Maksim Strelkov
@zethkeeper.bsky.social
Comicbook colorist and music composer. Tired. | I'm so prog I listen to concept albums on shuffle (c) Kmac2021.
https://keepercolors.com
For hiring: [email protected]
#comicbookcolorist #colorist
https://keepercolors.com
For hiring: [email protected]
#comicbookcolorist #colorist
Pinned
Maksim Strelkov
@zethkeeper.bsky.social
· Oct 14
Idea 21
Messing around with instruments while sick with covid.
soundcloud.com
Hey #PortfolioDay! I'm a comicbook colorist AND a musician, so I figured I'd do something different this time [1/3].
Here are a few of my music samples:
soundcloud.com/zethkeeper/i...
soundcloud.com/zethkeeper/s...
youtu.be/NeVzce_jIdQ
youtu.be/mtDas2lW8x4
youtu.be/UFB4aO7VA2Y
youtu.be/JYgq9bifAA
Here are a few of my music samples:
soundcloud.com/zethkeeper/i...
soundcloud.com/zethkeeper/s...
youtu.be/NeVzce_jIdQ
youtu.be/mtDas2lW8x4
youtu.be/UFB4aO7VA2Y
youtu.be/JYgq9bifAA
Reposted by Maksim Strelkov
The 2024 numbers are crunched, data visualised, and insights SHARED!
Here's the findings of the 2024 Comics Worker Survey!
Anyone can read these findings on income, rates, royalties and more--online or as a PDF.
Here's the findings of the 2024 Comics Worker Survey!
Anyone can read these findings on income, rates, royalties and more--online or as a PDF.
The Cartoonist Cooperative
Making comics better for everyone!
cartoonist.coop
October 14, 2025 at 10:56 PM
The 2024 numbers are crunched, data visualised, and insights SHARED!
Here's the findings of the 2024 Comics Worker Survey!
Anyone can read these findings on income, rates, royalties and more--online or as a PDF.
Here's the findings of the 2024 Comics Worker Survey!
Anyone can read these findings on income, rates, royalties and more--online or as a PDF.
Reposted by Maksim Strelkov
John Pitre, Focus on Light
November 25, 2025 at 1:12 PM
John Pitre, Focus on Light
Me on this coming Saturday.
THE DREAMING LANDS (2002)
Oil on Canvas - 20” X 30”
This painting is one of several works derived from my experiences at MSKCC in 2000. That year I read a couple of books which mentioned a feeling I have experienced at night during camping trips... 1/4
Oil on Canvas - 20” X 30”
This painting is one of several works derived from my experiences at MSKCC in 2000. That year I read a couple of books which mentioned a feeling I have experienced at night during camping trips... 1/4
November 26, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Me on this coming Saturday.
Reposted by Maksim Strelkov
It's a banal observation but everything is so irritating these days.
Every company has found innovative ways to NOT be responsible for their product or services.
Every company has found innovative ways to NOT be responsible for their product or services.
November 25, 2025 at 2:09 PM
It's a banal observation but everything is so irritating these days.
Every company has found innovative ways to NOT be responsible for their product or services.
Every company has found innovative ways to NOT be responsible for their product or services.
Reposted by Maksim Strelkov
👇
The one about comic book page rates – again. News flash: Comic book page rates are STILL stagnant, after all these years, and for indie cartoonists it's even harder
The one about comic book page rates – again
News flash: Comic book page rates are STILL stagnant, after all these years, and for indie cartoonists it's even harder
www.comicsbeat.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:57 PM
👇
Reposted by Maksim Strelkov
Genuinely think if we're going to continue to have access to ai chat, we need to be licensed to use it. This shit is insidious and deadly.
This is the tech companies playbook - First comes the increasing user base, and then we will see ads on ChatGPT. But ChatGPT and other AI chatbots are not like Meta and Google ->
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/t...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/t...
What OpenAI Did When ChatGPT Users Lost Touch With Reality
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Genuinely think if we're going to continue to have access to ai chat, we need to be licensed to use it. This shit is insidious and deadly.
