What a Day!
I love one of Jack Nicholson’s (many) ad libs, while portraying Joker in the 1989 Tim Burton Batman flick. After maniacally shooting Grissom, he manages a sarcastic “Ah… what a day!” just before sliping off-screen.
No sarcasm here, though. Yesterday was a blast. The book announcement was a day I’ve both anticipated and dreaded for a long time. There have been other Mego book projects in the past, but none seemed to gain any traction. Would it be seen as another Mego Museum hoax? An April Fool’s style prank like dynamically changing the word “Mego” to read “Hasbro?” Would people react with understandable cynicism and disbelief?
Nope.
I had plenty of “worst-case” scenarios in mind leading up to the big day. Hell, I didn’t want to get out of bed yesterday morning, and it was all I could do to log on and read the posts. Alas, the board members lived up to a reputation as a damned cool online community. And I only got six death threats.
OK, I didn’t get any death-threats.
But 21 people did sign up for the Mego Book Mailing List, which is fantastic. Those original subscribers will be glad they did. Without giving too much away, they’re in for a pleasant surprise.
Now I’m really looking forward to Mego Meet. If the response I’ve received from those tiny teaser samples is any indication, I think collectors are going to be thrilled with the presentation of complete chapters.
I’m charged up by the energy surrounding this book, which I expect will carry me through the difficult stages ahead. My hat’s off to all of the Mego Museum board members who took time out of their lives to reach out to me. Especially to those who have generously offered up their beloved collectibles for possible inclusion.
This is going to be a lot of fun, and I’m pleased to have so many people behind the project, rooting for its release. It can’t come soon enough. For any of us.