iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 5h

Matt Dinniman received an AI spam email from... Matt Dinniman.

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 14h

"Are you really going to have apple pie for breakfast 3 days in a row?" Yes, yes I am.

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 02/10/2026

Nothing convinces me you're a 'real' reader quite like using the French book title and series launch year, sloppo.

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 01/10/2026

A slice of apple pie for breakfast is starting the day right.

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 01/10/2026

A comic writer asking for advice because they have several projects under their belt but still can't get replies from editors, even when referred by other creators. I get messages like this every week from writers and artists, and I'm not even an editor, which shows how widespread it is.

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 01/10/2026

And Stacy made apple pie! Today has been so good.

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 30/09/2026

Tonight at Chez Zub's: Chicken Florentine with Fusilli

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 30/09/2026

Zubby Newsletter #175: Nostalgia www.jimzub.com/zubby-newsle... • Three recent reunions • The Zub that was • A tiny piece of TTRPG history • Major Discourse • Cursed Shores Continues • Call of Cthulhu LIVE and more! Zubscribe here to stay up to date: jimzub.substack.com

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 30/09/2026

Dirk the Daring from Dragon's Lair.

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 29/09/2026

Was asked about what the most challenging parts of working in comics are and thought other people might find it helpful so I'm posting my response here.

- Our job is communication and entertainment, communicating a great story and entertaining our readers. But that also applies to the whole creative team: communicating well with each other and making sure each person on the creative team knows what they're doing, why they're doing it, and is appreciated for their hard work.

- Working on a monthly comic is not just working on one story/issue at a time. Because we have to send an issue off to print every 30 days (and many times even faster than that), there are 6 or more issues in production simultaneously: story planning, writing, page roughs, final line art, colors, letter proofing. Each one of those steps can involve constant back and forth with both the art team and editorial. It's a constant flow of new material and that doesn't even count marketing, variant covers, or other development.

Those are the biggest challenges: Being a good communicator, being organized, and keeping the end goal of engaging entertainment in mind while the deadlines are constant.

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 28/09/2026

This week, our 3/3 Conan comic releases during Cimmerian September: CONAN THE BARBARIAN #35 Conan battles a twisted cult on a desolate island while Valeria and the Red Brotherhood discover the depths of darkness.

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 28/09/2026

CONAN: TIDES OF THE TYRANT-KING #1 arrived in comic shops last week! What did critics think of it? Click on through and find out: www.jimzub.com/conan-tides-...

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 27/09/2026

I'm glad my stories of unfettered bloodshed and sacrifice really hit the spot for you, writer of Sweet Magnolias. Let's compare story structure notes.

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 27/09/2026

One of the more baffling types of AI-generated emails I receive are from 'fellow writers' telling me how much they enjoy my work and encouraging me to reach out. Because Sherryl Woods, the 82-year old best-selling romance author, would use a random gmail address to email a comic book guy.

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 23/09/2026

In stores today- CONAN: TIDES OF THE TYRANT-KING #1 Thulsa Doom returns and all ages tremble! Read our Free Comic Book Day prelude here for free and then dive into our next sword & sorcery epic at your favorite comic retailer: titan-comics.com/news/read-th...

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 23/09/2026

I wish I could say I was intrigued by having the solicit text for an unreleased issue poorly spit back at me as a series of useless observations and questions to try and generate a reply before a request for money, but I'm not.

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 22/09/2026

A fan reached out to ask what I would have done with THUNDERBOLTS after #12 if it hadn't come to an end in 2017. How would I have dealt with the cliffhanger ending of the series? What future plans did I have? Here's why I don't talk about unwritten stories: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mR73...

