SCOURGE OF THE SERPENT, the newest epic CONAN event, begins HERE, from fan favorite writer Jim Zub(Avengers, Dungeons & Dragons) and Ivan Gil, with a cover by superstar artist Roberto de la Torre(Conan the Barbarian)!
The serpent god’s influence tightens its coils around the Hyborian Age and every other age linked to it. Three stunning supernatural stories will spiral together to answer a chilling question framed in past and present-What is Set’s grand plan for humanity and, now that it has begun, can it be stopped?
Exclusive Original Material
In stores May 3, 2025
CONAN THE BARBARIAN #21
Story – Jim Zub
Artist – Fernando Dagnino
Cover A – Dan Panosian
Cover B – Maria Wolf
Cover C – Brandon Kenny
Cover D – Mindy Lee
Cover E – Gonzo
Cover F – Dan Panosian (Foil Variant)
NEW STORY ARC STARTS HERE! WINNER OF ‘BEST NEW COMIC SERIES’ – TRIPWIRE 2024 AWARDS!
The Great Serpent’s influence twists and turns, pulling Conan into their deadly coils as the Cimmerian and his allies are lured into Stygia…What they find on this journey will make their blood run cold and set the stage for a conflict beyond their wildest imagination!
Toronto got walloped with multiple days of intense snowfall and the roads are treacherous, so Stacy and I have been bundled up here getting writing done and trying not to venture outside unless absolutely necessary – February definitely has its fangs sunk in deep!
Conan the Barbarian #18 cover artwork by Rob De La Torre.
January was the first skip month we’ve had since the new Conan series launched mid-2023 but now, finally, CONAN THE BARBARIAN #18 arrives in comic shops this week! It’s the second half of “Fangs and Foolish Thieves”, a Conan and Bêlit caper that will cast unexpected ripples out toward later stories I have planned, including SCOURGE OF THE SERPENT.
I’m already working on scripts for issues #26-28 and promotional plans around our extra-special issue #25 that I can’t wait for you to see. The Age of High Adventure is going strong!
On Thursday I fly out to British Columbia for Vancouver Fan Expo, which I’ve never done before, and a couple weeks after that is Emerald City Comic Con, which has always been a great show for me. February and March is absolutely packed and I know it’s going to be exhausting, but also a lot of fun.
If you’ve enjoyed my work on CONAN THE BARBARIAN or DUNGEONS & DRAGONS or PATHFINDER but never read the original story that led to those projects, you’re about to get another chance to kick some skulls…thanks to ZOOP!
Compact/manga-sized volumes are all the rage right now with new readers and the animation-styled artwork of Skullkickers is perfectly suited to this form factor.
• Steve Jackson Games is bringing back the original Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks and I am ecstatic that a whole new generation of readers can discover these classic stories and art. The triumverate of my sword & sorcery influences are D&D, Conan, and FF. If I ever had the chance to write a Fighting Fantasy Gamebook it would complete an inspiration circuit in me that could light up a whole city.
• Comic artist Yanick Paquette is covering the basics of Perspective Drawing in his newsletter and it’s a wonderful little introduction. These skills are always worth reviewing and perfecting.
In addition to signing times at my table, I’m also on a panel Saturday afternoon:
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2025 5:00pm-6:00pm — SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY COMIC WRITERS – Theater 3 From the distant past with Conan the Barbarian to the MCU to the legends of a galaxy far, far, away authors Claudia Gray, Tim Sheridan and Jim Zub are exploring the worlds of some of our favourite fantasy and science fiction characters.
Three days after getting back from my vacation, I was on a flight to Orlando for MegaCon. It’s rare that I do any conventions in February, let alone a four-day monster like this one, and it was intense! Tons of signed comics, great interactions with fans, and fun conversations with friends. Even with the Comic Sketch Art crew doing set up and tear down, I was exhausted by the end of the show.
Given the state of the world right now I wasn’t sure how the convention would feel, but it seems escapism is front and center on the minds of fandom, and I can’t blame anyone for that.
Finally got the original Conan #1 for my collection.
I don’t normally buy myself presents at conventions, especially on day one of a show, but I couldn’t pass up a stunning raw copy of CONAN THE BARBARIAN #1 from 1970. The retailer who had it gave me a really good price so, after all these years, I finally have one!
Fans at the show seemed really surprised to see me doing sketches, which makes sense since my writing career has been so prominent compared to my art and I don’t get the chance to draw as much as I used to. It was nice shaking off some of the rust and busting out a few new drawings.
