Newfound Freedoms
Notes on my current work situation & a question for you about my upcoming travel schedule
Hi. Been awhile. I missed you.
Sorry to be a stranger, but I’ve been busy traveling and working on a bunch of new shit. Just got back from a lovely trip to Anaheim for WonderCon where I signed lots of comics and rode lots of Disneyland rides. Before that, I was in New York for a bit for the first time since the Long Long Ago. Then I made a brief appearance at Planet Comicon KC. Saw lots of old friends along the way, which felt really invigorating. Turns out it pays to occasionally leave the house.
Now I’m back in the home office, working on some of that aforementioned new shit. At my recent WonderCon spotlight panel, I talked about my current workload, in as much detail as I could, probably being a bit more forthcoming than I have before. As I said there, I find myself having recently entered an exciting new chapter of my career. For the first time since 2008 or so, I’m not bound by any sort of exclusive agreement with Marvel Comics. My deal was up late last year, and while I remain very happy with my relationship with Marvel and have been talking with them about another project, I chose not to renew my exclusive. With my run on AVENGERS wrapping up and me wanting to step away from ongoing work-for-hire series commitments for the moment, after a 15 year run of one ongoing after another, it seemed like the right time to spread my wings a bit. So now I find myself enjoying a sort of freedom I haven’t had in a very long time, able to pursue whatever creative opportunities I so choose. And I’ve already been busy pursuing a few. Some creator-owned, some work-for-hire. The division of my workload and my time has already shifted, as I’m placing more of an emphasis on new creator-owned work, while also looking to tackle some brand new work-for-hire challenges. In short, as I said, it’s an exciting time, a fun-as-fuck time, you might say, and I can’t wait to tell you more about what all I’ve been up to, as soon as I can.
In Stores This Week
Speaking of new work, this week my first new original series in years reaches the finale of its first sold-out arc. As I’ve talked about before, ONCE UPON A TIME AT THE END OF THE WORLD is a profoundly personal and deeply important series for me, and I’ve been really thrilled with how it’s all come together so far. Artist Alexandre Tefenkgi has done beautiful work on this opening arc, titled “Love in the Wasteland,” as we’ve followed a couple of kids across the post-apocalyptic landscape. Now Maceo must somehow defeat the Road Warrior Boy Scouts known as the Wasteland Rangers in the mother of all survival challenges, the Apocalympics, while Mezzy must face up to her fears, in the form of the fearsome Scout Mother and of the strange feelings she has stirring inside her for Maceo. If these two lost souls can find love in a time of ruin, it may just lay the foundation for a whole new world to rise from the wreckage of the old. ONCE UPON A TIME AT THE END OF THE WORLD #5 features the following gorgeous covers by Mike del Mundo, Frany and Michael Allred.
The trade paperback collection of Book One is out on June 7, the same day our second arc kicks off. I’ll get into that one in much more detail as it gets closer. For now I’ll just say that Book Two, “The Rise and Fall of Golgonooza,” has been one of the most creatively challenging stories I’ve ever written, for all sorts of different reasons, some of them deeply personal. It’s certainly unlike anything else I’ve ever written. And I’m incredibly thrilled with how it’s coming together, thanks in large part to the powerful artwork of Leila Del Duca. Here’s a tease of what to expect. The covers for issue #6, by Leila, Kevin Wada and Jenny Frisson. Our kids aren’t kids anymore.
Question: What Comic Con Should I Attend Next?
In a few weeks, I’ll be attending Comic-Con Prague. Really fucking excited about that one. That’s currently the only con or appearance I have scheduled for the rest of 2023. I’m still probably not up for doing a whole ton of shows this year, but I do think I’d like to add at least a couple more cons to the mix for 2023.
So where should I go?
Generally I prefer to visit places I haven’t been before or those that exist in close proximity to a Disney theme park. But I’m open to wherever sounds cool. Do you have a local con you think is awesome? Do you run a con and would like to invite my beard and I to attend? If so, post your suggested destinations in the comments below. And maybe I’ll be seeing you later this year.
