Rat Love

Peppi Marchello has asked me to write the liner notes for the forthcoming Good Rats LP, the band's first in nearly a decade.

This shot, from my pal photo-journalist Melissa Beckman, was taken at Aardwolf Publishing's party on Wednesday evening at Manitoba's. Peppi performed five songs.

Murder Inc.

"Big" Peppi Marchello, Hank "The Chin" Magitz, "Fatty" Eric Austin, "Gentleman" Gene Colan, Richard "Handsome Dick" Manitoba

photo by: Jim "Don't Mention My Name on the Internet" Reeber

Tough Jews

My sensei and my sons.

The Invincible Gene Colan: Live!

Gene stopped by Aardwolf Publishing's party last night. I was proud to present him with the first copy hot off the press.

Norman Spinrad on the Mend

Good news from Norman Spinrad:

"I’m less than 24 hours out of surgery and so not in condition to write at length, but I have to tell y’all that it went better than 100%. The surgeon in effect did the job he wanted to do after much more chemo, took out the tumor and a suspicious lymph node, didn’t take my whole stomach.. Thanks to y’all for your prayers of all kinds and degrees. More when more able."

Harlan's Birthday

Happy Birthday to my dear friend.

I'd Love to Write About Something Other Than Gene Colan...

But Gene and his situation have required more and more attention. I've avoided discussing many of the details, avoided adding the insult of embarrassment to his injuries, but much of his story is public record and anyone who really wants to know can turn over the rocks and see what crawls out. And it's not pretty.

I hope to see many of you at Aardwolf Publishing's party this Wednesday evening. Gene and his son Eric plan to attend.

Gene Colan is not "Ready to Work"

Gene is still in the hospital and everything is not wine and roses as someone erroneously reported. He is not "ready to work" in another two weeks; his life is far from "back to normal."

All legal and financial matters continue to be handled by his son Eric and his attorney Leo Klein; I continue to function as his agent and business manager.

Gene hopes to be home soon and we are all working towards that goal. He also plans to attend Aardwolf Publishing's party (however briefly) on May 26.

Are you a fan of Gene's? Now is a great time to send get well wishes. If you are a fellow pro or friend who does not know how to get in touch with him, contact me and I'll put you together. Gene has been hospitalized since March 31 and could use the calls and encouragement.

I am extremely busy with business and family obligations and will be out of touch until this Sunday.

Walt Simonson for Gene Colan

The Gene Colan Benefit Auction (which Walter Simonson nudged me into, though be prob'ly won't admit it) continues here. And Walter just finished "Team Kickass" (pictured) for the benefit. This art will end up on Ebay. Click on it--it rocks the house!

Paul Daley Sleeps with the Fishes (and he wrestles like them, too)

Call it a vice, but I bet fights. And my money was solid on Paul Daley last night. I should’ve bet that he’d end up in jail.

My sons and I watched in amazement as Daley, frustrated by Koscheck's wrestling dominance for three straight rounds (doing a perfect imitation of what wrestlers call a fish), threw a blind sucker punch at Koscheck well after the fight was over, while Koscheck’s back was turned to Daley.

"Are you kidding me?!” screamed Big Dan Miragliotta the ref as he grabbed the sucker-throwing thug around the neck and held him against the cage. “You're a professional!"

Wrong. Daley used to be a professional. Now he’s a bum. Have we learned nothing from Richard Nixon?

Within hours, UFC ceo Dana White dropped Daley like a bad habit from his organization. In a sport working hard for legitimacy, Daley's sleazy sucker punch will be MMA’s shot heard round the world. Nice move dickhead.

So Josh Koscheck now steps up against reigning champ George St. Pierre (the king of class) as counter coach on next season’s “The Ultimate Fighter.” And Daley can get his resume ready tomorrow as he pounds the pavement looking for work. He’s already practicing the line, “You want fries with that?”

Of course, we’ll likely see Paul Daley fight again, only next time it will be in front of dozens of people in some bar within driving distance of his apartment.

Dave Cockrum's FUTURIANS Return

If you read this blog or follow the comings and goings of Mrs. Meth’s son Clifford, you’re aware of my decades-long association with The Futurians. Created by my pal Dave Cockrum, The Futurians have had several shots at the big screen that didn’t quite pan out (partly due to the ineptitude of Howard Jonas’ IDT Entertainment, partly due to that disingenuous, mealy-mouthed sleaze ball of a stuffed shirt Richard Saperstein). But interest in this title has never waned and there are a number of Futurians projects on the horizon, and several proposals on my desk.

First at bat is the new Avatar mini-series from David Miller Studios. This is the first time Cockrum’s “Andrew Pendragon” gets top billing. As David Miller explains, “Avatar returns to his English home for a family funeral and encounters an ancient evil from his past; an evil that could consume all of Great Britain.” Issue #1 features a cover by Greg Larocque, who was drawing DC's Flash back when my buddy William Messner-Loebs was turning in the finest scripts that title ever saw ever (note the double use of the word ever). The incomparable Michael Netzer and inker Joe Rubinstien will be joining the series with issue #2.

Avatar of the Futurians #1, which includes an introduction by your rarely humbled author, is available now from the May Diamond Previews (p. 292).

Meth on Hiatus

I have been in the Catskills on business and hope to return to active blogging and updating the Gene Colan Benefit Auction soon. Forgive my absence.

When Your Car Breaks Down...

...it's way cool to be driven home in a '55. It was like dying and going to Rockaway.

(actual photo of my neighbor's baby)

More Help for Gene Colan

The list of those contributing art or signed books now includes: Aardwolf Publishing, Paty Cockrum (and Dave Cockrum art), Mike Deodato, Harlan Ellison, Mark Evanier, Mike Henderson, Joe Jusko, Bob Layton, Stan Lee, Lee's Comics, “Handsome Dick” Manitoba (of The Dictators), Michael Moorcock, Bill Messner-Loebs, Michael Netzer, Tom Palmer, Mike Pascale, Carl Potts, Paul Ryan, Joe Rubenstein, Alex Saviuk, Bill Sienkiewicz, Robert Silverberg, Walter Simonson, Roy Thomas, Vanguard Publishing, Sarah Wilkinson, Marv Wolfman and Kevin Van Hook. Please visit the auction here.