Back From Vacation
Having watched THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER and eaten my way across six Disney theme parks
I’ve been on more planes in the last couple weeks than in the previous three years combined.
First I flew out to Vegas to sign a few thousand books in the warehouse of Torpedo Comics. Great looking comic store they got out there. Then I went down to Sarasota for a signing at the CGC headquarters. Thanks to everybody who sent their books in for that one. I appreciated all your little notes. Got a tour of the facility while I was there and was really astounded by the scope of the whole operation.
Then my youngest and I flew to Disney World for our first Disney vacation in far too long. And my first ever visit to Galaxy’s Edge! Damn, no photos of the place do it justice. We wandered through the whole land just oohing and ahhing, really blown away by the scale and attention to immersive detail. Loved the cantina. Enjoyed Smuggler’s Run even though the pilots and gunners for our ride were a family who were screaming and arguing with each other the whole time in a different language. And I was really blown away by Rise of the Resistance. Such an intricate ride, so full of surprises. Hats off to the Imagineers who made all that happen.
We hit all four parks while we were there. Highlights: the 50th anniversary meal at the California Grill on the roof of the Contemporary, Ronto Roasters in Galaxy’s Edge, the Yub Nub at Oga’s Cantina, the new Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway ride in Disney’s Hollywood Studios and tracking all the new Mighty Thor merch throughout the parks. Lowlight: that backwards bit in Expedition Everest that still kicks me right in the gullet.
After Disney World, the kid and I flew from Orlando to L.A. to attend the Hollywood premiere of THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER. Such a surreal experience to see the Mighty Thor and Gorr the God Butcher plastered all over the city. Not to mention all the goats! Christian Bale and Natalie Portman both really shine in the film. And Taika Waititi does that madcap, heartwarming thing he does so well. You’ll see me listed in the credits as a Creative Consultant, and it was good to be at least somewhat involved in this one considering how much it pulls from THOR: GOD OF THUNDER and THE MIGHTY THOR. See it in theaters on July 8. And tell your friends if they wanna be cool they’ll read the comics.
And hey, since the kid and I had cut our Disney World trip a day short to fly all the way out to L.A., I figured we might as well hit up Disneyland while we were there. So I come to you now full of the Dole Whip from two coasts.
And if you’re wondering about the total tiki bar count for all those trips, I put it at five: Golden Tiki in Vegas (always top notch), Bahi Hut and the Sniki Tiki in Sarasota and of course both the Disney World and Disneyland versions of Trader Sam’s. Sorry, I didn’t have time to hit up any L.A. area tiki bars. Next time I’ll try to do better.
New Releases
In comic stores this week, AVENGERS #57 kicks off the new arc, “History’s Mightiest Heroes,” where each issue showcases a different genre and a different forgotten hero from Marvel’s past. Up first, a weird war tale starring Sgt. Szardos, the Two-Fisted Mystic and Soldier Supreme. Next issue, you’ll meet the Ghost Ronin of 17th century Japan, the Samurai of Vengeance. After that, you get the legend of Reno Phoenix and the Starbrand Kid, the wild west’s wildest outlaws. All as brought to life by Javier Garrón, who’s hitting home run after home run here, no matter the genre.
You can also pick up a new collection of JANE FOSTER: THE SAGA OF THE VALKYRIE, collecting the first big chunk of Jane’s journey as the last of the Choosers of the Slain.
And this new trade paperback collection of the SAGA OF GORR THE GOD BUTCHER, compiling the first 11 issues of THOR: GOD OF THUNDER by me and Esad Ribic. All gods must die! Be the first kid on your block to join in on the deity-slaying!
Notes & Links & Things & Stuff
—There’s a new profile of me in my local paper, the Kansas City Star, featuring lots of photos of a man happily posing with his hammers.
—Hey, it’s me talking while signing your CGC books. Why do I look like I’m asleep? Probably all the tiki drinks.
—Hey, I’m writing a Miracleman story:
—I miss these guys too, Jorge. Maybe someday we should do something about that.
—Random work teases. I’ve written the first two issues of a new creator-owned series that should be announced soon. Have put together outlines for a few other creator-owned projects that are coming together for next year. Just turned in a collossal AVENGERS special that’s being drawn by an artist who has long been on my dream list. Today I finished lettering corrections for PUNISHER #5. I can’t tell you how happy I am with this series. If you’ve not yet checked it out, whether you’ve ever been a Punisher fan before or not, I hope you’ll give it a shot. Think I might do some annotations or “Director’s Commentary” for the issues so far, when I have the time, if that’s something folks would be interested in. Gonna be a busy summer. Vacation is officially over. Getting back to it now. See you on the other side.
This has been BEARD MISSIVES, direct from the Dole Whip stained face of Jason Aaron.
This week’s newsletter has been brought to you by Disneyland corndogs, Disneyland churros and Disney World Tonga Toast.
Jason Aaron
KC, June 29, 2022
“Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy."
—Disneyland welcome plaque
Things To Come
All ship-dates are very much subject to change right now, for reasons to do with, you know, the ongoing state of the world.
THOR: THE SAGA OF GORR THE GOD BUTCHER trade paperback — June 28, 2022
JANE FOSTER: THE SAGA OF VALKYRIE trade paperback — June 28, 2022
AVENGERS #57 — June 29, 2022
AVENGERS FOREVER #7 — July 6, 2022
KING CONAN #6 — July 6, 2022
AVENGERS FOREVER #6 2nd printing — July 13, 2022
PUNISHER #3 2nd printing — July 13, 2022
PUNISHER #4 — July 13, 2022
AVENGERS #58 — July 20, 2022
AVENGERS #59 — August 10, 2022
PUNISHER #5 — August 10, 2022
AVENGERS: 1,000,000 B.C. #1 — August 17, 2022
KING CONAN trade — August 23, 2022
AVENGERS FOREVER #8 — August 24, 2022
AVENGERS BY JASON AARON Hardcover Vol. 3 — September 6, 2022
PUNISHER #6 — September 7, 2022
AVENGERS FOREVER #9 — September 21, 2022
HEROES REBORN Omnibus — September 27, 2022
AVENGERS Vol. 10: THE DEATH HUNTERS trade — September 27, 2022
If you ever come to San Diego, make reservations (super in advance) for False Idol Tiki! Awesome place, great drink menu!
Hey Jason I’m really excited to see how they weave your Thor and Mighty Thor runs. I’m loving the weird and wild ride that is your Avengers run and can’t wait to see where it goes. Also I have the first issue of your new Punisher run and it blew me away. The second issue is burning a hole through my pull list. What piqued my curiosity was you mentioning the creator owned series you got down the pike. One of my favorite series all time is Southern Bastards. Which I will always be an evangelist for and wait for its return. Hopefully this question isn’t asking for info that is spoilery but are any of the upcoming series crime based?
Thanks in advance.