Back in London
Was up around 5 AM and out of the hotel by 6, roaming the streets of London and trying not to get run over (Look left, fuckwit! LEFT!). My sleep schedule is going to be SO fucked up when I get back to America. Here’s the morning picture:
That’s from outside the National Gallery. It was cool and sprinkly but kind of a nice sprinkly.
The last appearance of the UK tour is this afternoon, at 1 PM, in Forbidden Planet London. No reading, just scribbling, doodling, etc. If you’re in town for the weekend you’ll have to go back tomorrow morning, where FP is hosting Mark Millar and John Romita, jr., and how awesome is that?
In other doings, Blair Butler hauled off and made Locke & Key #4 the Pick-of-the-Week, calling Gabriel Rodriguez her favorite artist working in comics today. Even if you’re already on board with Locke & Key, I encourage checking out this week’s Fresh Ink anyway… lots of other fine recommendations, including some vampire comic that looks like a must read.
Finally, here’s the cover for issue 5, out next month… they can go ahead and hang this in the National Gallery, far as I’m concerned:
March 20th, 2010 at 6:34 am
I know how you feel about being fucked up on the time zone changes. I had to go to Korea for a week for work last year. I was off center the entire week I was there. Then when I came back I spent another week off center the other direction. All this on top of nearly dieing in a plane crash when we were landing in Korea. A huge gust of wind hit the plane as we were about to touch down. The plane had to do a touch and go to keep the left wing from hitting the ground. Never seen so many people puke at the same time.
March 20th, 2010 at 7:19 am
Gotta luv that positive press. Started buying L & K from the very first issue because I’m a collector (first printings & first appearances), now I just want to read, read, read. Artwork is fantastic and the writer ain’t too shabby either…lol.
Already ordered that “some vampire comic”. I hear there’s a famous mystery writer involved (ok…not so mystery…lol).
March 20th, 2010 at 9:21 am
Oh, the “LEFT!” part made me laugh. Glad you’re having a great trip.
March 20th, 2010 at 11:24 am
Cool cover, Gabriel! Happy to hear you’re enjoying your English adventure, Joe. Don’t sweat the time zone mess – you’ll catch up eventually and it will no longer matter, but the memories of the trip will stay.
March 20th, 2010 at 12:40 pm
Mark Millar!
March 20th, 2010 at 3:21 pm
Sounds like an awesome day all around! Enjoy your last day in the UK.
March 20th, 2010 at 5:21 pm
That is one excellent review of L&K from Blair Butler! HA ! You beat
Stephen King for pick of the week !!! So glad you chose
Gabriel Rodriguez as the illustrator..couldn’t wish for a finer artist!!!
Have a safe return to the states Joe!!
March 20th, 2010 at 6:20 pm
My Gabriel’s going to be an artist too. He’s my nephew and he’s been drawing, painting and doing chalk art since he was 6 or 7.
Blair Butler’s right about Gabriel Rodriguez being the best comic artist. Even though she still has an annoying voice when she does the reviews. Just my opinion. IDK why it feels that way when I listen to her talk, but I stopped trying to fight feelings a long time ago. Feelings aren’t right or wrong, actions are.
I learned to ignore feelings for the first time when watching ‘Nightmare On Elm Street 4.’
It’s a strange way to learn it, but I’ll take whatever works. In this case, it was the scene where they said ‘If you turn your back on the monster, it loses its power and will disappear.’
I tried it with my own monsters which, back then, were feelings I couldn’t control. It worked a little and sometimes a lot, but it didn’t make them disappear.
My mom thought it was ‘bizarre’ to find relief in watching horror movies, but they’re the only kind I relate to in a major way.
I’ve watched ’1408′ two times, and I’m going to watch it again. Something about it fascinates me-besides John Cusack, who definitely does that. Something about it’s taking place in NYC.
I haven’t been able to turn my back on the monstrous thing that happened there, b/c not every memory is a monster. There are like 5,000 good memories attached to the final one. If I got rid of one, the others would follow it. You can’t think of the good in someone’s life w/out recalling how that person’s life ended-when the person’s gone beyond the rainbow.
If I stopped thinking of the way he died, it would be too easy to forget he even IS dead-especially since they never recovered his body.
I’m still stunned at how deceptive the human mind can be when trying to process grief. At how a person’s desire for hope can almost outweigh reality.
I wish I knew how to convey all that in a fiction story, but I’m not at that level of skill yet.
March 20th, 2010 at 9:37 pm
^^Wonderful^^
March 21st, 2010 at 4:44 am
I’ve been absolutely gushing about L&K ever since I read the first issue telling everyone I know to get on the band wagon. It seems Blair Butler feels the same! I agree with everything she said. L&K is an experience not to be missed, whether you’re a comic fan or not. The combined talent of Joe and Gabriel is a truly unique magic…and I can’t say enough about how much I’m enjoying this series! Kudos guys!
March 21st, 2010 at 5:15 am
Was at the London signing yesterday with my brother Mike. Cool to see you so good humored even if your body clock is still fucked (recently came back from a trip to Sydney Australia so i know what that’s like). Just a big thanks for taking the time out to do that and having our photo taken with you (although a friend of mine did comment there was a bizzare Weekend at Bernie’s vibe going on with the way you’re stood between Mike and I. Funny). I especially liked the little angry ghost you drew on my hardback copy of 20th Century Ghosts. Very funny.
I’m now off to buy L&K Head Games. Peace out.
March 21st, 2010 at 8:48 am
(Look left, fuckwit! LEFT!). Nearly peed my pants over that!!!
Thanks for the laugh! And be safe!
March 21st, 2010 at 9:59 am
Chris Ryall posted the finished, definitive cover in his blog.
http://ryalltime.blogspot.com/2010/03/giant-sized-shadow-thing.html
Best,
G-
March 21st, 2010 at 10:40 am
I haven’t been able to get the last two issues of L&K.
My local store doesn’t get them in any more.
Guess I’ll need to wait ’till the hardback comes out.
March 21st, 2010 at 12:22 pm
Loving the Locke & Key man. I just wanted to drop by and say I 100% enjoyed it. I am working on collecting all of the back issues which are very hard to find! I am also recommending it to everyone I know, keep up the good work!
March 21st, 2010 at 10:15 pm
My brother lives in Austin,Texas and has had trouble getting the last two issues also. I told him about the truck crash and he understood but after telling him I got the latest issue last Wednesday made him mad. He still can’t get that issue. I think maybe this comic is becoming more and more popular and is becoming harder to get. He does love the comic though. You know one would think Austin,Texas would have a really good comic book store with all the latest and greatest but it’s a strange world you guys.
March 22nd, 2010 at 10:36 am
got mine on hold at the local store…gotta get over there….at some point!
Gabriel, the art is phenom!!!!
March 22nd, 2010 at 1:36 pm
Hi Joe,
was great to meet you. Enjoying Horns very much so far. I meant to ask you some locke and Key questions but somehow my mind just went blank..will save them for next time.
cheers
Christian ward
March 24th, 2010 at 4:25 am
I’m glad you enjoyed England (and the rather nice weather we had on Sunday),
I came to your signing at FP – I was the one in the Arsenal football shirt and said I hoped taking pics of you wasn’t too creepy.
May 2nd, 2010 at 4:19 am
That was a impressive article,You discover new stuff every day.