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It doesn’t get more small town than this.

Ariel was marching in a Memorial Day parade today, thumping along on a honkin’ big drum as part of her school marching band. Great day to be displaying flags, because there was a steady wind and the flags were flapping beautifully in it.

To this day, I still think people should NOT (NOT, DAMMIT, NOT, FREAKIN’ DAMN TYPO NOT) burn flags in protest. I believe they have the right to, and I think an amendment to oppose it is ridiculous. But the problem is that nobody burns flags because they have a problem with the flag. They do it as an attention getting device because they have some other issue. But the flag is so majestic, such a lovely symbol, that violating it is going to alienate the people you’re trying to convince of the rightness of your cause, whatever that may be. So I think it’s a pretty dumb thing to do.

When we’re in the midst of fighting a war, it gives Memorial Day that much more resonance. Let’s hope as many people come home safely as possible.

PAD

(I apologize for any confusion about this post–I’d just started writing it and for some reason the program sent it all by itself. This is an edited and corrected version.)

Editor Andy Schmidt has informed me that “Madrox” is going to be under the “Marvel Knights” banner. Makes perfect sense to me: Although “Madrox” is not remotely as adult-oriented as “Fallen Angel,” the noir style of it positions it more for the older audience. And when you’re talking skewing older with a Marvel character, that’s “Marvel Knights.”

PAD

An article in a recent “Publishers Weekly” discusses the ongoing problem of theft that book sellers have to deal with. What’s fascinating is not that shoplifting is going on, but the nature of what’s being stolen.

Bibles.

Bibles and books about faith.

‘Tis truly a wonderment, the irony-free sensibilities of people who steal a book that’s fairly renowned for the instruction from on high about “Thou Shalt Not Steal.”

PAD

Got an e-mail from talented artist Arne Starr, who is planning a move to LA. Consequently, he’s having a major Ebay blowout of stuff he wouldn’t ordinarily sell in order to raise some traveling money. He said, in part:

“Amongst all the Trek models and figures and other oddball items, I put up about 20 comic pages, of which you wrote over half of (Star Trek #8, STVI Adapt, Sachs & Violens 3-4 (which I got you to sign ages ago in Chicago of all places)). Any help would be appreciated. To find the stuff on Ebay one just has to do a search by Seller and type in

As Kathleen wrote up so well on her own weblog, yesterday was our three year wedding anniversary. Since it fell middle of the week and there was much else going on, it was a pretty low key affair for us. Main celebration was in the evening, when Kath and I went out to dinner while Ariel watched baby sister (who was, cooperatively, sound asleep.) When we came home, Kathleen, Ariel and I sat and looked through hundreds of photos taking at the wedding and during the honeymoon. Seeing pictures of my old friends from Trek conventions looking weirded out as they mingled with such guests as George Takei, Bill Mumy and Harlan Ellison. Bob Greenberger expertly directing troop (i.e., guest) movements with military finesse. Kathleen looking radiant in her wedding dress and getting teary eyed during the ceremony. My daughters and parents looking happy for me, possibly because they thought that, after my heart was busted the first time around, I would never be happy again (an opinion I shared for quite some time B.K. (Before Kath). And the honeymoon afterward–the Disney Cruise, which we took all three girls on, since Kath’s philosophy was that we would be sending a negative message by saying, “We’re going to be a new family, we love you all, and now good-bye because we’re ditching you for a week.”

And somewhere Caroline was looking down from on high saying, “Put me in, coach. I’m ready to play.”

It was a good day yesterday.

PAD

Bush, in his speech last night, said something I firmly agree with. He said the war in Iraq represents a struggle between two visions, “one of tyranny and murder, the other of liberty and life.”

The true tragedy of the Bush Administration is that he doesn’t realize the rest of the world is increasingly uncertain which one we are. We are an occupying force, mistreating its captives, claiming that we’re restoring control of the nation’s fate to itself while making clear that 130,000 troops are staying right where they are, with more to come if we decide it’s needed.

What’s frightening is that more than 40% of Americans still don’t grasp that.

By the way, check out this link. It’s eerily hypnotic. I think it’d make a great screensaver.

PAD

All right, you can listen to an excerpt of the Spider-Man 2 audiobook here.

…did we mention that the Spider-Man 2 novelization comes out tomorrow? And that you can pre-order it? Okay, then. Soft sell over, true believers.

A thirty two year old circus performer plunged to her death at Ringling Bros. over the weekend. At the moment, no criminal prosecution is being looked at, and it’s seen as a tragic accident (although why the hell there was no net under her remains totally bewildering. Then again, even when used, nets can be missed or you can land wrong, break your neck, and adios.)

