Leave Your Spandex At The Door: Christmas 2006 Roundtable!

Welcome to the 94th instalment of Leave Your Spandex At the Door and Merry Christmas to you all!

And it couldn’t be Christmas without the traditional Nexus Holiday Special! For the fourth consecutive year, the Nexus has invited twelve of our favourite comics creators to bring all Nexus readers a healthy dose of holiday cheer!

For the last three Holiday Roundtable scheck out these links: 2005, 2004 and 2003

2006’s Dazzling Dozen, in no particular order:

Jimmy Palmiotti is one half of the breakout writing team of the year. With Justin Gray they created the most memorable series of 2006, like Daughters of the Dragon, Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters, and Jonah Hex. 2006 also marked the return of his creator-owned Painkiller Jane property.

J.M. DeMatteis is one of the all-time best writers in comics. 2006 was a great year for J.M.: his masterpiece Kraven’s Last Hunt was re-released in a commemorative edition, his children’s comic series Abadazad found a new home and wide audience in bookstores and his trademark BwaHaHa writing style with Keith Giffen launched a new family of titles in Boom Studios with Hero Squared and Planetary Brigade.

The most influential Marvel writer of the 90s, Scott Lobdell left comics for a blooming writing career in Hollywood, starting with Man of the House starring Tommy Lee Jones. He made his comeback to his favourite genre this year with Manifest Eternity, the story of the decades-spanning Magic-Science War and IDW’s hilarious Mixtionary.

Fabian Nicieza is the second writer who put his mark on the X-men 90s and continues to hold his dedicated fanbase working on Marvel’s odd couple Cable & Deadpool and wrapping up a landmark run on Thunderbolts.

Brad Walker also made his breakthrough this year, with his stellar work on the OYL title Secret Six with Gail Simone. He gets to draw hot buxom supervillainous lesbians for a living, along memorable scenes like the Mad Hatter pleasuring himself with a hat, and Elasti-girl biting her son’s head off.

Axel Alonso and Mark Paniccia are two of Marvel Comics’ most prominent Senior Editors. Axel has just moved up the ranks to become the new Group Editor for the X-Men titles after a successful stint on MAX and Spider-man. Mark has just celebrated his first year in the company after an important position in Tokyopop. This past year he has spear-headed some of the company’s surprise hits with fans and critics this year: Agents of Atlas, and Daughters of the Dragon!

I had the pleasure of meeting Andi Watson in the recent Birmingham Comics Show. Andi is a constantly improving writer/artist who brings the unique flair of british comics to American publishing. This year saw the release of his latest Oni Press title Little Star, the release of the first chapter of Princess At Midnight in the Mammoth Book of New Manga, and a tale of girl-girl love in the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower in Paris from IDW.

Rick Spears is most-famous for his cult indy comic Teenagers from Mars, while this year he returns to comics with Pirates of Coney Island with Greek celebrity Vasilis Lolos for Image and prepares to reunite with his Teenagers collaborator Rob G.

The writer with the golden touch, Jeff Parker has managed to raise eyebrows with his work on Marvel’s more experimental titles, like the young reader-friendly Marvel Adventures books, the big hit X-Men: First Class with Roger Cruz and the internet cult favourite Agents of Atlas, reviving Timely Comics’ classic characters from the 50s for the modern generation.

2006 was a busy and rewarding year for Mike Carey ; after wrapping up his legendary 75-issue run on Vertigo’s Lucifer, he moved up to the top of the Marvel pyramid by taking over their X-Men title and Ultimate Fantastic Four. He also tried his hand at a variety of projects, including Wildstorm’s Wetworks, and Vertigo’s newest ongoing Crossing Midnight.

Niko Henrichon is the breakout artist of the year, creating the most-discussed original graphic novel, Pride of Baghdad for Vertigo with Brian K Vaughan, which has already started making everyone’s Best Of lists for 2006!

