Category Archives: Substack

Zubby Newsletter #180: The Needs of November

Posted by on November 3, 2026 No comments
CONAN THE BARBARIAN #37 cover by Roberto De La Torre

Good luck to my friends south of the border. I don’t want to Hopescroll or Doomscroll today, I need to focus my attention on the tasks in front of me I can affect and see how it all goes.

October ended strong, as Stacy and I have both been blasting away on writing deadlines and even started working out again. As much as I enjoy traveling and seeing people at conventions, I have to admit that a solid rhythm of work, play, and cooking here at home has been good for my brain and body.

Canadian Thanksgiving was almost a month ago, and this year it generated a series of thankful ripples I’ve been benefiting from lately. Good thoughts and observations. Grateful moments and reminders.

I’ve been writing comics for 20 years (my first professional writing credit was in 2006) and I’m happy to say that it still feels wonderful and surreal. Of course there are stressful days and frustrating projects but, on the whole, the positives absolutely body slam the negatives.

When I was co-writing Avengers, a close industry friend asked if I was still enjoying the work, if it was still fun. The question really surprised me – Yes, it was great.

Then they told me that the whole time they were writing [top tier Marvel/DC book] they hated it. It was way too stressful and the creative team was out of sync. They never felt comfortable with the series and couldn’t stop worrying about whether they could leverage that title to get something bigger or better.

That conversation helped remind me that who you’re working with matters just as much as what you’re working on. The importance of finding a working environment with strong communication and support that empowers the creative team to swing for the fences.

It also reminded me to celebrate the now instead of pining too much for what might come next. Make each current project the best I can and build strong relationships that can fuel future collaborations. Enjoying being part of a team, interacting with excited readers, and the legacy I get to be part of. Those aspects help pick me back up when there are setbacks or frustrations and refill my creative batteries, month after month.

I hope your November is reflective and gratifying. I also hope you get to enjoy some fine Fall weather. Autumn in Toronto this year has been spectacular-

Podcast Two-Fer


I’m on the latest episode of X-Men Horoscopes, chatting all about the craft of writing comics, the industry, and analysis of X-Men #99, the issue that came out closest to the month I was born.

And then, over on ‘Is That Some Kind of Japanimation Thing?‘‘s Halloween Special, Scott Wachter, Justin Mohareb and I chat about the original Vampire D movie from 1985 – The source material, the animation, and weird creative choices behind this particular adaptation.

Savage Sword Art Contest

Heroic Signatures has an art contest going right now in Savage Sword of Conan magazine that runs until November 15th. The selected winner will have their art in Savage Sword of Conan #18, arriving in early 2027, and also receive a full year of Conan comics. Check the site for all the details.

Current + Upcoming Releases

Upcoming Appearances

Nov 12-15, 2026 D&D Weekend Lake Sinclair, GA, USA
Jan 14-16, 2027 Philadelphia Area Gaming Expo Philadelphia, PA, USA

Other Links

• My friend and former colleague Rui Albino has created his own tabletop roleplaying game called Seas of Infinity and it’s crowdfunding over on Kickstarter right now, so go check it out.

• My friends and gaming buddies Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing have been profiled by Men’s Health magazine, talking about the way they met and how they collaborate when co-writing on projects.

• Nomad Over Normal built a website called the Nomad Library where you can search your local library’s video collection as a way to cut down reliance on streaming video subscriptions and it’s pretty amazing.

Jim

Zubby Newsletter #179: Cursed Shores Climax

Posted by on October 27, 2026 No comments
Amazing Conan the Barbarian #36 art by Fernando Dagnino and colorist Diego Rodriguez.

CONAN THE BARBARIAN #36 arrives in stores tomorrow, bringing our Cursed Shores Beyond story arc to a climactic conclusion. I wanted this storyline to channel classic Robert E. Howard pirate-swashbuckling with a supernatural twist, while also tying into the larger metaplot that’s been building since the start of the series. If we do our jobs right, each arc up until this point can stand on its own as a worthy adventure but also keeps building on the whole, rewarding readers who have stuck with us throughout.

Keeping that momentum going, Graphic Policy just posted covers and preview pages for CONAN THE BARBARIAN #37, kicking off our next arc called Pacts & Prophecies. A younger and more brash Conan, fresh from his caper in the Tower of the Elephant, tries to navigate newfound infamy in a city where everyone works an angle. Ivan Gil, our stellar artist from last year’s Scourge of the Serpent mini-series, is on board delivering stunning locales and big action.

In terms of story planning, all of 2027 is outlined and ready to roll, including epic story arcs and plot revelations we’ve been building toward for four years. The big thing that’s changing with the series is that once issue #41 hits we’ll be referencing a lot of my past stories, bringing together story threads from almost every arc and event up until that point, so now is a really good time to get caught up with trades or back issues so you’re ready for every explosive moment we have coming up.

Old Enough to Drive


Stacy and I celebrated 16 years married last Friday. It was a nice little night out – dinner and a couple drinks at spots we like with a quiet walk home, chatting about where we’re at and what’s coming up in the year ahead. We both love Autumn weather in the city, cool enough that you need a couple layers but still nice enough to wander without feeling too hot or too cold.

