The Empire is recruiting!

CHEW #1 sells out--second print coming!!

Thanks to everybody who helped make this book such a surprise hit. And if you missed out, never fear... a second print is coming (the green logo, pictured right.)



The cannibalistic crime thriller, CHEW, sells out with a second printing on the way!

CHEW, the all-new crime series with a cannibalistic twist from writer John Layman and illustrator Rob Guillory, debuted to a near immediate distribution-level sell out despite a significant overprint, resulting in a second printing.

"I've been insisting for years that the comic book industry has been clamoring for more books with double page spreads of non-costumed characters eating soup, and it's gratifying to see there indeed is a robust market for such a book," Layman said. "Big thanks to everybody --retailers, readers and reviewers-- who came out in such shocking numbers to check out something new and different, and more than a little bit weird. Rob Guillory's amazing art certainly played a big part in attracting people's attention, so I want to thank him for his great work as well."

CHEW's star, Detective Tony Chu, is a cop with a secret. As a Cibopath, Detective Chu gets a psychic impression from whatever he eats. While it means he's a hell of a Detective if he can stomach the evidence, once his secret gets out the government makes plans for him, whether he likes it or not. CHEW blends horror, mystery and the strangest ability of them all in an ongoing series of horrific crimes solved in the most horrific way possible. Since its release the book has been receiving an immense amount of buzz with many retailers directly contacting Image for as many copies as they can spare. Even Layman's fellow creators have been talking up the book.

CASANOVA and Uncanny X-Men Writer Matt Fraction commented, "Of all the times John Layman has made me want to throw up, this was the best. CHEW is disturbed and disturbing and warped and grotesque and hilarious and horrifying-- in short, exactly the kind of book we were all afraid John Layman had hiding inside of him somewhere. Now when they find the bodies, we can all hold up copies of CHEW and say SEE? WE TOLD YOU THIS WAS COMING. Oh, and Rob Guillory is going to helllllllllll."

CHEW #1 2nd Printing (APR098373) and CHEW #2 (MAY090346), both thirty-two page full color comic books for $2.99, will be in stores July 1st, 2009.

CHEW #1 came out today!!

"How do I describe Chew? The perfect recipe for your comic book appetite:a healthy helping of police drama, a dash of humor, sprinkle in some action, and throw in some cannibalism for good measures. Chew has it all, just be sure not to read it on an empty stomach."
--COMICS ADDICTION.COM

"Chew is a great comic book – the type that grabs you by the ears, takes a bite out of your nose, spits it in your face and still leaves you laughing and hungry for more. After only one issue, it might be my favorite book on the stands."
--IGN.COM

"The most unsettling, most awesome piece of comic book material that's been published in quite some time."
--COMIC PANTS.COM

"The plot moves in a downhill direction."
--MAJOR SPOILERS.COM


Check out Chewcomic.com for more, especially since I suck so much at updating this site.






Also: even bigger news: BUMBLE BUZZ'S PAWS ARE RECOVERING NICELY!!!!

On Sale last week: Tek Jansen #5

Remember how excited I was when Tek Jansen started up? Now I'm just glad it's over. It's been a long, winding road, but here we are.

Tek hardcover coming in July!!!

Man, I feel like shit (Bumble Buzz edition)

Poor old Bumble Buzz. I haven't clipped the cat's claws in a long time, and we finally got around to clipping Batty's, coz she jumps on you and you totally get stabbed by her sharp little claws. Anyway, I looked at Bumble Buzz's claws for the first time in several months and they are all so long and big there were, like, three different claws ingrown into her little paw pads.

I cut the claws, but her little feet were bleeding and now the paw pads are scabbed over. I've been putting ointment on it, but I feel so bad I let this go for so long without her noticing.

POOR OLD KITTY!

"Chew" has its own web site! Plus an order code: APR09 0337 Chew#1

My upcoming comic book "Chew has it's own web site at http://www.chewcomic.com !

Check it out!

Also, here's the solicitation for it that appeared in Previews. Click on image for the bigger version.

Layman has a new comic book coming in June: It's called Chew

It's called Chew, with fantastic art from a cat named Rob Guillory. Is coming from Image,

Here's some links talking about it:

NEWSRAMA

I09

THE BEAT

COMIC BOOK RESOURCES

I'm going to be promoting the hell out of this in the comic months, so expect more activity on this blog. If anybody wants to interview me or whatever, drop me a line.

On sale last week: Tek Jansen #4

Remember when I used to have comic books coming out all the time? Yeah, me too. Those days are coming back, ladies, mark my words.

This is the new shit, yo

Because you are all sad and pathetic and hang on my every word, and everything I do is the coolest and absolute height of fashion, I thought I would share some of my recent purchases or aquisitions:



Lily Allen: It's Not Me, It's You CD
It's embarrassing how much I like this chick's music. Considering I don't really listen to new music, just the same old crap I've listened to for the past 15 or 20 years, this is about as close to new music as I get. Her stuff is super poppy, but the lyrics are pretty mean and raw, and I get a big kick out of them. I like it even more because Lily Allen does a lot of outrageous stueff in real like, getting wasted in public and cursing and flashing her boobs and being generally obnoxious. This album is a little more hit and miss than her first. About half the songs I just love love love. The other half really do nothing for me. Doesn't really bother me, though, since CDs are cheap these days, and I just load up the music I like on my iPod anyway.




