Hello out there, AFK fans! Hope you are all doing well! …or, at least, well enough!

Here’s some Good News! … The long-awaited, ACTION FIGURE KINGDOM #12 is now on sale! You can get your copy at FUNNYBOOKS (our affiliated comic book shop in Lake Hiawatha, NJ) or you can purchase a copy right here at actionfigurekingdom.com (click HERE) or at FUNNYBOOKS’ own online store (click HERE)

BACK IN BUSINESS!
The newest AFK issue was actually finished “on time” back in early April, but by then the entire state of New Jersey (where AFK Headquarters is located) had been shut down due to the pandemic — a shutdown that included our printer in Hackensack, NJ. — Once some businesses were given the go ahead to resume operations in late June, our printer had to get though a backlog of projects before ACTION FIGURE KINGDOM #12 could hit the presses.

SMILE!
ACTION FIGURE KINGDOM fans should really enjoy the new issue, which presents part two of the 3-part “Try-Out Issues” storyline. The 24-pager features lots of ACROBOT and SPARKINATOR back & forth, and will hopefully bring a smile to your face, as the GOOD GUYS continue their search for a new teammate. – There’s even some action in this one!

FIRST APPEARANCES!
The new issue brings back a character not seen since our debut storyline “Return of the Queen” (unless you’re counting the final page of AFK#11), and also includes the first appearances of two all-new AFK characters… one who has a familiar look, and one who is kind of a jerk!  – But, perhaps the most important first appearance in AFK#12 is the first ever AFK printed work by our amazing new colorist Lea Jean Badelles (the colorist of the Ringo Award-winning PUNK TACO Hard Cover) who supplies the colors on our back cover (I am her biggest fan!). Look for more from Lea as ACTION FIGURE KINGDOM continues to move forward in multiple directions.

The back cover of ACTION FIGURE KINGDOM #12 features the first ever, AFK printed work colored by our talented new colorist, Lea Jean Badelles.

THAT’S THE WAY, IT BECAME THE AFK#12 COVER…
While waiting for our slot at the printer, I came up with a new concept for the front cover of ACTION FIGURE KINGDOM #12. Instead of showing the four try-out applicants in a “Brady Bunch” style grid (as seen on the inside back cover of AFK#11), I came up with the current “arranged polaroids” concept, which — as much as I love the Brady Bunch — I felt was more compelling.  I think the result is a pretty spiffy-looking front cover. Many thanks to longtime AFK Cover colorist, Ziggy B. who provided the colors.

The front cover of AFK#12 went through a last minute redesign. — Here are the “before and afters.”

There’s a whole lot more to tell you about regarding all the many things going on behind the scenes here at ACTION FIGURE KINGDOM headquarters, including all the progress being made on the upcoming 28-page ACTION FIGURE KINGDOM #13 (which I plan to have finished by the end of the year). Stay tuned AFK fans!

Thanks for reading! – Action Steve