DJO November Newsletter
Discounts, Disney, and THRA...
It’s November!! Lot to cover this month, and I’ve had a lot to say recently, but let me start with this special offer, good through tomorrow (Tuesday, 11/28) — the already discounted yearly price for the paid tier on here is even more discounted right now, at $45, which is $3.75/month rather than the $5 you pay as a monthly subscriber. And just a reminder, THIS is what you’re signing up for!
I have a lot of posts coming up about craft, process, plus a web comic, plus INKBOTTLE — the podcast my wife Brittany and I do about creative life and parenting — is coming back after a brief hiatus! See the pinned post for more info on the paid tier benefits. All essays about Gaza will always be on the free tier.
The High Republic is so BACK!
Starting December 13th, my chaos children will be back in The High Republic Adventures! This series is so close to my heart and it’s so incredible to get to hang out with these amazing young people again after our hiatus and jump back in time during Phase II. It’s a story I’ve been carrying for a few years now, and here we are, finally arriving at the next chapter! If you’ve never read a High Republic anything, you can jump on with this new issue #1 — we always make sure to give enough background info so you’re not lost. If you want to catch up on this particular storyline, you can check out The Complete Phase I collection from Dark Horse, and read Midnight Horizon for extra credit.
The great Harvey Tolibao is starting us off with issues #1 and #2, and then we’ll be bringing on some other brilliant artists who have joined the THRA team, including Nick Brokenshire and Elisa Romboli.
And now I’m thrilled to present the very first exclusive peek at two of the opening panels from The High Republic Adventures debut Phase III issue, with art by Harvey Tolibao, colors by Michael Atiyeh, and lettering by Comicraft. Please hold off on reposting this on social media for at least 24 hours (so till Tuesday morning) — Thanks!
It’s so stunning, I just keep staring at it. The whole issue is mind-blowingly beautiful — I’m so blessed to work with this amazing art team. Keep an eye out for a lengthier preview in the coming weeks and another sneak peek on the paid tier of this substack.
Also announced was Crash Landing, a one-shot comic about Crash Ongwa, the pink-haired teenage bodyguard first introduced to us in Phase I’s THRA Annual. Alongside Crash, you’ll all be reunited with the superstar singer Svino, Crash’s mom Baynoo, and Ruu—the main character of Alyssa Wong’s Tales of Light and Life story. Rachelle Aragno brought this story to life with so much charm and vivaciousness. Excited for people to read it.
And speaking of the IRL Crash, our MG novel Escape from Valo is only a month and a half away! Starwars.com provided us with a spectacular description of our little guys—Kildo, Tep Tep and Gavi as well as a new petulant evil genius Nihil teenager, Niv Drendow!
In other High Republic news — the past month has been taking off over on the luminous side of Star Wars. George Mann’s brilliant opening novel of Phase III took us on a journey into the GFFA a whole year after Starlight Beacon was destroyed. If you haven’t picked up Eye of Darkness yet, do it now!
Along with the novel, Phase III has already had some stellar comic releases including Charles Soule’s Shadows of Starlight and Cavan Scott’s The High Republic main run.
Charles Soule, Tessa Gratton, and I had the privilege of traveling to Batuu this month to check out the new Stellan Gios lightsaber available at Dok Ondar’s! It was a thrill as always to catch up with some of the Luminous team, and getting to wander through Disney Land before dawn was nothing short of magic. Holding Stellan’s saber was so surreal—it looks PERFECT!
What’s been going on over on my Substack?
Like I said, I’ve had a lot to say. I’m still trying to figure out how to say most of it, still reeling from ongoing heartache and rage about this ongoing genocide, trying to figure out how to respond, how to use my platform
Don't Let "It's Complicated" Negate Power
On Speaking Out
We're Not Doing That
The Cost of Memory
Along with these posts I shared an old essay I wrote for The New Haven Review back in 2014. And even though I wrote it almost ten years ago, it still hits the same. I’ll be reposting more of my previously published work here on Thursdays with additional commentary.
"What's Like The Craziest Shit You've Ever Seen?"
Alright — that’s it for this month! Thanks for being along for the ride and stay in the light!
D
LINKS:
Guante’s resource for artists who want to speak out on Palestine but aren’t sure how: https://racketmn.com/for-artists-and-musicians-who-want-to-speak-out-about-palestine-but-arent-sure-how
A moving open letter from Jewish students at Brown: https://www.browndailyherald.com/article/2023/11/an-open-letter-from-jewish-students
Writers Against the War on Gaza:
https://www.writersagainstthewarongaza.com/
And more links from Joshua P. Hill:
SupportPalestine Action:
https://www.palestineaction.org/
Dissenters against the War Machine:
Apply pressure for a ceasefire now:
Take action with Jewish Voice for Peace:
https://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/
Take action with the Palestinian Youth Movement:
https://palestinianyouthmovement.com/
Take action with IfNotNow:
https://www.ifnotnowmovement.org/
Support Boycots, Divestment, and Sanctions:
Oh Daniel, this is getting to me already. I love how music is a part of your stories 🥹
Those look absolutely lovely! Very eager to read that issue!