Beau Smith's Flying Fist Ranch

Welcome to The Flying Fist Ranch!

It's about time ya got here to The Flying Fist Ranch, ...or as some call it, "The Temple Of Testosterone," where men come to learn and women come to worship.

It doesn't really matter if you came here by design or just stumbled across it in a drunken haze, your never ending search for things that aren't politically correct has found you.

Here at the ranch you'll find all the latest info about my career in comic books and entertainment. You can check out all of my past manly work or be the first to find out what new crimes I've committed. Most all of the thoughts here at the ranch are mine, so you've got nobody to blame but me if ya read something you don't quite agree with. After all... if everybody in the world agreed with me it would be almost darn near perfect.

Enough jibber-jabber. Strap on your spurs and start ridin' around.

Your amigo,
Beau Smith

Archived Manly Thoughts

No Guts, No Glory:How To Market Yourself In Comics
Posted by Jason Brice on April 30, 2008

Beau Smith's No Guts, No Glory: How To Market Yourself In Comics

Ceredo, WV. After all great wars, the generals would retire and some would just fade away. Not true for the soldiers with dirt on their faces and blood on their hands. They became Mercenaries. When others quit,they kept fighting.

Beau Smith is one of those soldiers.

In his new book No Guts, No Glory: How To Market Yourself In Comics, Beau Smith, former Vice President of Marketing for IDW Publishing, Todd McFarlane Productions, McFarlane Toys, Image Comics and Eclipse Comics invites you into the tenches where the real battle in comic books is fought.

Smith is a 20 year veteran of comic book marketing and writing comics. He has written comics, pop culture & business columns, video games, novels and screenplays. In No Guts, No Glory he reveals to you how to become all you can be as a comic book creator and business person. Lessons from the dirty trenches on how to make not only your project known, but you as well!

All of this much needed information comes to you in Beau's down to Earth, cowboy common sense style that's informative as well and entertaining. No Guts,No Glory collects all of Beau's most important "How To" columns from the comic book business's most referred to source-SKETCH MAGAZINE.

Make this book your most powerful weapon in your fight to become the biggest name in comic books! If you don't give up and don't give in, you may just be okay.

Beau Smith's No Guts, No Glory: How To Market Yourself In Comics
90 pages Colored Cover/ B&W, Perfect binding
SRP $19.99
Item# BL3050
UPC: 85454900098003050
ISBN: 1888429-68-2
EAN: 978188842968851999
http://www.bluelinepro.com

Cobb Unleashed
Posted by Beau Smith on January 2, 2007

I’ve been getting some mail from some of y’all out there that tell me that your favorite source of comic book retail enjoyment hasn’t gotten or can’t get Cobb: Off The Leash. That ain’t good to hear.

Never let it be said that I won’t back you when you need me most. I checked with Diamond Distribution and with IDW Publishing. I dug hard and I dug deep to see what I could do to help you out. I’ve got good news. I found you more Cobb than a Kansas Cornfield at harvest time.

All three issues of Cobb: Off The Leash are available for you to buy for yourself or someone you like almost as much. I’ve got the information that you need to expedite your order with extreme prejudice. Below you’ll find the Diamond Distribution Order Numbers for each issue of Cobb: Off The Leash. Just give your retailer these numbers and they should have no problem filling your order.

Cobb #1 - MAR063280
Cobb #2 - APR063232
Cobb #3 - MAY063232

To find out where the closest retailer in your area is just call The Comic Shop Locator Service at 1-888-comic book or check out the website at: http://www.comicshoplocator.com.

Also remember that retailers are taking order right now for the Cobb Magazine that collects all three issues of Cobb: Off The Leash. The Cobb Magazine comes out in Feb. 2007. Here is the order number for it: Cobb Magazine - DEC063705. You can also check the IDW Publishing website at http://www.idwpublishing.com

You may or may not know that it was announced by Scoop/Diamond Galleries that Cobb: Off The Leash was picked as the #3 comic book of 2006. That’s a lot of spandex, capes and crybaby Goth boys that Cobb had to step on to get there. For all the details here is the link that will tell you how Cobb grabbed the #3 spot in The Top Ten Comics Of 2006.

http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com/scoop_article.asp?ai=13968&si=124

Cobb: Off The Leash #1 In Stores Now!
Posted by Jason Brice on June 17, 2006

IMPORTANT: READ THIS!
Cobb: Off The Leash In Your Comic Shop NOW!

