Jim Zub's Blog, page 123
April 3, 2015
Wayward Vol. 1 Reviews!
Wayward Volume 1: String Theory arrived in comic shops last week and the response has been incredible. So, so proud of our whole team on this and am overjoyed that current and new readers alike are picking it up and enjoying it. Here’s the response from reviewers so far…
• Amazon.com: “★★★★½”
• Comicosity: “Writer Jim Zub and artist Steve Cummings go above and beyond, in terms of their research for this series, ranging from Tokyo architecture to Japanese ghost lore and history.”
• Forces of Geek: ” Wayward emerges as a coming of age tale about finding one’s own identity as an outsider and adapting to a new world through non-cultural similarities with others, creating a relatable narrative for anyone who has ever had to adapt to a new environment with other people who also are new and/or don’t quite fit in.”
• Geeked Out Nation: 10/10 “Wayward is a fantastic series and this trade is absolutely something you need to pick up. It’s for fans of manga, magic, Japanese culture and kick ass female leads. It features beautiful art and thoughtful back matter. “Wayward” is a winner and easily deserves the title of ‘trade of the month’.”
• Geeks of Doom: “These first five issues do an excellent job of setting up some good ongoing mysteries as well as an interesting cast and a unique setting for everyone to play in.”
• Good Reads: 4/5 “I really enjoyed the first volume of Wayward. It has a lot going for it with an interesting narrative, cool characters, and gorgeous art with even better looking fight scenes.”
• It’s Super Effective: “If you don’t read indy comics and you want to start, read Wayward. It’s my favorite series at the moment. It’s absolutely perfect.”
• Maxx’s Super Awesome Comic Review Show: “They’re really outdoing everyone now. Crushing it.”
• Moar Powah: “the art is fantastic on all fronts. The action is always clear and easy to follow, which works out well for someone who sometimes get confused when it comes to reading panels”
• Starburst: 8/10 “Cummings’ art is pleasantly detailed, right down to the background kanji, which gives Japanese speakers hints and clues on the plot.”
Wayward Vol. 1
String Theory
(issues #1-5)
Rori Lane is trying to start a new life when she reunites with her mother in Japan, but ancient creatures lurking in the shadows of Tokyo sense something hidden deep within her, threatening everything she holds dear. Can she unlock the secrets of her power before it’s too late?
Amazon.com
Barnes & Noble
Book Depository
Chapters-Indigo
comiXology
Midtown Comics
TFAW
April 2, 2015
Wayward and Weird Japan Video Now Online
At Emerald City Comicon Zack Davisson (professional translator and mythology expert) and I talked about Japanese myths, spirits, and the strange, along with how I evolved some of those for my creator-owned series Wayward.
Jenna, one of our fans, recorded most of the panel and has posted it online. Thanks, Jenna!
Convention Horror Stories Panel Audio Now Online
Jamie Coville recorded audio from this year’s infamous Convention Horror Stories panel from Emerald City Comicon that Katie Cook (My Little Pony) and I were on. If you’ve always wondered about what it’s like to meet people at more than a dozen conventions a year and what kind of trouble we can get ourselves into, this one’s for you. Please keep in mind that this audio is most definitely not safe for work and includes quite a bit of swearing.
For a rundown of other panels Jamie recorded at the show, click HERE.
March 31, 2015
Wayward #6 and Skullkickers #31 Reviews!
Wayward #6 and Skullkickers #31, both the first part of their respective story arcs, arrived in stores last week and the response has been wonderful! Let’s see what reviewers thought…
• All-Comic: 4/5 “…with the masterful art team of Steve Cummings and Tamra Bonvillain at the helm, the story couldn’t be in better hands.”
• The Beat: “While there is a hefty amount of Japanese culture depicted in the story, there is also clean lines and bright coloring that move this story closer towards American comic book art standards.”
• Big Glasgow: 9/10 “The detail in which Japanese culture is depicted in Wayward is fantastic.”
• Black Ship Books: “Wayward #6 is the perfect jumping-on point for new readers, so if you have any interest in Japanese folklore or teens fighting the supernatural, this is the book for you.”
• Brittlejules: “If you enjoy Japanese supernatural stories and monsters, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, ghosts, cats, and troubled teens with strange powers, then you should definitely check out Wayward.”
