In Dark Matter-related news…

My full podcast interview with SciFiTalk is up.  You can find it here: Joe Mallozzi | Sci-Fi Talk Podcast

Also up is an early, spoiler-free review of Dark Matter #2 here: Dark Matter #2 Spoiler Free Review by Ryan Porter – The Pop …

One of the main reasons we’re here in Japan is so that Akemi can visit with her mother who has made the trip over from Osaka.  Yesterday, they had a girl’s night out.  Today, all three of us hit Tokyo.  We had a big day ahead of us so we wasted no time gathering down in the lobby (after I’d finished updating my blog of course) and headed out to brave the blustery late January weather.  For a single block anyway after which we ducked into the entrance to the Hibiya subway station and made the underground walk over to the Peninsula Hotel where Akemi and her mother intended to pick up some treats.  Unfortunately, the shops wouldn’t be open for another hour, so we had to settle for what may have been…

...being prepared right behind the big window. So near and yet so far.

I’ve been toying with the idea of making the move to Tokyo.  Of course, there are things to consider (ie. getting the dogs over and what the hell I’ll actually be doing here beside browsing that big anime complex in Akihabara) before I pull the trigger.  First and foremost however – I’ll have to decide where I want to live.  I’ve narrowed it down to Roppongi or Aoyama, but am leaning toward the latter because the former, while a beautiful neighborhood, is full of henna gaijin (translation: weird foreigners.  ”Like you,”Akemi helpfully reminded me.).  Well, it just so happens that we were in Roppongi today, strolling the streets of my potential future hood.

The streets of Roppongi. My future neighbourhood?

I’ve been meaning to check out local chocolate shop Le Chocolate De H for a while now, always missing out on my previous visits.  Well, not this time.  We were there when the doors open, snapped up some outstanding yuzu macarons and a chocolate assortment.  Akemi was especially satisfied as she has been trying to track this place down since our arrival.

Akemi, the triumphant hunter.

The killer 16 piece assortment. The banana-dark chocolate was amazing, as was his yuzu and milk chocolate. Akemi feels these chocolates rival those of her long-time favorite La Maison du Chocolat.

For lunch, we headed over to Roppongi Hills for lunch at L’Atelier de Robuchon.  Akemi was a little leery after our last Robuchon experience – a stupendous feast comprised of 16 courses at the Joel Robuchon in Vegas (where we were joined by Golden Boy Martin Gero).  Yes, it was a lot and it’s understandable that Akemi felt stuffed – especially when you consider that, upon our return to our hotel room at the Venetian, she also polished off the entire top of the complimentary pistachio cake we were gifted after our meal.

Anyway, I’m pleased to report that – for Akemi’s sake – our lunch was comparatively modest…yet just as wonderful.  And the restaurant itself…absolutely gorgeous.

We were seated at the long counter that runs the length of the room…

The view to my right.

And the view to my left.

Mrs. Aota makes the trip from Osaka to spend quality time with me. And, I suppose, her daughter.

Cauliflower soup with Iberico pork chips. Akemi couldn't stop talking about it.

Poached egg, butter foam, and croutons atop cumin-scented eggplant.

Oooh. Delectably oozy!

Greenling (yes, a first for me too) is seared, then finished in a steamer, served atop poached leeks and topped with chives, parsley, mint, and crisp green onions. Fish is one of the many things they do very well here in Japan - even the cooked variety.

Duck foie gras on parmesan risotto. Rich, decadent, and all sorts of wonderful.

And to finish: Basil and lime sorbet top orange and grapefruit in syrup.

The lunch at L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon is a terrific deal.  Head on over and try one of the set menus.

We skipped the dessert at Robuchon so we could head on over to the famed Toshi Yoroizuka instead.  In retrospect, I should have gone with Robuchon.

Toshi Yoroizuka

For some reason, they were only offering a scaled-down version of the dessert menu.  The varied cakes, normally on display, were not to be seen.  And so, we ordered from the menu.

The Mont Blanc. Good.

Strawberry millefeuille topped with home made pistachio ice cream. Also good.

Not bad.  Good.  But all I could think of was heading over to Jean-Paul Hevin and sampling about a half-dozen of their chocolate desserts.

Which, by the way, I fully intend to do before week’s end.

Then, we were off for a little more strolling in another neighborhood…

The streets of Shinjuku

We stopped by the Isetan (sight of the Salon de Chocolat) where I picked up a couple of treats from the Sebastien Bouillet boutique: pistachio and cotton candy macarons for me, and a chocolate lipstick for Akemi.  Yes, you heard correctly.

Akemi applies some Sebastien Bouillet chocolate lipstick

We returned to the hotel for some R&R, then headed over to the big seven-floor toy store in Ginza where I tried, in vain, to locate a new Evangelion phone cover for my new 4S, and some anime t-shirts.  Maybe I’ll have better success at Kiddyland.

We took the metro over to Kagurazaka and, for the third time in as many years, I enjoyed a memorable kaiseki dinner at Ishikawa…

This quaint Michelin 3-star restaurant is tucked away on a side street in Kagurazaka.

We had a private room.

Mrs. Aota feigns innocence. In reality, she is well into executing her master plan to pay the bill before I'm any the wiser.

Our nine course meal was designed to show off Japanese seasonal offerings, from fish and veggies to fresh fruit and herbs….

Cod milt and simmered Japanese mountain potato with steamed eggs and ginger-flavored sauce. Akemi and her mother declared themselves not fans of milt - until the arrival of this dish which turned out to be everyone's favorite of the evening.

Deep-fried pomfret and monkfish liver with lotus root garnished with baby turnip. Served with seaweed sea salt (another first for me) and a chive-ponzu dipping sauce you wanted to sip once you were done.

Turnip in white miso soup with whale skin. The broth struck a nice balance between sweet and savoury. As for the whale skin...not a fan of its pronounced fishiness.

Flounder sashimi garnished with fresh sea wood and Japanese herbs. The surprise of this dish was the nori. Why can't we get seaweed preparations like this in North America?

Young tuna mixed with minced kelp. The dark speckling is salt-cured seaweed.

Charcoal-grilled scabbard fish and shiitake mushroom. I've had this long, eel-like fish once before, in a Portugese restaurant in Toronto and loved it there too.

Freshly harvested bamboo shoots, wagyu, cucumber and spinach from Kyoto with Yuzu-scented sauce. The yuzu nicely complimented the well-marbled richness of the wagyum.

Grilled conger eel, komatsuna greens, white leeks, and tofu hot pot. A relatively simpler dish but nevertheless possessed of flavor complexities.

Steamed rice with Maitake mushrooms and diced white radish served with pickled vegetables and miso soup. I was stuffed but could have kept on eating. Redolent with the earthiness of the Maitake.

Strawberry and grapefruit with white wine jelly and sherry mousse. I'm usually not a fan of fruit-based desserts but, of course, fruits in Japan are nothing like the sour North American cousins.

We enjoyed two bottles of sake with our meal and Akemi was absolutely toasted by her second glass.  The service was top-notch – professional and pleasant.  No sooner did we finish one course than the door to our private room would slide open and our server would sweep in and clear away the dishes.  In less than a minute, she would return with our next course.  It was a nicely paced meal that covered a quick two and a half hours.

Ishikawa-san and Sugi-san bid us a fond farewell.

We returned to our hotel room where I uploaded by blog pictures and watched a tipsy Akemi struggle to dry her hair after her shower.

I received a call this morning informing me that Maximus’s ashes were ready to be picked up.  Not a day goes by that I don’t think about him and merely having him come up in conversation is enough to start me tearing up (as was the case at dinner last night when I had to use the “I’ve got something in my eyes – both of them” dodge).  While I appreciate everyone’s support concerning my decision, I’ll always have my doubts about certain things.

Last night, I dreamt that I was grocery shopping with my late father who bought me an enormous bag of ripe persimmons.  Okay all you dream analysts, what does it mean?

Anyway, yesterday, following a leisurely morning lounge, I met up with my good friend Moro-san, my guide on this day…

We headed to Naka-Meguro - a first for me.

It was my first time visiting the Naka-Meguro neighborhood which, I suppose, I would have enjoyed more had it not been so damn cold outside.  And windy!  Moro-san was surprised, assuming I’d be used to this sort of weather coming from Canada and all.  I informed her that, while certain parts of Canada are certainly much colder, Vancouver is actually much more pleasant – minus the rain.

