The coming year already appears to be starting with a mix of excitement and challenges. After more than a year of certain projects sitting in development, I will have more comics hitting shelves than in quite some time. More conventions are already lining up. Demand for comics is strong. Vibes are good!

We could also be heading right into a new era of tariffs on imports from the new White House administration, which could drastically raise the price your favorite publisher pays for printing. Even when they print in the US, the paper likely comes from elsewhere. But with my doubled-down focus on a “Kickstarter-first” approach to our line-up this year, that protects us from some of these possible challenges.

But before we continue, a 2024 Confession.

Despite some major announcements, nearly a dozen convention appearances, thousands of comics shipped to backers, and new product in stores, I’ve felt like 2024 was one of my most unproductive years ever.

The reality, though, as someone who always needs to see some sort of progress, is that I truly was busy, and I was producing plenty, but it was a year rife with obstacles and stagnation. Project delays, the tedium of inventory and logistics challenges, and clients (outside of traditional comics) postponing or simply re-allocating their budgets just never seemed to stop. No way around it - this year has dragged ass. The last couple of years have been especially disruptive in comics, and this one was no different. In fact so much so that it inspired one of my newest works coming early next year.

I’m someone who really tries not to throw around the word “busy” as a knee-jerk response. A firm believer in the mantra “busyness can be a form of laziness”. I don’t just try to work for work’s sake. Especially in the U.S. we have a tendency to boast about hours spent toiling away as a badge of honor. So whenever I feel I’m working on something that may have no real value, I absolutely have to change gears for my own sanity.

So one resolution I’ve had (why wait for 2025?) has been to get back on track making comics for… well… people who read comics. 2022-23 were some of my busiest years ever, and some great comics were made, but they were for clients whose audiences have no overlap with those frequenting comic shops, pledging on kickstarter campaigns, or going to conventions. As someone who’s always prided himself on using the comic medium to reach alternative audiences, this has been the first time that I felt it came back to bite me in the ass a bit. I’m still very proud of the work done, but in 2025, it’s time to jump back into the more familiar waters of this crazy, tumultuous, brilliant, chaotically wonderful industry that is comics, and stay closer to home. And that starts with the slate of titles you see here!

Did I See You at a Comic Con This Year?

One reason these yearly updates are a healthy exercise is that if you’re like me, it’s easy to forget just how much work you actually have done. It felt like I did almost no cons this year, when I actually did ten. I’ve been a lot more critical in examining the purpose of live events lately, to make sure we’re getting the most out of them. I recently signed with a great booking agent who has begun setting me up with appearances at a whole new circle of conventions that I’ve never done before, and as a featured guest (vs. publisher). So far it’s been a great experience, and we already have more lined up for 2025.

Did I happen to come to your neck of woods? Below is a recap of the shows I did, with short takeaway comments.

Conventions Covered:

3 Rivers Comic-Con: Pittsburgh, PA
A great little show held by the team behind the New Dimension Comics chain of stores. A genuine comic book reading crowd. They’re still growing, and I look forward to seeing where they go from here.

C2E2: Chicago, IL
Our hometown show, this is one we always end up doing, but we really may be done with this one. Our placement for the last three years has been all over the place, and the conglomerate behind it is 100% pay to play, while other events are welcoming me with open arms, all expenses paid. I know this show is huge for some people, but that’s just never been my experience, so I can’t say we’ll be back any time soon. I also can’t say we won’t.

Cosmic Summit: Greensboro, NC
This was 100% a vanity trip for my own nerdy self interests outside of comics. So of course I had to create a comic book that dovetailed with it - my “Archeopunk” sci-fi series ArkWorld. 🛸 ☄️ I may just have to skip next year, or do it as a regular attendee, or save that weekend for a true comic-con.

JoeFest: Augusta, GA
At its core a toy show, but a rapidly growing convention dedicated to G.I. Joe 🪖 🥷 and the indie toy scene that has built up around it. I went here primarily to drop a teaser poster for The Disavowed, but love connecting with the Joe fan community, doing sketches and seeing the creativity coming out of the space.