Speed Racer on Blu Ray
I loved this movie so much I bought it on Amazon before I was even halfway through watching the disc of it I had Netflixed. Still unsure if it is the best movie of 2008, but it is damn good, and truly visionary. Remember how the Matrix was the first movie you needed to by a DVD player for? This is the first movie you need a Blu-Ray player and an HD TV to fully appreciate. I could go on, but this probably merits a blog post just itself, under the heading "Best Goddamn Movie (or Movies) of 2008."




Lego Pirates Loot Island, set #6241
Given to me by my life partner for Valentines' day. Awesome, but not quite as awesome as the new Lego farm sets showing up in stores now. I'll be getting those soon. Look for me to resume the Layman Lego Project when I do.




The Fart Party
As I indicated in my NYCC post, this was my big purchase of the con, and my big fanboy moment, since The Fart Party is my favorite web comics (with Paul Horns Cool Jerk being a very close second.) My friend Allen is also a fan, and also purchased a book, and mentioned I was uncharacteristically quiet when I met with the author, Julia Wertz. She is always doing cartoons about wanting to kill people who annoyed her, though, and I just assumed she would want to kill me, too, if I opened my mouth. So I kept my yap shut. This book is funny as hell, and available on Amazon. I recommend it.




08 by Dan Goldman and some other dude
Dan Goldman is a buddy of mine and we spent a very enjoyable evening together at NYCC eating Afghani food and going to a sake bar. I like to buy books to support my friends and needed something to read on the plane flight home, so I picked this one up. Loved it a lot. Of course, it was non-fiction, so a lot of what I loved was the fact, at the end of the story, the shitbag Republicans are sent packing and we finally have a president who isn't a dunce. Anyway, more good stuff.




Aveda Rosemary Mint Shampoo
'Cause I like my hair to smell good, bitches!

Layman '09. Post NYCC. Back from the dead?

So... I got back from New York Comic Con yesterday, and had the best con in recent memory. Just a damn good time, invigorating, and the polar opposite of a lot of cons I've been in the past, particularly San Diego.

A big difference, certainly, is I'm not hovering around DC and Marvel, there's no expectation or hope of work, so I was just able to enjoy things, getting to the con late, dining with friends, drinking with friends --though not quite to the excess that I have in years passed. I stayed with friends in Brooklyn, which feels decidedly lower key than Manhattan.

I didn't buy much at the show, but I never do. My big fanboy moment was buying 2 copies of Julia Wertz's "The Fart Party," a collection of my favorite web comics.



I did miss out seeing a couple friends, Troy and John C. in particular, which was a bummer, but, overall, it was just a great show, and I really enjoyed seeing everybody I got to see and hang out with. Highlights? Seeing a filming of the Colbert Report; an Afghani dinner with Turkish coffee followed by good conversation in a sake bar with a good friend and one of my all-time favorite colorists; CB Cebulski's all-star party, too goddamned packed but it was nice to see practically every single person in the comics industry in one place; a Southern Mexican meal of really bizarre Mexican food; and then just chilling in the airport playing Warcraft on free wi-fi and running into some other friends and getting a quick drink with them. Even my down-time was good, as Battlestar G and Lost, which I was able to watch on my laptop, were particularly good last week.

I also showed around my upcoming comic book around the show. Yep, I said "upcoming comic book." If for no other reason, I'll probably be blogging more as a result of that.

See you around, suckahs.





Oh... p.s.: Photos by Alan Passallaqua

Oh hell yes!

Layman political endorsement

If you are even thinking about voting for John McCain you are an asshole.

Layman in Seattle for Pax

Things I intend to do:
* Drink at Shortys
* Drink at Lava Lounge
* Drink at Nite Lite
* Eat a cheeseburger at Dicks
* Eat a donut at Top Pot
* Eat bacon at the Mecca
* Visit my townhouse
* Drink coffee at Herkimer's
* See a few friends
* See one enemy

And, between it all, I'll be at the Cryptic booth at Pax, shuffling, smiling, and twirling a cane.

Help me solve the mystery... of the DC Bear!!

If you're like me, the instant the new Time Warner/DC products catalog is released, you rush out to pick it up and pour over all the fine products you cannot live without over the next year. This catalog, unlike years past, utilized a male model to show off DC's upcoming apparel line. The perhaps unexpected result of this is the sudden popularity on the blogosphere of the handsome young male who has come to be known as "The DC Bear," a phenomena now drawing legions of fans both male and female. I have to admit, I too have been drawn in by the mystery of this unkempt Casanova, this long-haired Lothario, this hirsute hunk, this shaggy sensation.

If anybody has any information on how to contact "The DC Bear," please let me know. Some mysteries are too delicious not to be solved!!!

OMG He looks like a widdle angel!!!

What a sweet cat. I miss him so much.

LAYMAN VS. LAYMAN DEATHMATCH!!

My money is on Layman!

Layman at San Diego Con.

I'll be at San Diego Con, signing at the Oni Booth Thursday through Saturday.

The rest of the time I'll be with the high rollers, power players and beautiful people. Because THAT is where John Layman belongs!!

Man, this little kid gets goofier by the day

Irrefutable proof I am possibly the coolest person EVER!!!!

Here is my name written in Elvish!!!

Tek Jansen #2! On sale today!

Written by me!! (and to a much lesser extent, Tom Peyer and Jim Massey.)



And on sale last week was the second printing of Tek #1, now in its convenient flip-book format.