Author Archives: Jim Zub - Page 2

Zubby Newsletter #31: Big Jam

Twice a year, Character Design instructor Jim Graves organizes a drawing meet-up he calls Sketch Jam. Instructors and students from Seneca’s art programs hang out, draw for fun, and socialize. It started in late 2004 with a couple instructors and approximately a dozen students and has continued ever since. No marks, no assignments, just making art for fun.

We haven’t had a big Sketch Jam meet-up since Covid and I could tell Jim was worried it was going to fade away so I beat the drum hard last week, encouraging current students, especially our new first years, to make an appearance and be part of the tradition.

On Saturday, the students came out in force and it was amazing.

The 2023 Fall Sketch Jam crew walk to Union Station before heading to the pub.

At least 40 students and alumni showed up at St. Lawrence Market for afternoon sketching and more than double that met up with us at the pub after for After-Jam drinks and celebration.

I enjoyed college and made a lot of friends while busting away on my drawing and storytelling skills, but there aren’t many of my profs I would have wanted to spend time with outside of their required lectures. The fact that so many of these students and grads come out in droves to hang out with us, year after year, kind of blows my mind.

They tell us about their work and creative projects, they regale us with their victories and setbacks, they wax nostalgic about their time in Seneca’s Animation program and how much they miss being on campus.

I joke that they’re our “kids”, even though they’re adults, but it’s even more surreal when they bring their own kids to celebrate with us-

Lynn and Andrew met at Seneca and have been married for ten years.
Now they have two beautiful daughters. I’m proud and feel absolutely ancient.

It’s my 19th year teaching at Seneca, so there are 16 years worth of grads out in the industry, creating art and telling stories. When I have a moment to think about that, and when I see first hand how excited they are to reconnect – it fills my heart right up.


Killer Comics

Speaking of former students, David Yu is one of them and he has a new comic coming from Scout called TOTAL PARTY KILLER arriving in comic shops late December.

I’ve read the full story and it’s a ton of fun, especially if you play tabletop or video game RPGs.


Killer Art

Speaking of former students, Jorge Molina is one of them and he has a new Patreon where he shows off the illustration and design techniques that have made him a top notch artist for Marvel and DC.


Bound in Black Stone – The Conclusion!

CONAN THE BARBARIAN #4 arrives in comic shops tomorrow, on Wednesday, October 25th, wrapping up the first story arc of this bold new era. I’m nervous and excited to hear what people think.

Once issue 4 arrives, readers will have a complete ‘mission statement’ for the new Conan series and Heroic Signatures imprint and can let us know via social media or by emailing chainmail@conan.com if we delivered the goods:

  • Grand mythmaking
  • Visceral storytelling
  • New stories with respect for the past


Links and Other Things

I hope your week is going well!
Jim

Zub Comics Arriving December 2023


CONAN THE BARBARIAN #6
Writer: Jim Zub
Artist: Doug Braithwaite
Colorist: Diego Rodriguez
COVER A: Jae Lee
COVER B: Patch Zircher (Connecting Cover)
COVER C: Dan Panosian
COVER D: Joey Spiotto
Publishers: Heroic Signatures and Titan Comics
$3.99, On sale December 20, 2023

WARRIOR. THIEF. PIRATE…
After adventures on the high seas, CONAN returns to shore to find himself haunted by his memories of BELIT, captain of the Tigress and Queen of the Black Coast. Can a high-stakes heist draw him out of his tortured past, or will it plunge him deeper into the chaos that has always been waiting for him?


DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: FORTUNE FINDER #2
Writer: Jim Zub
Artist: Joe Jaro
Colorist: Adam Guzowski
COVER A: Max Dunbar
COVER B: Joe Jaro
Publisher: IDW
$3.99, On sale December 27, 2023

After the shocking conclusion of last issue, Finder finds themselves undergoing some big changes, but there’s no time to dwell on the past when they must test their luck against a group of assassins in Sigil’s most famous casino! Will Finder escape with their life, or has their luck run out?

