Huge thanks to the community for nominating Creative Mussel for CityBeat’s Best of 2026. Let’s keep the spotlight on comic creators! Vote for: Local Author: Jay B. Kalagayan Local Artist: Dylan Speeg Person Who Makes a Difference: Jay B. Kalagayan citybeat.com/best-of-2026/ Deadline: March 22

Slate, just what the hell.

Huge thanks to everyone who splashed by the MeSseD Comics table at Frogman Festival! 🐸✨ Rain or shine, this community is unmatched. It was a blast being back in the mix with so many curious and creative folks. Massive shoutout to Jeff and the team for building such a welcoming space! Stay strange.

The Frogman Festival is back! 🐸 MeSseD Comics is heading to Loveland this Saturday for a full day of curiosities. Find the Cryptid Corner featuring: 🇵🇭 Filipino Lore: St. Malo & Dr. Skintag 🌽 Midwest Legends: Grassman, The GOAT Oasis Conference Center (Loveland, OH) Sat, March 7 | 9:30 AM - 5 PM

See us at #WWETT2026! 🪠 Look for giant sewer worms & life-size comic pages in the ICC hallways! Lilliput & Akka are back with Season 3 (#DavidMack cover), Cryptids, & local history. Indy | Feb 16-19

Huge thanks to #UnionRamen & #BayouBarkada for hosting our Filipinx Creator event! 🇵🇭 The St. Malo debut was special because of your hospitality & guidance.

#4: Fact Behind the Fiction – Working with Historian Mākialani Kanewa-Mariano The shadows are darker when they are cast against the light of real history. For our latest blog, we’re pulling back the curtain on the collaboration that defines St. Malo. www.messedcomics.com/single-post/...

Happy New Year from Creative Mussel! 🥂 2025 was huge—5 new books! 📚 MeSseD: Dregs S2 The Intrusion #1 Dr. Skintag Grassman The Goat Next: St. Malo hits in Jan! 🇵🇭⚓️ Thanks for reading, sharing, and hosting us on the road. You make this possible. Let’s get weird in 2026!

Join us as we celebrate local voices, and incredible storytelling. Jay B. Kalagayan – St Malo & Filipino Assassin Maika Llanea – The Gobbling Goblins Thursday, January 8 | 7 – 9 PM MaryMag (Above Union Ramen) 1837 Magazine St. NOLA ADMISSION: FREE www.facebook.com/share/1CziVN...

Art that is meant to disappear. In Part 3 of our St. Malo series, we dive into #StephanieSyjuco’s incredible murals in New Orleans and how they are featured in our upcoming comic book. www.messedcomics.com/single-post/... From 1883 engravings to "ghostly" wheat pastes, history is coming alive.

Exclusive Interview! Ever wonder what happens when a legendary cryptid gets his own horror comic? @hometownhaunts.bsky.social sits down with Jay to talk about THE GOAT. SPOILER ALERT: Jay spills the tea on a future clash with a cryptid "no one asked for." www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOWA...

We got an ArtsWave Inspire Artist Grant With this support, we’re spotlighting a story that is rarely told in classrooms: the Manilamen of St. Malo. This historical fiction comic series will bring to life the first Asian settlement in America. Artwork by Feriowind. moversmakers.org/2025/12/10/a...

Artist Spotlight: Hailey Clemens! Love the striking pin-up art inside The Goat? It's the work of multi-media artist Hailey Clemens! She created the bold piece using a painstaking printmaking technique called a linoleum print. Want to see her carving process? www.messedcomics.com/single-post/...

Tis' the season to get MeSseD! 🚽 Our DECEMBER SALE is here! Trade Paperback Pack: Season 1: Follow the Flush Season 2: Dregs (New!) A $75 value for ONLY $65 Just add both trade paperbacks to your cart for the discount! www.messedcomics.com/product-page...

The First Asian Village in North America? St. Malo, Louisiana is a profound, untold chapter of Filipino American history! Why was this history hidden? Read about our next project! Research began with the amazing @bayoubarkada. Cover art by @feriowind. www.messedcomics.com/single-post/...

Cincy! Creative Mussel is still buzzing after our BEST. CRAFTY. SUPERMARKET. EVER. You helped us smash our 2021 record! 🏆 Huge thanks to every amazing attendee and the #CraftySupermarket team for hosting such a supportive, high-energy event. What an end to our 2025 tour!

