Welcome to the 95th instalment of Leave Your Spandex At the Door and Happy New Year to all our readers!!
To celebrate the New Year we’re continuing our 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 and to provide a look back to the past year and a look forward to what’s coming in 2007!
For the last three Holiday Roundtables check out these links: 2005, 2004 and 2003
2006’s Talented Twelve, 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: Looking back at the past year in comics, what was your favourite moment from your own comics?
Jimmy Palmiotti:That’s a tough one. Justin and I have done a lot of crazy stuff this past year. I would have to say personally, from Painkiller Jane #3 where Janet takes a family out to the desert and kills them in cold blood. It’s something I haven’t seen in a comic and it made me all warm and fuzzy.
J.M. DeMatteis: The moment wasn’t in the story. It was when I walked into the children’s section of my local Barnes & Noble and saw the ABADAZAD display right at the entrance.
Scott Lobdell: Commander Rave! ‘Nuff said!
Brad Walker: Hmmm…I guess the most memorable moment I drew was the revelation of Mad Hatter as the last member of the Secret Six. That came out pretty nice.
Fabian Nicieza :Probably Deadpool having to pee in the White House in CABLE & DEADPOOL was a real creative highlight I’m very proud of.
But seriously, getting to co-plot 3 issues of ACTION COMICS with Kurt Busiek, just getting involved enough to see my name on the cover and the chance to write Nightwing.
Also, something most U.S. consumers wouldn’t know about, I’m very proud of this November’s launch in the Middle East of Teshkeel’s monthly THE 99 comic magazine in English and Arabic. It’s a very strong new series — new universe — launch with some true professional talent involved, like John McRea, Steve Yeowell and Ron Wagner.
Axel Alonso: A tie: Moon Knight cutting off Bushmaster’s face from MOON KNIGHT #2. T’Challa and Storm tying the knot in BLACK PANTHER #18.
Andi Watson: Starting a new book is always good, as is finishing. I like the ending of Little Star, the last seven pages or so I’m really proud of.
Mark Paniccia: There are so many from every issue of AGENTS OF ATLAS, but I love the dinner scene from issue three–all of it, from Bob’s exposed esaphagus to M-11 walking nonchallantly down a San Francisco street on his way to the Arctic Circle.
And there’s the opening page to STRANGE WESTERNS Staring The BLACK RIDER with the demented and determined cowboy rushing towards the reader on his steed, Satan. Marshall Rogers nailed the magic of the comic book Western in that image.
Rick Spears: In Pirates of Coney Island where the kids highjack a Pontiac GTO. That scene was a blast to write and Vasilis drew the hell out of it.
Jeff Parker: When the first Agents of Atlas hit shops. I’m extremely proud of what we’ve done in that book. It puts everything I enjoy from comics into one title.
Mike Carey: The moment when Rogue tells Cyclops that she’s chosen her team and he’s just going to have to live with it. That splash that Chris drew catches the moment so perfectly: the whole motley crew standing behind Rogue, turning to stare at Cyclops with very varying emotions in their faces. It caught what I was aiming for – the sense that this team doesn’t even need external crises because it can manufacture its own.
Niko Henrichon: There hasn’t been a lot of moments, only one big. Pride of Baghdad, of course.
Manolis: Which stories and titles stand out as your favourite from 2006?
Jimmy Palmiotti: Not as many as I would have liked. Too many zombie comics, crossovers, event books and such this year. I was looking at my save pile this year and it’s sad…there are certain creators I admire, so their work always does it for me. There were a lot of personal home spun tales put out by indy companies, but for the most part, I think a lot of these people need to go out and travel and get a life BEFORE they spend 300 pages telling about it. The Eisners list usually reflect what I thought was pretty good. It’s easier for me to recommend movies because I don’t know the people doing them, get it?
J.M. DeMatteis: I think the most amazing event of 2006 wasn’t a particular story, it was a creator: my old buddy, and collaborator, Keith Giffen. The guy pretty much wrote, or co-wrote, EVERYTHING this year…and, as always, he did a brilliant job of it. The man’s amazing!
