... It's time to go back through the camcorder tapes I've been recording starting in February. At the moment, I'm part of the way through a Comic-Con International: San Diego tape that's a strange anthology of moments from the summer. For example, I have an extended conversation with Peter David, brief looks at several different booths, and a lengthy look at upcoming Cars toys. So I'll be excerpting the talk with Peter but saving the Cars footage for my grandsons. Unless, of course, you yearn for shots of car after car after car. (Even if you do, there's a lot of other material that will get my attention first.)

The Skilled and Helpful Dan Halverson prepared the Hagenauer video posting yesterday with an incredibly speedy turn-around, so my current goal is to toss an increasing number of clips his way. And, as noted, that requires that I index the tapes that to this point have had only the most general of labels. I have a wide variety of footage, though it's often a matter of what I could record when. (I have an hour-long tape of the Eisner Awards ceremonies, for example. But, naturally, it ran out before The Smooch Moment.)

I just want to make it clear that what you've seen is the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Wait till we have 10 or more loaded, please -- and then let us know which (if any) is the sort of material of which you want to see more.

It's when I get a card asking for a response by Nov. 2 and the postmark is Nov. 3. I can take a hint.

On the other hand, the preview to which I was sort of not invited was there to kick off what sounds as if it's a neat exhibit at the Norman Rockwell Museum (Route 183, Stockbridge, MA 01262): "Lit Graphic: The World of the Graphic Novel."

The exhibit runs from Nov. 10 till next May 26 and will clearly be worth a look.

Did you notice that TV Guide has variant covers this week, all comics-oriented, all Heroes-oriented?

Cover #1 (my subscription copy) features Hiro and is by Jim Lee. Cover #2 features Jessica/Niki and is by Phil Jimenez. Cover #3 features Claire and is by Michael Turner. And cover #4 features Sylar and is by Tim Sale.

The contents page says you can buy all four covers at the TV Guide website "while supplies last."

This morning, thanks to the amazing endeavors of cohort Dan Halverson, we've begun to post some video footage at CBGXtra. In case it escaped your notice (and hoping that your Internet connection is speedy enough), if you click on the "Videos" link at CBGXtra, you'll find a number (well, three at the moment) of videos with comics connections.

With what you'll notice is a shaky hand, I began to record events in February, figuring that, if I waited for perfection to surround me with its glory, people and events would have long since come and gone. Whereas, if I just started recording things, I'd at least have something at which people could scoff in years to come.

And scoff they will -- but I'm slowly learning. First thing learned: I talk to people as if they (and I) were 5 years old. Oooo! Aaaaaah! Wow! Cool! Et (embarrassing) cetera. Still, I think the items on display are moments you may not know about -- and/or moments that provide background or other illumination.

There's more to come. I tend to lug the camcorder along when I think there may be the aforementioned moments. We're up to 2007 now, and it's time to take advantage of some of the technical advances.

The Wise Beyond His Years Tony Isabella was absolutely correct (in his response to my earlier posting) in pointing out that there was, indeed, a second edition of Stan Lee's Secrets Behind the Comics.

The first edition, of course, was released in 1947, and prices at BookFinder.com for the booklet ranges from $78.50 to (gulp) $354.50.

The second edition (hardcover with black-and-white dustjacket, limited to 700 copies) came out in 1994 from Marvel. Bookfinder has it at prices ranging from $117.50 to $210.10.

The Evil Gremlin ate this posting -- and you'd think I'd have learned by now, but ...

Snarrrlll

The weekend lurks right around the figurative corner, and it's this Sunday that we emerge from Daylight Savings Time. I mention it now, because on more than one occasion, weekend conventions have confused my VCR timers or my own plans. If your video recorder is at all elderly, it won't make the change automatically (and, in fact, I've long since disabled my DST "ability" on that equipment, since it's now a disability).

Also, I remind you that you're supposed to change the batteries in any smoke detectors in your habitation this weekend. It's a good routine, no downside. Just saying ...

A friend just sent me this link to an interview with Joss Whedon about his new series, Dollhouse, starring Eliza Dushku.

It's just one more reason we should all cross our fingers that the issues in a potential writers' strike are quickly resolved for the happiness of all.

I don't know how many folks clicked through to hear my son's Halloween music musing on National Public Radio yesterday, but I thought I'd point out that on the same Morning Edition with that broadcast was a featurette on Tales from the Crypt.

The interview featured Papercutz Editor Jim Salicrup, and I'll just mention that, before long, CBGXtra will feature a brief video interview with Jim on that same Tales from the Crypt series. I'll give you a heads-up on our video before much longer. Whee!

It used to be, when I had an annoying cold, that Mom would consign me (chest smeared with Vicks smelly petroleum jelly) to a nest of fluffy pillows, wherein I would lounge, wheezing and coughing and aching, to plow through my stacks of aging comic books.

On my bedside table would rest a large glass filled nearly to the brim with what she called "ice-cream chocolate milk." It was milk with Quik blended in, then re-blended with generous scoops of vanilla ice cream that were left more in particles than was the case in ordinary milkshakes. It was deliciously throat-soothing: a comfort that clearly added to the already-beneficial nature of the rest, Vicks, and comic books.

Today, in the sixth day of a wheezing, coughing, headachey cold, I sit at the office computer terminal to wrap up the next issue of Comics Buyer's Guide.

Ah, but when I'm done? I'm thinking about fluffy pillows, ice cream, and comic books.

Have comics helped you cope?