John Lees, who previously wrote a piece for CBR called Scalped and the Stereotype That Wasn't There, has now begun a new series of Scalped-related essays on his blog, which can be found here.

First is Studying Scalped: An Introduction.

And the newest is The Shadow of Scalped, which examines some of the themes of Scalped and looks at where they reappear in my other works.

It's extremely well-written and most definitely worth your time if you're at all a fan of anything I've ever done.

I mostly listen to alt-country and bluegrass these days (which as a teenager, I would've never believed could ever fucking happen). But every once in a while, like tonight, I'm reminded of how much I used to like Rage Against the Machine. You know, before they broke up. Tonight I was listening to their last studio album, Renegades, which is a collection of cover songs. A terrific and wildly diverse collection of cover songs. It is without a doubt my favorite Rage album. I dug all their stuff beginning with their 1992 debut, but looking back, too much of their original material seems a tad sophomoric and at times pretentious. But Renegades is just pure fun. It's an inspired grouping of covers that all showcase guitarist Tom Morello at his most wildly inventive. Unfortunately, I didn't feel the same about any of the Audioslave material that followed the dissolution of Rage. Perhaps in part because Chris Cornell's voice reminds me of someone trying to sing after they've been up all night vomiting. In other words, I'm not a fan. Not that Rage vocalist Zack de la Rocha is all that golden-throated or really even that great of a rapper. But nevertheless something about the combo worked. For me at least. So basically what I'm saying is, Rage, I miss you. I know you're supposedly working on a new album. Here's hoping it's your best yet. Regardless, I'll be listening.

Now back to my Flatt and Scruggs.

Via Wrong Side of the Art

CBR has an exclusive preview of ASTONISHING SPIDER-MAN & WOLVERINE #5 as well as a preview of WOLVERINE #7. Both are due in stores next month and both are, as you can see, awfully pretty to look at.

Full preview at CBR.

By Ryan Browne, he of God Hates Astronauts, "the worlds finest free web-comic about bears, big gross heads, infidelity, old tyme boxers who get resurrected by magic bears, criminal owls & lasers."

Yes, it is as awesome as it sounds.

SCALPED Vol. 7: REZ BLUES is out today, which is the biggest SCALPED trade to date, collecting 8 issues, from the stand-alone issue #35 through the "Unwanted" arc. And the newest issue, #46, the second part of the "You Gotta Sin To Get Saved" arc also hits stores today.

Here's a little soundtrack to enjoy while you check out REZ BLUES. Hope you like.

SCALPED #46 cover byJock

devil necklace, originally uploaded by Jason Aaron.

Even if it is a gross exaggeration.

From Geek Le Mag, the French version of Geek Monthly

My Beard -- February 2011, originally uploaded by Jason Aaron.

I am currently writing SCALPED for Vertigo and WOLVERINE, ASTONISHING SPIDER-MAN & WOLVERINE, ULTIMATE COMICS CAPTAIN AMERICA and PUNISHERMAX, all for Marvel. Actually, I've finished writing ASTONISHING and ULTIMATE CAP, but they're not finished coming out. I'm also already in the actual writing or at least planning stages for three other new projects that will be out later this year.

This is where you can see me this year:

March 26-27 -- Planet Comicon, Kansas City
My hometown show. Always a good time here. Also a chance for me to try and empty my basement of comps.

April 1-3 -- WonderCon, San Francisco
First time ever doing this show. Really looking forward to it.

August 20-21 -- Baltimore Comic Con
One of the best shows in the country. Glad to be headed back.

That's all that's confirmed for now. I may add one or two other appearances as the year goes on, but probably not many. I'm trying to keep travel to a minimum this year so I can concentrate on work.

And by "work" I mean watching "Wipeout" and eating Girl Scout cookies by the fistful.

Via Wrong Side of the Art

Am I crazy or are these basically the same outfit?

I've never read it, but I'm already guessing yes.



It was written by Chuck Dixon, drawn by my esteemed PunisherMAX collaborator Steve Dillon, and featured a leader character named Chevy Vasquez, AKA Mad Mex. Yes, you want it now too, don't you?

Thanks to PunisherMAX editor Sebastian Girner for the heads up on this.

How awesome is this? Answer: pretty damn awesome.


Wolverine Vs The Hand from Gary Shore on Vimeo.

Sweet custom-made action figure of the futuristic version of Spider-Man seen in the "Tomorrow Dies Today" arc of WOLVERINE: WEAPON X, by me and Ron Garney.

New Hayes Carll today! ♫ http://blip.fm/~11v8lb

SCALPED #49
Written by JASON AARON
Art by R.M. GUERA
Cover by JOCK
The mysterious Catcher has always walked his own path, but for him, time is running out. As another searing story comes to an end, will Catcher finally run out of places to hide?
On sale MAY 25 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • MATURE READERS



ASTONISHING SPIDER-MAN & WOLVERINE #6 (of 6)
Written by JASON AARON
Pencils & Cover by ADAM KUBERT
WOLVERINE IS THE NEW DARK PHOENIX! We’ll let that sink in… NOW RUN TO YOUR RETAILER AND MAKE THEM RESERVE YOU A COPY OF THIS COMIC!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99



