Jim Zub's Blog, page 37

State of IDW NYCC Panel Online

I was a special guest on the State of IDW panel hosted by Sam Maggs. On the panel I talk about Rick and Morty VS Dungeons & Dragons: The Meeseeks Adventure, a special crossover one-shot story, and Dungeons & Dragons: Mindbreaker, the latest mini-series chronicling the adventures of our Baldur’s Gate heroes. Check it out!

Talking Industry With Sal at ComicPop

Sal Crivelli and I have a really fun chat about working in comics, teaching, experience, and fun little anecdotes about the work. It goes into all kinds of different areas of the business and was a real pleasure to put together – Check it out.

D&D Celebration: Bringing Young Players Into Dungeons & Dragons

I hosted a panel as part of D&D Celebration 2021, an official Dungeons & Dragons online event that ran over the weekend. In My First Character: Bringing New Players Into D&D, we cover strategies and tips for running a game with new players – narrative, character, engagement, and ways to streamline rules and combat.

Our panelists Librarian Liz, Amy Dallen, Jennifer Kretchmer, and Daniel Kwan did a great job and the hour flew by. Check it out!

At Home Comic Con One-Shot Superhero RPG Session

I played in a charity one-shot superhero RPG adventure with a group of YouTubers as part of At Home Comic Con.

Our cast:
La’Ron from Readus101.
Tulok the Barbrarian.
Aeric Azana from the Geeksplained Podcast.
and our Game Master, Scott from NerdSync.

It was a really fun time. Check it out!

Zub Comics – December 2021

AVENGERS: TECH-ON AVENGERS #5 (of 6)
Story – Jim Zub
Art – Jeff “Chamba” Cruz
Cover A – Eiici Shimizu
Cover B – Peach Momoko

A kaiju-sized Scream symbiote is on a rampage, and the Iron Avengers will need every scrap of Infinite Mirror Shard energy they have to try to hold her back. But can the team even stay together when one of their own is corrupted by the Red Skull’s ever-expanding power?

Avengers Tech-On is a sentai-inspired action-adventure series produced in partnership with Bandai Namco of Japan, written by Jim Zub (UNCANNY AVENGERS, CHAMPIONS) and illustrated by Jeff “Chamba” Cruz (VENOM: THE END)!
32 PGS./Rated T …$3.99

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: MINDBREAKER #3 (of 5)
Story – Jim Zub
Artist – Eduardo Mello
Cover A – Max Dunbar
Cover B – Max Davenport

The prelude to Baldur’s Gate III and newest adventure in Jim Zub’s acclaimed D&D saga continues!

Following last issue’s disastrous turn of events, some of our heroes are missing, and the mind flayer threat is twisting ever deeper into the workings of the city. What secrets will be revealed, and what steps will the remaining Baldur’s Gate heroes take to save their friends?
In Shops: Dec 15, 2021
SRP: $3.99

Making Comics Interview – Writer Kieron Gillen

Kieron Gillen has written high profile work-for-hire comics including Thor, X-Men, Darth Vader, and the Eternals along with creator-owned hits like Phonogram, The Wicked and the Divine, and Die. We chat about inspiration, indie publishing, shared universes, and the joy of tabletop gaming.

Conan the Barbarian #25 Reviews

• AIPT: 8.5/10 “Conan the Barbarian #25 is an entertaining collection with clever ideas and entertaining action.”

• Comic Book.com: 8/10 “Not only does this issue prove Conan’s staying power in the Marvel Universe, but it honestly makes the best argument yet for him to get some sort of anthology book.”

• Comic Book Resources: “Zub clearly has fun here and understands how to use high concepts without losing sight of the fantasy setting. For their part, Smith is an efficient storyteller and Poggi’s sharp, defined inks enhance the weight of the action. Silva’s colors further distinguish the scenes, with an early double-page splash standing out as a particular highlight.”

• Comic Crusaders: 10/10 “For those who have been on the ride since the first issue and for people like myself who have been in and out of this series periodically, Conan The Barbarian #300 is a treat unlike any other on stands.”

• Comic Watch: 9.6/10 “…a decent anniversary issue that pays a lot of homage to stories past.”

• Comical Opinions: 9.5/10 “…one of the strongest and most entertaining Anniversary Anthologies in recent memory. There’s not a weak short story in the bunch, and each entry has a unique perspective to offer on the creation of Robert E. Howard. Conan fans will be very happy with this issue.”

• Infinity Flux: “Whether you’ve been reading Conan or not, this is just a good one to grab.”

• Kabooooom: 8/10 “…a worthy anniversary issue, offering an introduction to the Cimmerian hero for those who might need one and more epically illustrated tales of high adventure for those who know him already. If sword-and-sorcery be to your liking, make haste for the nearest comic shop and claim your copy today!”

Making Comics Interview – Artist Todd Nauck

Todd Nauck has been in the comic business for 27 years. He’s done a ton of work for DC and Marvel along with his own creator-owned comic series.

Lots of process work and inspiration here. Enjoy!

Until Our Stories End

Conan the Barbarian #300 arrives today at your favorite comic shop. Sure, the current numbering says ‘#25’, but in my heart every series follows original numbering, because that ongoing legacy is one of the many reasons why working on these series is such a thrill.

Having 12 out of the 13 issues of this run on a dream title be released during a pandemic has been bittersweet. I wanted to celebrate with fans and friends out on the road, to travel and chat about what this character means to me and how much work I put into making sure each story felt pulpy and old school even as I tried to bring unexpected little turns to classic concepts. Promoting the issues in person wasn’t possible, but the heartfelt messages from fans online have been much appreciated.

Our whole creative team did an incredible job, starting with Rogê Antônio, then Robert Gill and Luca Pizzari, and finally syncing it all up with Cory Smith and Roberto Poggi for the latter half. Erik Gist and Geoff Shaw turned in bombastic covers worthy of the Hyborian Age, Israel Silva provided moody colors, Travis Lanham lettered it all sharply, and our editors Mark Basso, Martin Biro, Shannon Ballesteros, Martin Biro, and Lauren Amauro kept the whole thing running. Each of them worked incredibly hard and I’m so grateful to see these journeys brought to life thanks to their efforts.

Until Our Stories End, my story in Conan #300, is a short and pointed tale about the uncertainty of the future. It seems relevant without anchoring it to this absolute point in time. Cory, Rob, Israel, and Travis pulled out all the stops and made it one for the ages.

Getting to write new stories for one of the biggest and most well-known characters in sword & sorcery has been a dream. These Days of High Adventure have been a salve for me in troubled times. I hope they are for you as well.

I also hope it’s not the last time I get to be a bard for our barbarian but, whatever happens next, I’m so damn happy it happened at all.

Thank you for reading.
Jim

Making Comics Interview – Colorist Tamra Bonvillain

Tamra Bonvillain has been coloring comics professionally for almost 10 years. We cover her influences, career, and a bit of process.

Find Tamra online here:
Twitter.com/TBonvillain