Our Conan: Tides of the Tyrant-King prelude issue arrived in stores on Free Comic Book Day! What did reviewers think of this promo story? Read on and find out-
• Comic Book Corner 2.0: “A short comic book, but my trust is in Jim Zub. He does a phenomenal job with the Conan title.”
• Comic Book University: “Fantastic and amazing story, and this is just a prelude. If you didn’t grab this on Free Comic Book Day, beg, borrow, or steal. You’re going to want this one. It is literally an ideal Conan story.”
• Fanlight Zone: “This is stuff that, decades from now, people will be holding up there with the esteemed Roy Thomas, Barry Windsor-Smith and other incredible runs with this character. This is god-tier work and the art is breathtaking!…I can’t recommend it enough.”
• Gary B the Casual Comic Guy: “Fantastic…Another great Free Comic Book Day book and one you should have in your collection.”
• Infinity Flux Comics: “This is really cool and it makes me want to read the upcoming story…I definitely recommend.”
• Kabooooom: 10/10 “Titan Comics and Heroic Signatures have yet to hit a wrong note in their management of the franchise and Robert E. Howard’s legacy. If you’ve not given the new Conan the Barbarian a chance, now’s the time to see what you’ve been missing!”
• League of Comic Geeks: 9/10 “I think this is the best FCBD book I got today. One continuous story, good pacing and balance of action vs dialogue. Excellent induction for new readers and old readers alike. I really enjoyed the juxtaposition they were writing with the two characters.”
• Mighty Thorngren: “Really, really cool. I like it a lot. Conan fans are eating good right now when it comes to story and art. I had a lot of fun with this one.”
• Stygian Dogs: “For the fourth year in a row we get a free issue with that superior page quality we’ve become accustomed to in the monthly book and it felt thicker than most of the other free issues that I grabbed, definitely superior quality.”
Free Comic Book Day at Gotham Central was really busy.
How busy?
This was the line when Chip and I arrived-
There was no way I could get the whole line in one photo. I don’t think four photos would have worked. It stretched down the block and, at its peak, excited comic fans waited an hour and a half in chilly winds to snag free comics, get signatures, and take advantage of deep sale discounts at the shop.
We signed hundreds of comics and extended the signing from 3 hours to 4½ to meet as many people as possible. Chip was a rockstar and it was a lot of fun. Big thanks to everyone who came out for it and braved the cold to see us there. Before we left we signed giant stacks of extra books, so hopefully even if you didn’t make it there during the signing you were able to grab an autographed copy.
I’ve been keeping some parts of Conan: Tides of the Tyrant-King close to my chest so readers wouldn’t be spoiled ahead of time and it’s been fun seeing fans surprised when they crack it open and start to see the scope of what we’re building, and which classic Robert E. Howard story is at the heart of this new event mini-series.
A bunch of people have asked if I have extra copies of this Tides Prelude to sell. I only have a couple here at home, but am hoping to get more. Beyond that, Titan will make the digital version freely available online in a week or so, and of course I’ll link that far and wide once it’s available.
In the meantime, you can grab the FREE digital version of our previous FCBD issues here: 2023, 2024, 2025.
May the 4th
May the 4th Be With Y’all.
I have two Star Wars credits so far in my career, one as a Colorist and the second as a Writer.
2004: STAR WARS TALES #19, published by Dark Horse Comics. I colored “The Rebel Club”, a parody of The Breakfast Club, written and drawn by Scott Kurtz, lettered by Robert Kirkman.
2020: EMPIRE STRIKES BACK FROM A CERTAIN POINT OF VIEW, published by Del Rey. I wrote the “The First Lesson” short story, showing Yoda’s POV on Luke’s arrival to Dagobah and his thoughts around training the young Jedi.
I’ve pitched a couple other possible projects over the years, but so far that’s my little contribution to a Galaxy Far, Far Away. Fingers crossed for the future.
