Welcome to The New Futurists!

The New Futurists is a hub for essays, comics, fiction, and art produced by our studio and a remarkable group of collaborators from around the world.

Your subscription (at any level— free, paid, or Visionary) is very much appreciated. With your support, we have been able to expand our team and the scope of the stories The New Futurists tell.

In 2023, we are proud to present digital-first publications of our ongoing features:

SOUTHERN GOTHIC is an original comics series co-created by Ezequiel Rubio and Ben Bolling. It’s a noir supernatural thriller under the guise of a road trip through 20th century American literature. In 1955, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover coerces writers Truman Capote, Carson McCullers, and Tennessee Williams to investigate whether a copycat killer is reenacting some of American literature’s most ruthless murders or if the world of popular fiction is bleeding into reality. 

THE OMNIVERSE is my own little postage stamp of native soil, an unfolding concept universe, where I will build a cosmos to share with you in real time. This ongoing feature will include short fiction, comics, maps, illustrations, and all sorts of stories. Expect Appalachian futurism, superheroes, ghost stories, cosmic horror, and the occasional recipe.

Join Luis Valero-Suarez and Ben Bolling for a tour of the Omniverse through this series of digital trading cards. We aim to capture the magic of collectable comics cards while bringing you astonishing stories from across the Omniverse!

As we announce other features throughout 2023, check back here in the “about section” for more details. Also, if you have questions, leave them in the comments below! 

Is Print Dead?

No way! All of the projects above will make their way into print over the next few years, but your paid subscription to the New Futurists will give you full access to see how the sausage gets made. Maybe that metaphor seems a bit extreme, but let me tell you: watching anything go from idea to a mass produced project is a wondrous, messy procedure. I’m really excited about the prospect of bringing an engaged audience into that process. So, if you’re interested in following the  full development of these projects and supporting the artists who make them possible, consider a paid subscription.

The New Futurists. Cool name, bro. What’s it mean? 

Great question! I addressed our studio’s name in a post from 2022: A New Futurist Manifesto. Suffice it to say, there were some old futurists. They had some interesting ideas and also some very, very bad ones. They’re dead. So it’s high time for some New Futurists.

The New Futurists

A New Futurist Manifesto

Shortly after the launch of The New Futurists, I received an email from a colleague asking, “What is a new futurist? Did something happen to the old Futurists?” “Why yes,” I replied somewhat tongue-in-cheek, “They died. Good riddance…

Read more

2 years ago · 4 comments · Ben Bolling

Shade that lid

If you’re looking to show your support for the New Futurists in a way that keeps your head warm, check out our merch collection over at beaglemans. We’ll be bringing you limited edition drops featuring art prints, clothing, accessories, and much more throughout the year. Stay tuned to beaglemans for the sickest New Futurists collections.

Visionaries and Paid Subscriptions

We appreciate every one of you who subscribes to this project.

Paid subscribers are able to comment on all posts here at The New Futurists. You also have access to all of our archived posts. Posts go into The New Futurists vault one year after they appear, so your paid subscription allows you to view our entire back catalogue. Also, in 2023, all paid subscribers will receive a signed Southern Gothic ashcan publication (more details on this front soon)!

In 2023 VISIONARIES subscribers will receive all of the paid subscriber benefits described above along with the most astonishing benefits I can dream up including the following:

• TWO limited edition art prints (the first in Q1, the second in Q4)

• TWO limited edition merch items (one in Q2, the second in Q3)

Soon after signing up for a paid or VISIONARIES subscription, you should receive a private email with a form to collect your shipping information. 

If you sign up later in the year, Visionaries rewards will be sent retroactively for the calendar year in which you enroll. We continue to brainstorm ways to make the VISIONARIES tier an awesome, unique, and interactive experience, so stay tuned!

TO BE CONTINUED…

One of the most exciting things about Substack is the potential for change as this space grows and evolves. I look forward to creating a community with all of you around these projects, many of which I’ve been working on for years! Thank you for checking out The New Futurists! More soon!