Resurrection
Following my decision to jump off of all social media, I am making an honest effort to bring back this newsletter and it seems apt that I do it on the day of release for my new book, Resurrection Man: Quantum Karma.
But more on comics/work stuff later. First...
Social Media, work, priorities, itchy feet, a pragmatic mind, the search for a soul.
I started making comics in 2016. I started writing professionally about a year before that. All things considered, I've had good fortune and success and very few complaints. I had a favourite thing I used to tell other creators about writing and writers.
"A writer must reinvigorate/reinvent themselves every decade."
The choice of language is maybe a bit dramatic but the underlying endeavour is sound. I've developed this belief for two reasons. Firstly, I've read far too many bodies of work that began with such promise and then seemed to settle into a sort of comfortable ambiguity. I don't want to feel that way about my work. Secondly, I get itchy feet.
It's 2025. I've had a good ride so far. But I have opportunities I didn't have when I was starting out and I've definitely got a hankering for that feeling of diving into the unknown.
So, one of the first things I've done is taken myself off of social media. All the obvious Nazi-saluting, AI thievery, general enshittification-related reasons aside, I think there is genuine benefit to limiting both creative input and outlet. I want to be more actively present in my own body and surroundings. I want to view the mundane, once more, with curiosity and intent. I want to make things that excite me first. And, I want to be selective about where I put in my time, thought and effort.
So, I'm online less and I am reading things. I am making things.
So, in every instant, a delusional gulf gets created between things as we think they are and things as they actually are. Off we go, mistaking the world we’ve made with our thoughts for the real world.
On the subject of making things.
I am always enamoured with people who make things with their hands. I ran into Simpleton_Design over on Instagram a little while back. He takes single issues and instead of waiting for a collection, he collects them into beautiful, custom-bound books. I reached out and asked for some process shots.
So, let the bibliophile geek-out ensue.
Now, on to the comics.
Resurrection Man: Quantum Karma #1 is out today in all your local comic stores. A story about a superhero who keeps coming back to life–used to interrogate the need for existential purpose, the value of little things, love, saving the universe, the dubious power of mytho-poetics, and what happens to you when you can't die and are reduced to a talking skull in a jar. Comics!
All of this is drawn by long-time collaborator and all-round lovely person, Anand Radhakrishnan, coloured by the always tasteful Mike Spicer, and lettered by the one and only, Aditya Bidikar.
We go to some interesting places with this one. And look, Anand, Aditya and Mike do some mind-boggling work.
Work continues on The New Gods with some, more familiar characters appearing in the issues Evan Cagle and I are working on.
And of course, when Filipe Andrade steps in for an issue, you ask him to draw/paint the trippiest issue imaginable.
And, on the not-superhero side of things. I'm working on Through Red Windows with the increidble Joëlle Jones and José Villarrubia. This will be out through DSTLRY soon.
Before I go.
On Saturday, April 5th, at 2pm– I'll be signing copies of Resurrection Man at the new Forbidden Planet store over in Camden. Al Ewing will be there with Absolute Green Lantern, so it'll be a great time! And the amazing Dave Gibbons is signing after us. Come along. Say hi.
Some of you are here only for the recommendations I make at the end of these. A little light this time.
I discovered Naughty Professor a while back. But I heard Josh Kagler for the first time on this track and it is always great finding a voice like his. Funk, Soul enjoyers rejoice!
This has turned out to be much longer than I had intended. So I'll say my goodbyes quickly. I've been reading books on writing/art again. I leave you with this Raymond Carver gem.
"Get in. Get out. Don't linger. Go on."
Until next time.
PS: If you're wondering why you're getting this. You signed up to this newsletter at www.flybysoul.com - I appreciate it. Welcome to all the new readers!