Holiday Shopping? Treat Yourself! Support small biz this Saturday (11/29) at Crafty Supermarket! Find indie comics: MeSseD Comics & The Intrusion! Dylan's got new Cincinnati Stickers! Music Hall, Cincy | 11am-5pm. FREE Admission! First 100 get a tote bag! Full Details: craftysupermarket.com

That’s a wrap on Cryptid Con 2025! What a weekend! Loved sharing stories of Grassman, The Goat, and Dr. Skintag with all the enthusiastic fans. Whether you were there for the merch or the real-life encounter tales, we appreciate you stopping by! Shout-out to Krampus for visiting the sewer worms.

#krampus can’t wait to read #grassman #cryptidcon

Books by the Banks Recap pt 1! Dylan and Jay had an awesome time at Books by the Banks this Saturday! 🥳 The Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library was the perfect spot to celebrate books and literacy. We signed copies of Season 1: Follow the Flush & the new Season 2: Dregs!

Books by the Banks is back! 📚 Catch MeSseD writer Jay B. Kalagayan signing Season 1: Follow the Flush and S2: Dregs. Jay joins the Graphic Novel conversation at 12:30 PM (Room 1SA). Come meet the creators and get fresh reads! Sat, Nov 15 | 10 AM–4 PM Cincinnati Main Library booksbythebanks.org

Massive gratitude to Columbus Academy EAST (East Asian Students Together) for hosting our writer, Jay Kalagayan! We had an amazing time diving into Filipino Assassin and breaking down the graphic novel creation process for the students was a blast. Hope to collaborate with CA and EAST again soon!

Thanks @paul-pullbox.bsky.social for the #indiecomic spotlight on The Goat: Pope Lick Creek Monster! #MeSseDComics #Cryptids #TheGoat #IndieComics #Cincinnati #BSkyComics

As Filipino American Heritage Month wraps up, we’re highlighting a powerful illustration by Cincinnati-based artist and educator John Lanzador of Vincent Manago Hambright (featured in Filipino Assassin). @jrlanz.bsky.social 🔗 See more of his work: johnlanzador.wixsite.com/artstuff

HUGE thanks to Cinci Comic Expo team for a stunner weekend! The show was successful for MeSseD Comics, and that Superman atmosphere was electric! A big shout-out to the staff for making our Filipino Assassin panel run flawlessly. Yosemite Sam took on the Sewer Worms, those flea-bitten varmints!

Kicking off the Cin. Comic Expo FRIDAY at 5 PM! Don't miss The Real-Life Story Behind the Panels: A Conversation with the Creators of Filipino Assassin. See how a team used research and public records to transform the true story of Vincent Hambright into a graphic comic. Room 103/104/105, 5 PM

“The Goat: Pope Lick Creek Monster adds a new, diverse focus to the legend of the Pope Lick Monster” -Citybeat Thanks for the support of local #indiecomics, @citybeatcincy.bsky.social

Get ready! 🚽 MeSseD Comics is flushing into Cincinnati Comic Expo next weekend, Oct 24-26! Find Jay & Dylan at Table T3 with all the wet, weird, & wild: +Cryptid Comics: Grassman, Dr. Skintag and our new book, The Goat: Pope Lick Creek Monster +MeSseD: Lilliput, Akka and Fat Mucket! See you there?

HUGE thanks to Michael and the entire #GoatmanFestival Team! The horror-themed weekend at legendary Pope Lick Park was electric. We were thrilled to premiere our new comic, THE GOAT: POPE LICK CREEK MONSTER! Missed out? Grab your copy today: ko-fi.com/s/60f4f22c1c

Huge success at #LouisvilleBookFestival📚 We SOLD OUT of every copy of MeSseD: Vol 1 Follow the Flush! Thank you, Louisville! Shout-out to the incredible energy from Miles Morales and our hero, #MychalThreets. What a day! Already counting down the days until next year!

“Bet you’ve never heard of the Pope Lick Monster. Or the Melon Heads. But you get to see the pulpy atmosphere that sucks audiences into immersion here.” Thanks @gutternaut.substack.com !

