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Zubby Newsletter #127: The Nest Beneath

Posted by on September 10, 2025 1 comment
Conan the Barbarian #24 artwork by Fernando Dagnino and Diego Rodriguez.

CONAN THE BARBARIAN #24, the climax of our Nest of Serpents arc (which, as you can see from the amazing artwork above, is a title that’s both literal and symbolic), is in stores TODAY and, I’m obviously a bit biased, but I think it’s sharp sword & sorcery entertainment. This issue is propelled to amazing heights by the line art of Fernando Dagnino and colors of Diego Rodriguez, with sublime lettering by Richard Starkings and Tyler Smith, and a captivating lore essay by the always informative Jeff Shanks.

We’re cookin’ now, kids! Big atmosphere, big monsters, big action.

CONAN THE BARBARIAN #25, our fully painted King Conan done-in-one epic anniversary issue, is on Final Order Cutoff NOW so make sure you let your favorite local or online retailer know which cover(s) grab you and get in that pre-order. It’s going to be one for the ages, as will our event mini-series…

Hype Trailer Is Hype

…Speaking of which, Titan has put together this teaser trailer for the CONAN: SCOURGE OF THE SERPENT mini-series. Let Ivan Gil‘s excellent artwork and the pounding soundtrack sweep you up in the excitement of our time-twirled epic. The first issue arrives in stores on September 24th!

Dragon Con Interviews

While I was at Dragon Con a couple weeks ago, I spoke to a couple different press outlets:
• Over on the Super Powered Fancast, I chatted about how wild the convention was and comics I enjoyed growing up.

• An English Man in San Diego recorded a short interview with me where we talk swords & sorcery, D&D, conventions, great new comics, and more.

AI’s Latest Fawning Fakery

I received this email last week and it took me a few seconds to realize “Rebecca” generated this message with AI. It’s oddly specific yet also vague at the same time.

A quick search of “Rebecca”‘s contact info revealed that they can also tutor my child in Math, compose essays, and write my next resume.

It’s laser targeted at me (and many other authors are receiving similar targeted emails from different outlets), with distinct info about Savage Sword #10 and my career injected with excitement, but there’s also a glossy emptiness to all of it. By the time I hit the sales pitch I already knew it was generated, and also creeped out by how specific it was.

Stay vigilent and don’t fall for this kind of crapola.

Also, this recent comic strip about AI by Riley Wigglewood made me chuckle:

Current + Upcoming Releases

  • Swords & Larceny – released September 2nd.
  • Savage Sword of Conan #10 – released September 3rd.
  • Conan the Barbarian #24 – released September 10th.
  • Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #1 – releases September 24th.
  • Predator: Black, White & Blood #3 – releases September 24th.
  • Conan the Barbarian vol.1-3 Slipcase Set – released October 7th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #25 – releases October 8th.
  • Conan the Barbarian vol. 1: Bound in Black Stone Deluxe HC – releases October 21st.
  • Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #2 – releases October 29th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #26 – releases November 12th.
  • Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #3 – releases November 26th.

    • Upcoming Appearances


    Thrilled to announce I’ll be at New York Comic Con in early October celebrating the release of Conan the Barbarian #25 that week! So excited to be back in Artist Alley with the Comic Sketch Art crew.

    Sep 27-28, 2025 Chattanooga Comic Con Chattanooga, TN, USA
    Oct 9-11, 2025 New York Comic Con New York, NY, USA
    Oct 16-19, 2025 Gamehole Con XII Madison, WI, USA
    Nov 3-14, 2025 D&D in a Castle Newcastle, UK
    Nov 15-16, 2025 Thought Bubble Harrogate, UK

    Other Links

    • It’s nice to see the new Conan the Barbarian series listed alongside other classics in this article about the Best Conan Comics on Superhero Hype.

    • My friend Francis Manapul‘s YouTube channel is packed with great art advice and the latest videos, showing him penciling and inking top notch quality art from his creator-owned comic series The Rocketfellers, is an ideal way to see a skilled artist at work and learn from his technique.

    • Equally inspiring to watch is my buddy Dan Panosian‘s YouTube channel. Lots of great traditional and digital technique on display you can learn from.

    • Over on the Robert E. Howard Foundation‘s YouTube channel, they’ve posted the first part of a series of videos for Cimmerian September with an all-star panel of writers and researchers talking about the original Conan the Barbarian stories.

    • Tripwire Magazine is funding archival volumes of their classic comic creator interviews, a great piece of comic journalism that deserves to be read and preserved.

    Jim

    Zubby Newsletter #126: Surviving Nerdi Gras

    Posted by on September 3, 2025 No comments
    The Hyborian Age photo shoot at Dragon Con 2025.

    Dragon Con was absolutely wild. One of our friends casually called it “Nerdi-Gras”, and the description could not have been more apt.

    Mild weather for Atlanta in August meant that the streets were absolutely crammed with people, and an impressive number of them were in costume and ready to party. Five linked hotels plus the Americas Mart convention center hosted booths, events and panels, and every square inch of downtown was overrun with excited pop culture fans. Even the internal hotel TV channels broadcast Dragon Con TV all week. Raucous parties, over-the-top costumes, pounding music, and late nights…It was an incredible (and incredibly exhausting) finish to the summer convention season.

    Two years ago when I was at Dragon Con, we’d just launched the new Conan the Barbarian series and now, with so much wind at our backs, there was a steady stream of readers to meet and fans to chat with about the series along with die hard older collectors regaling me with stories about growing up reading the pulps or original comics. It was a constant reminder of the legacy I currently get to be a small part of.

    Supergirl sketch.

    Having so many conventions back-to-back meant that I was able to slip into drawing mode quicker than usual, which was nice. Lots of character sketches and remarques kept me on my toes between signing times and panels.

    Finch Champion and I, with the drawing of Krydle she drew for me.

    At this show I also bonded with the Comic Sketch Art team. One of the new team members, an artist named Finch Champion, was assigned to my table and she did a wonderful job, handling books and signing stuff throughout the show. Chatting with her about art, storytelling, publishing and conventions scratched a bit of my teaching itch, which is extra scratchy right now as we head into the Fall and I’m no longer a prof at Seneca.

