---------------------------------------------------------------------- Ed Dukeshire and Mike Imboden Present: THE COMIC BOOK NET ELECTRONIC MAGAZINE ISSUE NUMBER 285 1999 EAGLE AWARD NOMINEE 10/06/2000 Edited by: David LeBlanc - ComicBkNet@aol.com FREE VIA EMAIL SINCE FEBRUARY 1995 ______________________________________________________________________ C O N T E N T S ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [A] Submissions, mailing address, web page [1] On the Net ............................ David LeBlanc [2] Letters to the Editor ................. Your Page! [3] TRIVIA CONTEST ........................ Win *real* prizes! [4] Network Buzz .......................... News, gossip & rumors [5] Interview: Jimmy Palmiotti ............ Tim O'Shea [6] Interview: David Hahn ................. Paul Dale Roberts [7] Bucket Head's Forum ................... George A. Myers [8] Comics Culture Shrapnel ............... Kris Naudus [9] 4-Color Review ........................ Murray Roach [10] M.O.E. Reviews ........................ Paul Dale Roberts [11] My View:HOPE 7 ........................ David LeBlanc [12] New Comic Book Releases List .......... Charles LePage [13] HYPE! Section ......................... Various ______________________________________________________________________ World Wide Web Home Page-->> http://members.aol.com/ComicBkNet Mailed by Egroups: http://www.egroups.com/group/ComicBookNetworkEmag HTML WEB EDITION at -->> http://www.digitalwebbing.com/cbem featuring a week's worth of the online strips: Steve Conley's ASTOUNDING SPACE THRILLS AND DR. CYBORG by Alan Gross & Mike Oeming ----------------------------------------------------------------------- o \o/ _ o _| \ / |_ o_ \o/ o /|\ | /\ _\o \o | o/ O/_ /\ | /|\ / \ / \ |\ /) | ( \ /o\ / ) | (\ / | / \ / \ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- The ComicBook Network was founded by Ed Dukeshire and Mike Imboden ----------------------------------------------------------------------- If you wish to receive each issue automatically through your Email account, FREE, please send a message FROM that account TO: ComicBookNetworkEmag-subscribe@egroups.com To UNSUBSCRIBE send a message FROM the account to be dropped to: ComicBookNetworkEmag-unsubscribe@egroups.com See section [A] for the address to mail material to be reviewed. ______________________________________________________________________ All text contained within is copyrighted to the originating author(s). Except where elsewhere noted, The Comic Book Net Electronic Magazine is Copyright 2000 by The ComicBook Network. You may freely distribute or retransmit this file intact without alteration for noncommercial purposes only. Except for personal archiving, permission must be obtained from the individual authors to reproduce, retransmit, or publish any part of this magazine. Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Editor, the Network Administration Team or the members and users of The ComicBook Network. ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [A] E-Mag Info: Submissions, Back Issues, Web Page SUBMISSIONS ----------- To submit an article, review, column, etc. to our e-mag, simply E-mail it to the editor at: ComicBkNet@aol.com Reviews of mainstream books are welcome and we encourage reviews of indies and self published material as we feel that material deserves more exposure to the general public. If you write intelligent, coherent, and timely reviews of anything it will almost always be printed so give us a shot. Commentary on the state of the industry, and personal observations and reflections related to comics are *most* likely to be included in our publication. PLEASE, no material on Gaming, role playing, collectible card games or other hobbies or collectibles other than comic books. That does not include plugs for web pages UNLESS they are concerned with print comic books. We do not promote web comics as we do not consider them to be comic books. SEND US YOUR WORK ----------------- We also accept product for review purposes. Advanced copies of comic books will not be returned but anything sent to us *will* be reviewed in the ComicBook Net Emag. Send all material to: David L. LeBlanc 84 Heather Circle Jefferson, MA 01522-1419 Material is generally reviewed in the order received and be advised that we work a few weeks in advance so your review may not be in the magazine immediately. Advanced copies are therefore encouraged so the review will occur prior to your product hitting the stores. THE Comic Book Net WEB PAGE http://members.aol.com/ComicBkNet ---------------- If you have access to the World Wide Web, please stop by and visit our web page! On our web page, you can find the latest issue of our E-Mag, as well as all back issues and an annotated index. You'll also find important information and other neat features like links to the HTML version of the current issue of this magazine at DIGITAL WEBBING, [http://www.digitalwebbing.com/cbem], some of the comic companies and creators' web pages and many other Comic Book related links! You can also find some back issues at America Online, by going to Keyword: COMICS, then choose the menu item _Comic Book Forum_ and then going to the _Comics Library_ from there. These are non-zipped text files. ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [1] On the Net David LeBlanc Remember the Death of Superman storyline and how it tied in with the JLA book as Doomsday made his way to Metropolis? The JLA tried to help Supes stop him but to no avail and during the course of the fight the Blue Beetle was injured seriously. Before he passed out he realized who Bloodwynd really was - J'onn J'onzz, the Manhunter from Mars, a fact I was pleased to figure out on my own. Now I bring to you another revelation, one I am a bit late in figuring out but never the less finally did. In this column I will reveal the secret identity of John Jones, Manhunter from Marathon, IL. If you are one who tires easily of this behind the scenes at the Emag stuff then skip ahead. Otherwise, and this should be more revelatory than derogatory, read on . . . Last week some folks wrote to me about the editorial. They surmised that the reason John Jones' column was not in that issue was addressed in my column and they were right. He demanded I run the column as is or he was gone - and, consequently, he is gone - of his own accord. It was only the second column of his I "knowingly" rejected, though we have had other disagreements over editorial decisions I made - right from the beginning. Rather than go along with what I wanted, he decided to leave. I have no problem with that. But, in leaving, in his typical fashion, he called me names and questioned my parenting skills. He let me know another person was hosting his column on a web site and he would be emailing all the people who had written to him through CBEM with the rejected column and a copy of my latest Email to him. It was not enough to leave, he was going to try to influence other people against me, so he thought, by using my own email as an example of of something despicable - I guess. So, with that as background here is what I discovered this week. Some who received his mail advised me of it's tone. He evidently copied a lot of people who either contribute to the mag, or have written to comment on his columns. He begins with my rejection note to him - something he said he was going to do and hence my editorial comments about it last week. What he failed to mention was the correspondence we had before that. In his mailing he says I gave no reason why the column was rejected but I had already told him not to carry his defense of his previous column into the next column but do it in the letters. He got irate at that but wrote to the letters anyway. You will note I mentioned I edited comments to me in his letter last week, those comments were his whinings to me about not being able to write a column about the negative mail and a plug for the other web site which I took out later. You see I gave him two forums last week - a column for stuff about comics and the letter column where he could have gone on as long as he wanted about the negative letters of comment. But he was pissed I would not let him combine the two in his own personal forum. So I finally got the submitted column and saw he not only had inserted more on the subject, not just his apology to George Perez, but poked at me again as well. I sent him the one sentence note he copied later to all these people - that when he got over the tantrum he could submit something about comics. His response was as noted above. His letter to all these people also called me idiotic and unprofessional. He promised he had submitted his last column to CBEM, but they should all write to me to insist I put Martian Vision back into CBEM. (?) And he actually enforces the fact he had gotten mostly negative mail on his last column I ran. He ends with a full copy of the column I rejected. The end of that column mentions the other web site and the fact you can find other stuff I won't publish. Now, in the words of Bill Cosby, I told you that story so I could tell you this one. What I love about the Internet, and what some fear, is that you can find an awful lot of information if you learn how to look. The following information was discovered by simply using search engines with the right key words. I am not giving out the URLS so you can have fun playing Dark Knight Detective yourself. That, and I do not care to help someone who has expressed contempt for me and my work here to gain an audience too easily. I was informed about the posting of John Jones' column on a web site and checked out the place. I found a list of the articles there, most of the ones already run in CBEM and the one I recently rejected. I also found something I had not expected. [web quote] Check out the Martian Vision archives: {snipped list of CBEM columns} * JLA vs. AVENGERS... Who shall survive? ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Hey, I recall that title from somewhere else! * THE ELECTRIC SWORDSMEN: Explaining Why There Can Be Only One ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ This shows up later also. [unquote] So I checked the old editorial archives. The following was submitted for consideration to be published here on the date noted: Subj: Submissions Date: 7/17/00 6:36:35 AM Eastern Daylight Time From: doc_nebula@juno.com (D. R. Nebula) To: comicbknet@aol.com [DOC NEBULA was once a well known fanboy menace on various AOL chatboards who has kept a fairly low profile since the mid 90s due to financial difficulties. He looks forward to the opportunity to renew his reputation as the most opinionated comics fan south of the Sea of Tranquility. He can be reached with all pertinent or impertinent commentary at Doc_Nebula@juno.com.] JLA vs. AVENGERS... who shall survive? ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ There it is again! Both articles are the same, except for the name attached to it. Now if I look around the old Internet for web pages related to the good Doctor I find a website with the following text at the start: Spelling isn't corrected! [quote] Doc Nebula's Phantasmagorical Fan Page For Halycon Heroes Of A World That Never Was! My Multiverse And Welcome To It Doc Nebula's Phantasmagorical Fan Page is a Capering Dwarf Production. No similarities between the contents of this webpage and actual reality are intended or should be inferred. * What are we going to talk about here? Science fiction, fantasy, Silver Age Marvel and DC comics, the vilification of Kurt Busiek, the eccentric genius of Jeff Webb, Batman, Superman, Captain America, the X-Men, Spider-Man, Doc Savage, the Legion of Superheroes, Father O'Brannigan, the Avengers, Hourman, Roger Zelazney, John Jones, the Manhunter from Marathon, IL, and I don't know WHAT all else. I have ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ [unquote] What's this? And later on this same web page: * Boggle at THE ELECTRIC SWORDSMEN! If you're a HIGHLANDER fan, and have [That other John Jones' articles from the more recent venue. D.L.] And a link to another page on AOL again referencing the same Highlander article. So it is clear that Doc Nebula is John Jones or visa versa depending on your point of view. In these web pages he mentions he attended Syracuse University with two unnamed pros (Scott McCloud no doubt and ??), wrote for a number of publications, most of which I have never heard of (not that there's anything wrong with that) and now lives in Central Florida were he GM's a long running RPG. So what you say? As well you should. Doc Nebula is the person I referred to in an earlier editorial (CBEM 274 to be exact) as "GARBONZO". I refer you to that issue for more insight as to THAT personality. As a matter of fact, that very issue was the second issue that the "Manhunter from Marathon, IL" column ran by a submitter going as John Jones. The next issue we changed it to Martian vision. So, the very same week I was trying to explain to Doc Nebula, whom I dubbed Garbonzo in my editorial, that I do not take submissions from pseudonyms ( the above noted JLA vs. Avengers) - and him sending me veiled threats of a lawsuit over his constitutional guarantees (anyone who mentions he got legal advise is implying they will sue - though I doubted he would); he is actually submitting another column under another name - which on the surface may or may not be his real name. The aggressiveness by which he pursued his "right" to be published had convinced me that he was more about getting his ego stroked than about furthering the cause we espouse. So he had set up the next alter ego (who knows how many there have been) and proved he could write intelligent, informative and thought provoking articles, when he did not let his ego get in the way. Several times I had to direct his efforts - more so than most submitters - in a more constructive way and in line with my personal policies. In the end that was too much for him to give up and the Doc Nebula "persona" re-emerged as most of the letters of comment noted and more clearly the emails from John showed me. In the end he defied editorial direction in a submitted column and the column was rejected. It was the second rejection by me of his work "AS" John Jones. The first was really as Doc Nebula. The lesson I learned does not sour me on the work that goes into the Emag. It is work, and it also is my hobby. I'd be crazy to do it if I did not love it and want to do my small part to spread the joy of comic book reading. Will I look more closely at submissions now? Probably. We have a new submitter this issue. Is it once again Dr. Nebula, or John Jones or whomever he really is? I have no idea. And I don't mean to cast any doubt on that submitter, only pointing out once again, the craziness of trying to defend one's identity in a medium that is so easy to participate in incognito. The criteria is one of honesty. I expect honest opinion and expect a real name and Email address from all submitters. Mr. Jones/Doc Nebula was clearly dishonest in that regard. I am also realistic, and even told Doc Nebula that it is SO easy to put on a fake persona I truly do not know if ANY contributor is using a real name. So maybe I planted the seed myself. The point is we want honest, thoughtful stimulating conversation without the use of inflammatory invective, character assassination, or lowered standards of good taste. And speaking of promoting comics, try these: CARTOON BOOKS Bone #39, 2.95 <-----------------Pick of the Week! CROSSGEN COMICS Mystic #5, 2.95 DC COMICS Jenny Sparks Secret History Of The Authority #4 (Of 5), 