I’ve mentioned it several times, but I never thought I was the “marrying type”. When I was younger, I couldn’t foresee myself even settled in a long-term relationship, so having Stacy in my life is one of the most wonderful and rewarding aspects of getting older.

Compounding Interests

The Call of Cthulhu Live game I played in Madison, Wisconsin with the Glass Cannon Network a couple weeks ago premiered on YouTube last night. It was a blast being on stage alongside Jared Logan, Skid Maher, Erik Mona, Joe O’Brien, and Keeper Troy Lavallee. I played Father Giuseppe Carbone, a Catholic Priest from the rough side of Brooklyn. Check it out!

Following directions from the mysterious Quiet Horizons organization, five investigators enter a Manhattan bank intending to open a safety deposit box, take its contents, and leave. What could go wrong?

Shadowport Adventure

Also from Madison, a streamed game of Star Wars: Edge of the Empire that I played with Jim “Hawkimir1”, Josh Simons, Fen “Fenacinni”, and Game Master Jay/Neofett3. In this one, I’m playing a human Bounty Hunter named Gav Typhon.

Current + Upcoming Releases

Upcoming Appearances

Nov 12-15, 2026 D&D Weekend Lake Sinclair, GA, USA
Jan 14-16, 2027 Philadelphia Area Gaming Expo Philadelphia, PA, USA

Other Links

• Brennan Lee Mulligan meets Garth Marenghi for a conversation called Skull Flusher, and it’s just as ridiculous as you might imagine. Garth Marengenghi’s Darkplace mini-series is one of the most amazing parody series I’ve ever seen, perfectly capturing the low budget sci-fi of early 80’s British television in a way that is hilarious and absurd, especially if you grew up on that era of TV. Seeing his blowhard character interacting with Brennan is quite the combination.
Jim

Zubby Newsletter #178: Good Games

Posted by on October 19, 2026 No comments
Swag and badges from Gamehole Con 2026.

We were only home from New York for two days before Stacy and I turned around and drove to Madison, Wisconsin for Gamehole Con XIII. It was one of those things that looked okay on the calendar but in reality was quite the marathon. Thankfully, we made the drive over Tuesday and Wednesday instead of all in one go and slept deeply on both Tuesday and Wednedsay night, giving us much-needed energy to carry through the rest of the week.

I ran multiple sessions of Shadowdark and Conan: The Hyborian Age, and played in games of Call of Cthulhu and Star Wars: Edge of the Empire in between great conversations with gaming industry friends and fans. As both a show and experience, Gamehole is pretty ideal. It’s robust enough that almost everyone in the industry you want to see is there, but still focused on gaming in ways that larger shows like Gen Con struggle with given their size and cost.

The annual Welcome Party at the Free Hold Pub was a highlight, the games I ran went really well, and being on stage with the Glass Cannon crew was extra special (I can’t wait for that video to arrive online so I can share it with all of you).

Tabletop roleplaying games are such an incredible way to bond with friends and strangers and I’m so thankful I get to have these kind of experiences and share them with other people. Spending time together engaging and interacting at the table has enriched my life in countless ways and every time I get to do it again I’m reminded how special it is.

By Sunday morning, Stacy and I had a wonderful time, but also felt current deadlines looming so we hit the road and pushed hard, getting us back home just after midnight. Today has been all about unpacking and reorganizing, hunkering down for an intense sprint of productivity needed between now and the end of the year. We thought about doing a bit more traveling in December but, realistically, I think we need to be here on a more dependable schedule to bring 2026 to a proper close and prepare for an intense 2027.

Stacy and I with Alex Kammer, the founder of Gamehole Con.

Solid Bronze

Dan Yergert of The Conan Chronology has put together an impressive rundown of the original 275 issues of CONAN THE BARBARIAN published by Marvel that includes thoughts and anecdotes from creators who worked on it then and others who carry on the legacy now. It was a blast to be a small part of this retrospective.

Dungeon Dudes in the Hyborian Age – Part 3

Back in March I posted a liveplay game I recorded with the Dungeon Dudes as they played the Conan: Hyborian Age TTPRG for the first time and they finally posted up the final part of the adventure – Enjoy!

If you missed the other two parts, here they are: PART 1 and PART 2.

Current + Upcoming Releases

Upcoming Appearances

Nov 12-15, 2026 D&D Weekend Lake Sinclair, GA, USA
Jan 14-16, 2027 Philadelphia Area Gaming Expo Philadelphia, PA, USA

Other Links

• Earlier this summer I decided I wanted to move away from the Playstation ecosystem and ordered an Ayn Odin 3 handheld and dock that finally arrived a couple weeks ago. With my current work schedule I haven’t had much time to pour into it, but even just the initial set-up and testing has been fantastic, especially with the arrival of the Droid Deck app to turn this Android powerhouse into a miniature Steam Deck. I have a slew of Steam games I’ve picked up on sales over the years that I’ve never played or finished and am looking forward to delving into those and other titles in the weeks and months ahead, especially since I can now seamlessly play them on my TV or while on the go.

Jim

Zubby Newsletter #177: The City Never Sleeps, But I Need a Nap

Posted by on October 12, 2026 No comments
Stacy and I heading into NYCC 2026.

