Weakened in New England part 2

Part two - writing a new ending for "30,000 Lbs. of Bananas"

          As the topographically challenging Western Pennsylvania gave way to a somewhat less mountainous experience, I figured this road trip was finally back on track.  I was zipping along at a decent speed, with my mp3 player plugged into the truck speakers, giving me over 700 songs to enjoy. 

          In a fit of somewhat demented glee, I had a special plan set up for my music when I got close to Scranton, Pennsylvania.  I would play the live version of Harry Chapin's classic song "30,000 Lbs. of Bananas" with all the endings.  If the link works, you can listen to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfFM4Ilt4Rs

          For those of you who don't know this song, it is based on a real-life incident in Scranton many years ago.  Maybe I should have remembered that the widow of the driver in the song still lived in Scranton.

          As I came around near the city, playing the song, traffic slowed suddenly.  It was then I noticed a large red semi coming up quickly behind me, whose driver did not seem to realize I was no longer bopping forward at 70 MPH.  I thought,  "Shit, I'm about to get aced by a truck in Scranton while playing the song.  My funeral will be filled with derisive laughter."  Thankfully, he stopped with a full inch to spare.

          We kept going like this, moving forward at about 10-20 MPH, with me feeling like Dennis Weaver in "Duel" as that damn truck kept trying to get as close as possible without us being able to shake hands.

          I finally saw an opening in the lane beside me, and shot forward a few cars, then humbly signaling to get back into my original lane, but now with several cars between me and my tailgating nemesis.

          But then, everything stopped.  Mid-morning on the interstate and nothing was moving.  I looked ahead--there was no sign of an accident.  I recalled the local radio station for monitoring traffic, and tuned it in.  The explanation was dire.

          The interstate was closed!

          They had decided at the last minute to move up the start of construction, and were closing off the road to all traffic.  This, mere minutes before I would have zipped safely through the section.  We were completely stopped as they cleared the last of the traffic out of the newly designated construction zone.  Now, there were but one and a half lanes.  The half lane was for the exit within the zone, and the other was for everyone else.

          For the next 10 miles, all the traffic in the place I wanted to go was condensed to a single lane.  I was sincerely glad I'd already filled the tank and emptied my bladder.  But then, I had an idea--I didn't HAVE to use the interstate to get where I was going!  Surely there must be roads predating the construction of this one.

          I inched toward the exit, finally getting off the clogged road, and turning into a local mall with a Sears Auto Center.  I figured someone at an auto center must have the directions i needed to bypass this insanity.

          Unfortunately, they told me, the interstate had been build directly over the original road.  The only other alternative consisted of a Byzantine set of back roads that even they weren't too sure about.

          I would have to get back onto the interstate.  Worse yet, there was only one entrance ramp I could use--the one I had just left.  I'd have to get back on at the exact same place I'd gotten off.  Harry and the widow trucker were surely laughing now.

          So, after one more trip to the rest room, I drove back to take my punishment on the Interstate.  But when I went up the ramp, the road was unexpectedly, inexplicably, wide open!  I didn't know how, and didn't care why.  My foot drove the gas pedal down hard as I went, hoping it would last long enough to get me out of traffic hell.

          I passed the next two rest areas before stopping at the third to fill the gas tank.  As I stepped out of the convenience store, chocolate in hand, I saw traffic had slowed again--this time due to a wide load big rig convoy with police escort.

          I sighed, and hopped back into my truck, getting back on the road and immediately getting into the left lane.  I knew the convoy had to travel at reduced speed, and also knew that most people would be reluctant to try passing them.  It took me another 40 minutes, but I got by them.  I kept going until reaching an overpass I knew the convoy couldn't possibly make due to the height of the load, then pulled over to take a break.

          I had successfully passed through the worst of the heavy traffic, but the delay had cost me hours, well past my lunchtime.  So I decided food was the better part of traffic and took my lunch break, so to be ready for whatever lay ahead.

Next: Upstate New York, and Albany!

Weakened in New England Part One

Weakened in New England

Part one - A journey of a thousand miles begins with a trip to the gas station.

           I'd been planning this trip for a while, though you wouldn't have known it from the way it turned out. I grew up (despite what some people say) in New England, and had not been back for a visit for nearly twenty years.

          I finally had the right combination of the money to pay for the trip and the time to take it.  So it was that I set forth at 10PM on Thursday night of July 31.  I had decided to drive instead of flying because the aggravation of airports had finally outweighed my love of flyng.

          I enjoyed the first part, driving up to Northeastern Ohio, passing near to Tony Isabella's Weekly Garage Sale & Driveway Comic-Con (There's a man who gets the most out of the place where most of us store non-working cars, and stuff the spouse won't allow inside the house proper.)  I've been to one, (before the addition of the Comic-Con, alas), and really enjoyed meeting Tony.

          By early the next morning, I had stopped to take a power nap and relax just after the border between Ohio and Pennsylvania, along Interstate 80 heading East.  I was congratulating myself on traveling a route with very little traffic and making good time.