Okay, I’ve been spreading the news from Beau Nation since last Christmas. I’ve provided a marketing and promotions campaign that other publishers could only dream of. On a shoestring budget I have gotten the word out on Cobb: Off The Leash to every direct market avenue possible. I’ve used my Busted Knuckles column like a club and have beaten everyone over the head with it like they were a baby seal. I’ve sent out free signed prints at my own expense, I’ve directly contacted the readers, the retailers, the distributors and the media. Every media source on comics has covered the news of Cobb: Off The Leash, except Wizard Magazine.

Cobb: Off The Leash has had seven four-star advance reviews already by the top media sources. I’ve done interviews, podcasts, radio shows and any other source that will stick a mic within ear shot of me. The best part is that the readers, YOU, have gotten behind Cobb and have spread the word in a major way. I have had countless retailers contact me telling me that they have had people come in and ask for Cobb by name. In some of these cases I am very thankful because some of the retailers were up front with me and told me that they hadn’t ordered it, but thanks to their customer asking for it they put an order in.

It looks like it’s paying off because now I have been notified by Cobb publisher, IDW that Cobb: Off The Leash is very close to selling out already. Estimates are that Diamond Distribution has only around 500 copies left. This isn’t some sales hype. That’s never been my style. I cannot stress this enough… Readers, check with your local retailer and make sure they have or will be getting your copy of Cobb: Off The Leash #1. Retailers, make sure Diamond has filled your order and if you haven’t ordered it then I suggest you do it as soon as possible. My initials may be B.S., but what I’m telling you isn’t.

The Diamond order number for Cobb:Off The Leash #1 is MAR06 3280E.

There are only three issues in this mini-series, at this time there is no guarantee that there will be a trade paperback. I wouldn’t push this series so hard if I didn’t think it was worth it to you as a reader. As I mentioned in the above item about learning comic book history, with Cobb: Off The Leash I want to show you what Eduardo Barreto and I have learned from the history of story-tellers that have come before us. Eduardo Barreto and I both want to show you that “Old School” is a good thing. Character set up, plot, pacing, reference work, camera angles, dialogue, page turners, cliffhangers, proper story transitions and having the story move with the action. Both Eduardo and I have waited our whole careers to do this type of work and present it to you the readers.

Dos Hombres Es Muy Macho: Beau Smith & Eduardo Barreto

After you read your copy of Cobb: Off The Leash #1, I would really love to hear from you and hear your thoughts and opinions. Your thoughts are better than a paycheck. That may sound corny, but it’s the truth. I really mean that. At this stage of my career, being both a creator and a marketing expert, you’d think I’d be jaded and a bit cynical, but let me tell you, I have more passion for comics now than I did when I was a kid or when I first broke into this business. Like a good marriage, that’s something I am very proud of.

Most all comic shops got their copies of Cobb: Off The Leash last Thursday. The chain is unhooked and Cobb is unleashed. I appreciate all the support for the book that you’ve given. With the release of the book this week prepare for me to take it national with the media.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Here are links to some of the Cobb: Off The Leash Reviews:

http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com/reviews/114626597615459.htm

http://www.popmatters.com/comics/cobb-off-the-leash-1.shtml

http://www.brokenfrontier.com/reviews/details.php?id=728

http://www.thefourthrail.com/reviews/critiques/052906/cobb1.shtml

http://www.chud.com/index.php?type=thor&id=6800&action=print

http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com/scoop_article.asp?ai=12315&si=129

IDW and Beau Smith Unleash Blockbuster Action With A New Hero!
Posted by Jason Brice on February 26, 2006

Smith’s “Tough Guy For The New Millennium” Arrives In May

San Diego, CA (February 21, 2005) – This May, IDW Publishing is aiming to bring no-holds-barred action back to comics as “the last real man in comics,” Beau Smith, presents his latest creation, Cobb. Cobb is a former Level One Secret Service agent who has been off the radar for the last few years. When his aimless actions land him in jail, one of his former government contacts decides that it’s time for Cobb’s special talents to be put to amore productive use. On this first Cobb miniseries, Smith is aided and abetted by fellow comics legend Eduardo Barreto (Doomed, Aliens/Predator: Deadliest of the Species). Barreto is providing covers and full b&w art with greyscale tones for this miniseries.

In the first issue Cobb: Off the Leash–the debut Cobb adventure–Cobb’s protective skills are needed to save a very important witness from a sadistic Russian Mafia leader with connections to a terrorist cell.

"Most folks that have heard about Cobb ask me if he’s a tough guy,” said self-proclaimed manly writer Smith. “I tell em’ no, he’s not. Cobb is a vertebrae. Any guy can have balls, but a real man has backbone. Cobb isn’t some psycho out for revenge. Nobody killed his family in front of him. Nobody put his puppy in a bag and dropped it into the river. He protects the weak because it’s the right thing to do. Just wait until the readers see what he does to the Russian Mafia and Al Qaeda. It even seems Frank Miller has jumped on my manly bandwagon. Welcome aboard, Frank. Glad to have ya."

