On the AM in the AM.

The media dept. over at the Port Huron Main Library managed to land me a spot on the radio!  Head over to https://www.wphm.net/ the morning of Wednesday, October 2nd around 9:40am and listen in as I do a live interview about my novel, the upcoming author talk on the 5th, and whatever else comes up.

More podcasting, plus another author talk.

A bit late posting this, but the second episode of Via Pony Express is available for listening.  It's the first part of a series on Jonah's life prior to becoming a bounty hunter, with this one covering his boyhood years.

Meanwhile, I'm making up for my lack of gigs over the spring/summer by hosting another author talk, this time in Port Huron! I'll be at the St. Clair County Main Library over on McMorran Blvd. on Saturday, October 5th from 2-3pm. I'll be talking about my work and writing in general, with books for sale afterward, as well as a raffle for those attending. It's aimed mostly at teens, but I reckon they won't mind a few grownups showing up as well. Unlike my other gigs, though, space is limited to 30 participants, so if you plan on attending, you'll need to sign up for your spot at the library's website.  Hope to see you there!

The Jonah Hex Omnibus is coming. Here’s 5 reasons to preorder it.

I gotta tell ya: the amount of Hex-related stuff that’s come out in the past 9 months is just crazy.  He’s been guest-starring in two of the Walmart-exclusive titles (Batman Giant and Wonder Woman Giant), his newly-discovered great-granddaughter Jinny Hex is part of the new Young Justice team, and then there’s the robotic emulation of Hex that turned up in a couple issues of Adventures of the Super-Sons (which I quickly dubbed “Robo-Hex”).  And now, the biggest bombshell of all: next year, DC is releasing Jonah Hex: The Bronze Age Omnibus, Volume 1, a hardcover collection of the first 6 years of Jonah’s existence.

Holy crap!  This is the sort of thing people have been waiting years for DC to release (there’s a Facebook group started years ago by Jimmy Palmiotti that’s literally named "JONAH HEX needs a ABSOLUTE EDITION."...yes, the typo is part of the title), and according to the solicit (as seen above), it looks like we’re gonna get it in May 2020.  That’s ten months from now, and let me tell ya, that makes me nervous.  A whole lot can happen between now and then that could cause this thing to get cancelled, which is why I’ve come here to convince you to put in a preorder for this book RIGHT NOW, and I’m gonna give you some really good reasons why you should...

#1 - THE MORE PREORDERS THIS BOOK GETS, THE MORE LIKELY IT’LL GET PRINTED: I’m lucky in that I finished up my Jonah Hex collection many years ago.  There’s one or two very minor appearances I haven’t grabbed (I’m still debating whether or not I should buy a copy of The Kingdom #2 for a mere single panel of Hex’s stuffed corpse), but all the majors, all the self-titled stuff...yep, got it, bagged and boarded and filed away (for the record, the entirety of Jonah’s life nearly fills a longbox).  That didn’t stop me from putting in my preorder a couple of weeks ago for the Omnibus, even with a $125 price tag.  Why?  Because I know that high price means not many places will be preordering it unless a customer requests it.  Comic shops take enough of a bath buying extra copies of monthly titles that might end up in their back-issue bins, but a $125 book focusing on a (sorry to say it) niche character?  They’re more likely to fill that real estate with something that’s got a better chance of selling.  Same rationale goes for regular bookstores, which have multiple other genres to stock apart from comics.  I’m sure that’s why DC is soliciting it ten months in advance: they’re gauging interest, and if the interest ain’t there, the book won’t be there either.  So I put in a preorder for a book I technically have no need for, to help ensure those who do need the book will have access to it.  I advise those of you who are thinking of waiting to buy it after-market on Amazon or wherever to do the same, otherwise you may find the book isn’t available come May 2020.

#2 - THIS IS THE FIRST TIME MANY OF THESE STORIES WILL BE REPRINTED IN COLOR: You may recall DC’s Showcase Presents reprint line, which was discontinued a few years ago in favor of the Omnibus line.  These thick volumes were a great way to read huge chunks of stories for a cheap price, with the trade-off of them being printed in black-and-white on non-glossy paper stock.  Jonah managed to get 2 volumes in the line before it was discontinued, and the first volume of the Jonah Hex Omnibus will contain the majority of what was in those books , now presented in glorious color (the two Showcase editions got as far as Jonah Hex #22, while the first Omnibus covers up to JH#17).  Aside from a handful of DC Digest books from the 1970s/1980s, a Millennium Edition of All-Star Western #10, and the Welcome to Paradise trade from 2010, there have been no color reprints of classic Hex stories prior to this Omnibus edition.  Like I said earlier, he’s a niche character, he doesn’t get reprinted ad nauseum like Batman and Superman and the other heavy-hitters (even many of the trades devoted to Gray & Palmiotti’s Hex run are now out of print), so this will probably be the one and only time you’ll be able to snag these tales in reprint form.  Oh, and there’s something else you’ll get in this Omnibus that’s definitely not in the Showcase volumes...

