Zub Tales

Zubby Newsletter #98: Big Change

Posted by Jim Zub on January 17, 2025 2 comments

Here’s the letter I sent out to the Seneca Animation staff this morning:

Hey Gang,

I have some news.

As you all know, Seneca offered the possibility of exit packages or early retirement for full-time staff members in order to minimize losses incurred due to changing international application policies across Ontario and, when that possibility came up, I realized it was a rare opportunity. I’m on a teaching sabbatical right now and was recharging my batteries to return in the Fall, but now my plans have changed.

Yesterday, I received approval on my exit package from Seneca. Technically I’m still employed at the school until end of April but, since I’m on sabbatical, it means as of 5pm today I’m no longer a prof.

I can’t fully explain to you how surreal this feels. For the past 20 years I’ve taught at Seneca and for 14 of those I was Coordinator of the ANI program. Teaching at Seneca has been the most consistent thing I’ve done in my adult life. Helping build the Animation program, watching it grow, and seeing so many students expand their skills and tap into their creativity while making lifelong friends has been an absolute privilege. My creative career is in a great spot right now and I’m incredibly excited to embrace that full time instead of juggling it with full time teaching, but the ability to do this in the here and now is because of my experiences at Seneca. The school and all of you have changed my life for the better in countless ways and for that I am eternally grateful.

I’ll be around to visit and see the grad films, and wouldn’t be surprised if I come back at some point to teach again if the opportunity presents itself but, until then, I wish you and the rest of the team all the best.

With lots of love,
Jim

So, yeah, there it is! I’m no longer a teacher at Seneca Polytechnic.

It’s a big change, but also the chance to continue the more healthy work-life balance I’ve had since end of April last year when my teaching sabbatical began. I still have a lot to do and deadlines to handle, but now I can concentrate on my creative career without losing precious time with Stacy and the rest of my family and friends.

Versions of this plan have been in the works for quite a while, but finally having the pieces come together and seeing it through hasn’t settled in just yet. Stacy joked that I’ll need to set up classes here at the house to make sure I’m feeding my teaching impulse because it’s such a deep-rooted part of me, and I know I’m going to miss it a lot, but in other ways I’m also relieved. I’d rather step away while I’m still passionate about teaching rather than let my excitement for it atrophy, get stuck in a rut, and stay there just because it’s the path of least resistance.

However you know me – personally, professionally, or from afar as a reader – I want to THANK YOU for following along and being supportive of me and my work. It means more than you know.

(Want to keep up with my creative career? You can sign up to receive these newsletter posts right here.)

Zubby Newsletter #97: Ice & Fire

Posted by Jim Zub on January 13, 2025 No comments

Multiple blasts of snow here in Toronto over the past week has made for a surreal contrast with reports and footage of the devastating California wildfires.

With so many of my friends who work in comics, animation, and games being in or around Los Angeles, a lot of them have been impacted by the destruction. Listed below are places providing aid to those affected or places to find aid if you are in need. Please help if you can.

California Fire Foundation’s Wildfire & Disaster Relief Fund:
https://cpf.salsalabs.org/disasterrelief/index.html

California Community Foundation Wildlife Recovery Fund
https://www.calfund.org/funds/wildfire-recovery-fund/

Greater Good Charities:
https://greatergood.org/disaster-relief/california-wildfires

World Central Kitchen — Working to provide meals for affected families and first responders.
https://donate.wck.org/give/654000#!/donation/checkout

L.A. Food Bank’s map of where to find food and meals.
https://www.lafoodbank.org/find-food/pantry-locator/

California Department of Social Services Disaster Help Center:
https://www.cdss.ca.gov/

A spreadsheet of LA-based animators affected by the wildfires with links to fundraising pages:
https://airtable.com/appugwkqKAVGDdeaJ/shrrujOu1GKwKAW0f/tblBTejpocYFoeauX

Support for people displaced by LA fires — A new public Facebook group offering a place for people to share resources
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1162491225218312/

Sandswept

I saw this darkly sacrcastic book review back in August,
when allegations first started to bubble forth
but didn’t know what to say then…and I still don’t.

New York Magazine‘s feature story on Neil Gaiman’s horrific mistreatment of women who moved in and out of his sphere of influence over decades is truly harrowing and disturbing. If you want to read it, make sure you’re braced for disgusting content and the shattering of any grand illusions you might have about the creator of beloved stories of fantasy and the supernatural.

