The Official Website of Matt Krizan

So the con was relatively uneventful. I spoke briefly with Erik Larsen and got to watch him do a Spider-Man sketch for the guy in line in front of me. It was fascinating to watch the drawing take shape, as well as watching the unusual underhand grip Erik uses to hold his pen.

Porn alley was expanded significantly for this con, especially considering it's much smaller than the May show. Instead of the usual two or three starlets, there were over a half-dozen women (I started to type "ladies" but somehow that didn't feel quite right) showing copious amounts of skin. It still strikes me as odd to see this in what is (or should be) a family atmosphere. Oh, well. Makes for some nice scenery anyway.

I wound up spending just over a hundred bucks (on comics, not porn), mainly due to an impulse buy of about thirty old G.I. Joe comics. A decent haul.

Movie night last night was Shall We Dance starring Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez. It was actually very good. Both funny and moving. The dance lesson scenes were hilarious. The movie's had very mixed reviews--some love it, some hate it--so to each his own, I guess.

So that makes two chick movies in a row.

That I've liked.

Yeah. Um. So...I think I, uh, I think I'll go hit the gun range after work. Yeah, that's it. Maybe cook a nice, big steak. Eat it while I watch Monday Night Football. Yeah, that's the ticket.

Monday, October 18, 2004

We Built This City...

Last night I attended Stars Guitars, a charity auction/concert to benefit The Pediatric Cancer Survivors Scholarship Program of William Beaumont Hospital. My firm sponsored one of the auction tables and received a number of tickets which my boss was kind enough to pass out to anyone who wanted one. The auction contained dozens of items, from candy to jewelry to vacation packages, and featured autographed guitars from The Moody Blues, Sting, Madonna, Steve Miller, Bob Seger, Melissa Etheridge, and many more. The featured auction items were a guitar autographed by all four members of the Eagles, which went for $2,500, and a Bob Dylan-autographed guitar, which went for $7,000.

The concert featured Firefall and Starship, and I have to admit, I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected I would. It was a small venue--The Millenium Centre Theatre in Southfield--and I've always liked seeing shows in small venues, especially rock concerts. (If you can't feel the music kicking you in the chest, then what good is it?) Both bands put on good shows, and I enjoyed making the people I was with--all older than I am--feel old by pointing out that this song or that song was popular when I was three years old.

Saturday, October 16, 2004

Hybrid-less Weekend

I've learned that Hybrid will not be debuting this weekend at the Motor City Con, unfortunately. Still no word on when I'll have my copies, for those of you who ordered one from me.

If you haven't yet ordered a copy and you'd like to, you can head down to your local comic shop and ask them to order a copy for you (Previews Code SEP042352 F). You can also order one online from Mile High Comics and get 30% off the cover price.

So...go order a copy.

Please?

Pretty please?

Friday, October 15, 2004

Bits And Pieces

So let's see...this weekend is the Motor City Comic Con. It's the smaller of the two shows they hold over at the Novi Expo Center. (The other one is in May.) At the last one I dropped about $250 at the half-off trade booths and David Mack's table...and that was just one day. Bastards...having such a good selection. Don't know if my wallet can handle a repeat of the same.

The guest list isn't all that stellar, although I did read today over at the Image Central board that Erik Larsen, creater of Savage Dragon and publisher at Image Comics will be in attendance. Also, Jason Moser of Genome Studios will be there. The hope was that Hybrid would be debuting at the con (which would mean I would get my copies, for everyone who ordered one from me), but I don't know if that's going to happen. Jason said he didn't know if the printer would be able to get the book printed and shipped in time. Stay tuned for updates.

Last Saturday, a friend of mine had a Euchre/birthday party. (Not for me. For himself. He turned 30 on Tuesday. Yes, he's old now, too.) How did I do? Well, I came in second to last out of twenty people. It's times like that that make we wonder, "Do I really suck that bad?"

Finally, I saw the movie Wimbledon on Sunday evening. It's an entertaining little love story. Some of the tennis action toward the end was a tad bit unrealistic--people diving all over the court--but all in all it was worth the price of admission. A good date movie. The girls will dig the romance, and the guys will like the sports.

What's the score? It's love-love.

Okay, that was bad. I'll go away now...

Wednesday, October 13, 2004

Happy Birthday To Me

Yes, ladies and gentleman, I am officially old today. My 30th birthday. Send your condolences. (Note: "condolences" equals "money." No, really.)

Also, a happy birthday to writer/artist David Mack (Kabuki), whose birthday is today as well.

