December 31 -  Well, that's it.  2006 is history.  Finally.  What a year...a year that could be described as "terrible" without much objection.  It certainly was chock-full of historic import, and stuff that makes the history books is seldom good.  Even so, I, personally, had a pretty good year, and I hope that you did too.  Keeping with tradition, I wanted to present a year-end report for you here in the ol' WOMP-Blog, so I've been reading The Archives to jog my memory.  It was a pretty gruesome task, but I was up for it.  So, what did I find?  Well, I definitely realized that I wrote too much...most of it about how I wasn't writing enough.  I also found that 2006 saw the passing of several of my personal heroes, including Martin Nodell, Dave Cockrum, and Alex Toth (not to mention President Gerald Ford and our pet rabbit).  Still, in spite of this, I would put 2006 into the "OK" column.  So, what were the big WOMP stories of the year?  It's actually a pretty boring list, by itself, so I have decided to jazz it up a bit.  Instead of a simple countdown, I offer to you the list of...

The Top Ten WOMP Stories of 2006, Personified As Comic Book Characters

10) Nifty O'Day and his Magic Spark - Seeing that the ol' WOMP-Blog needed a little "something," Nifty O'Day, a bebopping teen from the early 1950's who has many accidental adventures in time due to a mischievous Spark of Magic, decided to help.  He ordered the Spark to inspire me to conclude each entry with a comic book character "...Of The Day."  Sure enough, this new feature sparked conversation, garnered many new readers, and kept me on a more-or-less daily schedule!  Satisfied with his handiwork, Nifty asked the Magic Spark to take him to "the swingingest party ever."  Imagine his surprise when he found himself at a Mongol Feast of Death!

9)  Drawn and Cornered, Ghost Artists - Jacob Drawn and Hezekiah Cornered were rival artists during America's Colonial period.  Each smugly believed that he was best at capturing the faces of the people that he portrayed.  On a fateful night, they accepted a challenge to try to draw from memory the ugliest woman in the village.  In their zealous attempts to depict every wart and wrinkle, they so upset their subject, a witch, that she banished them to the netherworld for eternity.  Now, after years of aimless drifting in the void of unlife, they have conspired to thwart the witch's centuries-old curse by spiritually influencing ME to accept as many caricature drawing gigs as I can find.  Through me, they constantly bicker, but ultimately cooperate to make it seem as though I know what I'm doing.  They believe that, eventually, I will draw a beautiful likeness of yet another witch, who, in gratitude, will free them.

8)  Mirror-Man - Something disturbing happened about twenty years ago.  The man in my mirror started to age faster than me!  I'm the same guy who had his first art show in October of 1986, but, since then, Mirror-Man looks back at me with a face more resembling my Dad's.  Every time I think I've got all the time in the world, Mirror-Man scowls as he takes it away.  He doesn't talk, but Mirror-Man tells me that I'm wasting time, that I'm falling behind...that I'm losing a battle that I can't even fight.  But, there is hope!  Mirror-Man has one weakness; he's two-dimensional!  He can only see the surface, while I can imagine, plan, learn, dream.  I can see dimensions that he can't even conceive.  Now, whenever I see him try to frighten me with his grim, fat, saggy face, I remember who I really am, and I just laugh!

7)  Cap'n Funtime and The Jolly Gadabouts - Wowzie-wackie-doodle!  It sure was fun visiting Funtime Bay!  I'm sure glad we hopped on the Cookie-Cutter and headed out for Summer vacation adventures!  Cap'n Funtime can make even the most boring year seem better with just a camp-out on an island, or an educational visit to a museum.  And The Jolly Gadabouts make us laugh with their goofy, but brief, visits to WOMP H.Q., or their funny letters and e-mails.  Even Grunchy the Octosourpuss has to smile whenever the good Cap'n takes us on an exploit away from our daily routines! 

6)  Cobia, The Sentient Submarine - Once merely a battle-hardened submarine from World War Two, The Cobia has undergone some amazing renovations since it was moored at the Maritime Museum in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.  Unknown to most of the adults of the city, Dr. Brian Simons has fitted the aging craft with his revolutionary device, the Actuating Sentience Electronode, as well as several other modifications.  Now endowed with a mind, Cobia strives to protect the citizens of its new home, usually by means of a projected image of itself as a begoggled superhero.  On a recent visit to Manitowoc, I was introduced to this amazing character by kids at the public library.  For them, I drew their hero, but we all (and now you, too) must promise to keep Cobia a secret, so that it...he can continue to work in secret.

5)  The Anti-Monkey - From the darkest depths of anti-space comes this powerful, dread being of hopelessness and despair.  Ever since at least 1999, I have waged a losing battle with The Anti-Monkey, as he strives to keep me from producing any more The Adventures of Monkey comic books.  His sick motivations are as of yet unknown to me, but I have a soul-crushing feeling that The Anti-Monkey specifically preys upon me because...he is me!

4)  Knucklebones - Don't let his skeletal appearance fool you; Knucklebones is a game-loving protector of the innocent and champion of those who love to play.  With a skip and a hop, and a roll of his Infinite-sided dice, he sends bad guys down a chute, protects kings and queens, and even guides people past "go" with a gift of two-hundred dollars!  He even helped me go up a ladder by hiring me to provide cover artwork for the magazine bearing his name! 

3)  The Mighty FallCon - Who said that capes are passe'?  The Mighty FallCon looks every bit the stylish superhero in his flowing blue cape...not to mention his classic domino mask!  So what if he's put on a little weight over the years?  He's still the man of action that he was when he first appeared on the scene almost twenty years ago (besides, that's not fat spilling over his utility belt, it's flesh-wound-handles!).  I must admit that I was surprised to see him this year.  For a while there, I thought he might fade into the past for me, but there he was, mugging for the camera, introducing me to new people, and reconnecting me with old friends.  I suppose that someday, someday, he may disappear, but at least we enjoyed his company one last time.

2)  The L. Frankenbaum Monster - Cobbled together from unlikely elements, the L. Frankenbaum monster arose like an awkward phoenix.  Part short-stories written more than a century ago, and part new illustrations created by me, the monster now walks the Earth, with clumsy innocence and growing acceptance.  Just this last November the L. Frankenbaum monster was found in a nearby bookstore, where I was able to calm it and even introduce it to a few brave people who came out to see us.  One day, he may find a happy place to rest, in a library perhaps, but, for now, he continues to roam free, searching for love.

1)  Fallfire - As a struggling painter, Falla Fiero has been misunderstood and marginalized.  However, when she spiritually communicates with the noble spirits of her Native American ancestors, she has the power to transform into the majestic Fallfire, Keeper of The Flame of Life.  A vision of autumnal beauty and mystery, Fallfire finds ways to aid and to inspire artists who choose to believe in her.  If they truly look within themselves, artists are visited by Fallfire, who lights their hearts from The Flame.  At first, few people knew of her, but her recognition has grown over the last three years.  Now, her works, the artists themselves, are seen as some of the most beautiful paintings of all!

And there you have it, the past year in a strange nutshell.  I have no idea what 2007 may have in store for me, or any of us, but I do hope that it is as full of interesting characters as 2006 was!  I'll leave you for now with one of the best, your last Comic Book Writer Of The Day - Alan Moore!