Allegations started bubbling to the surface last summer and, like most other people in comics and entertainment, I wasn’t personally involved and didn’t know what to say so I waited to see if the initial reports were corroborated. Even if he’s never charged in terms of criminal activity, I think we’ve passed the Rubicon now.

Like so many other readers and writers, Neil’s work was an absolute game changer for me. Sandman and the first Death mini-series arrived at a formative time in my life and opened my eyes to the power that comics could have – lyrical, emotional, and relevant. I bought a first edition copy of Good Omens in hardback when it was first released and literally read it cover to cover in one night.

Meeting Neil and chatting with him at a Comic Book Legal Defense Fund party in 2003 was one of the first times I felt like I had a meaningful interaction with a ‘celebrity’ and it gave me the confidence to be more fearless in approaching other creators.

Of course, I’m framing this awful news in terms of how it affects me and a lot of other people are too because for so many of us it feels personal, the fucked up betrayal of the dreams and ideals shown to us by the man and his work. The bone deep assumption that someone who could craft those tales and speak so eloquently about our hopes and fears could not be the kind of monster he showed us could be defeated with the power of stories.

And yet, here we are. More than a dozen women scattered along a trail of gruesome behavior in ways that speaks to a frightening lack of morals, empathy, or decency.

There’s absolutely nothing I can type here that changes any of it, but this is my outlet and, even though I try not to let politics or other weights of the world intrude into this newsletter, you’re here for my thoughts, and the shadow of this shit looms too large to ignore. It’s abhorrent and, for better or for worse, teaches so many of us to be more wary of the larger-than-life people we put our faith in.

It also speaks to an incredibly selfish and damaged ego who didn’t understand or appreciate the responsibility creators have to the people associated with them and their work. Yes, your name is on the cover of that book or prominently displayed in the opening credits of that show or movie, but that also means there’s a whole industry of artists, editors, actors, marketers, and other production people banking their faith, hard work, and livelihood on you and your reputation.

Great power, great responsibility.

That’s the baseline, you fuck.

Robert E. Howard Award Nominations Now Open

For the next month (January 13th-February 15th), fans can nominate their favorite Robert E. Howard-related material released in 2024 across 8 possible awards to make the final voting ballot.

The ongoing Conan the Barbarian monthly comic series and Conan: Battle of the Black Stone are eligible for both The Costigan and Rankin awards, so if you agree that they have merit, please fill out the form and let your voice be heard.

Comic Book Resources posted a list of “10 Best Dungeons & Dragons Comics Since 2015“ and I’m stoked to have written 5 out of the 10 on their list!

Current + Upcoming Releases

Conan the Barbarian Vol. 3: The Age Unconquered TPB – released November 19th.

Conan: Battle of the Black Stone #4 (of 4) – released December 4th.

Conan the Barbarian #17 – released December 11th.

Savage Sword of Conan Vol. 1 TPB – releases 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

The crew at D&D in a Castle have announced their Autumn 2025 line-up and I’m thrilled to be returning with an all new adventure called Dark Lords’ Gambit!

Details on all the Fall sessions HERE.
Pre-registration links are on my DM profile page HERE.

Feb 6-9, 2025	Mega Con	Orlando, Florida, USA
Feb 21-23, 2025	Fan Expo Vancouver	Vancouver, BC, 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

Zubby Newsletter #96: Year Of The Snake

Posted by Jim Zub on January 6, 2025 No comments

*Conan the Barbarian #19 cover art by Rob De La Torre*

2025 is the Year of the Snake and, according to the Chinese Zodiac, the Snake brings “wisdom, transformation, calmness and creativity”. I don’t know if I believe that “calm” thing given all that’s happening in the world, but here’s hoping for the rest of it.

Titan and Heroic Signatures are celebrating the Snake with a year of Stygian-themed stories and danger in the Hyborian Age. Our current storyline, Fangs & Foolish Thieves, tees up key plot points that will carry onward all the way to Scourge of the Serpent, which will rock your face starting on Free Comic Book Day – Do not miss this issue!

