I now bring you to a very special edition of the Gold Standard, where I cover a few topics that would have just padded out the regular edition and really felt unnecessary. It’s all important, but it’s just better done like this. I hope you agree!
About a week ago my friend Mike linked me to an interview with Marc Guggenheim that was rather….well, let’s just say that the One More Day writer had some less then tolerant words about the critics.
http://www.comicon.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=36;t=007464
Speaking of “judging” Guggenheim said a lot of people who aren’t reading Spider-Man or refuse to read Spider-Man are judging it based on misunderstandings. “Part of the problem with the controversy behind One More Day is the understanding of what was retconned overstates the extent of what was done,” he said. “Everything that happened in the last twenty plus years of comic book history happened! The only difference is that Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson weren’t married. They still dated. They still lived together. They still love each other. They just weren’t married. Judging from the letters and death threats we received, I think some people were confused. It all still happened.”
“Here’s my attitude, if anyone is upset about the marriage going away, then they must all be pro gay marriage,” he continued. Because if you’re pro gay marriage, you understand the distinction between a marriage and a civil union — that a civil union is not equal to a marriage. We downgraded Mary Jane and Peter to a civil union. If that bothers you, then you’re pro gay marriage.”
First, just to tackle the easy points first, ever since I was a kid I’ve been reading a Spider-Man that was married to MJ. Their marriage was a huge point of the book, and it was a relationship that was deeper then one of a couple that hadn’t take that step. What Marvel has had to say about One More Day so far, is that they dated, but something happened and they never got married. It’s implied that they broke up at that point and haven’t remained close since. That would mean that every single issue of Spider-Man that I own would need to be editing to assist in the retcon, as they’re together in all of them. How can it have all still happened if you completely remove her from the equation?
But on the true point of interest, I would like to say that I am, in fact, pro gay marriage. One of my oldest friends has been with his boyfriend for years, and the two do in fact wear rings as if to say that they were married, even though they aren’t. I’m not going to try and spin this politically, but I don’t like the fact that my stance on gay marriage has anything to do with how horrible I think Spider-Man has become, and I think it’s actually quite insulting to have it inferred. I don’t like how the marriage ended because it completely wipes out an aspect of the character, and I think that it’s a cheap way out for an editorial team that is feeling reminiscent their childhoods and in this one case it’s really not working.
On that note, what’s with the silver age revival? Hal and Barry are back, Ollie’s back, Peter is single and in his early 20’s, Lex Luthor is a mad scientist, the original Legion is back, hell, even the Hulk is a rampaging idiot. Does this bug anybody else or is it just me?
Moving on, there was a comic con this weekend and I’ve decided to share some of my thoughts on the announcements.
MARVEL
Bendis said there were no announcements. But Slott cleared his throat. Brevoort, after looking at Slott, said there could be one announcement. So Bendis told the audience: “I’m leaving Mighty Avengers with Issue #20.”
Bendis said he’s moving on to a new series called Dark Avengers with art by Mike Deodato. “It’s very, very dark,” he said.
Dan Slott will take over Mighty Avengers with Issue #21.
Slott said he’s leaving the Initiative, but Chris Gage will pick it up as solo writer. “You’ll get a lot more Taskmaster,” Slott said.
When Dark Avengers was announced I said “Bendis is on too many books”, and with him moving from Mighty it’s become “Bendis is on too many books, but at least he’s not the only Avengers writer”.
I kid, I actually enjoy the books as anybody who reads my reviews knows. But it is nice to see the torch being passed on to Dan Slott, who has been writing the gold star of the Avengers line since Civil War. I’m going to miss him on Initiative, but this gives him a chance to shine on one of Marvel’s flagship books, and Gage seems to get the title well enough to carry on well without him.
Spider-Woman: Agent of Sword by Bendis and Alex Maleev will debut March 2008. It will be the first ongoing by the team since they left Daredevil. “We’re hoping, god-willing, you guys-willing, we’ll stay on that book for a long time on this one as well,” Bendis said.
Pull-listed
Bendis said Issue #47 of New Avengers is a Luke Cage issue by artist Billy Tan, but Michael Gaydos will be able to return for a few pages for a story that explores some of what fans had seen in Alias.
So I’m assuming that means that this issue will be the one that resolves Jessica Jones.
Cebulski told the audience that Damon Lindelof’s scripts are all turned in for Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk, and the art will be worked on after Secret Invasion.
I remember buying the first two issues and thinking they weren’t too bad. I also remember forgetting the book existed for a year.
– What is happening with Black Panther? Brevoort: It will be continuing and relaunching right after Secret Invasion around February. Secret Invasion will affect it. It will still be Reggie Hudlin writing and will still be monthly, but it’s just setting up something new after Secret Invasion.
BOO!
