Big happenings with the column this week. I’ve got WonderCon announcements, two controversies, one involving Green Lantern and one involving Micah Wright, yet having nothing to do with Stormwatch. But lest you might worry that you are reading a different column then you are used to, there is a Superman/Batman article to keep this edition of DCNV feeling as familiar as an old shoe.
All The World is Waiting for You and The Power You Possess, WonderCon
Tons of topics were covered today in the DCU panel including Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Identity Crisis and lots of other series. The summer event Batman: War Games was talked about. Also some newer projects including the upcoming Manhunter and Bloodhound series; as well as archive editions featuring the Charlton heroes were discussed. We’ve got some details and lots of pictures.
Get started with a broad overview of the DC panel atThe Pulse
Actually a little disappointed here. There is not a whole lot new that we haven’t already been made aware of either online or in the pages of Wizard (or some combination therein). There are, fortunately, two kind of cool news items. The first is DC tapping into the Charlton Comics stories from days of yore. I know next to nothing about those characters activities during that era, but I figure DC must have wanted to acquire them for a reason, right? It may not end being something I will buy, but I definitely wouldn’t mind peeking it at some near future time.
The second, of course, is Chaykin’s Challengers of the Unknown miniseries. While the industry might have gone a bit overboard as of late with stories about terrorism, there are few writers that handle paranoia, secret societies and the like as well as Chaykin does. I am intrigued to see how the Challengers, who always struck me as a kind of cousin to the Fantastic Four (and I mean that in a positive manner), will be altered by being birthed from terrorism.
SAN FRANCISCO — DC Comics staged its DC Universe panel at WonderCon on Saturday, with numerous news tidbits coming out of the presentation and subsequent question-and-answer session.
Bulleted points make reading so much easier atComics Continuum
A Godfall trade? But aren’t there roughly a billion issues of that series already in the world?
It’s too bad to hear about Patrick Zircher leaving Nightwing. He, much like Scott McDaniel and Greg Land before him, has done some of his best work on the title. As a man, I have always been more of a follower of writers than of pencillers. However, in this case, I will definitely be looking forward to Zircher’s new project, whatever it might.
And here’s to hoping that the next artist on the title will maintain the level of quality of the trio that has preceded him. (Yes, I know I am forgetting Trevor McCarthy. That is, as they say, by design).
Saturday’s DCU panel at WonderCon allowed for a handful of announcements, but as always, the meat comes in the Q&A with the creators. On with the show.
Kicking it Q&A style at Newsarama
Ahh, I can take a sigh of relief. Rucka’s announcement that any declaration of the demise (ooh, alliteration) of Gotham Central is premature is a relief. We still have to hunt down another 10-20 thousand readers just to be on the safe side, but it is nice to know that the title has some breathing room.
The most interesting part of this piece is DiDio’s one sentence reference to a change of tone in the DCU, “The DCU is getting a little bit tougher, and we’re introducing characters going in that direction.†I don’t know exactly what that means, but I am interested. Will such an approach alienate fans who prefer the beauty and wonder aspects of the DCU? Well, it is bound to upset some people I am sure, but I doubt those elements will be disappearing. And even if they predominantly do, we’ll all still have JSA to get a monthly dose of the coolness of superheroes. So, I know I am set if this whole “toughness†thing goes too far, but I am most certainly paying attention to see how and where it ends up manifesting itself, and why. (Identity Crisis perhaps?)
The last bit, about Batman continuing to have a rotating cast of creators on the eponymous title is a disappointment to me. As it stands right now, I am not reading any Batman titles, Bat family titles (Robin, Nightwing, Gotham Central, and Birds of Prey) sure, but nothing just about good ‘ol Bruce and the rotating thing is part of the reason. I did pick up both the Loeb/Lee and Azzarello/Risso runs, but I just needed to check off the carousel of rotating creators and catch my breath. It would be nice to have a Batman comic to pick up consistently, but sadly it looks as though I’ll be waiting for at least a little while.
