Here we are in sunny Des Moines, Iowa, on our way across the country with a final destination of the San Diego Comic Con. We’re feeling a little introspective here at Strange Matter today, being surrounded by this vast expanse of corn, pigs, corn, and corn, so this seems like a good time to tell you a story.

A story about failure.

Miserable, miserable failure.

If you think back, you’ll remember it happening to you, or someone you care about. It’s really an unavoidable part of life, but never, ever easy to bear.

There you are, at the height of your glory. You’ve worked very hard to get where you are. You started at a young age, and put in long hours day after day. Many of the peers you started with are no longer by your side, because you are the one with the strength to persevere.

It seemed pretty easy on those early days, skewering rats, trudging through sewers or maybe that abandoned mine outside of town. The first time your rusty old sword sunk into the chest of an orc is a time you’ll never forget. You had arrived, you could play with the big hominids now.

It only got better from there… that evil wizard from across the sea said he was just misunderstood, but you knew better and by then you had a shiny new sword that maybe had a touch of magic to it. Then there was the wyvern at the top of the old castle. You fought tooth and nail for hours against the beast, broke your shield and nearly died more than once, but in the end you were the one left standing with a years worth of wyvern steaks at your feet.

At your peak, your peak you were unstoppable. Your sword gleamed blue, charged with ancient magicks. Your armor was shining plate and the Bag of Holding at your side was brimming with gold. When you found the dragon’s lair, all you felt was excitement. No fear, no doubt. This was your chance to enter the annals of legend – taking down a dragon, solo.

The battle began as expected, the potion you found in the goblin lair provided ample protection from the great lizard’s fiery breath. His claws glinted across your shield, but it did not give.

You waited for your time, parrying, dodging, being careful not to move in to early. You wanted this to last, this was your crowning achievement. And then you saw it. The perfect opening. The dragon’s fatal slip up, giving you the absolutely ideal position to strike the fatal blow. You drew your sword into position, looked it straight in the eye, felt the sinewy muscles in your begin their ultimate arc…

And then you rolled a one.

A one! One! Out of twenty numbers on the stupid die, you rolled the ONE number that guaranteed certain failure. Not just certain failure in the case, but certain death, as the sword slipped position in your hand and instead of being buried in a dragon’s heart, there it was sticking out of you own chest!

The Dungeon Master called it a “fumble”. Fumble! What a simple word for such a horrific event. He may call it a fumble, but you’ll always know what it was:

Epic Fail.

Now you can always carry a reminder of that fateful day with you, and show your friends and family that are part of that exclusive club of those who have reached for the stars and pulled down… a one.

Available in M, L, XL, XXL, and XXXL at the Strange Matter Store.

Starting tomorrow, Strange Matter’s Randy Jay Yarger and Ann Webster will be starting our tour across America from sunny Ann Arbor, Michigan to dreary, cold San Diego, California!

Stay tuned for daily updates including a cornucopia of pictures of corn, corn and even MORE corn!

Be on the edge of your seat until you find out of we find the World’s Biggest Ball Of Yarn!

Gape in awe and wonder at the wild buffalo chasing us across a rest stop in Wyoming!

See all this and more! Well, you might not see any of that specifically, but whatever we do post will be fun and interesting, we hope you check it out!

Sangrael: Out of Avalon

Sangrael: Out of Avalon is now available at the Strange Matter store!

Welcome to the village of Avalon. Nestled in the hills of northern France in the early 14th century, Avalon was home to quiet people who lived quiet lives. That all changed when the young knight Sir Kay, son of Ector, lost his legs in a tragic explosion.

Seen as lame and useless, Kay was abandoned by his townsmen, his family, and even the love of his life, the beautiful Angelique. Forced to live in an abandoned shack, Kay fell under the care of two wandering youths: The English minstrel Robert Harper and a troubled young girl with the name Lancelot du Lac.

Accused by the townspeople of thievery and witchcraft, Kay, Robert and Lancelot fled the sleepy little village and began the journey that became the greatest story in history.

Sangrael: Out of Avalon collects the first four chapters in the saga of The True Story of Camelot. Set in the waning years of the Medieval era, Sangrael explores the nature of how legends are born and how common people shape the course of history.

Deeply researched, Sangrael is a world of historical accuracy, melded with a story of adventure, magic, and humor. Written by best-selling author Randy Jay Yarger and exquisitely illustrated by Federico Zumel.

Buy it now!

Sangrael: Out of Avalon

Just in time for the San Diego Comic-Con, Strange Matter proudly announces Sangrael: Out of Avalon.

Collecting the first four issues of Sangrael: The True Story of Camelot, Out of Avalon is the story of the fallen knight Sir Kay and his unlikely friends: The wandering minstrel Robert Harper and Lancelot du Lac, a troubled young girl.

Combining non-stop adventure with the historical vistas of 14th century Europe, Sangrael is perfect for anyone who likes epic fantasy with heart, humor and intelligence.

Sangrael: Out of Avalon goes on sale at the Strange Matter Store July 15th, as well as IndyPlanet and ComicsMonkey.

Comic-Con International - San Diego

Hi all! San Diego Comic-Con starts in less than 3 weeks, and Strange Matter Comics will be there! Come check us out in the Small Press Area, table K04. We’ll be somewhere between the Web Comics folks like Penny Arcade, PVP, etc. and the concession stands against the far wall.

We’ll have fresh off the press copies of Sangrael: Out of Avalon, along with back issues of Sangrael and Project: ElOhIm. There will also be sneak peeks at our new web comic Regular Joe, by Ann Webster and Stephen Bollinger! Stop by and see what the hubub is about!