Moro was calling the shots on the day and suggested we go have pizza for lunch.  I’d had pizza for dinner the previous night so I wasn’t as enthusiastic as I could have been but, hey, I’m just a guest.  And so, we wound our way through Naka-Meguro to find the unassuming little Pizza Serinkan…

We were greeted by a gentleman - the owner I presumed - presiding over a pizza oven who directed us up the spiral staircase to the second floor...

Our menu choices were simply: Margherita or Marinara.

Although the menu offered  host of starters, when it came down to the star of the show – the pizzas – there were only two choices: Margherita and/or Marinara.  No “pepperoni and cheese” or “well-dressed” or “with corn and mayonnaise”, the topping I’ve heard the Japanese enjoy but that every Japanese person I’ve ever mentioned it to denies having ever eaten.  I needed some convincing…

Moro-san - also notoriously camera shy.

The Margherita

The Marinara

And boy, was I ever convinced.  I guess simple is best because the pizza at Pizza Serinkan was the best pizza I’ve ever had.  Fresh tomatoes, cheese, garlic, basil and olive oil topping an astoundingly tasty pizza dough.  It was all about that delicious, slightly chewy dough!  These pizzas were nothing short of revelatory and I vowed I’d be back!  Provided I could find the place again!

Chef and Owner Kakinuma Susumu

We headed downstairs to thank Chef and Owner Kakinuma Susumu.  I waited patiently while he manned the oven, carefully turning a pizza, eyeing it’s progress, before pulling it out and depositing it onto a plate – then moving onto the next one.  He took a break to say hello.  On my second day in Tokyo, my French came in handy as most of the chefs I ended up speaking to – including Le Bourguignon’s Japanese head chef – spoke French.  In this case, thank goodness for my Italian as Kakinuma-san had evidently spent some time in Italy and we were able to communicate just fine.

Anyway, there you have it: the greatest pizza in the world.  And it’s in Tokyo.  You’re job is to find it.  I leave you this clue: 聖林館 (せいりんかん)

After lunch, we ventured out into the Tokyo cold for dessert at Cacahouette, a tiny little patisserie on a side street in Naka-Meguro.

I didn't know the next time I'd be in the Naka-Meguro area so (as I often do when I'm on vacation) I made the most of our visit, ordering us two desserts each and a yuzu hot chocolate (which, in retrospect, sounded a lot better than it tasted. And it tasted VERY sour!). Unfortunately, I can't provide a thorough rundown of what we ate as none of the descriptions were in English - nevertheless "delicious" transcends many languages.On the left, a deconstructed/reconstructed Paris Brest and, on the right, a delicate, multilayered chocolate dessert with a praline base. Both of these were outstanding, especially the latter.

My chocolate cube filled with maple cream (left) and the Baba au Rhum (right). Both were very good - although I think Moro-san's selections were superior. That little plastic thing behind the strawberry actually contained a shot of rum. Once squeezed, the rum was released, injected into the cake and giving it a rum wallop!

We worked off our meal and dessert by grabbing the metro to Roppongi where we checked out a ukiyo-e (Japanese wood-block prints and paintings) collection by Utawa Kuniyoshi.

The place was packed!  We wound our was through the gallery, taking in the 420+ works on display.  A truly impressive body of work.

One of my favorite Tokyo landmarks: the Roppongi Spider!

Having worked up an appetite walking around the exhibit, we headed over to Tokyo Midtown for a quick pick-me-up at Sadaharu Aoki…

The Bamboo has long been my favorite Tokyo dessert. I loved it so much on my very first visit to Midtown that I actually considered buying a cake and transporting it back with me to Canada. Had customs stopped me, I would have happily sat down and eaten the entire thing there. While still very good, however, I'm not quite as enthusiastic about it as I once was.

We also sampled some chocolate-dipped macarons which sounded a lot better in theory than they actually tasted.

Fortified, we caught the escalator up to the next floor to visit the Pet Station, a pet boutique offering pet food, treats, outfits and – the reason I was there – spa services for dogs.  You can watch the dogs being clipped, manicured and blow-dried behind a glass wall.  Well, my gamble paid off.  As I walked in, two dogs were being walked out of the spa area – an English bulldog mix and a boxy French bulldog with who I instantly bonded!

We ended up running into Akemi and her mother who were spending some quality catch-up time together.  We said our hello’s, then went our separate ways, they to enjoy a vegetarian meal at Yasaiya Mei, we to enjoy a sushi dinner in Ginza.

Akemi doing her own thing.

For dinner, Moro and I went to Harutaka.  The sushi was very good.  Rather than give you the blow by blow, why not just check out some snaps of the evening’s offerings…

By the time we were done, it was still early.  I asked Moro-san if she wanted to grab a dessert and, not surprisingly, she declined.  And so, we went for dessert of another sort instead, heading over to my home away from home in Tokyo – no, not The Imperial Hotel…Star Bar.

We arrived early enough that we were the only ones at the bar.  We chatted with Yamasaki-san who made us our drinks (a Moscow Mule for me, natch).  About a half an hour later, Master Bartender Hisashi Kishi arrived.  He’d just come back from an event in Osaka where he’d been mixing drinks to accompany a special meal at one of the city’s 3-star Michelin restaurants.  For my money, I couldn’t think of a better person to do the honors.

Apparently, Kishi-san has been checking out my blog, on and off, since I lasted visited with Ivon (both he and Yamasaki-san say “hello to my tall friend” by the way).  Being a dog lover himself (he has a six year old Shiba who greets him without fail upon his late-night returns home – while the rest of the family sleeps) he asked about my brood.  I told him about Maximus and he was very sympathetic, passing along his condolences – and almost choking me up.

We stayed for two drinks and then called it a night.

Back at the hotel, I checked out some chocolates I picked up from a Kyoto-based chocolatier…

The chocolates are little edible works of art.  Much prettier than they were tasty.

Today, it’s L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon for lunch and Ishikawa (third visit!) for dinner.  Wish me luck!

But I get ahead of myself.

I’m not much of a drinker, preferring to focus on the food, but I did have a couple of glasses of wine with dinner at Le Bourguignon followed by a couple of drinks at Star Bar the night before last.  The result?  Lots of tossing and turning and a seven a.m. wake-up.  I had a hell of a blog update to work on and so, rather than hit Tsukiji for breakfast, I uploaded photos and had breakfast in my hotel room:

Our favorite chocolate bar of the trip so smooth - an ultra-smooth white chocolate and green tea.

The Oriol Balaguer assortment included truffle and pop rocks! Wasn't a fan of the saffron. Never understood the attraction. To me, it tastes like public pool water.

A selection from Le Pommier: Frederic's chocolates are incredibly delicate, their shells remarkably thin yet nevertheless possessed of a satisfying snap. Tiny textural wonders!

 I had so much to cover from Day #2 that I didn’t have time to upload my blog that morning.  We had to be in Daikanyama for our 10:00 a.m. head spa appointment.  Yes, you heard correctly.  Akemi booked us a head spa appointment, assuring me I’d love it and that she was sure they got plenty of male gaijin customers.  So, we hopped on the metro (I can’t believe I took all those cabs the first couple of times I came to Tokyo) and headed west of the city.

This is how I would be feeling in about eight hours.

Akemi turned out to be right.  While I’m not exactly sure they get a lot of gaijin male customers, the head masseuse (masseur for Akemi) at ZACC Copain (ZACC copain(ザック コパン) 美容室ZACCの代官山店) provided exceptional service.  And a damn fine head massage.  Akemi and I were in separate rooms and only later was I informed that spa etiquette requires the customer to relax and sleep through the session – instead of yammering away like she could hear me doing.  I would later come to regret my missed opportunity at sleep but, at the time, I enjoyed a great hour chatting with my masseuse, Ikegami Yuka who spoke fluent English after spending a year and a half in what (Carl hates it when) some refer to it as “the O.C.”.  Anyway, she was wonderful company – and incredibly strong.  I had to request a lighter touch on massage as I come from a line of notoriously weak-skullled men.

Yuka! She's very busy, so book now to avoid disappointment!

