Shaun Manning at Comic Book Resources put together a write-up about the DIE tabletop RPG test game Kieron Gillen ran after this year’s San Diego Comic-Con. Check it out to get a sense of how DIE’s meta game-within-a-game structure works and how our one-shot session played out.
Monthly Archives: July 2019
Penguin Random House Interview
I spoke to the Penguin Random House crew about how the Dungeons & Dragons Young Adventurer’s Guides came to be and how our team developed the series. Give it a read.
Jim Zub at Gen Con 2019!
It’s time again for North America’s largest tabletop, card, and board game show, GEN CON in Indianapolis, Indiana!
Howard Tayler (Shlock Mercenary, Writing Excuses) and I will be set-up together at BOOTH 1749 in the main exhibit hall, ready to sign and sketch for readers.
If you’re headed to Gen Con, it would be great to see you there! It’s one of my favorite shows each year. Getting the chance to promote my comic work and also dig into the latest and greatest the gaming industry has to offer is a wonderful opportunity.



In addition to signing copies of Dungeons & Dragons, Rick and Morty VS Dungeons & Dragons and the D&D Young Adventurer’s Guides, Gen Con 2019 will be your first chance to get an advanced copy of the WAYWARD BOARD GAME! This co-op board game designed by Jon Gilmour (Dead of Winter, Dinosaur Island) and published by IDW Games has a ton of strategy and a variety of missions to test players as they battle Yokai in Tokyo. Our booth will be carrying a limited number of pre-release copies of the game which will be available at retail exclusively first through Barnes & Noble (at their online store starting August 10th and in their retail stores starting August 20th).
On Friday night, I’ll be participating in the Wordbuilders Gen Con Party. Buy a ticket to join Worldbuilders and friends for an evening of games, food, drinks, and mingling with some awesome authors, game designers, podcasters, and creators. Sign up to play games with the celeb of your choosing in a relaxed environment and participate in the silent auction for a chance to win some cool geeky prizes. This is a charity event and all proceeds will go towards Worldbuilders and you will also walk away with a swag-filled bag worth over $100!
At the Worldbuilders Party I’ll be running A Fake Artist Goes To New York and The Thing: Infection at Outpost 31!
Rick and Morty VS Dungeons & Dragons II #2 in October!



RICK & MORTY VS D&D II PAINSCAPE #2
(W) Jim Zub (A) Troy Little
Cover A by Troy Little
Cover B by Nicole Goux
Cover C by Troy Little
It’s Rick Sanchez VS The Tomb Of Horrors, the deadliest dungeon in D&D history!
Meanwhile, Morty and Summer face forgotten freaks from the Folio of Flawed Failures. If they flub this fight, they’re f**ked.
Fan favorite RPG-ist Jim Zub (Samurai Jack, Savage Sword of Conan) re-teams up with Eisner-nominated art mage Troy Little (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, The Powerpuff Girls) to magic-up Adult Swim’s pop culture mega-hit and smash it into the best-selling role-playing game that recently became cool again.
In Shops: Oct 16, 2019
SRP: $3.99
D&D Young Adventurer’s Guides Reviews!




