Absolute Domination

Well, maybe that’s dramatic, but ABSOLUTE WONDER WOMAN did secure the most Eisner nominations for any project this year. And well, THANK YOU, that is awesome. Here’s the link in case you missed the announcements last month. AWW was nominated in Best New Series, Hayden for Covers, myself for Writer, Jordie for Colors, and Becca for Letters. Truly cool. Thanks for the support, everyone. And given the title of the post, I should note that, among other incredible books and creators, the Absolute books got additional nominations — ABSOLUTE BATMAN, also in the New Series category AND Nick Dragotta in the best pencils/inking category.

Voting ends on THURSDAY, JUNE 5th. So if you are eligible to vote and haven’t done so yet, get in there!

Absolute Wonder Woman #11 Main Cover (August 2025) art by Hayden Sherman, colors by Jordie Bellaire.

Also, Hayden shared this hilarious post with a sweet sword upgrade. lol

And while I’m here — in case there are any of you out there still making up your minds with some of the categories — I read some spectacular stuff last month as I was trying to do my due diligence in a few categories where I was a bit underread. And it lead to a handful of books I really loved and wanted to shout out real quick:

First up, prepare to lose an afternoon or three getting caught up on several years of RIGSBY, WI webcomics. I loved this slice of life strip following a handful of teens through high school. Very expressive — and impressive — art, which evolves in an organic and rewarding way. I totally fell in love with these characters and their world. This stole my heart and got my Eisner vote in the Webcomics category. The creator, SE Case, has a patreon if you’d like to support their work.

I absolutely adored ALL PRINCESSES MUST DIE BY DAWN by writer/artist Quentin Zuttion. It’s probably one of my favorite books I read all year. It’s tender and powerful, poetic and gutting. The trembling first gestures of growing up told as beautifully and honestly as it could possibly be told. The visuals are atmospheric watercolor-ish… but also a feeling of warm summer pastels maybe? It’s nostalgia, innocence and discovery. It reminded me a bit of a quieter and more contemplative THIS ONE SUMMER by the Tamakis. I truly loved every inch of it. One of my favorite pages… I knew on page 4 I was in love:

Gregorie Carle’s THE SPIDER AND THE IVY is a particularly releveant bit of history for right now, as it explores the Alsace region of France before and during it’s annexation by Hitler’s armies. Essentially the area was a contested bit of land with both French and German roots. The narrative spans mutliple times and is dense, tragic, and laboriously gorgeous. It’s about a lot of things — the horrors of war, the ravages of time, the hope of resistance, the triumph (and folly?) of the human spirit? I got so much from it.

One small great bit, among many, was a detail about how young Alsatians enrolled in Fortbildungsschule (Nazi Continuing Education) — but many joined this only so they could officially say they were part of “an official nazi organization” thus keeping them from being forced to become Hitler Youth (or worse). To someone on the outside, or after the fact (and without the facts), it would be easy to judge someone for being part of something like that. But there’s obviously so much more to the story. Years ago when I wrote my She Has No Head! column I used to say that context was king. And so it remains.

I don’t know, that little detail hit particularly hard. In a time when the rapid spread of misinformation, game changing Ai/and related technologies, and so much else is marching us quickly (and quite gleefully!) toward the death of truth in the world, it seemed a particularly salient detail.

Sorry. That got dark. But French Resistance literature will do that to ya I guess. It will especially do it to ya in well, these times we find ourselves in I suppose.

---

With my apologies, I have not shipped all your orders yet. Intense deadlines and some injury/illness (what a surprise!) have been slowing me down and I have a good handful that still have to go out. The good news is I have been crushing some deadlines lately, so I think I can finally get them all out this week.

I also have not updated the webstore with new books — but I do have some new stuff in stock and will try to get it up this week along with new discount codes for everyone in a new newsletter.

I am also EVER SO SLOWLY making it through the sketch covers for the Annual Backers Giveaways (we’re gonna have like 20+ winners, so that will be fun?)

I hope to have a better/more accurate update later this month, but I’d love for everyone to have their winnings in hand this summer. *GIF OF THAT KID CROSSING HIS FINGERS REAL HARD.*

ALSO. I’m sure everyone who cared saw the results of our X-MEN WAR FINAL, but to make it official — and with the narrowest margin possible (since I don’t think is poll does fractions of percents):

The check you see is because Storm was MY vote.

JEAN GREY. Jean always does pretty well in these, but I think this is her first all-out win? Congrats, and thanks to everyone for playing. It was a nice distraction. Maybe if we need one again in the dog days of August I’ll run another.

---

I did a few interviews that have gone up recently.

Cryptid Creator Corner w/ Byron O’Neal:

I did Near Mint Condition with Omar and Dom:

Comic Shenanigans with Adam Chapman. My audio is a bit tinny and rough here, sorry guys (and sorry, Adam!)

Countdown City Geeks w/ Ray and Nasser:

---

Okay, technically the below is more “LAST WEEK VIBES,” but we have the banner and we’re using it!

ABSOLUTE WONDER WOMAN #8 — the start of an all-new arc and the return of Hayden Sherman and Jordie Bellaire was last week. I really love this issue as it sort of sets up some big things that are going to be developing over the next year. Here’s a preview in case you need to be convinced. Among other things we get the return of Veronica Cale, a peek inside the mysterious Area 41, the introduction of Doctor Poison, and Diana’s spectacular base in Gateway City. If you’re not reading… you probably should be. ;D

And I hope those of you that are big Meredith McClaren fans saw her AWW #8 Variant:

DC August Solicits also released last month — which include incredible covers for ABSOLUTE WONDER WOMAN and BIRDS OF PREY, among many others.

---

I think this counts as Jeff’s first “TV Appearance”? I don’t know if he’ll have “dialogue” or a significant role in the plot, but it’s both weird and exciting to see my boy breaking out.

I saw this on Insta and I think the image is pretty clear. Jeff rules (with 46% of the vote):

There’s apparently some dustups in the Marvel Rivals community with Jeff getting nerfed or sorta nerfed or something in the updates (or planned updates?) I’m sorry to say that I’m so busy with comics and crushing deadlines that I don’t have time to find out much more about, but if you’re a player and you’re sad or happy about it then… I am sorry and/or congratulations?

Don’t forget that Jeff’s first ever #1 in print — JEFF THE LANDSHARK #1 by me and Tokitokoro is out June 18th. The main cover below is by Gurihiru:

---

And here’s something new. Definitely actually NOT cats, but I don’t have a RACCOON header, so it will have to do!

These guys DO live in our big trees in our backyard — two of them. And we’ve seen them come down from time to time, but almost never in the day (and yes, slightly worrying but he seemed okay?) Spring is kinda magical, guys.

Love you all. Take care of each other. <3

Kelly