Just a little teaser… Look out for another one next month!

I’d been on a hunt for new shirts for a long damn while, but it seems like most of humanity changed shape slightly over the years, making it impossible for me to find shirts that fit. (I assume it was everyone else who changed and not me, because there wasn’t a rash of shirtlessness on the streets as far as I could tell.) Nothing in the XL range fit me, and I refused to move up to XXL, even though my body has been swelling this past decade.

This body-swelling is why I’d been moving up in clothing sizes for a few years now, but a while back I declared no more! I would refuse to go up in any more sizes! I’d either have to get my manboobs under control or just wear old, worn out shirts; I’d either have to get my gut in check or wear too-tight jeans that hurt me physically as well as emotionally!

Last week it got critical when I bent my arms and tore holes in the elbows of one of my three “almost-fitting” shirts Hulk-style. Another shirt had had a similar fate not long ago. It was a near-panic moment, and a trip to the store was necessary. I’m not comfortable going topless at a beach, let alone at work.

So… shopping. It’s a nightmare for me. Everything is too expensive, even on the sales racks. The styles seem to have left me behind in the late 90s. And, as stated previously, nothing ever fits — at least in the size I’m willing to buy. I felt like Phillip Seymor Hoffman’s character trying on fine Italian shirts with Marky Mark and Dr. Steve Brule. (That depressing tug over the gut breaks my heart every time.) My long-suffering ladyfriend went with me to help me out, but her spirits were quickly crushed by my crushed spirits, as is often the case.

Though the shirt situation was dire, I declared shopping a waste of time and was about to leave when she insisted upon one more store…

And, would you believe it? Success! Right to the sales racks, and there were shirts she liked and I kinda liked, so I was willing to try them on. They were “vintage fit,” which in my day meant, “for skinny people,” but something has happened as the years ticked by! Apparently, vintage had gone from slender waifs to barrel-chested husky dudes! This is why no other shirts fit me! Vintage is the new normal, so now normal is vintage!

It was a happy time. My moobs and gut fit in the shirt well, and it was were cheap, so I got another in a different color, too. What a relief. No need to go skins to my coworkers’ shirts. XL vintage! Who’d a thunk it? Kinda felt okay.

Then, this morning, I cut the tag off of one of my new shirts and saw… XXL. Son of a bitch. How had I missed that? Here I was all excited that I fit into XL and amused that my fat size was now Vintage, and… the dreaded two X’s.

Did my ladyfriend see this and sneak it by me in desparation and fear I’d continue down this shirt-destroying path? Or will she be as surprised as me when I whine to her about it after work today? Yeah, the shirts fit, but I’d sworn to not go this route. This way lies me just eating more and more until all I can fit into are the pleated jeans and Cosby sweaters at the big ‘n tall stores! (Why, big ‘n tall? Why? We big fellas like cool clothes, too.)

So, all my theories about Vintage being the new normal and all that shit… probably not. I just accidentally went up in size. Like I’d promised myself I wouldn’t. It’s better than wearing post-Hulk-out shirts at work, but still… XXL. Dammit.

I guess that makes this morning’s breakfast burrito okay, though… gotta fill out that extra “X” now… XXXL, I’ll see you in a couple years!

My love of anthologies relates to my love of comics, too. In the way, way back of 2007, Mark Andrew Smith and Joe Keatinge were putting together a giant comic book anthology called POPGUN and asked me to join them as an assistant editor (full co-editor for volumes 3 and 4) and contributing writer.  It was an ideal way for me to start my career in comics, which had been a goal of mine since I was a kid.

One of my favorite features of the POPGUN books is that there is no theme. Themes can help tie an anthology together, letting the reader know, at least superficially, what kind of stories to expect — no theme, though, made each turn of the page a surprise. To me, it was the greatest feature of POPGUN, even if it’s a sticking point for some readers. Personally, I love the surprises, and we kept that love of the unknown and celebration of variety going for all four of the volumes to date. Working on the books also introduced me to a number of creators I might not have discovered otherwise.

Though I retired from the editing team of POPGUN with volume 4, I still love anthologies as a reader. When Dark Horse brought back DARK HORSE PRESENTS, the prospect of a monthly anthology, smaller and cheaper than the behemouth POPGUN books (which are, it must be pointed out, an incredible value per page), I got excited about getting my regular anthology fix. One common complaint about anthologies is that, odds are, a reader isn’t going to love every story in the book. That’s true, but in the good ones, you’re likely to find you’re getting more bang for your buck than the usual single issue comics in general, and likely at least the same value if you just count the pages you enjoyed.