Above you can see the superlative cover by Rob De La Torre for the recently solicited Conan the Barbarian #19 arriving in March, a 2-part tale illustrated by Doug Braithwaite filled with surprises and dangers aplenty. After that will be a 4-part arc illustrated by the wonderful Fernando Dagnino, who made a big splash with his story in Savage Sword of Conan #4 last year. The artwork arriving in my inbox every week from these artists is mind-bendingly good. What an absolute rush.

The holidays wrapped up pretty strong. Stacy and I threw our traditional Zing (Zub + King) New Year’s Eve Party and there was a solid turnout, the best we’ve had since 2019.

I ended up tipping a pot of boiling water on my non-dominant hand early in the evening, so I’m currently nursing a lobster-colored limb and trying trying to keep it slathered with aloe and free from infection, which is annoying but it could have been way worse.

Party Time in the Hyborian Age

Rob De La Torre sketched this quick New Year’s Eve Conan and, as always, his work has a wonderful balance of gesture and form, energy and structure.

Quick Thoughts on 2024 + Hopes For 2025

At ComicCompsCon a couple weeks ago, Truth North Country Comics asked me about how my 2024 went and what I’m looking forward to in 2025…

A Dystopian Document Thriller

Over a decade ago I bought an indie video game called Papers Please during a Steam sale and played it for about an hour. You are an immigration officer in the fictional dystopian country of Arstotzka deciding whether people can cross the border or not in the midst of political unrest and an ever-increasingly obtuse bureacracy. The core premise and execution is dark, funny, sad, and awkward. It amused me a bit, but I put it away.

In that odd liminal space between Christmas and New Year’s I spontaneously reinstalled the game, finally finished a full playthrough (about 4 hours), and will probably do a few more in the coming weeks to see how the story can change in the twisted narrative it weaves. You wouldn’t think checking data and stamping papers could ever be so engaging and entertaining, but it really does build an impressive amount of tension and pathos in a tight little package. Highly recommended.

The Gothiest

Stacy’s birthday is on December 30th, and her gothy heart wanted to check out the new Nosferatu, so we went to the movies for the first time in quite a while.

Stacy loved it and I also thought it was really sharp. David Eggers’ directing was top notch, the entire cast went for broke, and the waves of revulsion at some of the awkward-horrifying parts felt like being part of a grand social experiment. The audience at our screening was uncomfortable as hell. At least four people left the theater because they couldn’t handle it, which was even more amusing as I glanced over at Stacy and saw a beaming smile on her face. My lady and her delightfully dark heart…I LOVE YOU!

Current + Upcoming Releases

Conan the Barbarian Vol. 3: The Age Unconquered TPB – released November 19th.

Conan: Battle of the Black Stone #4 (of 4) – released December 4th.

Conan the Barbarian #17 – released December 11th.

Savage Sword of Conan Vol. 1 TPB – releases January 14th.

Conan the Barbarian Vol. 4: Frozen Faith TPB – releases February 18th.

Conan the Barbarian #18 – releases February 19th.

Conan the Barbarian #19 – releases March 19th.

Upcoming Appearances

Show announcements are starting to finally pop up – Orlando, Vancouver, and Lake Geneva are first out of the gate, with quite a few more to be announced soon. Spring is pretty much booked, Summer is starting to fill in, and there are already chats happening about the Fall. It is wild how much further in advance things are getting booked out nowadays.

Feb 6-9, 2025	Mega Con	Orlando, Florida, USA
Feb 21-23, 2025	Fan Expo Vancouver	Vancouver, BC, CANADA
Mar 20-23, 2025	Gary Con XVII	Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, USA

Links and Other Things

• This video on Proko TV covers a fundamental drawing skill that my drawing students and many professionals can find quite challenging – Drawing cylinders and ellipses in perspective. Stan walks through the process in a really clear way here.

• Dan at the Conan Chronology has gone through all the Titan-published Conan comics so far and posits where they fit compared to the Robert E. Howard canon stories. His research is solid, but I can’t confirm or deny any of the stuff he has in this article.

• A couple weeks ago I mentioned that one of my former students started a bar in Toronto called The Wych. Last night I finally had a chance to stop by and check the place out – a great vibe, well poured drinks, and this friendly companion named Orson is eager to welcome visitors. I’d say it’s a win all around. If you stop by, tell Aaron and the Proofessor I sent you.