Find out in the second issue of the series inspired by the new Dungeons & Dragons sourcebook! Written by Dungeons & Dragons fan favorite Jim Zub with art by Jose Jaro.

Zubby Newsletter #30: After Con


New York Comic Con was a whirling dervish and the Conan fandom came out in force. It was a thrill hearing their excitement for the new series and signing a storm of issues, including a pair of exclusive variant covers put together for the show. My voice is shot and I’m pretty exhausted here on the Monday post-con, but also really happy with how it all went.

Beyond that, there were a couple really nice Conan-centric moments with other professionals-

While chatting with friends at a party on Thursday night, we realized there were four recent Hyborian Age creators in the mix, so we grabbed a quick photo-

Hyborian Hangout: Jim Zub, Mahmud Asrar, Torunn Grønbekk, Jason Aaron

On Friday at the show, legendary Savage Sword of Conan cover artist Joe Jusko stopped by my table. He told me we were doing right by our favorite Cimmerian and that he was excited for the Savage Sword relaunch coming in February. Such an honor-

So many iconic images of Conan have been painted by Joe Jusko.
Such an honor to finally meet him and hear that he’s enjoying the new run.

Savage Scripts


Speaking of Savage Sword of Conan, I received permission from Heroic Signatures to post older Conan scripts on my Patreon. I’m starting with an extra-special story, Conan the Gambler, from the 2019 Savage Sword relaunch.

At the time, I thought this tale would be my last chance to write Conan, so I tried to pour everything I love about classic Robert E. Howard writing into it – danger, betrayal, mystery, magic, and a corrupt civilization in need of a barbarian’s brutal judgement. Instead, beyond my wildest dreams, the Gambler became an audition to take over the flagship Conan series!

When this newsletter goes out, I’ve posted the scripts for Savage Sword of Conan #7 and #8 and will have the final part up on Friday, with more issues from my pre-Titan run to come in the weeks ahead.

If you’ve never seen my Patreon before, it’s an archive of my comic writing, with almost 300 scripts currently available. You can see how comics are written through scripts and pitches and find other information about working in the industry for the price of a fancy coffee.


Proper Portals


Random House and Ten Speed Press hosted a signing on the show floor of New York Comic Con and gave away over 100 copies of the latest Dungeons & Dragons Young Adventurer’s Guide, Places & Portals. It was wonderful meeting D&D fans, librarians, and other people curious about how to get into this fun fantasy game they keep hearing about.


Making Magic

Speaking of Young Adventurer’s, Artificers & Alchemy (the eighth book in the series), has just been announced! Arriving in April, our newest volume is all about magic items and the artificers who create them.

(If you haven’t seen the D&D YAGs before, check out this Frequently Asked Questions article I put together for more information on the series and how they’re tailor-made to bring new people into the hobby.)


Food


A couple weeks ago I put together something different for lunch – I followed Adam Ragusea’s recipe for a Savory Dutch Baby with egg, green onion, pepperoni, and cheese. It turned out far better than expected, especially for my first try.

(Quick note: I halved his recipe since mine was personal size in a small cast iron pan.)


Links and Other Things

  • Jetpack7 is a successful indie TTRPG publisher with a slew of great 5th edition supplements under their belt. One of the reasons why their books look so great is because they’re the same art studio supplying new illustrations for the D&D Young Adventurer’s Guides. Their latest Kickstarter campaign is for Legendary Undead, and it’s looking sharp, as expected.
  • A couple years ago my good friend Tory Woollcott took a break from comic-making to put together a divination set called the Tessera Oracle and it did so well that she pivoted toward that as her new business! Her newest release is called the Trine Oracle and the crowdfunding campaign ends early November.

That should cover it for this time. Have a great week!
Jim

Zubby Newsletter #29: Those Souls You Stole

This weekend it’s Canadian Thanksgiving and I have a lot to be thankful for, as you’ll see below. Thank you for checking out my newsletter and sharing it with others!

