Matthew Dow Smith
@matthewdowsmith.bsky.social
Writer, artist, comic book creator. The October Girl (Book Two coming May 2026 from Mad Cave/Maverick), Amelia Shadows (Book One coming April 2026 from Papercutz), DC's Misfits of Magic, and others.
Literary agent: Moe Ferrara at TriadaUS.
Literary agent: Moe Ferrara at TriadaUS.
Pinned
Pre-Order Now!
Coming May 2026!!
From me and @papercutzgn.bsky.social!!!
AMELIA SHADOWS AND THE NEW HEAD GHOST!!!!
You can pre-order here: www.simonandschuster.com/books/Amelia...
Coming May 2026!!
From me and @papercutzgn.bsky.social!!!
AMELIA SHADOWS AND THE NEW HEAD GHOST!!!!
You can pre-order here: www.simonandschuster.com/books/Amelia...
Sketchbook: My buddies' @joeyesposito.bsky.social and @seanvongorman.bsky.social's The Pedestrian.
February 10, 2026 at 1:36 AM
Sketchbook: My buddies' @joeyesposito.bsky.social and @seanvongorman.bsky.social's The Pedestrian.
Speechless.
And excited.
I genuinely never thought we’d see it.
And bittersweet as it is with Straub gone, I am so looking forward to this.
And excited.
I genuinely never thought we’d see it.
And bittersweet as it is with Straub gone, I am so looking forward to this.
Exclusive: The First Excerpt from Stephen King and Peter Straub’s Ending to ‘The Talisman’ Trilogy
King tells us about ‘Other Worlds Than These,’ where he’ll finish the saga after Straub’s death—and how his late friend’s ideas were resurrected for this epic goodbye.
www.esquire.com
February 9, 2026 at 10:23 PM
Speechless.
And excited.
I genuinely never thought we’d see it.
And bittersweet as it is with Straub gone, I am so looking forward to this.
And excited.
I genuinely never thought we’d see it.
And bittersweet as it is with Straub gone, I am so looking forward to this.
Hey, guys! Can you do me a favor? Next time I'm working on a big graphic novel, can you remind me not to leave all the coloring until the end. Like, ever again. 'Kay? Thanks.
Seriously, coloring this many pages this fast all in one go melts my freaking brain.
Don't know how actual colorists do it.
Seriously, coloring this many pages this fast all in one go melts my freaking brain.
Don't know how actual colorists do it.
February 9, 2026 at 8:13 PM
Hey, guys! Can you do me a favor? Next time I'm working on a big graphic novel, can you remind me not to leave all the coloring until the end. Like, ever again. 'Kay? Thanks.
Seriously, coloring this many pages this fast all in one go melts my freaking brain.
Don't know how actual colorists do it.
Seriously, coloring this many pages this fast all in one go melts my freaking brain.
Don't know how actual colorists do it.
I got a sneak peek at this and it's an absolutely wonderful book that deals with some big issues in a charming and delightful way with some incredible art. I want a yeti in my office to help me navigate my own big feelings.
Penny and the Yeti is out April 21st through @papercutzgn.bsky.social I'm so excited for folks to read what @almondmilkart.bsky.social and I have been working on the past 2 years. Here's a sneak peak at one of my favorite pages along with what @megfitz89.bsky.social kindly said about the book.
February 8, 2026 at 7:29 PM
I got a sneak peek at this and it's an absolutely wonderful book that deals with some big issues in a charming and delightful way with some incredible art. I want a yeti in my office to help me navigate my own big feelings.
Hey, everybody! Comic creator in need! Help out if you can.
I'm getting out of the hospital today and I could use some help, if you're able. Even taking the time to check it out or share means more than I can say.
gofund.me/1c96e422c
gofund.me/1c96e422c
Donate to Help Paul Allor Afford Life-Saving Insulin and Meds, organized by Paul Allor
My name is Paul, and I'm a comic book writer who has worked on some of … Paul Allor needs your support for Help Paul Allor Afford Life-Saving Insulin and Meds
gofund.me
February 8, 2026 at 6:57 PM
Hey, everybody! Comic creator in need! Help out if you can.