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 21/09/2026

Tonight at Chez Zub's: Sometimes you just need the classics - Baked Quarter Chicken, Peas, and Buttery Mashed Potatoes

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 21/09/2026

Zubby Newsletter #174: The Gamble That Paid Off www.jimzub.com/zubby-newsle... • The Domino Effect of The Gambler • Cimmerian September Delivers Big Adventure • Awesome Comics Conversation • A new D&D Comic Series • A new recipe and more! Zubscribe so you don't miss any updates: jimzub.substack.com

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 21/09/2026

SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN #16 arrived last week, kicking off the TIDES OF THE TYRANT-KING event with 3 tie-in stories written by me and drawn by Nicola Scott, Chris Campana, and Sean Izaakse! What did critics think? Click on through and find out: www.jimzub.com/savage-sword...

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 20/09/2026

A few months ago I bought this Conan sketch cover from artist Richard Pace and yesterday he dropped it off. Really happy to have this one in my collection. @rpace.bsky.social

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 19/09/2026

Next week, CONAN: TIDES OF THE TYRANT-KING #1 arrives in stores. It's the third of four pillar event mini-series that make up the mythic story arc we've had in the works for a long, long time. Conan the Barbarian has changed the course of my creative career in ways I never could have imagined.

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 19/09/2026

We waited until Free Comic Book Day May 2023 to relaunch. That gave fans time to miss the book, time for research, and time to build a publishing buffer on an ambitious monthly title. Conan the Barbarian #1 arrived August 2023 and the New age of High Adventure has been roaring ever since.

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 19/09/2026

To my absolute surprise, Fred put his chips on me. My pitch was the one they approved. I knew we were starting on our backfoot and had a lot to prove to a fanbase that, at best, thought they knew what my Conan would be like. We needed an undeniable artist to launch the series and Rob was it.

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 19/09/2026

At the same time, Roberto De la Torre reached out to me and we started chatting over FB Messenger. He'd gained a cult following amongst dedicated Conan fans for his stunning Hyborian Age commissions and had drawn a couple stories for Marvel but had hoped to do more.

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 19/09/2026

I managed to hold on for 9 more issues, but the Marvel series came to an end with Conan the Barbarian #25 in September 2021. I never had the chance to do any signings or conventions as the series came out during lockdown, leaving me with a weird feeling like it all happened in a dream.

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 19/09/2026

After an 8 month gap, Conan the Barbarian #15 came out in December 2020 and, with the world understandably focused on more important things, we lost most of our sales momentum.

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 19/09/2026

I was offered the Conan monthly series and my first issue, Conan the Barbarian #13, came out in February 2020. After two issues, Marvel halted publishing on almost all their titles due to the pandemic and we were caught in that deep freeze midway through my first story arc.

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 19/09/2026

I envisioned multiple crossover mini-series over multiple years, a pulp epic that would incorporate as many of Robert E. Howard's creations as possible, but it ended up being only 4 issues with a teaser at the end showing Kull the Conqueror.

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 19/09/2026

That story grabbed the attention of Fred Malmberg, the owner of Conan. He really liked that old school feel and so what I thought would be my last chance instead became an audition for more. They asked me to write a crossover with multiple REH characters, which became Conan: Serpent War.

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 19/09/2026

Editor Mark Basso approved "The Gambler" and Patch Zircher drew the hell out of it. Conan is tricked into a gambling hall surrounded by mysterious enemies and his life may be forfeited on the turn of a card. I went for a Weird Tales vibe, hearkening back to the pulp roots of the character.

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 19/09/2026

I'd written Conan twice before, in the Dark Horse Conan-Red Sonja mini-series and Avengers: No Road Home, but both those were co-written team-ups and I was itching to show what I could do on my own in the classic Hyborian Age setting.

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 17/09/2026

Jesús Merino's 4 connected cover piece for CONAN: TIDES OF THE TYRANT-KING #1-4 with colors by Jão Canola!

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 17/09/2026

Received a fan email this morning and almost deleted it because I assumed it was AI spam. It's so sad that this firehose of unwanted generated crapola is wrecking genuine communication.

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 16/09/2026

My comic writing career began thanks to this mindset.

