The Year Ahead: Many Happy Returns to Image & DC Comics
The Fire Horse Rides For Optimism
First post of the new year right at the crack of mid-February is pretty on brand for me these days.
I remain a work in progress, for the better part of the last year I focused on my own health after a difficult stretch of road. I took a lot of hit points, but that’s why I maxed out my constitution, right?
Part of the change I’ve gone through is physical, and I’m proud of that, but the work I’m really proud of is under the hood. I even like the guy in the mirror again. He tried. Shout out to a wonderful therapist and EMDR trauma therapy. I won't get into the weeds much about it, which actually is evidence that this therapy worked. It’s basically designed to exhaust your brain from the bad stuff, so you don’t wander into the darkness any more. I’m kind of graduating out of that part specifically, but what a difference it’s made in my quality of life. One side effect of this particular work is that it can make you exhausted. And friends, I was exhausted. There has been much that I’ve been late on, including some unannounced projects, and something with my THIS ENDS TONIGHT collaborator Robert Windom to get back on the road.
The work took effort, and it demanded time, and then recovery time. I’m grateful to have been able to gently and not so gently unfuck it all. It’s been a long time since I felt this good, and I wish all of you happiness and health. Now, let’s discuss the Image Comics that are late solely because of my adventures. Eric Stephenson and the folks at Image will be scheduling these returns when it bests fits their schedule.
DEAD EYES
Happy to say that we’ve completed work on our second volume, THE EMPTY FRAMES and it’ll be returning to be re-solicited. This is the book that won’t die, and one of my most personal collaborations. It’s also the one that my old man loved the most. This second volume will share a dedication to the old man. Expect it to print this summer with a collection to follow. This one is personal for many reasons. We set about to make a comic about struggling to survive in a world without justice, and then were immediately victims of a shakedown. John, Mike and yours truly all grappled with serious illnesses at various times, but we’re very content to say this one is wrapped up tight for now.
THE DARK ROOM: Book Two
Often when books are late, the common thinking is that it must be delays in art, and not so at all. Scott and Tamra have been done for a long time, I’ve just completed lettering the second volume, it’s off to proofreading and once Image Central decides where it fits best for them, it will be solicited. Hopefully for the holidays. Book two is lovely and a heartbreaker and I hope you’ll love it as much as we do. Thanks for being patient. Scott and I are taking a little detour that I can’t announce right now, and then we’re going to commence on our third volume. There’s so much to love about this book, and Scott and Tamra shine even brighter than before. As collaborations grow and change over time certain things come into focus that were just a bit fuzzy. This one came in razor sharp, and sets the stages for the third volume, that might just be my best writing.
FALLING IN LOVE ON THE PATH TO HELL
Our fucked up love story is alive and well. Our distribution partners at Lunar requested that we cancel the previously solicited issue 11, and return it when we were ready. Garry’s drawing, I’m writing and we’re printing this year. 11 will be re-solicited with some incentives to help us pull our boots back on. Chapters will follow monthly from Garry, Chris, Elliott and yours truly. Mark Torres did such a lovely job (and despite my mistake on the cover credit) but we want Garry to be able to tell this story moving forward, and that means taking some hiatus to let him produce the best work.
FISTFUL OF INKS ART BOOK
We’re finalizing files and getting ready to print, sign and ship this via Zoop. Standby for shipping details, and a release party at Revenge Of. If you missed this, and would like a copy there will be very limited amounts available at this party in the spring.
Okay, so shortly I’ll be caught up on my creator-owned collaborations. I want to thank my collaborators, Image Central, our retail partners and of course our readers for your patience.
There will be more creator-owned comics to come, and some very big news that I hope to share in the just a few short weeks about an adaptation of one of my Image books that ascended to the last basecamp on “Adaptation Mountain” and is heading for the summit. And in the other universes I’m privileged to visit…
MARVEL
WONDER MAN is just a delight to work on. I have lovely editors and artists and everyone at Marvel on both coasts has been supportive as I drove towards something that was a love letter to Hollywood & Los Angeles. We crushed this one, and getting to work with Mark Buckingham has been a dream. My old pal, Phil and some other very talented folks are helping me bring this one to life. I loved the show, and I wanted to make sure that this book stood as tall as that one as a tale of tough times in the City Of Angels. Excited for you to get to experience this one. Wonder Man # 1 is on sale at the end of March, and guest stars Hellcat!
My MarvelxToho comics continue with GODZILLA: INFINITY ROAR, and I can tell you in all honesty: not since we drove Deadpool like a fully insured rental car have I felt like I’ve gotten away with a crime spree. These books are gleefully bananas and what a finish we have in store. I’ve completed the heavy lifting on both these miniseries, with just the letters polish passes, and notes passes to go. From here, I’m switching gears — and returning to DC Comics for the first time since BATMAN: ONE BAD DAY…
DC COMICS
Guy Gardener has always been one of my favorite comics characters, so working with Paul Kaminsky, Jillian Grant…and I couldn’t be more excited about reuniting with one of the stars of my Deadpool days, Matteo Lolli. He’s got everything you need for an action packed comic with some laugh out loud beats — and Matteo can break your heart. TALES OF THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS: GUY GARDNER #1 is on sale May 6, 2025.
Our annual is in solicits today, and we hope all the Guy and Lantern fans get a kick out of it, but anybody that missed Matteo on and I on Deadpool is gonna have their hair blown back by our reunion. Every time I get the keys to one of my favorites it’s special. I only got one issue of Dr. Strange to my name, and it’s one that Greg Smallwood and I utterly annihilated. I never have to return to the Sorcerer Supreme, and that’s what this annual feels like. Itch scratched, ball went over the fence, and our hands are gonna hurt from high-fiving. Matteo’s character’s acting really is a direct descendent of the great Kevin Maguire. (Please don’t tell him I said he was great). Here’s a one panel sneak peek of what’s on our drawing table in an unhinged tale we’re affectionately calling…GUY GARDENER: LIGHT CLUB.
More soon. Thanks for the support, I remain so privileged to do what I love for a living. Very grateful. Stay tuned, some very big secrets to be revealed in the coming weeks.
GD
Los Angeles
February ‘26
This all seems awesome man!
EMDR literally saved me. I'm so glad it helped you, too!