Hello dear readers!
First of all, I wanted to say thank you for reading. Whether you’re checking out this post on my website’s blog or in your inbox as a newsletter subscriber: thank you.
I hope that keeping this blog going can act as encouragement for others wanting to get their work and thoughts out there without relying exclusively on social media. Last month’s technical issues aside, I still highly recommend having a website or webpage of your own. There are so many helpful resources and tutorials out there, it really is easier than ever.
Now, on with the post.
While a second heatwave has struck us, last week we were blessed with some mercifully cooler temperatures.
That meant I could get a lot more writing and drawing done! Most recently, I’ve been spending time on a project that I’m very excited about sharing. Let’s have a look.
ALBO Italian Edition: Completed and Published!
I finished translating ALBO into Italian, and formatted it for both digital and print. As usual, I ordered myself a proof print copy to do quick quality check, and was once again delighted with the result.
If you’re interested you can find the digital and print versions both on my website and on RPG Trader.
Below are some photos I took of the physical copy of ALBO: Versione Italiana.
New Alboverse Setting: Weird Folklore Fantasy!
Near the end of last month, I received some concerning health-related family news.
Coupled with the heat, and some increasing expenses coming up for the summer, I felt very blue.
As I often do in these situations, I turned to a new creative project as a distraction.
I was no longer feeling super inspired by my last Alboverse concept (see previous post), but I still wanted to do something fantasy-related.
By chance, I started thinking about the legend of “headless men”, also known as “akephaloi” or “blemmyes”.
I used the concept for a monster in my Stravagante bestiary a few years ago, but started wondering if it would be fun to play one as a character.
No sooner had I started sketching out ideas for them as a playable species, I was already thinking of other particularly bizarre folklore and mythological creatures.
Eventually this snowballed into a full-blown setting idea. A world entirely populated by far less traditional and far weirder fantasy folk than your standard high fantasy setting.
I have now designed six of these “folklore-folk”, each one a mish-mash of various cultures’ legendary beings and cryptids. At the same time, each one takes on what I consider to be traditional high fantasy archetypes: humans, elfs, dwarfs, goblins, fairies and ogres.
Starting with this issue, I’d like to share a little bit at a time about this new Alboverse setting as I develop it.
Let’s start with the first three playable folk. At time of writing, I don’t have proper names for any of these yet, so feel free to share your suggestions in the comments below!
Folk 1: The Headless Humanoids
As mentioned earlier, these were the first folk that I started designing for this project. Originally I thought I should use a more stylised, cartoony aesthetic, to perhaps offset the uncanniness of their appearance.
However, I started thinking about these folk as an alternative to the playable options provided by games like D&D, Pathfinder, Shadowdark and their ilk. Consequently, I decided to use a more realistic style, to actually enhance the weirdness of the concept. I think the juxtaposition of a familiar, almost traditional fantasy art style with a bizarre and potentially upsetting subject works really well.
I consider them to be my setting’s “human archetype”. Not only because of their mostly human appearance, but also because of how this legendary people pop up in myths and legends from cultures all across the globe. To reflect this, I see them being quite numerous and well-travelled. As I eventually get round to drawing more of them, I want to really experiment with clothing and armour for their unique body shapes.
Folk 2: The Fiery Bull-Headed Gnomes
This is my first proper folklore mash-up. I was reading up on Italian, Etruscan and ancient Roman folklore, and saw a recurring motif of the fiery bull. One being the Bombasin: an enraged bull, who also has a connection to the Gnomes of Polesine. The other being the Bonnacon: bull-horned beast, with the unique self-defense mechanism of spraying caustic excrement at its enemies.
I really like all these elements, so I combined them into these, my “dwarf archetype” folk. These short and stocky creatures are impervious to fire and can only eat burning hot food – mostly hot coals, brimstone, molten metal and even lava. I also imagine them having incendiary burps, farts and yes… poo.
Folk 3: The Cat-Faced Water-Wyrms
My “elf archetype”, a combination of the alpine cat-faced lizard known as the Tatzelwurm, the nordic and central European Lindworm and the Italian water-spirits the Anguane. I see these folk living in and around mountain springs, rivers, waterfalls and lakes. I wanted them to look somewhat etherial and genderfluid, and also a bit haughty. Their fashion, art and architecture celebrates simplicity and flowing shapes.
I am really pleased with these designs. I especially like how they look in full colour, even though if I ever publish them in a setting zine they will stay in black and white. Perhaps I could include the colour versions as extra assets that come with the digital version?