Following the massage, we enjoyed some tea while one of the salon’s top stylists touched up Akemi’s hair, then headed off to explore the Daikanyama neighborhood.  It’s a really quaint little area, obviously popular with the young people – and their dogs!  For lunch, we ended up hitting some place called Aloha Table where we enjoyed  ate some Hawaiian(?)-themed dishes: a hamburg on rice with sauce for Akemi (she took two bites and left the rest) and the crispy fried chicken for me in habanero spice.

Yep. That about sums it up.

Only later did I learn that the heat simply masked the lingering aftertaste of bad oil.

We checked out an enormous bookstore, then headed back to Ginza where Akemi could shop while I finished updating my blog.

Later that afternoon, we met up for a stroll through the Mitsukoshi department store basement/food section where I made a mental note to pick up and sample about two dozen food items before my departure.  My buddy Ivon will be pleased to hear that the white strawberries are apparently in season!

From there, it was off to Omotesando for some more walking around .  It was at this point that I began to (as your hardcore gym rats like Carl like to say) “feel the burn”.  I got a pistachio macaron from Pierre Herme, figuring that would give me the energy to get through the rest of the night but, surprisingly, even that exquisite little treat wasn’t enough to stop my downward descent.

We ended up meeting our friend Keiko at an Italian restaurant called Napule.  I was ready for bed before our menus had even hit the table.  Still, I persevered.  After all, food WAS involved.  We ordered two pizzas and two pastas.

Simple is best. The Margherita was very good, topped with fresh tomatoes and Buffalo mozzarella. I was most impressed with the tomatoes. They were sweet and bursting with flavor, quite unlike the relatively tasteless version back in Canada. "Because we are in Japan,"Akemi offered by way of an explanation.

Also very good, this pizza was topped with spinach, spicy salami, and egg yolk. I think that more pizzerias need to start offering the egg yolk option!

At this point, I was ready for bed.  My fellow diners kept noting my increasingly narrowed eyes.  I was ready for bed.  Unfortunately, it took them about an hour to serve us our pasta from the time when we ordered them.  And, when they arrived, they weren’t even very good.  I’m betting people don’t go to Napule for the pasta.  After the pastas arrived – and after Akemi and Keiko had enjoyed their coffees – we headed back the hotel.

As we were heading into the metro, I couldn't resist stopping to say hi to this little Frenchie being pushed around in a stroller. HIs name, Umejiro translates into something like first born sour plum. Anyway, I can see why the owner would have wanted to keep him under wraps. He went nuts when we approached, happily squirming about and snatching the glove right off my hand. He was in a constant state of motion so this was the best snap I could get.

 Finally, back at the hotel, I turned in for the night.  At a little after 9:30 p.m.  But not before having a quick snack -

Akemi picked up these chocolates from the Shiseido Parlor. They were phenomenal and gave me the energy I would need to sleep through the night.

Well, I’m feeling much better following ten hours of sleep.  And, with this blog entry behind me, I’m now getting ready to meet my friend, Moro-san, for a play-it-by-ear lunch, perhaps a return visit to the Salon du Chocolat on its final day, maybe a trip to the Kiddyland toy store in Omotesando, a little Akihabara, and then we cap things off with sushi dinner at Harutaka.  Will have the full report for you in the morning!

Tagged: Ikegami Yuka, Napule Aoyama, ZACC Copain ]]> http://josephmallozzi.wordpress.com/2012/01/29/january-30-2012-tokyo-day-3-testing-my-cranial-limits-pizza-over-pasta-and-feeling-the-burn/feed/ 33 josephmallozzi Matcha choc Oriol Pommier Sleepy Yuka Pupu chicken Marghertia Egg yolk ume Shiseido http://josephmallozzi.wordpress.com/2012/01/28/january-29-2012-tokyo-day-2-chocolate-tonkatsu-le-bourguignon-and-a-visit-to-the-master/ http://josephmallozzi.wordpress.com/2012/01/28/january-29-2012-tokyo-day-2-chocolate-tonkatsu-le-bourguignon-and-a-visit-to-the-master/#comments Sun, 29 Jan 2012 06:24:16 +0000 josephmallozzi http://josephmallozzi.wordpress.com/?p=17449 ]]> With my first full day in Tokyo behind me, I have a lot to cover here on the blog – and a lot to look forward to in the coming days.  The change of pace and location has provided a much-needed, greatly appreciated distraction.  Still, I think of Maximus often and wonder how the other dogs are going to adjust.  According to my dog-sitter, they’re doing fine right now.  Bubba and Lulu are doing a lot of walking while Jelly is doing a lot of lying around, wrestling with her toys.  Christine forwarded the following pic of Lulu and Bubba rarin’ to go…

And speaking of rarin’ to go…

Akemi is absolutely thrilled to be back in Japan and has suggested, given my love for the place, that I may well want to consider moving here...or at least getting an apartment in Tokyo.

My trip to Tokyo happens to coincide with the what is billed as “the largest event dedicated to chocolate”: Le Salon du Chocolat.  As some of you know, I’ enjoy the occasional chocolate – and chocolate-related party (April 18, 2010: The Greatest Chocolate Party Ever!).  And so, yesterday, we met up with my friend Keiko and headed to Isestan Shinjuku which was playing host to some of the world’s greatest chocolatiers – and, of course, their creations.

The plan was to do a tour of the place, then go to lunch after which we would make our purchases and start sampling.  Well, yes, that was the plan.  We were only steps inside when we happened across a little seated area in which diners were being served some of the most incredible-looking chocolate creations I’ve ever seen.  After hardly any consideration at all, we decided to line up and sample the chocolate masterpieces.  They certainly looked incredible, but would they be as delectable as they appeared?  I’ll save you the suspense.  The answer is: yes!

Men (and women) at work - on the chocolate masterpieces.

The Kobe Kitano Hotel, igrekplus bakeries, with the help and coordination of Kobe Kitano Hotel General Manager and Executive Chef Hiroshi Yamaguchi, and accomplished restauranteur and International Vice-President of Relais & Châteaux Dominique Loiseau present…”les creations”:

Incredibly delicate and utterly delicious. The ultra chocolate construction sits atop a chocolate brûlée.

A chilled chocolate and passionfruit sphere wrapped in edible gold nestled in a dark chocolate box with chocolate-saffron foam.

A white chocolate brûlée cup supports fresh strawberries and strawberry mousse, mint parfait topped with "barbe papa" and liquorice root.

Topped with warm chocolate and... bon appetit!

Hiroshi Yamaguchi and Dominique Loiseau.

I ended up chatting with Dominique Loiseau who owns several restaurants in France including the 3-star Michelin Relais Bernard Loiseau (named after her late husband, the famed Bernard Loiseau) and she discussed the challenges of creating something that not only looked beautiful, but tasted wonderful as well.  I assured her she and her team has succeeded.

With dessert out of the way, we headed to lunch at a Wako-owned tonkatsu chain restaurant…

The menu - for those who can't read Japanese. Just check out the plastic selections.

I went with the rich agu beef from Okinawa. I like my marbling to run through my meat and while there was plenty running, it also seemed to concentrate in certain areas.

Akemi had the mochi buta from Nigata. The leaner selection.

My favorite was Keiko’s kurobuta from Kakoshima.  It struck the perfect balance.  Special mention should also be made to the killer wasabi seaweed served with the meal.  Akemi assured me we can find some before we head back to Vancouver.  Overall, a nice lunch – but, for my money, Butagumi is still the place to beat for tonkatsu.

After that, it was back downstairs for Desserts, Round #2.

At the Sadaharu Aoki booth - match-battered chocolate macarons.

Chocolate bears!

Chocolate art

Le chien au chocolat

Sebastien Bouillet's multi-flavored chocolate lipsticks. Unfortunately, sold out.

Bel Amer's white matcha chocolate with yuzu peel.

Building the chocolates, Japanese style.

Creepy chocolate art.

Frederic Madelaine (Le Pommier)

On this day, my high school French came into great use.  I stopped by one booth and ended up chatting with a Frederic Madelaine, chef/owner of Le Pommier in Kitazawa and Azabu-Juban (http://www.lepommier-patisserie.com/).  Incredible affable fellow.  Akemi loved his Japanese!  We purchased one of his nine-piece selections that we ended up enjoying this morning at the hotel!

