Hellblazin' Preachin' Punishin' Garth Ennis

Wizard World Philadelphia 2009
3 PM Ennis/Dillion retrospective

Steve Dillion, me, Garth Ennis

Known each other for 20 years, 11 years difference from when Ennis was 11, Dillion on 2000 AD.

Hellblazer, Preacher, Punisher

"always trusted each other"
Chat about Preacher in an after Pub sort of way, Dillon had to commit to 5 years of it. "telepathic" know what E is after
Wanted it to be more like a Sandman story, but then the characters took over. American story, southern gothic esp. after meeting Jessy's horrible family. Could always count on Tulip as a character, and for Starr to be appalling. Covers the myths of America.

Vertigo GN next two years...200-250 page every day life

Many questions were fielded, but they had yet to talk about The Boys, so I asked about what was the future..and if Garth Ennis was Wee Hughie, because they have the same hairline...
that got a little laugh. He went on to talk about some Scottish character who sat on a bucket, and how Wee Hughie is like Simon Pegg (which I had also thought).

The Boys..next three issues the Payback team go after The Boys. #2 Superteam in the world, so real competition here. Also a 2 part series with Frenchie and the Female having an issue each. Butcher also finds out about Wee Hughie and Annie...

Frankie the Eunich in Preacher is like Jimmy Palmiotti, who is not a eunich.

On Punisher, Quesada and Palmiotti wanted them to work on it as a team

Superheroes have to be given dignity, Ennis did not grow up reading them as a kid so he can't suspend disbelief as an adult.

Thinks Green Lantern is the strangest--oh, I have this ring, a nuclear weapon--

Hates when superheroes fight in real life wars. Really hated the scene in Iron Man when he only killed terrorists and not civilians; UK and American troops dying in difficult real life situations where they have to kill, and civilians do die.


Garth Ennis signing

Jersey humidity

The humidity today was unbearable. My hair feels twice as big.

It's good to have friends to share graphic novels with- PhillyGirl has lent me a few that I wouldn't have bought but have enjoyed. I'm now reading her Garth Ennis The Punisher- there are government types, mafia, and Frank in the crosshairs. Interesting.

Picked up two weeks of comics and got two big boxes of donations for the library. 2 Trinitys, a Buffy, The Stand, Spider-Man loves MJ...

Was excited to see the new Gail SimoneSecret Six #1. Scandal is mourning her loss of Knockout (which leads to Ragdoll offering a 'present'), and Catman and Deadshot discuss who they are while caught in a store robbery. Huntress makes an appearance, and a new member will join the team...Nicola Scott pencils bring it all to life.

On the novel side, I read Hell Hole by Chris Grabenstein, mystery set on the Jersey Shore.

The Pro and Fire

Phillygirl bought a few trades you might not have heard of that she passed on to me.

The Pro Like Ennis and The Boys? Sick and twisted and dirty humor, combined with undermining the nobility of the superhero genre. A superhero prostitute!

Fire, A spy graphic novel
Written and illustrated by Brian Michael Bendis

As for me, I just finished my stack from a few weeks ago. I enjoyed the Joker's Asylum: Penguin. I always liked the Penguin as the villian in the TV show, and the art in this is very gothic. Makes me interested to pick up some of the other Joker's Asylum books-- saw Scarecrow on the shelf. And Poison Ivy!

New York Comiccon: 2 Days

Photos: Dan Slott- Marvel
Ghost Hunters Jason and Grant
IronMan
Garth Ennis (left)
Brian Azzarello (100 Bullets, Loveless)
































2 very full days at the NY Comiccon. Overall, I wouldn't miss it for seeing the creators I did- professionals I've met before at the MidJersey Comicon or Wizard or NYCC, and for some great panels. Garth Ennis! Ghost Hunters with Josh from Destination: Truth! Vertigo with Brian Wood and Azzarello and Mark Buckingham!

But this time I had my first twinges of not liking the show. I never got to say more than hi to Gail Simone, or even get to Ethan Van Sciver. I knew getting one of 40 Alex Ross tickets was impossible when the lines started hours before. I didn't see Frank Miller, or Jim Lee, as expected.

There are always people more committed or crazier than I am to wait for a whole day for 2 minutes face time.

At least phillygirl was with me to enjoy the con and the fun moments, and beers with Rock& Roll Librarian.

There were times when hundreds of manga kids in gothic lolita costumes clogged the aisles, or camped out in packs by the panels. I guess my comics experience is to meet artists and writers, and learn about their creations---but the cosplayers are more Look at me! Take photos of me!

I almost got poked by a dang cosplay umbrella!

Maybe because their Japanese or Korean creators are an ocean away and aren't there. I guess if I ever went in costume, I'd want attention to all the time it took. I'd rather just hear some writer speak though.

Also, jam ups around Selma Blair, Seth Green-- any TV or movie star-- and Neil Gaiman made it hard to get by. I read after we left Sat night they had to close the downstairs by the panel rooms. One time there was this mass of humanity at the end of the escalator-- it was for the Lucas films preview.

There were 'Excellent moments':
Riccardo Bucherrelli signed my DMZ one and sketched a Matty for me and a Zee for phillygirl.

Accosting Grant and Jason from Ghost Hunters and getting a photo of them, and seeing Josh from Destination: Truth moderate the panel

Listening to Garth Ennis speak for an hour

Grant Morrison's thick accent explaining Seaguy- he was flippin' hysterical

Having a few moments to speak with Brian Wood about DMZ and Local

Hanging out with Rags Morales while he sketched

Taking a photo with Brian Azzarello

More photos to come. Have to work today at the library!