Jim Zub's Blog, page 111
February 11, 2016
This Weekend: Amazing Arizona Comic Con!
This weekend I’m a guest of the Amazing Arizona Comic Con happening in Phoenix, Arizona! I’ll be set up in Artist Alley at table D-3 beside Joe Ng (Street Fighter) and Charles Soule (Daredevil, Letter 44). It’s my first convention of 2016 and I’m excited to meet new readers and see friends.
I’ll also be on two panels happening on Saturday:
Saturday February 13th
2pm Panel Room 1
MEET THE STARS OF STREET FIGHTER
Join the voices behind the hit game Taliesin Jaffe (Blanka, Street Fighter IV), Bonnie Gordon (Rainbow Mika, Street Fighter V), Jordan Byrne (JACK-X, Street Fighter X Tekken), and Chris Rickabaugh (Hwoarand, Street Fighter X Tekken) and comic writer Jim Zub and Udon Artists to talk all things Street Fighter!
4pm Panel Room 1
WRITERS UNITE: WRITING AND PITCHING COMIC STORIES
Comics have grabbed the imagination of the pop culture-loving public all over again and publishers are looking for fresh ideas from a new generation of talent. Listen closely as Charles Soule (Letter 44, Daredevil) and Jim Zub (Wayward, Samurai Jack) discuss writing comics and pitching their work to publishers, along with comic writing techniques and amusing anecdotes.
February 10, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Gives WAYWARD Deluxe a 9/10
Prestigious book review site Kirkus reviews WAYWARD Deluxe: Book One and gives it a 9/10!
“Wayward explores the fantastical and supernatural, but is rooted in real human experience (through the eyes of teenage outsiders), in a real place, and using real cultural touchstones and histories. Also, very importantly, this story is not exoticizing or appropriative of Japanese culture or setting. I cannot stress how important this is, as well as the level of care Zub imbues in his storytelling and character arcs.”
February 1, 2016
Pulpcast Interview
The gang at Pulpcast lucked out when they interviewed me last week. I’d booked the podcast date with them weeks earlier and my new Thunderbolts gig was announced a few hours before I went on air. In turn, they’ve got my first interview about Thunderbolts (though admittedly, I’m not able to say too much about it yet). We also chat extensively about Wayward, Skullkickers, and the state of comics as a whole.
January 27, 2016
Wayward #13 Reviews
WAYWARD #13 arrived in stores on January 20th. Let’s see what reviewers thought of our latest action-packed chapter…
• Big Glasgow: 10/10 “Jim Zub is a master at catching the interest of the reader and not letting it go and the art is fantastic, too.”
• Bleeding Cool: “It’s clear that things won’t be the same after this, but I’m truly looking forward to seeing how it all pans out.”
• Comix I Read: 10/10 “Not only does the series continue to be amazing, the latest issue of Wayward is actually a halfway decent place to jump into the story.”
• Fandom Post: “…it’s a very fun ride that’s made all the more engaging thanks to Cummings artwork”
• Geeked Out Nation: 8.4/10 “The clash certainly did not disappoint either as the new gods are in their element.”
• Omni Jer Bear: “It’s like X-Men for the new millennium.”
• The Pulp: “Wayward makes action an artistic dance that leaves you with your jaw on the floor. “
• Reading With a Flight Ring: “Every month I’m constantly amazed by the quality of the interior artwork here.”
• Snap Pow: 8.5/10 “absolutely continues the brilliant trajectory of the franchise without missing a beat.”
• TM Stash: 10/10 “It’s a story that is appointment reading for this reviewer each month, with some of the most beautiful artwork in comics today by Steve Cummings, with colors by Tamra Bonvillain.”
• Under the Comic Covers: “This was, from beginning to end, brutal, exciting, beautiful and horrifying at the same time.”
January 25, 2016
Tutorial: FAQ Round-Up
With my current work schedule it’s been difficult to put together the kind of tutorial articles I did a year or two ago. Even still, I try to keep up with questions from aspiring creators on my Tumblr page. If you’re not following me there you might have missed some interesting information or helpful advice.
I’ll use this post as a hub to paraphrase the best questions and point you toward my answers:
SUBMITTING YOUR PITCH/PORTFOLIO
Q: For email submissions, what format should I use?
A: http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/137816013685/for-email-submissions-what-kind-of-format-do-you
Q: Is it better to submit a mini-series or ongoing series?