Oh yeah, and I finally met Sgt. Slaughter. Bucket List item I didn’t realize I had.

SDCC: San Diego, CA
We did things different this year, exhibiting with the publisher of my new The Disavowed title, Massive Publishing, letting them operate the booth and being moreso “The Talent” at my own location. We unveiled the preview comic / ashcan, to a great response, and are awaiting updates on the official launch date of the kickstarter campaign and store release. Oh, do we wait. 😅Hoping for more updates soon.

Big Lick Comicon: Roanoke, VA
What a fantastic con. JD and the team behind this event is just one of the most pleasant experiences you’ll have as a guest, and there is no comparison when it comes to how many of the attendees seem to be genuinely hunting for new titles to read. Mercy Sparx was an especially strong title here. 😈 As a bonus I got to meet the wonderful Kevin Nowlan, whose Batman art entertained the hell out of a younger me.

Fan Expo: Rosemont, IL
It’s safe to say that Fan Expo has officially washed the “Wizard stank” off of this event, and the halls are packed. I didn’t hear anything official but I’d put the crowd at 100K attendees. It has a nice mix of professionals and artist alley guests, and the floor is nicely organized. Still, it’s one of those mega-shows that still doesn’t necessarily bring in the kind of crowd looking to read new titles. We’ll probably do this again before C2E2, but I’m still looking for a Chicago event that hits different. 

Tucson Comic-Con
Another fantastic, “true” comic show full of people who seemed hungry for new books to read. I might have to say my favorites this year were a toss-up between this show and Big Lick, both for the impeccable organization and branding, and the crowd. I also got to table next to the legend Terry Moore, and chat with James O’Barr (who’s fiancé also purchased a Mercy Sparx Omnibus), so consider me a happy camper.

Assembly Required: Des Moines, IA
Another great little, very intimate show (probably less than 1000 people) but hyper-dedicated to G.I. Joe. The branding and effort put into this con to curate a unique experience for its guests is unparalleled. It’s a no-brainer as to why I personally do this show. The only catch this year was that I had to leave Saturday night, because I only had one day in between then and going to…

Comic-Con India: Hyderabad, Telangana
Talk about a way to wrap up a year of events! Other than Canada, this was my first international show as a guest, and also me and the wife’s first time in India. Talk about an experience. The show itself was packed, full of a great, upbeat energy. I was kind of blown away by how everyone spoke English, which made my job way easier, and the volunteers were incredible. This was unlike any show here, in that I was rushed to a private trailer every morning, escorted to the booth and back, and frequently taken away for interviews, photos and panels. I’d gladly go back, despite that 20 hour trip to and from 🫠. Hyderabad itself is a wonderful, chaotic, amazing place - almost the exact same size in square miles as my Chicago city homefront, but with 7 million more humans. And I’ll take another plate of Biryani, please.

Main Takeaway from Comic-Cons

I say more mid-sized shows with audiences full of comic book readers and indie fans. Less of the mega shows, unless they really roll out the welcome mat. There seems to be a sweet spot in mid-sized cities that, no surprise, have curated a strong community of readers by having great comic shops. It’s not just about the experience during the con, but the lasting effects afterwards, feeling that you truly secured new readers who will come back year after year. With the exponential growth of A.I. I also feel personal engagement at comic-cons with artists will become more important than ever, counterintuitive to what many people think (not just for A.I. Art proliferation, but due to the chipping away at search engines and how one finds anything new), so I’m sure I’ll be seeing ya.

And now, since you’ve been so patient reading all of this - new comic previews!

In Closing

So it’s another year of challenges, mixed with excitement, mixed with no shortage of new ideas. Just like EVERY OTHER YEAR to come before it in my… checks watch… twenty-eight years of doing this (gulp). Okay, sure, in years past we weren’t having hearings in Congress about UFO crash retrieval programs, and humanoid robots ready to come onto the market any day now, but the comic industry has always been a tumultuous place. I hope you’ll join me for yet another ride as I enter my 29th!