          However, there was something I did not know about this route.  Sometimes, near sunrise, it get really foggy.  This alone is not a problem, unless you combine it with a road that cuts down to one lane as it crosses deep ravines and/or curls alongside of what they laughingly call "Little Mountain".  It did this with large semi trucks rumbling along at a speed that makes you wonder if they have a heads-up computer display of where the road is on their windshield.

          After about an hour of wondering if I'd run into a mountain, run into a ravine, or simply run into whatever unseen vehicle was in front of me (or rear-ended by an equally unseen vehicle from behind), the sun broke through and a rest area soon presented itself.  I'm not too proud to admit I was happily relieved (once reaching the restroom) to be there.

          After recovering my wits--well, half of them, anyway--I looked at my map and realized the road was supposed to be less...ahem...interesting...going forward.  I knocked back another Throwback Pepsi and pressed onward.

          But the mountainous terrain the road wound it's way through soon presented another challenge.  My pickup truck had one serious drawback--it did not keep speed going uphill for extended distances.  In order to keep from being a major obstacle to the drivers who insisted by demonstration that a 70 MPH zone meant you were expected to do a steady 85 MPH, I had to hit the bottom of the incline doing nearly 90. 

          But when there's big rigs trundling up in front of you, this is not always feasible.  This had the result of me hitting the last part of the incline doing something closer to 55 MPH.  As you can imagine, I was unloved by those who wanted to go faster. 

          The hindered road racers dared not make any comment with fingers or horns at the truckers, but I presented no such intimidation.  Many people declared me "Number One" and honked horns with abandon.  After about five minutes of this my humble apologies gave way to inventive descriptions of their ancestry and likely progeny.

          Eventually, the road smoothed out a bit and I was able to keep pace with the would-be race car drivers.  I thought I'd passed the worst the road had to offer.

          But, I was wrong.  There was more awaiting me, in Scranton, Pennsylvania.  Yes, Harry, it sucked.

Next: At the Intersection of Harry Chapin and Scranton, PA.

The New Kit in Town

     Welcome to our new kitten, Parker.  She was born on March 29, and arrived in our home on June 15 of this year.  We named her after the character "Parker"  portrayed by Beth Riesgraf in the tv series "Leverage" as seen below.

Parker the person is an extremely energetic woman who likes showing up in unusual places, often upside down, who likes to steal things.

Parker the kitten is an extremely energetic cat who likes showing up in unusual places, often upside down. While she has been known to play with things that aren't technically hers, she hasn't actually stolen anything that we know of.

I actually posted this a month ago, but apparently, the system, then in transition to a new format, ate my post and never put it up.  Which also tells me I need to be more attentive to this place.

So today, we're off to the vet to get her the first in a series of kitty shots each month (and yes, there are moments when I'd LIKE to shoot her...), and make sure she's in good medical condition.

The picture at the top was taken pretty recently.  Here's a couple more pictures of her taken within a day of getting her.

So there you have it.  We are once more owned by a cat.  Yeah, as aggravating as it can be when she gets rambunctious, she's worth it.

Mike

 

Minerva McGonagall, the World's Sneakiest Cat

    Today, for the first time in over twenty-five years, there's no cat in my home.  Our cat, Minerva, has died just days short of her tenth birthday.

     It happened very suddenly late yesterday, and a trip to the animal hospital confirmed that her afflictions were undetectable previously, and only taking monumentally extraordinary procedures would stand any chance of keeping her alive now.

     We were not going to subject a ten year old cat to the incredible pain and suffering that would cause her--especially since the odds just overwhelmingly favored she'd never survive the attempt. 


     So, we said our goodbyes, and let her know it would be ok, that when she woke up, the pain would be gone and there's be a gigantic fish dinner awaiting her.  I like to think she understood the intent, if not the words.


     Her passing was quick and painless, frankly, a relief after having seen her endure the previous few hours.


     She had spent ten years as a good companion along life's journey.  She would sit and watch Celtics games with me, only turning away if they played the Bobcats--I could hardly expect her to root against her own species, after all.


     She knew my morning routine better than I did, accompanying me to the bathroom and kitchen, both of us eating breakfast together.


     I knew that if I sat at the computer, she'd sit next to my chair, occasionally standing on her hind legs, with her forepaws on my leg, demanding kitty skritch.

     She actually claimed a stuffed bear as her own, sitting on top of it until we gave in. She also liked a stuffed "Tom" from "Tom and Jerry" that sat on the couch.


     A fish dinner was never safe with her around, we learned early on to keep an eye on her location relative to the plate, eat quickly and rinse the plate immediately afterwards.


     She was never very noisy, or destructive, an excellent apartment kitty we got from the pound.  


     Minerva was never really one of those "crawl into your lap and sit for hours" kind of cats,but if my wife or I bumped into something, or started coughing, she always ran right over to make sure we were ok.  She was more the "I'll sit next to you" sort of cat.


