Crashing the System
NYCC + Mindset/Forever Forward
Hey, it’s Zack!
So it’s been a month since my last newsletter, and between a barrage of deadlines, an excess of conventions, from Rose City to NYCC, and well, a lot of projects, I hit a bit of a wall. Yep, total burn out. In the past year, launching these four new series and getting them out to market, while doing cons, while setting up new projects, it’s all hit a bit of a limit on the bandwidth here and the system is crashing. I’m only human. I’m just one man. Fear not, we’re gonna just reboot it, maybe blow on it, like with the old Nintendo cartridges, and we’ll be back up and running, at least for a little while longer.
So I just got back from NYCC which was a bit of a blur. There were so many amazing creators there, but the one that was a true joy to see was John Pearson.
John and I have been working together for almost two years making MINDSET, and this is the first time we met. It was fantastic. It’s an odd thing to make comics over Zoom and email and online, across an ocean and then actually meet someone. Thank god we liked each other. Other than that, I got to connect with too many amazing creators I admire and respect and want to work with, and there’s not room to list all the amazing people, but you know who you are. I think. If you don’t, I’ll work on that.
METAL SOCIETY single issues have all come out and that means it’s time for the collection of the entire series into graphic novel form! METAL SOCIETY TPB comes out November 16th. The FOC was this past Monday, October 10th, but your comic shop can still definitely reserve you a copy so you have one waiting. Guilherme Balbi, Marco Lesko, Troy Peteri and I have poured our hearts into this story, to not only deliver a beautiful and captivating future world and a thrilling fight drama between man and machine, but also to share something that provokes thought and dares to examine some of the ongoings in our own society. It’s been such a pleasure to hear fans react to the finale of the series with such excitement, so if you are waiting for the trade, we are so thrilled for you to check it out.
Next week, I have a double feature of comics hitting comic shops on Wednesday. Vault Comics Mindset #4 is coming out, and we are so excited for this one. Just more existential dread about technology, more murder mystery and thrills and more mind control. If you are reading, you know Issue #3 was a big one, and so with the stakes raised, it really gets fun now. John continues to deliver some mind-blowing artwork, Hass is killing it on letters, and Conor Boyle has another brilliant variant cover. Here’s a taste of Mindset #4! Spoiler Alert!!!
Then, if one killer sci-fi comic wasn’t enough, FOREVER FORWARD #2 from Scout Comics hits stands, with some amazing artwork by Arjuna Susini, Brad Simpson and letters by Jim Campbell. I feel like Forever Forward #1 set up the promise of the story, but obviously was a fast-paced dip into the expansive pool that is this series, so I’m really excited for readers to check out Issue #2, as we are full-on traveling into the future on this crazy adventure. It’s kind of the best part, right? What will the future hold? Well, now we get into it. And there are too UNBELIEVABLE variant covers on this one, from Skylar Patridge and Mateus Manhanini. WOW. WOW. WOW.
I’m headed to ThoughtBubble which is November 11th-12th. It’s in a magical realm called the United Kingdom. I love kingdoms. I wonder if they have dragons. I’ll look around. If you are gonna be at TB, I would love to see you! Please come just for me, and come say hello. I’m in the Redshirts Hall at Table 23. I hope I don’t have to wear a red shirt though, I don’t own a red shirt.
After that, November 16th is METAL SOCIETY TPB! I cannot wait.
Oh wow, look at that - November 16th is also MINDSET #5 and FOREVER FORWARD #3! So all my November books come out on 1 day in November. Works for me, just in time for Thanksgiving!
BREAK OUT #4 is coming! We are shooting to make that happen December 7th. This is the finale in the series, so to all the fans of the book who are patiently waiting, I promise it will be worth the wait and thank you for your patience.
After that, I plan to hibernate for December and emerge in the new year with a bevy of new comics coming your way. Not like, on January 1st, give me a break. But yes, many more awesome comics, sci-fi comics, beautiful sci-fi comics, coming next year. If you’ve been following here, I have six new series in development right now, not sure if they will all make it out next year, but many will. So stay tuned!
And thanks for reading!
Zack Kaplan
10.12.22