Trying Not To Kill Time
Actually, I am trying to kill Time (Chronos, God of Time, that is), but also don’t have time to kill (deadlines aplenty). Hades II arrived on Playstation at last and, after getting back from Calgary, I indulged in booting up this god-like rogue-like and it is so, so good. Supergiant Games have done a stellar job at keeping the core gameplay of the original while iterating on it in ways that enhance the experience and propel the narrative forward in incredible ways.
Sequels can easily fall into a ‘just more of the same’ mindset and when it comes to video games it can be tough to balance familiar gameplay and something new and unexpected. The highest compliment I can give Hades II is that I have to use it as a reward at the end of a productive day of writing, otherwise I know I’ll slip into playing it way too damn much. An absolute banger.
I was chatting with friends about ridiculous and amazing animated opening theme songs from when I was a kid, so here are a few you may remember if you’re my age, or can watch as a curiosity if you’re not (and feel free to post some of your own favorites in the comments):
Conan: Tides of the Tyrant King CONAN OF CIMMERIA believed that THULSA DOOM’s evil had been banished forever, but the Atlantean necromancer’s dark power stirs once more and, if it cannot be stopped, the dead shall overtake the living! The Tyrant-King of Atlantis returns and all shall suffer, unless Conan and his brave allies can turn back the tide!
Journey to the West Following the Buddha’s instruction, monk Tang Sanzang and his four disciples set forth on a journey to India to retrieve the Buddhist scriptures. What kind of evils and dangers will they encounter along the way? This introductory story also tells the origin of Sun Wukong – the legendary Monkey King!
Post-Calgary Expo
With Jed MacKay and Ed Brisson as the show wound down.
This year’s Calgary Expo was a success and, as always, it was wonderful to see old friends and fans in Alberta. Quite a few people mentioned that they follow along with my adventures here in the newsletter, which was nice to hear as well.
The weather shifted wildly between snowy and cold to sunny and…also cold. It was unexpectedly chilly this year and I forgot to bring my winter jacket so I didn’t venture too far from the hotel in the evening but, thankfully, it also wasn’t required because there were so many good spots nearby.
I did quite a bit of sketching at the expo and my commission list was steady throughout, which was fun as well. Here are a trio I thought turned out solid:
I’m still in Alberta visiting friends until tomorrow night. When I get home, the first thing on my work schedule is illustrating a variant cover for an upcoming-but-not-yet-announced comic project, which will be a nice change of pace and something I want to do more of down the road.
The hit video game CONAN EXILES conquers its 8th anniversary in May and, to celebrate, it’s getting a major visual overhaul on PC on May 5th, moving to the latest Unreal Engine, massively enhancing the environments alongside other quality of life gameplay improvements.
I’ve never played Exiles before and am thinking about jumping in and giving it a shot, maybe even on a livestream game. My work schedule is intense right now, but it would be fun to be part of the relaunch excitement alongside new fans and old. Fingers crossed.
I’m at the Calgary Comics & Entertainment Expo on April 23-26, 2026. It’s one of my favorite shows each year so if you’re headed to the show, I hope to see you there! I’ll be set-up with the Comic Sketch Art crew at:
BMO CENTRE – ARTIST ALLEY TABLE P66
The Expo started in 2006 and I have only missed one show across all those years. Watching it grow and seeing friends and fans, year after year, is always a pleasure.
In addition to being at my table, I’m also on a a couple panels: THURSDAY, APRIL 23 – 7:45pm – BEYOND THE CAPE: CRIME, SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY COMICS – Stage 5 (Room 209/210)
Join a panel of amazing comic book writers for a look behind the curtain at the process of crafting stories for some of the biggest pop culture characters as well as their own personal, creator-owned work. Panelists: Jim Zub, Ed Brisson, Dave Dwonch, Heather Antos, Stephanie Gerk, Zack Kaplan.
