Zubby Newsletter #105: Thumb’s Up, Seattle!

Posted by on March 12, 2025 No comments
Deadpool Sketch from ECCC 2025

Last week I mentioned that I hoped Emerald City Comic Con would lift my spirits and, thankfully, it did that and a whole lot more!

The convention was hopping, with a ton of readers and retailers stopping by to chat about superheroes or sword & sorcery and the social scene was as strong as ever, with both small and focused chatter and big party blowouts. The world can feel divisive and cruel right now, but there’s also a lot of kindness if you seek it out and share it with others.

There was a nice balance of quick signatures and hearty handshakes alongside more in-depth conversations. After MegaCon, some of my industry friends joked that I’ve become “Everyone’s Dad’s favorite new comic writer” thanks to Conan the Barbarian and if that’s true it’s a badge I’ll wear with pride. Hearing so many heartfelt stories from collectors who are back in comic shops after 20+ years thanks to the series feels incredible.

Superman Sketch from ECCC 2025

I was also able to do some sketches for fans, which can throw some people off if they only know me from my writing work. Over the years I’ve done a few variant covers on series (notably Samurai Jack, Rick and Morty) and it’s something I’d like to do more of as time permits, but for now these quick ones at least make sure rust doesn’t build up on my drawing basics.

The March sprint continues with plenty of events and deadlines, and Seattle proved to be just the boost I was looking for. Thank you to all the friends and fans who stopped by.

This weekend is Toronto Comicon and I’ll be there on Friday and Sunday. My grandmother is turning 95 and there’s a big family get together on Saturday for her, so I won’t be at the convention that day.

The new SKULLKICKERS Collection campaign on Zoop has crossed the funding line and we still have 2 weeks left, so it’s definitely happening and you can join in!

Get this new printing of my first sword and sorcery story at a great price or get the books and other spiffy extras like signatures, sketches, original art, and other add-ons – It’s also a perfect gift for the sword & sorcery fan or TTRPGer in your life, so please check it out and share the link far and wide!

Talking Skullkickers All Over The Place

Plenty of Skullkickers-related interviews popping up in and around the Zoop campaign:

• I spoke to the Comic Book Yeti about my career in comics and there’s a big piece in there about balancing work and personal stuff, including my teaching career alongside freelance writing.


• I spoke to Geek Vibes Nation all about Skullkickers and the potential found in the digest format for bringing in new readers.


• I spoke to True North Country Comics all about Comps Con, convention season, Skullkickers, Conan the Barbarian, Savage Sword of Conan, tabletop gaming, and more.


• I spoke to The Comic Source all about the history of Skullkickers, growing up playing Dungeons & Dragons, how making comics are like a time capsule and more!

Current + Upcoming Releases

  • Savage Sword of Conan Vol. 1 TPB – released January 14th.
  • Conan the Barbarian Vol. 4: Frozen Faith TPB – released February 19th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #18 – released February 19th.
  • Thunderbolts: Winter Soldiers – released March 4th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #19 – releases March 19th.
  • Conan: Battle of the Black Stone TPB – releases April 1st.
  • Rick and Morty VS Cthulhu – Deluxe Edition – releases April 1st.
  • Savage Sword of Conan Vol. 2 TPB – releases April 8th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #20 – releases April 16th.

    • Upcoming Appearances


    Just announced – I’m going to INDIA for MUMBAI COMIC CON on April 12-13!
    Rob Den Bleyker (Cyanide & Happiness) and I are International Guests at the show and it’s going to be an incredible adventure.

    Mar 14+16, 2025 Toronto Comicon Toronto, Ontario, CANADA
    Mar 20-23, 2025 Gary Con XVII Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, USA
    Apr 12-13, 2025 Mumbai Comic Con Mumbai, INDIA
    Apr 24-27, 2025 Calgary Expo Calgary, Alberta, CANADA
    Nov 3-14, 2025 D&D in a Castle Castle Lumley, Newcastle, UK

    Other Links

    • The Comics Beat discusses the changing format of comic conventions – the types of fans and exhibitors coming to shows and what it might mean for the future.