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 16/09/2026

Zubby Newsletter #173: Quite Cromulent www.jimzub.com/zubby-newsle... • Ottawa Comicon went by so fast • Savage Sword of Conan #16 arrives • Watch the Comic Watchers • Falling In Love With Comics Again Zubscribe here so you don't miss any updates: jimzub.substack.com

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 16/09/2026

Thrilled to announce I'll be at New York Comic Con 2026 Thursday-Saturday! Set up in Artist Alley, moderating several panels, and making a big new project announcement! I wasn't sure I was going to be at the show at all, but now I'm there in a big way and it's going to be packed.

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 16/09/2026

In stores today: SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN #16, our TIDES OF THE TYRANT-KING tie-in issue! 3 stories written by me, with breathtaking art by Nicola Scott, Chris Campana, and Sean Izaakse. Revelations, barbaric fury, and twisted pulp tales - do not miss it!

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 16/09/2026

"I do what I can to support indie creators, but have also been consistent in my firm stance against AI use in creative art and writing as I feel it's a dead end plague that hurts the industry far more than helps it, so I'm not interested in sharing your campaign."

Thanks for the kind words and high praise. I do what I can to support indie creators, but have also been consistent in my firm stance against AI use in creative art and writing as I feel it's a dead end plague that hurts the industry far more than helps it, so I'm not interested in sharing your campaign. I know it's tough to establish a creative career and stand out in a crowded market but, for me, this kind of AI-generated art and video does not look professional, polished or well designed, it just has an off-putting glossy veneer of homogenous rendered stuff all thoughtlessly crashing together. Take care.

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 15/09/2026

Scrolling Facebook and realize "Wait, I haven't even seen anyone I know in quite a while." Then I start counting the ads...18 in a row! 18 ads in between anything useful at all. If there weren't family members on there who don't use email or other social media, I would ash my account.

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 14/09/2026

Tonight at Chez Zub's: Mushroom Mafalda Corta

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 11/09/2026

Zubby Newsletter #172: A Milestone Made Manifest www.jimzub.com/zubby-newsle... • The Wayward Compendium is now in comic shops! • Every project is a time capsule • Canadians Conquering Conan Panel • The Nomad Deluxe Links and more! Zubscribe here to stay up to date: jimzub.substack.com

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 09/09/2026

In comic shops today: WAYWARD COMPENDIUM 904 pages, the complete series (#1-30), plus extensive back matter. Gods, myths, and magic on the streets of Tokyo, collected in its entirety for the first time in this new compendium! www.simonandschuster.com/books/Waywar...

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 09/09/2026

44 years later, the Cimmerian's still got it. Excited to see if the King Conan movie finally becomes a reality.

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 09/09/2026

Just received my comps of SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN #16 and, man oh man, this one's a banger. Tides of the Tyrant-King begins! In stores Sept 16th!

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 07/09/2026

This weekend: I'll be in our Canada's capital for OTTAWA COMICCON, Sept 11-13, set up at TABLE 2819. If you're headed to the show I hope to see you there! @ottawacomiccon.com

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 06/09/2026

Worked our butts off this week, so Stacy suggested a date night break tonight and we caught a screening of COYOTE VS ACME. I thought it was a lot of fun. Stacy cackled out loud way more than I was expecting.

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 05/09/2026

Gang, I finally had a chance to eat a butter tart from Bà Nội here in Toronto and it was transcendently good. Holy crap. The pastry and filling are next level.

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 01/09/2026

Tonight at Chez Zub's: NY Street Cart-Inspired Chicken Bowl Tried out a new recipe and it was excellent. Bright and tasty. Ridiculously flavorful. It was so good that Stacy finished her meal before me, which never happens. Recipe here: youtu.be/f8x7lw0Vmzg?...

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Jim Zub @jimzub.com · 01/09/2026

Artist Utsab Chatterjee is selling the original painted art for his Solomon Kane: The Lion Errant cover. If you're interested in owning this stunning piece as part of your collection, reach out to him directly: www.facebook.com/uttt.chatter...

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