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Reader Questions 3
2008-07-30 17:52:00

Peter Parker today?

And a few more reader questions, with answers by me:

>This may sound a bit long winded, but it’s all really one question. With the recent trend of getting writers from other media (like say movies and novels) is there other realms of writing and media that you’d like to get new writers from. For Marvel want to bring on a foreign new correspondent because they would have experience that could really flesh out some of the more international Marvel Characters (like say the Supreme Soviets).

2nd question sort of along the lines of the first one is, are you looking to get more focused push on manga styled comics. DC seems to be trying with their CMX line but Marvel’s attempts have been a tad scattershot with things like the Mangaverse and having Kia Asamiya draw the X-Men for several issues. Considering Manga is dominating the bookstore market despite the markets is leveling out, wouldn’t it be in Marvel’s best interest to get a big piece of that pie?

Posted by ex_mutants on 2008-07-28 12:23:14>

We’re constantly interested in new writers from all walks of life, provided they have the goods. I don’t know that we’d specifically be looking for, say, a foreign correspondent to write our international characters, but I wouldn’t rule it out either. The important thing is that they have the talent, and a track record of some kind helps as well. I think overall the quality of the writing at Marvel has increased over the last decade or so, so the bar is set higher in terms of people being able to break in.

I think a lot of people misunderstand what Manga really is. It’s a cultural style of storytelling rather than a particular look or flavor. So it’s not all that easy to emulate simply by drawing big eyes or sailor-suited girls or speed lines. That said, we did recently license an X-MEN Manga to be produced by Japanese creators, so we’ll see how that goes.

>
1) Although the usual claim about tie-ins is that they are not essential to following an Event Mini, I'm finding that Secret Invasion itself has been reading as disconnected set-ups and segues that lead elsewhere. (eg. so far, Captain Marvel's appearances mean next to nothing without reading the Who Do You Trust? one-shot) Plus, many readers I know are enjoying Herc and Cap Britain MORE than the SI mini. You gave us great insight into your editorial work on a single issue by sharing an e-mail with Bendis. Now that we're at issue 4, I'm wondering if you can tell us about coordinating the overall story and shaping how it unfolds for the reader in the mini, tie-ins, one shots, previews, etc.?

2) What were the most remarkable revelations that hit you about the comics industry as you went from being a fan to a working pro and then from pro to your current lofty perch?

Posted by hamgravy on 2008-07-28 14:43:37>

I have a different perspective that you, obviously, but I’d have to disagree with SECRET INVASION reading like a series of set-ups for other tie-in series. Perhaps it seems that way at this point because you’ve only seen half of it so far, but when all is said and done, and SECRET INVASION #1-8 live together in a single collected edition, I think you’re going to be able to read and understand it just fine, and that elements set up at the beginning pay off by the end. But as usual, you readers will be the final judge. In terms of building the story, it worked the same way as HOUSE OF M, CIVIL WAR or WORLD WAR HULK. The main book and its contents came first, at least in a broad-strokes way. Thereafter, a position paper was circulated to the assorted editors and creators of other books in the line, giving them the outline of the event and soliciting any ideas for tie-ins they may have had. SECRET INVASION was a bit different in this regard in that we knew for certain right from the beginning that NEW AVENGERS and MIGHTY AVENGERS would both be tying in for the duration, since Brian was also writing those series, and that allowed us to organize our backstory in a different way than we would have been able to do had we only the main book.

And I don’t think there was on remarkable revelation; rather, there were any number of little things that I had never really thought about that I had to suddenly consider and learn about. For example, product design wasn’t something I thought a whole lot about when I was a reader. Occasionally there’d be a collection or a book released in a format that I really liked, but I didn’t give it much more thought than that. So it was a bit of a revelation to work under Marcus McLauren for my first month at Marvel. Marcus was fascinated by graphic design and typography, and that was very much reflected in his projects. So suddenly, I was thinking more about what made a good logo, how cover elements sat together on a cover, how to create an overall feeling or flavor for a project through the packaging, and so forth. A lot of these ideas and notions were honed through extended interactions with John Romita Sr back when he was Marvel’s art director. John’s personal demon is his perfectionism, and through dealing with him I learned to be bothered by all of the same tiny, niggling things that would eat at him, including bad tangents and improper overlapping between the artwork and the trade dress. I now drive my assorted staff members crazy with the same stuff.

