What's In A Name?

Plus: The US Premier Of My New And Improved Signature at Orlando MEGACON!

As always, before getting into the meat of today’s newsletter, let me get some self-serving business out of the way. 

---

Amazing Is Invading Europe… And Orlando?

I’ll be at the Angoulême International Comics Festival on Thursday and Friday, January 30 and 31. I know I have at least one signing, but there may be two. The times are still pending, so I'll pass on more information as I have it.

Then you can find me at MEGACON, Thursday-Sunday, February 6-9. My signing times are still being worked out, but if you’re interested in “experiencing” me (umm… ew?), you can find the different packages listed HERE. As of this writing, some dates and cut-offs are incorrect, and I’m working with Fan Expo to get it all fixed. Keep checking the website as they update it. I’ll post another newsletter in the next day or so with the updates and details about an AMAZING giveaway at the show (as if experiencing me wasn’t enough).

Moving on.

---

What The Hell Is That Thing?

Occasionally, a fan will have me sign their book at a convention and say, “Your signature is cool. What is it?” It’s always fun taking them through what each pen stroke means and seeing their faces as they piece it together because you can’t unsee it once you know. So, with back-to-back conventions on the horizon, I thought today would be a good day to explain it en masse.

But before I get into the details, let me tell you a story.

Why?

Because…

There’s Always A Story

At the beginning of my career, I would sign every book with my full signature.¹

Then, sometime in 1993, Nick Barrucci, the owner of Dynamic Forces, which later grew into Dynamite Entertainment, commissioned me to sign some copies of the newly published Batman: Sword of Azrael trade paperback and Batman #500. I said, “Sure, how many copies?” He said, “About 20,000, give or take.” 

Before you get too excited, the story of how I signed 26,509 comics in one day is bookmarked for a future newsletter. Today, I only bring it up as a point of reference for this particular story because, after that phone call and thinking about signing as many as 20,000 books, I consciously decided to change my signature from that day forward. So, with the help of MIT’s top scientist, we developed what appeared to be a simple monogram that was so much more, and that was flexible enough that I could add a few lines here and there that would not only denote the year but also where I was at that stage in my career.

---

Drawing The Line Somewhere As Few Times As Possible

Let’s start with my no-frills signature.

Looks like a bunch of chicken scratches, right? Ha! You’re so wrong.

Those hashes at the bottom create a “J.”

The oval is an “O.”

And the three at the top intersecting the “O” form an “E.” J-O-E. But wait, there’s one final touch.

The circle combined with one of the hashes from the “J” creates a “Q.” You’re welcome.

---

Add-Ons

During my Marvel editor-in-chief days, I would add the “EIC” using the “E” at the top and add the year.

When I was promoted to chief creative officer, I dropped the “EIC” and added “CCO,” using the oval as an “O” again.

I’ve always tried to be minimalist when adding the year; some years worked better than others. Here’s an example of how I used the hash from the “J” in 2021.

And how I used a part of the “O” all of last year.

---

(Insert Royal Trumpet Fanfare)

Are You Ready For It?

Here it is!

After much deliberating, once again, with my scientist friends at MIT, I give you the unveiling of my new signature for 2025!!!

I’ll be whipping this baby out for the first time at Angoulême next week and MEGACON the following week. I can also guarantee that at some point, I’ll accidentally sign someone’s book with a“24” because there is always a period of adjustment to a new year (and I’m an idiot).

I’m already thinking about 2026 and how I’ll pull that one off.

That's it for today. Thanks for reading. And don’t forget: If you’re coming to Mega Con, come and “experience” me (seriously, ew!).

You're Amazing!

JQ

PS: No, I do not sign my checks like that.

1. I still sign my full signature, but it's only on original pages of art and larger sketches like the ones I draw for the convention experiences.