    Nerd Rave in Full Effect.

    The End Before The Beginning

    Cory Smith and I, with that amazing page art.

    At the end of the convention, artist Cory Smith gifted me the final page of our story from Conan the Barbarian #25 (released in late 2021).

    This was the last page of Conan I wrote at Marvel and, at the time, I thought would be the last time I’d ever get to write the Cimmerian’s adventures (little did I know what the future held…)

    When I read that last Marvel story, I’m immediately transported back to pandemic lockdowns and the surreal feeling of watching this dream project slip away with no way to stop it and far more important things happening around the world that I needed to be focused on. Conan’s words work for the story, but they’re also the coda I needed to hear at the time, a resolution to do my best under the circumstances and to try not to regret things out of my control. As you might imagine, having the original art for this page in my collection is really special.

    At the time I proposed that issue #25 of Conan, final issue of the series and legacy #300, should be an epic done-in-one story to celebrate the character and his world. It’s even more surreal that four years later I’m about to release a completely different Conan the Barbarian #25 via Heroic Signatures and Titan, the exact kind of illustrated epic I hoped it could be. Full circle indeed.

    Zubble Double


    This week has two big Zub releases – SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN #10, an anthology issue with three separate stories that tie into the upcoming Scourge of the Serpent event, all written by me with stunning artwork by Doug Braithwaite, Mike Rooth, and Roberto De La Torre.

    The second is SWORDS & LARCENY, a new prose anthology of swords & sorcery rogues and rapscallions. I have a new short story inside called Just A Bit of Smoke that I’m quite proud of.

    Black Stone Action Figure – Animated!

    Award-winning stop motion animator Justin Rasch put together this killer ad animation for the upcoming Conan: Battle of the Black Stone action figure. He used the figure’s crazy articulation to craft an incredible blast of action, with Conan squaring off against thrashing eldritch tentacles from beyond.

    If you want your very own figure, pre-orders are NOW OPEN on the Heroic Signatures website. Tell ’em I sent ya.

    Tales From The Table


    Speaking of pre-orders, Target now has the full cover and preview pages for Stranger Things-Dungeons & Dragons: Tales From the Table, the exclusive scrapbook Stacy and I wrote (arriving in November) that chronicles bits of lore from the old school D&D campaigns run by the Hawkins heroes alongside era-appropriate artwork by Donato Giancola.

    Tales From The Table Preview Pages

    Current + Upcoming Releases

  • Conan the Barbarian #23 – released August 13th.
  • Conan the Barbarian vol. 5: Twisting Loyalties – released August 20th.
  • Swords & Larceny – released September 2nd.
  • Savage Sword of Conan #10 – releases September 3rd.
  • Conan the Barbarian vol.1-3 Slipcase Set – releases September 10th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #24 – releases September 10th.
  • Conan the Barbarian vol. 1: Bound in Black Stone Deluxe HC – releases September 16th.
  • Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #1 – releases September 24th.
  • Predator: Black, White & Blood #3 – releases September 24th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #25 – releases October 8th.
  • Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #2 – releases October 29th.

    • Upcoming Appearances

    Sep 27-28, 2025 Chattanooga Comic Con Chattanooga, TN, USA
    Oct 16-19, 2025 Gamehole Con XII Madison, WI, USA
    Nov 3-14, 2025 D&D in a Castle Newcastle, UK
    Nov 15-16, 2025 Thought Bubble Harrogate, UK

    Other Links

    • Thomas Flight‘s video documentary, Why The Movies Will Never Feel The Same Again, is an intense rundown of how movies and media have changed over the past 20 years.

    • Over on the Thought Bubble blog, they have some tips for creators exhibiting at their festival (or any other convention). Most of the advice is straight forward for people who have been attending conventions for years, but it’s nice having recommendations like this all organized in one place.

    • Want to own the original Frank Frazetta Rogues in the House painting? As I link this, there are still 9 days left and auction bidding is over 7 million…

    Jim

    Zubby Newsletter #125: Summer Storm

    Posted by on August 26, 2025 No comments
    Hanging out with Ashari and Nick at the end of the show.

    Fan Expo Canada swept in and out like a storm – tons of friends, former students, and other familiar faces stopped by catch up, along with readers who discovered my work for the first time at their local shop, or were struck by my books or banner.

    Friends joked back in March that I’ve become “Everyone’s Dad’s favorite new comic writer” thanks to Conan, and that trend proudly continued here. The monthly collectors came out in force and it was so nice chatting with them about how they first discovered the Cimmerian – through the 60’s paperback books, the 70’s comics, the original 80’s movie, the 90’s animated series, or more recent video games. In quite a few cases I was thrilled to hear that readers started with our new series and are now working their way back to the original source material.

    Even though it was very busy, I managed to get quite a few sketches done. I still don’t have a set “look” for my take on Conan – there are so many phenomenal artists who have created iconic versions of the character and I keep getting pulled toward one look or another. At some point it would be a real honor to do a variant cover of my own, but finding the time and space to do that would be tough with my current writing and travel schedule.

    Conan sketch from Fan Expo Canada 2025.

    After the show wrapped up on Sunday, Stacy and I grabbed dinner with friends and then dashed home to pack our luggage once again. We had an early morning flight to Atlanta and I’m currently typing this while visiting Stacy’s brother and family north of the city, a few days to try and recharge before Dragon Con kicks into gear to finish the summer convention season.

    During Dragon Con, I’ll be part of the Comic and Pop Artist Alley located in Americas Mart Building 2 on the 4th Floor at TABLE 109.

    Ringo Nominee

    Team Conan served up two nominations for the 2025 Ringo Awards – Best Anthology for Savage Sword of Conan, and Best Letterer for Richard Starkings.

    If you’re a comic industry professional, please cast your vote and, if you like what we’ve been doing and can support Savage Sword and Richard, even better.

    Savage Sketches Coming Your Way

    Mike Rooth’s upcoming Savage Sword #10 cover looks incredible!

    Artist Mike Rooth created a sharp convention variant cover for Ottawa Comiccon (happening Sept 5-7) and, beyond the wonderful illustration he put together for it, he asked the printer to use sketch cover paper stock and make the back cover blank to create the first Savage Sword sketch cover! It’s magazine-sized with a bold logo, the perfect canvas for fans to get a one-of-a-kind sketch from their favorte artist at an upcoming convention.