Reposted by Maksim Strelkov
The one about comic book page rates – again. News flash: Comic book page rates are STILL stagnant, after all these years, and for indie cartoonists it's even harder
The one about comic book page rates – again
News flash: Comic book page rates are STILL stagnant, after all these years, and for indie cartoonists it's even harder
www.comicsbeat.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:31 PM
The one about comic book page rates – again. News flash: Comic book page rates are STILL stagnant, after all these years, and for indie cartoonists it's even harder
Reposted by Maksim Strelkov
Last time I checked my current rate at one publisher was $70 less than my starting rate there almost 20 years ago, when accounting for inflation. It'll be even worse now.
The one about comic book page rates – again. News flash: Comic book page rates are STILL stagnant, after all these years, and for indie cartoonists it's even harder
The one about comic book page rates – again
News flash: Comic book page rates are STILL stagnant, after all these years, and for indie cartoonists it's even harder
www.comicsbeat.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Last time I checked my current rate at one publisher was $70 less than my starting rate there almost 20 years ago, when accounting for inflation. It'll be even worse now.
Reposted by Maksim Strelkov
Yall should check out the Cartoonist Co-op survey too. They’ve been trying to make more sense of how cartoonist are surviving in this mess. Hoping to get more people to fill it out for next year, so keep an eye out. bsky.app/profile/cart...
The 2024 numbers are crunched, data visualised, and insights SHARED!
Here's the findings of the 2024 Comics Worker Survey!
Anyone can read these findings on income, rates, royalties and more--online or as a PDF.
Here's the findings of the 2024 Comics Worker Survey!
Anyone can read these findings on income, rates, royalties and more--online or as a PDF.
The Cartoonist Cooperative
Making comics better for everyone!
cartoonist.coop
November 25, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Yall should check out the Cartoonist Co-op survey too. They’ve been trying to make more sense of how cartoonist are surviving in this mess. Hoping to get more people to fill it out for next year, so keep an eye out. bsky.app/profile/cart...
Reposted by Maksim Strelkov
For those not on Twitter:
You can talk about these issues without being unhinged. Being progressive doesn't give you a pass to talk about how you want to beat specific writers.
You can talk about these issues without being unhinged. Being progressive doesn't give you a pass to talk about how you want to beat specific writers.
November 25, 2025 at 6:11 PM
For those not on Twitter:
You can talk about these issues without being unhinged. Being progressive doesn't give you a pass to talk about how you want to beat specific writers.
You can talk about these issues without being unhinged. Being progressive doesn't give you a pass to talk about how you want to beat specific writers.
Reposted by Maksim Strelkov
Will the terminally online children please take note of this 👇👇👇
Another month, another superhero comic that really needed a sensitivity reader and is now being met with a mix of criticism the creators should probably listen to and death threats/wishes that will ensure they don’t listen to that criticism.
November 25, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Will the terminally online children please take note of this 👇👇👇
Reposted by Maksim Strelkov
Yeah, it'd be great if the industry publicly condemned the wholesale attacks on women and people of color by these craven cowards. Call me zany, but of the two I think the actual groomer deserves condemnation, not the people pointing out he was an utter ghoul.
Comics is having a time again and this should not be. The most marginalized, vulnerable people should NOT be on the knife's edge every time something like this happens. And yet they always are. Anybody going to step up? I would love to see some pros holding the line here. Would be really nice.
Also every big name white comics guy who follows me, this is what happens when you don’t stand up for marginalized people in your industry. We deal with this shit constantly and you can’t be bothered to say “hey maybe stop attacking female, PoC, and/or queer creators”
April 4, 2024 at 3:26 PM
Yeah, it'd be great if the industry publicly condemned the wholesale attacks on women and people of color by these craven cowards. Call me zany, but of the two I think the actual groomer deserves condemnation, not the people pointing out he was an utter ghoul.
Reposted by Maksim Strelkov
Look, the industry was founded by gangsters and bootleggers but that doesn't mean you have to hold to those standards. Just flat-out state that comics are for everyone, and anyone who thinks going after people with bile and hatred and -death threats- can go kick rocks. It's. Not. Hard.
April 4, 2024 at 10:19 PM
Look, the industry was founded by gangsters and bootleggers but that doesn't mean you have to hold to those standards. Just flat-out state that comics are for everyone, and anyone who thinks going after people with bile and hatred and -death threats- can go kick rocks. It's. Not. Hard.
Reposted by Maksim Strelkov
This should be obvious
No one should get death threats over something they “did” to a comic book character.