Special thanks to JABSEN from the BENDIS! Board for the funny pic.

Thursday, October 7, 2004

Click here. No, wait...here.

So I've updated the Links section a bit, added a couple of things. Brian K. Vaughan, writer of such splendid titles as Y: The Last Man, Ex Machina, and Runaways, now has a website.

Greg Rucka, writer of Queen & Country, Adventures of Superman, and Wonder Woman, has added a message board to his website.

Foongatz! Studios now has their website up and running, previewing their upcoming book Sam: Fate Revolution. Foongatz! is co-created by Alex Drinan, one of my fellow creators on the charity anthology that will include Interface. So stop by and give Alex & Co. your support.

I've also added the link to the website for Jetpack Press, publisher of the very funny Johnny Raygun Quarterly, created by Matt Talbot and Rich Woodall. (Matt, you may have noticed, did the fine job of lettering for Interface.) The site's not new. Stupid me just didn't think to put the link up 'til now. D'oh! So stop by and check 'em out. Tell 'em I said 'hi.'

Finally, Ronin Studios has their forums set up, so you can stop by and see what's going on and check out all of things that are in the works.

Wednesday, October 6, 2004

Catch The Train

Watched an excellent movie last night, and I just thought I'd share. The Station Agent, a story about a man born with dwarfism who inherits an abandoned train depot in rural New Jersey. He moves in, hoping to get away from it all, but finds himself befriended by a neurotic artist and a chatty hot dog vendor. Great acting, and the interaction among the characters is very real and very funny. Go check it out. Because I said so.

Also, a certain special someone's birthday is this Thursday. *cough*me*cough* Feel free to send a card or a really extravagant present. Cash is good, too. Please? You're not gonna make me beg, are you?

Monday, October 4, 2004

Tales From The Sighted One

I'm still marveling over my vision. It fluctuates now and again (which is normal), but overall it's wonderful. I went to the U of M game on Saturday and just kept staring around the stadium, thinking, "Wow, I can read that!" They won, too, which is good.

In the not so good column is that I had the coach sitting next to me at the game. At least, you'd think he was the coach the way he'd analyze and give his comments after each and every play. Luckily I was in a good mood and found it more amusing than annoying.

Had a little bit of a scare this morning. My left eye had some discomfort and was really blurry, so I wound up making another trip to the doctor this afternoon. Turns out it has nothing to do with the surgery. I just have a sty--"a bacterial infection within an oil gland on the edge of the eyelid. The sty takes on the appearance of a small pimple from being inflamed." Yay. I have a zit on me eye.

Watched the whole of the Star Wars trilogy on DVD while I was recuperating (translation: being lazy and not going to work). First time I've seen the redone versions since they were out in the theatre. Greedo shooting first looks just as stupid now as it did then.

Monday, September 27, 2004

I Can See!!!

I can see. I can see. I can see. I can see. I can see.

Well, the surgery was a huge success. The results are simply amazing. Less than 24 hours later and I'm back here, typing at my computer. I keep looking around and reading things, just because I can. I can see as well, if not better, than when I wore my glasses or contacts. There's the occasional dryness and irriation, but I've got eyedrops for that. So it's just three different drops in my eyes several times a day, and, for the next week, showering with goggles on, sleeping with eye shields on, and no strenuous activity.

You think work counts as strenuous activity? Maybe I can parlay this into a whole week off. "But, Boss, my doctor told me so."

Thursday, September 23, 2004

Going Under The Knife

Well, laser actually. Anyway, tomorrow's the big day. Appointment's at 12:30. I've been told that afterward, I'm not supposed to read, watch TV, or do anything on the computer. Er...so what's left? Actually, all they want you to do is sleep. I even have a prescription for sleeping pills. So, off I go. Keep your fingers crossed.

Oh, and here is another good review of Hybrid for your reading enjoyment.

Tuesday, September 21, 2004

Ah, My Eyes!

Okay, so a little belated, but my Lazik consultation last week went fairly well. Had a little scare at first when the tech thought that I wouldn't be a candidate because my eyes were so bad. (My glasses prescription is 8.25 in each eye. Yes, I'm blind.) But the doctor said I was fine. The only concern is that there's a greater likelihood that I'll need an enhancement (if my vision doesn't make it to 20/20), and there's a chance that, if said enhancement is needed, they won't be able to do it because they'll have already scraped away too much of my cornea. On top of that, they do a pretty good job of scaring you, talking about all of the side effects and what-not. In any event, my surgery is next Wednesday, September 22. Still excited, but a little nervous now, too. Oh, and in case you're interested, Dr. Akler over at the Castleman Medical Group will be the one zapping my eyes.