Social media is more mercurial and annoying than ever, so being able to reach fine people like yourself directly is really nice. If you don’t want to read the whole thing, that’s fine, but at least you get to choose instead of algorithms choosing for you.


It’s delightful/surreal to see Soul Coins in Baldur’s Gate 3 and Dungeons & Dragons canon as a whole.

I came up with the concept of Soul Coins, souls minted in infernal metal, during a brainstorming session for Descent Into Avernus at the Wizards of the Coast office way back in 2017.

We were talking about Hell in D&D and the discussion turned to what kind of stuff happens there beyond the Blood War. There’s obviously wheeling and dealing going on, but how does that work?

Is there an economy? Yes, and souls are the most valuable currency.

Okay, cool. If that’s the case, then how do you trade souls? What’s that look like? Are they in jars, trapped in the parchment of a contract, or spun like cotton candy? All doable, but also finicky.

What if an archdevil has hundreds or thousands of souls to move or spend?

I said “Soul Coin” and it immediately clicked for Adam Lee (head of narrative on the project) and I:

  • Devilishly simple and appropriate. Souls get trapped, minted, and are used for payment, fuel, and sometimes even ammunition.
  • A mortal carrying a Soul Coin feels the “moral weight” of its infernal metal pulling them down.
  • You have currency. You have an economy. It’s a twisted take on commerce worthy of Lawful Evil devils.
  • Their value is based on the quality or power of the soul, which leads to hording, coveting, stealing, and piracy.

It solved a lot of problems and created all kinds of story potential.

While playing BG3 (it’s been tough to find time to play lately, but I am sloo~oowly making my way through it in between project deadlines) I heard eerie whispers in game, tracked the sound to its source, my character picked up a Soul Coin…and I smiled. 🙂

“Strange, incomprehensible whispers emanate from this coin, pervading your mind with rage and despair.”

So awesome.


Attack of the Relentless Readers!

I was going to post about the fourth printing of Conan the Barbarian #1, a limited edition release with full body character cover artwork by Dan Panosian arriving on October 25th, but then Titan Comics received a surge of reorders on every issue released so far!

New readers have heard such great things about the series and they want to catch up on the story, so I’m genuinely astonished to announce three more reprints your favorite local comic shop can order

CONAN THE BARBARIAN #1- 5th print (Colleen Doran cover) in stores Nov 8.
CONAN THE BARBARIAN #2- 3rd print (Alan Quah cover) in stores Nov 8.
CONAN THE BARBARIAN #3- 3rd print (Doug Braithwaite cover) in stores Nov 15.

I felt we were making something special, but never could have imagined this kind of response. All I can say is a heartfelt THANK YOU.

Thank you for reading. Thank you for buying.
Thank you for sharing with other people you know.
Thank you for the kind words and high praise.

This Conan relaunch has been a career milestone in so many ways and our team is working hard to keep the momentum going for years to come.


Back In The Spotlight


Stone Star Vol. 2: In the Spotlight is finally available in trade paperback thanks to comiXology and Dark Horse Comics. The original digital-first release was in 2020-2021 so it’s wonderful finally getting a printed version in my hands.

Max Dunbar is a dream collaborator who designs, tells a great visual story, and brings enthusiasm and energy to every part of the process. Espen Grundetjern is genuinely one of the best colorists in the business. Marshall Dillon is my ride-or-die letterer and friend who always goes above and beyond the call of duty. We put a lot of heart into this space-fantasy series and I’m hopeful for its future.

(and seeing these pages again definitely gives me the itch to launch some new creator-owned comics in 2024…)


Big Apple Barrage – Here Comes NYCC!

Next week is New York Comic Con, Fall’s pop culture extravaganza. I’ll be there thanks to Comic Sketch Art, at Artist Alley Table F37, and will also be signing at Insight Editions and Random House.