    • Omar at Near Mint Condition gets all caught up on the newest Conan the Barbarian trade paperbacks: Thrice Marked For Death, The Age Unconquered, Frozen Faith, and more!

    • Legendary comic scribe Roy Thomas talked to the official Conan website all about coming back to write a new story for Savage Sword of Conan #7.

    Jim

    Zub at Toronto Comicon 2025

    Posted by on March 12, 2025 No comments


    I’m a Featured Guest at this year’s Toronto Comicon on Friday and Sunday (unfortunately, I am unable to attend on Saturday). I’ll be set up with the Comic Sketch Art team at-

    Professional Table P-133

    In addition to signing at my table, on Friday I also have a panel:

    FRIDAY, MARCH 14
    4:00 PM-5:00 PM – Comic Writers Unite! – Theatre 2
    Comic writers Jim Zub (Conan the Barbarian), Fred Kennedy (Dead Romans), Michael Schwartz (Armored), and Cecil Castellucci (Batgirl) talk about their craft and answer questions.

    Zubby Newsletter #104: Looking For Some Lift

    Posted by on March 4, 2025 No comments

    As I type this, the new SKULLKICKERS Collection campaign on Zoop has popped over the funding line and we still have 3 weeks left, so it’s definitely happening and you can join in!

    Get this new printing of my first sword and sorcery story at a great price or get the books and other spiffy extras like signatures, sketches, original art, and other add-ons – It’s also a perfect gift for the sword & sorcery fan or TTRPGer in your life, so please check it out and share the link far and wide!

    A little slice of sunset serenity in Alberta.

    I’ve been staying just outside Calgary, visiting friends and recharging before Emerald City Comicon in Seattle and it’s been a nice change of pace, but I miss Stacy a lot. On our shared calendar the schedule looked relatively organized, but I always forget the ‘mental mileage’ of being on the road compared to being at home with her.

    March is extremely busy with conventions on 3 out of 4 weekends along with deadlines aplenty and, with the tumultuous state of politics and economics, it’s also incredibly hard to concentrate on creative projects even when I love what I’m doing and am working with such incredible people. That said, a big reason why I keep going back to Emerald City Comicon is because the social component is so strong and it reminds me why I do what I do. Here’s hoping this year’s show casts a similar spell because I think everyone there could really use a burst of uplifting energy.

    Talking to the Comics Beat

    I spoke to Diego Higuera at The Comics Beat all about SKULLKICKERS – the original series, our new printing, the manga-sized format, and more! Make sure you check this one out because we cover a lot of great material.

    Three REH Award Nominations!


    The REH Foundation has posted the nomination list for the 2025 Robert E. Howard Awards!

    There are 9 nominees for the coveted Rankin Award and I’m thrilled to have 3 of those nominations alongside our killer creative teams. Congrats to all the nominees, especially Howard scholar Jeff Shanks, whose essays in Battle of the Black Stone also earned him a nomination! Seeing so many friends, collaborators, and prominent members of the fandom represented in those nominations is wonderful.

    Current + Upcoming Releases

  • Savage Sword of Conan Vol. 1 TPB – released January 14th.
  • Conan the Barbarian Vol. 4: Frozen Faith TPB – released February 19th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #18 – released February 19th.
  • Thunderbolts: Winter Soldiers – releases March 4th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #19 – releases March 19th.
  • Conan: Battle of the Black Stone TPB – releases April 1st.
  • Rick and Morty VS Cthulhu – Deluxe Edition – releases April 1st.
  • Savage Sword of Conan Vol. 2 TPB – releases April 8th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #20 – releases April 16th.

