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Zubby Newsletter #117: Ten Day Tornado

Posted by on June 23, 2025 No comments

My luggage is packed and I’m finally ready to fly home after 10 days and 3 events that took me from Las Vegas to Columbus, Ohio, and back to Vegas again. It’s been a ridiculous and amazing time, but I’ve gotta get back to Toronto and slow this merry-go-round for a bit before the next crash of conventions hits in late July.

With Erik and Josh in Vegas at the Glass Cannon 10 Year Celebration

The Glass Cannon 10 year celebration in Vegas was an absolute blast. Around 100 fans stayed at the Linq Hotel and gamed up a storm with members of the Glass Cannon Network and cast members from various liveplays they’ve done over the past decade. I game mastered three sessions on the schedule and added a last minute pick up game when there was a ton of interest in the Mothership RPG.

In between those sessions and a killer blast of karaoke, I hung out a lot with Erik Mona and Josh Dinges, doing our best to avoid the absolute scorching heat that hit the Vegas strip that weekend.

Unexpectedly with Zack and Miyuki in Vegas

On the Monday after that wrapped up, I had a day and a half of downtime where I did a bit of work and then wandered Vegas, people watching and rolling story ideas around in my head. I thought I was going to have a quiet night, but discovered that Zack Davisson (who newsletter readers will probably know from the cultural essays in Wayward or his current work on Ultimate X-Men) and his wife Miyuki were also in Vegas at the same time, celebrating their wedding anniversary. Ten minutes after I saw his “Wait, you’re in Vegas?!” message, we met up and had a great little visit that capped off Vegas Part 1 quite well.

With Jim Demonakos at Origins 2025.

From there I flew to Columbus for the Origins Game Fair, one of the biggest and longest running tabletop game conventions in North America (50 years and still going strong). Jim Demonakos (founder of Emerald City Comic Con and the Lightbox Expo) and I had business stuff there but managed to work in some gaming and social time as well, which was great.

When I went back to check my photos I was shocked to realize it had been literally 20 years since I’d last attended Origins. The show had been formative to me near the start of my comic + gaming career, solidifying my spot at the UDON studio when I met a bunch of art directors and editors and brought in a slew of extra TTRPG work for the UDON artists. Dizzying to think how quickly that time has gone by.

With Nareesa and Zeshan at Origins 2025.

Also at Origins this year were Nareesa and Zeshan, two of my players from D&D in a Castle back in November! It was heartwarming seeing them again and waxing nostalgic about our time at the castle. They were instrumental in me quickly getting the lay of the land at Origins this year and their enthusiasm was infectious.

With Kandrix and Lindsay back in Vegas, wrapping it all up.

Finally, I ricocheted back to Vegas to check in at MagicCon, a huge Magic the Gathering event, and spend time with my dear friends Kandrix and Lindsay. They’re foodies and basketball fans, so we hit up quite a few of their favorite restaurants and took in a WNBA game before finally getting to NOW.

*whew*

These friendships, personal or professional, are at the heart of all these amazing experiences and opportunities, and I cannot believe how many there have been so far in 2025, only halfway through the year.

Good fun and great food, but I’m extra-ready to return to Toronto, hug Stacy tight, and hunker down at home for the next month.

The Scourge Begins in September!

Cimmerian September brings the busiest Conan month since we relaunched the series at Titan almost two years ago!

I have three new releases – CONAN: SCOURGE OF THE SERPENT #1, CONAN THE BARBARIAN #24, and SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN #10, plus a deluxe oversized hardcover collection of the first story arc in the relaunch, BOUND IN BLACK STONE. So many incredible covers and interior artwork that’s just as strong.

It’s a big bold release month jam-packed with the best action and adventure in the business and I hope you’re following along.

Talking at Titan HQ

Speaking of the Cimmerian, when I was at the Titan Books office last month, Chief Stride and I recorded a quick interview discussing the amazing Conan stuff coming up. Give it a watch for some more details on Scourge of the Serpent and our special 25th issue of Conan the Barbarian.



In Depth With NRI

I was a guest on the NRI Podcast, chatting at length about my career, writing comics, working on iconic characters, conventions and a whole lot more.



Current + Upcoming Releases

  • FCBD Conan: Scourge of the Serpent – Prelude – released May 3rd.
  • Conan the Barbarian #21 – released June 11th.
  • Savage Sword of Conan vol. 2 – released June 17th.
  • Street Fighter Masters: Elena one-shot – releases June 25th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #22 – releases July 9th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #23 – releases August 13th.
  • Conan the Barbarian vol. 5: Twisting Loyalties – releases August 20th.

    • Upcoming Appearances


    A few eagle-eyed readers caught my name on the Worldcon panelist list. It’s true – Stacy and I are heading to Seattle in August for World Con, our first time attending one of the longest running science fiction and fantasy conventions! More details as we get closer to the dates.

    Jun 28, 2025 Gotham Central – Signing Noon-2pm Toronto, ON, CANADA
    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
    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

    Howard Days Links

    While I was bouncing between events, Robert E. Howard Days happened in Cross Plains, Texas. I wasn’t able to make it to the event this year, but it was heartwarming to see and hear how well it all went:

    • Scholar Jeff Shanks did a tight 3-part series showing Howard Days highlights – Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3

    • Stygian Dogs has a couple great Howard Days videos on his channel, including extensive interviews and a casual wind down.

    • Lion from the Sword & Sorcery Book Club gives a rundown on Robert E. Howard Days 2025, including little interviews with visitors.

    • Sean Korsgaard recorded the ‘What’s Up With REH?’ panel from the event and has uploaded it to YouTube.

    Next year is the 40th anniversary of Howard Days, so I expect it’ll be the biggest one yet. Pencil it on your calendar and I hope to see you there!
    Jim

    Zubby Newsletter #116: Slay Those Snakes

    Posted by on June 10, 2025 1 comment

    Another burst of writing work and errands getting done before I fly to Las Vegas on Thursday for the Glass Cannon celebration, where I’ll be running sessions of Conan: The Hyborian Age, Mothership, and Shadowdark alongside an all-star crew of glorious gamers. It’s go time in the summertime!

    A sample of interior art from CONAN THE BARBARIAN #21.