     She was good company, rare in any species.


     This morning, we took her to a friend of a friend, who had a place where it was permitted to bury pets, and graciously allowed us to put Minerva to rest in a warm sunny spot.


     And now, after a few generations of cats spread out over a quarter century, for the first time, there's no cat here.  While the idea of not having to worry about tripping over a cat, or changing litter boxes, or checking food and water in the bowls is somewhat appealing, I miss the company, and am considering the notion of getting a kitten someday.


     I'm not expecting a new kitten, assuming I get one, will be anything like Minerva.  Cats are as individual as snowflakes, and just as impossible to predict.  But cats have been a part of my life too long to stop now.


     I miss my friend Minerva, and will for some time to come.  But the notion that the circle will eventually start again makes it a little less painful.

Mike

The man behind the counter

This weekend, I learned that Raymond Pfriender died last January.

Most of you didn't know him. His obituary said little enough, that he was born on October 14, 1948, and died on January4 of this year. He'd been a police officer and left behind his mother, wife, children and grandchildren when he died.

But the point where my life met his came in the 27 years he owned and ran the Cosmic Connection, a comic book store in Ocala, Florida.

My wife knew him longer than I did, being a regular customer when she moved to town several years before I met her. Ray's mom, Doris was working in the shop that day when my yet to be wife was scouting likely places to live. A good comic shop was high on the want list. One good conversation with Doris led to moving into town, and becoming a weekly customer.

When I arrived, I liked the place, too. The store was a lively place, walk-in customers mixing with a group of regulars, and we all got along pretty well. Ray was the guy who made it all work.

He was a former cop, still proud of his time on the force in New York, and local law enforcement was always welcome to drop in, even if they didn't buy comics--though many did.

Ray loved music, but not live recordings, believing the audience noise interfered with the music. When digital music came along, he searched high and low for the equipment to convert record albums into high-quality digital format--along with programs to remove the popping and noise from damaged albums.

His favorite color was purple, something my wife had in common with him, and the store walls reflected that after a renovation.

He liked the Silver Age comics more than the current stuff, and his personal collection reflected that.

He would go out of his way to special order things for people he liked, and gave generous discounts to people who bought a lot of books, as well as other things like statues, etc.

The back of his store, at one time, resembled a small studio apartment, replete with fridge, thoughtfully stocked with the kinds of drinks favored by the regulars.

He was fun, witty, sarcastic when he wanted to be, and a good friend.

Then, suddenly, after 27 years, the store closed. At the time, I'd been very sick, unable to get out, and one of the few calls I got was from Ray, both to ask if I was ok, and to arrange for me to keep getting at least some of my books, even though I couldn't really afford my "normal" haul. But I never did know what happened, and shortly afterward, I moved out of state, never knowing what happened, but hoping Ray was ok.

I didn't have the phone numbers or e-mail addresses of the other people there--the store was our social nexus, needing no other. Therefore I never knew what happened to them either.

I never really got to say goodbye.

Then, this weekend, searching for something online, I came across Ray's obituary, saying far too little about an old friend, other than that he was gone.

I wanted to post this for you--whomever you are--to read it. Then, the next time you go get your comics, take a few minutes, and talk to the man--or woman--behind the counter. You never know where your next friend will come from, or when you'll actually see them again.

As for me, this is my way of saying goodbye. I won't see you next week, Ray, but eventually, I'll be along. Then, you can show me around the new shop, and I'll pick up my books. Good things never really do end, do they?

Mike

Home is where the Blog URL is...

After some research, a false start, and one near miss that almost lost my contents, I've managed to rename the URL for this blog. It's now www.oceansedge2011.blogspot.com

Thanks for visiting! I hope you enjoy the time spent here!

Mike

My URL, Talking 'bout My URL

I will--once I learn how--be changing the URL to this blog, which is currently still listed as "artandcomics.blogspot.com" it WILL be "oceansedge.com" but I'm going to give everyone time to be aware of the name change before I change the URL, so probably next weekend, January 15-16, I'll be attempting the URL change.

Mike

A Blog by Any Other Name

I've just stepped down from my position as manager of the Art and Comics online store this weekend. After bouts of recurring illness and other problems, I just wasn't able to get it all done the way it needed to be.

After talking to the NEW store manager, James Quinlan, we agreed I'd keep this blog and he'd do a new one for the store. Hence the name change. No, I haven't quit (or been fired from) Glass House Graphics. But I'd been running the store (and the e-Bay store before that) since 2006. It was time for a change anyway. I wish James the very best of luck as he takes over and hope he has roaring success as store manager.

As I did on the store site, I also thank GHG Grand Poobah Dave Campiti for his constant efforts in support of my efforts, even when things weren't going so well.

So, what happens here? This will become a more personal place, not tied to GHG as a whole, and more about what I want to discuss. To be blunt--this is all me, not GHG. So any complaints come to me, not them.

That's about it for now. But I'll be along later to ruminate some more.

