In addition to signing at my table, I’m on a couple panels over the weekend as well:
Friday, August 29th, 2025
2:30pm Conan Conquers Comics – Americas Mart Building 2, 4th floor, ROOM 204I
Robert E. Howard’s Conan the Barbarian has long been an extremely popular figure in comics ever since the early days at Marvel Comics. Come hear from current writer Jim Zub about his acclaimed run on the Heroic Signatures version of Conan currently published by Titan Comics.
Monday, September 1st, 2025
11:30am Writer’s Room: Comic Book Edition – Americas Mart Building 2, 4th floor, ROOM 204I
What is it like writing a comic book? We talk to our guest writers about where they draw inspiration and ideas that thrill comic book fans time and time again. Panelists Tini Howard, D.G. Chichester, Chuck Brown, Jim Zub, and Andrew E.C. Gaska.
Since this is my local show, I’ll have quite a few Conan the Barbarian back issues and variant covers so, if you’re on the hunt, feel free to reach out and hopefully I can fill in gaps in your collection and sign them at the same time.
My location is the opposite from last year, down near the food vendors in the exhibit hall:
In addition to being at my table throughout the show, I’m also part of a writing panel on Sunday:
SUNDAY, August 24, 2024 2:00pm-3:00pm – SUPER SUNDAY WRITING FOR COMICS PANEL in THEATRE 3 (701A)
We’ve assembled an all-star panel of comic writers for you this Sunday afternoon to discuss what they are doing and what’s next! Panelists Mark Russell, Ethan Sacks, Frank Tieri and Jim Zub.
I was home for five days after Gen Con, repacked, and then jumped on a plane. Stacy and I are now in Seattle for Worldcon, the oldest sci-fi and fantasy convention (it started in 1939) that is hosted in a different city each year. Worldcon is a very literary/prose-centric show (which makes sense given that it hosts the Hugo Awards) and we’re curious to see how it will compare to comic and tabletop game conventions we usually attend. I don’t have any kind of table presence at the show, I’m just participating in some panels and looking to socialize and network a bit, so it should feel quite different than a “comic con” kind of weekend.
Before that kicks off though, we have a couple days visiting our friends Jim and Andrea north of the city, which is a nice change of pace. Great conversation, good food, and a quick exhale before I dive into 3 more conventions over 3 weeks.
Power and Influence
Conan the Barbarian #23 cover art by Greg Staples
Conan the Barbarian #23 arrives at your favorite local comic shop tomorrow – Wednesday, August 13th. We’ve been teasing Thoth-Amon’s influence in earlier issues, but now our Cimmerian hero confronts the Stygian Grand Sorcerer directly and our art team (line artist Fernando Dagnino and colorist Diego Rodriguez) pulls out all the stops for it. I am ecstatic at how it turned out.
No spoilers, but check out this text-free series of panels to get hyped– Ridiculous, right?! I am so, so fortunate to be working with this crew and extra proud of how this issue turned out. Make sure you snap it up!
Old World Collectible
Old Marvel Comics ad
In the late 1970’s, readers saw this ad in various Marvel Comics, promoting a map poster and gazetteer of the Hyborian Age they could mail away for. I haven’t managed to track down that classic poster yet, but last week a copy of the gazetteer was added to my growing Conan collection.
A Gazetteer of the Hyborian World of Conan
This 132-page softcover includes an alphabetical listing of places mentioned or visted across all the original Robert E. HowardConan and Kull stories, the adjusted versions by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter, and early comic stories by Roy Thomas. Interesting bit of trivia – the book is credited to “Lee N. Falconer”, but that was a pen name for fantasy author Julian May, who was a huge Robert E. Howard fan and researcher.
I’m sure a digital version would work fine as a general reference, but having the physical book on hand is nice to have as I’m plugging away on new stories. It’s also another reminder of the legacy all this stuff carries.
Talking Scourge of the Serpent with The Comic Source
I didn’t realize that Penguin Random House recorded the Celebrating Dungeons & Dragons panel I was on at San Diego this year. So many great anecdotes and heartfelt moments here worth sharing. Such a pleasure getting to be a part of this.