December 30 -  As this year, "good" old 2006, hurtles toward history, it certainly is going out with a flurry.  Some of the year's biggest stories have happened in the last couple of days.  One of those, from the world of comics, is the passing of yet another Golden Age great, Jack Burnley.  His name is not widely known, but he was one of the most indispensable of artists during the early days of the medium.  The trouble is that he rarely, if ever, got to sign his own work, as he worked as a ghost, most notably for DC titles and the Superman comic strip.  Ironically (for me), I was just given a book which collects early Superman "Sunday" strips...and it was a revelation.  These strips are like finding a parallel universe or something...an actual Earth Two!  Here's the original, only slightly-super Superman, having hereto unknown adventures contemporary to his more well known exploits.  Artists like Burnley drew these, during the period of the great serial strips, presumably as "Joe Shuster."  At a time when there was no "continuity" as we've come to know it, Superman's powers waxed and waned with the plot (he tosses aside two speeding cars in one scene, then is trapped by a falling tree in another).  Because of this, these stories are more like extended movie serials than what we think of as comic books, which is awesome.  From what I understand, Mr. Burnley was one of the principle creators of the Superman strip, which lasted for years...an Earth Two Golden Age.  With his passing, that era passes too.  Now, with 2007 knocking on the door, the world is changing, always changing.  Who knows what the future may bring?  Tomorrow, I will try to post a year-end wrap up, but, for now, I want to send out my condolences to Mr. Burnley's family, friends, and fans.  Also, here's your Comic Book Writer Of The Day - Elliot S! Maggin!

December 29 -  So, I've been trying to make the most of this "last day off of 2006."  I got a lot of work done...not enough to feel like I accomplished anything, but at least the "to do" pile has shrunk.  Now it is 7:00AM on the 30th, and I just have to get some sleep.  That's not very exciting nor inspiring, but it is the way it is.  Oh, well.  At least I actually remembered to post something today...including your Comic Book Writer Of The Day - Roger Stern!

December 28 -  I'm a jumble tonight.  Then again, I'm always a bit scrambled, aren't I?  Tonight, though, I have been so overwhelmed with what I have to do in the next few days, that I don't know where to start.  I've just realized that tomorrow, the 29th, is my last day off from the dread "real" job before 2007, and is therefore my last best chance to get something done within the current year.  I have so much that I hope to yet accomplish, for reasons both practical and imagined, that I have suddenly come to the shocking conclusion that I have already run out of time to do it all.  And so goes the story of the last few days of every year I've lived, it seems.  But why?  Why does my perceived lack of production only get to me during the last days of the year?  Why don't I try harder in February or June or whatever?  Hmm.  I have to get better at this.  Like a lot.  Even the WOMP Staff has recently politely commented on my degrading time-management skills.  I suppose that some of this comes from my natural tendency toward overextension.  I always bite off more than I can chew, then chew it.  Moreover, though, I've been feeling less like the captain of my destiny than a third class passenger trapped below deck...and my ship may be the Titanic.  The end of a year just brings focus on all of this as I imagine that a flurry of late activity might tip the balance from "unproductive year" to "adequate year" or better.  And no listing of "all of my accomplishments" can help.  I may have done lots of things, even cool things, in 2006, but I know that I could...should have done so much more.  Ugh.  Well, let's just call this an early New Year's resolution; I'm going to crank it up a notch or two in 2007.  I know I'll get to this same emotional point in another three-hundred and sixty or so days, but hopefully I'll have even less reason to feel that the intervening year was so lackluster.  Sigh.  Well, here's something I can still accomplish; posting your oddly appropriate Comic Book Writer Of The Day - Harvey Pekar!

December 27 -  As you know, former President Gerald Ford passed away the other day, just a month or so after I talked about how many of my co-workers are too young to remember him.  What I did not tell you at the time was that President Ford plays a significant role in a comic book series proposal that I've been working on for about two years!  Let me explain.  First, I should tell you (or re-tell you...I can't remember whether I've done so already) that, among the many "themed" accumulations clogging the shelves of WOMP H.Q., I have a growing collection of Presidential memorabilia.  It's mostly books, with a handful of campaign buttons and some odds and ends.  One of those "odds" is a collectible coin, struck to commemorate the awkward inauguration of President Ford.  It's a beautiful coin, about the size of a drink coaster, which is made all the more interesting because it was ordered through the mail, by my grandparents, from the Franklin Mint as one in a series of commemorative Vice-Presidential coins...and it was supposed to be Spiro Agnew!  Events of that turbulent time moved so rapidly that, by the time that their order was fulfilled, Agnew was out, Ford had come in, Nixon also left, and Ford was The President!  From that coin, and the unusual story behind it, I had the germ of an idea.  Remember my little flickers story, about Charlie Chaplin and a vampire?  It was in From Heaven to Hell #3, I believe.  Well, in the virtually unimaginable event that I should ever be able to continue the story past those initial eight pages, I jotted down some possible future storylines.  It was always my intent to carry the plot out to the end of Chaplin's life (he died in 1977), intertwining outrageous elements with established, if still mysterious, history.  Characters from early Hollywood, like Rudolph Valentino, would make appearances, but so would other historical figures.  Some would be vampires, some merely infected with the "vampire dust" (as Chaplin was), and others would be "normal" people, just as they were.  I don't want to reveal too much, but 1930's Michigan football star Jerry Ford makes several important appearances, including as a member of the Warren Commission, and an ironic moment as President of The United States...but always as he was, a normal guy.  Because of this, I've done a lot of reading and research about President Ford, so I feel like I kind of "know" him.  And, regardless of how history may judge his acts as President, I think the people who do remember him will always think of him as a regular guy.  I'll continue to work on my story, but now with a little more perspective on a regular guy who was intrinsic to some of the most important events in history.  Here is your Comic Book Writer Of The Day - Scott Lobdell!

December 26 -  Let's get right to it - here's your Comic Book Writer Of The Day - Roy Thomas!

December 25 -  MERRY CHRISTMAS!  I'm back on schedule and loaded for bear!  How was your Christmas?  Did you do anything interesting?  We mostly ate.  And ate.  And...well, let's just say that there is a quickly-clearing plate of cookies next to me as I type this.  What did you give people this year?  We were pretty happy with what we were able to find for our family and friends.  Did you get any cool gifts?  Not that Christmas is all about the "getting" of gifts, of course, but, c'mon...you still look forward to ripping open those packages, don't you?  I know that I do.  Of course, I've had miserable "luck" with Christmas gifts.  Many a year saw me receiving the "gift" of a six-pair-pack of white athletic socks (the kind with the three colored rings at the top).  Yay.  'Cause there's nothing more exciting to a kid than socks.  Well, I'm sure that Santa knew that I needed new socks more than, oh, I don't know...anything remotely resembling a toy.  Look; I may talk about my relatively toy-void youth a lot, but, truth be told, my parents did buy toys for me on occasion, just not often, nor in great numbers, and VERY seldom for Christmas.  "Fun" gifts were usually part of some other event, like a birthday or Easter.  I'm from the tail-end of the era when in-the-shell peanuts, an orange, and ribbon candy were standard Yuletide presents.  And a gift needn't have been a toy to have been "good."  A book, or even - GASP - a comic book would have sufficed...but nope.  I got mostly stuff like a bathrobe, or a comb and brush set, or worse; gifts that I was supposed to share with my little sister, like Monopoly, Lincoln Logs or Tinker-Toys.  Even so, I have gotten some great stuff over the years, stuff that seemed all the more "great" because of its uninspiring brethren.  Most of my favorites were those gifts with a cartooning, sci-fi, or fantasy tie-in of some sort.  Hmm.  Thinking about them now, I can see that, even as a kid, I had a keen interest in Pop Culture.  Aw, what the heck...here they are -