2.50 Secret Society Of Superheroes #2 (Of 2), 5.95 Starman #72, 2.50 IMAGE COMICS Midnight Nation #2, 2.50 MARVEL COMICS Ultimate Spider-Man #2 2.50 I hope you forgive my rambling on this time around. It was not intended to pick on John/Doc/Manhunter but to clarify my position on submissions, editorial policy and the mission of the mag. He saw the high visibility of this forum as an opportunity for exposure but refused to play by the rules. He was told he could continue to submit and chose not to. That is the end of the story unless he decides to weasel his way in again. I won't be commenting further on the subject and he will not be in this publication with my knowledge again. This week I will be in Anaheim, CA from late Thursday through the next week. That means the next issue may be later than normal or, I may get a jump on it and do it early from somewhere else in my travels. It would help if submitters could have their stuff in earlier, by Wednesday if possible, but I am not changing the deadline. Be patient, it will happen. I will also take suggestions from those in the Orange County area as to what comic shops to seek out when I have time free. David LeBlanc - ComicBkNet@aol.com Editor The Comic Book Net Electronic Magazine ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [2] Letters to the Editor If you want to comment on this or any previous issue, want to offer something for us to publish, or just want to shamelessly suck up to the editor to try and get your name in print send Email to: ComicBkNet@aol.com Note: Letters of comment may be used in future issues of CBEM unless you specifically request us NOT to use them. Your Email address and/or name will be withheld upon request. +++++ Subj: Comic Book Columnists Date: 10/3/00 1:51:17 PM Eastern Daylight Time From: fortean@pcisys.net To: ComicBkNet@aol.com I've subscribed to this e-mag for a while now, and have been quite happy with it. I look over the news and the new releases and generally scroll over many of the columns. I didn't always do this. The first couple of months I read the entire work, and found that several columnists were apparently only there to raise my blood pressure: someone commenting on why comic book stores have gone to hell, why comic books have gone to hell, why comic book creators have gone to hell, or insipidly regurgitating how they felt reading a recent comic book with inane self- observations about how this spoiler event surprised them. I got over it and learned to scroll through these pieces. The latest e-mag featured a lengthy backlash to an article by one of your newer, regular columnists, as well as his response to the same, and it got me thinking. What is the role and purpose of these columns, and the perceived jobs of the writers? The columnist in question purports to be a "wannabe pro" and, though he claims to have claims to have no excuse for his lengthy list of blatant factual errors, proceeds to ramble at length about how he is "not a computer" and whines about how people are ignoring the whole point of his thesis and nitpicking his mistakes instead. Well, I have news for you. It is the sole job of the writer to make his ideas plain to the reader, not the reader's job to understand them. When the ideas are presented with facts that are grossly distorted, if not just plain wrong, then the writer is only hurting himself. It is fine if the writer acknowledges those mistakes, and apologizes for them making no excuse. That does not change the writer's responsibility. Opinions should be clearly expressed as such, and if 'facts' are intended to make clear examples of your purported truths, then the writer should spend the minimal amount of time needed to check these 'facts' before publishing them. It does not require having "a million dollar collection of Golden Age comics" to check facts. This is the information age. Look at the many detailed comic sites on the Internet, log onto chat forums and newsgroups. It should not be that hard to verify a piece of information, and if you are up front with people about your purpose I'm sure you will find many fans who are friendly and helpful. I remember a row some time back about reviewers who did not include spoiler warnings in their columns. Spoilers are a common courtesy, though I wish more reviewers would take their cues from some of the better movie and book reviews and review content and style without the need to reveal plot details. Now corrected though, I can choose to scroll past reviews that require these warnings if I like. The job of a columnist is to inform, or at the very least express thoughtful, well-informed ideas. Poor writing style, bad spelling, and blatant factual errors only serve to detract from the writing as a whole, distract the reader from the desired message, and often reflect poorly on the columnist. Thanks for your time, Craig Griswold [Very thoughtful analysis Craig. Thanks for writing. - D.L.] +++++ Subj: Perez & full scripts Date: 9/30/00 5:46:33 AM Eastern Daylight Time From: sdgrant@foxinternet.com (Steven Grant) It was just brought to my attention that John Jones suggested George Perez's talent is somehow hampered by full scripts. If George felt constrained - I don't know, we've never discussed it - while working from my full scripts on Tekno's I-BOTS, it didn't show up in his output. It was work as gorgeous as anything he has ever done, and I was extremely pleased with it. [As was I, Steven. Good to here from you again. -D.L.] +++++ Subj: Re: [ComicBooknet E-Mag] CBEM 284.4 From: edcatibs@usunwired.net (Ed Catibog) have a question for you: *rumor?* your man at marvel has written that marvel and chris claremont has plans for children of the atom (in bold letters). is it a possibility that claremont will take over this book (although it is only a miniseries( and continue from where it ended? if so, think of the infinite possibilities of him telling his own tales of the x-men, this time though it will only be the original x-men and not his original x-men. that would free up all the other books from continuity and storytelling problems, and would not conflict with the new ultimate xmen line. the children of the atom book seems to be fill in the blanks of the original x-men's origin but details like computers in the 60's make me wonder when the setting actually is. just like byrne's the hidden years. should be in the 70s right? but references to steven spielberg and star wars make it less believable. one thing for sure though, claremont will need a scripter. his dialogue is verbose but redundant... he will need his own universe to create and play with characters all he wants. any proof or hints to this yet? thanks again. ed [I personally would not begin to speculate what Marvel is up to these days. Read Rich Johnston's bit in the Network Buzz for his take. DL] +++++ Subj: Your review of my column: a rebuttal Date: 9/30/00 10:55:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time From: darrel1@idt.net (Darrell Goza) To: ComicBkNet@aol.com To Mr. LeBlanc, The article I wrote was not in specific reference to the ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN even though I did mention that book. It was in reference to any of the other spider books that are on the stands and are happening in this time frame (ie: the present). The ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN is a retro book that is a retelling of the origin of a character that's been told to death already, but knowing Bendis' style of writing, I suspect it will be a good re-telling and I for one am waiting for this writer's interpretation of the Spider-Man text. I agree that a writer doesn't have to have a fixed cast, ad infinitum, in order to give a book stability, but if you can show me a book (any book) that didn't have a cast of characters that the reading audience got to know at least superficially, over the course of a year, and I'll show you a book that didn't last at least a year. (Pick the book: and we'll do a joint [pro and con] critical assessment Mr. LeBlanc!). Case in point... Are Spider-Man's sales healthy or not? (Hint: start reading the business pages of your local newspaper and not just the funnies, as well as the financial's about the companies 'titles' you like and you might find out the true picture of a titles health. Spider-Man is not doing well. (Another suggestion: ask your local retailer, he has to shell out the bucks in quantity for any title. Ask him what he's buying and see where Spider-Man ranks). How do you do someone's death correctly? In a medium where you don't have to kill anyone to tell a good story, why is death being done (to use your term: ad infinitum?). And I don't think the fans are anal retentive's who can't handle a certain character's death's. I think they're just tired of those deaths being used as cliched plot devises that are passing themselves off as 'good stories'. And lastly, if you want to review my article missives...reproduce the articles in their entirety. Don't nit pick partial sound bites that allow you to be 'anal retentive' about your point of view without giving the fans a chance to see the whole text, and it's overall context. By the way, I'm not a fan. I'm a working professional still lucky enough to get to be in this field which I love. Not every professional has his name on a book or title. Some of us are happy just making sure the title makes it to the stands. We work in the support capacity doing lettering, backgrounds, assist in coloring, proofread scripts, etc. for which we are decently paid, even though not credited. I admire what you're doing and even though on this subject I clearly don't agree with you, I'm glad you're doing it. You've at least taken a stand to be involved and forward the field by fostering dialogue and awareness. Thank you, and to copy Stan the Man, good afternoon! Darrell Goza Columnist, Peoples Comic Book Newsletter darrel1@idt.net [ Ah, where to begin. First I guess with the SUBJECT. Mine was not a "review" of your column. What it was was a quoting of one paragraph and then a discussion of a subject raised by one sentence in that paragraph. The paragraph in question, indeed the rest of the entire column, WAS entirely about THE ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN as the paragraph before sets up the premise for the creative team on that book " I'd like to offer some ideas that should get the creators on the right track." are your exact words. My comment was that THAT PARAGRAPH was about USM and indeed it was and I was not talking about the ENTIRE column, just that paragraph to set up a discussion on ONE SENTENCE. Which leads to your next criticism of my "review" >And lastly, if you want to review my article >missives...reproduce the articles in their entirety. Don't nit >pick partial sound bites that allow you to be 'anal retentive' >about your point of view without giving the fans a chance to >see the whole text, and it's overall context. Uh, did you miss the very first sentence of my editorial? Go back and read it again and then skip to item [7], it is your entire column for the fans to see in its entirety. Further, I did not pick a partial sound bite but one sentence, after quoting it in context AFTER directing the readers to the entire article. Geez Lou-eez, am I supposed to reproduce the entire column in my editorial in order to comment on a topic you raised? "If a writer can't write a story which holds the attention of the fans without killing off the characters that gave the book stability, then you won't have stability...and no fans too." You missed my point. So here is another way of saying it. A writer has many tools and plot devices to use in getting from point A to point B in a story. One such is death. As much as most of what we read in this media is fiction, death is a part of life and so are many other things. A blanket prohibition on any major character's death for a year or two does not guarantee success or failure. What it does is hamper the writer's ability to tell the story he wants to tell. Would you likewise forbid any pregnancies, or marriages, or crises of faith, or weakness in the face of tremendous odds. These too are part of life and plot devices that can be used or abused by the writer. I say a writer CAN hold the attention of fans and kill off characters if he is a good enough writer. It does not automatically make a book unstable or drive the fans away. And I still think it would be silly to change the origin, by omitting the pivotal death of Uncle Ben. - D.L.] +++++ Subj: Bill Mantlo's Whereabouts Date: 10/4/00 12:46:48 AM Eastern Daylight Time From: Jeff_Gentile@pmug.org (Jeff Gentile) Last week, as I scanned through the many many heated comments in response to somebody's apparently irritatingly opinionated letter (after a while I forgot who the original writer was, what the original point of the letter was, and pretty much lost track of the many people who were responding -- I just caught little paragraphs here and there)....anyhow, someone mentioned Bill Mantlo. Since he was writing as I was growing up and getting into comics, his was one of the first names I began to recognize (Marv Wolfman and Roy Thomas being the other two I really started to catch on to). Mantlo is still one of my favorite writers of childhood, but I've always wondered what he DID wind up going on to do. Again, that ubiquitous someone mentioned that they thought he'd gone on to become a lawyer. I'd heard that he'd been in a rollerblading accident and spent some time in a coma. Does anyone know what really happened to Bill Mantlo and perhaps whether or not he can be contacted? Thanks, jeff_gentile@pmug.org +++++ From: Ian Feller [SMTP:ian.feller@crossgen.com] Subject: A request from Ian at CrossGen Not since we were working on our first issues have I felt the need to push hard for our books. For the past few months, I've let them speak for themselves and I appreciate that everyone has been great at covering them. But this November everything changes! I don't want to come off as the boy who cried wolf, so I don't pitch hard for every one of our books. But we have two specific issues coming out in November that I would stake my reputation on as the best comics I've seen in 2000 and quite possibly the best comics I've ever seen. No joke! The issues I'm talking about are: The First #1, by Barbara Kesel, Bart Sears, Andy Smith and Mike Atiyeh, on sale November 1 Scion #6, by Ron Marz, Jim Cheung, Don Hillsman II and Caesar Rodriguez, on sale November 22 What makes these issues so special? The First #1 is the finest piece of work Bart Sears has ever drawn. The stuff he did before coming here pales in comparison. This stuff harkens back to his best days on Justice League and at Valiant. Actually, it's even better. Way better! Bart sees this book as his chance for redemption and he has taken full advantage. Scion #6 is a masterpiece by Jim Cheung! Jim has finally come into his own and this will be his breakout issue. He has put his heart and soul onto every page. This book will take you a month just to see every detail he's added to the backgrounds. The story is about war, and Jim has drawn an issue that makes the movie Braveheart look weak. And to boot, there's the death of a main character that is sure to make this a must-get issue. Like I said above, and I hope all of you are aware, I never do this. I try to pick my spots to when I truly feel we have something that goes above and beyond. These two are it. These are the books that readers who haven't tried CrossGen yet should start with. These are the issues that after you see the art, you'll thank me for pointing out and steering you towards