Originally published August 20, 1999, in Comics Buyer’s Guide #1344
There are two characters in comics whom I have written and never want to take another try at. This isn’t to say that the characters are necessarily bad, or that other writers with a far greater affinity for them couldn’t producer cracking good stories for them. Indeed, writers whose work I have nothing but respect for have done exactly that. Nevertheless, I personally have no affinity for the characters whatsoever.
I’m reading all sorts of articles that claim the GOP has royally screwed itself thanks to its shutting down the government. (And those who are trying to spread the blame around can just stop. You’re fooling no one except yourselves. This was a GOP action from soup to nuts.)
The question is, are they really as dead in the water as pundits are claiming? Are they going to lose upcoming elections? Seats in the House? Me, I’m thinking not, because people have such short memories nowadays that I’m concerned by the time elections roll around, they will have forgotten all the crap the GOP pulled and be on to the next thing, while the Democrats will be unable to take advantage of GOP incompetence.
PAD
Originally published August 13, 1999, in Comics Buyer’s Guide #1343
This is the all-review issue, I’m told.
Let’s review life.
Michael Jan Friedman is embarking upon a Kickstarter program. It sounds very exciting and I hope you’ll all participate. Press release is below.
LONG ISLAND, NY (October 17, 2013) — The hero of veteran science fiction writer Michael Jan Friedman’s new young-adult superhero novel, I Am The Salamander, is a cancer survivor.
“I didn’t set out to make Tim Cruz a kid who had cancer,” Friedman said. “But when you read I Am The Salamander, you’ll see why it makes perfect sense for Tim to have beaten that disease, and why he’s in a position to offer hope to real teens trying to beat cancer themselves. And let’s face it, hope is what superheroes do best.”
I Am The Salamander is being funded by a Kickstarter campaign. ““The publishing landscape has changed,” said Friedman, who has written 70 novels for major publishers like Simon & Schuster, Harper Collins, and Random House. “It’s harder than ever to get publishers to take a chance on a story, especially a quirky one like I Am The Salamander. And when they do, the book’s shelf life is shorter than that of a jar of half-sour pickles.
“I want I Am The Salamander to be around for a good long time,” he said. “That means I have to get it in the hands of readers on my own, and I have to keep it available to them.”
However, Friedman said, he wouldn’t ask anyone to donate to the I Am The Salamander campaign “just because it’s a worthwhile thing to do. I’m asking because it’s also the best thing I’ve ever written, and because I want to get it out to readers the most direct way possible.”
Friedman is asking his readers for $5,000. to cover the cost of book design and printing. The book’s cover was rendered by up-and-coming Brazilian talent Caio Cacau.
Those who wish to make donations to the I Am The Salamander campaign can do so at Kickstarter.com.
Originally published August 6, 1999, in Comics Buyer’s Guide #1342
Given how free speech is constantly under assault in this country, it’s somewhat amazing that one virtually never sees any movies on that subject. One would think that Hollywood would be leading the fight to protect the right to free expression, for if any industry depends upon that right, it’s films. Instead, we’ve seen the opposite: Hollywood being the first to bend over and taking it up the tailpipe, and asking “Please, sir, may I have some more” when it comes to everything from the V-chip to the ratings system.
So it’s nothing short of amazing when one of the big summer movies not only revolves around the concept of free expression, but also manages to encompass everything from the American compulsion for laying blame to the end of the world as we know it—all without seeming the least bit muddled or scattershot.
I am speaking, of course, of South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut, a double-entendre title that surely must have slipped past the MPAA (not to mention Paramount) for I suspect that it never would have gotten through.
Continue Reading “Movie review: South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut”
Originally published July 30, 1999, in Comics Buyer’s Guide #1341
The only convention I’m doing this summer is Dragon*Con, so I figured I’d do a write-up about my recent excursion there.
I will be there Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Most of the time, you can find me at my Artist Alley table, which will be B5 (please save the jokes.) I will be selling Crazy 8 novels, YOUNG JUSTICE and BEN 10 teleplays, novels of FABLE, BATTLESHIP, AFTER EARTH, and HOW TO WRITE FOR COMICS AND GRAPHIC NOVELS. When I’m not there, I’ll be here:
Friday, October 11
Panel–MARVEL: Amazing X-Men & The Marvel Universe
Time: 11am
Location: 1E
Signing, Marvel booth, 2 PM
Sunday, October 13
Panel–Marvel Unlimited Plus Member Event
Time: 11:00am
Location: 1A08
Signing, Marvel booth, 2 PM
I hope to see you there.
PAD
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