FRIDAY, APRIL 24 – 2:45pm – BEYOND THE CAPE: CRIME, SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY COMICS – Stage 5 (Room 209/210)
The magic that goes into a comic book is a dance that often requires an extra pair of feet; or two, maybe four. Skill sets, personalities, and perspectives dispersed among every panel on a page, every onomatopoeia thrown. Have you ever wondered what it takes for a creative team to build your favorite comic books from the ground up? Join the team behind the critical hit series, RISE and their guests to pull back the curtain behind the collaborative nature of comics, revealing the secret calculus to getting the best out of everyone involved. Panelists: Trevor Fernandes-Lenkiewicz, Heather Antos, Eric Zawadzki, Jim Zub.
I flew in a few days early to Calgary and am staying with my friends Kandrix and Lindsay who live west of the city. After three weeks of intense writing, I’m thankfully back on schedule so this week is some much-needed quiet time hanging out with dear friends.
And also deer friends–
Lots of local wildlife stopping by to stay hi. 🙂
The big Calgary Expo is this coming week, an annual tradition I enjoy being part of. I get to see old buddies and long-time readers, while also showing comic pro pals a bit of the city and some of my favorite restaurants/pubs. Good times every time.
Later today, I’ll be popping by a high school where a friend’s teenager is a student for a presentation about writing, which should be fun. High schoolers rarely hold back on their excitement or ambivalence, so we’ll see how they react to Old Man Zubby learnin’ ’em about comics…
A Pirate Life for Jimmy
Fernando Dagnino cover art for Conan the Barbarian #33
This is our 9th story arc on the Heroic-Titan Conan run. Including event mini-series, it’s my 12th.
It’s the exact kind of long and meaningful marathon I’ve been wanting to build since I started getting traction in my writing career. An extended structured monthly run is such a rare thing in North American comic publishing nowadays. I never want to take it for granted or have readers feel like we’re delivering anything less than our best to earn that cover price and spot on their pull list.
As I’ve mentioned in past posts, I’m signed on for 50 issues. So, in terms of production, the build up toward that anniversary issue and conclusion of the larger plan is underway, which feels both amazing and strange – Scheduling art teams through 2027, discussing how the big moments will come together. Each issue on the docket right now includes specific references to previous storylines as threads in the overall tapestry start to tighten up.
The consistency of our art teams has been a huge part of what makes the series work so well. Rob De La Torre, Doug Braithwaite, Fernando Dagnino, Alex Horley, Ivan Gil, Diego Rodriguez, Jao Canola, and more to be announced soon for Savage Sword…Each crew gets the time and space they need to bring their best to the page. I’m happy to juggle 4-5 stories simultaneously when the end result is so damn sharp.
Starting Down That Dungeon Path
I returned to the Dungeon Master’s Block podcast to talk about comics, tabletop roleplaying games as inspiration, and bringing a new generation of gamers into the hobby.
Irritation as Inspiration
I read a lot of current comics to keep myself up to date on what’s coming out, the state of publishing, both commercial and creator-owned. With close friends I sometimes discuss pros and cons, what worked for me and what didn’t, but I keep most of those thoughts to myself because I’m a professional writer, not a professional critic. The important thing is that I’m always taking in new stories and learning from them…even if sometimes what I learn is what not to do.
I read the first couple issues of a new series (no, I won’t say what it was) and was so utterly baffled at how badly they dropped the ball on the promise of the premise that I couldn’t get it out of my mind. The idea was/is good, but at every single turn the creative team seemed intent on making boring or baffling choices instead of executing on its potential. I don’t know if editorial was asleep at the wheel or what else was going on behind the scenes, but when I compare the series announcement to the published issues, it’s just incredibly disappointing.
It annoyed me so much that I finally realized I could rework the larger idea into an original story and do a completely different version of my own – A much healthier creative outcome instead of marinating in negativity.