 Im really hoping Marvel Boy's entrance in the Secret Invasion mini is awesome !! :)

Posted by underworldeve on 2008-07-28 16:53:06>

It is. (Not that that was a question…)

 I was considering diving into the Essential Iron Man series. A new edition of vol. 1 is coming out in September and Marvel just released vol. 3 in April. Unfortunately, vol. 2 seems to be out of print and I'd rather not jump in on this series if I can't read the stories in order.

Is Marvel planning on another print of volume 2 any time soon?

Posted by friskydingo on 2008-07-28 18:26:50>

In general, we try to keep our ESSENTIAL volumes in print regularly, assuming we have backorders for them. But with so many of them in our catalogue at this point, there are times when one volume or another goes out of print. But every year, our Collections Department plans out a program of back-to-press releases for both the ESSENTIALS and the MASTERWORKS, so assuming there’s a demand for them—and given the success of the IRON MAN movie, I’d expect there would be—it’s almost a certainty that the volume you’re talking about will come back into print before too long.

- Is Ultimate X-Men cancelled after Ultimatum?
- The sollicitations for Avengers The Initiative say : "The explosive finale starts here!" Does this mean that the series will be axed? With what issue?
- Is there any unannounced major new Marvel Heroes series post Secret Invasion?
- When will the mysterious project that Marvel has been teasing will be unveiled? (Nobody's on our side)

Posted by softverre on 2008-07-29 05:04:27>

These are all spoiler-questions, so there’s very little I’m going to be able to tell you in regards to most of them. Can’t tell you anything more about ULTIMATUM or what comes afterwards other than that it’s going to be epic. No, AVENGERS: THE INITITIVE isn’t axed—that copy refers to the finale of the SECRET INVASION tie-in sequence. Yes, there are other new Marvel Heroes projects coming in the aftermath of SECRET INVASION. And we’ll be telling you what those teaser ads are all about soon.

Question: Do you think a book that features true progression would sell? What I means is, for example, a single book that features Spider-Man where he ages in real time without the illusion of change, where there are no retcons, and where things like dead mean dead are followed. I am not talking about changing BND, instead I am interested in a separate book that follows its own storyline. What I would like to see is a Spider-Man book where it starts with Peter as say age 14 and every 12 issues he is aged one year. To me, that is the compromise that is needed to get the fans like me, who like a tight continuity, to be able to enjoy Marvel books again. So to repeat, do you, or anyone reading this, think this would sell?

Posted by rebeldragon on 2008-07-29 08:38:14>

I think you could do a series like this—and over the years, some have been done, SAVAGE DRAGON for example—but I don’t think that series is AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, or indeed any of the other classic core Marvel characters. That’s just not how the Marvel characters operate—they’ve proven to be so popular over such a long period of time that it would be foolish to allow them to change so much or grow so old as to not be equally appealing to the new crop of readers who are coming in every generation. In some ways, this desire is a self-centered one on the part of a particular generation, to have the characters age and grow with you. And that’s perfectly understandable, and a desire that’s been felt by all of the assorted generations of readers. However, Spider-Man and the other Marvel characters belong not to one single generation but to all of them, so while we like to put the characters through their paces and watch them grow and change along the way, you don’t really ever want to get to the point in the main books where the characters are past their shelf-life. Speaking to this question a bit more specifically: when did you start reading Spider-Man? Let’s say for the sake of argument that you began reading the book when Spidey got married in 1987. Assuming that this rule was in place from the get-go (since it wouldn’t be fair to the earlier generations to deny them the same sort of progression), the Spider-Man you first encountered wasn’t a young twenty-something about to be married for the first time—he would have been a forty-one year old, presumably with a full-time job and a career, and precious little time to be web-slinging. And today he’d be an old man of sixty-two, and closing in on retirement. And as much as you say that’s what you want, it really isn’t—and wouldn’t be at all fair to the generations of readers coming to the character in 2008, 2018, or 2028. And I definitely don’t think that doing a series like this would pull back the angry readers you’re talking about, any more than they’ve all suddenly started reading SPIDER-GIRL.

More later.

Tom B

Thanks.
Tom,

I know readers are usually bored to tears by questions about trades and the topic isn't really your forte since the trades dept. is separate from the comics so thanks a lot for taking the time to answer my question.

