Joe St. Pierre Knows How I Can Really Screw Up

I like to think of myself as a decent guy. But I guess everyone thinks of themselves that way.

To wit: I went out of my way to write “Joe St. Pierre Knows Why I Don’t Read Comics Anymore” to promote a comics project from Joe. And, along with that piece, I posted an image from David Lapham because I thought it was Joe’s. Why? Because it had Joe’s signature on it (he had autographed it) and that was the photo I found when I was rooting about looking for a cool image from Joe’s Valiant days.

Worse: I talked about Joe’s gorgeous Valiant work instead of telling you nice people about his Liberaider comic strip, which is, after all, where he is now.

Worse: My babbled depiction of Joe made him feel that I’d painted him as a sexist when Joe, in truth, is anything but. It wasn’t my intention. I was just goofing around about his long line of female groupies queuing up for an autograph. But what do I know about groupies? All of my readers have hairy legs.

Worse: When Joe brought all this to my attention, I got a little defensive. Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean people aren’t out to get you.

And then I sat down and missed a real deadline because I had to make things right.

I’ve removed my earlier piece, now, which talked about why I can’t read comics anymore and how lovely the old comics smelled and how today’s comics don’t smell like anything and how they are printed on advertising brochure paper instead of decent pulp. I said some other things, too, that probably aren’t worth remembering. At least I can’t remember them.

And now I’ll append that I don’t do plugs anymore either because all it does is come back to bite you. If you don’t believe me, I’ll show you the scars.

But before I stop: Go read Joe St. Pierre’s Liberaider.

Clifford Meth thinks Joe St. Pierre is the cat's meow.
But he sure has a strange way of showing it.

At Last, An Alternate History of the Comics: The Truth

After a successful Kickstarter, I was hoping my book ComicBook Babylon—in the making for nearly a decade—would be here for the holidays. And I was right. Only it will be President's Day, not the festive gift-giving season. We’ll live with that. I imagine some people give gifts in February, too, even if it’s only a shovel.

ComicBook Babylon tells stories that I’ve kept to myself for many years. I’m finally comfortable imparting many of those stories now. Some of them I’m still uncomfortable with but I have a good lawyer. At least he tells me he’s a good lawyer. His name is Leo. I had a puppet named Leo once, too.

At 340 pages, ComicBook Babylon is like a multi-ring circus. You’ll find Stan Lee speaking very frankly about Jack Kirby, Alan Moore speaking very frankly about Hollywood, Frank Miller speaking very frank millerly about Marvel, and so forth. Okay, they may have occasionally spoken to others frankly, too, but my detailed stories regarding Dave Cockrum’s fight with Marvel—or, more accurately, mine and Neal Adams’s fight with Marvel on behalf of Dave Cockrum—is something you haven’t seen the whole truth about, until now. Neither have you read Bob Layton being this candid. Or Joe Kubert. Or Herb Trimpe. And what really happened to Gene Colan? And why did Harlan Ellison want to punch Jim Warren in the nose? And what happens when Barry Smith can't find his Windsor?

The book is late but it’s finally done. I was done months ago and now Michael Netzer—who illustrated exquisite portraits of his illustrious peers and designed the book—is done, too. This is a beautiful book, with covers by Dave Cockrum and Mike Pascale. I’m proud of what it says and how it says it.

Copies should be going out in late winter. If you ordered the book from the Kickstarter promotion, good for you. Aardwolf hasn’t made copies available yet on its website and won't until they are in hand. But my friends—both on Facebook and the real ones—can order my personal, “publisher copies” directly from me while supplies last. This is how I get paid, people. If you’ve enjoyed my work, please buy one.

As always, everything I do has a money-back guarantee. Imagine hospitals offering that. Talk about population control!

If you want a copy—signed, personalized, or otherwise—please send me a message or email so I can reserve one of mine and then mail me a check for $26.95 (which will cover postage). Let me know how I should sign it, if at all.

With thanks,

Clifford Meth

A Favour for Harlan

Harlan called this evening. “I need a small favor,” he said.

“Does it require a cattle prod or a midget?” I asked.