I’ll share the remaining three in the next post. Maybe by then I’ll also have done a map for the setting?
It all depends on how hot it gets…
Film, TV Show and Book Review!
Back in October of last year I included a selection of spooky film recommendations. To battle the heat lately, we’ve been distracting ourselves with more films, tv shows and books. So, I thought I’d talk a bit about some of the ones I liked and would recommend.
Hokum (2026 film, Damian McCarthy)
I have yet to watch the two big popular horror films that came out this year (Obsession and The Backrooms). I think it’s fair to say that Hokum has been overshadowed by their success, and that’s a shame. Hokum is a really good film. A depressed and disillusioned author (played by Adam Scott) goes to stay in an hotel where his parents honeymooned in the Irish countryside, and is soon plagued by supernatural occurrences. I don’t want to share more than that, as I really hope you’ll give it a watch. It has a tight script, some great performances and the photography and editing give the film a feel of “point-and-click horror mystery video game”, that I really enjoyed.
TRAILER
Widow’s Bay (2026 series, Katie Dippold)
This horror comedy show has been getting a lot of praise and deservedly so. It’s a rare example of a horror comedy perfectly balancing humour and frights. The premise: the mayor of a small island town off the coast of New England (played exceptionally by Matthew Rhys) is desperate to turn Widow’s Bay into a tourist hot spot. The only problem is the inhabitants’ assurance that the island is cursed. If you’re a fan of Mike Flanagan’s Midnight Mass, John Carpenter’s The Fog, the works of Stephen King and shows like Parks & Recreation and Fawlty Towers… and somehow wished they were all blended together, this one’s for you. The writing is fantastic as are the performances: particularly Kate O’Flynn and Stephen Root. TRAILER
My Adventures With Superman (2023-ongoing series, Jake Wyatt)
This show is responsible for rekindling my appreciation and love for Superman. A beautifully animated and strongly anime-inspired series, MAWS tells the story of Clark Kent / Kal-El’s first years as the man of tomorrow. The characterisation of Supes is 100% spot-on: he’s relentlessly kind, compassionate and very dorky. The show leans heavily into comic book sillyness and has some inspired re-interpretations of Superman’s cast of friends and enemies. The relationship between Clark, Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen is the show’s beating heart. MAWS is currently 4 episodes into it’s third season, and it’s still a blast. TRAILER
Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (1971 book, Robert C. O’Brien)
This is an absolutely wonderful book. I read it for the first time many years ago and am currently re-reading it. Most people are probably familiar with the animated 1982 film adaptation by Don Bluth, The Secret of NIMH. While that film is excellent, I think I definitely prefer the source material. The recently widowed field mouse Mrs. Frisby goes on a quest to help save her sick son Timothy as well as her whole family, as the threat of their home being destroyed looms. Advised by the Great Owl, she seeks out the mysterious Rats of NIMH, whose story and current activities are both strange and wondrous.
If I hadn’t already been a long-time vegan by the time I read this book, I think it would have convinced me. It has so much heart and so much to say on humanity’s treatment of animals, all the while told in a delightfully whimsical fairy tale style. If you have only seen the film, give the book a read.
Media Spotlight!
- This video by DammitJeff on how to quit Spotify has been a great help in our continuing attempts to leave behind subscription-based services and return to physical media ownership and control.
- Cozy RPG Reviews shares some great tips on zero prepping TTRPGs without having to rely on improvisation.
- Hugh Lashbrooke (of Ten Acre Games and founder of RPG Trader) was interviewed about the new marketplace by Plus One Exp.
- Another fantastic Cartoon Cartoon animated short, “Sleeping Giants” by Maha Tabikh.
- Indie Nile’s latest video essay all about Israel’s absolutely shameful pinkwashing propaganda and hijacking of LGBTQ+ Pride to hide its genocidal crimes. It’s a tough watch, but excellently made.
- Check out the 2026 Solarpunk collaborative art project!
- If you haven’t already, be sure to check out my recently updated Links page on my website.
- And last but certainly not least, some Positive Leftist News from June!
That’s all for this issue!
As always, thank you so much for reading.
One last reminder that if you feel like supporting my work, you can buy something from my website or itchio, join my Patreon as a paying member, or commission me.
If none of the above are doable for you, please consider spreading the word about my work to your friends!
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Check out my forum, PennySpace!
Until next time,
– Penflower