New York Comic Con 2026 was full blast. Stacy and I arrived in the city mid-morning, dropped our stuff at the hotel, then rolled right over to the convention center. The show was already underway and crowds were thick.

• Thursday night she and I ran an improv-style D&D session for four romantasy authors that was a lot of fun, an adventure-style double date with random encounters and skill checks to keep everyone on their toes.

• On Friday, I moderated the Matt Dinniman Spotlight panel, which was a packed house of over 800 Dungeon Crawler Carl fans eager to find out all about Matt’s career, his writing process, and future plans.

Matt Dinniman Spotlight panel at NYCC 2026.

• Later that afternoon, Stacy and I had a D&D Young Adventurer’s Guide signing at the Penguin Random House booth.

• On Friday night I met illustrator Joe Sutphin and, when we talked about the weird and wonderful progression of our careers, he mentioned that he’d been mentored by Tony DiTerlizzi, one of my absolute favorite fantasy artists. Then, on Saturday afternoon, Joe brought Tony by my table for a visit and I was pretty starstruck. It was wonderful getting to tell Tony in person how much his work means to me.

• On Saturday evening, we were part of the 3rd Annual PRH Murder-Mystery meet-up, a silly investigation game where the audience works to figure out who the killer is and then receive a free book to get signed by one of the authors who play the suspects and killer.

And, around all that, I was at my Artist Alley table promoting my new creator-owned comic series OMEN-BOUND with limited edition black & white preview ashcans, taking meetings, doing interviews, and heading to industry social events after hours. The whole weekend was a rocket.

We left early on Sunday to make it home for Canadian Thanksgiving dinner with my family. Years ago I was at NYCC eating a lukewarm Wendy’s burger while my extended family was all together having turkey and I promised myself I wouldn’t let the convention take that precious personal time, but by the time we got to my aunt’s place this year I did need a short power nap because the high energy convention mixed with a lot less sleep than normal took its toll.

Today we’re reorganizing and repacking before we start our trip to to Madison, Wisconsin for Gamehole Con XIII, a small but mighty tabletop gaming convention that will be well stocked with good cheer and great friends. I’ll also be a cast member for CALL OF CTHULHU LIVE in Madison on Thursday night with the Glass Cannon crew!

Accept the Challenge

I was asked about what the most challenging parts of working in comics are and thought other people might find it helpful if I reposted my response here:

Dungeon Dudes in the Hyborian Age – Part 2

Way back in March I posted a liveplay game I recorded with the Dungeon Dudes as they played the Conan: Hyborian Age TTPRG for the first time. To celebrate the new Conan TTRPG kickstarter campaign, they finally posted up part 2 of the adventure and part 3 should be out later this month – Enjoy!

Talespinner Talk

Back in early 2024, writer Kurtis Wiebe recorded an interview with me all about growing up nerdy, working on established worlds, juggling projects, and things we’ve learned over the years. The interview used to be behind a paywall, but now it’s up on his Talespinner YouTube channel.

REH Foundation Retrospective on Solomon Kane

A couple weeks ago I was part of a panel of pulp enthusiasts and experts discussing Solomon Kane stories put together by John Bulard of the REH Foundation. Bob Byrne, Bobby Derie, Jim from Mystery and Mayhem, Tim from Secret Fire Books, and I cover a series of stories, poems, and fragments of Robert E. Howard’s puritan paladin.

Current + Upcoming Releases

Upcoming Appearances

Oct 15-18, 2026 Gamehole Con Madison, WI, USA
Nov 12-15, 2026 D&D Weekend Lake Sinclair, GA, USA
Jan 14-16, 2027 Philadelphia Area Gaming Expo Philadelphia, PA, USA

Other Links

• Sly Flourish has a great bit of Game Master advice all around ‘reskinning’ statblocks when you need a creature at the table and don’t want to spend a crazy amount of time building everything – Just Use Bears.

Jim

Zubby Newsletter #175: Nostalgia

Posted by on September 30, 2026 No comments

This past weekend was flooded with memories.

• On Friday night, my old pal Dan came over and we grabbed dinner. It’s been almost 20 years since we were rommates here at the house and we’ve both been so busy that we didn’t realize how long it had been since we saw eachother in person. Great conversation followed, catching up on what we’ve been doing and how we’ve grown.

• On Saturday, Stacy and I met up with our dear friends Kandrix and Lindsay, the same couple we traveled to Japan with in 2024. Conversation around creative projects and possibilities was vibrant and when things rolled back to anecdotes about the late 90’s/early 00’s when I was living in Calgary, it was wild to think about how much things have changed.

Who are those strange children? Where the hell did 30 years go?

• On Sunday was the biggest nostalgia bomb, a reunion with friends from Sheridan residence 30 years after we lived together, trying to figure out that strange space between teenage angst and adulthood. We were messy, dramatic, ridiculous and wonderful then, and all those traits are still intact even if we hide it well in the here and now.

Digging through old photos, letters, and even printed out emails (that’s what we did if we wanted to save stuff when school email accounts went away) generated a blast of the familiar and the strange. Some moments I remember vividly and others that seemed incredibly important at the time I barely recall at all.

The hair is silver but spirit is still young. Or something like that.

