small press comics – Nik Dirga

Happy New Year, it’s Amoeba Adventures #37 time!

Happy New Year, world, and happy New Issue of Amoeba Adventures! The grand finale of the “The Crane Flies High” trilogy in AMOEBA ADVENTURES #37 is here for you as a FREE PDF download! It’s the latest issue in the wacky comic book I’ve somehow been putting out on and off since 1990!

Everything ends in a big way with this issue. Dr Nigel Baker’s plan is revealed and Dawn Star is out for revenge – but unexpected obstacles are going to get in her way. The All-New All-Spongy Squadron takes on its greatest challenge, and the world is changed forever – and don’t miss that last page!

You can download it right this second totally free to the technological device of your choice via the link below:

AMOEBA ADVENTURES #37 [PDF]

Want the limited print edition? They’re a mere US$7.50 to ship anywhere in the world from New Zealand by sending cash to me via PayPal at dirgas@gmail.com. Print copies of Amoeba Adventures #27 and 31-33 are available for $5 each and if you missed an issue, #34-36 are $5 each if you order the new issue as well!

And if you missed the first two parts of this story, they’re all available for FREE download still on the website!

Believe it or not, 2026 marks FORTY YEARS since I drew my very first Prometheus the Protoplasm strip in 1986, just a wee child in a boring science class. Who knew that all these years later I’d still be wasting my time doodling to an extremely niche audience? Look for some fun celebrations later this year as the slimeball celebrates his middle age!

If you haven’t already, check out my books on Amazon! Now available are three books by yours truly:

CLIPPINGS: COLLECTED JOURNALISM 1994-2024

THE BEST OF AMOEBA ADVENTURES

AMOEBA ADVENTURES: THE WARMTH OF THE SUN

Meanwhile, enjoy this latest issue, and as always thanks for your support – go read it now, and heck, drop me a line sometime and let me know what you think!

Look out world, it’s Amoeba Adventures #36!

Hello, friends! The brand new issue of Amoeba Adventures is now here as a FREE PDF download just for you! Amoeba Adventures #36: ‘Evolution’ is the second part of “The Crane Flies High” three-part story that promises to change everything for Prometheus and pals.

It’s just the latest chapter in this small-press comic I’ve somehow been putting out on and off for 35 years!

You can download it completely free right here at the link below!

AMOEBA ADVENTURES #36 [PDF]

Want the limited print edition? They’re a mere US$7.50 to ship anywhere in the world from New Zealand by sending cash to me via PayPal at dirgas@gmail.com. Print copies of Amoeba Adventures #27 and 31-33 are available for $5 each and if you missed an issue, #34 and #35 are $5 each if you order the new issue as well!

Plus, check out my books on Amazon! Now available are three books by yours truly:

CLIPPINGS: COLLECTED JOURNALISM 1994-2024 is a heaping compendium of the best of my essays, reporting, criticism and memoirs from my so-called career, gathering up material from Mississippi to Oregon to New York to New Zealand. It’s as close to an autobiography as I’ll probably ever write and is all yours as a thick paperback or a groovy e-book!

AMOEBA ADVENTURES: THE WARMTH OF THE SUN gathers up the first six all-new issues of Amoeba Adventures beginning in 2020! We pick up Prometheus and friends in their first new tales in years to find them dealing with detective mysteries, deadly former foes, impending parenthood and occasional nights at the disco. Oh, and coffee. There’s always coffee. Collecting Amoeba Adventures #28-33.

And if you haven’t please like the Amoeba Adventures by Nik Dirga page on Facebook where, if the algorithm permits, I’ll put updates on future comics, links to my non-comics journalism work and more!

As always, thanks for reading!

Wrapping up the Year of the Amoeba – with Amoeba Adventures #35!

Hello and happy holidays to all! My Christmas gift to the people of Earth is the latest issue of my quixotic small press comic, Amoeba Adventures #35, available now as a FREE download to the technological addiction of your choice!

It’s the newest instalment in the story I’ve somehow been telling on and off since 1986 or so and while it may be nearly Christmas, it’s no carefree romp for Prometheus the Protoplasm and company in this first part of a brand new multi-part story I’m calling “The Crane Flies High!”

You can download it completely free right here at the link below!

Amoeba Adventures #35 [PDF]

You can get a sneak preview of the first page right here – and if you’ve been following the series, you’ll want to read this issue, which starts off a story that is going to change everything for Prometheus, Dawn and the gang!