    This week, CONAN THE BARBARIAN #21 finally arrives in stores, kicking off a new story arc that will take our hero to the heart of Stygia and set him against the forces of the Great Serpent!

    Fernando Dagnino and Diego Rodriguez deliver stellar artwork, the action is intense, and the world’s biggest and best sword & sorcery hero is ready to slay some snakes!

    I was thrilled to hear that sales on issues #21 are up from previous issues, defying the typical sales attrition most series have. We’re picking up new monthly readers 20+ issues deep into the run while changing distributors, which is a testament to good word of mouth and retailer support!

    Here’s the new Skullkickers cover art by Edwin Huang!

    SKULLKICKERS Returns As “Compact Attack Editions” at Oni Press!

    After the Zoop campaign wrapped up I mentioned we’d have more exciting Skullkickers announcements coming, and here we are – The new Skullkickers compact editions will be available everywhere in Spring 2026 thanks to Oni Press!

    Here’s the press release:

    The Harvey Award-Nominated Sword-and-Sorcery Sensation Arrives in Digest Form in Spring 2026!

    Oni Press is proud to invite you back into the world of SKULLKICKERS in all-new, compact digest format recollecting the entirety of Jim Zub (Dungeons & Dragons, Conan the Barbarian) and Edwin Huang’s (Street Fighter) beloved, Harvey Award-nominated fantasy-action sensation! Presenting the entirety of the series’ acclaimed 34-issue run across three, 5.5 x 8.5 digest volumes arriving in stores in spring 2026, the all-new SKULLKICKERS: COMPACT ATTACK EDITIONS from Oni Press are the perfect bingeable format for the busy paladin on the go – or new readers who want to discover the landmark, RPG-inspired series that Publishers’ Weekly calls “bombastic chaos…[like] a sword and sorcery buddy movie”!

    If you love swords, sassery, and a touch of black-hearted violence, then SKULLKICKERS is the book for you! A trio of hard-headed mercenaries kill monsters and cause havoc in their endless search for money, fame, and adventure from the lauded and ludicrous team of Jim Zub and Edwin Huang—now in a book-friendly perfect format!

    “When Skullkickers was originally published in 2010, fantasy comics and D&D culture were a glimmer compared to the glittering pop culture explosion we’ve seen since then and we were 6 years from Deadpool’s fourth wall-breaking antics on the big screen,” said Zub. “Skullkickers was ‘Deadpool by way of D&D’ before that was even a thing. Skullkickers knew that sword & sorcery storytelling was amazing and ridiculous, because it’s always been amazing and ridiculous.”

    “Without Skullkickers, I wouldn’t have worked on Pathfinder, Samurai Jack, Dungeons & Dragons, Conan the Barbarian, and a dozen other titles,” continued Zub. “It’s the mischievous magic spell that changed my life, and I’m so proud of what the book was and is. Now, partnering with Oni and their killer new compact publishing line, we can grab a whole new generation of comic collectors, sword and sorcery stalwarts, RPG advocates, and manga maniacs. LET’S KICK SKULLS!”

    “With all of its trademark style, swagger, and humor, SKULLKICKERS was one of the upstart series that redefined the metrics of how independent comics looked, sounded, and felt in the 2010s – throwing forward a ton of energy and momentum that still resounds with readers today,” said Oni Press President & Publisher Hunter Gorinson. “It’s an immense honor to bring Jim and Edwin’s much beloved and wildly acclaimed series to Oni Press in an all-new format for a brand-new generation of readers. For anyone who loves comics, fantasy, or role-playing games, this is one of the definitive series of the past decade that needs to be on your shelf.”

    SKULLKICKERS: COMPACT ATTACK EDITION – VOLUME 1
    Collects issues #1–11
    On sale February 18th, 2026

    SKULLKICKERS: COMPACT ATTACK EDITION – VOLUME 2
    Collects issues #12–23
    On sale March 18th, 2028

    SKULLKICKERS: COMPACT ATTACK EDITION – VOLUME 3
    Collects issues #24-34
    On sale April 22nd, 2026

    An Icon In Unexpected Places

    An old school Conan fan and Jão.

    Colorist Jão Canola (who colored Conan: Battle of the Black Stone and is currently working on Scourge of the Serpent) sent our creative team an anecdote this week and it was so great I asked him if it was okay to share it here in my newsletter. Enjoy!

    I needed to make some changes to my office and called an electrician. I was coloring Conan pages while he was working, and I noticed he was curious as he asked me “What are you doing?”

    I explained that I work on comic books, that I’m a colorist, and I explained the process of creating a comic.

    His eyes lit up! He couldn’t believe someone from Jaú (where I live) works on Conan, and he told me his story with the character. He is currently 61 years old. He discovered Conan in the 80s, and at the time he and a friend would take turns buying the magazine: one month he would buy it, the next month his friend would buy it. The magazines would stay at his friend’s house because his father wouldn’t let him have comics at home.

    So, I gave him the collection with all four issues of Conan: Battle of the Black Stone as a gift, and he went home very happy.

    A few weeks later, he came back to finish the job. I asked if he liked the magazine, and at that very moment, I remembered it was in English. I’d completely forgotten about that when I gave him the gift. But that’s where the coolest part of the story comes in. 🙂

    “I loved it! I had a lot of fun. On Sunday, I woke up very early, turned on the radio with the music really low, opened a Coke and read the magazine.”

    “Do you read English?” I asked.

    “No, but I understood everything perfectly from the pictures. The artist is very good! I was able to understand.”

    Then, he told me his version of the story. Obviously, it wasn’t exactly the story we made — he imagined several different things. But, Jim, I’m sorry – his version was so cool to him that I just agreed…I didn’t have the courage to correct him!

    And that’s it. Conan is an icon. A 61-year-old man remembered his adolescence and, even without knowing English, really enjoyed our work. He thought it was incredible that someone from his own city works on this. That’s what comic books are all about, right? I’m so grateful to work in comics with such cool people like all of you.

    Pop Culture Philosophers Talks Conan 1982

    Last night, I was on the Pop Culture Philosopher’s livestream movie review of CONAN THE BARBARIAN from 1982 and we dove into all kinds of aspects of the film and had lots of laughs.

    Thanks to Rockin’ Robbie Billz for bringing me on board!

