While the wife's away...

the husband will answer some internet questions making the rounds, now that book week ended not with a bang, but a whimper.

Here's my response toSteven Grant's questions that are making their way around the blogosphere. I had forgotten about them, but Matt and David reminded me:

1) What's your favorite comic of 2004?

That's tough to peg. I've really enjoyed things like New Frontier, Plastic Man, We3 and Street Angel, but there's a big part of me that also wants to say the issue of Amazing Spider-Man that broke the heart of a million (well, that's a big wad of hyperbole) fanboys.

I'm going to go with the cop-out answer and say Same Difference and Other Stories. Yeah, it was published in 2003, but I didn't read it until 2004.

2) What's your favorite comics related moment?

Probably this past June's MoCCA Arts Festival. Being in a room filled with (for the most part) good comics, and with people who love (for the most part) good comics. Also, seeing old friends and meeting new ones there. Yeah, I'm that sappy.

3) What's the worst thing to happen in comics in 2004?

The level of discourse. Not that it was ever that great to begin with, but it just seems to have gone downhill.

4) What's your most fervid hope for comics in 2005?

That we'll see more comics that aren't completely derivative of other comics. That we'll have new creators who are inspired by things other than comics. Comics, generally speaking, really need some kind of shot in the arm. They need to stop living in the shadows of what's come before.

5) What aspect of comics in 2005 are you most looking forward to?

Hopefully, finding something new and exciting. There's a little optimism left in me somwhere.

6) What's your worst fear for comics in 2005?

That some nutjob will decide to make a name for his/herself at the expense of comics, and that Charles Brownstein's words will go unheeded. It's already starting, as we've seen lately (link courtesy of Kevin Melrose... credit where credit is due). Oddly, I don't fear that we'll see more shitty comics, because I have a feeling that's inevitable in any year.