Genuinely the absolute exact reaction you want to hear when someone's kids read the first book of your new series.
(And they don't have to wait too long. THE OCTOBER GIRL Book Two is out in May. And we should have some news about Book Three here very soon, too.)
(And they don't have to wait too long. THE OCTOBER GIRL Book Two is out in May. And we should have some news about Book Three here very soon, too.)
Well they have demanded that “all the rest” appear as soon as, so it appears to be a mega hit!
February 8, 2026 at 6:55 PM
Genuinely the absolute exact reaction you want to hear when someone's kids read the first book of your new series.
(And they don't have to wait too long. THE OCTOBER GIRL Book Two is out in May. And we should have some news about Book Three here very soon, too.)
(And they don't have to wait too long. THE OCTOBER GIRL Book Two is out in May. And we should have some news about Book Three here very soon, too.)
There's a long conversation with economist Ann Pettifor in this week's Pod Save the UK that should be required viewing for pretty much everyone everywhere. She's brilliant and direct and is very good at getting straight to the actual heart of the problem.
youtu.be/gUumjm-7iYE?...
youtu.be/gUumjm-7iYE?...
Could Mandelson’s Epstein Ties Bring Down Starmer?
YouTube video by Pod Save the UK
youtu.be
February 8, 2026 at 4:02 PM
There's a long conversation with economist Ann Pettifor in this week's Pod Save the UK that should be required viewing for pretty much everyone everywhere. She's brilliant and direct and is very good at getting straight to the actual heart of the problem.
youtu.be/gUumjm-7iYE?...
youtu.be/gUumjm-7iYE?...
This is your occasional reminder that not taking part in a social media drawing/writing/comic making challenge doesn't make you any less of an artist/writer/comic maker.
If you don't have the bandwidth to handle it, don't put the extra burden on yourself.
Protect that creative brain, please.
If you don't have the bandwidth to handle it, don't put the extra burden on yourself.
Protect that creative brain, please.
February 8, 2026 at 1:57 PM
This is your occasional reminder that not taking part in a social media drawing/writing/comic making challenge doesn't make you any less of an artist/writer/comic maker.
If you don't have the bandwidth to handle it, don't put the extra burden on yourself.
Protect that creative brain, please.
If you don't have the bandwidth to handle it, don't put the extra burden on yourself.
Protect that creative brain, please.
Marvel Kids: Kid Strange
Saving the world from mystical mayhem while avoiding his homework.
#DoctorStrange
#KidsComics
#NotOfficialJustForFun
Saving the world from mystical mayhem while avoiding his homework.
#DoctorStrange
#KidsComics
#NotOfficialJustForFun
February 7, 2026 at 8:19 PM
Marvel Kids: Kid Strange
Saving the world from mystical mayhem while avoiding his homework.
#DoctorStrange
#KidsComics
#NotOfficialJustForFun
Saving the world from mystical mayhem while avoiding his homework.
#DoctorStrange
#KidsComics
#NotOfficialJustForFun
I bought this book when I was a kid (and already a huge WHO fan) and this cover is burned into my DNA. Years later, I did a signing with Walt and brought up how important that cover was to me in my wanting to draw comics and he revealed that at the time he had no idea what Doctor Who really was.
Five years ago, I reposted this piece about Doctor Who’s American comic book debut: tombrevoort.com/2021/02/07/b...
Blah Blah Blog – The Doctor Is In
A post from my now-vanished Marvel blog concerning my history with Doctor Who. The Doctor is In April 28, 2007 | 1:00 AM | By Tom_Brevoort | In General I’m a big fan of the British series Doc…
tombrevoort.com
February 7, 2026 at 3:39 PM
I bought this book when I was a kid (and already a huge WHO fan) and this cover is burned into my DNA. Years later, I did a signing with Walt and brought up how important that cover was to me in my wanting to draw comics and he revealed that at the time he had no idea what Doctor Who really was.
Not gonna lie and try to pretend to be cool...
I'm grinning like an idiot at my desk right now.
Just the biggest, happiest grin.
I'm grinning like an idiot at my desk right now.
Just the biggest, happiest grin.
