Zubby Newsletter #104: Looking For Some Lift

As I type this, the new SKULLKICKERS Collection campaign on Zoop has popped over the funding line and we still have 3 weeks left, so it’s definitely happening and you can join in!

Get this new printing of my first sword and sorcery story at a great price or get the books and other spiffy extras like signatures, sketches, original art, and other add-ons – It’s also a perfect gift for the sword & sorcery fan or TTRPGer in your life, so please check it out and share the link far and wide!


A little slice of sunset serenity in Alberta.

I’ve been staying just outside Calgary, visiting friends and recharging before Emerald City Comicon in Seattle and it’s been a nice change of pace, but I miss Stacy a lot. On our shared calendar the schedule looked relatively organized, but I always forget the ‘mental mileage’ of being on the road compared to being at home with her.

March is extremely busy with conventions on 3 out of 4 weekends along with deadlines aplenty and, with the tumultuous state of politics and economics, it’s also incredibly hard to concentrate on creative projects even when I love what I’m doing and am working with such incredible people. That said, a big reason why I keep going back to Emerald City Comicon is because the social component is so strong and it reminds me why I do what I do. Here’s hoping this year’s show casts a similar spell because I think everyone there could really use a burst of uplifting energy.


Talking to the Comics Beat

I spoke to Diego Higuera at The Comics Beat all about SKULLKICKERS – the original series, our new printing, the manga-sized format, and more! Make sure you check this one out because we cover a lot of great material.


Three REH Award Nominations!


The REH Foundation has posted the nomination list for the 2025 Robert E. Howard Awards!

There are 9 nominees for the coveted Rankin Award and I’m thrilled to have 3 of those nominations alongside our killer creative teams. Congrats to all the nominees, especially Howard scholar Jeff Shanks, whose essays in Battle of the Black Stone also earned him a nomination! Seeing so many friends, collaborators, and prominent members of the fandom represented in those nominations is wonderful.


Current + Upcoming Releases

  • Savage Sword of Conan Vol. 1 TPB – released January 14th.
  • Conan the Barbarian Vol. 4: Frozen Faith TPB – released February 19th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #18 – released February 19th.
  • Thunderbolts: Winter Soldiers – releases March 4th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #19 – releases March 19th.
  • Conan: Battle of the Black Stone TPB – releases April 1st.
  • Rick and Morty VS Cthulhu – Deluxe Edition – releases April 1st.
  • Savage Sword of Conan Vol. 2 TPB – releases April 8th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #20 – releases April 16th.

  • Upcoming Appearances

    Mar 6-9, 2025 Emerald City Comic Con Seattle, Washington, USA
    Mar 14-16, 2025 Toronto Comicon Toronto, Ontario, CANADA
    Mar 20-23, 2025 Gary Con XVII Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, USA
    Apr 24-27, 2025 Calgary Expo Calgary, Alberta, CANADA
    Nov 3-14, 2025 D&D in a Castle Castle Lumley, Newcastle, UK


    Other Links

    • Colleen Doran‘s latest newsletter is a step-by-step breakdown of her wonderful CONAN THE BARBARIAN variant cover artwork from issue #1 that came out in 2023. Such an honor to have this art on our series.

    • Chip Zdarsky promotes ZCN (Zdarsky Comic News) at the ComicsPro retailer conference as only he can – awkwardly…so awkwardly.

    • Jorge Molina‘s YouTube channel is a treasure trove of step-by-step artistic process that will amaze and inspire you.

    Jim

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