The lightest nerd sack EVER!

Good news. Looking at Thursday's list of new comics I see that there is only ONE book that I want. I can't remember the last time this happened. Can I really limit my week's spending to just £2? I'd feel so much better about myself if I could just go one week without dropping a hefty wedge at the comic shop.

House of Mystery #6
AND NOTHING ELSE.
YAY!
I might even get through some of my monstrous to read pile.
Happy days.

A night with old chums

To London's West End for drinks with Little Ad, Big Dave and Dotty the laser-eyed dog (centre)...


A fine evening during which much alcohol-based fun was had. I downed four pints of lager, one sambuca, two Jack Daniels and two whiskeys; a mix that might not be enough take the edge off of an alcoholic's thirst, but which sent me home drunk and left me feeling very ill this morning. Truly I am a lightweight.

No matter, before the alcohol poisoning set in, some fine chat was had.

When not railing against the "over-rated evil of Bladerunner" Dave pointed out that after reading Warren Ellis's recent run on Thunderbolts he had come to the conclusion that Ellis writes Norman Osborn as Blakey from On The Buses. "I 'ate you Parker!" Genius.

Little Ad' (no longer as little as he once was of course) wet my gaming whistle with talk of a possible Heroclix lock in at the pub where he works. He has many sentinels I hear.

Dotty danced provocatively for nachos. Tart.

I was slightly embarrassed to be introduced to one of Dave's Pub chums as some sort of all-knowing comic guru. He seemed impressed enough that I knew The Silver Surfer's real name, so perhaps I carried it off, but the truth is (and I'm talking to you directly here Dave), I don't know that much about comics (about as much as you I'm guessing) so there's really no need to hold me up as some shining example to passing nerds. Please, don't do it again, or I'll post more videos like this...



You never did explain WHY you hate Bladerunner by the way.

Underground comics

And so back to Blighty. Fuck me, it's cold at night here isn't it?

Lisbon was pleasant enough, a few too many hills for my fat old form to cope with, but the weather was good and the old ladies like babies a LOT, a fact which helped keep my one-year old entertained at bus stops.

Ploughed my way through The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Black Dossier (not as good as vols I+II. But it's Alan Moore, so you know, it's still brilliant), but other than that had scant opportunity to read. Still, I did have a brief moment of sequential fun on the Lisbon metro, bagging some snaps of the wall of Oriente station which features a spiffing selection of water based comic shenanigans.

I recognised a couple of the covers

Conan #98...



and, somewhat bizarrely, Alpha Flight #14...



Can't place these Namor swipes though...


If anyone knows what cover(s) they're from I'd be interested to know.

Off to the West End tomorrow to fill up on two week's worth of single issues and meet Big Dave F for a beer or two and a yarn. For now though I have to cut the rambling short and hit the sack. Toooooo tired. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Wolverine trailer

Yes, yes, I know I said no updates for 10 days, but I'm in an apartment with wi-fi, and am unable to resist sharing a quite FANTASTIC fan film with you. This one hooked me early with the Eastern European Logan and the underwear, braces, car battery and kneepads ensemble. Enjoy, and remember: "I only simulate dead!" *


* Soon to replace "I'm the best at what I do" as Wolverine's number one catchphrase.

Holiday

Right, I'm away to Lisbon. This blog is closed for 10 days. Ta-Ra imaginary web chums!

Gilbert Shelton at Gosh!

To Gosh! for the Gilbert Shelton signing. Another fine event from London's finest comic shop!

Queues were long, as was the waiting time, but with good reason - not only was Shelton signing The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers Omnibus, he was providing everyone in attendance with a free sketch.

Here's mine...

I'm very happy with it.

Quite how Shelton managed to do so many sketches without his hand turning blue I don't know. I asked him if he was in pain, but he just shook his hand and said it wasn't about to fall off yet! He went on to explain that shaking one's hand means something quite different in France (where he now lives) than it does over here. That's what he's talking about at the beginning of the video below. It was shot on my mobile phone so it's not the best quality, but it does show a PROPER LEGEND in action, and he's drawing a picture for me, HUZZAH!

By the way, as delighted as I am to be able to share Shelton's thoughts on Cheech and Chong with you, I'm also extremely embarrassed by my woeful attempts to talk American history with him. Quite why Teddy Roosevelt came into my head, I don't know. I wish I'd just kept my stupid mouth shut. Please pretend you can't hear me and just enjoy a comics master at work...

London Signings

If you're in London this Saturday you can meet two of the most important hippies ever to work in comics.

Alan Moore is signing Lost Girls at Orbital. Details HERE

Gilbert Shelton is signing the Freak Brothers Omnibus at Gosh! Details HERE

Both men are doing their thing between 2pm and 4pm.

I'm meant to be clearing out an attic, but I might make it down if only for The Freak Brothers Omnibus which looks a steal at £20.