I had someone request the next October Girl at my library today!!!
February 7, 2026 at 2:24 AM
Not gonna lie and try to pretend to be cool...
I'm grinning like an idiot at my desk right now.
Just the biggest, happiest grin.
I'm grinning like an idiot at my desk right now.
Just the biggest, happiest grin.
More great reviews for AMELIA SHADOWS AND THE NEW HEAD GHOST on NetGalley! I'm so excited. I'm really, really happy this is going over so well with the advanced readers.
Out April 7th from @papercutzgn.bsky.social!!!
#AmeliaShadows
#MiddleGradeComics
#ComingSoon
Out April 7th from @papercutzgn.bsky.social!!!
#AmeliaShadows
#MiddleGradeComics
#ComingSoon
February 7, 2026 at 2:07 AM
More great reviews for AMELIA SHADOWS AND THE NEW HEAD GHOST on NetGalley! I'm so excited. I'm really, really happy this is going over so well with the advanced readers.
Out April 7th from @papercutzgn.bsky.social!!!
#AmeliaShadows
#MiddleGradeComics
#ComingSoon
Out April 7th from @papercutzgn.bsky.social!!!
#AmeliaShadows
#MiddleGradeComics
#ComingSoon
Seems like a good day to post this again.
Print it out.
Frame it.
Hang it on your wall.
Make your comic.
Print it out.
Frame it.
Hang it on your wall.
Make your comic.
February 6, 2026 at 9:48 PM
Seems like a good day to post this again.
Print it out.
Frame it.
Hang it on your wall.
Make your comic.
Print it out.
Frame it.
Hang it on your wall.
Make your comic.
My editor, @coelacanthkiss.bsky.social, will be happy to know that I am being very closely supervised while drawing in the home office today.
February 6, 2026 at 8:23 PM
My editor, @coelacanthkiss.bsky.social, will be happy to know that I am being very closely supervised while drawing in the home office today.
I've just seen a take on the big brain billionaire boy plagiarism machine as a way to fight the oppressive gatekeeping of those privileged artist people and it's making me want to take every piece of technology in my house out back and beat it to electronic oblivion with a baseball bat.
February 6, 2026 at 6:53 PM
I've just seen a take on the big brain billionaire boy plagiarism machine as a way to fight the oppressive gatekeeping of those privileged artist people and it's making me want to take every piece of technology in my house out back and beat it to electronic oblivion with a baseball bat.
The only thing that makes me happier than someone reaching out to say they enjoyed a book I made is someone reaching out to say how much their kid enjoyed the book I made.
Seriously. This makes my whole year!
🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
Seriously. This makes my whole year!
🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
February 6, 2026 at 3:41 PM
The only thing that makes me happier than someone reaching out to say they enjoyed a book I made is someone reaching out to say how much their kid enjoyed the book I made.
Seriously. This makes my whole year!
🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
Seriously. This makes my whole year!
🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
A long-ish thread, but very much worth the time to sit and read it.
There's a lot in it that makes me physically ill to think about, and it should, but the thing that has torn at me A LOT over the last few years is the amount of talent that has been driven out of comics by harassment and abuse.
There's a lot in it that makes me physically ill to think about, and it should, but the thing that has torn at me A LOT over the last few years is the amount of talent that has been driven out of comics by harassment and abuse.
Here is a thing:
There were several years when I was one of VERY few journalists seriously covering harassment and abuse issues in comics (and by extension sometimes video games). During that time, I became the Person People Told Things To.
(cont'd)
There were several years when I was one of VERY few journalists seriously covering harassment and abuse issues in comics (and by extension sometimes video games). During that time, I became the Person People Told Things To.
(cont'd)
February 6, 2026 at 2:34 AM
A long-ish thread, but very much worth the time to sit and read it.
There's a lot in it that makes me physically ill to think about, and it should, but the thing that has torn at me A LOT over the last few years is the amount of talent that has been driven out of comics by harassment and abuse.
There's a lot in it that makes me physically ill to think about, and it should, but the thing that has torn at me A LOT over the last few years is the amount of talent that has been driven out of comics by harassment and abuse.
