Black Hole by Charles Burns... Click to enlarge.

My reading is like digging for gold in the desert. I toil each day under an oppressive sun and only very occasionally do I uncover some rare but small gem. Is it worth it? It’s like looking for heroin in the cracks of the sidewalk. Ultimately futile but is the high so good? What have I sacrificed for such paltry rewards? Houellebecq says those who read are those who hate life. Is it that extreme?

Katsuhiro Otomo’s Akira... Click to enlarge.

This disease, this madness has claimed my soul for years. When I discovered the Gnostics and became aware of the great mysteries of their cosmologies, when I realized our god was a bastard demon and the world was an abortion, a blasphemous lie I began to escape into literature for solace. Since we were all fiction; our world, our lives, our hopes, I thought there no better recourse than to immerse myself in fiction itself, to understand so completely the narrative arts and all their manifestations and permutations, perhaps to ultimately transcend narrative itself achieving some gnosis of my own. To reach the god behind god. Could one do that through literature?

Abraxis and the Earthman by Rick Veitch... Click to enlarge.

I continued to read and began to feel I was reading the same book again and again. I was feeling so keenly the appalling impotence of contemporary fiction, the sickening lack of cajones. These authors couldn’t take their imaginative inventions to new places; couldn’t push us to new realms, new ideals, and new fantasies. Particularly when I read one author more than once I would become disgusted. I have heard this before! You have said this before! What are you at, you bastard?! The author became my sworn enemy. Their tales were not fantastic at all, they were re-hash. These authors had no dreams at all. Why bother to speak when you have nothing to say?

The Bug Boy by Hideshi Hino... Click to Enlarge

I can say without a doubt that the best contemporary fiction in the world is happening in the form of the graphic novel. Any of the work of Daniel Clowes is by far and away better than most of the novels I have read. His dialogue and plotting are at the boundaries of contemporary fiction’s possibilities. The graphic novels of Gilbert Hernandez are sweet and haunting. Katsuhiro Otomo’s Akira is a 2,182 epic that is more fully immersive than anything by any New York Times bestselling author or any Nobel winner. Jeff Smith’s Bone is mind blowingly good. Tomine’s work is beautiful, subtle and sincere. Rick Veitch’s Abraxas and the Earthman is unlike anything you have ever read (except Moby Dick) and if you haven’t read Charles Burns’ Black Hole: WAKE UP!!!!!

David Boring by Daniel Clowes... Click to enlarge.

Here’s a short list of five great graphic novels to get you passionate about the potential of the medium. Ignore them to your detriment!

David Boring by Daniel Clowes

Chance in Hell by Gilbert Hernandez

Abraxis and the Earthman by Rick Veitch

Black Hole by Charles Burns

The Bug Boy by Hideshi Hino

And why 1977 might be better than right now

By Andy K. Brooks

Currently in its sixth season, “The Misadventures of Maya and Miguel,” the children’s animated TV series, is precisely the type of fare that ruffles the feathers of the easily ruffled. Produced by those liberal wimps over at PBS, the award-winning show, which chronicles the lives of tween siblings Maya and Miguel Santos and their cadre of disabled, multicultural, and/or bilingual amigos, introduces Spanish words and phrases in each and every episode to precious English-speaking little ones.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VY8n3JgdlhI[/youtube]

What may be a bit surprising is that “The Misadventures of Maya and Miguel” actually marks the reputable broadcasting company’s second foray into copiously bilingual TV programming. What’s downright nuts is that PBS had the cojones to produce its first bilingual program — an entirely dual language sitcom by the name of “¿Qué Pasa USA?” — nearly 35 years ago.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UG9ZlKKyWjA[/youtube]

So let’s recap: In 1977, PBS created a fully bilingual sitcom about the trials and tribulations of a Cuban-American family living in Florida just as Archie Bunker was nestling his way — in a way that astonished even his real life creators — into America’s soft bosom. Repeat: Just one year after this country’s bicentennial, PBS produced a Latino flavored “Good Times” featuring spoken Spanish during (or just on the heels of) sidesplitting economic woes, a laughable distrust in the federal government, a lightheartedly disastrous war, and a hilarious energy crisis. Sound familiar?

So why is it so hard to imagine a bilingual, Made in America sitcom about Mexican-Americans or Korean-Americans or Somali-Americans playing on public American television in this day and age? What are you, a comedian?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5LE_6ENEfM[/youtube]

Night Flight's Chaz Newby

Regular visitors of Night Flight will be sad to learn of the untimely passing of gadget reviewer, lifestyle columnist and Best Buy employee Charles “Chaz” Newby, 43.

According to official reports, late Thursday night Chaz was cruising the streets of Venice Beach, California in his Kia Soul (also known as the “Chazmobile”) making his rounds as a self-appointed “One Man Army of Justice” and looking for so-called “evildoers.”

The Chazmobile...

At approximately 10:45pm Chaz happened upon an RV owner illegally emptying his sewage tank on the curb of a residential street. Details are sketchy at this time, but according to eyewitness accounts Chaz brandished a replica “Kurgan” broadsword and tried to apprehend the perpetrator. A struggle ensued and at some point during the fracas the RV owner wrested the sword away from Chaz and swiftly decapitated him.

Chaz’s girlfriend, 16 year old Concetta Ramirez-Gaultier of North Hollywood High School, says the death was particularly untimely as he had yet to see “Pirahna 3-D”, a horror/comedy set in his beloved Lake Havasu.

Best Buy manager Sherry says Chaz was a competent employee, though he could have done a much better job selling extended warranties. She would also like to state that she will be accepting applications for his position. A high school diploma or G.E.D. and at least six months of retail experience are preferred.

Chaz’s best friend “Rogue” and Best Buy co-worker “Link” plan to avenge his death, “Boondock Style.” RV owners across Southern California are urged to take all necessary precautions.

A memorial service will be held September 1 at Forest Lawn Cemeteries in Glendale. Immediately following, Wilshire Boulevard will be closed from Vermont to Robertson until midnight for the “Chaz Memorial Celebration” brought to you by Von Dutch energy drinks. Smash Mouth and the Insane Clown Posse will be performing in front of the Larry Flynt building, the Hooters girls will be handing out coupons for free ultimate nachos and at 10pm there will be a Countach ralley followed by a 21-paintball-gun salute.

We love you Chaz!