BIG WEEK
October in full swing, I don’t know why I’m always behind now. I’m not sure when that happened…has it always been true and I just notice it more now? Or it was always a little true and now it’s a lot true? Sigh.
Hey now. I won the Ringo for Best Writer!
This was my first ever Ringo nomination — and in a very crowded and super talented field — it was a shock to win. Thanks to everyone for the nomination and for voting. And a huge congrats to all nominees and winners. You can see all nominations and winners here. And The Beat did a write up that includes a link to the awards on youtube if you’re interested.
Something incredibly cool happened to me last week, but you’ll need a bit of context to understand it, so bear with me.
I have talked about it before, but a lot of people still ask where the “1979 Semi-Finalist” thing comes from. Most assume it’s something to do with the year I was born (it is not). It’s the name of one of my favorite songs (1979 Semi-Finalist), by a fantastic band called THE BAD PLUS.
A few years ago, thanks to my BLACK WIDOW book being set in San Francisco, I got the chance to be interviewed about it for a piece in the SF Chronicle with reporter Yoshi Kato.
Yoshi and I lightly kept in touch — and this week he sent me this absolutely delightful video clip from badass The Bad Plus Drummer Dave King:
Thank you so much, Yoshi. Had a smile on my face for days!
The Webstore is updated with everything I’ve got on hand — still waiting on Marvel/DC Crossover comps and JEFF #4 comps unfortunately — but all BIRDS OF PREY and ABSOLUTE WONDER WOMAN issues should be there.
I do have a few packages here still waiting to go out, if you’re waiting, but they should go out this week.
I basically only posted incredible images/videos of the No Kings protests all over the world on Saturday —
—but one article also slipped through — because I found it just too powerful (and relevant). There’s more than one really great quote in here so I encourage you to read the piece (it’s short and worth your time) but “It’s easier to fight the whole world than to fight yourself” is DEEPLY POWERFUL. It properly — and accurately — shames the world with its truth.
I did the podcast ESCAPE THE MOJOVERSE/ABSOLUTE MOJOVERSE and accidentally told everyone we’re doing an ABSOLUTE WONDER WOMAN ANNUAL. Ooops! I think it’s probably a month from showing up with more details in solicits? But I can’t wait for you guys to know more, I hope you’ll love it.
Ken is getting some good heat on him. No surprise, have you seen how cute he is?! Gurihiru cannot be stopped when it comes to adorable design.
Also, Gwen continues to just NAIL naming these guys the most normal perfect names. Thanks, Gwen. ;D
BIG WEEK.
ABSOLUTE WONDER WOMAN #13 — beginning of a two-part arc with art by Matias Bergara, colors by Jordie Bellaire, Lettering as always by Becca Carey, is out WEDNESDAY. You can read the preview here. Below are some of the covers on offer — a Talaski Variant, the Hayden Sherman main cover, and a Sauvage Variant. There’s also a cool Derrick Chew:
JEFF THE LAND SHARK #5 — the end of the first mini-series! — with art by Tokitokoro, colors by Jim Campbell, and lettering by Joe Caramagna — is ALSO out Wednesday. You can read the preview here. Below are some of the covers on offer — a Tokitokoro Variant, the Gurihiru main cover, and a Rod Reis Tron Ares Variant. There’s also a Jeff and Gwen Vincentini Variant, not pictured.
JEFF WEEK: THE GREAT COSTUME CAPER by myself and GURIHRIU continues to run all month on MARVEL UNLIMITED. This week is installment #3 of 5. But you can see the “cover” for last week’s installment below. Also check out the sneak peeks below for more looks at this story:
Hard not to go with NO KINGS this week. It can feel lonely out here — even IF you’re in a Blue State that doesn’t feel aggressive to the idea of letting you be alive like I am — so it’s hard to imagine feeling even more alone as so many of you out there must. But these images prove you’re not. Even in the smallest reddest places, you are not alone.
And, as many signs said this weekend…I have friends everywhere (beware spoilers in both of these links if you haven’t watched ANDOR yet).
My boi continues to dominate. We’ve created a very adorable monster…which IS what we intended, but maybe not quite this way? lol.
Marvel debuted a new logo at NYCC — I don’t know if this is just for something specific or an overall change (seems odd if the latter considering how many repeated characters there are here while others of note are missing entirely) but hard not to be pleased to see my boi front and center!
This cute ass Marvel Rivals thing is floating around:
It’s adorable. It comes from here. I know nothing more.
Jeff made this CBR list of Best Marvel characters of the 2010 — which is pretty cool, and also, I agree! And there are some very serious heavy hitters on here like Miles Morales, Kamala Khan, and America Chavez. Is it odd this article doesn’t have many photos in it? I found it very strange. Waitaminte… why isn’t Gwenpool here? Okay, that feels like a huge miss, I’m pretty sure her debut was around 2015 (?), she should be on here for sure. Hrrrm.
A bunch of people sent me photos of this adorable photo set up from a Jeff booth at NYCC. This one is from Alex Zalben:
I mean. I want them to send me that Jeff. What do I have to do to get someone at Marvel to send that to me?
What you’ve all been waiting for — the PEEKS.
FROM ABSOLUTE WONDER WOMAN #13 — out this week — art by Matias Bergara, colors by Jordie Bellaire, lettering by Becca Carey:
JEFF #5 — out this week — art by Tokitokoro, colors by Jim Campbell, letters by Joe Caramagna:
BIRDS OF PREY #27 — out the first week of November — art by Sami Basri and Vicente Cifu. Colors by Adriano Lucas. Lettering by Clayton Cowles:
JEFF WEEK: THE GREAT COSTUME CAPER #3 — out this week — art/colors/letters by Gurihiru:
Somebody wants their longboy arms in the shot:
Proof of said longboy arms:
If you can manage it this week, try to help someone else with something — if you can’t, just make sure you’re okay, because that’s important too. I struggle very much with the “it’s a marathon, not a sprint” thing, but I do think it’s true and important for all of us to remember.
Hang in there. <3
Kelly
I just caught up on Birds of Prey this week, right in time for the series to end. :(
It's easily my favorite team book in comics right now. I've always been a fan of the Birds, and covert ops mission-based storytelling is my jam - but I think the thing I love most about this book is all of the wonderful character dynamics. Dinah & Babs, Dinah & Sin, Sin & Cass, Cass & Barda, Barda & Dinah. Each member of the team feels so alive and fleshed out, that all of the different pairings between them bring out something unique in their character.
Barda and Cass in particular is the best. Long live Small Bat. <3
Huge congrats on the much-deserved win!!!