Jim Zub's Blog, page 84
April 9, 2018
Rick and Morty VS Dungeons & Dragons Begins in August!
Patrick Rothfuss and Jim Zub lead crossover mini-series this August
SAN DIEGO, CA (April 8th, 2018) – Announced today at C2E2, IDW, in partnership with Oni Press, is bringing two of the most popular properties in the world, Adult Swim’s hit series Rick and Morty
and Dungeons & Dragons, together in a brand-new four-issue comic book series. Taking the reins of these two iconic properties is the superstar creative team of writers Patrick Rothfuss (The Kingkiller Chronicles) and Jim Zub (The Avengers, Wayward) along with Eisner-nominated artist Troy Little (Hunter S. Thompson’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas). Debuting this August, the mini-series will throw Rick and Morty into a high-fantasy adventure blended with the wit, humor, and intelligence the show is widely celebrated for.
“I love Rick and Morty with a powerful love, and I’ve played D&D since the 5th grade,” said Patrick Rothfuss. “So when they approached me about writing a story with both of them together? That’s some serious you-got-chocolate-in-my-peanut butter $#!& right there. I’m in. I’m all the way in. I’m gettin’ that chocolate all up in the peanut butter. Like, deep in. All the way in. It’s going to be sticky and delicious.”
In this summer’s biggest comic book crossover, Morty goes to Rick for help to learn about Dungeons & Dragons, the game all the cool kids at his school are playing; naturally, things go horribly wrong as Rick, Morty, and the whole Smith family find themselves on an epic quest with no escape in sight.
“The Dungeons & Dragons crew is letting Pat and I open a Pandora’s Box of insane adventure material and iconic creatures from the granddaddy of all tabletop role-playing games,” said Jim Zub. “I wish I could say we’ll take good care of it, but, the simple truth is, this is Rick and Morty we’re talking about. No fantasy world or otherworldly plane of existence is safe.”
Each issue will feature variant covers that fans of both series will love, including character sheets, and more! Dungeons & Dragons comics from IDW by Jim Zub are available now wherever books are sold. Oni Press’s Rick and Mortycomics are also available where comics and books are sold.
April 3, 2018
Zub at C2E2 2018!
Convention season 2018 continues with C2E2 in Chicago, Illinois. If you want to get your copies of Avengers: No Surrender, Thunderbolts, Wayward, Dungeons & Dragons, Samurai Jack, Glitterbomb, or any of my other work signed, here’s where you can find me:
ARTIST ALLEY TABLE N-17
I’ll also have a limited number of the Wayward Cover Collection doujinshi Steven and I had printed up for Comiket in Tokyo. I don’t think they’ll last long.
In addition to being at my table all weekend, you can also find me at the following panels:
Friday April 6th
11:00am-12:00pm – Breaking Into Comics the Marvel Way – Room S401
Are you a writer or artist? Ever dream of working for Marvel? Do you find yourself thinking, “I could do that…if I knew how!” Well, here’s your chance! Join Talent Scout Rickey Purdin, Assistant Editor Christina Harrington, Aaron Kuder (Infinity Countdown), Khary Randolph (Mosaic), Rachelle Rosenberg (Ms. Marvel, Phoenix Resurrection), Marcus To (Guardians of the Galaxy), and Jim Zub (Champions) to find out the answers on how to get your foot in the door and make your job MARVEL!
4:30-4:45pm – C2E2 Live Stage Interview – Booth 2033
Saturday April 7th
12:15-1:15pm – The Voices of Overwatch – Room S401
The heroes of Overwatch are taking C2E2 by storm! Get a glimpse iside the worldwide phenomenon as Charlet Chung (D.Va) and Fred Tatasciore (Soldier 76) talk about breathing life into the game’s memorable cast of characters. Moderated by Marvel Comics writer Jim Zub
Sunday April 8th
12:15-1:15pm – Marvel: True Believers – Room S401
Join Marvel podcaster extraordinaire Ryan Penagos along with creators Kris Anka (Runaways), Humberto Ramos (Champions), Robbie Thompson (Spider-Man/Deadpool), and Jim Zub (Champions) for a private panel discussion of what’s happening inside the Marvel Universe. Get FREE merchandise, never-before-seen sneak peeks of upcoming comics, Q&A session and more! Not to be missed! Open only to Marvel Unlimited Plus members and Marvel MasterCard cardholders.*
1:15pm-2:15pm – IDW Publishing: The Main Event – Room S405a
Be the first to hear about IDW’s exciting summer lineup from Associate Publisher David Hedgecock! Surprise guests, major announcements, and limited giveaways, what more could you ask for?!
