Turner's Poster

Of all the things written about Mike Turner's passing, this is the one that got to me. I don't know why. Maybe it's just that I always had my comic posters that moved with me...that became part of my home. Maybe it's just that I remember talking about this one with him.

Thanks to Laura for writing it.

From Myriad Issues

R.I.P. Michael Turner

via Myriad Issues by Laura Hudson on 7/2/08

It's late, I know. Unfortunately, I didn't know the man, but everything I heard about him made me wish I did. During the first year that I lived in the city, I starting working in a comic book store, and the first thing I bought there was a poster-- probably the only poster I've ever bought in my adult life.

Something about the image always compelled me. Maybe it was the symbolic value of having a glowing noose of truth thrust towards me. Noose notwithstanding, it seemed more like a challenge than a threat, with Diana walking out of the shadows and holding it like a lantern.

It's been over my bed -- or in some cases my "bed" -- for years now. It followed me through five moves in one eleven month period, and I don't know how many nights of being lame, lying in bed with my feet up against the wall, staring at it. During some of the most ridiculous times in my life, one of the only consistent things was that I fell asleep to this and I woke up to this.

It's one of the few superhero images that has actually made me feel the way I think superheroes are supposed to-- this idea of someone symbolizing something better, and the implicit challenge in that to try and be better ourselves. I think it's beautiful, and it's meant something to me for a while.

I'm sorry he's gone.

Harlan Ellison on Identity Crisis

From his Newsarama interview. Ah, candidness.

B

NRAMA: I was curious about what you thought of Identity Crisis and some of the other crossovers, because I’m guessing you were not a fan…

Harlan Ellison: Horses**t. A maximum amount of pointless s**t. Not to be too candid about it.

Identity Library Crisis

Just got word that the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), and the American Library Association (ALA) have chosen Identity Crisis to be on their 2007 YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens list.

It's not the honor that really fluffs me up, it's this:

"The purpose of the Great Graphic Novels for Teens list is to encourage teens to discover and enjoy quality works of sequential art that are both engaging and entertaining."

Encouraging people to read comics. In the libraries. That's where I learned to love books. I'm so so thrilled to see they're arming themselves with comics. And that's why I love librarians. Really.

B

I'm Thirteen Again

This was sent to me this morning via the website:

Question: Posted by RaynerFan
Have you ever taken the time to consider that you might have writtensomebodies first comic, and that they are hooked because of you?

Answer: Let me tell you something – THAT is the most humbling, fantastic, terrifying, incredible throught that any creator can think – although only the pig-headed ego freaks actually think it. But man, what a reward.

During my trip to San Diego for Identity Crisis, a young thirteen year-old kid sheepishly comes up to the table and puts down his comic. I ask him his name and he steps backwards, purely by instinct, and bumps into his Dad, who’s right behind him. The Dad smiles proudly and says, “You’re one of his favorite writers.” The kid is even more embarassed – and as the Dad’s words reach my ear, I realize that this kid is ME. This is me at thirteen. This is my awkwardness. This is my love for the industry and for writing.

I can’t wait to stand in line at his table one day.

Four more days until The Book of Fate. Oy, this is when the sweating starts. I leave Monday for book tour. See you soon.

B

TV Commercial - and JLA first responders

Just got the first look at the TV commercial for The Book of Fate. It's the first one with me in it, which also makes it the most strangely embarrassing. I was mortified doing it because it basically required me to say "I'm Brad Meltzer" -- no exaggeration -- thirty thousand times. Plus, I had to do it in that deep serious voice that makes me sound like the movie-preview-voice-guy.

I don't have movie-preview-guy voice. Never have. But I do now. Oh yes -- when you watch the commercial (I'll post it soon), they had to make my voice match the video, so they slowed it down and it got deepened into a slow rumbling baritone. Like me, only tough.

Also, for JLA, one of the first responses/questions I got:

From bluemeanie: I was wondering if you could settle a question that I have been debating on a comics forum with regards Vixen.

There are basically 3 camps on why she was included
1) Its a fairly obscure character you like and have plans for
2) Its a political decision to include a female black character
3) Its a commercial decision as she is in the cartoon
or maybe 4... a little of all the above

Answer: I'm sure there are people who would love to do it for 2, 3, or 4 (though see yesterday's post, been planning this since Identity Crisis) -- but c'mon, ask any writer out there -- only a fool wouldn't do it if they didn't like the character and have plans for the character.

And that's why EVERY character got picked. Love them. Plans for all of them. That's the seed in every story.

B

Tour Schedule (or, how to get your comics signed)

For those who asked, here's the tour schedule for The Book of Fate -- and yes, I'll be signing any comics you want to bring as well. See below for dates and cities.