    Current + Upcoming Releases

  • Conan: Battle of the Black Stone TPB – released April 1st.
  • Rick and Morty VS Cthulhu – Deluxe Edition – released April 1st.
  • Conan the Barbarian #20 – released April 16th.
  • FCBD Conan: Scourge of the Serpent – Prelude – released May 3rd.
  • Conan the Barbarian #21 – releases June 11th.
  • Savage Sword of Conan vol. 2 – releases June 17th.
  • Street Fighter Masters: Elena one-shot – releases June 25th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #22 – releases July 9th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #23 – releases August 13th.
  • Conan the Barbarian vol. 5: Twisting Loyalties – releases August 20th.

    • Upcoming Appearances


    A last minute opportunity to attend the 50th anniversary of the Origins Game Fair in Columbus came my way, so I’ll be attending the GAMA Trade Day on Wednesday and then wandering Origins and taking meetings on Thursday and Friday! If you’re headed to Origins, feel free to reach out as I haven’t been to the show in twenty years, and I’m eager to see people there and also see what’s changed over the years.

    Other events added to my schedule: Signing at Gotham Central Comics in Mississauga on June 28th and confirmation that I will be back at San Diego Comic Con in late July!

    Jun 12-15, 2025 Glass Cannon Retreat Las Vegas, NV, USA
    Jun 18-20, 2025 Origins Game Fair Columbus, OH, USA
    Jun 28, 2025 Gotham Central – Signing Noon-2pm Toronto, ON, CANADA
    Jul 23-Jul 27, 2025 San Diego Comic Con San Diego, CA, USA
    Jul 31-Aug 3, 2025 Gen Con Indy – Booth 1349 Indianapolis, IN, 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

    • Professor Dungeon Master covers the age-old divide between strategic gamers and role-players in TTRPGs.

    • Over on Big Think, Derek Thompson discusses the changing social patterns in North America because of technology and social media.
    Jim

    Zubby Newsletter #115: Sprinting Through Spain

    Posted by on June 2, 2025 No comments
    After our signing at Arte 9 in Madrid. From left: Alberto Alburquerque, me, Fernando Dagnino, Ivan Gil.

    Stacy and I are at our hotel in Madrid, easing our way through the morning as we finish packing our luggage and then head to the airport. I wanted to send out a newsletter four days ago after we finished the London leg of it all, but it’s been too busy for me to carve out the time to get it done until now.

    Man oh man, what a trip. MCM London Comic Con was bustling, the store signings I’ve done have been hopping, and there’s been a steady drumbeat of go-go-go punctuating almost every day. Even our ‘break’ days have been intense as we packed in visits with old friends and a couple business meetings as well. It wasn’t until yesterday, when we took a day trip to Segovia with Ivan Gil and his wife Luda, that things seemed to slow down enough to realize how quick it’s all been going.

    In Segovia at the famous aqueduct.

    Don’t get me wrong, it’s been really fun. Among the many highlights:

    • Being set up at the convention between Mark Brooks and Stanley ‘Artgerm’ Lau, watching both of them absolutely crush it in terms of sketches for fans.

    • Dinner with Sean Gordon Murphy and his crew, talking about broader industry trends and weathering the storm of publishing highs and lows.

    • Catching up with Alex Trowers, Leanne and their amazing kids after the show wrapped up on Sunday.

    • Wandering London with them, Gabrielle Kent, Satish and their little one, including a foray into the British Museum.

    • A big pizza dinner with so many of our England friends, including the wonderful Rhianna Pratchett, to cap off our time in London.

    • Stopping by the Titan Books office to discuss future Conan the Barbarian plans.

    • Stacy and I gallery and museum’ed it up in both cities, with visits to the British National Gallery, the Prado, the Reina Sofia, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza museums. So much art, an overflowing blast of inspiration.

    • Both signings in Madrid were amazing! So many Spanish readers came out and quite a few of them brought stacks of my books to sign. The staff at Arte 9 and Omega Center were so incredibly welcoming and stocked deep on titles as well.

    • A bunch of Spanish comic creators came out for dinner after the Omega Center signing on Saturday, including my friend Pepe Larraz, who is the current artist of Amazing Spider-Man.

    Deep stock of Spanish language Zub comics at Omega Center.

    Getting face time with Spanish creators, especially the wonderful artists I’m currently working with, was incredibly special. As much as we all try to stay in touch, via email or Zoom, nothing can replace that in-person experience. We really are a creative team, and the stronger that bond can be, the better. I want my collaborators to know how much I value their efforts, month after month.

    As tired as I feel sprinting through the past nine days, my mind is sparking with electricity because of the great interactions I’ve had with everyone here overseas. In a year already packed with amazing experiences, this trip has been an unexpected high point…

    (…and we’ll be back in the UK again in November for a double dose of D&D in a Castle!)

    Current + Upcoming Releases

  • Conan: Battle of the Black Stone TPB – released April 1st.
  • Rick and Morty VS Cthulhu – Deluxe Edition – released April 1st.
  • Conan the Barbarian #20 – released April 16th.
  • FCBD Conan: Scourge of the Serpent – Prelude – released May 3rd.
  • Conan the Barbarian #21 – releases June 11th.
  • Street Fighter Masters: Elena one-shot – releases June 25th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #22 – releases July 9th.

    • Upcoming Appearances


    I’m a surprise guest at the Glass Cannon Retreat happening in Las Vegas in a couple weeks! I’ll be running TTRPG sessions and playing a few NPCs during the festivities and it’s going to be awesome.

    June 12-15, 2025 Glass Cannon Retreat Las Vegas, NV, USA
    Jul 31-Aug 3, 2025 Gen Con Indy – Booth 1349 Indianapolis, IN, 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

    • An artbook retrospective of Frank Frazetta’s early career is funding over on Kickstarter and it looks like it’s going to be a beauty: Becoming Frazetta- The Early Years of a Fantasy Art Master.

    • Another artbook for a classic artist that’s also funding right now online and well worth checking out: Into White- The Art of George Pratt.

    • The unofficial Howardverse website has a list of ‘Where to start with Conan the Barbarian comics’ that acts as a quick overview of the character’s history in comics.