    • Upcoming Appearances

    Mar 6-9, 2025 Emerald City Comic Con Seattle, Washington, USA
    Mar 14-16, 2025 Toronto Comicon Toronto, Ontario, CANADA
    Mar 20-23, 2025 Gary Con XVII Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, USA
    Apr 24-27, 2025 Calgary Expo Calgary, Alberta, CANADA
    Nov 3-14, 2025 D&D in a Castle Castle Lumley, Newcastle, UK

    Other Links

    • Colleen Doran‘s latest newsletter is a step-by-step breakdown of her wonderful CONAN THE BARBARIAN variant cover artwork from issue #1 that came out in 2023. Such an honor to have this art on our series.

    • Chip Zdarsky promotes ZCN (Zdarsky Comic News) at the ComicsPro retailer conference as only he can – awkwardly…so awkwardly.

    • Jorge Molina‘s YouTube channel is a treasure trove of step-by-step artistic process that will amaze and inspire you.

    Jim

    Zub at Emerald City Comic Con 2025!

    Posted by on March 3, 2025 No comments


    It’s wonderful to be back at Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle, Washington, one of my favorite conventions each year. I’ll be set up with the Comic Sketch Art team at-

    ARTIST ALLEY TABLE A-27

    In addition to signing at my table during the show, on Friday I have two panels and a book giveaway:

    FRIDAY, MARCH 7
    2:00 PM-2:45 PM – Dungeons and Dragons and Comics, Oh My! – Room 345 • Level 3
    Swords are cool! And comics with swords are even cooler. Join Jim Zub (Conan the Barbarian, Dungeons & Dragons), G. Willow Wilson (The Hunger and the Dusk), Zack Davisson (Record of Lodoss War), and others to talk about sexy orks, bladed weapons, fantastical beasts, and what makes comics a perfect medium for telling fantasy stories.

    3:15 PM-4:00 PM – Convention Horror Stories, An ECCC Tradition – Room 320 • Level 3
    Jim Zub (Conan the Barbarian, Rick and Morty VS Dungeons & Dragons) and Katie Cook (My Little Pony, Nothing Special) are back with their fan-favorite con horror stories panel! What’s it like working as a pro in the business on the convention ‘circuit’? Ridiculous, embarrassing, and always entertaining! Some of these stories will make you laugh out loud, others will make you cringe! This panel is recommended for those 16+ due to coarse language.

    4:15 PM-4:45PM – D&D Young Adventurer’s Signing and Giveaway – Booth #20515
    At the Penguin-Random House booth, author Jim Zub will be signing FREE copies of Artificers & Alchemy, the newest Dungeons & Dragons Young Adventurer’s Guide, while supplies last!

    Conan the Barbarian #18 Reviews

    Posted by on February 26, 2025 No comments

    After our first skip month since the new series launch, we’re back with Conan the Barbarian #18!
    What did the critics think of the second half of our ‘Fangs and Foolish Thieves’ 2-part story?

    • Amazon: 10/10 “The characters, dialogue, narration are all exactly as they should be, and I still find myself pleasantly surprised every time that it feels right. I should have learned by now.”

    • Comical Opinions: 7.8/10 “…brings the two-parter to a close with bloody fights, magic, monsters, and more. Jim Zub nails the chemistry between Conan and Bêlit, demonstrating exactly why she is Conan’s greatest love”

    • Cool Thunder: 8.5/10 “Conan and Bêlit’s adventures continues to be a fun and engaging ride, capturing the essence of their fiery romance and relentless battles.”

    • Crushing Krisis: “I think Jim Zub is writing Conan for the ages…The captions and the prose is so strong.”

    • Cupcake Comic Reviews: “If there’s a book that can make me buy it for issue 18 or issue 20, that means it’s really good…Conan is what Conan does and that is brutal savagery.”

    • DC Patrol: “I urge you to go out and read Conan the Barbarian by Jim Zub and company because these are always entertaining, always fun. You get your money’s worth and that’s important, especially these days.”

