Comic Capital of the World by Mike Baron New York is like landing on an alien world created by Frank Herbert. Whipping Star comes to mind. It's a dog eat dog scenario, with even the Shi Tzus chowing down on the Chihuahuas. I had invaded the Big Apple like a worm at the invitation of my friend Russel who publishes newspapers. It was the week prior to the New York City Comic Convention. Caught a taxi from LaGuardia to East 34th: $25. Russ lives in a high rise overlooking the East River, conveniently right above a commercial helipad. All day long choppers came and went. Them fuckers loud. But every part of New York is loud all the time, except for sound-proofed rooms. Tuesday I met with Comicmixers Mike Gold, Martha Thomases, and Glenn Haumann at Virgil's at 44th and Broadway. We were all a-twitter about Comicmix' upcoming plans which include several titles both familiar and new. Since only six people read this blog, there's no harm in pointing out that one of them is Black Ice, which I've been discussing on my own website (currently down). Art by Nick Runge, the Amazing Kid. It was formerly known as Obsidian, but to avoid tangling with DC, who has a character by that name, we have changed ours to something that is both appropriate and sinister. He did say everywhere. © 2007 Warner Bros. Everywhere I slogged were posters for Frank Miller's 300. On Wednesday I slogged to Marvel where I met Axel Alonso, the tall, overworked editor of all things X-Men. I saw unbelievable artwork. I can't remember the titles, there were so many of them. I also met the personable and overworked Nick Lowe, who is a fan of his namesake. The legendary Marvel bullpen seemed to stretch for an eternity, but that might just be a holistic image. I caught up with my old friend Michael Wright, a DC editor at McGee's, on 55th Street. There were two artists, a Brit named Frazer Irving (frazerirving.com) who has some crazy shit coming from Image, and a beautiful Canuck named Fiona Staples. I found the vaunted barbecue too salty. On Wednesday night Russ and I met Milton and Mary Beth Griepp for dinner at Vong. Milton (icv2.com) was in town for the con, where he was conducting a graphic novel seminar. I told Milt I thought the con was going to be a goat fuck. He said not a chance, they had learned from last year. No way I said. Want to bet he said. I never bet against Milton. Mike Baron worked for the Boston Phoenix, Boston After Dark, and the Real Paper. He broke into comics with Nexus, his groundbreaking science fiction title co-created with illustrator Steve Rude. Baron has written Marvel's Punisher, DC's Batman, Deadman, and Flash. Nexus has garnered honors too numerous to mention, including Eisners for both creators. Baron has written Star Wars for Dark Horse, Turok, Dinosaur Hunter and Archer & Armstrong for Valiant, and has three issues of Legends of the Dark Knight in the works. A prolific creator, Baron is at least partly responsible for The Badger, Ginger Fox, Spyke, Feud, and many other comic book titles. He currently has two new web comics up at Big Head Press. The Architect is a horror story based on the life of Frank Lloyd Wright. The Hook is rock and roll science fiction - think Farenheit 451 only instead of banning books they have banned music. Baron lives in Colorado with his wife and dogs. He collects rocks. Volume 3 out now! Visit our Comic Book News Archive.