    Local Comic Shop Day Promo Video

    When I was at Gen Con, I shot this quick promo video, encouraging retailers to order up on Scourge of the Serpent, especially the special variant cover we have for Local Comic Shop Day on September 27th.

    Black Stone Action Figure

    Back in December, I mentioned that Heroic Signatures was making a Conan action figure based on Rob De La Torre’s artwork on the Battle of the Black Stone mini-series, and it’s getting ever closer.

    Robo Don’t Know has one of the prototype figures and does an extensive review of it – poseability, components, and more!

    Current + Upcoming Releases

  • Conan the Barbarian #23 – released August 13th.
  • Conan the Barbarian vol. 5: Twisting Loyalties – released August 20th.
  • Swords & Larceny – releases September 2nd.
  • Savage Sword of Conan #10 – releases September 3rd.
  • Conan the Barbarian vol.1-3 Slipcase Set – releases September 10th.
  • Predator: Black, White & Blood #3 – releases September 10th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #24 – releases September 10th.
  • Conan the Barbarian vol. 1: Bound in Black Stone Deluxe HC – releases September 16th.
  • Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #1 – releases September 24th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #25 – releases October 8th.
  • Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #2 – releases October 29th.

    • Upcoming Appearances

    Aug 28-Sep 1, 2025 Dragon Con Atlanta, GA, USA
    Sep 27-28, 2025 Chattanooga Comic Con Chattanooga, TN, USA
    Oct 16-19, 2025 Gamehole Con XII Madison, WI, USA
    Nov 3-14, 2025 D&D in a Castle Newcastle, UK
    Nov 15-16, 2025 Thought Bubble Harrogate, UK

    Other Links

    • Battleborn is a new fantasy prose anthology magazine funding on Indiegogo. Lots of familiar names in the mix on this one, so if you’re a sword & sorcery fan, check it out!

    • Legendary artist Joe Jusko has a new artbook funding over on Kickstarter, and it looks like it’ll be a stunner, packed with recent illustrations and development work.

    I hope your summer is wrapping up strong!

    Jim

    Zubby Newsletter #124: Busy Week

    Posted by on August 20, 2025 No comments

    Wait, it’s already Wednesday?! Oh man~

    Artwork from Marvel Comics #1000 by Nick Bradshaw and John Rauch.

    Stacy and I woke up before the sun on Monday and flew home from Seattle after World Con. Our heads are still on west coast time and overall exhaustion from this schedule is driving us into weird work hours and napping over the past couple days while we try to reorganize before Fan Expo Canada.

    (Above is a panel from Marvel Comics #1000, a celebratory anthology issue I was honored to contribute to in 2019. Working with Canadian superstar artist Nick Bradshaw on a Blade story, even just a 1-pager, was such a blast. I’d love to write more street level or supernatural superhero stories and Blade is a character I know I could use to deliver thrills, chills, and mighty blood spills. 🙂 )

    The World Con That Was

    With the Taylers at World Con.

    After boothing with Howard and Sandra Tayler at Gen Con just a couple weeks ago, it was amazing to see them again and experience our first World Con with their guidance. World Con is the oldest science fiction and fantasy convention and it’s not quite like any comic or tabletop gaming convention I’ve been to before.

    The heart of World Con is panel programming – hundreds of panels, really. This year’s program guide had 3-5 panel listings per page and was 196 pages! Since we didn’t have a table of our own, Stacy and I attended way more panels than ever before, taking in a cross section of fan and professional discussions across a wide range of subjects. Most of the workshops covered the basics in terms of writing, editing, and marketing, while some of the more obscure panels were fun in terms of digging into ideas and worlds that don’t normally get much emphasis. It’s diverse, dynamic, and all quite dizzying.

    Being at the Hugo Awards was a fun experience, similar to any other award show, but with the added prestige that the Hugos has across genre publishing. Being there when my friend Ryan North won the Hugo for Best Graphic Story or Comic was a thrill.

    I ran into quite a few friends but also met a lot of new people too – authors, artists and editors working in sci-fi and fantasy. Comics have never had a huge presence at World Con, but entrenched attitudes about the medium are slowly shifting, so it was good to represent sequential art on discussions and hoist the flag for comics in general. I don’t know if it’s a show I can add to my schedule every year (especially since each World Con is hosted in a different city, so travel costs can vary wildly), but it was worth being there this time and putting a face to the name of a lot of people whose work I admire.

    All that said, it was five days of intense conventioning, after the five days that was San Diego Comic Con and five days that was Gen Con, so I’m definitely feeling creaky as we head into Fan Expo Canada this week-

    Fan Expo Canada is This Week?!

    Yes, this week is Canada’s biggest pop culture convention, Fan Expo Canada, August 21-24, 2025. I’m a special guest at this year’s show and will be set up with in the Comic Sketch Art section of Artist Alley at CREATOR TABLE CP70.

    Since this is my local show here in Toronto, I’ll have quite a few Conan the Barbarian back issues and variant covers on hand 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:

    Where you’ll find me at Fan Expo Canada 2025.

    Conan Is Even Bigger Than Before

    This October, Titan is releasing CONAN THE BARBARIAN Vol. 1: BOUND IN BLACK STONE in a new oversized hardcover deluxe edition, and they just posted up this quick flip-through of the book to show readers and retailers what’s inside:



    Current + Upcoming Releases

  • Conan the Barbarian #22 – released July 9th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #23 – released August 13th.
  • Conan the Barbarian vol. 5: Twisting Loyalties – released August 20th.
  • Swords & Larceny – releases September 2nd.
  • Savage Sword of Conan #10 – releases September 3rd.
  • Conan the Barbarian vol.1-3 Slipcase Set – releases September 10th.
  • Predator: Black, White & Blood #3 – releases September 10th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #24 – releases September 10th.
  • Conan the Barbarian vol. 1: Bound in Black Stone Deluxe HC – releases September 16th.
  • Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #1 – releases September 24th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #25 – releases October 8th.
  • Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #2 – releases October 29th.

