Thanks

Tue, 9 Aug 2011 16:22:31 -0700

Although I’m not sure when I’ll post again - I really would like to come back and do this daily, but I know that I don’t have the time. And I generally say what I want to on my Facebook page. But I had to post this so I could publicly thank Carlos Almirón for the beautiful new logo he sent me. Carlos is an artist from Argentina who came to my recent talk at the Buenos Aires Book Festival. When I came back home I found this wonderful new logo as a thank you for my talk. I thank Carlos. So as my way of thanking him, take a look at the art on his website at: http://www.carlosalmiron.com/

TV TEE HEES

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 18:55:30 -0700

Tonight the new TV season begins, so I wanted to just make a brief comment, all its probably worth, actually, of what I can remember about the summer season. That probably sounds more down than I want it, too, because for the most part I actually prefer the summer fare than most normal shows.

First and foremost my favorite show is only on during the summers, and that’s History Detectives on PBS. I’ve mentioned it every year for God knows how long, and each season continues to get better. History Detectives is about 5 auctioneers, historians, appraisers, what have you, who try to find out the historical meaning behind something that is brought to them. Was that cloth part of the Hindenburg? Was this animation cell some lost treasure? Did John Wilkes Booth really plot against Lincoln in this Greenwich Village House? This is the kind of questions that are asked, and the way our team goes about finding the truth is fascinating. Also, they discover parts of American history I’ve never even heard about. It’s wonderfully done and Noel and I both wait for one of the Detectives to utter those fateful words, “What I learned next helped me answer so-and-do’s question.”

USA gives us a slew of original series, and frankly I like them all, and for different reasons but also the same reason. PSYCH is hilarious and stupid at the same time. Sometimes (usually) the plots make little or no sense, but like with all USA shows, the characters matter. I like those two; they’d drive me insane in real life, but one hour a week, nobody can beat them. Although not technically a summer show, IN PLAIN SIGHT is a really solid show. I care about the plots of the week as well as the lead characters. I feel the same about BURN NOTICE and ROYAL PAINS, too. This season they introduced COVERT ACTIONS. This show is a lot darker than the other USA shows but done just as well, and somehow the character side of each mission is kept up front.

On TNT I’m a huge fan of LEVERAGE and this season was particularly strong. Great caper stories and they are not the easiest stuff to write. AMC gives us two great shows: MAD MEN might be the best single drama on TV right now. Every week is beautifully written and acted. I can’t possibly say enough good about it. As for RUBICON, it’s also excellent. Beautifully acted as well as wonderfully written. However I do have several problems with the show. It’s 8 or 9 weeks in and I still have no clue to what’s going on, and since they hardly ever recap anything, I can’t always remember all the small details. You know how in the Bourne movies or in James Bond, someone exists to supply information in a scene that lasts 3 seconds before the hero goes back to shooting folk. well, this series is about those guys who give the hero his intel. As such it’s more cerebral than action, but because it’s about the gathering of information the plot side of things moves very, very slow. I fear it won’t keep its audience because whenever I talk to someone about it we’re always wondering when something is going to happen. But it’s magnificently acted and produced and the writing is actually excellent, if not paced glacially.

Last night the first episode of BOARDWALK EMPIRE premiered. I really wanted to give it a 10, but instead I’m rating it 7.5. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more lavishly produced TV pilot, and the acting was all uniformly good, but the actual dialog all felt like old gangster movie talk. I feel like I laughed at some of the speeches more than I was frightened by them. Rumor has it the writing picks up over the next few weeks. I hope so as I love the time period and the story possibilities. That era is rife for great story material. But so far HBO has not found a Sopranos replacement. But my fingers are crossed.

I used to like LAST COMIC STANDING but this year it became just standup. Each comedian came out and did their act. There were no amateurs; everyone was a professional in the business for 5-10 years. I don’t mind the show but they’ve taken the “reality” stunting out of the show. They’ve also removed all reality from it. When someone is booted off the show, which is supposed to be live and their reactions surprised, they go to a clip where the comedian says something about being booted off. In other words they knew before they stood up there and were told for the first time. Their surprise was pure sham. I also like AMERICA’S GOT TALENT, but beyond thinking this year’s winner should not have been (then again American Idol’s gotten it wrong for the last few years, too), I simply cannot stand Piers Morgan. Also, I would like to see at least one, if not all the judges to be American. I’m not being xenophobic here, but every culture looks at entertainment differently. Even England and the U.S., which share much more than a common language, have very different approaches to what is entertaining. Piers and Sharon are British and Howie is Canadian. Surely an American judging American talent wouldn’t be that controversial.

I’m sure there were other summer shows I’ve forgotten to mention. When I think of them I will. And remember, the opinions stated here are the opinions of the management and as such they won’t change.

Anyway, it’s now 7:20 PM and the fall TV season will be starting in 40 minutes. Be back soon.

PAC-MAN?

Thu, 9 Sep 2010 13:24:34 -0700

Okay. We all loved Pac-Man. But what if Pac-Man was, umm, real?