This is my first show of the year and the next month is jam-packed with travel, but if MegaCon is a sign for my convention appearances in 2025, I am both excited and intimidated. Thank you to everyone who stopped by!
Conan Screening Intro
Four Color Fantasies comic shop and the Comic Book Couples Counseling Podcast organized a screening of the 1982 Conan the Barbarian movie at the Alamo Drafthouse in Virgina and asked if I could record a short intro to play before the film.
Here’s what I put together for them – Some info about the character’s legacy and my memories of the movie and its impact:
Compact/manga-sized volumes are all the rage right now with new readers and the animation-styled artwork of Skullkickers is perfectly suited to this form factor.
If you are a comic retailer or press outlet and want to get advance PDFs of my upcoming releases, please reach out with your contact information so I can add you to my retailer or press mailing lists which are seperate from this newsletter.
This week is Florida’s massive pop culture convention, Megacon Orlando, February 6-9, 2025. It’s my first event of the year and my first time back to Megacon in eight years! I’m a special guest and will be set up in the Comic Sketch Art section at
ARTIST ALLEY TABLE P27
In addition to signing times at my table, I’m also on a panel Sunday afternoon:
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2025 11:30am-12:30pm — SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY COMIC WRITERS – Room S320E From the distant past with Conan the Barbarian to the MCU to the Revelations of Eternia to the Legends of a galaxy far, far, away authors Charles Soule, Tim Sheridan, Ben Percy, and Jim Zub are exploring the worlds of some of our favorite fantasy and sci-fi characters.
In Zubby Newsletter #1 (back in March 2023) I mentioned that this newsletter was a return to a format similar to the emails I used to send to friends and family when I moved away from Ontario way back in 1999. Those ‘newsletters’ were a way to stay in touch and let people know what I was up to, what I was thinking about, and movies, games, or books I was checking out. With the atomization of social media thanks to algorithms and ads, getting back to a more direct and dependable form of communication has been really useful, and the feedback and support I’ve been shown here after 100 ‘issues’ has been incredibly uplifting. However you know me, whenever you came on board, thank you for reading and sharing!
I’m actually on vacation as I type this. Ever since Stacy’s Mom passed away we’ve talked about taking a vacation with her Dad, and back in the Fall we thought about booking a week away before conventions kicked into gear. January started filling up with deadlines and doomscrolling about the state of the world started taking hold…But the whole point of me stepping away from teaching was to free up more time for the people we care about, so a quick search for last minute vacation deals and, next thing I knew, the three of us were headed somewhere warm and sandy for 7 days.
So, yeah! I’m celebrating 100 Zubby newsletters with a week away from Canadian winter. I’ll get writing done, only this time from under an umbrella at a beach bar. 😉
In the original thread people were just supposed to post the comic covers without any explanation but, since I have a lot more space here and it’s my 100th Newsletter, I’ve included a brief rundown of why these issues are special to me-
Doctor Strange #55 (1982): A perfect issue that tells a dramatic and meaningful story that works within continuity but is also self-contained, with impecable artwork by Michael Golden. If you haven’t read this one, you are missing a hidden gem.
G.I.Joe: A Real American Hero #21 (1983): Another perfect done-in-one issue, the famous ‘Silent Mission’ story that doesn’t have any dialogue or sound effects. The storytelling is spot-on and it’s a fun ride from start to finish.
Bone #1 (1991): In the early 90’s, Jeff Smith zigged with all-ages fun while the rest of the industry zagged with grim n’ gritty, and his enchanting black & white comic series became an instant classic. Every issue felt like uncovering buried treasure from a classic era of cartooning.
Batman-Judge Dredd: Judegement On Gotham (1991): Before IP comic crossovers became played out and annoying, this one was an absolute thrill, a fully painted story that earned its prestige format and knocked me out when I first read it.
The Tick #1 (1988): One of the funniest comic series of all time. There were parts of this original run that I struggled to read because I laughed so hard it made me cry. My brother and I could not get enough of this series and Skullkickers is deeply influenced by Ben Edlund’s sense of humor.
Uncanny X-Men #205 (1986): Another unstoppable done-in-one issue, reminding everyone why Wolverine was (and still can be) ‘the best there is’. Barry Windsor-Smith’s artwork is haunting in this issue and he draws the most incredible beat-to-shit version of Logan ever.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Collected Book vol. 1 (1990): I missed the debut of TMNT when it first arrived in comic shops, but the tabletop role-playing game brought me on board, this amazing omnibus-sized collection caught me all up, and from there I was hooked.
