Tales of Syzpense #97
Did I say last week's newsletter was the year-ender? I mean it this time. But first, the Jack & Roz Kirby Awards, Thor, 2025 full-bleeding into '26, i-Doppeldanger, and a monstrous spinner rack
Last week, ComicArtFans sent around word about the inaugural Jack and Roz Kirby Awards, which are happening as part of their Original Art Expo in Orlando the weekend of February 20.
As part of the announcement, they also listed the members on their advisory board, of which I’m one of ‘em. I’ve never been to the OAX show but will be in attendance at this one.
And while we’re at it with end-of-year announcements involving original art, Dark Horse also announced the latest entry in their Bullpen Books line: The Art of the Mighty Thor. The book is coming in June and was designed by Ian Chalgren, whose name has been attached as designer on a number of beautiful releases lately, from our Origins of Marvel Comics: The Deluxe Edition and Syzygy’s Self Help to a handful of great Fantagraphics books to spring ‘26’s X-Men Elsewhen graphic novel and a few other things he and I are working on together.
With Thor, I co-edited the book alongside John Lind, contributing a text piece singing the praises of Walter Simonson’s Thor work. Walter also kindly provided a new introduction for the book, which contains a mix of original art pages and stories from both Jack Kirby and Walter, as well as copious covers and factoids.
One Year Later
On January 24, 2025, in this newsletter, I ran a number of images that hinted at various things I was working on at the time and expected to have into the world, either as announcement or as physical object, in 2025. Let’s see how I did. The original image is here:
Breaking it all down row by row:
Row 1 (l-r): not yet announced but definitely happening • a teaser for Dread the Hall H’s con horror stories, released last July (and coming again this July) • and not yet announced but definitely happening. 1 for 3 so far.
Row 2 (l-r): not yet a thing but still could be • The Marvel Age of Comics: Daredevil: Born Again, released November 2025 • not yet in production but still hopeful and pushing forward. 1 for 3.
Row 3 (l-r): not yet a thing but still could be • a teaser for Savage Sword of Conan #13, featuring the 48-page “Heart of Darkness” by me and Gabriel Rodriguez and coming late January • not yet announced but definitely happening. 1 for 3.
Row 4 (l-r): not yet a thing but still working on it • not yet a full thing but a few Groom Lake: Grey Skies Above pages in Tales of Syzpense #4, still working on it • Moonshine Bigfoot, 4 issues released by Syzygy/Image in 2025. I’d again call that 1 for 3.
Row 5 (l-r): Megalopolis : the Graphic Novel, released October 2025 • The Cottingley Faeries miniseries/graphic novel, not yet set up but working on it; and Son of Origins of Marvel Comics: The Deluxe Anniversary Edition, well under way but not yet scheduled by Simon & Schuster. 1 of 3 released so far.
Row 6 (l-r): not yet happening but still will in some form • a teaser for the sequel to Self Help, with art by Antonio Fuso, not yet set up but fully finished now • a teaser for John Byrne’s X-Men Elsewhen Volume 1, coming from Abrams ComicArts’ MarvelArts line in spring 2026. Since only one of the three has a firm release date, I’ll again call this 1 for 3.
Along the way last year, a handful of other projects jumped into the queue — this being one of them — with more to be announced this year.
Overall, I’m happy with the books that made it into the world, and I’m feeling great about the ones that are actively scheduled and far along, with a few others that I still really want to make happen. And one wild card that entered the picture in January, which will be an entirely new sort of venture for me.
I’ll probably update this image as I get a bit further into 2026, once some of the lingering projects resolve themselves either way (hopefully in the way that seems them come into the world), and then add a number of others that are already under way. For now, this feels like a good way to kick off a new year, anyway.
Another nice ending to 2025 came in the form of Shelly Bond’s latest crowdfunded affair, i-Doppelganger. Shelly and Philip Bond and the team at Off-Register Press have been putting out these impeccably designed graphic novels, how-tos, and other fun things for the past few years and this one is no exception. i-Dopp is an autobiographical affair, discussing Shelly’s history in comics and peppered with bits from the rogues and ruffians she’s met along the way. Including me:
Spinner Rack of Monsters
And not just any monsters, but all monsters with some of the goofiest/best names in comics history. Why? Well, I’ll get into that more when I’m able but also, no one should ever need an excuse to feature covers showing the likes of Goom, Googam (son of Goom), and the like…
Onward to a 2026 that is at peace, and life is calm and happy… maybe? Someday?
Congratulations on a great year,Chris!
Best wishes for another great one in 2026!
Thor! 'nuff said.