Wednesday, September 15, 2004

More Hybrid

Well, the word is starting to get out. The first official review of Ellium: Hybrid is up at Silver Bullet Comics. Not bad. Not bad at all. Here is an online book seller, selling Hybrid for 30% off the cover price--just one more way for you to purchase the book. And, lastly, go here and here for more info about the book and about Ellium in general. (The second one is my favorite. It actually has my name in it. Sad, aren't I?)

On a totally unrelated note, I have my appointment for my Lazik consultation tomorrow morning. Oh, to be able to see without glasses or contacts. I can hardly wait.

Wednesday, September 8, 2004

Hyping Hybrid

The dangers have never been greater as Silas Corbin takes an elevator ride into destiny, Chris Hendrickson stumbles upon an ancient evil reawakened, and Angelica Cain decides the fate of the world. With exploding monkeys, killer succubi, and Legion proclaiming WE ARE MANY, a new breed of evil has arrived. Welcome to Hybrid.

Ellium: Hybrid, the graphic novel containing Loyalties, an 11-page action/political thriller and my first published story, is now available for order in the September Previews catalog (Page 224, Previews Code SEP042352 F). Also, now up in the Stories section is the finished, lettered art for the first five pages of Loyalties, just to give you a little taste.

How do you order it, you ask? Well, first, you can head on down to your local comic shop, walk up to the counter, smack the guy upside the head, and say, "ORDER THIS, @$$#&!#!" (Alternatively, you could just ask politely. Either way.) Here's a nice little flyer that you can print out and give to your retailer to let him know that this is the book he should be buying. The other way to get the book is to simply shoot me an e-mail and ask me to order a copy for you. (Please don't smack me upside the head.) And if you're lucky, I just might give you the friends and family discount.

Wednesday, August 25, 2004

Indisputable Visual Evidence

Wizard World Wonderful

Man, what a great time. I had so much fun this past weekend, hanging out at the con and meeting all of the fine folks from the BENDIS! Board: the McK's, Colin and Alysha; Mac and Jeffrey, Nick and Scott; the boys from Des Moines, Doug, J.R., and Cory (sorry if I spelled that wrong); Shannon and Tess and Diana; Al and Laurie; Noble, Shane and the rest of the Ronin folks; and damn, I'm sure I'm forgetting people, but you guys all made it a great weekend.

The Bendis birthday suprise--in which we boarders, aided and abetted by Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada and Ultimates and Spider-Man writer Mark Millar, basically interrupted the Marvel Universe panel in order to sing Happy Birthday to Bendis and give him a cake--went off without a hitch. He seemed pleased and more than a little surprised.

I got to speak briefly with a few of the pros, Brian Vaughan (writer of Y: The Last Man and Ultimate X-Men), Sean McKeever (Mary Jane, Mystique), David Mack (Kabuki), and the man himself, Brian Bendis (Ultimate Spider-Man, Powers, and a buttload of other books). All really great guys. Spent some time at the Ronin Studios table, and even took a stint manning the booth, so I got a small taste of the life of a small press publisher.

Other random, interesting things: Joss Whedon, creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, wandered by the table and was promptly given a free copy of the first issue of Ronin Illustrated, Ronin's flagship anthology book. (Not by me. I'd just left the table, and it's probably a good thing because I had no idea it was him and, therefore, probably wouldn't have given him the book.) I watched David Mack do various interpretive dances and a Sharon Stone from Basic Instinct impersonation. And Brian Vaughan made a monkey out of me...sort of.

Monday, August 16, 2004

Chi-town ahoy!

So tomorrow I head out for Wizard World Chicago. I've never been to a large con like this, so I'm pretty excited. There's so much going on--panels to see (Friday is pretty much Bendis day) and so many people to visit. A large contingent of folks from the BENDIS! Board are going to be there, and there's something planned for each night. Pizza on Thursday, dinner and a movie on Friday, plus the big bash at the Hyatt on Saturday. Should be a blast.

Wednesday, August 11, 2004

Comics and Dancing

We Built This City...

Hybrid-less Weekend

Bits And Pieces

Happy Birthday To Me

Click here. No, wait...here.

Catch The Train

Tales From The Sighted One

I Can See!!!

Going Under The Knife

Ah, My Eyes!

More Hybrid

Hyping Hybrid

Indisputable Visual Evidence

Wizard World Wonderful

Chi-town ahoy!