Careful What You Wish For
Who wants cake?
Dearest Bad Bugs,
Now that the cursed day of my birth has passed, it’s time to see how this Bugtime Story wraps up. Last we saw of poor Luke, his birthday had become more exciting than he could have ever wished for.
Luke stood dumbstruck, the hatchet shaking in his hand. The last candle flickered faintly on the cake beside him.
The cops were still flooding into the house, guns drawn. If he didn’t act quickly, he knew that he would end up as dead as his family—and that meant there was no way that he could fix this.
“Drop the goddamn weapon before we waste you!” one of the officers shouted.
He was still numb. The words of the officers seemed distant and hollow. Yet somehow, he knew that he still needed to comply. The hatchet dropped to the floor with a metallic clang. The lead officer started to step toward Luke with his gun still raised.
“Jesus Christ,” one of the other officers said, “he butchered them.”
The final candle continued to flicker, calling to him. Luke shifted his weight onto his left leg, leaning down toward the cake. He inhaled deeply, preparing his final wish.
“Don’t fucking move!” one of the officers said.
BOOM!
At the same moment, the roar of a weapon discharged. A bullet ripped past Luke, slicing through the middle of the final candle. Luke blew at the candle at the same time—the flame extinguishing right before the remnants of the candle landed on the gore-streaked surface of the cake.
“I wish none of this had happened!” Luke screamed in his mind.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
More bullets tore through the air, striking Luke all over. He felt his legs give out, and he careened face-first into the cake.
Luke opened his eyes and saw the candles lit on his birthday cake. A garish frosting-Batman adorned the top of cake below twelve candles. It was his twelfth birthday—the last birthday he could remember enjoying. He felt the hand of his father on his shoulder, causing him to look up at the now much younger man. Luke’s father looked much happier than Luke could ever remember—his hair was thicker and his stomach less paunchy. His eyes held a sparkle that had long since passed by the time of Luke’s 32nd birthday.
Across the table, framed by the candles of the cake, Luke’s mother was positioning the pile of gifts with superhero wrapping paper into a picture-perfect pile. She smiled at Luke—the type of smile that only a mother could produce. The visions of his 32nd birthday started to fade like a distant bad dream.
Still, something told him that this wish was more important than any he had ever made before. He leaned into the candles, ignoring the black and red box on the table beside them, and blew all twelve of them out with one breath.
“I wish that my birthdays were always boring,” Luke thought.
Twenty years later, he would forget that wish. But for now, he felt that he had done something right.
Kicking Off March On Kickstarter
Launching Soon! JabberJaw!
From the world of Fangers comes JABBERJAW—a gripping one-shot by Garrett Gunn and Daniel Eduardo Mendoza. The story follows a cursed swamp monster, bound to a treasure haunted by the spirit of his deceased girlfriend. Naturally, a group of unsuspecting college students stumbles into the chaos, with deadly consequences. While we haven’t revealed the cover art yet, rest assured—we’ve got plenty of stunning, eye-catching covers to unveil soon. For now, enjoy this incredible piece by Brian Balondo
Launching Soon! Welcome to Monster World!
Welcome To Monster World #1-#2 - A dream vacation takes an unexpected twist when a family stumbles upon an abandoned theme park hidden deep in the woods of West Virginia. But this isn’t your typical creepy attraction—it’s inhabited by cryptids, legendary creatures of folklore, who are free from the confines of their prisons and very, VERY hungry.
Written by Scott Wilke, illustrated by Juan Calle, colored by Luis Suarez, and lettered by Dave Lentz.
Keeping Cool With Frost
Frost One Shot - Jack Frost, hitman for his father, Old Man Winter, is sent on a chilling mission to put a notorious crime lord on ice. This newest addition to the Periwinkle Saga (Periwinkle, Cupid) is not one to miss.
Written by Scott Wilke, with art by Arturo Mesa, letters by Dave Lentz, and edited by John Macleod.
Don’t forget to come back at the end of the month for the next Bugtime Story where YOU choose the ending!
Bugs and Kisses,
Kris and the Bag Bug Crew
I envy the boring all the time! Lol What a sweet ending for a story that began with so much gore.