I’m back from L.A. Comic Con! It was a wonderful time and I managed to make a LOT of dumb little doodles for The People.
Was especially nice to draw a Melvon for Substack regular Emma!
Unfortunately, Ryan Stegman was nearby so I had to deal with hearing him brag to his “fans” all weekend. Yes, Ryan, we’re all aware that you once drew Venom and were the one who made him “eff-able,” whatever that means. Also:
What the fuck is up with his hair?
I went for dinner with him and a group later and he refused to talk about it. It was a fancy restaurant so he at least put on his nice baseball cap. Also, the dinner finally answered a long-asked question: Who is more generous? The writer of Amazing Spider-Man or the writer of Batman? Well, Mr. Zeb Wells treated everyone, which was incredibly kind, so I asked for a second meal to go seconds before they charged his card.
Afterward, I had to complete my most challenging sketch yet. Gotham War(rior) Tini Howard was starting an Anne Rice themed sketchbook and wanted me to be the first one to participate. As most people know, the first sketch really sets the tone for a book, so I slept overnight in the convention center to make sure my Tom Cruise Lestat was up to snuff. Thank god Tini was happy with me (for once!!!!).
So, yeah! A nice time! Comics … are good??
EVEN YOURS?
Yes! Probably!
Coming next week is my SPIDER-MAN OMNIBUS! If you’re looking for the gift for the comic reader who has everything attacking them and needs a giant brick for self-defense, it’s PERFECT! And hey! Omar got a first look at it!
And this week it’s BATMAN #140 on the shelves! And you know what that means:
…to the comic shop! MINDBOMB PART 2 is a real doozy with Jorge and Tomeu delivering some wild, beautiful action! Get it for the art, stay for the art and also maybe notice the story!
And jeez, Mike and Ivan nail the backup story featuring Vandal Savage as he enters high society! They make our favourite caveman look classy AND terrifying! It’s a real good package if I do say so myself.
And I think that’s it for this week? I just finished colouring Public Domain 8, which, all laid out, looks pretty cohesive thank god
Somebody this week reminded me of a thing I did back when I worked at the newspaper, in the early days of the MCU: a super fun explainer to catch people up for Iron Man 3. I did the whole thing by just drawing and erasing and my video guy just sped it all up. And then I had to put my nasally voice over top. If I had the time I’d do it again for the current MCU. But I don’t have the time!! Stop asking me!!!
NOBODY WAS—
Stop asking me!!!!
Also, spoilers: my real name is Steve. SHH.
Okay! Bye!
UPCOMING BOOKS
SPIDER-MAN BY CHIP ZDARSKY OMNIBUS — Dec 13
THE ALL-NIGHTER VOLUME 2 — Dec 19, 2023
NEWBURN #13 — Dec 20
KAPTARA: UNIVERSAL TRUTHS #5 — Dec 20
BATMAN #141 — Jan 2
KAPTARA: UNIVERSAL TRUTHS #6 — Jan 17
AVENGERS: TWILIGHT #1 — Jan 17
NEWBURN #14 — Jan 24
AVENGERS: TWILIGHT #2 — Jan 31
BATMAN #142 — Feb 6
BATMAN #143 — Feb 13
BATMAN #144 — Feb 20
NEWBURN #15 — Feb 28
The sketch is nice and all but when I asked Zeb for a present he went and kidnapped Tom Cruise and put the wig on him and everything. He is just SO generous.
Would you make an explainer video about how we got to James Gunn’s DCU???? Nix that I actually have a way more urgent request CHiP (“Steve”)
I couldn’t help but notice your so called best chum hasn’t made too many comics lately (maybe too busy helping show run excellent tv????) and I fear if you keep entertaining this silly notion of making incredibly watchable video shorts that you’ll get the bright idea to ABANDON making great comics to make great tv which I’m NOT here for. So my request is don’t produce any videos besides masterchip masterclasses which the world could always use more of....
love ❤️ and peace ✌️,
Zdarsky’s Zdarling’s + co (me and whoever co-signs this by liking, legally binding no take-backsies)