Originally uploaded by stuartimmonen

I adore you.

I’m trying to figure out if there’s any way we can get there for the show. Fraction and I will actually be in the DC area on Friday. Fraction’s signing the next morning and we’ll have the baby with us, so it doesn’t seem likely, but man…

• I love this picture.  And speaking of the X-Men, thanks to Ian Brill for pointers to these two articles. 
• I somehow missed this Splash Page piece on Casanova when issue #14 first came out. 
• Tori Amos on The Comic Book Tattoo.  (Wherein I have two stories: one with Andy MacDonald and one with Laurenn McCubbin, whose blog is now fixed.)
• Seriously, can anyone hook me up with a fan scan of any of Toru Shinohara’s work…? 
• I almost did “horror anthologies” for my I [HEART] Comics piece, but I went a different direction at the last minute.  I’m left wondering, however, if my beloved HOUSE OF MYSTERY and HOUSE OF SECRETS books hold up.  Hm.  What about PLOP!, hm?
• I totally want to join the Iron Cupcake Challenge.  EDITED TO ADD: I totally did. 
• Women I left out of the “Women” section of the I [HEART] Comics piece because I was going on too long already: Natalia Knight/Nocturna and Vampirella.

The Comic Book Tattoo is out July 23rd! Woo hoo! I have two stories in this fine collection: SILENT ALL THESE YEARS with Laurenn McCubbin and SUEDE with Muscles MacGunshow Andy MacDonald.

Comic Book Resources has a blog up for the book here and a forum here.

(Also, my friend Kathryn’s HELLCAT book is out.  I have read it.  It’s funny and good and ohmygod BEAUTIFUL and you should totally buy it.  I wanted to link to the purchase page on Midtown Comics but apparently they don’t do permalinks (?), which is, in the parlance of our times, a bummer. )  

(The Immonens are revamping their site.  It’s gorgeous and I’m jealous.  Go see.) 

It took me a few days to screw up the courage to watch this, but hey — it’s not that bad. In fact, I think everyone comes across as fairly charming. Whew. (Thank you, Tom.)  

Can I say how much I love that Kathryn and Stuart’s first date was Brazil…? 

• I usually come down against Cruelty to Animals.  It’s not a controversial position I know, but this morning, where my own canine household members are concerned, I’m rethinking it anyway. 
• I’ll be appearing, along with Tori Amos (!!), editor Rantz Hoseley, moderator Douglas Wolk, David Mack, Ted McKeever and Elizabeth Genco on the CBT panel at SDCC to ‘launch’ the Comic Book Tattoo.  Yeah, that’s right.  My 22 year-old self thinks my 37 year-old self is cool at last.
• Heroes Con remains awesome.  I apparently don’t have it in me to do full con reports anymore so if you’re looking for that sort of thing I’ll point you towards Tom Spurgeon’s full report and collective memory links page.  For my part, I enjoyed myself immensely.  Many thanks to Sheldon, Dusty and their crew.  A couple of bits worth mentioning: 
  • I met Kathryn Immonen (and Stuart!) in person, at long last.  Turns out she’s just as lovely as I’d imagined.  More so, even.  
  • My favorite exchange of the Con:
    • Matt Fraction: Kathryn came by while you were gone.  
    • Kelly Sue: Did she say anything about meeting up later?
    • Matt Fraction: No, but she gave me a Slim Jim and a knife.
  • Fraction said the collaboration panel he did was the most craft-intensive panel he’d ever been on and possibly the best.  I was minding the table, so I missed it but The Dollar Bin recorded it and posted it here. 
  • Newsarama documented my potty mouth on the Creative Household panel here.  (Incidentally, Russ Lane came up and introduced himself later.  What an interesting guy — turns out he lost 200 pounds five years ago.  TWO HUNDRED POUNDS.  I find that fascinating and inspiring.  It takes such courage and faith to make profound life and identity changes like that.  Russ writes some about his accomplishment here. )
  • Steve Niles and I talked a bit more about a project he suggested that’s got my wheel’s turning.  That’s all I can say without jinxing it, but yeah.  Wheels: totally turning.  
  • Sarah Wilkinson and I also chatted about doing a little something together.  I think I know what it’s going to be, but again with the jinxing.  
  • Fraction’s parents made us all FRACTION t-shirts, which might have been the cutest thing ever.  (Well, next to the little boy dressed as Iron Fist.)  The genesis of the idea came from a photo of Fraction and his dad when Matt was about three.  They’re wearing shirts that say “Fritch” and “Little Fritch.”  We’ve now got a shot of Fraction, his dad and Henry in shirts that read “Fraction,” “Dad Fraction” and “Lil’ Fraction.”  We’re going to frame the two together.  
  • I adore Ivan Brandon and Rick Remender.  Can I just say that?  Cool.
  • I didn’t do a lot of shopping but I did pick up this print by Imaginism for Miss April.  (I nearly picked up one of a Lady Snowblood-esque kimono-clad woman wiping blood off her sword for myself, but I couldn’t think of where I’d hang it.  And — go figure — it’s not on their site.  Alas.)
  • Miss April also scored a monster print moleskine cover by Sarah Dyer.  
  • Introduced myself to Chris Sims from the Invincible Super Blog.  I find that guy’s blog utterly hysterical.  And clearly he’s got great taste: Fraction’s Thor: Reign of Blood is his Pick of the Week.  
• Speaking of Fraction’s books this week, did you all pick up his Young Avengers Special? I know I’m not unbiased but I particularly loved this one.  
• I’ll probably add more to this post as I think of things.  
• Okay… back to work.  