Brad Walker: I’ve really been enjoying 52! I love Captain America, Daredevil, Catwoman, She-Hulk, Manhunter, Uncanny X-Men, the Atom, both Superman books, Doctor Strange: the Oath, Aquaman, and Uncle Sam.
Fabian Nicieza :Despite the screams of every cell in my body, I have to say I continue to enjoy ULTIMATES far more than I should. It’s ribald silly fun.
I love Gail Simone’s SECRET SIX series and her continued excellence on BIRDS OF PREY.
I was very excited about the relaunch of JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA, and though the initial story has been slower-paced than I’d prefer, I still love the character groundwork Brad Meltzer is putting into place.
Axel Alonso: Kirkman and Adlard’s WALKING DEAD.
Andi Watson: It was great to see the Dupuy & Berberian books get a release from D&Q this year. Get a Life and Maybe Later. Maybe Later’s one of my all time fave comics.
Mark Paniccia: I loved INCREDIBLE HULK #95, the arena fight between HULK and Silver Surfer. And AGENTS OF ATLAS #5’s story about Venus’ origin and the battle between team members that ensues. It’s the most brilliant superhero fight I’ve seen in decades.
Rick Spears: DMZ, American Virgin, The Other Side, 24Seven.
Jeff Parker: The collected BANANA SUNDAY by Paul Tobin and Colleen Coover, from Oni Press. In webcomics, The Great Outdoor Fight storyline from Achewood.
Mike Carey: Astonishing X-Men has been a wild ride. Cable and Deadpool continues to be a mixture of laugh-out-loud stuff and poignant emotional moments. Mark Millar ended his run on Ultimate Fantastic Four in spectacular style. Vertigo started up Exterminators, which had a really great opening arc. Outside the UK/US scene, Loisel and Tripp brought out the second Magasin Generale book, which was even better than the first. And I finally got to read The Rabbi’s Cat – not a 2006 book, but still a stand-out for me.
Niko Henrichon: Acme Novelty Library #17 by Chris Ware and Super Market by Brian Wood and Kristian
Manolis: What are you most looking forward to, for 2007?
Jimmy Palmiotti: Working on the painkiller Jane TV show and working on more books with Justin Gray and Amanda Conner.
J.M. DeMatteis: The new Congress!
Scott Lobdell:Being mobbed by my legion of Feta cheese eating fans at comic convention in Greece!
Brad Walker: DRAWING SUPERMAN!!!!!!! No, I’m not drawing one of the Superman books, but I am drawing a related book where he will appear. And I CAN’T WAIT!
Fabian Nicieza :Bar none, Justice Society of America by Johns and Eaglesham.
Axel Alonso: Jonathan Lethem’s OMEGA THE UNKNOWN.
Andi Watson: Family. Drawing. Writing. The release of Clubbing.
Mark Paniccia: WORLD WAR HULK, SUPER-VILLAIN TEAM-UP: MODOK’S ELEVEN and more MARVEL ADVENTURES titles
Rick Spears: Launching my new series REPO with artist Rob G.
Jeff Parker: I’m working with Mike Wieringo on a mini-series featuring Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four! How perfect is that? It’s like working with Mike Wieringo on a mini-series featuring Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four!
Mike Carey: The US release of the Castor novels. And Bryan Talbot’s Alice in Sunderland.
Niko Henrichon: 300, the movie.
Manolis: Thanks again to Niko, Mike, Jeff, Rick, Mark, Andi, Axel, Fabe, Scotty, Brad, J.M. and Jimmy, and Happy New Year to everyone from the Comics Nexus team!
I’m waiting your comments and feedback through email to Manolis@gmail.com. If you self-publish your own comics or represent an Indy comics company, add me to your press release list, and I will run your news in this space every week.
Manolis Vamvounis
a.k.a. Dr. Dooplove