November 25, 2025 at 6:31 PM
This should be obvious
Reposted by Maksim Strelkov
💯
The second you put a fictional character above a real human being, YOU are the problem. Theres no ifs, buts or ands about it.
Not happy with what you read, fair enough, critique of the work is fine. Threaten a real human being over it? YOU ARE ONCE AGAIN THE PROBLEM.
See how that works?
Not happy with what you read, fair enough, critique of the work is fine. Threaten a real human being over it? YOU ARE ONCE AGAIN THE PROBLEM.
See how that works?
November 25, 2025 at 6:30 PM
💯
Reposted by Maksim Strelkov
The last smartphone I bought was 8 years ago. It still works. I switched to a flip phone last year and I'm hoping it will outlive me.
Disposable tech is a scam.
Disposable tech is a scam.
stupid young people, stop buying a new phone every year if you don't want to be broke. wait no, not like that.
November 25, 2025 at 7:03 PM
The last smartphone I bought was 8 years ago. It still works. I switched to a flip phone last year and I'm hoping it will outlive me.
Disposable tech is a scam.
Disposable tech is a scam.
Reposted by Maksim Strelkov
If you want to help me continue creating and are able to, please buy my stuff, give me money, by all means. But if you can’t, I still make art for people to enjoy it. By any means available. I also don’t speak for my collaborators and I respect their wishes if they don’t want their work pirated.
November 25, 2025 at 8:03 PM
If you want to help me continue creating and are able to, please buy my stuff, give me money, by all means. But if you can’t, I still make art for people to enjoy it. By any means available. I also don’t speak for my collaborators and I respect their wishes if they don’t want their work pirated.
Reposted by Maksim Strelkov
Just so you know, you can use any of my art as a tattoo. You can cosplay any of it. If you can’t find my work in your local library, you can pirate it. If you’re just trying to enjoy art and consume stories, don’t let anything stop you. Though, please ask your library to carry it if they don’t. 💖
November 25, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Just so you know, you can use any of my art as a tattoo. You can cosplay any of it. If you can’t find my work in your local library, you can pirate it. If you’re just trying to enjoy art and consume stories, don’t let anything stop you. Though, please ask your library to carry it if they don’t. 💖
Reposted by Maksim Strelkov
Again, a government of the worst.
EXCLUSIVE: US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff advised Russia on how to pitch Ukraine plans to Trump, in audio files reviewed by Bloomberg
Witkoff Advised Russia on How to Pitch Ukraine Plan to Trump
US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff, fresh from the triumph of the Gaza peace deal, held a phone call last month with a senior Kremlin official to suggest they work together on a similar plan for Ukraine — and that Vladimir Putin should raise it with Donald Trump.
bloom.bg
November 25, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Again, a government of the worst.
Reposted by Maksim Strelkov
1. Artists used to be able to supplement their page rate a bit by selling the original art. Now that many are working digitally, that's not an option.
2. I think the average advance from a book publisher for a graphic novel is probably even worse than the page rate that monthly comics publishers pay
2. I think the average advance from a book publisher for a graphic novel is probably even worse than the page rate that monthly comics publishers pay
The one about comic book page rates – again. News flash: Comic book page rates are STILL stagnant, after all these years, and for indie cartoonists it's even harder
The one about comic book page rates – again
News flash: Comic book page rates are STILL stagnant, after all these years, and for indie cartoonists it's even harder
www.comicsbeat.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:40 PM
1. Artists used to be able to supplement their page rate a bit by selling the original art. Now that many are working digitally, that's not an option.
2. I think the average advance from a book publisher for a graphic novel is probably even worse than the page rate that monthly comics publishers pay
2. I think the average advance from a book publisher for a graphic novel is probably even worse than the page rate that monthly comics publishers pay
Reposted by Maksim Strelkov
IGN is paying attention to censorship again. Use their momentum, call visa and mastercard, tell them you read the article, ask them why they're censoring legal stuff
reminder that you don't need to know specifics of what's at play. It's often better to sound like a normie
reminder that you don't need to know specifics of what's at play. It's often better to sound like a normie
Really wild situation here: a celebrated and well-regarded indie dev and publisher is facing shutdown because Valve banned their game from Steam and won't talk to them about it, at all.
www.ign.com/articles/uns...
www.ign.com/articles/uns...