– Will Luke Cage have an updated costume? Bendis: I’m proud I got him out of the yellow shirt and tiara. Now he’s more defined as a person. New Avengers #47 is part of a flashback story about him and his father that explains how he is now vs. how he was. There will be a lot of Luke post-Secret Invasion. “To me [the costume] is something like leg warmers,” he joked, indicating the costume is a thing of the past. There is a retro Luke Cage series in the works by the creator of Samurai Jack.
YAY!
– Steve Rogers? Bendis (who said he just caught up on Captain America issues): “I actually think Bucky is more fascinating than Steve Rogers.”
Agreed.
– What is Dark Reign? Bendis: Dark Reign is what happens on the last page of Secret Invasion #8. From that, it spills out into all the other major Marvel books, including Avengers books. When Secret Invasion #8 hits, fans will be pummeled with information of who’s on what team, who’s where. The structure of the Marvel Universe is collapsing during Secret Invasion. “Something will take its place.” It’s not an event, but it more like “how after Civil War we saw the Initiative.” It will be labeled on certain comics. “It won’t be an event as much as an overall tone.”
I’d comment about cash in books, but this really is the practice that both Marvel and DC use after every crossover. Disassembled, Decimation, One Year Later, Initiative, Dark Side Club, Dark Reign. Let’s just hope this one is good.
– Status on Ultimates 4? Brevoort [joking]: “After Ultimates 3.” Sankovitch: Issue #5 just hit stands this week. Ultimates 4 is in the works by Jeph Loeb and Frank Cho. Ed McGuinness was originally planned to work on the series but moved to Hulk. The artwork he did on Ultimates 4 will be reused in some way, shape or form.
It’s official, Marvel hates me. STOP GIVING HIM WORK!
– Who are the Evil Illuminati? Bendis: We can’t talk about that. Secret Invasion #8, last page, will tell you about it. A Secret Invasion: Dark ReignSecret Invasion with art by Alex Maleev and will set it all up. one-shot will come out right after
Sounds sexy, looking forward to it. Bendis and Maleev is a guaranteed home run every time.
– What’s up with the Iron Man movie sequel? Bendis: Matt Fraction brainstormed with Jon Favreau last week and is really enthusiastic.
Fraction is brainstorming with Favreau? I didn’t think it was possible for me to want to see this movie more, but there you go. Giving me a reason to want it that much more. Fraction is just amazing.
– Is 3-D Man sticking with the Initiative? Slott: There will be a Skrull Kill Crew mini. He’ll be there.
If Slott is writing it, then it’s worth buying.
– In Avengers: The Initiative, is Mutant Zero who it looks like he is? Slott: You will find out in Avengers: Initiative #20.
Madelyne Pryor. Calling it right now.
– How do other writers feel about Bendis controlling so much in the Marvel Universe? Slott [joking in a robot-type voice]: It’s the most wonderful thing in the world. Bendis: It’s all talked about in the retreats and everyone participates in how we’re going to do these events.
This is a question I’d been wanting to ask for years, because he really does write a horribly disporortionate amount of the title Marvel produces.
DC
Next up was a slide of Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lanterns which, according to Johns, will serve to officially introduce the Red Lanterns as a force. “They’re powers are based on rage,” Johns said, “And they have it out for Sinestro. The day the Guardians decide to execute Sinestro…well, they want to do it themselves. It’s a lot of fun.”
Following the Red Lantern slide was a cover of the Superman: New Krypton cover, with DiDio pointing out that as October has five Wednesdays, there will be an important Superman book coming out each week, with the New Krypton special being chief among them. As Johns explained the larger story, when Kandor is expanded on Earth and 100,000 super-powered Kryptonians are released, every superhero thinks they are out of a job – as does every supervillain.
It’s becoming a bad habit for me to go to read up on a DC panel from a con and immediately seek out what Geoff Johns is doing. Not that I don’t love what other writers are doing, but for some reason he just wows me the most. Right here we’ve got the Red Lanterns, which has been cooking on the back burner for months as Green Lantern has gone through Secret Origin, and we’ve also got New Krypton. And a hundred thousand Kryptonians on Earth? Sure it kills the “He’s the only one” deal, but it has me going “Oh shit! This is going to be nuts!”
Moving on to Justice Society, Johns said that after the “Thy Kingdom Come” story wraps up, Black Adam and Isis will take center stage, and while Felix Faust will pay for hiding Isis from Adam, the main thrust of the storyline will be Black Adam and Isis taking over the Rock of Eternity.
The return of the Mighty Adam! This is the moment I’ve spent this book waiting for. Somebody is going to get slaughtered mercilessly.
The forthcoming Power Girl series will pick up thematically on what Johns and artist Amanda Conner did with the character in JSA Classified‘s opening arc, Power Girl writer Palmiotti said, but will be telling stories with the character from the ground up, making the title open to Power Girl fans as well as newcomers. The book will have a lighter tone, according to Palmiotti.
