TINY UPDATE 7/10: The Dog Days of Summer
“Tiny Update” is a monthly free newsletter that keeps you up to date on the latest news, comic book projects and merchandise offerings from James Tynion IV and Tiny Onion Studios
Hello Friends
I’m writing from my home office in Brooklyn where I am back in quarantine. I tested positive for Covid earlier in the week. Thankfully, I’m asymptomatic, and haven’t experienced much Brain Fog, if any. It’s probably a blessing for all my deadlines that I got trapped in my apartment for a week, because it feels like I haven’t stopped moving since I sent the last one of these out a month ago.
I mentioned in my last newsletter that I was probably going to have to say goodbye to my dog, Khaleesi at some point soon. Unfortunately, she passed away while I was in Dallas. I can take some solace in the fact that she passed naturally, which feels like a rare thing with dogs these days. She chose the time to leave, and she got to spend some time with my former partner who had been her other parent all these years. Khaleesi was a phenomenally sweet dog. We got her in Los Angeles, and she got to see both oceans, and the Grand Canyon. She only barked once or twice a year and was always surprised when she did. I’m going to miss her for a very very long time, and am already planning on getting a tattoo in honor of her.
It was difficult not to be here for the moment she left us. It continues to be difficult that I didn’t really get to say goodbye. But remarkably the rest of June turned into a bit of a celebration of life. I got to spend some incredible time with some of my favorite human beings in the world. I never felt like I was burying my emotions, but embracing them. Leaning in. Dallas had the potential to be a nightmare, but I was surrounded by my incredible comics family. And then I came home to New York and my incredible friends here just in time for Pride. I got my nails done in black, and danced with my friends until five in the morning at the sort of party I haven’t been to since my mid-twenties. And then I topped it all off with our Christopher Chaos launch week and signing tour. I even dragged my friends out to my boxing gym for a group lesson with my coach.
I spent the whole month surrounded by people I love, and it felt incredible. There were valleys to it, too. But that’s okay. That’s a part of life in and of itself. I’m happy that these are the images that defined my June, not the ones of my sweet old dog’s last few days wrapped in a towel on my couch.
Life is long. Life is messy. Life is complicated. Life has many chapters. And really… Those are its best facets. More and more, I think that’s the central thesis to a lot of my creative work. It’s definitely the central thesis of my life at this moment. I’ve always tried way to hard to keep my life under strict control, even knowing that the more you try to control your life the less control you have. My resolution for 2023 was to be more emotionally messy than I’ve ever let myself be before. And halfway through the year, I can say earnestly that I’ve succeeded there. I’m out there trying more things, putting myself out there, letting myself linger in moments and relationships that don’t have any certainty to them. I’m doing things because they feel good to do, and I feel alive doing them. And that’s messy, and sometimes it really fucking hurts, and some nights I’m miserable… But day to day, I’m happier than I’ve been in years. I feel more myself than I have felt in a very long time. And the shocking thing has been I haven’t had to put my professional life on pause for any of it. I’m still making some pretty major moves that will surprise people when you understand the full scope of them, and I’m still working on all of these incredible comics and I don’t plan on stopping soon. If anything, I’ve made the writing of these comics a big part of that messy expression of myself.
I put a lot of myself into my comic books. I think that’s pretty obvious to everyone who reads them, but I think people would still be surprised about how far I take it. It’s pretty much only the people in the closest ring of my social life who can see how many of my day-to-day follies and triumphs make it onto the page. I like to keep my stories adaptable so that I can lean into what’s capturing my attention at any given moment, and this year more than any other I feel like I’m bleeding into the pages and giving you a lot of myself. And I don’t intend on stopping that any time soon.
I was talking to a new friend in the last week or so, and I wish I could remember the exact words. He was telling me that when I first started coming around socially at the top of the year he was worried about me because I seemed like an emotional live wire, exposed to the elements. But how over the last few months he’s seen more and more of the person I’m going to be at the other side of this whole process. And you know what? I’m starting to see that person, too. I feel like I’m finally coalescing a bit into the next version of myself, one who’s ready for the next challenges life throws at me. One who is going to carry the lessons of this past year forward. It’s not about the physical transformation I’m going through. The physical transformation feels like a reflection of something that’s happening inside of me. There’s an energy to myself I feel like I’m finally settling into. It used to be an energy I was a lot more afraid of than I am now. But it’s a part of me, and I feel like I’m learning to wield it and live in it.
