2013.12.04 – “Action Comics” #26, “Code Monkey Save World” #2, and “Batman/Superman” #6

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Hey, friends! It’s a huge New Comics Day for me — with “Action Comics” #6 and “Batman/Superman” #6 hitting stores and “Code Monkey Save World” #3 available on Comixology! I’m super proud of all of these books and really hope you’ll check ’em out. Here’s why:

ACTION COMICS #26 features Superman taking on a mysterious invader from below the Earth with the help of childhood friend (and present-day adventuring electrical engineer) Lana Lang. Also introducing a brand new adversary called the Ghost Soldier! Aaron Kuder pencils and inks, and he’s just amazing. Aaron and I are working hand-in-hand on this book every step of the way. I’m writing the scripts plot-first, meaning I send him a detailed, panel-by-panel outline with no dialogue. Then he does layouts and we get on the phone to talk through the whole thing image by image. In the end, I write all the dialogue while looking at the finished art. It’s an intense, intimate, and hugely fun way of working and I like to think it’s helping us tap into something special. Hope you agree!

Check out the preview here. Then ask your local retailer to hold you a copy or buy it digitally at Comixology!

Here’s an excerpt from Aaron Long’s review at Comicosity:

Pak took the reins of the iconic Action Comics with the issue 25 Zero Yeartie-in and gave the young Man of Steel a great voice that we haven’t seen in the Superman books of the New 52. That voice continues in issue 26 as Superman fights an unknown alien creature from the depths that hits his empathy buttons, which Pak explores brilliantly. Pak skillfully introduces a new threat worthy of Superman, introducing intrigue and a lot of plot threads to play with going forward. Pak’s voice for Superman, as both Clark & his super-half, is absolutely fantastic and there was an overwhelming feeling that struck me as I read this comic: I want to read this guy. I *like* this guy.

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BATMAN/SUPERMAN #6 continues the Mongul/Toymaster storyline that began last issue, with art by the brilliant Brett Booth. The story involves an alien conquerer using a networked fighting game to tap into the strategic skills and fighting spirit of millions of gamers in order to defeat our heroes. Brett’s doing a spectacular job of capturing the mighty mayhem as well as the underlying humor of the scenario. We’re also doing a crazy horizontal layout thing that you don’t want to miss. Check out the preview, then ask your local retailer to hold you a copy or buy it digitally at Comixology!

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Finally, CODE MONKEY SAVE WORLD #2 is the second issue of the Kickstarter-funded graphic novel based on the songs of Jonathan Coulton. A supervillain/monkey team up — and in this issue, we get the Skullcrusher’s secret origin! YOU WANT THIS. Art by Takeshi Miyazawa, colors by Jessica Kholinne, letters by Simon Bowland. Check out the preview and buy it digitally at Comixology!

Russ Burlingame at Comicbook.com calls it “a beautifully-rendered, cleverly-written comic that’s as much fun as anything else you’ll read this year.”

Thanks for reading – hope you enjoy the books!

“Code Monkey Save World” #1 hits Comixology today!

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Back in the spring, internet superstar musician Jonathan Coulton and I launched a Kickstarter for “Code Monkey Save World,” a graphic novel written by yours truly and drawn by Takeshi Miyazawa based on Jonathan’s songs.

Today the first issue of the book hit Comixology and is available right now for purchase and digital download!

I’m frankly a little over the moon. “Code Monkey Save World” is a big, fat, goofy fever dream come true, and I’m thrilled to have it finally getting out into the world. The story follows a put-upon coding monkey as he teams up with a seething, lovelorn super-villain to fight robots, office worker zombies, and maybe even each other as they struggle to impress the amazing women for whom they fruitlessly long. If you read only one lovelorn monkey-supervillain team up book this year, we’ve got you covered!

Please do check it out!

And to whet your appetite, here are a nice interview with Jonathan Coulton from ComicBook.com and very nice reviews from ASMzine, ComicVine, Newsarama, and GeekScape.

2013.10.16 – “Code Monkey Save World” #1 hits Comixology – read the preview today!

“Code Monkey Save World” #1 will be available for purchase digitally via Comixology starting on Wednesday, October 16!

Click here to buy the book.

And read on for a six page, lettered preview!

The story: A put-upon coding monkey teams up with a seething, lovelorn super-villain to fight robots, office worker zombies, and maybe even each other as they struggle to impress the amazing women for whom they fruitlessly long. Based on the songs of internet superstar musician Jonathan Coulton.

Written by Greg Pak
Art by Takeshi Miyazawa
Colored by Jessica Kholinne
Lettered by Simon Bowland
Publisher: Pak Man Productions, 10 Print JoCo, Monkeybrain Comics
Release Date: Wed., October 16, 2013

2013.10.10 – 10.13 – Greg Pak’s New York Comic Con Schedule!

I’ll be at the New York Comic Con all four days this year, in Artists Alley Booth K1 and at the various events listed below. Can’t wait – it’s gonna be a blast and I hope to see you there!

