November 20, 2009
This is the fourth Friday that I have been traveling. It’s been a different city every week, thus I have been writing you from various hotel rooms and airport lounges. Today I am tapping away as I sit on a chaise in my hotel that feels very swanky and chic, and reminds me somehow of film stars in the '50s. I have a wonderful view of Philadelphia out my window, and I am enjoying watching the city come alive as I type. This is a “repeat hotel,” meaning I have been here before. Traveling as much as I do, I love it when I repeat hotels that I like. It just makes it easier. I remember where the pool is and how to get to the convention center. It saves time. For amusement, yesterday when I plugged in my GPS to drive here, it first told me it would take 20 hours to arrive. I thought Philly had moved until I realized that “Fiona” (as I call the British chick who chirps my directions out) thought I still was in Miami! She needed a few moments to reorient.
Which are your go-to cookbooks? Name up to five.
November 20, 2009
Have you made a wish list for the holidays? Are any books on your wish list?
November 20, 2009, 126 voters
Yesterday, the judges for the 2010 Eisner Awards (which will be held at the San Diego Comic-Con on July 23 of next year) were announced, and yours truly is one of them. I'm really honored to be among these other great judges (get to meet them all here) and I'm looking forward to taking part in the whole process, which is going to be rigorous, challenging, and a whole lot of fun. Here's hoping I'm up to the task!
Two TV shows with comics-related content have caught my attention this season, one new and one old. The new one, which I'm enjoying quite a bit, is the new conspiracy puzzler FlashForward. I love it (and by the way, I'm going to say I love what ABC is doing this season by preparing for Lost's end with FlashForward and the new V...even if their execution isn't always perfect, I think it's great that the opportunity for good sci-fi on TV is there). Anyway, one of the mysteries of FlashForward is the identity of a person named "D. Gibbons." A nod to Dave Gibbons, one of the creators of Watchmen? It would seem so. I hope Dave is watching and enjoying.
Sheldon Dorf died on November 4 in San Diego. The 76-year-old passed away from kidney failure apparently due to complications of diabetes. We all owe Dorf a debt of gratitude for the magical thing he founded in 1970: the San Diego Comic-Con.
A few weeks ago, we sent out a request to writers, teachers, librarians, pros, and more to tell us the graphic novels they’d recommend as the best of the year. We keep getting their responses in, and we plan to unveil a more complete list in December. But just to give you a taste of the big books (and just in case you want to get a head start on your holiday shopping), we’re starting the list early. Here’s a sample of some of the responses we’ve gotten. Keep checking back to see more picks added for the best comics, manga, and graphic novels of the year!
