It shows where my priorities are that I told you all about Saturday night’s dinner at Range before I shared anything about the rest of my weekend at Capclave. But then … you already knew that about me, didn’t you?

When I arrived at the Hilton in Gaithersburg Friday night, I quickly discovered that there was no parking available. I circled the lot multiple times, as did dozens of other cars, to no avail. This had never happened before at a Capclave. Blame Guest of Honor George R.R. Martin, who attracted a horde of new attendees. (I was told later that night that the con sold three times as many walk-in memberships as usual the first day of the con.) Thankfully, a hotel employee at the front desk allowed me to use employee parking, or else I’d be wandering the lot still.

I bumped into Michael Dirda, Howard Waldrop, and Ellen Brody in the lobby, and they invited me to join them for dinner before my 9:00 p.m. panel. I’d already eaten during my drive, but I joined them anyway for a lively conversation during which we discussed Stan Lee’s date with Patricia Highsmith, the unfilmed (and entirely fictional) seventh season of Leave it to Beaver, and more.

Then came my panel titled, “J. K. Rowling Wrote an Adult Mystery,” which wasn’t really about Rowling per se, but instead the issue of pen names, writing in multiple genres, and whether the latter required the former. You can tell where I come down on the issue by the fact I’ve used my own name on all my writing, even the two unauthorized biographies I wrote about professional wrestlers. I’m agin’ ’em.

And then I rushed back home. It may seem odd to drive 90 minutes each way in order to spend two hours at a convention, but that’s all work (I couldn’t spare using another vacation day) and finances (I try not to splurge on hotel rooms when a con is commutable) allowed. Which meant the next morning I headed back to do it all over again. (more…)

When I received the list of panels on which I’d be appearing at Capclave and saw that I’d been scheduled for a two-hour block Saturday night from 10:00 p.m. until midnight, my first thought was—Gee, that’s awfully late. But that initial thought was almost immediately extinguished by a tantalizing follow-up thought of—Wait! That means I can go to Range again!

I’ve already told you how I woke up early Black Friday—something I never do—in order to book a table on the first of Range’s pre-opening preview nights, which resulted in a meal that made us rush back as soon as we could. So with the restaurant only 27 minutes away from the convention hotel (according to Google Maps, anyway), I knew this represented a perfect opportunity.

So what did we think? Our smiles near the end of the meal should give you the answer to that question.

We dined with friends Karen and Charlie Newton (who’d been there with us before) and Sandy and Risa Stewart (who were Range first-timers). A side note—the three couples at the table had been together for 32, 33, and 37 years—which means we had a combined 102 years of marriage! (more…)

Would you like to be a member of the Marvel Super Heroes Club? Now you can be! Since I never inscribed my name on the card below, you can print it out on heavy stock and add your own.

I have no memory of how this piece of Marvel Comics memorabilia came into my possession. And no amount of online searching reveals any history about it. But I’ve got to believe it dates from 1966, which is when the Marvel Super Heroes cartoon show aired, because the list of heroes on the card is limited to the same heroes who appeared on the show, which aired five days a week and showcased a different hero each day.

For some reason, Spider-Man’s hyphen migrated to the Human Torch, but hey, it was (probably) 1966. Give ’em a break!

And besides, that wasn’t the first time Spidey lost his hyphen.

If anyone can provide more background info on this card, I’d appreciate it, since the Internet seems lacking, but until then—join the club!

Last month, I spent a day at the Small Press Expo, the highlight of which was meeting Congressman John Lewis. The civil rights pioneer was there to promote the new graphic novel about his life, March.

On Sunday, September 15, at 1:00 p.m., I attended a panel about the planned trilogy, grabbing a front row seat and feeling pretty happy with myself. Here’s the official panel description:

SPX is proud to host the Honorable John Lewis, the U.S. Representative for Georgia’s 5th congressional district, to mark the publication of March, the first volume of a graphic novel trilogy documenting his life and work. A leader of the Civil Rights movement, Rep. Lewis was Chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), an architect and keynote speaker at the historic March on Washington in August 1963, and has been a member of Congress since 1986. Rep. Lewis will appear with co-writer Andrew Aydin and artist Nate Powell. In a discussion led by journalist Alex Dueben, the group will discuss the process and goals of this singular comics project.

Sadly, it turned out that I’d chosen the worst seat in the room, for whenever Lewis wasn’t leaning forward and speaking, his face ended up hidden behind the moderator’s open laptop. By the time I realized this, the room was packed and there was nowhere I could move.

So forgive me as you watch the video of the event, which I’ve finally been able to spare the bandwidth to upload. I think that whatever its flaws, you still be moved.

Because of the ancient foodie pics I posted the other day, several of you asked about the recipes I used back in the old timey days. Specifically, you wanted to know more about the Peking Duck and the cannoli.

Luckily, rather just bookmarking cookbooks, back then I’d type out my favorite recipes on index cards. And surprise, surprise, all these years later, I’ve still got ’em.