“Nothing like that.”

“Good. I had to go into hiding for seventeen months after the last small favor,” I said, “and I still haven’t picked all the burrs out of my hind quarters.”

“This one’s easy,” said H. “My book Ellison Wonderland is being brought back again by another publisher. The book first came out in 1962 but it follows me around. I’ve already written a 25,000-word foreword for the damn thing—it’s like a novella. And Straczynski did the afterword, which is an interview with me. But I got to thinking there’s something in that interview you did with me years ago—your ‘Tough questions for Tough Jews.’ Can I have that? I’d like to use it as a caesura.”

“That’s the favor?”

“You’ll keep your copyrights and I’ll get you a copy of the book.”

“Sold,” I said. “Now I’ve got one. I was cleaning out my closet and found a handful of comic books that you wrote. Can I send them to you to sign?”

“Sure,” said Harlan.  “Send them. You fucking ghoul.”

Dave Cockrum: Birthday Memories

Gone seven years now, my friend Dave would have been 70 today. I think of him often--how he helped me so generously when I was just starting out as a writer. He was everything a comic artist should be. My walls are festooned with his work; my children grew up reciting his creations by heart.

Favorite memories? There are too many. I think his was the time we were driving around and I picked a fight with a van-full of Kappa Douches at an ICON convention. Mine was when he and his wife Paty attended my seven-year-old's birthday party and he drew superheroes for all the kids. And then they took them home and colored them in.

I look forward to honoring my pal's memory early next year when Aardwolf Publishing publishes Dave's final, never-before-published issue of The Futurians.

URGENT HELP NEEDED FOR INKER JIM SANDERS III

The artist Bob Almond--a friend of mine and a bigger friend to the artists in our the industry--asked me to post the following note that he received from Jim Sanders III (who inked for DC and Marvel on such books as Incredible Hulk, Spider-Man, Sensational She-Hulk, Silver Surfer, and DC Who's Who).

Right now my health and living situation keeps me from doing much. I went from child to child's home over the last 2 yrs; now in a cheap hotel and broke... Last November, they told me my kidney transplant had failed and I have been on kidney dialysis 3 times a week since. In February our youngest daughter, Jane, who was 21, died from a condition commonly associated with the spina bifida she had... This past weekend I was admitted to the hospital because I couldn't breathe and found out I had congestive heart failure on top of everything else. These last 12 months have been, by far, the worst year of my life.

Hero Initiative helped me thru a 7 month unemployment stretch 5 or 6 yrs ago, as well as buying us a van for Jane for her appointments, so when I went to them about a year and a half ago when everything went south, they said that they had to help new clients since their funding was low, which I totally understand. If you can help every little bit helps. My paypal is col.jimbo3rd@yahoo.com Thank you for answering me and taking the time to talk. It's frustrating when you see that someone saw your message and they don't answer back. It makes me feel like I am beneath contempt. Be well an be blessed. JIM SANDERS III

I don't know Jim personally but I don't have to to hear what he's going through.

In response, Bob has started a charity auction to benefit Jim Sanders III

On Saturday, November 9, the non-profit Inkwell Awards will hold auctions for one week to help Jim. If you have a donation to offer, please immediately contact Inkwell assistant director and auctioneer Michael W. Kellar at comicbookinker1971@yahoo.com to inform him of what you'd like to send along with a good lo-res scan of the item and full description of it (original art? published? signed? condition?) Remember to sign the item if you are the artist who worked on it and pack it securely. Mike must receive items by November 8. The Inkwell Awards will send all auction profits to Jim and will pay for the eBay fees.

Jim reported to Bob that this assistance will help him relieve his present, dire financial circumstances and allow him and his wife to move to his brother's home in another nearby state where he plans to tackle commissions and work again. Updates will be posted at the Inkwell Awards site.

Please ship all donations to Mike Kellar, Inkwell Awards, 110 Ferry Road, New London, NC 28127. Straight monetary donations can be sent directly to Jim at his Paypal account of col.jimbo3rd@yahoo.com

Thank you for your attention.