The Dungeons & Dragons Young Adventurer’s Guides are now available everywhere fine books are sold! All of us on the team are incredibly proud of these introductory guides to D&D and the response from readers and reviewers so far has been stellar.
Want to find out more about the series? Check out the FAQ I put together.
• Bell of Lost Souls: “Reading through these books is an absolute treat. They capture so much of what makes D&D feel magical–and they’re just lovely. The art is gorgeous and inviting, they’re a nice size; exactly the sort of thing you’d want to sit back with a cup of tea and enjoy.”
• Bob World Builder: “These are great books for collectors and players of all ages.”
• Bleeding Cool: “this book is creative idea fuel. WotC and Ten Speed really hit it out of the park with these books and it makes me happy to see Dungeons & Dragons approached in a different manner that kids between the ages of 8-14 could grab this and pick up on very easily.”
• CFT-RPG: “Great quality for a young reader’s book and the inspiration here is fantastic.”
• Comics Now: “These books strike a great balance, in that they’re aimed at younger readers but are still great resources for older fans as well. They have enough information contained within their pages that you could easily jump into a D&D game after you’ve finished reading”
• d20 Diaries: “Taken on their own, the Young Adventurer’s Guides have a nice layout, easy to read text, beautiful art, and are well organized. They’re approachable, interesting, engaging, and clearly written for kids, but, at the same time, the books don’t talk down to the reader.”
• Dices Everywhere (French): “these are perfect books to visually complement the stripped D&D Basic Rules available for free online.”
• Eighteen Wisdom: 9.6/10 “All of these books are quality items that have a very definite target demographic but which hit that demographic almost perfectly. Could some kids go straight into the mainstream books and be ok? Yes they probably could. But I believe most would benefit from the way these books lead them through their initial contact with Dungeons & Dragons (in fact, pretty much any RPG).”
• Fanbase Press: “These books are absolutely fantastic for children, and, frankly, anyone brand new to D&D could probably stand to read them. Even if you don’t know the first thing about Dungeons & Dragons, these books are a great fantasy resource. I’d say that if you have even the most passing interest in fantasy, these books are a must buy.”
• Fandom Post: “Although the wording may be simplified for younger readers, the knowledge contained therein is an essential foundation to those interested in the classic tabletop game and allows anyone to readily pick it up and easily absorb the essential details”
• Fictional Fangirl: “It’s a really good book for kids who are going to be building their own characters or building any characters for the very first time. It’s a really useful tool and makes it really easy.”
• Forbes: “Taking in all the lore and the rules of Dungeons & Dragons all at once can be intimidating for people new to the game. By breaking that info into small, digest sized books, having these at the table full of new players keeps them engaged while making characters.”
• Game Vortex: “…a great primer on what a young, aspiring adventurer would need to know if they hope to don some armor, pick up arms, and seek their fortune as an adventurer, presenting information that a rogue or fighter just starting off would likely know about weapons, armor and equipment.”
• Gayme Master: “If you’re thinking of getting a young reader you know hooked on fantasy and introduce them to the wonderful world of Dungeons & Dragons, Monsters & Creatures is the ideal starting point! It’s definitely a critical hit!”
• Geek Dad: “These are small, 100+ page hardback books filled with colorful art and specifics of the game that a young player will find useful. (And to be honest, these books are totally suitable for adults, too.)”
• Geekerati: “The Warriors & Weapons book gives a good overview of a number of D&D races and classes and has a useful flowchart to help young players decide what kinds of characters they want to play.”
• Geek Tyrant: 8/10 “…if you’re new or someone you know is new and possibly interested in playing, especially if they’re a middle school or high school aged person, then this is a great way to get an easier to read version of the flavor text from the Player’s Handbook. “
• Geeks of Doom: “With wonderful guides such as Warriors & Weapons, it is broken down to its core pieces, enabling younger players or would be players to grasp the nuances and feel more at ease.”
• Goblins and Growlers: “This is a fantastic little book that will rope younger would-be D&D players into a world of adventure and, hopefully, leave them antsy to play the game for real.”
• How Do I DM?: “It’s perfectly set up to let younger players use their imagination…The book is so well done. I can’t say it enough.”
• How To D&D: “This seems like a great beginner book for a Dungeon Master of any age…I can really see many people finding this book really useful to them.”
• Inciter Magazine: “You can tell in the art direction and how every entry is written, that special care was put into making each section not only informative, but interesting and fun to read. There is humor, nuance, and rhythm put into every paragraph. This is deliberate in design, and the result is something new, fun, and not better, but certainly complimentary to any book that has come before it.”
• Lightspeed Magazine: “I would wager that these books would be good primers for any age reader on the nature of the world’s most popular role-playing game. I highly recommend them to any parent or person interested in learning more about the world-building of Dungeons & Dragons.”
• Matt Slaton: “I would recommend this to somebody who is looking to get new players involved or just start getting your players out of the habit of focusing on the mechanics of the game.”
• Matthew Perkins: “They activate that long dormant piece of my brain that I haven’t used since childhood, that wondrous imagination. I love thinking this way.”
• Nerdisphere: “They’ll really enhance your library for Dungeons & Dragons and they’re very well done.”
• Nerdophiles: “Warriors & Weapons and Monsters & Creatures are huge hits in our household and I can’t recommend them enough. Whether you’ve got a kid whose interested in Dungeons & Dragons solely because they saw it on Stranger Things or you’ve got a hopelessly overwhelmed adult friend looking for more information on what it’s all about, these books are great.”
• Nerdy Girl Express: “No matter how old you are if you have ever had an interest in D&D these Young Adventurer’s Guides are something you need to check out.”
• Outright Geekery: 8/10 “Hardcover, with a good binding. Quality paper stock and a lot of fantastic illustrations…as a veteran of a few campaigns, I found plenty of use with these for when my kids start their own D&D campaign.”
• Questing Beast: “A really remarkable little gem of a book. It’s pretty neat to have something like this in role-playing games. Great if you have kids or as a gift for other people’s kids.”
• Reluctant Artsy: “The way that it’s laid out is absolutely amazing. No statistics, just descriptors…I’ve been playing since the early 80’s and I find this just as valuable now as reading the Player’s Handbook.”
• Reviews From R’lyeh: “a bright and easy read, the first part of what should serve as a light introduction to Dungeons & Dragons. One that nicely works as a gift as much as it does a reference work.”
• Tabletop Engineer: “I read these cover to cover and, as an adult, if I was getting into D&D I would want these handed to me.”
• Tabletop Joab: “The D&D Young Adventurer’s Collection is the perfect start to a lifelong love of fantasy. Pulling from my college days when I was studying to be a teacher, I see a lot of techniques in these books that echo what I learned about childhood development and learning.”
• Vintage RPG: “I love this approach to teaching RPGs – it removes everything new players find intimidating (which is stuff a lot of experienced players tend forget have steep learning curves, even in 5E) and allows them to get a feel for the fun. These are perfect for RPG playing parents looking for a way to introduce their kids to the games.”
• What’s On The Shelf: “It’s an easy intro to anyone who hasn’t played D&D before.”
Young Adventurer’s Launch!
I know a bunch of you love it when I post charts and graphs, so here goes-
Remember the incredible sales spike when the Rick and Morty VS D&D trade came out in March?
Well, I just checked out our D&D Young Adventurer’s Guides launch last week on Bookscan…
You people REALLY like D&D!
“I don’t see why publishers chase after the book market.”
This is why.
“Who cares about kid content?”
Readers and the book market do.
“The market is dying.”
In some areas, yeah, it’s rough.
In other areas, it’s growing at an incredible rate.
Talking About Champions

