COMPS COMPS COMPS

oh god they're everywhere

When I started in comics, I was incredibly excited. Since I was a kid I’ve been reading them, and now? Now I was making them. The thrill of getting a box of books with my name on the covers was indescribable. Now, over a decade later, I can describe that feeling with one word:

Terror.

I’m fucking swamped with comics. As you all know, I have five beautiful boys: Chad (6), Charles (8), Chip Jr. (11), Chucky (14) and Champ (30). Well, I’m now down to just four since Chucky was crushed under a pile of BATMANS.

JESUS CHRIST HE’S DEAD?

What? No! Sorry, I meant he’s no longer a beautiful boy. The comics crushed his stunning Zdarsky nose into something far more Stegman-like.

Anyway, I have a storage closet in my studio that has become mucho unmanageable with “comps,” which is, I’m assuming, short for “compostables.” Single issues, variants, trades, hardcovers, all featuring my work, all weighing on my soul. And I know I’m not alone! So many comic creators—especially ones who work for Marvel, DC and Image—have a stupid amount of books taking up space.

So, I reached out to my fellow Toronto comic creators and decided to do something about it.

EDITED NOV 22: Jeff Lemire has DROPPED OUT (coward) and Vita Ayala has DROPPED IN (hero)

COMICCOMPSCON24!!! A one day event here in Toronto where we sell you our comics at LOW, LOW PRICES! Plus: we’ll sign books! We’ll sketch! We’ll dance! As long as you leave with some of our burden we’ll do anything for you!!

(And yes, I know this is a 100% dude roster. I keep saying that major comic companies need to 👏SADDLE👏FEMALE👏TORONTO👏CREATORS👏WITH👏TOO👏MANY👏COMPS👏AS👏WELL but progress is slow. Some would say that progress is actively receding these days?? #politics)

Anyway, this is going to be fun. My old alma mater RAID is hosting in their glorious gallery/cafe space, so at the very least you can get a nice hot a drink while you watch me sop up my tears with a complete run of SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN.

HOW MUCH DOES THE “CONVENTION” COST

It’s free! Literally anyone can walk in and harass me! It’s like the opposite of this Substack and its cherished and polite paid subscriber comments!

AND YOU’LL SIGN BOOKS IF I BRING THEM WITH ME?

I can only speak for myself, but: yes! Especially if they’re Jeff Lemire books.

AND YOU’LL DO SKETCHES?

Sure! My classic ink wash character head sketches! Real cheap!

And hey! While I was at THOUGHT BUBBLE this past weekend, MangaPal David Brothers filmed me doing a Spider-Man sketch! Good timing, David! Thanks! Look at how weird I hold my brush!

A nice holiday gift if I do say so myself!!

I GUESS

Anyway, I think that’s it for this week? Shockingly, I have no new comics out. So I guess you’ll just have to settle for this very entertaining newsletter! Please spread the news of COMICCOMPSCON24!!!

OK

Bye!

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UPCOMING BOOKS
ZDARSKY COMIC NEWS #5 — Nov 27
BATMAN #155 — Dec 4
ZDARSKY COMIC NEWS #6 — Dec 18
DAREDEVIL OMNIBUS VOL 2 —Jan 1
BATMAN #156 — Jan 1
TIME WAITS #3 — Jan 8
ZDARSKY COMIC NEWS #7 — Jan 15
THE ALL-NIGHTER VOL 3 — Jan 22
BATMAN #157 — Feb 5
ZDARSKY COMIC NEWS #8 — Feb 12
PUBLIC DOMAIN VOL 2 — Feb 19
BATMAN: DARK PRISONS — Mar 04
ZDARSKY COMIC NEWS #9 — Mar 12
TIME WAITS HC — Mar 25
THE DOMAIN VOL 1 — Mar 26
BATMAN: THE DYING CITY — May 05

UPCOMING SIGNINGS
COMICCOMPSCON24 (Toronto) — Dec 14