Understanding Comics (1993): Scott McCloud’s comic about the comic medium is an evergreen must-read, a smart and accessible textbook that always entertains even as it educates. If you love comics and haven’t read this, I am baffled. Scott was also the first comic pro who treated me like a peer, so this book has even more resonance to me in the here and now.
Akira #1 (1988): On a visit home from university, my brother brought fan-subbed anime tapes to show me and they blew my mind. We started collecting manga soon after, and Marvel’s color reprints of Akira became a must-read whenever a new chapter was released in English.
Savage Sword of Conan #24 (1977): Arguably the finest Robert E. Howard adaptation of all time. The artwork and storytelling in this issue is top notch, with John Buscema and Alfredo Alcala working in perfect harmony. It felt like the story I read in prose leapt from my imagination to the printed page.
We3 (2004): Gripping from start to finish, this wonderful self-contained mini-series plays with the comic medium and my heartstrings in ways that feel like a magic trick.
Video Girl Ai vol. 1 (1990): Once my brother showed me anime and I became hooked on manga, this series grabbed me with its delicate linework, delightful designs, and surprisingly emotional ups and downs. I still have ideas for a romantic-comedy comic series and this series is a big reason why.
Uncanny X-Men Annual #9 (1985): Taking the X-Men and New Mutants to Asgard and sending them hurtling through a sword & sorcery adventure was absolutely transformative for me, especially when paired with the incredibly detailed artwork of Arthur Adams. The Champions issues I wrote where the team go to Weirdworld and end up transformed into fantasy versions of themselves are my homage to this glorious story.
Fantastic Four #243 (1982): The interconnected nature of superhero universes are one of my favorite things about them, but back in the early 80’s it was still relatively rare for major characters to show up in each other’s titles. This issue with Galactus facing off against the FF has guest apperances by the Avengers, Doctor Strange, Spider-Man, and Daredevil! That feeling of a shared world with cause and effect really opened up my eyes to the possibilities and I could not get enough.
Dirty Pair: Sim Hell #1 (1993): Adam Warren’s Dirty Pair series wiped away any misgivings I had about non-Japanese creators tackling manga-anime properties and, it might be blasphemous of me to say, but I think Adam’s version of the ‘Lovely Angels’ is even better than the originals. Sim Hell is jam-packed with wry humor, wicked action, and killer artwork.
Amazing Spider-Man #231 (1982): A completely random issue that doesn’t have any particular story significance, but it’s personal for me in other ways. This is the first issue of Spider-Man I bought with my own money and from there I started collecting Amazing Spider-Man every month, from issues #231 through to #374. After a 17 year gap, I came back on board with the Big Time story arc and have been reading it ever since.
Pride Of Baghdad (2006): Beautiful, relevant, and absolutely haunting, this is one of the best self-contained graphic novels I’ve ever read. It swept me along with its allegorical tale and speaks to cycles of history that humanity keeps falling into.
By Chance Or Providence (2014): Becky Cloonan is a potent force in independant comics, charging forward with work that is highly personal and imminently engaging. Her commercial work is fun too, but I cannot get enough of the ‘pure’ stuff she does all on her own. It’s so damn inspiring.
Heavy Metal Magazine vol. 1 no. 21 (1997): I’d seen a bunch of European comics over the years but hadn’t really dug into any of it, until Massimiliano Frezzato’s Maser series in Heavy Metal demanded my attention and would not let go. The world and characters are stunningly designed and incredibly appealing.
Excalibur: The Sword Is Drawn (1988): When my brother and I collected comics, we split the Marvel Universe to get as much as we could, and the mutant end of Marvel was his to buy each month, until Excalibur. This incredibly fun series, jam-packed with Alan Davis’ brilliant artwork, held me spellbound, month after month, and it all started here with this prestige format story.
Honorable Mention-The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: The Deluxe Edition (1986): Technically not a comic, so it didn’t make my list, but obviously comic adjascent, this extensive reference series – an encyclopedia of characters, teams and locations – solidified the Marvel Universe for me, clarifying a vast interconnected web of creativity that wedged its way into my brain and changed my life.
Hyborian Sneak Peeks
Since you made it here for our Newsletter #100 celebration, let me give you some art teasers for upcoming issues in the Hyborian Age:
You want even more? You people are insatiable…
Okay then, how about this?
