Just got back from a trip to Spain, Barcelona and Sevilla specifically. The amount of gorgeous buildings crammed into those two cities is unbelievable. By the second half of the trip I experienced that same art museum feeling I mentioned in my last journal; I reached a saturation point and just couldn‘t look at any more beautiful buildings. My brain was full and needed a head-cleaner or something. So, putting our cameras away, we (Melanie and I) just relaxed, strolled, and enjoyed the Spanish sun.

Of course, it couldn’t last. We were crammed into a 767 with a bunch of sweatpants-wearing boors, and, as we cruised West over the Atlantic, the visions of gardens and palaces faded away. Were we ever there? Does beauty even exist? What? Sorry, I couldn’t hear you over that jerk shouting for more peanuts.

Real quick: gotta love a country where you can just order a “beer” (well, a cerveza) and the bartender will just give you one. Try doing that here. Was at Doc Watson’s a couple weeks ago (hey, they got a nice happy hour) and I saw a guy, a tourist that couldn’t speak much English, approach the bar and say, “Beer.” The bartender was stone-faced. The tourist said again, “Beer.” Now the attitude comes. The bartender wipes the bar with his rag and goes, “What KIND of BEER do you want?” Geezus, such hospitality. The guy probably came a thousand miles to spend money at your bar. Just give him a Yuengling or a Bud or whatever the happy hour special is. What’s he gonna say, “Hey, man, this ain’t no beer!” (Personally there are times when I think Yuengling is more piss than beer, but I digress.)

Anyway, plugs:

Boom! Studios put out Poe #3 last week. Go snag a copy if you can.

The Black Coat: Or Give Me Death #3 is available for preorder in the latest Previews. Tell your neighborhood retailer before the month's over. It's in the Ape Entertainment section.

Before I get to my shameless plugs for upcoming books...

Here's a brief excerpt from Leonard Rifas's interview with Cat Yronwode in COMICS INTERVIEW #23 (circa 1985). I was reading it on the train to Atlantic City the other day and really dug some of Cat's thoughts on comic art. For those who don't know, Cat was the Editor-in-Chief of Eclipse Comics. So smart.

Cat: "...there are a lot of younger readers who feel that in graduating from childhood to adolescence they have to pay lip service to the idea that good art is complex art. That good art is highly rendered art. They won't even pick up ZOT! They would rather have a Perez drawing with all of that tiny-tiny detail. I'm not singling out Perez, I like Perez's work, but it's a different style. Then later when these kids become adults and are secure that it's okay to like comics, the can go back to a simple, open style like Scott(Mcloud's)and say, "this is all perfect," or they can go to a style like Dan Spiegle's-and still like George Perez too."

Leonard: "That thing about kids showing their maturity by going for the heavily rendered stuff. That seemed to be one of the big problems that the underground comix sank into...it seems that the mainstream comics are now sinking into that same hole."

Cat: "Yes, it ends up with rococo or baroque. It's a pseudo-sophistication which in the end becomes mannerism. Now I'm also a sucker for rendering because I can't do it...I like too many styles to become hung up on any one approach to art."

That part at the end seems even more valid today. Flippin' through the current Previews is like walking through the 18th century wing of an art museum. It will give you a headache if you stay too long.

Speaking of the current Previews (August), two books drawn by me are available.

Under the APE ENTERTAINMENT section you'll find a listing for The Black Coat "Or Give Me Death" combo issue #1 and #2. I drew issue #2. Written and colored by Ben Lichius. Ben really knows how to write pulp action. It was a challenge trying to capture the excitement of his script, but, man was it fun. Preorder it from your local shop as soon as you can.

Under BOOM! Studios you'll see the 4th and final issue of Poe. It's my favorite of the series and definitely worth picking up for horror fans or those who like 19th century period pieces. J. Barton Mitchell wrote a really emotional ending that doesn't leave anything hanging. Check it out.

Wow. Never thought I'd have a single book in Previews, let alone two in one month.

I feel like a lucky bastard.

So last Wednesday I was heading to the center city TLA video store, yes, the very same TLA where I once overhead a yuppie on his cell-phone exclaim, "I'm at the movie shop!". "Movie Shop", my ass. It's a friggin' video store.

Yes, the very same video store where I once saw a girl eating Cheez Doodles leave bright orange fingerprints on all the New Release DVD cases. She'd plop a doodle in her mouth and then, before she reached back into the bag, would vigorously rub her thumb and forefinger together dusting the carpet with cheesy ashes like an overzealous Minnesota Fats chalking his cue.

If the above sentence has you thinking dirty thoughts, that's all on you. Yes, you in the last row...glasses, red blouse. Question? What movie? Oh,right, I was returning "The Party". The one where Peter Sellers plays an Indian actor lost in the wilds of an LA...well, party, actually. For folks who think actors playing outside their race or ethnicity is offensive, I submit the above performance as exhibit "A" in my argument for said folks stupidity.

So I'm walking past the Rosenwald-Wolf gallery on Broad Street (part of the UArts) and I suddenly remember...they've got a Richard Amsel exhibit! (This is why I love living in the city, I'd have forgotten all about this otherwise, and who wants to find parking?)

