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March 31, 2005
A Moment to Shine
Diamond Comics is the 800-pound gorilla in the comics field. They are the #1 distributor and every year they hand out their Diamond Awards in a variety of categories.
This year’s just-announced awards include two that fill me with pride.
As an editor, I’m thrilled that Batman: Hush Volume One took Reprint Trade Paperback or Graphic Novel of the Year.
As a writer, I’m just as pleased that the DC Comics Encyclopedia took Trade Book of the Year.
For a complete list, check out this link
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 09:26 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
March 29, 2005
Mr. First Nighter
Well, that was interesting.
Last night was the first RTM meeting and it got off to an odd start. I’m on the train, reading the latest Spenser novel and along comes the head of the Democratic Town Committee, who asks if I’m ready for the caucus.
Caucus?
Apparently the Democrats caucus from 7-8 prior to the actual meeting. Uh, no, I had no clue. So, rather than having an hour at home before the meeting, I had less than 10 minutes. No problem! Grabbed pizza for dinner from the pizzeria at the train station (since I still serve on the Parking Authority, I’m effectively the pizzeria’s landlord so checking on them is still doing my public duty and yes, I paid for the slices), rushed to the house, dropped off stuff, laid out clothes for today (to avoid making excess noise in case things ran late and didn’t want to disturb Deb), grabbed the minutes and flew back out the door.
Made the caucus only 5 minutes late but fortunately it hadn’t started. We heard form the various committees so we had a sense of their positions on the issues on the agenda, discussed a plan of attack and worked through the agenda. And small town politics intruded so something as simple as whether or not to accept a parcel of land in lieu of paying back taxes on it turned into a 30 minute debate that was fairly circular.
Finally, at 8, I entered the All Purpose Room and took my seat among my fellow RTM reps. Just before things began, I learned the Committee on Committees (no kidding) met and placed me on the Finance Committee (which is a disaster sure to happen). I made sure to place myself between two people I knew well so they could guide me along. During the Roll Call, my district leader introduced me to the body and I got a nice round of applause.
Our Congressional Representative, Chris Shays, was among us to lead us in the Pledge and say a few words. Connecticut’s District 4 congressional race last November was tougher than expected on him and served as a wake up call so he’s being very public right about now. Fortunately, he was brief.
Would that the rest of the night stayed that way.
We briskly moved through a few items and then bogged down in one that gobbled up lots of time. Effectively, our town, despite building a new elementary and a new high school still uses some 56 portable classrooms around town. The Board came to us looking for an unbudgeted $310,000 to relocate three portables from the high school, which would be done needing them in June, to an elementary school that was in desperate need for space. The problem was we were being told we had to vote last night because any delay would upset the careful timetables for the schools and the contractors. The RTM was duly outraged at this being an off-budget item when they knew the high school portables were done by June, plus enrollment projects existed back in October showing where the needs would be. The entire Board of Ed, the Superintendent and her lackeys were all there and got publicly spanked for lack of planning, resorting to this “you must act now” tactic one time too many and the like.
And as I feared, people repeated themselves, people appeared not to have heard previous statements so repeated questions, school officials avoided directly answering pointed questions – all the stuff I thought would really piss me off. I admit I was getting annoyed, at some of my new brethren as well as the officials.
Fortunately, I bit my tongue and listened this first go-round. Afterwards, when we finally adjourned around 11, a colleague said I should join them. Join them? At 11 on a school night? Apparently, the democrats unwind at a local watering hole so I went along, hoping to get to know some of these folk a bit better. And that was pleasant. Got home around 11:45 and will suffer for it as the day progresses.
As of now, 3 of my 4 Mondays are now spoken for: 1st Monday of the month: Democratic Town Committee; 3rd Monday of the month: Finance Committee, 4th Monday of the month: RTM. Sheesh.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 09:22 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
March 27, 2005
Easter Egg and Budgets
My brain hurts.
