Feeling stronger!

I felt better two days ago and fell ill again. I feel better now and hope to get some work done soon! Thanks to Jess for the well wishes!

Sometime this weekend I'd like to eat this dream meal. A big pile of Korean side dishes. A Big Gulp of Jolt. An oat bran muffin. with butter. A Goldyburger. Jalapeno kettle chips. And a big wedge of four year old Gouda.

Icicles on the Inside

Ive got a stomach "flu" (viral gastroenteritis). Nothing too horrible, no upchucking. But I'm pretty weak and listless, even sleeping makes me tired. Cold causes ghostly joint pain and mild nausea. As long as I stay warm I have no problems.

But every afternoon, while Lisa's at work, I have to walk the dogs. My condition goes downhill EVERY day after the walk.

We're going through a cold wave in the Midwest. It's warmed up to about 10°F (-12°C), but before today we had highs of 0°F or -1°F. I've posted a nice photo of the icicles inside my bathroom.

The biggest annoyance is my diet. No dairy, whole grains, meats, spicy, sour, caffeinated, carbonated or greasy foods. How's a Korean American supposed to do that?

I'd actually be enjoying all this if I had the energy to read comic books. Winding down again, must lay down,

Gene

The January Recap

Today's high in Chicagoland is supposed to be 4°F (-16° C). Superbowl Sunday is supposed to get up to 1°F. I am NOT including windchill. You folks in the Upper Midwest (Minnesota) may laugh at my delicate constitution but I consider this cold. It's a fine day for bundling up and staying indoors, but I own dogs.

It's been an overly eventful January! I'd have written sooner, but I only finished Authority #2 on Thursday. It's appallingly late, because of the combination of a slow writer with slow artist. Here's a small preview of what's coming up.

Yep, the team actually shows up on in this issue! Grant didn't think much of the Rose Tattoo character so she's not in the book I didn't want to draw her so I'm glad he dropped her. Otherwise the whole team's in.

Issue 2 should be out some time in March. The big news is that the script for issue 3 has been delayed. In the meantime DC has given me a Brad Meltzer JLA script to work on! I've talked with Brad and he told me that he'd written the story with me in mind. Things worked out and I'll be the artist drawing it. It feels like fate.

January has been insanely eventful. To start off, we had Adi Granov and Tamsin making a return trip from their new UK digs. This was cause for another Chicago Comics luncheon! Every few months, the 80s core group of Chicago comics creators (and a few additions, like Adi and me) get together at Chicago Comics to shop and have lunch. I always learn something new about my art and my industry. It's a fun group. Tony Akins usually organizes these things, but wasn't able to make it this time. Andrew Pepoy missed it because I made a mistake with my email.

Hilary Barta and Barry Crain.

Me and Jill Thompson. Brian Azzarello couldn't make it. She made me eat deep fried shrimp heads and like it.

Chicagoland newcomer Dave Dorman and old-timer Mitch O'Connell.

Towers of talent Adi Granov and Alex Ross. Adi has been working on the Iron Man movie, and Alex asks the most incisive questions about the Hollywood circle jerk. If I ever do work for the movies I'll definitely get a good lawyer.

I also spent some time in Bloomington, IN. It was a huge South Bend reunion, bringing together my old high school friends Art Lyon, Matt, Lowell, and Dusty along with some of my favorite B-town people. Lowell's wife Sherri wasn't able to make it because of a co-worker's family crisis. Lowell has deeply influenced my thinking on comics and RPGs, now and back in high school. Along with Art we've been working on comics projects. We're pitching one to DC, but I can't give out details yet....

Dusty, Matt, Lowell and Art at IU's Sample Gate.

Finnian Bridgman Lyon tells me to head back to Chicago and finish up Authority #2!

The following weekend I went to the Florida FX show. It was raucous on Saturday, but slow on Friday and Sunday. This was pretty nice for the fans who showed up on the slow days. There were no crowds to fight to meet the artists and the TV stars (especially the redheads who occasionally wear librarian glasses!). Pretty good deal for the fans.

This also gave me an opportunity to talk to other artists. I got to eat dinner with Matt Wagner, Michael Golden, Dave Johnson and Derec Donovan (thanks again, John!). These guys are all artists I admire. Also got to spend some time at the con with Dan Brereton and Whilce Portacio, again insanely great artists. Among other things, Golden introduced me to a Kentucky bourbon I like, Makers Mark. I still hate Jack Daniels, but MM tastes like Scotch. Mmmmm, scotch!

Derec, Matt Wagner, and Dave Johnson.

Both of these trips were guilty pleasures. I'd scheduled them long ago and couldn't bow out. But I had the remaining Authority pages lingering over me.

Anyhow, that's how I spent my January. Coming up next I'll be working on that JLA issue and a poster for the Illinois Library Association. Special shout outs Renee, Todd, Jess and Mark from the FX show,

Gene

Remember kids, Pikachu drinks Heineken responsibly.