Watching old VHS tapes also unearthed this wild piece of TTRPG history, a short news report in 1996 on the Vampire: The Masquerade LARP I was part of in downtown Toronto.

Yes, that is a 19-year old Zub talking to the reporter, and there are cameos from other dear Toronto friends as well. Some people I haven’t seen in many years and others, like Stacy, who are closer than ever.

Back then, I loved being in that ‘scene’, unleashing my creativity on game nights, making new friends, and building up my self-confidence, but I was still embarrassed to talk about it outside those circles. The RPG Satanic Panic of the 80’s cast a long shadow and I was afraid of the nerd stigma even though gaming, comics, and art meant so much to me.

I could never have imagined the effect those games and stories would have on my life or the way nerd culture would become mainstream culture. Comic book movies rule the box office, live tabletop gaming sells out stadiums, and comic cons and cosplay are a year-round way to celebrate the stuff we enjoy.

30 years ago gone in a flash but its influence is still felt in who I am and everything I do.

Over the past two weeks, I’ve finished outling some of my biggest stories on deck for 2027 and put the finishing touches on a major project announcement coming very soon. I’m nervous, excited and feel energized about the future. Whether you who have followed along with my journey for many years or have just started reading recently, thank you!

Major Discourse

Speaking of nostalgia, this interview with Comic Book Clique goes deep. There’s lots of talk around creator-owned comics, inspiration and research, TTRPGs, hard work and luck, and so much more! Give this one a listen, I’m really happy with how it turned out.

Here are some time-coded highlights:
• Wayward – How the series came to be and how rewarding it was to make.
• Taking risks and big swings with creator-owned books.
• The power of tabletop role-playing games.
• Being on a panel with Matt Dinniman and discussing shared influences.
• Glitterbomb – How I met Djibril and pitching it to Image.
• Failed movie pitches do not make good comics.
• Writing Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder – Worlds and characters.
• Conan the Barbarian – Lyricism and narration. Research and inspiration.
• Which fanbase is the most opinionated/passionate?
• Working with licensors and building confidence.
• Working with Udon on the manga adaptation of Journey To The West.
• Sharing comic writing knowledge and tutorials.

Cursed Shores Continues


Today, the third of our three Conan comic releases during Cimmerian September arrives in stores, CONAN THE BARBARIAN #35! Conan battles a twisted cult on a desolate island while Valeria and the Red Brotherhood discover the depths of darkness.

Fernando and Diego are on full blast artistically this issue and I feel really good about the mix of action, adventure and drama in this instalment.

Call of Cthulhu Live


Speaking of liveplay TTRPGs, I’m thrilled to announce I’m part of the Glass Cannon cast for CALL OF CTHULHU LIVE in Madsion Wisconsin, happening the Thursday night of Gamehole Con. If you’re at the con that weekend, grab a ticket for this separate event happening at the Atwood Music Hall. And watch some of their previous episodes to get a feel for how things might roll.

Current + Upcoming Releases

Upcoming Appearances

Next week at NYCC 2026, I’ll be at Artist Alley Table I-33 and on 3 panels:
Thurs, Oct 8 at 8pm : Roll for Romance – a Live D&D Love Story
Fri, Oct 9 at 12:30pm : Spotlight on Matt Dinniman
Sat, Oct 10 at 7:30pm : 3rd Annual PRH Murder Mystery Party

Oct 8-10, 2026 New York Comic Con New York, NY, USA
Oct 15-18, 2026 Gamehole Madison, WI, USA
Nov 12-15, 2026 D&D Weekend Lake Sinclair, GA, USA
Jan 14-16, 2027 Philadelphia Area Gaming Expo Philadelphia, PA, USA

Other Links

• Monolith Games has unleashed their newest Conan Board Game/RPG Kickstarter campaign and it funded in minutes! If you haven’t played the amazing Conan board game or played the Conan: The Hyborian Age TTRPG, now is a perfect time to dive in.

• Andrew Wheeler, my friend and one of the co-writers of the D&D Young Adventurer’s Guides, has a pre-launch page up for a print version of his prose story The Thief of Secrets and Shadow. Check it out.

• D&D 5.0 designer Mike Mearls has a YouTube channel where he’s been discussing decisions that went into putting together the new edition in 2014 and how gameplay and math come together in TTRPGs. Well worth watching.

Jim

Zubby Newsletter #174: The Gamble That Paid Off

Posted by on September 21, 2026 4 comments
Savage Sword of Conan (2018) #7-9: The Gambler

7 years ago, I was proud to have a Conan solo writing credit in Savage Sword of Conan (2018) #7-9 and thought it would be my last chance to be a Bard for the Barbarian. I never imagined how that story, The Gambler, would start a domino effect that would change my career in such incredible ways.

I’d written Conan twice before, in the Dark Horse Conan-Red Sonja mini-series with Gail Simone and in Avengers: No Road Home with Mark Waid and Al Ewing, but both of those were co-written team-ups and I was itching to show what I could do on my own in the classic Hyborian Age setting.

Editor Mark Basso approved The Gambler and Patch Zircher drew the hell out of it.

