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!
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!
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
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
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
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Makeshift Miracle
Jaoo Canola’s story was very heartwarming.