• Daði Birna at Mystic Arts delivers again with a new video about Why Your DM Can’t Use Your Character’s Backstory. I really like the ‘knives’ concept he references and will keep that in mind for my own games going forward.
Last time I mentioned that I needed to have a productive writing week to keep up with projects I have on the go and, thankfully, it was a really good one. I hit a strong writing flow and knocked down some much-needed project milestones. As much as I can get writing done while I travel, having uninterrupted writing time here in my studio works best.
What is Set the Snake God’s plan for humanity and, now that it’s begun, can it be stopped?
Scourge of the Serpent is a major pillar in our grand mythic plan for Conan so, if you haven’t had the chance to read it yet, do not miss out!
All that said, Scourge was our 2025 Conan Fall event so now we start turning our attention toward this year’s sword & sorcery blockbuster: TIDES OF THE TYRANT-KING!
Want a little sneak peek at Tides? Let’s do it-
Artist Jesus Merino is delivering absolutely top notch line art on this event mini-series, pushing himself on every single page. I am blown away by his confident cinematic staging and just how damn solid everything looks. He has a very distinct vision for the Hyborian Age, built on the foundation of classic Bronze Age Conan comics, but isn’t afraid to give it his own spark as well.
Look at that simmering Cimmerian gaze!
This is the iconic sellsword barbarian in his prime ready to kick ass but, just as we’ve done with our previousevent mini-series, there will be twists and turns aplenty to keep you engaged and guessing as the adventure unfolds.
Make sure you tell your favorite local comic retailer you want a copy of our Free Comic Book Day CONAN: TIDES OF THE TYRANT-KING Prelude issue on Saturday, May 2nd!
I also had an extensive interview with Robbie over at G33K HQ. We obviously talk about Conan the Barbarian, but also cover a bunch of other titles and projects, including Pathfinder, Dungeons & Dragons, Skullkickers, MAD about DC, Journey to the West, and important advice for working in the business.
I’ve been part of creative collaborations that forge lifelong friendships and others that poison relationships and leave scars. It’s such a hard thing to explain to people outside these creative whirlwinds. They’re wonderful, terrible experiences.
You hope you get to be part of something so intense and meaningful, to collaborate with passionate and skilled people like that, but that dedication can leave a lot of damage in its wake. In the end, Disco Elysium is a beautifully twisted game that contains multitudes. It’s a dichotomy of low brow and high brow concepts, philosophy and politics set against nihilism and entropy.
Rambling jazzy pompous poetry that shouldn’t work but somehow does.
For better or for worse, it’s a fragile messy game made by fragile messy people.
My D&D Weekend event in Georgia is already sold out, which is exciting and a bit intimidating. Looking forward to chatting with my players later this summer and incorporating their character concepts into the adventure.
• Patrick Willems’rundown on things he learned while directing a short film is a great glimpse behind the curtain and the difference between guerilla filmmaking and high-end production. Lots of useful advice in here, even if you don’t work in film.
• “Your greatest asset that you have is your persistence, and it’s the one thing you’re fully in control of. When you see someone who really excels at something, it’s persistence, and staying with it and repetition over a long period of time.” – Ray Kinman from Disney Imagineering.
Last week was intense with Stacy’s book launch and the MAD About DC signing, so this week needs to be a post-Easter burst of productivity. I have a To-Do List of deadlines coming up and approved outlines to work from, so it’s just going to be scripting up a storm here at Zub HQ.
Ivan worked so damn hard on Scourge, so for this story he got to choose every piece – What era of Conan we’d be working with, where it took place, and what the threat would be. I tailor-made this story to his strengths and he attacked it with gusto.
His ability to carve out these environments and make them feel as real as the characters in the story is so amazing. Seeing that art in pure black & white at magazine size is going to be a real treat for fans, and it’s been an absolute feast for me as his collaborator.
The Nomad, Now Deluxe-ified!