Happy birthday MICHAEL NETZER

Happy birthday MICHAEL! One of our industry's finest artists, in every sense of the word.

(Mostly) Wordless

Every once in awhile I stumble upon something. Usually they're things I want to kick to the gutter so the next guy won't stumble, too. This time, it was worth picking up and sharing.

Jed Alexander, a writer/artist of children's books that I was unfamiliar with personally and professionally, has a new Kickstarter for his book (Mostly) Wordless, A Picture Book for Everyone. It's the kind of book I would be happy to buy for my five-year-old daughter. I like to buy her books that I will also enjoy reading again and again because, let's face it, that's what happens. Moreover, I liked Mr. Alexander's presentation and Kickstarter video very much, so I jumped in as an early supporter. You might want to, too. And there's just a few days left.

I am a huge fan of the crowd-funding model. This is the type of grass roots, creative-collective bargaining that master artist Michael Netzer and many others have talked about for years. Artists and writers and musicians, and fans of artists and writers and musicians, have a unique opportunity to bring to life the types of projects that may not otherwise survive incubation because of lack of funds or political connections.

(Mostly) Wordless, A Picture Book for Everyone promises to be such a project. And it's funding is now in, so I know I didn't waste my time. It's nice to be an early supporter of something worthwhile. Go see for yourself.

Unforgiven

GOOD RATS FOUNDER COMMEMORATED IN NEW PUBLICATION

NEWS FROM AARDWOLF PUBLISHING

September 10, 2013

For Immediate Release

PEPPI MARCHELLO FANS CELEBRATE UNRELEASED SONGS

Peppi Marchello, the founder of Long Island’s popular Good Rats, is being commemorated in a special book that has rallied die-hard fans. PEPPI MARCHELLO: SONG WRITER will collect not only Marchello’s never-before-published lyrics from such popular LP’s as “Tasty,” but also dozens of songs that were never recorded due to the singer/songwriter’s untimely death on June 10. Marchello’s widow has also shared rare and intimate family photos to be included in the book.

“Peppi’s fans were always legion, always enthusiastic and receptive to anything he was working on,” says author Clifford Meth, a long-time friend of Marchello, who organized the project. “I was certain the announcement of this book would hit home. Good Rats fans are eager to participate in this exceptional project and to spread the word. Ultimately, the book will benefit Peppi’s widow and allow for the release of many songs that Peppi was working on before he died.”

PEPPI MARCHELLO: SONG WRITER was launched as a Kickstarter project on September 2. Within two days, the project had passed its financial goal, and less than a week later, its funding doubled.

“As fans hear about the project, they want to participate,” says Meth. “The Kickstarter platform not only allows fans to pre-order the book, but also to be a sponsor, or even participate at a higher level. Both the book and its marketing success are things that Peppi would have been proud of—and as his fan and friend, I am proud to help bring this to life.”

Copies of PEPPI MARCHELLO: SONG WRITER can be ordered from Aardwolf Publishing. Fans who would like to participate in the Kickstarter for the project can click here. A promotional video is found here.

Lost Dachshund in White Meadow Lake (Rockaway, NJ)

Update 9/2: The little dog returned. Thanks to everyone who Tweeted or helped in any way!

My neighbor's small brown Dachshund is missing since midnight tonight. It is still on a red leash. If found, please call the Rockaway Twp. Police Dept. immediately. The dog is frightened and skittish but does not bite.

Peppi Marchello in Photos

Have a good Peppi pic? A rare recording or video? Please share. I miss my pal.

Peppi Marchello Memorial Services

Peppi's funeral services will be at St. James Funeral Home South Chapel, 829 Middle Country Rd. /Rte. 25/ Jericho Turnpike, St. James., NY, Saturday 7/13 and Sunday 7/14 from 2-4 and 7-9. 

Mass will be held Monday 7/15 at 11 am at Saints Philip and James Church.

All family, friends and fans are encouraged to attend.

LONG ISLAND ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAMER PEPPI MARCHELLO PASSES

written at the behest of the family:

LONG ISLAND ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAMER PEPPI MARCHELLO PASSES

Peppi Marchello, founder and front man of the Long Island-based rock band The Good Rats, died last night at approximately 9:00 pm of an apparent cardiac arrest. Marchello was 68.