While I love the unpredictability of anthologies sans-theme, like the aforementioned POPGUN and DARK HORSE PRESENTS, as well as the insane TITMOUSE MOOK, anthologies with themes also offer a great variety. Every western in OUTLAW TERRITORY is different, and even though most assume the stories in FLIGHT are all about flying, that isn’t the case — still, even the perception of a theme might help some folks give a book a shot.

The short story is such a great format in all mediums, and anthologies are a terrific way to get your short story fix. Next time you’re at a book store or in a comic chop, give an anthology a shot.

Here are some comic book anthologies I dig:

• POPGUN 1 – 4 (of course, I mean, c’mon)
• DARK HORSE PRESENTS (on issue 6 as of this writing)
• OUTLAW TERRITORY 1 – 2
• FLIGHT 1 – 7
• TITMOUSE MOOK 1
• WEDNESDAY COMICS
• STRANGE TALES 1 – 2

If you have any recommendations not on this admittedly too-short list, please let me know, because I’m always looking for new stuff to read.

From The Comic Bug‘s site…

Some of the guys from the Image Comics POPGUN anthology series will be on hand at the Comic Bug Wednesday, November 30th to sign the latest book (volume 4) along with some of their own creator-owned projects! If you enjoy some of the most eclectic and creative stories and art in all of comic-dom, you’ll want to pick up POPGUN and meet some of the folks behind the stories.

Stop by and say hi from 5 to 8pm – Only at the Comic Bug!

Chris Moreno – Zombie Dickheads

Michael Woods – Outlaw Territory

D.J. Kirkbride – Do You Believe in Ninjas?

The Comikaze Expo descends upon us this coming weekend, November 5 & 6! Why am I posting about it on my blog? Well, I shall be sitting at table #92 with copies of all four volumes of the Eisner and Harvey Award-winning POPGUN comic book anthologies from Image Comics, my ninja poetry book DO YOU BELIEVE IN NINJAS? (featuring Chris Moreno illustrations), and a special-printing comic book issue of the AGENTS OF THE W.T.F. stories I co-wrote with Adam P. Knave for POPGUN’s 3 & 4, featuring art by Matteo Scalera. Basically, I’ll have some cool stuff. And I’ll sign anything you buy for you and take pictures with you if you want for some reason and help you with simple math problems if need be.

The rest of the show is going to be cool, too! Get your ticket on here!

Here’s the official info:

CREATORS ASSEMBLE!: THE RISE OF THE GRAPHIC NOVEL ANTHOLOGY  

As the graphic novel has grown in popularity, so too has the graphic novel anthology. Are these story collections an attempt to keep short fiction relevant in long-form comics? Are they born from a desire to explore a theme from many points of view? Or are anthologies simply a way of compiling some of the best work in comics into one diverse book? Join some of the writers, artists and editors responsible for five of the most highly acclaimed graphic novel anthologies as we discuss how bigger can be better, what makes a great collection and how the anthology format benefits creators.

Featuring:
Kazu Kibuishi (Flight, Explorer)
DJ Kirkbride (Popgun)
Nicole Sixx (Womanthology)
Michael Woods (Outlaw Territory)
Moderator: Asterios Kokkinos

Signings @ 1:15pm, The Comic Bug Booth

It’s not always baked goods or pastries randomly in these kitchens, either. Sometimes there are whole meals, various fruits — all sorts of food. And I’m tempted. I’m always tempted, but… where did this food come from? Who put it there and, just as importantly, why?

There are some coworkers that, well, I’m not sure I want to eat what they are making. (If you are a coworker and reading this, c’mon! Don’t be silly — I don’t mean you. You probably know who I talking about… Yep. That’s the one. … I know, right?)

Not eating is no problem of mine. I tend to eat most of what is offered to me, and, even if slightly worried in my paranoid brain, I often do partake in the random foods left in kitchens. I then also often run down the hall like the work crier, letting everyone know of the free delights, far more excited than my mostly better-paid coworkers about free scraps of food, but my excitement is such that no silly sense of pride is going to waver me from at least attempting to spread what little joy I occasionally feel.

Be that as it may, there is always a pause. It’s not just mysterious work foods. I feel this way sometimes at pot lucks. Even as a kid at church, with all these great roasts and hams and seventeen varieties of macaroni salad… I’d look around and wonder who made what. It was usually fine, but there were some folks that, to be honest, scared me. That shouldn’t be past tense. Some folks scare me, either because of the potential for inasanity we all have (me included — me ESPECIALLY), but also just general hygiene concerns and whatnot.