At Friday’s “Inside Gotham City†panel at WonderCon, Greg Rucka, Devin Grayson, Ed Brubaker, and Judd Winick all gathered to discuss Batman’s turf, as well as some upcoming events surrounding the Darknight Detective. All in all, the panel was relatively low on announcements, but high on creator-fan interaction and discussion.
Go inside Gotham too at Newsarama
Well, maybe I was speaking too hastily. This War Games crossover is touching every Bat and Bat Family book, so perhaps I will find myself reading Batman titles again. It is either that or forgo the Bat family titles I do read for a few issues which, of course, goes against the completist in me. Still, it can be done. I tabled most of my titles during The Last Laugh crossover that polluted the DCU in 2002 and came out no worse for the wear because of it (well, a little bit of withdrawal shakes, but I survived). Perhaps I’ll read the 12 Cent Adventure and decide from there.
I am pleased to see Grayson getting the duty of opening the crossover as (I think) it marks her return to Batman for the first time since she stopped writing Gotham Knights. She wrote so very noteworthy issues in her run and some frustrating ones as well and I’ll be watching to see which approach Grayson will bring to bear on the launch of this behemoth.
At Friday’s Wonder Woman panel Greg Rucka, Drew Johnson, and Dan Didio fielded questions ranging from storylines to sales to junior partners getting their own books.
Diana commands you to read Newsarama. And who are you to say no to a former goddess of truth? (Anyone else remember that?)
I know that there are plenty of fans out there that just don’t dig on Rucka’s vibe on WW, but I am decidedly not one of those folks. The Flash two-parter alone would be reason enough for me to read this book. What a great story concept involving the lasso and what an interesting choice of character (The Flash) to have as the other being forced to speak the truth. Coolness.
Let me also support Rucka’s annoyance about DC’s seeming countless difficulties in bringing their characters to the silver screen (with the exception of Batman Begins). DC is owned by a company who’s purpose is to make movies. Whereas Marvel, because of bad decisions in the past and no formal connection to a movie studio, had many legal hoops and such to jump on their way to producing Spider-Man and X-Men (the rest kind of fell into place after that), DC has no such problems. Only one studio, Warner Brothers, owns the DC library of characters because DC is Warner’s and vice versa. Yet all the time we hear about difficulty getting clearance to use characters even in already established venues (even before Batman Begins, Smallville kept running into walls when trying to get permission for Bruce Wayne). Now obviously there are issues of actors and crew that are beyond control, movie studio connected or not, (Superman, anyone), but how can Marvel launch 6 comic book movies in as many years with another one coming this summer, while DC has yet to release one in the same timeframe, although they do have Constantine, Catwoman, and Batman Begins on the way. Now, I’ll grant you that Batman and Robin and Steel would make any movie studio a little reluctant to dive into that pool again, but with comic book movies time in the sun leveling off, it is disheartening to not see one DC entry in the phenomenon.
Finally, let me be a bit frustrated with Rucka (unless he is merely a messenger). Charisma Carpenter basically out of the running if and when a WW movie gets made because she posed nude? Lynda Carter was naked in the movie that was released just before the Wonder Woman TV series began (Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw for those of you who are wondering. Heh, wondering, Wonder Woman. Oh, I’m good) and that never hurt her chances at wearing the bracelets nor permanently scarred the character. If Ms. Carpenter had murdered someone, okay, that I can understand hurting her chances. But being naked? Halle Berry was naked in 3 movies in a row and she still gets to wield the lasso in Catwoman. I’m not saying Wonder Woman should or shouldn’t be realized onscreen by Carpenter, I just think her nudity is a stupid reason to rule her out.
Sparsely attended, with Bill Willingham the only pro on hand, Sunday’s Vertigo panel at Wonder Con allowed DC to show art and lay out the imprints schedule for the coming months.
Get the spins at Newsarama
Man, is Vertigo not the coolest imprint on earth? Grant Morrison, Dave Gibbons, and Human Target all around one roof (yes, I know Human Target isn’t a real person…but what if he was? Answer: it would be bitchin’)? That is just…too excellent. You know, if such a sentence makes the slightest bit of sense
SAN FRANCISCO — We3, a new mini-series written by Grant Morrison, was announced Sunday at the Vertigo panel at WonderCon.