    • Dragon’s Cache: 9.8/10 “If the life of a thief precludes loyalty, the antique business proves equally devoid of morality. When Conan and Bêlit embark on a mission without knowing their accomplice, they get more than they bargained for”

    • Eternal Crusader: “…whether it’s the vibrant bazaars of Kyros, nocturnal estates, secret libraries, or bustling harbor facilities, Brine fills each panel with an abundance of detail, exoticism, and ornamental elements that bring the setting vividly to life for readers.”

    • Evan the Architect: “Another solid issue…Conan’s a great book and I recommend everybody check it out.”

    • GrimDark Magazine: “Conan the Barbarian #18 caps off a whirlwind caper. The shorter storyline and fresh artwork show that Jim Zub is still willing to experiment with the Titan Comics series, even as the title sprints towards its second anniversary.”

    • League of Comic Geeks: 8/10 “A great story of treachery, double-crossing, and a harrowing escape. Whenever the Cult of Set is involved, you know Conan is going to see some action this did not fail to deliver.”

    • Mark On Comics: “Jim Zub has just been killing it the entire series. We’re a year and a half in and everything is just going great!”

    • Nerd Initiative: 9/10 “Amazing stuff!…It feels exactly like the Conan books I was buying off the spinner rack as a young kid. What more needs to be said!”

    • Pop Culture Philosophers: “I loved it. It’s another solid issue of a side story that’s setting up stuff for the future of this run.”

    • Sci-Fi Pulse: 9.6/10 “It’s great to finally learn more about Bêlit and her relationship with Conan…This issue, and to some extent the one before it, gives us a better understanding of why Conan would be drawn to her. Bêlit is every bit as cunning and dangerous as he is, and she wastes no time settling her scores.”

    • Stygian Dogs: “Brine’s detailed backgrounds once again stand out and I found her character work more cohesive this time…Jim Zub bookends his Issue #18 with something pretty exciting, transforming what might be a pretty straight-forward ‘heist gone wrong story’ into the raison d’etre for the two-issue arc.”

    • Sword & Sorcery Book Club: “Overall, this issue was great. I really had a lot of fun with it. I enjoyed the action-packed storytelling. I like the artwork and I like the coloring.”

    Zubby Newsletter #103: Easily Digestable

    Posted by on February 25, 2025 No comments

    Vancouver Fan Expo was a lot of fun and, as I type this, I’m just outside Calgary staying with friends and getting some writing work done before I ricochet back to the west coast for Emerald City Comicon in Seattle next week. On to more important news-

    SKULLKICKERS: The Digest Edition campaign is now LIVE!

    The sword & sorcery action-comedy series that kicked off my writing career is back in a wonderful new compact-manga-sized format, perfect for reading, sharing, or giving as a gift to the fantasy fan in your life.

    This campaign gets you the complete series and we have lots of wonderful extras like signatures, sketches, original art, game books and other add-ons – Please check it out and share the link far and wide!

    As some of the middle volumes of the original trade paperbacks went out of print at Image, the numbers didn’t quite make sense to reprint them on their own, but that also meant retailers and readers couldn’t easily get the whole series. We talked about possibly doing an all-in-one omnibus but the reality is that although those big tomes look awesome on a bookshelf, they’re a pain to actually hold and read. I wanted to make sure new readers could easily discover the series and longtime fans could snag a copy for themselves in a format and price point that would work for everyone.

    This 3-volume complete edition is perfect for retail and ideal for readers, with eye-catching new cover artwork by Edwin Huang and Misty Coats.

    Go get ’em!

    Speaking of our campaign, I spoke to World At War Comics all about Skullkickers and Conan the Barbarian in a new interview you can watch right here:

    Talking to the Sword & Sorcery Book Club

    Lion at the Sword & Sorcery Book Club has been a steady supporter of my work in the Hyborian Age. We met in person last year at Robert E. Howard Days in Texas and since then we’ve been talking about getting together for an interview. Finally, almost 8 months later, we made it happen and it was a really nice chat:

    Current + Upcoming Releases

  • Savage Sword of Conan Vol. 1 TPB – released January 14th.
  • Conan the Barbarian Vol. 4: Frozen Faith TPB – released February 19th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #18 – released February 19th.
  • Thunderbolts: Winter Soldiers – releases March 4th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #19 – releases March 19th.
  • Conan: Battle of the Black Stone TPB – releases April 1st.
  • Rick and Morty VS Cthulhu – Deluxe Edition – releases April 1st.
  • Savage Sword of Conan Vol. 2 TPB – releases April 8th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #20 – releases April 16th.

