Dungeons & Dragons has had a bevvy of amazing campaign settings over the past 49 years and I have a deep amount nostalgia wound up in Greyhawk, Ravenloft, and Mystara, but Planescape holds an extra-special spot in my heart.
Years after I’d stepped away from D&D and was playing a slew of other tabletop RPGs with my high school gaming group, Planescape’s whimsical ‘anything goes’ swagger, interdimensional scope, and Tony DiTerlizzi’s unbelievably appealing and engaging art pulled me back in right from the start. I was amazed at how confidently it married roleplay-heavy moral conflict and strange factions with D&D's existing dungeon delves and dimensional doors.
I have an almost complete collection of original AD&D 2nd Edition Planescape books here in my studio. I'm currently only missing two: The Inner Planes sourcebook and A Player's Primer to the Outlands set.
Having my wild mage Delina travel to Mechanus in Evil at Baldur's Gate #3 back in 2018 was a way to scratch a bit of that Planescape itch, but what I really wanted was for Wizards of the Coast to announce a full blown return to greatness for 5th Edition D&D so I could justify pitching a Planescape-focused comic mini-series and go bone deep into what I love about the setting and its distinctive and dangerous potential.
Last year, the D&D crew teased Planescape's return, and now-
The Planescape - Adventures in the Multiverse 5th edition D&D game set arrives in stores mid-October and, now I can excitedly reveal, that DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: FORTUNE FINDER, a brand new Planescape IDW D&D comic mini-series will launch one month later on November 15th!!
As you might imagine, I am ecstatic.
Here's the main cover and solicit info for our first issue:
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: FORTUNE FINDER #1 (of 5)
Story: Jim Zub
Line Art: Joe Jaro
Colors: Adam Guzowski
Cover Artists: Max Dunbar, Joe Jaro
In the city of Sigil, an amnesiac hero known only as "Finder" tries to uncover who they are and why they're being chased by planar beings intent on capturing them-or worse. But as their tumultuous journey unfolds, they discover that their fate is tied to grand forces that dictate reality itself throughout the planes!
A shocking surprise lurks around every corner in Fortune Finder, a miniseries inspired by the new Dungeons & Dragons sourcebook Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse.
In Shops: Nov 15th, 2023 SRP: $3.99
If you haven't read any of the previous D&D comics (you really should), don't worry, Fortune Finder is completely new reader friendly and self-contained with new characters and an eccentric twisting story that hits the ground running on the very first page and does not quit.
Artist Joe Jaro is drawing Sigil, the Outlands and other distinctive multi-versal locales with confident grace and his characters are wonderfully expressive. This is the Planescape comic I've been wanting to unleash for a long, long time and I hope you'll join us!
Such a Damn Sellout
Minutes after I sent my previous newsletter that included news about Conan the Barbarian #2 needing a second printing before it even arrived in stores, Titan announced that Conan the Barbarian #1 would be heading to a special third printing less than a month after our launch.
It’s staggering and wonderful. Thank you for supporting us on this new era of High Adventure!
(And if you haven’t seen what all the excitement is about, you can read our Free Comic Book Day prelude issue online for FREE right HERE.)
How Many Conventions?
When people ask me how many comic/gaming/video game/animation conventions I've been to, I say "at least 100, maybe 150". Last week, out of curiosity, I did a proper count using photos I've taken over the years (I can't think of a show where I don't have at least one photo).
So, what was the count?
*Drumroll please*
Fan Expo Canada 2023 in Toronto was show #174!
I started attending convention in 2002, so that's an average of just over 8 shows per year (and I have a few more this Fall, so that average will pop up slightly).
Dragon Con - First Time in a LONG Time
Speaking of conventions, here’s #175!
It’s been a loo~oong time since I last attended DRAGON CON in Atlanta, Georgia. My entire comic writing career, including a whole swack of sword & sorcery work on Dungeons & Dragons, Conan the Barbarian, Pathfinder, Samurai Jack, and Skullkickers has come out since I was last there. Finally, after 18 years away, I’m back in 2023!
I’ll be set up with the Comic Sketch Art crew at TABLE 105 in the Comic and Pop Artist Alley located on the 4th floor of the Americas Mart (Building #2) on Sept 1-4, 2023.
More details on books we have and panels I’ll be part of can be found over on my site right HERE.
Conan the Barbarian: Bound in Black Stone
Near Mint Condition has the scoop on our first Conan the Barbarian trade paperback collection, arriving February 2024.
The trade collection of Conan the Barbarian #1-4 and our Free Comic Book Day prelude is going to be a beauty, but our single issues will continue to be the complete Hyborian experience, with Robert E. Howard-centric essays by Jeff Shanks and Chain Mail, our bold and barbaric letters page.
Current + Upcoming Books
Conan the Barbarian #1 - released August 2nd.
D&D Young Adventurer’s Creature Compendium - released August 22nd.
Conan the Barbarian #2 - releases August 30th.
Conan the Barbarian #1 second print - releases August 30th.
Unbreakable Red Sonja - trade paperback releases September 13th.
D&D Young Adventurer’s Guide 7: Places & Portals - releases September 19th.
Conan the Barbarian #3 - releases September 27th.
Conan the Barbarian #2 second print - releases September 27th.
Stone Star Vol. 2: In The Spotlight - trade paperback releases October 3rd.
Upcoming Events
Sept 1-Sept 4 - Dragon Con in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Sept 15-17 - Edmonton Expo in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Oct 12-15 - New York Comic-Con in New York, NY, USA.
Links and Other Things
• Cats Don’t Dance is coming to Blu-Ray in late September. This is one of the finest animated feature films most people, even animation fans, haven’t heard of. It’s directed by Mark Dindal, who brought a similar level of energy and spark to The Emperor’s New Groove.
• Cybersix is finally coming to Blu-ray in October. My buddy Derek and I are big fans of this animated series originally released in 1999 based on an Argentine comic strip. Some great animation, especially for TV at the time.
• Baldur’s Gate III is absolutely crushing it. I’ve barely had a chance to play with my current work and show schedule, but I thought the early access version was worth its pre-order price and it’s waa~aay more polished and refined now. So amazing.
Okay, that’ll cover it for this week.
Exciting!
I had no idea you were such a Planescape fan! I missed out on it the first time around but I'm ALL IN this time! Lady of Pain 4-ever. (That's what I make my son call me now.)