Birth, Books, NY Comic Con, Coffee, CYBERWAR SERIES Update is an apt description of my current life in less than 60 characters.

That said: ‘Hel-LO!’ as Uncle Leo would enthusiastically say on Seinfeld.

I have not enjoyed going MIA so often these past few months (and years), well for the most part I have not; sometimes solitude is truly bliss, and that is much harder to come across as this world grows more connected by the second.

Please forgive my delays, but I have missed you, Eager Readers.

And without further ado, the news!

I had a baby girl, or rather my wife did with my help, not too long ago, and everyone is happy and healthy!

I could not be happier.

And that is not the sleep deprivation talking.

I am a DAD!

It is an indescribable feeling, all love, and she already makes me much more optimistic about the future of the earth she is inheriting.

Her smile can move mountains.

And since everyone always asks with concern, Indy, our Dalmatian, loves our baby girl.

She guards her, attempts to play with her, and constantly alerts us to any unhappiness she seems to be having.

I am still working, writing, editing, reading, scrawling, and who knows what else, because I damn well cannot remember.

Largely because of coffee.

Strong coffee.

Ground Colombian bean and a french press and repeat.

Do not thank me, thank the coffee, that any art is getting done this year.

So the sequel to my novel, CYBERWAR, has been completed, but because of its massive size, 400-500 pages, it will need more time to be edited to as close to perfection as is possible.

Thankfully, my publisher and I are looking to work with one of the most talented editors I know, and I am beyond thrilled.

The only downside to making this a far better work is that it will not be coming out just yet and certainly not before 2020.

But it will be worth the wait; it is a bold step forward for me and it makes CYBERWAR a prequel to a much larger storyline in the Cyberwar Series (meaning the new book will be acting as Book 1), and I have some very BIG plans.

For the delay I apologize, but I hope this will make it up to you:

SPY WOMAN SPY, my years in the making graphic novel, which had a brief appearance of its cover at New York Comic Con last year will be making noise at NY Comic Con 2019, as Issue #1 arrives.

I can finally speak a little more about this.

Rune Works small press is publishing SPY WOMAN SPY, initially, and for all of you CYBERWAR fans out there, this is a prequel to the novel starring Xera Finn and Fae Yu, and it will be first released at NYCC on October 3, 2019.

Here is the premise so far:

When a foreign agent named Xera Finn learns of her government’s involvement in human trafficking on Long Island, she goes rogue. Xera and her lover, a tech bootlegger named Fae Yu, race to Coney Island to free a truckful of young women. But their hacking and espionage skills are soon put to the test when Xera’s former handler tasks both the local authorities and an outlaw motorcycle gang to ruthlessly retrieve them before they can reach sanctuary.

For those of you who have read CYBERWAR, this graphic novel series will be all about the backstory of the two badass rogue agents that were main characters of the novel.

There will be lots of insight into the degradation of the Cyber US and the Wangluo society before and after hackers took over the governments for good.

I will say no more, as the fun will be in the reveal on the page.

But I will say that I love the further exploration of the world, this near future of ours, and this future continues to surprise me.

I am thrilled to once again be at the Rune Works Productions Ltd. Booth in the Small Press section on the NY Comic Con main show floor to sign books and comics and to talk shop.

The comic book will be a single-issue format to start off, and there are a few of these issues written already so more are coming after #1, with the plan to release a compilation trade paperback down the road.

Cover artist Elizabeth Yoo will also be on hand to sign the comic book.

Last, but certainly not least, my wife and I are hoping Rune Works Productions will have time to have on-hand a version of our new children’s book at New York Comic Con.

We have an incredibly talented artist in Cheryl Huneke, and we are really looking forward to sharing this excellent and exciting book involving space and … I cannot say anymore just yet … but it is a TON of fun.

And I hate rhyming poetry and still wrote ‘TON of fun’ – I must be tired.

Speaking of poetry, if you have not kept up with my recent publications, I am thrilled to have been selected to have poems published in these 2019 anthologies: POETS TO COME: WHITMAN'S 200TH BIRTHDAY ANTHOLOGY, the 2019 Suffolk County Poetry Review, the BARDS ANNUAL 2019 anthology, and the National Beat Poetry Festival anthology We Are BEAT.

