OZONE.

This is your lucky day. I'm writing to tell you all that "things" are happening, but that I can't tell you anything yet. What a wacky business. I do, however, promise to tell you all kinds of strange and wonderful things as soon as I'm able. As far as a "sneak peek" goes, well, not for a bit alas. There is still alot of technical bits 'n bobs to go before any kind of visual stuff can be disseminated to the web. So, shoot me, I don't have a scanner big enough or of high enough quality to do those things.

On another note, I've spent the last week or so, pacing, reading and trying to generally relax. So far, it's working only to a point. I kicked the kid out of the house and he seldom phones home. What's a parent to do? He's got to make his own way or........*sigh*.

On the other hand, I have a number of loose ends and new things I need to do any minute now, but my brain seems to be in freeze mode. I've lived with this thing for so long, and it's been so all consuming that the wake of it's passing has left me feeling a bit stranded. I have no doubt that sooner or later,( i wish it was sooner.) I'll wake up and the head space that I need to get on with it will just be there. Now, I know that as a "professional" many people would call the previous statement indulgent and childish. My answer to them would be, " well, A. I'm not all about comics, and B. stand alone works of art are not squeezed out of a tube when you want some. I don't work at Burger King. That's a pun son.

Oh, and mind your own business.

I just learned, as I'm sure the rest of all you comics type folks out there have heard, Marvel has been purchased by the damn Unholy Mouse... I have nothing to say except I ain't got me no good feel'n about this. I can very easily imagine several of my very best friends getting really, deeply screwed. Other than that, all I'll say is that I'm very, very happy I'm not in that mess.

That's somebody else's house of pain.

Oh yeah, before I go, I have to ask a favor of someone out there who might just happen to stumble over this post on the way to the bathroom. I friend of mine, and my dear Karen's(fabulous) sister was recently in France and sent me several packs of Gauloises. A very old dream of mine was full filled. Now, alright I can hear all kinds of you out there moralizing, so you just be quiet. I smoke. I like to smoke. I want to smoke. So leave me alone about this. I'm a big boy.

Well, the point is, I can not for the life of me find a scorce of real quality Gauloises online with a secure server and reasonable prices. I'm looking for the Brunes with the filter, NOT the blonde's.

I like mine hardcore. A lot.

If anybody knows anything, or anyone who can assist me here I'd be grateful...maybe artwork grateful.

Think about it.

As the days turn slowly into what looks to be a splendid autumn, I have nothing but best wishes to all of you who care, and all of you who've stuck around.

Peace,

M.Z.

ps: the dog photo is a white doberman.......come spring, I'll have one if i'm lucky. the btca has pissed me off so completely, i'm going back to my roots. i was a proud dobe owner for many many years before bullies came along. more on this at a later date.

z.

ELVIS HAS LEFT THE BUILDING.

SEPTEMBER 16, 2006.

AUGUST 20, 2009.

"THE FRACTURE OF THE UNIVERSAL BOY" IS FINISHED.

I feel lighter than air.

As though a great weight is slowly running like hot wax from my shoulders

and great knots are dissolving from the center of me.

I want to thank all of you who have supported me either through your

purchasing of art or even simply just moral support...it ALL mattered

to me. How much there are no words.

My deepest and heartfelt thanks to all of you.

I simply could not have do it without you all.

If this book never sees the light of day, and remains in a box under my bed

I know Idid it.

it feels really good.

Peace to you all.

Michael Zulli.

somewhere on the great prairie.

DUCK TO SWAN?

....all the art is finished and the final script is being written and pasted up.

Will this ugly duck be a swan in the end?

I can not say, that is not my place, but I will love it regardless.

all for now.

peace to you.

M.Z.

ps: i know it's an ibis........but i like it. ok?

m.z.

JUST BECAUSE

"If you are a man of this life" -- Ghazal 3277

if you are a man of this life

then march on this path like a man

or retire and take refuge in your house since

you're not ready for this battle

real men drank a thousand seas

and still died of thirst

you only had a cup

yet boasted of overflowing

you claimed to reach your quest

you'll raise all the dustyet you've travelled

no distance you've left no mark

now humbly turn to dust

under the gallop of real men

then you'll rise and

become a part of their journey

if you crawl for years on the path of your quest

do not yield to grief

do not submit to distress--

Ode (Ghazal) 3277

Translated by Nader Khalili

Rumi: Fountain of FireCal-Earth Press, 1994

TWO A CLOCK IN THE MORNING

.........On the last twenty pages.

