Well, Well, Well...
Look who kind of forgot to update for over half a year...
I’ll keep this brief — I think it’s a good thing I haven’t had time to update here! Maybe. But I’ve gotten some new subscribers lately, so I figured I should drag myself out here to say hello.
I’m just coming off a 24 hour-only trip to SDCC, during which time I got to meet up with several editors of projects past and present (and hopefully future!), meet some new collaborators, and get exposed to the ‘vid. I’ve tested negative once, have no symptoms, but am planning to test again tomorrow to verify. (Good lord, y’all, you don’t need me to tell you how wild it was out there.) I masked up on the show floor but this virus isn’t playing.
It’s frustrating to see how well they enforced safety regulations in 2022 and decided to do nothing in the last two years since. The “Comic Con exclusive Covid variant” jokes weren’t funny the last few years I’ve heard them, and they’re not funny now. But I digress — I hope everyone recovers well and fully.
I was invited to attend Mad Cave’s 10th anniversary party, which was a delight. The folks at Mad Cave, Maverick, and Papercutz are all wonderful and passionate people telling some extremely fun stories. I’ve had the pleasure to work with a few of them, but that’s all top secret for now…
At the Insight Editions booth, I also quickly signed a chunk of their Ghostbusters Tarot Decks, marking the first time I’ve 1) signed anything at SDCC and 2) had my work for sale on the show floor. Wowza!
On the train home, I read YOUTH GROUP, from First Second, written by Jordan Morris and illustrated by Bowen McCurdy. It was a DING-DANG DELIGHT. It’s very easy to say it’s similar to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but it’s so much more than that. It’s hilarious, heartfelt, and has some of the funniest Christian rock parody song titles I’ve ever read. A little bit of My Best Friend’s Exorcism vibes too, but none of that does it justice. If you’ve enjoyed Jordan’s writing on the Archie Horror titles, you’re going to love this one. I promise.
Rewind:
Let’s do a quick catch up on what happened since we last chatted here! (AKA a rehash of my January 1 newsletter.)
Newburn Issues #13-16 came out, and with it, LOADED DICE! Our four part crime story got to hail the end of the phenomenal crime series by Zdarsky and Phillips. Those single issues are still the only current way to read the full story, but next year we may be able to reprint it as a standalone. Stay tuned.
Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe of Horrors: Fresh Meat released in March to much excitement — writers Jordan Morris, Ryan Cady, and myself did a whirlwind trip through several SoCal comic stores to sign their stock. Maybe if it does well, they’ll have us back for a dessert course next year!
Dungeons & Dragons Ravenloft: Caravan of Curses released in April. That behemoth of a book baby makes me so proud. Casey Gilly and I did a co-writer signing at Things From Another World Universal Citywalk AND at Golden Apple with the Pop’s boys and it was pretty awesome.
My Little Pony: Kenbucky Roller Derby #3 came out in mid-April as well! My roller derby team bought over 30 copies and celebrated the book’s release at practice. It meant the world to me.
Killtopia: Nano Jams hit full funding on Kickstarter! I will have a three-page story with artist Darren Vogt in that one, so keep an eye out for post-campaign ways to acquire the book.
What’s Next?
So, the reason why I haven’t updated much is because I’ve been CRAZY busy lately, with stuff that’s 100% totally not announced yet. But rest assured, this has been my most comics writey-est year ever. And it’s not over yet. I’ll be extremely vague here and see if I can skirt those pesky NDAs:
Firstly, I’m working on my first ever graphic novel. It’s about 70% scripted at this point and the art has begun as well. It’s going to be REALLY fun. It’s an idea I’ve always said, “Someone should do that,” and now, joke’s on me, I am that someone. It’s an adaptation. That’s all I will say.
I’ve also scripted work for two different superhero licenses I’ve never worked with before, and they’re rather unexpected ones! Their powers are animal-themed. Yeah, that narrows it down.
I’m in the next Iron Circus anthology, the promotion for which should begin any day now… I got to collaborate with rising star artist and co-writer (and all around amazing person) Tango for a really fun little crime story. More on that soon.
I had a one page story accepted into Scott Morse’s stellar endeavor THIS INK RUNS COLD. This project kicked off at SDCC this year and will have a full announcement for the finished book before long. I believe the goal is to publish it by SDCC 2025 but don’t quote me on that.
Outside of comics, I’ve got another tarot deck and an oracle deck in the works! Oracle decks are kind of like tarot, except the cards have more open meanings and definitions. Both IP based, both wildly different! I expect to have more publication news about those soonish, for 2025 releases.
I think that’s everything. Gosh, I hope that’s everything. My life is nothing but deadlines. My Baldur’s Gate characters are still in Moonrise Towers. All I know is writing. I’ve barely even begun on my Halloween costume for the year, which means I’m already running late.
But I can’t complain. It’s a good life, and I’m doing what I love with people whose work I love. Thank you for the support so far, and for sticking with me on this wild journey. I cannot wait to show you all what’s coming next. It’s going to be fun.
Promise I won’t wait 8 months for the next update, ‘kay?
Fast Stats:
Currently Watching: Cobra Kai Season 6 Part 1 (I’ve already watched it, but I’m rewatching it. I love these Karate Kids too much!)
Currently Reading: I just finished Youth Group by Jordan Morris and Bowen McCurdy. Highly recommended, as I mentioned. Next up, I think I’m going to reread Sex Criminals. Feelin’ nostalgic lately.
Currently Playing: Fallout 4 but I haven’t touched it in like two months because I’m a slave to my work.
Currently Listening: Cobra Kai Season 6 soundtrack. Leo Birenberg and Zach Robinson are musical synth gods.