Preorder - Dear Creature Hardcover (Signed)

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I'm excited to announce that preorders are live on my store for signed copies of Dark Horse's gorgeous new edition of Dear Creature. Dear Creature HC

Here are several reasons this hardcover brings me special joy:

1. In 2005, just before I moved to Portland to pursue comics and begin work on Dear Creature, I read Craig Thompson's 'Blankets'. It's a beautiful book that I related to as a Christian wrestling with church, self, and finding a new way. I hoped at the time that I'd get the opportunity to meet him someday. Like all stalkers, I felt we had kindred spirits.

In spite of my paralyzing respect for Craig's abilities, we're now good friends. And in spite of HIMSELF, he's given me the gift of a beautiful drawn introduction for this new edition. Thank you, Craig!

2. From the beginning I wanted this book to feel like it came right out of the sixties. I wanted that canvas hardcover feel, good quality paper, and all the things that make you happy to have a book on your coffee table. Now I have it!

3. Dark Horse and their editorial staff have been terrific collaborators throughout my first years as a comics creator. I couldn't be happier to give this book a new life through their efforts.

In sum, I'm tickled. The book comes out on Sept. 28th in comics shops, and October 11th for the book market. Rose City Comic Con attendees, watch for my signing at the Dark Horse booth, Sunday, Sept. 11th from 2 to 3 PM - we may get early copies.

My San Diego Comic Con Schedule

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San Diego Comic Con has seen fit to ship me down (crated?) as a special guest. This means I'm paneling and signing and tabling and meeting and schmoozing for many hours, starting Thursday, July 21st.

Special attention to be directed to my Saturday spotlight panel where I tell everything the young me wanted to know when I first embarked upon making books that humans read. Things like, "How can I get people to read my books," and "Why won't that editor look at me with affection?"

Here's the full scoop on where you can find me:

Thursday, 11-12 PM. Room: 5AB
Celebrate the Publishing World of Jim Henson’s Labyrinth with Archaia: To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Jim Henson’s Labyrinth, publisher Archaia (an imprint of BOOM! Studios) has several books set to come out this year! Join BOOM! Studios Senior Editor Sierra Hahn and artists Eric Powell (The Goon, Big Man Plans), Joëlle Jones (Spider-Woman, Lady Killer), and Jonathan Case (The New Deal, Batman ’66) as they give fans a sneak peek into these titles, which include original comics, a children’s storybook, and an artists’ tribute collection. Moderated by Nerdist Editor-in-Chief Rachel Heine.
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Friday, 1-2 PM. Dark Horse Booth Signing
Jonathan Case signs all the books and maybe some other things? We'll see.
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Friday, 3-4 PM. Room: 7AB
Dark Horse Originals: Comics literature has become the voice and visual for our changing generation, and Dark Horse Originals has it all—from underwater mystery in Jonathan Case’s Dear Creature to the surrealist return of Dave McKean in The Dreams of Paul Nash. Join panelists Dave McKean (Cages), Fabio Moon & Gabriel Ba (Two Brothers), Peter Hogan (Resident Alien) and Jonathan Case (Dear Creature) as they discuss pushing the boundaries of what comics can accomplish in literature.
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Saturday, 6-7 PM. Room: 9
Spotlight on Jonathan Case: The Triumphs and Trials of Creating and Publishing a Graphic Novel— Join Comic Con special guest and Eisner award-winning cartoonist Jonathan Case (The New Deal) for an in-depth look at creating and publishing your first graphic novel. Explore one book's tumultuous journey from conception to delivery as Case offers anecdotes about the creation and promotion of his first book, Dear Creature (returning to print this fall as a deluxe hardcover from Dark Horse Comics). Q&A available— all ages and levels welcome!
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Sunday, 2-3 PM. Room: 25ABC
Cover Story: The Art of the Cover: This panel will include Jonathan Case, Howard Chaykin, Paul Gulacy, Scott Shaw and Babs Tarr. Panel will be moderated by Mark Evanier.
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Whew! I think that's everything, minus the breather I always take at the Old Globe (they do such good work!). Sarah and I are going to see Sense and Sensibility to regain our equilibrium after the pop culture barrage! Should be fun.

See you at the thing!

Fall Commission Preorders

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Firestorm, 10x15 ink and watercolor wash, single figure, $120.

It's fall convention season, and I'm starting up my commission preorders! Contact me to preorder a commission for New York Comic Con (via paypal), or get on the early-bird list for this weekend's Rose City Comic Con in Portland.

Here's the scoop on my rates and options this season.

10x15 (preferred working size)

Pencils (single figure): $50 Inks (single figure): $70 Ink and watercolor wash (single figure): $120

8x10

Pencils (single figure): $40 Inks (single figure): $60 Ink and watercolor wash (single figure): $100

If you want more than one full figure or a pretty involved background, it's just a multiple of my single figure rate. Here are more examples:

Han and Chewie Maintenance, 10x15 ink, double figure, $140.

Rocketeer and Bettie, 8x10 ink, double bust (equals single figure), $60.

Yoda Cuisine, 10x15 ink and watercolor wash, single figure and full background, $240.

See you at the Con!

Emerald City Was GOOD

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Back from Emerald City Comic Con, and what a lovely con it was. Good friends, good fans, good sales. I missed my family (first weekend away from baby), but I had David Hahn with me as surrogate kin, so that took away some of the sting. By the way, if you haven't checked out David's All Nighter yet, you should. It's a terrific return to his one-man-show cartooning; my favorite type of David Hahn comic.

A highlight was getting to meet Tom and Charlaine Jensen, and their son Mike. Such sweet people. Tom is the detective behind Green River Killer: A True Detective Story, my book with his son, Jeff. They gave me homemade cookies and a sweet thank you note for my work on the book. I gave them a look at some ridiculous art I drew for a convention attendee whose copy came with 8 pages blank in the middle of the story. Here's one of the doodles I did in the blank pages.

I also got to do a lot of fun commissions, which you can see over on the Periscope Tumblr. And I got to chat with the amazing Gabriel Hardman, who is, as you know, amazing. I even sold out of Dear Creature books!

Big thanks to everyone who made this such a great con. I'll definitely be back next year, if for no other reason than trying to outdo Ben Dewey's success. Give him a round of applause, everyone. He owned that thing.

 

Library Journal Likes Monster Loving

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This month I turn 30. The 20's were good. 29 particularly so. A new baby girl, two books published, steady freelance work, and a great road trip in our crazy old van. There she is, in all her mismatched bumpered glory. Next time, I'll post art, but for now, you get an 80's van. I think you win. If you want to win big, though, you can meet the new older me at Emerald City Comic Con, where I'll be boothing at #223. Want commissions? I will do commissions for you, sir or madam. I'll also have copies of Dear Creature and Green River Killer, plus art prints. And I'm in Monsters and Dames again, too.

Speaking of Dear Creature, it just got a starred review from Library Journal, which is a good thing. I love librarians. Someday I want to write a musical set in a library. There will be lots of soft shoe and shushing noises.

And now, I'm off to The Creep for Dark Horse. Pencils, pencils, and more pencils. I must fly!