What I've been doing this year...

Since I haven't been active on this blog lately, it looks like it's time for a massive update post.

First up is my newest book from Marvel Comics, The Art of Captain America - The First Avenger. If you browsed through our Art of Thor book that was released a few months ago, then you'll know the type of format this new hardcover sports. Just like Thor, this book features an embossed cover, slipcase, and tons of behind-the-scenes artwork and photos from the making of the Marvel movie. Designed by Mike Zagari, the book weighs in at 240 pages, and is a great addition to any comic book or movie fan's library.

But what if you didn't get any of the other books in this series? I'm glad you asked. That was a very convenient question. Seriously, I probably would've volunteered that information if you hadn't wanted to know it, so this works out for everyone. As it turns out, Marvel is releasing a newly packaged and slipcased 4-pack of these great hardcovers. Besides the two books I wrote (Thor and Cap), this handy set includes both The Art of Iron Man as well as The Art of Iron Man II. Retailing at $150 (or around $95 on Amazon), Art of Marvel Studios also features the writing of John Rhett Thomas and John Barber. This one's not out until September 28th, so you have time to save up. And if you insist, I'll post a reminder when we get closer. Okay, I'll probably do that anyway.

In other news, I've been working on several assignments for Disney's comic division. One of those projects was the main story to an anthology comic tie-in to the new Pirates of the Caribbean film. The book has been finished, but for one legal reason or another, it's currently on hold. We're still pushing for a release date down the line, but as of now, there's nothing to report.

It's a little early to talk about my five other Disney projects, but I will say that they're all Marvel related. I'll be sure to post more on them when they've been officially announced. I also recently finished up a teen fiction novel for Stone Arch books revolving around a famous sports icon. More on that as it develops...

And while we're on the subject of things I can't really talk about yet, I've been assured my super secret DC Comics mini series is still in the works. All six scripts for this creator-owned series have been finished, and now we're in the process of finding the perfect artist, as we had a bit of a misstep early on. This little series is my favorite story to date, so I'll continue to update its progress when there's any news.

And now, on to something I can talk about: The Batman Files.

Finally, my reading obsession since the 5th grade pays off. The Batman Files is a massive 308-page hardcover, chock-full of artwork both taken from existing comics, and commissioned directly for this book. Designed by Michael Reagan from Lionheart Books and published by Andrews McMeel (the folks behind The Complete Calvin and Hobbes and The Complete Far Side), this book takes the form of Batman's personal scrapbook. Containing clipped Gotham City newspaper articles, police reports, Bat-Computer Crime Files, crime scene photos, blueprints and excerpts from Batman's design sketchbook, and even journal entries written by Batman himself, this book is topped with a high-tech leather-like material cover, a magnetic metal clasp, and black gilded pages. Available for pre-order on Amazon now, this book tells the entire life story of the Batman, from his childhood and years of training abroad to his newest missions and the creation of Batman Inc. The Batman Files has taken up the bulk of my writing time this year, and I think it's been completely worth it. Look for it in stores in October.

These days I'm working on a new book featuring a certain infamous wall-crawler. Too soon to talk about this one, but I will say that it's in the same series as two of my previous books...

So that's what I've been working on this year, and a good argument as to why I should update this blog more often than I do. In a few days I'll be heading to San Diego, so I might see you if you're lurking around Comic Con. I'll be the guy constantly looking at the sky and scenery, amazed that there is an actual world outside my office.