Last week, I went to ComicsPro in beautiful Glendale, California. Where comic book retailers gather to meet with the major comic book publishers and discuss the year past and the year ahead. I went as a guest of the terrific publisher Ignition Press to share that I am doing my debut creator-owned book Showdown with them. Showdown is written by me, drawn by Tadd Galusha, lettered by Clayton Cowles, colored by Triona Farrell, and edited by the team of Jamie S. Rich and Nora Ornstein. Our main covers are by the legendary Steve Lieber and we have variant covers by Tadd Galusha and the also legendary David Lapham.

I will tell you that when Ignition Press asked to come speak about the book, I was much more calm about it than I thought I would be. Speaking to people is always something that has come to easy to me, I enjoy public speaking, and after doing improv comedy in LA for many years…I am not afraid to fail on stage in front of an audience. However…I got on stage at ComicsPro and immediately felt overwhelmed in the moment. I couldn’t believe I was getting to be there, I couldn’t believe we were announcing this project, and I couldn’t believe that such a large component of the comic business was looking at me. Instead of being embarrassed I stayed the course, I told the people in the room how I couldn’t believe that I was there, I couldn’t believe that this book was finally happening, and that truly I was grateful to be there and the room appreciated it.

I felt like I had swung and missed in that moment. The terrific team at Ignition told me I did great, and then throughout the day I met with many retailers who told me they appreciated my honesty and sincerity and were going to take a chance on the book. It was a really incredible day. And then that night at a few industry after parties I got to talk to creators I love and they were so glad for the announcement of the book. It was one of the days I have most felt like a comic book writer to date.

The first issue of Showdown will be out on May 13th, 2026. Our FOC date April 6th, 2026. Folks, I am going to be banging this drum for the foreseeable future, but this is the first time…Please go to your local comic book store, and ask them to order Showdown issues 1-5 and they will order all five issues for you and you will be able to purchase them the day they come out, without any worry about the issue being available on the shelf. This is a new comic book series from an up-and-coming writer (Hello!), we need as much support going into this launch as possible.

You are going to see me do as many interviews as I can do for the book. I will be sending the book to creators I trust for pull quotes, and this newsletter will largely Showdown-focused for the duration of the five issues. I am so unbelievably excited. I am also very driven to make sure I do everything I can to promote this book. So this is where we begin!

Are you going to Emerald City Comic Con next week? I am! I will be there from Thursday March 5th through Sunday March 8th at Artist Alley Table J21. Bring anything I have done and I will sign it. Don’t have anything I have done, or have some gaps you are looking to fill? I will have many books on-sale at my table. And as previously mentioned, my friend, fellow comic book writer, and convention compatriot Chris Robinson will be by my side at Artist Alley Table J22 and he’s going to have some great stuff too. We’re going to be the best table duo at the show! Mark my words!

Won’t be able to come to Emerald City Comic Con, but live in the greater Los Angeles area and still want to meet me/get comic books signed by me? Great, great news for you!

On Saturday March 14th, 2026 from 4PM-6PM, come to the amazing Things From Another World Comic book store at Universal City, on Universal City Walk, at 1000 Universal City Plaza Suite #101, Universal City, CA 91608. It was really great to be asked to do a signing at this store, I am looking forward to it, and I hope you come out to it.

I had an amazing time signing at Golden Apple Comics a few weeks ago, a great time signing at Collector’s Paradise North Hollywood last year, and I am thrilled to add Things to Another World to the list of incredible LA comic book stores that have been kind enough to have me as a guest to do a signing. It’s going to be awesome!

That’s it for this week, we're going to take a couple weeks off from Media Diet.

Next week I head to Emerald City Comic Con so my post will mostly be about my table and schedule for that show.

Until then?

Stay safe!

—Dave Wielgosz