babbling_bookends

Posted by Chip Zdarsky

https://zdarsky.substack.com/p/shipping-out

Yesterday was Canada Day and in a couple of days it’s Independence Day and I’m a Canadian writing Captain America and its out today. What a time to be alive.

I’m sure a lot of people are nervous (I’m a loose cannon), so I wanted to set people at ease by giving you some of my beliefs on both of our countries and the character of Steve Rogers.

• I do not believe that Canada should be the 51st state. I think it should be maybe the 56th or 57th. I want to see how the next few states work out before I make my final call.

• Tim Hortons is garbage and I still eat there almost every day. My father-in-law described their coffee as being terrible and yet still somehow “tasting of desire.” I don’t know exactly what that means but I’ve never looked at him the same way since.

• Steve Rogers is absolutely no fun at a party, sorry

• Steve Rogers actually can’t say no to helping you move. He could be in the middle of a battle against the Red Skull for the fate of the world, bleeding and dying, and if you said, “Hey, while I’m thinking about it, I need a couple of extra hands next Tuesday to move out of my building” Steve would spit out some blood and go “what time do you need me?”

• America is a great idea.

I’m excited for everyone to read this first issue, especially to witness the perfect moody art of Valerio and Frank. As for the writing, it feels different than my previous work and different for Marvel in some ways. Steve Rogers is the best of us and for him that’s a tragedy. For us, it’s inspiring. I hope you like it.

Also, stay off the Internet today if you don’t want spoilers. They will be out there and, yes, knowing these plot beats beforehand will lessen your reading experience.

YOU CAN’T STOP ME

I know! I just don’t know why you’d want to consume your entertainment in out-of-order chunks like that!

I’m often reminded of a buddy who manged to avoid all spoilers for CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR, so when he was in the theater and Peter Parker showed up he was like, “HOLY SHIT.” Can you imagine watching that movie as a fan and not knowing that Spider-Man and Black Panther were going to show up? Wild.

Anyway, go read the issue!

In other news, WHITE HOUSE ROBOT ROMANCE finally has a release date! For those not in the know, there have been some … distribution snafus in the comics industry, so our dates got moved back. But our issue one now comes out September 3! And now there’s a lettered preview over at Monkeys Fighitng Robots! Maybe they should rename to Monkeys KISSING Robots??

Check it out!

In anticipation of CAPTAIN AMERICA #1 coming out I’ve been doing the interview rounds. Had a lovely conversation with Gate Crashers:

And, of course, I dropped in to visit my old pals Omar and Mel at NEAR MINT CONDITION. Sorry about all the ALF talk.

Oh! And hey, this is a fun thing! While promoting TIME WAITS, David and I did a cool feature called THE STACKS, where we picked some books from the shelves of Third Eye Comics to recommend to others! Turns out I’m what people lovingly call “a basic bitch.”

Why does David look handsome and engaging and I look like this

BECAUSE HE’S COOL AND TAKES CARE OF HIMSELF AND YOU EAT TIM HORTONS EVERY DAY

It was a rhetorical question

Over at the LEAGUE OF COMIC GEEKS I’ll be doing an Ask Me Anything tomorrow! There are already too many questions there so I probably shouldn’t post about it. My paid subscribers know I’ll ALWAYS answer anything here.

Okay! That’s it for me this week! But, if you’re in the Vancouver area in a couple of weeks, get your collection ready cause I’m doing a signing at GOLDEN AGE COLLECTABLES!

They made me look VERY cool here. Almost “David Brothers cool.”

BYE

Love,
Chip

UPCOMING BOOKS
MARVEL ZERO #1 — July 2
CAPTAIN AMERICA #1 — July 2
ZDARSKY COMIC NEWS #13 — July 16
FANTASTIC FOUR FANFARE — July 23
CAPTAIN AMERICA #2 — August 6
ZDARSKY COMIC NEWS #14 — August 13
WHITE HOUSE ROBOT ROMANCE — Sept 3
CAPTAIN AMERICA #3 — Sept 10
HOWARD THE DUCK TPB — Sept 17

UPCOMING SIGNINGS
GOLDEN AGE COLLECTIBLES — July 12

https://zdarsky.substack.com/p/shipping-out

Posted by Chip Zdarsky

https://zdarsky.substack.com/p/star-players

Okay, so the news is OFFICIAL official.

I’m writing a WONDER WOMAN / CAPTAIN AMERICA story for the big Marvel/DC crossover. And Terry & Rachel Dodson are illustrating it!

Marvel and DC will absolutely KILL ME for posting these sneak peeks at some panels, but fuck it! I’m the Bad Boy (Old Man) of (Corporate) Comics™! Take me away, coppers!!

Look, I’m a jaded guy. This is my job. I’ve typed the words THWIP and SNIKT hundreds of times like it’s no big deal. But this? This actually makes me a little giddy.

I can’t say much about the story (or anything, really), but when you see it you’ll understand that I just decided to go all-in and make it everything I wanted to see in a crossover.

Captain America and Wonder Woman! What a world.

WILL THEY KISS

What? No.

WHY NOT

Steve doesn’t like to kiss. He likes to look longingly at old photos of women in heart-shaped lockets.

OH. OKAY.

Speaking of CAPTAIN AMERICA, the solicitations are out for issue three and I did ANOTHER variant cover for it, featuring a familiar non-face!

I’m having fun!!

Next week issue one is finally out and I’m pretty excited for everyone to read it. Some big swings, some fun moments. I’m just writing the Captain America I want to read, so I hope others want to as well!

As part of all of this, I’ve gone on a bit of a media blitz, which means you get to see my face and hear my voice more than usual. Sorry!

Last night I did NEAR MINT CONDITION with my favourite comics duo, Omar and Mel! It was a really fun interview with many jokes and good times. Also, no Cap spoilers!

Go check it out!

But I know why you’re really here. You want to know about ZDARSKY COMIC NEWS. Well, for the first time ever, I’m showing off the cover to a Very Special Issue, our September issue, number fifteen. What happens in September to make it so special?

Mr. Matt Fraction taking over Batman.

It’s gonna be a good one. Tell your retailer you NEED IT REAL BAD

Love,
Chip!

UPCOMING BOOKS
MARVEL ZERO #1 — July 2
CAPTAIN AMERICA #1 — July 2
ZDARSKY COMIC NEWS #13 — July 16
FANTASTIC FOUR FANFARE — July 23
CAPTAIN AMERICA #2 — August 6
ZDARSKY COMIC NEWS #14 — August 13
CAPTAIN AMERICA #3 — Sept 10
HOWARD THE DUCK TPB — Sept 17

https://zdarsky.substack.com/p/star-players