Posted by friskydingo on 2008-07-30 19:00:07

Imagine they'd adhered to your hypothetical Spider-Man continuity in the movies... they could have got someone like Jon Voight to play him!

Posted by Fetsur on 2008-07-30 19:24:56

Thanks
Thanks for the insight Tom.

Posted by hamgravy on 2008-07-30 22:03:39

Tom, Skrulls Invading Would Be A Good Thing!
Please let the Skrulls invade the earth. Do not let them win. Under any circumstances. Thanks for your understanding!

http://independentcomicssite.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=774&Itemid=1

Posted by kimbot9 on 2008-07-30 23:56:09

Thanks for the response!
Tom,

First, I want to thank you for your response. Second I am 34 and have been reading Marvel Comics since I was 6, around 1980. Spider-Man was a grad student at this time and was single. Now I completely understand your point that some people would not want to read about an older Peter. I see two basic types of readers, those that like Progression and those that like Evolution. Now that is just a general term, I see it as a scale with those two as the extremes and all fans somewhere in between. Also it is not static. Someone could start at one side and as they get older go to the other side. I personally love a progressive story. Doesn't matter if its a series of Movies, TV, Books, or Comics. I just don't care for characters like Archie that are stuck in their youthful loops. IMHO the Marvel Universe started out as a progressive story. Spider-Man graduated high school and college and got married. The Fantastic four had marriages and children. The original X-men were allowed to graduate and make room for new characters. That was what attached me to these books. It felt real as far as impact, as if the book was simply a window in to this other world. One of my favorite comics of all time is the annual of Fantastic Four from 1998. For those who have no read it, here is a great link: http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix/earth1961.htm
Now I like a lot of different things about this book. I love how it shows the next generation of heroes with Franklin grown up and leading the four. I love all the little touches like the poker game with Wolverine, Dr. Strange, Thor, and the Thing. Mostly like seeing where all these characters have ended up. Now I realize that the core characters in the main Marvel Universe will NEVER be allowed to progress beyond a certain point and I am cool about it. But I feel that progression in something like in the Ultimate Universe could work. What I would like to see is keeping the regular (616) universe the way it is now. At the same time introduce a new Ultimate Universe where time passes at the same basic speed as real time. I have heard rumors that the UU will be going through a vast change over the coming months so this could be applicable. You could have four core books (Spider-Man, X-men, Ultimates, FF) and what ever specials and mini-series you want. I would have this just go on and on, as long as sells of course. Now in 20 or 30 or 100 years, if you want to end it and start over you can. Or, even better, let legacy characters SLOWLY take over. I know some would say this is not possible, but for us progressives, I think it would be great. Basic rules would be every 12 issues is one year, dead means dead, and no retcons. When a writer leaves and a new one comes in, he/ she HAS to pick up where the last one left and simply continue the narrative. With the right writers and editors, I think this could work. Of course, you wont know till you try....

Thanks!
Adam aka Rebeldragon

Posted by rebeldragon on 2008-07-31 10:15:12

MIGHTY AVEGNERS #17??
Tom---
What is going on with MA #17?

The solicits say it's about Captain Marvel and Marvel Boy.

The cover pictured in the Dum-Dum Dugan article on the front page, and the box at the end of MA #16 say it's about Hank Pym.

The Dum-Dum article itself says #17 is devoted to the Dugan Skrull.

Which is correct?

Posted by Gentleman Jack on 2008-07-31 12:12:59

Tom @ Marvel
Thanks for making comics fun !

Posted by underworldeve on 2008-07-31 12:14:54

re: progression
I just want to add my vote for progression in comics. I've ranted on about this at length on my website, so won't repeat the arguments here. http://www.enterthestory.com/realtime_marvel_1960s.html

But thanks, Tom, for addressing the issue.

Posted by tolworthy on 2008-07-31 15:00:06

Reply to tolworthy
Tolworthy, thanks for the link. I haven't read everything yet but it looks like you and me share many of the same thoughts. Great webpage!

Posted by rebeldragon on 2008-07-31 15:59:56

Using Frank Cho correctly
An Ares mini series with Cho would kick !*#@@**% !!

Posted by underworldeve on 2008-07-31 19:03:39

Dugan was replaced by a Skrull after Captain America's death. This means that during World War Hulk, Skrull Dugan got control over Iron Man's negative zone bomb that could destroy New York City. Will this ever come into play?