    • Upcoming Appearances

    Aug 21-24, 2025 Fan Expo Canada Toronto, ON, CANADA
    Aug 28-Sep 1, 2025 Dragon Con Atlanta, GA, USA
    Sep 27-28, 2025 Chattanooga Comic Con Chattanooga, TN, USA
    Oct 16-19, 2025 Gamehole Con XII Madison, WI, USA
    Nov 3-14, 2025 D&D in a Castle Newcastle, UK
    Nov 15-16, 2025 Thought Bubble Harrogate, UK

    Other Links

    • When I was an instructor at Seneca, one of the courses I taught was Animation History, so I have an extensive collection of old animated films and always keep an eye out for new releases of classic material – This November, Cartoon Logic is releasing a restored high definition collection of Aesop’s Fables cartoon shorts from the 1920’s. I have a lot of these cartoons, but the quality is quite low so I look forward to upgrading.

    • John Shableski talks about explosive graphic novel sales growth at Otto Bookstore, an independant shop in Williamsport, PA – “Our graphic novel selection went from those three titles to 1100 and nearly 3/4 of the titles are middle grade.”

    Jim

    Zubby Newsletter #123: Ready For the World

    Posted by on August 12, 2025 No comments
    Sunset in Seattle

    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. Howard Conan 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 spoke to Jace over at The Comic Source all about our Scourge of the Serpent event mini-series that will be slithering its way into your soul this Fall. I also cover info on our big 25th issue and tease what’s coming up in issue #29 and beyond.

    Celebrating Dungeons & Dragons at SDCC

    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!

    Current + Upcoming Releases

  • Conan the Barbarian #22 – released July 9th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #23 – releases August 13th.
  • Conan the Barbarian vol. 5: Twisting Loyalties – releases August 20th.
  • Swords & Larceny – releases September 2nd.
  • Savage Sword of Conan #10 – releases September 3rd.
  • Conan the Barbarian vol.1-3 Slipcase Set – releases September 10th.
  • Predator: Black, White & Blood #3 – releases September 10th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #24 – releases September 10th.
  • Conan the Barbarian vol. 1: Bound in Black Stone Deluxe HC – releases September 16th.
  • Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #1 – releases September 24th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #25 – releases October 8th.
  • Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #2 – releases October 29th.

    • Upcoming Appearances

    Aug 13-17, 2025 World Con Seattle, WA, USA
    Aug 21-24, 2025 Fan Expo Canada Toronto, ON, CANADA
    Aug 28-Sep 1, 2025 Dragon Con Atlanta, GA, USA
    Sep 27-28, 2025 Chattanooga Comic Con Chattanooga, TN, USA
    Oct 16-19, 2025 Gamehole Con XII Madison, WI, USA
    Nov 3-14, 2025 D&D in a Castle Newcastle, UK
    Nov 15-16, 2025 Thought Bubble Harrogate, UK

    Other Links

    • Robert E. Howard scholar Jeff Shanks spoke to Lion at the Sword & Sorcery Book Club about eldritch horror, archaeology and more in this interview.

    • Dr. Patrice Louinet spoke to the Robert E. Howard Foundation about editing the Del Rey editions of Conan the Barbarian.

    Jim

    Zubby Newsletter #122: A Real Sell Out

    Posted by on August 6, 2025 No comments
    Gen Con 2025 was like that.

    Gen Con 2025 happened, of that I am certain, but the speed with which it shot past us was awe-inspiring. After getting home from San Diego, I had one day to reorganize and repack before we were on the road, driving to Indianapolis. Stacy and I did the trek to Indy over two days, stopping midway and heading to a screening of Fantastic Four: First Steps (which was wonderful – brimming with retro-future fare, big ideas, and even bigger hearts) before the “Best Four Days in Gaming” kicked off with aplomb.

    The show was completely sold out and the crowd was hungry for new games and stories. I thought we had enough Conan the Barbarian books for the entire weekend, but by first thing Saturday morning we’d blown through every Conan trade and variant our booth had in stock. We could have gone double or triple in terms of inventory, which is a bit head-spinning.

    Sign that stack, Hyborian!

    Other highlights included:

    • Big social energy at the Diana Jones Party, which acts as the unofficial Welcome Party for Gen Con.
    • Attending the memorial panel for my friend Howard Andrew Jones and telling the crowd there about our time together at Robert E. Howard Days in 2024.
    • Hanging out with the D&D in a Castle crew at their posh Airbnb, chatting about business, storytelling, and future plans.
    • An amazing dinner with Kandrix, Lindsey, and Andrea at Commission Row.
    • Old school webcomic nostalgia with Jerry Holkins of Penny Arcade.
    • Attending the Chaosium 50th Anniversary party to celebrate Call of Cthulhu, Runequest, and more.
    • Dinner with the Ten Speed-Random House team at the Rathskeller pub, including the spiciest mustard I have ever tasted.
    • Playing the ever-lovin’ blue-eyed Thing with the Glass Cannon Network crew in their Marvel Multverse RPG live game, injecting as many old school comic-isms into my dialogue as possible and saving H.E.R.B.I.E. from disaster.
    • Having a mutual fan moment with Kevin Siembieda, creator of Palladium Books and a slew of games I grew up on, including TMNT, Robotech, Beyond the Supernatural, and Rifts.
    • Building more memories with Howard, Sandra, Darrin, and the rest of our Gen Con booth family.

    A wonderful chat with Kevin Siembieda.

    It came up over and over again in conversation – When I was a kid I heard about Gen Con by seeing ads for it in Dragon Magazine or reading articles about book launches and game demos. Getting to attend the show once would have been a dream back then. Having a booth year after year and being part of the tabletop gaming industry is such a surreal and amazing thing. Thank you to everyone who stopped by!

    A Book of Many Patterns


    Speaking of Gen Con, over the weekend Ten Speed Press revealed the cover and details for Stacy’s latest book which arrives March next year – It’s called Dungeons & Dragons Crochet: A Book of Many Patterns!

    Nerdist had the exclusive reveal and the article exploded on social media, with gamers and yarn weavers alike getting really excited about the variety and quality of the designs being shown so far. I had no idea that so many tabletop gamers crochet while they play, and this is really hitting the spot for them. Stacy wrote all the descriptve and fiction sections and wove in tons of deep cut references from old and new D&D lore. I can’t wait for people to see how well put together all of it is.

