I’ve done some interviews about my very soon to be released Image Comics series 27 that have talked about a puzzle I built into the four issues, and I thought it was about time I provided some details in order to try to get the word about it a little more. I think it’s going to be very fun.
Basically, there’s a code built into certain pages of the book, which works out to a set of instructions. I’ll know the first person who figures out the code and follows those instructions, and when that happens, I’ll buy that person a plane ticket to the comic convention of their choice within the subsequent year. These days, there’s a con in just about every state, in plenty of cool cities, so I think it will be a fun thing to do.
A few limitations – the con will need to be in the winner’s home country (exceptions might be made for cons in the US for Canadians, or European cons for Europeans and similar situations), and I’ll probably cap the amount so I don’t bankrupt myself (I’m thinking $750 or less). If there’s no ticket available at that price or under, I’ll put that amount towards a ticket. You need to read all four issues to figure it out – there are pieces of the code in each book, and you’ll know them when you see them. Lastly, I’ll book the ticket myself, although of course I’ll work with the schedule of whoever’s going to get to go. This isn’t a contest, and it’s not associated with Image – I just want to do something cool for whoever has the dedication required to figure out the puzzle. You don’t have to buy copies of the book to participate, but come on… would you really be able to live with yourself if you won after getting the codes from scans or something?
Should be a blast, I hope.
The first printing 27 #1 is completely sold out at the distributor level, which means every copy Image printed has been bought for sale at shops and various other retail outlets. I’m still processing that – it’s pretty amazing – and I would like to thank everyone who has worked to generate buzz for the series so far.
If you have questions about the book or the puzzle, leave a comment and I’ll get back to you!
Robert Saywitz, the magnificent inker for Strongman Volume 2: Oaxaca Tapout, lives in Brooklyn, just a few neighborhoods over from me. That makes him eminently qualified to have table space at KingCon, Brooklyn’s very own comic convention. It’s happening November 4-7 this year, at the Brooklyn Lyceum (4th Avenue at President St.), just where it was last year. It’s only the con’s second year, so I hope people support it. KingCon seems to be primarily focused on small press from Brooklyn creators, but there are exceptions, and it seems like there will be some big names this year as well.
Anyway, Robert and I shared a table last year for the first con and had a good time, so we’re doing it again this year. Rob was just a newbie to the comics industry back then, and now he’s a grizzled veteran, so it will be fun to see how he approaches the con differently this time around. We’ll have a lot of cool stuff available, including a book of my short stories called “Whirlybird Eggs,” and the image you see below, an amazing Strongman poster Rob put together. Check it out:
Strongman, looking rough, as drawn by Robert Saywitz.
My band will also be playing the after-party (which is actually before the main part of the con on the weekend, but whatever) on Friday night, also at the Lyceum. We’ll be doing just one set, from about 9:15 to 10, so check it out if you can. You may have heard that I have a book coming out the Wednesday after the con entitled 27, all about musicians and such who died at that age, so you can be damn sure we’ll be playing some songs by those luminaries. It’s a cross-promotional hyperstorm! We’ll be sharing the stage with an amazing band fronted by another comics creator, Jeff Burandt (aka Jef UK) – the Americans UK. I can’t wait to see them live. They put together their own little promo poster for the event, which is also supercool – here you go:
KingCon Afterparty Poster!
I think that’s plenty for the moment. Hopefully I’ll see some of you this weekend – it’ll be a blast. And of course, I hope you check out issue 1 of 27, out November 10 from Image Comics/Shadowline! The book has been getting some amazing press coverage, and buzz is building, which generates its own interesting reactions for me. Really, though, anything that helps people find the book is okay by me.
The Land of 10,000 Things 