Once the October solicits arrived online, I knew discussion would start around our current run. It’s with a heavy heart that I let all of you know CHAMPIONS will be wrapping up with issue #10.
I built this new take on the team as a way to try and bridge classic teen superheroic drama with an eclectic cast of characters – old school Marvel brought to the present with a new generation of heroes.
I took a risk with the book and it didn’t click the way we hoped, so my long-term plans for the series have been cut short. That’s the way it goes sometimes.
It hurts. Dressing that up any other way would be disingenuous. I wish it had worked out. I’m sorry I let you down.
The readers and reviewers who keyed into what we were going for were incredible. Their excitement kept us going month after month. If you didn’t get a chance to read the current run, I hope you’ll consider giving us a shot in single issues, collections, or digital.
Big thanks to our whole creative team – Steven Cummings, Marcio Menyz, Clayton Cowles, Juanan Ramirez, Kim Jacinto, and Rain Beredo. An even deeper thank you to editors CB Cebulski, Tom Brevoort, Alanna Smith, and Shannon Andrews for letting me run with this idea in the first place. The risk didn’t pay off this time, but the only way we can build new classic stories is to push out into the unknown and see what’s possible.
If you’re reading this and lamenting the future of your favorite young heroes, I can tell you that there are big plans for Marvel’s teens in 2020. I’ve heard about the next stage of the Champions story – It’s exciting, vibrant, and absolutely worthy of the House of Ideas. I’m a bit wistful that it’s not mine to tell, but also hopeful for the future of these inspiring young heroes.
Thanks for the support,
Jim
Zub Marvel Comics Arriving in October!