2:00pm-3:00pm – Marvel Signing – Booth 327
Comic-Watch Interview
I spoke to Tyler Ouellette at Comic-Watch all about getting my start in comics, writing for Marvel and more. Give it a read.
March 30, 2018
Avengers #686 Reviews
• Adventures In Poor Taste: 8/10 “Avengers #686 is another fine installment of No Surrender, pushing the story forward in not unexpected ways, but doing some nice character work with Wonder Man and this new, intelligent yet still murderous Hulk.”
• Caped-Joel: 7.5/10 “They continue to turn up the heat on this storyline.”
• Comic Book Corner: 8.5/10 “The action flies off the page. The colors are great…This is a lot of fun!”
• Comic Book University: Grade: A- “This very much made me happy…The story is fantastic. Everything about this comic is fantastic.”
• Comic Book.com: 8/10 “This may not be a traditional Avengers lineup at work, but its classic Avengers storytelling in top form.”
• Comicosity: 9.5/10 “This story has run for a year’s worth of comics in the span of three months, and it just seems to be picking up speed.”
• Comicsverse: 9.2/10 “Paco Medina and Jesus Aburtov are, once again, superb. Medina’s drawings of Hulk are so stunning. The way he shows Rogue putting this brute into a chokehold is beyond bad ass.”
• Diskingdom: 9/10 “Once again the artwork shines, especially how they present the Hulk, who dominates every panel he is in.”
• Fortress Of Solitude: 9/10 “Another awesome and action-packed issue of this massive story arc.”
• Geeked Out Nation: 8.6/10 “This story, plot, and the events of Avengers #686 prove that with the right hands on deck you can still dig into that well of creativity for something we haven’t seen yet.”
• Graphic Policy: 8.5/10 “A wonderful issue that continues the excellent narrative that’s been weaved. No Surrender is proof that big events can work and is one of the most unexpected positive surprises of the year so far.”
• Pop Culture Philosophers: “The return of the Hulk has been Marvel Universe-shaking…This is fun!”
• Rogues Portal: “No Surrender is fast approaching its conclusion, but before then, Avengers #686 is yet another satisfying chapter of this epic superhero saga.”
• Undercover Capes: 9/10 “This is another solid issue in the No Surrender arc that keeps up the super fast pace while giving us enough story to fill our brains while our eyes feast on a veritable smorgasbord of mind melting visuals. All this while three of the top writers in the industry show off their character building chops like nobody’s business, particularly on the new and improved Hulk”
March 23, 2018
Avengers #685 Reviews
Avengers: No Surrender continues with an action-packed issue. What did reviewers think of it? Let’s find out…
• Adventures In Poor Taste: 8/10 “…it’s a fun thrill ride that outstrips much of everything else that’s come before.”
• Caped-Joel: 7/10 “It was another straight forward action issue but that’s not a bad thing, especially when they’re building the Hulk back up into an unstoppable force of nature.”
• Comic Book.com: 8/10 “Another stellar chapter in the Avengers: No Surrender saga as the Hulk continues to threaten every Avenger left standing. It remains classic superhero fiction with the volume turned up”
• Comic Book Corner: 7.5/10 “The artwork has not missed a beat…A good and entertaining book.”
• Comic Book University: Grade: A- “This was fantastic…You’ve got an all-star writing team on this.”
• Comicosity: 9.5/10 “Avengers #685 continues to present some great work and this chapter takes No Surrender in a different direction. Yes, Challenger and Grandmaster are still playing their game, but this issue transcends that.”
• Comicsverse: 8.7/10 “AVENGERS #685 is littered with action. The pacing is great, and while some battles are clear mismatches for Hulk, the three writers do a good job making them entertaining nonetheless.”
• Diskingdom: 8/10 “Another great issue with loads of action and some classic Avengers in action, which is exactly what I want to see. I really enjoy the weekly blast as it keeps the story fresh in my head and simple to follow”
• Dissecting Fiction: “This was a great read, containing even more of the excellent action that the book has been providing since the start of No Surrender.”