*Orson awaits your arrival at the Wych.*

Okay, that’s it for this one. I hope the first full week of 2025 kicks butt for you and your loved ones!
Jim

Conan the Barbarian and Savage Sword on ‘Best Of’ Lists for 2024

Posted by Jim Zub on January 4, 2025 No comments

• Comic Culture: “Jim was able to do that delicate dance of using the legacy omnipresent narration to perfectly complement the dialogue and action on each page without making it feel like a chore to read, a balance that a lot of comics today can’t make work. He does a perfect job of portraying Coan and his archetype of human exploration, survival and unrelenting power and bravery.”

• Cupcake Comic Reviews: “It is brilliant, it is awesome, it is everything you wanted from a Savage Sword book…The thing with Conan is he transcends time. Whether you read him in the 70’s, whether you read him in the 80’s, or you’re reading him in 2024. Conan is constant.”

• Frank Zanca: “I’m a big sword and sorcery fan and I think that Jim Zub has been doing an amazing job. The artwork in the first run looking like it was a complete throwback was amazing.”

• Lost’n Comics: “Savage adventures await those willing to take a chance on this gem of a book, so get in while you can.”

• Mandy’s a Geek: “Jim Zub gets to the heart of Conan but he doesn’t he doesn’t doggedly adhere to how Conan should be in the books he gives it the fine blend of a classic Marvel Conan from the 70s but updates it for the modern times, throws in some adult content, and brings in the energy from the books as well and this is why it’s just brilliant.”

• MVP: “This creative team – Zub, De La Torre and Braithwaite – is an unstoppable force that delivers a knockout blow to the compeition, leaving all other contenders in the comic book industry in the dust. Their stories of Conan the Barbarian resonate with the spirit of Robert E. Howard while simultaneously forging their own unique path.”

• Near Mint Condition: “This book is so freaking awesome…This is the type of Conan that I think a lot of people have missed out on and if you’ve ever wanted to try Conan out, whether you like the movies, the cartoon, the video game or you might have seen one of the old comics and you’re like ‘Oh there’s a lot of issues’ check out this first collection because it will blow your mind.”

• Omniverse Comics Guide: “Jim Zub and Roberto De La Torre are tailor-made for this character. It feels like a timeless version of this character…It’s breathtaking!”

• Pop Culture Philosophers: “It brings me back to when I was a kid but at the same time it’s nice, it’s chunky, it’s definitely worth it. One of the most valued comics out there for me because for its price you get a lot of content, a lot of content that’s really great. I was never necessarily the hugest Conan fan, but after 2024 I definitely am.”

• Professor Frenzy: “I think this is a great reimagining-republishing-restart of the Conan books. It’s like they never stopped for me.”

• Royville: “The art and the ink is just great for that dark sword & sorcery feel…The poetry by Jim Zub really captures what I love about Robert E. Howard’s writing when I was a kid and I can recommend Conan the Barbarian by Titan Books enough.”

• Rue Morgue Magazine: “Best Ongoing Comic Series 2024 – Conan the Barbarian”

• Thinking Critical – Drew: “This comic is the gold standard in how to have the very best writer, artists, colorists, letterer, and editor. What do you get with these guys? The best comic in the industry.”

• Thinking Critical – Wes: “Jim Zub, for the most part, is doing brand new Conan the Barbarian stories and they feel like they’re written by the hand of Robert E. Howard himself. It feels like you’re in Cimmeria, in the Hyborian age written by Robert E. Howard himself and I don’t think there’s a bigger compliment that I could give.”

• World At War Comics: “Fans are obviously digging this and if you’re not reading Conan the Barbarian, what is wrong with you?…It’s as close to having Robert E. Howard write stories as you could get.”

Zubby Newsletter #95: Year In Review

Posted by Jim Zub on December 31, 2024 2 comments

For the past 14 years I’ve been putting together a ‘Year In Review‘ post on my website as a way to summarize my thoughts and feelings on the year that was. It’s nice to measure highs and lows, and help jog my memory as things carry forward.

No pressure of course, but if you’re curious about what I was thinking in late December each year, here’s a complete link archive:

2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023.