With this being a three-day weekend, I set aside time to review the mountain of paperwork that was required reading now that I serve on the RTM (Representative Town Meeting). Now I know the Town Charter and the rules of the RTM, I’ve conquered the exhaustive minutes from the last meeting complete with all the sub-committee reports on the same two issues. I’ve gained a new appreciation for certain town officials who have to show up at these committee meetings and repeat themselves four and five times. I’ve read the resume of a long-time buddy who needs to be voted onto a town board tomorrow night.
What I haven’t finished wading through, yet, is the town budget. Ever read a budget? Without ever once taking an economics class, I find this daunting. It’s also exhaustive but I see that our First Selectman used a scalpel instead of an axe to the various departmental requests. Most of the increases I’ve read about so far are required by changes in state law or replacement of outdated equipment or vehicles. I think I’m reading it right so my impression is favorable.
But I’m not done. And it’s Easter Sunday, a day that’s supposed to be about family. We imported Kate from college for the weekend. She’s applied herself well, making sure there’s been one-on-one time with son, with wife and with me (although my time seems more about filling out financial aid renewal forms). We’re making a nice dinner, timed early enough to get her on the 6 p.m. train back to Washington.
And having her here has reinforced more traditions. Remember, they’re 16 (a week shy of 17) and 19 and both insist on Easter baskets and an Easter egg hunt. Both came downstairs this morning to see that indeed the Easter Bunny stopped by with relatively age-appropriate gifts. Once they return from church, Kate and Rob will tear through the main floor in search of plastic eggs filled with treats. And then the rule of the day applies: no limit to amount of crap consumed.
The mere thought of that much sugar and chocolate actually will make my stomach hurt, taking my mind off my brain hurting as I complete the town budget.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 12:14 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 23, 2005
Pipe Dreaming
It all started with Clark Kent.
Mom gave me my first comic book, an issue of Superman, when I was six and home sick. Little did anyone realize the affect it would have on my life. By first grade, I needed glasses and picked a pair that most closely resembled the ones worn by George Reeves on the old Adventures of Superman show, then in reruns on New York’s WPIX.
Something about Clark’s job at the Daily Planet fascinated me and I was drawn to journalism. By junior high school, I was writing for the school newspaper and as a comics fan got drawn into the world of fanzines. The adventures of Woodward and Burnstein were fascinating as were the moral and ethical issues depicted week after week on Lou Grant.
I was headed for a job in publishing. Along the way, I worked at Pipe Dream SUNY Binghamton’s twice-weekly newspaper and was having the time of my life. Heck, as a sophomore I chose to move to the dorm closest to the newspaper office to ensure the shortest commute home after burning the midnight oil to close each issue. (Of course, that move proved fortuitous since that’s where I met Deb.)
Pipe Dream gave me many, many wonderful experiences and solidified my choice of career: publishing. It led to an internship at Gannett’s Sun-Bulletin and the clips from both impressed publisher Kerry O’Quinn, who hired me right out of college to work at Starlog Press and well, most of you know what happened since.
In 1998, I suggested to SUNY-B’s alumni office that we organize a Pipe Dream reunion similar to the other organizations that held reunions from time to time. Moreso, I suggested the alumni actually produce a memorial issue to be inserted into an issue of the current Pipe Dream. The entire event was a delight although, old habits resurfaced. During the reunion weekend, a cadre of Pipe Dream alum filled the offices and we stared at each other, waiting for someone to take point. Several of the alum, including a few former editors-in-chief, all looked at me expectantly. So I was once more in charge and we got the four-page issue underway,
Poor Deb and the kids. We were scheduled to go into town for dinner and I couldn’t get away from the office. The newspaper’s siren song peeled away the years and I was happy to be multi-tasking mixing old equipment with new. Finally, around 8 p.m., Deb said the kids were starving and she was taking them to dinner without me. I managed to tear myself away, leaving a few others to keep working. And yes, Sunday morning, I was back to make sure the final pieces came together. It did and the issue came out and it was fun,
Now, they’re organizing a special reunion to commemorate the 35th anniversary of when The Colonial News changed its name to Pipe Dream. More than that, I’m on the planning committee for the event – no surprise – which also happens our 25th anniversary reunion. Today, we had our second organizational meeting which I hosted here at the DC offices. Two of the current Pipe Dream staffers took time away from their Spring Break to join us at the bright hour of 8:30 a.m. to collaborate with us. Overall, we came up wit some good ideas, including producing another issue. (And in the small world department, a designer in attendance turned out to be childhood friends with one of our staff attorneys while the Newsday guy just started dating someone from down the hall from my office.)
