RESTING, 1, 2, 3.

Sorry for the delay. I'm just totally knackered. The transition from pop mania Apocalypse to the average household catch-up from a weeks absence is both startling and unnerving.

I have not done anything like this in many many years and frankly, I am utterly whipped.

I write this in a hurry just to quell any anxiety and to let you know that I WILL be back shortly with a posting of more substance and insight into just what it was from my perspective, good and not so good.

Until then please understand I simply need a bit more time to rest, digest, and organize the thoughts about the wonder and horror of San Diego.

Peace,

M.Z.

GOD, THE DEVIL, AND THE KNIGHT

Here comes the night.

What do I mean by that?In a minute.

I am fully aware that I have not been here for quite some time. At one point I was of the opinion that the more I was here, at least on some level, the better it was for both you gentle reader, and for me to explain the ins and outs of my creative life. Please bear in mind that I've never been one to spill my guts in a sort of electronic frenzy that seems so common these days. So, for the large part, I've refrained from what I see as a kind of orgy of self flagellation. But, trust me it hasn't been a bowl of cherries. Several months ago I came very, very close to being hospitalized for a bad reaction to anti biotics,[runs in the family.] and a newly developed ulcer. This was just literally the day before I was scheduled to appear at C2E2 in Chicago. It's taken months of rest and medication to get back some semblance of myself. Needless to say I haven't been exactly Mr. fireball in the studio.

OH, then there is "Fracture of the Universal Boy" to contend with. From my perspective, the damn thing has eaten me alive for years now. That's no exaggeration. I'm not indulging in artistic bullshit here, I meant every word I just wrote. I've barely been able to draw since I finished it.

If and until it is actually published I simply won't be the same. I can't move on and I absolutely can not go back. And thee is one thing that will utterly kill an artists work than not going forward. Believe me when I say, I am really ready to move on and explore new ideas, concepts and ways of making art. This brings me to the edge of San Diego. I WILL BE THERE. "Boy" will be for sale in November. PERIOD. Please come see me, Attend the panel where I plan to remove the "ME" on stage and "YOU" down there where I deliver witty bon mots from my ivory tower.

Frankly I don't have one. Never liked the idea. I'm just a working guy that sees the world a little differently than you. That's my job, and mostly I've been petty lucky in that I get paid to do it. Not great pay by any means but usually enough to get by. Ok, some I made the decision to not be a wage slave to a essentially mindless system that takes more than they give and makes you believe it's good for you. My cross to bear ok? I knew how hard it would be, and how risky it was, but to my mind it was a better choice than being used like an Kleenex and disposed of by the small, nasty gods of pop culture. Right here I want to publicly thank Mr. Ryan Graff and Mr. Thomas Negovan for the work, the belief and the patience to help me shepard this book home. They both are rare and wonderful men.

I ask you, now, right now, I must now actually plead with you to put your hard earned money down and buy my book. For me, it's a matter of life and death. I am not exaggerating at all. It is all that stands between me, my home and ruin. Come see me in San Diego, get something signed, buy art, talk to me about whatever is on your mind, I will listen. It is my firm, unbending belief that art is at it's best when there is Independence and integrity behind it. Not what's "hot" not what's being sold to you, but something free and possibly dangerous. It's what changes lives, minds and hearts. It has mine.

I will more than likely not be back here until it's all over, but I promise I will be back with a real rundown of the whole deal with evidence and crime scene photo's to back me up. Until that time, two things: wish me luck, as I firmly believe in the power of good will and please understand that however anonymous you feel you are, I value you and truly appreciate your support.

Peace,

M.Z.

ps: yeah, i never did explain what i meant by that opening line, or, maybe i did, eh?

m.z.

THE DEAL

I'm writing this as a sort of public service announcement and frankly to keep from writing twelve individual letters that would only say basically the same thing.

As many of you seem to know already, I will be making my first public appearance in seven years at the big Chicago convention next month. I will be hosted by the Century Guild and I'm there to promote my new release that no doubt you all are heartily sick of hearing about.

I simply want to state on the record that I will not be there to sketch and I will not be selling drawings to order. I will not be accepting commissions for head sketches or anything else.

