Zub Tales

ShiftyLook Closing…

Posted by Jim Zub on March 10, 2014 2 comments

I’ve known for some time, but the news is finally percolating to the surface publicly: ShiftyLook will no longer be producing new webcomic content by the end of this month.

I wrote a plethora of strips for the site at different points in its development: Wonder Momo, Klonoa, Sky Kid, and Dragon Spirit. Getting the chance to create new stories and characters for so many game properties was a blast. The gang at ShiftyLook were incredibly supportive and hard working, and gave the creative teams brought on board lots of latitude to create the stories we wanted to tell. We were well paid and well treated through and through.

The original purpose of ShiftyLook, a streamlined way to reintroduce older Bandai-Namco IPs and put them in front of as big an audience as possible for a fraction of the cost of developing a new video game or anime, was forward thinking and had a lot of potential. I wish it had lived up to that more fully and hope the work created for it stays around in one form or another.

Klonoa: Dream Traveler of Noctis Sol doesn’t wrap up with a definitive ending, so I hope Hitoshi Ariga and I are able to revisit it at some point down the road. Even still, it was great adding to such a beloved cast of characters.

Wonder Momo: Battle Idol will be wrapping up with strip #200 and it has a solid ending that’s been planned for some time. I’m really proud that Erik, Omar, and I were able to bring Momo back to the masses and build it up into ShiftyLook’s most popular strip, which was then spun off into an anime mini-series and upcoming video game. I hope Wonder Momo carries on with the momentum we generated.

In any case, these kinds of things are out of our control. Like any work for hire project you can only do what you’re assigned to the best of your ability, and that’s what all of us on the team did. Thank you for your support!

If you enjoyed the Wonder Momo story online, please consider pre-ordering the upcoming print collection coming from UDON:

Wonder Momo: Battle Idol Vol. 1
Momoko was a typical Japanese teenager with dreams of becoming a famous pop idol, until an alien powersuit transformed her into the spectacular Wonder Momo! This cosmic hero punches, kicks, and hula hoops her way through monsters, henchmen, robots, and her most dangerous foe… the dreaded paparazzi!

PRE-ORDER!
Amazon.com
Barnes & Noble
Book Depository
Chapters-Indigo
Midtown Comics

Teaser: My Upcoming Disney/Marvel Project!

Posted by Jim Zub on March 6, 2014 No comments

Remember a couple weeks ago when I said I had more Marvel work coming? 🙂

This teaser just appeared on the Disney Inside the Magic website…

More info coming next week!

The Geek Show Interview From Animex

Posted by Jim Zub on March 2, 2014 No comments

I was interviewed by the Geek Show in England at the Animex festival. We talk all about Samurai Jack, working with other people’s creative properties and getting started in the business. My interview starts at the 1 hour 24 minute mark of the podcast. Give it a listen!

Interview On Multiversity

Posted by Jim Zub on March 1, 2014 No comments

Matt Meylikhov from Multiversity spoke to me at length about Skullkickers’ 5th story arc, creator-owned comics, working in a creative business, reboots, and much more! Click on through to give it a read and see exclusive preview images of Skullkickers #25 (arriving in March, so pre-order now)!

New Skullkickers Interview on The Beat!

Posted by Jim Zub on February 28, 2014 No comments

Steve Morris at the Beat talks to me all about Skullkickers, creator-owned comics, reboots, the business, and what else I have coming up…

Give it a read!

Samurai Jack #5 Reviews

Posted by Jim Zub on February 28, 2014 No comments

Samurai Jack #5 came out this week, wrapping up our first story arc ‘The Threads of Time”. What did critics think of it? Read on and find out…

• Eat Your Comics: “Issue #5 gets four stars, the new series gets five stars. Welcome back Jack!”

• Stash My Comics: “Fans of the show should already know how good this comic is and, if not, they’re missing out.”

• The Outhousers: “Jim Zub’s terse narration, injected with sparse dialogue, allows Andy Suriano’s art to take center stage. “

• Comic Book Therapy: “Samurai Jack brings things full circle and tells a really fitting story for the fan-favorite character.”

• Nerds on the Rocks: “This is one of those rare issues where you could remove every word from it and the art would tell the story with clarity.”

• Rock! Shock! Pop!: “Zub and Suriano have done a great job bringing Cartoon Network’s coolest sword swinger back to the printed page with the give issues that make up The Threads Of Time.”

• Geeked Out Nation: “Even against the insurmountable odds, Jack is able to portray the hero that every story involving samurai needs.”

• Shadowhawk’s Shade: 9/10 “All the things that I wanted from this issue, I got, because Jim understands the setting and the characters, and because the artists are just so damn good in every possible way.”

Pathfinder: City of Secrets #1 Arrives in May!

Posted by Jim Zub on February 27, 2014 No comments

PathfinderSecrets01-cov-UltraLimitedCummings

Comics Alliance has an exclusive first look at the new Pathfinder: City of Secrets comic I’m writing that continues the story of the iconic heroes of the award-winning Pathfinder RPG. Click on through to read about the story, new exclusive RPG material, and see sample interior and cover artwork.

PATHFINDER: CITY OF SECRETS #1
(W) Jim Zub (A) Leandro Oliveira (CA) Carlos E. Gomez

The Pathfinder heroes head to the city of Magnimar, and danger isn’t far behind. As the wizard Ezren seeks an audience with the Pathfinder Society, his adventuring allies explore the city’s ancient magic, well-hidden secrets, and deep political divides. The dangers and opportunities of the big city could bring the adventurers closer together–or tear them apart!

This issue marks the start of a new adventure series and is the perfect jumping on point for new readers. Come aboard and see why Pathfinder is the world’s best-selling fantasy roleplaying game. Each issue of this exciting new series also includes an exclusive Pathfinder Roleplaying Game encounter and a bonus playable tactical map/art poster, bound in with each issue!

I Wrote an Iron Man Comic for Kids!

Posted by Jim Zub on February 27, 2014 1 comment

The Walt Disney company website has just posted an interview with Marvel Creative Director Bill Rosemann where he talks about a special Iron Man short story I wrote that will be distributed to hospitals around the world.

It’s my first Marvel writing project and, I’m happy to say, there’s more Marvel material coming from me soon… 🙂

Samurai Jack #8 and Vol. 1 Arrive In May!

Posted by Jim Zub on February 19, 2014 No comments

Arriving in May, the new issue and our 1st Samurai Jack collected edition. Pre-order now!

Samurai Jack #8
Jim Zub & Andy Suriano (w) • Suriano (a & c)
Jack reflects on his odyssey to return to the past, but he won’t like what he finds staring back at him. A special silent issue illustrated by Samurai Jack character designer Andy Suriano!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
• Andy Suriano returns for this fantastic tale!
• “A comic book any Samurai Jack fan — and Genndy Tartakovsky himself — would be proud of.” – IGN

Samurai Jack, Vol. 1: The Threads of Time
Jim Zub (w) • Andy Suriano (a & c)
The legendary samurai known only as “Jack” is stranded in a strange future ruled by the demonic wizard, Aku. His quest to return back to the past has tested him many times, but now the stakes are higher than ever. Can an ancient relic known as the Rope of Eons finally take him home? Collects issues #1–5.
TPB • FC • $19.99 • 120 pages • ISBN: 978-1-61377-894-4
• “By combining their reverence for the source material with a strong desire to move it forward, they’ve created a new beginning for a character with a considerable history and made it an excellent jumping on point for new and old fans alike.” –Newsarama