Talk to me.
In conversation with Howard Chaykin, Free Planet discourse, Long Beach Comic Con, reviews and more
Golly day, I’ve been busy. I can’t get into details just yet but we’ve got something exceptionally exciting coming up in Free Planet ; trouble is, it’s required that I do about a million things all at the exact same time, resulting in a bit of a logjam.
It’s necessitated that I triage and – after social media – a weekly newsletter cadence is, sadly, the next to go. Three silver linings here though:
An excuse not to look at social media.
I’m almost on the other side of it; I’m currently writing Free Planet #11.
Because I missed last week, I’ve got a lot of exciting stuff for you right now:
Return to Long Beach!
After a number of years I can’t be bothered to look up exactly, I’m making my return to Long Beach Comic Con! I’ll be set up on the floor at the Long Beach Convention Center, all day Saturday and Sunday, August 30-31, EXCEPT Saturday from 11:30am to 12:15pm when I’ll be moderating “Comics as Comics: In Conversation with Howard Chaykin” on the main stage
In addition to being the legendary Architect of the Modern Comic Book, I make no secret of how influential my Uncle Howard has been on my approach to comics, Jed’s approach to comics and Free Planet specifically. This weekend, we’ll be digging deep into what constitutes comics as a form, what makes it distinct, how that impacts storytelling, and how we can use comics, mankind’s greatest artistic medium, to its fullest. Don’t miss it!
Free Planet discourse
Some creators don’t read reviews or discussion of their work. Not me; I love it. I make my work for an audience. I want my comics to be read and enjoyed so thoroughly as to spark discussion and for no book is that more true than Free Planet. Which is why I’m so overjoyed to see folks like Michael Troy Fitzgerald (above) or Ken and the Nerd Initiative team thoughtfully engaging with the work.
And it’s also why I’ve been lurking (and sometimes commenting) on League of Comics Geeks. There are folks there who truly get and appreciate what we’re doing with Free Planet and it’s incredibly gratifying to watch such a diligent readership be rewarded. I encourage you to head over to LoCG but truthfully, what’s most important is that you join the Free Planet discussion somewhere, whether it’s on Reddit, Goodreads or a Discord server; among friends and family; in the Atlantis Still Sunk chat; or at your friendly local comic shop. Word of mouth is always essential for a comic to find its audience but especially a book as unique as Free Planet.
Pre-order Free Planet volume 1
You’re going to get very tired of hearing it between now and November 26: In the year 2025, pre-orders are critical to a book’s success. This is because pre-orders communicate to shops that there will be additional demand, causing them to order higher, meaning more copies available when discussion is at its peak. And while most copies will likely be sold through major online retailers – and absolutely help – it’s far better to pre-order from an independent bookstore. This is due to all the obvious reasons, of course, but also because the person who accepts your enthusiastic pre-order for The Shape of Comics to Come is much more likely to juice orders, check out the book and reccomend it themselves than even the most advanced algorithm.
But, of course: Free Planet was designed for the print periodical format and is best experienced that way. So while I’m just as excited as you are to have Free Planet vol 1 ensconced on my bookshelf, don’t let up on that periodical subscription. If you have – for shame – not subscribed to Free Planet, fix that by ringing your friendly local comic shop. And if you need to find issues that have already been released, my friends at Collector’s Paradise have you covered.
Join the PULP
You’ve likely seen me talking about POWER PULP, the creator-owned comics collective supplying consumers as well as retailers with BEEF BROS and Stoned Master, including discounts for wholesale! But what you might not know is that the PULP has its own newsletter. It’s the absolute best way to learn more about this growing army of incredible creators; their gorgeous, gonzo comics; and the utterly outrageous stuff my fellow PULPERS have coming down the pike. Get in on it today!
Final reminder before I get out of here: There’s still time to submit questions to Dr. Aldous Foyroushi for inclusion in Free Planet #6. Writing those letters pages is such a treat for me, an opportunity to build out the book’s broader universe in a way that’s truly interactive and rewards our most engaged readers. There’s no question too simple or too complex; email the good doctor today!
Hit me with other questions or comments below; otherwise, I’ll talk at you in a couple weeks here!
Aubrey