On Friday, Oct 13th at 1pm EST/10am PST, artist Jay Anacleto and I will be doing a livestream signing at Unknown Comics (Booth #3753) with the special first print Conan #1 variant Jay illustrated of Brissa, the valiant Pict warrior-scout introduced in the new series. It’s a beauty! Here is the WhatNot livestream link.

On Friday, Oct 13th at 4:30pm I’ll be on stage with the Glass Cannon Network playing the new Marvel Multiverse Tabletop Role-Playing Game along with narrator Troy Lavallee and players Sydney Amanuel, Matthew Capodicasa, Nick Lowe, Skid Maher, and Joe O’Brien!

Which Marvel characters are we playing? What is the Friday the 13th-worthy spooky adventure we’ll be going on? Be there and find out!


Sequential Thoughts

I spoke to Brendan Montgomery at Sequential Magazine about my career and recent thoughts on creator-owned comics. Lots of good material and an archive of older issues you should also explore.


Links and Other Things

Canadian or not, I hope your weekend is filled with family, friends, and good food.
Jim

Zub at New York Comic Con 2023!

The biggest pop culture event of the Fall is New York Comic Con and I will be there! I’ll be set up with the Comic Sketch Art team, at

ARTIST ALLEY TABLE F37


We’ll have first print copies of Conan the Barbarian #1, including the CSA-exclusive variant illustrated by Dan Panosian, as long as copies last, along with other single issues, variants, trades, and a few sketch covers.

In addition to signing at my table, I have some other signing events and panels. Here is my schedule:


THURSDAY, OCT 12, 2023

11:00am-01:00pm – Signing at Comic Sketch Art – Artist Alley Table F37
03:00pm-06:00pm – Signing at Comic Sketch Art – Artist Alley Table F37

FRIDAY, OCT 13, 2023

10:00am-12:30pm – Signing at Comic Sketch Art – Artist Alley Table F37
01:00pm-02:00pm – Signing at Unknown Comics w/ Jay Anacleto Livestream – Booth 3753
03:30pm-04:00pm – Signing at Insight Editions – Booth 3418
04:30pm-06:00pm – Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game: Official Live Play – Room 409
It’s Friday the 13th! If you dare, come experience the Marvel Multiverse RPG like never before – as an all-star cast of mighty Marvel guests and tabletop RPG players embark on a thrilling supernatural mission for a night of role-playing you won’t want to miss. Narrator Troy Lavallee and players Sydney Amanuel, Matthew Capodicasa, Nick Lowe, Skid Maher, Joe O’Brien, and Jim Zub
06:00pm-07:00pm – FREE Book Giveaway and Signing at Random House – Booth 3021/3220

SATURDAY, OCT 14, 2023

11:00am-01:00pm – Signing at Comic Sketch Art – Artist Alley Table F37
03:00pm-06:00pm – Signing at Comic Sketch Art – Artist Alley Table F37

SUNDAY, OCT 15, 2023

11:00am-02:00pm – Signing at Comic Sketch Art – Artist Alley Table F37



Conan the Barbarian #3 (2023) Reviews

Conan the Barbarian #3 arrived in comic shops last week and, like our previous two issues, almost immediately sold through at distribution and is headed to a second printing! Exciting stuff, but what do the critics think? Read on and find out-

ComicBook.com: 8/10 “…this issue shows off the potential that a Conan story can possess. It digs into the mystical and terrifying elements of his world in ways that excite on every page.”

Comic Book University: “This is cold, this is brutal, and this is sick and I’m loving every second of these comics. You’re not going to go wrong by checking out this story.”

Comical Opinions: 9.5/10 “a classic Conan adventure from front to back that matches the style, tone, and grim adventure of Robert E. Howard’s original works. When we say this adventure feels like an authentic Conan adventure, we mean it.”

Comicon.com: 10/10 “Conan The Barbarian continues to be a hauntingly enchanted crown jewel in the current sword and sorcery landscape.”

European Lore: “100% recommend. If I thought that issues #1 and 2 were brilliant, this one is better!”

