Please vote

PLUS: DICK TRACY #6 on FOC, STAR WARS: THE BATTLE OF JAKKU - INSURGENCY RISING #4 and SPIDER-SOCIETY #4 out this week

Nov 04, 2024

Hey! Happy Monday! I know you’re probably feeling anxious today. We all are.

It seems a little delusional to send out a book promo newsletter the day before the most important election of our lives, so I won’t ignore the giant elephant in the room. Pun intended.

First off, if you haven’t voted yet, please vote. Make a plan. Find your polling place. Check your ballot beforehand so you know what to do. Any questions or concerns, visit I Will Vote and that will get you started. But please, let your voice be heard. It’s important.

Second, I hope it’s clear where my politics land. I try to keep this space fun and focused on entertainment, but this is a unique and important time. If you believe in women’s bodily autonomy, LGBTQ+ rights, if you believe in the idea that migrants deserve to be treated with humanity and empathy, if you don’t think calling an entire part of our country “garbage” is acceptable, if you believe in kindness and selflessness over greed and anger, if you believe in the tenets of our government, its elections, and traditions and norms, you know what you need to do. A vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz isn’t just a vote for the Democrats - it’s a vote for turning the page, going forward into a brighter future, and moving past the hateful rhetoric - the name-calling, the racism, the divisiveness, and the cruelty - that has permeated the political discourse for years.

Harris has promised to be a president for all people - including those that choose to vote against her. Trump would only serve his own needs and the needs of those that could, in turn, help him. He’s a grifter and con man desperate to hold power not to do right by the country and its people, but to do right by himself. And look, there is no such thing as a perfect candidate. Harris is not perfect. But she has been held to an unfair standard when her opponent is a clear and present danger to not only democracy, but the world. Your voice matters and should be heard. Now’s your chance. Please vote. Tell your friends to vote. Let’s win this thing.

***

Okay, onward -

Lots of stuff happening (see above!!!), so I’ll keep this brief and to the point:

DICK TRACY #6 is on FOC today!

We’re launching our second arc on the DICK TRACY series with a bang - as we pit Tracy against one of his most iconic foes for the first time! We’ve been saving this one, and let me warn you - the series is gonna take a dark, intense turn for this arc. We hope you’re ready! Solicit info:

DICK TRACY #6

(W) Alex Segura, Michael Moreci (A) Geraldo Borges (C) Mark Englert (L) Jim Campbell

Still reeling from the fallout of the bloody gang war that gripped the city, Detective Dick Tracy has little time to recover as he confronts a series of grisly murders. With bodies piling up, a newly deputized Pat must grapple with his new path, and Tess makes a startling discovery–all kicking off the must-read second arc of one of the most acclaimed new series of the year!

FOC: 11/4/24

On Sale: 12/4/2024

$4.99 SRP

UPC: 60194704612200611

Diamond Item Codes:

Cover A: OCT241724

Cover B: OCT241725

Lunar Item Codes:

Cover A: 1024MA502

Cover B: 1024MA503

Please let your retailer know you want a copy today!

***

STAR WARS: THE BATTLE OF JAKKU - INSURGENCY RISING #4 IS ON SALE THIS WEEK!

We close out the first of our three four-issue Battle of Jakku minis in style, with a splash page I’ve been dreaming of writing since I was twelve. How COOL does Luke look, folks? Courtesy of me, Jethro Morales, Luke Ross, Rachelle Rosenberg, and Joe Caramagna, with stunning covers from Phil Noto, Chris Sprouse, and Quah! Here’s the solicit text:

CHAOS REIGNS AS THE DEFIANT IMPERIAL COMES FACE-TO-FACE WITH THE HEROES OF THE NEW REPUBLIC! LUKE vs. a new INQUISITOR! The IMPERIAL SURVIVORS consolidate behind the DEFIANT IMPERIAL - putting the just-formed NEW REPUBLIC at risk! KES DAMERON and his team try for a daring escape - but meet an unexpected hurdle! The GALACTIC CIVIL WAR takes a startling twist - and bad omens arise for the future of the NEW REPUBLIC!

ALSO OUT THIS WEEK: SPIDER-SOCIETY #4!

