Zubby Newsletter #131: Big Apple Barrage
New York Comic Con is always intense.New York Comic Con 2025 ripped through like a storm (though I managed to avoid the actual storm that hit Manhattan on Sunday evening) and I came through it dizzied but also energized. Since I wasn’t at the show last year, I felt a distinct upsurge in the number of people who stopped by to see me and I signed plenty of comics. I was only at the show three out of four days, but still felt like I’d been there for the full run by the time I got home and celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving with my family.
Yesterday I was completely wiped out and worried that Con Crud was going to take me down, but a couple deep sleeps and some herbal tea is helping me recover just in time to make the trek to Madison, Wisconsin for Gamehole this weekend.
A couple Conan sketches.I didn’t have time to do as many sketches this year, but that was just the nature of the show – running around for meetings, signings, and other events.
Other quick highlights:
• Catching up with friends and industry peers on the showfloor and after hours, including planning for my next creator-owned comic series.
• Watching the Blue Jays wrap up their series against the Yankees at a New York bar, quietly enjoying a pint while the locals saw their playoff chances slip away into the night.
• Playing the victim during the Random House 80’s-themed Murder Mystery Party with a half-dozen authors and 70 fans coming together to try and solve my murder. They failed to catch the killer, but it was still a fun time for all involved.
• A late night karaoke session to celebrate Daniel Kibblesmith‘s birthday. Many souls were sacrificed on the altar of rock.
A slew of signed Conan the Barbarian #25’sCONAN THE BARBARIAN #25 arrived the day before the convention began, so people were eager to check it out. The response to our milestone issue has been phenomenal, a testament to Alex Horley‘s stunning oil painted page art and hard work from everyone else on the team.
Conan the Barbarian #25 – Back to Press!
Conan the Barbarian #25 – 2nd Print, cover art by Alex Horley.Speaking of CONAN THE BARBARIAN #25, I just found out that less than a week after release the issue has SOLD OUT and is being rushed back for a second printing to meet reorder demand.
Make sure you get your order in with your favorite comic shop now. Issue #25 2nd print (with cover art by Alex Horley) will arrive in stores alongside Conan the Barbarian #26 on November 12th!
Talking With Holly HughesHolly Hughes wrote the essays material in the back of Glitterbomb, my Hollywood Horror series at Image back in 2016-2017. Now she has her own podcast and we chatted all about working in creative fields, collaboration, appreciation, mindset and more!
So Wizard on the ShowfloorAt New York Comic Con I chatted with the So Wizard Podcast all about the convention, Conan, and more.
Current + Upcoming Releases
• Javi has a great art tutorial all about shape visualization and execution, an important skill for taking drawing skills to a higher level.
• Matt Levin has another great comic culture and history video, this one detailing the history and massive influence of Jean Giraud Mœbius. I finally had a chance to meet Matt in person at New York Comic Con and let him know how sharp his videos have been.
Jim