My Personal Top Ten Favorite "Special Occasion" Gifts of All Time

10) ColorForms' Castle Dracula Fun House play set (Christmas, 1974)

9)  Holiday Gas Stations' Talking Santa doll (Christmas, 1971)

8)  treated to the movie The Lord of The Rings, The Return of The King (Christmas, 2003)

7)  Treasures of Disney Animation Art deluxe edition book (December 16th, 1984)

6)  Superman: Sunday Classics, 1939 - 1943 book (Christmas, 2006)

5)  an assortment of Mego's Micronauts, including Acroyear, Time Traveler, and Baron Karza (my birthday, 1977)

4)  Mego's Batman and Joker action figures (Easter, 1974)

3)  a birthday party (my birthday, 1975, and again in 1990)

2)  a drawing tablet and markers (my birthday, 1975)

1)  love from my family (my birthday, 1965, to now)

The last one's not a cop-out, either.  I mean it.  Athletic socks and all, the love from, and for, my family is far-and-away my all-time favorite gift, and I wouldn't trade it for all the Star Wars figures, remote-control airplanes, or dirt bikes on Earth!  Best of all, it's the only present for which re-gifting is actually encouraged!  With that, I give it to you, my WOMP-Blog reading friend.  May you never run out!  And here's another great "gift" just for you, your Comic Book Writer Of The Day - Jack Kirby!

December 24 -  As predicted, I wasn't able to post anything last night, as Christmas Eve rolled over into Christmas Day.  Family stuff, dontcha know.  That, and I stayed a little late at work to help out.  All in all, it proved to be an exhausting day...made more tiring when I was employed to draw caricatures of everyone at my In-Laws' house!  That was fun, but, after a LONG day, devoid of proper sleep, any food or drink, it nearly socked me.  By midnight or so, I'd had it, so the WOMP-Blog got put on the "wait 'til tomorrow" list.  For the 24th, I'd planned, with much glee, on posting the following extra-special Comic Book Writer Of The Day - Tim Seeley!

December 23 -  And this time, it wasn't my fault!  Some sort of sudden snowstorm socked central Wisconsin, knocking out power to many communities, including, apparently, someplace along the line between the mighty WOMPuter and my Internet provider.  I'm back up and connected now, so I'm posting while I can (11:00AM on the 24th).  Of course, this time of year offers many distractions and diversions, many of which I will be experiencing today.  I have an abbreviated stint at the dread "real" job in less than an hour, then several more stops on Family Christmas Tour 2006.  Even if all goes according to schedule, I probably won't post again until it is technically the 25th, so I should wish you all a Happy Christmas!  If you're feeling bored tomorrow after you've had your dinner and all of the presents have been unwrapped, stop by the WOMP-Blog and maybe, maybe, I'll have something fun posted for ya!  Until then, here is a favorite, and often underrated Comic Book Writer Of The Day - Louise Simonson!

December 22 -  Another skipped day.  Before I give my usual litany apologies and excuses, I should point out that the vast majority of bloggers post very infrequently, and most of those post less than one entry per month!  So, as I dutifully now post a "make up" entry all these days later, please keep that in mind, won't you?  HAD I POSTED, this would have been your Comic Book Writer Of The Day - Walter Simonson!

December 21 -  Running late again.  This time of year is traditionally busy for me, but this is ridiculous!  At least I went to bed at a more-or-less "normal" time (6:30AM), but I was working on stuff right up until the last minute before I passed out.  It seemed like a lot of extra work to me, until I got an e-message from Official Friend of WOMP Shannon Gretzon, creator/artist/writer/Grand-Poobah of The Disgruntled Avenger...

The Disgruntled Avenger Vol. 11 has been Released! check it out....http://www.lulu.com/content/579542.  There you will find the book (available to purchase via paypal), a preview of the book and a description of the contents.  While i'm at it I'd like to wish everyone a merry christmas.

s. gretzon

exspastic comics

p.s. I've been told by Friends & fans that Lulu.com likes to ship things at the fastest possible shipping rate (which can be expensive..) please be aware that when ordering you can switch to a slower (& thus cheaper..) shipping rate. So if you're not in a hurry to get the books- save yourself a couple of bucks :)

In and of itself, this may not seem like a shocker to you, but consider this; this is Shannon's eleventh full length graphic novel-sized collection of issues of his comic (how many graphic novels have you produced?).  That doesn't impress you?  How about this; it collects The Disgruntled Avenger issues 66 through 69!  Yep, Shannon may be one of the hardest working "unknowns" in the comics biz!  His quirky artwork has been consistent, and continuous, for years, garnering a loyal following...of what I can only assume are shut-ins and "guests" of mental institutions.  Look, I'm not picking on Shannon...far from it!  I've seen a lot of his disturbing, funny, amazing, weirdo art over the years, and I can tell you that it is amongst the most unique I've ever seen...sort of a cross between Sam Kieth and Sergio Aragones.  Anyone who reads and enjoys The Disgruntled Avenger on a regular basis must have a few screws loose, or a real appreciation for humor, individuality and artistry (and interconnecting squiggle patterns...lots and LOTS of interconnecting squiggle patterns).  And here I am, feeling like I've been working hard. Ha!  Anyhoo, I'm now on my way to work at the dread "real" job now, so I'll wrap this up with someone almost as prolific as Shannon, Comic Book Writer Of The Day - Stan Lee!

December 20 -  I don't even know where to start.  The last two days have been odd and eventful...and such a blur that I can't even remember everything.  I guess I'll just jump in with a report of -

Stuff I Should Tell You

1) OK, you have to check out the web-places created by perennial Fallfire entrant, and Official Fish of WOMP, Jake Stephens.  I am always amazed and impressed by his talents, which run the gamut from actor to poet to photographer to computer whiz, with several stops in between.  Until recently, his poem, the autumn king, was on display with other Fallfire 3 entries, where it garnered praise and requests for more info about its creator.  For those of you who want to see what all the fuss is about, see more of Jake's musings and such at http://jakestephens.blogspot.com, and at his http://orphanos.home.mchsi.com. 

2)  Old School O.F.O.WOMP Bill...OOPS, I mean Dr. William Waite, had a special December 16th choral concert, which I couldn't attend because I had to work at the dumb "real" job.  And, what's worse, I had just offered to work on my day off, mere hours before I found out about the concert and a second performance that was scheduled for the exact same time during which I'd have been free if I hadn't volunteered!  UGH!.  In that message, Bill wrote, in part "I should have said earlier that I have a concert tonight at 7:30 and tomorrow (Sunday) at 3:00 PM of my choir...including a premiere of my new choral piece...it's a really great choir.  At "The Move" in downtown Viroqua."  I hope that went well.  Heck, knowing the good doctor, I'm sure that it went fantastically!

3)  Remember that agonizing decision with which I've been struggling? Here's my decision; I'm not making a decision.  Yep, I chickened out, at least for now.  There were real reasons pro and con, but, in the end, a simple acknowledgement of a quarter-century of personal history put the issue to rest for the time being.  That being said, did you figure out what it was all about?  Is it driving you nuts?  Do you even care?  OK, OK...one more clue as to what the decision was NOT; it wasn't about removing a tattoo...but that's actually much closer to what it was than you might think...

4)  For reasons which escape me (but greatly please my overly-inflated ego), I'm currently in the middle of answering interview questions from Jazma Online VP, Richard Vasseur.  Years and years ago, Jazma Prez (and founder?) Paul Dale Roberts was one of my earliest supporters, which meant a lot to me.  He even provided some fan art for issue #3 of The Adventures of Monkey.  When the interview posts, I'll provide a link for ya here in the WOMP-Blog.