Conan is tricked into a gambling hall surrounded by mysterious enemies and his life may be forfeited on the turn of a card. I went for a Weird Tales vibe, hearkening back to the pulp roots of the character.

That story grabbed the attention of Fred Malmberg, the owner of Conan. He really liked that old school feel and so, what I thought would be my last chance instead became an audition for more. They asked me to write a crossover with multiple Robert E. Howard characters, which became Conan: Serpent War.

Conan: Serpent War, my first attempt at a ‘Howardverse.’

I envisioned multiple crossover mini-series over multiple years, a pulp epic that would incorporate as many of Robert E. Howard’s creations as possible, but it ended up being only 4-issues with a teaser at the end showing Kull the Conqueror.

Jason Aaron was writing the flagship monthly Conan series and was known for doing long runs on characters so I thought it could be many years before I might get the chance to write Conan again. Instead, Jason only had 12 issues planned so Marvel was almost immediately looking for a new writer.

I was offered the Conan flagship monthly series and my first issue, Conan the Barbarian #13, came out in February 2020.

After two issues, Marvel halted publishing on almost all their titles due to the pandemic and we were caught in that deep freeze midway through my first story arc. After an 8 month gap, Conan the Barbarian #15 came out in December 2020 and, with the world understandably focused on more important things, we lost most of our sales momentum. I managed to hold on for 9 more issues, but the Marvel series came to an end with Conan the Barbarian #25 in September 2021.

My first two and last two Conan the Barbarian issues at Marvel: 2020 and 2021.

I never had the chance to do any signings or conventions as the series came out during lockdown, leaving me with a weird feeling like it all happened in a dream. Fred Malmberg was sorry I didn’t get to go further and told me to stay in touch.

5 months later in February 2022, Fred told me they were negotiating a creative partnership with Titan Books and looking for pitches to relaunch Conan. It would be a “bake-off” competition with multiple writers. I told my wife I probably wasn’t even going to submit a pitch because there was no way I’d get it. No one would want a new Conan series written by the same guy who just did it and it didn’t sell. She bristled at how quickly I was giving up.

“Well, you’re definitely not getting it with an attitude like that.”

At the same time, Roberto de la Torre reached out to me after I bought a commission piece from him and we started chatting over Facebook Messenger. He’d gained a cult following amongst dedicated Conan fans for his stunning Hyborian Age commissions and had drawn a couple stories for Marvel but hoped to do more. Rob and I started talking about possibly doing a creator-owned series together, essentially doing a Conan-style pastiche.

A few days later, I put together an unusual pitch for Heroic Signatures/Titan: Things I’d learned about Conan and the fanbase, what seemed to be missing, and a plan for the future. It involved an olive branch for lapsed fans and a way for new readers to get on board.

To my absolute surprise, Fred put his chips on me. My pitch was the one they approved. I knew we were starting on our backfoot and had a lot to prove to a fanbase that, at best, thought they knew what my Conan would be like. We needed an undeniable artist to launch the series and Rob was it.

We waited until Free Comic Book Day May 2023 to relaunch. That gave fans time to miss the book, time for research, and time to build a publishing buffer on an ambitious monthly title.

Conan the Barbarian #1 arrived August 2023 and the New Age of High Adventure has been roaring ever since.

Conan the Barbarian (2023) #1-4: Bound in Black Stone

I was promised 12 issues to establish a new baseline for the Conan publishing line and, when we hit multiple printings on #1-4, we negotiated a longer contract to deliver a much larger version of the ‘Howardverse’ plan I had in mind back during Serpent War.

I proposed a 3-year/36-issue plan, and each year would culminate in an event.

When I verbally pitched the bi~ig story, they told me it was too much for 36 issues and wouldn’t have enough room to breath.

“How about 4 years instead?”

Since that would be a 48-issue commitment, I said we might as well round it up to 50 and, thankfully, they agreed.

This week, CONAN: TIDES OF THE TYRANT-KING #1 arrives in stores. It’s the third of four pillar event mini-series that make up the mythic story arc we’ve had in the works for a long, long time.

Conan: Tides of the Tyrant-King #1-4 connected variant covers by Jesús Merino.

Conan the Barbarian has changed the course of my creative career in ways I never could have imagined.

So few people get to write these iconic characters and no one gets a second shot at it after the first time failed. That it happened at all is unreal, and the second chance being a hit is impossible squared.

I got hit by lightning twice and caught it in the bottle on the second strike.

Cimmerian September Delivers Big Adventure


Last week, SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN #16 arrived in stores and the response was strong.

This week, CONAN: TIDES OF THE TYRANT-KING #1 arrives and Thulsa Doom’s evil returns.

Next week, CONAN THE BARBARIAN #35 arrives, continuing our swashbuckling Cursed Shores Beyond story arc.

If you’re not already reading, make sure you get caught up with this year’s FREE COMIC BOOK DAY issue (which is also free online) and see what all the excitement is about.

Awesome Comics Conversation

I spoke to Vince, Tony, and Dan at the Awesome Comics Podcast all about writing Conan the Barbarian, channeling the source material, reigniting the core fanbase, inspiration, and upcoming plans for our “Howardverse.” Give it a listen!