Mike

The (Comic) Boxer

Today, I was reading a comics-related magazine, when I noticed an ad in the back. It mentioned, among other things, a "new design" for one of it's products.

A comic box.

Now, I've been involved in comics in a variety of ways since I started reading them as a kid. I've been a comic shop manager, and a writer as well. I've attended any number of conventions over the years (a practice I hope to resume when time and finances permit).

In that time, I've seen many comic boxes. I even bought extra ones to help me move--some of you may not know that in addition to comics, they're great for paperback books, CD's DVD's and VCR tapes. They're sturdy, with built in handles and solid covers that don't even need to be taped on. You can write on them in pen, marker or sharpie, relabeling over the years as your collection grows.

They've been modified a little over the years, more acid free, recyclable materials, streamlined just a little from the old days.

But the basic design is the same. It's a bloody BOX, not a house or car.

So I look at the ad, and these boxes are proudly proclaimed "strong enough to stand on". OK, all you comic shop people--how often did you use some of the old back issue boxes as a ladder to replace a light bulb--on those occasions when the display table was too far away?

These also "need no tape or glue". Gee, the only time I ever taped up a box was when it was so old and used that it was wearing out and the store owner was too cheap to pop for new boxes, even though we got a discount! I can't ever recall a time when using glue to hold a box of comics together was an option.

I'm deliberately not mentioning the name of the supplier or the magazine, because I'm not trying to pick on them specifically. I'm sure other suppliers/manufacturers have made similar statements. It just struck me as funny that advertising has gotten so "out there" that someone actually thinks that announcing a new kind of box merits mention anywhere but in the funny books.

The one drawback to writing this is, when the time comes for me to order new boxes, I won't be allowed to have the "NEW" boxes.

Mike

In Praise of Pimentel

Joe Pimentel is an artist, first and foremost. His specialty, officially in comics terms, is inking, where he adds dimension to a penciller's work, practically making it easier to print. Ideally he also makes it better.

I didn't know anything about him before he started working with Mike Deodato on "Amazing Spider-Man" for Marvel. He's from Brazil, and he excels at his job. He is also, hands down, the single best person for inking the work of Mike Deodato, and I include Deodato himself in that list.

Here's a few pages of his work.

This is New Avengers 19, pages 20-21. I love how Pimentel's work resonates with Deodato's on this double page spread (as always, pages shown here are for sale at the time they're posted (unless otherwise stated specifically), over at our online store, www.artandcomicsstore.com ; and if you click on the image itself, you can see a much larger version.)














This is a cover re-creation of Amazing Spider-Man 512, pencilled by Deodato, and inked by Pimentel. I really wish you could have seen some of the interior pages from that series. But those pages were sold long ago.




However, I can show you the next best thing....







The above graphic is scanned from Amazing Spider-Man 526, story pages 11-12. Pencilled by Mike Deodato, inked by Joe Pimentel, color by Matt Milla, lettered by VC's Cory Petit, from a story written by Reginald Hudlin, and published by Marvel Comics. This is during Spidey's final battle with Morlun, which had a truly shocking ending! I had the original art in my hands, and was trying to figure out how many people would be annoyed at me if I bought it for myself. I behaved and sold it to another person.

Tons of people know who Mike Deodato is, and rightly so. Comparatively few know who Joe Pimentel is, and that's NOT right.

We've occasionally had samples done solo by Joe for sale at our online store, but we're all sold out at this time. Check in occasionally and see what's there!

So here's to another great example of why we need all the great inkers we can get!

Mike

The thing about Mike Deodato and drawing women

I've had the good fortune to have some of my stories drawn by Mike Deodato, Jr., an extraordinarily talented artist. This was back in the days when "Mike Deodato's Jade Warriors" was published by Image, then later by Avatar (at least until Avatar somehow neglected to pay for the work--and I'm not holding my breath or anything, but the creative team, myself included, WOULD like to have that taken care of sometime...).

Anyway, people like to get on his case for drawing really, really sexy women. "It's unrealistic and demeaning", some people proclaim.

I have two problems with this. First, Deodato doesn't get the final say on how a character looks, the publisher does. The Editor runs the book, backed up in some cases by a "group editor", but always then by an Editor-in-Chief, the real-life Perry White who ultimately makes the company call. If they had a problem with the way Deodato draw the pages, believe me, they'd speak up. So, the quarrel some people may have is NOT with the artist (or, for that matter, the writer, operating under the same chain of command), it's with the Editors, or ultimately, the Publisher.


Second, I've had occasion to se pictures of the women living in Deodato's general neighborhood, and in the major cities and beaches nearby.











Take my word for it, those proportions DO exist. Also the clothes. Business suits for women with skirts cut tight and short. Exercise outfits that would make Olivia Newton-John grab for a potato sack. As to the bathing suits....what there is of them...let's say he's adapted to American's relatively prudish sensibilities, at least to a point.

























The really funny thing? Deodato enjoys drawing monsters. Wouldn't you just know it?