*Stacy and I at Arthur’s Seat in Scotland, November 2024.*

2024 was an adventurous year on almost every front, but also one of the more balanced years I’ve had in terms of the personal and the creative. I got a lot done, but didn’t run myself ragged like I have in the past. A big part of that balance came at the end of April when I finally took the teaching sabbatical I was originally supposed to take back in 2020 before the world spun off its axis, we were plunged into lockdown, and classes moved online. After two years of online teaching and two more of things lurching back toward in-person classes and events, I finally felt ready to take an extended break from teaching. Having one career instead of two felt really strange at first, but with more time for myself it was also a much-needed exhale.

I know Stacy was worried that my workaholic nature would kick in and I’d fill every schedule gap with writing work but, to her surprise, I didn’t write more this year. The pace I’m at now is right where I want to be – tackling projects I’m passionate about and giving each one the concentration it deserves while also leaving myself downtime so I don’t careen into burn out like I was rocketing toward by the end of 2019.

Don’t get me wrong, I still did a lot and traveled a lot – Seattle, Lake Geneva, Calgary, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Dallas, Cross Plains, San Diego, Chicago, Indianapolis, Madison, London, Nottingham, Newcastle, and Edinburgh – but having the Comic Sketch Art team handling most of the event prep and not having teaching responsibilities to juggle while I hopped time zones meant that I could lean into each trip more fully and actually enjoy the ride.

*Our 2024 Japan travel crew: me, Stacy, Lindsay, and Kandrix.*

Finally getting back to Japan was glorious. Celebrating 50 years of Dungeons & Dragons in Lake Geneva with friends and fellow creators was incredible. Being part of D&D in a Castle and the Dungeon Master University program in northern England was amazing and surreal.

There were setbacks, of course, but not being overloaded meant I could handle those challenges more effectively as well. Even when potential projects crumbled, the publishing industry shook, or Stacy and I caught Covid again as Gen Con was starting, we were able to pull together and persevere.

On the creative front, this was the first time in a decade that I didn’t have a new comic release from Marvel or DC, but that break from superheroes certainly didn’t keep me off the board – As almost all of you already know, the new Conan the Barbarian publishing plan is roaring along and the Hyborian Age was my focal point in 2024. Every single release I had this year was sword & sorcery-related and 21 out of the 26 books I released were Conan-centric. To say that I was ‘on-brand’ is an understatement.

Not to say that I don’t want to write superheroes anymore. I’m certainly interested in mixing things up in 2025 with different projects, but having a laser focus in ’24 was also nice, showing myself and everyone else that I could put out a strong monthly title and build an event in my wheelhouse. Note to Publishers – Give me a bit of room to cook and I might just surprise you. 🙂

Speaking of Conan, in July we announced that I signed a long term contract commitment to the Hyborian Age with at least two more years of monthly Conan comics and events, which is the kind of consistency that feels all-too fleeting in comics nowadays. It’s a non-exclusive deal, so I can do work for other companies, but also a promise to carry through on big mythic plans we have bubbling away.

In my previous Year in Review post I said “How do you catch second struck lightning in a bottle? I don’t know, but I’m holding this one as tight as I can and using its energy and inspiration like a lantern to light my way as we head into an uncertain future” – Thankfully, that lantern is still shining bright as we head into the great unknown that will be 2025.

This newsletter has been a crucial outlet for me. I’m so glad I kicked it off last year and kept it almost-weekly through 2024. It’s been a really useful way to jot down things as they happen, point people toward creators, articles, and recipes on my radar, and mark each milestone on the big journey. Social media platforms are less reliable than ever and every platform has shown that it can change for the worse or be wiped away very quickly, so I’m extra-thankful I have my own website online, literally 25 years worth of blogposts and tutorials that aren’t under someone else’s umbrella and can’t be shunted away by algorithms.

Thank you for reading. Thank you for sharing. Thank you for your kind messages and support.

Here’s my writing output for 2024:

Wishing you and your loved ones an enjoyable new year filled with grand possibilities.
Jim

Zubby Newsletter #94: Happy Holidays, Hyborians!

Posted by Jim Zub on December 22, 2024 No comments

I hope this CANDY CANE-O-MANCER finds you well and that your holidays look bright, with lots of downtime to visit loved ones – Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Deadlines have been met. Emails are getting wrapped up. It’s a good time to relax and reflect.

