I think I’ve finally recovered from the show. It was giant, it was busy; it was a lot like San Diego, really, but you’re not stuck at hotel bars and you can jaywalk freely as our founding fathers intended. I think this may have been my first big show after drawing Green Arrow & Black Canary, and it was surprising to see all the new faces at my table. So, lots of talking and not enough drawing! At the Vertigo panel, they announced I’ll be drawing the Greendale hardcover graphic novel, written by Josh Dysart and inspired by Neil Young’s concept album of the same name (wha? Yes, THAT Neil Young). It’s a beautiful story, and I’m very proud to be part of the team. We’re going to keep the artwork under wraps for now, but I have a few ideas for goofy things to post here so it doesn’t turn into a ghost-town. Watch this space!

The New York Comic-Con is this weekend, and you can find me sketching away in Artists Alley, TABLE J7-8.  I’ll also be signing at the DC booth on Friday (5-6) and Saturday (12-1). I also hear they may be announcing my Vertigo book at the graphic novel panel this weekend, so expect some news on that front soon.  See you at the Javits Center!

Special thanks to Dave Cummings and Bill Nolan for bringing me up to Boston, and to everyone we met at the show. It was a great weekend, and I hope to be back soon.

Actually, the official name is The Boston Comic Book, CD/Record & Pop Culture Spectacular so there should be something for everyone. From the name itself, it sounds like there should be elephants and oompa loompas, too. And if not, you can still come over and throw peanuts at me while I draw. I haven’t been back to the old stomping grounds in a while, so I’m looking forward to meeting all you Boston fans. See you on Sunday!

Green Arrow & Black Canary #7 is on sale this week. I think I got the idea for this cover after catching Quadrophenia on cable at 4 AM during one of my all-too-frequent all-nighters. Between the leather and the motorcycle, Black Canary looks like more of a Rocker than a Mod, if you ask me. Click on the image for pencils and inks.

Countdown #4 is on sale this week, and features a 2 page Ra’s Al Ghul story drawn and colored by me. With an origin story, the time and setting jump around quite a bit and each panel basically becomes its own little illustration. What I thought would be a pretty simple job ended up feeling like I was producing 11 covers at once. I’m pretty happy with how it all turned out, and I got a big kick out of drawing the old school Batman with a sword. Click on the images for a closer look.

Pick up the Spring 2008 issue of NYLON FOR GUYS for a cool Q&A with 5 comic book artists. Alex Maleev, Paul Pope, Ron Wimberly, Gabriel Ba, and yours truly(!) answer questions like “How have you seen comics change?” and “What is the craziest fan encounter you have ever had?” Thanks to the people at NYLON and DC for putting me in such great company.

I read a lot of those Choose Your Own Adventure books when I was a kid, which probably explains my third grade reading level and short attention span. I also like TV and comics. Now, through the magic of licensing and the internet, I can have them all at once! All I need is a flying car, a robot maid and a dog with a speech impediment and the future will be complete. Anyway, over at the Smallville website, they’re doing a digital comic where the readers vote on plot choices, American Idol-style. Also, there are prizes. So, go over and let your voice be heard! Rock the vote!

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Green Arrow & Black Canary #6 is on sale March 12! With only the slimmest of leads, Ollie, Dinah and Mia begin their international search for Connor’s kidnappers. First stop: Prague; and when they pose the right questions to some very wrong people, Team Arrow becomes the target!

With this issue, I’m sad to say that I’ll be leaving Green Arrow & Black Canary. Due to some recent family medical emergencies, I’ve elected to take myself off the book. Pencilling and inking 22 pages a month isn’t easy even under optimal conditions, and the last few months have been anything but. Rather than continue with the book and subjecting the readers to rushed artwork or intermittent and unexpected fill-ins, I thought it best to exit on a high note and asked my editors to find a new permanent replacement. It’s been a blast working with writer Judd Winick, and incoming artist par excellence Mike Norton is more than up to the task. And I’m not completely out of the picture — you’ll still be seeing me on covers. Best of luck to the team (though they won’t need it), and now I can look forward to reading the book like everyone else!

Bounce on over to the AMC website to see a little mini-interview I did about the 3 best animated films of all time. I deliberately gave some sincere but oddball answers to mix things up a bit. Other favorites of mine include Sleeping Beauty, Totoro, and Wallace & Gromit, but that’s like naming Watchmen and Dark Knight Returns as your favorite comics, y’know?

I also did a short Q&A at Comic Addiction where we discuss, among other things, the romance of Green Arrow & Black Canary.

Also, check out the signings link on the left! Several new conventions have been added to the list: the Boston Comic Book Spectacular in April, Fan Expo Canada in August, and the Baltimore Comic-Con in September. Looks to be a busy year.