    • Upcoming Appearances

    I’m back at the Calgary Expo, and more show announcements are coming soon!

    Mar 6-9, 2025 Emerald City Comic Con Seattle, Washington, USA
    Mar 14-16, 2025 Toronto Comicon Toronto, Ontario, CANADA
    Mar 20-23, 2025 Gary Con XVII Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, USA
    Apr 24-27, 2025 Calgary Expo Calgary, Alberta, CANADA
    Nov 3-14, 2025 D&D in a Castle Castle Lumley, Newcastle, UK

    Other Links

    • Gary B the Casual Comic Guy has a really nice overview of my adaptation of The Frost-Giant’s Daughter and what makes a good adaptation.

    • Christopher Fornataro‘s painting lessons are always great, but this one I found about seeing planes and presenting volume is extra-helpful. Check it out.

    • This GitHub database of 3D rotatable animal skulls and animal reference search is invaluable. If you’re an artist, make sure you add this to your reference pool!

    Jim

    Zub Comics Arriving in May 2025!

    Posted by on February 21, 2025 No comments


    CONAN: SCOURGE OF THE SERPENT – FREE COMIC BOOK DAY PRELUDE
    Story – Jim Zub
    Artist – Ivan Gil
    Cover – Roberto De La Torre

    SCOURGE OF THE SERPENT, the newest epic CONAN event, begins HERE, from fan favorite writer Jim Zub (Avengers, Dungeons & Dragons) and Ivan Gil, with a cover by superstar artist Roberto de la Torre (Conan the Barbarian)!

    The serpent god’s influence tightens its coils around the Hyborian Age and every other age linked to it. Three stunning supernatural stories will spiral together to answer a chilling question framed in past and present-What is Set’s grand plan for humanity and, now that it has begun, can it be stopped?

    Exclusive Original Material
    In stores May 3, 2025


    CONAN THE BARBARIAN #21
    Story – Jim Zub
    Artist – Fernando Dagnino
    Cover A – Dan Panosian
    Cover B – Maria Wolf
    Cover C – Brandon Kenny
    Cover D – Mindy Lee
    Cover E – Gonzo
    Cover F – Dan Panosian (Foil Variant)

    NEW STORY ARC STARTS HERE! WINNER OF ‘BEST NEW COMIC SERIES’ – TRIPWIRE 2024 AWARDS!

    The Great Serpent’s influence twists and turns, pulling Conan into their deadly coils as the Cimmerian and his allies are lured into Stygia…What they find on this journey will make their blood run cold and set the stage for a conflict beyond their wildest imagination!

    In stores May 14, 2025

    Zubby Newsletter #102: The Fangs of February

    Posted by on February 18, 2025 No comments

    Toronto got walloped with multiple days of intense snowfall and the roads are treacherous, so Stacy and I have been bundled up here getting writing done and trying not to venture outside unless absolutely necessary – February definitely has its fangs sunk in deep!

    Conan the Barbarian #18 cover artwork by Rob De La Torre.

    January was the first skip month we’ve had since the new Conan series launched mid-2023 but now, finally, CONAN THE BARBARIAN #18 arrives in comic shops this week! It’s the second half of “Fangs and Foolish Thieves”, a Conan and Bêlit caper that will cast unexpected ripples out toward later stories I have planned, including SCOURGE OF THE SERPENT.

    I’m already working on scripts for issues #26-28 and promotional plans around our extra-special issue #25 that I can’t wait for you to see. The Age of High Adventure is going strong!

