Isn't he cute?

This is Dewey, my blind but wonderful cat. He’s actually snoring.

For me, this is a weird post. I’m not typing this on my PC, but rather on my new Samsung Moment Android phone. My wife’s phone died, so we upgraded both our phones to this model. She’s (rightfully) suspicious of having her data wedded to the Google monstrosity. But I’m in love with the features on this little gadget.

I’d take a photo of our snowshoe Siamese cat, Koko, but I doubt he’ll let me…

*FOLLOWUP*: I was able to type the post completely on the phone, and I took the photo on the phone. I was able to upload the post to my blog, but the photo wouldn’t go. As it turned out, the path for my uploads directory wasn’t properly defined. All is well now. Time for bed.

Just opened my copy of the Kirby biography by Mark Evanierfrom Amazon today. It SMELLS like old comics. And that’s a good thing, a wonderful thing.

I’ll be able to say more about it after I’ve read it. But good God, the book smells like a pulpy old comics store. And that’s the feeling you should get when reading Kirby, isn’t it?

It’s the 50th anniversary of this great cartoon! Go catch it on YouTube. (Thanks to Fark.com for the reminder.)

1. Dwayne McDuffie really has a handle on what makes the Fantastic Four unique. It’s not just four people with superpowers; it’s a family. And even though that family is going through post-Civil War jitters, and Reed and Sue have been replaced with the Black Panther and Storm, they still work like a family. There’s a little bickering, a few jabs at each other, and a whole lot of let’s-work-together-and-beat-the-bad-guys. And there’s a wonderful scene where Storm overrules BP on a crucial decision, just as any good wife will when her husband’s wrong. (Note to wife if she’s reading this: Love you, sweetie!)

2. There’s a letter inside by Joltin’ Joe Sinnott, only the best slinger of ink the FF has ever seen. I’ve brought up my love for Sinnott before, and it’s nice to see Sinnott is still reading the book he made his mark on.

3. How can you not love this?

Is that the Black Panther on the Silver Surfer’s board? Why yes, that IS the Black Panther on the Silver Surfer’s Board.

If you need more to buy this comic than good writing (and nice art by Paul Pelletier and Rick Magyar), Joe Sinnott, and Wakanda’s best hanging ten in space, I can’t help you.

]]> http://www.adventuresofray.com/2007/04/27/the-lost-jack-chickstan-lee-comic/feed/ 0 http://www.adventuresofray.com/2007/03/29/whats-the-saddest-comic-youve-ever-read/ http://www.adventuresofray.com/2007/03/29/whats-the-saddest-comic-youve-ever-read/#comments Fri, 30 Mar 2007 02:21:20 +0000 Ray http://www.whyilovecomics.com/2007/03/29/whats-the-saddest-comic-youve-ever-read/ ESPN’s Bill Simmons had a link to sadkermit.com, with a clip of everybody’s favorite frog singing Johnny Cash’s “Hurt”, complete with images of Kermit shooting up heroin and staring at portraits of Miss Piggy and Jim Henson. It reminded me of the saddest comic I ever read, Chris Aubry’s “I Still Think Of You, Jim Henson”. The piece originally ran in the back of Cerebus 162. I remember sobbing for nearly an hour when I saw it.

I’m running it here, but with some trepidation. I couldn’t find any information as to Aubry’s current whereabouts, so I’m running this without his permission. I’d feel worse about it, but the strip shouldn’t be forgotten. Chris, if you’re out there, drop me an email or comment here with what you’re currently up to (or, if you want, a request to pull this down; I’ll understand and comply).

So what’s the saddest comic you’ve ever read? Drop a line in the comments.

Medical update: First, thanks to everyone who wrote publicly and privately wishing me well. I’m in less pain than I was in December and January. I can walk short distances now without discomfort. I had a procedure done last month where a needle filled with medicine was wiggled inside my hip for a half-hour or so. It was really uncomfortable, but it seems to have reduced the inflamation in certain areas of the hip. We’re doing the same procedure again in two weeks, and we’re hoping this minimizes the pain further.

I’m blessed. I have lots of friends who have helped me, including this site’s patron saint, Glenn Walker. And my wife is just awesome. She’s put up with my pain, my insomnia, my inability to do chores, and she has never let me down. People go through a lot worse than this with a lot less help, and I don’t know how they do it.

One weird thing I have to mention: somehow, I lost 40 pounds over the last three months. Now, I’ve made some dietary changes. I stopped drinking soda (I love Vitamin Water!), and I can’t drive to the fast-food joints, so I eat more of my wife’s cooking. But still…40 pounds? I’m still much heavier than I want to be, but I’ve got a start, and when my leg heals, I plan to hire a trainer and start working out. So expect a thinner me soon.

Oh, and comics blogging. I’ve read lots of great comics over the last few months- Eisner’s Spirit Archives, the amazing Popeye book from Fantagraphics, Alison Bechdel’s Fun House, Paul Grist’s Kane, and so much more. I’ll be writing about it all soon. Thanks for waiting. I hope my writing will be worth the wait.

(Regular posting resumes soon, I promise.)

Until now.

This is an amazing story. Rather than gloat about his recovery, Adams asked his readers to share their greatest moments. It’s a fantastic blog post, and it shouldn’t be missed.

(Thanks to Boing Boing for clueing me in to this.)