My Beard Recommends
If you’re a regular reader of this newsletter, you’ve probably picked up on the fact that I’m a rather big fan of both theme parks and pro wrestling. So you’d think I’d be an easy mark for any comics that might focus on those topics. Though I think if anything my passion for Disney parks and grown men in tights suplexing each other makes me a tougher critic of any book that chooses to go there. But I’m here to say that I’ve found absolutely nothing whatsoever to criticize about new comics DARK RIDE and DO A POWERBOMB, both published by Image Comics. Instead I’ve devoured every issue as together they’ve become two of my favorite comics in years. DARK RIDE, a new ongoing series by writer Joshua Williamson and artist Andrei Bressan, is the story of a mysterious, murderous theme park from hell, while DO A POWERBOMB, a just-completed limited series by writer/artist Daniel Warren Johnson, takes you inside the wildest, most otherworldly wrestling tournament you’ve ever seen. Even if you couldn’t care less about riding Pirates of the Caribbean or watching Kenny Omega wrestle El Hijo del Vikingo, these comics are so heartfelt and wickedly fun, so loaded with passion and gorgeous visuals, that I guarantee they’ll make you a fan.
Notes & Links & Things & Stuff
—David Harper’s SKTCHD is always an interesting read when it comes to comic book commentary. I contributed a few thoughts to his recent piece on favorite B or C list characters: “Who’s Your Stilt-Man?”
—Torunn Grønbekk, one of my favorite people and favorite writers, was recently a guest on Harper’s podcast: “Off Panel #394: The Woods with Torunn Grønbekk”
—I have new headshots, courtesy of the photog maestro @colinphotogram. Yeah, that’s my office, which is filled with plants. They’re what keeps me looking so young and vibrant.
This has been Beard Missives, direct from the boyish face of Jason Aaron.
This week’s newsletter has been brought to you by Strong Water Anaheim tiki bar, corndogs from the Little Red Wagon in Disneyland and the pineapple-coconut churro from Willie’s Churros in Disney California Adventure.
Stay safe. Stay loved. Stay worthy.
Jason Aaron
KC, March 29, 2023
“It ain’t no sin to be glad you’re alive.”
—Bruce Springsteen, “Badlands”
Things To Come
AVENGERS ASSEMBLE OMEGA — April 19, 2023
PUNISHER #11 — April 19, 2023
STAR WARS: DARTH VADER - BLACK, WHITE & RED #1 — April 26, 2023
PUNISHER #12 — May 24, 2023
STAR WARS: DARTH VADER - BLACK, WHITE & RED #2 — May 24, 2023
ONCE UPON A TIME AT THE END OF THE WORLD Vol. 1 Trade Paperback — June 7, 2023
ONCE UPON A TIME AT THE END OF THE WORLD #6 — June 7, 2023
STAR WARS: DARTH VADER - BLACK, WHITE & RED #3 — June 28, 2023
AVENGERS ASSEMBLE Trade Paperback — July 18, 2023
AVENGERS BY JASON AARON Hardcover Vol. 4 — July 25, 2023
PUNISHER: KING OF KILLERS Book Two Trade Paperback — August 15, 2023
THOR BY JASON AARON Omnibus Vol. 2 — October 24, 2023
Upcoming Appearances
Comic-Con Prague — April 14-16, 2023
Hello Mr Aaron.
First off, I want to say how much I’ve been loving Once Upon a Time at the End of the World. Now that we’ve reached the end of the book’s first arc, I’m very excited to see what will happen next as we see Maceo and Mezzy grow up and have their relationship tested against the backdrop of the wasteland.
Now, as for you’re question about looking for potential comic convention to attend, there’s a really cool con in July (specifically July 27-30) called GalaxyCon that’s held in Raleigh, North Carolina. If you can’t make it due to scheduling or travel reasons, I totally understand, but it would be lovely if you could make it.
Much love (and many words)
Owen.
dear jason,
these words and pictures are beautiful.
can't wait for everything that is to come.
or CAN wait and WILL wait but excitedly.
peace,
myq