pushing. If I'm wrong, feel free to use it against me and I'll owe you a big one. But I'm confident that these will be the issues that people will remember forever as the ones that reinvigorated Bart Sears' career and launched a new superstar, Jim Cheung. I have art available to be emailed or sent on CD. If you want to see it and run something, please let me know and I'll get it over to you. I can also provide you with any information on the books that you need. Again, I can't stress enough how good these two issues are. Please help me get the word out. You won't regret it. Best, Ian Feller CrossGen Comics +++++ Subj: Making my point: Response about my previous letter. From: alex_stres@email.com (Alex Stresino) Hello. I thought I should respond to some of the responses I received about my letter about the Ultimate books. I find it interesting that some readers want multiple books to come out each month on the big three: Batman, Superman, Spiderman. The main problem I have with the current situation is I'm not going to pick these books up to get a whole story. Another problem I have is characterization. All writers write the way they see the character. Frankly that's fine when you have one book to deal with. But when there are two, three or four books the main character comes off as having a multiple personality disorder. I'm all for variety but that's what miniseries are for. Each character should have one book that looks to build on characterization not what will be the next big gimmick. Do we really think that the upcoming "This issue Batman dies" will be rewarding to the character that runs through eight different books? Not for me. Writers and artists come and go. The variety will be there in time. New takes can build on the character in a successive fashion. We don't need to be barraged with multiple books to get different examinations of the same character. It won't help the character grow. Just slow him down. Most people look at the early Amazing Spiderman stories up through the seventies as the strongest years for the character. Everything that has happened to him since has been changed or devolved. Why was Aunt May brought back from the dead? She was already dead weight at that point. What for? These are the kinds of things that have damaged characterization. We can't be stuck in the past. Characters have to grow. As long as we have more than one book for a character that involves more than one writer and more than one editor nothing will change. This unfortunately brings more hands involved convoluting the whole point of any good story. My final point comes down to simple financial inability. Some of us can barely afford this hobby. How can we expect young readers to get interested if they have to buy four books at $2.25 or $2.50 and sometimes $2.99 each? I want to buy the best stories possible. I read books like Akiko, Bone, Creed, Daredevil, Marvel Boy, Planetary, Powers, Promethea, Tom Strong, Top Ten and a whole lot more. Most of these come out at $2.95 each. I buy them and I read them. How can we expect younger readers to have a chance if they can't even buy the more iconic characters at a reasonable rate? I'm sorry but it's unreasonable and something's got to change. Otherwise you can be guaranteed that there will be fewer and fewer readers no matter how much variety there is on any character. Support the Ultimates line and let the other books go the way of the dodo bird. Tell DC it's time for a change as well. They can be selling more of one book then they will ever with four. How? More readers, more interest, more purchases. That's how! Thanks for listening, Alex +++++ Subj: Kansas City Comic Book Convention From: yrogerg@ukans.edu (greg huneryager) The fall Kansas City Comicon is fast approaching and I just wanted to mention that our special guest for the October 21-22nd show is Bob Layton. Steve Lightle will be there too [but maybe only on Saturday] and Rick Stasi. The show opens at 10 on each day, goes to 6 on Saturday and 5 on Sunday. Admission is only $5 a day.. Here's the website with travel and hotel information http://members.nbci.com/_XOOM/ghuneryager/KansasCityComicBookConventions.html If anyone has any questions feel free to email me. Thanks, Greg Huneryager ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [3] [TRIVIA CONTEST] **THE FIRST PLACE TO FIND THE EMAG EACH WEEK IS ON OUR HOME PAGE!** IF YOU ARE DESPERATE TO WIN THE TRIVIA, GO THERE FIRST ON FRIDAY NIGHT http://members.aol.com/ComicBkNet/emag.htm QUESTION OF THE WEEK Prizes donated by Discount Comic Book Service at www.dcbservice.com where you can order most DC, Marvel, Image, and Dark Horse comics, statues and retail products for 35% off. +Submit your own trivia and win the CHEEZY PRIZE(tm) if you can stump+ +the readers! You MUST submit the correct answer with your question.+ LAST ISSUE'S QUESTION OF THE WEEK: > Who won the Great Cow Race? Ed Catibog got the answer first, it was Rose, Grandma Ben, in BONE. Ed wins the Thanos Mini Bust from our sponsor, Discount Comic Book Service. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION: From:Brent Clark Rogers "That crazy DCU Guide guy!" Name any one of three DC characters who won Olympic Gold medals. (within continuity - no imaginary stories, etc.) IMPORTANT RULES NOTICE The first correct answer to reach the editor wins the CHEEZY PRIZE(tm). The editor will be the sole judge as to which guess arrived first! Messages with more than one guess will be disqualified. LIMIT: ONE PRIZE PER MONTH PER PERSON! ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [4] Network Buzz News, gossip and rumors from around the industry Black Bull to Publish New Garth Ennis Title! NEW YORK--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Oct. 3, 2000--Gareb Shamus, the Chairman of Black Bull Entertainment is proud to announce that the company will publish Just A Pilgrim, the next comic book title by Garth Ennis, the acclaimed writer of Preacher for Vertigo along with the top-selling Punisher for Marvel Comics. Ennis reunites with the inker of Punisher and original Marvel Knights co-editor Jimmy Palmiotti who joins Black Bull Entertainment as a freelance editor specifically for this new project. The creative team is completed by artist Carlos Ezquerra, one of the co-creators of Judge Dredd, who has most recently collaborated with Ennis on Adventures In The Rifle Brigade, and colorist Paul Mounts. Just A Pilgrim is set in the near future when the sun unexpectedly starts to enlarge and die millions of years ahead of schedule, drying the Earth's oceans and sending civilization into chaos. A group of desperate refugees struggle to survive the post-apocalyptic environment that is riddled with pirates and bizarre monsters created by the enhanced solar radiation of the enlarged sun. The group encounters the mysterious Pilgrim, an extremely devoted religious man who will lead them. "He's a man of enormous beliefs, of enormous faith," Ennis said "Almost a religious maniac...the old fire and brimstone preacher kind of thing." To support the launch of the Just A Pilgrim five-issue mini-series, Black Bull Entertainment will produce a special limited preview that will precede the February 2001 launch of the first issue. CONTACT: Wizard Press Phil Colligan, 845/268-2000 Fax: 845/268-0877 Pcolligan@wizardworld.com +++++ HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (AP) - The Green Lantern had arrived, complete with T-shirt, ring and special powers. Or was that just New York Jets receiver Wayne Chrebet playing the part of superhero? One week after his winning catch against Tampa Bay, Chrebet still was getting a kick out of his new nickname. A fan on Chrebet's Internet site suggested the monicker after Chrebet outshined his nemesis, Keyshawn Johnson, in the Bucs game. Johnson's pregame declaration that comparing himself to Chrebet was like matching a star to a flashlight made for some great copy. When the Green Lantern, uh, Chrebet, outperformed the evil Dr. K, uh, Johnson, it inspired further headlines - and, perhaps, a new persona for the quietly efficient receiver. On Monday, the team's first day back from its bye week, Chrebet entered the locker room wearing a Green Lantern T-shirt, sporting a plastic green ring and flashing a huge smile. ``I was on `Inside the NFL,' and the guys at HBO gave it to me,'' Chrebet said with a mischievous look. ``They told me they had this stuff and I said to send it to me, that I will wear it. Vinny (Testaverde) heard it and started calling me it and then Al Groh started. I think it's hysterical.'' Then he held up the ring and said forebodingly, ``This is very dangerous if put in the wrong hands.'' The Green Lantern, a comic book hero, draws much of his special powers from his ring. Chrebet is only 27, far too young to remember the character that was sketched by Gil Kane, who also drew Spiderman, Captain Marvel and Hulk. But he didn't care. He was having too much fun portraying the modern day hero of Jets fans, who still are gloating about Chrebet's catch and Johnson's near shutout (one catch for a yard). ``I'm the Green Lantern and your words can't faze me,'' Chrebet said. ``I've never seen it, but people told me it's an average, normal man who turns into a superhero, and I like that,'' added the former undrafted free agent from Hofstra, where the Jets train. Chrebet was invited to the 1995 training camp as a courtesy often extended by the Jets to a Hofstra player. All he did was make the team, then lead it in receiving. Now in his sixth season, he is an established star in New York and a force on the field as one of the league's better possession receivers. Asked if he could relate to being an everyday player who elevates to superstardom, Chrebet said, ``Not yet.'' As for marketing himself as the Green Lantern: ``That's not me.'' ``It's just funny and I'm living it up.'' At that, he was confronted by center Kevin Mawae, who asked to touch the ring. Mawae claimed he needed some of the Green Lantern's special powers, and after rubbing it, he slapped hands with Chrebet and walked away guffawing. Several other players asked Chrebet if he should be the Green Hornet, another superhero, rather than the Green Lantern. But he said the ``Inside the NFL'' crew claimed it was the Green Lantern image that ``explained exactly what I represent.'' ``I'm still a Superman fan,'' said Chrebet, who has been seen during training camps sporting a T-shirt with a big S on it. ``I don't want to get in a fight with that guy, but if I do, I do have the ring.'' Mawae returned, seeking a shirt of his own, but was rebuffed. ``They're so jealous,'' said New York's latest superhero, who then put the ring on his finger. ``I think I'll wear this for practice and see how it works.'' +++++ October 3, 2000 Christopher Skokna cskokna@citypaper.com (410) 523-2300, x217 (day); (410) 728-6186 (evening) The EXPO 2000 Breaks Attendance, Fund-raising Records Over 1,400 Paid Attendees Crowd Festival, Raising $10,000 for CBLDF Next Year's EXPO Slated for Sept. 14-16, 2001 Michael Zarlenga, executive director of The EXPO 2000, and Christian Panas, who is heading up the 2001 festival, have declared this year's show a resounding success. With more than 315 registered exhibitors and over 1,400 paid attendees, The EXPO- the United States' premiere showcase for alternative and small-press cartoonists and publishers-once again transformed Bethesda, Md., into a comics Mecca the weekend of Sept. 15-17. Exhibiting artists including Jessica Abel, Frank Cho, Kim Deitch, Evan Dorkin, Bill Griffith, Keith Knight, Peter Kuper, Scott McCloud, Bill Plympton, Joe Sacco, Stan Sakai, Ariel Schrag, Seth, Jeff Smith, Craig Thompson and the legendary Will Eisner drew a record total crowd of more than 1,800. At this year's festival, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF) raised a total of $10,000, $4,000 of which came from a check written by The EXPO. This total does not include proceeds from the festival's anthology, EXPO 2000: The Comic, which so far has sales of 6,000 copies. At the same time, international creators such as Philippe Dupuy, Charles Berberian, Martin tom Dieck, Anke Feuchtenberger and Alice Chang headlined another stellar International Comic Arts Festival (ICAF), The EXPO's academic conference partner. The Professional Association of Comics Entertainment Retailers (PACER) provided programming and a forum for retailers to talk shop with distributors, publishers and each other. And The EXPO again handed out a batch of the coveted Ignatz Awards, including the first-ever Outstanding Debut Comic award, which went to Evan Dorkin's Dork No. 8 (for a complete list of Ignatz recipients and nominees, check out The EXPO's Web site, www.spxpo.com). The EXPO would not have been possible without the continued support of the festival's sponsors: Quebecor Printing, Dark Horse Comics, FM International, Graphitti Designs, Alternative Comics, Beyond Comics, Big Planet Comics, Cartoon Books, Diamond Comics Distributors, Fantagraphics Books, Oni Press and Top Shelf Productions. Thanks also must go out to Highwater Books publisher Tom Devlin, for editing the 350-page EXPO 2000 anthology, and to Seth (Palooka-Ville), for designing the EXPO's badges. Special thanks go to Charles Burns (Black Hole, El Borbah), for doing a beautiful illustration for the cover of EXPO 2000: The Comic. "Congratulations to the exhibitors, the fans, and the completely volunteer staff for making The EXPO 2000 the most successful one yet," says Zarlenga, who is "retiring" from his executive director post after three years at the helm. "I have enjoyed being the executive director, and I look forward to what the future will bring." The EXPO 2001 has already been scheduled for the weekend of Sept. 14-16, 2001, again at the Holiday Inn Select in Bethesda. Exhibitor registration forms will soon be available at The EXPO Web site or by mail (write: The EXPO, P.O. Box 1947, Alexandria, VA 22313). Tables for EXPO 2000 sold out by June 15, so it's suggested that exhibitors register soon. One big change from last year's festival is The EXPO's new executive director, Christian Panas. Panas says he hopes to continue to grow the festival each year, making it the premier small-press comics cultural event in North America. Zarlenga will remain on the EXPO Steering Committee. "I am sad to say that 2000 marked the last year that Mike Zarlenga will oversee the show, but I am happy to note that under Mike's stewardship, The EXPO has grown by leaps and bounds," Panas says. "As the new Executive Director, I'd like to emphasize that we will continue to make The EXPO a dynamic and organic festival devoted to the art form that we all love-a place where the best comics creators and the best comics fans can come and mingle with each other in a pleasant, even family-like atmosphere," he says. "Though there are any number of tastes and philosophies at work within this community, the amazing thing is that everyone involved shares an overwhelming passion for and commitment to the comics medium, as well as a desire for it to grow and prosper." For more information about The EXPO, check out www.spxpo.com, ICAF at www.sp.uconn.edu/~epk93002/icaf, and the CBLDF at www.cbldf.org. +++++ Marvel says 2000 results could be below 1999 NEW YORK, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Toy maker and comic book publisher Marvel Enterprises Inc. said on Thursday that its full-year 2000 results could fall below 1999 results.   It cited slowness in the toy industry as retailers sell off excess inventory in products such as Star Wars, World Champion Wrestling and Pokeman as one of the reasons for the possible decline in this year's results.   