Poetry is the most freeing form of art I know.

No matter how frustrated I may be drawing, editing, writing, strumming a new tune on the guitar, I can always turn to poetry and release myself from all sense of structure and allow pure instinct and energy and strong of consciousness to take me to another place of bliss.

If you did not know, I am a big fan of the beats.

Feel free to check out the Bard’s Day or the National Beat Poetry Festival, as both are coming up next week, both will feature readings and fantastic books of poetry.

I hope you are all well and your summer reading never falters.

~RJH

2 Days To New Comic @ NYCC 2018 BOOTH 1061: RJ Huneke, Elizabeth Yoo, Fred Harper and more folks will be at the Rune Works Booth #1061 with THE comic, SPY WOMAN SPY, loads of art, free swag, and more at the NYC Javits Center!

Eager readers, I could not be more excited for 2018's NY Comic Con.

I am beyond STOKED this year!

Alongside my good friend and amazing artist Elizabeth Yoo, the very first preview issue of the CYBERWAR Series prequel graphic novel SPY WOMAN SPY will be available in extremely limited quantities.

We will do our best to have these books out every day of the con and I am hopeful that the art is going to set the world on fire!

This comic book features Xera Finn and Fae Yu from CYBERWAR.

SPY WOMAN SPY takes place in the near future, in the CUSA, where the two disillusioned foreign agents, friends, and lovers struggle to cope with breaking ties to their past. As their birthplace, Wangluo, demands more and more heinous acts of allegiance from Xera and Fae in the Cold Cyberwar, a horrible act of government-sanctioned child trafficking is uncovered rattling the two spies to their core. Betraying orders will be costly!

SPY WOMAN SPY written by (me) R.J. Huneke, and art by Elizabeth Yoo, will be premiering the first preview book of SPY WOMAN SPY Issue #0 at the 2018 NY Comic Con.

It has been five years since my car accident, and I am not yet at 100% (getting close), but my creative drive has never been stronger, folks.

Many new projects (children’s book series anyone? a few are in the works) and art are coming very soon, and though I have struggled to work as quickly as I would like, I have by no means been idle.

You will be happy to know that I am currently pitching the follow-up to my novel CYBERWAR.

I apologize for leaving you hanging at the end of that first novel, but from what I gather as I speak to fans of the book series, the next chapter will be something special that will make up for the wait.

The book will be longer for one thing. And there will be many answers and more questions examining the entire world and Cyberverse as the Cyberwar is fully unleashed...

That’s right!

I will be signing books at NYCC 2018 Rune Works Booth 1061, but more on that later.

I am thankful to have some great friends who happen to make amazing art and are going to be on-hand with me at Rune Works # 1061.

The incredibly talented illustrator Fred Harper will be there – badass Hulk prints in tow – and he will be doing commissions throughout the Con as well as painting and possibly even taking a musical turn on his infamous cowbell.

My longtime friend (and now) bookmate artist Elizabeth Yoo has been producing amazing cover art for novels and movie productions of late, and she is innovative (I do not use the word lightly).

Her work is truly resonates deeply on many levels, and I am ecstatic that she is producing a deeply noir-esque and never-before-seen take on the comic book art form as a co-creator and the artist of SPY WOMAN SPY.

I could not have imagined anyone who grasps the feel of the world of Cyber more than Elizabeth.

And her art, from the Joker to Batman and Catowoman sharing a milkshake will blow you away.

Along with Fred's prints, original art, and commissions, Elizabeth will have limited edition prints, as well as a host of other goodies on sale at NY Comic Con.

Liz’s amazing “Joker” piece and “Pyscho” piece will be on a heavy-duty tote, for example, and the Mr. Romero’s Joker lips will be hand-colored by Ms. Yoo at the table! They are $10 a piece or $5 with any other purchase!

There will be magnets and Comic Con-only discounts to Liz’s art prints!