    The D&D Crochet book is a lot of fun and going to make a wonderful gift, so make sure you pre-order now!

    Local Comic Shop Day Special

    Kull and Brule are transformed into Serpent Men!

    Saturday, September 27 2025 is Local Comic Shop Day and, to help encourage readers to head to their favorite local comic shop, Titan is putting out a special front-and-back variant cover for CONAN: SCOURGE OF THE SERPENT #1, with stunning linework by Rob De La Torre.

    Make sure you let your favorite comic store know before August 18th if you want one so they can put in the order and put your copy aside! I suspect this will be the rarest cover for the event.

    SDCC Interview Marathon

    On Friday during San Diego Comic Con, editor Chris Butera and I ran a Gauntlet with a series of back-to-back interviews talking about Conan the Barbarian. Given that these were recorded in the same 2 hour block of time, it’s interesting to see how our attitude and responses change depending on the interviewer and questions they ask. Check ’em out:


    With Fanboy Planet we cover event-planning, the works of Robert E. Howard, obscure characters, timelines and more!


    With The Mary Sue, I’m more punchy, joking about conventions, long term storytelling, and how fantasy reflects the times we live in.


    With Pop Culture Cult we talk about why Conan is an icon, why sword & sorcery is exciting, the original Conan movie versus the character’s literary source material, why we don’t put sound effects in most Conan comics, and more.


    And then Comic Crusaders came in with a chest-thumping intro that changes the vibe again as we talk about the Scourge event, writing technique, collaboration, Conan’s American identity, surviving in the Hyborian Age, and more.

    Seeing some of this marathon is a glimpse at the promotional work we do at a big show like San Diego. It’s a ton of fun, but you also need to be quick on your feet and roll with each interviewer’s approach to make an impact.

    Horley Talks To FP about His Painted Epic


    Onward to even more interviews – Painter Alex Horley has an extensive interview with Forbidden Planet all about working on the fully painted Conan the Barbarian #25 arriving in October. He talks about his influences, scheduling, inspiration, and teases small story bits from our aniversary issue.

    Current + Upcoming Releases

  • Conan the Barbarian #22 – released July 9th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #23 – releases August 13th.
  • Conan the Barbarian vol. 5: Twisting Loyalties – releases August 20th.
  • Swords & Larceny – releases September 2nd.
  • Savage Sword of Conan #10 – releases September 3rd.
  • Conan the Barbarian vol.1-3 Slipcase Set – releases September 10th.
  • Predator: Black, White & Blood #3 – releases September 10th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #24 – releases September 10th.
  • Conan the Barbarian vol. 1: Bound in Black Stone Deluxe HC – releases September 16th.
  • Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #1 – releases September 24th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #25 – releases October 8th.
  • Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #2 – releases October 29th.

    • Upcoming Appearances

    Aug 13-17, 2025 World Con Seattle, WA, USA
    Aug 21-24, 2025 Fan Expo Canada Toronto, ON, CANADA
    Aug 28-Sep 1, 2025 Dragon Con Atlanta, GA, USA
    Sep 27-28, 2025 Chattanooga Comic Con Chattanooga, TN, USA
    Oct 16-19, 2025 Gamehole Con XII Madison, WI, USA
    Nov 3-14, 2025 D&D in a Castle Newcastle, UK
    Nov 15-16, 2025 Thought Bubble Harrogate, UK

    Other Links

    • Stop motion animator Justin Rasch put together this amazing animated ad for the Frazetta Girls official Conan the Barbarian action figure.

    • Wonderful seeing so many of my industry friends visiting the set of Fantastic Four: First Steps in this promotional video by Marvel.

    • This interview with novelist Paul Harding is full of inspirational bits about writing, language, and the creative process.

    Jim

    Zubby Newsletter #121: Con and On

    Posted by on July 28, 2025 No comments
    The Conan SDCC Panel Crew: Andrew Sumner, Jim Zub, Chris Butera, Dan Panosian, Shawn Curley.

    I flew home from San Diego on Sunday afternoon, opting for missing the last day of the show and taking a daytime flight over a red eye overnight flight right before I smash headlong into Gen Con Indy.

    SDCC was a great time. This is my third year celebrating the ongoing Conan the Barbarian series with Heroic Signatures and Titan, so there was a familiar rhythm to the schedule – where I had to be and what needed to get done, but even that consistency carried lots of excitement because long runs like this are so few and far between in comics nowadays. The readership came out in force and we were ecstatic to see them. The Conan panel was on Thursday this year, which worked really well – We were all well rested, energized, with our voices intact and able to kick off the first full day of the convention by announcing all kinds of projects, showing off artwork, and giving the crowd a bunch of free swag.

    Artwork from Conan: Scourge of the Serpent by Ivan Gil and João Canola.

    Conan: Scourge of the Serpent, our Fall event mini-series, is getting finished up now so we had a slew of pages to show off from our dream team – line artist Ivan Gil and colorist João Canola. I spoke at length about how challenging and satisfying it has been weaving together three different plotlines and time periods into one symbolic narrative full of surprises, especially when Ivan and João elevate every single scene.

    Artwork from Conan the Barbarian arc 7 by Rob De La Torre and Fernando Dagnino.

    After our fully painted 25th issue spectacular, we have a 3-part story coming called The Conquering Crown, showing how Conan of Cimmeria finally becomes King of Aquilonia. It’s a brutal adventure filled to the brim with political machinations, courtly intrigue, and some of the biggest, bloodiest battles ever shown on the comic page. Artist Fernando Dagnino is back for this arc and the work he’s been producing is absolutely breathtaking.

    Beyond that, we chatted about the new Conan action figure, Savage Sword of Conan magazine, the return of Kull the Conqueror, and a whole lot more. You can watch the panel discussion in its entirety on the official Conan YouTube channel, just make sure you have headphones on as the audio gets murky in a few spots.

    Outside of all things Cimmerian, the camaraderie with old friends and new was really nice. Lots of great meet-ups and conversations on the showfloor and after hours. There was some talk about future projects, but also a lot of reminiscing about years past and being thankful for where things are currently at despite all the challenges. May these adventures never cease.