(Please note that I have a few more events pending confirmation and will update this page over the next few days.)

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Autographing
Location: Booth #2028

6:15 pm – 7:15 pm
New York Times OUT and Geeks Out present LGBT and Allies in Comics Panel
Location: 1A14
Speakers: Dan Parent, Daniel Ketchum, Greg Pak, Rich Bernatovech, Marjorie Liu
Description: The New York Times OUT and Geeks Out join forces to present a panel where LGBT characters and their allies will be discussed by comic book professionals. We will be discussing their use in mainstream comics, independent/creator-owned comics and comic book movies. Moderated by New York Times Book Review Staff Editor, Jude Biersdorfer

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11

11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Signing
Location: DCE SIGNING AREA Table EE1

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Signing, Epic Props/Secret Identities Booth
Location: Booth 2010

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
DC Comics – Superman Panel
Location: 1A22
Speakers: Charles Soule, Greg Pak, Tony Daniel, Tyler Kirkham
Description: The Last Son of Krypton is one of the most recognized pop culture icons of all time, and this year, as he celebrates his 75th Anniversary, Superman is set to soar to new heights! Come by for a panel on what makes The Man of Steel the hero that he is with the writers and artists that bring him to life!

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Autographing
Location: Booth # 2010

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Valiant Comics: Must Read Valiant
Location: 1A01
Speakers: Dinesh Shamdasani, Fred Van Lente, Greg Pak, Hunter Gorinson, Matt Kindt, Robert Venditti
Description: MUST READ VALIANT. You’ve heard the buzz. You’ve read the reviews. Now, with UNITY just weeks away, join an all-star panel of Valiant creators and special surprise guests to find out why VALIANT is the MUST READ publisher of the year. X-O Manowar and the dawn of UNITY. The shocking surprises that lay in wait for SHADOWMAN ETERNAL WARRIOR’s next savage quest, ARCHER & ARMSTRONG and the mad, mad, mad fallout of SECT CIVIL WAR. Things getting (even more) complicated for QUANTUM AND WOODY. It all happens right here with an exclusive round of news and announcements, only at NYCC!

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Code Monkey Save World – Inside the Graphic Novel Kickstarter
Location: 1A03
Speakers: Greg Pak, Jonathan Coulton, Sean Chen, Drew Westphal
Description: Comics writer Greg Pak (“Batman/Superman,” “Planet Hulk”) and internet superstar musician Jonathan Coulton discuss their graphic novel “Code Monkey Save World,” Kickstarter’s highest grossing original comics project ever. Learn how they ran the campaign and get a sneak preview of finished pages! Also, free stickers!

2:45 pm – 3:45 pm
Dynamite 10th Anniversary Celebration
Location: 1A08
Description: Dynamite celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2014. Join a panel of superstar creators and Dynamite’s editorial staff, and find out what surprises they have in store for next year! What’s the latest updates on projects by J. Michael Straczynski, Gail Simone, Steve Niles, James Robinson, Mark Waid and Peter Milligan (just to name a few)? What explosive stories will be told in the upcoming series TWILIGHT ZONE, BOB’S BURGERS, ASH AND THE ARMY OF DARKNESS, and more? And – most importantly – get ready for a whole new wave of mind-blowing announcements and 2014 SECRETS REVEALED!

Another version of my NYCC banner – please let me know what you think!

Hey, smart people. Here’s another whack at the banner I’m making for my Artists Alley table at the New York Comic Con. Actual physical version will be 24 inches wide, 84 inches tall.

I’ve tweaked from the previous version to move the main characters higher up on the banner (since the bottom half of the banner will be partly obscured by the table and me) and to remove text and basically make it less busy.

Please let me know what you think and if you have any suggestions!

Many thanks!

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First page of “Code Monkey Save World”!

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“Code Monkey Save World” #1 is done! Written by yours truly based on the songs of Jonathan Coulton, drawn by Takeshi Miyazawa, colored by Jessica Kholinne, and lettered by Simon Bowland.

And here’s page one for your viewing pleasure!

Openings are always a bit of a bear. You want to introduce your character and the world in that extra special way that just makes it shine. I originally started the script right in the office, with Code Monkey dealing with his boring manager Rob.

But I felt in my gut that we were missing an opportunity, that there was a better way to let us really get under our hero’s skin. So I got on the phone with Jonathan and we talked it through. I’d had a thought of opening with Code Monkey at home, waking up, getting coffee, going to work. And I think Jonathan independently made the same suggestion. It occurred to me that we could show a happier, more optimistic Code Monkey in a graduation picture on his bedstand, which would be a nice way to subtly get a little backstory in there. But we still needed that special something that would encapsulate the terrible drag that is his day-to-day existence. And Jonathan laughed and said he had this goofy idea of Code Monkey in a coffee shop getting his cup and seeing that someone just wrote “Monkey” on it. I couldn’t stop laughing — it was just perfect.

“Code Monkey Save World” #1 will be available to Kickstarter backers in a few weeks, and will go on sale via Comixology to the general public a month after that.