5)  As many of you know, another cartooning giant, Joseph Barbera, has died recently.  While there is no doubt that the work that he and William Hanna produced was beloved by, and influential to, me, I must admit that I was under the impression that the nonagenarian had actually passed some time ago, so the news didn't hit me as hard as it might have.  My apologies, and sympathies, to Mr. Barbera's family and friends.  To have had a career that spanned three-quarters of a century, and a life that nearly extended to the remaining quarter, is a blessing beyond most folks' dreams. 

6)  I've been patiently sitting on a big story about one of the Official Friends of WOMP, as per his-or-her request.  As I promised, I will provide no hints, but I do have a request; PLEASE let me know when I can spill the beans!  It's like EVERYONE knows, but no-one can talk about it yet.  Make the public announcement, already!  Sheesh!  (OK - just one hint; a certain un-named O.F.O.WOMP may be from a planet other than Earth...not that that narrows the list much).

7)  There is another new page on the December 16th web-site.  It's a page of December 16th memories.  Check it out if you want, but, right now, there are only two entries; the Nicole Sudhoff letter that I posted here on the 16th itself, and the following, written by O.F.O.WOMP Lyle Ernst - "I was not familiar with the special meaning of December 16th, but December 15th is special for me as it is my wedding anniversary date.  My story of Dec 15 is quite unusual as my former wife and myself married for the second time on the same date. Our first marriage was Dec 15, 1957.  Our second marriage was Dec 15, 2004.  This year we celebrated out 2nd - 2nd wedding anniversary."  If possible, won't you please consider adding your own December 16th thoughts to the site?  You can send a quick note to me HERE.

That's about it.  I know that there is much more that I should tell you, but I can't remember it.  I think that, instead of stressing about it, I'll just get some sleep tonight so that I can get back onto a more "normal" schedule (as "normal" as going to bed at 4:00AM can be, that is).  Here's your Comic Book Writer Of The Day - Brian Pulido!

December 19 -  More busy-busy.  I got some sleep, eventually, but I'm so far off of any sort of regular schedule that I have trouble telling if it's 3:00AM or 3:00PM as I type this (it's the latter, though).  I hope to have the time to post a more substantial entry later tonight, but, for now, I just wanted to post something to represent the 19th...and here it is, your Comic Book Writer Of The Day - William Messner-Loebs!

December 18 -  I'm in "The Zone!"  I've been working, pretty much non-stop, for almost twenty-four hours exactly as I type this at 11:30AM on the 19th.  I don't even plan to sleep until later this afternoon!  I have no idea as to why I've had this sudden burst of energy and inspiration, but I knew enough not to ignore it.  I've been working on all sorts of projects, most of the artwork category...but not all.  I also put up a new display at our local library (about Prairie du Chien Woolen Mill, one of the most important industries in city history), where I met a young artist named Christina.  She is a big fan of dragons, having drawn several in her spiral-bound tablet.  I added a dragon drawing of my own to her collection, and she, in turn, created another just for me to have.  That was cool.  Anyhoo, now, hours later, I really don't even feel that tired yet, but I'm sure that it will catch up to me.  I suppose I'd better get back to other stuff now, so here is one of my favorites, your Comic Book Writer Of The Day - Len Wein!

December 17 -  'Sup?  Me?  I've been tearing my hair out as I also tear WOMP H.Q. apart, looking for a package of vintage December 16th cards, including the very first one from 1980.  I can't find them anywhere, and it's driving me nuts!  I last saw them about two years ago, but, when I looked for them where I believed they'd be, they weren't.  For whatever else could be said about how overwhelmingly unstructured my vast collections of junk may seem, they are actually very organized...even if only to me.  For example, most of my books are shelved by size, not subject.  Only a few types of books, like those about comics, Presidents, NASCAR, cowboy stuff, the Amish, Oz, quilting, and Pop Culture, are stored by theme.  While this may all seem pretty haphazard, it actually proves quite handy.  Looking for that big book of Manhattan photos?  Big-book shelf.  How about that neat old paperback boxed set of The Chronicles of Narnia?  Paperback shelf.  The December 16th cards should have been in a specific cigar box with similar items.  I did find an uncolored copy of the card that I sent out in 1989, but not the dozen or so others that should have been with it.  Every day since the 15th, I have been ransacking the house, turning over every stone (literally), and looking in every drawer where the cards might fit.  I've exhausted all "logical" storage places, so I will now have to move on to illogical, unexpected hiding places.  Yes, yes...I know that December 16th has passed for the year, but once I get started on something, I'm reluctant to just let it go...I have to finish what I've started.  It's a bit like a puzzle, except that there may not be a solution (there is always the outside chance that someone - and I'm not pointing fingers, but there are only two people living here - has thrown the cards away by accident).  I'll solve it, someday.  And this isn't even the only "mystery" that I'm working on.  At any given time, I'm wracking my noodle in mental search of at least a dozen things that I've misplaced.  Fifty percent of those "mysteries" are solved when I look not where I put something, but where The WOMP Staff has "re-put" it.  Twenty-five percent fall into the "Oh yeah...I remember moving that now" category.  Twenty percent are things that were in transport or refiling mode when I lost track of them.  Then there's the magic five percent, which may or may not be found, but under bizarre circumstances either way.  The video tapes of the community theater productions of A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum and The Fantasticks that I directed fall into that category.  Ooh, those are still driving me nuts!  Some of these things may be blamed on our move to WOMP Central some years ago.  Who knows?  It's bad enough when I lose something.  I do that all the time (I hardly ever go to work at the dumb "real" job without first doing the "MY KEYES!  WHERE ARE MY KEYS?!" dance).  But to lose something which I clearly believe to be properly filed...ERG!  That's aggravating!  So, now I'm off to pull up floor boards and punch holes in the drywall.  Those cards will show up.  It's only a matter of time (thank goodness December 16th only comes once a year!).  Now, here's your Comic Book Writer Of The Day - J. Michael Straczynski!

December 16 -  I hope you had a Happy December 16th!  If you haven't already, you might want to check out the "official" December 16th site at www.december16th.org.  There are a couple of new features already, including a page of vintage December 16th cards, and the first of what I hope will be many recollections of the day.  It's from Official Friend of WOMP Nicole Sudhoff, "kid" sister of fellow O.F.O.WOMP, William Waite!  She wrote -

Hi John!!

I fondly remember being the kid sister of an original (I think) December 16th reveler.  There I was, eagerly anticipating Christmas's arrival so I could open my few gifts, when lo and behold, a full 9 days before the holiday, I was given a small present by my brother's good friend, John.  It was a tiny stuffed elephant from a magical place called "Wally World" (which I was later to learn is our favorite all-purpose store, and at which, some 20 years later, I was to do all of my Christmas shopping in one night!).  I was overjoyed!  Between my younger sister's hippopotamus and my elephant, we had the best December 16th ever!!  But not because of the toys - because of the thoughtfulness of their giver.  Thanks for the memories!

Nicole (Waite) Sudhoff

Lombard, IL

And that was 25 or 26 years ago!  Holy Moley!  I guess it just goes to show you that your actions, no matter how insignificant they might seem at the time, can have an impact far beyond what you originally imagined.  As for me, my most memorable December 16th was probably 1983.  It was my senior year in high school.  My friends and I had a big party, with dinner and guests and gifts and everything.  There were about twenty or so attendees, including that year's two foreign exchange students (one from Israel, the other from Sweden), who were understandably befuddled.  We had to explain that the holiday, not widely celebrated (YET!), was of our own invention.  That was fun!  Since then, December 16th has been a way to connect, and reconnect, with friends.  I may not have been to a big December 16th shindig since the one in 1983, but each December 16th has been special, including this one, thanks to friends like you.  Speaking of "special," here's your Comic Book Writer Of The Day - Neil Gaiman!