#3 - THIS BOOK FEATURES THE TIME JONAH HELPED KICK THE COMBINED ASS OF THE JLA AND JSA: One of the great things about DC's Omnibus editions is that they reprint virtually every appearance of a character.  Many people sing the praises of the Starman Omnibus volumes for including not only his self-titled series, but guest appearances and specials as well.  And going by the solicit above, it looks like DC will be doing the same for Jonah, as they’ve included Justice League of America #159-160 in this volume.  I’m not going to pretend this is a great story worthy of reprinting, ‘cause it’s not, but the fact that DC is putting it in there -- and in the proper timeframe in relation to his regular series, as JH#17 came out the same month as JLA#159 -- just blows my mind.  If the trend continues through future volumes, that means we’ll likely also get reprints of JLA #198-199 (a sequel of sorts to JLA #159-160), “The Fawn and the Star” from 1980’s Super-Star Holiday Special, “The Secret Origin of Jonah Hex” from Secret Origins #21, and most importantly...

#4 - CHANCES ARE VOLUME 2 WILL CONTAIN THE VERY FIRST REPRINT OF “THE LAST BOUNTY HUNTER”: If nothing else, we need to guarantee the first Omnibus gets printed so we can get a Volume 2, just so we can finally have a reprint of that landmark tale (and maybe if we’re really good, they include the mini-poster from the inside cover of the Jonah Hex Spectacular!).  Considering how many times it’s been referenced in both Jonah’s own titles and in the DCU at large over the past 4 decades, it’s a crime that a reprint hasn’t happened already.  Heck, part of the Spectacular has already been reprinted (the Bat Lash tale was included in his own self-titled Showcase volume, along with his backup stories from Jonah Hex #49, 51, and 52), so we’re a third of the way to a reprint of that comic already!

#5 - A SHOW OF SUPPORT FOR JONAH HEX NOW COULD LEAD TO EVEN MORE HEX DOWN THE LINE: In this case, I’m not referring to just another Omnibus volume, but to more appearances in general.  Let’s be honest, folks, Jonah doesn’t normally turn up much outside of his own title, so the proliferation of appearances these past 9 months has either been an incredible fluke or DC’s way of gauging interest in a new Hex project, and there’s two things that -- in this fangirl’s opinion -- make me lean towards it being the latter.  The first thing is previous Hex history, namely the fact that roughly 6 years tends to lapse between the end of one era and the beginning of the next.  The Albano/Fleisher era ended in 1987 with HEX #18, then the Lansdale era began in 1993 with Jonah Hex: Two Gun Mojo #1 and ended in 1999 with Jonah Hex: Shadows West #3.  Gray & Palmiotti got it all started again in 2005 (or 2006 if you go by cover dates) with a new Jonah Hex #1, and their era came to a close in 2014 with All-Star Western #34.  I said at the time the last issue was released that, if the trend held true, we’d get something new by 2020...which is when this Omnibus is supposed to release.  The second thing is Jonah’s impending 50th anniversary in a couple of years, which I know ain’t exactly as earth-shattering as Supes and Bats hitting the big 8-0, but I’d still love to see DC mark it in some fashion, even if it’s just a one-shot.  Perhaps a ton of fans laying down $125 for this Omnibus might make them realize there’s still a market out there for this ugly ol’ buzzard.

So if you haven’t done it already, go down to your local comics shop and put in your preorder, then start stowing away about $13 a month for the next 10 months (or maybe a bit less if your shop gives you a discount on preorders).  If not for the reasons above, than just because it’s Jonah Hex, and there ain’t nothin’ wrong with a little more Hex in your life.

MIA in May (but let me make it up to you)

Sorry to report that I won't be doing my usual appearances at Liberty Comics in Roseville (Free Comic Book Day) or Paperback Writer Books in Mt. Clemens (Made in Michigan Festival) this month like I've been doing the last couple of years.  Got some family stuff going on that's kinda eating up my free time, so I had to cancel those gigs.  I apologize to any of you who were planning on seeing me at either of those locations/events, but I'm happy to note that I'll be running a special promotion on the Kindle edition May 4-11 (just 99 cents!) to make up for my lack of visibility during that period, plus you can stop by Paperback Writer Books anytime to pick up signed copies of Swords & Sixguns: An Outlaw's Tale.  Hopefully, we'll be back on track with appearances next year.

VPE is on the air!

The first episode of the "Via Pony Express" podcast went up a few days ago, and folks are liking what they hear (by the by, this lovely pic here that we're using to promote it is by co-host Arreah Bihary).  At the moment, the podcast is only available for download on Podbean, but we're working on other venues.  One step at a time, kids!  Between this and my Bleeding Cool article, I've got a bit more than usual to promote at Bluewater International Comic-Con this weekend, which hopefully will translate into more book sales.  I've got 29 copies of Swords & Sixguns: An Outlaw's Tale on hand, so let's see if I can have my first sell-out!