Amsel was a phenomenally talented designer and you almost never realize how many film posters the man did in his (relatively) short career. He was a strong undercurrent in the design landscape of the 70s. They have some gorgeous finished pieces, but the stars of the show are all the thumbnails and comps that are invaluable to process junkies and anyone who's studying design. I mean, when will you ever be able to see both FIRST thumbnails for the original Raiders of the Lost Ark poster AND the 82 re-release side by side. And then turn your head and realize the final pieces are nearly identical to the thumbnails. Mind-blowing.

The show only runs till May 14th, so I encourage anyone in the Philadelphia area to hurry up and get to the gallery. I'd leave the Cheez Doodles at home. They frown on that sorta thing at fancy "Picture Exhibitions."

Story goes, Harry Nilsson was a bank clerk in Los Angeles while he struggled to start his music career. Every morning for 5 years he got up, put on a tie, and headed off for the bank. Probably took a bus. At night he wrote songs for the LA publishing houses and recorded demos. He sang for some commercials and even wrote a minor hit for the Monkees.

Finally he capitalized on his resume with RCA and released his first full-length record, Pandemonium Shadow Show. Owing quite a bit to the studio psychedelia of Sgt. Pepper, the record featured some inspired Beatles covers. Turns out, a couple of guys named Lennon and McCartney really dug it and started talking it up in their interviews. They went so far as to say this Nilsson was their favorite American singer. The record started to really sell.

Don’t know exactly when, but shortly thereafter, and, bear with me, this is the whole point of the story, Harry’s manager calls him up.

For some reason I imagine the scene taking place one sunny California morning. I picture Harry alone in his bungalow wearing one of his signature bathrobes. He’s probably just shaved. His suit’s pressed, laid out on the bed. As he pours himself a cup of coffee and sits down at his kitchen table, you know, the kind with the bright flower print Formica top and shiny chrome legs, the phone rings.

Harry: “Hello.”

Harry’s Manager: “You can quit the bank, Harry!”

Had to be the best goddamn phone call he ever got.

Flu knocked me on my ass this past Monday night. Two full days stuck in bed. A third stuck at home. Still not back to full speed and, there’s work to make up with the day job. Worst part is I feel so LAZY. Haven’t been able to sit at the drawing board all week, but I’m trying to put a positive spin on it. I’m “catching up on my reading”. Yeah, right.

I mostly blame the whirlwind that was NYCC for making me sick. Those 3 days FLEW by and took the roof right off the barn. Loads of fun, and a chance to meet some new folks and reconnect with prior acquaintances. But, heck, I didn’t get to meet some people I was hoping to (Where the hell were you Fridolfs? I looked everywhere!) and, being the shy sorta fella I am, it wasn’t exactly a networking success.

Made the publisher rounds and dropped off portfolios all day Friday. On Saturday I somehow made the DC callback list and got to sit down with a certain senior VP who had some very positive things to say about my work, and, of course, some criticisms here and there. He told me he’d be honest: my work was too “old-fashioned” for what DC was looking for right now. Maybe I could modernize my approach or maybe this current style was my true self. Either way he encouraged me to follow up with him in a few months and said he liked my stuff and had just wanted to meet me. I was really flattered by the whole experience but also a little confused.

I never really think about “my style”. I mean, you can’t force it. I definitely don't believe I have a very distinctive style, rather, I always figured my work ended up a bad melange of Caniff, Wrightson, Rogers, Coll, Lindsay, Wagner, Sickles, Jones, Alcala, Krigstein, Aparo, Draut, and a dozen others filtered through too many years reading books drawn by Byrne and, shudder to think, Milgrom. An awkward quivering multi-hued Jell-o casserole with dinosaur bones floating where marshmallows should be. Should I start consciously shifting my working methods toward a more contemporary look? Definitely something to ponder these past fever-stricken, bed-ridden days.

Other highlights from the con: manning the Imperium table while James ran to a few panels, experiencing the enigma that is Bob Burden, and, without a doubt, lunch with Ben while we discussed the current state and future of the Black Coat (more on that later). Got a few deals on some art books (including a gorgeous Jeff Jones monograph) and, a rather odd collection of Dark Shadows newspaper strips from the Seventies.

Needless to say, the con was inspiring, and now, creatively recharged, I desperately just want to get back to the drawing board. If only I could kick this flu.

Doctor, ain't there somethin' I can take...

Ah, the holidays. When the minds of children fill with visions of cheap plastic electronics and the games to play on them.

Nah, nah, I take that back. I'll not be a cynic this time of year. I'll try to enjoy all the season has to offer. In fact,to help me get in the mood, I'm gonna reread one of my favorite short novels. It's become something of a holiday tradition. I make a hot toddy, grab a blanket and snuggle up with the only piece of prose that can help me truly appreciate the dizzying parties, the caroling strangers, the nipping cold, and the unfathomable amount of cookies:

"At the Mountains of Madness"

TEKE LI-LI! TEKE LI-LI!

(happy holidays)