My Patreon archive now has over 320 scripts and dozens of pitches for comics I’ve written over the years, but every so often I take one of those scripts locked behind the $3-$5 paywall and make it FREE for everyone to check out. Here’s a list of links to those freebies so you can get a closer look at how comics are written for $0.00, the same price you pay for this newsletter!
Over on the Orkenspalter YouTube channel, Mháire Stritter has put together a documentary all about D&D in a Castle. The whole thing is worth checking out, but if you want to zero in on her interview with me, it’s at the 35:40 mark.
CONAN BARBARIAN #20
Story- JIM ZUB
Line Art – DOUG BRAITHWAITE
Colors- DIEGO RODRIGUEZ
Letters- RICHARD STARKINGS and TYLER SMITH
Cover A- ROB DE LA TORRE
Cover B- MIKE ROOTH
Cover C- BEN TEMPLESMITH
The triumphant new era of Conan continues! From acclaimed creators Jim Zub(Avengers, Dungeons & Dragons) and Doug Braithwaite(Punisher, Justice)!
In the days following Bêlit’s tragic demise, Conan traveled through jungles of the southern kingdoms but there’s no time for grief – a deadly hunter stalks the Cimmerian, bent on bloody vengeance. Who is this strange foe and what do they know about the ancient power rising in Stygia?
I don’t normally send out two newsletters in less than a week but my big announcement about stepping away from teaching after 20 years deserved its own post, so thank you to everyone who reached out with comments and kind messages. It meant a lot to hear from so many of you.
Just to clarify – I’m not retired! I’ve been juggling two full-time careers for a long time and now just get to have one – writing and creative projects. This has been my dream for many years and I’m incredibly excited for 2025 and beyond!
Rest In Peace
From left to right: Jeff Shanks, John C. Hocking, Howard Andrew Jones, and me.
Back in October I mentioned that my friend Howard Andrew Jones had been diagnosed with multifocal glioblastoma, an intense brain cancer, and we knew time would be short. I was gutted to hear that he died last week. His friends and family are in mourning and the sword & sorcery genre is more barren for his passing.
I am so thankful for the time spent with Howard at Robert E. Howard Days back in June. Howard, John C. Hocking, and I were thick as thieves during the event, chatting about writing, fandom, and life, and laughing almost the entire time. So much of what we talked about was important then – shaking off rough spots in our careers and celebrating each victory, no matter how small – and those conversations are even more poignant now with his passing.
2025 seems set for challenges and upheaval, but we carry on as best we can.
Every day is precious. Hold your loved ones close and tell them how much they mean to you.
Heroic Signatures Fundraising For Los Angeles
Here’s what Heroic Signatures sent out last week:
LA is far from just being our company’s home. It is where our kids play, where our friends live, and where our dreams have taken root.
As fires ravage our city, we’re inspired by countless Angelenos facing this crisis with remarkable courage from everyday citizens to the LA Fire Department teams working tirelessly on the front lines.
To support our city, we’re donating $10,000 to the LAFD Foundation.
Let’s stand together for LA and show the world that our city’s spirit is unbreakable.
With gratitude- Fredrik Malmberg, Jay Zetterberg, Steve Booth, Marcos Cronander, Mike Pepin, Chris Buterz, Ashley Hodgkins, Shawn Curley, Mei Ng, Lion Martinez, Gerardo Zaffino, Jim Zub, Doug Braithwaite, and Jeff Shanks.
My next newsletter will be the big #100! What will I do to celebrate that wondrous third digit? No idea, but given the ‘cover price’ on these updates ($0.00), keep your expectations in check. 😉 Jim
Here’s the letter I sent out to the Seneca Animation staff this morning:
Hey Gang,
I have some news.
As you all know, Seneca offered the possibility of exit packages or early retirement for full-time staff members in order to minimize losses incurred due to changing international application policies across Ontario and, when that possibility came up, I realized it was a rare opportunity. I’m on a teaching sabbatical right now and was recharging my batteries to return in the Fall, but now my plans have changed.
Yesterday, I received approval on my exit package from Seneca. Technically I’m still employed at the school until end of April but, since I’m on sabbatical, it means as of 5pm today I’m no longer a prof.
I can’t fully explain to you how surreal this feels. For the past 20 years I’ve taught at Seneca and for 14 of those I was Coordinator of the ANI program. Teaching at Seneca has been the most consistent thing I’ve done in my adult life. Helping build the Animation program, watching it grow, and seeing so many students expand their skills and tap into their creativity while making lifelong friends has been an absolute privilege. My creative career is in a great spot right now and I’m incredibly excited to embrace that full time instead of juggling it with full time teaching, but the ability to do this in the here and now is because of my experiences at Seneca. The school and all of you have changed my life for the better in countless ways and for that I am eternally grateful.
