Troy Brownfield
Encyclopedia
Troy Brownfield is a journalist, comic writer, and college professor from Indiana
. He has an extensive list of credits, but he's primarily known to the online community as a columnist for Newsarama
and the creator/editor of ShotgunReviews.com.
, where he eventually earned a Master's Degree in English with a focus in Creative Writing. While an undergraduate student, Brownfield wrote a number of items for ISU's Indiana Statesman, including a catch-all column called "My Opinion, Not Yours". This background led to Brownfield's invitation to join the now-defunct ComicKingdom.com; while working with that site, Brownfield created his "Shotgun Reviews" column, so-named because it covered a wide area of ideas and approaches with the overriding element of satirical humor.
In 1999, Brownfield created ShotgunReviews.com, a site intended to give young writers a place to sharpen their work. The site covers several facets of entertainment, and has featured a variety of long-running columns. Among the featured contributors have been Shawn Delaney (site webmaster and Music Editor), Jonathan Birdsong (Lyrical Lounge section editor), Russell Ray (wrestling columnist and one-time Managing Editor), L.I. Rapkin (Senior Writer), The Rev. OJ Flow (comic columnist), Corey Henson (wrestling columnist), Eric Barker (film critic), Matt McConnell (anime critic), Ian King (feature writer), and many more (including numerous members of Birdsong's hip-hop review crew).
Around the same time, Brownfield, who worked a day job in publishing, began aggressively pursuing print work. His articles have appeared in sources like The Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis Monthly, INTake Weekly, Street Miami magazine, Savant online, Comicon.com's The Pulse, Nuvo Newsweekly magazine, and more. He has also written nearly 100 features and reviews for Newtype USA magazine alone.
Brownfield eventually began contributing regularly to Newsarama. He presently edits and co-writes the Best Shots review feature, and writes the columns "Your Manga Minute" and "Super-Articulate". In 2004, Brownfield accepted an appointment to the position of Assistant Professor in the Department of English, Journalism, and Languages at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
, where he taught journalism, English, communications and film.. He left the college at the close of the 2010-2011 school year.
In July 2006, Brownfield was announced as one of the first writing talents on board with the freshly minted Fangoria Comics
, an offshoot imprint of the popular horror magazine. He was announced as an Associate Editor for the line. He stayed with the line when they departed to become The Scream Factory
, and again through their relationship with Fangoria Graphix. As of 2010, The Scream Factory
again operates on its own, with Brownfield still Associate Editor. It was announced in February 2010 that Brownfield would be writing "Tales from Wonderland: The White Knight" for Zenescope. In November 2010, Brownfield and former Newsarama
editor Matt Brady were announced as the writers of Dynamite's Buck Rogers Annual #1, due in February 2011. Brownfield and Brady co-wrote a story for the Batman 80 Page Giant 2011, released in August. In November, Brownfield announced that he and artist Sarah Vaughn would launch a webcomic, Sparkshooter, in February of 2012.
In addition to his journalism work, Brownfield has a strong reputation for providing live music events. Beginning when he was 19, Brownfield became the first student to independently organize a music festival on the campus of Indiana State. Some six festivals and 30+ smaller shows later, he decided to give that side of the business a rest.
Brownfield continued to work with and manage bands like Samsell. After moving to Indianapolis in the late '90s, he organized several shows for promotional packages and charity work. The ShotgunReviews.com site sponsored many of these endeavors. After the dissolution of Samsell, Brownfield has retired from promotion for the time being.
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. He has an extensive list of credits, but he's primarily known to the online community as a columnist for Newsarama
Newsarama
Newsarama is an American website that publishes news, interviews and essays about the American comic book industry.-History:Newsarama began in Summer 1995 as a series of Internet forum postings on the Prodigy comic-book message boards by fan Mike Doran. In these short messages. Doran shared...
and the creator/editor of ShotgunReviews.com.
Journalism Background
Brownfield attended Indiana State UniversityIndiana State University
Indiana State University is a public university located in Terre Haute, Indiana, United States.The Princeton Review has named Indiana State as one of the "Best in the Midwest" seven years running, and the College of Education's Graduate Program was recently named as a 'Top 100' by U.S...