Thank you for helping make 2024 so special, both creatively and personally. I’ll have more thoughts on the year that was in my annual Year In Review post next week.

400 Fortresses

Fortress Comics celebrated their 400th episode with a Zub interview!

We chat up a storm about iconic characters, sword & sorcery vs other fantasy, making Dungeons & Dragons stories accessible to non-gamers, role-playing characters in stories, my Conan the Barbarian journey, Samurai Jack, Avengers Tech-On, passion projects, and more!

12 Days Of Croms-Mas

The official Conan the Barbarian Facebook page is running 12 days of sneak peeks of upcoming Conan-related material and a couple of my projects are in the mix.

Here’s a script page from our 2025 Free Comic Book Day issue:

And here’s a special Final Order Cut-Off variant cover for Conan the Barbarian #18 illustrated by Giada Marchisio.

Current + Upcoming Releases

Conan the Barbarian Vol. 3: The Age Unconquered TPB – released November 19th.

Conan: Battle of the Black Stone #4 (of 4) – released December 4th.

Conan the Barbarian #17 – released December 11th.

Savage Sword of Conan Vol. 1 TPB – releases January 14th.

Conan the Barbarian Vol. 4: Frozen Faith TPB – releases February 18th.

Conan the Barbarian #18 – releases February 19th.

Conan the Barbarian #19 – releases March 19th.

Upcoming Appearances

My 2025 convention schedule is already starting to fill up, with lots of shows where I’m now signed on but guests haven’t been publicly announced yet. If you run a show or know anyone who does and want me to come to your spot on the map in 2025, reach out to Comic Sketch Art or drop me a line and I’ll put you in touch.

Mar 20-23, 2025

Gary Con XVII

Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, USA

Links and Other Things

• If you get my newsletter you’ve almost certainly already seen it but, just in case, the new Superman teaser trailer does exactly what it needs to do – brings hope and builds excitement. Nice work, Team DC!

• ComicBook.com had a week of cover art reveals for the upcoming Solomon Kane: The Serpent Ring mini-series by Patch Zircher, with cover art by Mike Mignola, J.H. Williams III, Andrew Maclean, and Dan Brereton.

• One of my former students has opened a new bar & bistro in Toronto called The Wych and they have special Krampus promotion going right now around the holidays.

Jim

Zub Comics – March 2025

Posted by Jim Zub on December 20, 2024 1 comment

CONAN BARBARIAN #19
Story- JIM ZUB
Line Art – DOUG BRAITHWAITE
Colors- DIEGO RODRIGUEZ
Letters- RICHARD STARKINGS and TYLER SMITH
Cover A- ROB DE LA TORRE
Cover B- MARCO RUDY
Cover C- TONY HARRIS
Cover D- ERYK DONOVAN

The triumphant new era of Conan continues! From acclaimed creators Jim Zub (Avengers, Dungeons & Dragons) and Doug Braithwaite (Punisher, Justice)!

In the days following Bêlit’s tragic demise, Conan traveled through jungles of the southern kingdoms but there’s no time for grief – a deadly hunter stalks the Cimmerian, bent on bloody vengeance. Who is this strange foe and what do they know about the ancient power rising in Stygia?

In Shops: March 19, 2025

Hugo Award 2025 Eligibility

Posted by Jim Zub on December 17, 2024 No comments

The Hugo Awards are an annual literary award for the best science fiction or fantasy works of the previous year. There is no nominating jury, instead the thousands of members of Worldcon cast ballots on nominations, finalists are chosen, and then they vote again on award winners.

The first step of all that is making sure Worldcon members know which works are eligibible.
In 2024 I released eligible work that readers may not know about, so I’m covering those here-

Best Graphic Story or Comic: CONAN THE BARBARIAN Vol. 3: THE AGE UNCONQUERED
Each single issue in this story and the collected book were released in 2024, so this is the clearest volume of work in the new Conan series that could make the cut (the single issues for Bound in Black Stone came out in 2023). The Age Unconquered is also the culmination of a year and a half of mythic sword & sorcery storytelling with a blast of eldritch horror thrown in for good measure, illustrated by the unstoppable art team of Roberto De La Torre and Diego Rodriguez.