Want the limited print edition? If you’re down, order one up for a mere US$7.50 to ship anywhere in the world from groovy New Zealand by sending cash to me via PayPal at dirgas@gmail.com. They’ll be sent out after Christmas! Also, if you missed anything, print copies of Amoeba Adventures #31-34 and the special anniversary reprint of 1998’s #27 are a mere $2.50 US each!

THE AMOEBA ADVENTURES LIBRARY! OWN IT TODAY!

But wait! Didn’t I say this was the Year of the Amoeba? There’s been a lot of downs and ups in 2024 but one thing I’m really happy about is putting out not one but TWO paperback collections of my Amoeba stories this year, now available over on Amazon! They’re chock full of special features and essays and available worldwide! If you rush, they make the ideal Christmas gift for anyone who loves life itself.

If you’ve missed my incessant hustling, here’s the scoop:

THE BEST OF AMOEBA ADVENTURES gathers up the best of long out-of-print 1990s Amoeba stories by me with additional art by Max Ink are collected along with bonus rarities and more, including guest pin-ups by Dave Sim, Sergio Aragones, Matt Feazell and Stan Sakai! Dive on into the story of Prometheus the Protoplasm, Rambunny, Spif, Ninja Ant and Karate Kactus, and meet some of the strangest heroes and villains of all time as they battle toxic mushrooms, gorilla gangsters, time travel to the dinosaur age and even appear on David Letterman! Collecting material from Amoeba Adventures #1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11-13, 16, 17, 21, 22, 27, Prometheus The Protoplasm #4, Prometheus: Silent Storm; Prometheus Saves The Earth and Amoeba Adventures Fifth Anniversary Special, in a hefty 350-page book available in paperback or hardcover!

“This is one of the best things ever to come out of small press!” – Tim Corrigan, Small Press Comics Explosion.

AMOEBA ADVENTURES: THE WARMTH OF THE SUN gathers up the first six all-new issues of Amoeba Adventures beginning in 2020! We pick up Prometheus and friends in their first new tales in years to find them dealing with detective mysteries, deadly former foes, impending parenthood and occasional nights at the disco. Oh, and coffee. There’s always coffee. Collecting Amoeba Adventures #28-33.

“It’s imaginative, funny, heartfelt and smart. And it evolves, just like Prometheus, the protoplasmic protagonist himself” – Jason DeGroot, Small Press Heroes.com.

Give a like to the Amoeba Adventures by Nik Dirga page on Facebook for updates on future comics, links to my non-comics journalism work and more!

As always, thanks very kindly for your support of my scribblings, and let’s hope 2025 is a good year for us all!

This is a public service announcement: Help Max Ink!

My old pal and former Amoeba Adventures creative partner Max Ink has hit some financial tough times is in need of some help to keep their house.

Without Max’s awesome artwork for about a dozen issues of Amoeba Adventures back in the 1990s, my silly little hobby would never have really gone to the next level. And even now, decades later and back to drawing my own comics again, I often look back to Max’s work as guidance for the best ways to draw my own characters – now that’s talent!

Max is a great guy and many of you out there know him, I hope some of you can lend a hand to a very worthy cause: Here’s their GoFund Me right here!

I’ll always take an excuse to show off some of Max’s great covers back in the day:

Now available – Amoeba Adventures: The Warmth Of The Sun on Amazon

Howdy, folks! Introducing the second collection of my Amoeba Adventures comics this year!

Amoeba Adventures: The Warmth Of The Sun is a brand-new paperback that collects the first six issues of the all-new Amoeba stories written and drawn by me from 2020 to 2023!

Prometheus is a possibly immortal amoeba. Rambunny is a violent, large rabbit. Spif is a genius scientist. Dawn sets things on fire. Ninja Ant is a bug with attitude. Now, we pick up the stars of 1990s small press comics hit Amoeba Adventures in their first new tales in years to find them dealing with detective mysteries, deadly former foes, impending parenthood and occasional nights at the disco. Oh, and coffee. There’s always coffee. Collecting Amoeba Adventures #28-33 as well as behind-the-scenes commentary, extra art and more!

On the fence? Here’s a few quotes from actual humans who I totally didn’t pay to say nice things:

“It’s imaginative, funny, heartfelt and smart. And it evolves, just like Prometheus, the protoplasmic protagonist himself” – Jason DeGroot, Small Press Heroes.com.

