Paris and Wookies

I was recently interviewed by The Paris Review about Life with Mr. Dangerous, which I'll be taking – along with myself and a healthy dose of Hobbit body spray – to Comic-Con this week.

I'm signing at a few tables this year, so please make note of the below migratory pattern. If you're around the convention, work your way through the entire cast of Star Trek Deep Space Nine and say hello.

Here's where I'll be when I'm not outside recovering:

THURSDAY
Fantagraphics (Booth 1718), 5 to 6pm

FRIDAY
Chronicle Books (Booth 1506), 1 to 2pm
Fantagraphics, 3 to 4pm

SATURDAY
Fantagraphics, 2 to 4pm
Random House (Booth 1515), 5 to 5:30pm

Even if you've watched it, it's worth another go... My friend John Huston and me at Comic-Con 2009:

Get Flinchy

This has been in the works for some time, so it's a pleasure to finally be able to say that artists Jay Ryan, Diana Sudyka, and Tom Stack (with all around support from designer Jason Harvey) have launched their new shirt site: flinchy.

It's a great line up of attire from an amazing group (who all happen to be phenomenally nice people to boot), and with copy written by my pal and perennial blogger John Huston.

And if the shirts weren't enough to keep your interest (and they should be), you can test your Chicago cultural vocabulary by naming all the models for the shirts. A certain mister Nilsen (below) is among them, along with a Mr. Albini of the musical world and Christen Carter of Busy Beaver Buttons fame.

Huston in Haiti

My pal and intrepid journalist John Huston took a trip to Haiti to do some reporting on Chicago-area doctors working in the relief effort there. The above video he put together is as well done as it is heartbreaking.

I'm Drawing a Shoe: San Diego 2009

My pal (and venerable Chicago journalist) John Huston made the trek with me to Comic-Con this year, bringing along his video camera and an eye for the ridiculous. The (above) result is – I think I can safely say despite any bias – quite perfect. Chubby, self-effacing Skeletor? What's not to like?

Peter Sagal Goes Face to Face

If you're a fan of Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me (as I certainly am), then grab some bonus Peter Sagal time courtesy my pal and Face to Face ringmaster John Huston. Sagal's knowledge of his neighborhood's history is uncanny. I can't remember where my own neighborhood keeps its sidewalks.

Super (Busy) Friends: Part 1

It's often difficult for me to keep up with the various doings of my friends, especially given their (humbling) output. So, in light of recent links piling up, over the next day or so I'm doing a brief run through of sights/events of which you should avail yourself, at your earliest convenience. I vouch for each personally, though they all vouch for themselves with quality.

Now then, buddy plug number 1:

Count me jealous that my best pal in the world John Huston got to interview Thomas Lennon of the venerable and much-missed State and the always deliciously screwy Reno 911. You can read the interview on John's blog, which is a reliable source for quips, lunch, and that dying rarity called journalism.

Evidence for Future Institutionalization

In an effort to remove any doubt that I'm losing my mind, I have joined the ranks of Twitter (I mainly blame my pal John Huston and the all too addictive Stephen Fry for this).

I've also attempted to have a feed of Twitter updates as well as your (should you be so inclined) responses on the right hand side of this blog. It's sluggish right now at best, but hopefully I'll figure out what the bug is and fix it if possible.

Digital Huston

My best buddy in the world, John Huston (pictured above in slightly younger days), has finally been given the nod by the provincial powers that be to start his blog at the Pioneer Press here in the suburbs of Chicago. The city (and the world at large) is better for it. He's one of the funnier people I know, and no one enjoys getting under people's skin more. So expect great things, or at the very least (from the looks of things on the blog thus far) expect some great lunches and dentistry.

Dead Bodies Rock Cook County

My pal John Huston (one of the three skulls invested in the inimitable Ape Ray) was on – or more accurately John's writing was on – The Tonight Show, during the "Headlines" segment. Typically this segment highlights the screw ups and momentary ignorance of the good people who man our nation's newspapers. Fortunately in John's case his "headline" was just good ol' ironic writing, and certainly a lot better than most of the tripe Leno's writers hack out each night. Leno owes him a paycheck, in my opinion.

Further Huston hubbub: if you're in the Chicago area on Saturday, be part of the final show of John's band, the uber-inimitable Grackles. This Chicago institution will be pulling up the floorboards and singeing the ceiling of Ronny's (2205 N. California Ave.), so buy John the beer Leno's too cheap to reimburse.