HOT FUSION

Mon, 6 Sep 2010 20:52:06 -0700

As I’ve mentioned before, Noel has a ninety minute drive to and then from work each day, the jaunt from LA to Irvine, CA. It’s one of many reasons why we’re going to sell our old home, and open up a new Wolfmanor as soon as we can. But that many miles adds up and after 140,000 miles, she needed a new car. Thing is she didn’t want to buy a car while we were living in Tarzana and add so many miles to it; she wanted a new car with the new home, whenever that is. But she still needed a solid car now so I came up with the idea that since I don’t drive all that much; I work at home after all, and rarely have more than a 20 minute trip to any place, that we buy a new car now that once we move I’ll inherit and she can get yet another new vehicle. So the car had to be something I’d want and yet had to be a vehicle Noel would be comfortable with for months. With that in mind we began researching cars and prices a few months back. As her car became more and more trouble, we decided these labor Day weekend was time to upgrade. After test driving dozens of cars, I had fallen for the Ford Fusion Hybrid; it was comfortable, was packed with more tech than Bill Gate’s bathroom, was surprisingly affordable and looked really cool. Armed with prices, we made our way to Galpin Ford in Van Nuys, and several hours later we drove out of there with a Candy Apple Red Fusion Hybrid as seen above.

The car has everything; the GPS, which operates both by voice command as well as touch screen, Satellite radio, sun roof, Sirius radio, high-tech everything else (we’ve only begun to crack the two huge instruction books so for all we know the thing will walk the dog) and even mood-lighting on the cup holders. And almost all of that operated by voice command, too.

But the weirdest thing we’ve found so far is something called breadcrumbs. I read we had it but didn’t know what it was and I couldn’t find anything in the instruction book to explain it. But breadcrumbs is exactly what it sounds like, only digitally. Coming home from a party tonight, on our GPS map, we saw some weird markings outlining the roads we took today. Those were the breadcrumbs; the computer remembers where we went and leaves behind digital breadcrumbs so you can backtrack to anywhere you were. I have no idea who came up with that, but can you imagine that meeting at Ford where suited execs are making suggestions as to what little extras they could throw into their GPS unit. One guy suggests a larger touch screen. Another suggests that the gas station POI icons be the actual gas station logos rather than a picture of a gas pump. Then one guy sitting in back, probably cutting paper dolls, says, why don’t we leave breadcrumbs so the driver can find their way back home. Everyone turns to him and says “What a good idea! Breadcrumbs.” Either that or they stone him.

Still, the idea, though so far out it’s in, is still way cool. And though I don’t know if I’ll use it, I’m glad I have it. After all, it couldn’t hurt. And I might find my way home one day.

CONNING

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 09:35:10 -0700

Back from the Baltimore Comics Con. I flew out from LA on Thursday and met my daughter, Jessica, at the hotel. I hadn’t seen Jessie for awhile and the con was a great way of getting together. We headed out for dinner at one of the Baltimore Inner Harbor restaurants, talked, had a great time, but it was late so it was an early night.

The next morning Jessie and I met for breakfast and headed over to the con. I had purposely decided not to bring any scripts for sale; I simply didn’t want to lug them to the con. All I had on my table was the Heroes Initiative jar. As I started sometime last year, I happily sign five books for free, so if someone doesn’t have money they can still get their signatures, but over 5 books I charge a buck a book, all of which goes directly to the Heroes Initiative, a wonderful comic book organization that everyone should support. Most people dropped money into the jar even if they only had one or two books, which was great. I only had one person who protested the policy and then he made it worse by splitting the books between his two kids and sending them to my table hoping I’d sign them for the kids. Fortunately, kids don’t lie and when I asked them - I knew they were his - they admitted it. He had something like 30-50 books he wanted signed but obviously either didn’t have the money or didn’t want to contribute to the charity. I did sign the five books for him, but that was all. I can’t be tough when it comes to me, but I can be when trying to raise money for charity. I do know some pros charge for their signature. If you’re older and retired I think it’s a great way of making some money, but if you’re working somewhat regularly in the business I think it’s extremely crass. The fans are already supporting you by buying your books and I believe signing a few books is a way of thanking them in turn. To get around the signing of 30 to several hundred books, which some people have brought to me over the years, I work with the charity. That way if a fan wants 300 books signed, then they can donate $295.00 to the Heroes Initiative or the CBLDF or whichever charity you’re backing. Everyone wins.

The only other problem came from someone who brought me multiples of one book to sign. I asked, as I always do, if he was a dealer. He said yes and he admitted he charged his customers extra for the signed books. I said I wouldn’t sign them if he charged customers for my signature. I don’t charge and in my view nobody should be making money off my signature when I’ll happily sign the book free. He asked me to charge him, but that wasn’t acceptable either. As far as I’m concerned he would simply add on that cost to the fan who didn’t know he had gotten the signature free. I have signed for stores who use the books as promos or as a bonus for their pull list-customers, but unless I initiate the deal I don’t sign for those who then gouge the fans who could have gotten the same signature free. He was incensed and actually went to the Heroes Initiative and complained that I cost them a donation. Anyway, those were the only two problems during the entire con. Everyone else was beyond wonderful. So thank you. Two out of several thousand people is pretty good odds.