This is it, believe it or not - the finale to our Spider-Society mini-series! From me, Scott Godlewski, Matt Milla, and Joe Caramagna. It’s a bittersweet moment. I grew up a Spider-Man fan, and came to really love the Spider-Verse, particularly Miguel and Anya (as you can tell if you’ve been reading the book). Getting the chance to craft this story - which at its heart is about underdogs discovering their inner strength and saving the day - was a huge honor. I’m thankful for the kind words, for the opportunity editor Nick Lowe gave me, and for the creative collaboration I got to experience with Scott, Matt, and Joe. Truly an amazing team, and I can’t wait for you guys to see how it all ends up. Will the evil Madame Web and her Sinister Squadron take down the Spider-Society? Will our ragtag team of Spider-Heroes pull one out in the end? It’s all in this issue, which was such a thrill to write. If you’d told me when I was younger that I’d not only write a NOVEL featuring Miguel and Anya, but a comic series that put the spotlight on them, I probably wouldn’t have believed you.

Now, we all know how the comic market works these days. The era of long-running ongoing series are pretty much gone. If you liked Spider-Society, the best thing you can do - to hopefully give it a shot at continuing in some way - is to buy a copy and tell your friends. I love team books that don’t feel like organized paramilitary groups but…friends. People thrust together by circumstance and challenges to help each other, even if they don’t like each other per se. I felt very blessed to be able to write characters like Web-Weaver, Spider-Punk, Ghost-Spider, Miles Morales, and more - to try and honor and build on the work done by so many fantastic creators. At its heart, Spider-Society felt, tonally, like an X-book, and if you’re a fan of that universe, I hope you picked up on the sometimes obvious nods to the merry mutants. There’s a really fun one in the finale, too.

Anyway, thanks for the support! I hope we can do more. Scott and Matt are artistic genuises, Joe is simply the best, and my editors - Nick, Kaeden, and Kaitlyn - were patient and super-helpful. Here’s to the next thing.

BOOKS BY PALS ON FOC TODAY

There is no book like this on the stands. Falling in Love on the Path to Hell, by good friend

Gerry Duggan

, Garry Brown, and co. is a potent genre mash-up that only Gerry and Garry can cook up. When you’re a creative, I think you can clock when a fellow writer or artist is having a blast on a book - and that’s the vibe I get from this series. The latest issue, #6, is on FOC TODAY - and if you want to see more of this samurai-gunslinger-thriller-romance, now’s the time to order it, and ensure it becomes one of those iconic, long-running Image series we can read and re-read for years to come.

https://mlpnk72yciwc.i.optimole.com/cqhiHLc.IIZS~2ef73/w:auto/h:auto/q:75/https://bleedingcool.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/STL343686.jpg

Another book to put on your radar - Archaic by old friend Melissa F. Olsen (we met back when we were JUST novelists, but now we both write comics, too, which is fun) and artist Sally Cantirino. It’s a witty, character-driven urban fantasy and crackles with sharp dialogue and fun world-building. Kudos to the team at Ahoy! for publishing it. Let your retailer know you want one today!

CROWDFUNDING CORNER

Not an FOC thing, but similar - my dear friend and collaborator,

Henry Barajas

, who is a hugely talented writer and good citizen of our community, is about to launch a new noir/thriller Kickstarter, Death to Pachuco, with artist Rachel Merrill, and colorist Lee Loughridge. I cannot wait to read this book - Henry and Rachel are doing amazing things with their daily Gil Thorpe strip and I know this book is going to become an instant classic. Make sure you click on the button so you’re notified on launch.

And hey, everyone likes to back a winner - so if you’ve been following the

3 Worlds / 3 Moons

substack, you probably know they’ve launched a Kickstarter for a collection of essential stories from the universe created by Jonathan Hickman, Mike del Mundo, Mike Huddleston, and Nick Spencer. The campaign got funded over the weekend,so you’re guaranteed a book. Back it here.

WHAT I’M READING

I post this stuff on Notes every once in a while, but I just wanted to share what I’ve been reading in terms of books and comics here to spur a bit of discussion.

NONFICTION:

Reign of Terror: How the 9/11 Era Destabilized America and Produced Trump, by Spencer Ackerman. Some light reading as we careen toward the election. I’ve read this already, but I find new stuff every time I revisit.

Carrie Carolyn Coco, by Sarah Gerard. I hesitate to call this book, about the murder of Gerard’s friend and its aftermath, a true crime book because it feels like a much deeper exploration of loss and the echoes people leave when they’re gone. If you liked Maggie Nelson’s The Red Parts, this book will also resonate with you.