Here’s how DC describes the mini-series, which has art by Frank Quitely:
“They are the ultimate cyborg assassins: a dog named Bandit, a cat named Tinker, and a rabbit named Pirate, armed with missiles, poison gas, state-of-the-art computer technology, rapid fire chain guns and unbreakable exo-skeletons.â€
We3 will be three issue and begins in August.
Read all about the future plans of what Tim Stevens of 411mania.com calls “the coolest imprint on earth†at Comics Continuum
By the way, cute animals turned to cyborg assassins? Did I mention that Morrison was comics’ resident mad genius? Well, here’s me mentioning it again.
Friday’s Wildstorm panel at WonderCon yielded a few announcements, a few talking points, and a few pretty pictures.
Because you, like I, love pretty pictures, you must go to Newsarama
Huh. What does it mean that I find myself more excited by the announcements being made by DC’s imprints that I was about DC’s announcements. I’m not sure, but color me a touch disappointed.
Things that are great on the horizon, in no particular order, are Astro City, Ex Machina, Brubaker on Authority, and a new issue of Planetary only two months away.
That, of course, brings up the big disappointment of this panel: Planetary only four times a year. Sure there is only 6 or issues left (if Ellis is still thinking 24-25 issues total), but man, I love me some Planetary. And I am an impatient brat.
Ed Brubaker said that his run as writer on WildStorm’s The Authority will likely start in October.
Appearing at WildStorm’s panel at Wonder Con on Friday, Brubaker said he hopes to keep what he liked in the book from previous creators “and bring some new stuff in, too.”
“It goes in a lot of different directions,” he said. “It’s going to be a pretty unexpected thing for people who have been following the book for a long time. It’s definitely The Authority and it follows the continuity, but it goes in a lot of different directions and it’s very over-the-top. And it still has that sort of Warren Ellis black humor where you realize that we’re making fun of things while doing them. That’s one of the thing I’ve loved about The Authority is that it was making fun of super-hero comics while being the best one out there.
You read this column so you know you love Ed Brubaker. Show him that love by going toComics Continuum
It will be nice to check back in with The Authority again. Like so many, I strayed from the title after all the delays and weird editing issues that were happening toward the end of Millar’s run. When he left, so did I and the brief glance I made back at the title on occasion did little to make me question my decision. It was kind of like the West Wing is for me now. I miss the characters almost enough to subject myself to what feels like substandard entertainment, but not quite. With Brubaker back on it is safe for me to go back into the water and check in on the book once more. Because, apparently, Brubaker owns my wallet.
Today at Wonder Con, DC Comics revealed some plans concerning their WildStorm line and U.S. editions of the Humanoids series.
And last but not leastThe Pulsehas a little something to say about Wildstorm too.
The ABC imprint is still alive? I did not know that.
By the way, as I forgot to mention last week, isn’t it mildly ironic that Wildstorm is canceling the two titles from which it derives its name?
Ranger No More: The Strange Case of Micah Wright
On his Delphi forum, Micah Wright has posted a confession – he never was an Army Ranger, something he had claimed since shortly after his debut as a comics writer, as well as the author of remixed Propaganda, a book which lampooned World War II-era American propaganda posters.
Read the event here at Newsarama
In light of the events concerning Micah Wright, his confession that he was never an Army Ranger, and the Washington Post reporting that Seven Stories has dropped his next book, Newsarama asked DC in regards to the status of Wright’s Vigilante series, which was announced at last summer’s WizardWorld: Chicago.
Vigilante was the second “Superstorm” titles, that is, comics related to Superman (both Vigilante and The Question, the second “Superstorm” title were set in Metropolis) that would be produced by Wildstorm. Carlos D’Anda was announced as the artist on the series.
And read the possible fall out here at Newsarama
To quote Alec Baldwin in State and Main, “Well…that happened.â€
Put another, less succinctly way, this is easily the weirdest story I have had a chance to write about for this column yet.
