Just the Facs(imile)

DC has announced a facsimile edition of Green Lantern #49, the second part of the “Emerald Twilight” storyline that kicked off my run on the title. The issue is scheduled to hit stores on July 8 with a standard edition, a foil variant edition, and a blank/sketch cover edition.

The cover image, penciled by Darryl Banks and inked by Romeo Tanghal (I’m not positive who colored the cover, but perhaps it was interior colorist Steve Mattsson), is obviously a landmark DC image, homaged over and over. A few years ago, I asked Darryl whatever happened to the original art. He said, a little glumly, that he’d sold it for a few hundred bucks shortly after the issue came out. That piece of art is worth a very hefty sum now, but little did we know.

The interior artist for issue #49 was Fred Haynes, necessitated by the fact that the three Emerald Twilight issues all needed to be drawn at the same time due to editorial’s decision to go in a new direction (and new team) for the storyline. So rather than Darryl drawing all three issues, as had been planned, he started on issue #50, and Bill Willingham and Fred Haynes were assigned to #48 and #49 respectively. All three issues needed to be written at once, which led me to writing pages in interesting places, including an Amtrak train into Manhattan and between sets at a Peter Gabriel concert.

I think issue #49 was the first and last time I ever worked with Fred, and as far as I can remember, we didn’t really have much contact in the process. I wrote the issue, he drew it, and that was it. I’m not sure if Fred is still working in the business.

Here’s a more detailed account of the facsimile edition from 13^th Dimension, including an expected reprint of issue #50 as well (check out the faux back cover ad below with a Parallax Super Power figure):

https://13thdimension.com/green-lantern-49-hal-jordan-goes-mad-in-facsimile-edition-classic/

Aloha, Hawaii, and Hello, Cape Town

By the time you’re reading this, I’ll be in Cape Town, South Africa for Comic Con Cape Town. This is, of course, just after returning from Honolulu, Hawaii to appear at the McCully-Mōʻiliʻili Public Library. Yes, I know, tough to be me, right? I never forget how fortunate I am to visit these places all because I write comics.

The Hawaii visit was a great experience because of the location (of course), as well as the chance to meet fans in a more intimate, one-on-one setting than a convention offers. Everyone who came to the signings was gracious, kind, and many of them even brought gifts of Hawaiian snacks, coffee, you name. I’m grateful for the hospitality, especially that of librarian Hillary Chang and the Friends of the Library of Hawaii, who put it all together. A wonderful time, and I hope to return soon.

Here’s a look at some of the sights, including Diamondhead from the sea, the Diamondhead lighthouse, Byodo-In Temple, the royal palace, and maybe most importantly, the most amazing Ube pancakes ever.

Lots of pictures from South Africa next time around.

The Devil You Know

This week saw the release of the second expansion from Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred from Blizzard. I didn’t do a great deal of work on the second expansion, having worked extensively on the first expansion and then moved over to seasonal content. Even so, I realize I’m not completely unbiased when I say that I think my teammates on the franchise did a great job on the expansion, which is really a concluding chapter to this part of the saga. But don’t take my word for it; the reviews have been uniformly positive, and player sentiment seems really enthused. Hope you enjoy our little slice of hell if you get a chance to check it out.