A whole lotta news!

Hi everyone! Hope you're all enjoying a fantastic start to your summer. It's been a busy time over here but I wanted to let you know about about some cool projects that have either just come out/will soon be available/wrapped up/or about to start.

Whew! Let's get straight into it!

NINJAGO: SHATTERSPIN IS OUT!

After a bit of a delay (ok quite a long delay), Ninjago: Shatterspin is finally out as a graphic novel! Originally planned as a five issue monthly mini series to be released in 2024, the comic ran into a bit of a bump in the road with delays in the production and changes in the publishing industry. Suffice to say, only the first two issues were every released as floppies.

I know a lot of you die-hard Ninjago fans were afraid that the rest of story wouldn't see the light of day (so was I!) but I'm pleased to say the entire story has been collected in graphic novel form and is available every where that books are sold right now.

Without hyperbole, this project might have been the most difficult I've ever worked on but I think all the hard work the team has devoted to this title has resulted in a story that I'm deeply proud of and one I'm excited for everyone to read (whether you're a Ninjago fan or not).

BIG DREAMERS UPDATE

Big Dreamers is a kid's fantasy adventure graphic novel written by Karim Alliane and illustrated by me. I began this project in the middle of the pandemic and have been chipping away at it on the side (eternal gratitude to Karim and my long suffering editor at Editions Dupuis for their patience).

Thankfully, I'm on the last couple pages for the book and with any luck this book will be on shelves in the... soonish... future!

THE STRANGE TALES OF OSCAR ZAHN VOLUME TWO

Work has begun on a new Strange Tales of Oscar Zahn story! I've written the outline for Oscar's new adventure (although the details of it seem to in constant flux) and I've also done a fair bit of design work already. I'm going to keep a tight lip on the details of the new story for now (if no other reason than it might be drastically different by the time I actually draw it) but I can tell you that it involves a robot... and perhaps a car?

And the Ectopus will be making a return... perhaps in a different form than you're used to.

I'll have more to share about Oscar's new story in an upcoming newsletter!

TCAF 2025

While on the subject of Oscar Zahn, I made a little sketchbook collecting the Oscar Zahn illustrations, comic strips, and concept art (some of which are from the new story) just in time for TCAF this weekend. Here's a preview:

I also made a set of Ghibli post cards for TCAF as well. Eventually I'd like to do one for each movie (or at least one for each movie I like... which is all of them).

I always look forward to attending TCAF (both as an exhibitor as well as a fan). The con has such a unique vibe and really is a love letter and celebration of the medium as an art form. I highly recommend everyone check it out if they can and it's free so you have no excuse not to if you are in the Toronto area!

MANTLE

In other news, my friend Adam Santangelo has a new Kickstarter launching today!

When a bullied teenager discovers his dead father’s superhero armor, will he use it for revenge or the greater good? Mantle #1 is the first 22-page comic book in a four-part series. Find out more here and consider supporting this very cool indie project.

Fun Fact: Irma Kniivila (my collaborator on Everyday Hero Machine Boy) provided the colours!

Whew! That was a big update this time around. Hope everyone is doing well, and I will talk to you all again soon.

Tri