I’ll be around to visit and see the grad films, and wouldn’t be surprised if I come back at some point to teach again if the opportunity presents itself but, until then, I wish you and the rest of the team all the best.
With lots of love, Jim
So, yeah, there it is! I’m no longer a teacher at Seneca Polytechnic.
It’s a big change, but also the chance to continue the more healthy work-life balance I’ve had since end of April last year when my teaching sabbatical began. I still have a lot to do and deadlines to handle, but now I can concentrate on my creative career without losing precious time with Stacy and the rest of my family and friends.
Versions of this plan have been in the works for quite a while, but finally having the pieces come together and seeing it through hasn’t settled in just yet. Stacy joked that I’ll need to set up classes here at the house to make sure I’m feeding my teaching impulse because it’s such a deep-rooted part of me, and I know I’m going to miss it a lot, but in other ways I’m also relieved. I’d rather step away while I’m still passionate about teaching rather than let my excitement for it atrophy, get stuck in a rut, and stay there just because it’s the path of least resistance.
However you know me – personally, professionally, or from afar as a reader – I want to THANK YOU for following along and being supportive of me and my work. It means more than you know.
Multiple blasts of snow here in Toronto over the past week has made for a surreal contrast with reports and footage of the devastating California wildfires.
With so many of my friends who work in comics, animation, and games being in or around Los Angeles, a lot of them have been impacted by the destruction. Listed below are places providing aid to those affected or places to find aid if you are in need. Please help if you can.
I saw this darkly sacrcastic book review back in August, when allegations first started to bubble forth but didn’t know what to say then…and I still don’t.
New York Magazine‘s feature story on Neil Gaiman’s horrific mistreatment of women who moved in and out of his sphere of influence over decades is truly harrowing and disturbing. If you want to read it, make sure you’re braced for disgusting content and the shattering of any grand illusions you might have about the creator of beloved stories of fantasy and the supernatural.
Allegations started bubbling to the surface last summer and, like most other people in comics and entertainment, I wasn’t personally involved and didn’t know what to say so I waited to see if the initial reports were corroborated. Even if he’s never charged in terms of criminal activity, I think we’ve passed the Rubicon now.
Like so many other readers and writers, Neil’s work was an absolute game changer for me. Sandman and the first Death mini-series arrived at a formative time in my life and opened my eyes to the power that comics could have – lyrical, emotional, and relevant. I bought a first edition copy of Good Omens in hardback when it was first released and literally read it cover to cover in one night.
Of course, I’m framing this awful news in terms of how it affects me and a lot of other people are too because for so many of us it feels personal, the fucked up betrayal of the dreams and ideals shown to us by the man and his work. The bone deep assumption that someone who could craft those tales and speak so eloquently about our hopes and fears could not be the kind of monster he showed us could be defeated with the power of stories.
And yet, here we are. More than a dozen women scattered along a trail of gruesome behavior in ways that speaks to a frightening lack of morals, empathy, or decency.
There’s absolutely nothing I can type here that changes any of it, but this is my outlet and, even though I try not to let politics or other weights of the world intrude into this newsletter, you’re here for my thoughts, and the shadow of this shit looms too large to ignore. It’s abhorrent and, for better or for worse, teaches so many of us to be more wary of the larger-than-life people we put our faith in.
It also speaks to an incredibly selfish and damaged ego who didn’t understand or appreciate the responsibility creators have to the people associated with them and their work. Yes, your name is on the cover of that book or prominently displayed in the opening credits of that show or movie, but that also means there’s a whole industry of artists, editors, actors, marketers, and other production people banking their faith, hard work, and livelihood on you and your reputation.
The ongoing Conan the Barbarian monthly comic series and Conan: Battle of the Black Stone are eligible for both The Costigan and Rankin awards, so if you agree that they have merit, please fill out the form and let your voice be heard.
The crew at D&D in a Castle have announced their Autumn 2025 line-up and I’m thrilled to be returning with an all new adventure called Dark Lords’ Gambit!
Details on all the Fall sessions HERE.
Pre-registration links are on my DM profile page HERE.
• If you run a convention and have tabletop gaming in the mix, Chaosium will send you a Convention Support Pack of their games worth up to $500, including Call of Cthulhu, Runequest, and Pendragon as part of their company’s 50th anniversary!
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