Crying Lizard tears over Comic-Con

"In a world where science and sorcery have brought peace to the galaxy, a young warrior's belief system is shattered when an evil robot and an ancient witch attack his kingdom, forcing him into a quest for justice." (Digital Lizards of Doom comic book intro)

“I kind of wish I had gone to the convention center and just cried; it might have helped,” says Digital Lizards of Doom frontman Gabriel Valentin. “March 2020: we were just going to wait until this thing blew over. Comic-Con should be open by July. Same with Anime Expo. I was supposed to speak there, and at Comic-Con. I’m feeling all these good feelings and then, nope, all gone.”

Post-pandemic, Valentin has shifted to full-time comic book author and musician, without the safety net of a day job to cover expenses. “I am paying for tables at cons from books that I sell, so there is that added pressure. I decided that this is what I do now, and just went for it.” While representing and selling his comic books, also titled Digital Lizards of Doom, Valentin fields questions from fans, such as how Commander E.K.O., a possessed suit of armor, goes to the bathroom.

The band recently played a one-off show with Kyle Gass (Tenacious D) and has demo’d over 20 songs. “We don’t know how we are going to release them; [maybe] a double album, broken up by how it takes you on a journey, stuff like that.”

DLoD continues to expand the brand into new areas. “We just signed a deal with Yonder Media Mobile and they’re making three video games based on the books. I’m signed on as a consultant, so I’m going over lore and they’re getting items with the game developers.” The third book in the Digital Lizards of Doom graphic novel series is illustrated by Ceri Langell with a foreword by Ray Porter (Darkseid in Zack Snyder’s Justice League), who writes, “Be ready to jump in when this thing comes sliding sideways towards you with the door half open and the accelerator firewalled.”