Your Last Chance to Get Infested!
Don't mean to bug ya, but today is BUG WARS FOC
Hey, so look, you’re gonna hear me going on a whole lot about BUG WARS in the coming weeks and months, as it’s a new, original series that Mahmud Asrar and I have been busy creating for years now. And we very much want this to be a world we can explore for many years and many more stories to come.
BUG WARS is me going full dark-fantasy-world-building mode for the first time ever, way more unfettered than I ever could’ve been on THOR or CONAN, and at the same time, in a weird way, this is one of the most personal stories I’ve ever written. You’ll hear more about that as we get closer to the actual release date, February 12.
BUG WARS is also a phenomenally gorgeous book, as drawn by Mahmud, colored by Matt Wilson and lettered and designed by Becca Carey. With Heather Antos on edits.
Today is the book’s FOC (Final Order Cut-off) for comic book stores, which means it’s the last day for them to adjust their orders for issue #1. That means it’s the last day for you to call up your local retailer and officially pre-order a copy, to make certain you’ll get your hands on the first printing of the first issue of 2025’s biggest, most excitedly bug-riddled comic book debut.
Believe me, this is one bug infestation you’ll be happy you brought home with you.
"Bug Wars is a beautiful mix of high fantasy, suburban horror and every creepy-crawler under the sun. It'll get under your skin (in a good way.)"—Charles Soule
"Sublime visuals and heartfelt humanity amidst a chittering swarm of big fantasy ideas, with a high concept that's got me gnashing my mandibles in envy. An instant classic." —Simon Spurrier
“I wouldn't say that Jason and Mahmud have cured my fear of insects, but given that, I was stunned at how entertained I was by Bug Wars and its twists and turns. You'll never guess from page to page what happens next.” —Mark Waid
“Best comic I’ve read in ages!” —Frank Quitely
“A big, fun home run.” —Brian Michael Bendis
“A great fantasy book, fun, epic, fascinating, the kind of book I would love to do but they did it first. Don't miss this book!” —Pepe Larraz
“Alright, I'm biased, I'm into bugs myself and my friends Jason Aaron and Mahmud Asrar just happen to be one of my favorite comic creator duos of all time. I guess I'm also partial as I plainly recognize this book as the virtuoso graphic feast it is, gloriously capturing the epicness of barbarians/insect warfare…but also real-world family.” —Yanick Paquette
“...this book is pure gold!” —Valerio Schiti
“This is a thing of beauty.” —Aaron Kuder
“How can something so small be so… EPIC? Bug Wars is a triumph of tiny proportions from the always brilliant Jason Aaron, Mahmud Asrar and Matt Wilson.” —Tom Taylor
“Wow. I just read the first two issues of Bug Wars, and I’m reeling from the pure imagination, the audacity, the draftsmanship, the storytelling… the whole damn package. I never dreamed I needed this book, but I cannot wait for more.” —Ande Parks
“This was a wild, wonderful ride. Run to your local comic shop and ensure you get a copy of BUG WARS #1, the must-read new dark fantasy series from masters Jason Aaron and Mahmud Asrar. The world-building is spot-on, and the art is spectacular.” —Alex Segura
“This book is cool as hell. Wow. This is a new take. This is different. This is fun. I have no idea where it's going and that's good! The art is amazing. The story is a blast. You've hooked me and that's no easy task. I can't wait to read more.” —Erik Larsen
“It's been a while since I've had that much fun reading a new series. I'm hooked. Well done, Jason Aaron, Mahmud Asrar, Matt Wilson, and Becca Carey. This is a home run.” —Paul Renaud
“As epic in story as it is small in scale, I immediately fell in love with this book.” —Matthew Rosenberg
“It’s an emotionally charged beginning that will break your heart and wow you in equal measure. ...transform(s) a simple backyard into something awe-inspiring and magical.” —Comic Book Club Live
Forbes: ‘Honey, I Shrunk The Kids’ Meets ‘Conan The Barbarian’ In Jason Aaron & Mahmud Asrar’s ‘Bug Wars’ Comic
The Pat Chat Plus: Jason Aaron's War on Bugs
Let's Talk Comics Ep 2: Jason Aaron on Bug Wars & More
Bug Wars: Preview One of IGN's Most Anticipated New Comics of 2025
And hey, it’s also FOC for issue #7 of TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES, which kicks off the book’s second arc. And if you haven’t seen Juan Ferreyra’s version of the Ninja Turtles, hold onto your eyeballs.
This has been Beard Missives, direct from the FOCed face of Jason Aaron.
This week’s newsletter has been brought to you by the Raze family of insecticide products. Win the war on bugs! With Raze!
Stay safe out there. Be loved.
Jason Aaron
KC, January 20, 2025
Things to Come
STAR WARS: A NEW LEGACY #1 — January 29, 2025
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #6 — January 29, 2025
ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN #4 — February 5, 2025
NAMOR #7 — February 5, 2025
BUG WARS #1 — February 12, 2025
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #7 — February 26, 2025
ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN #5 — March 5, 2025
NAMOR #8 — March 12, 2025
BUG WARS #2 — March 19, 2025
UNCLE SCROOGE & THE INFINITY DIME GALLERY EDITION — March 19, 2025
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #8 — March 26, 2025
AVENGERS FOREVER BY JASON AARON OMNIBUS — April 9, 2025
WOLVERINE BY JASON AARON Omnibus Hardcover Vol. 1 (New Printing) — April 16, 2025
WOLVERINE GOES TO HELL Omnibus Hardcover (New Printing) — July 23, 2025
Where I’ll Be
Third Eye Comics, Anapolis, Maryland — February 15, 2025
So many questions about this bookk!
Do you intend for it to be a limited series or short story, like what some authors are doing, or is this an ongoing that you think could go for an extended stretch, such as ur Thor run or say the Invincible series?
By world building, how expansive are you talking about? You did a lot of good, from the ground up work on Absolute Superman, and from what you are inferring this is going to be even grander than that. How in-depth are you looking to make it?
How would you describe your protagonist and antagonist and how they differ, or are similar, to previous pro/antagonist u have worked on in the past?
Of all the projects u have worked on, what is it that made this one so important and so much of a focus for you in getting finalized?
And I have so many more but for now this looks like it’ll be enough for me until the book drops. Really looking forward to seeing where u take us in Bug Wars!
P.S. if u were optioned for an adaptation of BWs, would u prefer for a live action or an animated adaptation of your book?
Not sure about Lunar (don't deal with them, Canadian) but it already passed for Universal. A lot of FOC dates are sort of phantom ones because Universal locks more or less every pub except DC in at 2am, so any hype stuff I do, I just say FOC is the day prior because that's when I need customers to have orders in by. I made a promotion post for the book on our socials a few days before so we def had some preorders and got those in, but just figured you should know the timing thing for Universal for any future promo stuff on here. Looking forward to the book!