Deb is seriously considering staying home from this one, concerned the sirens will sing to me once more. On the other hand, being our 25th reunion, we’re hoping many of our old pals will turn up.
Still, sitting around, talking shop with people who now work at Newsday and other publications was great and once more got the blood flowing. I have to admit, I can’t wait to get back there.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 05:08 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
March 21, 2005
The Lunacon Report
Lunacon has always, to me, been a convention more to see friends than to engage in self-promotion. The well-stocked Green Room was always the daytime place to meet up and chat, having extended conversations with peers that other opportunities don’t always allow. The panels are usually pleasant diversions and the Masquerade is usually a wonder.
For a number of reasons, most of which I am not privy to, Lunacon abandoned the Rye Hilton in favor of the Sheraton Meadowlands. The Sheraton has hosted many a convention in the past, more because of its proximity to Manhattan than its facilities but this was going to be a first for me.
From what I can tell, I stand with the majority that the hotel was not the place to hold Lunacon or any other convention. For those who do not possess a car, it’s not easy to reach. And for this desiring variety in their dining, the single restaurant is not sufficient and you need said car to find any of the other dining choices.
And trust me, you want a car to find those choices. The food is barely above college dining hall standards and the menu fairly pedestrian. The buffets were an okay alternative but the food is so mass produced French toast is not toasted and the rigatoni dry.
Structurally, consolidating everything onto two floors had some advantages to the Rye, a.k.a. the Escher Hotel. However, there is no main escalator or staircase to get from the second to the third floor, which resulted in overcrowded elevators or cramped fire stairwells. Which meant getting to your panel on time could prove a challenge.
The dealer’s room was adequately sized although the variety of items for sale was fairly lackluster. I never did make it to the Art Show but that too seemed to have a properly sized space.
However, the rooms set aside for Gaming and Filking were woefully inadequate. The Game Room, where Robbie spent most of the weekend, was packed and crowded and…hot. The small programming room for filking was so tiny you needed need a microphone but when full, also grew uncomfortably warm pretty quickly. And being a meeting room, it also didn’t allow for acoustic issues.
I’m keenly aware of this because the Boogie Knights made their Lunacon debut. Ostensibly they were Filk GOH but you couldn’t tell from signage or notes in the program. Anyway, they performed Saturday night at 7 (a pretty poor slot for a GOH, but that’s just me) and to just about everyone they were new. And the audience loved them. Saturday night’s show was funny and the five performers were in high spirits and their playfulness quickly won over the crowd. I’m told the room was even fuller for Sunday’s performance so I presume that’s a good sign, word of mouth was spreading.
The panels rooms seemed uniformly sized and were pretty adequate for the discussions. On Saturday, I participated in The Year in Comics. One of the nice things about these sorts of panels is that they force you to give some attention to the subject. Taking a step back and evaluating my industry was a good exercise and we had a spirited discussion. In short, it wasn’t the best of years or the worst of years. If anything, the biggest problem for most publishers is getting readers to sample new projects if they do not spin from existing titles.
Saturday night, after the Boogie Knights’s fine performance, we attended the Masquerade which was small but packed with goodness. I did my movie trailers as the halftime show and had a rapt audience. Once again, though, the hotel’s inadequacies came to light. They did not have a good space for people to snap pictures of the contestants so before I could show videos, each contestant took the stage for a few minutes. Well, halfway through showing the videos, the judges were done, forcing me to divide my show in half, the last previews to be shown after the Masquerade was over.
We had a small, low key room party to celebrate Kate’s birthday and we were gratified so many of our friends and colleagues stopped by even though there were bigger, louder parties beckoning to them.
