Look, it's not that it makes sense. It's that it wins games. I think, anyway. I've never really tracked it.

#1574; In which the Audience participates (Part 1)

  — October 19th, 2025

[ Tags: , ]       Permalink: https://wondermark.com/c/1574/

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Signed-print deadline extended; signed-book deadlines announced

Never fear! I am extending the deadline for signed comic prints. Two reasons for this: Demand has been overwhelming, and the replacement comic-print system is not quite up and running yet. I want the replacement system to be seamless when it launches, so I’m giving it some more time for the bugs to get worked out. With many thanks to those who’ve bought prints already, the new deadline for signed comic prints is August 14.

That’s also now the deadline for:

– Hand-signed books (either strip collections or Dispatches books). In two weeks, I won’t be shipping my own books anymore, so I won’t be able to sign copies by default the way I do now. I’ll probably do batches of signings/Artist Editions twice a year starting in 2010, but until then, if you want your (upcoming Christmas/Chanukah/birthday gift) book(s) to be signed or inscribed by me, please order them by August 14.

– Any of the Dispatches books sold separately (after August 14 they’ll only be sold as a complete set of all three volumes).

But here are two items that are active TODAY:

– Signed bookplates! This is my compromise for those who’ve bought unsigned books from Amazon or a local store, or who buy books after the August 14 deadline. Simply mail me a self-addressed stamped envelope, and I’ll sign a free bookplate (or several) and send ’em to you to stick into your book(s):

Send your SASE to: Wondermark Bookplate, 2554 Lincoln Blvd #214, Venice CA 90291. Include a note with any special instructions (such as inscriptions, or requesting multiple bookplates). Except for the cost of the return stamp, this service is absolutely free!

– “Where is my Elephant” shirts are currently on clearance!

We’re gonna modify the design very slightly when next we reprint the shirt, so for the moment, the current design is discounted by a couple bucks. And of course, you can also save an additional $5 any time you buy three shirts at a time from the TopatoCo store — they don’t even all have to be Wondermark shirts! Plenty of other good stuff on the site.

More big news to come soon! Thanks very much to everyone who came and said hello at Comic-Con, I had a wonderful time. Hope you’re enjoying the books, shirts, and lingering, smoky glances you picked up at the show!

OFFICIAL: Malki ! Wins Unofficial Eisner


(photo credit)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SAN DIEGO, CA — The Eisner Awards, the comics industry’s preeminent honors, were announced at last week’s San Diego Comic-Con in a gala reception well-attended by fans and industry luminaries. Immediately following the ceremony, “Wondermark” author David Malki ! was awarded an unofficial Eisner Award by an imaginary ghost of comics legend Will Eisner, for whom the award is named.

Malki’s book Beards of our Forefathers had been nominated for a real Eisner, for “Best Humorous Publication.” The unofficial Eisner win is the first for Malki, although he also won an unofficial Ignatz for “Wondermark” after being nominated in 2007.

“I am humbled to accept this award in lieu of the actual, real-life Eisner, which was held over my head high enough that I could not reach it even if I jumped as high as I could, and they would not let me bring a ladder on stage, even though I had brought one with me,” said Malki in a prepared statement to an invisible audience of spirits.

The unofficial Eisner statue is a miniature bottle of Purell hand sanitizer, which Malki proudly displayed at his booth for the remainder of Comic-Con.

“It’s much lighter than the official Eisner, with a bit more utility as well,” Malki added.

Reached for comment, the imaginary ghost of Will Eisner said “Bluuooooooghhh,” then rattled the chains that hung draped from his body.

Next week: San Diego Comic-Con!

can't really onomatopoeia the MIDI fanfare

The biggest comic convention of the year is next week. By now, you’re either going or not; tickets have been sold out for months. So…

IF YOU’RE IN THE AREA BUT CAN’T COME TO THE CON

Come to the TopatoCo/Dr. McNinja book release party next Wednesday night at San Diego’s Rock Bottom Brewery! It’s free to attend, and a ton of cool cartoonist folks will be there so you’ll have a chance to say hello and chat. Chris will be signing copies of his newest Dr. McNinja book Operation Dracula! From Outer Space, and I’ll be there trying desperately to look as cool as Chris. Details here, Facebook thing here, or just order the book online.

IF YOU WILL BE ATTENDING THE CON

First, it goes without saying that you should come to the Wednesday night book release party too. But also, stop by my table at the show! I’m listed with the “Dayfree Press” gang in the directory (not under my own name) but don’t even worry about that because my booth number is super-easy to remember: 1231. Say it with me. 1-2-3. Then put a 1 on there.

OR, just go to booth 1234 and look behind you. Those chumps are right across the aisle.

Even easier: print out this handy Commemorative Sketch Blank and bring it to me at the show! I’ll put a fun drawing in that guy for free, and there’s even a little map in the corner so you don’t even have to remember the booth number. WHAT COULD BE UNDER THAT HAT???

click me to have fun

At my booth I’ll have: all three strip collections and all three Dispatches books; “Beards” and “Futurism” posters; stickers; comic prints; and Revolution and Steam Powered shirts… plus this brand new baby that’ll be debuting at the Con (click for bigger):

how diligent of you

Based, of course, on this. (The shirt will be available for online ordering in about two weeks.)

IF YOU WILL BE NOWHERE NEAR SAN DIEGO

Well, it’ll be less crowded where you are. Regardless of where you are.

BONUS LINK: The image at the top of this post is from my 2007 docu-drama “Me Vs. Comic-Con: Who’s Better?” If you’ve never seen it, if you want a glimpse of what Comic-Con’s like, or even if (like me) you watch it incessantly, take a watch. I think it holds up.

SUPER BONUS: Guys you have to check out the “genre microfiction” that clever people are writing in the comments to the last post.

Genre microfiction

I was talking with a friend about a Twitter-based fiction contest that he’d seen, and he mentioned that this contest had stipulated genre requirements. So, of course, the conversation turned to how short a story could possibly be and still have some recognizable genre. I postulated that it wouldn’t take much at all:

“A final tear dripped down her dying cheek. Cancer! On our wedding day!” [Drama/romance]

“A final tear dripped down her dying cheek. Tuberculosis! On our wedding day!” [Period romance]

“A final tear dripped down her dying cheek. Nanobots! On our wedding day!” [Sci-fi]

“A final acidic tear dripped down her dying, scaly cheek. Dragon cancer! On our wedding day!” [Fantasy]

“A sultry bead of sweat dripped down her heaving bosom. Lust! On our wedding day!” [Erotica]

“A bloody tear dripped down her already-rotting cheek. Zombies! On our wedding day!” [Horror]

“A final tear dripped down her bullet-riddled cheek. Mobsters! On our court date!” [Crime]

“A final tear dripped down her dying cheek. Cancer! On our gay wedding day!” [Gay/lesbian]

“A final tear dripped down her goggles to her sprocket-laden corset. Brass poisoning! On our wedding day!” [Steampunk]

In fact, I bet between all of us we could write microfiction in every conceivable genre. Leave a comment and let’s prove it.

New Project Wonderful ad slots

I don’t run hardly any paid ads on this site, but as an experiment I’ve added a Project Wonderful leaderboard banner up above and a skyscraper down in the right column. If there’s gonna be ads, I’d rather they be for the other cartoonists, entrepreneurs etc. that use PW, and plus, there are probably far fewer acai berry spammers using Project Wonderful than other ad networks.

If you’re a Wondermark fan, this is a great opportunity to get your message in front of like-minded, fairly friendly people for not very much money at all! For info, click the “Your ad here” text beneath each ad.


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