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.

Mrs. Stow’s kids will get their books – you guys are amazing!

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I’m honestly a little choked up here. Mrs. Stow, the 4th grade public school teacher from Hereford, Texas, whose book fund I’ve been tweeting and posting about, has made her goal! Here’s what she just posted on her DonorsChoose.org page:

Words can not really express how much this means to me and my students. When we received an email about a donation I would share it with my students. I would hear “YYEESSS” come out of their mouths. They are so excited to have these new books in our class. Many of them have a hard time believing someone who doesn’t know them would donate money so they could have books. I ALWAYS told them..it’s because you are loved and people like to help others.

You guys came through with hundreds of dollars for Mrs. Stow’s kids, and now they’ll have books, which is just about the best gift any kid can get.

Thank you, thank you, and thank you!

“Darkseid” hits stores today – gets great review from ComicsBeat!

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JL_23-1-Darkseid_vxnocmji0l_“Justice League 23.1: Darkseid,” written by yours truly with art by Paulo Siqueira and Netho Diaz, is out today, and Steve Morris at ComicsBeat pretty much loves it. An excerpt:

A brilliant showcase for Darkseid as a villain, the issue is big and grandiose, explains who he is and why he does what he does, and makes the reader eager to read more Darkseid stories in future.

Ask your local retailer to hold a copy for you today!

Or pick it up digitally at Comixology!

UPDATE: A few more great reviews have come in! Check ’em out:

“I was completely impressed and overwhelmed by the amount of awesome within a few small pages” — ComicBooked

“Repeating histories, connections being made across no less than five ongoing titles, and possible revelations about the nature of our greatest super-hero ever fill out a brilliantly fast-paced twenty pages in a way I could not have expected upon opening the cool, although not as dramatic as most, lenticular 3D cover. And that last page? OH MAN.” — Comicosity

“I enjoyed this book end to end” — Inside Pulse

“‘Darkseid’ #23.1 has the potential to be one of the standout titles during Villains Month. It repositions the dense history of the New Gods into an engrossing cosmic fairy tale, remaining true to the past while being accessible to new readers.” — Multiversity Comics

Taking a break – ask me questions!

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About to plunge into the night shift. But if you have questions, I’ll try to answer!

As usual, I’ll just ask everyone to avoid spoilers and to please not pitch projects or stories – I can’t read or respond to those!

Also, life is short, so rudeness, nastiness or personal attacks against anyone automatically get deleted.

Thanks a ton, and fire away!

Three quick plugs:

  1. This Wednesday, “Justice League 23.1: Darkseid,” written by me with art by Paulo Siqueira hits stores. The book should be of particular interest to anyone who’s reading “Batman/Superman.” Ask your retailer to hold a copy for you!
  2. Right now Comixology has a 99¢ sale of many of the Hercules books Fred Van Lente and I wrote for Marvel.
  3. If you give to Mrs. Stow’s Donorschoose 4th grade book fund campaign, I’ll send you “Code Monkey Save World” stickers.

Nice reviews for “Batman/Superman” #3

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“Batman/Superman” #3, written by yours truly with art by Jae Lee and Yildiray Cinar, has gotten a bunch of very nice reviews. Read on for a few excerpts. And feel free to ask your local shop to hold you a copy or buy the book digitally at Comixology today!

Thanks to everyone who’s been reading and writing about the series! And thanks again to Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale, who’s wonderful “When Clark Met Bruce” short story inspired the flashback sequences in this issue.

“If I had to sum up Batman Superman #3 in one word, it would be ‘otherworldly’, though words like sharp, vivid, imaginative, and (just plain) good are appropriate as well.”

— Jonah Lang, Broken Frontier

“I don’t know how Greg Pak knew that this was exactly what I wanted, or that, even for a jaded, frankly awful, cynical person like myself, it could crack my exterior, and give me the scene I most enjoyed reading all week, even though it should be incredible sentimental, but he made it work.”

— Josh Flanagan, iFanboy’s Pick of the Week

“This is a series you just become immersed in and nothing else matters. I can’t wait for the next issue.”

–Tony “G-Man” Guerrero, ComicVine

“… the entire creative team deserves a lot of credit for taking risks and creating an unpredictable and distinctive look at two of the DCU’s most important superheroes.”

–Jennifer Cheng, Comic Book Resources

“Buy this book.  This month’s issue gives us a delightfully fun and exciting exploration of the friendship between two of the world’s most iconic superheroes.   Batman/Superman is an impressive offering, doling out plenty of humor, heart and heroics.”

— Patrick Brennan,Taking Comic Books

Comicosity’s Honor Roll

iFanboy’s Best of the Week in Panels

2013.08.28 – “Batman/Superman” #3 hits stores today!

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“Batman/Superman” #3, written by yours truly with art by Jae Lee and Yildiray Cinar, hits stores today! And if you remember a certain classic story involving these characters, you definitely want to grab this issue. Huge tip of the hat to the great Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale.

Check out the lettered preview at IGN.

Ask your local shop to hold a copy for you.

Or buy it digitally at Comixology!