Julien Gouzien of Henri Le Roux. Akemi picked up their wonderfully smooth white chocolate match bar.

Oh, I was tempted.

Spain's celebrated chocolatier, Oriol Balaguer (a Joe's chocolate party regular) has a shop in Tokyo as well. I picked up an assortment including which included his notorious pop rock chocolate.

Keko takes a break from the baby to take in some chocolate.

At the Pralus booth, an artist paints in chocolate.

The ultimate chocolate easter bunny.

The Salon offered a special commemorative assortment that included a piece from all of the event's top chocolatiers. Unfortunately, it had sold out by the time we got there.

Well into our chocolate high, we let the Salon and cut through the Isetan enroute to the metro…

We swung by the creepy baby department.

The basement of the Isetan, like most Japanese department stores, is a cornucopia of culinary marvels. If I hadn't had so much chocolate, I would have definitely picked up one of these striking pastries.

After returning to the hotel to unwind, I headed over to the Pierre Marcolini Cafe to say hi to my friend Moro.  And, since I was there, I couldn’t well pass up one of these -

The Caramel Parfait. It comes with a side of sea salt that you can sprinkle over the ice cream as you see fit.

 With the Salon du Chocolat and that late afternoon parfait behind me, I was finally ready for dinner.  I headed off to Nishi-Azabu where I ended up dining with the lovely Tomomi at Le Bourguignon.  We enjoyed great service, cozy and quaint surroundings, and an excellent food.

Tomomi - a little camera shy.

Rice and veal foot galettes with trompettes de la mort (trumpets of death), aka black trumpet mushrooms. I decided to go with the most daring items on the menu and was rewarded with a marvelous dish layered with textural contrasts.

My main = the beef heart. Texturally very similar to calf liver but quite tender and surprisingly subtle in flavor.

For dessert - the red pepper creme brûlée. And it packed a surprising red pepper kick that married nicely with the brule.

The restaurant's signature Mont Blanc. It was nice to go back and forth between the intensity of the red pepper brûlée and the sweeter more neutral flavour of the Mont Blanc.

And, just in case we hadn't had enough - an extra little dessert they offered us. The uber-buttery madeleine was the standout.

Chef Kikuchi kindly stepped out of the kitchen as we were leaving to thank us for coming. I told him how much we'd enjoyed our meal in my best faltering Japanese. At one point, Iapsed into French and he perked up: "En francais?" Pourquoi pas? We ended up having a nice little conversation to conclude the evening. Boy, I practiced my French more today than I have since learning it in high school!

It was ticking past 10:00 p.m. and I was exhausted.  But I knew that I had to visit one more place in memory of my wingman Ivon who couldn’t make the trip…

Yamasaki-san. Appropriately enough, he shares his name with a Japanese scotch.

Just like old times. The best Moscow Mule anywhere!

The Jack Rose - made with fresh pomegranate juice.

And the master himself - liquor legend Hisashi Kishi.

I was asked to put the word out regarding The Tokyo International Bar Show. It's where the world's top mixologists will gather!

Check out Star Bar here (スタア・バー・ギンザ) and info on the upcoming Tokyo International Bar Show here (Tokyo International BarShow – Info | Facebook).

By the time I got back to the hotel, I was exhausted and ready for bed.  Akemi presented me with a present from the friend she’d had dinner with.  Apparently, he knew I liked sushi and felt badly I’d missed out…

Needless to say after all I'd eaten, there was no way I could polish off another sushi meal. I ended up leaving the shrimp, some rice, and a half tamago.

Anyway, here I sit in the business centre, updating today’s entry.  In an hour, I’ll be meeting my friend Keiko and heading out to Le Salon de Chocolat over at the Shinjuku Isetan.  Good times, but I miss my Tokyo wingman, Ivon Bartok.  Star Bar won’t be the same without him.

Thank you again to everyone who has left comments and touched base with me re: Maximus.  I do read all the comments, once when I moderate them and later at night, and truly appreciate your taking the time to write.

I leave you today with some travel photos:

Hmmm. When I got on the plane, I found this sitting by my seat. P. 12: Window of seat 1A keeps coming loose and getting sucked into left engine along with occasional occupant. Double-check on next flight.

I always enjoy the "if this plane has to make an emergency landing on water" announcements. Yep. We'll just land on that nice patch of ice down there. The secret is too think warm thoughts when treading water, waiting for rescue.

Akemi gets right back into Japanese fashion. This is a look I'd love to see Ivon rock the next time he's in town.

They say that nothing quenches your thirst like a nice hot can of corn soup.

We had a late dinner at one of the hotel restaurants. Among the many terrific items we sampled were these two interesting grilled selections: Japanese shisito peppers on the left, and chicken butts on the right (what my father would fondly refer to as "the Pope's nose"). Thought the latter would be a little meatier.

When we got back from dinner, there were a couple of surprises awaiting me. One was a designer belt and cashmere scarf from Akemi's father (domo arigato gozaimasu!). The other were these Dark Matter Kit Kats Akemi created and ordered prior to our departure. Pretty cool, no?

Speaking of my comic book series, Dark Matter, I did an interview with Bloody Disgusting over here: http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/comics/1870

And the awesome Garry Brown makes the Best Covers of January list for his work on Dark Matter #1: http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/01/26/best-covers-ever-this-month-january-2012/

Jeans? Check. Work-out socks? Check. Bubba? Check! Okay, let's pack it up. We're off to Tokyo!

The night before my departure, I started my next day’s blog, figuring I could get a head start on a short travel day.  The photo of Bubba sitting in my suitcase seemed an appropriate intro, and the final page preview of Dark Matter #2 a perfect ending.  I would have a couple of hours before leaving home to update you all on my decision which, when I went to sleep last night, was to leave Maximus in the capable hands of my dog-sitter.  Circumstances changed however and, the next morning, I ended up shelving my planned post in favor of another, far more difficult entry.

Yes, he was sick.  Yes, he was weak.  Yes, he’d stopped eating.  And though a part of me knows his quality of life had greatly diminished in the past few months and that it was a decision I would have to make eventually, another part of me can’t help but regret that decision.

After collapsing outside on the back porch, I helped Maximus up and set him down on the lawn.  It was business as usual for him (although actually lifting his leg to pee had become so difficult a task that he’d given up on it weeks earlier) and, after he was done, I brought him back inside where he refused the food I offered him.  Instead, he turned away and lay down, head cocked, resting the right side of his face on the floor – another little something he’d adopted of late.  I sat down and transferred him onto my lamp where he lay quietly, unmoving, as the minutes ticked away.  In the past, he would have shifted, or stalked off to a more comfortable place but, that morning, he seemed to content to just lie there with me.  I considered the possibility that it was the meds (after all, the vet had said that they contributed to his lethargy), but it had been 12 hours since he’d received his last dose and if there was a window where he would be at his liveliest, this was it.

When it came time for the appointment, Akemi wrapped him up in a big, red blanket.  He sat in her lap as I drove, then I carried him inside upon our arrival.  We were given a private room.  A catheter was inserted and I set Max down on my lap.  He was a dog who trembled at every hospital visit and, even in his weakened state, I could feel his anxiousness, however slight.  The doctor explained that he was going to inject Max with a barbiturate that would put him to sleep and stop his heart.  He’d feel no pain and would simply drift off.  He waited until I was ready, then gave him the injection.  Maximus was on my lap, with Akemi stroking his head, when he went.  It was, as the vet had assured me, very quick.

If there’s one thing I wasn’t prepared for, one thing that still upsets me a little as I think back to it now, it was his eyes and the fact that he never shut them.  “Putting an animal to sleep” is a euphemism and, while it certainly may resemble a drifting off to deep slumber, there was no mistaking the difference.  The vet left us to say our goodbyes and we did.  I apologized to him, sorry i couldn’t have done more to help, sorry that, this time, I wouldn’t be bringing him back home.  I left him, wrapped in that big, red blanket, as if taking it back would be a final, act of indignity.  At least leave him the blanket.

I returned home, posted my blog entry, and finished packing.  Then, I started receiving the messages  The emails, the texts, the phone calls and posts.  I can’t begin to tell you how much they meant to me and how much I appreciated each and every one, especially from those who have been there as well.  I was so touched, in fact, that I had to wear my sunglasses in the airport whenever I’d check my phone or the blog.