A New D&D Comic Series

As the guy who’s written more D&D comics than anyone else, take my word for it- Dark Horse’s new DUNGEONS & DRAGONS comic series that launches in November starts the adventure strong!

Written by my friends Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly, it’s ambitious, fun, and uses both lore and legendary characters with the confidence of a veteran Dungeon Master bursting with inspiration.

Today is the last day you can pre-order the first issue at your local comic retailer, so don’t miss out.

Current + Upcoming Releases

Upcoming Appearances

Oct 8-10, 2026 New York Comic Con New York, NY, USA
Oct 15-18, 2026 Gamehole Madison, WI, USA
Nov 12-15, 2026 D&D Weekend Lake Sinclair, GA, USA
Jan 14-16, 2027 Philadelphia Area Gaming Expo Philadelphia, PA, USA

Other Links

• A couple weeks ago, I linked to an overview of Nate Simpson‘s comic Nonplayer and the way it lost momentum, so it’s only fair that I should also link to Nate’s personal reply to that video, talking about the work, his career, things he’s learned and hopes for the future.

• Sonny Hurrell‘s recipe for NY Halal Cart-style Chicken and Rice popped up in my feed, I made it and it was absolutely amazing. I can count on one hand the number of times Stacy has finished eating dinner before me and she absolutely wolfed down this dish. I didn’t make the spicy red sauce covered in the video (I swapped in sriracha), but if you’re not down for spiciness just skip that step and you’ll be golden. Highly recommended!

Jim

Zubby Newsletter #173: Quite Cromulent

Posted by on September 16, 2026 No comments

I drew Conan on a coffee cup at Ottawa Comiccon.

Ottawa Comiccon was a nice time, much more relaxed than the hustle and bustle of Fan Expo Canada, but that’s okay. I saw some family and friends, met a bunch of readers who hadn’t headed south for the big show, and chatted all about story ideas and creative consistency with Stacy as we made the trek to and from our nation’s capital.

We drove home Sunday night to make sure we were ready to start the week on a productive note, busting away on writing deadlines. There’s a lot to get done between now and Canadian Thanksgiving, and my To-Do List will prove critical over the next 3 weeks.

Savage Sword of Conan #16 cover by Joe Jusko.

In stores today: SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN #16, our Tides of the Tyrant-King tie-in issue and I wrote it all! 64 pages of magazine-sized, black & white bombast, 3 tales ready to pounce with powerful pulpy panels from 3 potent partners:

• Nicola Scott unleashes dark visions of Conan’s past, including a moment readers didn’t realize was happening between the panels of Bound in Black Stone.

• Chris Campana brings his crisp storytelling in a supernatural-sent sequel to the Robert E. Howard cowboy classic The Vultures of Wahpeton.

• Sean Izaakse shows us a wondrous hidden side of Zuleika, the quiet servant girl in Robert E. Howard’s famous weird tale Skull-Face.

Getting to build and deliver another exciting ‘Howardverse’ event with our team is a joy. I’m neck-deep in research reading right now for my late 2027 story outlines and it’s both intimidating and amazing to realize that Conan the Barbarian #45-50 and our fourth event mini-series will bring all these threads together soon.

An excerpt from my intro in Savage Sword of Conan #16.

Watch the Comic Watchers

I spoke to Chad and Matt at Comic Watch all about our Conan: Tides of the Tyrant-King event mini-series, writing different eras of the Cimmerian, procedural characters, pacing out stories and “the promise of the premise”, working with top-notch artists, working on long term storytelling, and more!

Current + Upcoming Releases

Upcoming Appearances

Thrilled to announce that I will be at this year’s New York Comic Con from Thursday to Saturday – set up in Artist Alley, moderating several panels, and making a big new project announcement! I wasn’t sure I was going to be at the show at all, but now I’m there in a big way and it’s going to be packed.

Oct 8-10, 2026 New York Comic Con New York, NY, USA
Oct 15-18, 2026 Gamehole Madison, WI, USA
Nov 12-15, 2026 D&D Weekend Lake Sinclair, GA, USA
Jan 14-16, 2027 Philadelphia Area Gaming Expo Philadelphia, PA, USA

Other Links

• Andy Belanger and Karl Kerschl have been doing a series of videos titled Falling In Love With Comics Again on their Lethal Comics newsletter and they’re great. Their excitement for classic comics is infectious and it does exactly what the title promises, reminding me why this medium grabbed my attention and has never let go.

Jim

Zubby Newsletter #172: A Milestone Made Manifest

Posted by on September 10, 2026 No comments
The Wayward Compendium has arrived!

The WAYWARD COMPENDIUM arrived in comic shops yesterday and will be available in bookstores everywhere on October 6th.

Finally getting this 904-page brick o’ book in my hands feels wonderful and surreal. All 30 issues, plus an extensive cover gallery and back matter.

Every creative project I work on feels like a time capsule. When I look at them, there’s a rush of memories immediately associated with each one – Where I was when I wrote key sections, nervous excitement when we got the greenlight from a publisher, amazing art, unexpected collaboration, friendships, triumphs and setbacks.

When it comes to Wayward, those feelings are even more visceral. The series was almost five years of concentrated effort right at that tipping point as I was making a name for myself, working closely with Steven, Tamra, Marshall and Zack at every step – inspiration and experimentation, research and travel. From launch to completion, on Wayward I feel like I really came into my own as a writer and the whole team leveled up.