    On Thursday I fly out to British Columbia for Vancouver Fan Expo, which I’ve never done before, and a couple weeks after that is Emerald City Comic Con, which has always been a great show for me. February and March is absolutely packed and I know it’s going to be exhausting, but also a lot of fun.

    Conan Panel at MCM Expo London 2024



    Andrew Sumner from Forbidden Planet and I had a wonderful chat back in November at MCM Expo London and the video from that panel is now up on the Forbidden Planet YouTube channel. We talk all about Conan the Barbarian – past, present, and future – Check it out!

    Pathfinder Comic Bundle

    If you enjoy Paizo’s excellent tabletop RPGs or just want more fantasy and sci-fi storytelling in your life, there’s a new Humble Bundle for Pathfinder and Starfinder digital comics and the three story arcs I wrote to launch Pathfinder back in 2012 are all in there for a ridiculously low price.

    Skullkickers: The Digest Edition is Coming!

    If you’ve enjoyed my work on CONAN THE BARBARIAN or DUNGEONS & DRAGONS or PATHFINDER but never read the original story that led to those projects, you’re about to get another chance to kick some skulls…thanks to ZOOP!

    Compact/manga-sized volumes are all the rage right now with new readers and the animation-styled artwork of Skullkickers is perfectly suited to this form factor.

    Sign up HERE to make sure you don’t miss it!

    Current + Upcoming Releases

  • Savage Sword of Conan Vol. 1 TPB – released January 14th.
  • Conan the Barbarian Vol. 4: Frozen Faith TPB – releases February 19th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #18 – releases February 19th.
  • Thunderbolts: Winter Soldiers – releases March 4th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #19 – releases March 19th.
  • Conan: Battle of the Black Stone TPB – releases April 1st.
  • Rick and Morty VS Cthulhu – Deluxe Edition – releases April 1st.
  • Savage Sword of Conan Vol. 2 TPB – releases April 8th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #20 – releases April 16th.

    • Upcoming Appearances

    More show announcements coming soon!

    Feb 21-23, 2025 Fan Expo Vancouver Vancouver, BC, CANADA
    Mar 6-9, 2025 Emerald City Comic Con Seattle, Washington, USA
    Mar 14-16, 2025 Toronto Comicon Toronto, Ontario, CANADA
    Mar 20-23, 2025 Gary Con XVII Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, USA
    Nov 3-14, 2025 D&D in a Castle Castle Lumley, Newcastle, UK

    Other Links

    • Steve Jackson Games is bringing back the original Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks and I am ecstatic that a whole new generation of readers can discover these classic stories and art. The triumverate of my sword & sorcery influences are D&D, Conan, and FF. If I ever had the chance to write a Fighting Fantasy Gamebook it would complete an inspiration circuit in me that could light up a whole city.

    • Comic artist Yanick Paquette is covering the basics of Perspective Drawing in his newsletter and it’s a wonderful little introduction. These skills are always worth reviewing and perfecting.

    • Illustrator Tim Mcburnie has a great art tutorial series on his website: common pitfalls, composition, detail, professionalism, and more!

    • Kieron Gillen‘s latest post about improving your tabletop RPG experience is bang-on. What do you need to know about Stars, Wishes, and CATS? Read on and find out.
    Jim

    Zub at Vancouver Fan Expo 2025

    Posted by on February 17, 2025 No comments

    This week is British Columbia’s pop culture convention, Fan Expo Vancouver, February 21-23, 2025.
    I’m a featured guest and will be set up in the Comic Sketch Art section at

    ARTIST ALLEY TABLE 24

    In addition to signing times at my table, I’m also on a panel Saturday afternoon:

    SATURDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2025
    5:00pm-6:00pm — SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY COMIC WRITERS     – Theater 3
    From the distant past with Conan the Barbarian to the MCU to the legends of a galaxy far, far, away authors Claudia Gray, Tim Sheridan and Jim Zub are exploring the worlds of some of our favourite fantasy and science fiction characters.