    Jim

    Zubby Newsletter #114: Forty Nine

    Posted by on May 19, 2025 No comments
    Forty Nine is the new Twenty Nerd.

    Yesterday was my birthday. 49.

    A year ago, Stacy and I were in Japan. Two years ago, we were in England. Despite the excitement of being on the road for my birthday, it was nice to be home instead this time, even though we are sprinting to get ready for almost two weeks of travel starting in a couple days – off to England again and then Spain for the first time.

    For this birthday we had a lazy Sunday with an ‘open house’ format. Friends stopped by to say “Hi”, we played some video games and board games, and then ordered in pizza for dinner. Nice and simple. A lot of people were away for the long weekend, but everyone who made it out brought a lot of good cheer.

    There was some chatter about next year – what we might do for the big 5-0. Hard to say right now, but we certainly have more flexibility if we want to make a trip out of it.

    It’s been a transformative year and shows no signs of slowing down. I am so incredibly thankful for family, friends, and even strangers reading here who care enough to stay on top of what I’m doing and offer kind words and support. Thank you!

    Casual Conversation, Big Information

    I was a guest on Gary B, the Casual Comic Guy’s livestream on Saturday, and it ended up being a surprisingly in-depth talk about my work on Conan the Barbarian loaded with info and anecdotes – What it’s like writing the character, working with so many amazing artists, trying to honor what’s come before while also building new things, and much more.

    Edith Finch


    Thanks to the power of Steam sales, I’ve been digging into a variety of older video games at bargain prices. Amongst several I recently picked up and enjoyed is What Remains of Edith Finch. Unlike many other titles I gravite towards, this one is not an action or strategy game at all, it’s an atmospheric first-person narrative with environments you explore packed with melancholy ambience as strange and somber stories of an odd family unfold before you.

    Edith Finch can be ‘completed’ in less than three hours, but the way it’s told and the questions it raises stick around long after that play time is complete. It caught me at just the right time – I was in a contemplative mood in the lead up to my birthday and was thoroughly impressed with how polished and engaing this was. If you want a very different kind of gaming experience, a slow and deliberate journey that’s reflective and charming, I recommend adding it to your Wish List.

    Current + Upcoming Releases

  • Conan: Battle of the Black Stone TPB – released April 1st.
  • Rick and Morty VS Cthulhu – Deluxe Edition – released April 1st.
  • Conan the Barbarian #20 – released April 16th.
  • FCBD Conan: Scourge of the Serpent – Prelude – released May 3rd.
  • Conan the Barbarian #21 – releases June 11th.
  • Street Fighter Masters: Elena one-shot – releases June 25th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #22 – releases July 9th.

    • Upcoming Appearances

    Another signing has been added to our Spain trip so if you live near Madrid, or know any comic fans who do, please let them know. Gen Con Indianapolis is also now officially on the schedule for August.

    Incredibly, a few more shows are getting finalized, so expect more appearance announcements coming up!

    May 23-25, 2025 London MCM Comic Con London, UK
    May 26, 2025 Forbidden Planet – Signing 2-3pm London, UK
    May 30, 2025 Arte 9 – Signing 6:30-8pm Madrid, SPAIN
    May 31, 2025 Omega Center – Signing 7-8pm Madrid, SPAIN
    Jul 31-Aug 3, 2025 Gen Con Indy – Booth 1349 Indianapolis, IN, 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

    • Comic artist Afua Richardson is struggling with expenses after major surgery and could use assistance. Please head over to the Go Fund Me page if you can help, and share the link far and wide.

    • The 2025 Eisner Award nominations are out. Great to see such a wide variety of titles represented across the industry. Also always a pleasure to see so many of my friends represented in the line up. Congrats to all the nominees!

    Jim

    Zubby Newsletter #113: Free For Thee

    Posted by on May 14, 2025 No comments


    Last weekend, our neighborhood hosted a ‘Flee or Free’ event in one of the local parks, a chance to giveaway or sell stuff to the community. Stacy and I used it as motivation to clear out old and rarely used kitchen gadgets and cutlery, including some pots and plates I’d been carting around since college. Some of the stuff we gave away and that’s okay – better to have things being used by strangers over just taking up shelf or drawer space gathering dust. Getting to know people who live nearby and petting some happy dogs in the park was worth more than the few bucks we might have haggled for.

    That concept of “Spring cleaning” is on my mind a lot lately, trying to clear out tired objects and unwanted thoughts kept well past their due date along with other old baggage and bad habits. I know how intense things will get as convention season really kicks into gear, so a bit of tidying up and reorganizing is good to keep in mind, inside and out.


    Speaking of fine freebies, the 2025 CONAN THE BARBARIAN Free Comic Book Day issue is now FREE everywhere!

    Grab the digital release on the Titan website and Kindle right HERE, so please share that link far and wide!

    Poetry Reading

    Savage Sword of Conan #8 arrived in stores two weeks ago and inside that issue I have a new poem, inspired by the Cimmerian and his brothers-in-arms. Like I did with the poem in issue #3, I did a short reading you can check out on my YouTube channel.

    The Warriors & Wizards Compendium Arrives in November!


    A new hardcover collection for the D&D Young Adventurer’s Guide series arrives in November-
    The Warriors & Wizards Compendium!

    Collecting and updating material from our character-centric volumes, it’s the perfect way to introduce new people to character creation and worlds of adventure!

    Splash Pages

    I was a guest on Splash Pages alongside four bombastic hosts, and we chatted all about sword & sorcery, gaming, and comics, including some deep cuts to projects I’ve almost never talked about before.

    Current + Upcoming Releases

  • Conan the Barbarian #19 – released March 19th.
  • Conan: Battle of the Black Stone TPB – released April 1st.
  • Rick and Morty VS Cthulhu – Deluxe Edition – released April 1st.
  • Conan the Barbarian #20 – released April 16th.
  • FCBD Conan: Scourge of the Serpent – Prelude – released May 3rd.
  • Conan the Barbarian #21 – releases June 11th.
  • Street Fighter Masters: Elena one-shot – releases June 25th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #22 – releases July 9th.

    • Upcoming Appearances


    I received news that my first table at D&D In a Castle in November is now SOLD OUT, but there are still a few seats available for group 2, happening from November 10-14. Find out more about what I’m planning for the game by watching this stream interview.

