It’s been a while since I’ve written an actual post about the state of things (not bad, thanks for asking). So here’s a round-up of what I’ve been up to.

Nick Mag
Biggest project in my life right now is the Avatar: The Last Airbender MAGAZINE, which will be timed to come out right before Season 3 of Avatar finally airs on TV. I’m not allowed to say exactly when that will be…but I think they will make an official announcement at the San Diego Comic-Con panel. But I have to make sure the magazine is finished and ready to go to the printer BEFORE Comic-Con, which is in two weeks.

And I’m actually leaving for California next Thursday, which means even less time to wrap things up! So basically. my days are spent annoying artists about deadlines and begging them to finish ahead of schedule. That and digging up lots and lots of reference. Cuz you know, Avatar is one show that really likes its SPECIFIC details!

I can go on record as saying this magazine will be nothing short of awesome. Especially if you are as a big a fan of the show as I am. It’s been a lot of work, but also one of the most satisfying things I’ve ever been a part of. The new magazine will be a total love letter to “Avatards” young and old. And as usual for Nick Mag projects, the artists involved are personal favorites like my Flight brethren Johane Matte, Amy Kim Ganter, and Reagan Lodge. Also, Brian Ralph drawing Momo! I’ll post more specifics soon.




Diesel Sweeties
I drew a guest page for R. Steven’s popular web comic about the sexual mixings of robots and humans. My strip should be up soon as part of the current GUEST WEEK



Printing and assembling mini comics in time for Comic-Con
We won’t be debuting any new issues, but we still need to restock the inventory of issues 1-7 of Teen Boat and 1-4 of Astronaut Elementary. I’m hoping we’ll get more Life Meter 2 books in time from the printer…and that this time I won’t have to take a cab out to a UPS center to pick them up the day before the show.

Teen Boat
Been serializing the first 3 issues of the series best described as “Dawnson’s Creek meets Transformers” over on John Green’s Webcomics Nation page. The angst of being a teen and the thrill of being a boat has never been so free and online!



Astronaut Elementary
Been finishing up the last few pages of Chapter 1/Fall Semester of Astronaut Elementary. I’m also going to go back and draw a new extended opening sequence to help give the series a bit more of a focus and tighter story arc. Not sure how many pages that will be just yet.



Flight 4
I’ve been checking my mailbox every day for my comp copy of Flight 4. I can’t wait to get my hands on the final books. People say this might be the best one yet! I did a story called “It’s Dangerous to Sleep.” It’s pretty much autobiographical and very timely. There’s also a full-color story from my wife, Raina Telgemeier. So, definitely worth buying the book just for that—if not all the other amazing artists.



Harry and the Potters
I FINALLY drew 3 pages of the long-planned and delayed comic series. Hopefully I’ll get a few more up before the fall! Originally I had hoped to have enough pages to make a mini for the guys to take on their big summer tour with them. But alas, only so many hours in the day...



Road trip!
Raina and I will be flying out to San Francisco to visit her family next week. We’ll be renting a car and driving down the coast to visit the Nick studios in Burbank and also my cousins in Orange County. Then we’ll continue on to San Diego for the big convention. Not sure how we’ll read the new and final HP book in the car…maybe take turns reading it out loud?

Comic-Con!
At Comic-Con San Diego you’ll be able to find me at one of 3 places:
TheComics Bakery table in the small press alley, table P2.
I’ll be there with John Green, Marion Vitus, Raina Telgemeier and assortment of mini-comics, graphic novels, t-shirts and buttons.

Slave Labor Graphics booth
(I don’t know the booth # but it’s usually centered and easy to find)
Hopefully they’ll have plenty of copies of Agnes Quill—because I’m totally out of stock!

Flight Comics
(Booth numbers 1128, 1130, 1132, and 1134) This will be a huge booth sharing space with the Nucleus Gallery and Out of Picture anthology. Always a fun time.

Events
Sunday 1:00-2:00, I’ll be moderating this panel:
What’s Happening in Kids’ Comics Today?
Some of the most creative work in the industry is being done in kids’ comics. Svetlana Chmakova (Dramacon), Jimmy Gownley (Amelia Rules!), Debbie Huey (Bumperboy), Kazu Kibuishi (Flight, Amulet), George O’Connor (Journey into Mohawk Country), and Gene Yang (American Born Chinese) talk with moderator Dave Roman (Nickelodeon) about the importance of kids’ comics—and the fun they have creating them! Room 8

Things on my plate when I get back from Comic Con
-Avatar DVD Season 3 comics
-Jax Epoch Volume 3
-Flight 5
-Astronaut Elementary Chapter 2/Winter Break!
-More Agnes Quill!!
-Replying to your email
-Sleep??