December 15 -  Hey there!  I'm super busy tonight.  Really!  It was "Christmas" for The WOMP Staff's family tonight, so we all went out to eat.  That was fun!  It has only taken nine years, but I feel like a part of the group now.  Plus, I enjoy being somebody's crazy Uncle John...and that's what five kids call me now (well, one kid is still in the "Gooza jibba brzrt" stage, but I'm sure that translates to "crazy Uncle John").  Oh, those poor kids, having me as an uncle!  They may never be normal again after exposure to me.  Anyhoo, although enjoyable, the event cut right into the middle of a pile o' work.  Now I hope to get back to it, but, before I do, I want to suggest that you click HERE for a super-secret surprise.  Also, here's your Comic Book Writer Of The Day - Archie Goodwin!

December 14 -  Memory.  Memory is such a strange thing, as illusive and mysterious as the end of a rainbow.  That may sound like a cliche (and I'm sure that it is), but, in my case, it's much more since I've actually been to the end of a rainbow!  It was on the last day of a week-long charitable mission to Heart Butte, Montana, on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation.  The day was closing in on twilight when a brief shower passed.  As it ended, a beautiful rainbow perfectly arced over the site from which I and other volunteers had been working.  We all "oohed" and "aahed" predictably.  Someone casually wondered aloud "I wonder what's at the end?"  "Only one way to find out" I said, and then I ran out of the door and sprinted off toward the right leg of the arch.  Of course, as I got closer, it became less and less distinct (rainbows being light prismatically warped through airborne water particles, a change of viewing angle can cause them to literally disappear).  Undaunted, I called for help from the small crowd that had gathered back in the doorway.  "More to the left!"  "Closer to the trees!"  "Just a little further...that's it!  You're there!"  So, there I was, bathed in what seemed to me to be simply golden daylight, but, to the excitement of the crowd, was actually the end of a rainbow.  I looked down into the tall, wet grass to see what I could find.  And there it was...a beautiful deep-red rock, the size, shape, and color of a human heart!  I picked it up in amazement, instantly struck by the coincidence that I'd just spent my week in Heart Butte.  "What did you find?  What is it?"  I showed them the rock, and everyone froze in slack-jawed awe.  After a beat or two, I said "I...I can't keep it.  It belongs to all of us," and I meant it.  The crowd protested, saying that the memory of the day was enough for them, and that I was the one who'd found the rock, even if with help, so it should be mine.  And it is mine.  It's on a shelf behind me as I type this.  Whenever I see it, I am reminded of not just the events surrounding it's discovery, but that entire week.  It's a great memory, which I can't imagine ever forgetting...but I might.  As many of you WOMP-Blog readers know, my Mom suffered a couple of strokes a few years ago.  The first was the most debilitating, but Mom came back from a near vegetative state to something like 90% of what she had been beforehand.  Then came the second stroke.  This one nearly got her, but she has recovered to about 80%...which is where she has remained for the last couple of years.  It's as if she went from being sixty to eighty overnight.  Worse, the second stroke wiped her memory of pretty much everything between her high school days and the last ten to fifteen years.  In other words, she doesn't remember raising my sister and me.  She understands that it happened, clearly knows who we are, and can piece together the basics of what, when, and where, but she has no specific memory of any of it.  Except that, well, memory is such a strange thing.  Today, I helped my Mom clean out a storage area in my parents' basement.  I'm not saying that it was in desperate need of cleaning, but I did find an actual wasp nest in one corner (hmmm...I remember that...about fifteen years ago the basement was over-run with the flying menaces).  Anyhoo, amongst the ancient artifacts, that lay undisturbed there for decades, was a box marked "John."  Mom and I opened it and found that it contained many of the books, toys, and clothing of my childhood.  This stuff is vintage, too.  It traces my development backward, from about twelve years old, all the way back to infancy.  There was a black T-shirt with "May The Force be with you" printed on it.  There's a shirt featuring comic book panels of Spider-Man and Captain America fighting the Gargoyle.  There's even a little gold sweatshirt with a Green Bay Packers helmet and the slogan "PUT ME IN, VINCE!" printed on it (See?  I told you I was old!).  As we sorted through everything, Mom made little comments like "That little suit had a bow-tie, too."  "You loved that shirt...oh, and that hat.  You wore that everywhere."  At first, I just agreed with her, too curious about the next "treasure" to realize that, for the first time in years, she was remembering!  Eventually, with the exception of two Rocky and Bullwinkle drinking glasses (which I'd never seen...I think), she remembered everything about the items, then about me as a kid!  It all came back, just like that!  How cool is that?  We repackaged the stuff in a new, Rubbermaid storage box, which I left with Mom (except for those three shirts...I just had to show them to The WOMP Staff!).  If Mom needs another reminder of those long ago days of raising kids, she can just open the container and take another trip down the memory-jogging path.  Like my heart of stone, it will always represent more than just "a bunch of stuff."  For both of us, these are memorable treasures from the end of a twilight rainbow.  Now, before I forget, here is your Comic Book Writer Of The Day - Dennis O'Neil!

December 13 -  Late, again, but I still want to post my thoughts about tonight's "...Of The Day" entry, comic book giant, Frank Miller.  As you know, Mr. Miller is like unto a god to me.  But why?  Hmm...what can I tell you that hasn't already been said?  He has been praised by people far more literate and thoughtful than I.  All that I can tell you is what he meant, and means, to me.  Years ago, in those dark ages now called the 1980's, I bought comics like some people drink coffee.  I might have gone a day without getting the latest issue of something, but, by the next day, I had the jitters, relieved only by an overdose of even more comics.  By the time I was in high school, I was something of a junior expert on comics (at least in my own mind).  I was pretty well versed in the state of the art, to the point where I could recognize the styles of any given artist, even lesser knowns (go to any high school in America right now and see how many kids can tell if something was drawn by Alex Saviuk, Kurt Schaffenberger, or Mike Vosburg, just by looking at it...go on, I dare ya!).  I thought I knew what was what.  There were "greats," of course.  Yes, the comics pantheon was full of deities; Perez, Golden, Russell, Kaluta, Wrightson, Adams.  Even writers had name recognition, but few wrote in such a way as to distinguish themselves from their contemporaries.  Then, with the influence of popular artists like John Byrne and Walter Simonson, who wished to write stories as well as draw them, something happened.  The "cartoonists" invaded.  A "cartoonist," by the way, was defined for me by none other than Big Joe Kubert himself, who said that cartoonists are artists who both write and draw the story they work on.  By coincidence, this was also the period marked by the invasion of writers with recognizable styles.  Oh, and it was the Indie Comics, "Black and White Explosion" era as well.  These factors took the comics industry from publishers of pleasant time-wasters to proponents of actual Art (with a capital "A" and everything).  At the eye of this storm, encompassing all of these forces, was Frank Miller.  When he came upon the scene, it was like a sea change...winds shifted, waters darkened, and waves turned from calm to tidal!  Reading even early Miller stuff, it's clear that he was a deep thinker.  By the time he was working on Daredevil, he'd already changed comics forever.  His use of complete page layout balance, including even word balloons, pacing elements, and line, made him the obvious "artistic descendant" of Will Eisner.  Never before in my life had I seen an artist vary his style to fit the story, and I'd NEVER seen anything like his ingenious use of recurring themes, psychologically charged panel designs, or forceful subtext.  When Mr. Miller was freed from constraints, he really blossomed, becoming the master he is today.  Now, elements of his storytelling and layout transcend even a single, well-planned book, crossing over into entire Miller-Worlds, complete with intrinsic rules and iconic styles.  That feat most inspired me.  In fact, my WOMP comics may not amount to much, and my thoughts behind their creation may not be of interest to anyone, but I've always felt that they were greatly inspired by Frank Miller...an assertion that baffles everyone who reads the stories about a cartoony monkey fighting "bad guys."  The homage, at least in my mind, is to Mr. Miller's "from the ground up" comics design, in which every detail, from lettering style and size, to panel-border thickness, to clothing styles and car designs, are all part of a cohesive, pre-thought-out plan.  Everything purposely serves the comic and the stories I hope to tell.  Nothing is, nor should be, in the pages of The Adventures of Monkey, which I can't exactly justify.  That conviction and commitment is what Frank Miller's work inspired in me.  So, forgive my blasphemous attitude toward Mr. Miller, but, considering the worlds he has created or influenced, can you blame me?  Here he is then, your Comic Book Writer Of The Day - Frank Miller!