So, the next time you think you have a complaint about what you see (or read), ask yourself, who are you REALLY annoyed at?

Mike

We are here--but how do we let you know that?

As readers here have noticed, I run the Art and Comics online store over at www.artandcomicsstore.com .

As many people also likely know, the economic times have been tough. More and more, we've had to find ways to get the word out to new customers. We've been running paid ads, which is the traditional way, I suppose. We've also been making sure the search engines let the online world know we exist.

Also, I've been spending a lot of time slogging through various "free ad" offers online. Sadly, many of these are outright scams. Some do the bait and switch with pushing paid advertising. Others just want us to exchange banners with places we've never heard of with no say over the type or content of what ads appear on our site. Still others only want the information so they can send me spam. Then there's the places that on closer look, only offer local ads in one city, or only let you pitch a specific product, as opposed to an entire site full of products.

So I've been taking my message to the fans, directly. This is a tricky process, as some forums specifically prohibit too much commercialism--as I quickly found out after being asked to leave a couple of places. They were right to do so--my posts WERE commercial.

Therefore, I've altered my approach a bit, contacting forum owners and/or administrators with a short introductory e-mail explaining who I am, what I represent, and what I'd like to do. Universally, they've responded with positive encouragement, either specifying how and where to post, or explaining why they'd prefer I not do so.

This seems to work best for everyone, and with their various blessings, I've begun spreading the word once more.

Those of you who read this, I'd really appreciate it if you'd help out when and where you can, even if it's only mentioning the site or this blog to your friends.

Thanks,
Mike

In the Jungle, the mighty Jungle...

This week, we've been featuring the original art of Adriano Batista on Jungle Girl from Dynamite Entertainment on our eBay auctions.

Our eBay ID is originalcomicbookartsource and we're featuring art from issues 2 and 3 of that miniseries.

Here's a few samples of the pencilwork available to prospective bidders....








This is page 06 from issue 02, showing Jana, the Jungle Girl going up against a deadly fin-back dinosaur!

























This closeup of the lovely Jana comes from page 14 of issue 03.














These particular auctions end soon, but we have more pages from these and other issues available at our own site, Art and Comics store!

Mike

Long Walk to Freedom

Almost 25 years ago, I bought the album (yes, the album, not a CD) "Graceland" recorded by Paul Simon. Back then Simon's career was relatively stagnant, with his previous album, "Hearts and Bones" not having sold well. Since I was a fan of his work, I bought the album, unhearalded, sight unseen, never having heard a single song from it.

It was a vast departure from anything I'd ever heard. The closest I'd really come to hearing the music of South Africa was the Americanized versions of old folk songs.

But Graceland changed that, as I heard the music of Ladysmith Black Mambazo for the first time, on the haunting "Homeless". Then there was the triumphant appearance on Saturday Night Live, where the group too the stage with Paul Simon to perform "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes".

Wow. These guys could SING.

Over time, I gradually learned more of the group, in bits and pieces, but hadn't really heard much more of their music.

Recently, a friend sent me a copy of their 2006 release, "Long Walk to Freedom". Tonight, at 4 a.m., with no air conditioning in my home (an ongoing odyssey about which the less said, the less swear words used.), I listened to the album. (yes, I know they're called CD's now. Bleah.).

Again, wow.

The album is a musical journey from their musical beginnings, in a South Africa still suffering from the cruelty of Apartheid, through their triumphant appearance on Graceland, and moving on to more recent songs.

Unlike "Graceland", which saw the group working under co-leadership with Paul Simon, this album has Ladysmith Black Mambazo clearly in musical charge. This time around, they gather a variety of guests who have to blend their styles into the group's musical style. We're talking about people like Melissa Etheridge, Emmylou Harris, Natalie Merchant, and Taj Mahal. Some songs--like "Diamonds" or "Homeless"--are performed in English, with others in their native language.

I can't say how profoundly the music affects me, even though I don't speak their language. Perhaps it was the late night/early morning, with the birds singing their own background in the hot night air. Perhaps it was the knowledge of what the group has gone through--some of it truly harrowing--on their long journey, which they are still making.

Or perhaps, it's that these guys can still SING. Wow.

I've included this link to the official website of Ladysmith Black Mambazo so you can see and hear for yourself.

Mike

Happy Birthday Carlo Pagulayan!

Some time back, in response to the increasingly grim, gritty, and nealry despondent state of comics characters and storylines, Marvel Comics published an all-ages series of books under the catch-all title of "Marvel Adventures". Among these, was "Marvel Adventures: Fantastic Four". The stories were cool and upbeat, for all ages without dumbing anything down, and the art, initially by Carlo Pagulayan (with inks by Jeff Huet) was cool.

Since then, Carlo did the art for a storyline known as "Planet Hulk", and became quite well-known for it. We did have a number of pages for that series on sale at our site, but eager buyers have whittled that down to a single two-page spread from Hulk 93 (pages 21-22).
(Two notes--first, as always, pages shown here are for sale on our online store site, www.artandcomicsstore.com at the time they're posted. Second, you can click on the image to see a much larger version.)