Dungeons & Dragons continues its monumental rise in pop culture after 50 years! With more people rolling dice and telling stories every day, come hear from expert Dungeon Masters and Storytellers who share how Dungeons & Dragons has secured its place in society and the tabletop. Anjali Bhimani(Actor, DesiQuest, Critical Role, Dimension 20), Elisa Teague(Game Designer & Writer)Teagan Morrison(Co-Founder, Hero Forge), Jim Zub(Writer, Dungeons & Dragons) and Moderator Ross Thompson.
Fantasy Art For The Ages
Max Dunbar is a dear friend and has been a steady collaborator with me on a bunch of projects over the years, most notably Dungeons & Dragons, Castle Arkham, and Champions. He’s crowdfunding a new artbook of his fantasy art with Zoop, jam-packed with some of the most stunning characters and locations I have ever seen. If you are a sword & sorcery or D&D fan you NEED to get on board and secure yourself a copy!
Stacy and I are heading to Seattle for Worldcon 82, the longest-running sci-fi and fantasy convention that is hosted in a different city each year and is home to the Hugo Awards. It’s our first time attending Worldcon and we’re eager to see how it compares to comic and tabletop gaming conventions we go to.
We won’t have a homebase at the show, so the best way to find us will be at social events and panels. If you’ll be at Worldcon, feel free to reach out and, if you see us wandering the exhibits or showfloor, say “Hi”.
Friday, August 15 9:00-10:00am – The Indie Comics Panel: The Big 25% – Room 431-432
The “Big Two” comic book publishers control 75% of the market and get plenty of attention. If you’re curious about who makes up the independent comics market and where you fit in as a fan, this might be the panel for you! Panelists Howard Tayler, Kel McDonald, Neil Ottenstein, Rob McMonigal and Jim Zub.
Saturday, August 16 1:30-2:30pm – Writing Comics and Graphic Novels – Room 343-344
Comics are bigger than ever and the publishing industry is wild for graphic novels and manga, but writing a comic story is its own skill – different from prose and different from writing a screenplay. Gain valuable insight about the comics medium – pitching, script formatting, collaborating with artists, and common pitfalls many new comic writers make as they get their start. Moderator Moriko Handford, with speakers G. Willow Wilson, Jim Zub, Kel McDonald, and Ryan North.
On July 31st to August 3rd, it’s time for North America’s largest tabletop RPG, card, and board game show, GEN CON in Indianapolis, Indiana!
Howard Tayler(Shlock Mercenary, Writing Excuses), Sandra Tayler(Hold On To Your Horses), Stacy King(D&D Young Adventurer’s Guides) and I will be set-up together at BOOTH 1349 in the main exhibit hall, ready to sign for readers.
BOOTH 1349
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 work and dig into the latest and greatest the gaming industry has to offer is a wonderful opportunity.
In addition to our booth in the main exhibit hall, I’ll also be in a live play game on Saturday. Details below:
SATURDAY, AUGUST 2nd
4:00-5:30pm – Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game Live! – Westin : Grand Ballroom V
It’s clobberin’ time at Gen Con as the goofballs from the Glass Cannon Network team up with Marvel for a fantastic, amazing, spectacular, friendly neighborhood-ing good time! Nobody does the Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game like the Glass Cannon, so break out your best spandex and prepare for an afternoon of classic heroes alongside new recruits tangling with the worst villains the Marvel Multiverse has to offer.
Here’s where you can find our booth in the exhibit hall:
I had an industry pro reach out this morning to let me know that this would be their first SDCC and ask for advice. At first I wasn’t sure what to suggest, and then next thing I knew I’d sent them a list of industry parties, meet-up spots, food recommendations, great vendors, and places to escape the hustle-bustle. I don’t know exactly when I became a veteran of these Comic-Con-flicts, but it’s happened, so I’m heading into SDCC 2025 with a sense of zen about it all – The show will be a whirlwind and I’ll try to be the calm eye of the storm.
Obviously the consistency of Conan helps bolster my confidence. Keeping this Hyborian adventure going and commemorating another year on the series with our team is going to be wonderful.