Posted by Maestro on 2008-07-31 20:02:03

Chronal progression in comics
You say the "angry readers" wouldn't return to an ASM in which Parker was pushing 60. But that wasn't the case in the JMS. Peter had aged enough to take the teaching job, to be a responsible husband, to be brave enough to bare his face to the public etc etc.
In fact, the book was moving further and further away from status quo, it was fresh and thrilling. Peter and MJ on the run? The Kingpin bested? May mortally wounded?.. well, May has died before, but I digress.
You say Marvel advocate change, and yet you retcon a book that's all about change.
You don't progress, you regress, post OMD ASM is grown up Peter having his usual teen problems from way back when. May's an imbicile who needs medicine. The new status quo is the old status quo.
There's all ages Spider-Man and Ultimate Spider-Man, why oh why couldn't you just have left the original timeline alone? All those cliffhangers and plot lines, gone.

I suppose I'm one of the "angry readers" you talk about. It's just that I'm not angry, I'm astounded. And I'm no longer a reader. Stopped buying Marvel.
Not a loss for the company of course, I'm just one guy. Merely pointing out my dissatisfaction.
Both with the lack of response from the editors to the many readers protests, and the seemingly verbally giving said readers the finger.
"If you don't read post OMD Spidey, you're not a real fan anyway".
See what I mean?

Posted by Nøhr on 2008-07-31 21:40:45

Quasar Petition
Hey Tom!

Seeing how you started at Marvel when Quasar #1 was released I was wondering if you signed the Bring Back Wendell Vaughn as Quasar Petition that is hanging up (somewhere)?!
-Matt

Posted by stingermann on 2008-07-31 23:35:02

Where have the heroes gone?
I've already said my say on Amazing and how I think it sucks since BND. So I won't bother to repeat that. (for at least a few months)

But I do have one more question. When will the 'heroes' return. The past few years, Marvel's characters have grown less and less heroic. They've been smeared, utterly destroyed like Spider-Man was since BND, killed off.

The three moral pillars of the Marvel Universe have been shattered, with Cap killed and Peter turned into a selfish loser, and much as I like Ben, I don't like the FF enough, just to read about the last true moral centre of the Marvel Universe. (esp. not the way it's currently being written)

Why is it that a title like Captain Britain can be about true heroes, while the rest of the heroes are treated like jobbing suckers in Secret Invasion just to make the Skrulls look better.

Does Marvel hate heroes?

Posted by liliaeth on 2008-08-01 04:06:46

The passing of time
And oh yes, in response to that fourty, or fifty year old Spider-Man thing, that is utter crap, hogwash and total nonsense.

Sliding timescale remember. After fourty a fifty years of storytelling, Peter had only aged 15 years. And even only that much, because Stan Lee had him age in real time for the first five years of his existance. So that's basically ten years in fourty years and slowing down every year.

But that didn't mean the characters were stuck, as they are now because Marvel is too cowardish to look for real answers, instead of ruining them by casting them in iron a la Archie or other such children's books.

Honestly, the only threat in regards to aging is people like Slott or Bendis who use those "Six months" "several months" have past-timetags. Because now instead of being at least 30 as Peter was pre-BND, he has suddenly turned 30 and a half.
And all because the writer is too lazy to show the time in between. Because skipping time is the easy way out. No matter how much it ruins continuity with other books.

Posted by liliaeth on 2008-08-01 04:12:00

The Savage Dragon
I love that you gave The Savage Dragon some props! I just bought Volume 1 and 2 of Image's Savage Dragon Archive and it is awesome. And it wasn't just the linear progression that set it apart. It has a great sense of humour and the main hero has an almost realistic sense of responsibility that I find facinating. The art wasn't that great... but it was a fun read.

Posted by DRock1 on 2008-08-03 13:18:08

Hope you don't mind
Hope you don't mind but I reposted your replies to my questions at -
http://www.mangapunk.com/articles/mini_interview_with_marvel_s_tom_brevoort

I think your blog is very educational and though thought some crossposting would help spread some of that knowledge.

Posted by ex_mutants on 2008-08-05 14:40:08

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About this blog:
Ramblings and musings from the mind of Tom Brevoort. "It won’t be clean. It won’t be fun. It mostly won’t be coherent."

About the author:
Tom Brevoort is Executive Editor for Marvel Comics, and oversees such titles as New Avengers, Civil War, and Fantastic Four.


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