• Comic Book Bin: “This comic book is like one big enchantment that draws me into the story. I guess I am not the only reader who wants to live in the world of this series.”
• Comics the Gathering: 10/10 “This art team lays waste to so many other books. I can’t wrap my head around how they’re able to produce pages of this quality so quickly.”
• Comix I Read: 4.5/5 “The new arc started very strong and I am very excited to conitnue reading WAYWARD for its Wayworld.”
• Fandom Post: B+ “The book is definitely a welcome return to my reading schedule as Jim Zub handles the narration very well, making it engaging and interesting”
• The Latest Pull: 8.5/10 “I went in to this book with a bit of cautious scepticism, but was pleasantly surprised by this new beginning and I expect good things in the future.”
• Major Spoilers: 9/10 “Wayward #6, in particular, is a treat for readers of the series. We get to see the world, characters and magical elements we are familiar with, but through a fresh pair of eyes.”
• Moar Powah: 4/5 “Wayward #6 brings in teases of what’s to come. We wonder what’s to become of our new and old protagonists.”
• Outright Geekery: 10/10 ” So long as Jim Zub and Steve Cummings continue to deliver a great series, I will continue to recommend this series.”
• Reading With a Flight Ring: “the characters and characterization is simply superb and demonstrates why I’ll follow Jim to whatever he writes”
• Telltale Mind: 8/10 “With an ending to the story that can only be called mysterious, Zub and Cummings draw you back into this world and all that can be said is that it is good to be back.”
• Third Eye Spotlight: “It’s great storytelling, great writing, and we can’t get enough.”
• TM Stash: 9/10 “I have trouble deciding what impresses me more with this book – the exceptional script or the beautiful artwork”
• Under the Comic Covers: “Another wonderfully paced issue. A great mix of mystery and action.”
• We The Nerdy: 8.5/10 “The art too, is still fantastic. The battle at the end looks great, and some of the strange paranormal events that Ohara experiences are all great looking.”
• Comic Bastards: 10/10 “You have no excuse why this book isn’t in your life.”
• Comics Alliance: “Skullkickers has been one of the great dark horse stories of the last few years, and it’s fantastic to see that it’s been able to go so long and maintain the fun”
• Comix I Read: 4.5/5 “Skullkickers #31 channels the energy of a drunken game of D&D with your friends. It takes everything you love about the fantasy genre but throws in a laugh every half a second.”
• Newsarama: 8/10 “This issue of Skullkickers, like those before it, makes a great example of how comics can be just fun and still be completely successful.”
• Panel Culture: “Edwin Huang is just fantastic on these fight scenes. They’re dynamic, they’re fun, and Misty Coats’ colors are vibrant.”
• Unleash the Fanboy: 9/10 “Equal parts lore, story and fun, Skullkickers #31 is a well-rounded stable issue that eagerly kicks back into the swing of things.”
March 25, 2015
Great Big Beautiful Podcast Interview
I was interviewed by the gang at GeekDad on their Great Big Beautiful podcast and I’m really happy with how this one turned out. we talk about working with the Disney Imagineering team on Figment, finding the voice for a series, and juggling multiple projects. Give it a listen!
Mega-Zub Comic Release Day!
Thanks to the shipping strike that happened in California and a couple printing delays a bunch of my comic titles have synced up, leading to the craziest new comic book day of my career so far:
6 new books from 4 different publishers all arriving in comic shops TODAY!
Yeah, it’s ridiculous.
Click on any of the covers below to read preview pages from each of the books:
As always, thank you for your support!
March 24, 2015
Zub at Emerald City Comicon This Weekend!
This weekend convention season 2015 kicks into overdrive with the wondrous Emerald City Comicon in Seattle, Washington! It’s one of my favorite shows every year and this time it’s going to be extra-special as I’ll be there celebrating the release of WAYWARD Vol. 1 and the arrival of WAYWARD #6 and SKULLKICKERS #31!
Here is where you can find some of my artistic collaborators and I at the show:
JIM ZUB – Table HH-11
ANDY SURIANO (Samurai Jack artist) – Table HH-12
EDWIN HUANG (Skullkickers artist) – Booth 1702
MAX DUNBAR (D&D: Legends of Baldur’s Gate artist) – Table HH-10
ZACK DAVISSON (Wayward essays) – Table F-14
Image and Emerald City Comicon teamed up to create a limited hardcover edition of Wayward Vol. 1: String Theory for the show. It’s limited to only 250 copies and I’ll be selling them at the table for $30 each as long as they last.
