the symbols of validation (please like and share🤪). The people and companies leveraging our dreams against our common sense don’t always mean to. And many publishers have skills and experience we can learn from. So, if you’re in the middle of a contract, working on your first graphic novel, there are good things about it! Don’t despair. You could be one of those rare phenomena that shoots to the moon. So long as you’re already contractually bound, I think you should hold onto the idea that you actually are writing that hit. And know, even at a more modest level there are perks. My book is in hundreds of libraries and has been read thousands of times—which is lovely. But, I’d encourage caution. The big hidden cost for me seemed to come from the kind of inefficiencies and contradictions that probably exist in any company. That and the fundamental danger of being the only person who isn’t paid for their time. The machinery of a company leans toward the cheapest option. If they can add work to your plate without adding any costs to them—you might find yourself subsidising their choices. Remember, each day or year of avoidable work isn’t just frustrating. It has a real dollar cost. Even though you’re paid an advance and they pay for printing, working with a publisher can become more expensive than self-publishing. That’s not true for everyone, but it can be.

I briefly considered hiding my self-published works through design. But it’s important to note: not everyone with a consistent publication style is trying to trick you in that way. Some folks like that format, or know their readership is comfortable with it. Others are collectors that don’t like a mismatched set of books. I am very much not one of those. I’m quite excited to put out my next small-batch hand-numbered notebook-style comic. I feel like weird is the point Raw and rare are two superpowers self-publishing has that I want to hold onto when i can. If you’re curious about my comix…there’s a linked reel. You can read a bunch free on my email list… or dm me and I’ll send you a link. New book drops July 8 2026 via @kickstarter taken in Oakland, California by @beancandan

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4 months ago

This is PART4 of a series originally posted @comicsbeat <link in their bio to read the rest! Or @beancandand to read previous chapters!

Failing (to Quit) is a six-part webcomic where readers learn how a kid on the verge of failing English went to college for writing and eventually got a book deal. Cloud Town, McCloskey’s debut graphic novel, comes out this month from @abramskids Amulet line. He created this short series of autobio comics to tell the story of how Cloud Town came to be, and we’re proud to publish them for the first time here on The Beat.
McCloskey is the founder of the Cyberpunk Apocalypse writers project and an employee at @missioncomics in San Francisco. He’s also a second-generation cartoonist: his father is Toon Books author @kevinmcwho. McCloskey dedicated the first strip, which was posted on February 2nd, 2022 (“World Read Aloud Day”) to his sixth-grade teacher.
@PiqueBeyond @abramsbooks #comics #cloudtownbook #webtoon #webcomic #diarycomic #diarycomics #autobiocomics #graphicnovel #insperiation #wholesome #sliceoflife #grit #personalcomic #tryhard #comicsprocess #artistofinstagram #doodlejunkie #comingofage #artistsofinstagram #middlgrade #teacher #mangaka #bakuman #cartoonist #bikeaccident #self reflection #webcomic #webtoon #diarycomic #diarycomix #autobiocomic @theheinzendowments In the hit Japanese comic about comics, Bakuman, they say it takes arrogance, hard work, and luck to become a pro cartoonist. (image of me facplanting after hitting a pot hole on a bike)) But they never said it needs to be good luck. by @beancandan

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4 years ago

What do you think? I’m fooling around with ways to read some of my indie comics on my page… I’m definitely not a voice actor but I’d like to have a simple way to share the comics I’m working on with all of yinz on the doomscroll. Do you think this works as is? Does it need more investment to make it really worth watching or should I just roll with this style for now? I draw about 2 pages part week… @beancandan feel free to ask anything ✍️🥸👍#voiceactorsneeded #comix #altcomix #cloudtowncomic by @beancandan

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6 months ago

It’s hard to believe that this was the moment I finally became professional enough for people to expect more from me. I remember it fondly.

This is PART5 of a 6-part series about my struggles with reading, writing, and drawing on my path to my professional debut as a graphic novelist <link in bio to read the rest! @beancandan

🌩CLOUD TOWN HITS SHELVES TOMORROW 🌩🦖📚
Failing (to Quit) is a six-part webcomic where readers learn how a kid on the verge of failing English went to college for writing and eventually got a book deal. Cloud Town, McCloskey’s debut graphic novel, comes out this month from @abramskids Amulet line. He created this short series of autobio comics to tell the story of how Cloud Town came to be, and we’re proud to publish them for the first time here on The Beat.
McCloskey is the founder of the Cyberpunk Apocalypse writers project and an employee at @missioncomics in San Francisco. He’s also a second-generation cartoonist: his father is Toon Books author @kevinmcwho. McCloskey dedicated the first strip, which was posted on February 2nd, 2022 (“World Read Aloud Day”) to his sixth-grade teacher.
@PiqueBeyond @abramsbooks #comics #cloudtownbook #webcomic #diarycomic #diarycomics #graphicnovel #wholesome #sliceoflife #grit #personalcomic #comicsprocess #artistofinstagram #doodlejunkie #comingofage #artistsofinstagram #middlgrade #teacher #cartoonist #bikeaccident #self reflection #webcomic #diarycomic #diarycomix #autobiocomic by @beancandan

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4 years ago

Every cartoonist knows this feeling. It’s a good trade. Click the link in the bottom left corner to see a teaser of my free comic Goodbye Cloud Town High, and hang tough yinz ✍️🥸👍 by @beancandan

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🌩CLOUD TOWN IS NOW AVAILABLE WHEREVER FINE BOOKS ARE SOLD😮🌩🦖📚 Signed copies of this story and Cloud Town are both available at no extra charge on my website! (Link in bio @beancandan )

Praise for Cloud Town:

“Cloud Town is a beast! It's original. It's different. It's full of energy and life! Kaiju, skateboarding, manga, YA, so many ideas, and great cartooning! . . .It feels like the future."
Jim Rugg- The PLAIN Janes, Street Angel, Hulk Grand Design, Cartoonist Kayfabe channel

"McCloskey’s detailed art does a great job of emphasizing the emotional highs and lows of high school and mech combat. "
School Library Journal

"Weirdly and unexpectedly wonderful."
Kirkus Reviews

Failing (to Quit) is a six-part webcomic that was originally published @comicsbeat about the origin of Cloud Town, my debut graphic novel from @abramskids Amulet line. I created this short series of autobio comics to tell the story of how Cloud Town came to be, and we’re proud to publish them for the first time here on The Beat.
McCloskey is the founder of the Cyberpunk Apocalypse writers project and an employee at @missioncomics in San Francisco. He’s also a second-generation cartoonist: his father is Toon Books author @kevinmcwho. McCloskey dedicated the first strip, which was posted on February 2nd, 2022 (“World Read Aloud Day”) to his sixth-grade teacher.
@PiqueBeyond @abramsbooks #comics #cloudtownbook #webcomic #diarycomic #diarycomics #graphicnovel #wholesome #sliceoflife #grit #personalcomic #comicsprocess #artistofinstagram #doodlejunkie #comingofage #artistsofinstagram #middlgrade #teacher #cartoonist #bikeaccident #self reflection #webcomic #diarycomic #diarycomix #autobiocomic by @beancandan

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4 years ago

Kickstarter is over, but it was a banger! I’ll have to do a bigger print run next time! Thanks for everything ✍️🥸❤️ taken in Oakland, California by @beancandan

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