It's the first convention of the new year and I am about as excited as I can be!

I'll be there exhibiting with my best buds -- Scott, Kris and Dave -- under the Halfpixel flag.

I'll have on-hand all four Evil Inc books along with copies of How To Make Webcomics and the Phables collection.

And, of course, I'll have the brand-new Complete Greystone Inn hardcover book.

I'll have original art on-hand as well. And as usual, I'll be selling them at a convention-only discount of 20%-off. If you'd like me to have one, particular original available, let me know.

Be sure to plan to attend our panel discussion on Sunday at 2 p.m. in the Arcane Comics Panel Room (4C3-4) where Scott, Kris, Dave and I will be doing a live version of our popular Webcomics Weekly podcast -- featuring a lightning-round Q&A with a 20-second time limit per answer. If you haven't seen us do the lightning round Q&A, you're in for a unique combination of comics panel and game show.



This is the official kick-off to the convention season for me. After this, it's off to Chicago and then Calgary in April. Please check the column to the right of the blog on the Evil Inc home site for dates of future appearances.

Emerald City Comic Con
Washington State Convention Center
Seattle, WA
March 13-14

C2E2
McCormick Place
Chicago, IL
April 16-18

Calgary Comics & Entertainment Expo
BMO Round Up Centre
Calgary, Alberta
Canada
April 24-25

Comic Con International
San Diego
Convention Center
San Diego, Calif.
July 22-25

Baltimore Comic Con
Baltimore
Convention Center
Baltimore, Maryland
Aug. 28-29

New York Comic Con
Javits Center
New York, NY
Oct. 8-10

Batman and Robin #10 Creative team: Story by Grant Morrison; Art by Andy Clarke Villain to Watch: El Penitente They say: Andy Clarke joins writer Grant Morrison for an exciting three-issue arc titled 'Batman vs. Robin'! Why would Talia al Ghul manipulate her son Damian into taking action against Batman? Will Damian do as Mother says...or stay loyal to Dick Grayson? Plus, more on the Domino Killer, Oberon Sexton, and the menace of El Penitente's drug cartel! Is this already the end for the new Dynamic Duo? I say: I've been running hot-and-cold on "Batman & Robin," but sometimes you see a cover like this and you know you're going to be plunking your money down no matter what. Might as well go on the Pull List. Damian is the first Robin I've actually liked. He's a brat, he's headstrong, he's misunderstood -- he's a pretty accurate depiction of a twelve-year-old boy. Except for the sword. Most twelve-years-olds in Philly prefer their Glocks. Nevertheless, between Damian and his mother (a perennial Bat-fave of mine), this issue holds plenty of promise. Batman Widening Gyre #5 Creative team: Story by Kevin Smith; Art by Walter Flanagan Villain to Watch: Catwoman They say: As Batman and a new partner-against-crime tackle the streets of Gotham City, Bruce Wayne's personal life takes a step to the side as the women in his life force him into an awkward position. I say: Another Bat-title that I'm running hot-and-cold on. But I'm going to take a lesson from my JLA: Cry for Justice mistake and stick around for one more issue. Smith is weaving something together by balancing this story of the new apprentice and the journals that Silver St. Cloud spirited out of the Batcave. But he's gonna have to set the hook with this issue. Hulk Let Battle Begin #1 Creative team: Story by Steve Kurth; Art by Mike Del Mundo Villains to Watch: Wrecking Crew They say: It's a beatdown of literally monumental proportions when the Hulk and the Wrecking Crew wage war in our nation's capitol! And when the dust settles, what of Washington DC will remain unsmashed?! All this plus rocking extras giving you the goods on "World War Hulks" - the upcoming Hulk mega-event! I say: This year I've bought more Hulk than all of my other years of comics buying combined. I have no idea what that means -- other than the fact that I'm not going to miss this World War Hulks kick-off event. Yeah. I saw it. The Wrecking Crew. I'll betcha it's good anyway. Dark X-Men #5 Creative team: Story by Paul Cornell; Art by Leonard Kirk Villain to Watch: Norman Osborn They say: It's the final showdown between the Dark X-Men and X-Man, all within the mind of Norman Osborn. Can the rag-tag group of villains take down the nigh-omnipotent Omega-level mutant while keeping Osborn sane? Or will this battle be what finally tips Norman over the brink forever? I say: After Dark Avengers, this has been my second-favorite Dark Reign-related limited series. The characterizations have been enjoyable and the plot has been worth following. Heck, I'm in for Dark Beast alone. Lockjaw and the Pet Avengers Unleashed #1 Creative team: Story by Chris Eliopoulos; Art by Ig Gurara & Chris Sotomayor Villain to Watch: TBA They say: Once upon a time, in a world of super heroes and villains, there lived a team of animals that saved the universe...and no one knew it. These creatures asked not for fortune or fame, merely to help the humans that pet them. But a new threat to the world has arisen, which only they know of, that could change everything...and kill one of them. I say: Mighty Chris Eliopoulos is quickly becoming a household name to followers of the House of Ideas. Let's face it, he's taken a concept that no one expected much out of and he blew out doors off with it. He has earned a much-deserved return to do it again. But I say to Marvel, the guy's already proven his chops with off-beat favorites like this and Franklin Richards... I'd love to see what he could do with a meatier title. Honorable mentions: Amazing Spider-Man #624 , Batgirl #8, Justice League Rise and Fall Special #1, Marvel Adventures Super Heroes ##21, Prelude to Deadpool Corps #2, Secret Six #19, Super Friends #25, Weekly World News #3. ...And One To Pass... Mystic Hands of Dr Strange #1 Creative team: Story by Kieron Gillen and a boatload others; Art by Frazier Irving and more Villain to Watch:The Doktor They say: It's the Sorcerer Supreme versus the magical might of the political terrorist known as the Doktor! Stephen Strange struggles with a decision to help a man crippled by his worst memories! And the Master of the Mystic Arts battles a demon in the streets of New York! All this and more in this all-new, all-action, all-black-and-white one-shot in the spirit of the Mighty Marvel Magazines of yore, but ALL-NOW in style! The magical mayhem never lets up for a moment over these four stories by some of Marvel's hottest creators! I say: The preview looks godawful. It's all black-and-white. And I hate anthologies. Yuck. Dishonorable mentions: Doom Patrol #8, Escape from Wonderland #5, Grimm Fairy Tales #45. Would you like to share this post? First, click on "read/post comments" (below) then scroll down to this button