I got nothing

I'm sorry. I have neglected my blobligations. I'm like that friend that you really want to hang out with that never returns your calls. Its not because I stopped liking you, it just that I've been BUSY.

Honestly.

I blame it all on the band. In case you did not know, I'm in band called Secret Wars. Its loud, obnoxious crap that most of you probably out grew sometime in the early 90's. And yes, its called Secret Wars. It was either that or Robocop A Feel, which we declined to use due to copyright reasons. We've had 4 shows in the past week with 3 more to go between now and next monday. Playing this many shows this close together is a new thing for us so its kind of taking its toll on me. Add in the extra 2 or 3 hours that band members spend after the show picking up on not so good looking chicks(except Sparky! Dude finally came up!) and there have been quite a few late week nights that I could do without.

Other than that, not much comic book reading. I picked up the Other Side which just read like an algamation of every good Vietnam movie thrown into one. Despite that complaint, the last few pages redeemed the whole thing for me. In non-comic book reading news, I'm making my way through Joseph Heller's Good As Gold. Its an interesting book takes Catch 22 and throws it into the realm of Politicians and Family. Its good, but not AMAZING. After I get through this, I think I am either going to pick up some more Chabon or Lethem. Sure, its hipster reading, but its so damn good.

Well, that's all I got. Just wanted to say hey. What's new with all of yous?

Whatever you do, just don't say that C-word...

I took one the commenters advice(I think it was Googum) and bought myself a book by Haruki Murakami. Kafka On The Shore, to be exact. Thank you, Googum. Its an interesting piece of fiction that slowly crawls into a supernatural world of talking cats, ghosts, and god knows what else will come of it. It starts off small and mundane and builds from there. Half way through it and already I am a proper fan of Murakami's work. If you get the chance, pick it up. Next I read Paul Auster's Brooklyn Follies. That should be interesting. I read David Mazzuchelli and Paul Karasik's graphic novel adaptation of Auster's City Of Glass which was mind blowingly fantastic. If you have not read the graphic novel of City Of Glass, punch yourself in the private parts already! Its got the dude who drew Batman Year One!

Books: They have absolutely nothing to do with the Post Civil War Marvel U!

To continue my jaunt into the non-comic book reading world, I wanted to turn to you, the readers. My memorial weekend of nude sun bathing and Coors Lite drinking in Laughlin, NV fell apart on me. Instead, I will kicking around the homestead, nude sun bathing and drinking Coors Lite HERE. I am thinking about taking in a movie. Something independent preferably. Any recommendations? Its been awhile since I've taken in a good indie film in the theatre and I thought this weekend would be a good time as any. So start throwing some titles at me because I am completely clueless as to what's out there right now.

And, uh....that's all I got. See ya!

Random stuff

I finally finished Kavalier & Clay. What a great book. It took forever and a day because of these dang funny books I be wrasslin' with. If you haven't read it, DO SO NOW.

I also recently read Ander Nilson's Don't Go Where I can't Follow and The End. As the years pass by in this life of mine, I come ever closer to the realization that I am a colossal wuss. At one point, I was reading The End and I choked back a sob. At work. Powerful, intense, and raw. And different. These ain't no super hero books.

Going through some stuff last night, I came across a letter that I had written in the 9th grade ('94) which was to be opened at the end of 12th grade. ('97.) My goals included owning every Image Comic and owning a bass. Needless to say, I do not own every Image Comic. I do own and play a guitar though which in the context of the first goal, is like owning every Image, Ultraverse AND Valiant Comic combined. Take that, failed guitarists!

Also, I came up with a pretty decent pitch for a Cloak & Dagger mini-series. I know, its weird that I would even type that sentence, but it hit me on the 170 freeway awhile back. Like my friend Tony says, it could use a little more high concept to it, but when you have "super heroes gain powers from using drugs", I can't imagine you going more high concept than that. Do I really need to invoke the power of communist samurais that drug traffick in Brazil to sell this thing? No. All I need now is a job in Hollywood and that writing gig is mine.

Last, but not least, APE is two days away. Tomorrow night I am on the midnight train to SF, where the new guitarist and I will be taking up residence on fellow semi-blogger Pachoob's floor. Pachoob, I apologize in advance for the short, bearded guy that will be coming up with me. He's a pistol, but an all around great guy. If you so feel the need to smack him, please do so. He loves that kind of stuff.

Until next time, my comic book loving internet friends..

I'm breaking free, baby!

Comics. Let's just say that them pesky funny books and I are not getting along so well right now. Some might be quick to point out the reasons for that being that I am spending too much time with super heroes. And by reading this blog, you probably might be right in thinking that. But guess what? You are wrong, my friend(s)! Over the past few months, I have read Miss, The Clouds Above, Exterminators Vol. 2, BWS Storyteller: Freebooters, Jonah Hex Vol. 1, the complete Fables collection, and the first couple issues of Vol 1. of the Essential Tomb Of Dracula. There was a few super hero trades in the mix, namely the Daredevil Visionaires that Frank Miller did, along with a Spider-man: Round Robin. A year ago, that would have taken place over the course of two weeks. These days, I'm lucky if I hit those numbers in two months.

Regardless, I am a bit burnt out on comics right now. So I'm not reading them. You heard me. No comics.* For really reals. At least not until I read me a book or two. You remember books, right? The bastard step-brother of the Graphic Novel? They have a picture on the cover, but that's it? Yes. Those things. To start it off, I am finally going to finish Michael Chabon's The Amazing Adventures Of Kavalier & Clay which I have been slowly making my way through for the past two years. I know, its ridiculous because it is such a damn good book, that no matter how much I enjoy it, I also find myself putting it down so I can finish that New Excalibur trade I just bought the week before. Imagine that? Comics made me not want to read! Preposterous!

Now that the War is over, I am getting back to my civilian life. Starting with Kavalier & Clay. I am going to finish this fine book. After that? Well, you tell me. Suggest me a book. Any book. I'm leaning towards Fortress Of Solitude or You Don't Love Me by Jonathan Lethem, but I am open to more suggestions. And they don't even have to be semi-comic book related like Chabon and Lethem's works are.

Suggest a book for me!

* I will still be reading the Comic Strips book I have which is really still comics, even if its just a book about comics. And if Wintermen comes out with a new issue, I'll read that, too. Also, I might go WWLA this year, so that means I'll have to buy comics which tends to force me to read them. Just don't quote me on that "no comics!" bit and we should be fine.