On the flight, I had a hard time concentrating.  Every time I closed my eyes, I’d see him – and every time I didn’t, I’d feel guilty for not thinking about him.  I tried to watch something, attempted to do a a little reading, some work on the script, but I was unable to focus.  In the end, I passed the time doing the only thing that felt right – scrolling through the last photos I took of Maximus on my iPhone and writing this blog entry.

I’ve arrived in Tokyo physically and emotionally exhausted.  I leave you with this blog entry – dated February 27th because it’s already Friday night here – bookended the way I’d intended two days ago.  With that photo of my hopeful Bubba to start, and these previews of Dark Matter’s second issue to finish.

When Maximus was first diagnosed back in July, the vet warned me it was a very aggressive form of cancer and that his chances of survival were small.  Still, when I discovered that I was only a 90 minute drive away from one of the country’s best animal oncology clinics, I didn’t hesitate to make the drive down for the initial consult – and then, for several week after, make the subsequent trips for Max’s radiation treatments and anti-cancer vaccines.  Even before the treatments, I’d seen the change in him, my normally upbeat, forever-famished dog suddenly slow and no longer all that interested in food.  His mood had changed but, every time we would pick him up after a radiation session, I’d see flashes of his old self: bright-eyed, tail wagging, happy to see us (but, most importantly, happy).  When we first started those sessions, I was informed that his life expectancy would, in all probability, be at best three months.  I should be prepared to say goodbye to him in November.

While the initial radiation therapy had positive results, resulting in a slight shrinkage of the tumor in his mouth, subsequent treatments proved ineffective and, before long, the tumor had returned to its original size.  The anti-cancer vaccine was Maximus’s last hope and the oncologist cautioned me that, if we didn’t see results soon, then I should be prepared for the worst.  I didn’t.  And I started to prepare myself for November.

Eventually, Maximus seemed to regain his appetite.  He wasn’t the same ravenous eater he used to be, finishing up his portion in half the time it took the other dogs to finish theirs, but with patience – and a little hand-feeding – he started eating again.  Then, in late September, he suddenly stopped eating and despite my best efforts, simply refused to take anything.  This was two days before our scheduled return to Vancouver and, in my mind, I thought it was his way of telling me that he was ready to give up.  At the time, I simply hoped he’d make the trip back home where he could pass away in familiar surroundings.

Well, he made the trip back and, upon his return home to Vancouver, things changed.  He started eating again.  He seemed happier.  He was a long way from better, but it was as if he’d been granted a second wind.  That November deadline came and went, but he was still with us.

Then, in early December, he stopped eating.  Again.  As the days ticked down, I imagined it wouldn’t be long before he finally surrendered to the disease.  But he was tough.  He didn’t eat for over a week, his weight dropped, he was increasingly lethargic but, still, there were flashes of that happy Maximus I used to know – especially when some friends paid us a visit with their children.  Max always loved kids and, when those two walked in the door that day, he was up and at ‘em, tailing wagging.  I hadn’t seen him so excited in months!

That gave me hope and a subsequent visit to the vet resulted in a change in meds.  Rather than leave him behind for the Christmas holidays, I elected to bring him with me to Montreal.  Thanks to the medication, his appetite returned (partially) and he was up and around – whenever he wasn’t lying around.

We returned to Vancouver once again yet there was no miracle third wind this time.  His condition seemed to gradually worsen.  He could no longer climb up the porch steps.  I would have to carry him.  And still, there were moments – like the day we took him down to Yaletown.  He walked more that afternoon than he had walked in recent memory and, the following day, he was exhausted.  And the day after that.  And the day after that.  It was as if, in that one afternoon, he’d packed in all that walking he’d been meaning to get around and, finally, gotten it out of his system.

As my scheduled trip to Tokyo approached, I began to reconsider going.  I could cancel my flight and receive a refund for my flight and, while I’d probably have to eat the cost of the hotel, the price would have been a pittance compared to the time, effort, and money I’d already spent on Max.  Ultimately, if my staying behind could have helped improve his condition, I wouldn’t have hesitated to do so – but, the fact was, his condition wasn’t going to improve.  At best, it would remain steady.

Which it didn’t.  A week ago, he stopped eating.  Again.  And I was out of options.  Despite my success in hand-feeding him a little food the other day, he  has refused to take anymore since.  He no longer walked around, preferring to lie in his bed, eyes open, and rest.

As I said in yesterday’s blog, it’s not a decision I can avoid.  I either make it sooner or later.  Yesterday, I made an appointment to bring Maximus in this morning – just in case.  I wanted to sleep on it.  Our dog-sitter, Christine, came by to visit and the dogs were, as always, excited to see her.  Even Max managed to climb out of his bed to say a quick hello before returning to his spot.  I trust Christine.  The dogs love her, she’s had vet training, and she assured me she’d have no problem taking care of Maximus.  In the event of downturn, she would take him to my vet who had already offered to care for him while I was away.  And that gave me hope.  So, hoping for some sign from Maximus, I set him down on the pillow next to me and went to sleep.

Well, I’d like to say a good night’s sleep cleared my mind and helped me make a decision but the truth is I didn’t sleep well, my mind was far from clear, and I had yet to decide this morning.  Maximus’s condition hadn’t changed.  He was neither noticeably better nor worse than he’d been the previous day.

I suppose that I would have erred on the side of caution.  Like I said in yesterday’s blog, this is a decision you can’t undo and I’d rather leave room for reconsideration.  Best case scenario – he would hang on until I got back at which point I would have to make the call.  But, at least, he would have a week with the other dogs.

And so, almost decided, I brought the dogs out for their morning business.  I’d just carried Jelly out.  Maximus was right behind me when his legs suddenly gave way beneath him and he collapsed, sprawled out on his belly atop the porch.  I set Jelly down and called for Max, expecting him to get up.  He seemed to consider it, even made a bit of an effort, then finally gave up and lay his chin down.  He was waiting for my help.

And that was when I decided.

Of all my dogs, he was the gentlest, the most well-behaved – the handsome one who charmed children and grown-ups alike.  He was stubborn but strong, the most independent of the bunch, and yet, still, surprisingly needy and always appreciative of a little food and a lot of affection.  And vice-versa.

I’ll miss him.

Maximus: April 1, 2000 - January 26, 2012

&%O@!

&#(@!

@%^%&$&$$#$%&&!!!!!!!!

Don’t care.  Read the synopses of the other movie, saw the trailer, and I feel my script is different enough.  Guess we’ll find out when that movie opens – and my movie doesn’t.  Or maybe they both open and no one remembers the other movie or likens it to Wyatt Earp to my Tombstone.  Whatever.  Come hell or high water (I don’t even know that that means) I’m finishing this damn script!

Thank you to everyone who has weighed in with their advice on Maximus.  I appreciate all the input (I wouldn’t approve the comment if I didn’t).  It goes without saying that this isn’t an easy decision.  I’ll be gone for twelve days and there’s the possibility that he may not be here when I get back.  On the other hand, I can put him to sleep tomorrow and be faced with the certainty that he definitely be here when I return from Japan.  Ultimately, I’m going to have to make the decision sooner or later.  But which is it?  Sooner or later?  It’s a choice that offers no second chances.  There are those who say his quality of life is no longer the same and I should put him to sleep.  On the other hand, there are those who say you wouldn’t do the same to a human being, so why do it to an animal you care about?  I fall in the middle.  I think the call should be made when it’s time – the only question is “When is it time?”.  When an animal is diagnosed?  When an animal stops climbing stairs?  When an animal stops eating?  I took Maximus to the vet today and his vet fully supports whatever decision I make. This is what I know: 1. Maximus is not getting any better and is only going to get worse.  2.  He has lost a lot of weight.  3. He stopped eating a week ago, but did eat a little yesterday and a little today.  4. The vet feels the loss of appetite is more likely a result of the meds he is taking than the disease.  5. He’s lethargic but, in all fairness, he’s always been a lethargic dog.  Again, the vet suggests this is more the effect of the meds than the disease.  6. The meds have eased his pain considerably as he no longer squirms and shifts whenever someone tries to explore his mouth.  7. Maximus trembles in fear whenever we visit the vet – which is the barometer I’ve always used as an indication he’s not quite ready to go gently into that good night.