It also said chip shortages have delayed the launch of V-Mail, an electronics communications device for children.   In addition, Marvel said it would not recognize revenues from its Spider-Man merchandising joint venture with Sony until 2001 instead of this year as expected.   The company had revenues of $320 million in 1999, up from $232.1 million the previous year. It posted a net loss of $33.8 million last year, compared with a loss of $32.6 million in 1998.   Marvel's shares were down 1/2 to $2-3/4 on the New York Stock Exchange. Marvel Reviews Growing Slate of Entertainment and Other Projects At Annual Meeting NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 5, 2000--At its recent annual meeting of shareholders, Marvel Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE: MVL) reviewed its exciting and growing pipeline of entertainment, licensing, new media, toy and publishing projects that leverages the Company's core operating strengths and world-renown character portfolio. Marvel also highlighted near-term trends which it anticipates will impact revenue and cash flow in the second half of 2000, causing results for the full year 2000 to possibly fall below those achieved in 1999. MARVEL DIVISIONAL REVIEW Marvel Studios A partial list of feature film projects expected for release in 2002 and beyond includes: - Blade II (New Line Cinema/Time Warner) - Fantastic Four (Twentieth Century Fox) - Ghost Rider (Crystal Sky) - The Incredible Hulk (Universal Studios)) - Spider-Man (Columbia/Sony) - X-Men Sequel (Twentieth Century Fox) - Black Panther (Artisan) Marvel Studios' television series in development include: - X-Men Evolution (Marvel Studios produceed for WB Kids) for release November 2000 - Thor (Artisan) Publishing As a publisher, Marvel remains preeminent in the world of comic books. Reflecting growing awareness and appreciation of Marvel's characters, Marvel's comic book advertising revenues are substantially ahead of last year, reflecting both rate increases and growing ad pages. Additionally, Marvel has launched a new Ultimate line of comic books aimed at developing a new base of younger readers. Using new graphics and printing approaches, as well as new distribution and promotional opportunities, the Ultimate series re-launches classic Marvel characters and their stories in settings that are more in keeping with today's popular culture and technology, thereby making them more accessible to kids of today. The series is off to a strong start with the first edition of Spider-Man Ultimate having quickly sold out. The first edition of X-Men Ultimate is scheduled for launch in the fourth quarter of this year. Licensing Marvel's licensing division is able to capitalize on the heightened visibility and interest created by the Company's growing pipeline of entertainment projects and publishing initiatives. Marvel has seen an increase in licensing interest for its X-Men brand of characters and Classic Spider-Man images as well as other characters currently involved in ongoing entertainment project development. Marvel's licensing activities this year have also included the launch of its joint venture with Sony to license Spider-Man: The Movie. Also, Marvel has completed the establishment of an international network of agents to expand the exposure and licensing opportunities for its characters on a global basis. The licensing division also has several high profile video game projects which, in addition to generating ongoing licensing revenues, serve as another highly visible form of media exposure for the characters. These projects include: - X-Men Mutant Academy(TM) (Activision - PlayStation(R)/Game Boy(R)) released July 2000 - Spider-Man (Activision - PlayStation/Gaame Boy) released August 2000 - Blade (Activision - Playstation/Game Booy) scheduled for release November 2000 - Wolverine (Activision) scheduled for reelease in 2001 - X-Men Fighter Action(TM) (Activision - PlayStation/Game Boy) scheduled for release in 2001 - Spider-Man Sequel (Activision - PlayStaation/Game Boy) scheduled for release in 2001 New Media/Internet Marvel's New Media and Internet initiatives have dramatically increased unique visits to the Company's Web site (http://www.marvel.com) to a record level for the Company of 1.3 million visits per month in September, from 300,000 visits per month one year ago. Improvements to the Web site will continue, including new features and navigational improvements as well as further advances in animation, gaming, chat capabilities and e-commerce with qualified, targeted partners. Also, Marvel expects to begin testing the online publishing of comic books later this year. Steve Milo, recently appointed President, Marvel New Media, has helped to develop a focused strategy aimed at developing meaningful revenue via new media opportunities. Marvel also recently established a long-term partnership with Riot Entertainment to develop and publish original programming for portable communication devices utilizing the Marvel Universe of more than 4,700 characters. Riot is one of the world's foremost wireless entertainment publishers (funded by Nokia Ventures, News Corp. and Softbank UK) and is pursuing a worldwide business model that has been proven with a remarkable degree of success in Japan. Toy Biz Marvel's toy division expects to ultimately generate a higher percentage of its revenues from Marvel character-based toy lines including X-Men, Spider-Man and characters associated with ongoing entertainment projects. Earlier this year Toy Biz secured the master toy license for action figures and accessories for New Line Cinema's Lord of the Rings feature film trilogy, scheduled for release in December 2001, 2002 and 2003. Toy Biz's proven success in developing toy lines based on action/fantasy characters was instrumental in securing the master license. Additionally, Toy Biz remains committed to developing innovative products in other categories including dolls, gaming and youth electronics. F. Peter Cuneo, president and CEO of Marvel Enterprises, commented, "Across all business units, Marvel's slate of projects over the next several years has never been stronger. Particularly in the months receding the July debut of the blockbuster X-Men: The Movie and thereafter, we have been inundated with renewed interest in our characters. In addition to growing interest in historical categories such as film and licensing, opportunities in the new media marketplace, which have emerged in the last several months, offer tremendous long-term potential for the exploitation of our character brands as we can provide invaluable content differentiation for their products and services. Our management team continues to build Marvel with an eye toward long-term shareholder value and as such will not compromise that vision for the sake of non-strategic opportunities which offer only short-term, non-recurring benefits." Despite management's significant optimism for the Company in the coming years, Marvel indicated that its second half results for 2000 are being impacted by a general slowness in the toy industry as retailers seek to work down excess inventories in several product classes including Star Wars, wrestling and Pokemon. Further, chip shortages have also delayed the anticipated launch date of V-Mail, an electronic communications device for kids, for which management continues to hold strong sales expectations. Additionally, anticipated licensing revenues related to Marvel's Spider-Man merchandising joint-venture with Sony, previously planned to be recognized in 2000, should be recognized primarily in 2001, in keeping with the Studio's announcement last month which delayed the release date for the film to May 2002. Annual Meeting Issues: Shareholders approved the election of ten directors to serve until the election and qualification of their respective successors at the Company's next annual meeting of stockholders. Directors approved by shareholders include Morton E. Handel, Chairman of the Board, as well as Avi Arad, Marvel's Chief Creative Officer and CEO of Marvel Studios; F. Peter Cuneo, Marvel's President and CEO; Sid Ganis; Shelley F. Greenhaus; James F. Halpin; Lawrence Mittman; Isaac Perlmutter; Rod Perth and Michael J. Petrick. Additionally, shareholders approved a proposal which replaced a previous requirement of an 11-member Board of Directors for a more flexible structure that will allow no fewer than eight and no more than eleven directors on the Board. The current Board size is ten members. Shareholders also ratified the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company's independent accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2000. About Marvel Enterprises With a library of over 4,700 proprietary characters, Marvel Enterprises, Inc. is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies. Marvel's operations are focused in five divisions: entertainment (Marvel Studios), licensing, toys (Toy Biz), comic book publishing and Internet/New Media. Marvel facilitates the creation of entertainment projects, including feature films, television, home video and the Internet, based on its characters and also licenses its characters for use in a wide range of consumer products and services including video and computer games, apparel, collectibles, snack foods and promotions. Marvel's characters and plot lines are created by its comic book division which continues to maintain a leadership position in the U.S. and worldwide while also serving as an invaluable source of intellectual property. For additional information visit the Marvel Web site at http://www.marvel.com. Except for historical information contained herein, the statements in this news release regarding the Company's plans are forward-looking statements that are dependent upon certain risks and uncertainties, including the Company's potential inability to successfully implement its business strategy, a decrease in the level of media exposure or popularity of the Company's characters resulting in declining revenues from products based on those characters, decision by a studio not to proceed with a proposed movie or television program or the failure of a released movie or television program; changing consumer preferences, production delays or shortfalls, the impact of competition and changes to the competitive environment on the Company's products and services and changes in governmental regulation. Those and other risks and uncertainties are described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. CONTACT:   Investor Relations Jaffoni & Collins David Collins, Richard Land 212/835-8500 mvl@jcir.com or Media Bender/Helper Impact Jeffrey Klein, Adam Fenton 212/689-6360 jeff-klein@bhimpact.com adam-fenton@bhimpact.com +++++ THE COMIC BOOK LEGAL DEFENSE FUND - www.cbldf.org MANUSCRIPT AUCTION TO ACCOMPANY GAIMAN'S LAST ANGEL TOUR Over the past ten years, acclaimed author NEIL GAIMAN has gone to great lengths to support the non-profit Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. He has traveled the country, reading from his work and raising money on six GUARDIAN ANGEL TOURS. He has donated his time and talent to create benefit books, comics, videos, and more. He has literally given the CBLDF the shirt off his back, as well as his famed leather jacket, for wildly successful charity auctions. He has done all of this and more to help the Fund protect free speech in comics. Now Gaiman goes one step further. Gaiman has announced that he will donate his ORIGINAL SCRIPTS for "NEVERWHERE," the hugely popular television series he created for the BBC. These are the actual BBC shooting scripts for all six episodes of the series, along with Gaiman's hand-written notes and directions. Throughout the scripts, there are pages of dialogue that Gaiman re-wrote on the set, as well as many other changes written in his hand. The Neverwhere scripts also include the FIRST 20 PAGES of what would become the "NEVERWHERE" NOVEL, written out in longhand. Gaiman began work on the novel while filming of the television series was underway. "You can actually see all the scribblings out of the first chapter of 'Neverwhere,'" said Gaiman. Together with the scripts, this original manuscript offers a one-of-a- kind glimpse of the author's creative process. And now Gaiman's actual "Neverwhere" scripts can be yours. The CBLDF will offer the manuscripts on EBAY http://www.ebay.com in a very special auction beginning OCTOBER 16 and coinciding with the launch of Gaiman's LAST ANGEL TOUR in Chicago. The auction will end OCTOBER 26, just as the tour reaches its conclusion in Los Angeles. In addition to the "Neverwhere" manuscript, the Fund will offer a number of other rare items sure to appeal to fans of Gaiman's work. All proceeds from the auctions will benefit the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. The four stops on the LAST ANGEL TOUR will be Gaiman's final public appearances until the summer 2001 release of his latest novel, "American Gods." This seventh and final tour will bring the author to Chicago, New York, Portland OR, and Los Angeles for a series of dramatic, intimate readings from his fiction and poetry. To date, these Guardian Angel Tours have raised more than $100,000 to protect free expression in comics. Tickets are currently on sale at Ticketmaster for all four Last Angel Tour events: OCTOBER 16: The Vic Theatre, CHICAGO – call Ticketmaster at (312) 559-1212 or visit http://www.ticketmaster.com/cgi/artist.idc?searchname=NEIL_GAIMAN&state=il&t ype=STATE&minorcatnum=21&MajorCatNum=2 OCTOBER 18: St. Mark's Church, NEW YORK – call Ticketmaster at (212) 307-7171 or visit http://www.ticketmaster.com/cgi/artist.idc?searchname=NEIL_GAIMAN&state=ny&t ype=STATE&minorcatnum=104&MajorCatNum=4 OCTOBER 24: The Aladdin Theatre, PORTLAND OR – call Ticketmaster at (503) 224-4400 or visit http://www.ticketmaster.com/cgi/artist.idc?searchname=NEIL_GAIMAN_LAST_ANGEL _TOUR&state=or&type=STATE&minorcatnum=43&MajorCatNum=2 OCTOBER 26: Pacific Design Center, LOS ANGELES – call Ticketmaster at (213) 480-3232 or visit http://www.ticketmaster.com/cgi/artist.idc?searchname=NEIL_GAIMANS_LAST_ANGE L_TOUR&state=ca&type=STATE&minorcatnum=104&MajorCatNum=4 Tickets are available for $20, or $16 with a valid student ID. PREMIUM TICKETS, which include seating in the front rows and admittance to a private cocktail RECEPTION with Gaiman before the reading, cost $60. Comic Book Legal Defense Fund MEMBERS are welcome at the reception regardless of what level ticket they may purchase. The readings begin at 8 pm, with the private receptions kicking off the evening's festivities at 6 pm. For complete tour information, visit the CBLDF website at http://www.cbldf.org or call the Fund toll-free at 1-800-99-CBLDF. Gaiman first attracted critical acclaim for his graphic novels and the ground breaking comic series "Sandman." In addition to his comics work, Gaiman is the author of the best-selling novels "Neverwhere" and "Stardust," and has seen his unique vision translated for film, television, and the stage. He is the recipient of the prestigious World Fantasy Award and is noted in "The Dictionary of Literary Biography" as "one of the top ten post-modern writers" in America. The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is a non-profit organization protecting First Amendment rights in the comics community. Donations and inquiries should be directed to the CBLDF at P.O. Box 693, Northampton, MA 01061. For more CBLDF news and information, pick up a copy of "Busted!," the Fund's free quarterly newsletter, or visit the CBLDF web-site at http://www.cbldf.org. For additional information please