It Must Be Spring

That can be the only explanation for my utter lack of posting these days...

Rome

The end of October marked the beginning of The Big Trip. Fellow colorists and travel hounds Tanya & Richard Horie flew untold hours from California to meet me in rainy Rome. That first day, Halloween, was lost to jet lag and foul weather. But when we awoke on November 1st and gathered our wits, the sun was breaking and coaxing us to explore the city. We had a lot to squeeze in the three days before joining the MacMania group in Genoa.



Needless to say, everywhere you turn in Rome there is some detail that catches your eye. Even the most humble-looking street often had a glorious tribute to Mary on its corner.

The streets of Rome are brutal. Rough square stones that will tear up even the most hardened New Yorker's feet. My Harley Davidson boots and Dr. Scholls were no match. Ouch.

Out hotel was only 10 minutes walk to the Colosseum yet we kept managing to arrive when it was closed. Being a holiday weekend, we were desperate to see inside before time ran out. But on our first visit, we had to be satisfied seeing the exterior by night.


I got an extra little thrill out of it because I had to color this exact location in an issue of "100 Bullets" not too long ago. I wonder if this means I can write of the trip as "research"? hmmm...



I love this shot of Tanya & Richard in the shadows of the Colosseum. It has a very "Mission Impossible" feel to it, two spies on a rendezvous. "Do you have the code word?" "Cappuccino."


Of course we hit the highlights. Trevi Fountain (so unbelievably crowded)....


Churches that took our breath away...


Churches that knocked the wind out of us... (pictures just can't do justice here)


But we thrilled in the unexpected perfect moments too. A couple of blocks away from our hotel was a tiny fountained square, bordered by churches, a B&B and tiny shops. A local place where everyone gathered at the outdoor cafe for their morning croissant and cappuccino. It was ridiculously picturesque. As we soaked in the atmosphere on Sunday, the choir suddenly broke out into song. Giggling toddlers chased pigeons. Puppies scampered about. We looked at each other and ordered another round of cappuccino. The Vatican could wait. *This* was heaven.


Our little mascot "Bee" enjoys some morning buzz too. Bee belongs to my little 4 year-old friend Josie, and we took lots of pictures of him (her?) to send back to Josie during our adventures.

The Vatican. My feet we pulverized this day. Luckily we had the most beautiful weather during our visit to Rome. So at least we were hobbling in ideal conditions.

Visiting the Sistine Chapel is no easy feat though. You're propelled through room after room of jaw-dropping art and craftsmanship. Up stairs and down stairs, through twists and turns. We saw one dejected young man on crutches who had obviously turned back; the gauntlet was just too much. It was at *least* a half hour of non-stop walking before finally reaching the Chapel.


You couldn't help but look toward Heaven in there.


Not everything in Rome was holy and wholesome though. Condom machines, right on the street, for your convenience. 14 varieties to choose from! That's amore.






At long last, we made it *inside* the Colosseum. Smaller than one might expect, but still so impressive. Everyone got lost in their thoughts, imagining what took place here. We marveled at the intricate passageways revealed under the main floor. As awe-inspiring as the Vatican is, I think it's the ancient ruins of Rome that really fascinated us. We just couldn't get enough of the excavations in progress. Sadly there wasn't enough time to see everything. Yep, we'll have to go back.


Tanya & Richard, my geeky gladiators.








All too soon, it was time to pack up. A downpour marked the morning of our departure, just as it had on our arrival. Off to the train station for a drowsy journey along the coast to Genoa. Next up: the Big Trip continues with MacMania 8 to the Mediterranean.

Roman Holiday

Spent a few days in Rome with friend before we headed to the MacMania 8 cruise. Our internet connection on the ship is crawling a best, so the majority of photos will have to wait till we're reunited with broadband.

For now, here's one of the places I enjoyed the most....

JOKER Today!

At long last... JOKER is out in comic stores today. Also available on Amazon and other fine online retailers.




Written by Brian Azzarello
Art by Lee Bermejo
Additional Inks by Mick Gray
Color by Patricia Mulvihill

Last Day of Summer

Okay I don't want to turn into That Girl Who Posts Sappy Sunset Photos. But it was the last day of summer, and I was feeling sappy. Sue me.

Not bad for an iPhone picture, eh? Still wish I had my "real" camera handy.

Local Color, Part 2

Looking across the Hudson at exotic Lakawana, New Jersey. The end of one of those insanely perfect summer days.

Distant Color

Sunset in Ireland.... from a few months ago. A reminder of how fast summer is winding down.

Local Color

Once again, the neighborhood doorways provide some of the best commentary and art around.

Recharging

After a particularly grueling year on all fronts, life has eased up enough to allow some R&R. A week off isn't enough time to tackle all those major items on the to-do list, but it did allow me to sleep deeply and generally laze about. Oh, and paint my bathroom door.


As much as I love comics, a week away from them has been heaven. My brain was fried, and I felt trapped at the desk 24/7. I needed to get out of the apartment, out of the city, out of the grind. The cure? Prowling a flea market, cleaning a garage, and eating a truly great burger under blue skies. It may not have been the most productive week, but that was the point. It was just for de-stressing and recharging.

And now I'm antsy to get back to work full-tilt. There's still a long to-do list, but isn't there always?