Some people don’t make to the end of the story… or even the issue. That is life with Conan.
Most of my life I’ve wanted to do the badges (or program cover) for HEROES CON. This year I was lucky enough to get the privilege. Throw in the fact that I got to play with Mike Mignola’s universe again and it’s a very cool little belt notch. Thanks so much to Shelton Drum and Rico Renzi for asking.
Of course there are different badges for different types of attendees, but I’m told that the only folks assured of a badge are the advance ticket holders. So I suggest that you go buy your advance passes here:
http://heroescon2013.eventbrite.com
Hope to see you there….
Job well done, my friend. Job well done.
“THE DAILY DEAD: Is there any feedback in particular that surprised you? What have you found that readers are taking away from this story?
MARK SABLE: San Diego has a large military community, and when we debuted the book at Comic-Con we had a lot of veterans and active duty service members come up to us. If there’s one thing members of the military and comic fans have in common it’s that they aren’t afraid to speak their mind, so I braced myself for the worst. I could have imagined them pissed at us for trivializing their experiences.
Instead, they thanked us for calling attention to the fact there’s a war going on, something you might not know from walking around the U.S. right now. And they shared their stories, which were heartbreaking.
For me, the most moving reaction was a request from a vet who wanted to use Paul’s cover from the first issue – a helmeted skull with a poppy plant running through it – as a tattoo. He wanted to ink the names of his fallen comrades in the roots. To this day that remains the best interaction I’ve ever had with a reader.
So it’s been particularly rewarding that people who served in Iraq or Afghanistan were not only okay with what we were doing but felt we did a good job of capturing what they’d experienced.
No word from the zombies yet, though.”
—
- from Tamika Jones’ THE DAILY DEAD interview with myself and Paul Azaceta about the GRAVEYARD OF EMPIRES TPB, which is available in stores now.
The collections not only features tons of exclusive extras, but a brand new story written and drawn by Paul (his comics writing debut). And if you want to check out the first issue/chapter, you can can do so for free at Comixology here.
(via marksable)
“…It’s cliche to say something like, “this is not your classic zombie story,” especially in the post-Walking Dead world we inhabit. However, very much like Kirkman’s opus, this does feel different. Much of that has to do with Graveyard’s treatment of characters and the messy politics of war; in this case, both with the undead and, more terrifyingly, with ideas….”
SCORE: 5/5
-from Steven E. Paugh’s review of THE GRAVEYARD OF EMPIRES TPB on ComicBastards.com
—An excerpt from @StevilEmpire’s @ComicBastards AMAZING review of GRAVEYARD OF EMPIRES, which you can (and should) read in its entirety here. It’s maybe my favorite review of anything I’ve written ever, not just because it was given a perfect score, but because it’s incredibly informed, thoughtful and well written. That someone even took the time to engage with the comic I’m most proud of this deeply means a tremendous. (via marksable)
WINTER SOLDIER #18 featuring the secret origin of the Electric Ghost, out this Wednesday, May 1st.
Had this in my hands this weekend. If you’re not reading this book you don’t like good things.
GRAVEYARD OF EMPIRES TPB OUT THIS WEDNESDAY, MAY 1ST!
GRAVEYARD OF EMPIRES, my Marines and Taliban vs. Zombies comic with @PaulAzaceta is finally collected in it’s entirety as a trade paperback this Wednesday, May 1st. In addition to all 4 oversized issues, the collection will include a new short story by Paul, representing his comic book writing debut. If you haven’t read it yet, check out the first issue FREE on Comixology.
Speaking of free, I’ve got not one but TWO signings scheduled this month in conjunction with FREE COMIC BOOK DAY:
SIGNING #1 : SATURDAY MAY 11th at Collector’s Paradise Pasadena
Start Time: 12:00PM End Time: 3:00PMMeet “Graveyard of Empires” writer Mark Sable as he signs copies of the horrific modern warfare meets zombies TPB from Image Comics, 12pm-3pm at Collector’s Paradise Pasadena.
Plus, enjoy FREE COMICS all day long from 11am-7pm as our store celebrates Free Comic Book May!
Check out our site for more details!Location:
Collector’s Paradise Pasadena
319 S. Arroyo Pkwy #4
Pasadena, CA
91105More Info: http://comicsandcards.net
SIGNING #2 - SAT MAY 11 COLLECTOR’S PARADISE VALLEY STORE
And on Saturday, May 11th, from 12-3, I’ll be signing at Collector’s Paradise original store in Winnetka, CA.
Since both signings will be during FREE COMIC BOOK DAY month, I’ll have free issues of some of my books in addition to copies of my trade to sign.
PRESS RELEASE:
And here’s the press release for the GRAVEYARD OF EMPIRES trade:
From Alexander the Great’s Macedonian army to Genghis Khan’s Mongol horde to the British Imperial machine of the nineteenth to the Soviet Union to the twenty-first century United States of America, no occupying force has ever been able to control Afghanistan — the very reason it’s known as the Graveyard of Empires. Mark Sable and Paul Azaceta drew upon that history in their Image Comics series GRAVEYARD OF EMPIRES, set in present-day Afghanistan, where American troops are caught in a seemingly unending conflict with the Taliban. That is, until a new enemy enters the field: the undead. The only way to defeat them is for the Americans and Taliban to unite forces, and as former enemies become uneasy allies, tension will rise on all sides.
All four issues of the critically acclaimed, controversial GRAVEYARD OF EMPIRES will be collected into a new trade paperback, set to be in stores on May 1.
“Zombies are the perfect metaphor for modern insurgents,” said writer Sable. “A seemingly endless foe with inscrutable motives that comes in unstoppable waves. In counter-insurgency theory, there’s something we came across in our research called ‘insurgent math.’ It’s the idea that by killing one terrorist, you can create ten more because you’ve inspired their friends and family. Similarly, in a world where the dead are coming back to life, anyone you kill can return to infect your comrades and turn them against you.”
“It was a challenge to do the book because I wanted to get it right,” said artist Azaceta. “Not just the uniforms and the guns but Afghan culture and its wonderful landscape. While digging around for reference the things that surprised me most was the beauty of the country.”
Part of the research was aided by photojournalist Tim Hetherington, who co-directed the Academy Award-nominated documentary Restrepo and who was killed in a mortar attack in Mistrata in 2011 by Libyan government forces while covering the Libyan civil war. Sable and Azaceta dedicated GRAVEYARD OF EMPIRES to his memory.
Meticulously detailed and boldly drawn, GRAVEYARD OF EMPIRES can be pre-ordered now (Diamond Comics code MAR130502, ISBN 978-1-60706-739-9). A 128-page full-color graphic novel, its retail price $14.99. The first issue is available digitally for free from comiXology and the Image Comics iOS app.
GRAVEYARD OF EMPIRE trade paperback comps from @imagecomics. Out next week Mat 1st!!!
Oh yeah?
Gravyeard of Empires the TPB comes out tomorrow! Tell your friends. These guys are on their way to the store now.
This weekend I’ll be at C2E2 in Chicago. I’ll be sharing a table with Jason Latour so look out for the smell of moonshine and the sound of banjo music (or table G11). I’ll have some prints (above) and possibly some Graveyard of Empire trades. some original art and I’ll be taking commission sketches from those whoa re kind enough to ask nicely. Hope to see you there!
P.
A snippet from my Conan arc before the craziness.