Still undecided and time is running out.  I’ve made an appointment to bring Maximus in, for his final vet visit, tomorrow morning.  I have until 9:00 a.m. to decide whether I’ll keep it.  I’m going to sleep on it and, hopefully, over the next ten hours, Maximus himself will give me some indication of how things are going to go.

Continuing that preview of Dark Matter #2 (via the gang at  Comic Book Resources)…

]]> http://josephmallozzi.wordpress.com/2012/01/25/january-25-2012-awww-maximus-dark-matter-2-preview/feed/ 56 josephmallozzi Max DMprv11211_pg1 DMprv11211_pg2 DMprv11211_pg3 DMprv11211_pg4 DMprv11211_pg5 http://josephmallozzi.wordpress.com/2012/01/24/january-24-2012-writer-bryan-q-miller-answers-your-questions-dark-matter-2-preview-mailbag/ http://josephmallozzi.wordpress.com/2012/01/24/january-24-2012-writer-bryan-q-miller-answers-your-questions-dark-matter-2-preview-mailbag/#comments Wed, 25 Jan 2012 02:35:37 +0000 josephmallozzi http://josephmallozzi.wordpress.com/?p=17380 ]]> Today, it gives me great pleasure to hand off this blog to Bryan Q. Miller, Executive Story Editor and staff writer on Smallville, and writer of DC’s Batgirl.  As most of you know, the first volume of Bryan’s run, Batgirl Rising, was our January Book of the Month Club selection.  In support of his book, Bryan has kindly agreed to swing by, answers your questions, and generally get raked over the coals.  To those of you who didn’t get a chance to read Batgirl Rising - well, you should pick up a copy.  As I’ve already said to various interested parties, it delivers a nice mix of action, intrigue, great character moments and humor in a series that, while built on established mythology, serves as a perfect jumping on point for new readers.

Over to Bryan…

GerryL writes: “1. How did you make the jump from writing for television to writing for comics? Do you prefer one over the other?”

BQM: Gerry – a very talented and affable gentleman by the name of Geoff Johns visited the Smallville offices for a week or two as we broke his first freelance episode (“Legion”).  I bent his ear over lunch one afternoon, and asked for some advice on how to break into writing for DC Comics. He recommended I meet a few people in person.  Shortly thereafter, during NYCC, I loitered after some panels and introduced myself to Ian Sattler and Dan Didio.  Ian and I had some phone tag for a little while after.  I took a swing and a miss at doing a short for a Superman anthology, but a few months later, Brian Cunningham (then editor of Teen Titans) contacted me, asking if I’d be interested in writing a few issues. I accepted.  No two people get “in the door” in quite the same way – this was mine.

As for which format I prefer, I approach them both with the same level of dedication and focus. Thanks for asking!

“2. Were there any fellow comic book writers that helped you out when you first started? Who were they and how did they help? And what were the biggest challenges you faced?”

BQM: I would refer you Gerry’s above question for the former part. As for the latter, I think the biggest challenge was learning that, in comics, there is no set format.  Television writing (generally) has a very standard, very strict set of practical guidelines. Comic book scripts very much do not.

“3. What are you plans for future projects in television and comics?

Thanks to Bryan Q. Miller for answering my questions.”

BQM: And thank YOU for asking them! As for future plans, there are a few things in the works that both contract and polite discourse prohibit me from speaking about in any detail whatsoever.  2011 was a quiet year for me so that 2012 can be substantially noisier. Will hopefully be able to share more VERY soon.

G-Man writes: “Hi, Bryan.  Great book.  I’d like to know why the change in Batgirl?  Why was Stephanie chosen to replace Cassie and do you know if there are future plans for Cassandra with Batman’s return?”

BQM: G-Man!  Stephanie was already in place when I came aboard the title… so I honestly have no idea why that direction was chosen.  And as for future plans with Cassandra, given DC’s New 52 re-launch… again, I have no idea. I am no longer “in the know” in that department.

TTobias writes: “How did you break into the business, both comics and television?  And what was it like working on Smallville?  Did you get to go on set a lot?”

BQM: TTobias – Smallville was wonderful, start to finish.  A lovely and talented group of people who heartily believed in apprenticeship and instruction.  I couldn’t have landed in a more welcoming place for my first gig. As for travel to set – production was in Vancouver, and our writing offices were in Los Angeles… so we didn’t get up there all that much. 

KellyK writes: “Hello Bryan! Have to say I loved Batgirl Rising and agree with all of Joe’s points especially about the humor of your writing. I have to admit to being kind of confused because, when the wheelchair-bound woman who Barbara befriends is first introduced, I thought she was Cassie the former Batgirl! Anyway, loved what I read and I have a few questions if you’d be so kind:

1. How long did the Batgirl series run and why, if you’re able to say, did it end? Do you miss writing for Stephanie?”

BQM: Looks like you snuck in a few questions between the question there, KellyK – I’ll do what I can to address them all!  Sorry about the confusion on Proxy/Wendy and Cassandra. Was never the intent!

The series ran for 24 issues (technically, 25 if you count the Bruce Wayne: The Road Home event issue… which I count!) As for why it ended, Steph wasn’t invited to the New 52 re-launch. I miss writing for her terribly.

“2. Why Batgirl? When you made the move to writing comic books, why start with this character? Was there an opening? Was she a character you wanted to write for?”

BQM: Steph was a character that I was familiar with and had affection for, so when then-editor Mike Siglain gave me a call and asked if I wanted to put together a pitch for a Steph as Batgirl book, I jumped at the chance.

“3. Someone has already asked about future comic book work but I want to know who your dream character or title would be to write for?”

BQM: As for “dream” characters to write for, that’s a tough one. There’s plenty of books I’d love to take a stab at, on both sides of the Marvel/DC fence… it’s hard to say, really.

“4. Were you a comic book fan before writing for Batgirl? If yes, then which titles did you follow and which writers/artists did you enjoy?”

BQM:  At the time I came aboard Batgirl, I was reading pretty much everything DC put out.  My favorite titles at the time (and to this day) were the (then-concluded) weekly 52 series and DC’s New Frontier. 

“5. Finally – if you could have one superpower what would it be and why?”

BQM: Flight. You know… cuz the flying.

Star77 writes: “1) What was the writing process like on Batgirl? How much direction were you given by the editors at DC and how free were you to create your own storylines? Were there specific dos and don’ts as you started work on the title?”

BQM: “Star77 – thanks for the questions!  With very few “mandates”, I had a fairly free run over my little corner of Gotham for Issues 1-14. If I recall, the only “this has to happen” bit was Steph sharing an issue of her title with Red Robin for Yost’s “Collision” event in that title. Once we passed 14, however, more boundaries and guidelines started cropping up that (while constructive) made things a bit less “free-form.”  It’s the nature of the beast.

“2) How would you describe your overall experience working for DC? How did you find it compared to working for television? What were the pros and cons?”

BQM: With DC as with any show you don’t create, you’re playing with other people’s toys.  It’s an honor to get to spend any time in the sandbox.

“3) What advice would you give to aspiring comic book writers looking to break into the business? Would you say its easier to get your foot in the door writing for an established character at a DC or Marvel or an original creator-owned character at somewhere like IDW or Image?”

BQM: Like I said in a question earlier, no two people get through the same door the same way. What would I recommend? Try as many ways as possible, if that’s something you truly want to do.  Creator-owned projects can often get tricky, as different publishers have different rules about how money works, with regards to payment and production. Create a great character. Put them in an interesting situation. Find someone to draw it. The more ducks you can have in a row before you start looking for outlets to produce and distribute, the better!

AvidReader writes: “It’s been a while since I’ve read a comic book and I have to admit to being pleasantly surprised by Batgirl Rising. A lot of thought went into the characters and they were all well-drawn and very believable. On the other hand, I thought that some of the story elements were given short shrift and I was left confused at various points where we seem to skip quickly over sections (ie. the whole attempt to drug the college street party) while Stephanie appears to make some big leaps in logic in arriving to her (albeit correct) conclusions. The whole kidnapping plot that concludes this volume, in the same way, felt like it could have used more time and detail in the telling. I wanted to learn more about Barbara and to see the writer explore more of the relationship between Stephanie and her mother, but I suppose that’s was volume 2′s are for!”