    Zubby Newsletter #101: On the Mega-Move

    Posted by on February 11, 2025 No comments

    Three days after getting back from my vacation, I was on a flight to Orlando for MegaCon. It’s rare that I do any conventions in February, let alone a four-day monster like this one, and it was intense! Tons of signed comics, great interactions with fans, and fun conversations with friends. Even with the Comic Sketch Art crew doing set up and tear down, I was exhausted by the end of the show.

    Given the state of the world right now I wasn’t sure how the convention would feel, but it seems escapism is front and center on the minds of fandom, and I can’t blame anyone for that.

    Finally got the original Conan #1 for my collection.

    I don’t normally buy myself presents at conventions, especially on day one of a show, but I couldn’t pass up a stunning raw copy of CONAN THE BARBARIAN #1 from 1970. The retailer who had it gave me a really good price so, after all these years, I finally have one!

    Fans at the show seemed really surprised to see me doing sketches, which makes sense since my writing career has been so prominent compared to my art and I don’t get the chance to draw as much as I used to. It was nice shaking off some of the rust and busting out a few new drawings.

    This is my first show of the year and the next month is jam-packed with travel, but if MegaCon is a sign for my convention appearances in 2025, I am both excited and intimidated. Thank you to everyone who stopped by!

    Conan Screening Intro

    Four Color Fantasies comic shop and the Comic Book Couples Counseling Podcast organized a screening of the 1982 Conan the Barbarian movie at the Alamo Drafthouse in Virgina and asked if I could record a short intro to play before the film.

    Here’s what I put together for them – Some info about the character’s legacy and my memories of the movie and its impact:

    Skullkickers: The Digest Edition is Coming!

    If you’ve enjoyed my work on CONAN THE BARBARIAN and DUNGEONS & DRAGONS but never read the original story that led to those projects, you’re about to get another chance to kick some skulls…thanks to ZOOP!

    Compact/manga-sized volumes are all the rage right now with new readers and the animation-styled artwork of Skullkickers is perfectly suited to this form factor.

    Sign up HERE to make sure you don’t miss it!

    Current + Upcoming Releases

    If you are a comic retailer or press outlet and want to get advance PDFs of my upcoming releases, please reach out with your contact information so I can add you to my retailer or press mailing lists which are seperate from this newsletter.

  • Conan the Barbarian #17 – released December 11th.
  • Savage Sword of Conan Vol. 1 TPB – released January 14th.
  • Conan the Barbarian Vol. 4: Frozen Faith TPB – releases February 18th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #18 – releases February 19th.
  • Thunderbolts: Winter Soldiers – releases March 4th.
  • Conan the Barbarian #19 – releases March 19th.

    • Upcoming Appearances


    More shows getting added to the schedule – February and March are going to be busy!

    Feb 21-23, 2025 Fan Expo Vancouver Vancouver, BC, CANADA
    Mar 6-9, 2025 Emerald City Comic Con Seattle, Washington, USA
    Mar 14-16, 2025 Toronto Comicon Toronto, Ontario, CANADA
    Mar 20-23, 2025 Gary Con XVII Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, USA
    Nov 3-14, 2025 D&D in a Castle Castle Lumley, Newcastle, UK

    Other Links

    • Comic creator Tyler Jenkins (Peter Panzerfaust, Grass Kings) could use financial help in these troubling times. Donate if you can and share the link around to help him meet his funding goal.

    • Best-selling fantasy author Brandon Sanderson (Mistborn) is posting lectures up from his Fantasy-Sci-Fi Writing class on his YouTube channel. There is lots of good writing and motivational advice here worth checking out.

    • The Sword & Sorcery Book Club channel has put together an extensive review of Battle of the Black Stone, with analysis aplenty.

    • Nomination submissions for the 2025 Hugo Awards are now open, so if you have membership at WorldCon, make sure you submit your picks (and keep my work in mind).
    Jim