Baltimore Comics Con is I believe only one of 2 or 3 large cons that are pure comics. No celebrities. No movie/TV or anything else. Only comics, and I think that’s why the con is one of my absolute favorites. Marc Nathan, its head honcho, and his crew, put on a wonderful show year in and year out. It’s large, but not Comic-Con large. You can walk the entire dealer’s room in a short time, but I can guarantee you won’t find another con with more great Golden Age and Silver Age comics anywhere. The fans who come there are all comics fans and they want to talk comics, which I love.

A small group of friends, Jessie and I went out for lunch, then it was back for more signing and walking the dealer’s room. During my water problems the past few weeks we had a flood which destroyed, thankfully, only one long box of comics, and part of my mission at this con was to begin replacing the books that were lost. The dealer’s at the con were incredible and gave me huge discounts which enabled me to replace at least one or two copies of some of those titles. Within a year I should be able to replace most of the books (several people heard from the dealers and offered to help me, but no, I don’t want donations or anything else - I can afford to buy them which is why I’m not even saying here which books they are). But the kindness of those dealers is yet another reason why I so like this con as well as comics fandom in general.

Saturday is the Harvey Awards, named for the great Harvey Kurtzman, and like the better known Eisner’s, they celebrate the best in comics. Or maybe the second best since I’ve never been nominated. (sob sob). Scott Kurtz of P2P was the host and Mark Waid was the main speaker. About 2/3rd through, Jessie went back to her room and after the Harvey’s I went up to what we affectionally call Bar-con, the hotel bar where many of the guests meet and gab for a few hours. I’m not a drinker but I’ll match my Diet Coke with their beers any day. The hotel unfortunately not only closed down the bar at midnight (without any warning) but also chased us all away. I believe many of the people moved on to another hotel but I went up to my room and fell fast asleep.

Sunday began with breakfast, of course, which was a bagel and cream cheese and 19 gallons of coffee. I sloshed to the con and walked the dealers room a bit then made my way to my table and began autographing again. A few hours later one of the Con’s workers (I forgot your name, sorry) came by with sandwiches and sodas for those of us behind tables. That’s another wonderful thing Nathan and his people do at this con; they supply lunches and drinks and several times during the day they come by with snacks. When you’re behind a table time goes by and suddenly it’s late and you haven’t eaten. Marc takes care of that and makes sure his guests are fueled. So thank you.

I was on an 80s panel (despite not being anywhere near the age of 80). Mark Waid moderated, though of course Mark is rarely moderate. On the panel was Tim Truman, Walt & Louise Simonson, John Workman, Matt Wagner and me. The panel seemed to go well. No fist fights, so it was back to the tables and more signing.

That evening Jessie and I went out for dinner. She went back to her room while I went up to Bar-Con and more Diet Coke. Once again they closed it at midnight, but that was fine as I was exhausted. But they learned from the previous night and announced a last call way in advance.

On Monday Jessie and I headed out to Baltimore’s National Aquarium. They were having a Jelly Fish show and I love looking at them. We walked the entire aquarium then had lunch and headed back to the hotel where we got our bags and took off. Jessie headed back to her place in Maryland and I made it back to the airport and my flight home to LA.

All in all it was a great time. As I said, the show was great, and if you haven’t been there before, you need to go next year. For me it’s a great show but mostly a wonderful time because I get to see Jessie. I’ve been to Marc’s show several times and only missed last year because of schedules. If he asks again I’d definitely say yes.

BALTIMORE, HERE I COME

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 11:08:47 -0700

This has been a really insane week because I need to get all work done before I head off to the Baltimore Comics Convention. I’ve been there before and the guys put on a great con, and it’s pretty much all about comics only. If you’re in the Maryland area, please come by. I guarantee you’ll be surprised at how good it is. And while you’re there, be sure to go down the block and visit the Geppi Entertainment Museum which features more comic book and comic strip art than you’ve probably ever seen in one place before. Also included is one incredible collection as well as other goodies that are definitely worth seeing.

I’m looking forward to the con not only for the fans, but my daughter, Jessica, is attending, too, so we get to spend a few days together. She lives on the east coast and I’m on the west, so we don’t see each other nearly as much as I’d like. So if you don’t see me at the con table 25/7 you’ll know I’m spending time with Jessie.

The other thing that’s taken up so much time is dealing with our never ending water crisis. First the main broke on my side of the meter so we had God knows how many hundreds of feet of pipe installed. That works great now. But as soon as that was done, the sprinkler pipes went out (all the pipes were of the same age so it’s not surprising). Unfortunately, a long box of comics were destroyed in the flooding, and they were books I wrote. Pretty valuable ones, but fortunately only one box. It could have been much worse had we not just happened to venture outside to see the water flooding out from under the garage door. But as I’m going to Baltimore later, I hope I can begin to replace some of them. Bobby the plumber came earlier today to check out the leak and will most likely begin repairs later this week. Bobby did a spectacular job getting water to my house last week, now I’m hoping he can do the same for my backyard.

I won’t be blogging again til next week. Take care.