There’s a ton of juicy stuff here, so let’s get right to it.
First, allow me to speak up for the Washington Post and the rest of the media on the issue of Freedom of Information filings. Having filed a few while I was working in Washington, I know that these things are not instantaneous. For a newspaper article due to be in print within a few days, there would be no way to file a request and receive it in time to write the article. Should the Post have allowed themselves more time so they could receive the records before writing the article? Perhaps, but one wonders if that would be judged worth the time and effort for what is, essentially, an entertainment article. While I do not know it to be true, I would guess that the same rigor of standards applied to say an interview with the President would not be applied to an interview with an author, despite the current events nature of his books. As far as why a follow up never occurred…well, that I don’t have an answer to.
Beyond his “testing†of the media, his actions do raise an interesting point that he himself comments on. You parody war propaganda online as a civilian, you get death threats. As a soldier yourself, people are willing to debate you about it. That strikes me as unfortunate although not entirely a surprise.
Moving on to Wright himself. I get it, or at least I think I do, but…wow. I get that it made it easier to write what he was writing if people cut him some slack and stopped threatening his life. That kind of makes sense to me. But, in attempting to protect yourself while still speaking your beliefs you, in fact, undermine those beliefs. Sadly, I do think that is what happened here. How does one criticize President Bush for “playing dress up†and faking a military record when you yourself have been doing much the same? You don’t or, at least, you shouldn’t. Granted, Leader of the Free World should, perhaps, have a higher standard applied to it than author, but you can’t apply a higher standard of honesty to others that you are not applying to yourself. Or, at least, once again, you shouldn’t.
I do applaud Wright for finally stepping forward and admitting the truth. That is surely a tough move. However, some of my respect for that is certainly diminished when he tries to deflect any criticism that he anticipates coming his way by pointing to the President and essentially saying, “But he did it too.†Sure, that might remind us that we and the media should be looking closer at Bush’s service record, but it doesn’t feel like it is being done as a service to the nation. It feels like it is being done it get in less trouble.
So, yes, I think lying about your military record is wrong. And I say that, while apologizing still trying to cover yourself is somewhat dishonest. But does that mean his works should be shelved? No. Certainly not the comic, which has nothing to do with real wars or military service. I expect that it probably won’t even make mention of them. No one can argue that only an author who had military service should write Vigilante.
As far as the Seven Stories, well I get that they probably feel misled. And, feeling that way, it is a natural choice to cancel next work of the person that misled you. A certainly human response. I just feel like such a cancellation proves exactly Wright’s critique of what we Americans deem acceptable to say and who we deem acceptable to say it.
Omitting the chapter makes sense to me as it was fiction passed off as fact, but canceling the entire book just does not sit right with me. Perhaps Wright deserves to be punished, perhaps not. In either case, by canceling his book, you merely confirm his suspicions, you don’t punish him. You only punish the poor old First Amendment.
(That last sentence might be a bit over the top, but man, I was just feeling it.)
The Hal vs. Kyle Debate: Reborn
Newsarama has learned that tomorrow’s Wizard #152 will send Hal Jordan fans into fits of glee. The issue contains an article outlining how, in the October-debuting Green Lantern: Rebirth, a five issue miniseries by Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver, Hal Jordan will return to the DCU in a costumed form, and with a ring.
The current Green Lantern series will end with issue #181 in September.
Peek the news at Newsarama
At his website Geoff Johns posted the following about Green Lantern: Rebirth last night:
You probably already know REBIRTH is a five issue monthly series that begins in October illustrated by Ethan Van Sciver and edited by Peter Tomasi. I’ve worked with Ethan before on THE FLASH: IRON HEIGHTS and we’ve been dying to do something together since. Pete, of course, is my editor on JSA, and formerly Hawkman. This is a project that’s extremely important to all of us. This can’t be just a good series – it’s gotta be a damn great series.
REBIRTH is the return of Hal Jordan.