• Fortress Of Solitude: 9/10 “An action-packed fast-paced issue…This story arc has been really fun.”
• Geeked Out Nation: 8.6/10 “Avengers #685 cranked the dial to eleven when this was the time where a hero really has to ask how important their life is to save the world.”
• Graphic Policy: 8.1/10 “As part of the greater No Surrender storyline, it all feels great and adds to the epic nature of it all. This Avengers story continues to impress.”
• Multiversity: 7.9/10 “A weekly Avengers series by a slew of creators could be exhausting, but No Surrender has actually been a lot of fun. Instead of a bloated event with tons of crossovers, this series has been an epic smackdown worthy of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, and a fitting sendoff to this generation of Avengers.”
• Rogues Portal: “I really think Waid, Zub, and Ewing’s story has kicked into gear the further it’s gone on. Lots of these crossovers and events run out of steam quickly into their run, but that hasn’t been the case here”
March 20, 2018
Zub-tastic Marvel Comics Arriving in June!
I’ve written three Marvel Comics arriving in June, two issues of Champions and the second part of Mystery In Madripoor!
CHAMPIONS #21
JIM ZUB (W)
SEAN IZAAKSE (A)
Cover by STEFANO CASELLI
The Champions vs. Alpha Flight? Ms. Marvel vs. Captain Marvel?
’Nuff said!
Saving the north just got a whole lot more complicated…
Plus…Nova no more?!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
INFINITY COUNTDOWN: CHAMPIONS #1 (OF 2)
JIM ZUB (W)
EMILIO LAISO (A)
Cover by CLAYTON CRAIN
VARIANT COVER BY MIKE DEODATO JR.
Spinning out from the fallout of the battle for the Power Stone in the pages of Infinity Countdown!
The Champions head to space to save the Nova Corps and stop Warbringer, but other forces are moving against them… These young heroes are in for the fight of their lives!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
HUNT FOR WOLVERINE: MYSTERY IN MADRIPOOR #2 (of 4)
JIM ZUB (W)
THONY SILAS (A)
Cover by GREG LAND
VARIANT COVER BY CHRIS BACHALO
ONE X-MAN DOWN, FIVE TO GO!
The new Femme Fatales claim their first victim (but not their last)!
What is Magneto’s connection to Logan’s disappearance?
Can Storm, Kitty, Domino and Jubilee survive when the whole city is hunting them?
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99
WAYWARD #26 Arrives in June!
WAYWARD #26
STORY: JIM ZUB
ART / COVER A: STEVEN CUMMINGS & TAMRA BONVILLAIN
COVER B: DUSTIN WEAVER
JUNE 20 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $3.99
NEW STORY ARC
“BOUND TO FATE,” Part One
The end begins here! The Wayward are together at last, but is it too late? The Yokai have prepared a sacrifice that could change everything. This is war, and the battle lines will be drawn in Tokyo.
STEVEN CUMMINGS (Legends of the Dark Knight, Dungeons & Dragons) and JIM ZUB (Avengers, Samurai Jack) get ready to close out their modern supernatural spectacle with the same sweeping artwork and gut-wrenching drama that has made this series a fan favorite for the past four years. Get on board and prepare for impact.
March 16, 2018
Avengers #684 Reviews
Avengers #684, the return of Bruce Banner as the Hulk, arrived in comic shops this week. Let’s see what reviewers thought of this over-sized rampaging issue!
• Adventures In Poor Taste: 9/10 “It’s easily the best issue of No Surrender, and it’s hard to imagine anything topping it. It’s the most artful advertisement you’ll ever see, with true emotion and artistry combining for a powerful tale.”
• Caped-Joel: 8.5/10 “This tenth part is actually a good place to hop on if you haven’t already…Very satisfying.”
• Comic Book Corner: 9/10 “There’s a great balance this series…It’s one of the best events that Marvel has done in some time and it’s weekly!”
• Comic Book University: Grade: A+ (Pick of the Week) “This was wicked…One of the coolest pages I have ever seen in the history of comic books.”
• Comic-Watch: 9/10 “This story is a blast and so much fun. I never know what to expect each week. My only fear thus far is when the story ends, the ride will be over.”