But back then, he wasn't quite so well-known. We're currently auctioning some of his work from Marvel Adventures : Fantastic Four on eBay, (our ebay ID is originalcomicbookartsource ), with the rest on sale at our online store.

I thought I'd share some of the artwork here with you, partly to encourage people to shop, but also just to enjoy the high quality artwork!







For example, this page is from the very first issue! Marvel Adventures: Fantastic Four #1, page 18, where the Thing and the Human Torch are under attack by some very familiar characters!

Where's Ripley when you REALLY need her??






















Here's another cool page--Marvel Adventures: Fantastic Four 2, page 20.

It's a Big Honkin' Gadget to use on Annihilius




















Sometimes, people forget just how powerful the Invisible Woman is...not to mention she has a temper hotter than that of the Human Torch when her family is threatened, as the soon-to-be-airborne Klaw is about to learn!











I'd like to add that Carlo's birthday was last week, and we are selling this art on his behalf! So this might be a neat way for both of you to get a present!

Mike

The Parting Glass

Mush as I dislike the repetitive theme of the last few posts, I can't refrain from a comment on the passing of Liam Clancy. Many people remember him as part of the Clancy Brothers, with the Aran jumpers and tweed hats dating from their landmark performance on the Ed Sullivan show.

But my memory of him is far different.

Back in 1978, I went with my family to Ireland for the summer, a chance to see "the rest of the family", as my father's parents had both emigrated from there, only to meet and marry here in America.

Among the many things we did was to get as much of the culture as we could, and to this end, my dad announced he'd scored tickets to see Tommy Makem and Liam Clancy. It was not, I soon learned, anything like the rambunctious concerts the brothers had given in years past, but a dramatic concert, with two incredible musicians.

They sang ballads and rousing songs the audience largely knew (or in cases like mine, learned quickly). They recited poetry, and the highlight of the evening was the story-song "Peter Kagan and the Wind", a mixture of speech and song that still amazes me at how completely the story comes to life in their talented hands.

Liam, the youngest of the brothers was part singer, part actor, and part storyteller. He had what people called "the gift of gab", but that hardly sufficed once you heard him sing "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda", or "No Man's Land".

The man could flat out tell a story, spoken or sung, better than nearly anyone, especially a ballad.

It was fascinating to me, how with his brothers, he established what became the stereotype of Irish singers, then shattered it as a solo artist and in conjunction with Tommy Makem.

I'd like to close with the lyrics to "The Parting Glass", the song which ended Clancy Brother's concerts, and which Liam sang at his brother's funeral. Like many others, it seems fitting to me to give these words:

"Of all the money that e'er I spent
I've spent it in good company
And all the harm that ever I've done
Alas it was to none but me

"And all I've done for want of wit
To memory now I can't recall
So fill to me the parting glass
Good night and joy be with you all

"If I had money enough to spend
And leisure to sit awhile
There is a fair maid in the town
That sorely has my heart beguiled

"Her rosy cheeks and ruby lips
I own she has my heart enthralled
So fill to me the parting glass
Good night and joy be with you all

"Oh, all the comrades that e'er I had
They're sorry for my going away
And all the sweethearts that e'er I had
They'd wish me one more day to stay

"But since it falls unto my lot
That I should rise and you should not
I'll gently rise and softly call
Good night and joy be with you all"

The Answer, My Friend, Is Blowin' In The Wind...

Yesterday, Mary Travers, best known as part of the extended family of "Peter, Paul, and Mary", died after an extended battle with Leukemia from one of the side effects of one of the chemotherapy treatments.



















She was as passionate about her beliefs as she was talented in her musicianship. She never wavered in her determination, continuing to appear on stage until May 20, the last concert by PP&M we'll ever have. She was on oxygen, and in a wheelchair, but still, at heart, the same Mary we'd come to recognize over nearly 50 years of performing.


















Today, her husband, children and family are trying to deal with their very personal loss. Her "stage family" Peter Yarrow and Noel Paul Stookey also must face the empty place on stage.

Yet, it's not truly empty.

In place of her physical presence is the embodiment of her music, beliefs and love she shared with us all. For many years, she sang for us.




Now, it's our turn to sing for her, and realize that the heart's memory is more vivid than any picture.


Thank you, Mary.

He Completed the Bridge Over Troubled Water

Many of you have heard Larry Knechtel's most famous work, even if you don't realize it. He was the man who arranged and played the piano part for Simon & Garfunkel's legendary classic "Bridge Over Troubled Water".

The title song of the album was originally written with two verses on guitar. When Simon & Garfunkel reached the recording studio, the realized the song needed something more. So, Paul Simon sat down and wrote a third verse and switched the instrumentation from guitar to piano. Larry Knechtel, long recognized as an excellent studio musician as well as a live performer, arranged and played what became the world-famous accompaniment.