Speaking of Conan x2 – Titan has announced a deluxe oversized hardcover edition of THE NOMAD, the fully oil-painted anniversary issue we released last year. If you missed my first King Conan story, a stunning visual whirlwind brought to life by master painter Alex Horley, you’ll definitely want to pick this up. And if you already have a copy, this baby is going to bring that artwork to life like never before and includes more making-of material so you can fully appreciate Alex’s phenomenal artistic skills.
Alex and I actually had a Zoom call last week where we chatted about current and future projects. Not sure when things will get announced, but know that there is more in development.
I’ll Be At Howard Days 2026
Speaking of Conan x3 – My travel is booked, so I’m happy to announce that I’ll be attending Robert E. Howard Days this year for the 40th anniversary of the festival happening on June 12th and 13th. It looks like fans from multiple generations of REH fandom will be in attendance, so if you’ve thought about making the trek, this would be a fine year to make it happen.
I attended for the first time back in 2024 and had a good time with friends and fans in the spot where the sword & sorcery genre erupted from Bob’s Underwood no. 5 typewriter.
A pile of events have now been confirmed, filling in crucial parts of my summer schedule, as you’ll see below. I’ll be back at SDCC and Gen Con, which are once again happening back-to-back. I’ve also booked my first appearance for 2027 already, which is pretty wild.
• Did you see Chip Zdarsky‘s MAD About DC promo video that came out the same day as the issue? Filmed in Toronto, it’s one for the ages and reminds me of his Toronto mayoral campaign video from 2010, which I would love to link for you but doesn’t seem to be online anymore.
My wife Stacy has a big week underway for her writing career!
D&D Crochet in Stores Now
It’s book launch day for D&D CROCHET: A Book of Many Patterns! Stacy worked with four designers to create 20 different patterns for toys, wearables and household items themed around Dungeons & Dragons and wrote accompanying lore to go with them.
If you’re in the CHICAGO area, she’s headed there for the book launch TONIGHT (March 31st) at GOBLIN MARKET from 6-8pm! Stop in and wish her well.
Some old school D&D gamers may scoff at the idea of a D&D craft book like this, but they are out of touch. Interest in the book has been really strong because there’s a large fanbase who crochet, knit, or do needlepoint while they tabletop game. Giving those people game-centric patterns and introducing more people to the lore is a great way to expand the hobby.
On top of that, Stacy’s next book has been announced – She’s working with Disney Publishing on a manga adaptation of the Best-Selling WINGS OF STARLIGHT novel by Allison Saft!
So yeah, wonderful news for my wonderful wife! Congratulate her on the good news and I’m excited to see her out promoting these in the coming months.
A MAD Signing in Toronto – No Foolin’!
Speaking of promotion, on Wednesday, April 1stMAD ABOUT DC arrives in comic shops and I’ll be at The Beguiling signing from 6-8pm with mastermind Chip Zdarsky and fellow creators Ryan North, Ramon Perez, Benjamin Errett, Andrew Wheeler, Joseph Starky, Kagan McLeod, and Jay Bone!
Obviously we’ll be signing copies of MAD About DC purchased at the shop, but feel free to bring or buy other Zub books you want signed as well!
There are only 6 seats at the table and half already sold in pre-release, so if you want on board a 20-hour campaign DMed by me, now is the time to jump in!
• Javi has a nice rundown of figure drawing fundamentals in his latest video. Learning to shift between modes (line, gesture, form, or lighting/value) while drawing what you see is a crucial skill applicable in tons of areas and he does a great job explaining how it works here with examples.
The second part of our Ghosts & Echoes story arc arrived in stores as the Son of the Tooth hunts Conan in the city of Khoraja. What did critics think of it?
• 9 Panel Grid: “Doug Braithwaite’s artwork is fantastic as always here. I love the way he renders not only Conan, but the world itself, particularly the more gruesome aspects of it all. A really great, really grounded issue.”