Nice chat with my long time friend @zippyrich.bsky.social on the phone while inking today. Reminded me of the old days when we'd all work with a phone to our ears, talking about comics and movies and whatever we could just to keep from going insane during the long hours at the art table.
February 5, 2026 at 8:17 PM
Nice chat with my long time friend @zippyrich.bsky.social on the phone while inking today. Reminded me of the old days when we'd all work with a phone to our ears, talking about comics and movies and whatever we could just to keep from going insane during the long hours at the art table.
I've given a lot of advice about making comics over the years, but believe me when I say that this is the single most important bit of advice you're ever going to hear if you are going to be a comic book creator --
Buy a comfortable chair.
Buy a comfortable chair.
February 5, 2026 at 4:19 PM
I've given a lot of advice about making comics over the years, but believe me when I say that this is the single most important bit of advice you're ever going to hear if you are going to be a comic book creator --
Buy a comfortable chair.
Buy a comfortable chair.
This whole thread from Kate Welch via Amy-Leigh Shaw is worth a read, and it is pertinent to professionals not just in games but across creative industries, but this is the most pertinent part. And I believe it deep in my bones.
February 5, 2026 at 12:57 PM
This whole thread from Kate Welch via Amy-Leigh Shaw is worth a read, and it is pertinent to professionals not just in games but across creative industries, but this is the most pertinent part. And I believe it deep in my bones.
Hey! The Benson sisters are going to be at Gally this year! If you're going, you gotta go to their panels! And if you see them, say hi for me! I am a such a huge, unabashed fan of their work.
Gallifrey One! LAX Marriott! Shawna and I are speaking on two panels this Saturday, February 7th:
🕙 10AM - Is Trek Headed for Its Wilderness Years?
🕛 12PM - Nevertheless, She Regenerated
Can't believe my old Tweet meme made it to a panel topic! Whovians forever. If you're there, come say hi! 👋
🕙 10AM - Is Trek Headed for Its Wilderness Years?
🕛 12PM - Nevertheless, She Regenerated
Can't believe my old Tweet meme made it to a panel topic! Whovians forever. If you're there, come say hi! 👋
February 5, 2026 at 3:19 AM
Hey! The Benson sisters are going to be at Gally this year! If you're going, you gotta go to their panels! And if you see them, say hi for me! I am a such a huge, unabashed fan of their work.
Reposted by Matthew Dow Smith
It's Wednesday, which means it's time to talk about comics! Picked up @matthewdowsmith.bsky.social's The October Girl a few weeks ago from @oldtownbooks.bsky.social. The story is right up my alley - obviously - and his art is great - as always -but it's the coloring that makes it.
#comicbookday
#comicbookday
February 5, 2026 at 2:42 AM
It's Wednesday, which means it's time to talk about comics! Picked up @matthewdowsmith.bsky.social's The October Girl a few weeks ago from @oldtownbooks.bsky.social. The story is right up my alley - obviously - and his art is great - as always -but it's the coloring that makes it.
#comicbookday
#comicbookday
February 5, 2026 at 1:44 AM
Someone should absolutely do this!
Defector for books!
there isn’t a better Books desk in the country than the one at the Washington Post. I’m not really sure there’s anything else to say
February 4, 2026 at 9:40 PM
Someone should absolutely do this!
ANOTHER great review of AMELIA SHADOWS AND THE NEW HEAD GHOST on NetGalley. I'm so relieved early readers are enjoying it. I loved making this series so much and I hope people check it out when it hits shelves in April from @papercutzgn.bsky.social!
#MiddleGradeComics
#AmeliaShadows
#ComingSoon
#MiddleGradeComics
#AmeliaShadows
#ComingSoon
February 4, 2026 at 1:57 PM
ANOTHER great review of AMELIA SHADOWS AND THE NEW HEAD GHOST on NetGalley. I'm so relieved early readers are enjoying it. I loved making this series so much and I hope people check it out when it hits shelves in April from @papercutzgn.bsky.social!
#MiddleGradeComics
#AmeliaShadows
#ComingSoon
#MiddleGradeComics
#AmeliaShadows
#ComingSoon