It's Terrific, It's Fantastic, It's Kryptonastic!

Notes on the week I officially became a proper comic book writer

You’re looking at the first comic books I ever read, all from 1979, when I was six years old. I read some of them until the covers came off, and then read them some more. Every single one of them featured Superman in some prominent capacity. Inside DC COMICS PRESENTS #10, my six year old self would find this ad:

I would promptly rip that page out of the comic, toss it into the mail, and in return for my declaration of friendship and my $3.50, I would soon be entrusted with a chunk of rare radioactive space rock that had the power to bring about the Man of Steel’s untimely demise.

There she is, still glowing with power all these years later. And to think, in all that time, I haven’t once used it to try and murder Superman. Talk about a true friend!

And this week, that friendship soars to new heights.

ACTION COMICS #1061 regular cover by John Timms.

Variant cover by Chris Bachalo.

Variant cover by Jorge Jimenez.

Variant cover by Joelle Jones.

Variant cover by Paolo Rivera.

Variant cover by Kaare Andrews.

My first professional comic book writing credit was published more than 20 years ago. Since then, I believe I’ve written around 600 different comics, give or take a few. But as I’ve said before, part of me has always felt like you’re not REALLY a comic book writer until you’ve written Superman. Like you haven’t yet kissed the ring of the true Godfather.

The one who started it all, for what we now know as comic books.

And for six year old me.

So this week, with the release of ACTION COMICS #1061, I officially become a proper comic book writer.

Thanks for the friendship, Supes. Here’s hoping for many more years of it.

Unfortunately, Superman won’t be thanking me once he realizes what I’m putting him through in the pages of this story. It’s the first of three oversized issues, it’s drawn by the killer John Timms and it features a dark new take on Superman’s deranged doppelganger, Bizarro.

Normally I’m not a big fan of preview pages and such. I’d rather you just read the thing, you know? But I really love this trailer that DC put together.

Notes & Links & Things & Stuff

—Like we talked about last week, the second trade paperback collection of ONCE UPON A TIME AT THE END OF THE WORLD is now loose in the wild, and in case you haven’t yet checked out this new series, which I feel is one of the most surprising and personal stories I’ve ever written, well, this deal is for you.

Over at my all-new online store, you can now pick up a special bundle featuring ONCE UPON A TIME AT THE END OF THE WORLD vol. 1 and vol. 2 together, at a discounted price of only $29.99.

And both books come with exclusive signed bookplates. Come join us in the wasteland, won’t you?

—Recent interview roundup. How do I say no to a dude called “Bearded Comic Bro”? Turns out I don’t. I also sat down with AIPT to talk Superman and Batman.

—Speaking of Batman, did you see the cover for BATMAN OFF-WORLD #4, as drawn by the legend Doug Mahnke and colored by the great David Baron, featuring the Dark Knight’s battle against a brutal new bounty hunter known only as the Thanagarian? Look at it. Look at it a lot. Your face will thank you.

—And hey, Orlando, I will see you soon, as I’ll be a guest of MEGACON next month, February 1-4. Details here. I’ll post my signing schedule over on Instagram as soon as I have it. Hmm, does anybody know of anything fun to do in the Orlando area? I don’t know, I’m drawing a blank here.

This has been Beard Missives, direct from the Kryptonastic face of Jason Aaron.

This week’s newsletter has been brought to you by Planters Spicy Nuts & Cajun Sticks Trail Mix, Black Kassel Chorizo Style Salami Whips and Hello Kitty Tropical Pineapple Marshmallows (with pineapple flavor jelly inside!).

Cheers. And Roll Tide forever, Saint Nick.

Jason Aaron

January 10, 2024

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Things to Come

BATMAN: OFF-WORLD #3 — January 30, 2024

ONCE UPON A TIME AT THE END OF THE WORLD #12 — February 7, 2024

ACTION COMICS #1062 — February 13, 2024

BATMAN OFF-WORLD #4 — February 20, 2024

ACTION COMICS #1063 – March 12, 2024

ONCE UPON A TIME AT THE END OF THE WORLD #13 – March 20, 2024

GHOST RIDER BY JASON AARON Omnibus (New Printing) – April 2, 2024

AVENGERS BY JASON AARON Vol. 5 Hardcover – August 20, 2024

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Where I’ll Be

MegaCon Orlando — February 1-4, 2024

Planet Comicon — March 8-10, 2024