3rd August 2007 / Wasteland / Alan Moore / Appearances / On Sale / Anthologies / Texas Strangers
I’m back from San Diego, which was by all accounts another record-breaking year; Friday, Saturday and Sunday were all sold out, attendance was up overall, and almost everyone I spoke to was selling more books than ever before. Good times.
Ben and I shifted loads of copies of the DEAD SPACE teaser and posters. Having someone like Ben on a book like this is invaluable - the line at both our signing times seemed neverending. Everyone wanted a sketch from the man, and it gave us the opportunity to get plenty of people interested in the book.
Oni sold more copies of WASTELAND than anyone expected - I don’t know the exact figure, but Randal Jarrell told me it was more than double what they planned for. Chris and I were pretty busy, even on the couple of times our signings were at off-peak hours, and I want to thank everyone who came by to see us. I especially want to praise everyone who recommended the book to someone else; a lot of people bought a copy of Book 1 at the show because a friend had raved about it to them, and that’s the sort of thing that makes all the San Diego stress worthwhile.
We also shifted a few TEXAS STRANGERS issues and ashcans, mainly to people who’d never seen the book before, which was great. (A few people asked if the book was only a miniseries, because they haven’t seen any solicitations past #4. The answer is no, but we paused solicitations when it became clear that #2 was going to be late, which of course pushes all the other issues back, too. We’ll be back in PREVIEWS soon, promise.)
POSTCARDS and 24SEVEN were both received well, and the POSTCARDS signing in particular was chaotic fun, with up to seven creators at a time all trying to sketch and sign while squeezed into a space designed for three at the Comic Relief booth. Space notwithstanding, the CR staff were great, and it was all a kind of mad laugh with books flying back and forth as people tried to decipher signatures and work out if someone had already signed their copy or not.
Finally, I picked up a copy of the HYPOTHETICAL LIZARD collection from Avatar, which is gorgeous. Not sure if it’s hit stores yet, but if not then it can’t be far off. [EDIT: yes, it’s on sale now.]
Right, back to the grindstone…
23rd July 2007 / Dead Space / Wasteland / Appearances / On Sale / Anthologies / Texas Strangers
Been a while since I sat down and talked about what I’m doing, instead of just shilling books on sale. And I have San Diego stuff to announce, so let’s get stuck in…
WORK IN PROGRESS
WASTELAND #14 is written - another standalone guest artist issue, this one will be drawn by Joe Infurnari (of BORROWED TIME, and the amazing pinup featued in WL #10). It’s a quiet little story about a scavenger, a Cross Chains priest, and a journey across the wasteland to a small town… fifty-five years after the Big Wet. Oh, yes.
Work on the following arc will begin when I get back from San Diego. Tentatively titled ‘Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos’ (but otherwise known as ‘the Battle of Newbegin’), it’ll probably run through till #17 or #18.
As vowed a few months ago, I’m also hard at work on BLACKGUARD, my next novel - a fantasy adventure for teens. Currently about halfway through, and loving every minute of it. No publisher lined up yet, and I won’t be looking for one till it’s finished, so watch this space.
TEXAS STRANGERS is alive, despite the delays in issue #2. And just to prove it, we’ll have black and white ashcans of issue #3 at San Diego.
POINT BLANC is still on track for a September release. I saw the final, coloured art a few weeks ago, and it looks even better than STORMBREAKER. Really lovely stuff.
Also at San Diego, I’ll be announcing DEAD SPACE, a new sci-fi horror title drawn by the inestimable Ben Templesmith. We’ll be giving away a short teaser issue to promote it, and signing at the Image booth - times below.
L.A. SIGNING
I’ll be signing at Golden Apple in L.A. this Wednesday (25th), from 1-3pm. Myself, Dan Evans and Mario Boon will all be there to promote TEXAS STRANGERS, but I’ll happily sign anything else you want to bring in. If you’re in the area (7018 Melrose, on La Brea) then do stop by. I believe we’re going to overlap a bit with Mike Carey’s appearance on the same day, which should be fun.