BQM: All fair points! Regarding “short shrifting”, keep in mind the drugging of the college party occurred in the second issue of an ongoing I had written ever (I’m not counting my fill in on Teen Titans in this category).  Not an excuse, mind you, but I was still finding my sea legs. With the kidnapping plot in issues 5-7, my intent was to spend more time on the Steph/Damian relationship as opposed to the nitty-gritty of the procedural. Plus my whole goal with the book was to tell stories in as few issues as possible.

“How did your writing approach for Batgirl (comic book) differ from your writing approach on Smallville (t.v.)?”

BQM: Shockingly similar. Monetary budget concerns (with television) were replaced with “paper” budget concerns. You only had so much room to tell the story the way you want to tell it.

“Was there anything you wanted to do with the character that you weren’t allowed to (stories you wanted to write but couldn’t)?”

BQM: If you (hopefully) make it through the other 2 trades to issue 24, I think you’ll find the answer to that very question! J

“How much and what kind of research did you have to do prior to writing for Batgirl?”

BQM: I was already very familiar with Stephanie Brown heading in, so research wound up being more incidental, rather than necessary.

“What do you think of the New 52 relaunch? What are you reading?”

BQM: I think it’s a bold initiative, to be sure.

Darken Rahl writes: “I enjoyed Miller’s Batgirl. She reminded me of the Peter Parker with the struggle of balancing school, home life, and being a superhero by night. The person behind the mask was a lot realer for me than the previous ersion. And speaking of the previous version, I hated the old weird mouthless mask and preferred this costume that was a classic throwback to the original.

Bryan, thank you for Batgirl. I miss Stephanie. Any plans to revisit the character in some future book?”

BQM: Thank you, Darken Rahl! And I would love to write Stephanie again (but no one’s asked… WAH-WAH!)

“What was it that inspired you to write Batgirl? What did you draw from?”

BQM: I think, more than anything, the writing of Steph as Batgirl was inspired by my very real want for her character to not only be “redeemed” in the eyes of readers, but to get her due and some respect from the DC Universe itself. As for what I “drew from”, I just tried to write Steph as a person first, vigilante second. 

“Going to Comic Con this year?”

BQM: Wonder-Con (probably); SDCC (yes); NYCC (project announcement-pending).

Anne writes: “Hi to Bryan Q. Millar and welcome to Joe’s blog.”

BQM: Thanks for having me, Anne!

“I’d like to know your list of top ten graphic novels/trade paperbacks.”

BQM: If you had asked me this six years ago when I was still working in a bookstore and was finishing off a trade from the GN section a week, I’d have had 20 for you. Now? Not sure.  Unfortunately, I don’t know that I can narrow it down. New Frontier will always had a place in my heart.

“What’s it like being married to the awesome Erika Kennair?  And where’s YOUR blog?”

BQM: Since I know she’ll read this, I’ll say being married to her is… fine. Seriously, it’s great. We’re very good for each other. And MY blog? Why… it’s here: http://bit.ly/wvi74V It’s brand new and about nothing of any relevance to anything that I do, professionally… though one can only assume I’ll sneak a writing-related post in from time to time.

StarStacey writes: “Hello, Brian. Thanks for taking our questions and great work on Batgirl. I wanted to know what it felt like taking over writing duties on one of DC’s most iconic characters. Did the fact that you were a male writer writing for a female character make you in any way nervous? How did you approach writing for Batgirl? What did you take away from the experience?”

BQM: Thank you taking to the time to participate in Joe’s book club, StarStacey! Starting a title from issue 1 with a marginally controversial character under the cowl was daunting, to say the least. Being a guy writing for a girl didn’t really factor into the process, though – as I’ve said earlier, I approached Stephanie as a person. Not as a guy, not as a girl. But as a 19 year old college student who just wants to do right by everyone… including herself. What I took away from the experience, more than anything, is being humbled at how amazing the passion that fans have for their characters truly is.

Sparrow_hawk writes: “Hi Bryan! I’m kind of a newbie to the whole comic book scene but I loved Batgirl:Rising. What was your inspiration for bringing out another incarnation of Batgirl?”

BQM: Welcome to the party, Sparrow_hawk! Regarding inspiration for doing another incarnation of Batgirl, Steph had already been decided upon to wear the mantle before I pitched my take and ultimately joined the title. My goal with her was to prove that hope can exist in Gotham.

Continuing our preview of Dark Matter #2 (via  Comic Book Resources):

Mailbag:

Lisa R. writes: “Have a good night, Joe. Hopefully, you can help Cookie Monster recover.”

Answer: I sent him a box of snickerdoodles with multi-colored valium bits baked right inside.  I think he’ll be fine for Hero at Large.  No promises for Superman II though.

Lewis writes: “Who do you think makes for a better Lex Luthor, Gene Hackman or Kevin Spacey?”

Answer: Cookie Monster has yet to see the Spacey version.  Having said that, after watching Superman: The Movie, he’s going with Spacey.

Michelle writes: “An too-convenient plot device that has to be dispensed with asap, sort of like the Asgard beam and the sub-cutaneous transmitters.”

Answer: Ah, thank goodness for ionic atmospheric disturbances…

antisocialbutterflie writes: “Milano cookies battered in Oxycodone and deep fried may do the trick.”

Answer: Cookie Monster wants the recipe!

for the love of Beckett writes: “Have been scarce on the blog because I’m trying to change my sleep schedule. It’s not easy, but totally worth it. Am switching shifts at work, from going in at 6 p.m. to going in 6 a.m. This night owl has to become an early bird, fast!  Any pointers?”

Answer: Have you tried melatonin?  Just picked some up for my Tokyo trip.

DP writes: ““You’ll believe a man can fly”. Was that their poster?”

Answer: Yep.  Their second choice was “You won’t believe we actually made this movie!”

Migzy writes: “Ever thought about setting up a get together of blog regulars in Vancouver? Maybe with some world famous SG stars on the side as a bonus?”

Answer: Had a blog regular get-together a couple of years back.  I may make the effort to come out this year.

Migzy also writes: “Seeing as you keep talking about your home theatre system, any chance you might share some specs as I’m sure I’m not the only geek around here wondering what kind of system the Great Joe Mallozzi has installed…”

Answer: It was cool and new when I first installed it…six years ago.  I’ll dig up those specs for you…

Deni writes: “Funny, I’ve been waking up at night (20 x a night) because of Elway, too! Thank you for your prayers, they are very much appreciated! He’s doing better, although he seems to be having a few partial seizures now.”

Answer: Hey, Deni, how old did you say he is?

dasndanger writes: “Yes, that is correct. Instead of ‘dasNdanger writes:’, you referred to me as…JOE.”

Answer: Shows how highly I think of you.

dasndanger also writes: “So, by saying you’re not a fan of sour, does that mean (as I have long suspected) that you don’t like limes, lemons, and things flavored with such?”

Answer: I don’t mind limes and lemons for flavor, but don’t like the overpowering citric kick of, say, a ceviche.  Yech.

Michael Lutz writes: “Joe, have you seen Star Wars Uncut: Directors cut?”

Answer: Watching it now.  It’s great.

Gina writes: “Will you be doing the weird food purchase of the day from Japan this year?”

Answer: I may.  I suppose it’ll depend on what I come across.  Once you’ve mistakenly eaten codsperm, it’s all downhill from there.

Gina also writes: “Will we get to meet Akemi’s mom?”

Answer: Yep.  She’s a regular reader of this blog so I’m sure she’s very much looking forward to making an appearance.

Gina also writes: “What about Max while you are gone? I’m sure it is going to be hard to leave him behind.”

Answer: I’ve gone back and forth on Maximus.  Although he drinks water and shows signs of his old self, he is generally lethargic and hasn’t eaten in a week.  I’m faced with a tough decision and know that, no matter what I choose, there will be a certain amount of regret.  If I leave him with the dog-sitter and he passes away while I’m in Tokyo, then I won’t have been there for him in his time of need.  If, on the other hand, I make the decision to put him to sleep before I leave, I’ll forever wonder whether that decision was simply my taking the easy way out.  Like I said, I went back and forth on this, leaning one way, then the other – then, tonight, he ate something.  It wasn’t much, a half a golf ball-sized portion of raw dog food, but it was enough to restore some hope.  I’m now leaning toward leaving him at home, hoping he’ll be here when I get back so I can put off the decision a little while longer.