A: http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/136881062290/one-thing-i-dont-think-i-saw-in-your-posts-was
and
http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/101220936630/ive-been-reading-your-blog-very-closely-and-have
Q: Is it better to release one graphic novel or a mini-series and trade collection?
A: http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/80599971891/what-incentives-are-there-to-making-monthly-issues
Q: Is it okay to pitch a book you already self published?
A: http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/117516172775/hi-jim-i-wondered-if-it-ever-makes-sense-to-pitch
Q: Do you worry about a publisher rejecting a pitch and then stealing the idea?
A: http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/117459511565/not-sure-if-youve-experienced-this-jim-but-when
Q: How many “no’s” did you get before finally getting something published?
A: http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/128724185655/i-dont-expect-any-a-response-but-how-many-nos
Q: When did you realize you’d “made it” in the comic industry?
A: http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/112012600650/hi-jim-loving-your-inspirational-posts-and
and
http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/80720187118/as-a-fellow-comic-creator-i-was-wondering-how
WRITING ADVICE
Q: How do I get started making my own comics?
A: http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/111979954730/how-do-i-get-started-in-making-my-own-comics
Q: What are the most common mistakes you see from new comic creators?
A: http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/83015069393/dear-jim-what-are-in-your-opinion-the-top-5-or
Q: Did you go to school for writing?
A: http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/113687068195/hi-jim-im-curious-if-you-ever-took-any-college
and
http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/112081144160/how-far-do-you-think-someone-can-go-with-a-career
Q: What do your comic scripts look like?
A: http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/91880015085/wheelr-guttersnipercomics
Q: How long does it take to write a comic?
A: http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/128750360600/how-long-does-it-take-to-write-a-comic
Q: I’m having trouble getting my ideas down and organized. What do you suggest?
A: http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/137623641105/ive-had-an-idea-for-a-comic-ive-wanted-to-write
Q: What advice would you give to someone working on their first ongoing title?
A: http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/132541809000/how-do-you-plot-out-an-ongoing-series-ive-tried
and
http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/135733194495/what-advice-would-you-give-to-someone-working-on
Q: What things make up a great first issue?
A: http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/135708402045/hey-man-hope-youre-doin-well-if-you-have-the
Q: Do you have any advice on how to make a comic book adaptation of a novel?
A: http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/134056703515/do-you-have-any-advice-on-how-to-make-a-comic-book
Q: How do you come up with titles for your stories?
A: http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/127197979645/do-you-struggle-with-story-titles-if-so-how-do
Q: How do you structure a short comic story?
A: http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/131748911780/how-do-you-structure-a-small-5-page-comic
Q: How many panels should I put on a page?
A: http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/105349206560/hello-im-an-aspiring-comic-book-writer-and
Q: Do comic writers have to use sound effects?
A: http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/131588272400/do-you-know-any-writer-that-doesnt-write-sfx
Q: How do I get feedback on my comic writing?
A: http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/127826664080/it-hurts-when-you-say-you-wont-review-peoples
and
http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/71754649055/about-your-jealousy-is-poision-post-what-if-we
Q: How do I critique my own work?
A: http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/124574148000/ive-re-written-my-first-issue-nearly-six-or-seven
Q: Do you have advice on co-writing a story with another writer:
A: http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/133898589330/though-im-not-the-anon-who-sent-you-the-previous
and
http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/134056295130/hi-jim-your-comments-on-how-do-you-co-write-a
Q: How can I improve gender-racial equality in my writing?
A: http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/117986754960/id-like-to-think-that-im-sensitive-to-the
Q: How do webcomics differ from print comics?
A: http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/115577681220/in-terms-of-process-how-do-web-comics-differ-from
CREATOR-OWNED COMICS
Q: Is it better to buy single issues or trades to support a creator-owned series?
A: http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/115630267710/as-a-comic-loving-dad-space-can-really-be-an
and
http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/138060870005/ive-been-following-your-work-since-skullkickers
Q: What’s the difference between self-publishing and being published by Image?
A: http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/104336034670/whats-the-difference-between-self-publishing-and
and
http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/104068099395/hey-man-i-want-to-know-what-percentage-of-sales
Q: How much money do creator-owned comics make compared to working for Marvel/DC?
A: http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/127593623035/not-knowing-much-of-the-business-side-of-things
Q: Could you provide any advice on copyrighting or trademarking your work?
