O-Five, Not Long Alive
The end of 2005 draws nigh, and that's as good a reason as any to use the word, "nigh," methinks. "Methinks" is good, too--haven't used that in many a fortnight. Instead of finishing off the year with a solid, solemn column about the many changes wrought (another good word) by the year upon my catarrh-wracked body, I figured I'd just take the easy way out and do a little freestyle. To wit:
In 2005, I spent a whole year on my own for the first time in twelve years. I dated women half my age, spent a night in jail, cleaned up children's vomit dozens of times and was asked out of the blue to contribute to a book about the X-Men. I discovered or was finally led to half a dozen wonderful comics creators I hadn't read before.
Comics sustained me at times and at other times I sought refuge in books, movies, and a hunger for music that had been dulled during my marriage. Sinatra and Doves and Wilco and Loretta Lynn and Dylan nourished me. Fiona Apple's "Extraordinary Machine" is my favorite song of the year. Reading Frank King's Walt & Skeezix is discovering another alcove in your heart. I saw The Nutcracker for the first time, sitting next to a former ballerina who thinks I'm funny.
I've edited all the talented contributors to this site. At times a grind, at times very awkward when one has to say goodbye to good writers who nonetheless don't fit the vision of the site, and at times intimidating when editing those smarter and more talented than I am. It's also been fascinating, challenging, and rewarding to find some who were much like I was when I started and try to get them better a lot faster.
I gave up on my comics retailer and went with an online service, and I basically stopped reading most comics news. I wrote some things of which I'm proud, which I can't really say about most of what I wrote in the previous five years, and I hope to say in five years' time that this stuff is garbage, too.
Through it all has been Alan David Doane and his friendship to me, and his singular vision, and surprising to some, his kindness. I think we both propped each other up at different times in this topsy-turvy year. I haven't known as much despair and rarely as much happiness as I have in 2005, and I thank him for keeping both in perspective for me.
Have a wonderful New Year from me and the rest of Comic Book Galaxy.
Christopher Allen
In 2005, I spent a whole year on my own for the first time in twelve years. I dated women half my age, spent a night in jail, cleaned up children's vomit dozens of times and was asked out of the blue to contribute to a book about the X-Men. I discovered or was finally led to half a dozen wonderful comics creators I hadn't read before.
Comics sustained me at times and at other times I sought refuge in books, movies, and a hunger for music that had been dulled during my marriage. Sinatra and Doves and Wilco and Loretta Lynn and Dylan nourished me. Fiona Apple's "Extraordinary Machine" is my favorite song of the year. Reading Frank King's Walt & Skeezix is discovering another alcove in your heart. I saw The Nutcracker for the first time, sitting next to a former ballerina who thinks I'm funny.
I've edited all the talented contributors to this site. At times a grind, at times very awkward when one has to say goodbye to good writers who nonetheless don't fit the vision of the site, and at times intimidating when editing those smarter and more talented than I am. It's also been fascinating, challenging, and rewarding to find some who were much like I was when I started and try to get them better a lot faster.
I gave up on my comics retailer and went with an online service, and I basically stopped reading most comics news. I wrote some things of which I'm proud, which I can't really say about most of what I wrote in the previous five years, and I hope to say in five years' time that this stuff is garbage, too.
Through it all has been Alan David Doane and his friendship to me, and his singular vision, and surprising to some, his kindness. I think we both propped each other up at different times in this topsy-turvy year. I haven't known as much despair and rarely as much happiness as I have in 2005, and I thank him for keeping both in perspective for me.
Have a wonderful New Year from me and the rest of Comic Book Galaxy.
Christopher Allen
3 Comments:
Wow. Right back at you, buddy. Here's to another year, hopefully a better one.
Great one, Chris.
Here's to a great year!
Nice column, Chris. Here's to a better 2006 for us all!
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