So many books, so little...

I was going through a drawer on my nightstand, looking for -- believe it or not, a two-year-old coupon for a massage that my wife got me for Father's Day -- and I realized I've got a ton (well, not literally, but close) of books sitting there, unread, waiting patiently for me to crack their covers. Some of them have been started -- multiple times, in a few cases -- but the principle's the same: I've got some reading to do. Among the selections...

IT'S SUPERMAN: A NOVEL by Tom De Haven. I started this prose treatment of the Superman story and enjoyed it quite a bit. De Haven's got a comfortable style, and his research into the 1930s (when the story is set) really pays off. Not sure why I never finished it.

THE PUBLIC BURNING by Robert Coover. I got quite a ways into this one, a dense, difficult -- but rewarding -- chunk of surrealism retelling the story of Nixon, the Rosenbergs and the turmoil of the 1950s. It's very, very good, but not an easy read. Uncle Sam is a character -- a main one, in fact -- and much of the novel is told from his oppressively folksy point of view. By the way, if you happened to read this book and the UNCLE SAM two-parter that Alex Ross and Steve Darnell did a few years ago, you might notice some similarities in tone and voice.

(Coover's THE UNIVERSAL BASEBALL ASSOCIATION, INC., J. HENRY WAUGH, PROP., which I have read, is an amazing novel about obsession, fantasy, fandom and a life getting smaller and smaller. It's a great book that predicts the rise of fantasy sports -- and also has a lot to say about, ahem, hardcore comic book fans, even though that's not what it's about. Read it -- it's a lot slimmer than THE PUBLIC BURNING.)

GILLIGAN'S WAKE: A NOVEL by Tom Carson. Another bit of pop cult surrealism, with 20th century culture being seen through the lives of the seven castaways, whose paths cross and re-cross in surprising ways. Never started it, though the idea certainly is right up my alley.

THE THOUGHT GANG by Tibor Fischer. An philosopher turns criminal in this comic novel. Beautifully written and jammed -- maybe even too jammed -- with clever turns of phrase. Not sure why I never finished it.

THE RESCUE ARTIST by Edward Dolnick. Though it focuses on the theft of Munch's "Scream" from Norway's National Gallery, Dolnick's true crime book also serves as an entertaining history of art theft and the stolen art underworld. It's also got a heckuva protagonist in Charley Hill, the Scotland Yard undercover man who specializes in finding stolen pieces. I started this when I was writing CATWOMAN for research, and really enjoyed it. Again, not sure why I never finished it.

CAT'S CRADLE by Kurt Vonnegut. I've read damn near everything Vonnegut wrote up to GALAPAGOS or so, and liked what I read. I also like stories about the end of the world. Why I never even started this one is a mystery.

GLAMORAMA by Bret Easton Ellis. Hell, I liked AMERICAN PSYCHO long before it was a movie, and thought GLAMORAMA sounded like another dark, funny trip down the same trendy corridor. Never started it, though. I'd still like to read it -- and his LUNA PARK where he confronts, what, a fictional version of himself? Anyone read it?

There's more, but that'll do for now. Anyone read any of these? Recommendations? Keep in mind I've got dozens of other books to delve into. This just happens to be a selection of the ones in my nightstand.

Better blue than red

Now this, this is impressive. If the movie can have half the wit and attention to detail of this news clip, we could be in for something special...

Get ready, America...

She's only three years old, and she wasn't born in this country (which means, if she wants to be president, we'll have to get that pesky Constitution changed), but as we big farewell to George (ha!) and get ready to swear in Barack, it seems like anything can happen.

So, like her poster says...

Should be somewhere around 2040. Plan your trip to the voting booth now.(Want to make your own? Click here.)

You know the Germans always make good stuff!

Here's the best commercial on the air these days. Vince is the pitchman for the 21st century!



I always like it when these guys tell you to call within the next 20 minutes because "we can't do this all day." Like the company keeps track of -- or cares -- when these ads air, or when you call.

Oh, and by the way -- it is sold in stores. I saw it at Target before Christmas and was sorely tempted to buy it because it had my man Vince on the box.

Well, gee, thanks...

I was as surprised as anyone to see my name at the top of the MONTH OF WRITING STARS feature over at the Comics Should Be Good blog of Comic Book Resources.

I was even more surprised to see Brian Cronin cover virtually my whole career, including the DAZZLER story I wrote for X-MEN UNLIMITED and my three-part story in BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT...

He even included a plug for my small press comics collection, LATE NIGHTS AT KINKOS. Thanks, Brian -- it's much appreciated.

A strange, annoying request for my correspondents

This isn't the best way to kick off a new year of blogging, but as I mentioned a couple of days ago, I had a hard drive go belly-up on me and just managed to replace it today. But, being the computer genius I am, I didn't remember to back up my e-mail address book.

So here's the deal, Internet pen pals. If I had your address, odds are I lost it. So if you think I should have your address, please shoot me a quick note via electronic mail and I'll save your info. And -- and! -- I'll back the damn thing up this time.

Thanks -- and happy New Year to all.

And, in return for your troubles, here's the greatest dance scene in the history of movies. I'm not kidding. The pre-dance opening is fun, but things really kick into gear at the 2 minute, 44 second mark.