I don’t mean to sound like a dick here, but I’m obviously not trying to not sound like a dick, too. My thoughts aren’t particularly deep, but there are a lot of them in my big head, and they kind of roam freely. I don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, but I usually question it. I wonder why that horse mouth (or, in these cases, tasty food treats) are staring me in the face. Why weren’t they eaten by their creators? (The treats, not the mouth of a horse — that’s a terrible phrase.) Sure, most people are nice, but… is there an ulterior motive? What is the potential for poison? Or, worse, random hairs in food prepared by unwashed hands? I mean, I don’t know! There’s just no way for me to know, especially when I have no idea who left the food in the kitchen or brought it to the potluck or put it on the sidewalk or — um… uh…

Screw it. That piece of pie looks mighty yummy, and it’s cheaper than going out for lunch.

It’s good to relax, and I always tell the many workaholics I know that, but when I follow my own advice, it’s weirdly stressful. I feel guilty for just hanging out. It’s silly and probably adds to the gray hairs on my head.

What could I have done instead of taking a weirdly stressful nap today? I could’ve written some stuff. Maybe cleaned the apartment. Heck, taking a jog could have been on the list.

Part of me feels like I’ve squandered my time, but that’s absurd… right? We all need lazy days once in a while, so long as it doesn’t get out of hand. Tomorrow work will resume. Instead of reading comics, or at least in addition to that, I’ll work on some. Perhaps instead of taking a nap, I’ll clean the apartment some. My car is 90% dirt, so a wash wouldn’t hurt. I’ll do that stuff instead of sitting on the couch, feeling guilty about sitting on the couch.

And instead of eating pizza for lunch… maybe I’ll get a burrito.

One of the highlights for me, of course, was POPGUN 4 winning the 2011 Harvey Award for Best Anthology!

Adam and me, still in shock over the Harvey win.

I’ve been working on the POPGUN books since volume 1. It was my break into comics, which had always been a dream, so I can’t thank Mark Andrew Smith and Joe Keatinge enough for the opportunity. Like all of the POPGUN books, POPGUN 4 was a labor of love. A very time consuming and sometimes difficult and worrisome labor of love, but there was always love. We all did it for the love of comics!

Co-editing with Anthony Wu and Adam was a great collaboration, assembling a collection of stories that none of us would’ve put together individually. Thomas Mauer and Jeff Powell did amazing work on the production edits/design, and the book wouldn’t exist without them. Those guys… yep, those are good guys.

And the contributors! We were able to assemble an amazing lineup of talent, and I want to thank all of them!

So, thank you… Alison Acton, Attila Adorjany, Amanda Becker, Michael Birkhofer, John Bivens, Elliot Blake, David Brenion, Shana Brenion, Jeffrey Brown, Lars Brown, Antonio Campo, Dominique Carrier, Jim Charalampidis, David Collinson, Bill Crabtree, Dave Curd, Michelle Davies, Vito Delsante, Todd Dezago, Michael Dialynas, Jeik Dion, Becky Dreistadt, Alex Eckman-Lawn, Nick Edwards, Paolo Ferrante, Jess Fink, Joe Flood, Fonografiks, Elizabeth Genco, Frank Gibson, Vassilis Gogtzilas, Nils Hamm, Mike Houlihan, Alice Hunt, Meg Hunt, Jason Ibarra, Fernanda Jaber, Jock, Andrea Kalfas, Janet Kim, Nikos Koutsis, Erik Larsen, Erwin Ledford, Stuart Livingston, Maximo V. Lorenzo, Robert Love, Adam Lucas, Manoel Magalhães, John Malloy, Fell Martins, Derek McCulloch, Michael Meier, MJ, Chris Moreno, Wayne Nichols, Ralph Niese, JM Ken Niimura, Kieran Oats, Anthony Peruzzo, Elton Pruitt, Stephanie Ramirez, Darren Rawlings, Stephen Reedy, Andy Ristaino, Salgood Sam, Eric Sandhop, Matteo Scalera, Thomas Scioli, Brandon Seifert, Jonathan Silvestre, Frank Stockton, Nick Tapalansky, Ben Templesmith, Jeremy Tinder, Mike Toris, Osmarco Valladão, David Walker, Angie Wang, Matthew Weldon, Anna Wieszczyk, Brian Winkeler, Michael Woods, K.I. Zachopoulos, Alexis Ziritt!

Big thanks, of course, to Image Comics, for publishing four giant POPGUN books so far… wow! They all obviously love comics, too, and it’s much appreciated.

In the end, it was an honor to be nominated and a huge, delightful surprise to win. My hope is a few folks who normally wouldn’t have read the book will now check out POPGUN 4.

And now… time to make MORE comics!