VeeFriends Adds Award-Winning Cartoonist Jim Rugg as Creative Producer
VeeFriends Adds Award-Winning Cartoonist Jim Rugg as Creative Producer
🎨 Who just joined VeeFriends
VeeFriends has appointed Jim Rugg as Creative Producer, bringing decades of comic book expertise to the project. Rugg is an Eisner and Ignatz Award-winning cartoonist known for works including Hulk: Grand Design, Street Angel, The PLAIN Janes, and Octobriana 1976 (the first blacklight comic book ever published).
Key highlights:
- Rugg will collaborate with D.J. Coffman, VeeFriends Executive Creative Director, to develop characters across comics, animation, packaging, and brand partnerships
- His work is featured in permanent collections at the Smithsonian, National Archives, and Heinz History Center
- He co-created YouTube's Cartoonist Kayfabe channel and has taught at the School of Visual Arts and Animation Workshop in Denmark
- Rugg illustrated Cover B of Comic Book #8: Gary Bee
The appointment aligns with VeeFriends' mission to explore emotional intelligence and human traits through character-driven storytelling. Rugg's experimental visual style and character development experience position him to expand the VeeFriends universe through new narratives.
10/15 Eisner and Ignatz Award–winning @jimruggart VeeFriends Creative Producer, also known for Hulk: Grand Design, cult-favorite Street Angel, The PLAIN Janes, and Octobriana 1976 (first blacklight comic book ever published). – Illustrated Cover B of Comic Book #8: Gary Bee
Behind the Scenes Book Stream Today at 12 PM ET
The team is hosting a live stream **today at 12 PM ET** to share behind-the-scenes content about their book project. - Watch the stream on [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bi1PN0IkLc8) - Get exclusive insights into the book's development - Join the community for this special session This is a recurring event that the team has hosted previously, offering fans direct access to the creative process.
VeeFriends Comic Book 11 Features Character Collision
VeeFriends announces **Comic Book 11** launching **February 12th**, featuring a collision between two major characters from the series. This follows the recent release of Comic Book #10: Rare Robot on January 28th, continuing the project's regular comic book drops. **Key Details:** - Release date: February 12th - Features two prominent VeeFriends characters - Part of ongoing comic book series The announcement maintains VeeFriends' consistent publishing schedule for their comic book collection.
VeeFriends Spotlights Cover Artists Behind Comic Book Series
VeeFriends has published a detailed feature highlighting the cover artists who have contributed to their comic book series. **Key Details:** - The project showcases artists who have created signature cover art for VeeFriends comic books - Full artist profiles and artwork details are available in the [official blog post](https://veefriends.com/blog/meet-the-cover-artists-who-have-put-their-signature-stamp-on-veefriends-comic-books-59ca452f61d8) - Readers can sign up for future comic releases at [garyvee.com/comics](http://garyvee.com/comics) - A comprehensive guide for newcomers is available, covering characters, the VeeFriends universe, and comic book basics The announcement continues VeeFriends' expansion into traditional media formats, building on their NFT collection with physical and digital comic content. The project aims to develop character narratives and expand the VeeFriends intellectual property beyond the blockchain.
Comic Artist Todd Beats Illustrates Cover B for Comic Book #10: Rare Robot
Comic artist Todd Beats, known for work on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Naruto Crossover, Twisted Turtle 2, and Exquisite Corpses 4, has illustrated Cover B for Comic Book #10: Rare Robot. **Key Details:** - Artist previously featured in a BIG SHOW event in January 2026 - Cover B represents one of multiple cover variants for the release - Part of the ongoing BOOK GAMES comic series
Tom Scioli Joins Comic Book Series as Cover Artist
**Eisner-nominated artist Tom Scioli** has illustrated Cover B for Comic Book #9: Kind Warrior. Scioli brings significant credentials to the project: - Known for *Fantastic Four: Grand Design* and *Transformers vs. G.I. Joe* - Author of biographies on Jack Kirby and Stan Lee - Joins previously announced Eisner Award-winning artist Jae Lee, who illustrated Cover B for Comic Book #5 The announcement continues the series' pattern of featuring acclaimed comic book artists for variant covers, building on the project's collaboration with established industry talent.