Unsettling Horror Game Horses Banned From Steam, Leaving Studio With 'High Risk' of Closure - IGN
Indie horror game Horses is preparing to launch on December 2, on the Epic Games Store, GOG, Itch.io, and the Humble Store. But one place it won't be is on Steam, because Steam has banned the game for...
www.ign.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:51 PM
IGN is paying attention to censorship again. Use their momentum, call visa and mastercard, tell them you read the article, ask them why they're censoring legal stuff
reminder that you don't need to know specifics of what's at play. It's often better to sound like a normie
reminder that you don't need to know specifics of what's at play. It's often better to sound like a normie
Reposted by Maksim Strelkov
The other dynamic was the first week of March 2007 I had quit my day job to write full time, so my scripts got a little longer than when I was moonlighting. I'd pare that back later.
I've got notes on all the issues of KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC here: farawaypress.com/comics/starw...
I've got notes on all the issues of KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC here: farawaypress.com/comics/starw...
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic – Faraway Press – The Online Home of John Jackson Miller
The official site of author John Jackson Miller
farawaypress.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:48 AM
The other dynamic was the first week of March 2007 I had quit my day job to write full time, so my scripts got a little longer than when I was moonlighting. I'd pare that back later.
I've got notes on all the issues of KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC here: farawaypress.com/comics/starw...
I've got notes on all the issues of KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC here: farawaypress.com/comics/starw...
Reposted by Maksim Strelkov
Ironically, seeing what Dustin and Brian Ching were capable of led me into a bad habit that second year of the series: I jammed in about 25% more story (and characters, and species, and ships) in the summer and fall issues, which caused the title's only really bad off-schedule stretch. Mea culpa!
November 26, 2025 at 3:45 AM
Ironically, seeing what Dustin and Brian Ching were capable of led me into a bad habit that second year of the series: I jammed in about 25% more story (and characters, and species, and ships) in the summer and fall issues, which caused the title's only really bad off-schedule stretch. Mea culpa!
Reposted by Maksim Strelkov
Dustin Weaver's favorite KOTOR issue is full of scenes where he went above and beyond. My script asked for "a typical warship bridge with a good view of the battle through a forward portal -- and perhaps some holographic displays." So @dustinweaver.bsky.social went ahead and designed us a movie set!
November 26, 2025 at 3:39 AM
Dustin Weaver's favorite KOTOR issue is full of scenes where he went above and beyond. My script asked for "a typical warship bridge with a good view of the battle through a forward portal -- and perhaps some holographic displays." So @dustinweaver.bsky.social went ahead and designed us a movie set!
Reposted by Maksim Strelkov
Star Wars Ranking.
Top 10 personal favorite Star Wars comics I drew:
1-Knights of The Old Republic #8
2-KOTOR #15
3-Tales #23 (Shadows and Light)
4-KOTOR #13
5-Rebellion #15
6-KOTOR #22
7-Tales #24 (Unseen, Unheard)
8-KOTOR #7
9-KOTOR #24
10-Rebellion #16
Top 10 personal favorite Star Wars comics I drew:
1-Knights of The Old Republic #8
2-KOTOR #15
3-Tales #23 (Shadows and Light)
4-KOTOR #13
5-Rebellion #15
6-KOTOR #22
7-Tales #24 (Unseen, Unheard)
8-KOTOR #7
9-KOTOR #24
10-Rebellion #16
November 25, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Star Wars Ranking.
Top 10 personal favorite Star Wars comics I drew:
1-Knights of The Old Republic #8
2-KOTOR #15
3-Tales #23 (Shadows and Light)
4-KOTOR #13
5-Rebellion #15
6-KOTOR #22
7-Tales #24 (Unseen, Unheard)
8-KOTOR #7
9-KOTOR #24
10-Rebellion #16
Top 10 personal favorite Star Wars comics I drew:
1-Knights of The Old Republic #8
2-KOTOR #15
3-Tales #23 (Shadows and Light)
4-KOTOR #13
5-Rebellion #15
6-KOTOR #22
7-Tales #24 (Unseen, Unheard)
8-KOTOR #7
9-KOTOR #24
10-Rebellion #16