Transactional vs Actionable

OAX + LICH + more

You can spot them a mile away. Their smart clothes. Their charming smile. Their enthusiastic handshake.

Within three minutes they’re pretending to listen to you while glancing over your shoulder. It only took them the same amount of time it takes to unload a dishwasher to assess you. No longer making full eye contact. Every time someone new enters the room they’re making calculations like a Terminator. Is that somebody or nobody? Can they elevate my life? Can you?

Those people are transactional.

Then there are people who make things despite you. Do things that get things done. They’re not gonna let anyone get in their way. And if you happen to (((vibe))), share similar references and mission statements, can bring skill sets and talent to the table, there may be an opportunity to achieve something cool together. Or, at the very least, bounce off each other. Workshop. Get inspired.

Those people are actionable.

Some of my favorite interactions are the random ones. An unexpected encounter that turns into something astonishing. You make a joke at a party. Or an open observation. A stranger responds. A natural exchange happens. An honest conversation bereft of agenda. A human connection and suddenly you’re best friends the next two-to-three hours. Often never to see or hear from that person ever again.

But they made an impression that is now a part of you. Your intentions. Your risks and resolve.

I have 28-pages of ANTIMATTER #1 to color and letter and then my good buddy/cartoonist Josh Neufeld will put it all together and we’ll send it off to the printer. While I wait for boxes of the book to land in my studio for packing and mailing, I’ll be working on The Red Hook sketches. Which means I’ll be closing late pledges soon and start collecting backers mailing addresses, commission requests, etc. Meanwhile, I’ve started to outline the next three issues of ANTIMATTER and I hope y’all dig the first issue enough to desire more.

My latest AI Joe adventure, “A Toy And His Dog,” is running in the back of the EROTECH mini-series, published by SHP Comics. I gotta admit, it ain’t easy to produce two-page chapters. I think it was writer Mark Waid who advised young writers to train themselves by writing five-page stories. That he honed his trade conceiving of Archie Comics stories that traditionally run 5-pages. My current AI Joe ditty works best as a ten page tale but I hope I made each chapter interesting enough for you to wanna know more.

You know who writes a brilliant one-pager? Whitney Matheson. And if you haven’t checked out her short story collection, THE FEELING, you’re doing a disservice to your soul.

Venmo — send $20 for THE FEELING to @whitneymatheson (my last four digits are 8338)

PayPal — send $20 for THE FEELING to whitmath@gmail.com (again, my last four digits are 8338)

Etsy — place an order at my Etsy shop, Pulp Candy Press

In other news…

Comics Watch: Meet The Creators Behind The ORPHAN WORKS Kickstarter

VITO x DINO podcast 55: Vito Delsante and I welcome musician and comics retailer, Nick Purpura, to talk about the current state of comic book retailing and strategies for comics creators to consider when publishing their books. This is ONE TO WATCH and TAKE NOTES!

VITO x DINO podcast 56: Vito and I celebrate Black History Month by talking about our favorite Black creators and characters (including our own), but not before asking one of the toughest questions we've asked in 56 episodes: How would superheroes solve the problems outside our window?

VITO x DINO episode 57: Vito and I tackle the comic industry’s latest hot topic; story versus art (thanks Todd McFarlane). A quick hip hop “versus,” a discussion about creator avatars in comics, and favorite love songs for Valentine’s Day!

Catch me in Orlando, Florida, Feb 20 - 22, 2026 at OAX (Original Art Expo), table A40, where we will be debuting the Jack & Roz KIRBY AWARDS. Check out the “Absolute Batman Last Laugh” drawing I donated to the OAX auction & fundraiser. You can bid on it HERE. And check out this OAX preview/talk I did with IC3’s very own Matthew Sardo.

Then come spook me and Fred Harper at the Long Island Convention of Horror in Hauppauge, NY from Feb 27 - March 1, 2026. I’ll have comix and new prints for sale, including an exclusive poster of Mr. Melvin, signed by me and legendary The Toxic Avenger creator/Troma filmmaker/actor, Lloyd Kaufman!

I'm teaching "Comix Fundamentals: Writing in Pictures and Drawing Narratives" at the Art Student's League in NYC, April 28 - 30, 2026. Learn more about it HERE.

Happy 88, Dad.
See you soon, Mom.
Love, Dean

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