Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social)
The Power Fantasy (2024-)
Words for sale. Newsletter: https://buttondown.email/KieronGillen/ Comics: http://bit.ly/kierongillen
28,402 followers 834 following 10,036 posts
view profile on Bluesky Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social)
The Power Fantasy (2024-)
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social)
Looking forward to this. I'm going to talk about my childhood hobgoblin-infested parocosms and random pubs.
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social) reply parent
12p a word seems better-than-most for many games journo places, from my basic mental math of old rates, which have not improved.
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social) reply parent
Honestly, working out the space for this has been WEIRD.
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social) reply parent
There isn't. Do feel free to make one if you wanna.
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social) reply parent
Thank you!
Danny (@eckospider.bsky.social) reposted
@kierongillen.bsky.social and @stevelieberart.bsky.social team on this week to bring a weird, quirky and very fun one shot comic Highly recommend (especially if you’re waiting for DIE: LOADED and are taking a break before diving into POWER FANTASY vol. 2)
Paul (@rafto93.bsky.social) reposted
Today's morning read is issue 10 of The Power Fantasy by @kierongillen.bsky.social @casparw.bsky.social @claytoncowles.bsky.social & @rianhughes.bsky.social Another great issue and another fantastic ending. Oh, and lots of cheeky bits.
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social)
Holiday reading! Read my KS advance of Uncanny 66 which has all manner of good stuff. Special mention to Silvia Moreno-Garcia's opening novella, The Lure of Stone, which is a deft and compelling update of the energies of golden age S&S. Out tomorrow, btw. www.uncannymagazine.com/uncanny-maga...
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social)
I've given up on photoshopping and/or locating images. Imagine a picture of Magneto, in standard dress. It is labelled MAGNETO. Then there is a picture of Magneto with a ripped up uniform covered in grime, probably from the 1990s. It is labelled MAGMESSO. There's a footnote about pronunciation.
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social) reposted
Holiday book! Service Model is basically Post-Societal collapse Candide starring Kryten from Red Dwarf, desperately trying to find someone to make a cup of tea for. I love Tchaikovsky, and was especially delighted to see him write his in his comic register for a whole novel.
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social) reposted
Holiday book #1: Finally read Long Live Evil, which is a wicked grin of a book. A deeply meta portal fantasy, which takes huge pleasure in its tonal shifts, and dares you to go with it. I cackled with glee along with it.
Laurie O'Connel (@laurieoc.bsky.social) reposted
FULL SEND: a brand new RPG about mountaineering. Generate summits and ascend them using tarot cards including a CUSTOM oracle deck. Learn about the lore and history of the mountains. Compete against each other for glory while you struggle to get everyone home www.kickstarter.com/projects/lau...
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social) reply parent
But a bad landlord is a good landlord.
Simon HB (@norock.bsky.social) reposted
Actually, Frankenstein is a doctor success at the Venice film festival
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social) reply parent
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social) reply parent
It's got a restless, playful intelligence I'm all there for.
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social) reply parent
Really nice work. I wish I got to it earlier!
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social) reply parent
Adrian has so much good stuff - Children of Time was also my way in, and is an absolute classic.
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social) reply parent
I'm just finishing my hugo reading too late now - I actually have only the actual winner to go.
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social) reply parent
Thank you. It struck me as a "Yes, this is 100% the 3 word pitch".
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social)
What make me laugh about this one is that it is a solid joke but also 100% a cry for help.
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social) reply parent
I mean, it doesn't sound unlikely.
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social) reply parent
I am a sucker for polite robots, me.
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social)
Holiday book! Service Model is basically Post-Societal collapse Candide starring Kryten from Red Dwarf, desperately trying to find someone to make a cup of tea for. I love Tchaikovsky, and was especially delighted to see him write his in his comic register for a whole novel.
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social)
Holiday book #1: Finally read Long Live Evil, which is a wicked grin of a book. A deeply meta portal fantasy, which takes huge pleasure in its tonal shifts, and dares you to go with it. I cackled with glee along with it.
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social)
I won't be a landlord. You all live rent free in my head.
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social) reply parent
Thank you:)
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social)
It's the week of DIE: LOADED dropping, so a lovely time to come and hang with Stephanie and me.
DSTLRY (@dstlry.bsky.social) reposted
♥️ They told them love was a bug. ♥️ They proved it was the upgrade. 💋 @kierongillen.bsky.social is rooting for Service-1 and Chef-9. WHITE HOUSE ROBOT ROMANCE #1, out 9/3/25 from Chip Zdarsky, @rachaelstott.bsky.social, @tamrabonvillain.bsky.social & @airy.bsky.social 🤖🤍🤖
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social)
The choice is either between a fairly sophisticated narrative game involving playing cards, bluff and structured storytelling OR ripping off Honey Heist and having characters with two stats, namely CRIMINAL and CRIMINAL.
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social)
Ed and Sean's new CRIMINAL graphic novel was out yesterday. Details here, alongside mentioning I'm writing a short CRIMINAL RPG for their Christmas special.
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social) reply parent
Sorry and thank you!