Doppelgänger, by Naomi Klein. I’m only a few chapters into this, but wow - Klein is a genius. More on it as I progress.

American Scary, by Jeremy Dauber. Dauber’s American Comics is essential reading and was so important to my research for Secret Identity and Alter Ego. Now he’s turning his academic eye to horror. It’s a fascinating history of the genre from the beginning to now.

Lost in a Gallup, by W. Joseph Campbell. A shocking read. It boils down the problem with polling via my favorite method - historical context: the polls have always been wrong, and as long as they operate as they do (financially invested in a horse-race scenario), they will continue to be wrong. It’s not an aberration if you’re always mistaken.

The Claremont Run: Subverting Gender in the X-Men, by J. Andrew Deman. This book won an Eisner. It’s great. I am reading it slowly again to savor each page of insight and analysis into my favorite outcasts.

Play Nice, by

Jason Schreier

. A really well-crafted history of the video game company, Blizzard, and its rise to fame and power. I’m a sucker for these kind of stories - I read at least three books about the rise and fall of TSR while researching Alter Ego - and Schreier tells them very well.

FICTION:

The Waiting, by Michael Connelly. The master has a new book out.

Our Wives Under the Sea, by Julia Armfield. I read this a few months ago but it really has stuck with me. Armfield’s prose is powerful and her metaphor - the idea of a deep-sea supernatural horror as a placeholder for infidelity and relationships in general - is powerful but never feels heavy-handed. It’s short but feels immersive.

Karla’s Choice, by Nick Harkaway. Harkaway picks up the baton from his father, John le Carré, to tell a lost Smiley story. So far, it hangs well with his father’s work and feels essential.

One Lucky Subscriber, by Kellye Garrett. Kellye’s prose is funny and sharp, and this short story is a quick and entertaining read that you won’t want to end.

Fight Me, by

Austin Grossman

. I loved Grossman’s Soon I Will Be Invincible, and this sequel does not disappoint.

In Any Lifetime, by

Marc Guggenheim

. Marc’s one of the nicest dudes in the business and I am so happy this novel exists. I can already see it as a film. Loaded with heart and wonderful characters.

COMICS:

Absolute Wonder Woman, by

Kelly Thompson

, Hayden Sherman, and co. Kelly is one of my favorite writers and people. This was superb. Do not miss this comic.

Iron Man #1 by Ackerman, Julius Ohta, and co. What a master class on how to launch a series with an established character. You get bits of lost lore, a big idea statement, lots of questions that you want answered, plus beautiful art and storytelling. I cannot wait for the next one.

Batman & Robin: Year One #1, by Mark Waid, Chris Samnee, and co. I’ll just re-paste the email I sent to Chris and Mark when I read the issue: “I could read this for 100 issues and never be bored.” Just iconic stuff.

Some others that I’ve been digging a lot:

NYX, The Power Fantasy, Zatanna: Bring Down the House, Harley Quinn, Catwoman, The Uncanny X-Men, Transformers, Exceptional X-Men, Sentinels, Absolute Batman, Geiger, Birds of Prey, Ultimate Spider-Man, Gotham City Sirens, Power Girl, and lots of older, reread stuff like the Morrison Doom Patrol, classic Legion Five Years Later, Claremont/Davis Excalibur, and X of Swords.

A FEW QUICK LINKS

I haven’t seen this formally announced anywhere, but I’m going to be Toastmaster at Bouchercon next year! As someone who’s been going to the show for almost fifteen years and long before I was a published author, this is pretty darn cool.

Rob Hart

and I were profiled in Publishers Weekly, talking about writing full-time and our slate of projects - together and apart - including Dark Space, Alter Ego, The Legendary Lynx, Assassins Anonymous, and more.

Rob Hart

and I talk about what we’ve been reading and the creation of Dark Space for Shelf Awareness.

Thanks to

Nick Kolakowski

for interviewing Rob and I at his Substack and also in CrimeReads!

A really nice review of Dark Space at Book Reporter.

An absolutely lovely Alter Ego review in Boing Boing by

Thom Dunn

Mad Cave is reprinting our first Dick Tracy arc as special “Encore Editions” featuring new, amazing covers by the great Dave Johnson.

A thought-provoking piece by the man himself, Alan Moore.

Happy Noirvember! Here’s a handy list of film noirs to dive into the month.

Taylor Lorenz