Power Girl and Geo-Force will appear in the coming Terra miniseries by Palmiotti, Justin Gray and Conner, which is shipping this fall as well. McKeever added that Terra also appears in Terror Titans, noting that currently in his scripts, she’s being beaten up.
I’ve been excited for the Power Girl book since it was announced, and the fact that Terra is being done by the same creative team is going to be selling it for me. Amanda Connor does one of the best Power Girls I’ve ever seen, so that’s definitely going to be a treat.
Showing a slide with a cover from the current Batgirl miniseries, DiDio remarked that at many conventions since the cancellation of her own series, fans had asked for the character’s return. Hinting that the miniseries’ sales were not very high at all, DiDio pointed that the requests for the character’s return at conventions combined with the low sales of said return are something that they have to struggle with, and makes them look with requests for a character’s return with more skepticism.
The book was also given to the writer that many fans of the character attribute to her being ruined. Had this series been done by Puckett I can almost guarantee that it would have sold more. Not to knock on Beechan, but he’s done virtually nothing to inspire hope from fans the past few years. He did Countdown, which was horrible, and he did three of the worst issues of Teen Titans in a row that I’ve ever read. This all coming after he turned Batgirl into a villain for his run on Robin. This of course being what angered the fans who wanted the mini series in the first place, because the character was given to a writer that had no business writing her.
Solomon Grundy co-written by Geoff Johns and Scot Kolins, with art by Kolins, which will, according to Sattler, lead into more Grundy in the future, with Johns hinting that Grundy will play a role in the coming Blackest Night storyline.
See, this is what I was saying about Johns. I’m excited for a SOLOMON GRUNDY ONE SHOT!
DC Comics confirmed for Newsarama at Baltimore Comic Con that Legion of Super-Heroes, the ongoing series that relaunched the fan-favorite, teenage team from the future, will be canceled with issue #50 after a four-year run.
I saw it coming, but that doesn’t mean I wont miss the book. The Waid run was just great.
OTHER
Kirkman said that his motto for 2009 is “on time in 2009,” and pledged that he will ship all of his titles monthly, and will give them all guaranteed ship dates. To help him meet this goal, Kirkman has brought on former Marvel editor Aubrey Sitterson to work for him on a freelance basis – Sitterson will, according to Kirkman, help him with trafficking and schedules.
You fucking better! I want twelve issues of Invincible a year, not eight!
Ron Marz Signs Top Cow Exclusive
I haven’t followed much of what he’s done over there, but good for Ron. He’s always been a favorite of mine, and it’s always nice to see that he’s still appreciated as a writer.
The winners of the 2008 Harvey Awards are:
Best Letterer – Chris Eliopoulos, Daredevil
Best Colorist – Laura Martin, Thor
Best Syndicated Strip or Panel – Doonsbury, by Garry Trudeau
Best Online Comics Work – Perry Bible Fellowship by Nicholas Gurewitch
Best Inker – Kevin Nowlan – Witchblade
Best American Edition of Foreign Material – Eduardo Risso’s Tales of Terror by Dynamite Entertainment
Best New Series – The umbrella Academy, Dark Horse Comics
Best Graphic Album, Previously Published – Captain America Omnibus, Marvel Comics
Special Award for Humor in Comics – Perry Bible Fellowship by Nicholas Gurewitch
Best New Talent – Vasilis Lolos, Last Call, Oni Press
Best Biographical, Historical or Journalistic Presentation – Reading Comics: How Graphic Albums Work and What They Mean by Douglas Wolk
Best Anthology – Popgun Volume 1, Edited by Joe Keatinge, Image Comics
Best Domestic Reprint Project – The Complete Peanuts, Fantagraphics Books
Best Cover Artist – Mike Mignola, Hellboy
Special Award for Excellence in Presentation – EC Archives, edited by Russ Cochran, Gemstone
Best Graphic Album, Original – Scott Pilgrim Gets it Together, Oni Press
The Hero Initiative Lifetime Achievement Award – Nick Cardy, presented by Todd Dezago
Best Continuing or Limited Series – All Star Superman, DC Comics
Best Writer – Brian K. Vaughan, Y: The Last Man, DC Comics
Best Artist – Frank Quitely, All Star Superman, DC Comics
Best Cartoonist – Darwyn Cooke, The Spirit, DC Comics
Best Single Issue or Story – All Star Superman #8, DC Comics.
I like quite a bit of this, and especially have to give a solid round of applause for Brian K. Vaughan winning best writer for Y: The Last Man. Easily one of the greatest books I’ve read in my entire life, and a must read for everybody.
All Star Superman brings in three awards, including a best artist for Frank Quitely who definitely deserves it for that beautiful book.
And that brings to a close this very special edition of the Gold Standard. Be sure to check it out this coming Tuesday at it’s regularly scheduled date as I take on Rulk and Ultimates 3.
See you then!