Sunday, I moderated a memorial to Will Eisner which had all of five people attend. While I’m grateful that the con thought enough of Will’s contributions to schedule the discussion, it was most likely the wrong audience. My final panel, though, was a joy. I moderated a discussion on Guilty Pleasures in reading and all five of us weren’t show how to fill an hour but we managed quite well. My final hour was spent in frustration as I appeared, available for autographs and no one came by. Ah, well.
As enjoyable as Lunacons generally are, the entire experience was marred by the wrong facility and some rude fans and some committee folk who should know better.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 02:48 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
March 17, 2005
Chilling
First things first, at 7 p.m. tonight I was voted on to the RTM and tomorrow will get sworn in. Then, next week I dive right into budget hearings. Fun, fun, fun.
Second, been meaning to talk about this all week…
Kate and I watched Be Cool over the weekend and we both enjoyed it as silly fun. She had never seen Get Shorty, while I had seen it when it first opened so we approached it from entirely different perspectives and still were entertained. That says something for the film and its makers.
However, the more I thought about it, the more I was troubled by how people were being depicted in the story. The widow (Uma Thurman) seemed incapable of running her record company even though we were repeatedly told she helped found it. The guy looking for money owed from said widow was a black rap producer (Cedric the Entertainer) who was surrounded by his posse of gun-totin’, stylin’ fellow black men. And caught up in this web of deceit are the Russians, who of course are the Russian Mafia.
Everyone was a stereotype including the hilarious Rock as a gay wannabe actor cum bodyguard.
And everyone, starting with Vince Vaughn’s delightful agent who dresses and speaks like the most stereotypical black man in the film, plays their part so over the top that John Travolta’s Chili seems ultra-cool.
About the only person not playing to type is Debi Mazar as a police detective (and it’s nice seeing her get work again).
Anyway, the story sort of works and it’s all neatly tied together, but Chili does everything to make it happen. Even though Uma is the one in dire need of help, seems incapable of helping herself.
What makes the movie work in a fun way is how self-reverential it is from the opening scene between Travolta and James Woods about being in sequels. Throughout the movie, it keeps winking at the audience, and that’s sort of fun, but in the final analysis, Be Cool is anything but.
On the other hand, if the story works and the acting is solid, Frank Miller’s Sin City could be the coolest, freshest and most visually interesting film since Pulp Fiction. The cast is dynamite, the look in the trailers and posters is spot on from the comic, and it has fans and civilians salivating for it to open. I am rooting for this to deliver and be the second most successful comic book adaptation of the year (I have to reserve hopes for first place to You Know Who).
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 08:46 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
March 12, 2005
Lunacon
I'll be at Lunacon, in its new New Jersey locale, this weekend. For those attending, here's where you can find me:
The Year in Comics
On: Saturday At: 4:00-5:00 p.m. In: Pimlico
Panel: Bob Greenberger, Glenn Hauman [M], Alex Wittenberg, James Henderson, Richard White
What are the trends in comics over the past year? How are changes in the industry affecting cartoonists, editors, and readers?
A Tribute to Will Eisner
On: Sunday At: 11:00-noon In: Pimlico
Panel: Bob Greenberger [M], Glenn Hauman, Esther Friesner
Guilty Pleasures
On: Sunday At: noon-1:00 p.m. In: Belmont
Panel: Gregory Frost, Bob Greenberger [M], Liz Gorinsky, Andy Wheeler, Ann Zeddies
Writers and editors confess to the books they shouldn't admit publicly to liking.
autographing
On: Sunday At: 2:00-3:00 p.m. In: Lobby
Panel: Phil Brucato, Bob Greenberger
I will also be showing movie trailers as the Masquerade Halftime entertainment on Saturday night.
Additionally, Kate will be performing with the Boogie Knights and they will have shows on Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at Noon.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 05:03 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
The Acitivision Suit
For the last few years, several mainstream media publications, including Entertainment Weekly and TV Guide, have run pieces trying to dissect what is wrong with the Star Trek franchise. Many of their theories overlapped, several of which I agreed with and several I felt were missing the point.