WOLVERINE #9
Written by JASON AARON
Penciled by DANIEL ACUÑA
Cover by JAE LEE
X-Men Evolutions Variant by TBA
Logan needs answers about the mysterious villains who sent him to hell, and he knows exactly where to go to get them: Mystique. But Mystique has troubles of her own, namely the unstoppable new assassin, Lord Deathstrike.
32 PGS./Parental Advisory …$3.99



PUNISHERMAX #13 
Written by Jason Aaron
Penciled by Steve Dillon
Cover by DAVE JOHNSON
"Frank" Part Two
The Punisher’s war on crime has come to a dead stop. Locked in a high-security prison, his arms and legs in casts and hooked to life support, Frank Castle is at the mercy of every lowlife in the place, dreaming of being the one who finally put him down. But what troubles Frank aren’t the attempts on his life, but the memories shaken loose by Bullseye. Memories of a time when he wasn’t yet the Punisher, but a husband and a father…
32 PGS./Explicit Content …$3.99



ULTIMATE COMICS CAPTAIN AMERICA PREMIERE HC
Written by JASON AARON
Penciled by RON GARNEY
Cover by RON GARNEY
Captain America meets his ultimate nemesis: the Captain America of the Vietnam War! As new enemies face off, old secrets from the Super-Soldier project are revealed. From the superstar WOLVERINE: WEAPON X creative team of Jason Aaron and Ron Garney, get ready for a hard-hitting story of one man’s quest to serve his country — and the sacrifices he must make. Collecting ULTIMATE COMICS CAPTAIN AMERICA #1-4 and material from CAPTAIN AMERICA SPOTLIGHT.
112 PGS./Parental Advisory …$19.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-5194-4
Trim size: standard



PUNISHERMAX: BULLSEYE PREMIERE HC
Written by JASON AARON
Penciled by STEVE DILLON
Cover by DAVID JOHNSON
There are some lines the Punisher will never cross. Ex-Marine Frank Castle will do whatever it takes to eliminate criminals. Using the memory of his family’s murder to fuel his hatred, Castle is a virtual killing machine. While his methods are brutal, he has always adhered to a strict code, never allowing innocents or the police to end up in his crosshairs. With the cops working for the Kingpin of Crime, Frank finds himself with a choice. Can he kill a cop, albeit a dirty one? How far is he willing to go to bring down the Kingpin and his rabid dog Bullseye? One trigger pull and the life of the Punisher will never be the same! Collecting PUNISHERMAX #6-11.
144 PGS./Explicit Content …$24.99
ISBN: 978-0-7851-4755-8
Trim size: standard
Order Code: OCT100684

Via Wrong Side of the Art

From Moist Production.com:

Not exactly a great Valentine's Day song but nevertheless one I've been enjoying this week. ♫ http://blip.fm/~11sksq

New WOLVIE interview at Newsarama. And here are Jae Lee's covers for the upcoming "Wolverine vs. The X-Men" arc, running in issues #6-8.

My son loves the animated Clone Wars series. He knows way more about the characters of that world than he does about Luke Skywalker, Han Solo or any of the Star Wars characters I grew up with. And the show is actually pretty entertaining, especially when compared to those last three films. But as an old-school Star Wars fan I just find it weird that I'm now supposed to be cheering for Stormtroopers, knowing full-well that they're eventually going to wind up as the shocktroops of a ruthless Nazi-like empire. I mean, even the name "Stormtrooper" is derived from German assault troops in World War I. Yet to my son, Stormtroopers are now cool. They're one of the coolest parts of the Clone Wars series. So basically George Lucas has given us a show set in pre-World War II Germany where you find out Goebbels and Himmler were actually pretty cool dudes. Almost as cool as Anakin Skywalker, the other big hero of the series. Who we all know eventually turns out to be Hitler!

Is George Lucas crazy-genius or just flat-out fucking crazy? I can't tell anymore.

From EERIE #95 (1978).

Via Kevin Mellon.

I talk upcoming WOLVERINE plans over at CBR.

Also, WOLVERINE #5.1 came out this week, which is a stand-alone, new-reader friendly tale about Logan's birthday, guest-starring about half of the Marvel U. I'm pretty proud of how it turned, including the awesome art from my former BLACK PANTHER collaborator Jefte Palo. If you've never read any of my WOLVERINE work before but are up for giving it a try, this would be the issue to check out.

Did I mention that Deadpool sings karaoke?

Jefte Palo art from WOLVERINE #5.1, out now

Via Wrong Side of the Art

Still coming to grips with the end of football season and the beginning of another long, hard summer. Can't believe it'll be months before I get to see a grown man run twenty yards and tackle another man hard enough to make him fart out his teeth. So sad.

Writing SCALPED #50 this week. 

Number. 

Fifty.

Still can't believe that. Never dared imagine we would ever get this far. Thanks as always to everybody out there who's supported the book and spread the word. #50 will be one of those "very special issues." It features two stories, one of which, titled "The Art of Scalping," Guera and I have been kicking around for a very long time. 

Stay tuned.

Jock's cover for SCALPED #49

Via Wrong Side of the Art

Scalped vol. 7 -- coming soon, originally uploaded by Jason Aaron.

-- Sent from my Droid with K-9 Mail.

Colorist Matt Hollingsworth's layer setup for page 11 of PunisherMAX #11, the finale of the "Bullseye" arc.