    Despite my original plan to stay home through most of June, I’m talking about a couple exciting event possibilities – more details may be coming soon…

    May 23-25, 2025 London MCM Comic Con London, UK
    May 26, 2025 Forbidden Planet – Signing 2-3pm London, UK
    May 31, 2025 Omega Center – Signing 7-8pm Madrid, SPAIN
    Jul 31-Aug 3, 2025 Gen Con Indy Indianapolis, IN, 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 Conan the Barbarian editor Chris Butera has his first prose novel coming out in August and it’s called The Darkest Deep. He just sent me a digital advanced reader copy and I’m excited to check it out.

    • Professor Dungeon Master‘s recent DM Manifesto is a pretty solid round-up of advice that wisely focuses on momentum, entertainment, and engagement. Great stuff.

    • Speaking of tabletop gaming advice, Ginny Di does a fantastic job summarizing quick and easy ways to homebrew new monsters to surprise and perplex your players.

    Jim

    Zubby Newsletter #112: Eyes Thrice Open

    Posted by on May 5, 2025 No comments
    Free Comic Book Day 2025 at Third Eye.

    Two years ago, the new Conan the Barbarian series launched on Free Comic Book Day with our special promotional zero issue and I signed at Third Eye Comics in Annapolis, Maryland. This past weekend, I was back there again with a new FCBD issue as we rocket toward the third year of the series. Longtime friend Ray Fawkes, comic newcomer Jason Shaw, and I had a 3-hour whirlwind signing at the flagship store and easily signed over 800 books apiece. It was exhausting and invigorating. What a rush.

    With writers Ray Fawkes (The Phantom) and Jason Shaw (Snow Monkey).

    This was my fifth signing at Third Eye (wait, maybe my sixth – Is it good that I’m not sure?) and, each and every time, I leave with a warm feeling that, no matter how tumultuous publishing comics can be, things are going to be okay.

    I’ve told many comic professionals this, but it’s well worth repeating as loud and wide as possible – If there was a shop like Third Eye Comics in every state in the U.S., the North American comic book industry would be in a completely different place – a much better place.

    What Steve and Trish have managed to accomplish over the past 17 years is absolutely incredible. They have taken the buzz around pop culture – comics, superheroes, anime, manga, games, music, horror, sci-fi, alt culture – and built incredibly well curated stores that celebrate and sell on a scale I have rarely seen before. Most importantly, their staff are knowledgeable, friendly, exuberant, patient, motivated, and – wait for it – well taken care of (solid base pay, health insurance, retirement benefits) and in turn they deliver a customer experience that is top tier. That, in turn, has built a phenomenally loyal customer base that trusts their recommendations and comes out in droves for their events. It’s the kind of vibrant pop culture ecosystem that people in this business dream about, located a short drive from Baltimore and Washington DC.

    Hardcore collectors, casual readers, and kids are all well served. Whatever you are into, Third Eye has it – stocked deep and sold with a sincere smile. Until you see it, it’s hard to describe.

    Comic publishers, distributors, and other retailers could learn a hell of a lot from those people and their stores. I learn something new about this business every single time I visit, and you can bet I’ll be back whenever they want me there to promote my work.

    Want a Signed Copy?

    Speaking of well stocked, Third Eye has a limited number of extra signed copies of the CONAN: SCOURGE OF THE SERPENT Prelude and PHANTOM #0 set aside for people who couldn’t make it to their shop, and they do mail order as well, so if you want a copy for your collection, don’t miss out.

    The Serpent Revealed!

    Line art by Ivan Gil. Colors by João Canola.

    Now that the Scourge of the Serpent Prelude issue has been released (and don’t worry, the free digital version will be arriving online soon), it’s time to start revealing some of our secrets!

    Over on the official Conan website I dug in deep with Lo Terry, talking at length about my grand plan for the story and how we’re weaving three different Robert E. Howard tales together into one swirling sword & sorcery tale.

    It’s ambitious, audacious even, but man oh man, it’s also a lot of fun. Ivan and João are delivering glorious artwork, sweeping readers across time, space, and sanity. The twinkle in my eye for this story has become so much more thanks to our team and I’m incredibly grateful.

    D&D in a Castle Deep Dive




    Hopper the Devoted and I were on a livestream last week reminiscing about D&D in a Castle and chatting about what’s coming up in November for my players headed to Castle Lumley.

    One of my two tables are already sold out, but there are still seats available for my November 10-14 adventure!

    Current + Upcoming Releases

  • Conan the Barbarian #19 – released March 19th.
  • Conan: Battle of the Black Stone TPB – released April 1st.
  • Rick and Morty VS Cthulhu – Deluxe Edition – released April 1st.
  • Conan the Barbarian #20 – released April 16th.
  • FCBD Conan: Scourge of the Serpent – Prelude – released May 3rd.
  • Conan the Barbarian #21 – releases June 11th.
  • Street Fighter Masters: Elena one-shot – releases June 25th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #22 – releases July 9th.

    • Upcoming Appearances

    Stacy and I are headed to England later this month for MCM Comic Con London, but the adventure doesn’t stop there – We’re hopping over to Spain for a few days so I can meet some of the amazing artists I’m working with and will be signing with Fernando Dagnino and Ivan Gil on May 31st at 7pm at the Omega Center comic shop in Madrid!

    May 23-25, 2025 London MCM Comic Con London, UK
    May 26, 2025 Forbidden Planet – Signing 2-3pm London, UK
    May 31, 2025 Omega Center – Signing 7-8pm Madrid, SPAIN
    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

    • Ed Zitron‘s articles on the flaws and economic pitfalls of generative AI are extensive and his latest newsletter, Reality Check, is well worth reading. “Generative AI isn’t about helping you or me do things — it’s about making new SKUs, new monthly subscription costs for consumers and enterprises, new ways to convince people to pay more for the things that they already used to be slightly different in a way that often ends up being worse.”

    • The Byte’s Noor Al-Sibai has an article about people becoming addicted to chatbot interactions, which is hard to fathom but feeds into a dystopian ‘loneliness economy’ we should not ignore.

