I just stumbled across this on YouTube last night. It’s an interview I did with  Alyssa Huang last Spring while at the ALA BookExpo. I mentioned it in my blog at the time, but I lost my notes that had the little girl’s name and that she was with Ideas in Writing Kid’s Club. I never saw the finished piece after that. Anyway, here it is, and I am a bad subject. I inadvertently throw my interviewer off just as the showroom starts to shut down. It’s pretty adorable…

I was  in a favorite watering hole here in Columbus last night when who walked in and ordered a martini?

Well, to be fair, he does have a busy day tomorrow.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Be of good cheer!

Joe Field from Flying Colors Comics has posted some photos from the signing I did there earlier this month.

The event was part of a fund-raiser for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. It was a lot of fun and a lot of people turned up. I signed noon to 4 – - straight! People came from as far a way as San Diego!

In the picture above are two comic fans (with, as you can see, very good taste!) named Paul and Ronna. You can see more of Joe’s pics on his blog by clicking here.

Thanks to Joe & Libby for taking such great care of me while I was in town. ( it was Libby’s birthday and the family included me in their dinner celebrations!)

Below are a few shots from my iPhone; among them: a penciled script page by Carl Barks that a reader brought in to show me, and someone’s Halloween costume from this year!

 There were a lot of comics I liked this year. Some of my favorites were classic reprints like Moomin from D&Q, or Popeye vol.3 from Fantagraphics, but of new material by a single writer/artist, here’s my top 6:

Slow Storm by Danica Novgorodoff  from First Second Loosely drawn in black inks and watercolor, Danica weaves a slow burning story of frustration, fear and trust – - all against the backdrop of a threatening storm. Read a review on Comics Reading Room.

Hamlet (No Fear Shakespeare Graphic Novels) by Neil Babra  from Spark Publishing
This is no Classics Illustrated; Babra has drawn Hamlet out as a real comic. Amazing. Some preview art on Neil’s site.

Echo by Terry Moore from Abstract Studios
A fascinating tale of fringe sci-fi with more surprises, trials, and heartache than any heroine should have to suffer; from the creator of Strangers in Paradise. Read a review at IGN.com.

Too Cool to be Forgotten by Alex Robinson from Top Shelf
A wish fulfillment story about a forty year old who gets hypnotized in order to quit smoking but finds himself back in his fifteen year old body reliving high school. Alex weaves in and out of the wonders and horrors of teenage existence without being maudlin and always being truthful.  My favorite comic of the year. A review here on Comics Worth Reading.

Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi from Scholastic/Graphix
An imaginative all-ages tale that will grab you by the collar on page 4 and hold you to the very end. The art work is gorgeous. Suite 101 has a review.

The Barn Owl’s Wondrous Capers by Sarnath Banerjee from Penguin Global
Released in paperback in 2008, I discovered this book while in India recently. The story of a young man in search of his heritage, the author moves backward and forward in time, allowing echoes of his beloved city of Calcutta, from the 18th century to the present,  lead his protagonist forward in a mystery inspired by the legend of The Wandering Jew. A review fom the Telegraph.
 

Hope you were able to get a chance to read some (or all) of these great comics over the past year. If not, what are you waiting for?

Happy Holidays everybody!!! Things are getting busier here as the big day gets closer. I just added some new stuff in the store that I wanted to let you know about. We have hooded sweatshirts. There are two different designs to choose from. You can get Fone Bone with his gloves or a Phoney Bone Star design. 

If you like hot chocolate on a cold winter day, then head over to our store site at Cafe Press for mugs and other fun stuff. Just a note about anything you order from Cafe Press, your order will be shipped from them, and may not make it to you before Christmas if ordered by the 15th.