What was clear, though, was that Paramount's franchise was in trouble as ratings dipped, first on Voyager and then on Enterprise, coupled with the disastrous box office results of Nemesis.
The one developing story that I really wanted to see play out, though, just got settled out of court. Two years ago, Activision filed suit against Paramount, accusing them of ruining the franchise and therefore hurting Activision's ability to profit from games based on Nemesis.
In memory, this was the first time a licensee sued the licensor for harming the property. Had this gone to court, the arguments on both sides would have been, ahem, fascinating to observe.
Instead, the entire matter was avoided with a settlement that left the terms undisclosed.
Acitvision will go on making their games and Paramount has recently annoucned plans for an eleventh feature film, yet another look backwards to the origins of the Federation and Starfleet.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 04:48 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
March 11, 2005
Work Work Work
What a week.
In addition to the political stuff at home, DC has been keeping me quite busy.
On Monday afternoon, I was asked to help out on a rush project that took up much of the week. While creative and challenging it was also on a tight deadline with Wednesday being the first milestone. Fortunately, we got the first step done and approved so was able to get the rest of the project completed on deadline.
In between bouts of rushing around, my colleagues Dale and Scott were not around – Dale on a press check and Scott on jury duty – so took time out to cover some of their work to keep things flowing.
And of course, there was my own work that needed attending to as well. Fortunately, with one exception, all of my titles are running ahead of schedule. That allowed time for rush projects and coverage. Still, approved work, commissioned some new covers and even found time to start doing preliminary planning for 2006.
It wasn't all exhausting. There was also the thrill of receiving the first shrink-wrapped copy of Batman: Cover to Cover which looks amazing. I'm really proud of this one. Plus I saw Robbin Brosterman's design for another big project (you'll hear about it in a few weeks) and am suitably impressed. Plus got some clearances to do stuff on another project we haven't announced yet so there's been a nice balance between hard work and good rewards.
Still, I found myself going home each night tired. Deb left for London on Wednesday so there was stuff to cover there, too. Of course, Monday there was the Democratic Town Meeting and Thursday there was the Parking Authority. Tonight, I’m working late, awaiting the arrival of my delightful daughter, coming home for spring break. I’ll collect her at Penn Station and whisk her back to Connecticut where, fortunately, the weather is not as bad as it could have been.
Tomorrow, at least, I get to sleep.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 06:55 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 07, 2005
Mr. Bob Goes to Fairfield
I must be out of my mind.
For several years now I have been asked to run for RTM, our version of a town governing body. I’m usually being asked by my friend Ken Flatto, who ran and won as our First Selectman. The conversation goes something like this.
“Bob, I really think you’d be good for us on the RTM. You should run.”
“I don’t know, Ken. I can’t stomach people who get up just to hear themselves talk. I’d want to yell at them to just shut the hell up and vote on the issue. You don’t want me there.”
And it’s been going on like this for some time. Along the way, I did agree to serve on the town’s Parking Authority since no other commuter served on the board even though they oversaw the train stations in town. It’s been good work and I’ve been volunteering to help the town in my own way.
At our annual New Year’s Day Open House, Ken and I had the same conversation. This time, he replied, “We could really use that about now.” That took me by surprise so I’ve been slowly thinking about running in the November election. District 8 (out of 10) was full up and no one was thinking about stepping down, forestalling my having to make a decision.
Then the call came. Pat Jacobson, or loveable district leader, said, “Helen D’Vanzo is moving from RTM to Board of Finance so we’d like you to take her place for the rest of the term.”
I asked for a few days to think it over and on Saturday night, as we drove to Long Island, Deb and I talked about it. She knew I was going to run if possible, so this was a no brainer – a sample term to see if I liked it. When I mentioned it to Kate, her reply was, “It’s about time, and I knew you were going to get there sooner or later.”
So tonight, at the Democratic Town Committee meeting (yes, I’m a member), I was going to say yes. Before I could get in though, various people from different districts were coming up to me and saying I’d do a good job and I should go for it. Well, who am I to argue with such collective wisdom.