And yes, the author R.J. Huneke, yours truly, will have a limited number of copies of his book CYBERWAR and will be signing them.

Now I recently uncovered a box while moving, so I will have a VERY LIMITED amount of the sold out hardcover in tow, and I have paperbacks left as well!

Please check in at the booth for signing schedules for all of the artists, including author RJ Huneke (me).

And be sure to talk to my friend Charles D. Chenet; Charles' Dare2Draw non-profit has brought comic books, published artists and aspiring artists together for education, amazing lessons, and fun exploration of the craft.

From their site Dare2Draw.org: The Dare2Draw is a non-profit mentoring and networking platform for all comic book and creator artists, an opportunity to connect with each other, face-to-face, encouraging good health and business practices for cartoonists. Established artists and arts organizations meet in a supportive setting, putting the art back in sequential art.

And, as always, there will be free candy, bookmarks, Joker playing cards, and fun swag galore!

On behalf of the Rune Works / Cyberwar Series team, I’ll see you there, at NY Comic Con, in just 2 DAYS!  ~RJ Huneke

New books COMING including American Political Asylum, yes it is true!

It has been far too long, my friends.

Nearly five years after my car accident, I am not yet at 100% but my creative drive has never been stronger these past years, and so many new projects and art are coming very soon.

I, R.J. Huneke, promise: winter, I mean, art is coming!

What has been extremely difficult for me mentally and spiritually has been coping with the fact that I have not been able to write and work on art every day, as I have for many years.

It is a part of my soul and every day the compulsion is so strong that it can override the need for sleep, money, and even food (which for me is saying something).

But my brain has needed to rest and recover, as well as my body.

Regardless of this, I have been hard at work on some interesting goodies, invigorating pieces for me (and hopefully for you too), some of which I will spill the beans on here and some I will wait until the time is right.

My frustration is often paralyzing because when I can write, edit, and make art it is still taking me far longer to accomplish anything than it used to . . . most of the time.

I am happy to say that there are times where the magic comes back, full force, and there is that amazing indescribable storm of swiftness as things pour from my vessel to the medium.

And I have come a long way from having to teach my eyes to see straight again and scrawl or type without inverting letters and words.

I can also stand on one leg again.

This is unrelated but gives me infinite joy as I can stretch as I used to and jump on Dragon and go mountain biking through the walls of trees, the winding needle-strewn paths, and the steep peaks and valleys of the trails.

I get many of my best ideas this way, so I guess it is a little related. 

You see I do ramble on even more than I used to (also saying something for me).

Now to the art!

As of today I have been declared a finalist in the Local Gems Press NaPoWriMo Chapbook Contest and been offered a publishing contract for my first ever book of poetry titled American Political Asylum!

I had little hope I would win the contest outright, as there are so many gifted poets in the world, and my work, in this case, was largely political in nature.

But in writing a poem for every day in the month of April 2018, I met a challenge to myself to complete a themed compilation of poems, which I had never done before.

And, what is more, the difficulties surrounding the United States of America have had me either depressed, scared shitless, or enraged (or all three at once) nearly 24/7 and writing this book was a tremendous relief to my mind, body and soul.

I hope you, Eager Readers, enjoy it.

It is not all gloom and doom, nor is it all politics.

American Political Asylum is a theme based off of the title and so anything American, anything political, and anything needing asylum fell into my hands to carve into works.

There are some hilarious pieces, as well as one about my Dalmatian puppy Indiana Jones.

What else, do you ask?

Well, Rune Works Productions Ltd. will once again have a booth at New York Comic Con!

And for it, there will be a comic book written by yours truly based in the Cyberwar world, taking place before the tale in Cyberwar.

The artwork will be like nothing out there now and dark! Elizabeth Yoo is going to blow the doors off of the house!

There are also two children’s books, a wholly new mystery suspense maybe even a touch of science fiction or fantasy (who can say at this point) novel, and of course the refined next book in the Cyberwar Series, which is currently being perused by agents before, hopefully, going to the publishing houses.

This book will make Cyberwar a prequel and be the true launch of an interesting and twisted series that delves far more in-depth into the Cyber United States and Wangluo and everywhere in between, as only Sheetrock and Xera Finn and company can live it.