contact Chris Bleistein at (413) 586-6967 or cbleistein@cbldf.org +++++ COMING THIS JANUARY FROM FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS AND LOS BROS HERNANDEZ: LOVE & ROCKETS RETURNS! Seattle, WA -- When LOVE & ROCKETS #1 debuted in 1981, no one could accurately predict how the title would, along with RAW and WEIRDO, come to define the alternative comics movement of the 1980s. With five women standing in a police lineup on the cover, four of whom were garishly dressed, impressively endowed superwomen, it didn't look at first glance that out of place on the shelves of comic book stores. A closer look, however, revealed a fifth woman who seemed thoroughly out of place -- mousy, in bathrobe and curlers, smoking a cigarette -- surely she was there by mistake? This subtle contradiction and subversion of a medium dedicated to idealized fantasy females only hinted at the new ground Los Bros Hernandez would pave in the years to come. In 2001, 20 years after brothers Gilbert, Jaime and Mario Hernandez completed the magazine-sized LOVE & ROCKETS #1, and five years after its initial 50-issue run was completed, LOVE & ROCKETS returns to introduce Los Bros' work to a new generation of fans entering a new millennium. In January, Fantagraphics Books is proud to present the all-new LOVE & ROCKETS Vol. 2 #1, a quarterly, comic-sized return to perhaps the greatest alternative comic book of all-time. LOVE & ROCKETS Vol. 2 will include three stories per issue. Leading off will be Jaime's "Maggie,” returning his most popular character, Maggie Chascarillo, to the spotlight. LOVE & ROCKETS Vol. 2 #1 finds Maggie staring her life afresh, newly divorced, and with a clean slate in terms of work, relationships, and other obligations. Hernandez says the timing of LOVE & ROCKETS V.2 #1 and Maggie's new start is no coincidence. "I'm going into it with the same frame of mind that Maggie is. We're starting fresh, with no continuity, really, just like it was with the original LOVE & ROCKETS #1,” says Jaime. "Maggie has no idea what she's in for, because even I don't, really. Maggie has a way of writing herself, and in that sense we're both in for an adventure.” In addition to LOVE & ROCKETS, Jaime plans to continue his successful PENNY CENTURY series with at least one issue a year. The series has won four Harvey Awards, including "Best Cartoonist,” "Best New Series,” and "Best Single Issue" between 1998-2000. PENNY CENTURY will continue to spotlight Jaime's extended cast of characters, with Maggie being the focus of LOVE & ROCKETS. “I still have several Ray [Dominguez] and Penny [Century] stories to tell, and they seem to fit more in spirit with the PENNY series. But Maggie is LOVE & ROCKETS all the way.” Brother Gilbert's initial solo contribution to LOVE & ROCKETS Vol. 2 will be "Julio's Day,” a serialized graphic novel featuring all-new characters that Gilbert says will be retired upon completion of this story. The creator of the venerable "Heartbreak Soup" stories from the original L&R is, at least initially, heading in a much different direction this time around. "For a long time I've wanted to do a graphic novel where I only use the characters once, with no continuity. So, `Julio's Day' will run approximately 100 pages and then the cast will never be seen again,” says Gilbert. The story follows the life of a man from his birth in 1900 to his death in 2000. Asked to elaborate on the story, Gilbert would only wryly say, "Years ago, MAUS raised the bar for graphic novels. I'm gonna raise it higher.” Like his brother, Gilbert also has no plans to discontinue his current ongoing solo series, LUBA, although it will likely come out no more than once a year. In addition to LUBA and LOVE & ROCKETS, Gilbert will also debut his five-issue miniseries GRIP from DC's Vertigo imprint in 2001. LOVE & ROCKETS Vol. 2 will be rounded out with "Me For The Unknown,” a collaboration between third brother Mario (the writer) and Gilbert (the artist). "This is going to be an adventure strip,” says Gilbert, "not unlike some of our early collaborations on the `Tales of Somnopolis' strips from MR. X. It's about political intrigue, dumping on the little guy, psychosis, and violent revenge. It's a return to some of our earlier roots, you could say.” In 1981, COMICS JOURNAL Publishers Gary Groth and Kim Thompson decided to start a new line of comics under the Fantagraphics imprint. The goal was to give artists complete freedom and ownership over their creations, and to create a line of comics that lived up to the JOURNAL's exacting standards of artistic excellence. The line's first ongoing series was LOVE & ROCKETS. Now, in 2001, 25 years after the COMICS JOURNAL's debut in 1976, those standards of excellence are set to be redefined for a new generation of readers. LOVE & ROCKETS Vol. 2 will finally present Los Bros' work in the format they have long deserved: deluxe paper and cardstock covers (a la EIGHTBALL), in the comic-sized format retailers craved for during the original series' magazine-sized run. The 32-page quarterly comic will sell for $3.95 ($5.95 in Canada). Praise for Gilbert & Jaime Hernandez's original Love & Rockets: “… Love & Rockets is a high point in the comics form, conventional in idiom, but not comparable to any strips before it.” — The Washington Post "The black and white drawings of both artists are consistently impressive for their individual stylishness, facility, and imaginative composition.” — Publisher's Weekly "The rough-edged Latin American minimalist, stylized black and white comic strips have been widely described as the graphic equivalent to the fabulism of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, the Nobel laureate.” — The Times of London "Love & Rockets has been American fiction's best-kept secret_ the quarterly comic chronicles the development of two different Hispanic communities_ sometimes tragic and never forgettable_ Fine art and storytelling make Love & Rockets a benchmark of what's good.” — Rolling Stone “[Love & Rockets] is brilliant.” — Alan Moore, author of From Hell "Love & Rockets is unique in refusing to glorify or vilify people on the basis of their age, race or sex. It is hopeful without playing Pollyanna.” — Utne Reader "Love & Rockets paints sex straight, gay and all shades in between, violent, desperate, needed and natural.” — New Musical Express “[The] stories work on every level: as engrossing kid stuff, as ironic adult stuff, and as an analysis of the way various degrees of love, on a scale of infatuation/lust to romance/commitment, can be portrayed in a comic book.” — The Village Voice "The Hernandez Brothers are uncanny. No other man in or out of the field understands women the way they do. (And they ain't half bad storytellers either!) Love & Rockets is the one book I always recommend to my female friends who've never read a comic before.” — Trina Robbins, author of A Century of Women Cartoonists “[Love & Rockets] is the most eloquent statement that's ever been done about growing up in [Latin American] culture. I've never seen anything else in comics — I guess there might be something in literature — but in comics there's never been anybody that's touched what they have.” — Robert Crumb, legendary underground cartoonist "C'est une merveille.” — Moebius, legendary French cartoonist "If you've never heard of Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez, you've been missing out on two of the hidden treasures of our impoverished culture.” — The Nation "Love & Rockets honed the cutting-edge of comics and cut a swath for the rest to follow.” — The Stranger "Jaime's Maggie and Gilbert's Luba are two of the great characters in contemporary American fiction.” — The LA Weekly +++++ From Rich Johnston's ALL THE RAGE Gossip Column at: http://www.SilverBulletComicBooks.com. Twitchy Reflex Action Brian Michael Bendis, writer of AKA Goldfish, Jinx, Torso, Fortune And Glory, Ultimate Spider-Man, Hellspawn, and Sam And Twitch is set to drop the last two. We hear reports that Bendis does not work for McFarlane Productions anymore. Internal rumours suggest that Bendis' heavy workload saw him drop the Hellspawn book and subsequently had the Sam And Twitch book taken away. It is not known if the Sam And Twitch book will be cancelled or not. I contacted Bendis but did not receive a reply. I've been snubbed, I tell you. Snubbed! This Has A Rumour Value Of 6 Out Of 10 Your Man Not At Marvel There's been speculation as to whether Chris Claremont will leave both X-books or remain on one. Certainly, the original rumour I printed said he'd stay on one, and other sources since have backed that up. No longer, Bill Rosemann at Your Man At Marvel slipped into a reply about Claremont's position at Marvel the news "Chris Claremont will indeed be stepping aside from writing both X-MEN and UNCANNY X-MEN.” Well, considering Bill Rosemann told me that the rumours I first reported about Chris' departure were ridiculous, it's good to see he's finally come round. This Has A Rumour Value Of 8 Out Of 10 Labyrinthian Rumours I hear rumour of a new imprint from Top Cow called Minotaur. Publishing creator-owned concepts, this will include Warren Ellis' Down and Gary Frank's Kin... amongst others. I contacted Top Cow for comment ­ but received no response. I'm starting to feel a pattern here. This Has A Rumour Value Of 7 Out Of 10 Millar's Busy Time Mark Millar is a busy boy! Currently moving offices, he sent an industry-wide e-mail out, that included a few details about his writing current projects. He's finished writing his TV series Sikeside nice and early, reckons the script for Jenny Sparks: The Secret History Of The Authority #5 will be ready early this week, that Frank Quitely has the beginnings of a new script ready when he's finished the current Authority issue, he's finished plotting X-Men 2, will have a finished script ready next week well in time for Andy Kubert's schedule, he's getting a lot of stuff ready for Mike Macca (anyone know what this is?) and he's giving Andy Diggle of 2000AD the run around for an old royalty cheque. No wonder he's rumoured to have turned down so many other projects! Go Marky! This Has A Rumour Value Of 9 Out Of 10 Diamond In The Rough I was forwarded an e-mail that Diamond UK sent out to comics retailers. It goes "Over the past six months, we have been reviewing the movement in the currency exchange rate between the Pound and the US Dollar and this has forced us to look at the prices that we have to charge in respect of all our US imported items." "In addition, we have also suffered this year from higher freight costs as a result of world wide fuel price increases." "It is for these reasons that we are taking this opportunity to announce our new prices set out on the attached schedule, which will be applied with effect from 1 October 2000 in relation to all products. May we take this opportunity to thank you for your on-going custom which we greatly value and we look forward to continuing to work with you in the future." Basically, the prices seem to have gone up by about 20%. Which is one hell of a hike, especially on product that's already been ordered before the price hike. A lot of UK comic shops have gone into headless chicken mode, trying to find money to pay the new higher bills they'll be getting. Watch for a lot of Autumn Sales going on in the next few weeks. Bigger shops might not feel the pinch as much, as they already get better discounts from Diamond and this won't affect them as much. One shop employee in London I talked to told me that they might just add 5 pence to the price of everything and eat the rest of the increase. But this won't be a viable option for everyone. The thing is, the pound/dollar ratio for the last few years has been very heavily weighted towards the pound, but I don't recall any reduction in the price of comics when that was happening_ This Has A Rumour Value Of 7 Out Of 10 +++++ From Beau Yarbrough's Comic Wire at: http://www.comicbookresources.com/ BENDIS CONFIRMS 'SAM & TWITCH,' 'HELLSPAWN' DEPARTURES Brian Michael Bendis is leaving the comic that made him a mainstream star, the writer announced Monday night. Bendis, who won an Eisner award for his "Jinx" crime comic, is leaving Spawn spin-off "Sam & Twitch," as well Spawn title "Hellspawn," confirming a rumor that first surfaced Sunday, in Rich Johnston's "All the Rage" column at Silver Bullet Comics. "Hi," Bendis' online announcement to comic news sites and discussion groups read. "I am no longer working on 'Hellspawn' or 'Sam & Twitch.' My last issues will be 'Sam & Twitch' #19 and 'Hellspawn' #7. My work on these scripts is completed. "I genuinely feel the work I did on the [Todd McFarlane Productions] books was up there with some of my best and I hope you all continue to support my work on those titles as they ship over the months." "Sam & Twitch" #15 ships to stores this week, and "Hellspawn" #1 debuted several weeks ago. "Let me clearly say that this turn of events in no way impacts my relationship with Image Central. It was [Image publisher] Jim Valentino who brought me into Image many years ago. Way before I was courted by TMP, and I am happy to say my relationship with Image remains as strong and positive as it ever has. [Bendis' creator-owned Image Comic] 'Powers,' along with my assorted collected works and future projects, will continue unabated. "I had a great time at TMP. It was a fun couple of years and it certainly helped to open up many other doors for me." Bendis' success with "Sam & Twitch," which stars the police detectives who originally appeared as supporting characters in "Spawn," lead to him being named the writer of Marvel Comics' much-watched "Ultimate Spider-Man" comic relaunching Spider-Man for a mainstream 21st century audience. "That said, I hope you will respect my wishes to not discuss this further. This announcement is complete. I can't think of much else to say on the subject and do not want to become a party to any useless rumor, gossip or innuendo. I would rather take a higher road and look to the incredibly exciting future. "Over the next month or so you will be hearing what I have on the horizon, and you will weep openly with excitement. And that ain't hype, my friends." DC ON 'PLANETARY' DELAYS, 'DANGER GIRL' SLIPS Frustrated fans of DC/Wildstorm's "Planetary" series have been waiting for issue 12 at least since its stated September 13 ship date. So what happened? A DC Comics representative told the Comic Wire the book has been delayed for two reasons: Creators Warren Ellis and John Cassaday have been busy working on the "Batman/Planetary: Night on Earth" special, but illness has also slowed the book down. Work on the book is reportedly "back on track" now, and issue 12 is now scheduled for a November 1 street date. And in news that will surprise, frankly, no one, DC announced Wednesday that chronically tardy Cliffhanger series "Danger Girl" will miss the scheduled ship date for its year-in-the-making issue #7. Most recently solicited for October 25, it has now been given a November 15 ship date. +++++ From the Comics Continuum at http://www.comicscontinuum.com/: BATMAN BEYOND: RETURN OF THE JOKER DELAYED Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, the straight-to-video[Image] animated movie, has been delayed from its announced Oct. 24 release to December. A publicity representative for the video confirmed the new release would be during the holiday season but could not confirm a date. Retail web sites such as Amazon.com are listing the film's release as Tuesday, Dec. 12. According to the representative, the film's delay is for added features for the DVD and to make it a holiday release. An official press release on when Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker will reach stores is expected soon. Internet speculation over the weekend has been that Warner Bros., possibly under the recent pressure in Hollywood not to market adult material towards children, is also making cuts in the film to make it less edgy and more kid friendly. Asked by The Continuum about potential cuts, Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker producer/writer Paul Dini said, "No comment." In a video previewing the film's release, it's noted that the Batman Beyond television series is the No. 1 show among boys 6 to 11 and more than 10 million children watch the show every week. The movie's promotion, WB notes, will have more than 1 billion consumer impressions, including a minimum of 50 spots per week on Kids' WB!. Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker action figures are already in stores. NILES TO REPLACE BENDIS ON SAM & TWITCH, HELLSPAWN? Beau Smith of Todd McFarlane Productions told The Continuum that Steve Niles will be the likely replacement for Brian Michael Bendis on Sam and Twitch and Hellspawn. Bendis announced Monday night that he is leaving as writer of the two titles. "Brian is a class act all the way," Smith said. "They really don't come any better. Our loss is everyone else's gain for sure. "Steve Niles will be taking up the two books as far as I know. I'm not sure when since Brian has always worked ahead of deadline. Nothing official as far as Niles, but it looks like his name in the batting order." Niles has written Spawn: The Dark Ages and Spawn. NEW STATIC SHOCK EPISODE A new episode of Static Shock, "The Breed," will air this Saturday on Kids' WB!. The episode was written by Christopher Simmons and directed by Milestone's Denys Cowan. Simmons provided The Continuum with details of the episode. "A friend of Virgil's, a track athlete, has been transformed by the Big Bang into an energy being," Simmons said. "And Ebon, the leader of the malevolent, super-powered Meta-Breed, recruits the frightened and confused energy being. It's up to Static to convince his friend to resist joining the Meta-Breed before he lives to regret it. Of course, Ebon's not too happy about Static's interference. "Ebon's a stone-cold, super-powered Fagin, and quite formidable and dangerous. Static will really have his hands full with him." CCH Pounder and Meshach Taylor provide guest voices in "The Breed." X-MEN: EVOLUTION UPDATE The first episode of Kids' WB!'s X-Men: Evolution animated series returned from overseas to Film Roman last week. The episode, "Strategy X," was written by series story editor Bob Forward. The second episode is expected from overseas this week. X-Men: Evolution is tentatively targeted to begin on Saturday, Nov. 4, and production is in shape to deliver on time. It is expected that new episodes will air throughout November and perhaps into early December. Thirteen episodes of X-Men: Evolution are being produced for the first season. +++++ From Comics2Film at http://www.comics2film.com SUPERNATURAL LAW ---------------- Michael McCullers (Austin Powers) will rewrite the screenplay for the movie version of Batton Lash's Supernatural Law. Harald Zwart is set to direct. http://www.cinescape.com/ FROM HELL --------- Eddie Campbell's website has new info on the FROM HELL movie. Interior scenes are now being filmed in England. The site also has some photos from the previous shooting in Prague. http://www.eddiecampbellcomics.com/ http://www.darkhorizons.com/ +++++ From The Daily Buzz at http://www.mania.com/newsarama/index.html Myer's Model Role Austin Powers' Mike Myers is working on a comedy feature based on fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi's three-part comic book series, The Adventures of Sandee the Supermodel. DreamWorks is searching for a writer for the project that Myers will hopefully star in. Mizrahi wrote and William Frawley illustrated the Sandee comic book series, which followed a woman's rise through the fashion industry. Myers would play the book's fictional fashion-designer, Yvesaac, who is modeled after Mizrahi. --The Hollywood Reporter Raimi: Spidey Status Report Director Sam Raimi spoke to the Popcorn website about the progress on his next project, the big-screen adaptation of Spider-Man. Raimi remarked that he and the Spider-Man crew are "working in every phase of production you can imagine." This includes finalizing script revisions, casting, scouting locations in Los Angeles and New York and setting up sound stages and sets. According to Raimi, Tobey Maguire is undergoing a great physical transformation to portray Peter Parker and his super-heroic counterpart. Raimi says that a climbing expert, a physical trainer, and a martial arts expert are helping the young Cider House Rules star to perfect his "spider-type moves." Raimi praises Maguire, saying that he "has a good heart and when you look into Tobey's eyes, he's really true. The thing that made [Peter Parker] so popular is that Peter Parker is a good person and Tobey is a good person, so I think it's going to work." --Popcorn.co.uk +++++ From Newsarama; http://www.Fandom.com/comics/ WINNER OF THE 1997 & 1998 INTERNET "SQUIDDY" FOR BEST WEB SITE MORE ON HULK SMASH Your Man @ Marvel reports a little more on the upcoming Hulk Smash by Garth Ennis and John McCrea. In today`s column, YM went on at length about the two issue miniseries, and how at its heart, it`s an Ennis-style soldier story: Hulk Smash, as much as it explores the green goliath in his primal state, also examines the life of a soldier named Patrick D. Mitchell. Patrick`s father was awarded the Silver Star for his service in Viet Nam. His grandfather died during General Patton`s drive to the Rhine during World War II. It`s even rumored that one of his relatives charged up San Juan Hill with Theodore Roosevelt. But soon, it will be Patrick`s turn to face his destiny. Shortly, his company in the U.S. Army`s 29th Infantry will lock and load, say their prayers, and face down the living engine of destruction known as the Hulk. And under the blazing sun of the Nevada desert, Mitchell will feel the cool grip of Death around his throat -- and the breath of the strongest creature ever to walk the Earth on his neck. Patrick D. Mitchell is a lieutenant. But in Hulk Smash, he just may learn what it means to be a soldier." YEOWELL ILLUSTRATES WAID`S JOHN DOE A few weeks ago we told you about Mark Waid's next Gorilla property, debuting as a five-page "bonus" story in December's Section Zero #5, John Doe. This week, Waid told us who he's found to illustrate the "gritty crime drama"… it's Steve Yeowell, artist of Grant Morrison's UK title Zenith, and Vertigo's Totems (as well as many other works). In case you missed it, according to Waid, "John Doe is based on this very real but strange fact: that off the coast of Manhattan, there exists an island where NYC buries all unidentified crime and accident victims. John Doe is himself an anonymous wanderer who believes that no one should die without a name, totally forgotten, so he`s laboriously going from headstone to headstone on that island doing detective work to ID each victim one at a time - one victim per adventure." ANOTHER CREATOR `WINGS' TO TAMPA?? (RumorMill) And speaking of soon-to-be CrossGen Comics exclusive creators (how's that for a segue way?), Newsarama is hearing rumors of CrossGen's latest addition to their ranks. Word around the virtual watercooler is the Tampa, FL.-based publisher may soon announce the signing of Nightwing's Greg Land to an exclusive contract beginning in January, 2001. RUMORED NEW, THIRD MARVEL ULTIMATE TITLE CONFIRMED Marvel`s Matt Ragone and Bill Jemas confirmed rumors that a new, third Marvel Ultimate title is in development, and as rumored by Newsarama last month, it will be a `team-up'-like title by writer Brian Bendis and various art teams not known for their association with Marvel_at least in recent years. According to a report by the CSNsider website, artists currently in line to illustrate story arcs include Matt Wagner, Dan Brereton, P. Craig Russell, and Mike Allred, as Allred himself hinted at last month. Wagner is reportedly set to pencil the first two-issue arc, featuring the first meeting of the Ultimate versions of Spidey and Wolverine. The title, which does not yet have a formal release date or a title – will apparently allow the publisher to introduce many Marvel characters to the Ultimate audience. And as Bill Rosemann told Newsarama on Tuesday afternoon, this new title could also provide stories to be reprinted after publication in their own direct market comic in future issues of Ultimate Marvel Magazine along with the regularly-scheduled Spider-man and X-Men issues. MORE ULTIMATE MARVEL "TEAM-UP" ARTISTS NAMED A bevy of new names have been added to the line-up of artists Brian Bendis will collaborate with on his new untitled, Ultimate `team-up' title, which will reportedly launch in the spring of 2001. Joining the previously announced Matt Wagner, (who will draw the first two-part team up of Ultimate Wolverine and Spider-Man), P. Craig Russell (who will draw Doc Strange), Dan Brereton and Mike Allred will be Dave Gibbons, who will draw a team-up with the Fantastic Four, Mike Oeming (Captain America), Phil Jiminez, Bill Sienkiewicz, Jim Mahfood, John Romita Sr., Terry Moore, Steve Rude and John Totleben, this according to Wizardworld.com. Character assignments and schedules for the 1 to 2 issues team-ups have not been determined, unless otherwise noted_ +++++ From Zentertainment; HTTP://WWW.ZENTERTAINMENT.COM To sign a friend up or begin receiving ZEN yourself, e-mail: subscribe@ZENtertainment.com 'PUNISHER' TO CONTINUE AT MARVEL WIZARD Magazine reports MARVEL Comics' 12-issue PUNISHER miniseries will continue as an on-going series. The creative team of Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon will remain with the book for at least its first six issues. http://www.wizardworld.com JONATHAN TO STAR IN 'BUFFY' ONE-SHOT According to COMICS NEWSARAMA, DARK HORSE Comics is planning a BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER one-shot featuring recurring character Jonathan for release next January. The tale, written by Jane Espenson, is a prequel to last season's "Superstar," episode of BUFFY, which Espenson wrote, in which Jonathan made a deal with a demon to be popular. http://www.dhorse.com +++++ From the DCOnline newsletter; http://www.dccomics.com/newsletter.html To subscribe, or for questions or comments about the DC newsletter, please email DCWebSite@aol.com. DC ANNOUNCES THE FULL CREATIVE ROSTER FOR SUPERMAN & BATMAN: WORLD'S FUNNEST At the time of solicitation, DC announced only a partial roster of the wide array of artists contributing to the SUPERMAN & BATMAN: WORLD'S FUNNEST Prestige format one-shot written by Evan Dorkin (SUPERMAN ADVENTURES, Milk & Cheese, Space Ghost: Coast-to-Coast). Taking cues from classic Silver Age WORLD'S FINEST Superman and Batman stories, our heroes' superheroic activities are interrupted by their pesky mystical opponents: Mr. Mxyzptlk and Bat-Mite. But the comedy turns very, very dark as the imps accidentally kill our heroes in an Elseworlds saga that takes them on a destructive rampage through nearly every universe and style DC has ever published. Featuring colors by Chris Chuckry and lettering by Tom Orzechowski, WORLD'S FUNNEST showcases an astonishing lineup of artists who bring their distinctive interpretations of the imps to life, even while putting whole universes to death. Alex Ross paints the realistically-rendered world of KINGDOM COME (for what he has claimed will be the final time) while Frank Miller says knighty-knight to the world of THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS. Dave Gibbons shreds the Silver Age of Comics! The merciless moppets show the CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS what destroying universes is really all about in a sequence illustrated by Phil Jimenez, while the "Fourth World" becomes a lost world courtesy of David Mazzucchelli! And that's just the beginning! DC is now proud to unveil the complete list of all-star contributors to this implosion of comic-book chaos: Mike Allred Brian Bolland Frank Cho Stephen DeStefano Dave Gibbons Joe Giella Jaime Hernandez Stuart Immonen Phil Jimenez Doug Mahnke David Mazzuchelli Frank Miller Sheldon Moldoff Glen Murakami Norm Rapmund Alex Ross Scott Shaw! Jay Stephens Ty Templeton Bruce Timm Jim Woodring SUPERMAN & BATMAN: WORLD'S FUNNEST (SEP00 0495) is edited by Joey Cavalieri. It arrives in comic-book shops on November 1 with a cover price of $6.95 U.S. ********** ONLINE PREVIEW OF JLA: A LEAGUE OF ONE AVAILABLE AT DCCOMICS.COM When Wonder Woman goes to the infallible Amazon oracle and learns that the JLA is destined to die in battle against an ancient dragon, she must make the most difficult decision of her life -- embarking on a terrible, unwinnable quest to thwart fate, putting her at odds with those she loves most. JLA: A LEAGUE OF ONE is a breathtaking visual feast, an original hardcover written and fully painted by the brilliantly gifted Christopher Moeller (SHEVA'S WAR). In support of this stunning project, DC offers an online preview available for perusal at the following weblink: www.dccomics.com/features/jla_one/jla_one2.html. Don't miss out on one of the finest hardcover graphic novels of 2000! JLA: A LEAGUE OF ONE (SEP00 0510) arrives in comic-book shops on November 29. ********** DELAYED DC DIRECT ACTION FIGURES ARE ORDER ADJUSTABLE Retailers, please note that the MR. MIRACLE/BIG BARDA DELUXE ACTION FIGURE SET (APR00 0271) has been delayed and will be arriving for a December 6 in-store date. Additionally, the DC DIRECT assortment of "Amazing Androids," including the HOURMAN (MAR00 0248), TOMORROW WOMAN (MAR00 0249), and AMAZO (MAR00 0250) action figures, has been delayed until November 8. These action figures are Order Adjustable in the September 20 issue of Diamond Dateline. Orders may be adjusted through September 29. ********** 48 YEARS, 6 MONTHS, & 3 DAYS OF MAD MAGAZINE COVERS COLLECTED IN FANCY PAPERBACK TO THE DISMAY OF MILLIONS MAD was launched in 1952 as a ten-cent comic book. Although it would transform into a twenty-five-cent (cheap!) magazine three years later, one thing remained constant: every issue had a cover. Collected here for the first time are all 400 of those covers in one easy-to-dispose-of volume. Mad: Cover To Cover is a 50-year roundup of MAD humor from its humble inception right up to the present as it celebrates its 400th issue. Complete with running commentary by Frank Jacobs, MAD's poet laureate, here is an inside look at the outside of MAD, including: The secret origins of Alfred E. Neuman! The artists behind the covers, including Norman Mingo, Kelly Freas, Richard Williams, Mort Drucker, chimpanzee J. Fred Muggs, and Leonardo da Vinci! Behind-the-scenes stories! Rare, never-before-seen art, photos, and sketches! Page numbers! Library of Congress catalog information! ISBN and bar codes! and more! Mad: Cover To Cover is a 224 pg. paperback by "The Usual Gang of Idiots," and is published by Watson-Guptill Publication and available from Diamond (AUG00 2322). ********** WILL EISNER'S DROPSIE AVENUE TO SHIP IN NOVEMBER Will Eisner's DROPSIE AVENUE: THE NEIGHBORHOOD SC (SEP00 5004) is being rush-solicited; orders are being taken now for Eisner's graphic novel detailing 500 years in the life of the New York neighborhood featured in the seminal A CONTRACT WITH GOD. Copies are available for order until Monday, November 6 and will arrive in comic-book stores on