Graphic Policy: “A fun and entertaining take on Conan the Barbarian that old fans will love and new readers can dive right in. Great story and great art.”

Grimdark Magazine: “Writer Jim Zub has done something alchemical, pulling the essentials of Conan – that simmering berserker fury, that lethal physicality, that love of life and adventure and women – and poured them onto the page in one concentrated blast of pure action and adventure.”

Hither Came Conan: “With all that I’m reading, this Titan Comics run, three issues in, is the best of them all. It’s my favorite. I look forward to it every month.”

Hobbies of a Man: “It’s very, very good. I love the coloring here. I love the artwork here. Rob de la Torre and Jim Zub did a great job with this. I love the story so far and can’t wait to see what happens next.”

Horror Mike: “Jim Zub’s writing is spot-on, channeling that Robert E. Howard vibe, albeit with a modern slant, while the artwork of Rob De La Torre continues to impress. At times it’s like reading the one of the first issues of Creepy or Eerie magazine.”

Hyborian Reviews: “The hype was right and real and although we only are three issues in this is looking to be some of the best Conan in comics we’ve gotten since the glory days of old!”

Infinity Flux: “Zub and De Le Torre continue just knocking it out of the park as we continue this very classic-feeling Conan story…This is on my must read list.”

Is This Just Fantasy?: “I think this series is going great and I, for one, am going to keep picking it up.”

League of Comic Geeks: “The brilliance continues. #3 has far more action in it than #2, and it’s beautifully done. De La Torre and White match each other incredibly well to create the tone for this comic. It’s brutal, bloody and metal.”

Negromancer: “I’m trying to find the words to describe the storytelling of artist Roberto de la Torre. He brings Zub’s script to comic book life with fire, black magic, and mountain-leveling thunder.”

Pop Culture Maven: “I’m really digging this book. I’m not necessarily the biggest Conan fan, but I think Zub and De La Torre are just crafting a really entertaining book and that’s what I’m really enjoying about it. Good story, good art, it’s always a win.”

Pop Culture Philosophers: “I try to get into Conan books and I usually drop out of them pretty quickly, but this one has got me enthralled because it feels so old school and it makes me feel like a kid reaching into my Dad’s closet, reading me some gnarly, violent, sexy, and spooky Conan books…absolutely frickin’ loved it!”

Pullbox: 10/10 “This latest incarnation is in every good way channeling the old while forging new stories, and proves that the move from its former publisher over to Titan has been a gift worthy of the Hyborian gods.”

Rich Reviews: 8/10 “This comic delivers Conan just how you want him…Dark magic, savage fighting, a warrior of strong muscles and convictions, a beautiful companion and a cause to fight for.”

Sci-Fi Pulse: “The colorwork in this book is particularly good when Conan and his friends are in darker areas as it allows the artist and colorist to play with shadows and create a really chilling atmosphere”

Set The Tape: 8/10 “Issue three continues to impress, the story is paced exceptionally well…This remains a hugely enjoyable comic for newcomers to the world of Conan, as well as a worthy entry for long-time fans.”

Stygian Dogs: “This issue is yet another triumph from the creative team, truly each issue better than the last, building to inevitable climax. I can’t wait to see how the arc is resolved.”

Thinking Critical: “They have created a masterpiece here…Conan is building itself up to be one of the best on our best of the year list.”

Todd Luck: “Quintessential fantasy artwork and the same can be said of the story. It just feels like a good solid Robert E. Howard-style story.”

Void City Reviews: “This is just an incredible read…Highly recommended.”

Wakazashi’s Teahouse: 9/10 “It’s an absolute banger. It’s fantastic. This could be the best issue yet. I know it’s only issue 3, but I am loving this series.”

We Have Issues: “It’s been a great series so far. I really appreciate the new life that this is breathing into classic Conan. It’s a definite recommendation from me.”