Darla (@basicandbizarre.bsky.social) reposted
*finishes The Power Fantasy #11* Hey @kierongillen.bsky.social respectfully...what the fuck? THESE CLIFFHANGERS ARE DESTROYING ME! You drop this bomb and then "Hey there's no issue next month." I am screaming at an uncaring sky because OMG WTF KIERON ...yes, I'm obviously coming back for more.
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social)
As I was bad at best at all multiplayer shooters, I take great joy in stories of Jim humiliating people who think they're good in multiplayer shooters.
Christian Lipski (@christianlipski.bsky.social) reposted
The Power Fantasy issue 11: Damn, @kierongillen.bsky.social, damn! The tension machine, as you say. I get what you did, but was it *ethical*?
Grant Howitt (@gshowitt.bsky.social) reposted
Thirty years ago, that dog beat you at basketball. Now it's back to ruin your second wedding. It Didn't Say Anywhere In The Rules That A Dog COULDN'T Play Basketball is this month's comedy horror one-page TTRPG. PDFs, text-only version and "design notes" here: www.patreon.com/posts/it-did...
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social) reply parent
Amazing!
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social)
I just backed Full Send: A Tarot-Powered Mountaineering RPG on @kickstarter.com www.kickstarter.com/projects/lau...
Laurie O'Connel (@laurieoc.bsky.social) reposted
Now Live! 🏔 A tarot powered mountaineering RPG 🚠 Set on some of the world's deadliest peaks ⛰️ Inspired by your favourite outdoors documentaries 🐐These emojis feel a little pointless but I feel the need to inform everyone there ARE early bird discounts. www.kickstarter.com/projects/lau...
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social) reply parent
I feel such a fool
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social)
Useful thread on all of this.
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social)
I have been fascinated by the first three episodes of Alien Earth, as the promise was "Aliens on Earth, not a spaceship" and we've got "Aliens, on a spaceship, on Earth".
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social) reply parent
There really is little difference. I've always obsessed over stories designs for people with a children's intellect. It's just that now they were actually made for children.
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social) reply parent
Honestly, I would be all here for a Chernabog reveal.
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social) reply parent
This is relevant to my interests.
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social) reply parent
Hah. I've been resisting a "I will survive the robot armageddon by having always said please when using google" joke for a while.
Tom Eastman (@tom.eastman.nz) reposted
Can't even build death star anymore, because of ewok
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social) reply parent
I've had an AI-torture doomed-romance story I've wanted to write for about 20 years, and I've basically struck it off the list for this reason and not wanting to encourage this specific brand of nonsense.
Hildebryn (@hildebryn.bsky.social) reposted reply parent
Checks out. However… The headcannon also exists where Elsa and Anna’s parents are also Tarzan’s parents. In that that case, they weren’t actually killed but the story becomes ELSA + TARZAN vs. MOANA + ARIEL
Chris Sims (@theisb.bsky.social) reposted
This is a ridiculous good deal on some great books. www.humblebundle.com/books/martha...
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social) reply parent
I clearly could never write this story as my daughter would murder me for ruining everything.
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social)
Final order day for MARIAN HERETIC, Tini Howard and Jo Jaro’s medieval nunsploitation turning theology into KNEEOLOGY and PUNCHOLOGY (which doesn’t rhyme but Marian Heretic will not be confined by your petty rules). Talk to retailers !
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social)
It was interesting to see some folks seeming to take this seriously as a pitch.
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social) reply parent
Yeah. I got a response back, but was generic enough to be suspicious for me, and the more folks look into it, the susser it appears.
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social)
Hey - Image creators. You likely have received a mail from someone claiming they're at image. This very much feels like a phishing scam. Don't click the link, and spread word to collaborators.
John Freeman (@johnfreeman.bsky.social) reposted
The Lakes International Comic Art Festival has announced writer Grant Morrison MBE as a guest at this year’s annual gathering of comic creators, publishers and fans in Bowness-on-Windermere next month
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social) reply parent
The AI really does make it feel explicitly like some kind of fae trap. "Step closer. We miss you. Cross the circle. Just a step."
Annie Wu (@anniewu.bsky.social) reposted
My Vegas-y variant cover for EMMA FROST: THE WHITE QUEEN #4, out September 24!
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social) reply parent
Hah! No. Thanks
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social) reply parent
Hmm. The classic-dude lit names that came to mind are also names that i don't want to say out of dread of "Kieron thinks XYZ is a good author."
Chris Cantwell (@ifyoucantwell.bsky.social) reposted
Can folks do me a favor? I was on Bluesky early & it was great. Mostly. I hit the eject button in January. I came back, many colleagues are here, but still don’t know I am. I co-created Halt and Catch Fire. I write TV & comics. Here’s two favorite set photos. Repost? I am in the wilderness.
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social) reply parent
I'm sorry, Al. Some people act like they never peopled to 21.
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social) reply parent
Happy birthday!
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social) reply parent
I KNOW, RIGHT?
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social)
I have a fresh idea for a vampire story. In this story, the vampires are a metaphor for undead monsters who want to drink your blood.
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social) reply parent
❤️
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social)
When writing this I was thinking "this exists somewhere on random laptop in Hollywood as a one-sheet."
