David Malki !

Beards of our Forefathers in PREVIEWS

STAPLE! was a blast last weekend. It was a tremendous way to kick off this year’s convention season — the whole experience had me so brimming with excitement that I actually had to be hosed down by TSA before they’d let me on the plane home. “Sorry, sir,” they said. “You look a little too jazzed about comics to be safe in a pressurized environment.” I tried to argue, but in truth the hose thing was sort of fun too, and I gotta get my kicks for free when opportunities like that arise.

I know I’ve recently mentioned Danielle, Kris and Scott — with whom I have formed the rock-star group The Awesome Webcomic Panelists Who Can Thrill An Eager And Not Altogether Discerning Crowd Indefinitely — but not only did I thoroughly enjoy every minute that we hung out, I have an incredible respect for their craft. Events like STAPLE! always rejuvenate my artistic spirit, and I was stoked that between sketchbooks and barbecue-restaurant tablecloths and even public displays, I got to spend the weekend drawing.

The March Previews is out now — if you’re not enough of a comics nerd to know what Previews is, then you don’t need to keep reading; I commend you for, you know, having a life. If you are a comics nerd, though, and you want to buy my new book Beards of our Forefathers through your local comics shop (or ask the shop to buy a few copies for the shelf), you can either look on page 41 of the March Previews or print out your own page 41 and slap it on the counter. (Here’s an alternate version as well that may go easier on your printer ink.) When the clerk asks why you want him to buy 500 copies of a single book for his store, all you have to do is simply place one hand on his shoulder, bow your head, and say “I don’t necessarily want you to go bankrupt, but if that’s what it takes, that’s what it takes.”

Drawing: Ink-wash study

Broke out the dip-pens and watercolors today. It’s been far too long.

I realized as I was sharpening pencils that I haven’t actually sharpened a pencil in several years. I’ve bought pencils (intending to put them to use) far more often than I have actually used them. So I dug through my drawers and found all the pencils I could that needed sharpening, then sharpened them all for good measure.

This piece has an outline inked with crowquill and brush, after which I diluted the ink and went back in with a wash brush. The thin piece of scratch paper that I used wrinkled from the watery ink — I really love how in the scan the wrinkles give the dude a radiant Byzantine-halo effect. ALL HAIL OUR LORD AND MASTER

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A very special announcement!

What’s this?

It’s my new book! This 96-page hardcover will be hitting bookstore shelves in June, courtesy of Dark Horse Comics. It picks up where The Annotated Wondermark left off, and includes 131 comic strips (including many that have never appeared on this site) as well as Treachery!. I’ve also written loads of fun extra material especially for this collection, including a Dispatches from Wondermark Manor prologue chapter.

And the best part is…it’s available on Amazon now for pre-order!

The last few weeks have been a bit of an education in publishing for me. Typically, the way I’ve sold books in the past is: 1. I design the books. 2. I print the books. 3. I sell the books to you. This model has worked well for me so far, but for the new book, I’m having to change tactics.

The revised model goes like this: 1. I design the book (done). 2. You pre-order the book. 3. Dark Horse looks at those pre-order numbers, and decides how many books to print and how much of a promotional effort the book deserves. 4. The book is a resounding success, and Dark Horse and I go on to make more books -OR- the book does poorly and I go back to the previous model of bookselling.

In other words, pre-orders are extremely important. In addition to encouraging individual sales, I’ll be urging as many bookstores and comic stores as I can to order copies for the shelf. You can do the same in your area! The book will be solicited in the June Previews (which comic stores will receive next month), and it’s already in the Dark Horse Summer Catalog, which bookstores should have a copy of. The ISBN is 978-1593079840.

Another new way that you can help support Wondermark is by making general Amazon purchases via my site, by using the search box just over on the right, in the sidebar. Anything you buy on Amazon after clicking through from Wondermark earns me a commission, and it doesn’t cost you an extra penny! I see it sort of as a tip jar. Feel free to use my site as a portal for your general Amazon searching — or, if you think I’m being crass, then don’t! That’s fine too.