A: http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/135191109785/jim-could-you-provide-any-advice-on
Q: Do I have to pay to print my own book if I’m published by Image Comics?
A: http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/125199459950/im-working-on-a-superhero-comic-book-series-and
Q: What’s the proper percentage breakdown for profits between a writer and artist?
A: http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/125706365715/in-a-creator-owned-work-the-profits-are-50-to
and
http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/104119664470/hey-i-read-your-post-on-percentage-of-sales-and
Q: Do creators always control their work with creator-owned comics?
A: http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/121641083195/am-i-correct-in-understanding-that-creator-owned
WORK-FOR-HIRE COMICS
Q: How much flexibility are you given on work-for-hire projects?
A: http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/131757402180/hey-jim-just-read-your-last-ask-and-thats-a
Q: How much interaction do you have with the art team when you write work-for-hire?
A: http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/132868342705/how-much-interaction-do-you-have-with-the-art-team
Q: is it normal for DC/Marvel to approach you instead of you approaching them?
A: http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/111979546285/hey-jim-is-it-normal-for-dcmarvel-to-approach
MISCELLANEOUS INDUSTRY QUESTIONS
Q: How can I find an audience for my work?
A: http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/132950500770/reposting-from-fb-what-would-your-tips-be-on
Q: How do you work on multiple projects at the same time?
A: http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/130304241340/hey-jim-i-have-two-questions-for-you1-how-do-you
and
http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/131810783435/how-do-you-go-about-writing-on-more-than-one
and
http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/115664427830/are-you-really-writing-six-comics-a-month-how
Q: How do I get involved with the social side of the comic industry?
A: http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/132116904370/i-follow-a-bunch-of-comic-creators-on-twitter-and
Q: Is there anywhere I can see what a professional contract looks like?
A: http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/128748976440/is-there-a-place-where-i-can-see-what-a
Q: If someone had a great comic story idea and you liked it would you consider co-writing it with them?
A: http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/133896865595/if-someone-had-a-great-comic-story-idea-and-you
Q: I hear about writers needing other jobs to make a living. Is that true with writing comics?
A: http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/137239239485/i-hear-about-writers-needing-other-jobs-to-make-a
and
http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/104934807775/if-you-didnt-teach-do-you-think-you-would-of
Q: How do I become a comic colorist?
A: http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/92426334105/youre-a-writer-and-know-things-how-does-one
Q: Have you ever had a comic or project you were involved in turn into a disaster?
A: http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/134066715390/ever-have-a-comic-or-project-you-were-involved-in
Q: What do you think of the diversity trend in mainstream comics?
A: http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/133038810685/snippy-nope-answer-is-kinda-funny-but-im-serious
and
http://jimzub.tumblr.com/post/129649876830/according-to-bleeding-cool-dc-is-using
If you found the above Q&A links helpful, feel free to let me know here (or on Twitter), share the post with your friends and consider buying some of my comics to show your support for me answering all these questions instead of doing paying work. 
January 22, 2016
I’m Writing the New Thunderbolts For Marvel!
The announcement just went out today so it’s official: I’m writing a new THUNDERBOLTS monthly series for Marvel Comics! Working with the Avengers editorial team and artist Jon Mailin to bring this team back into the spotlight is going to be a blast.
The Thunderbolts have been around in a few different configurations since 1997, but if you’ve never read their adventures I’ll give you a quick overview: They’re a team of heroes who haven’t always been heroic. Many of them are actually villains in search of redemption and the tough choices they make will define their heroic or villainous legacy.
The new team, lead by the Winter Soldier, will be emerging out of an Avengers-centric event starting in April called Standoff. Reading Standoff will be a sweet introduction to the new Thunderbolts, but I’m also aiming to make the first issue of Thunderbolts very new reader friendly so you can get on board without needing an encyclopedic knowledge of the Marvel Universe. If you’ve been a longtime Marvel reader, you’ll find lots to enjoy here. If you only know the Winter Soldier from the Captain America movie, this will still be easy to dig into.
I can’t go into any more detail beyond the above right now, but expect more details soon.
As always, thanks for the enthusiasm and support!
January 21, 2016
D&D Comics Alliance Interview
I spoke to Comics Alliance about the new DUNGEONS & DRAGONS comic series I’m writing that launches in April (pre-order now!) Check it out! So much good stuff coming down the road…