I have also relaunched a site for POWkabam Comics and artists, like myself, are writing their own views on any and all things comic books there so check it out: powkabam.com.

What else?

Sorry, you will have to stay tuned to that Bat Channel.

I can promise to try and communicate with you here and on Twitter far more often than I have the past few years.

I am healthier than I can remember and loving life, so be ready because this art is going to be special, all of it.

Thanks for tuning in. I will not tune out, and I suggest you do not either.

Art is coming!

​~RJH

R.J. Huneke Returns to NY Comic Con Rune Works Booth #1061 where he will be signing books!

2016 sees the Rune Works Productions Ltd. team flourishing and once again occupying the New York Comic Con Booth #1061 in the Small Press Section of the main floor on October 6-9, 2016.

There will be customized bookmarks and candy available for free to all of our fans (and certainly some more fun surprises).

R.J. will appear beneath an enormous sign bearing the temple and pen logo of Rune Works. Look for it over the aisles at the Javits Center!

Hours are forthcoming for R.J.'s signings of his science fiction thriller CYBERWAR, and the Ivan O'Neill graphic novel BACKWOOD STATE, of which R.J. was editor and a part of the art/writing work for the continually selling out premiere issues featuring notorious English major Gwen.

And new things - fantastic new works and pieces - are coming and to be oh so slowly teased and brought forth just for you, Eager Readers, at the New York Comic Con 2016.

Other comrades of author R.J. Huneke, such as Rune Works writers, promoters, media specialists will all be on hand, and specifically members of the Rune Works Gaming division, and its head Maria Sumoza, as well as media guru and fine artist Liz Yoo who will also be there touting new and exciting works.

Maria is kicking off her own Twitch Stream and continues to be a female force examining gaming from her innovative perspective. Check her out on the Rune Works Gaming Section and on her Twitter feed.

Liz is bringing the great works of, The Master of Suspense, Alfred Hitchcock to the canvas in ways like no one has ever seen! Her galleries have had enormous success in New York City and Long Island. Check out her site and Twitter feed here.

R.J. is proud to be a part of Rune Works as both a member of the media, covering all of pop culture art at its finest, and a publishing and promotion firm for artists.

The Rune Works® Productions Ltd. Mission​:  to give a voice to unique artists and bring their vision to the world at large. ​

Rune Works® began in 2007 as an outlet for innovative artists looking to thrive with their works. We now offer art, content, and business consulting for media, marketing, web design, and representation.

​Want to hear an artist's perspective on comic books, video games, art, or film? Check out our News & Reviews Section.

Well it's 1 Day 13 Hours 50 Minutes away! The New York Comic Con! And Rune Works and Pentian will be at the Javit's Center October 9-12 at Booth # 1061!

Rune Works is the media production end of CMO Sync and will proudly be representing itself at the NYCC with both author R.J. Huneke and comic creator Ivan O'Neill on hand.

Will they be signing anything?

YES!

Author R.J. Huneke will be touting his upcoming novel from Pentian CYBERWAR and Rune Works comics division, POWkabam, is also showing up with its first release: Ivan O'Neill's BLACKWOOD STATE Issue # 0, a preview comic of the upcoming mini-series from Pentian Publishing.

What are they giving away?

Well bookmarks, posters, signed copies of EVERYTHING, FREE Tee's and of course copies of their works will be available.

PRIZES, booth babes, and more unforgettable things are in store for any fan dropping bye the Rune Works Booth # 1061!

Check out our official page on the New York Comic Con web site here and add it to your SHOW FLOOR MAP. 

Look for the GIANT temple backdrop and the HUGE calligraphy pen! 

We'll see you in 1+ DAY!

Rune Works is ecstatic to announce that R.J. Huneke's newest thriller novel will also become a graphic novel written by the author!

"I feel this work has a lot of intrigue for potential readers, and with its sharp, visual qualities, making a dystopian graphic novel makes a lot of sense," says Huneke.

Read more of this conversation @ Rune Works.