Zub Tales

Conan: Battle of the Black Stone #1 has arrived in comic shops today, kicking off a flurry of promotion as a cast of Robert E. Howard-created characters from across time are pulled into a grand pulp-infused epic adventure. It’s taken a lot of hard work to get to this point and I’m thrilled our first issue is finally here.

Just over a year ago at New York Comic-Con, editor Chris Butera, assistant editor Ashley Hodgkins, and I went out for dinner with artist Jonas Scharf so I could verbally pitch him the whole Black Stone tale, letting him know who was involved, every twist and turn, and the climactic conclusion so he’d be ready for what we had coming up. It felt good to lay out the big story beats and feel that sense of momentum building. Jonas’ art is a critical part of what makes this mini-series feel so epic and I can’t wait for you to see it all this Fall.

If you’ve enjoyed the new Conan the Barbarian comic series, you’ll essentially be getting a double dose of full color Hyborean action for the next 4 months as the regular book continues with Frozen Faith, our new non-Black Stone-related story arc. If you haven’t read the new Conan series at all, no problem. You can still dive in with Battle of the Black Stone #1 and can check out our FREE prelude issue online for a bit more context.

Titan Comics has put together a video trailer to help bring even more bombast to this week’s launch. Check it out:

The advance reviews for Black Stone have been enthusiastic and I’m hopeful that high praise brings even more readers on board.

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A Skullkickers Bundle For You

The Bundle of Holding, a TTRPG-focused digital sale site, has posted up a SKULLKICKERS BUNDLE, with a terrific price for Vol. 1-6 and Caster Bastards available until September 23rd.

If you’ve never read my creator-owned sword & sorcery action-comedy comic series, the ‘Dungeons & Dragons by way of Deadpool’ trope-trashing tornado that kicked off my fantasy writing career, this is the perfect way to get all caught up, or you can buy it for a friend!

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Back to the Cimmerian Source

In my previous newsletter, I mentioned Cimmerian September, with bloggers and vloggers reading and chatting about Conan stories. I’m hoping to reread all the original Robert E. Howard Conan prose stories and jot down a few thoughts about each one. I don’t want to overwhelm this newsletter with text, so if you want to read what I think of the original Cimmerian stories, click on through to the posts I’ve made so far:

1) The Phoenix on the Sword

2) The Scarlet Citadel

3) The Tower of the Elephant

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Current + Upcoming Releases

Savage Sword of Conan #4 – released August 28th.

Conan: Battle of the Black Stone #1 (of 4) – releases September 4th.

D&D Young Adventurer’s Collection Box Set 2 – releases September 24th.

Conan the Barbarian #15 – releases September 25th.

Conan: Battle of the Black Stone #2 (of 4) – releases October 2nd.

Conan the Barbarian Vol. 3: The Age Unconquered TPB – releases October 9th.

Conan the Barbarian #16 – releases October 30th.

Savage Sword of Conan #5 – releases October 30th.

Conan: Battle of the Black Stone #3 (of 4) – releases November 6th.

Conan the Barbarian #17 – releases November 27th.

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Upcoming Appearances

On the way to Gamehole Con I slotted in a comic shop signing at Kowabunga Comics in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin from 4-6pm on Oct 15th.

Oct 15, 2024	Kowabunga Comics	Oconomowoc, WI, USA
Oct 17-20, 2024	Gamehole Con	Madison, WI, USA
Nov 4-8, 2024	D&D In a Castle	Newcastle, UK

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Links and Other Things

• Watch a timelapse video of artist Doug Braithwaite penciling and inking a page from Conan the Barbarian #14. Even at high speed you can see how much skill and care Doug puts into every image.

• Conan YouTube channel host Shawn Curley spoke to World At War Comics all about hosting the channel, working on Conan, social media management and more.

• Artist Fernando Dagnino, whose visceral artwork made a big splash in the pages of Savage Sword of Conan #4, has got a brand new website. Browse and gawk at his excellent work. We’re already working away on a new project and I’m excited for you to check it out.

• Derek Laufman has a new grim fantasy graphic novel called Crimson Fall heading to Kickstarter and, trust me, you want to get on board this one. And while you’re at it, read the webcomic.

• My friend and colleague David Hedgecock has a new comic project on Kickstarter called Miss Mina and the Midnight Guardians. It’s 90’s anime-style with a supernatural flare and a ton of fun.

• Wizards of the Coast PR Manager Greg Tito is stepping away from Dungeons & Dragons for a brand new job with the office of Washington’s Secretary of State as Deputy Director of External Affairs, and he will be sorely missed by everyone in tabletop gaming. Greg’s hard work in promotion helped D&D 5th edition surge and his work partnering with streamers and promoting the game through liveplay events helped transform the hobby. I’m wishing him all the best.

Jim