Still breathing since last week’s release of FABLES #114, part 1 of Cubs in Toyland...? Didn’t think so. I realize I’ve been setting you up for weeks about this epic new storyline...but enough about me and my final warnings. Here’s what a few members of the Fables creative team had to say when asked what scares them most about CUBS: Cover artist JOAO RUAS: “I’ll answer the question with another one: ‘Would you trust an 8 year-old with a chainsaw?’” Assistant Editor GREG LOCKARD: “The health and safety of each cub!” Letterer TODD KLEIN: “Sorry! One evil toy picture isn't that scary to me. What Bill does with them could be...” Penciller MARK BUCKINGHAM: “I have to draw eight issues in a row? NOOOOOOOO!!!!!" Here’s a page from FABLES #115. Seeing is believing... Yesterday, we had the day off in honor of President’s Day, so why not toast the occasion by showing off a few pages of inks from iZOMBIE #24, an upcoming guest artist issue by the rockin’ Jim (The Plain Janes, Aphrodisiac) Rugg. It’s a salute to my favorite team member of the undead secret agents known as The Dead Presidents. The incomparable Kennedy appears to be wearing my favorite retro suit combination of all time, which is appropriately modern in any decade including the ‘70s, when the story takes place. Finally, grab your asthma inhaler before lowering your eyes. It’s a page from HELLBLAZER #289 that’s so claustrophobic, even your own personal sound effect (cue lungs) couldn’t do it justice. The Girl Most Likely to be asked not to sing by Karoke King’s management staff, Shelly

They said it COULDN’T be done... Less Talk! FAIREST #1 variant cover by Phil Jimenez with color by Romulo Fajardo Jr. More Action! HELLBLAZER #288 double-page spread by Giuseppe Camuncoli and Stefano Landini Who, exactly ARE they... IZOMBIE #22 page 19 by Michael Allred And what the *@#! do THEY know...?! FABLES #113 page 19 by Adam Hughes page 19 Next week’s edition of Tuesday Tonic will spill absolutely everything that Bill Willingham doesn’t want you to know about FABLES: CUBS IN TOYLAND, the new epic storyline that will END. ALL. OTHERS. No lie, Shelly

Under editor Shelly Bond’s watch, assistant editor Greg Lockard grills J. Bone in the days before he begins working on iZOMBIE issue #21 (on sale 1/4). cover #21 by Mike Allred GL: What was your first thought when you heard you'd be guest-jamming with Roberson and Allred on iZOMBIE? JB: “Awesome!” I've been a fan of Allred's since getting a Madman ashcan in an issue of Heroes magazine. I'm always looking for excuses to work with Mike, having drawn the Mr. Gum one-shot with him and inking him on X-Statix years ago. I like the way Chris and Mike have updated the movie monster clichés in iZOMBIE. And I use the word "clichés" with all the love in the world. As a Universal Movie Monster fan I like seeing the mummy, vampires, wolf-man (in the form of a were-terrier), and the quick glimpse of the Creature from the Black Lagoon (the first mini-story in the second trade). So awesome to be working with Chris and Mike. GL: What was the first comic you worked on? JB: That would be Solar Stella. I did everything on that one - wrote it, drew it, lettered it. There's only the one issue, and I left it on a cliffhanger. That was twelve years ago. It was my first published work and also the only time I've ever been nominated for an Eisner (Talent Deserving Wider Recognition). I didn't win. GL: You will next time! What was the first comic you read? JB: When I was a kid my sister had a subscription to Humpty Dumpty magazine which printed Tintin in black and white. I remember reading those (and then discovering Tintin albums at the library years later). I also remember my dad having a stack of superhero comics and distinctly remember an issue of Batman with Man-Bat flying over a car on the cover. GL: What do you do when you're not scribbling? Hobbies? Crafts? Reading? JB: I love reading. At any one time I've got a few books on the go. Inevitably one book becomes my focus and I dive into it when I take a break (or ride the subway or before bed). Right now I'm reading Arthur & George by Julian Barnes. My friend Cliff recommended A Sense of an Ending by the same author, and I loved his writing so much I sought out his other books. I also crochet. I learned how to crochet and knit (there is a difference) a few years ago so that I could make my own superhero dolls. I made a Doop (can we mention Doop? :)) doll for Mike which he mentioned in an interview for Wizard magazine -- who then featured my crocheted menagerie in a sidebar interview. Very cool. GL: I love Doop, too! I’m not sure we can mention him, but the risk feels sexy. GL: Soundtrack to your iZOMBIE issue? Music you listen to while you draw? Or do you have the TV on? JB: I actually mostly listen to soundtracks and classical music. I love Klaus Badelt and Hans Zimmer's Pirates of the Caribbean soundtracks and pretty much listen to any or all of those every day. That's what I've been listening to as I get started work on the issue of iZOMBIE. Otherwise I've just got the local classical station on in the background or CBC radio's talk radio channel.

(SWEET TOOTH #26 is the first Vertigo title to be available same-day digital and is available now)

Vertigo is going same-day digital. Executive Editor Karen Berger announced today during the Vertigo panel at New York Comic Con that several Vertigo comic titles will be available digitally on the same day they are in print. The move follows the highly successful launch of same-day digital with DC COMICS-THE NEW 52.

“We’ve found digital to be a great way to bring in new audiences and I’m excited to introduce digital comic readers to these already very popular Vertigo titles,” stated Hank Kanalz, senior vice president of digital, DC Entertainment.

The digital and editorial teams worked together to find “jumping on” points in each comic’s storyline to make it easy for new readers to try out Vertigo comics. Accordingly, here’s a list of Vertigo titles that are going same-day digital and the dates they will begin offering digital versions:

· SWEET TOOTH starting with issue #26 available now
· SPACEMAN the new mini-series by Brian Azzarello and artist Eduardo Risso will launch with issue #1 on sale Oct. 26. This exciting new series featuring award-winning talent will be available for a special price of $.99 – a first for digital pricing that makes this series a “can’t miss” event.
· THE UNWRITTEN beginning with #31 on sale Nov. 9
· iZOMBIE beginning with issue #19 on sale Nov. 16
· THE UNWRITTEN .5 issues beginning with #31.5 on sale Nov. 23
· FABLES beginning with the special holiday issue #112 on sale Dec. 21
· AMERICAN VAMPIRE beginning with issue #22 on sale Dec. 28
· HELLBLAZER beginning with issue #287 on sale Jan. 18

Digital and print comics are available at the same price of $2.99. So head out to your favorite comic shop, visit read.dccomics.com, or download the DC Comics app and enjoy all the wonderful stories we have to offer.