Brad

NEW YORK
Tuesday, September 5
Barnes & Noble, Union Square, 7pm
33 East 17th Street
New York, NY 10003

WASHINGTON, DC
Wednesday, September 6
Politics & Prose, 7pm
5015 Connecticut Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20008

STERLING, VIRGINIA
Saturday, September 9
Wegmans, 12pm
45131 Columbia Place
Sterling VA 20166

BETHESDA, MARYLAND
Saturday, September 9
Barnes & Noble, 7:30pm
4801 Bethesda Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20814

DALLAS, TEXAS
Monday, September 11
Borders Books & Music, 7:30pm
10720 Preston Road, Suite 1018
Dallas, TX 75230

ATLANTA, GEORGIA
Tuesday, September 12
Chapter 11 Books, Sandy Springs, 7pm
220 Johnson Ferry Road, NE
Sandy Springs, GA 30328

VERO BEACH, FLORIDA
Wednesday, September 13
Vero Beach Book Center, 7pm
2145 Indian River Blvd.
Vero Beach, FL 32960

BOCA RATON, FLORIDA
Thursday, September 14
Barnes & Noble, 7pm
University Commons
1400 Glades Rd.
Boca Raton, FL 33431

SARASOTA, FLORIDA
Friday, September 15
Kobernick House, 11:30am
1951 North Honore Avenue
Sarasota, FL 34235
Reading, Signing, Luncheon
Call for details: 941-552-1595

MIAMI, FLORIDA
Saturday, September 16
Books & Books, 7pm
296 Aragon Avenue
Coral Gables, FL 33145

ANTIOCH, ILLINOIS
Sunday, September 17
Wal-Mart/People Live! (1 to 3 pm)
Wal-Mart Store ..5199
475 East Route 173
Antioch, IL 60002

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
Monday, September 18
Borders Books & Music, 12pm
150 N. State Street
Chicago, IL 60601

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
Monday, September 18
The Book Stall at Chestnut Court, Winnetka, 7pm
811 Elm Street
Winnetka, IL 60093

BIRMINGHAM, MICHIGAN
Tuesday, September 19
Borders Books & Music, 7pm
34300 Woodward Avenue
Birmingham, MI 48009

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
Wednesday, September 20
Brookline Booksmith, 7pm
279 Harvard Street
Brookline, MA 02446

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
Thursday, September 21
Chester County Book Co, 7pm
975 Paoli Pike
West Chester, PA 19380

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA
Monday, September 25
Mysterious Galaxy, 7pm
7051 Claremont Mesa Blvd ..302
San Diego, CA 92111

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
Tuesday, September 26
Book Soup, 7pm
8818 Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA
Wednesday, September 27
Vroman's, 7pm
695 E. Colorado Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91101

SAN MATEO, CALIFORNIA
Thursday, September 28
"M" is for Mystery, 12noon
86 E. Third Avenue
San Mateo, CA 94401

CORTE MADERA, CALIFORNIA
Thursday, September 28
Book Passage, 7pm
51 Tamal Vista Blvd.
Corte Madera, CA 94925

NATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL - WASHINGTON, DC
Friday, September 29-Saturday, September 30
Washington, DC

PHOENIX, ARIZONA
Tuesday, October 3
Poisoned Pen Central, 12:15pm
215 E Grant Street
Phoenix, AZ 85004

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA
Tuesday, October 3
The Poisoned Pen, 7pm
4014 N Goldwater Blvd.
Scottsdale, AZ 85251

DENVER, COLORADO
Wednesday, October 4
Tattered Cover, 7:30pm
9315 Dorchester Street
Highlands Ranch, CO 80129

ROUND ROCK, TEXAS
Saturday, October 7
Hastings, 7pm
2200 S. IH-35, Suite B1
Round Rock, TX 78681

Don't forget to vote for the next city!

NAMTAB POTS T-shirts and Comicon 2006

Comicon had its usual goodies -- Elvis stormtroopers, the group dressed as the Justice League, and that woman dressed as the White Queen (don't judge, she was in white panties).

But the best goodies: meeting Len Wein and Marv Wolfman. Wein and Wolfman. Two of the most influential voices on my young brain. Between the JLA and the Titans, they ruled my childhood. And the truth is, when they came up and introduced themselves, I literally couldn't speak. I stuttered and started swaying slightly. I've met Hollywood folks and business tycoons -- but these were the two who made me stutter and sway.

The other best goody? Meeting so many of you. Yes, I'm a puss for admitting it, but screw it, it's true. I don't care how uber-cool any writer wants to play it, there's nothing cooler than meeting the people who read your work (no snarky after-joke, no smart-ass P.S.). Thank you for introducing yourselves and for reading the books, comics, etc.

As for the panel, yeah, we gave away free copies of The Tenth Justice, Dead Even, The First Counsel, The Millionaires, and The Zero Game to everyone who came. Thanks to Warner Books for bringing all the swag.

And finally, for those who asked where to get the "NAMTAB POTS" t-shirts, you can get them here. And all the profits -- everything you buy -- goes directly to ACTOR -- so thanks for the good deed.

Brad