    Gen Con This Week!

    Two of the biggest conventions in North America are back-to-back, so I’m repacking my bags and heading out the door tomorrow on my way to Indianapolis for Gen Con LVIII!

    After missing last year’s show, I am incredibly excited to see gaming friends and fans at Gen Con. Darrin has been working his butt off to make the Tayler Corp. booth (#1349) the perfect signing and sketching spot, and I will be there most of the time during exhibit hall hours.

    My booth location at Gen Con 2025.

    On Saturday afternoon, I’ll be part of the Glass Cannon Network’s official Marvel Multiverse TTRPG liveplay game. Which member of the Fantastic Four will I be playing? Make sure you show up and you’ll see!

    Come see me play the Marvel Multiverse TTRPG on Saturday at Gen Con!

    Stranger Things-D&D Scrapbook in November

    Tales From the Table arrives this November.

    The pre-order page for the Stranger Things-Dungeons & Dragons: Tales from the Table book that Stacy and I worked on together is finally up so we can show off the cover and start talking about this really unique project that will arrive in Target stores in early November. It’s an in-world item – Mike, Will, and Eddie’s Dungeons & Dragons campaign notes, characters, artwork, magic items and more throughout four seasons of the TV show. Putting the text together and art directing the drawings, maps, and other esoteric bits from 1980’s D&D was an absolute nostalgia bomb of the same era when I started playing.

    “Stranger Things-Dungeons & Dragons-Tales from the Table follows the kids’ experience throughout Stranger Things by collecting fragments of their shared Dungeons & Dragons game. It interweaves real D&D maps and assets from the 80s, with the Dungeon Master notes of Mike, Will, and Eddie Munson, the player notes of the rest of the crew, and the various notes and scraps the kids leave behind as they deal with their ongoing adventures in Hawkins and beyond.”

    Still a Few Seats Left!

    I’m Dungeon Mastering a double dose of D&D in a Castle this Fall. My November 3-7 table is SOLD OUT, but there are a couple seats left for the November 10-14 campaign, so snap those up if you want a memorable tabletop adventure in a lavish setting, packed with fun and friendship.

    After DMing at the castle for my first time last year, I wrote an extensive newsletter all about it you can read up on right HERE.

    Current + Upcoming Releases

  • Conan the Barbarian #21 – released June 11th.
  • Savage Sword of Conan vol. 2 – released June 17th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #22 – released July 9th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #23 – releases August 13th.
  • Conan the Barbarian vol. 5: Twisting Loyalties – releases August 20th.
  • Swords & Larceny – releases September 2nd.
  • Savage Sword of Conan #10 – releases September 3rd.
  • Conan the Barbarian vol.1-3 Slipcase Set – releases September 10th.
  • Predator: Black, White & Blood #3 – releases September 10th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #24 – releases September 10th.
  • Conan the Barbarian vol. 1: Bound in Black Stone Deluxe HC – releases September 16th.
  • Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #1 – releases September 24th.

    • Upcoming Appearances

    Jul 31-Aug 3, 2025 Gen Con Indy – Booth 1349 Indianapolis, IN, USA
    Aug 13-17, 2025 World Con Seattle, WA, USA
    Aug 21-24, 2025 Fan Expo Canada Toronto, ON, CANADA
    Aug 28-Sep 1, 2025 Dragon Con Atlanta, GA, USA
    Sep 27-28, 2025 Chattanooga Comic Con Chattanooga, TN, USA
    Oct 16-19, 2025 Gamehole Con XII Madison, WI, USA
    Nov 3-14, 2025 D&D in a Castle Newcastle, UK
    Nov 15-16, 2025 Thought Bubble Harrogate, UK

    Other Links

    • Digital forensics expert Hany Farid explains how he helps journalists, courts and governments find structural errors in AI-generated images, offering four practical tips everyday individuals can use when facing the internet’s war on reality.

    • The official Conan the Barbarian YouTube channel updated with a really solid overview of kingdoms in the Hyborian Age. Great information and tons of artwork.

    • Want to learn how to play the Marvel Multiverse TTRPG? The Glass Cannon crew also put together this handy introductory gameplay video.

    • When I have a bit of spare time, I’ve been video gaming with Enter the Gungeon, a delightful sprite-centric bullet-hell shooter themed around guns + D&D-style monsters, and Stacy and I are also playing Sunderfolk, a co-op turn-based strategy game that has well-tuned Gloomhaven-style mechanics without as much finnicky card management.

    Jim

    Zubby Newsletter #120: Eye of the Storm

    Posted by on July 22, 2025 No comments
    The San Diego Convention Center

    Here I am again, luggage packed before I fly to San Diego for Comic Con and then immediately head to Gen Con in Indianapolis – a five day show and then a four day show – the infamous Nerd Prom Twin Terror™©. As ridiculous as that will be, I’m also pretty damn excited. After being home for the past four and a half weeks busting away on writing deadlines I’m looking forward to seeing industry friends and celebrating another year making comics. Even after all these years, it’s hard to believe this is my job.

    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.

    In a separate post on my website there is an extensive rundown – panel details, show-exclusive variant covers, giveaways and more. I’ll be sure to keep that post up to date in case anything changes.

    The Big 25 Arrives in October

    CONAN THE BARBARIAN #25, arriving in October, is going to be extra-special – a 48-page issue fully painted by Alex Horley! Solicits and preview pages are making the rounds and it’s so nice to be able to show people some of the jaw-dropping work I’ve been staring in awe at since Alex and I started working on this epic back in September of last year.

    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!

    Writing and Role-Play


    I spoke to Anton Kromoff at Comicon.com all about the writing process for Conan the Barbarian – research, collaboration, role-play and more. It covers quite a bit, so check it out!

    Current + Upcoming Releases

  • Conan the Barbarian #21 – released June 11th.
  • Savage Sword of Conan vol. 2 – released June 17th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #22 – released July 9th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #23 – releases August 13th.
  • Conan the Barbarian vol. 5: Twisting Loyalties – releases August 20th.
  • Swords & Larceny – releases September 2nd.
  • Savage Sword of Conan #10 – releases September 3rd.
  • Conan the Barbarian vol.1-3 Slipcase Set – releases September 10th.
  • Predator: Black, White & Blood #3 – releases September 10th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #24 – releases September 10th.
  • Conan the Barbarian vol. 1: Bound in Black Stone Deluxe HC – releases September 16th.
  • Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #1 – releases September 24th.