Dan Sohege (@danielsohege.bsky.social) reposted
Just for perspective, a few weeks ago roughly 100,000 turned up for the London Trans+ Pride march. By contrast fewer than 3,000 ACROSS THE WHOLE COUNTRY, have turned up to anti-asylum "protests". Yet we are meant to take the latter as "the voice of the people" and the former as "the minority".
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social) reply parent
Conceal (firearms) don't feel (the flesh wound.)
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social)
I just backed Dead Men Tell Tales: A Retro Anthology Graphic Novel on @kickstarter.com www.kickstarter.com/projects/169...
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social)
Dear Disney. In Moana, we establish the sea is sentient. In Frozen, the sea kills Elsa's parents. ELSA VS MOANA is a revenge thriller where, etc, etc.
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social)
Perhaps the biggest surprise in Rings of Power was that Ents weren't given all the sympathetic roles, as traditional Hollywood wisdom says you need protagonists you can root for.
Third Eye Comics (@thirdeyecomics.bsky.social) reposted
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Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social) reply parent
I fear that most mine are annoyance of films shitting the bed too.
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social)
Laurie has since changed this to 200. He should get it. I've read this, and it's really interesting, funny, bleak stuff which is a mountain of ideas. "Tarot based narrative competitive mountain climbing game" isn't exactly Eat The Reich in terms of populist pitches, but it deserves more attention.
Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt.bsky.social) reposted
THE POWER FANTASY, EXQUISITE CORPSES and anything and everything by Tom King, Mark Russell and Deniz Camp.
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social) reply parent
Thank you!
Shane M. Bailey (@shanembailey.com) reposted
I just reread The Wicked+The Divine by @mckelvie.bsky.social & @kierongillen.bsky.social in it's entirety and it's such a perfect book. A full and complete story that doesn't need a page more or less. It's a book that while reading seems it's about everything you need it to be about it. A miracle.
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social) reply parent
I'm not going to look, but I have every faith some brave soul will have absolutely done this.
Alasdair Mackenzie (@alasdairmackenzie.bsky.social) reposted
It’s genuinely hard to see how Labour’s response could be worse. The racists don’t just want hotels closed, they want refugees chased out of town. They need to be told *by the fucking government* that that is not legitimate. How are we to have a civilised country if the govt won’t defend refugees?
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social)
Me, an intellectual: Someone, finish Dead Souls.
Dice Engine (@diceengine.bsky.social) reposted
Our new issue of Dice Engine features brilliant upcoming campaigns and live content from the likes of @kierongillen.bsky.social, @ultrabrilliant.xyz @epictellers.bsky.social and a handful more 👏 diceengine.substack.com/p/gods-and-g...
GT (@granitetide.bsky.social) reposted
we used to build household shrines to Going On The Computer and it's no coincidence that as we abandoned these we started straying further from god's light
Grigory Lukin ✨️is on sub✨️ (@grigorylukin.bsky.social) reposted
Something very very weird happened during the Hugos award ceremony... It's been on my mind for days, and so I wrote this blog: "When People Giggle at Your Name, or the 2025 Hugo Awards Incident" grigorylukin.com/2025/08/21/w... #Worldcon
Image Comics (@imagecomics.com) reposted
FIRST LOOK AT KIERON GILLEN & STEPHANIE HANS’ HIGHLY ANTICIPATED DIE: LOADED SERIES RETURN imagecomics.com/press-releas...
Fanboy Factor (@fanboyfactor.bsky.social) reposted
FIRST LOOK AT KIERON GILLEN & STEPHANIE HANS’ HIGHLY ANTICIPATED DIE: LOADED SERIES RETURN @imagecomics.com @kierongillen.bsky.social @stephaniehans.bsky.social buff.ly/b7u61qL
Jason Cordova (@jasoncordova.bsky.social) reposted
Attention artists! I need some original illustrations for some upcoming games (please see my thread). If you want to throw your hat in the ring, please reply in the thread with a link to your portfolio. And if you see this, please repost or tag in someone you think might be a good fit!
Laurie O'Connel (@laurieoc.bsky.social) reposted
T-5 days to the scheduled launch but if I don't get to 150 followers I am pushing it back! www.kickstarter.com/projects/lau...
Lindsay 👩🔬🚲 (@llbroadwell.bsky.social) reposted
surprised that THE INCIDENT PIT has not been memed yet DO NOT FALL IN commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:11...
Orbette (@orbette.bsky.social) reposted
What an absolute fucking baller, 100% legend
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social) reply parent
I do like the implication that there's other things it could be formed of, and one day a train made of meat tubes will roll into the station.
Nic McConnell (@mcconnell.bsky.social) reposted
This is a pretty good bit
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social) reply parent
I don't think this seems likely, not with current technological limits.
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social)
This story was a subject line in my mailbox. I thought "this is either very good, or I'm unsubscribing from this newsletter." It's very good, it's from Kill Screen and it looks at democracy as a game, and goes from there and keeps going.
Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen.bsky.social)
It’s an unimaginable amount of money. He could have bought two - maybe even three - Warhammer armies.