Tomorrow morning the Town Clerk will be notified that I am interested in the position. She needs three days to prep a mailing for the official public notification and then in a week there will be a meeting, which is likely to consist of the other four District 8 RTM members and me (and Kate if I can coax her to join me). I will then be voted onto the RTM and of course the timing couldn’t be better. We’ve begun RTM hearings on the town budget so it’s going to be a quick study.
Wish me luck.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 09:34 PM | Comments (8) | TrackBack
March 04, 2005
Discussing Lost
One of the mailing lists I’m on is buzzing today about Lost, which I was already considering writing about. Must be one of those J.J. Abrams coincidences.
I’ll be talking about the show and if you haven’t been watching, you have been warned. We missed out on last week’s episode until a buddy lent me the tape so last night, Deb, Robbie and I hunkered down and saw the last two back-to-back. We were totally engrossed in the show and were very entertained and enchanted by the fact that there were bits and pieces we saw coming and others we didn’t expect at all.
We’re well over the halfway mark of the first season and some critics and on-line complainers think they deserve some answers rather than a growing list of questions. My thinking is that if we start getting answers now, we won’t be tempted to be back in the fall.
The writing team behind the show is doing a terrific job unpeeling the onion, even if we find ourselves tearing up now and then. They are advancing the island stories while also going backwards and exploring the backgrounds of the 14 (count them, 14) leads. And they better hurry since at least one of them won’t be around for season two.
What my on line pals are speculating about is what Sawyer was reading this week (was it L’Engle or LeGuin?) and is it as significant as when someone was seen reading Watership Down earlier in the season. Additionally, we’ve been talking about the numbers and how 42 seems to be a universal constant in genre productions (owing everything to Douglas Adams who should have trademarked it). It’s also interesting how the numbers correspond to retired Yankees uniforms but I suspect that’s merely a coincidence.
What I’m even more intrigued about is how the characters haven intersecting in their pasts and how many more connections will there be? We’ve seen Sawyer arrested as Boone complains to the Australian police as well as Sawyer’s conversations with Jack’s dad. Locke was working for the box company that Hurley wound up owning. The island seemed to be beckoning to Hurley in odd ways, as well. (I was very, very impressed by how the distress call and the numbers linked to Hurley while making us wonder why he was in a psychiatric institution.)
The island seems special in many ways, either bringing a curse to people like Hurley or giving people a second chance such as Locke’s ability to walk being restored. Walt’s suspected psionic abilities (such as possibly conjuring up the polar bears) bear watching as well.
I don’t have a real sense of what the island’s secret(s) is. Are they dead? Maybe. Are they in some weird alternate reality? Maybe. Are they rats in a trap by way of The Truman Show? Maybe. And I’m fine with that during the first season. If we’re no closer to the truth by season four, then I may be getting peeved.
The beauty of the show is that we’re teased and tantalized in flashbacks and the present, entertained week to week but left wanting more. And ABC, bless their hearts, ordered up two extra episodes so we’ll have 24 for the first season.
I fully believe the writers when they say they know where the castaways are and what the secrets are all about. I just suspect that the gap between the starting point and ending point is left wide open for fun. For example, they never imagined a romance developing between Sayyid and Shannon but added it when they saw the on screen chemistry. There’s plenty of room to watch these people grow and develop. Locke made a big point last week about starting over and he’s right. Jin is skipping that chance but Sun seems ready to embrace the possibilities.
Watching this unfold is a great deal of fun.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 04:52 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
March 01, 2005
Progress
A project I did research on a short while back seems closer to fruition. Met with my editor today and we hammered out some details and I get started on the first phase this weekend. Stay tuned for announcements.
Additionally, I finally got feedback on my story for the Star Trek: Voyager anthology and have some tweaks to make. After dicussing it with Marco, though, it has the chance of being even stronger, which is always a good thing.
At DC, we got in the first handbound samples of Batman: Cover to Cover and the reaction up and down the floors has been uniformly positive. I'm thrilled with it and we all have something to be proud of. With luck, you'll all buy copies for yourselves. Some bookstores intended to push this as a Father's Day gift item and I could easily see that.
Posted by Bob Greenberger at 08:25 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack