Hi friends! Wow, how is it April already? Lots of stuff to share, so buckle up -
April is off to a busy start in the Segura household. I'm really looking forward to connecting with some amazing people at a bunch of events this month (more on that later), and we've got exciting comic updates right here on Zestworld! The latest installments of The Awakened with Michael Moreci and Dean Kotz, and our restoration of classic '70s super hero comic, The Legendary Lynx will be free two weeks after posting. If you don't want to wait, now is a great time to subscribe and get instant access!
In terms of The Awakened, Michael and I are finishing up the final script, which will then head to Dean so we can complete the first act of our big, over-arching story. If you like comics like Astro City, Black Hammer, The Golden Age, Supreme Power, and yes, Watchmen, you'll probably enjoy this dark superhero murder mystery. Give it a try and let us know what you think!
Now for some "real talk": As you can imagine, the publishing game is a tough one, and cutting through the noise is challenging and ever-changing. With that in mind, if you read the book and enjoy it, please spread the word. Also, editor-folks - we're looking for a print partner for the first volume (and potentially more). If this sounds up your alley, don't hesitate to reach out to me.
Speaking of our girl Lynx, we have some cool news - The Lost Adventures of the Legendary Lynx is heading to print later this year via Image Comics and Syzygy Publishing! Sandy, Grey, Jack, Allison, and I are so grateful to Chris Ryall for bringing this overlooked piece of comics history back to print, and reminding readers of the work of legends like Doug Detmer, Carmen Valdez, and more.
Also!
For more digital comics goodies, don't forget to subscribe to the feed of Mara Llave: Keeper of Time at Comics Kingdom! It's a love letter to the classic newspaper action/pulp strips artist/co-creator Nickolej Villiger and I love, with a decidedly modern twist. You can read a few for free to see if you want to subscribe!
If you backed the Kickstarter for The Dusk in 2021, first of all: thank you, thank you, THANK YOU, we couldn't have made it without you! It's been quite the journey, and we hit some unexpected scheduling bumps - but we're starting to see the end! Which is good! What does that mean? Well, we're very close to getting the book into your hands! You can have a look at our latest update on Kickstarter for more information. tl;dr - book is done, design is done, going to printer shortly!
And hey, if you like your comics with sound only, you might be keen on this! I'm so excited to share the audio adaptation of The Black Ghost! The folks at Graphic Audio were great to deal with and really expanded and built on Lara's world, creating a singular and fun experience. If you dug the books or are looking to get into the series via audio, give it a shot!
In thwip-thwip news, I think it's safe to assume you all check out the latest Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse trailer? How great was that? I'm ready. And hey, how about those glimpses of Oscar Isaac as Miggy O'Hara, Spider-Man 2099? You know, THE BEST Spider-Man? If you agree or disagree with that statement, you'll still be interested in knowing that I have a Spider-Verse-y novel hitting on May 2 - Araña and Spider-Man 2099: Dark Tomorrow is a fun, time-hopping adventure that brings together two of Marvel's most beloved #Latinx Spider-Heroes for an action-packed romp that's also loaded with heart. Best part? There's still time to pre-order your copy! Then you should join me on launch day, May 2, at Barnes & Noble Atlantic Avenue to celebrate the book's release with my dear friend, superstar author, Zoraida Cordova! After that, I'll be doing events at Books & Books and Kew & Willow - stay tuned for details.
This weekend, April 13-16 I’ll be at the inaugural Hamptons Whodunit Festival! I'll be on a bunch of panels and doing plenty of signings, so please make sure to say hi if you're around! This festival looks like a lot of fun and features a bunch of my favorite authors and friends. I mean, my literal writing heroes, Megan Abbott and Michael Connelly will be there. What more could you want?!
Next weekend, April 22-23, I’ll be at the LA Festival of Books! Secret Identity is nominated for the LA Times Book Prize in the Mystery/Thriller category, which is a massive thrill, and I'll also be on a panel Sunday afternoon, moderated by SJ Rozan and alongside megastar authors Cory Doctorow and Margot Douaihy. Please stop by if you're around!
On April 26, I'll be moderating a panel with the 2023 finalists of the Edgar Award for Best First Novel at Barnes & Noble Tribeca. I loved all these books and am honored to be able to spotlight them in this way. Thanks to the folks at Soho for setting it up. I'll be signing books alongside the panelists after our chat!
And speaking of events, I had a wonderful time sharing a table with my super-talented brother-in-law, David Ezra Stein, at MoCCA! We sold a ton of books and it was gratifying to see so many old friends. I'm constantly amazed at how Secret Identity continues to resonate, and this show was another example of it. Check out this great recap by Heidi at The Beat.
It was really neat to see Secret Identity included in this this piece at Kirkus on writers modernizing detective fiction. I put a lot of thought into how I wanted Carmen to act, in terms of the tropes of detective fiction, and I'm happy the book resonated. Check out all the other amazing novels mentioned, too!
RIP to the legendary cartoonist, Al Jaffee.
If you read one thing this week, let it be Jonathan M. Katz's remembrance of his aunt - novelist and comic book writer, Rachel Pollack - who died recently at 77.
And wow, Chip Zdarsky sure can draw!!!! And he can talk!
I'm very excited to read poet Maggie Smith's memoir.
Also, "IN CASE YOU MISSED IT" - I wrote a four-part Avengers Unlimited arc! It was fun! Jim Towe did a great job on art. I can't believe I got to use this lineup, but it worked out wonderfully!
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So, as I noted last week, with each newsletter I'm making it a point to recommend a few books and comics. Share the wealth, I say!
My book picks this go round include I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai and Ringmaster by Abraham Josie Riesman. I couldn't pick just one, so I decided to stick to one fiction, one nonfiction. Makkai's novel is one of those books that appears to you just at the right time - for me, it was when I was in the weeds on the draft of my next crime novel, Alter Ego, which is set in the same world as Secret Identity (don't call it a sequel!). Though at first blush, you might think the novel is a thriller, it's not - and that's okay! It's a compelling character study about a successful podcaster who returns to her boarding school and stumbles into re-investigating the murder of her roommate. On the surface, that feels very thriller-y, no? But the substance is different. Makkai herself has described the book as a "realist" novel, which I really like - because it feels very grounded in the real world and doesn't take leaps to serve the plot - even though there is a sharp and meaningful one. The novel also takes a long look at the true crime genre, its obsessions with the dead girl trope, and so much more. The characters are all far from perfect, which is catnip to me as a reader - even Bodie, the protagonist - makes some very questionable choices throughout. But Makkai's delivery is spot-on, and her prose smooths the ride. I finished this one fast, which is always a good sign.
Next up is Ringmaster, by my friend Abraham Josie Riesman. I've known Josie for quite a long time, and am an unabashed fan of her writing, her work, and everything, really. Sometimes as an author, you feel great joy at seeing your friends succeed, and this is one such instance. Josie has worked so hard over the years and really carved out a meaningful niche for herself. And hey, now this book is a freakin' New York Times bestseller! Really amazing. Anyway - the book description for this is simple: it's a biography of WWE head honcho Vince McMahon, warts and all. But the end result is much more than that. It's a commentary on our society, our politics, and how we treat each other, all through the lens of one of the most popular sports in the country. It's an important read even if you're just aware of wrestling, and it's certainly a blast if you're a fan. I fall somewhere in the middle - I loved wrestling as a kid and keep up with it from a distance now as an adult. Even with that limited base of knowledge, I was riveted and, honestly, impressed with the level of research Josie did to tell this story. It's one of the best books I've read this year and it lives in my head rent-free.
On the comics front, I've got two top-notch titles that you need to put on your pull list, ASAP: Waller Vs. Wildstorm by Spencer Ackerman, Evan Narcisse, and Jesus Merino and Betsy Braddock: Captain Britain by Tini Howard and Vasco Georgiev. While this isn't a journalist or review endeavor, I should note I'm friends with Spencer, Evan, and TIni! They're wonderful people.
I don't know what else I can say to add to the choir of what an amazing writer Tini is, but I will anyway! As a lifelong X-Men fan, it feels so cool to see a writer spend so much time reimagining and reinventing a character like Betsy. She's gone through so many changes (literal and figurative) that it's sometimes hard to keep track, but Tini weaves them together to tell a story that feels not only important in a big picture way, but that just makes for a damn fine comic book. Grab this, then go back and read Tini's Excalibur and subsequent Betsy stories.
An espionage thriller featuring Amanda Waller and the Wildstorm characters? Uh, yeah. Sign me up. I am an unabashed fan of Wildstorm - particularly the original Wildcats (including the later, Joe Casey runs) and beyond. Ackerman and Narcisse, two super-sharp writers - both with backgrounds in journalism, Spencer in terms of national security and Evan in the pop culture/video game space - approach this story with the gritty, grounded gravitas it demands, which pairs wonderfully with veteran artist Merino's detailed, immersive style. This book is gonna catch people by surprise. Don't let it. Trust me.
And hey, here's a book I have not cracked open yet but I'm dying to, by my friend Alexis Soloski! That cover is hypnotic.
That's all for now!
Don't forget to pre-order Araña/Spider-Man 2099: Dark Tomorrow and spread the word! If you're a journalist or book reviewer looking for a copy, hit me up, too!
Take care,
Alex