BLACK PANTHER AND THE AGENTS OF WAKANDA #2
JIM ZUB (W) • LAN MEDINA (A) • Cover by JORGE MOLINA
Mary Jane Variant Cover by DAVID LOPEZ
T’Challa and his agents have uncovered the source of dark energy emanating from a small town in Oklahoma. Is it a super villain…or a savior?
Reality-spanning espionage, defense and black ops, all backed by Vibranium-laced technology and the will to use it. The Agents of Wakanda are our first line of defense in a world under siege from all sides.
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99
On sale October 16th

CHAMPIONS #10
JIM ZUB (W) • STEVEN CUMMINGS (A)
Cover by KIM JACINTO
• The next generation made a vow to do better.
• Now, they have to live up to it, as the future of the Champions hangs in the balance.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
On sale October 2nd

TONY STARK: IRON MAN VOL. 3 – WAR OF THE REALMS TPB
Written by GAIL SIMONE, DAN SLOTT, JIM ZUB, WITH KURT BUSIEK & ROGER STERN
Penciled by PAOLO VILLANELLI, VALERIO SCHITI WITH SEAN CHEN, TOM LYLE, BOB LAYTON, YANCEY LABAT & BERNARD CHANG
Cover by ALEXANDER LOZANO
Iron Man joins the War of the Realms! A war needs weapons — and Tony Stark once vowed he’d never build weapons again! So why is he hunkered down with Screwbeard the Dwarf in Avengers Mountain? And what is he making? Struggling against ancient mystical forces, Tony battles an ancient winged calamity with the lives of everyone at Stark Unlimited hanging in the balance! Plus: When Tony tells Carol Danvers he can’t be her AA sponsor because he may or may not have fallen off the wagon, Captain Marvel doesn’t take it well. What is Iron Man’s new high-tech solution for sobriety? It might be his worst idea yet! Featuring the villainy of the all-new Spymaster! And Jocasta goes all in for “the ultimate upgrade!” Collecting TONY STARK: IRON MAN #12-14 and Iron Man (1998) #25.
112 PGS./Rated T+ …$15.99
ISBN: 978-1-302-91443-1
On sale Oct 30th
Savage Sword of Conan #7 Reviews
• Comic Book University: “Let’s stick around with Zircher on this book because I’m enjoying the hell out of this.”
• Comic Crusaders: 9/10 “Jim Zub brings us an excellent story which combined with the talent of Patch Zircher make this title revive its great splendor.”
• Comic Watch: 8.8/10 “this issue by Jim Zub is undoubtedly one of the if not THE best Conan issue we’ve gotten since the Marvel relaunch and features all of the things that make Conan great.”
• Comicon: “Zircher’s line work is great. He uses a more sketchy style, which evokes Barry Windsor-Smith, while maintaining his own look. His action is clear, and his character acting adds a lot of personality to the story, both in establishing Conan, and in building up the supporting characters to come.”
• Kabooooom!: 10/10 “A great story, amazing art and a free game along with a short story. By Crom, this is the perfect Conan comic!”
• Paint Monk’s Library: 8.5/10 “If you haven’t picked up any issues of Conan since Marvel reacquired the property in January, I’d heartily recommend starting with this issue.”
• Pop Mythology: “Pick of the Week – Marvel has two perfectly suited creators for this story and in my book it’s a winner…This is the type of story that gives me faith in the resilience of the comic medium.”
• Weird Science Marvel Comics: 8.8/10 “If you’re not reading any Conan books, you need to start and this issue is a great place to start and dip your toe into the cold Cimmerian waters.”
Champions #7 Reviews
• Beyond The Panel: 8.5/10 “Sam and Kaldera’s mission was exciting. This issue was quick to getting us to their destination, which left plenty of room for chaos and shenanigans on board.”
• Black Nerd Problems: 8.5/10 ” I can now see that taking a fresh start was necessary to put some distance between the original’s more lighthearted adventures and this new run’s darker, more mature tone. Hell, with all the drama and OG members of the team splitting ways, it might as well be labeled Champions: Disassembled.”
• Caped-Joel: 7.5/10 “A good way to ease back into this series now that the War of Realms is over.”
• Chillmonger: “These loose threads are being tied back up by Jim Zub…This is turbo writing.”
• ComicBook.com: 10/10 “There is not a better comic book being published by Marvel Comics than Champions. Jim Zub and his team have found an exceptional balance with these teenage characters, recognizing their fears and feelings are different than those of the grown-up heroes, but never treating them as if they’re juvenile.”
• Comic Book University: “I love the drama in here…This is the only teen series that hunkers down on the real struggle that teenagers have to deal with.”













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