Read the man himself’s (Geoff, not Hal. Hal isn’t real) take on it at Newsarama
What a difference 10 years makes. If Hal was brought back then or perhaps even as recently as 7 years ago, I think fandom would have been having block parties the world over. Now, however, it seems that many have come to accept Kyle as their GL. Which, in part, is why many people are not getting this decision, including myself at first. I mean, after 10 years of fighting for this character to be viewed as the legitimate Green Lantern why bring back the one man who could undermine that in an instant. Why finally give into those fans who have wanted to see Kyle dragged out of the comic kicking and screaming and offed when it finally seems that the outcry has quieted to a murmur?
The thing is, I don’t think the decision had anything to do with H.E.A.T. or giving up on the grand experiment that was Kyle. It’s just that, for all of us who argued for Kyle all these years, it still kind of feels that way. I can’t help but picture Alex Ross dancing a happy jig that the Green Lantern who he swore never to paint may finally be gone for good and his favorite GL be reinstated. And that just makes my blood boil. (Okay, not really, but as mentioned several times before, I have this weird thing with Ross. I love his work, but I don’t necessarily agree with his opinions. Thus, this whole attempt at making Ross some sort of antagonist. Sure, it doesn’t make sense, but we all need enemies).
So, I find myself conflicted. Logically, this approach doesn’t bother me. I love Johns’s work (surprise) and I actually have an affection for Hal that my father passed down to me. Kyle, according to Johns, will be part of the series, so there is a very good chance that Kyle will not be shuffling off the mortal coil anytime soon.
The thing is, I almost would prefer that. Having seen Connor Hawke change from a character headlining his own book to a sidekick to his resurrected Silver Age predecessor, I fear the same fate for Kyle. In some ways, that feels more insulting than just killing Kyle off outright. It would be like forcing Nightwing back into the red and green and calling him Robin. “Sure, you were solo, sure you supported a title on your own for a while, but well…it wasn’t quite good enough for us. You didn’t hack it, despite appearances.â€
Logically, I am almost positive this is not the reasoning behind this directive. The timing of it in relation to Connor’s demotion, I’m sure, is more coincidental than anything. I am almost positive Rebirth will be a great story. I get that there can be multiple GLs, perhaps one solo and one in the JLA or one on earth and one in space or some other combination. Heck, I get that we could bring the Corps back and give everyone a ring again. Not sure if that is a good idea, but I get that it is an option.
But a small part of my brain, the reptilian part perhaps, just doesn’t like it. It doesn’t like the revolving door of death, especially since the character was already semi-resurrected to being Spectre. It doesn’t like that one of the few comics that is has ever read that still back an emotional wallop in that lump in the throat sort of way years later, the funeral of Hal Jordan, is undermined by the temporary status of that demise. It doesn’t like that the pride it felt in a company that was willing to try new things and be bold feels misplaced by this which it can’t help but think of as a regression.
I’ll read the book. I’ll probably enjoy it. But it is going to be a little while before this decision sits quite right with me.
Richard, Meet Scott. Scott, Richard
Superman, Batman, and Nightwing; Scott McDaniel has worked on some of DC’s biggest icons. Now the veteran penciler is returning to the Batman family. But he’s not taking on one of their best-known or highest profile characters, McDaniel’s drawing the new Richard Dragon series. Working with his former Nightwing collaborator, Chuck Dixon and inker Andy Owen, McDaniel hopes Dragon will strike a chord with current comics fans.
Enter with the Dragon atThe Pulse
Who knew that McDaniel had such a sense of humor? Well, maybe most of you, but this is the first time I’ve seen it come out so much in an interview.
Anyway, McDaniel collaboration with Dixon once more?
WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
She’s a Man-Eat—er…Manhunter
The Manhunter isn’t a new concept to comics. In the 1940s there were two costumed heroes who bore the mantle of the Manhunter. In the ’70s, the character was recreated as part of a secret organization. In the late ’80s/early ’90s, the Manhunters were used as a covert organization bent on destroying the heroes in the DCU during the Millenium saga. However, the new series shares nothing with those prior incarnations, except the name. Writer Marc Andreyko and artists Jimmy Palmiotti and Jesus Saiz are bringing a new female Manhunter to life each month beginning in August.
