Comic Books, part 3

[Sci-2]

http://www.comicbook...?pid=13901&pg=6

First panel: Sounds legit.

Also, Cyclops' helmet is missing now.

So Unwritten and Fables are gonna have some kind of crossover.

Also, Cliff Chiang's Orion. Wonder Woman is still DC's finest.

Wait, the Phoenix almost "liquidated Planet Earth"? Does liquidated mean "solved world hunger"?

God, it's like Marvel took a page from political shennigans. Just lie till you die, over and over, and get people to believe in something that wasn't even on the panels of your own books.

[red snow]

http://www.comicbook...?pid=13901&pg=6

First panel: Sounds legit.

Also, Cyclops' helmet is missing now.

So Unwritten and Fables are gonna have some kind of crossover.

Also, Cliff Chiang's Orion. Wonder Woman is still DC's finest.

The "previously" part of that preview sums up the recent X-men era and Cyclops' role in a more even handed way. I got a good laugh at the "you are in dire need of some good PR". I initially thought her superhuman power was "PR Specialist" which again is what Cyclops needs right now.

I just realised I was been a bit heavy on Snyder. I don't think he's ever said his SwampThing arcs are the greatest things he's ever done. An underwater sci-fi book by him for vertigo sounds good. I often find it easier to judge how good someone is by their creator owned stuff. To be honest unless the editors are reigning you in, any decent writer should be able to wrangle a decent story out of Batman.

Fables/unwritten crossover? If that's the cas ei hope it's out of continuity as I haven't read any Unwritten yet.

[Nephrite]

The "previously" part of that preview sums up the recent X-men era and Cyclops' role in a more even handed way. I got a good laugh at the "you are in dire need of some good PR". I initially thought her superhuman power was "PR Specialist" which again is what Cyclops needs right now.

Cyclops needs a good lawyer and that's all. This thing shouldn't even go to trial at least not in USA, since he didn't even kill Xavier on US soil.

An underwater sci-fi book by him for vertigo sounds good.

I'm actually more exicted by that Jeff Lemire book. Sounds epic.

Fables/unwritten crossover? If that's the cas ei hope it's out of continuity as I haven't read any Unwritten yet.

It's not exactly a crossover as it will only be in the pages of Unwritten. And since the whole deal of that book is that you can travel through other fiction it's alright. Willigham did say that people should catch up on both books, but I'll be all rebel and not do that.

[Lady Octarina]

If it was people getting their mutations back that makes sense. If it was someone who hit puberty after decimation that'd make sense too. If it's just random people getting random mutations then it's a bit nutty.

I remember reading some interview in CBR (Axel Alonso, maybe?) saying that it was just random people, adults, who didn't have the mutant gene before and now are developing powers. Which really doesn't make any sense - I mean, in their universe it's been, what? 2 years since the decimation? so none of them are people that were supposed to become mutants in puberty but didn't because of Wanda - , but I guess it opens better story-telling possibilities than just giving old mutants their old powers. Though it ruins even further the genetic explanation they established so long ago for the origins of mutantkind... But I suppose it means in a few years new mutants will appear around the globe the usual way, otherwise it would be too absurd, even for the current patterns.

[Kalbear]

Wait, the Phoenix almost "liquidated Planet Earth"? Does liquidated mean "solved world hunger"?

I think that this was a reference to Cyclops going dark phoenix at the end and sending down meteors and fires across the globe while half the world's heroes tried to save people. I think they didn't do a very good job of illustrating this.

[Ouroboros]

I remember reading some interview in CBR (Axel Alonso, maybe?) saying that it was just random people, adults, who didn't have the mutant gene before and now are developing powers. Which really doesn't make any sense - I mean, in their universe it's been, what? 2 years since the decimation? so none of them are people that were supposed to become mutants in puberty but didn't because of Wanda - , but I guess it opens better story-telling possibilities than just giving old mutants their old powers. Though it ruins even further the genetic explanation they established so long ago for the origins of mutantkind... But I suppose it means in a few years new mutants will appear around the globe the usual way, otherwise it would be too absurd, even for the current patterns.