Marchello formed the Good Rats with brother Mickey in 1964. The band released its debut LP five years later on Warner Bros. In 1974, they released their best-known and most popular album Tasty.

The Good Rats reached their zenith in the late 1970’s, building a cult-like following that stretched from Long Island’s thriving club scene to hotspots across the Tri-State area, performing at such venues such as Madison Square Garden, The Nassau Coliseum and England’s Hammersmith Odeon. Rock critics regarded the Rats as one of the top live shows, where Peppi played air guitar on a Louisville slugger, threw rubber rats at the audience and doused fans with beer.

By the mid-1990s, Marchello’s son Gene had replaced both guitarists and three new studio CDs were released with this lineup: Tasty Seconds (1996), Let's Have Another Beer (2000) and Play Dum (2002). Fans considered the new music some of Peppi’s best writing. The Good Rats were inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame in 2008 and were referred to by Rolling Stone Magazine as “the world’s greatest unknown rock band.”

“Peppi’s life was about his family and his music,” said Clifford Meth, Marchello publicist and family friend. “His love for songwriting and performing never diminished and he continued playing as many as 100 times each year until the very end. He was adored by his legion of fans who regarded Peppi himself as an event they wanted to be part of. He will be dearly missed.”

“The phone doesn’t stop ringing—fans and musicians from all over the world calling to say that my dad was their biggest influence and inspiration,” said daughter Kristin.

Information regarding services will be announced soon.

Press Contact: cliffmeth@aol.com

Peppi Marchello: RIP my dear friend

I am deeply saddened to report that Peppi Marchello died last night from an apparent heart attack. Peppi--the founder and frontman of the Good Rats--was a brilliant songwriter and deeply devoted family man.   I am shocked by this news, which I just received from Peppi's daughter in law, and can't say more at this time beyond this is a great loss to many of us. RIP my dear, dear friend.

11:30 a.m. update:
The Marchello family asked me to release this statement.

INDIE READER on METH

INDIE READER requested an interview with me regarding the new book. Here's how it went:

INDIE: Tell us about your independent project.

Meth: ComicBook Babylon weaves together a decade of my columns on the comics industry, which were initially launched to aid X-Men co-creator Dave Cockrum, who was dying from complications from diabetes. Dave never received a dime of royalties from Marvel and as the column was being  published, we were fighting behind the scenes to get Dave a settlement.

INDIE: How have you been able to fund your project?

Meth: Other comics industry professionals have been happy to support my work. They regarded my fights for creators’ rights as important.

INDIE: What are your plans for the future?

Meth: A hamburger and fries when I get home. Maybe a movie.

INDIE: When will your project be released?

Meth: August, 2013

INDIE: What is your method of writing/creating and how do you come up with your content?

Meth: Truth sells. Sex sells, too, but I’m getting too old for that, so I rely on the truth. And short sentences.

My Pal Harlan

As announced earlier, a number of comics pros, authors & rockstar pals are interviewing lil old me as a sort of turnabout-is-fair-play thing to promote my new book ComicBook Babylon. Most significant of these is now the inclusion of the one man who history will hold up to prove that giants once walked the earth, Harlan Ellison.

Cliff: If by some unfathomable miracle you could come into sole possession of only one "book" from the long-lost, oft-torched Great Library of Alexandria, what book, papyrus, scroll, codex or glyph would that be?  What would you conjure to be its content, and authored by whom?

With love, your eternal pal, Harlan 

Countdown to ComicBook Babylon

There's eight days left to participate in my project ComicBook Babylon, which has been a long time coming. Introduction by Stan Lee, art by Michael Netzer, rants by Meth.

I have an all-star cast throwing support to this book including Jimmy Palmiotti, Don McGregor, Dan Jurgens, Bob Layton, Adam Troy Castro, David Lloyd and David Gerrold, to say nothing of participation from punk-rock legend Andy Shernoff and rock maestro Peppi Marchello.

If you haven't done so already, please watch this two-minute video.