Check it out atThe Pulse because when else in writing about comics am I going to be able to make a Hall and Oates reference?
I will officially bestow props to Andreyko who wades into the horror that is a talkback concerning a brand new series (especially one using the name of a previous character) and stands up for his book. In the long run, for his sanity, he may not want to do that, but it was very cool to see a creator stick up for what he was doing and doing it in a classy way.
It was also interesting to see how people reacted after that. The tone of the board change rather quickly from the wholly negative early posts to affirmations of support, apologies, and less angry criticism of the book. There was still one that seemed to want an apology for Andreyko’s comment about a previous Manhunter’s costume resembling a Benihana Chef and pointed to that as being disrespectful to the look and rich history of the character, but…well, it was just a throwaway line and it occurs to me that perhaps we occasionally take things a touch too seriously.
This is another title, as indicated by DiDio, that represents DC’s “transition to toughness†(that is my trademarked expression for it now. Use it, send my thirty cents) and they all have something intriguing about them. I do fear that they might sound too similar to fans and that each one will therefore not be a treated as a separate identity. It remains to be seen if that will in fact be the case.
Finally, man oh man, do I love Jae Lee’s art. There is almost nothing going on on that cover and I still just love it. Can’t wait to see him back on a series.
JSA Kicks It Old School and Strange
DC’s original superhero team is heading back to the Golden Age in a tale by acclaimed novelist and The Saga of the Seven Suns: Veiled Alliances writer Kevin J. Anderson with art by recently exclusive DC artist, Barry Kitson.
Originally titled Justice Society: Lord Dynamo, the limited series has since been retitled JSA: Strange Adventures, “with a nice pulp-magazine looking logo,†according to Anderson.
Do the time warp at Newsarama
Anderson’s idea to meld the real, Jack Williamson and Strange Adventures, with the fictional, the JSA, is a story device I enjoy. I am not sure why I have such a taste for that particular technique, but when done well, I always seem to. Mark Frost did a great job with that approach using Arthur Conan Doyle in the books The List of 7 and The 6 Messiahs and I think that, being my first exposure to it where I really took note, bought the approach a lifetime of me being attracted to it. I might not always like the results, but it tends to get me to perk up.
That combined with Kitson’s art will probably persuade me to peruse this periodical (alliteration, out of control) upon its release. The sample work in the article looks just great.
In America, DC is DA LLAAAAWWWW
DC today announced that it has acquired the North American publishing rights to all existing and future comic material from the UK’s Rebellion, publisher of 2000AD as well as Judge Dredd Megazine and others.
Because the magazine, er… “magazine†could not be nearly as bad as the movie, check out Newsarama
A nice pick up for DC from our limey friends across the pond. Can’t say I know much about the AD stuff, but I do know it is very well regarded in the industry so making it more available in the United States must certainly be a good thing, right?
And Now Your Weekly Dose of Superman/Batman
DC Comics has provided Newsarama with Michael Turner’s cover to the third printing of Superman/Batman #8.
DC’s press release for the issue read:
The excitement over SUPERMAN/BATMAN #8 continues as DC Comics goes back to press for a third printing of this sold-out issue. This issue features the first chapter of the storyline “The Supergirl From Krypton,” written by Jeph Loeb with art and cover by Michael Turner.
Because it has been so long since you read anything about issue #8, go to Newsarama to refresh your memory.
I really have nothing left to say about this issue, so instead let me tell you a joke. Why is six afraid of seven? Because seven eight nine!
No? Well sorry for trying to bring a little humor into your life.