Best Short Story: SACRIFICE IN THE SAND
This original short prose story, written with an eye toward Robert E. Howard‘s formative works in Weird Tales, was published in the premiere issue of the new Savage Sword of Conan magazine (launched on the 50th anniversary of the original run) with accompanying painted artwork by Joe Jusko. The story is reproduced here so anyone can give it a read at their leisure.

Best Poem: CALL THEE TO CROM
Each Worldcon may create a special award category for that year and in 2025 that will be Best Poem.
My poem Call Thee To Crom was published in Savage Sword of Conan #3 and is reproduced above.

Best Professional Artist: ROBERTO DE LA TORRE
I believe that Roberto De La Torre‘s work on Conan the Barbarian has been a revelation, hearkening back to a formative era of sword & sorcery illustration while also making it his own with dynamic layouts and a mastery of light and shadow. I hope members agree with me.

The actual nominations and awards won’t be known for many months but, since it’s the end of the year, readers start organizing their favorites. Thank you for reading, reviewing, and sharing my work with others. 2024 has been a milestone for me and I’m excited for 2025 and beyond.

Zubby Newsletter #93: A Bit Unconventional

Posted by Jim Zub on December 15, 2024 No comments

*Ryan North and Chip Zdarsky give readers what they want – cheap signed comics!*

The inaugural Comic Comps Con happened on Saturday at the RAID Studio in downtown Toronto and it was a blast. 10 Toronto comic creators sold off piles of extra comp copies they’d built up over the years at bargain basement prices and local comic fans came out in droves. The first few hours were absolutely slammed with people looking to get holiday gifts or fill in gaps in their collections.

It really felt like an old school comic collector show, the sort of event that would have happened in a small hotel ballroom thirty years ago. People excitedly talking about comics and, even if they were there to meet one or two specific creators, they were also excited to browse it all and discover something new.

I had a weird moment when things finally calmed down and I looked around and realized how many books we’ve all worked on over the years. Long boxes jam-packed with single issues and trades we’ve contributed to – hundreds and hundreds of stories. It’s the kind of thing I could never have imagined when I was a kid collecting my favorites, seeing the names in those credit boxes and assuming I’d never get to meet any of those people, let alone be one of them. Surreal.

*From **Public Domain #9**, by Chip Zdarsky.*

Normally I’m pretty burned out on conventions by late October/early November so I don’t book any events around this time of year, but seeing industry pals and touching base with local readers one more time before the holidays (while also getting rid of old stock) was surprisingly fun.

Big thanks to Chip and the RAID crew, especially Ramon Perez, for setting this up.

Livestreaming on World At War

I recorded a livestream interview with Thomas Huls from World At War Comics all about Conan the Barbarian – We talked about cover artists, Conan’s legacy, big narrative plans, Solomon Kane, the Conan tabletop RPG, and lots of gratitude for where things are at in the here and now.

Current + Upcoming Releases

Conan the Barbarian Vol. 3: The Age Unconquered TPB – released November 19th.

Conan: Battle of the Black Stone #4 (of 4) – released December 4th.

Conan the Barbarian #17 – released December 11th.

Savage Sword of Conan Vol. 1 TPB – releases January 14th.

Conan the Barbarian Vol. 4: Frozen Faith TPB – releases February 18th.

Conan the Barbarian #18 – releases February 19th.

Upcoming Appearances

Mar 20-23, 2025

Gary Con XVII

Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, USA

Links and Other Things

• Brian Lagerstrom‘s chili recipe was absolutely on target with the crisp winter weather we’ve had this week.

• Has Matttt created a weak comic video yet? I don’t think he has and his latest, all about Jeff Smith’s BONE comics, a series which absolutely ignited my imagination when I discovered it, is just as compelling as any he’s done so far.

• I’m looking to get some tabletop momentum going again at home by running some short self-contained adventures and one of the games I’m looking at is MOTHERSHIP, after playing a really fun one-shot session with Joel Hines at Gary Con earlier this year. This Quinn’s Quest video all about Mothership does a great job explaining its compelling features.

• Simon Sinek can sometimes be quite cliché when it comes to inspirational speaking, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t also have some damn good advice. This short clip about reaching out to friends and asking “Do you have 8 minutes?” really grabbed me.
Jim

Conan the Barbarian #17 Reviews

Posted by Jim Zub on December 15, 2024 No comments

A new story arc begins as we roll our timeline back to Days of Grand Piracy! Conan and Bêlit are at the height of their infamy, loving life and living large, but trouble is brewing…What did reviewers think of this kick-off to a brand new adventure?