ON SALE
Two of the anthologies I’ve recently contributed to go on sale this week; POSTCARDS: TRUE STORIES THAT NEVER HAPPENED is on shelves tomorrow (24th), and 24SEVEN Vol. 2 hits the streets on Wednesday (25th). They’re both well worth your time (Whoever knew anthologies would actually come back into fashion?), and I’ll be signing copies of POSTCARDS at…
SAN DIEGO
Yes, like the rest of the assembled hordes of nerddom, I’ll be at San Diego this week. here’s where I’ll be found over the long weekend. (At all other times, assume I’m in the bar…)
WASTELAND/ONI PRESS
At Oni Press - booth 1834
For sale: WASTELAND t-shirts, patches and fridge magnets (!), Christopher’s artwork
Thu: 3.00 - 4.30
Fri: 3.00 - 4.30
Sat: 6.00 - 7.00
Sun: 12.00 - 1.30
I’ll also be at the Oni Press panel, Saturday @ 1.30, in Room 10
DEAD SPACE
At Image - booth 2729
GIVING AWAY copies of the teaser issue!
Thu: 1.00 - 2.00
Fri: 12.30 - 1.30
TEXAS STRANGERS
At Image - booth 2729
For sale: black-and-white ashcans of TS #3, Mario’s artwork
Sun: 10.00 (yes, that’s a.m. folks!)
POSTCARDS
At Comic Relief - booth 1514
Fri: 5.00 - 6.00
Sat: 4.00 - 5.00
17th July 2007 / On Sale / Texas Strangers
Yee-haw! Issue #2 of TEXAS STRANGERS, featuring the ‘explosive’ end to the story TRAINING DAY, may* be on sale in US comic stores tomorrow!
*Image’s ship date has the book down for July 25th, which is of course next week. But the book’s on Diamond Distributors’ list for tomorrow. So the truth is we won’t know until tomorrow, but the issue might hit shops this week. If it doesn’t, then it’ll definitely by the 25th.
The order code for this issue is FEB071917.
28th March 2007 / Wasteland / Free Stuff / Interviews / On Sale / Texas Strangers
Double whammy today: first, TEXAS STRANGERS issue #1 goes on sale.
If you haven’t been following the updates on the official blog (shame on you), here are some of the advance reviews the book’s had so far:
“A colorful, entertaining and intriguing story for all-ages that makes the most out of two genres”
- Don MacPherson (Eye on Comics)
“Sucks you in and makes you want to see and learn more. It’s an accessible book to kids of all ages, from 8 to 80 who like their cowboys, orcs, and magic spells.”
- Augie de Blieck (Comic Book Resources)
“Mr. Johnston & Mr. Evans’ story is a rip-snortin’ good time, and Mr. Boon & Miss Traci’s pictures shore are purty!”
- John Norris (Comics in the Classroom)
“A strong, solid debut… The plot and story move at a steady pace, and I enjoyed the characters”
- Marc Mason (Comics Waiting Room)
And if that’s not enough to persuade you, you can read the first 11 pages for free over at ComicSpace.
Second, WASTELAND BOOK 01: CITIES IN DUST, the first trade paperback collection, is also on sale.
(EDIT: …for some people. Apparently only those parts of the US that are serviced by Diamond’s Memphis warehouse will receive their copies this week. Which parts those are, I’m sorry to say I have absolutely no idea. But it means the majority of people, including all non-US stores, will get their copies next week instead. I was afraid this might happen, owing to a printer SNAFU a few weeks ago, but hope springs eternal… Or did until I got this news an hour ago, anyway.)
This handsome volume collects the first six issues of WASTELAND, including the double-length premiere issue. That’s 160 pages, all printed on the same high quality paper as the monthly issues, for less than twelve dollars. You really can’t say fairer than that.
Issue #7 of WASTELAND is still available, by the way, and issue #8 will be on sale in two weeks’ time. If you missed out on the book’s launch and haven’t been able to track down the early issues, now’s the perfect time to jump on board.