I didn’t talk a lot about my new tattoos in my last post because I hadn’t slept at all and my brain was barely functioning. But I like my tattoos to have a bit of a totemic quality. In the spring of 2019, I got a Bat crashing through the window tattooed on my inner arm, both as a tribute to the role Batman has played in my life and career, and as a symbol of comics being the central mission of my life. Within six months, I got the main gig writing Batman, and I launched the title that would change my life forever, Something is Killing the Children. There is power in getting a raw idea put on you permanently, in ink. And I had two ideas I wanted to put on myself.
First, I wanted to get something that represented the role SIKTC has played in my life, without it being an obvious SIKTC tattoo. Second, I wanted to capture the duality at the heart of SIKTC. Erica is permanently bound to the worst moment in her life through Octo. The monster that killed her parents trapped inside her favorite stuffed animal. To me it represents the connection to the parts of myself I don’t like, and the memories I hate to think about, but know will always be a part of me. If you notice, one of the Octopus’ eyes is scarred out, like Octo’s in the comics.
The next tattoo was a bit more aspirational. I got two ravens, representing Hugin and Munin, thought and memory, the ravens of Odin in Norse Mythology. The idea that got stuck in my head here is that Odin sacrificed himself to himself on the World Tree, in order to become more than he was. Over the last year, I feel like I’ve done a lot to burn myself down to the essence of myself in pursuit of a me that is more me. And I did it while developing W0RLDTR33. I kind of wanted a tattoo that helped secure it all in place. Make the sacrifice of myself to myself permanent, and indirectly honor the launch of the new series.
I also like that the ravens, the octopus, and the bat on my left arm are all guardians of the borders between the underworld and our world. It feels like there’s some power in grouping them together. This is all stuff I only believe in in the lightest, most unserious way, but I can’t deny that there is intent and belief there. And we’ll see if I manage to take some power from it all. Both tattoos (not to mention my Bat, and the Kodama on my ankle) were done by Ligia at Gristle Tattoo in Brooklyn.
I’d say I wish this month would be a little less intense, but that’s not going to happen. San Diego Comic Con is less than two weeks away. A bit further down in this post, I’ll walk you through where you can find me there. Later this week, you’re all going to find out about the top secret project Martin Simmonds and I have been working on while DOT has been on hiatus. I am not exaggerating when I say that Martin is doing the work of his career on this little project. DOT will return in a big way next year, but this is going to be one hell of a fun intermission.
The newsletter is going to stay free through the end of the summer. I have some big stuff brewing behind the scenes, and I want to make sure that when we reactivate we have enough stuff coming that’s worth paying for. In the meantime we’re stockpiling Blue Book and True Weird, and everything else is going to stay free for a while.
BUT! I have comic books coming out this month. So let’s talk about them for a minute and then get to some CONVENTION talk. I want to HIGHLIGHT the release of the Wynd Volume 3 hardcover! These hardcovers are direct market exclusive and always go QUICK and then people want to grab them! If you want one, make sure you try to grab one this week, otherwise you have to wait for the mass market softcover out early next month.
THE EMPIRE OF THE TINY ONION is supported by readers like you! Subscribe today to get early access to new merchandise, exclusive covers, digital-first comic book series, and in-depth behind-the-scenes commentary on your favorite comic books by James Tynion IV.
July 12th
WYND BOOK THREE: THE THRONE IN THE SKY HC
W: James Tynion IV / A + Cover: Michael Dialynas / L: AndWorld Design / E: Ramiro Portnoy & Eric Harburn
Direct market exclusive hardcover! Only available for a limited time! The land of Esseriel is more dangerous than ever, as tensions between the Human and Faerie realms build to the brink of war. Could Wynd be the only hope for peace?
Danger, betrayal, and even romance confront our heroes at every turn as they make a treacherous journey towards the fabled Throne in the Sky, while elsewhere, the Vampyre General Zedra plots her revenge. Things seem dire, but help from an unexpected figure might just be the lifeline Wynd and his friends need…even as the final battle draws near.
July 19th
SOMETHING IS KILLING THE CHILDREN #31
W: James Tynion IV / A + Cover: Werther Dell'Edera / C: Miquel Muerto / L: AndWorld Design / E: Ramiro Portnoy & Eric Harburn
After narrowly surviving the Duplicitype, Erica Slaughter must still reckon with the murderous Cutter in order to save the people of Tribulation.
Separated from Dolly and driven by desperate rage, Cutter won't stop until she exacts her revenge on Erica.