Cobb: Off The Leash #1, the first issue of a four-issue mini-series, premieres in May 2006 with 32 action-packed black and white pages. Preview pages are available at idwpublishing.com, and Beau Smith has provided additional words and pictures about the miniseries here.

About IDW Publishing
IDW PUBLISHING is a division of Idea and Design Works, LLC, a revolutionary creative service company with a wide range of clients. Among their best-selling titles are CBS’s CSI: Crime Scene Investigation; Konami’s Metal Gear Solid; and GrimJack: Killer Instinct. IDW has films in development at Sony Pictures, Dimension Films, and Paramount Pictures.

Cobb: Off The Leash May 2006
Posted by Beau Smith on January 24, 2006

Coming May 2006

Cobb: Off The Leash

A Four Issue Series From IDW Publishing.

Written & Created by Beau Smith.

Art By The Legendary Eduardo Barreto.

Crime had better get religion, because it's gonna have to pray Cobb doesn't fine them.

COBB: OFF THE LEASH #1
Beau Smith (W) • Eduardo Barreto (A/C)

Beau Smith’s latest creation explodes onto the scene! Aided and abetted by fellow comics legend Eduardo Barreto, Smith creates a tough guy for the new millennium in the form of Frank Cobb. Cobb is a former Level One Secret Service agent who has been off the radar for the last few years. When his aimless actions land him in jail, one of his former government contacts decides that it’s time Cobb’s special talents were put to a more productive use.

In Part One of this debut Cobb story, “Off the Leash,” Cobb’s protective skills will be needed to save a very important witness from a sadistic Russian Mafia leader with connections to a terrorist cell.

Beau's Parts Unknown Book One In Stores NOW!
Posted by Beau Smith on January 11, 2006

For Immediate Release
Contact Beau Smith 304-453-6565
Beau@flyingfistranch.com

The Return Of The Original Parts Unknown Collection.
The Ultimate Invasion Of Bad Aliens, Big Guns & Bad 90’s Hair.

Ceredo, WV. January 3, 2006—After a decade of being out of print the ultimate alien invasion is back! It’s back with a bad 90’s hair vengeance. Parts Unknown Book One created by Beau Smith and Brad Gorby, has been recollected by Afterburn Comics and will invade retail stores in January 2006.

This is the collection of the series that put the mean streak back in science fiction comics. Parts Unknown Book One has been out of print for more than 10 years. It collects the original Eclipse Comics/Knight Press mini-series. It’s over 100 pages of lurid black and white action. Written and co-created by Beau Smith with art by master illustrator and co-creator Brad Gorby.

Parts Unknown is a Grade B Action/Sci-Fi movie put to print. Unlike other stories of alien invasions, there is no time to “Watch the skies.”
They’re already here!

Scalons are ruthless reptile-like beings that are well versed in the way of rape, pillage and plunder. When the atmosphere of their home planet went bad and killed off the females of their race theses intergalactic barbarians knew the males had to branch out and do so quickly before the toxic air claimed them as well.

The planet Earth became their ideal destination and new home. But like any new home it had to be furnished to satisfy their own twisted needs. That meant spreading their evil seed with Earth women to produce a new hybrid race so they could officially claim Earth as their own.

To do this it mean that Earth women would be captured and taken against their will as prime breeders. Anyone that got in the way would die a death too brutal to imagine.

Two members of an elite Chicago Violent Crime unit are going to try and make sure this nasty Scalon plan doesn’t happen. Those two special Police Ops members are Pendelton Spurr and Maria Lucci.. Two recovering alcoholic super cops that could fall off the wagon and under the wheel at any time. They are they only two standing between Earth as we know it and a whole new world order.

It’s time to stand up for the good guys.

Parts Unknown Book One is published by Afterburn Comics. They are a branch of Blue Line Pro the number one seller of comic book art supplies in America as well as the publishers of Sketch Magazine where you can learn how to become a comic book creator. You can check out and buy Parts Unknown Book One at this link to Afterburn Comics at www.afterburncomics.com

Parts Unknown Book One sells for $12.95. It’s over 100 pages and has behind the scenes extras. PLUS if you order it through Afterburn Comics your trade paperback will come with an autographed tip in plate in full color signed by Parts Unknown co-creator and writer, Beau Smith for FREE! So if you’re looking for the most politically incorrect series ever , packed full of tough guys, sexy babes, big guns, sex crazed aliens and some really 90’s hairstyles, then Parts Unknown Book One is for you!

For additional artwork or interviews please contact Beau Smith at 304-453-6565 or email at Beau@flyingfistranch.com