• Comic Book Clique: 9/10 “Another titanic tale from Zub and Braithwaite that would be right at home amongst the original Robert E. Howard stories…Month in and month out, this title is a highlight of my reading pile, and as long as Zub and company remain at the helm, I don’t see that changing anytime soon.”
• Comic Book University: “The art in this book is absolutely amazing…You could reread this comic without looking at a single one of the words and realize you understand what’s happening in this book even if there were no words at all.”
• Comic Crusaders: 9/10 “The creative team delivers a brutal, atmospheric chapter that keeps Conan in top form while setting up one hell of a collision still to come…This isn’t just another solid issue in the run. This is the kind of chapter that reminds you why Conan remains one of the most untouchable icons in sword-and-sorcery history.”
• Comic Culture: “What they’re doing right in the story is they’re introducing this new character with a lot of gravity, a lot of weight, and a lot of respect…Great story so far. Can’t wait for more.”
• Comical Opinions: 9.5/10 “The core narrative of a predator meeting his match is executed with professional grace. This comic earns a place on any curated pull list because it respects the reader’s time and the character’s legacy without falling for the usual hype-driven gimmicks.”
• Cupcakes Comic Reviews: ” If you’re a Conan fan then this is a must buy for you. I can’t praise this series enough. It’s probably the best Conan book done in generations.”
• Eternal Crusader: “Returning to the art duties is veteran Doug Braithwaite, whose richly detailed panels are a highlight every time. His work pairs beautifully with the warm, nuanced coloring of Diego Rodriguez, which gives the comic an earthy, atmospheric tone.”
• Fanlight Zone: 10/10 “This book is f**king awesome and it has been for 30 issues…It is one of the best books every single month.”
• Kabooooom: 10/10 “Another example of why Titan Comics and Heroic Signatures have been nailing it every month since taking over the Conan license. This is a true tale of high adventure!”
• League of Comic Geeks: 10/10 “Outstanding adventure writing and once again, Braithwaite knocks it out of the park. The way he brings Hyboria to life is phenomenal. May he never stray too far from this contract because dang, he’s absolutely fantastic.”
• Mighty Thorngren: “I’ve been loving Zub’s run on this. It’s been very consistent. Super solid and fun. I’m having a great time with it and a killer set of artists throughout this entire series.”
• Old Man Hyborian: “I really like the art, I thought there was a good flow to it, the coloring was exceptional and I like this new villain…Another excellent issue.”
• Pop Culture Philosophers: “The pace of this arc has been fantastic and the artwork by Doug Braithwaite is truly breathtaking…Another fantastic issue.”
• Stygian Dogs: “Jim Zub again shifts perspective with confidence, using a slow, deliberate build to raise tension and anticipation. Doug Braithwaite’s art matches that tone, nailing a sense of curiosity and looming violence…If the arc pays off as promised, this creative team is on the verge of something truly unforgettable.”
• Two Guys and a Stack of Comics: “Jim Zub is just rolling on this book. It just gets better and better. If you love comic books, I don’t know why you’re not reading this. It’s fantastic…All the stuff we talk about modern comics doing wrong, this comic does the opposite. It does everything right and earns its readership every month.”
All set up for Megacon, and a Rocketeer sketch cover.
Megacon Orlando was a hoppin’ show, a steady thrum of excitement (plus warm weather, which made for a nice respite from the ‘False Spring’ in Toronto where it’s nice for a day or two before we get blasted with snow flurries or cold rain).
I flew in Thursday a couple hours before the show started and left Sunday mid-afternoon, which made for a breakneck pace but also kept me from losing Monday to travel.
I had lots of memorable conversations (including one I had to immortalize below) both at the show and after hours. When creators get together like this we chat about the good and bad of the industry, creativity, and state of the world in general. It’s nice to celebrate and commiserate with peers as we ride out each rise and fall.
