OK I’m officially old. No, not because I turned 50 (!) since last year’s San Diego Comic-Con International (map below). Not because this is Cool Jerk’s 17th consecutive year in Small Press. But because I sprained my back carrying some of the tablescape out of storage (seen above). PRO TIP: don’t sprain your back. If anyone asks you “hey, wanna sprain your back?” Just remember my advice and kindly decline.

Pain and limited mobility aside, just because I’m taking a sabbatical from the weekly comic doesn’t mean I’m not bringing new, fun stuff to the show!

First and foremost is The Mightily Marvelous Cool Jerk Fun Book! It’s my first all-ages product, if you can believe that. *looks through archive, believes it* It’s a magazine-sized laugh-maker filled with puzzles, games, mazes and other fun stuff. A mere $7. (Later this year will be volume 2, which will be most-ages. Stay tuned!)

Also this year I have a special product— the official Cool Jerk Mystery Funbag! Anyone remember the Happy Happy Funbags from the mid-2000s? Well, it’s like that Funbag had a baby with a Lootcrate and voilà! It’s a blind buy, but guaranteed in each Funbag is one random Cool Jerk book, Doc Splatter Ominous Omnibus, a Cool Jerk T-shirt, Fridge Bling (Cool Jerk magnet— brand new!), a Cool Jerk window decal, stickers, Post-Its, a random Canvas Panel… and a heap of other stuff! Limited to 15 Funbags, this is a once-in-a-decade opportunity to quickly catch up on Cool Jerk swag or take care of that special someone’s birthday or Christmas gift. Easily a $70+ value, but only $30. Sorry, online folks— I can’t really ship this out without adding a dumb amount of postage.

I still have a limited quantity of Like, For Shore! The Complete Works. It’s three volumes collecting more than 170 college-era strips that preceded Cool Jerk. Armpit, Puppy and the rest of the Spittle Beach gang are all there, and I remastered nearly every strip in graphite. The first printing is in a very limited run of 75 signed and numbered copies, and most are gone. Sold as a set, $18.

Like every year I added some new Canvas Panel designs, which I’ll Tweet during the show (find me on Twitter: @cooljerk). I also reprinted a stack of old favorites that always seem to sell out. $15 a pop, or $40 if you want a long-form canvas (contains a whole strip, not just one panel), which I can custom-make for you if you order one up in person or online.

I have a limited supply of last year’s runaway hit, the Cool Jerk Enamel Pins. They’re $10 and you get one-of-a-kind original art with each pin. Choose among the Cool word balloon, Jerk thought balloon and/or the ubiquitous CENSORED bar… perfect for any jacket, backpack or tongue piercing!

Attendees will also find The Girl Who Kicked The Donut Habit (Darlene’s second comic) and the Jerkopædia (Official Style Guide to Cool Jerk), both of which I’ll have on hand in limited supply. Also running a bit low on T-shirts, but I’ll bring what I have.

And last but not least, here’s a convenient map I whipped up while sucking down some CBD.

Click it!

Hope to see you at the show!