Burnout Body, Baby

Last year I was texting with my GOOD PERSONAL FRIEND Charles Soule. He often asks me for legal advice. Anyway, we were talking about comics, novels, careers, who could beat Batman in a fight (Daredevil), and we were talking about our workloads. Charles is a busy man. Maybe the busiest? And he told me he read a thing where someone said, “if youu think you might be geting close to being burnned out then u are burnned out ok” (Charles is a horrible speller).

Weirdly I can think of only one or two times in my life where I felt like that, just completely overwhelmed. I tend to be good at juggling projects, mostly because I don’t let much get to me. Like, maybe I should feel some pressure writing Spider-Man or a Marvel Event or whatever, but I just … don’t? The pressure is the same on every project, which is to do a good job. What’s the difference between pissing off ten Spider-Man fans or a thousand? Whatever, man!!!

But, all that being said, I just discovered my own version of burnout: my shitty, shitty body. I’ve wrecked my shoulder and arm from too much drawing and typing and not enough variety. It’s bad enough that sleeping at night is a real chore! So, I’ve done something unprecedented: I’m taking a week off.

Yeah, that’s right. A WEEK OFF. I haven’t done that in … a decade, maybe? Like, even on vacation I usually get up super early and work on scripts and notes before the day gets underway. But, shit, I’m 45 and I’ve only got one body, so it’s time to ease up I guess. Maybe I’ll finally get to watch Squid Game this week.

Anyway, all that to say: hey! Take care of yourself!

I’M WORRIED ABOUT YOU

Oh god, don’t be so dramatic

I’M WORRIED ABOUT YOU PISSING OFF A THOUSAND SPIDER-MAN FANS

Well, now that you mention it, I suppose I AM a little wary of pissing off a thousand Spider-Man fans, as I stated in last week’s Reddit AMA, which got turned into a news story?

(That image is Daredevil explaining to Spider-Man why he shouldn’t want me to write Amazing Spider-Man)

So I guess ultimately what I’m saying is, I don’t feel the pressure of writing these characters, but I don’t want to wade through bullshit all day long?

OH CRY ME A RIVER

Sorry!!!!

Look, the job is fun, okay?? And I want it to STAY that way!

Speaking of fun jobs, the final issue of JUSTICE LEAGUE: LAST RIDE is out today!

Oh, hey! And I got to illustrate a variant cover for it!

I can’t thank DC enough for giving me this opportunity. Writing the Justice League is like being able to check off a bunch of bucket list items at once. Miguel and Enrica delivered gorgeous, epic pages throughout, and our editor Katie Kubert was incredibly supportive of all our wild storytelling choices. I’d write them all again in a heartbeat! I just wouldn’t write them as The Amazing Justice League!! Those fans are scary!

Also out this week is STILLWATER 11!

In a town where no one ages, what kind of changes unfold … ONE YEAR LATER? This is a big one! Ramon and Mike somehow keep getting better and better every issue!

And I think that’s it for today! For my CHIPNUTS out there, I sent you an email about getting your Newburn issues to you! So go and fill out the form and get what’s yours!

And a reminder! My DEVIL’S REIGN variant is up for order from subscribers and non-subscribers alike!

Also, if you’re looking for some new webcomics, check out the amazing Molly Knox Ostertag’s DARKEST NIGHT, that she talks about with Polygon!

Bye!