A lot of humans have a latent x-gene that never gets activated. It's probably that.

[red snow]

Maybe the phoenix made all the heterozygous mutant gene humans become homozygous? That could work - it could mean there'll be a lot more gingers and genetic diseases as well. One thing I'd like to see a return of is Morrison's embracement of the concept that in nature most mutations are deleterious. It would be interesting to see all the lives that are ruined by the return of mutants. These could be people who are legitimately pissed at Cyclops and were very happy with Scarlet Witch.

One of these days I'll give unwritten a try.

Good to see Vertigo having a better stab at sci-fi. I wonder of they were mad enough to turn down Vaughn's "Saga" and are seeing what they missed out on?

[haLobEnder]

One of these days I'll give unwritten a try.

Good to see Vertigo having a better stab at sci-fi. I wonder of they were mad enough to turn down Vaughn's "Saga" and are seeing what they missed out on?

Unwritten isn't exactly bad --I still like it enough to continue reading it in trade-- but for a book about a Harry Potter analogue made flesh who can travel between literary universes, it's just not very memorable in hindsight.

I doubt Vertigo was ever even offered Saga. I mean BKV could write the phone book and it'd still attract attention because it's new material from a much beloved writer. I think it's just that in the time since Y ended, Image has really become the only place that makes sense for creator-owned properties to go. As much as I hate to admit it, Vertigo these days feels more like a vanity label for DC exclusive writers (much like Marvel's Icon) than a place to discover the best creator-owned stuff.

I am looking forward to The Wake though... at least the first issue so I can find out what this thing at the bottom of the ocean is. I can't be the only one hoping it's Cthulhu :P

[red snow]

I wonder if Image have far better deals for the creators in terms of money from movies etc? I'm guessing that's the case. They also seem to be a bit more hands off in terms of having a brand. On the flip side I imagine vertigo do pay more for the work whereas Image probably doesn't pay out that much.

[haLobEnder]

I wonder if Image have far better deals for the creators in terms of money from movies etc? I'm guessing that's the case. They also seem to be a bit more hands off in terms of having a brand. On the flip side I imagine vertigo do pay more for the work whereas Image probably doesn't pay out that much.

I know Vertigo changed their policy on creator payment within the last couple years. I think a book has to sell a certain amount now --10,000 copies or so-- before a creator even sees a dime of money... I know many creators weren't happy about the change. (I googled, and found this Bleeding Coll article about it... it's actually a bit worse than I let on)

Though come to think of it, I think Image has a similar policy of paying off publication costs before the creators receive their profits, which is why Image books --outside of a few big names like Spawn and The Walking Dead-- have a reputation as not being very lucrative.

[Nephrite]

I wonder if Image have far better deals for the creators in terms of money from movies etc? I'm guessing that's the case. They also seem to be a bit more hands off in terms of having a brand. On the flip side I imagine vertigo do pay more for the work whereas Image probably doesn't pay out that much.

I think Image doesn't even pay you till the book is on the stands. So while you own the property, if it tanks you don't much money.

[red snow]

I think Image doesn't even pay you till the book is on the stands. So while you own the property, if it tanks you don't much money.

Yeah, I think a lot of the writers tend to let the artists have most of whatever money they make (in the case of writers who have other paid gigs/other careers). I'm not sure if it's something that costs the creative team in terms of it being published - although i guess it's more likely Image cover that said but the team only get money when sales cover the production costs.

I think Kirkman has got a lot of writers eyes fillign with dollar signs at Image right now. This is great in terms of we'll probably see some interesting and diverse properties out of Image for the next few years. I think most creators will be lucky to tap into the success that Kirkman has found, It would be a bit like people writing mature fantasy books in the hope they make as much money as GRRM. hopefully it will lead to the dissolution of the "exclusive" contracts at DC/Marvel although i get the impression those contracts are mainly to stop them working for the other one, not Image, etc.

the sad thing is that unless the comic does wel in trades or gets an adaptation the creators are largely ignored by the general reading public. Usually Bryan Hitch on anything is a top 20 (at least) comic but his "America's got superpowers" didn't even make the top 100 with later issues. You could stick him on "Penance (the speedball one)" and it'd be a massive hit.