    • Upcoming Appearances


    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.

    Jul 23-27, 2025 San Diego Comic Con – Table GG-07 San Diego, CA, USA
    Jul 31-Aug 3, 2025 Gen Con Indy – Booth 1349 Indianapolis, IN, USA
    Aug 13-17, 2025 World Con Seattle, WA, USA
    Aug 21-24, 2025 Fan Expo Canada Toronto, ON, CANADA
    Aug 28-Sep 1, 2025 Dragon Con Atlanta, GA, USA
    Sep 27-28, 2025 Chattanooga Comic Con Chattanooga, TN, USA
    Oct 16-19, 2025 Gamehole Con XII Madison, WI, USA
    Nov 3-14, 2025 D&D in a Castle Newcastle, UK
    Nov 15-16, 2025 Thought Bubble Harrogate, UK

    Other Links

    • 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.

    • My friend Jason Bulmahn has a crowdfunding campaign going for Hellfinder, a horror alteration of the popular Pathfinder TTRPG.

    • The Robert E. Howard Foundation now has their own YouTube channel and one of their first videos is a rundown of the foundation’s purpose, as told by noted Howard scholars and Foundation Directors Rusty Burke and Paul Herman.

    • Sean Jordan has a crowdfunding campaign going for Wordburglar Rhymes With Comics, a music and comics collaboration with lots of my industry friends contributing artwork.

    Jim

    Zubby Newsletter #119: Super Saturday

    Posted by on July 14, 2025 1 comment
    The theater didn’t have a Superman set-up in the lobby, so we just snapped a quick photo outside.

    Saw SUPERMAN on Saturday with Stacy and my Father-in-law.

    No spoilers!

    I thought it was an absolute blast and a much-needed shot in the arm to both the DC Universe and superhero films in general. There is a ton happening, but the plot and emotional throughline manages to hold it all together. Really impressive.

    The movie leans into some Silver Age Superman comic trappings and gives you the feeling you’ve been dropped into the midst of a larger world and ongoing story, but not in a way I found confusing. If anything, it reminded me of being a kid and picking up a random issue of a superhero comic. I didn’t need to know every facet of every character’s back story to quickly understand their current motivations and get pulled into the unfolding drama and action happening on the page. With that in mind, the film wisely sprinted past retelling Superman’s origin story for the umpteenth time and instead dove into broader ideas around responsibility, heroism, and humanity. The heightened classic comic elements are unabashedly up there on the screen but the film still manages to ground them with just enough ‘now’ that it felt contemporary yet idealistic, hopeful but not naive. It’s one hell of a high wire act, narratively speaking.

    Is it perfect? Of course not. With so much going on, some elements were glossed over that I would have preferred to see receive more focus and the final act leaves some questions that, if not answered in future films, could become jarring plot holes, but on the whole Superman delivered far beyond my expectations. Kudos to the movie team and congrats to so many of my friends doing wonderful work at DC right now. I really hope the movie’s success creates a powerful and much-deserved ripple effect on the publishing line.

    A Quick Hunt in September

    Cover art by Martin Coccolo

    The solicit has dropped so now I can reveal I have a story in PREDATOR: BLACK, WHITE & BLOOD #3 arriving in September!

    It’s my first time playing in the 20th Century Fox sandbox. A short story this time, but hopefully there will be more to come.

    Having a Blast

    CONAN THE BARBARIAN #22 really hit the spot with our readers. We received a torrent of positive feedback and top notch reviews.

    I know I sound like a broken record, but THANK YOU for the support, buying each issue and telling others that we earn that cover price each and every month.

    I genuinely believe that CONAN THE BARBARIAN #23 (in stores August 13th) is Fernando’s best issue yet, with absolutely jaw-dropping visuals that are going to knock you OUT. I don’t want to spoil the action, so here’s a tiny teaser of our Cimmerian struggling against – well, that would be telling now wouldn’t it? 😉

    CONAN THE BARBARIAN #23 art by Fernando Dagnino. Colors by Diego Rodriguez.

    The Final Diamond Previews


    Speaking of CONAN THE BARBARIAN #23, the cover art for that issue by the always-amazing Dan Panosian graces the cover of what will apparently be the last issue of the Diamond Previews catalogue.

    When Conan the Barbarian #1 was featured on the cover in April 2023, it meant we were a highly anticipated launch in a jam-packed catalogue. Two years later, it feels weird to be cover featured again as publishers flee and Diamond ignobly burns to the ground, damaging the industry it once dominated.

    Publishers screwed over with millions of dollars of product being liquidated without their permission. Retailers left in the dark and scrambling to find new solutions to keep their shelves stocked. So many people thought that without Diamond there wouldn’t be a North American comic industry, but now it feels like dead weight that has to be cut loose to get somewhere/anywhere better.

    Still a Few Seats Left!

    I’m Dungeon Mastering a double dose of D&D in a Castle this Fall. My November 3-7 table is SOLD OUT, but there are a few seats left for the November 10-14 campaign, so snap those up if you want a memorable tabletop adventure in a lavish setting, jam-packed with fun and camaraderie.

    After DMing at the castle for my first time last year, I wrote an extensive newsletter all about it you can read up on right HERE.

    Current + Upcoming Releases

  • Conan the Barbarian #21 – released June 11th.
  • Savage Sword of Conan vol. 2 – released June 17th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #22 – released July 9th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #23 – releases August 13th.
  • Conan the Barbarian vol. 5: Twisting Loyalties – releases August 20th.
  • Swords & Larceny – releases September 2nd.
  • Savage Sword of Conan #10 – releases September 3rd.
  • Conan the Barbarian vol.1-3 Slipcase Set – releases September 10th.
  • Predator: Black, White & Blood #3 – releases September 10th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #24 – releases September 10th.
  • Conan the Barbarian vol. 1: Bound in Black Stone Deluxe HC – releases September 16th.
  • Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #1 – releases September 24th.