Manolis: The Fourth Wall breaks, just in time for Christmas, and long enough for you to give a special Christmas present to one of your characters. Who’s the
lucky sod and what is he/she going away with?

Jimmy Palmiotti: I would have a foursome with Phantom Lady, Colleen Wing and Misty Knight. Really, it’s the best gift I can give them. Oh wait, Amanda wants to have a talk with me…next question please?

J.M. DeMatteis: A year’s worth of free therapy, three times a week, to Milo Stone of HERO SQUARED…because once a week clearly isn’t helping.

Scott Lobdell:Hmmm. I was going to say Deathlok, with a copy of “Computers for Dummies”. Then I thought Iron Fist, a bottle of skin conditioner.

Then I thought maybe Tigra could use a gift certificate to Petsmart, and Silver Surfer a shopping spree at Bed Bath and Way Way Way Beyond.

Then I thought I was being unfair to the DC characters, and thought that it would be cute to give Batman and Catwoman each other’s screennames but not tell them who they other is and watch as they fall in love and then agree to meet each other in a mall on New Year’s Day (aaaaw, I am getting misty eyed just thinking about ti!)… and I’d get Batgirl a retcon where she was washing her hair that night that the Joker knocked on her door and after a few minutes he forgot why he was there. Bone would get a thirteen part crossover where he has to team up with an alternate reality clone from a future timewar doppelganger, the Grrrl Scouts would stop over and I’d be nice enough
to buy a year’s supply of thin mints, and to the The Mighty Heroes I would give a screenplay. Finally, it occurred to me I could offer Alpha Flight an apology and say “Hey! I tried!” = )

Brad Walker: Well, he’s not a character I’ve worked on yet, but I love him and would like to so, I’d give Iron Man some Paxil, or something for whatever breakdown he’s had that’s is causing him to act like such a dick.

Fabian Nicieza :Probably Superman and I’d probably give him a gift wrapped CD-Rom containing all my wonderful Superman story ideas, just in case he ever wants to put in a good word with the head honchos…

Axel Alonso: For Luke Cage, a copy of Clipse’s new CD, “Hell Hath No Fury.” The best Hip Hop album in years.

Andi Watson: What the hell, I’d give Mr Raccoon a truck load of Krispy Kreme donuts to keep him happy over Xmas.

Mark Paniccia: I’m getting HULK a new shadow-forged two-ton mace so he can give Sentry a good reason to get a new smile.

Rick Spears: I’d give Patch from The Pirates of Coney Island a new eye. But I’m sure the Cherries would just cut it out again.

Jeff Parker: I’d give Gorilla-Man an iPod. The 80 gig one, too. Think how much fun he could have watching movies and listening to tunes that the Human Robot could download for him constantly!

Mike Carey: I’d give Omega Sentinel a set of long-handled spanners and socket wrenches. You know, for those hard-to-reach places.

Niko Henrichon: A military helmet for the giraffe in Pride of Baghdad.

Manolis: Santa has gone missing, and you need to choose one comics character to replace him in time for Christmas. Who do you choose, and why?

Jimmy Palmiotti: Is Dan Didio a comic character? No? o.k, I guess Jonah Hex…mainly because i want to see him on a horse in that red suit. Really though, Uncle Sam would do the job best.

J.M. DeMatteis: Keeping in mind that NOBODY can replace Santa, I’d have to choose Superman—because he’s got the heart, the soul, the inherent decency, the generosity of spirit…AND he can actually make the trip in one night. If Superman can’t make it, I’ll choose Mike Ploog. He even LOOKS like Santa…and he’s got the same twinkle in his eyes!

Scott Lobdell:You might not remember this obscure comic book character from the early 60s, but I would chose Professor Charles Xavier… he has this psychic ability to discern when individuals are sleeping and when they are awake or whether they have been bad or good for goodness sake. While admittedly, because of his physical handicap he might have trouble navigating up and down chimineys, he would no doubt enlist the several thousand mutants the world over to pitch in with the toy delivery system.

