Spring 2026: Things are Changing but also still the same!
After far too long, here's the latest on me, Margeaux Pepoy, Simone & Ajax, and everything else I'm doing. It's been a very busy last few months! As you noticed, what’s changed are my name and my look, but Spicy Tomato Studios and making comics are still the same!
The official, authorized, crochet Ajax has been joined by the Ajax mini and lemmings! Or Crochet-jax! You liked him on the printed page, but now you can have your very own li'l green dino-pal at home! Each one is handmade by Crochet by KatyDidIt. I'll have some with me at cons (see below for the schedule), so they'll sell out fast, but, so you don't miss out, you can order yours directly from Katy HERE! Katy will be with me at Kalamazoo Comic-Con. The minis come with a detachable clip, so you can use him as a keychain or clip him to your backpack. And collect all 5 lemmings! I've been asked for years for something like this, so I'm very excited to finally be able to offer them!
Now for other Simone & Ajax news......
"The Adventures of Simone & Ajax: What's Black & White and Read All Over?", a 160-page collection of the early black & white tales of our daring duo, is still in the works, though delayed. The Kickstarter was a success, so the book is definitely happening, despite some production setbacks! Please check out the Indiegogo campaign page, where you can learn more and see lots of art previews and still pre-order it. And please share the link https://bit.ly/simoneandajaxgogo1 on social media and with your friends. I need your help to get the word out to keep making fun comics. Thanks!
Here are a few peeks at some of the art in the book. Plus check out the latest update HERE to get a close-up idea what I'm trying to fix up. There's more to be seen on the campaign page.
I hope you can see a lot of time and effort is being put in to make this a great looking book and that it will be worth the wait!
You can still order a copy of The Adventures of Simone & Ajax: Lemmings and Tigers and Bears! Oh, My!, a 128-page, full-color, hardcover collection of four Simone & Ajax adventures! It is available directly from me via my Indiegogo page (click HERE to order it). You can read more about it there. It's full of fun, cheesy jokes and silly (and sometimes spooky) adventures. You can also read free previews (click HERE to go right to the previews) of the stories at Simone & Ajax's webpage. You can also order this book as a combo with the upcoming one on the Indiegogo page (though that combo wouldn't ship until the new book comes out).
Phantastes is out! It's a graphic novel adaptation of George MacDonald's highly influential, Victorian fantasy novel, "Phantastes," adapted by Meredith Finch, with art on chapters 1-3 by Christine Norrie and on chapters 4-6 by me (with colors by Jason Millet). Its Indiegogo InDemand campaign is still live right now, so I hope you'll check it out. You can get it in digital, softcover, or hardcover. Thanks! Phantastes —a graphic novel by Cave Pictures Publishing — Indiegogo. Here's a peek at the cover:
I've continued to draw a number of covers for various comics, including this cover for Archie & Friends: Space Adventures #1, out now.
I also drew a cover for Jeff Messer'sSex, Spies & Rock & Roll, an homage to a classic Howard Chaykin American Flagg cover. Jeff's Kickstarter for it is over, but I believe you can still order it HERE. Please follow my social media links further below to keep updated on all my happenings between newsletters.
Another thing I'm working on is drawing a story from the 2026 Street Sharks Annual, coming this spring from IDW. I can't show you any of the pages, but here's some character art I did of a couple of the Sharks.
The 2026 con season is underway, and here are my current plans:
C2E2 in Chicago, Artist Alley table Y-02, March 27-29 (now past)
Kalamazoo Comic-Con, April 10-12
Cherry Capital Comic-Con in Traverse City, MI, May 22-24
HeroesCon in Charlotte, NC, June 12-14
American Library Association convention in Chicago, June 26-29(exact days I’ll be there TBD)
San Diego Comic-Con, Small Press table M-13, July 22-26
Baltimore Comic-Con, September 25-27
New York Comic-Con, October 8-11 (tentative)
If you'd like to pre-book a spot on my commission list for any of these cons, please email me at pepoycomics@gmail.com.
If you'd like to see me come to your local con, please reach out to the con and ask them to invite me.
To keep up with the latest news in-between newsletters, please follow me and Simone & Ajax at these social media links:
https://www.facebook.com/pepoycomics
https://www.facebook.com/SimoneandAjax
https://www.facebook.com/SpicyTomatoStudios
https://www.instagram.com/pepoycomics (@pepoycomics)
https://www.instagram.com/simoneandajax/ (@simoneandajax)
I'm now on Threads at @pepoycomics and Simone & Ajax @Simoneandajax, as well as on BlueSky @pepoy.
It's going to be a busy 2026, and I expect to have some big news and announcements soon, so I'll be back soon with more on what's happening for me, Simone & Ajax, Monica Moon, and Spicy Tomato Studios in 2026!
Yours in adventure!
-Margeaux
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