December 12 -  See December 11th's entry for more apologies and excuses for not posting WOMP-Blog entries with any regularity recently.  I want this entry to be a sort of "real" one, but I have only a half-hour to type it before I have to leave for work at the darn "real" job (and I am a VERY slow typist).  So, what do I write about?  Well, I suppose that I should tell you that, in spite of what I reported here in the WOMP-Blog a few days ago, O.F.O.WOMP, and weathered Trail Boss of the Comics Buyer's Guide, Brent Frankenhoff vehemently denies going gray, even going so far as to say that he is neither going bald, except on those days closest to publishing deadlines (when he pulls his own hair out).  I suppose my "little birdie" mistook Brent's naturally light hair color as gray...but, c'mon...how long can Brent work that angle before people realize that his "sun-kissed" look is actually "age-bleached?"  Well, more power to you, old man!  In full disclosure, I must admit that I am many months older than Brent.  As far as I'm concerned, "old" is merely a state of mind...but, when you're as old as Brent and me, that's gone too.  Anyhoo, with this public retraction, I hope to dispel any rumors that Brent is ready for a rocking chair.  Speaking of rumors, I suppose it's time to tell you, my friend, a little more about the "HUGE story brewing" that I teased on the 8th.  I am reluctant to disclose too much, because even a good hint as to what's up will irretractably cast the die, leaving me with no other choice but to follow through.  What I can tell you is that this is just a personal decision, monumental to me, yet merely interesting to others.  I can also say that it's NOT an announcement of family expansion, changing marital status, employment changes, monetary increase/decrease, nor any other "normal" news that could be considered "HUGE."  This is a decision, which has been slowly percolating for decades, which will affect my career (and it's not "quitting" nor "retiring"...especially since I haven't done anything to quit or retire from).  Whether this change will be positive or negative, I can only guess.  Hmm.  I may have already said too much...especially since, if I decide against this change, I can not reveal what the decision was.  Think of it as like deciding whether to tell a kid that there is no Santa Claus.  Even a hint of the internal arguments, pro or con, would reveal Santa's true status, and, should you decide not to tell the truth, you can never talk about what you were struggling with.  That's a fairly rough comparison, but it gives you an idea of what I'm going through.  And, Santa Claus is real, of course.  Well, my time is up, so I'll leave you for now with your Comic Book Writer Of The Day - John Broome!

December 11 -  It's been one of those kind of months, you know?  My average seems to be one "on time" WOMP-Blog entry for every three I post.  This one, for example, is being typed at 2:00PM on December 13.  I'd have skipped it outright, but, now that I have the "...Of The Day" feature, I really want to make sure that every day is represented, regardless of when.  Here, then, is the name of O.F.O.WOMP and Comic Book Writer Of The Day - Bill Golliher!

December 10 -  And another of our comics forefathers has passed.  Martin Nodell, best known to comic book fans as creator of the original Green Lantern, was 91 when he died yesterday.  I had the good fortune to have spoken with Mr. Nodell several times over the last ten years or so, and knew him just well enough for him to recognize me as someone he'd met before.  It's not like we hung out together or anything, but he and his wife, Carrie, seemed to be at every comic book convention that The WOMP Staff and I attended, so they were often our "table buddies," or at least in the same general neighborhood as the WOMP booth.  As a couple, the Nodell's (now both gone) were such an upbeat, positive team that they helped convince my lovely wife that she could somehow fit into my world of superheroes, space creatures, and all other things geeky and nerdy (for which I will be eternally grateful).  My fondest memory of both is from the 2000 or 2001 MCBA FallCon in Minnesota.  That year, some jeweler, who was also a comics fan, had given them "his and her" matching Green Lantern rings, which were made from real gems.  Mrs. Nodell wore hers, while Mr. Nodell's was simply in a jewelry box on the table in front of him as he worked the convention.  He was obviously proud of it, but too modest to wear it.  Of course, it might have been because a guy of his generation wouldn't wear a giant green ring, but I always have felt that it was a sign of his character that he chose not to flash it everywhere he went.  That seems pretty indicative of how he was "behind the mask."  He was obviously proud of his life's accomplishments (which were numerous and varied) because he was pretty smart about marketing them, but he still maintained a certain friendly dignity in how he conducted himself.  That's a difficult balance, juggling modesty and self-promotion.  And, in the end, for me personally, that's his true legacy.  As an example of an energetic, and gentlemanly, cartoonist, he was literally the true power behind Green Lantern's ring.  Our thoughts are with Mr. Nodell's family tonight.  Here, also, is a special Green Lantern Comic Book Writer Of The Day - Bill Finger!

December 9 -  After typing for two hours yesterday, I forgot to "publish" my "December 8" entry when I finished it.  UGH!  Oh, well.  Before proceeding, please take a moment to scroll down and read the extra-long, "birthday edition" entry from "last night."  Tonight, though, I wanted to tell you about my trip back in history.  Actually, the "traveling" was mostly in my imagination, as I attended "A Christmas Past," the annual lamplit evening tour of Prairie du Chien's famous historic landmark, Villa Louis.  The event recreates the Dousman family's holiday festivities and decorations from the late 1880's, using letters, diaries, other documentation, and the site's incredible collection of authentic period items (about 90% of what is seen in The Villa is the actual, original item owned by the Dousman's).  The WOMP Staff had to attend a workplace Christmas party, but I got out of it (thankfully) because "none of the husbands were coming."  Whew!  That is never a fun party for me, and it was a special birthday gift to be excused from it.  Besides, the late nineteenth century isn't the only historic period that "A Christmas Past" recalls for me.  A hundred years after the Dousman's were anticipating the arrival of Santa Claus (yes, they actually did that), I met the girl who would become my wife.  Yep, this event marks the seventeenth anniversary of that fateful meeting!  YIPES!  So, as I looked at the decorated rooms and holiday theme displays, I thought about both the late 1880's and late 1980's.  In my memory, the two seem to intertwine.  I met my wife, The WOMP Staff, when I was employed to create an authentic Victorian entertainment, based on Dousman family stories.  I went, sketchbook in hand, to an early preparatory meeting in The Villa's office building.  There, across the room, was the cutest girl I'd ever seen.  I was instantly smitten, but a year passed before I realized that she might like me, too!  That next year, I was back at "A Christmas Past," and the two of us picked up our unique friendship right where we left off, as if the previous twelve months hadn't even happened.  As we worked, and laughed, together in the classic 1870's mansion, both in Victorian costume, I felt like I was living some sort of romance novel (hmm...that's not a bad idea...I might write such a romance novel someday...but I digress).  Even so, it was yet another half-year before I had the guts to ask her out on a "date."  From that day, to this, we haven't gone more than a couple of days apart (college and comics conventions are to blame for most of those lapses).  In fact, we've just spent an hour telling each other about our different evenings.  Yes, "A Christmas Past" has passed, and the party has parted, but the history of both are now part of our story.  With that, I leave you with your Comic Book Writer Of The Day - William Moulton Marston!