In about two weeks give or take a day or so, my publisher will be the first person in the world to be able to sit down and read it from cover to cover.

Then I'm checking myself into the hospital for observation.

I hope all of you who made the pilgrimage to San Diego stopped by the Century Guild booth and said hello.They had more (good) art in one place outside of the Louvre.

Current play list to survive book:

Edgar Froese ambient collection.

Peter Murphy deep

FSOL dead cities.

Midival Punditz hello hello

Be peaceful,

M.Z.

THE MARK OF CANE.

It's official. I'm now a real true curmudgeon.

I just bought my first cane.

I adjusted to the fact that my back is not going to get better, as it's the nature of things ,a bit better than Karen did. She saw it as sad, which is a valid point of view, as the inevitable years of abuse and neglect pile up on me. But, to tell the truth, to me it seemed perfectly natural. It's just what it is. Don't get me wrong, I don't need it all the time, just comes in handy for walking distances and what not. And, it would be nice to have never needed one to begin with, but I still now own a cane. It's sleek, black and heavy, and in the right circumstances, it could look a bit threatening. Especially attached to me.

I have to wonder if they'll let me on an airplane with it?

Now I need one a bit dressier.

On another note, one that brings with it a certain bittersweet sense of happiness, Karen's younger sister Lori and her two sons left a few days ago after a lovely week here from Italy. It was nothing but shear delight to finally met the voice from the phone at last. Lori Max and Nicalo, ( shame on me for not being sure just how he spells that, one "L" or two? two "CC's?) are just great people to know, intelligent, artistic and down to earth, and better house guests one could not ask for. Our home still feels the absence as Do Karen I both. I have to admit, that with a bum back, work pressures and all, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I only with I had a photo or two to share.

Right then: the work.

The book proceeds closer each day towards it's date with the printer when it stops becoming an albatross and blooms into a large, somewhat perverse swan.

It's strange to say this after all this time, but having to examine and touch up each and every page has become a trip down a long dark alley filled with sharp and subtle devices for making the artist flinch at the thing he's made. This will be a lot tougher the read than even I first thought. But the bugger has turned eighteen and surly and it's time it moved out and got a job.

Again, it's the nature of the thing.

I look forward to the time the missus and I can have a little piece and quiet around here.

And finally, I BEG you, to please stop and see the lovely Tom Negovan and the fetching Stuart and the Century Guild booth at the the San Diego show coming up. I have some personal work there for sale and the ART they have to show, sell and explain will leave you refreshed and put real lead in your respective pencils. Promise. But dear friends, before that I strongly urge you all the make a pilgrimage the Chicago the participate in the truly massive Dave McKean-a-thon the Guild is putting on this weekend.........thrills! art! Film! Dave McKean! Fun Fun Fun!!!

I mean, what else are gonna do? Order out and sit on the sofa watching pay per view and fart?

Get thee some Culture damn it.........

On that note, have a nice day.

M.Z.

from the dead zone..........

I'm working nearly around the clock to get this bestial book ready for publication. I'm dead tired and half insane from revisiting the whole thing all over again. It's almost a strange emotional "muscle memory" going over each page once more. I seem to be in this weird time/ space loop of when and now that makes for a nerve wracking day indeed. And I've got to do all again once the thing is ship-shape art-wise for the finished script paste-up.

And I've already started writing and thumb nailing the sophomore effort.

Remind me again why I do this, please.

Though I suppose that when the book of book arrives from the press it will feel really good. Kind of like not hitting ones head against a brick wall......blessed relief.

I'm still hoping against hope for a Christmas release. That would be lovely, no? You could give the gift of angst and terror to all your friends.

And before I go collapse, I'd like to extend a very heartfelt thank you to those of you who bothered to reply to my last post...it means more than I can say to have some response to the news.

I live in a strangely isolated place that never seems to pay back my efforts, and your comments really do lighten the load.

When all is said and done, I truly hope you enjoy "Fracture", because no matter how much I bitch and moan sometimes, I love what I do more every day.

Thank you.

M.Z.