Zub at SDCC 2025
When I’m not doing panels, signings or meetings, I’ll be at Artist Alley Table GG-07 with the Comic Sketch Art team.
This issue is my first King Conan story, it’s a self-contained adventure, and it’s a fist-pumping sword-swinging celebration of our series – past, present, and future. Make sure you pre-order, if you haven’t already!
And just as a reminder – Conan the Barbarian will keep going after issue #25! I know a lot of current comic series seem to be getting cancelled or constantly relaunched, but we are going strong and our latest issues have defied typical attrition patterns and are going up in sales. There are many more adventures to come as long as readers and retailers keep supporting the series the way they have so far.
Pre-SDCC Stream With Near Mint
I was a guest on the Near Mint Condition livestream, and chatted with Omar all about how Conan the Barbarian is going, San Diego Comic Con memories, answering online questions, screen sharing old photos and artwork, and a whole lot more. It was a ton of fun, so please check it out!
Thrilled to announce that I’m a special guest at this year’s Thought Bubble Comic Festival in Harrogate, happening right after my stint at D&D in a Castle.
• Tom Cardy‘s music cracks me up quite a bit and his latest, Love Letter to a Dungeon Master, is one of those things that won’t make any sense unless you play TTRPGs but, if you do, it strikes gold.
• The official Conan the Barbarian website has a great article about Conan toys by Matt John, including a look at the upcoming Conan action figure based on my Battle of the Black Stone story.
Titan Comics has three different Conan foil cover variants at the show illustrated by Dan Panosian, Jason Shawn Alexander, and Joe Jusko for sale at BOOTH #5537:
Here’s where I’ll be at the show when I’m not grabbing a meal, at meetings, or doing press: WEDNESDAY, July 23, 2025 – Preview Night
07:00pm-08:00pm — Signing at Artist Alley TABLE GG-07
THURSDAY, July 24, 2025
10:00am-11:00am — Signing at Artist Alley TABLE GG-07
11:30am-12:30pm — Signing at Titan Books – BOOTH 5537
01:00pm-02:00pm — Conan the Barbarian panel – ROOM 5AB This year’s official Conan the Barbarian panel will be exploring Scourge of the Serpent, the launch of the colorful new Savage Sword of Conan: Reforged, and much more. Titan Comics and Heroic Signatures welcome writer Jim Zub, editor Chris Butera, and letterer Richard Starkings as they join Conan historian Jeff Shanks and moderator Andrew Sumner for a packed Conan discussion, exclusive reveals, special announcements, and giveaways.
03:00pm-03:45pm — Signing at Random House – BOOTH 1514/1515 And get a FREE D&D Young Adventurer’s Guide book at this show floor signing, while supplies last.
04:00pm-05:00pm — Comics Plus Tabletop Games panel – ROOM 29AB Jim Zub (Conan, D&D Young Adventurer’s Guide), Matt Kindt (Mind MGMT, BRZRKR), C. J. Cervantes (producer and project lead, Marvel Multiverse RPG), Daryl Andrews (Batman: The Dark Knight Returns—The Game, TMNT: Showdown), and Jon Barry (Studio Far Horizons/Mad Caves: The Last Wardens RPG) have designed some of the most successful board games and role-playing games with comic IP themes. Moderator Alexa Cappiello (Disfigura, Legend of the White Dragon) will get them to share stories about designing games that are thematically accurate but create new ways to experience our favorite comics. Get a sneak peek and learn about some upcoming comic-theme tabletop games releasing later this year.
05:15pm-07:00pm — Signing at Artist Alley TABLE GG-07
FRIDAY, July 25, 2025
09:30am-10:30am — Signing at Artist Alley TABLE GG-07
02:30pm-03:30pm — Signing at Titan Books – BOOTH 5537
04:00pm-07:00pm — Signing at Artist Alley TABLE GG-07
SATURDAY, July 26, 2025
11:00am-02:00pm — Signing at Artist Alley TABLE GG-07
02:30pm-03:30pm — Celebrating Dungeons & Dragons panel – ROOM 24ABC Dungeons & Dragons continues its monumental rise in pop culture after 50 years! With more people rolling dice and telling stories every day, come hear from expert Dungeon Masters and Storytellers who share how Dungeons & Dragons has secured its place in society and the tabletop. Anjali Bhimani(Actor, DesiQuest, Critical Role, Dimension 20), Elisa Teague(Game Designer & Writer)Teagan Morrison(Co-Founder, Hero Forge), Jim Zub(Writer, Dungeons & Dragons) and Moderator Ross Thompson.
