My bags are packed

America, be nice to me.

I wake up especially early this morning, with all these drilling machines cutting through the asphalt of the street right in front of my house. The noise is loud, and it’s continuous, and it escalates as more machines are added to this chaotic mix. I was probably dreaming about traveling, or about meeting someone I used to know, or about something magical and exciting, but the deafening drilling noise of the machines washed every and all recollections of it away.

I have a lot of stuff to do, anyway, so I get up and go make some coffee.

•

Marc Maron talked with Michael Mann on his podcast, and I really enjoyed that conversation. Michael Mann entered my radar with The Last of the Mohicans, and it’s one of these directors I follow, admire and study. He writes a lot of his movies, and is involved in every aspect of the making of the feature, and as he tell Marc how he ended up doing what he did, you can understand a little why his movies have developed such an unique look, and his work, such an unique voice. I learned Mann just published a book, which is a sequel to his movie Heat (another favorite of mine), and I’m bummed it doesn’t come out while I’ll be in the States.

So…

This is the week I’ll be in the States. I’m going to Galaxy Con Raleigh, in North Carolina, from July 28th to 31st. Being the weekend AFTER San Diego Comic Con, I really considered doing both shows back to back, but now, being here in Brazil this past week, having spent time with family resting at the beach, practicing sports with friends, going to the comic book store and giving free portfolio reviews to aspiring artists, all of that was more important than seeing my friends in San Diego, as I truly believe they’ll be there once more next year.

Comic Con in San Diego came and went. Were you there? Were you following the news online? Did you check the Eisner Award winners?

Raleigh. Right.

I’ll fly in through Miami. It’s been ages since I was at the Miami airport, let’s see how it will treat me. And I wonder if my international flight will be full of kids on excursion to Disney World. Will I have time to check the airport bookstore to see if I find any Neil Gaiman stealthily signed books?

(I’ll leave through Atlanta, but that layover will be short, and I’ll probably be tired, waiting silently for my plane back home).

I’ve never been to Raleigh. I don’t know the surroundings of the convention center. I don’t know what kind of public attends this show. All these familiar things I’m used to do at shows are all up in the air this time.

Maybe I’ll hide a drawing and do a Moon Art Hunt.

Maybe I’ll meet new people, artists and fans, and will discover where’s the best Waffle House in the area (and at what time at night it’s the best time to go there and recharge my energies).

Maybe (hopefully) I’ll catch up with friends I haven’t seen in year.

Maybe I’ll meet you, kind stranger who might read this newsletter and will be there. Maybe you’ll meet me, and discover I’m shy, but approachable. And that I have a thick accent (more similar to the my Swiss friends from the NYU days than to the other Brazilians, Gustavo Duarte and Rafael Albuquerque, who will be at the convention in Raleigh with me).

(Gustavo Duarte designed these Galaxy Con mascots, and its logo).

See you soon.

Be safe. Be kind. Be curious.
Pa-ZOW!

Fábio Moon
Moon Base, São Paulo
July 25th, 2022