She has (had) two young children who are being trained to join the act.

Sooner or later, somehow, somewhere in this country, luck is going to run out and a child circus performer is going to be killed.

At which point no one will say there’s no investigation of criminal prosecution. No one is going to say, oh, it’s a tragic accident in a high risk profession.

Instead there’s going to be a thundering of outcries over child endangerment. Investigations will be launched. Social services will be brought in. Children will be taken from their parents. And anyone under the age of eighteen will be banned from any act more hazardous than juggling. All the safety harnesses in the world don’t matter because, sooner or later, something’s gonna break.

So circus families might as well take the initiative now and stop using kids in anything remotely high risk…before the odds, and the law, catches up with them.

PAD

Richard Biggs, one of the sweetest guys in the world, who played Dr. Stephen Franklin on B5, just died.

Apparently Rick woke up, rolled out of bed…and collapsed. Aneurysm, massive stroke, there’s no final word yet.

I’m horrified to learn this. I was supposed to see Rick at the Motor City Con but he wasn’t able to make it, so I didn’t, and now I won’t get to again. My condolences to all his family.

And folks, remember, seriously…majority of heart attacks occur first thing in the morning. So when you wake up, do so slowly. Move your feet and arms slowly, get the blood circulating. Don’t make your heart go from 0 to 60 in a few seconds.

Damn. DAMN.

PAD

A news item in today’s paper said that London residents are being stricken with a mysterious illness that’s rendering them mute.

Fortunately enough, both Tony Head and Allyson Hannigan are in London at the present time. I’m sure that if Sarah Michelle Geller can be talked into heading out there, the three of them should be able to attend to it in no time.

PAD

The penultimate issue in the “Odyssey” storyline. Out this week. Whad’ja think? (Not that it, y’know, matters much in the long run…)

PAD

Okay, so when I was doing the announcement of “Madrox” at the Detroit convention and talking about how–if the book had high sales–we’d continue it as a series, I also said we were going to do everything we could to try and snag people’s interest. That included the title (said I) as I took a piece of paper and wrote out a logo that looked like this:

MadroX

That is to say, we were going to make the “X” the biggest letterin the logo. “After all, we’re not stupid,” I said with a grin.

And somehow this has morphed into the silly notion that, within the interior of the book, his name is always going to be spelled as MadroX.

No! Fer cryin’ out loud, guys, no. I don’t even know 100% for sure that we’re doing it in the logo; I was half-kidding. I’d LIKE to do it that way, and I’d discussed it with the editor, but it’s not set in stone. And we’re CERTAINLY not going to have it appear that way within the body of the book. Just as the logo, if we do it at all.

Okay?

Sheesh, the stuff you have to clear up…

PAD

I was chatting with Kath about the multi-pronged cliffhanger in “Smallville,” and she put forward an interesting theory that there was more than just “Let’s knock the fans for a loop” at work. I’ll go into detail in the extended for Spoilers sake…

(more…)

Well, boy howdy, I was two for two. Spoilers abound…including the revelation of the single most horrifying moment of the evening…

(more…)

We just got a copy of the cover to #1 in color, and so we pass it on to you.

A sad good-bye to Tony Randall. I once went to a taping one of his TV series “Love Sidney,” and was impressed by his confidence and professionalism. Also saw him in a touring company of “The Odd Couple,” him and Jack Klugman. Also encountered him in the streets of New York many years ago and chatted with him for a minute. Always wished we could have done lunch or something, but never had the chance. And I’ll never forget his two line acceptance speech after winning the Emmy for Best Actor in a Comedy…after Klugman had scored it several years in a row, and when the show had just been cancelled. It was something like, “I’m very pleased I won. Now I just wish I had a job.”

The ones I feel the worst for are his kids, who won’t have a daddy as they’re growing up. Seems unfair somehow.

I think I’ll put on my laserdisk (yes, I still have some) of my favorite Randall work of all time: The Seven Faces of Doctor Lao.

PAD

Yes, the picture above is some of the first artwork from the upcoming MadroX series. We also have a character study and a page of art featuring a familiar face…

Order early. Order often. Order multiples.

Out last week are Fallen Angel #11 (concluding the “Down to Earth” storyline) and the first issue of “Spyboy: Final Exam,” the latest Spyboy LS.

Whad’ja think?

PAD

This weekend Peter is at the Motor City Comic Con and he is making THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT about the secret project that he has been working on for Marvel.
This will be revealed on Saturday at his Noon talk in Speaking Room #2.
I know what it is and have seen the art work. All I can say is that it knocked my socks off.

So go by and say Hi to Peter. On Saturday and Sunday ask to see the pictures of the kids. He will have some really cute ones.