Hiya,

I'm a comic nut who runs Absolutely Kosher Records, an independent record label out of the San Francisco Bay Area. You can check out the label at http://www.absolutelykosher.com or email me with your address for a free CD sampler at macher@absolutelykosher.com.

On the comics side of things, I am very much a writer junkie. I've been thrilled by Grant Morrison and Warren Ellis (particularly Desolation Jones and Fell) these last few years mostly for their ability to surprise me and the boundlessness of their imaginations. Ed Brubaker, whose work I always enjoyed at DC, has gotten me buying Captain America, something I never thought I would do. Greg Rucka is amazing and I'm especially enjoying Checkmate. Brian K. Vaughn (thank G-d, someone who can handle Doctor Strange well) and Brian Azzarello are both doing incredible work and are extremely underrated (100 Bullets is a hell of a commitment due to its density, but man, is it worth it). Also underrated but wonderful in their pacing and tone is the partnership of Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti - I love their Jonah Hex (Jordi Bernet's art certainly helps) and Daughters of the Dragon/Heroes for Hire and I very much miss their Hawkman. This last year or so, I've really liked what Gail Simone (All New Atom) has been doing and have been turned on to Dan Slott (though I have to say, I liked She-Hulk more when the book was funnier and damn, I miss The Thing). Eric Powell's The Goon kills me, as does Michael Kupperman's hilarious Tales Designed to Thrizzle. My new favorite is Jeff Parker whose Agents of Atlas was so refreshing and whose upcoming take on MODOK,er, MODOC has me extremely excited, my new old favorite is Jeff Smith's Bone and I think Geoff Johns is a great storyteller. Joe Casey (G0DLAND!!!), Busiek's Superman & Astro City, Bendis' Powers, Matt Fraction's Casanova, Andreyko's Manhunter, Ennis' Boys & 7 Brothers, CJ Henderson's Lai Wan, Simon Oliver's Exterminators, the new Richard Kelly/Southland Tales project, heck, I could go on for ages.

My all-time faves: O'Neal/Adams Green Arrow, Kubert's Sgt. Rock, Lee/Ditko's Doctor Strange, Alan Moore's Top Ten (and, of course, Watchmen), anything by Enki Bilal, Fleming/Von Eden's Thriller, Claremont/Byrne's X-Men and Claremont/Sienkiewicz's New Mutants, Jeph Loeb's Superman/Batman, Ennis' Preacher, Kyle Baker's Cowboy Wally Show, nearly anything by Daniel Clowes, MAD magazine (particularly Don Martin), Jack Kirby's Fourth World books and satellite-era JLA.