War chiefs always present themselves
An advance look at Free Planet #2, my Des Moines Con report and the issue #1 second printing
First and foremost, whether you missed the first printing or just want that incredible new Jed Dougherty cover: The Free Planet #1 second printing is now in comic shops everywhere! I reccomend calling ahead to make sure you don’t have to wait for the third printing; your local comic shop will be thrilled to set you up with a subscription so you don’t miss a single issue.
If you don’t have a local comic shop, you can always order Free Planet and the rest of my work from my friends at Collector’s Paradise.
Of course, I know you’re really here for: That Free Planet #2 preview. This is a special issue, introducing the “red-eyed demon” Jackson Crater as the Freedom Guard’s newest member. Whether you think he’s a valiant freedom fighter, a violent terrorist or something else entirely will be based wholly on your interpretation of issue #2 and the backmatter from #1. He’s a complex character, my favorite in the entire series, and I can’t wait to hear what folks make of him.
Share the full preview far and wide using bit.ly/CraterWasRight.
Spreading the good word
This past weekend’s Des Moines Con wasn’t just my first time back in three years, it was my very first time taking Free Planet on the road. It simply couldn’t have gone any better; everyone who walked by was caught in the tractor beam of Jed’s covers, their eyes widening as they flipped through our rich, overwhelming interior pages.
But what I found most gratifying was this: Free Planet’s broad appeal up and down the political spectrum. While I’ve done political work previously, it’s always been gleeful agitprop like BEEF BROS or straightforward direct metaphor that speaks successfully to the choir; Free Planet is something different. While the book is informed, to be sure, by the specifics of Jed and my worldviews, we designed it to be a more complex work, one that asks and explores foundational questions and challenging issues that similarly perplex folks from the right, left and center. Seeing so many different type of folks fascinated by the premise and approach is a sign that we’re on the right track.
Apologies for yet another short newsletter; if you’re feeling unsatisfied, I urge you to check out my explorations of Free Planet’s bibliography. And, finally, if you’re wondering what cons you can find me at this year, head on over to my brand-new Upcoming appearances page.
Aubrey