When I was a teenager growing up in North Brunswick, New Jersey, I was one of three guys who organized a loose-knit band of like-minded comic book lovers into a club called the Fans of Central Jersey. We had monthly meetings, published a monthly newsletter, and even sponsored a couple comic book conventions. Through that group, I met a number of people who have remained friends and acquaintances more than 30 years later. One of them is Mark Chiarello, who I remember as an ambitious young guy from nearby Jamesburg, New Jersey. Mark was one of the most reliable contributors of original artwork to the FCJ Newsletter. He had a distinctive style even then and there was no doubt he was motivated to do something special with his talent. Today, Chiarello is the art director for the entire DC Comics Universe. He has had a guiding hand over the years in titles such as Batman: Black and White, DC: The New Frontier, The Spirit, and Solo. He broke new ground in July 2009 with the launch of a 12-issue series called , a 16-page weekly that unfolds to a 28-inch by 20-inch tabloid featuring the individual adventures of Batman, Adam Strange, Metamorpho, The Demon and Catwoman, Kamandi, Superman and many more. I always take great pride in hosting old friends on Mr. Media, and today is definitely one of those days. Mark Chiarello • • • • • •