July 25th
THE SANDMAN UNIVERSE SPECIAL: THESSALY #1
W: James Tynion IV / A + C: Maria Llovet / L: Simon Bowland / Main Cover: Reiko Murakami / E: Andrea Shea & Chris Conroy
The immortal witch Thessaly is no stranger to dead ends. But she’s won the hearts of gods and beings more powerful than gods, and persistence has always been her strong suit. Following her scheming machinations in Nightmare Country and Dead Boy Detectives, Thessaly is more determined than ever to suss out the seemingly impenetrable mystery surrounding the death of Madison Flynn. To do that, she’s going to have to get close to the source material—close enough to magic herself into the job of screenwriter on Madison Flynn’s biopic. But she’s going to need a little help to keep the gig…perhaps from one of those Muses the King of Dreams told her about long ago…
July 26th
W0RLDTR33 #4
W: James Tynion IV / A: Fernando Blanco / C: Jordie Bellaire / L: Aditya Bidikar / E: Steve Foxe / P: Image Comics
Ellison has fallen deeper into the Undernet than he ever could have imagined. Now the life of one of his closest friends hangs in the balance...and PH34R is winning.
Strap in as multiple Eisner Award-winning writer JAMES TYNION IV (THE DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH) and FERNANDO BLANCO (Detective Comics) chart new frontiers of horror!
THE ODDLY PEDESTRIAN LIFE OF CHRISTOPHER CHAOS #2
W: Tate Brombal + James Tynion IV / A: Isaac Goodhart / C: Miquel Muerto / L: Aditya Bidikar / Cover A + B: Nick Robles / E: Greg Lockard, Daniel Chabon / P: Dark Horse
From the New York Times bestselling and multi-Eisner award-winning writers of Something is Killing the Children, The Department of Truth, and House of Slaughter; and the artist on Victor and Nora: A Gotham Love Story comes this LGBTQ+ horror-hero coming-of-age series that's Invincible meets Doom Patrol.
Continuing to explore the twisted world of Christopher Chaos, we meet a new dark hero who takes on the crime-infested streets of New Briar City named Dracula Boy. Is this vigilante an actual vampire, or a cape with a grudge to pick? Meanwhile, after a memorial takes place for Christopher's school crush he comes face-to-face with the fanged monster himself for a bloody confrontation.
I can’t fucking believe that it’s already time for another San Diego Comic Con. Last year I got away with hiding behind the scenes the whole time, but I know I’m not going to get away with that again. So this year is the opposite. I’m going to be appearing all over the damn place, and you’ll have a chance to get my signature every day. Here’s where you’ll be able to find me all week…
I can only guarantee graded signatures at the Scott’s Collectables signings. Scott’s is teamed up with the fine folks at KRS Comics for the weekend, so look for their branding! We’re over with a lot of the other collector booths on the Artist Alley side of the convention center (but not IN Artist Alley).
Just a few short weeks after SDCC, my favorite Queer Comic Convention is returning to New York City, and I’m thrilled to say that Tiny Onion Studios is one of the key sponsors this year. THE ODDLY PEDESTRIAN LIFE OF CHRISTOPHER CHAOS is going to be getting the center spotlight, and to celebrate it, we’ve been developing an exclusive ZINE filled with Christopher Chaos illustrations by a bunch of incredible comic artists and illustrators. CHAOS ZINE ONE will debut at Flamecon, and is going to be a convention exclusive. I’m going to reveal more about that in the run-up to next month!
That’s not all Tiny Onion has in store for you at Flamecon! Attendees will find an original piece of Nick Robles Christopher Chaos art adorning their badge, a Flamecon exclusive print at our booth, all of our fancy schmancy Tiny Onion Pride merch. AND, I’m not going to be the only one hanging out under the Tiny Onion Banner!
I didn’t just want to show up alone at this whole shindig! So, I’m bringing along a whole BUNCH of my collaborators! We’re even flying in Wynd co-creator MICHAEL DIALYNAS in from Greece to help celebrate the launch of WYND VOLUME THREE in Softcover the week of Flamecon! I hope we’ll see you there!!!
The only other convention I have on the books this year is NYCC from October 12-15 in NYC! So if you wanna hunt me down, that’s where you’re gonna have to find me. I bet I end up doing a few more signings around the Northeast toward the end of the year, but overall, this is it!
We’ll have a little Onion Drop post on Wednesday showing off a SIKTC variant by Martin Simmonds. It’s going to the whole email list, not just paid subscribers, so if you want it, you’ll need to grab it fast! If the news of the new Martin project breaks before then, I’ll try to talk about it then! We’ll also have another Tiny Onion x SKTCHD post coming later in the month. So stay tuned. Otherwise we’ll be back on Monday, August 7th with the next Tiny Update.
Here’s one more selfie for the road. See y’all in California!
James Tynion IV
Brooklyn, NY
7.10.23
Just sending you a big hug, my friend.
If attending SDCC and being a founder with the special Onion exclusive card, do we have access to any signings?