    • Are we doing three dark article links here at the end of an upbeat newsletter? I swear, I’m in a good mood. Anyways, I also couldn’t ignore Jia Tolentino‘s latest New Yorker article called ‘My Brain Finally Broke’. It’s hauntingly well written, despite its deeply depressing subject matter.

    Jim

    Zubby Newsletter #111: Annual Adventures

    Posted by on April 29, 2025 No comments
    With the legendary Frank Miller at this year’s Calgary Expo.

    There have been 18 Calgary Comic Expos so far and I’ve been to 17 of them for good reason. Every year, it’s a fun celebration of pop culture and creators in a city that proves, time and time again, that they love comics and art…and getting to see old friends and former students is icing on top of a really wonderful cake.

    This year’s show included a surreal surprise. On Friday night, our crew had dinner with Frank Miller and I ended up sitting next to the man himself. Over a couple hours we talked about all kinds of things, including Robert E. Howard, pulp stories, and legacy characters. We also talked about lyricism and poetry, and when I mentioned I’d written a poem in the new Savage Sword of Conan #3, Frank wanted to see it.

    He carefully read it, line by line, and told me it “felt like Howard by way of Tennyson”, a massive compliment. I have a new poem arriving in Savage Sword of Conan #8, in stores this week, and he told me to send it to him once I got home.

    The next morning, Frank came by to get a copy of the new Conan the Barbarian series and we chatted long enough that he was late for his first signing of the day. I know people were waiting, but it really did feel amazing to spend that extra time and go through parts of the book with him as he lavished praise on our team-

    “When the story comes from somewhere real, you can feel it. I see the passion you guys are putting on the page. This looks great.”

    It’s the kind of interaction you always hope for when it comes to industry legends, but not something you can ever expect or plan for, and it certainly made my weekend extra special.

    A couple sketches from Calgary – Batman and Minsc + Boo.

    Outside of that, panels and hangout time with other pros at the show was a delight. I lived in Calgary over 20 years ago, and seeing how the city has grown while still being able to recommend some old spots and shops makes it feel like it wasn’t all that long ago.

    I’m seeing friends for a couple extra days, and then touching base back home long enough to check mail and do laundry before I zip over to Maryland for a big Free Comic Book Day signing at Third Eye Comics alongside my friend Ray Fawkes. If you live in the Annapolis, Baltimore, or Washington DC area, make sure you come on out to Third Eye – it’s going to be awesome!

    On The Homestretch

    With Chris dela Torre from CBC Radio’s Homestretch show.

    I was interviewed by CBC Radio’s Homestretch show at the 11 minute mark of this section of their Calgary Expo live broadcast. Give it a listen!

    At the Corner of Story & Games


    It’s always a blast talking with Gerald at The Corner of Story & Games. This time we cover writing craft, navigating creative industries, working with existing IPs, and things I wish I’d known when I was starting out. Check it out!

    Current + Upcoming Releases

  • Thunderbolts: Winter Soldiers – released March 4th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #19 – released March 19th.
  • Conan: Battle of the Black Stone TPB – released April 1st.
  • Rick and Morty VS Cthulhu – Deluxe Edition – released April 1st.
  • Conan the Barbarian #20 – released April 16th.
  • FCBD Conan: Scourge of the Serpent – Prelude – releases May 3rd.
  • Conan the Barbarian #21 – releases June 11th.
  • Street Fighter Masters: Elena one-shot – releases June 25th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #22 – releases July 9th.

    • Upcoming Appearances

    May 3, 2025 Third Eye Comics – Signing 9am-Noon Annapolis, MD, USA
    May 23-25, 2025 London MCM Comic Con London, UK
    May 26, 2025 Forbidden Planet – Signing 2-3pm London, UK
    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

    • Why is Call of Cthulhu Japan’s favorite tabletop roleplaying game? Weird Place has a nice overview video on its popularity well worth checking out.

    • Artist Jake Parker has a rundown on how to improve comic storytelling from page rough to final. Solid critique that is useful for any aspiring artist.

    Jim

    Zubby Newsletter #110: Slow & Fast

    Posted by on April 22, 2025 No comments

    The past week has been simultaneously slow and fast – Slow to recover from jet lag and a head cold I picked up after traveling halfway around the world, and fast in terms of work still needing to get done, deadlines we had to meet before Stacy and I jump on a plane tomorrow to Calgary for the annual Comic & Entertainment Expo happening this weekend. Thankfully, those deadlines have been met and luggage is laid out behind me in a state of ‘mostly packed’ that will become ‘fully packed’ once the last load of laundry is done.

    Even though my Seneca staff account shut down on Monday, quietly marking the end of an era, it certainly doesn’t feel like life has slowed in any way, shape, or form. If anything, things are busier than they have been in quite a while. Stacy has a couple new projects she’s excitedly diving into, which means both of us have been clickety-clacking away on keyboards here at home, touching base for morning tea, lunch, and dinner but otherwise focused on deadlines and deliverables.

    I’d like to say that things will slow down in May but, when you scroll down to upcoming appearances you’ll see that isn’t true either…Right now, June looks reasonable, so we’ll go with that. 🙂

    The Tale of Four: Zula in Conan the Barbarian


    The official Conan the Barbarian website has a new article all about Zula’s return and how I’m weaving together multiple narrative sources to create a new version of a fan favorite character. Read on, adventurers, and make sure you snag issue #20, which came out last week!

    Interviewed In India

    While at Mumbai Comic Con, I spoke to PTI, India’s largest news agency. They used sound bites on TV and just posted the full interview on their YouTube channel. We talk about the entertainment industry, conventions, creating fictional characters, teaching, and AI.

    I also spoke to Arindam at a YouTube channel called Indian Nerve and had a text interview all about the use of AI and creativity printed in India’s Economic Times.

    Current + Upcoming Releases

  • Thunderbolts: Winter Soldiers – released March 4th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #19 – released March 19th.
  • Conan: Battle of the Black Stone TPB – released April 1st.
  • Rick and Morty VS Cthulhu – Deluxe Edition – released April 1st.
  • Conan the Barbarian #20 – released April 16th.
  • FCBD Conan: Scourge of the Serpent – Prelude – releases May 3rd.
  • Conan the Barbarian #21 – releases June 11th.
  • Street Fighter Masters: Elena one-shot – releases June 25th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #22 – releases July 9th.