December 8 -  Yeah, the 8th was my birthday.  Yippee.  Actually, in spite of the unwelcome annual reminder of my mortality, I had a very interesting, and crazy-busy, day!  I had a reprieve from the dread "real" job (from the middle of a six day furlough, thanks to my "back to normal" schedule), so I set about getting as much work done as possible.  I started the day by finishing a little commission from a gal who had me draw teeny color portraits of her great-grandchildren as a gift to their grandfather, her son.  That went well, but I had to leave the project with just a few more minutes of work left to do because I had an appointment to get my hair cut!  It may be pathetically boring, but, for the last ten or twelve years, it's been something of a tradition for me to get a haircut on my birthday.  There is something therapeutic about getting shorn...and I definitely got shorn.  My barber is of the old-school, having learned his craft in the service during The Korean War.  I think I left about four pounds of hair on the barbershop floor!  I placed my suddenly loose hat on my head, then saw The WOMP Staff during her lunch break.  Afterwards, I met my Mom for a second, more substantial, lunch.  We went to Simply, the site of the recent Fallfire 3 awards event.  After we ate, I had a nice conversation with Simply's new owner-operators, who pledged their help for next year's contest.  Awesome!  After dropping Mom off, I went right over to the local high school to meet with Austin Jones, a young cartoonist (and entrant in Fallfire 3), to impart some of my ageless wisdom.  Having none, I talked to him about cartooning instead.  Austin is a very talented artist, who has a style that mixes heavy Manga influences with goth and gaming themes.  We gabbed for about two hours, and I drew Austin's character, F.O.S., before I left to see my mother-in-law!  She is starting a small, in-home business, and she wanted my help in designing a web-site.  I spent about two hours there, designing three pages, and completely laying out two of them.  There's more work to do, but it will have to wait because I had a dinner appointment with The Staff!  It was my birthday, after all, so The Staff was baking a cake.  As we waited for it to get done, I checked my e-mail and discovered several messages.  One was from newly-minted Official Friend of WOMP, Claude Flowers, who wrote, in part -

Hi, John:

I saw from your blog that today was your birthday. As far as I can tell, unless there are actual neighborhood association standards stating otherwise, no one is ever too old to play with action figures. Happy birthday!

Your first choice for Comic Writer of the Day was Bill Mantlo. Don't know if you're aware, but he was injured some years ago and is in his brother's care. There's a benefit project going on right now, sparked by fans. Check out the WikiPedia entry over at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Mantlo, and, if you have the time, spread the word and say a prayer.

Thanks for the message, Claude.  I did, in fact, know about Mr. Mantlo's condition.  That's why he was the first on my list.  Bill Mantlo is one of the four or five writers who most influenced me as a kid, primarily through his work on Micronauts.  I'm all too happy to promote the benefit project for Mr. Mantlo's care.  I'd have done so already, but I just felt like I didn't have enough information as to where and whom proceeds went.  I appreciate the link!  In another message, a fellow O.F.O.WOMP, Jeremy Adolphson, wrote -

Hello John,

My name is Jeremy Adolphson and I am a 23 year old Graduate student at Northern Illinois University where I am getting my M.A. in Sociology.  I don’t know if you remember, but I wrote you a couple years ago about making a small piece of artwork on a 4x6 inch card for my personal collection.  It is because of artists like you, and your generosity that has allowed my collection has grown to what it is today (more than 1600 pieces from varying artists and styles throughout the world), I would encourage you, if you have the time, to view my website at http://www.4x6-art.com where you can see about 1/3 of my collection in 71 galleries. 

The reason I’m writing you, besides showing you what other artists have done, would be to ask whether or not you would be interested in decorating another card to update the images?  The theme of the drawing would be entirely up to you.  I was thinking about comparing the drawings from 2004 to the new ones in 2006, but I’m not sure if you would consider doing this.  Again, the drawings themselves are for my own personal collection, not to be resold or for any other purposes.  If you would be interested I’d encourage you to personalize the piece to myself, along with providing your name, date, website on the back of the card so it would be easier for me to categorize it.

...I do look forward to hearing back from you, I hope you are well and please keep me updated on your new projects.

Cool!  I'm already trying to imagine what I'll do to update the HORRIBLE drawing, of WOMP character Artan Genesis, that I sent to Jeremy (seen with others on Gallery Page 23 on his site).  If you check out the rest of the AMAZING artwork that he has been able to assemble, please keep in mind that much of it may be intended for adult viewers.  One of the things I've learned about Art in my 116 years is that if you look at enough of it, you are bound to find something controversial.  With as many examples as Jeremy has, it may be a certainty.  Just a warning.  I got one more birthday greeting e-message, this one from Official Friend of WOMP Brent Frankenhoff, who wrote -

Heh, heh, you're older than me, you're older than me!

(But only just ...)

Yes, Brent.  I am old...but a little birdie told me that a certain Comics Buyer's Guide Trail Boss is going GRAY!  Ha-ha!  My hair may be Army-recruit-short right now, but it's still brown (thanks for the e-tease, though)!  Anyhoo, after reading e-mail and eating birthday cake, I went back to the drawing board for about eight hours, taking only a short break around 9:00PM to go for a drive.  WHEW!  By the time I finally went to bed, the sun was coming up.  That's why this entry is so late (this being DEEP into the 9th as I type).  So, what lessons have I learned from 116 years on Earth (and one regrettable school-year in New Jersey)?  Keeping with tradition, I offer pearls of knowledge to you as -

Top Ten Things I've Actually Learned In My Life (So Far)

10) A fool and his money are soon parted...but, how did he get all that money?  Lottery tickets, probably.

9)  Most people are good.

8)  I feel the adverse affects of my lack of higher education every day.  Or, is it "effects?"

7)  Parody is legal and protected by law, but satire can illegally infringe upon a copyright.  And that's nuts.

6)  "Aging well" is the goal of decomposing with composure.

5)   Just when you think you've seen it all, you forget it anyway.

4)  Chewing-gum is worthless.

3)  "The next big thing" becomes available the minute you buy "the last big thing."

2)  "Hero" is the most liberally applied title in the English language. 

1)  If you add "Esquire" to the end of your name, make darn sure that you know what it means.

That, by the way, brings me to conclude this entry with a tantalizing hint that there is a HUGE story brewing here at WOMP in these last few weeks of 2006.  Well, at least it feels pretty "HUGE" to me.  I'll let you all know more when I'm sure of...well, let's just say that there's still only about a 50% chance of the whole thing developing.  Here, then, is one of my personal favorites, and your Comic Book Writer Of The Day - Marv Wolfman!

