This week’s column is brought to you by my fear and loathing of botched endings:

The comparison of a story’s payoff to a day job’s paycheck is cynical, sure. But let’s face it: reading some of today’s stories, especially in the comics form, feels like work. Even when it doesn’t, I’m still giving the creators the most precious resource that I have, hands down: my time. You know, like work.

Giving away my time for free really, really pisses me off.

Hope y’all dig it. If you do, please spread the word.

Thanks!

FB: In modern cinema, do you think that its become too violent or graphic, leaving less to the imagination, or is this an old fashioned kind of attitude?

FB: I’ll tell her you said so.

(thanks, Culvie.)

What a lovely, lovely show, this MoCCA.

After two days of pimping myself solid, I’m exhausted. Highlights of the weekend included meeting Mike Mignola, who tells me that the ultimate source for much of his reference material is the folklore section of Barnes & Noble. The secret is out, and I’m not doin’ half bad!

I told him that folklore adaptations are my bag. He said that I need a vehicle, otherwise nobody’s going to care, because us folklore nerds are few and far between. He’s absolutely right, and being a smart girl, I figured that out a while ago. I’m workin’ on it, I’m workin’ on it. In the meantime, how ’bout some comics about witches that don’t suck?

Jim Rugg is delightful. And, holy Greg Ruth, Batman — that guy’s just amazing. Sweet and funny and hugelyamazinglytalented, and I really wish that he lived around here so that we could all hang out more often, as he and Leland really like each other.

Traffic was rather slow at last year’s MoCCA, unlike the two previous shows. So when the time rolled around and we actually scored a table off the waiting list, I had mixed feelings. Neither of us had anything new; would it be worth it?

That’s a yes, cap’n. Thanks to things like signs on lamp posts and a write-up in THE NEW YORKER, the place was packed yet again. Even from our lowly position by the smoking door in the “C” room ghetto, we paid for our table on day one. Leland sold out of almost everything, and we both made caboodles of contacts. Plus, well, the comics community is just so cool. Great vibes bouncing all around the room, all weekend long — it’s bound to change even the most jaded creator’s outlook for the better.

But now it’s time to get back to work. We won’t be emptyhanded at SPX, oh no…

If I had a million dollars, I’d hire Greg Ruth. Over and over and over again.

Behold, our table…

MoCCA madness, day 1.

We swung by the MoCCA HQ tonight to pick up our badges. We’ll be at table C-10. Saturday and Sunday at the Puck Building, 11am - 6pm.

Heidi’s got a list of social events. One of which Leland is at, right now. But I’m not.

I’m resting.

What fresh un-hell is this?

REED EXHIBITIONS, ORGANIZERS OF BOOKEXPO AMERICA, ANNOUNCE LAUNCH OF NEW YORK COMIC-CON … A NEW COMICS CONVENTION

Norwalk, CT, June 8, 2005: Reed Exhibitions, the world’s largest organizer of business-to-business events, has today announced the launch of New York Comic-Con, a new trade as well as consumer event, which will focus on comics and all matters relating to comics and associated fields including graphic novels, manga, anime, games, film, television, toys, videogames, and licensing rights. The event will take place annually in New York City and will be designed to attract the loyal fan and avid collector, while also providing a unique and unprecedented business to business environment for comic book retailers, chain and independent booksellers, mass merchandisers, toy stores, libraries, and rights and licensing professionals. Organizers note that they also expect the event to attract considerable media interest, which is why they chose the New York City location. Other co-sponsors of New York Comic-Con, in addition to Diamond Comic Distributors, which is the world’s largest distributor of English-language comics and related merchandise, include ICv2, which publishes the leading Website and magazines for pop culture retailers in the comic, anime/manga, and games categories, as well as the Reed Business Information publications Publishers Weekly, Variety, Library Journal, and Playthings. Marvel, DC and ADV Films are among the many industry-leading companies who have already made a commitment to exhibit at the new convention.

Hrm.

I’ll believe it when I see it, as they say. See, I’m more cynical than you peeps take me for. And I’m not the only one.

(nipped from my friend Kelly Sue, who is training for a charity triathlon with fellow comics hottie Laurenn McCubbin. Donate, yeah?)

This just in from headquarters:

“The debut of the new lineup of Mike Doughty’s Band will take place on CBS’s “The Late Show With David Letterman” this Tuesday, June 14! “

Sweet!

Friendly reminder: THE DUDE IS SO GOOD LIVE.

More news: it’s also his birthday today.

That is all.