I recently drew a set of 3 Imperial Propaganda posters for the new Star Wars Galaxy 5 trading card set. I hadn’t intended to do more than one, but the ideas came fast and furious and the editor loved them all. This enlistment poster was actually based on an old war bonds poster. While using Nazi propaganda would’ve been appropriate, it was actually more engaging for me to try and create posters that cast the Empire as saviors of the galaxy, especially on the heels of the Death Star 9/11 short. The card backs also have some quotes from me in the guise of an unapologetic Imperial sympathizer. A really fun gig, and I hope to do more of these in the future. I’ll post the others when the cards go on sale next month.

Some of you eagle-eyed readers may have noticed the SHOP link that went up quietly a couple months back.  Khepri.com is selling comics and exclusive items from creators like Brian Wood, Becky Cloonan, Ryan Kelly, Jamie McKelvie and me, as well as books from my comrades at Standard Attrition.  In addition to our comics, there are t-shirts, limited edition sketchbooks and art prints (and we’ll also be running a sketch raffle from me in the coming months). Some of these special items are only available online through Khepri, so take a look around!

King Con was exactly what I’d hoped it would be: a low-key but busy show with a bright future.  Thanks to Regan and Mike for inviting me and thanks to everyone who showed up for my “spotlight panel.” And a quick shoutout to Will Dennis for making it far more painless than I’d feared! Hope to do this again next year!

Forget Michael Jackson — ‘cuz “This Is It”!  My last show for 2009 is the first ever KING CON right at home in Brooklyn this weekend. New York, and Brooklyn in particular, has always been a home to cartoonists and comics pros, so it’s great to see a show celebrate the local scene. And check out that guest list! There will also be a spotlight panel on me at 12pm on Sunday.  Come check it out!

Here’s my back cover illustration for Scarce Magazine #73, the long-running French fanzine. Editor Philippe Cordier interviewed me and Peter Milligan for a Human Target retrospective and kindly asked for a piece of art, so I repurposed this unseen 2009 San Diego sketch. The issue should be out next month, and there will be more info at Philippe’s blog. Well, more info if you can read French, that is.

Had a great time in Boston this past weekend, courtesy of Nick Kanieff, Colin Solan, and everyone else in the Boston Comic-Con crew. Thank you!  They are is growing by leaps and bounds, and I’m very excited for their next show in April 2010, with some guys named Jim Lee and Mike Mignola.

Thanks once again to Marc Nathan, Brad Tree, and the whole gang for putting on another fantastic show.  This year’s attendance was a record for them, and I think it’s a great sign of things to come.

“Dear Batman: We accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in Bat-detention for whatever it is we did wrong, but we think you’re crazy for making us write an essay telling you who we think we are. You see us as you want to see us: in the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is an archer, and a speedster, and a swimmer, a princess, and an acrobat. Does that answer your question? Sincerely yours, The Teen Titans.”

Thank you, John Hughes. Rest in peace.

Another great (and exhausting) year at San Diego!  Cheers to all my boothmates — they really rocked it and we’ll be back in full force in 2010. And special thanks to the ubercool Jerry Ma of Epic Props for hosting the Kelly Hu signing and for all his generosity (check out the link to see his line of snazzy t-shirts!).  And of course, thanks to everyone who came to the booth to say hello, buy some books, or get a sketch. You guys are the real reason Comic-Con is such a great experience and it’s your passion that makes the show what it is today.

Watch out, San Diego! We’re back, and this year we brought Becky Cloonan with us! We’ve got some great stuff — embroidered patches, screenprints, postcards and even a new sketchbook from Brian — and of course, we’ll be signing and taking commissions all week. Come find us at at BOOTH #1322 (and in the program book under Jill Thompson, Brian Wood, Cliff Chiang).

On Saturday, I’ll be signing with the one and only Kelly Hu at the Secret Identities/Epic Props Booth (#1735) from 2-4PM.  Get there early, ‘cuz it’s gonna be a mad house! We’ll have copies of the Secret Identities book and a special litho for Kelly and I to sign. I’ll also be signing at the DC booth on Thursday (4-5PM), Friday (4-5PM), and Saturday (12-1PM).  Holla!

UPDATE: We’ve expanded our booth!  Screw the economy! And (how cool is this?) now joining us are Vasilis Lolos,  Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba! So you now officially have no excuse not to drop by Booth #1320-1322.