On the other hand, I will be more than happy to sign anything of mine you care to have signed.

I simply want to meet you all and talk about the new book. There will be an exclusive sneak peek sort of book there for sale and there will be stand alone artwork for sale. All of which are non comics related, so if you are looking for a page from "The wake'...well, those pages were all sold many years ago. I personally have almost no old comics pages at all in my possession, and what I do have is not for sale...I am not sitting on a vast hoard of old Sandman pages. I have none at all, having sold them all nearly a decade ago. I hope this is not coming across as harsh, I'm not trying to be intentionally hardass about this...I just don't do Con's anymore to sell sketches, in fact i sincerely doubt I will ever be found with a drawing book in my hand at a convention or book signing again. I've been there and done that to death years ago. I honestly care about all of you out there, but the times change and I've changed with them. I simply want to relax and meet you all, and of course sign things that are either current or part of my past. Do you understand?

I hope so.

peace,

M.Z.

NEW STUFF.

I've gone and sold out my friends.

A case in point: at the Olympian publishing website you can, for a limited time purchase for your very own selves, a Fracture of the Universal Boy tee shirt. The print run on them was very low and You can, for a reasonable fee wear the very same tee shirt that two un- named British people are wearing right this minute. And we all know how fashionable British people are.

And in case you are wondering, I, me, myself makes not a dime on them. They are promotional items of exquisite rarity that deserve a good home and will help in a small, but effective way to spread the gospel of me. Go on, you know you want one. Summer will be here sooner than you think.

I'd appreciate it a lot you guys.

Peace,

M.Z.

THANK YOUSE GUYS.

A very heartfelt thanks to all of you who have written in either to express concern or to ask for a piece of commissioned work. I'm all set and have the things I need to do all lined up.
I'll be busy from a few weeks so I may not get back for a bit. Never fear, you all are never far from my mind...I've been blessed with while not millions of you, I do have a core of quantity people who give a shit. More than I deserve probably. Thankful none the less.

Now, on with the show..oh, and Karen is doing fine, considering.

Peace,

M.Z.

COME ONE, COME ALL...

Yesterday afternoon My dear Karen, "Fhionn' to many of you was in a serious automobile accident and I need to ask anyone who is interested that as of now, I am taking commissioned work to raise funds. Anything is on the table, Sandman, Death, anything. Prices are reduced from my usual thousand to eight hundred shipping in the U.S. is free. I'll be able to take the first two. Any more and I will not be able to guarantee prompt delivery. Please be advised I am out of my usual ink, but I can still do full color, quite large pieces that I assure you will be my very best.

Please write. We both thank you.

Much love to you all.

M.Z.

NOTHING TO SAY AND I'M SAYING IT.

Been a while, I'm going to rightly or wrongly, assume that somebody noticed.

There has been "things" ( you know, six legs, slimy, sort of greenish..) going on in my absence.

I've finished copy-editing the text and placement of said text for the book. As of this writing it's being re-worked to the highest standard that can be managed with a great deal of talent and a very modest budget. Wonders have been worked regardless. The whole editing thing was weird though. I can see the value of another set of eyes during this process as I've been staring at this book for a very long time now. But then again, who better to do it? I know just what I want from this thing and I must put on a different hat in this case. if it's screwed up, I blame nobody but myself. As it should be I think.

But it good to me......onward. Still keeping the fingers and other sundry digits crossed for the April release.

I promise that the next novel will run much smoother. The learning curve has been just nuts. I've used more than one air-sick bag over this. (the author makes a very rude noise.)

The sickness thing has been largely cleared up...though as I write, I'm recovering from a common head cold. It's been a very long, very sick winter. I for one will rejoice when the poppies bloom again.

And, very soon, I'll actually be painting again after far far to long a time. And this time, I'll have the time to approach the act with both the time and the will to do something at the top of whatever game it is I play with myself. No more rushing because I have to be doing something to make the rent or whatever. Though I do.

Who am I kidding here? There is never, ever enough time. Or money. God I hate money. In this country it's the only crime that's unforgivable on a very deep cultural level: the crime of having no money.

Geez I'm a happy guy today eh?

Remember, question authority. You know you want to.

M.Z.