Mr. Knechtel went on to play on stage and on many more albums, including live performances of "Bridge" with Simon & Garfunkel.

Sadly, he passed away on August 20, just a few weeks after his 69th birthday. His death didn't generate worldwide headlines, and there were no televised memorial services. But for people like me who tried to learn the details behind the songs we love so much, it is a great loss to the world of music.

"Bridge Over Troubled Water" was the first song I clearly remember hearing in my life, and set me firmly on the path to learning to play piano. As literate as Paul Simon's lyrics were, as pure as Art Garfunkel's soaring voice, I remember also the amazing sound of the piano--as played by Mr. Larry Knechtel.

Mike

Moron in the House

Earlier this evening, President Obama was addressing Congress on the subject of health care in our nation, submitting plans for his own health care proposal.

During the course of his speech, he said that the proposed legislation would not provide free health care for illegal immigrants.

At that moment, Republican Representative Joe Wilson of South Carolina shouted "You lie!", visibly shocking Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, as Vice President Biden shook his head slowly. The president looked directly toward the unexpected heckler and replied, "That's not true." Then he continued on with his speech.

Shortly afterward, Rep. Wilson issued an apology, saying, "This evening, I let my emotions get the best of me when listening to the president's remarks regarding the coverage of illegal immigrants in the health care bill."

While I disagree with the President's statement, my comments were inappropriate and regrettable. I extend sincere apologies to the President for this lack of civility."

Now, this man is not some newbie. He's served five terms in his current office. He's been around more than long enough to know that when the President is giving the speech, you shut up and listen, and applaud politely when he's done. You will have plenty of time afterward to tell everyone why you think he's wrong.

Further, he wasn't criticizing part of the plan, or the speech itself.

He called the President a liar on national television. That's not "letting your emotions get the best of you". That's saying something personal in a public gathering. That's challenging not his policymaking or speechwriting, but his personal integrity.

If Rep. Wilson wants to discuss lying, he should start with his statement. Why couldn't he tell the truth? He should have said, "I was pissed off at what the President was saying and I called him a liar. I was wrong to do that in the way I did it, no matter what the situation was, and I apologize for the disrespect toward President Obama, the Office of the President, the Congress, and the American people.".

Because that's what he did.

Rep. Wilson interrupted the President's speech to make a personal attack on the President, which offends not only President Obama on a personal level, but is an attack on the office of the President as well.

Rep. Wilson was there as an official Representative, conducting the business of his office by attending the speech. Therefore his outburst also showed disrespect toward fellow members of Congress, who he embarrassed by his outburst.

Finally, there are Rep. Wilson's constituents, who are collectively shaking their heads and wondering what the hell he was thinking.

There's a time and a place--and a means--to disagree with the President (or anyone else, for that matter). Freedom of Speech guarantees that. But we much take care to speak responsibly. We can hardly criticize children and teenagers for speaking without thinking if we can't get one of the leaders of our country to do as much.

This is what happens when you don't think first, when you allow yourself to behave like a small child having a tantrum. I'm not suggesting he should be impeached for this, but certainly people should be making it perfectly clear that this kind of outburst is unacceptable.

Even if, for example, Rep. Wilson was right, he went about it the wrong way. Now, instead of presenting a thoughtful analysis on why he disagrees with the President in any of the number of forums properly available to do exactly that, he's displayed himself as a Moron in the House.

By the same token, I praise the President for his restraint. Personally, I'd have told Wilson, "I'll see your sorry ass in my office first thing tomorrow morning, where I'll be taking you out to the White House woodshed.", one of may reasons I'd make a terrible President. But I'm making my comment here, where while perhaps a bit crude, is considerably more appropriate that Rep. Wilson's comments.

Anyway, I appreciate President Obama's restraint. It's a lesson for us all, particularly Rep. Wilson.

Mike

Make Mine Disney?

Last June, Disney bought up the rights to Stan Lee's company, POW Entertainment. Today, it was announced that, pending antitrust review and shareholder approval, Disney was now going to buy the publisher that Stan "The Man" was associated with for most of the last 40 years, Marvel Comics.

If approved, this potentially changes a lot of things on many fronts.

For example, after various existing agreements expire, Disney can have first crack at the lucrative movie franchises Marvel has been building since the advent of the Spider-Man movies with Tobey Maguire, eventually including the X-Men movie series, and their work in progress, the Avengers.

Next, there's the possibility of animation--this IS Disney, after all. Can you imagine the potential of new animated series featuring the vast array of Marvel characters? Even if they do as in the last X-Men series and recycle plots from the comics without crediting the original writers (and I hope they do not sink so low), there's a lot to work with.

Then there's what I believe will be the upcoming demise of Universal Studios theme park. They can talk all they want to about Scooby-Doo, or Popeye, but most people were more interested in Spider-Man and the Hulk. I'd say there's zero chance of any licensing agreements being renewed when Disney is almost literally next door.