I’ll also have a selection of issues, sketch covers, trade paperbacks, and variants from my other series there as well: Skullkickers, Samurai Jack, D&D: Legends of Baldur’s Gate, Conan-Red Sonja, Munchkin, Wayward, and more!
Here’s a list of signings and panels I’ll be on over the weekend:
FRIDAY MARCH 27th
Writers Unite: Pitching and Writing Comic Stories
11:30AM – 12:20PM in Hall F (TCC 304)
Comics are everywhere and publishers are looking for fresh ideas from a new generation of talent. Listen closely as creators Charles Soule (Death of Wolverine, Letter 44), Kieron Gillen (Young Avengers, Wicked + the Divine), and moderator Jim Zub (Samurai Jack, Wayward) discuss pitching story concepts and offer advice on climbing to the top of the treacherous submission mountain, along with writing techniques and amusing anecdotes.
Wayward and Weird Japan
2:50PM – 3:40PM in Hall E (TCC 303)
Dive into the weird world of the hit series Wayward from Image Comics. Series writer Jim Zub and back matter writer and Japanese folklore expert Zack Davisson take you on a tour of the mystical menagerie of Japan’s Yōkai.
4:00PM – 4:50PM Gail Simone and Jim Zub sign at the Dark Horse booth (BOOTH 802)
SATURDAY MARCH 28th
Convention Horror Stories
1:50PM – 2:40PM in Hall E (TCC 303)
Join Katie Cook (My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic) and Jim Zub (Samurai Jack) for their fan-favorite con horror stories panel! What’s it like working as a pro in the business on the convention ‘circuit’? Ridiculous, embarrassing, always entertaining. Some stories will make you laugh out loud, some will make you cringe! This panel is recommended for those 18+
March 23, 2015
D&D: Legends of Baldur’s Gate #5 Reviews
After a shipping delay, Legends of Baldur’s Gate #5, wrapping up our story, has finally arrived. Let’s see what reviewers thought of it…
• Bleeding Cool: “I can only hope that this isn’t the last time we see this fun team together.”
• Fanboy Comics: “The story sings, and it’s a fight that we’ve been waiting for from the first moment we heard the word Dragon, and it doesn’t disappoint.”
• Fanboy Nation: “Legends of Baldur’s Gate has been a blast. Here’s hoping that issue #5 is not the end!”
• Geeks With Wives: 8.5/10 “Once again, Zub nails the script and dialogue. The conversations and narration were wonderfully done, and captured the spirit of the source material.”
• Reading With a Flight Ring: “the interiors are simply stunning to behold. If you need proof pick this up and flip through it the visage of the Dragon on any page is a thing of beauty.”
March 17, 2015
This Weekend: Toronto Comicon!
This weekend, March 20-22, I’ll be a guest of the Toronto Comicon, set up for the show at ARTIST ALLEY TABLE P-22. It’s my first comic convention of the year and I’m excited to be kicking the 2015 season off with a hometown show.
I have a limited number of advance copies of WAYWARD Vol. 1: String Theory, WAYWARD #6, and SKULLKICKERS #31, so make sure you swing by to grab a copy before the regular release date. I’ll also have trades, comics, and sketch covers for a bunch of my other series, including Samurai Jack, Dungeons & Dragons: Legends of Baldur’s Gate, Conan-Red Sonja, and more!
If you’re in the Greater Toronto Area and can make it out to the show I hope to see you there!
(PS: I might be late on Friday as I have to head right from my teaching day job down to the convention centre, so between crazy Toronto traffic and set-up I might be delayed.)
Wayward #9 Solicitation
Arriving in June… Preorder now!
WAYWARD #9
story: JIM ZUB
art / cover A: STEVE CUMMINGS & TAMRA BONVILLAIN
cover B: GURIHIRU
JUNE 24 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $3.50
IMAGE’S SUPERNATURAL SENSATION CONTINUES!
Tokyo is a battleground and blood will be spilled.
COVER A is part four of a five-part panorama by STEVE CUMMINGS & TAMRA BONVILLAIN. Buy all five issues of this story arc to fit them together into a massive WAYWARD illustration.
COVER B is a variant by acclaimed Japanese illustrators GURIHIRU.
