Jim Zub's Blog, page 35

Arriving in April – Best of Minsc & Boo

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: BEST OF MINSC & BOO
Writer – Jim Zub
Artists – Max Dunbar, Nelson Dániel, Dean Kotz, Francesco Mortarino
Cover – James Biggie

Get ready for the third installment of the legendary Baldur’s Gate video game with these adventures featuring some of the series’ most beloved characters: the ranger of dubious sanity, Minsc, and his miniature giant space hamster, Boo!

After decades spent in magical stasis, Minsc and Boo awaken in a Baldur’s Gate that is very different from the one they knew, but there will always be evil in need of smiting! SMITING! And while they’re perfectly capable of kicking the butt of badness to the Spine of the World and back on their own, it never hurts to have a little help from their companions, the rest of the Baldur’s Gate heroes.
Now, say it with us: “Go for the eyes, Boo!”

(Reprinting Minsc-centric stories – Legends of Baldur’s Gate #1, Shadows of the Vampire #2, Evil at Baldur’s Gate #1, and Evil at Baldur’s Gate #5)

Life of Wolverine Launches on Marvel Unlimited!

LIFE OF WOLVERINE, a special 10-part digital comic series, just launched on Marvel Unlimited!

story – Jim Zub
line art – Ramon Bachs
colors – Javier Tartaglia
letters – Joe Sabino
editorial – Mark Basso, Andrew Baumgartner

Finally I can talk about this project!

Editor Mark Basso asked if I was up for a challenge – Threading together dozens of Wolverine stories in historical order to act as a proper timeline and introduction for readers (especially fans who are diving into the X Lives/X Deaths of Wolverine mini-series coming out).

For the past few months I’ve been reading literally hundreds of Wolverine comics for research. It’s been intense.

Life of Wolverine involves Jean Grey doing a deep dive into Logan’s mind (for reasons that will be more clear in X Lives of Wolverine). She experiences his past and is able to contextualize it with things we know now to see larger patterns around what he’s been through.

If you’re a current Marvel Unlimited subscriber, dive right in! If not, click here and sample it for free to see what you think. There are tens of thousands of old and new comics to discover and read on Marvel Unlimited.

Graymalkin Lane Podcast – Talking FF Annual and More

I spoke to the crew at Graymalkin Lane, an X-Men podcast, all about my Marvel work and we reviewed Fantastic Four Annual #3 the classic issue from 1965 where Reed Richards and Sue Storm get married and a slew of Marvel heroes and villains appear. It’s a fun conversation about stories, new and old.

Year In Review

While doing some year-end financial calculations yesterday I filled out an entire excel spreadsheet, dozens of dated entries, and made every single one a 2020 date instead of 2021.

That’s a weirdly accurate summary of the year, actually. Getting the date wrong for a couple weeks into a new year is typical. Not knowing what year it is during the last week of the year sounds about right this time.

2021 was a surreal vortex, a holding pattern carried over from 2020. Online interactions felt detached, projects moved forward in a weirdly distant way, and time either crawled in slow motion or vanished into thin air.

I don’t really need to go into excruciating detail since we’ve all been living with this, but just to help mark time for the future if I’m looking back and rereading this entry – multiple vaccines arrived in record time to try and get us past the pandemic, but the world is far from safe and it’s anyone’s guess if 2022 will be a year where things get worse or we break through to better days.

When there’s a physical disaster – a fire, an earthquake, or even a war – at some point the damage is done, losses can be mourned, and things can be rebuilt. The meandering relentless nature of this viral problem makes it so much more difficult to put into context. The foundations we use to mentally and emotionally cope with bad situations don’t quite fit so instead we all just feel constantly burned out and frustrated.

It’s hard to stay optimistic given the ongoing tension hanging in the air, but I keep trying. Like last year, I know we have a lot to be thankful for in terms of relative stability and overall health. There have been a couple Covid-related sicknesses in the family, but no one has ended up hospitalized. Even when work has slowed down or changed, I’ve been able to adjust and keep going.

Writing, when I can give it proper focus, has been a nice escape and teaching, despite the challenges, has been as inspiring as ever.

The love and support of our family and friends is still strong, despite physical distance.
Maybe that sounds too simplistic…or maybe it’s what matters most.

Wishing you and your loved ones a fine new year.

Jim

Cave of Solitude Podcast

I spoke to Eric at the Cave of Solitude podcast all about conventions, writing, networking, and more. Give it a listen!

Worldbuilders Fundraiser D&D Liveplay- The Jealous Queen of Heaven

Such a blast gaming with Dungeon Master B. Dave Walters and crew for the Worldbuilders fundraiser!

Aabria Iyengar is Timpani, a Satyr Bard-Warlock.
Saige Ryan is Vatra, a Halfling Druid.
Brennan Lee Mulligan is Mossbrow, a Warforged Paladin-Sorcerer.
Harli Kane is Nezetta, an Elven Arcane Trickster.
Patrick Rothfuss is Luciant, a Human Bard-Sorcerer.
and I’m playing Klyfe the Caring, a Dragonborn Cleric!

Idle Insights – Talking With Todd Kenreck

I chatted with Todd Kenreck on Idle Insights all about D&D and other RPGs, the glory of gaming, comics, and more.

The Trials of Mount Tiamat – Finale!

I’m playing Minsc, the infamous Human Ranger, as part of the new Idle Champions – Trials of Mount Tiamat liveplay D&D game running on Monday nights. Here’s our final episode!

B. Dave Walters is our Dungeon Master.
Hope LaVelle plays Penelope, a Halfling Druid.
Meagan Kenrekt plays Widdle, a Dhampir Wizard.
LaTia Jacquise plays D’hani, an Aarakocra Monk.
Shareef Jackson plays Shaka, a Tiefling Warlock.

If you want to watch the entire series, you can check out the YouTube playlist by clicking HERE.

The Trials of Mount Tiamat – Group 2 Session 3

I’m playing Minsc, the infamous Human Ranger, as part of the new Idle Champions – Trials of Mount Tiamat liveplay D&D game running on Monday nights for the next two weeks. Here’s our third episode!

B. Dave Walters is our Dungeon Master.
Hope LaVelle plays Penelope, a Halfling Druid.
Meagan Kenrekt plays Widdle, a Dhampir Wizard.
LaTia Jacquise plays D’hani, an Aarakocra Monk.
Shareef Jackson plays Shaka, a Tiefling Warlock.

Avengers Tech-On Livestream Presentation

Here’s a livestream dedicated to TECH-ON AVENGERS from Bandai-Namco’s Tamashii Nations presentation on Friday, including Marvel Editor-In-Chief CB Cebulski and Avengers Executive Editor Tom Brevoort, with suit designs by Eiichi Shimizu and comic art by Jeff “Chamba” Cruz.

It’s the most detailed look at the comic and toys yet!