Max and penguin

Max and Lulu

Just Bubba

Tagged: Batgirl, Batgirl Rising, Bryan Q. Miller, Smallville ]]> http://josephmallozzi.wordpress.com/2012/01/24/january-24-2012-writer-bryan-q-miller-answers-your-questions-dark-matter-2-preview-mailbag/feed/ 33 josephmallozzi DMprv11211_pg1 DMprv11211_pg2 DMprv11211_pg3 DMprv11211_pg4 :grin: Max Max Max http://josephmallozzi.wordpress.com/2012/01/23/january-23-2012-the-supermovie-of-the-week-club-cookie-monster-reviews-superman-the-movie-1978-our-continuing-preview-of-dark-matter-2/ http://josephmallozzi.wordpress.com/2012/01/23/january-23-2012-the-supermovie-of-the-week-club-cookie-monster-reviews-superman-the-movie-1978-our-continuing-preview-of-dark-matter-2/#comments Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:10:18 +0000 josephmallozzi http://josephmallozzi.wordpress.com/?p=17336 ]]> When time for Monster to sit down and watch Superman movie, he select Speshul Edition because, letz face it, me very speshul.  But monster not realize dat “speshul edition” over two and a half hours long!  When Monster realize, he run back to video store to exchange. But too late.  Already closed.  And it only two p.m.!  Monster suspekt dat when someone stoopid enuf to rent speshul edition of any movie, video store close up shop and get out while da getting is good. Suspishuns confirmed by sounds of staff giggling inside when Monster shout thru door: “If me can’t exchange, me have to watch one hundred and fifty-one minutes of dis movie!  Pleaze have mercy on Monster!!!” But no mercy.  No pity.  Only 1978 Superman Speshul Edition.

Last Tango on Krypton

Dey say “Imitashun sincerest form of flattery”.  If true, den dis movie’s opening credit seekwence blow smoke up Stars Wars ass.  Also muzik VERY flattering too.  Den movie start in a galaxy far away…  Marlon Brando (dis before he train to become sumo)  is scientist on world where everyting pointy and made out of crystal, even livingroom ferniture.    He predikt planet, Kripton, going to blow up.  But FIRST have to set up movie seekwel, so sentence tree criminals to space jail. One man charged wit violenz!  Another man charged wih treazon!  And woman charged wit most heinus crime of all: being man-hater! Criminals sent to flippy-mirror-prison and, with dat out of way, we get back to movie.  And Kripton blow up.  Not sure why other scientists not see it coming.  Dat supernova sun look awful close…

But, good newz!  Marlon Brando charakter (Klorox) send baby away in spiky spaceship (mebbe spikies good protektion against space squid attack) in nick of time.  Spaceship fly for tree years and crashland on Earth where is found by couple.  Dey find abandoned baby and do responsuble ting: keep it for demselves.

Local yokels discover space baby!

Ateteen years later, baby is grown up boy: Clark Kent.  He bullied but have special powerz.  Very strong, very fast, and very stoopid.  So stoopid, in fakt, dat he run superfast right beside train full of people. Lucky for him only person who bother look out window is little girl named…wait for it….Lois! And no one really interested in what she have to say anyway.  Clark go home and have heart to heart talk with dad. Den, he say to dad: “Run!”.  Dad tink dis is good idea…but have sekond toughts when keel over ded.  Nice going, Clark.  Smooth move ex (ray vizion) lax!

After funeral, Clark decide he going to go away.  North!  He go and, at first, monster tink he go too far when he hit icebergz.  But Clark pull out crystal and trow it into ice and from crystal grow beautiful crystal Fourdress of Saltitude.  And den Superman appear in costume.  And dis fifty minutes into movie!  Slow build but not bad so far.

Clark Kent = nerdtastic!

Up to dis point, Monster tink movie okay.  Some parts not make sense, some a little silly, but not bad.  Den, we go to Metropolis and wheelz fall off.  It as if people who made first fifty minutes of movie fired and replaced by people embarrassed to be making superhero film.  We introduced to reporter Lois Lane who can’t spell “bludletting” or “massakre” and spell “raypist” wit two “p’s”.   Ho ho ho.  Clark Kent a news reporter, but he suddenly so klutzy and not know how to use revolving door.  Ho ho ho.  Bad guy Lex Luthor suppose to be smart but hire dum henchman (Ned Beatty who me sure now really regret dis role) dat wear pork pie hat and loud tie and get fingerz stepped on.  Ho ho ho!  Suddenly, completely different movie!  WAT DA FUDGEOO?!!!

Nyuk nyuk nyuk!

At Daily Planet, accident happen!  Helicopter wit Lois (who sound like she smoke six packs of cigarette a day) inside hang off building. Stoopid people gather direktly underneath to watch.  Unfortunately, Superman fly in and keep helicopter from falling on dem – and save Lois Lane.  Wooooooooooooo.  Loooooooooove!  Den Superman go off and help other people, help plane land, and get off cheezy one-liner when bad guy hit him wit rubber tire iron – BOIIIIING = “Good vibrashuns?”  Ho ho ho!  At dis point, Monster really regret he agree to do dese reviewz.  Only good part in “rescue montage” come when Superman help little girl get cat down from tree.  After Superman fly away, girl run inside and say: “Man flew down from sky and rescue Frisky!”.  Mom: “How many time I tell you not to lie!”  And den – SMACK of mom hitting little girl.  Ho ho ho!

Lois Lame.

Superman show up at Lois Lane apartment for interview, look at her pink underwear, reveal weakness to lead, den fly her around town.

Lex Luthor = stoopidest criminal mastermind ever!

Meanwhile, Lex Luthor figure out dat Superman is allergik to piece of his old planet.  How he figure dis out and why Superman would be allergik never explained but, at dis point, everybody, including movie’s producers, want to get it over wit as soon as possible so nobody want to slow tings down by asking questions.  Also at dis point, Cookie self-medikating.  He dip oreos in nyquil to make movie hurt less.

Bad guys in stupid disguise.  Twice.  Get access to nooclear missiles and fiddle wit dem.  Twice!  J.R. Ewing (aka Major Nelson) make cameo.  Luthor lure Superman into bad guy lair and sink him in pool wit kriptonite necklace, den conveniently leave so dat sad woman can free him.  Superman stop one missile but other one blow up. Earthquake!  Monster not recognize Jimmy Olsen witout dorky bow tie but Superman does and save him.  Superman fly under Earth and thru mole men tunnels to stop faultline from collapse.  But too late to save Lois.  She ded.  NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!  Well, whaddya gonna do? How about fly so fast around planet dat Earth rotate opposite way? Yeah?  And?  Oh, you not realize dat when Earth rotate opposite way, it turn back time?  So he can save Lois?

Great!  Now whenever Monster watch another Superman movie, he not have to be worried.  All  Superman have to do is spin planet backwardz and undo everyting!  Somebody die?  No problem.  Spin Earth backwardz!  Someting damaged?  Spin Earth backwardz!  Forget to tape Two Broke Girlz?  Spin Earth backwardz!  Whew!  Now monster not have to worry about anyting like drama and suspense ever again when watch Superman seekwels.  Wat a relief!

Final Verdikt:  Last week Batman goofy but smart and fun.  Dis movie goofy stupid want-to-punch-someone stinker.  Monster wish HE could fly around planet and turn back time so he can unsee dis movie.Superman go from okay first fifty minutes to bad to worse to terrible, den keep right on going past stupid painful into braindead vomit-so-hard-Monster-can’t-feel-his-eyeballs terminus.

Rating: 4 out of 10 chocolate chippee cookies for first 50 minutes +  -2 out of 10 chocolate chippee cookies for rest of movie = 2 out of 10 chocolate chippee cookies.

Pleaze diskuss.

SuperMovie of Week Klub take break for next two weeks.  Me need time to recover from dis supershitfest.  Also, while Joe in Tokyo, monster have to manage his casino in Macau and mail-order-bride biznesses.

SuperMovie of Week Klub return Monday, Febuary 13 wit Hero at Large…

Hoo boy.  Look not good!

Finally, Joe ask me to continue preview of Dark Matter #2, second issue of SF comik book series dat come out Febuary 8!  First tree pages from gang at CBR ( Comic Book Resources):