“I’ve been following Nik for many years and he just keeps putting out great stuff. He’s better than ever!” – Steve Keeter, Talking Small Press on YouTube.

This nifty 150-page paperback is now available for a mere US$12.99 over on Amazon! (For those down under, here’s the Amazon AU link)

And if you missed out earlier this year, why not make it a double and pick up THE BEST OF AMOEBA ADVENTURES as well, collecting my favourite of my 1990s small press comics in a huuuuuge 350-page paperback or fancy deluxe hardcover, along with piles of rare art, guest pin-ups by Dave Sim, Sergio Aragones, Matt Feazell and Stan Sakai and a huge 10-page section of notes, gossip and rambling on how these comics came to be! You can get the Best Of Amoeba Adventures over on Amazon as well!

And hey, if you want to be a totally awesome person, please feel free to leave reviews of both or either of the Amoeba Adventures books on Amazon so I can extend my plans for world domination in a very niche market of comics about amoebas!

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

The most recent issue, June’s AMOEBA ADVENTURES #34, is still available as a totally free download or ask about the limited print edition! This time, it’s three separate short stories set in the Amoeba Universe, featuring Prometheus’ most bizarre adventure yet, Rambunny battling it out with the vigilante The Period, and Ninja Ant and Dawn Star’s mellow movie date gone horribly wrong! With guest art by Tony Lorenz and Thomas Ahearn!

FOR ALL YOUR AMOEBA UPDATES

Give a like to the Amoeba Adventures by Nik Dirga page on Facebook for updates on future comics, links to my non-comics journalism work and more!

And now, it’s Amoeba Adventures #34!

It’s time for not one, not two, but THREE new Amoeba Adventures stories in the brand new Amoeba Adventures #34, now released digitally FREE to all the people of the internet!

Here we’ve got the latest issue of the comics series I’ve been publishing on and off since (groan) 1990, featuring three adventures starring Prometheus, Ninja Ant, Rambunny and the gang!

Plus, small press superstars Tony Lorenz and Thomas Ahearn provide guest art on one of the tales (the other two, you’re stuck with me, sorry)!

As always, I’m giving it all away for free – click here to download the PDF to the computing machinery of your choice!

Download Amoeba Adventures #34 now, gosh darn it!

But heck, I get it, you want a physical release, too? The print editions have been scaled back a little bit starting with this issue and will be print-on-demand. If you’re down, order one up for a mere US$7.50 to ship anywhere in the world from Hobbit-plagued New Zealand by sending cash to me via PayPal at dirgas@gmail.com. They’ll be sent out in July! Also, I’m clearing out the storeroom a bit and just for the next short while, print copies of Amoeba Adventures #31, 32, 33 and the special anniversary reprint of #27 are a mere $2.00 US each if you order a print copy of the new issue!

And as always, your feedback, applause and condemnations are eagerly requested – I’m not doing this to get rich or famous, but I do always like to hear what you might think of the latest of Prometheus the Protoplasm’s never ending adventures!

Here’s a wee sample of the weirdness this issue contains:

And obligatory plug, if you’re one of the unlucky few who haven’t picked up the hefty archival tome The Best Of Amoeba Adventures over on Amazon, what are you waiting for? This 350-page book collects the best of the original 1987-1998 Amoeba comics written by me with art by me, Max Ink and many more, plus tonnes of bonus essays, rare artwork and cover gallery – it’s available in sultry paperback and decadent hardcover over on Amazon right this second – please buy a copy and save my financial future!

And as always, thanks for reading my goofy comics!

Meanwhile, elsewhere on the internet…

Here’s a brief look at a few other things I’ve been working on recently!

One of my favourite, somewhat underrated TV/streaming shows of the last couple years is the hilarious, bawdy and rude semi-historical comedy The Great. (It’s by the writer behind Poor Things and The Favourite and if you haven’t seen it, it’s highly recommended!) I wrote about my love for this gorgeous and filthy series looking at the corruption of power over for Radio New Zealand‘s occasional series of shows to watch in this age of peak content – read it here:

What We’re Watching: The Great

Meanwhile, while I’m slowly working away on the next issue of Amoeba Adventures – more to announce soon! – you can find an all-new one-page Prometheus the Protoplasm strip in the latest issue of Phoenix Productions’ Strange Times anthology magazine!