Being introduced as “The Conan Guy” has taken some getting used to, but it’s also a badge of honor thanks to the character’s deep cultural cache and excitement for the work our team is doing. As you might expect, tons of people asked me about new Conan movie possibilities, but I don’t have details I can share at this stage. Fingers crossed and all that. Whatever happens, we’ll have more great stories for people to discover and enjoy.
The Ultimate Compliment
Conan the Barbarian #0 line art by Rob De La Torre, colors by José Villarrubia.
Speaking of great stories – At Megacon on Friday afternoon, an older gentleman was browsing the Conan comics at my table and I told him- “I’m the writer.” “No you’re not. These books are from the 1970’s.” “We’re deeply influenced by the classic comics, but I assure you, it’s brand new stories and art.”
*painful pause*
“Liar.”
And he walked away. 😃
I consider it the ultimate compliment and that we’re hitting the mark with old school fans.
Check This D’Orc Out
Brett is not prepared for the Megacon to come, and D’Orc cosplay rules.
My friend Brett Bean is having a moment and I couldn’t be happier for him. Brett just launched his new creator-owned comic series D’ORC at Image last month and it has absolutely rocketed to awareness and sales in a way no one could have anticipated: Customers snapping up multiple printings, readers loving the fun cartoon-fantasy vibe, and collectors speculating on how much hotter it can get.
If Brett thought February was intense, Megacon March took it to a whole new level. When the show opened on Thursday for VIP badge holders, Brett instantly had a huge signing line and it did not let up for the entire weekend! Seriously – Whenever he was at his table there was a steady stream of people getting books signed. Yes, there were retailers and collectors aplenty in those lines, but also lots of kids and families. If this keeps up, D’Orc could very well be a Scott Pilgrim/Saga/Invincible-sized hit. Seeing a kind and hardworking person like Brett have explosive success on a personal project after years of busting away on his craft is genuinely exciting and inspiring.
Brett and I grabbed dinner last year during Fan Expo Canada and chatted about new stories we wanted to put out into the world. These are the kind of passion projects you just hope can sustain themselves because wishing for more than that seems cocky in such a shaky publishing market. Now, just six months later, Brett is making big waves and, with a bit of luck, I should have a new creator-owned book to announce later this year. I don’t expect to have the same kind of success, but even just knowing it’s possible is encouraging.
GOTHAM CENTRAL comic shop in Mississauga is pulling out all the stops on Saturday May 2nd and I’ll be there from 11am to 2pm, signing copies of CONAN: TIDES OF THE TYRANT-KING #0 and UDON’s JOURNEY TO THE WEST Manga Classics Sampler, as well as any other Zub-able Comics people buy at the store or bring to the event.
In past years, Conan the Barbarian collectors have special ordered signed copies of the FCBD issues, and Carlos from Gotham Central assures me you’ll be able to do that here as well. Contact him through email at gothamcentralcc@gmail.com and he’ll take care of you, by Crom!
The first episode, with character introductions and a surge of barbaric action, is now up on the Dungeon Dudes YouTube channel and future installments will arrive as exclusive content on their Patreon. If you enjoy the session, please comment on the YouTube video and let them know. It would be a blast to run other adventures or kick the tires on other game systems with the Dudes.
Sam’s work on The Maxx, arguably the purest expression of his creativity, was an explosion of warped weirdness that felt both kinetic and calm, cartoony-ridiculous but also fragile and human. He wrote flawed characters and thrust them into dream-shattered locations while revealing their innermost fears and fantasies. Even when the series refused to follow conventional storytelling models or give readers definitive answers, it engaged and entertained because you could feel Sam’s passion for the work come through on every page, and when it didn’t any more he wasn’t afraid to jettison all of it and move on to new things. I think that’s the mark of a true artist, and I wish he knew how many people admired him.
This installment ran long, so I’ll include ‘Other Links’ next time.
Thank you for reading! I’m a bit mind-boggled that I’ve put out 150 of these newsletter posts and people are following along, commenting, and sharing. Your support means a lot. Jim
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