[Nephrite]

hopefully it will lead to the dissolution of the "exclusive" contracts at DC/Marvel although i get the impression those contracts are mainly to stop them working for the other one, not Image, etc.

I think that kind of already happened. I don't recall when was the last time anyone of them bragged about signing someone for an exclusive contract. DC/Marvel realized that they don't really need them cause they can get anybody to write their editorial driven stuff. It's sweet having Hickman/Snyder there, but if he ever stepped out of line they can get anybody from their stable to replace him. Look at Roberson.

Exclusive contracts are sweet though, when you or your kid needs medical insurance.

[Winterfell is Burning]

Seriously, he's so butthurt about Cyclops that he's willing to mess with the timeline. I mean, what's the 15-year old version of Cyclops gonna tell grown-up Cyclops? Why would anybody listen to his teenage self? And you just know this will amount to nothing. Marvel just cleaned the board as great jump-on point for the readers, but for some reason they plan to muck with that in one book?

The most hilarious is that Beast complains about Scott and is dating...an emotional shut-in, work-obsessed authority figure with sometimes (or often, in Abby's case) questionable ethics (much more questionable than Cyclops himself) that is known for wearing shades of an unusual color. I love the subtext Whedon, Gillen and Ellis (specially the latter) added into the relationship. I wonder if Beast will ever realize that, though.

[Sci-2]

I totally forgot Beast was dating Brand. Brand's done just as much questionable shit as Cyclops, if not more.

[delete this account pls]

This sounds really cool; Kieron Gillen and Ryan Kelly's Image book. Sounds like an anti-300, and Ive always thought a story told from the helots POV would be really interesting.

[Winterfell is Burning]

This sounds really cool; Kieron Gillen and Ryan Kelly's Image book. Sounds like an anti-300, and Ive always thought a story told from the helots POV would be really interesting.

Sounds awesome.

[red snow]

The most hilarious is that Beast complains about Scott and is dating...an emotional shut-in, work-obsessed authority figure with sometimes (or often, in Abby's case) questionable ethics (much more questionable than Cyclops himself) that is known for wearing shades of an unusual color. I love the subtext Whedon, Gillen and Ellis (specially the latter) added into the relationship. I wonder if Beast will ever realize that, though.

Didn't Morrison have Beast contemplating being Gay as part of his ongoing evolution? I think it was when Morrison had BEast being more avant garde and, dare i say it, fun. It would be hilarious if all this Cyclops hate is just some pent up homoerotic rage. Dating his female equivalent does seem quite telling. There's maybe going to be some scenes of grooming of young cyke in All New X-men? Can't wait for that scene where Beast argues with Cyclops in his private prison and under Cyclop's indifference breaks down and cries "WHY WON'T YOU LOVE ME". I hope they have a good artist to convey Cyclop's reaction under the idiot helmet.

That Image book may be the only time I've been interested in anything by Gillen. Is that art Ryan Kelly's though? Forget that, I'm getting mixed up with another artist I'm sure had a similar name. He drew some Sandman issues and had a Batman run years ago.

EDIT: Kelley Jones was the guy I was getting mixed up with

[Kalbear]

Beast just claimed he was gay to fuck with people's heads. He wasn't.

[red snow]

I Know. But I was looking for evidence to back up my ridiculous claims :)

Bendis doing Guardians of the Galaxy. with Iron Man in it. Wonder if RDJ's contract includes doing iron man films outside the Avengers and Iron Man? I'm non-plussed as to why they can't figure out how to get Spider-man, Wolverine and Captain America on the squad. Then again, Bendis does tease there is something that connects Guardians and hi X-men book, so that's probably Wolverine.