November 15th. It will be relisted in Previews at a later date. ********** EARLY SHIPPING ITEMS SHAZAM! DELUXE ACTION FIGURE SET (DC DIRECT) 09/27 IMPULSE ACTION FIGURE (DC DIRECT) 10/11 KID FLASH ACTION FIGURE (DC DIRECT) 10/11 MAX MERCURY ACTION FIGURE (DC DIRECT) 10/11 ********** LATE SHIPPING ITEMS JLA: HEAVEN'S LADDER 10/11 THE POWERPUFF GIRLS: DOUBLE WHAMMY #1 10/11 JLA #47 10/18 STATIC SHOCK!: TRIAL BY FIRE TP 10/18 HELLBLAZER #155 11/01 RACER X #3 11/01 STEAMPUNK #6 11/01 NEWS FROM THE MAINSTREAM PRESS The Onion reviewed THE REMARKABLE WORLDS OF PHINEAS B. FUDDLE on August 24, saying "it further suggests that there ought to be more than spandex binding the worlds of comics and film." Scott McCloud's REINVENTING COMICS was reviewed in Detroit, MI's Metro Times on August 23, calling it "a must-have stack of paper for any comics enthusiast." Editor Emeritus Julius Schwartz' autobiography Man of Two Worlds was reviewed in the August 20 Colorado Springs Gazette. Ebay Magazine's October 2000 issue makes special mention of the Superman: The Complete History, the Superman Masterpiece Edition, and the Batman Masterpiece Edition as well as talking about the upcoming Wonder Woman: The Complete History. PROMETHEA BOOK ONE, TOM STRONG BOOK ONE and ADVENTURES IN THE RIFLE BRIGADE were reviewed in the September 3 Syracuse, NY Herald-American.. The history of Green Lantern was featured in the August 25 Orlando, FL Sentinel. NEWS FROM THE TRADE PRESS Comic Shop News Fall Preview features the AMERICA'S BEST BEST COMICS SPECIAL #1, as well as reporting on developments in the Batman monthly titles, the CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS TP, the WILDSTORM "Devil's Night" Annuals, GREEN LANTERN/SUPERMAN: LEGENDS OF THE GREEN FLAME, JLA: A LEAGUE OF ONE HC, JLA/WITCHBLADE, Will Eisner's MINOR MIRACLES, OUTLAW NATION, PREACHER: DEAD OR ALIVE -- THE COLLECTED COVERS HC, ROBIN: YEAR ONE, upcoming STAR TREK(R) titles from WILDSTORM, SUPERMAN: LEX 2000, SUPERMAN: MANN & SUPERMAN, and SUPERMAN & BATMAN: WORLD'S FUNNEST as new and noteworthy projects coming soon from DC. Wizard #110 reports on Joe Casey's upcoming writing duties on ADVENTURES IN SUPERMAN, as well as giving BIRDS OF PREY a "Thumbs Up," saying "few comics give consistent high-octane, tense action like this one." Also featured is a "News & Notes Special Report" focusing on BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN!, showing never-before-seen preliminary character designs from the upcoming Frank Miller project; a JLA feature spotlighting the upcoming creative team of Mark Waid, Bryan Hitch and Paul Neary with preview images of JLA: HEAVEN'S LADDER; and the "Murder, Inc." feature interviewing crime-flavored writers Greg Rucka, Brian Azzarello and Ed Brubaker. Also included is a dream "Casting Call" for a GREEN LANTERN feature film by Judd Winick; and a "Basic Training" art instruction by WONDER WOMAN writer/artist Phil Jimenez. WARRING NIGHTMARES BRING THE DREAMING TO A CLOSE WHILE THE SANDMAN CONTINUES TO PRESENT VERTIGO favorite THE DREAMING, with its eclectic characters gleaned from literature and ghost tales, will come to a close with its final storyline "Bad Dreams," solicited in Previews Vol. X #10 for release this December. But VERTIGO's exploration of the ethereal land of the Dreaming does not end here; THE SANDMAN PRESENTS line of character-focused titles will become more of a presence than ever as they unify into an ongoing release of miniseries and special projects. VERTIGO Executive Editor Karen Berger said, "Our exploration of THE SANDMAN mythos expands with this change as we plan to explore even more characters and develop more deeply their stories." THE DREAMING writer Caitlin R. Kiernan says: "For me, finishing THE DREAMING is like coming home again from a very long trip to a strange and wonderful place." The 4-part story, arriving in stores in December, begins with issue #57, as Echo makes a play to retain the Corinthian's mantle of "Nightmare." Stirring the forces of Nightmare to revolt within the Dreaming, Echo enlists the aid of nightmares Brute and Glob to capture Abel as bait to snatch members for her Nightmare Army. It's up to Abel's pet gargoyle Goldie to contact the House of Mystery caretaker Cain, last seen in issue #50. According to THE DREAMING Editor Shelly Bond, "Many months ago, Neil Gaiman, Karen Berger, Cait and I thought that it would be best to bring THE DREAMING to a close at issue #60. The monthly series became more and more confining as a format, and in the spirit of THE SANDMAN, we decided to work toward a satisfying conclusion. This gave Caitlin and regular artists Christian Hojgaard and Ron Randall ample time to orchestrate a compelling finishing point to a series that really deserved solid closure." Writer Caitlin R. Kiernan's explosive choreography of the coming Nightmare War will forever change the mercurial landscape of THE DREAMING and open new pages for new writers and artists to explore THE SANDMAN mythos in a new monthly series of THE SANDMAN PRESENTS miniseries and specials. Continuing VERTIGO's successful THE SANDMAN PRESENTS (which served as proving ground for the LUCIFER ongoing series), these new THE SANDMAN PRESENTS projects will feature a startling lineup of provocative artists and writers handling their favorite characters from THE SANDMAN and THE DREAMING mythos with covers by award-winning innovator Dave McKean (THE DREAMING, THE SANDMAN, Cages). Beginning this spring, THE SANDMAN PRESENTS will throw its curtains wide with THE SANDMAN PRESENTS: THE DEADBOY DETECTIVES miniseries, a Hardy Boys-meets-Philip-Marlowe detective yarn that combines elements of Harry Potter with a tongue-in-cheek hard-boiled style. Writer Ed Brubaker is joined by Eisner Award-winner Bryan Talbot and Steve Leialoha in a tale guest-starring familiar THE SANDMAN characters Mad Hettie and Hob Gadling. One of the Sandman's former lovers gets the spotlight in THE SANDMAN PRESENTS: THE THESSALIAD, written by Bill Willingham and illustrated by Shawn McManus. Thessaly (from THE SANDMAN: A GAME OF YOU) is known for her ruthless yet practical approach to magic. Find out what transpires when -- for the first time in history -- the most powerful Thessalian witch meets her match. Some important questions are addressed in the 48-page one-shot THE SANDMAN PRESENTS: EVERYTHING YOU'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT DREAMS BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK, written by Bill Willingham with artwork by Kevin Nowlan, Mark Buckingham, Jason Little, Duncan Fegredo and others. This offbeat book addresses several oft-asked questions regarding the nature of Dreams and The Dreaming in a series of humorous vignettes featuring Nuala, Merv, Lucien, Goldie, Gregory, and other inhabitants of the Dreaming. Other projects in development feature such characters as The Corinthian and The Furies. Further details will be announced as they become available. "Bad Dreams," the four-part conclusion of THE DREAMING, begins with issue #57 (OCT00 0601), arriving in comic-book shops December 20th. BATMAN BEYOND/STATIC SHOCK! EPISODE SCHEDULE Warner Bros. Animation has supplied DC with the following air schedule for the animated Batman Beyond and Static Shock! on the WB Network, airing Saturday mornings and on weekday afternoons. All times are Eastern and Pacific: 10/7/00 (10:30 am) -- "The Breed" (Static Shock! -- new) 10/8/00 (11:00 am) -- "Ace in the Hole" (Batman Beyond) Be advised that this schedule is subject to change. ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [5] Interview Tim O'Shea tim_jen@mindspring.com [Tim O'Shea is a 32-year old desktop publisher who lives in Atlanta with his wife and son. Tim, who has been reading comic books on a weekly basis since 1977, thinks he's the only rabid comic book fan who intends never to attend a convention.] Originally posted to: http://www.thecomicreader.com/newsmain.htm Copyright 2000 - The Comic Reader, used with permission Pestering Palmiotti: An E-Interview with Jimmy Palmiotti I want to thank Jimmy Palmiotti for taking the time to answer my slew of questions at a time when many others were clamoring to interview him as well. Jimmy is so busy that he ended up answering my e-mail at 2:45 AM! Once you're done reading this interview and seeing all the plates Jimmy's juggling, I think you'll be as amazed as I was that he found the time for the TCR e-interview at all. --Tim O'Shea, TCR Senior Staff Writer O'SHEA: When you and Joe Quesada co-founded Event Comics, which then led to you two launching the Marvel Knights line (an effort that has proven extremely successful in turning around second-tier Marvel characters), did you ever imagine that all this hard work on both of your parts would prove so effective that one of you ended up editor-in-chief of the whole Marvel line? PALMIOTTI: Well, I guessed we would be able to make some cool comics for Marvel, but the thought of a 9 to 5 job was never on my mind (lol). EIC was never something I ever wanted personally, the Marvel Knights deal was started to help Event with its cash flow and to show people what we could do. Bill Jemas picked a good partner for his time at Marvel Comics with Joe. The EIC job is one that has to answer to a lot of bosses with a hundred problems to deal with a day. I think Joe will do a great job there and really shake things up. It's the kind of thing Joe always wanted I'm guessing. O'SHEA: How much did the level of success and industry respect that MK has garnered taken you by surprise? PALMIOTTI: Yeah, I'm glad we got all the attention for the line, but the real attention has to go to all the great talent that worked with us when we started the line. Without the initial line up, this would have gone the way of HEROES REBORN. Wizard magazine and Gareb Shamus (Wizard's Founder, Chairman and CEO) and Fred Pierce (Wizard President and COO) backed us externally, while Marvel's staff of guys like John Dokes, Matt Ragone, Dan Buckley and Mike Pashullo really pushed us like there was no tomorrow and our interns Justin Grey and Joanne Starer really helped us through the initial launch. Also Nanci Dakesian was essential to the MK launch from day one. O'SHEA: Starting with issue 46 you'll be taking the writing reins of DEADPOOL. In cruising the usenet, I ran across the following comment (http://x54.deja.com/getdoc.xp?AN=654015211&CONTEXT= 967777060.1926103059&hitnum=1) from Fabian Nicieza (co-creator of the character): "I look forward to Jimmy Palmiotti's arc because I have the same gut feeling editor Mike Marts has - that Jimmy has the instincts to be a very good writer -- and Jimmy automatically brings something of DP to the table - the wit and sly turn with a line." That being said, what is your take on the character and do you hope to go in a whole new direction with the book or not? Other than your "wit and sly turn with a line" what do you think your writing can bring to the book? PALMIOTTI: That was nice of Fabian to say, he is a good friend to have and now I owe him a shameless plug sometime! My take on the character is a little more hard-boiled than the reader is used to. It is still a fun book in the Goodfellas/Sin City way. I think new readers can pick up the first issue (46) and get it right away . . . I hope. We got a cool run of different talented people working on the series and I am really trying to work with each person's style as best I can. First up are Paul Chadwick and Ron Randall, next is Mike Lopez then a two-parter with Darick Robertson of TRANSMETROPOLITAN fame. We even got some cool covers from the top painters in the field--Joe Jusko, Paul Chadwick, my pal Kevin Nowlan, Arthur Adams, Darick Robertson and Steve Dillon!!! I am excited. O'SHEA: How were you and/or Mike Marts able to get Paul Chadwick on DEADPOOL with you? The character is seemingly the polar opposite to Chadwick's own CONCRETE series for Dark Horse. PALMIOTTI: Paul Chadwick is a friend and when I was offered the job by Mike, the first person I thought of was Paul. Other than Amanda Connor, he is the best storyteller in comics, hands down and CONCRETE is a masterpiece in my mind. I just asked Paul, explained the whole story to him, got a pause and then a "sounds great" from him. The power of a former editor was still running through me (lol). O'SHEA: What events led up to comics journalist Buddy Scalera becoming assistant writer of DEADPOOL with issue 49? PALMIOTTI: Buddy is a buddy and good friend. He had great ideas and had a hard time breaking into the editor pool, so I thought this would be a fun way to help. He will be a future superstar and I will never let him forget this. We also have a web site (www.brooklynbizarro.com) together with our buddy Joe Delfini. It is not for the kiddies, but it is a fan favorite. It lives up to the name. O'SHEA: How much of a heads-up was Mark Waid (co-creator with you and Amanda Connor of Gatecrasher) able to give you about his CrossGen deal? PALMIOTTI: I knew about Mark's CrossGen thing from almost the very start. He is a close friend and I support whatever he chooses to do with his life. I think it was a brilliant move on CrossGen's part. Mark is a powerhouse of ideas and energy and I think they can really use a guy like Mark. O'SHEA: Mark has already said that he'll be able to stay with the book through the end of its first year. Before his CrossGen exclusivity begins will you three be scrambling trying to plot out past year one? I assume you'll want the book to continue despite Mark's departure. PALMIOTTI: We have already plotted out the first year, all the way till 12, after that I will continue and get some guest writers on the book as well. Mark is key with Gatecrasher, and I will probably keep in contact with him for his guidance. We will miss that man! O'SHEA: You and your fellow Gatecrasher creators entered into an agreement with Mainframe Entertainment to produce a computer-generated animated series based on Gatecrasher. It's still in the early development stages and I know you've already gone on record that you don't want to talk too much about it too early. Nonetheless, given your friendship with movie screenwriter/director (and comic book writer) Kevin Smith, did you learn any lessons or tips from him, particularly given ABC/Disney's mishandling of his too quickly canceled CLERKS animated show? PALMIOTTI: Kevin has a lot of great stories but I think I learned more from the (CLERKS) producer David Mandel on how the inside business works. David was one of the top writers on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O'BRIEN and SEINFELD and one of the coolest people I know. He is the real deal and really interesting and open to sharing his past experiences. Kevin has many stories how the industry f***ed him many times and this CLERKS cartoon is another example, but I found that that is part of the beast. You do you work and hope the next guy doesn't blow it. You've got to learn to let it go, or go down fighting. Kevin has been a good example of the latter. When we made the mainframe deal, we made sure we were involved in all parts of the process, art, stories, etc. I definitely learned a thing or two from those dudes. O'SHEA: Do you think writing for television will be more challenging or just as equally challenging as writing for comics? PALMIOTTI: All equal, though more people will rip through the TV stuff for sure. It's all very exciting. O'SHEA: Last time I mention Mr. Waid, I swear. Would you say writing with Mark has helped strengthen your writing? If yes, how so? PALMIOTTI: Has Mark helped me? I think it is the other way around (lol), only kidding. If it wasn't for his support and background, I would have never had the balls to do this. My only regret is that we didn't have him write all the Event books (lol). I think Mark is a great teacher and can help 90 percent of the people in the biz given the chance. O'SHEA: What existing DC, Marvel or any other comic book company character would you like to take a try at that you've not had a chance to yet? PALMIOTTI: I grew up with MASTER OF KUNG FU (MOKF) and KILLRAVEN at Marvel and now I have something to do with both. I'm currently inking Paul Gulacy on a BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT (LODK) five-part series with Doug Moench writing. It's Batman, not MOKF, but who cares. And one of the last things I put together at Marvel Knights was a KILLRAVEN one-shot that Joe Linsner is writing and drawing, I got to edit the script and look forward to seeing the finished product in a few months. I would love to write a FANTASTIC FOUR story sometime. At D.C, I would love to do some superman and Vertigo stuff. I am currently getting my Batman and JLA fix satisfied. I love the people up at D.C, They're a great bunch to work with--all pros. O'SHEA: What titles are you reading presently that you think deserves more attention from fans and/or the comic press? PALMIOTTI: DEADPOOL, PUNISHER and GATECRASHER deserve all the attention. Oh, and I like 100 BULLETS, RIFLE BRIGADE, CONCRETE, anything by J.G. Jones, David Lapham's stuff, anything by Evan Dorkin and Sarah Dyer, Kevin Nowlan's TOMORROW STORIES, Waid's JLA, and any number of Vertigo titles. Oh and let's not forget the real fun stuff at Top Shelf Comics. I want it all! O'SHEA: Any projects on the horizon for you that I may have not asked you about, or anything else you'd like to discuss? PALMIOTTI: Well, the JLA Elseworlds (JLA: THE SECRET SOCIETY OF SUPER-HEROES) project is out, GATECRASHER is monthly and Amanda is kicking some major booty, Punisher with Garth and Steve is rocking, the LODK starts in November, the Gatecrasher premieres at Cannes in October and I have a web comic coming in January with major movie studio guys behind it. It will be announced in December, that's it really. . . . I'm tired, can I go to sleep now? ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [6] Interview Paul Dale Roberts Silhouet9@aol.com Interview with David Hahn - Creator of Serina Interviewed by: Paul Dale Roberts, Publisher - Jazma Universe Online! Before, I get this interview going. I must thank Brian Peets, owner of A1 Comics. If it wasn't for Brian, I wouldn't have known this incredible comic book existed. Brian is a strong supporter for the indies and because of this, I salute the man! If anyone would like to reach Brian, he can be contacted by email: A1Comics@a-1comics.com or A1Comics@quiknet.com Question: Before we get this interview started, can you tell us something personal about yourself? Your family life, where you were born and raised, what schools you attended? I grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, but currently reside in Portland Oregon with my wife, Robbyn. Question: What was the first comic book you ever read? The first one I remember reading was some horror anthology from the '70's, but I didn't really get into comics until my adult life when I picked up issue # 3 of AKIRA, published by Epic at the time. Question: For people unfamiliar with Serina, can you please tell us something about it? Serina is basically the story of an invisible war between an Egyptian secret society (The Order of Sekhmet), and the architects of an evil, global shadow government. Basically the stories involve conspiracy theories which are crafted around real headlines of the day. The central character, Serina, is a young woman who is a low-ranking member of the Order of Sekhmet. She get's sent all sorts of investigative missions in which she almost inevitably questions the motives of the people she works for. Question: How did you come up with the idea of Serina? Originally, I just wanted an excuse to draw and design all sorts of Egyptian set pieces and costumes. Then it involved into conspiracy types of stories, and I wanted to take the most innocuous news story and turn it into a sinister plot. For example, soda. it has no redeeming value, it just rots your teeth, but it's a billion + dollar a year industry. What if there was a secret ingredient in cola that made you completely lose your short term memory over a period of time? What if, because of that memory loss, you spent more money on things you didn't need? What a powerful way to control people. Question: Tell us something about Serina's sidekick. Her name is Kitra, and she isn't so much as a side kick as she is a...well, I can't really say right now, but she is an itegral part of Serina's past. Question: Let's talk a bit about the artwork, it was fabulous! There was plenty of details and plenty of clarity with each panel. I was quite impressed. Thank you. Actually, a lot of the detail got lost because it looks like the printing got a bit muddy. The two stories in the new book were drawn 2 years apart, so you can see a slight difference in style and story telling. Question: Can you talk a bit about Serina's unique gadgets? I'm afraid that information is classified. Question: Who came up with Serina's unique costume? I developed it myself, but I wish I had kept her in just regular street clothes, rather than design an outfit. I really wanted to get away from the typical comic book look, but in the end, many of my colleague though it's wiser to give her a flashy costume. So I caved. Question: Can you talk a bit about the Mothmen and those triangle shaped UFOs in the night sky? Aha. What I ws doing there was trying to touch upon the Charles Fort/ John Keel notion that we don't run this planet, we only think we do. The true landlords are merely manipulating mankind for their own ends. Question: Are you into Ufology? I am to a degree that I read about the stuff that interests me and inspires me creatively, but I don't subscribe to any particular popular theory that explains ufo's. Question: Do you have a website? If you do what is the URL address? Can we see Serina on your website? Try www.davidhahn.com It's still under construction, but there is some stuff there. Question: How can somebody contact you? The best way is to contact me in my dreams, but you had better be damn convincing. If you can't, try ShogunStudio@cs.com Question: If you were stranded on a desert island, what 3 things would you bring with you and why? A helicopter, a pilot, and my wife. Am I destroying the spirit of the question? Question: Your thoughts on the comic industry? Superheroes are holding this industry down in this country. Too many people think comics are only about superheroes, therefore only for kids. It just astonishes me. An average American will read the Sunday funnies with out giving it a second thought, they'll see crazy, over-the-top action movies, but ask them to pick up a comic and they'll think it's juvenile and only for kids. Madness. Question: Your 3 favorite fictional heroes and why? I don't really have any.....wow. I suck. Question: Your 3 real life heroes and why? My late Father was always an inspiration to me (whether I liked it or not) to be honest and a straight talker. No word mincing. Also, anyone who was ever shot at for the sake of my personal freedoms is a hero to me. Question: What movies, cartoons and TV shows are your favorites? Bladerunner (despite it's MANY flaws), The Empire Srikes Back, Saving Private Ryan, Midnight Cowboy, Office Space, Fight Club (shhhh), The Third Man, Law and Order, the X-files, Jonny Quest. Question: What books do you read? Mostly non-fiction stuff about art, politics, and conspiracies. Question: What are your hobbies and recreational activities? Drawing, drawing, drawing, toy collecting, drawing. Question: What comic books do you read now? I'll read anything that was drawn or written by friends of mine (especially if it's in black and white), which also includes Whiteout, Love and Rockets, Java Town, Box Office Poison, Astronauts in Trouble, and any other on-superhero gem I might find. Question: Where do you want to be in 5 years? 10 years? I want to be living off of the royalties (but still working, mind you) of my creations. No brainer. Question: What are some of your other projects? Now, I am revisiting characters from my first published comics called Private Beach. Originally a 3 issue mini-series from Antarctic Pres, I am now doing Private Beach a a quarterly series starting in Feb 2001 from Slave Labor Graphics. I also do computer illustration and a host of freelance art. Question: When can we expect Serina the Movie? Who will play the character parts? Gee, why is it that people always think that the next step after comics is Hollywood? Why can't comics be an end unto itself as a legitimate art form? Oh, yeah...the money. As far as who will play Serina, I've always imagined Kristen Cloke (as she appeared in Space:Above and Beyond) or maybe Fammke Jansen. Hmmm...there was this girl on the cover of Adbuster magazine a couple years ago that wouldv'e been a perfect Serina, but I don't know who she was. Question: Well, I guess that winds up the interview. Thank you. Is there anything else you would like to say before closing? Thank you so much for this opportunity, Paul. I'm not sure when I will get to do another issue of Serina, but look for Private Beach in February and dig up the Serina and Scenario:A and Private Beach back issues!!! Ciao! ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [7] Bucket Head's Forum George A. Myers thenextlee@hotmail.com BUCKET HEAD'S FORUM: a weekly comics rant It was a crisp Wednesday afternoon, as I strolled into my local comic shop, giddy at the thought of this weeks books waiting patiently on the racks for me. Stepping through the door, I exchanged pleasantries with the shop owner, then quickly made my way to the rack. Grabbing the various titles I read, I paid for the books and left. That night, relaxing in the living room, I cracked open the first book in the stack. It just happened to be JLA, the first part of the recent `Tower of Babel' storyline to be exact. As I read the comic, I found myself increasingly disturbed. This story was already starting to tread down a previous path charted by the writer, Mark Waid. As I read the issues in the months that followed, my initial fears were confirmed. Tower of Babel is nothing more than a knock off, with slight variations, of Waid's JLA: Year One maxi-series of a few years back. Unfortunately, this has become quite popular lately. We're all used to seeing story's and past plots rehashed, but recently the writers of those stories come back and co-opt their own ideas for another book. The originality is slowly seeping out of comics, and will soon be sapped completely dry if these practices continue. In another instance, Fabian Nicieza, a talented writer, and scripter of the popular 90’s team/teen book, `New Warriors', followed in Waid's footsteps. Early in his NW run, Fabian wrote a story in which team member Marvel Boy was convicted of negligent homicide, after using his powers to kill his father in self-defense. He served jail time, but came out of it for the better, taking a new name (Justice) and exhibiting far better control over his powers. Now, Nicieza is writing the popular `Thunderbolts' comic. Recently in the pages of that comic, team member Mach-1 turned himself over to police in a show of good faith (much the same way Justice did when the Warrior's tried to intercede on his behalf). Mach-1 then served in prison, and helped overturn a prison riot, surprisingly, just as Justice did. Throughout various other books (for another example, Chris Claremont used basically the same plot as the X-Tinction agenda in a few issues of FF) , the same thing has occurred. Professional, gifted writers re-use or re-hash past stories, making minor changes and expecting readers to see something completely new. Is this what we're doomed to look forward to? Are we going to be forced to read `updated' versions of every comic story from the 70’s and 80’s? Hopefully not, companies such as Wildstorm and Black Bull have taken a fresh spin on super-heroes and their lives (check out the Authority for one of the best examples). Ironically enough, one of those books (Gatecrasher from Black Bull) is written by none other than Mark Waid. So what's the deal, why the redo`s? Here's my theory: Mark Waid, Fabian Nicieza, and even Chris Claremont (recently reinstated writer of X-MEN and UNCANNY X-MEN) have been in the industry for quite some time. They've each written quite a few comics, and when it comes to that, sometimes writers get...complacent. This isn't true for everything they write mind you; I could cite recent examples for each man that might contradict my argument. The root of the problem is: longtime writers become too familiar with characters, in essence, they feel they've, 'done it all', and therefore have a harder time popping up with fresh ideas. However, one plain truth is evident, they have exhibited a tendency to `fall back' on past ideas, maybe fiddle with them a little, tweak something, perfect it, but no matter what the change, a rose is still a rose, and these stories HAVE BEEN DONE. As they surpassed former stars (guys like Roy Thomas, Mark Greunwald, Dennis O'Neil, etc.) , so a new generation rises up to overtake them. Ennis, Dillon, Ellis, Straczynski, Bachalo, Dixon, McDaniel, and so on. Nobody in comics EVER fades away, and they shouldn't. Comics are an art form just like anything else. But like any art, the popular form is set by the new-comers, and these guys certainly have the spark. Garth Ennis ultra-violent Vertigo comic, Preacher (just ended as this is being written) has been hailed as one of the greatest comic series ever. Steve Dillon's pencils to accompany Garth's writing made for a perfect combo, bringing a fresh style to penciling not seen before. Warren Ellis initial 12 issue run on Authority read like the perfect super hero saga, world threatening menaces actually WERE world threatening. J. Michael Straczynski's `Rising Stars' burst onto the comics scene, making like a modern day `Watchmen`, and indeed in many ways, surpasses that comics benchmark. And so on down the list, each name listed and many others not mentioned are the up and coming stars. So let's review, shall we? Should we ditch guys like Waid and Nicieza? Should they stop writing stories altogether? Is using an old plot really that bad? No and No to the first two, but a definite yes to the last. Waid, Nicieza, and others of that group still have hundreds, thousands of great comics in them, but you can expect to see many elements of past stories in their writing, not a bad thing really (but remember kids, it`s only okay if they don`t out and out COPY stuff) , but certainly not super exciting. On the other hand, guys like Ennis and Ellis broke the barrier, the old to the new so to speak. Now people like Brian Michael Bendis, J. Michael Straczynski, Joe Kelly etc. are walking through that barrier, into careers themselves. They haven't been writing mainstream as long as the `old guard`, haven't had the attention or chance to put their best ideas down yet. Well, they've certainly got it now. These new stars are coming into their own light folks, I say, let em' shine. ______________________________________________________________________ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [8] Comics Culture Shrapnel Kris Naudus Krissy80@aol.com [Kris Naudus is a full-time student at New York University, founder of the Justice League of Stuyvesant, part-time Amazonian warrior and