Wow. I already knew this, but I’ll say it again anyway: OWL readers are the coolest. Your response to the blog has been incredible. I’m almost speechless. But, you know, not speechless at all. (Ha! Did I trick you? Seriously, on a scale of 1 to 10, how crazy would this blog be if I was speechless the whole time? I would say: 9.5.) I promised last post that I’d answer some questions, and that’s what I’m going to do.

So here we go. If you have questions for me or anyone else at OWL, email me or leave a comment at the bottom of this post.

Q: How do you get the ideas for each issue?
– Isabelle

CB: Good question, Isabelle! It can be tough coming up with really good ideas every month, but we have a couple tricks up our sleeves. First, we like to brainstorm. A lot. (For example, last week we had an all-day meeting to talk about what we’re putting in the September, October, and November issues. I’m totally serious.) Second, we talk to readers. It’s YOUR magazine. Who knows better what should go in it?

Q: Hey Craig. Are you really going to do the top 10 farming equipment?
– Hannah

CB: Why not? As I said in my last post, I love Top 10 lists. But I should confess: I didn’t grow up on a farm and I don’t know that much about farming equipment, so instead of doing a complete Top 10, I’m just going to pick up the phone and poll a bunch of people around the office. Mandy’s favourite piece of farming equipment is the tractor. (“I also like the chainsaw,” she says.) Angela’s is the bailer. Susan likes something called a harvester. (“Is there such a thing,” she says, “or do you want something specific?”) Me, I like a good old-fashioned shovel. But, hold on a second, Susan is on the phone and she has changed her answer: “The six-row pickle harvester! I just looked it up.” Farming equipment is amazing.

Q: Craig, why don’t you make a page called, “Do little brothers bother you because they like you?”
– Ariel

CB: That’s a good idea. Although, I think the answer might always be, “Yes.” (I have an older brother, and I’m sure that’s why I always bothered him!)

Q: Why do you like basketball so much?
– jane13

CB: Hmm. You know, I’ve never really thought about it. It might have something to do with the fact that I’m pretty tall and was therefore sort of good at it as a kid. I mean, I’m not Shaquille O’Neal or anything, but I’m taller than almost anyone I see on the subway in Toronto. I play on a team with friends on Tuesday nights, too. We’re undefeated!

Q: What happened to Max Finder?
– Rachel

CB: Max Finder retired from the detective business. He is now a full-time marine biologist. No! Just kidding. “Max Finder,” the comic, stopped running in OWL in June, 2006, when the comics’ co-creators moved on to do other awesome projects. (You may have seen Liam O’Donnell’s cool graphic novel, Wild Ride. If not, you should check it out!) It was sad for us at first, but then we starting working with Eric Kim on “The Sidesteppers.” We’re loving this new comic and we hope you are too. Make sure to send in your ideas on where you think Kitsune and Maho should go. Also, for all you “Max” fans out there, you might recognize the illustration style of my picture up at the top of the blog. It’s by Michael Cho, the famed illustrator of “Max Finder.”

Until next time,

Craig, owlblog@owlkids.com

P.S. Almost forgot! If you really miss “Max Finder,” definitely check out the collected casebooks. I know I’m biased, but I totally love them.

Hello and welcome to the first ever OWL editor blog. When we decided to launch this I had no idea what I was going to talk about. My life? Your lives? Our lives? So I came up with 10 reasons for writing the blog in the first place. Ready? Here we go!

10) It’s fun! Besides, being the OWL editor takes time — just not as much as you’d think.

9) I needed something to do while waiting for the March Madness basketball tournament to start. (Go Tar Heels!)

8) I like receiving and answering mail. Email me with a question and I’ll try to answer it in an upcoming blog. (Sample question: “Hey, Craig. Why are you writing a blog?”)

7) I needed a place to talk about funny stuff that happens around the office. For instance, every time we put an issue together, Susan (OWL’s amazing art director) tries to put my head on a female body on the Contents page. One time, she even succeeded. Next to my letter in the January/February 2007 issue, my picture sits atop the body of a female robot. It’s pretty hilarious. That is, for everyone but me!

6) I needed another place to talk about basketball.

5) I like reviewing things. We rarely have enough space to review everything in “What’s Hot and What’s Not.” My favourite underrated movie of 2007? Stardust. Check it out on DVD if you get the chance. It’s a must for fantasy fans.

4) I really, really like basketball.

3) I wanted you guys to have more stuff to check out on our website. While we’re here, what kind of stuff do you want to see on the OWL site? Drop me a line with your ideas.

2) I like gloating to the other editors of OWL. Ha, Jackie! Take that, Mandy! I got a blog and you don’t. (Just kidding. In fact, you’ll be seeing some other OWL staffers on here from time to time. It’s not just The Craig Show, you know.)

1) I needed an excuse to write more Top 10 lists. Next week, Top 10 pieces of farming equipment!

Until then…

Craig, owlblog@owlkids.com