Are you writing a script that an artist is going to carry through the finish line? If you don’t draw yourself or have a lot of experience with it, you should read Steve Lieber’s latest DILETTANTE column over at the Comicon International blog, Toucan.

The best part is that Steve blows apart the “unlimited budget of comics” mantra and shows you why that’s so far from true. It’s a quick column, give an eye.

Here’s a good talk with incredible comics artist Declan Shalvey over at Comic Book Resources. I love these cover roughs of his, any of them is good enough to make a great finished cover.

And you can find participating comics shops here.

A good time to take someone who you think might like comics because they will walk out with something, and maybe you can buy something while there because those shop owners still had to pay for those free comics.

Many of these stores will have artists appearing and doing lots of free sketches, too. This doesn’t mean they have a magic lasso around them and have to draw everything that occurs to you while you keep hanging out at the store. Get one sketch, say thanks, and move on. I’ve seen too many artists doing their part to promote the industry treated like a sketch monkey, without even peanuts offered. You could be the cool person who brings the artists fudge or a gift for giving up their Saturday!

Finally, this is really about reaching out to new readers and growing the market so these books continue to exist. Maybe just get one or two books you really want and leave the bulk for people lured in by the word ‘free.’ Or helpfully explain that not everything in the store is free and come on what were you thinking dude. Lecture over, have good times.

Betty and Aaron visit Mt. Crushmore!
Preview over at Comic Book Resources.

It’s here! “Violent Minds,” the story launching the new ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN digital-first feature by me and Chris Samnee, in gorgeous color by Matt Wilson. And lettered by Wes Abbott, who will also be handling Batman 66 this summer. We had a blast with this and hopefully we’ll get to do more super adventures soon. Here’s me talking with IGN’s Joey Esposito about it, and big blue.

And here’s the link to go read it on Comixology for 99 cents!

The Stumptown Comics Fest of Portland is happening this weekend at the Oregon Convention Center, with lots of fancy guests from out of town, so if you’re in the area, it’s a great use of your time. I’ll be signing at the Periscope Studio set up from 2 to 4 today, and I’ll have some books with me.

Then tonight is the Stumptown After Party at the Jupiter Hotel, and I’ll be there to participate in the grand tradition of the Comics Art Battle. It’s a swank-rad venue, it will be a fine time. I shall wear a top hat.

I want to see if the THRILLBENT digital comics will embed in my site here with this excellent beginning from James Tynion and Jeremy Rock, The Eighth Seal. Just keep clicking to advance, it’s very effective.

Look at what’s maybe the best list of cartoonists qualified to win the Eisner award in 20 years, here at the Comic-Con site. Names like Colleen Coover, Paul Tobin, Chris Samnee, Nate Cosby and others I’ve seen bring the awesome first hand are all over that list, this will be a ceremony to attend!

My friend Sanford Greene linked to this animation last night from The Animation Workshop of Denmark, it’s well done if you have a few minutes during lunch.

Today Red She-Hulk 64 tunnels into comics shops everywhere, go get it. You can read a preview at CBR!

I’m sitting in Artist Alley AA-48 at a corner table, easy to find so come by and say hi. I’m sitting in on a couple of panels too…

Mainstream Monsters: Making the Bad Guy the Good Guy
Saturday, March 30
1:00-2:00
Room 300AB
This panel will include Brent Anderson, Amanda Conner, Jane Espenson, Jimmy Palmiotti, Jeff Parker, Dan Slott, Moderated by Mark Waid.

Spotlight on Jeff Parker
Sunday, March 31
1:00-2:00
Room 203
Talking about everything with special guest moderator Pat Loika and bringing in artist Gabriel Hardman to argue about storytelling!

Been busy trying to get work done before Wondercon this weekend, and haven’t been linking some of the Batman ’66 discussion. The response to this has been fantastic, even better than I hoped.

UPDATE: Serious discussion with Chris Sims today at Comics Alliance.

Yesterday Jonathan and I both talked in segments of The Patrick Phillips Show from Austin, so you can hear how much more pleasant Jonathan’s voice is than mine.

The day before I hinted at things to come over at Comic Book Resources.

Thanks to everyone for spreading the word far and wide on this project. It feels like we have a chance to turn some trends around…

I meant to take a pic right when my little Isuzu pickup truck hit 200,000 miles and forgot, but here it is 18 miles later. I never realized I would have this vehicle so long, but Isuzu made solid little trucks- it’s the same engine and transmission too. It’s slowly rambled all over the United States and moved me everywhere. I’ll drive it until it dissolves into mist or maybe etch into the side the chemical composition for octane (C8H18) so the AI of the far future can get it running and haul some stuff with it.

And I’m writing it! Here’s the press release.

Because- well first let me link to an interview about various books I’m working on or wrapping up over at Newsarama today. Now…

Over on Twitter I keep mentioning that news of another project will arrive tomorrow. I’m very excited about it, because I think it can achieve that goal so many have tried to crack, of finding a property that can lure readers over to digital comics, readers that aren’t usually inclined to read on their devices. And it has to be something with wide appeal, which even a cursory scan around the internet tells me it still is. Also I’m beginning it working with an Eisner winning artist who I’ve wanted to work with very much for the past few years. It already looks incredible.

Yet I predict there will be many people furious about this and call it a step in the wrong direction. Maybe not, but I won’t be surprised if so. Whether it’s embraced or not will show how much a certain section of the comics industry has actually matured.

I do promise you, it will be RAD. See you all tomorrow!