Jeremy Scott Nichols writes for Bleeding Cool:

We all read a lot of number ones. First issues—we're drawn to them as comic book fans. And for several years now, the first issues we read are 20-some pages of buildup and a last-page splash that is intended to split our minds apart. Thus drawing us into the second issue.

And that's fine. I go for that, too. When it works, it's everything. But, and hear me out here…not every story has to be an ambitious, sprawling epic with a multitude of characters and a far-reaching story arc with limitless possibilities.

Some stories work better short.

This entire industry is built on characters that developed from short adventures. All the Golden Age characters had short, complete stories that established them for decades. A full-length issue was groundbreaking! A two-parter was a big event! And then, at some point, multi-issue story arcs became the norm. (I blame Neil Gaiman. Damn him and his awesome Sandman that I treasure above all other comics in my collection.)

My attempt to reclaim the short comic book story begins with Vast Expanse #1.

I've put together four stories for this first issue. They are all complete in five pages. None of them are Part 1 of X. Some of the characters could continue in new stories, at some point, if they are well-received, but they don't have to. You can read them while waiting for your bread to toast. And then, hopefully, remember them for the rest of your life.

Art from 100% Weird, by Jeremy Scott Nichols and Adrian Bago Gonzalez

In 100% WEIRD, a high school student endures daily bullying from other girls because of her boyish appearance. She discovers a clandestine school club that exists to protect those like her from the ignorance of her fellow students. This one is super-LGBT-friendly. Plus, almost all characters in the story are female, protagonists and antagonists. My wife says this is one of the best ideas I've ever had. She's right, sometimes.

Art from Perpendicular Lives, by Jeremy Scott Nichols and J.C. Quattordio

Another story in this issue is PERPENDICULAR LIVES. It is for fans of surrealist art and ideas. A man lives apart from all the world, bound to the west side of buildings, unseen by all. He searches for any chance of love in this odd tale of romance. My favorite thing about this one is all the little references to surrealist artists hidden in it. This is the perfect example of the short comic book story. It's done in five pages. It says everything that needs to be said and ends.

Art from The Horror at Tournus, by Jeremy Scott Nichols and Lautato Capristo.

Then we have THE HORROR AT TOURNUS. A Muslim philosopher travels with his companion—loosely based on Wallada bint al-Mustakfi, famous poet and influential woman in the Middle Age Islamic world— through France during the Dark Ages. They encounter a street vendor selling meat of a decidedly macabre nature. The Islamic world was legions beyond Western civilization at the time of the story, as this horror story shows. I have a degree in history, and the story of Islamic Spain was one of the most captivating things I learned about. I wouldn't mind if this one took off; I'd like to tell more stories of Al Qasim!

Art from Ain't Afraid of Nobody, by Jeremy Scott Nichols, Anthony Pugh, and Rosa Devine.

The final story, AIN'T AFRAID OF NOBODY, is about an interracial couple that is trying to go camping. A freakish battle of mutated beasts interrupts them, as is often the case. With this one, I told Anthony Pugh to make the couple whatever combination of race he felt like drawing. He made the Kimmy, the woman, African-American and the Kevin, the man, white…and very redneck. This one is based on a character I made up when I was a kid. I'd be interested to see how many people think this is a comedic story and how many think it's kick-ass action. I leave it up to the reader.

About me: I'm Jeremy Scott Nichols. I drew the cover. I wrote the stories. You may have seen my work in the Image/Desperado revival of Negative Burn a few years back. (For those with great memories, I'm the guy that did the "plug-in" story and the "girl on invisible staircase" stories.) I've also had comics published by Uncut Comics (SafeSearch ON for sure, seriously) and Delta Comics about 30,000 years ago. I'm a sports reporter by day and…well, I'm a sports reporter more at night, really. I'd like to be able to say I'm a comics writer by day and a sports reporter by night.

Okay, so the first issue of Vast Expanse is complete. I've paid the artists and they've come through with exactly what I wanted PLUS. It's ready to print. I'm trying to get funding with this Kickstarter. Here's the link if you want to support it:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1120046778/vast-expanse-1

Bleeding Cool Special Offer: for $20 you will receive 1 print copy of VAST EXPANSE #1, SIGNED by author and cover artist Jeremy Scott Nichols and 1 PDF digital copy of VAST EXPANSE #1. Also, your name will appear in the acknowledgments section of the comic book. In addition, a hand-written thank you will be included on your choice of 1 of the 5 VAST EXPANSE #1 postcards.

PLUS! That hand-written postcard will include a sketch of your choice of one of the characters from Vast Expanse, drawn by cover artist Jeremy Scott Nichols!

Thanks to all who choose to support Vast Expanse #1 on Kickstarter!