And, finally, the comic books. Almost all the Disney characters are languishing in publishing oblivion, plus the defunct Crossgen line, and the recently acquired POW Entertainment. All they needed was someone who know how to publish comics. And the outside chance to possibly re-associate Stan Lee with Marvel.

If they do revive Crossgen, will they be able to get the various creative teams back together, at least to finish storylines in progress at the time of the company's demise?

For Disney, this marriage is made in heaven. They can expand the Disney brand through the Marvel brand and vice versa. It also might make them the world's biggest comics publisher.

Now, keep in mind, I'm NOT saying any of this will happen. I'm not in the loop and have no idea whatsoever of the short or long term plans of any of the companies mentioned. This is just me thinking about what might happen, if a lot of things go a certain way. It is conjecture, not fact.

But it is interesting that these deals are coming together a lot like a couple of years ago, when Danny Ainge made subsequently larger deals that ended up with the Boston Celtics becoming NBA Champions at the end of that year. Disney might be looking for similar results on the world entertainment stage.

It just might become the House of Mouse Ideas.

Mike

The Song Remains The Same

I've always been proud of my ability to make stuff last, an ability that comes in handy on our family budget. The washer and dryer that we had when we were married lasted over a decade before needing a replacement. Said replacement has been in service now for nearly a decade as well.

The family car had a water pump that no longer worked and the cost to repair it was more than the used car had cost to buy in the first place. We drove it for 6 months that way while we tried to save money for a replacement, with the car literally stalling out in the parking lot of the car dealership on the day when we finally had decided to replace it.

And so we come to my CD/MP3 player, a device I bought to play my music after I spent ages converting my old record albums to mp3. As all music collectors know, there were many, many albums that either had tracks butchered to make it fit on one CD, or were never released in a digital format at all.

Anyway, I bought the player about 5 years ago and it's working fine, except the "reverse" button has become stuck, and no longer works. Not a big deal on a CD with at most 2 dozen tracks, but what happens if you want to go back 100 tracks? Anyway, I figured it might be worthwhile to check out the whole "ipod" thing. So my wife took me to a local store that carries such things to at least have a look.

I quickly learned that the actual ipod brand had a whole lot of restrictions on it's use in comparison to other digital mp3 players. It also had a more substantial price than it's fellows.

All the advantages I wanted from my CD/mp3 player would cost extra money to regain. Want to switch out music on the road? Forget bringing a bunch of discs. You need a 4 GB expansion card, and only the more expensive player can provide a slot. Plug into an outlet to save battery usage? Make your way over to get an A/C adapter. Speaking of batteries, they are indeed rechargeable, but no longer are the kind you can change with spares from the kitchen drawer. A special battery and probably someone to do the work without breaking the machine or voiding the warranty is needed.

At the end of all this, I described what I presently owned to the sales associate and he led us away from the flashy display in the middle of the store, to a lonely corner past the checkout stand, where I saw a newer version of what I had, with a much higher price than what I'd paid for the one I owned. We left the store empty-handed, with my wife saying, "we can get that at (STORE X) for a lot less".

Then, this very morning, I read an article on CNN.com about how for the past year or more, some of the ipods have been smoking, melting, or catching fire because of the same lithium ion battery problem that prompted a recall of portable computers--but NO recall of any ipods.

I think I might keep my current player a while longer. I'd rather not be able to go in reverse than go forward to the emergency room.

Mike

Deodato Summer Sale

Thanks to the generosity of Mike Deodato, we're running a Deodato Summer Sale! All Mike Deodato art at our online store, www.artandcomicsstore.com is on sale!

I couldn't let this pass without showing you some samples of the oodles of cool artwork he's done!

As always, click on the graphic to see a larger version. All of these are for sale at the time of posting.





This is a re-creation of the cover to Amazing Spider-Man 514.





























Speaking of Amazing, here's a painting by Deodato of your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man!






















From Dark Avengers 2, page 12, Morgana LeFay goes toe to mystical toe with Doctor Doom!



















Just in case you didn't think the Spider-Man painting was dynamic enough, here's Deodato's painted rendering of the Incredible HULK, on canvas!


























Danger, Will Robinson! This is the cover to Lost In Space 15, part of the "Voyage to the Bottom of the Soul" storyline!













Perhaps you'd like something more new? How about this double page spread of pages 20 and 21 from New Avengers 19?












Of course, it's not just the good guys that make a story, as the sultry Princess Python demonstrates on page 6 of Punisher War Journal 4!






















Ok, who's going to volunteer to give Jen her rabies shot after this cover to She-Hulk 35?

























Everyone, say it with me--you know you want to..."BWA-HA-HA!"
From Thunderbolts 112, page 22.













Here's a double page spread of what Wolverine did on pages 26 and 27 of Wolverine Annual 2 ("Roar")!


And, because it's good to end with a bang, here's pages 17 and 18 from X-Men: Legacy 212!



If you enjoyed these--and would like to buy them--they're all on sale at our online store, Art and Comics, along with many more cool pages! Deodato, like all the artists there, has his own section!

Mike