04:00pm-05:00pm — Signing at Titan Books – BOOTH 5537
05:30pm-07:00pm — Signing at Artist Alley TABLE GG-07
SUNDAY, July 27, 2025
I’m flying out early Sunday, so I will not be at the show on the final day! Make sure you swing by before then to get books signed!
After our signing at Arte 9 in Madrid. From left: Alberto Alburquerque, me, Fernando Dagnino, Ivan Gil.
Stacy and I are at our hotel in Madrid, easing our way through the morning as we finish packing our luggage and then head to the airport. I wanted to send out a newsletter four days ago after we finished the London leg of it all, but it’s been too busy for me to carve out the time to get it done until now.
Man oh man, what a trip. MCM London Comic Con was bustling, the store signings I’ve done have been hopping, and there’s been a steady drumbeat of go-go-go punctuating almost every day. Even our ‘break’ days have been intense as we packed in visits with old friends and a couple business meetings as well. It wasn’t until yesterday, when we took a day trip to Segovia with Ivan Gil and his wife Luda, that things seemed to slow down enough to realize how quick it’s all been going.
In Segovia at the famous aqueduct.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s been really fun. Among the many highlights:
• Being set up at the convention between Mark Brooks and Stanley ‘Artgerm’ Lau, watching both of them absolutely crush it in terms of sketches for fans.
• Dinner with Sean Gordon Murphy and his crew, talking about broader industry trends and weathering the storm of publishing highs and lows.
• Catching up with Alex Trowers, Leanne and their amazing kids after the show wrapped up on Sunday.
• Wandering London with them, Gabrielle Kent, Satish and their little one, including a foray into the British Museum.
• A big pizza dinner with so many of our England friends, including the wonderful Rhianna Pratchett, to cap off our time in London.
• Stopping by the Titan Books office to discuss future Conan the Barbarian plans.
• Stacy and I gallery and museum’ed it up in both cities, with visits to the British National Gallery, the Prado, the Reina Sofia, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza museums. So much art, an overflowing blast of inspiration.
• Both signings in Madrid were amazing! So many Spanish readers came out and quite a few of them brought stacks of my books to sign. The staff at Arte 9 and Omega Center were so incredibly welcoming and stocked deep on titles as well.
• A bunch of Spanish comic creators came out for dinner after the Omega Center signing on Saturday, including my friend Pepe Larraz, who is the current artist of Amazing Spider-Man.
Deep stock of Spanish language Zub comics at Omega Center.
Getting face time with Spanish creators, especially the wonderful artists I’m currently working with, was incredibly special. As much as we all try to stay in touch, via email or Zoom, nothing can replace that in-person experience. We really are a creative team, and the stronger that bond can be, the better. I want my collaborators to know how much I value their efforts, month after month.
As tired as I feel sprinting through the past nine days, my mind is sparking with electricity because of the great interactions I’ve had with everyone here overseas. In a year already packed with amazing experiences, this trip has been an unexpected high point…
(…and we’ll be back in the UK again in November for a double dose of D&D in a Castle!)
I’m a surprise guest at the Glass Cannon Retreat happening in Las Vegas in a couple weeks! I’ll be running TTRPG sessions and playing a few NPCs during the festivities and it’s going to be awesome.
In addition to signing times at my table, I’m also on a spotlight panel Saturday afternoon:
SATURDAY MAY 24, 2025 4:00pm-4:45pm — Titan Presents: Conan the Barbarian’s Jim Zub Live – Artist Alley Stage The barbarian’s bard is here to answer your questions! Sit down with Jim Zub (Dungeons & Dragons, Avengers) the writer of Titan’s bestselling Conan the Barbarian comic series to learn more about this triumphant new era of the greatest warrior of all time. This panel will directly be followed by a signing at Forbidden Planet, Booth S2230!
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