Tomorrow morning Ariel and I will be heading down to Harrisburg, PA, where Ariel will be participating in the Professional Women’s Bowling Association Pro-Am Tournament. No, Ariel is not a pro, obviously, but for 11 years old she’s doing very well, currently carrying a 112 average and recently bowled a new high game of 160 in her Wednesday night league. So anyone who wants to come by and cheer her on Tuesday at 4:00 PM, swing on by the A.B.C. West Lanes at 6454 Carlisle Pike, Mechanicsburg, PA. For that matter, I’m told they still have openings for anyone who wants to participate.

PAD

Worried there might be too much stress in your life, but you’re not entirely sure?

Bob Greenberger referred me to the following website:

http://webpages.charter.net/hkirtley/stress/

It’s a nice, quick way to determine whether or not it’s time to relax.

PAD

In case anyone’s interested, you can go to this site: http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/living/6130051.htm

There’s an article in the Philadelphia Daily News about me.

All of a sudden, everyone and their brother wants to interview me.

PAD

People are congratulating me over the press release about TMNT #1 selling out.

Except I’m not happy about it. Once again, it’s the Santayana quote: “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

When I first started writing “Captain Marvel,” what did I hear from fans? “I can’t find it in my store!” “It’s sold out!” Fans seemed to think this was a good thing. Month after month this continued, and then Marvel suddenly announced that the book was in trouble.

Supergirl #75 sold out. Supergirl #76 sold out. “Great!” quoth the fans. “Cancelled!” quoth DC.

Does everybody get it yet? When retailers don’t support my books (because I’m not, y’know, the New Hot Thing), they don’t order enough. When they don’t order enough, the books sell out. When the books sell out and the early issues are unobtainable, people won’t buy the subsequent issues, which causes orders to drop even more.

When you see future sellout announcements on–for example–“Fallen Angel”…don’t say “Hurrah!” Don’t say “Congrats!” Say “Uh oh.”

PAD

That’s the Hulk, kids. Up on the screen, big as life. Starting at a slow jog across the desert, picking up speed until he’s moving like a locomotive, then one or two short jumps, faster and faster, and then he’s gone over the mountains in a two mile vault.

More below (and, in the interest of full disclosure, yes, I wrote the novelization, so if some of you think that connection would render me unable to make unbiased commentary, you’re free to do so.)

Continue Reading “LIKE HÊLL HE’S “SHREK”” →