And so, here, copied over from I have no idea where, is the recipe that created that Peking Duck.

I’m sure it’s far from the best recipe—I’ve been told I should have used a bicycle pump to inflate the duck at some point if I wanted truly crisp skin—but it’s what I used back then.

As for the cannoli, here’s the recipe which I presume I cut from the box containing the metal cannoli forms. (more…)

There’s been a backlash recently against the practice many of us have of taking photos of our food, with some so annoyed they’re suggesting a total ban, and others going so far as to claim that anyone who does this kind of thing are suffering from mental illness.

To which I say—I’ve been snapping foodie pics since long before snapping foodie pics was cool, and I don’t plan to ever stop!

If you don’t believe me, a raid on my old photo albums ought to convince you. Check out the first Peking Duck I ever roasted, from way back in 1977.

How proud was I of that duck? So proud that I did more than just take its picture—I also had someone snap a photo of me holding that photo! (more…)

It’s that time again. One month has ended, and a new one begins, so here are all of September’s dream tweets gathered in one place to see whether their surreality increases or decreases when rubbing shoulders like this.

Last month, I dreamt of George R. R. Martin, Isaac Asimov, Maisie Williams, Alfred Hitchcock, Tim Gunn, and many more.

SEPTEMBER 2013



I dreamt Paul Levitz and I scurried around a convention debating whether or not he should publish an anniversary issue of The Comic Reader.

 ‬29 Sep

I dreamt I was back in time with a guy who hoped to stop the Charles Manson killings, but based on clues, I thought he’d be the next victim.

 ‬‬28 Sep 



I dreamt I was walking across the U.S., and sat by a sandy stretch of highway, trying to figure where I was, looking through a guidebook.

‬ ‬26 Sep 



I dreamt I led a surreal Dada-ist protest march that wasn’t really protesting anything. We’d march by other marches, confusing them.

 ‬‬26 Sep 



I dreamt I was Dexter, and when someone slashed my sister (not anyone from the show), I hopped in my striped racecar to run him down.

‬ ‬26 Sep 



I dreamt my (deceased) friend Charlie Guida had turned chef, and as I worked for him, he told me, “We audition for our jobs every day.”

 ‬‬26 Sep 



I dreamt I built a working LEGOs helicopter which I planned to use to get aerial shots for a movie. I lent it to a friend … who broke it.

 ‬‬26 Sep 



I dreamt I was reading the Sunday comics when I noticed one strip (Family Circus?) had been dedicated to my grandfather, and showed others.

 ‬‬25 Sep 



I dreamt I lip synced to a series of recorded opera arias, and everybody was fooled. Which is surprising, as the singers were all women!

‬ ‬25 Sep 



I dreamt I was Daniel Radcliffe, and performed some (now forgotten) cross-franchise prank with Maisie Williams to make fans’ heads explode.

 ‬‬24 Sep 

 (more…)

Ramona Fradon, one of my favorite comic book artists, turned 87 today. So—happy birthday, Ramona!

Though I have fond memories of the Aquaman stories she drew that appeared in the back pages of Adventure Comics throughout the ’50s and into the ’60s, I think I truly fell in love with her artwork from The Brave and The Bold #57 (January 1965), introducing Metamorpho, which she co-created. I was nine years old.

At the time, I never dreamed that she’d someday bring some of my own words to life (or that there’d even be any of my own words to bring to life), illustrating a 5-page horror story, “My Mother, the Witch,” fourteen years later for House of Mystery #273 (October 1979).

When I searched for the proper image to celebrate Ramona’s birthday, I was surprised to find that complete story online. And not just the pages as printed, but her original artwork, thanks to an online auction, which means you get to admire her clean lines exactly as she drew them.

So check out the complete story below!

(more…)

I’ve been to (and loved) all of Chef Bryan Voltaggio’s restaurants—Volt for high-end cuisine, Family Meal for quality comfort food, Lunchbox for sandwiches, and his newest restaurant, Range, for, well, everything—so I enjoyed watching him compete in the latest season of Top Chef Masters. And was proud that a local chef (well, somewhat local) had survived all the way to the finale.

Which meant that when I found out that there was going to be a viewing party of that final episode at 10:00 p.m. last Wednesday out on the Volt patio, I knew Irene and I would have to be there. And since we were going to be traveling all the way over to Frederick, why, dinner was a must! So I made an 8:00 p.m. reservation in order to have plenty of time for a meal before the screening. (more…)

When news spread earlier today that Neal Adams lost his art portfolio by leaving it in a NYC Yellow Cab, it all seemed very familiar. Then I remembered … no, Neal Adams had never lost his art portfolio before by leaving it in a NYC Yellow Cab … he’d lost his art portfolio by having it stolen while he slept on a NYC subway car. History doth (almost) repeat itself!

But don’t just take my word for it. Have a look at this snarky entry from the two-page ad Warren Publishing took out in the 1972 New York Comic Art Convention program book.

For further winners of the “1972 Awards for Dubious Achievement to the Comics Industry,” check out the complete spread below. (more…)