I remember being at San Diego Comicon back in 2015 signing at the Marvel booth. Dan Slott was beside me signing at the same time and, while I was putting my signature on a few Thunderbolts issues, he was signing massive Amazing Spider-Man omnibuses. I imagined what it would feel like to have that much material collected together like that.

This bullet-stopper of a book is a milestone made manifest. It’s who I was from 2014-2018 and a celebration of what’s possible when I put an intense amount of effort into something original, working with great people at every step to create something we can be proud of.

It summons all kinds of great feelings and, honestly? I didn’t realize how much I’d missed that.

All that to say, with 8 years now passed since Wayward wrapped up, I really need to get back into the creator-owned comic space…

Canadians Conquering Conan Panel

Evan Todd from Stygian Dogs has posted up his video from the Canadians Conquering Conan panel at Fan Expo Canada. Mike Rooth, Fred Kennedy, Nick Marinkovich and I chatted all about our experiences working in the Hyborian Age and there’s a nice series of anecdotes and playful jabs throughout.

The Nomad Deluxe

On October 7th, you’ll be able to buy the deluxe hardcover version of THE NOMAD, the epic King Conan story Alex Horley and I put together for the 25th issue of Conan the Barbarian last year. It’s a fully painted 38-page story that celebrates the legacy of Conan – past, present, and future.

I genuinely think it’s one of the best stories I’ve worked on and am honored that Titan decided to put together this lavish oversized version that includes a bunch of extra back matter and a new introduction I wrote.

Current + Upcoming Releases

Upcoming Appearances

Sep 11-13, 2026 Ottawa Comicon Ottawa, Ontario, CANADA
Oct 15-18, 2026 Gamehole Madison, WI, USA
Nov 12-15, 2026 D&D Weekend Lake Sinclair, GA, USA
Jan 14-16, 2027 Philadelphia Area Gaming Expo Philadelphia, PA, USA

Other Links

• My creator-owned comic pal Kurtis Wiebe has put together a crowdfunding campaign to bring back the Rat Queens Board Game that went off the rails years ago when the game publisher didn’t uphold their end of things and manufacture or ship the games fans had paid for. Kurtis and his team have the rights back and are looking to finally make the game a reality and also send each backer of the original campaign a set for free. I hope they’re able to make it happen for their many fans.

• Randall Messman has a video all about the importance of physical media compared to digital files and the cloud. It’s a solid rundown of why collections and ownership feel so different and detached in the here and now and how to get a bit of that magic back.

• Dave Baker has a bunch of interesting pop culture retrospective videos on his YouTube Channel Mystery Treehouse and his latest, all about Nate Simpson’s comic Nonplayer, is a compelling discussion about ambition, art, commerce and perfectionism. Nonplayer came out around the same time as the second arc of Skullkickers and I distinctly remember being amazed by the work and then wondering what happened next, so this video was both informative and a bit heartbreaking.

Jim

Zubby Newsletter #171: Great Expo-tations

Posted by on August 31, 2026 No comments
Young Conan and King Conan paired sketch covers from Fan Expo Canada 2026.

Fan Expo Canada signaled the end of summer convention season and it was another good one. Tons of people came by to see me and, since it was the hometown show, every 10-15 minutes I’d see old friends from high school or college, longtime readers or gaming pals.

Sometimes a cluster at my table would combine cohorts – a student from ten years ago met my high school friends or a podcaster was suddenly talking to a guy I went to college with who left animation to be a stay-at-home Dad.

If I was signing books for someone else I’d hear them chatting about me and felt like I was eavesdropping on my own reputation:

“Oh yeah, Jim’s been doing this forever.”

“I met him at a goth club in the 90’s.”

“He was my professor back in…oh damn, 2013!”

“I wish he’d do more Marvel stuff.”

And, as expected, there was lots of Conan the Barbarian, which was amazing. People waiting to get stuff signed sharing their excitement with other Conan fans, talking about how they collected the comics when they were young or never read any Conan before this, and this run is awesome. It was incredibly heartwarming.

A friend dropped off a bag of old Conan paperbacks as a gift.
A former student bought their kid their first comic.
A college buddy told me about their new D&D campaign.

That’s what Fan Expo in Toronto is for me – A constant swirl of nostlgia and engagement, four days of intense interaction before Autumn. Now I’m catching up on emails and back on my To-Do List.

The Tides of September

Titan Comics has released their official trailer for our Fall event mini-series – CONAN: TIDES OF THE TYRANT-KING! As you can see, the art looks amazing and we’re setting up another epic adventure.

Talking to Gaming Trend

I chatted with the crew at Gaming Trend all about writing crossovers, collaborating with artists, eldritch horror, different genres, creating memories with every creative project and more. Make sure you check it out.

Double Axe Handle Smash

The team at Double Axe Handle Smash covers more than wrestling, so make sure you check out the interview we did about growing up as a comic reader and collector, the progression of my professional career, writing a comic script, collaboration, Dungeons & Dragons, the original Conan the Barbarian movie, working on the Conan comics, Robert E. Howard stories, breaking into comics, and more!

