#0006 25 JUNE 2004

This 'n That

I've spent the past couple of days with no internet access, thinking my computer had once again fallen under the evil influence of some virus, spyware, or like that. This morning it hit me that I hadn't tried rebooting my cable modem, and within seconds, problem solved. I forgot the computer wisdom of my old friend Bob, "When in doubt, reboot." So true.

Recent Reads -- I've been laid up sick at home for the past couple of days...in between visits to the bathroom and the occasional fever-dream, I got some reading done. I can recommend to you without reservation Richard Matheson's I Am Legend, adapted by Steve Niles and Elman Brown. This hardcover graphic novel breathes new life into Matheson's classic tale of the last man in the world vs. the vampires that have replaced humanity. Thoughtful and visionary, it's a beautiful book that I haven't seen much discussion of online. Maybe that's due to the hardcover's $35.00 pricetag, but for a story this chilling and involving with such fantastic, fully-realized artwork (strongly evoking Berni Wrightson), it's well worth the investment. IDW is to be congratulated for releasing it in such a durable and handsome edition.

Also read AiT/PlanetLar's True Stories Swear to God: 100 Stories, a collection of Tom Beland's comic strips. I'd read many of them (some when Tom featured the strip here at Comic Book Galaxy) before, but his style is so fresh and engaging that these little joy-bombs never get old. At just ten bucks, it's a real bargain and sure to win over any non-comics readers you happen to share it with.

The last book I polished off during my sick-time was Ted Rall's Generalissimo El Busho: Essays and Cartoons on the Bush Years. Ted's an explosive and insistent voice of opposition to the current state of U.S. foreign and domestic policy, and a voice that should be heard. Generalissimo El Busho is an impressive set of essays and cartoons, with outstanding production from NBM. If you're at all interested in politics (particularly the politics of post-9/11 America), you ought to give it a look.

Just going through my comics this afternoon, weeding out some non-starters and earmarking them for giveaway, I took out the first three issues of the new Swamp Thing, the first two Jim Lee-drawn Superman, and Ex Machina #1. The latter might surprise some of you -- the internet seems to be falling all over itself in praise of this series, the first issue of which I found stiff and boring. I also felt exactly the same way about Howard Chaykin's new Challengers of the Unknown. I've been waiting since American Flagg for Chaykin to do something good again, and wait goes on. And on...

A Special Request -- Comic Book Galaxy has been back for a little while now, but it seems like the news hasn't gotten widely disseminated. So, if you have a blog or a website, I'd appreciate it if you could link to our front page (www.comicbookgalaxy.com). Many sites still link to my ADD Blog, which doesn't exist anymore, so if you have one of those links, maybe you could update it to CBG. And if you're just one of those active online comics fans, spread the word. In fact, the most creative and successful campaign to get new (and returning) readers to CBG will result in some free comics being rushed to the house of the successful campaigner. So, get campaigning!

-- Alan David Doane

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