You Can Do Magic - Zatanna Commission

Commissions are starting to pick up. Or maybe I just let them pile up while I was churning on the last issue of the current Love and Capes miniseries. Either way, there's a lot of drawing going on.

First up is a Zatanna piece for a customer in Charlotte who wanted to see Zee magically choosing between her classic and Eighties outfit. The second Eighties outfit, of course. He'll be picking it up at HeroesCon. So I think this is a fine time to mention that if you know I'm coming to a show (my full schedule is here) and want to get on the sketchlist early, I'll be glad to do that. Since I color digitally, it means that you'll be able to get the digital print at the same time, too. Just shoot me an e-mail at tz (at) thomz.com and we'll get you set up.

Kickstarting my Heart

My good friends John Gallagher, Jamar Nicholas and Rich Faber have started a Kickstarter project to publish some of the great kid-friendly books that they've done. One of the book is Buzzboy which I have to point out I worked on as a colorist. They're good books and worth a look.

I could write clever words about it, but why don't I just steal John's?

You have a chance to help publish an exciting new Graphic Novel Collection !!! Via Kickstarter.Com-- The Comic Book Diner Project is a 3 book boxed set of graphic novels by Harvey Award nominees John Gallagher and Rich Faber, as well as Glyph and Yalsa nominee Jamar Nicholas. Featuring Buzzboy, Roboy Red, and Leon: Protector of the Playground, each book is 96 pages, full color, and part of a boxed set which will premiere Summer 2011. Anyone ordering books through the funding program at Kickstarter will get signed books, sketches, and possibly original art-- some backers can even get DRAWN INTO A STORY!

Please check out the video and project overview at Kickstarter.com.

And Alexander Wept

I haven't been around here much, I know. My March was pretty blown apart, and that left me with April to finish up 19 pages of the last issue of the Love and Capes: Ever After miniseries. For those of you that follow my schedule, I usually do about ten pages a month. Fourteen if I'm productive. I do pencil, ink, color and letter the whole darn thing while maintaining a freelance career.

But I barrelled through and did nineteen pages in twenty-two days. That's almost a page a day. Heck, two of those days had double-page days, and I'm kind of proud of that. Plus, I think it's a pretty special issue, too.

That said, I won't be posting any art from it. There are several surprises in it and I'd like to keep them surprising. That is assuming the New York Post doesn't find out and spoil anything. I'll do my part by not issuing a press release to them.

But, I think you're going to like it.

So, I should be back here a little more now. And, if you're in Boston next week, come see me at the Boston Comicon, April 30-May 1.

It's like Grosse Point Blank with Superheroes

This very Wednesday you can walk into your local comic shop and get a copy of Love and Capes: Ever After #3. Below is my cover for the book. There's also a Darwyn Cooke alternate cover that's just amazing. This issue features Abby going to her high school reunion, and a big focus on Charlotte, Darkblade and Amazonia.

And the variant…

Order Love and Capes: Ever After #5

I've been traveling like crazy this past month, having gone to Seattle, Chicago and Orlando, so this blog has taken a bit of a hit. But things should get a little more active as I'm actually in town for the entire month of April. Well, minus the last day, but more about that soon.

Anyway, I wanted to remind you all that Love and Capes: Ever After #5 is available for preorder in Previews right now. It's the last issue of this miniseries, and someone's not making it out.

It's Previews Order Code APR11 0372. Order big, or I might kill someone else off.

Aunt Alice

My Aunt Alice died today. She was my Dad's brother's wife, and I saw her almost every Sunday at those often-mentioned Sunday Dinners we have. She'd bring me newspaper clippings all the time about articles she'd read that she thought I'd be interested in. One of them was once for tryouts for "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" Without her, I might not have gone on the show, or won my prize, or used that prize to buy my house. I'm going to miss her a lot.

Now, please, I would very much like not to have cause to write one of these remembrances again for a good long time.

C2E2 Here I Come

This weekend I'll be at C2E2 in Chicago. I'll be in Small Press, booth SP-06, with copies of all the issues of Love and Capes to date, as well as both trades. And I'll be taking commissions all show long. So come on by and see me.

Love and Capes #4 For Pre-Order

Don't forget, Love and Capes: Ever After #4 is available in Previews right now. It's order code MAR110473, and it's got a rockin' alternate cover by the ultra-talented Chris Bailey.

The Birth of a Legend has been Birthed!

My friend, kind-lender-of-his-guest-room, and all-around badass Ben Thompson has a new book out today! It's Badass: Birth of a Legend, taking the same mix of historical fact and irreverent comedy that he applied to the historical figures to characters of legend.

"But, Thom", you say, "while that certainly is cool, I need some sort of added coolness to push me over the edge to order it. Perhaps if you did an illustration in it…?"

Your prayers are answered, Convenient Straw Man! I do indeed have an illustration in said book. It's of Medea, and on page 204 (I have an advance copy I can refer to because, you know, I'm all awesome like that). And if you think that's cool, there are even more illustrations by even more artists, a staggering number who are even better than me!

Anyway, check it out. I loved the first one and can't wait to dive into the second one.

The Obligatory Pre-Con T-Shirt Post

As a reminder for those of you going to the Chicago C2E2 exposition, I'll be therear table SP-06. I'll have all sorts of Love and Capes stuff. But I won't have any shirts or hoodies… unless you order them ahead of time here! Yup, it's the shirt pre-sale.

I'm doing the same thing for MegaCon, too. If you're going to be there, be sure to pre-order for that, too.