    • Upcoming Appearances


    Thrilled to announce that I’m back at MCM Comic Con London on May 23-25, 2025 – Bring your Conan the Barbarian and other Zub books to get ’em signed in jolly ol’ England!

    Apr 24-27, 2025 Calgary Expo Calgary, Alberta, CANADA
    May 3, 2025 Third Eye Comics – Signing 9am-Noon Annapolis, MD, USA
    May 23-25, 2025 London MCM Comic Con London, UK
    May 26, 2025 Forbidden Planet – Signing 2-3pm London, UK
    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

    • Over on the Proko channel, painter Erik Gist talks about how to illustrate covers – composition, clarity, and storytelling. A good look at important skills that help sell books.

    • Matt Levin continues posting wonderful comic book content. This time he talks about the origin of Blacksad, one of the finest comics ever produced with animation-influenced art that is second to none. Just watching this video makes me want to go back and reread them all.

    • LEEP Gaming has a solid video explaining how Bloodborne learns from and improves upon the core gameplay from Dark Souls to create a satisfying game experience. Bloodborne’s 10th anniversary was a few weeks ago and I’ve been thinking about jumping in for a replay. Check out my ramblings about why I like Souls games way back in Zubby Newsletter #8.

    • Dan at the Conan Chronology has a well-sourced long form article all about the legacy of Savage Sword of Conan magazine.

    Jim

    Zubby Newsletter #109: Travel Changes You

    Posted by on April 16, 2025 No comments
    The Gateway of India in Mumbai.

    Travel changes you.

    I’ve told my students that for years and even now, after attending around 200 conventions all over the world, it still holds true. The moment you move outside the places you know and experience other countries and other cultures, you expand your understanding of our shared humanity and see how the place you grew up helped shape who you are.

    Traveling to India for the first time was wonderful, but intense. If my schedule wasn’t so stacked right now I would’ve loved to stay longer and see more, but even this quick tour and convention was still a real eye-opener. Mumbai is a bustling, vibrant city jam-packed with colorful sights. It’s also summertime right now, so the weather was extremely hot and humid, which slowed us down on our tour day, but it still made a really big impression on me.

    Great food, great conversations, and quite a few ‘How did all this even happen?’ pinch me moments. Six days across the world and back is a rough schedule and I know jet lag is going to have its grip on me for days to come, but it was worth it.

    My incredible booth set-up at Mumbai Comic Con

    Mumbai Comic Con was absolutely wild. It was one of the busiest and most passionate shows I have ever experienced in my 20+ years of conventions. I am gob smacked at the fandom there. The economics of everything in India is different from North America, so as a creator you need to adjust expectations on that front, but as a social and travel experience it was top notch and incredibly enriching.

    Unexpectedly, I was a huge draw at the show. I didn’t realize that the span of projects I’ve worked on would have such international appeal, but looking in the rearview mirror after the show it sort of makes sense – Marvel superheroes, Dungeons & Dragons, Conan the Barbarian, Rick and Morty, and Samurai Jack. Obviously I didn’t create those properties, but I’ve contributed to all of them and so fans from India came out in a big way to show their excitement and appreciation. In many ways, I was a one-stop shop for both younger and older fans. It was so crazy-busy on the show floor that volunteers had to form a human ring around Rob DenBleyker (Cyanide & Happiness, huge with the online crowd) and I to get us to our booths or out to the green room for lunch. I have never experienced anything like that before. I’m not stating that to brag, honestly, the whole thing was amazing and also mind-numbing.

    The Comic Con India staff worked their butts off to keep the event running smooth and I could see a lot of shared values and bonds between them that reminded me of the original Calgary Expo crew, a show put together by one of my closest friends that earned its excellent reputation. That’s the best compliment I can give – the hospitality and hard work in Mumbai reminded me of some of my favorite convention experiences and is now right up there with them.

    All in all, it was one heck of an adventure. I’m so thankful I was able to experience it and now have advice for other creators who might be interested in heading to India for conventions in the future.

    One of the many sketches I did for fans and staff at the show.

    Indian Comic Creators – Info and Links

    With Ravi Raj Ahuja, Bijoy Raveendran, and Utsab Chatterjee – The Technicolour Lovers team.

    One of the other nice surprises at the con was getting to meet other creators in India, both independant and commercial. I wish I had more time to explore and meet local creators at the show, but here are a few highlights:

    • The crew at Black Sheep Comics and Yali Dream Creations had copies of Technicolour Lovers at the show and it looks absolutely top notch. Make sure you check out the preview pages and, if you’re as impressed as I was, snag a copy for yourself.

    • Vivek Goel was inspired by Marc Silvestri‘s company Top Cow Entertainment and, since India reveers cows as sacred, his comic company is called Holy Cow Entertainment, and they have a slew of original titles worth checking out.

    • Rosh is an award-winning artist and colorist and his wife Lilo is a fashion designer. Together they have a fantastic selection of sketchbook bags and other art supplies at their website LILOROSH.

    • Tadam Gyadu is the artist of Spider-Man: India, producing amazing artwork locally and abroad. Check his art out!

    • Aparna Chaurasia gifted me a copy of Soul Contract, her manga-style graphic novel and it looks great!

    Twisting Loyalties and the Road Ahead

    Zula makes his Titan debut – line art by Doug Braithwaite, colors by Diego Rodriguez, lettering by Richard Starkings and Tyler Smith.

    Today sees the arrival of Conan the Barbarian #20, the final part of our Twisting Loyalties story arc! Doug, Diego, and the rest of the team put their all into every damn page. I am so, so proud of our work here. Please grab your own copy and let us know what you think.

    Now that we’re a month removed from the previous issue, I can spoil that Zula is back. He’s a fan favorite character from the original Marvel run who was adapted into a female version in the Conan the Destroyer movie. Like with introducing the iconic Atlantean Sword into comic continuity, I’m working to merge pop culture visions of Conan together into a somewhat cohesive whole, so expect to see multiple versions of Zula work their way into the story in ways readers may not expect. Issue #19 even has tabletop roleplaying game stats for Zula included, a bit of cross promotion with the Conan: The Hyborian Age TTRPG.

