Highway 62

Just feel like it. Between the sinus infection and the kids and getting the script for the latest chapter of Strangeways (a happy little family drama called "Dry Heart") done, I haven't had a lot to say. And frankly, the combination of being sick and dealing with project doldrums and trying to keep up on ye comics weblogosphere/business burned me right out. I'm living the dream: don't need to be reading everything about what everyone else feels about it. It becomes onerous after a time, and the last thing I need is more onerousness in my life.

On a positive note, I'll be heading up to Wondercon, which looks to have a stellar guest list this year, even without the last moment addition of Frank Miller. James and crew are going out of their way with not only one, but two superstar events (Grant Morrison's International Guide to Living Fabulously and the Eric Powell Monster Mash) during the show, and I'm sure there's other stuff going on (last year's party at the newly revitalized Comic Relief was a high point, even if my beer allergy kept me from having a good time towards the end.) Getting out of the house and actually *talking* with people may be just what the doctor ordered. Assuming I can get past my Typhoid Mary phase and use a speaking voice that isn't reminiscent of Tom Waits' bastard child on a three day bender.

On second thought, maybe that'll give me some much-needed character when dealing with editors. If it doesn't make them cringe away from me in fear (which, oddly enough, is a standard reaction for me...)

Comics wise, haven't been reading too much. Read NEXTWAVE, though it was okay, but it's more amusing if you read it as a parody of Warren Ellis. Not unlike ALL STAR BATMAN in that regard. Immonen's art is edgy and cartoonly and expressive, which matches the script nicely.

I continue to scratch my head at all the unrestrained love that GØDLAND gets. I can't get past the aping of Kirby's work on both the writing and art levels, sorry. This book wouldn't exist without Kirby's corpse. I fail to see the subtle and nuanced commentary. There's some nice moments, but they often come across as surreal for the sake of being surreal. When I read Kirby's work, even the gloriously demented JIMMY OLSEN books, all the stuff is there for a reason. It's not crazy to be crazy, it's crazy because it's a towering monument to the King's imagination. GØDLAND's intentions are good, but I just can't accept it into my heart.

However, LONE WOLF AND CUB and SAMURAI EXECUTIONER are knocking me out. No, I haven't read most of these before (only some of the First Comics reprints that came out towards the end of the eighties). It started by my recent re-reading of Miller's DAREDEVIL work (which is more overly written than I recall, probably because the imagery is acid-etched on my memory from first seeing it a tender young age), after which, I recalled that Miller mentioned LONE WOLF AND CUB as an influence on his work of that period (more substantially on RONIN), so I grabbed the first volume of the reprint collection (of which there are something like 28 or more?). Knocked me out. This is brutal, unflinching, raw work. Yet it's tempered with a Zen-like sense of the moment in the atmospheres rendered on the page. And at its core, there's a moral certainty. Lone Wolf the assassin isn't simply a mindless killer. He wants to know the reasons why his sword is being hired. There's a reason it's a classic.

Also picking up Eduardo Risso/Carlos Trillo's CHICANOS from IDW, but I'm beginning to wonder if there's going to be a paperback collection of this, and how long the floppies are going to run. 'Cause lemme tell ya, I can get the next volume of LONE WOLF AND CUB or SAMURAI EXECUTIONER for the price of the three issues I've picked up so far. I like 'em well enough (Risso looks great in black and white), but I'd like a more permanent collection for the money I'm laying down.

Now to do something about this boring style-sheet...