SNEAK PEEKS LIVE AT DCCOMICS.COM
BLOODHOUND #1 — MAY040294
Catch the scent atBloodhound
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Dig the sweet, sweet homage atDC Comic Presents
DOOM PATROL #1 — MAY040303
Ooh, a John Byrne penned masterpiece. How can you resist heading on over toDoom Patrol
JLA #101 — MAY040322
Everybody likes Chuck Austen so everyone should be visitingJLA
JUSTICE LEAGUE ELITE #1 — MAY040324
Hey, remember Extreme Justice, or Justice League Task Force, or Force Works? Let’s ask Justice League Eliteif it does.
THE BOOKS OF MAGICK: LIFE DURING WARTIME #1 — MAY040363
Tim Hunter has the best first name ever. And thus, you must go toThe Books of Magic
THE TECHNOPRIESTS VOLUME 1 TP — MAY040380
I heard rumors of free Slurpees atTechnopriests. I can’t promise anything, that is just what I’ve heard.
TAKING AIM AT THE GRIMACE
Here’s another, quickier take, on Hal and Kyle
Dear Mr. Stevens,
As a fan who was introduced to comics through my grandfather, I have a unique perspective on DC history. The first comics I read were his comics from the 40s and 50s. Mainly All-Star and Sensation. After coming across the modern DC comics (this was in the mid 70s), one thing that has kept me reading DC is the rich history they have. I see Kyle Rainer and Wally West stepping into mantles they may not want, but their forbearers, Alan Scott and Jay Garrick were there to help them out and give them the support that might not have otherwise been there. To bring back Hal Jordan just for either “touchy feely†reasons or because someone feels “it’s appropriate†is just taking part of what makes DC so special away.
-James Lawson
And now a follow up to last week’s article about elitism in the industry, from the man who wrote the first column.
Thank you for being one of the few to write a coherent criticism of my column. You can always feel free to e-mail with your comments.
The reason this column was written was because I was pissed. I was pissed because I had been told a bit too much how was I was too young and immature (not to mention “holding back the industry”) to understand the great, “literary genius” of some of the writers mentioned in the column, simply because I didn’t like some of their work.
None of my other columns sound like that one. Of course, no one knows that; no one ever posts my other columns. They just like doing that one because they know comic book fans like attacking people publicly. I guess some people think that’s the only thing I’ve ever written; I’ve been working for SBC for over a year now.
My column was nothing against the writers mentioned. My intention was not to be personal, although I do understand I may have been misleading in that regard, and for that, I apologize.
But honestly, the bottom line of the whole thing is that I was only trying to say that things tend to be scripted in one fashion these days, and it’d just be nice if I saw some variety. Every time I advocate that, I get some of the backlash mentioned above. I apologize for the misfire, but I think if you read my other columns, you’ll see that I’m not some comic fan-hating zombie. I’m not retracting the column itself, just the manner in which it was done. I’m 19, and look forward to many years of reading all kinds of comics.
I don’t regret the column, but I certainly regret the manner in which it was done. Be sure to read my other stuff though, you may find something you would enjoy, and that would be awesome.
-Tim Hartnett
Thank you very much for your response as well. I am posting a couple of links to other columns of yours here, here, and here so everyone can have a better idea of what you write about.
I think we can all relate to the saying what you meant by not how you meant it phenomenon. At the risk of making myself bad, but as a sort of sign of good faith, let me just relate one of my larger faux pases. It was back in the days of Honors English 10 and for some reason we were debating gay rights. Someone brought by the religious explanation for disagreeing with gay rights and I get pretty mad. I had been going to church my entire life and that explanation still didn’t fly for me. So I interjected with, “I don’t know if you know this, little secret here, God didn’t write the Bible.†The teacher cut me off for sarcasm and although I had a legitimate point (the Bible is God’s word written down and interpreted by men and thus, there are often prejudices in its text that God might not have intended) the statement just hung there. My point was legitimate, my approach was not.
Mine is probably a bigger screw up than yours was, but yeah, I know how it feels. Thanks again for writing in and I hope you check in on my column from time to time as well.
That’s it everybody. I’ve written too much and I am tired, you’ve read too much and you are probably bored. Either way, I think it is time to take a break until next week. Be excellent to each other
Un Gajje has a heart so big, it could crush this town