    • Upcoming Appearances

    Fan Expo Canada here in Toronto has finally been confirmed, which means late July through August is going to be a wild one for Zub events – 5 shows in 6 weeks.

    Jul 23-27, 2025 San Diego Comic Con San Diego, CA, USA
    Jul 31-Aug 3, 2025 Gen Con Indy – Booth 1349 Indianapolis, IN, USA
    Aug 13-17, 2025 World Con Seattle, WA, USA
    Aug 21-24, 2025 Fan Expo Canada Toronto, ON, CANADA
    Aug 28-Sep 1, 2025 Dragon Con Atlanta, GA, USA
    Sep 27-28, 2025 Chattanooga Comic Con Chattanooga, TN, USA
    Oct 16-19, 2025 Gamehole Con XII Madison, WI, USA
    Nov 3-14, 2025 D&D in a Castle Castle Lumley, Newcastle, UK

    Other Links

    • My friend Stjepan Šejić has a great interview with The Comics Journal all about his career – from learning art, to breaking into mainstream comics, and now stepping away to do his own mature creator-owned fetish-romance books.

    • Deadpool co-creator Fabian Nicieza chats with Andrew Sumner at Forbidden Planet all about Kull the Conqueror and sword & sorcery.

    • Dan at the Conan Chronology website has a nice blogpost all about ‘What does Conan the Barbarian mean in 2025?’

    Jim

    Zubby Newsletter #118: Home Body

    Posted by on July 4, 2025 No comments
    Conan the Barbarian #22 artwork by Fernando Dagnino and Diego Rodriguez.

    It’s nice to be home and enjoy some summertime weather here in Toronto, even if the humidity can be intense at times.

    In my studio I’ve been knocking down writing deadlines, working to deliver all my July and August deliverables this month so I won’t have to write much on the road when I start sprinting through five events in six weeks from late July through to the end of August.

    Next week sees the release of CONAN THE BARBARIAN #22, the second part of our Nest of Serpents story arc that ties into the Scourge of the Serpent event happening this Fall. With each issue I think Fernando Dagnino‘s already amazing artwork improves, which is really something to see, especially when it’s enhanced by Diego Rodriguez‘s top-notch coloring.

    A Boxing Story This September

    Here’s a sneak peek from the SAILOR STEVE COSTIGAN story coming in Savage Sword of Conan #10 (in stores in September, so pre-order now).

    Rob De La Torre‘s black & white art is a dream and I’m having the best time channeling Robert E. Howard‘s punchy pulpy narrative style.

    Still a Few Seats Left!


    B. Dave Walters gets interviewed at the summer session of D&D in a Castle and, as expected, has some great insights into why this deluxe vacation gaming experience works so well.

    I’m Dungeon Mastering a double dose of D&D in a Castle this Fall. My November 3-7 table is SOLD OUT, but there are a few seats left for the November 10-14 campaign, so snap those up if you want a memorable tabletop adventure in a lavish setting, jam-packed with fun and camaraderie.

    After DMing at the castle for my first time last year, I wrote an extensive newsletter all about it you can read up on right HERE.

    More Industry Insights at NRI




    The second half of my interview with the NRI podcast covers practical advice I’ve learned over years of creating comics and attending conventions, the pitfalls of AI, networking, and more.

    Before We Go


    Daniel Meyer at the Before We Go Blog interviewed me about working on Conan the Barbarian – influences, thought processes, and more.

    Current + Upcoming Releases

  • Conan the Barbarian #21 – released June 11th.
  • Savage Sword of Conan vol. 2 – released June 17th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #22 – releases July 9th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #23 – releases August 13th.
  • Conan the Barbarian vol. 5: Twisting Loyalties – releases August 20th.
  • Swords & Larceny – releases September 2nd.
  • Savage Sword of Conan #10 – releases September 3rd.
  • Conan the Barbarian vol.1-3 Slipcase Set – releases September 10th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #24 – releases September 10th.
  • Conan the Barbarian vol. 1: Bound in Black Stone Deluxe HC – releases September 16th.
  • Conan: Scourge of the Serpent #1 – releases September 24th.

    • Upcoming Appearances


    Dragon Con in Atlanta, Georgia has been added to my list to cap off the summer convention season and there are a couple more event announcements in the coming weeks.

    Jul 23-27, 2025 San Diego Comic Con San Diego, CA, USA
    Jul 31-Aug 3, 2025 Gen Con Indy – Booth 1349 Indianapolis, IN, USA
    Aug 13-17, 2025 World Con Seattle, WA, USA
    Aug 28-Sep 1, 2025 Dragon Con Atlanta, GA, USA
    Sep 27-28, 2025 Chattanooga Comic Con Chattanooga, TN, USA
    Oct 16-19, 2025 Gamehole Con XII Madison, WI, USA
    Nov 3-14, 2025 D&D in a Castle Castle Lumley, Newcastle, UK

    A Quick Cut To Save Some Money

    Pork loin, ready to be broken down.

    Adulthood is getting excited about grocery store deals. This boneless pork loin was $2 per pound ($4.41 per kg)! Here’s some Chez Zub’s food and freezer prep-

    In my early 20’s, I worked as a butcher’s assistant for a summer, so I already knew how to break down sections of meat, but there are lots of videos online showing how easy it is and the savings can be substantial.

    I broke the loin down into:
    • dinner cuts for the grill
    • thicker cuts for tonkatsu
    • cubed meat trimmings for stir fry
    • extra fat trimmings I’ll render down to use for cooking

    Stacy and I will probably get eight meals out of that $13 worth of meat, and the whole prep process took about 15 minutes.

    Ready for marinating or the freezer.

    Other Links

    • My friend Jesse Scoble has a crowdfunding campaign underway for Dead Money, a Western-Horror mini-series with an eclectic cast and some great artwork. I read an advance of the first issue and quite enjoyed it, so check it out.

    • Artist Joe Catapano does a solid breakdown of Joe Madureira’s distinct style, discussing the core artistic traits and ways to understand them. Lots of useful information and techniques here.

    • Elisabeth Wheatley discusses Conan the Barbarian as a romantic archetype in this short video.

    Jim