• 9 Panel Grid: “I really like the different approach taken here. I think it was fitting for the story. The rendering was really nice on this one.”

• Comical Opinions: 8/10 “Conan the Barbarian #17 returns to one of the most anticipated eras in Conan’s history to begin a new tale of adventure, thievery, romance, and excitement. Jim Zub continues to prove he understands Robert E. Howard’s creations as well as anyone else”

• Cool Thunder: 8.9/10 “Zub masterfully weaves together themes of passion, intrigue, vivid storytelling, and the signature brutal action fans expect. Danica Brine’s detailed and striking artwork is a standout, perfectly complemented by Jao Canola’s vibrant and atmospheric coloring.”

• Deciptisean: “I thought this was awesome. It’s still going strong, one of the best things of the past two years. Definitely one of the best comics of 2024…I recommend this. Pick up the entire run.”

• The DNA Show: “If you’re a Conan fan of old, I think you’ll appreciate what they’re doing at Titan Comics with this.”

• Doc Lail Talks Comics: “Conan’s been around for almost 100 years as a character and now you get to see so many sides of him that you’ve never seen before…This is just really amazing literature in art form.”

• Dragon’s Cache: 9.8/10 “Conan and Bêlit have become legendary pirates. Some may wonder how much their stories have grown in the telling. But in Conan The Barbarian #17, as they relax in Kyros, Bêlit discovers that Conan’s worries are justified.”

• Goodreads: 5/5 “This issue is written with vibrant history in mind, artfully and skillfully, with an eye trained solely on the intimate, thrilling adventures of Conan and Bêlit at the height of their love for one another…Anyway, top notch. Not familiar with this artist but great job as always.”

• Kabooooom: 5/5 “Zub’s command of Conan as a character remains unmatched and, unsurprisingly given his run so far, he has a solid handle on Bêlit as well…If you’ve not been reading Conan the Barbarian since Titan Comics took over the license, you’ve been missing out on a damn good comic. Fans of fantasy will be in good spirits, but the high adventure and intrigue will also appeal to other audiences.”

• League of Comic Geeks: 4/5 “I love that we get a Bêlit story! Something else I appreciate about this is the classic nature of serialized Conan. There’s no continuity between last issue or this and it doesn’t matter, because Conan is a series of tales; an epic saga told in parts jumping through his timeline. It’s the same way REH wrote him and I dig it!”

• Nerd Initiative: “I absolutely love this comic…This is just Jim Zub and now Danica Brine firing on all cylinders with awesome Conan content. That’s it, that’s all you need!”

• Old Nerd Reviews WY : “Every time I talk about Conan I say ‘Now is the best time to jump in’ if you’re not reading it, but now may honestly be the best time to jump in.”

• Pop Culture Philosophers : “Another great issue of Conan…I do really like this story.”

• Professor Frenzy: “Conan and Bêlit stories are fabulous for me and this one is definitely good…This did not miss a step.”

• Sci Fi Pulse: 9.6/10 “Jim Zub kicks off this new story arc, promising exciting adventures with Conan and his Pirate Queen, a character we’ve only seen in flashbacks until now. It will be intriguing to see how this story unfolds as it develops. This is a strong and engaging start.”

• Stygian Dogs: “I really enjoyed Danica Brine’s work here, it feels like it exists in contrasts – it’s both soft and edgy, sensual and striking, detailed yet sparse, and it does a superlative job of capturing the ‘joie de vivre’ Conan felt with Bêlit in that era where the youthful wanderer found a form of stability in service to his Queen…The story is a welcome palette cleanser.”

• Sword & Sorcery Book Club: “I love the double page spread that Danica drew. It looks beautiful…This is a great issue. I really, really liked it.”

• Thinking Critical: “This is Conan the Barbarian and Bêlit kind of story that’s a lot more sexy in nature and Danica’s art is a lot more sexy than Roberto De La Torre…It’s a still a fine issue of Conan.”

• Whole Lotta Comics: “This book is beautiful. Truly beautiful…I’m honestly shocked how much I loved the art in this book.”