UPDATE: Due to copyright restrictions, we had to change the name/web address of the podcast.  The link above has already been changed to reflect this.  Sorry for any confusion this may have caused.

I'm Famous on the Internet, Thrice Over

In case you hadn't come across it yet, I managed to get cited in an article on Bleeding Cool yesterday.  As I mentioned in my previous blog post, I've been picking up Jonah Hex's appearances in DC's Walmart-exclusive comics for the past 6 months, and I've been eager to see where this is all heading, so I was very excited to get my hands on the newest issues last Saturday.  That double-page spread up top from Batman Giant #9 kinda threw a damper on things for me, though, because seeing Bats call Jonah by the absolute wrong friggin' rank just knocked be right outta the story.  I actually stewed over this for a few hours, thinking, "How could they screw up such a well-documented piece of information?  Hell, I wrote an entire entry for my Jonah Hex history project about his military service!  It ain't exactly a secret that Jonah only made it as far as lieutenant!  Why in blazes would Bendis bump him all the way up to colonel?"

So I eventually did what I always do when it comes to inconsistencies in Hex history: I researched the heck out of it.  I'm still not 100% sure if Brian Michael Bendis did this in error or not, but I did find him a loophole in case this was a legit mistake (read the article if you haven't already), and I figured the best way to make it official was get the info out to one of the comics news websites, none of which were talking about this yet.  I tried Bleeding Cool first, and they loved it and put it up on the site within 24 hours of me sending it in.  I don't know how far or wide the info will spread, but if y'all could do me the favor of sharing the article around, I'd greatly appreciate it.

By the by, I plan on putting a sign up on my table at Bluewater International Comic-Con that says, "Ask me about my article on Bleeding Cool!"  I'm gonna exploit the heck outta this!

Upcoming con appearances and random Hex news

Haven't posted in a while, so I reckoned I should catch y'all up on some things...

Not doing many con appearances this year -- I plan on buckling down to get the next Swords & Sixguns novel done -- but I do have two scheduled.  For those of you in the Port Huron, MI area, I'll be appearing at Bluewater International Comic-Con March 30-31.  I had a great time last year and managed to sell 10 books (a one-day record for me), so I'm hoping to do even better with it being a two-day show this time around.  Advance tickets are still on sale, or you can buy 'em at the Bluewater Convention Center the day of the show.  Stop by my table and say hello!  Also, I will be out and about again on Free Comic Book Day, this time setting up my table at Comix Corner in Fraser, MI.  I'll post more details about that gig when we get closer to it.

In other news, I'm partnering up with some other Hex-nuts to start a podcast called "Jonah Hex, Via Pony Express" (yep, same as the Facebook page).  We've done a couple of recording sessions, but nothing has posted yet.  I will let y'all know as soon as episodes become available.

Speaking of Hex, if you're unaware, the old buzzard has been popping up quite a bit in the last 6 months.  First there was the news that Brian Michael Bendis was creating a new great-great-granddaughter for him named Jinny Hex (though we don't now much about her yet, I've already given her an entry on the Hex family tree).  She debuted in the Walmart-exclusive Batman Giant #4 back in October 2018 then moved on to Bendis's revival of the Young Justice title in January 2019.  From what I hear, we'll get the full skinny on her lineage around YJ#5 due out in May, so there's that to look forward to.

After her debut, I figured that'd be the end of Hex-related stuff in those Walmart books, but nope, the next month I got word that the old man himself popped up in Justice League Giant #5, fighting alongside Wonder Woman of all people!  Turned out Jimmy Palmiotti & Amanda Conner were writing that one, so I guess Jimmy just couldn't resist picking up Jonah's story from where he left off in 2014: the boat he and Tallulah bought is mentioned, and though his facial scar is back, I reckon the plastic surgery he received might've gotten undone somehow.  That story is still going on, having recently moved over to the new Wonder Woman Giant.

The same month WWG#1 hit Walmart, Batman Giant #8 also featured Jonah, in connection to the same story that saw the debut of Jinny Hex, and it appears he'll be in at least one more issue before moseying on.  Basically, if you're a Hex-nut and you don't live near a Walmart that stocks these, you're screwed (for that reason, we've been posting scans of both the Wonder Woman stuff and the Batman stuff over at VPE, though I've heard they may be available in regular comic shops soon).  Oh, and it appears that a possibly-robotic version of Hex will be appearing in Adventures of the Super-Sons #9 this April...so for those of you keeping score, Jonah Hex and/or folks related to him in some fashion will be featured in four separate titles over the next couple of months, a rare occurrence in his 5 decades of existence.  Hey, DC, howsabout ya take the hint your own writers are dropping and give the old man his own series again, eh?

Okay, that's abut all I have to say at the moment.  See ya 'round the Interwebs!