New York Comic Con!
Hi friends!
I hope you’re doing great. It’s been a busy summer and fall for me, so I apologize for being radio silent - but I figured it was time for an update as I head into New York Comic Con this week!
But a bit of housekeeping first - I’ve been away from my Substack for a spell. Most of my updates have come via Zestworld, where my collaborators and I have been serializing our two comics, The Awakened and The Legendary Lynx. That hasn’t changed (and will continue!), but I’ll be doing my news updates here moving forward. This should not matter, ideally, but if for some reason you see this and wonder “Gee, I thought I’d signed up for Alex’s newsletter!” There’s about 100 subscribers that didn’t ‘port back to Substack, so you may be one of the lucky 100! The simple solution is to just sign up again! What a thrill, right?
In terms of what this newsletter will be - to be honest, I’m still figuring that out. At the very least, it’ll be a monthly check in with news, previews, and info on what’s coming up. I’m also toying with the idea of adding a podcast element, but I just can’t bring myself to add another thing to my to-do list this month, The Busiest Month of My Professional Life. Maybe down the line!
HOWEVER, I do (maybe) plan on turning on paid subscriptions to allow for some cool content - but again, more on that soon. For now, it’ll be the place for you to learn more about what I have coming up and also to hear about the books I’ve been reading and loving.
Okay, with that said - here’s the big headline item! I’ll be at New York Comic Con all week starting tomorrow! You can find me at Table A-21 with my dear friend (and super writer/editor!), Greg Lockard. We will have books to sell and sign, courtesy of my local indie bookstore, Kew & Willow Books.
I’ll be at the table for most of the show, but I will also be on a few fun panels! Here’s my schedule:
In terms of big news, I’ll be talking about my newly-announced Dick Tracy series, which I’ll be co-writing with Michael Moreci, with art by Geraldo Borges, and creative consultation from Chantelle Aimée Osman. It’s coming from Mad Cave Studios in March! Dick Tracy is an iconic property and I’m over the moon about getting a chance to tell the yellow-fedora-wearing detective’s origin story. It’s a noir blend of everything readers love about the character with a modern twist. Michael and I are obsessed with the source material and this has been a long, winding road to publication - but we’re so glad it’s almost here! I’ll be on the Mad Cave panel and signing at their booth on Sunday, so please come find me to discuss the differences between the Dick Tracy movie and its novel adaptations. Or our comic. Whichever you decide!
OUT TODAY
In addition to all that, I have a new comic out today from the fine folks at AHOY! Comics. I’m honored to have a story in the second issue of Project: Cryptid, with art by pal Steve Bryant and colorist Jason Millet. “Diana Montalvan and the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker” is a occult/supernatural/noir tale set in my hometown of Miami, starring my beleaguered not-a-PI hero, Diana. When she’s approached by an old flame about a missing (and very valuable) bird, Diana’s curiosity propels her to figure out who’s behind the theft. Hilarity ensues! Maybe. Added bonus? We get to share space with another wonderful tale, this one by friends Alisa Kwitney and Mauricet. Big thanks to Tom Peyer, Hart, the entire AHOY! gang, and our esteemed editor, Sarah Litt, for the opportunity. We hope you enjoy it.
COMING UP
Later this month on Oct. 25, I’ve got a Spider-Man (yes, you read that right - Peter Parker, Spider-Man!) story in the debut issue of Marvel Zombies: Black, White, & Blood, featuring stunning art from the great Javier Fernandez. If that’s not enough for you, our story sits alongside flesh-eating tales from superstars like Garth Ennis, Rachael Stott, and more! As a lifelong Spider-Man fan, this was a huge thrill to do, and I hope people enjoy the story - we’re really proud of portraying The Worst Day in Peter Parker’s Life. Let us know what you think!
WHAT I’M WORKING ON
Did I mention deadline hell? Well, it’s here! I’m in it!
Currently, I’m polishing off a draft for a not-yet-announced MG thing that I’m very proud of and a nonfiction project that will be so much fun when it’s announced, I’m also in the second round of revisions for Dark Space - the sci-fi spy novel I’m co-writing with pal Rob Hart for Blackstone Publishing, and deeply in the weeds on a rewrite/revision for Alter Ego, the follow-up to my Los Angeles Times Book Prize-winning novel, Secret Identity! So, if you’d like to get a coffee or something, let’s shoot for next year?
That’s all for now! If I don’t see you at NYCC, catch you in November!
Hugs,
Alex