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WALL-E #03
Writer(s): J. Torres
Artist(s): Morgan Luthi

Set before the events of the blockbuster Disney/Pixar feature film, we learn how the unlikely duo of a robot and a cockroach became fast friends! You won’t want to miss an issue of this new ongoing series based on the smash-hit film from BOOM Kids!




Well, this is my last issue of WALL-E, at least, for now. Hopefully, I'll be back on the book somewhere down the road. Morgan Luthi is staying on for the second arc, and I hope the new writer has as much fun working him as I did. I think this issue is our best together, especially because we got to cut loose and have some Road Runner/Wile E. Coyote style fun in it.

And in case anyone's wondering why we didn't use the song "Put On Your Sunday Clothes" from the movie in this, long story short, copyright issues. My original script had the song in there, but editorial had to take it out at the last minute and they replaced it with a rather clever made-up song!

Librarians Assemble!

The Ontario Library Association's (OLA) Super Conference is Canada's largest library and information trade show. It takes place this week, February 24-27 at the Metro Convention Centre in downtown Toronto.

I'll be there on on Friday, February 26 starting at 2 PM signing and giving away preview booklets of Alison Dare at the Tundra Books booth (#720).

Incidentally, the preview booklets are the same ones given out at Reading For The Love Of It, and they're quite spiffy looking. Quantities are limited, and it's first come first served, so get one while supplies last!

More information on the OLA can be found here.

More information on Tundra Books can be found here.

More information on Alison Dare can be found here.

Trash Collection

WALL-E: RECHARGE
Writer(s): J. Torres
Artist(s): Morgan Luthi

The story doesn’t end when the credits roll! Fans get to join WALL-E on another adventure through the distant future set before the events of the blockbuster film!

Recharge collects issues #0-3, my contribution to the ongoing series thus far. Yes, I've already heard the joke that this is Boom "recharging" people for the same story. (Hey, I wanted to call the collection "Trash Planet"!) Personally, I think the story reads better as one big volume like this.

You can find the solicitation for both the trade paperback (softcover) and hardcover editions in the current issue of the Previews catalog (page 225). They ship to your friendly neighborhood comic shop in March. Reserve your copy today!

Other stores don't get the books until May, but the upside to this is being able to take advantage of pre-order discounts from places like Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Pre-order your copy now!

RFTLOI and OLA

Not to be confused with ROTFL and Lola, I'm attending a couple of book conferences in Toronto this month to help promote Alison Dare.

The first is the Reading For The Love Of It (RFTLOI) Language Arts Conference at the Sheraton Centre (February 11-12). I'll be signing and handing out Alison Dare preview booklets at Tundra Books (booth #431) on Friday, February 12 starting at 11 AM.

The second is the Ontario Library Association's (OLA) Super Conference (February 24-27) at the Metro Convention Centre. Again, I'll be at Tundra Books (booth #720) on Friday, February 26 starting at 2 PM. For some reason, I feel compelled to wear a cape to this one.

For more information on RFTLOI, please go here.

For more information on OLA, please go here.

Hope to see you there!

From Manila With Love

Ruel S. De Vera of the Philippine Daily Inquirer writes:

“Lola: A Ghost Story” will surprise its readers in unexpected ways

NO MATTER HOW DESCRIPTIVE YOU might find the graphic novel’s title, “Lola: A Ghost Story,” written by J. Torres and illustrated by Elbert Or (Oni Press, Portland, 2009, 112 pages), is just full of spooky surprises.

Torres, the Filipino-Canadian comic book veteran behind the indie hit “The Copybook Tales” as well as the more mainstream “Teen Titans Go!,” celebrates his Filipino roots like never before with this project, injecting a great amount of intensity and thoughtfulness into the novel.

Paired with the rising talent Or, he completes the long-delayed “Lola” with a definite flourish...

You can read the entire review here.