And finally, there’s a new interview with me at Scryptic Studios, the resource site for would-be comic writers. Pretty in-depth, with some good questions. Check it out.
12th February 2007 / Free Stuff / Texas Strangers
We’ve just made an 11-page preview (that’s half the issue!) of TEXAS STRANGERS #1 available, in a couple of different formats. Go to the TS blog for links and more info.
25th January 2007 / Interviews / Texas Strangers
There’s a new TEXAS STRANGERS interview, with myself, Dan Evans and Mario Boon, up at Newsarama today.
We’re going to put a preview comprising the first half of issue #1 online in the next week or two - watch this space.
11th January 2007 / Interviews / Texas Strangers
Dan Evans and I give our first interview about TEXAS STRANGERS - complete with sneak peeks of some covers and interior pages - at Comic Book Resources today. Comics… for kids! What a concept!
6th January 2007 / Wasteland / Alex Rider / Novels / Stealing Life / Anthologies / Texas Strangers
Meet the new year, same as the old year… Except, of course, it’s not. In fact, it’s going to be very different indeed. Thus:
WASTELAND will continue through the year. Issue #7 is called CHILDREN OF THE SUN, a stand-alone story featuring the drafting talents of Carla Speed McNeil - author of FINDER and one of my favourite creators. After that we head into the second major arc with #8, entitled RUSTY CAGE. I’m just wrapping up the script for #10 now, wherein a few tasty clues and tidbits get revealed. And, of course, there’s a fight.
In addition to last month’s WIZARD listing (which I still haven’t seen. Bah), WASTELAND was just named as one of the top 10 books of 2006 by Matt Price in the Daily Oklahoman. WASTELAND is still doing well, still performing beyond mine and Chris’ expectations, and the near-term future at least looks secure. I am now writing a bona fide ongoing series. Which is weird, but good.
STEALING LIFE goes on sale in just a few weeks, which is also going to be weird but good, mainly because the core audience of Abaddon’s line is of course 2000AD fans, who have absolutely no idea who I am. PJ Holden owes me a drink, if that makes any difference…
TEXAS STRANGERS debuts in March. What’s weird about this experience; it’s the first time I’ve co-written, my first book through Image, my first regular book for children, and also my first regular book in colour. However, once again; weird… but good. Dan and I are finishing the script to #3 this month.
The second Alex Rider graphic novel, POINT BLANC, will be released some time later in the year. STORMBREAKER is already my most successful book ever, outselling even my Alan Moore adaptations. Weird, but… good. Exactly.
And I’m about to sign a contract to do a series that could be even more crazy, if it all comes off. I don’t like to talk about stuff that isn’t ready to be announced, so I’m not going to bore you. But this one is really weird.
I’ve also agreed to do a short story for volume 2 of 24Seven, the robot-themed anthology created by Ivan Brandon. My story is an existential tragedy about the futility of struggling for immortality. Yeah, I know. Working title is SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLE.
Finally, I sweartagawd that I will write another novel this year. Probably BLACKGUARD, if I can sink my teeth into it for a good few weeks.
Oh, and I have a deconstructionist comic miniseries called KILLING DEAL that keeps bubbling to the surface. So you might hear about that, too.
Hope you had a good 2006. Here’s to a better 2007.
14th December 2006 / Texas Strangers
At last, “The Image Book” can be revealed; it’s called TEXAS STRANGERS, a fantasy Western series for children and teens. My good friend and colleague Dan Evans III and I are developing and writing it together, and Belgian enfant terrible Mario Boon is drawing it, with colours by young artist Traci Hui.
It’s not officially solicited yet, but Comics Continuum have posted the Image Comics solicitations for January (TEXAS STRANGERS #1 is on sale in March). You can see a large version of the cover, and read the solicitation copy, for issue #1 there.
We’re all very excited about TEXAS STRANGERS. There simply aren’t many comics being produced for children any more outside manga, and our intention with TS is to write something that’s literally for all ages - a book that anyone, from 6 to 66, can read and enjoy.
We’ve also started a blog where we’ll post sneak peeks of covers, art and so on. Head on over and check it out!
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