Zubby Newsletter #28: A Tiny Piece of History


I received a copy of LORE & LEGENDS, the history and art of D&D 5th edition by Michael WitwerKyle NewmanJon Peterson, and Sam Witwer, arriving in stores on Oct 2nd.

It’s an incredible tour filled with great anecdotes and illustrations. Surreal to see my books and face in the mix, a tiny piece of Dungeons & Dragons’ illustrious history.

There are a lot of memories wrapped up in the pages of this book. A decade of development with many colleagues who have since become friends.

And, a silly point of pride, I’m the only “Z” listing in the index. 🙂


Win the Battle, Lose the War

After several friends recommended it, I recently watched Jurassic Punk, a documentary about Steve ‘Spaz’ Williams, the Canadian animator who pioneered a ton of 3D animation and special effects technology that changed the face of moviemaking for better and for worse.

The story of Steve’s innovation, rebellion and self destruction is compelling stuff, but also quite sad. The same qualities that caused him to buck the system and develop groundbreaking visual effects also put him at odds with the corporate hierarchies and social relationships that run Hollywood. He proved his technical skills in the battle on a few key creative projects (The Abyss, Terminator 2, and Jurassic Park) but couldn’t win the war when it came to handling people – colleagues, friends, or his family.

When I was at Sheridan for Classical Animation we heard a lot about Spaz – the rockstar party hard computer animator blowing up the way things used to be done who could not be stopped. Almost thirty years later, he absolutely made his mark but it cost him almost everything. The recent scenes of Steve bitter about his place in film history battling severe alcoholism are a far cry from the confident take-no-shit genius of his youth.

As I watched it all play out in the documentary, my opinion toggled back and forth (and I’m sure that was by design). I could see Steve’s impressive ambition and tenacity, but it also seems he would’ve been an unbearable bastard to work with.

Creative industries are about results, but your ability to stay relevant and keep creating in a corporate environment also requires you to be a good communicator and collaborator.


Internet Dead Zone

Going through my ‘Art Tutorials’ bookmarks to find a few gems to post here and I realize many of the hundreds of helpful art links I’ve saved over the years are now defunct – dead URLs or empty images.

The internet giveth and it also taketh away.

It’s a good reminder of why I encourage my students to gather their own digital ‘scrap file’ of tutorials they find that are helpful to them.

I have thousands of art tutorial images saved and organized into folders curated to my needs and taste, the digital equivalent of old school filing cabinets of reference images in an art studio.

Assume stuff online is transitory and back-up ref material, just in case.
You won’t always have access to the things you want to keep.
Future proof it for yourself.


Links Aplenty

You’re reading this newsletter because you want to keep up on what I’m up to but I also want to direct your attention to people I think are creating great work or generating interesting discussion. Here’s a round-up of some good stuff from collaborators, friends, and other folks who have recently caught my attention:

That’ll cover it for this week.
Jim

Zubby Newsletter #27: Sprinting to Slow Down

Cascading deadlines, teaching, and conventions. It’s a whole lot right now. Stacy warned me I shouldn’t “fill every box on the calendar like Tetris” and, surprising no one, she was right.

I got back from Edmonton after midnight on Sunday and I’m feeling pretty tired after a day of email catch-up and administrative everything. The To-Do List will get done bit by bit, just like it always does, but this current pace, as fun as it can be at times, is also not sustainable. I definitely need to calm things down a bit in the months ahead.

How About a Turtle?

Kind little old lady at the Edmonton Expo –

“I don’t read any of these action books, but I do collect things with turtles on them. Will you draw a turtle for me?”

Absolutely.


Steel Souls

Major Spoilers has preview pages up for CONAN THE BARBARIAN #3, in stores Wednesday, September 27th.

I received my print comps late last week and it’s another stunner. The team is absolutely roaring at this point. No other way to put it. In this issue – Our big villain is revealed and souls are stirred. Can’t wait for all of you to see it.

The Conan fandom has been coming out in force to my convention appearances since the launch and it’s been incredible to meet them in person and talk about how much these stories and this world means to them. Their excitement reminds me why we’re working so hard.