    Twisting Loyalties is transitional in some ways, setting up chess pieces for future moves in the big mythic story I’m building in the monthly flagship book and yearly events, but I wanted to make sure that the adventures here also had pulpy power all on their own. That’s the tricky balance we’re trying to keep and so far readers are responding well.

    Conan the Barbarian #20 sneak peek.

    Current + Upcoming Releases


    With the sale of Diamond Distribution there have been shipping delays and hassles galore across the comic industry, but it looks like things are set to improve with new ownership and new options, including Lunar. We’ve been on time, production-wise, but to keep from having a gap mid-story arc as ownership changes hands, it looks like Titan is delaying the release of Conan the Barbarian #21 by one month, from May to June. Thankfully, with Free Comic Book Day we’ll still have a May release, our free Scourge of the Serpent Prelude issue. Don’t miss it!

  • Thunderbolts: Winter Soldiers – released March 4th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #19 – released March 19th.
  • Conan: Battle of the Black Stone TPB – released April 1st.
  • Rick and Morty VS Cthulhu – Deluxe Edition – released April 1st.
  • Conan the Barbarian #20 – released April 16th.
  • FCBD Conan: Scourge of the Serpent – Prelude – releases May 3rd.
  • Conan the Barbarian #21 – releases June 11th.
  • Street Fighter Masters: Elena one-shot – releases June 25th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #22 – releases July 9th.

    • Upcoming Appearances

    Apr 24-27, 2025 Calgary Expo Calgary, Alberta, CANADA
    May 3, 2025 Third Eye Comics – FCBD Signing Annapolis, MD, 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

    • Stacy is over the moon for the upcoming Murderbot TV series coming to Apple+ next month and has been feverishly watching the new trailer. I hope it’s just as sharp as the novella source material by Martha Wells.

    • Superman writer Josh Williamson has a great chat with Sal over at Comic Pop. His straight forward advice and practical understanding of how the business works is bang-on.

    • My buddy Ron Marz has a new campaign on Zoop for a Shinku comic series collection, a creator-owned book that came out not too long after Skullkickers back in the day. It’ll be nice to finally have as much of this story available as possible, with artwork by the late-great Lee Moder.

    • Mike Dargie, one of my old friends from Calgary when I first started teaching animation, has a new book coming out called Brandjitsu all about creative branding and business.

    Jim

    Zubby Newsletter #108: Globetrotting

    Posted by on April 10, 2025 No comments
    In the Delhi Airport waiting for my flight to Mumbai.

    16 hours travel time and I’ve arrived in India. I managed to get some sleep on the plane and feel a bit spacey but not too bad so far. I’m going to crash out early and try to reset in the morning to match local time as best I can. Fingers crossed.

    Every time I’ve been fortunate enough to go on one of these international convention trips, the surrealness of it all really hits me. Traveling the world because of comics, stories, and games. It’s the kind of thing I didn’t even dream about when I was younger because it never even crossed my mind that it might be possible to do this as a career. As far as I could tell back then, in order to do comics you either had to live in New York City or be brilliant and British.

    I’ve said it many times, but it’s still true – meeting the people who worked on superhero stories, or D&D, or Conan the Barbarian would have been mind-blowing enough for this kid. Actually doing this, year after year, and getting to meet fans and fellow creators in so many places – Let me never take this for granted.

    Swords & Larceny Arrives in September

    I have a short story in the upcoming prose anthology Swords & Larceny alongside a slew of amazing industry authors and friends, including John C. Hocking (Conan: City of the Dead) and Mark Finn (Blood & Thunder), with a cover by the amazing Todd Lockwood.

    Make sure you PRE-ORDER now to ensure you get your copy in September!

    —
    Even the most flawless plans have a way of unraveling. When the stakes are high and the odds are stacked, only the cleverest and most daring will make it out with the prize. Thirteen daring tales of fantasy heists and high-stakes capers—where charm is as sharp as steel, and the score of a lifetime is just one misstep away.

    Conan Chatter at Comic Shenanigans

    Always wonderful to chat with Adam at Comic Shenanigans. This time we dive in deep on Conan the Barbarian, Battle of the Black Stone, Scourge of the Serpent, other Robert E. Howard characters, Free Comic Book Day promotion, working with Jonas Scharf, Ivan Gil, readers getting their money’s worth every issue, the intensity of Frozen Faith, doing conventions with Comic Sketch Art, Skullkickers, Thunderbolts, and more!

    You can listen to our previous conversations here: Episodes 368,794, 986, and 1022.

    Traversing Epic Realms

    I had a fun chat with Nick over at Epic Realms. We talk up a storm about growing up nerdy, how my love of comics and gaming are intrisincally tied together, Skullkickers, Dungeons & Dragons, the Thunderbolts movie and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, source material, Conan the Barbarian, and more!

    Current + Upcoming Releases

  • Conan the Barbarian Vol. 4: Frozen Faith TPB – released February 19th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #18 – released February 19th.
  • Thunderbolts: Winter Soldiers – released March 4th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #19 – released March 19th.
  • Conan: Battle of the Black Stone TPB – released April 1st.
  • Rick and Morty VS Cthulhu – Deluxe Edition – released April 1st.
  • Conan the Barbarian #20 – releases April 16th.
  • FCBD Conan: Scourge of the Serpent – Prelude – releases May 3rd.
  • Conan the Barbarian #21 – releases May 14th.

    • Upcoming Appearances

    Apr 12-13, 2025 Mumbai Comic Con Mumbai, INDIA
    Apr 24-27, 2025 Calgary Expo Calgary, Alberta, CANADA
    May 3, 2025 Third Eye Comics – FCBD Signing Annapolis, MD, 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 Karl Kerschl has a new crowdfunding campaign coming up for his creator-owned comic called Death Transit Magpie and he and Andy Belanger also have a new YouTube channel where they’re discussing classic comics and their influences that is a lot of fun.

    • Legendary Dungeons & Dragons illustrator Jeff Easley has a big art book funding over on Kickstarter. His artwork for gamebooks through the 80’s and 90’s helped set the vision for D&D.

    • If you enjoyed The Expanse as much as Stacy and I did, you’ll definitely want to check out the continuation being put together in graphic novels, the latest of which is being written by my friend Andy Diggle.

    Jim