• Holy crap, the dummies of Comic Book Tattoo (pictured above) are gorgeous, no? Rantz, you should be very proud. You have the patience of a saint, corralling eight gazillion creators the way you did, but it looks as though it’s going to pay off in spades. I’m certainly proud to be a part of it.
• Preview Kathryn Immonen‘s Hellcat here. (Kathryn, on whom I have a truly embarrassing girl crush, was kind enough to let me read the pitch for this series and I assure you it’s a HOOT with a capital HOO.) I should also note that I will get to SEE the lovely lady live and in the flesh at Heroes Con next week. Here’s the kicker: if you come to Heroes Con YOU CAN SEE HER TOO. And me. And Fraction. And Stuart, even. And even more lovelies, all of whom are listed here.
• I’m working on the very last volume of Black Cat today. Sniff, sniff. I’ll miss you Train Heartnet. You’re a scamp.
• In domestic news, I made a batch of Green Tea cupcakes at 7am this morning and had walked the dogs 2.75 miles before 9. I like mornings. Go. Me.
• EDITED TO ADD: Kevin Mellon sent me a link to this girl’s awesome softies.  Thanks, Kevin.  Wow.  
• Okay… back to work.

• I am just back from a 45 minute walk with both dogs AND the baby.  I am covered in sweat and pride.  
• Reminder: Warren Ellis’ FREAKANGELS updates every Friday.
• Did we talk about my 20 year high school reunion yet? Yep. Twenty. Years. Gaaaah. Can’t decide if I’m going or not. It’s a good excuse to go visit my best friend (the one I grew up with) but I can’t say that I’m terribly curious about anyone else.  Rob Ryland maybe.  But he’s on Facebook.  What do I need a hotel ballroom for when I have Facebook? 
• Stuff I’m into: Melissa & Doug toys

• My cousin had her baby last night — a little boy, as yet unnamed.  We were in Houston Saturday and Sunday, so we barely missed his arrival.  (Alas! Alack!)  Can’t wait for Henry to get a chance to play with New Baby. Congratulations to Jenny and her family! 
• Fraction is signing at Elite today.
• The KC crew (Fraction, Jason Aaron, Tony Moore, et al.) was featured on the front page of the KC Star this weekend.
• Thursday, May 8th, my friend Craig “Baldo” Balderston will be doing stand up on Late Night with Conan O’Brien.  Congratulations, Craig!
• If Fraction and Terry can take the baby on Sunday morning, it looks like Susan and I will be taking an Annie Modesitt workshop at the Studio with Tobi.  It’s not Yarn School, but as consolation prizes go, it’ll most certainly do. (I think I’ve knit ONCE since Henry was born.  Still.  It sounds very relaxing.)
• Annie Ok’s Second Life Iron Man.
• Oh my god these are so awesome!!  Thanks for the pointer, Adrian.
• Adam Hamilton is on Up To Date today; I’m very impressed by what he has to say. 

• Not exactly a definitive answer on the agave nectar thing, but helpful. 
• This is hilarious. I believe I have Brian Wood to thank for it. 
• IRON MAN had me at BACK IN BLACK.  I could only have loved it more had there somehow been a knitting yogi on a snowboard involved.  And, like, James Bond.  If he were a redhead.  Yeah.  That.