This issue’s theme is “My Best Joke” and well, I’ve never been shy about telling a joke, so I’m pleased to take part in a crew of small-press all-stars that includes Teri S. Wood, Matt Feazell, Alan Groening and many more! You can order the print copy right now on Amazon or you can get a PDF version downloaded from Phoenix’s website!

The Best of Amoeba Adventures Book – still available on Amazon!

…I’m a bit consumed by work and life at the moment, but let’s take this moment to remind all three of my faithful readers that my life’s work, my magnum opus, THE BEST OF AMOEBA ADVENTURES, is still available over on Amazon! If you haven’t bought this fine collection of nearly 350 pages of my long, long-running Amoeba Adventures comics, why the heck not?

Buy it in handsome paperback or deluxe hardcover right here!

Here’s what they’re saying about it –

“One of the best small press comics of the 1990s!” – Tony Isabella, creator of Black Lightning and writer for Ghost Rider, Hawkman, Daredevil, Iron Fist and a heck of a lot more!

“This book is awesome! I’ve been a fan and reader of AA since issue #4 and I’ve seen the growth in both story and art over the years by Nik.” – Tony Lorenz, creator of Futuro Tierra

“My all-time favourite small press book!” – Terry Flippo, creator of Marbles, Axel and Alex and much more!

The official blurb:

Nik Dirga’s Amoeba Adventures was one of the most critically praised small press comics of the 1990s. Now, for the first time, the best of long out-of-print stories by Nik with additional art by Max Ink are collected along with bonus rarities and more, including guest pin-ups by Dave Sim, Sergio Aragones, Matt Feazell and Stan Sakai. Dive on into the story of Prometheus the Protoplasm, Rambunny, Spif, Ninja Ant and Karate Kactus, and meet some of the strangest heroes and villains of all time as they battle toxic mushrooms, gorilla gangsters, time travel to the dinosaur age and even appear on David Letterman!

Collecting material from Amoeba Adventures #1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11-13, 16, 17, 21, 22, 27, Prometheus The Protoplasm #4, Prometheus: Silent Storm; Prometheus Saves The Earth and Amoeba Adventures Fifth Anniversary Special.

Thanks as always for your support and to those who’ve already grabbed a copy!

Shh, I’m on holiday. But say, have you bought my book?

Technically, I’m on holiday! But here’s an update on a few miscellaneous projects I’ve been involved with to share so I can keep my Social Influencer TM status:

Thanks to everyone so far who has ordered the amazing, spectacular Best Of Amoeba Adventures Book which is now available on Amazon worldwide as a dirt-cheap shiny paperback or a deluxe fancy-pants hardcover! In case you missed my shilling for it before, it’s 350 pages, more than a dozen stories from my 1990s small press comics and a great introduction to the Prometheus the Protoplasm comics I’ve somehow spent almost 38 years (ugh) dabbling in. If you haven’t ordered it yet, give it a shot and help me support my expensive habits. It’s tax deductible!* (*Might not actually be tax deductible.) If you have ordered it, please leave a review or star rating on Amazon to keep the algorithm overlords happy!

Meanwhile, over at the hip website Bored Panda that all the kids are into, I was interviewed for a little piece this week on the aesthetic of one of my fave filmmakers, Wes Anderson – go read it here!

Back to comics, perpetual motion machine Jason DeGroot has been organising a massive jam comic featuring dozens of small press creators, The Sunday Jam! A lot of these projects fizzle out but this one has been barrelling along all year with a new page each week, and I was pleased to take part with a page back around Christmas. Coincidentally mine is the last page in the new Collected Sunday Jam Volume 1 gathering up the first 28 pages of this epic, oddball and sometimes totally insane adventure! You can order the collected Jam for a mere $5 right here, and enjoy a mad sampler of small press talent, or give the project so far a read if you’re jam-curious. Do it!

More regular blog posting will resume in March!

Announcing: The Best Of Amoeba Adventures book!

Here’s what I did over my Christmas vacation: I’m happy to announce the release of a new book containing nearly 350 pages of classic Prometheus the Protoplasm stories from the 1990s, THE BEST OF AMOEBA ADVENTURES!

Back in print for the first time in decades, it’s my curated pick of more than a dozen of the greatest Amoeba Adventures stories dating from comics I did in high school all the way up to the award-winning small press era!

It’s available right NOW worldwide over on Amazon in a gorgeous paperback for a mere US$19.99, and for the fancier folks there’s a hardcover variant for US$29.99. An e-book will be available soon.

The link: The Best Of Amoeba Adventures TPB/HC