, where he eventually earned a Master's Degree in English with a focus in Creative Writing. While an undergraduate student, Brownfield wrote a number of items for ISU's Indiana Statesman, including a catch-all column called "My Opinion, Not Yours". This background led to Brownfield's invitation to join the now-defunct ComicKingdom.com; while working with that site, Brownfield created his "Shotgun Reviews" column, so-named because it covered a wide area of ideas and approaches with the overriding element of satirical humor.
In 1999, Brownfield created ShotgunReviews.com, a site intended to give young writers a place to sharpen their work. The site covers several facets of entertainment, and has featured a variety of long-running columns. Among the featured contributors have been Shawn Delaney (site webmaster and Music Editor), Jonathan Birdsong (Lyrical Lounge section editor), Russell Ray (wrestling columnist and one-time Managing Editor), L.I. Rapkin (Senior Writer), The Rev. OJ Flow (comic columnist), Corey Henson (wrestling columnist), Eric Barker (film critic), Matt McConnell (anime critic), Ian King (feature writer), and many more (including numerous members of Birdsong's hip-hop review crew).
Around the same time, Brownfield, who worked a day job in publishing, began aggressively pursuing print work. His articles have appeared in sources like The Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis Monthly, INTake Weekly, Street Miami magazine, Savant online, Comicon.com's The Pulse, Nuvo Newsweekly magazine, and more. He has also written nearly 100 features and reviews for Newtype USA magazine alone.
Brownfield eventually began contributing regularly to Newsarama. He presently edits and co-writes the Best Shots review feature, and writes the columns "Your Manga Minute" and "Super-Articulate". In 2004, Brownfield accepted an appointment to the position of Assistant Professor in the Department of English, Journalism, and Languages at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College is a Roman Catholic, four-year liberal arts women's college located northwest of Terre Haute, Indiana, between the Wabash River and the Illinois state line. There is also a small village of the same name located nearby...
, where he taught journalism, English, communications and film.. He left the college at the close of the 2010-2011 school year.
In July 2006, Brownfield was announced as one of the first writing talents on board with the freshly minted Fangoria Comics
Fangoria Comics
Fangoria Comics was an American publisher of horror comics, releasing issues solely in the year 2007. It was a distinct unit under the larger Fangoria Entertainment umbrella, which also included Fangoria Magazine, Fangoria TV, and Fangoria Radio.-Planning:...
, an offshoot imprint of the popular horror magazine. He was announced as an Associate Editor for the line. He stayed with the line when they departed to become The Scream Factory
The Scream Factory
The Scream Factory is an American publisher of horror comics. Most, if not all titles published by The Scream Factory are film-related.-Overview:...
, and again through their relationship with Fangoria Graphix. As of 2010, The Scream Factory
The Scream Factory
The Scream Factory is an American publisher of horror comics. Most, if not all titles published by The Scream Factory are film-related.-Overview:...
again operates on its own, with Brownfield still Associate Editor. It was announced in February 2010 that Brownfield would be writing "Tales from Wonderland: The White Knight" for Zenescope. In November 2010, Brownfield and former Newsarama
Newsarama
Newsarama is an American website that publishes news, interviews and essays about the American comic book industry.-History:Newsarama began in Summer 1995 as a series of Internet forum postings on the Prodigy comic-book message boards by fan Mike Doran. In these short messages. Doran shared...
editor Matt Brady were announced as the writers of Dynamite's Buck Rogers Annual #1, due in February 2011. Brownfield and Brady co-wrote a story for the Batman 80 Page Giant 2011, released in August. In November, Brownfield announced that he and artist Sarah Vaughn would launch a webcomic, Sparkshooter, in February of 2012.
In addition to his journalism work, Brownfield has a strong reputation for providing live music events. Beginning when he was 19, Brownfield became the first student to independently organize a music festival on the campus of Indiana State. Some six festivals and 30+ smaller shows later, he decided to give that side of the business a rest.
Brownfield continued to work with and manage bands like Samsell. After moving to Indianapolis in the late '90s, he organized several shows for promotional packages and charity work. The ShotgunReviews.com site sponsored many of these endeavors. After the dissolution of Samsell, Brownfield has retired from promotion for the time being.