• Comicsverse: 8.3/10 “Ewing, Zub, and Waid deliver fine storytelling as Hulk returns from the dead. The artwork is solid as well, with piercing drawings and popping colors. This is an excellent setup issue for future intensity in Avengers: No Surrender.”
• Comicosity: 9.5/10 “Writers Jim Zub, Al Ewing, and Mark Waid begin to bring No Surrender to a logical conclusion, and have a bunch of characters to check in with across the issue. They do an admirable job, giving a number of the Avengers a chance to shine while emphasizing the breadth of the team as all factions attempt to converge on the Avengers Auxiliary Headquarters.”
• Detail Comics: “This is probably one of the best parts of Avengers: No Surrender that’s come out so far.”
• Diskingdom: 8/10 “Another great issue from this story arc and all the build up to this series is starting to pay off as the newest character, Voyager, is coming into her own and the addition of the Hulk is a great move, since it delivers a much more simpler focus.”
• Do You Even Comic Book: 10/10 “The creative team behind this issue is rather large, three writers and six artists alone. You’d think that’d be too many cooks in the kitchen. You’d be wrong, thankfully. This issue flows so seamlessly, you’d never know so many people brought this together.”
• Fortress of Solitude: 9.5/10 “A roller coaster of revelations…I’m really interested to see where things go in the next six issues.”
• Geeked Out Nation: 8.4/10 “With the events of Avengers #684, the dial has been cranked to 11 when the Avengers really need to start asking themselves how badly they want to win this game or save the world, because someone may not walk away from this in one piece.”
• Graphic Policy: “The creative team give us a break to catch up readers as to the Hulk’s history while also setting him upon his destructive path. It’s an issue that sets things up and has me scratching my head as to how the Avengers are going to deal with this new x-factor.”
• Monkeys Fighting Robots: 8/10 “Avengers: No Surrender has been absolutely dynamite so far. It’s exceeded expectations and proved that Marvel is back on track. The 616 is full of life again, with both old and new characters leading the way.”
• Rogues Portal: “With a genuinely surprising plot twist at its core, Avengers #684 is an essential installment of the weekly No Surrender saga.”
March 14, 2018
Hulk Returns (In Avengers: No Surrender) Interview on CBR!
Mark Waid, Al Ewing, and I spoke to Dave Richards at Comic Book Resources about Hulk’s return in the pages of Avengers #684. Spoilers galore, but if you’ve read the issue, read on to find out more behind Bruce Banner’s resurrection, Voyager’s true identity, and the importance of comic lettering. Check it out!
March 13, 2018
Avengers #683 Reviews
• Adventures In Poor Taste: 7.5/10 “In an age when people complain about rotating art teams, this is a success that can’t be overstated. A weekly series could have needed wildly mismatched visuals to stay on time, but so far everything, for once, is going as planned and hitting on all cylinders.”
• Caped-Joel: 8/10 “I enjoyed this issue quite a bit. It’s nice that, up until now every story has been so huge and focused on dozens of characters, but that they can also slow things down and give us an entire story focusing on Beast and Wasp.”
• Comic Book University: Grade: B+ “This was a whole lotta fun. I like this trip down memory lane.”
• Comicosity: 9.5/10 “The revelations and outcomes of this issue are going to be impactful to the rest of the tale, and the presentation here makes Avengers #683 one of the most impactful chapters of this saga.”
• Comicsverse: 8.5/10 “…the characterization and artwork of AVENGERS #683 are spectacular.”
• Diskingdom: 9/10 “Avengers 683 is without a doubt the best issue in the series and has been one of the most enjoyable comics I’ve read in ages.”
• Fortress Of Solitude: 9/10 “It’s pretty awesome…I’m really interested to see who Voyager really is.”
• Geeked Out Nation: 8.7/10 “There’s something to love about an Avengers story where you just can’t predict how this will end. Avengers #683 was full of shock, yet at the same time it was filled with the heart that reminds us that this is a superhero story at the core.”
• Graphic Policy: 8.75/10 “If you haven’t been reading No Surrender, you’ve been missing out on one of the best Avengers stories in years…This is a perfect example of what events should strive to be.”
• Rogues Portal: “You can tell when artists have fun drawing a book, and I get the impression that this issue was very much that to [Paco Medina].”
