#345: The Strike hits Comic-Con, The Rain Hits Manhattan, and I hit the road (...to LA.)

If you got this email twice, it's because I'm an idiot and still don't know how to use the internet. I'm sorry.

My drawing hand is swollen and my ears are ringing, but …I’m all outta books.

I’m writing to you from LA this week, which is possibly the least New York place on Earth. (Possibly why so many fed-up New Yorkers move here.) Sophie and I took the coaster train up from San Diego after a relentless 4-days of signing and selling books at San Diego Comic-Con. There isn’t enough Valium in the world to take the edge off.

In all seriousness, thank you to my amazing Substack readers who came to Comic-Con to introduce yourselves and buy the new book! It was so nice to put some faces to email addresses. I came to Comic-con with several boxes of books. I left with six. I gifted those my friends in our booth. I’m either generous, or I’m cheap for not wanting to pay excess baggage fees.)

This year, the WGA/SAG-AFTRA strike dramatically affected what is usually a giant series of lines full of eager fans waiting to see the latest Star Wars trailer or Marvel announcement.

Instead, people were coming to see actual comic artists and meet the creators BEHIND the characters they’re making movies and streaming series’ about. (Yeah. They’re still in attendance. They just don’t (all) wear spandex.)

Read my full report on how the strike transformed San Diego Comic-Con here:

Regretfully, we had to cancel this week’s game—the Parks Department closed the fields due to wet conditions. We play Vanity Fair next week for our final match of the season…

Comic-Con Sketches

I was doing free pictures of people’s kids on the inside cover for people as a special deal with their purchase. Let me know if you’re interested in getting one for yourself or a friend!

I’m offering all subscribers a 15% discount if you use the special link below:

If you enjoy my work, there’s a hefty chance you might like the people I enjoy too. Each week I share a new person who tickles my fancy. This week’s someone is…

(Ed did this year’s Reubens art. I threatened to remove all the cheese and bourbon from his house until he turned it in.)

Ed Steckley (@EdSteckleyIllustrator)

When I first came to New York in 2006, I attended an all-cartoonist event on Long Island called the “Bunny Bash” hosted at Bunny Hoest’s giant castle. This was my first encounter with the creature some call Ed Steckley— one of the best caricaturist/illustrators in the business (And he makes great queso to boot!) Fast forward 17 years, and we’re still busting each other’s chops about our goofy scribbles, which, by some cosmic miracle still get published.

His work in MAD, and the Rube Goldberg book series are a pretty clear illustration (heh) of why he’s still in business after all these years; he’s good at what he does, and he turns it around fast.
He’s even nominated for an NCS Divisional Reuben award this year!

If you’re ever looking for an illustrator who actually knows which end of the pen to use (most days), check out his work at @EdSteckleyIllustrator on Instagram.

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Until next time,
Your pal,

Jason

While we’re in LA, Morris is staying with his uncle Paulie, who had Morris’ girlfriend come over for a playdate…
Morris got straight-up mugged.
Love hurts.
Witness the heinous criminal act unfold here.