Biff Bam Pop


Just before Fan Expo I put together a text interview with Biff Bam Pop all about the convention circuit, rereleasing Wayward in our new Compendium, gaming, Tides of the Tyrant-King and more.

Verse DB


The comic database website VerseDB put together a spotlight on my comic career, covering old and new projects aplenty. We chatted about what has changed over the decades in terms of commercial and creator-owned comics, focusing on your passions, things I learned in animation, and more!

Current + Upcoming Releases

Upcoming Appearances

Sep 11-13, 2026 Ottawa Comicon Ottawa, Ontario, CANADA
Oct 15-18, 2026 Gamehole Madison, WI, USA
Nov 12-15, 2026 D&D Weekend Lake Sinclair, GA, USA
Jan 14-16, 2027 Philadelphia Area Gaming Expo Philadelphia, PA, USA

Other Links

• Sam Hart has a crowdfunding campaign going for 10 Lost Days, his original graphic novel about magical events that took place in the gap between adoption of the Gregoran calendar. I met Sam in Gloucester a couple weeks ago and we chatted about how this all came together for him. It’s a really neat story idea and the artwork looks sharp.

• Monolith is gearing up for their next Conan board game and TTRPG crowdfunding campaign and have released a trailer you can check out here – Conan: Tales of Tortage and Zamora.

• My friend (and collaborator on the D&D Young Adventurer’s Guides) Andrew Wheeler has a new D&D book arriving in November, A Feast for a Tenday: A Baldur’s Gate Cookbook. He had an advance copy of the book with him at Fan Expo, so I was able to flip through and check it out. The production values look amazing and it’s definitely worth pre-ordering for the D&D/BG3 fan in your life.

Jim

Zubby Newsletter #170: Little Meetings and Milestones

Posted by on August 24, 2026 No comments
At the famous Guinness Storehouse.

England and Ireland were great. We were on the road for seven days and only had two days of work at the events we lined up, so there was a bit of downtime to relax and explore, which was nice.

In Gloucester, I met Jesus Merino in person for the first time. He’s a legendary artist and we’re currently working together on the CONAN: TIDES OF THE TYRANT-KING mini-series that starts next month, so it was wonderful getting to spend a bit of time and chat about our work on the Cimmerian.

Our dear friends the Trowers family made the trek down from Nottingham to see us and after the event we went out with them for dinner.

Dublin was a lot of fun too. It was our first time in Ireland outside the airport but we didn’t want to overextend ourselves so soon after the SDCC-Gen Con Gauntlet so we kept things simple, staying in the city and hitting up tourist spots: The Guinness Storehouse, Trinity College, museums and galleries, Grafton Street and pubs aplenty. I know there’s a lot more to Ireland than Dublin and next time we visit we want to check out more of the country, but for this short stint it was nice staying in one spot.

Voice artist Jeff Hays happened to be visiting Ireland at the same time, so he invited us to high tea with some of his crew, and that was excellent. Great conversation, wonderful food, and lots of anecdotes around fandom. Comic artist (and former footballer) Danny Earls took us out for breakfast and we chatted about his incredible artistic growth. Comic writer Gary Moloney met up with Stacy and I for dinner after our signing at Dublin City Comics and we talked about the current state of publishing.

The next thing we knew, we were on the flight back home. Jet lag and a pesky cough took me out for a couple days after we returned, but now I’m on the mend and diving back into writing as I race to hit deadlines before Fan Expo Canada, the biggest convention in the country happening this week in Toronto. (And yes, I’ll be at the show in the South Hall at Artist Alley Table CP67).

Conan the Barbarian #34 wraparound cover painting by Esad Ribic.

CONAN THE BARBARIAN #34 is in stores this week! This issue continues our twisted pirate tale with mystery and action galore.

It’s also a career milestone for me. Up until now, my longest unbroken comic runs have been on my creator-owned series: Skullkickers (34 issues) and Wayward (30 issues), but with this issue Conan the Barbarian (#0-34, 35 issues) is now my longest unbroken run and there’s many more still to come!

(In terms of overall Conan writing, if you add together every regular issue, mini-series, anthology or special I’ve written, I’m up to 78 Conan-centric issues and counting.)

Current + Upcoming Releases

Upcoming Appearances

Aug 27-30, 2026 Fan Expo Canada Toronto, ON, CANADA
Sep 11-13, 2026 Ottawa Comicon Ottawa, Ontario, CANADA
Oct 15-18, 2026 Gamehole Madison, WI, USA
Nov 12-15, 2026 D&D Weekend Lake Sinclair, GA, USA
Jan 14-16, 2027 Philadelphia Area Gaming Expo Philadelphia, PA, USA

Other Links

• My friend Jason Bogath is in need, juggling intense healthcare-related debts through no fault of his own. Please give this a read, then help and share if you can.

• Artist Liam Sharp has a portfolio and calendar of his iconic Conan the Barbarian artwork and you can order it via crowdfunding here.

• Michel Gagné‘s SAGA OF REX is a hand-animated feature film he’s been working on for 14 years and the trailer is finally here! I backed Michel’s original 4-min short way back in 2012 and am so thrilled to finally see this feature version come to life.

Jim