The solicits and covers for CONAN THE BARBARIAN #6 were also released last week. Jaw dropping cover art from Jae Lee, Pat Zircher, Dan Panosian, and Joey Spiotto.

Doug Braithwaite is drawing our second story arc, a tragic and brutal caper that takes place after the classic Robert E. Howard tale Queen of the Black Coast, and he’s delivering career-defining pages of stirring emotion and gut-wrenching violence. The 4-part story is called Thrice Marked For Death and, if I may be so bold, you are not prepared for what gets unleashed here.

Rob De La Torre has already begun work on pages for our third story arc (title still under wraps for now), so my inbox is an endless parade of the best damn sword & sorcery art I could imagine. It’s humbling to have these two titans drawing stories I’ve written and then have colorists like José Villarrubia, Dean White, and Diego Rodriguez enhance every panel before the legendary Richard Starkings pulls it all together with the best lettering in the business. What a dream.


What Was I Made For?

I finally had a chance to watch Barbie. Stacy saw it in theaters, but with my crazy summer schedule I missed out until the recent digital release.

I was impressed. Every time I thought the film was going to tip into being too much – too corny, too preachy, too self congratulatory – it managed keep things moving instead of getting bogged down. It’s peppy and ridiculous right up until it’s not and the ending was more poignant than I expected.

I can see why Barbie conquered the box office this summer, but it’s also mind-boggling to me that Mattel or WB think they’re going to franchise build from here. If they think they can reproduce that success with sequels or other toy brands in their empire, I think they’ll be sorely disappointed. It feels like a film that should just be, not the beginning of a Mattel-verse of films or whatever.

Or maybe I’m wrong and the Hot Wheels movie will deftly critique car pollution and racing culture while Polly Pocket encourages us to embrace a future of tiny houses off the grid. 😉


Links and Other Things

Okay, that should cover it this time. Have a great week!
Jim

Zub at Edmonton Expo 2023

I’ve been a regular at the Calgary Fan Expo convention for many years, but 2023 is my first time attending the Edmonton Expo. I’ll be set up with the Comic Sketch Art team, at

ARTIST ALLEY TABLE P30


We’ll have first print copies of Conan the Barbarian #1, including the CSA-exclusive variant illustrated by Dan Panosian, as long as copies last, along with other single issues, variants, trades, and a few sketch covers.

In addition to signing at my table, I’ll be on a pair of panels over the weekend:


FRIDAY, SEPT 15, 2023
6:00pm – Comic Writers Roundtable – Location: Room 107 Comics Theatre
Join us to see Zeb Wells, Jeremy Adams and Jim Zub discuss their approach to writing comics, the industry, and what it means to be creative.
SUNDAY, SEPT 17, 2023
1:00pm – Exploring the World of Conan – Location: Room 107 Comics Theatre
Robert E. Howard’s most popular Cimmerian warrior Conan has been featured in books, comics, movies video games, and other media for over 90 years. Conan the Barbarian writer Jim Zub discusses this legendary character and his ongoing plans for the comic series.

Conan the Barbarian #5 Arrives in November


CONAN THE BARBARIAN #5
Writer: Jim Zub
Artist: Doug Braithwaite
Colorist: Diego Rodriguez
Publisher: Heroic Signatures and Titan Comics
FC, SC, 32pp, $3.99
On Sale: November 22,2023

A BRAND NEW CONAN THE BARBARIAN ARC BEGINS! WARRIOR. THIEF. PIRATE…
After adventures on the high seas, CONAN returns to shore to find himself haunted by his memories of BELIT, captain of the Tigress and Queen of the Black Coast. Can a high-stakes heist draw out of his tortured past, or will it plunge him deeper into the chaos that has always been waiting for him?

COVER A: Roberto De La Torre
COVER B: Mike Deodato
COVER C: Pat Zircher
COVER D: Liam Sharp
COVER E: Rebecca Puebla