December 7 -  I must admit that my thoughts are more than a little preoccupied right now.  I'm trying to think of whatever I'd originally intended to write here tonight, but my musings wander to the unfortunate fact that, as I type this, it is actually December 8.  I say "unfortunate fact" because the date marks my birthday.  Ugh!  I suppose I'll blog about it further in the 8th's entry, but I can't stop thinking about it right now.  I never know how I'm supposed to feel on my birthday.  Am I happy to have survived another year?  How do I compare to others my age?  To others my age from history?  Do I allow myself to feel old...or fool myself into feeling young?  Am I old?  Am I young?  Is there something I'm supposed to be feeling, or doing, or being, at my age?  Can I still play with action figures?  Can I still drive a car?  Could I ever?  All of these questions, and more profound thoughts, inevitably crowd my mind whenever December 8 rolls around.  And I never come to any real conclusions.  I just sort of bumble on, eventually forgetting to even ask any of that stuff of myself.  Forgetting, that is, until the next December 8.  Hmm.  I can tell that I'm not going to get anything substantial written tonight, so I guess I'll just wrap this up.  I did want to tell you that I've updated the Fallfire site main page with some new graphics, and I've posted photos of the awards event/art show held on November 18 (check that page out by clicking HERE).  Also, if you haven't noticed it yet, the WOMP Character of The Week was updated recently.  It's now the '70's Man!  Check that out HERE.  Here's your Comic Book Writer Of The Day - Doug Moench!

December 6 -  So, what's up with my tease from the other night?  You know, the whole "I may be a comic book writer sooner that I'd guessed" thing?  Well, that may have been more "tease" than "true."  Basically, my co-worker, and Official Friend of WOMP, Cary Kann has been sketching some ideas based on my finders, inc. "pitch" that I posted in the January 27, 2005, WOMP-Blog.  It's pretty cool, too, seeing how another artist envisions my characters, based solely on my descriptions.  We don't know where we might take the results, but it has been fun just discussing the possibilities.  Who knows?  We may even look into producing a full-length graphic novel.  We'll see.  For now, though, here's your Comic Book Writer Of The Day - Brandon Jerwa!

December 5 -  Well...hmm.  I guess I sorta passed out from that extra long day at the dumb "real" job.  It wasn't as bad as it might have been, though.  The weather turned awful toward the end of the day, causing a thinning out of the crowds that had swamped the joint for the first six or seven hours.  Yes, thanks to my old enemy, Freezing Rain, my work day ended with a much appreciated whimper.  Even so, I only lasted an hour past my return to WOMP H.Q. before I fell asleep.  This entry, by the way, comes well over 24 hours late, but...better late than never?  Uh...maybe.  I'll save until the next entry my totally unexciting "news" about being a comic book writer.  For now, here's your Comic Book Writer Of The Day - Mark Waid!

December 4 -  Here's the deal; I'm bubbling with nervousness, ideas, and untamed energy (and something I suspect to be optimism...but, never having seen that in myself before, I'm just guessing).  And why?  Well, tomorrow, Tuesday, marks the last day (at least for awhile) of the maddening status quo at my dumb "real" job.  Whether it was my constant begging, my insistent blogging, or my unending bugging of The Powers That Be, I don't know...but, somehow, after tomorrow, I'm back to my "normal" schedule, the one which I agreed to nearly five years ago when I quit one job for the current one.  Yippee!  That means I'm going to be free to work on my own stuff again!  Of course, it also means that I have to scramble to make up the financial difference, but that's what makes me so nervously excited!  There is one small catch, though.  Tomorrow, I have to work an extra-extra-long, surely aggravating, virtually solo shift at the dang "real" job, starting at about the time I usually wake up.  It will be exhausting, and there is every chance I won't survive it, but I can hardly wait nonetheless!  It's like Senior finals before the last day of high school.  Let's just get it over already so I can get on with my life!  Anyhoo, because of my schedule tomorrow, I'm heading to bed early tonight.  Before I go, though, I did want to tease tomorrow's (projected) WOMP-Blog topic; I may be a comic book writer sooner that I'd guessed!  Now, here's your Comic Book Writer Of The Day - Joe Quesada!

December 3 -  Hi!  I've been so busy here at WOMP H.Q., that I'm going to pass on posting a real entry tonight, I guess.  I'm a jumble of exhaustion, crazy ideas, and incoherence, so I think I'll just wrap this up with your recently discussed Comic Book Writer Of The Day - Robert Kanigher!

December 2 -  Comics Buyer's Guide Trail Boss, and Official Friend of WOMP, Brent Frankenhoff paid me an extremely kind compliment recently.  In one of his CBGXtra.com posts (about my FallCon report), he referred to me as "Wisconsin artist and writer John Mundt."  Now, while any claim I may make to being either of those things would be dubious, I have been called an "artist" before.  However, that was, to the best of my memory (which isn't saying much) the first time that anyone has actually called me a "writer."  And it's not like I haven't written stuff.  Heck, beyond my own The Adventures of Monkey comics, I've written everything from plays to poetry, with varying degrees of success.  It's just that no-one else (including me) has ever called me a writer.  In fact, Brent's quick statement took me a bit by surprise.  I had to convince myself that the reference was even slightly justified.  Why?  Well, if comics were NASCAR, then I'd be a guy who drives a late model stock car at a local dirt track, who is also his own "crew chief."  Theoretically, if I moved up to better cars in bigger venues, the driving would be more or less the same (with added challenges, granted), but being a crew chief would become exponentially more and more difficult, and, ultimately, impossible for me.  In fact, in the last year or so, in NASCAR's top tier Nextel Cup Series, the traditional position of "crew chief" has been divided into several positions because it had become so important and unwieldy, while, at the same time, teenagers have been competing successfully as Cup drivers.  For me, drawing has obvious correlations to driving, while writing has more to do with all of the tasks that crew chiefs must be proficient in.  Crew chiefs are in charge of designing, building, and maintaining engines, of making all decisions on race day, of managing the crew, and of being a coach to the driver, requiring disciplines from engineering to psychology.  From behind the wheel of my dirt track comic book, I've seen first hand how hard it is to be a writer, and I doubt whether I could ever be a successful one.  That's why I so admire what writers do.  To illustrate with words is, to me, worth a thousand pictures.  If I had to pinpoint what's the most admirable, and allusive, element of good writing, it would be "balance."  Whenever I write something, for example, I have to actively pull myself back from shoving my message down a reader's throat.  I think it stems from a combination of the desire to play with levels of meaning, and a deep need to show people that I'm not dumb.  Probably more of the latter.  I can't help it (as if you, dear WOMP-Blog reader, didn't already know that).  Writing brings out the inadequacy in me like a spotlight!  This month, as I post the names of comic book writers, I'll probably blather on and on about their talents, fame, and influence, but I'll also be thinking "Could that ever be me?"  The qualification for the list, that the listed had to have written at least one published story that someone else drew, would already exclude me...at least for now.  Someday, though?  Who knows?  Someday I may even be a NASCAR crew chief.  The chances are about the same.  Oh, well.  Here's your Comic Book Writer Of The Day - Sheldon Mayer!

December 1 -  Yeah.  The month is only one day old, and I'm already running late.  I really don't have much time tonight, so I want to skip right to this month's "...Of The Day" theme; comic book writers!  Yep, I'm going to post the name of a different comic book scribe each night.  Well, there was a self-imposed rule to the list again.  To "qualify," the writer had to have written at least one comic book story which he or she did not also draw.  Even at that, I so quickly came up with thirty-one names that I'm considering an extension into January as well.  We'll see.  As for now, though, let's get the ball rolling with your first Comic Book Writer Of The Day - Bill Mantlo!