Archive for August, 2005

Where I’ve Been for the Past Ten Days

Wednesday, August 31st, 2005

In the hospital. With pneumonia. I’m home now but still very weak — and tethered to an O2 machine day and night for at least the next couple of weeks. Further expectorations to follow as energy permits.

“DC In Demand” Quote

Friday, August 19th, 2005

Editor Joan Hilty asked me for a quote to be used for the 10.05 edition of the “DC In Demand” page, which will carry an item about *Hard Time* and will run in all of the DC comics issued that month. I suggested, in part, the following: “You’ve just experienced a year of changes in […]

Presidential Head Games

Wednesday, August 17th, 2005

Speaking of Roshomonics, here’s an interesting article from the *Huffington Post*: Why Bush Believes His Lies. I’m going back to my break now.

What is “Roshomonics”?

Wednesday, August 17th, 2005

It’s come to my attention that some readers didn’t realize whence the term “Roshomonics” was derived or exactly what it was supposed to mean. *Roshomon* is a very famous 1951 film by the even more famous Japanese director Akira Kurosawa (whose other works include *The Seven Samurai*, *Throne of Blood*, *Ran*, and many more). *Roshomon* […]

Hard Time: Some Encouraging News

Wednesday, August 17th, 2005

Taking a quick break from my break to pass this along: *Hard Time* got a nifty little squib in the October-dated editions of *all* the DC comics, on the “DC In Demand” page. Space on that page is golden — and rarely devoted to a non-DCU, non-superhero title. But it gets niftier. We’re getting *another* […]

Break Time

Monday, August 15th, 2005

I’m going to take a few days off from blogging. I need a little while to regroup emotionally and focus my concentration entirely on *Hard Time*. A personal note. Thanks to Bret, Carol, Jennifer, and Harris. You’ve been very good friends at a very difficult time. Back shortly!

Quick Question

Monday, August 15th, 2005

Does anyone happen to know if a comics convention scheduled for September in St. Louis, MO has been cancelled? I was scheduled to be a guest but haven’t heard from the convention promoters in many months. Oh — and if the show is still on, does anyone know how to contact the promoters? Thanks.

First Criterion

Monday, August 15th, 2005

The one criterion I apply first to judging almost any comic book story — or film or novel or television drama — any story presentation not intended to be taken as parody or farce — is simply this: *Did I believe it?* While I was reading the story, did I accept unquestioningly that it was […]

Coda: Gerblog Phase One

Sunday, August 14th, 2005

The day ends at dawn again, but that’s okay. I’ve spent it looking for a personal reason to stay alive and continue working — beyond paying the rent, I mean — and I may have found one. It has to do with analyzing and understanding the fan appetites that make the crossovers work commercially, and […]

Night Terrors

Saturday, August 13th, 2005

But see, here’s the thing… I can quote all the cocky lyrics I want, and I can understand the necessity of engaging in Roshomonics at an intellectual level, and I can make myself appear by turns witty and bitter and sympathetic to you, the reading public… But there’s nothing quite as frightening as knowing that […]