🐐 See you at Goatman Festival this weekend! Louisville's only cryptid festival is HERE (Oct 10-11) at Pope Lick Park, home of the monster! We're debuting THE GOAT: POPE LICK CREEK MONSTER, our new horror comic! What monster lurks on those tracks? www.mostfunyoueverhad.com/goatmanfest/

#cryptidblockparty was a blast! We had an exquis day connecting with cryptid fans, Cincy Bookstore Crawl participants and Covington’s curious.

Prepare to be railroaded into terror! 😱 We're thrilled to announce our frightening new comic, THE GOAT: POPE LICK CREEK MONSTER is officially "On Track"! Preview at www.messedcomics.com/single-post/... Artwork by Ethan Pope

Having some fun at @cartooncrossroads.bsky.social Met fans and new readers!

Calling all collectors and cryptid enthusiasts! 👋 We're stoked to be a part of the Covington Cryptid Block Party this Saturday, Oct 4! Pike Street from Noon to 6 PM with fresh comics: +Cryptid Corner comic line (Grassman and Dr. Skintag) +Preview of our new book, The Goat: Pope Lick Creek Monster

finally finished this drawing of fierce deity link that's just been sitting as a wip on my desktop for over a year i think lol #art #legendofzelda

Mark your calendars! Cartoon Crossroads Columbus (CXC) is next weekend. This free comics festival is a must for any art lover. Join us at the Columbus Metropolitan Library Main Branch: Sat, Sept 20th: 11 AM-5 PM Sun, Sept 21st: 1-5 PM Come to Table 81 to grab some comics and say hello!

“The only thing more surprising than a podcast about the sewer system is…. A comic book series about the sewer system.” We were thrilled to be on Backed Up’s bonus episode! Hosts Becca Costello and Ella Rowen chat with Jay. @cinradio.bsky.social www.wvxu.org/podcast/back...

Comic Con Accident inspired Dr. Skintag Dr. Skintag: "Where did you get the idea for Dr. Skintag?" Dwuan Watson interviews Dr. Skintag writer Jay B. Kalagayan Artwork by Rialin José, Video design and edit by Jackson Cotner youtu.be/J7uooh-pj2E?...

Looking for something unique??? The 7th Cincinnati Art Book Fair is an amazing event showcasing art books, zines, and comics from Midwest artists. Swing by our table to grab MeSseD, Filipino Assassin, and Dr. Skintag. The Carnegie 1028 Scott St. September 6-7 FREE Sat 12 - 6 PM Sun 12 - 5 pm

Illustration for MeSseD Comics of the character Lilliput. Artwork by Dylan Speeg. Check out this incredible artwork! 🎨 We’re blown away! #MeSseDComics #Lilliput #DylanSpeeg #ComicArt #Illustration #CharacterDesign #cincinnatiartists

When I was little, the U.S. military came to our home at gunpoint and took me and my family away. We were imprisoned for years in barbed wire camps simply because we were Japanese American. I have spent my life telling that story, hoping it would never be repeated.

Get ready to level up at Coffee and Comic Book Hang Out This Sunday, July 27 2:30-4:30 PM Project Seed Coffee 5241 Princess Anne Rd, 23462 Sip on a signature Ube Velvet or Buko Pandan Latte Snag limited edition Filipino Assassin and MeSseD comics www.facebook.com/share/15sqpR...

Comic News Insider Check out the interview with @jimmyaquino.bsky.social and Jay B. Kalagayan at Heroes Con this past June. “-met fellow Filipino Jay Kalagayan and they talked about his comics with Filipino leads, working in theater and mutual friends.” www.comicnewsinsider.com/2025/07/epis...

Looking for a great opportunity to #workincomics? Check out @cartooncrossroads.bsky.social

Tidewater Comic Con was an absolute blast! 🎉 What a wild two-day con, bringing in tons of new readers and familiar faces eager to snag their next MeSseD and hidden history with Filipino Assassin. Jay even got to meet and chat with the legendary Lou Diamond Phillips about Filipino Assassin!

A little AMSR with MeSseD Comics with artwork from Sink Season 4, Chapter 1! Artwork Dylan Speeg, Animator Victor Kirkbride, Music Doug Borntrager, Creator Jay B. Kalagayan

Amazing time at Heroes Con. It was so good to see old friends, meet new people and just get inspired by all the creativity. Jay definitely got his share of autographs and connected with a good number of future collaborators. And we got our Filipino Assassin pops from @comedianviet.bsky.social

Great time at #heroescon so far!