Brad Walker: Well, the most logical choice is Green Lantern, cause he can make the rounds, and his ring could create the presents so he wouldn’t have to outsource to all those elves.

Fabian Nicieza :Impossible Man. Because it would be funny as hell to watch him try to replace Santa.

Axel Alonso: Silver Surfer. He’d get the job done.

Andi Watson: Captain Haddock, boozing his way from Marlinspike across the world, ranting and raving, hoovering up the brandy and mince pies left behind and waking everyone up as he storms around their homes knocking over furniture and breaking vases.

Mark Paniccia: I’m getting to practical here, but since Proteus can warp reality, he could probably give some pretty trippy presents

Rick Spears: Hellboy. I mean you just have to glue some cotton balls on him and he’s good to go!

Jeff Parker: The Flash. Who else could make that crazy schedule?

Niko Henrichon: I’m not sure if they’ve ever been in a comic book but I choose any juge from the Supreme court of Canada. I don’t know why, I just feel they would do a good job to replace Santa.

Manolis: If you could give out a comic book or tradebook as an x-mas gift to get a young person interested in comics, what would that be and why?

Jimmy Palmiotti: Man, i would have to plug my own work and give them the Jonah Hex trade because its easy to read and they are not going to expect a comic book to be this gritty . Last thing i would give them is a superhero comic….really.

J.M. DeMatteis: I’d have to pick ABADAZAD. One of the primary reasons I launched the comic…and the follow-up book series from Hyperion…was because I didn’t think there were enough kids reading comics. I’ve poured heart and soul into these books, trying to create something special that a parent and child can read, and enjoy, together.

Scott Lobdell:I would give him or her the MONSTER WORLD tradepaperback from Wildstorm! It is a fun all ages romp featuring Carlos Meglia’s
frighteningly amazing artwork! On sale at greater comic books stores around, Oh, wait… nevermind. = (

Brad Walker: Hmmm…that’s tough. I think I’d give the David Michelinie/Todd McFarlane trades to a young person. That stuff thrilled me when I was younger. It’s age appropriate, but not condescending. And it’s got the right mixture of sensational cheese, and touching substance. And Spider-Man is the greatest!!

Fabian Nicieza : Hmm. Depends on what you mean by “young.” And is it boys or girls?

Anyone between 5-9, boys or girls, I’d give them a complete Calvin and Hobbes collection along with classic 60’s Archie, Hot Stuff, Richie Rich, Casper.

Any boys between 10-14 I’d give them Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 1, Vol. 2, Vol. 3, etc.

Anyone over 14 -24, I’d give them Dark Night Returns, Batman Year One, Watchmen.

Over 24, I’d give them MAUS.. .and the complete Calvin & Hobbes collection… :-)

Axel Alonso: For a pre-teen, and say BONE. For a teenager, RUNAWAYS, VOLUME ONE.

Andi Watson: Depends how young, gender, their interests but, Bone, Tintin, Asterix, are classics. As a shameless plug I’d suggest my story Princess at Midnight in the Best new Manga anthology.

Mark Paniccia: I’d give them the Scorpion: Poison Tomorrow digest. I think it’s cool, accessable and girl readers would love it (and what’s wrong with more girls reading comics?).

Rick Spears: I’d give them a copy of Teenagers From Mars. I can get ‘em wholsale.

Jeff Parker: I would give collections of the Carl Barks Uncle Scrooge adventures, they sure worked on me. See, I didn’t even plug the all-ages stuff I do for Marvel, like Marvel Adventures: The Avengers and MA Fantastic Four

Niko Henrichon: DragonBall by Akira Toriyama

Manolis: Thanks to Niko, Mike, Jeff, Rick, Mark, Andi, Axel, Fabe, Scotty, Brad, J.M. and Jimmy, and Happy Holidays to everyone from me and the Comics Nexus team!

Manolis Vamvounis
a.k.a. Dr. Dooplove