May 27, 2003

CAPTAIN MARVEL #14

Just turned in the script for CM #14. It is quite probably the weirdest one to date. And if you're familiar with the history of the series, that's saying something. Primarily a conversational issue as Captain Marvel chats with the original long-haired, leather-jacketed version of himself and his naive, blue-and-red uniformed version from the beginning of the run before he went nuts, while Rick talks with the young, sixties-talking Rick Jones who drove out onto the testing range (complete, inexplicably, with 60s-style slang like "Daddy-O") and also Rick during the period when he was Captain America's partner and dressed in Bucky's old uniform (an action that Rick now refers to as "disturbingly necrophilic in retrospect.)

We'll see how much of it actually sees print.

PAD

Posted by Peter David at May 27, 2003 11:57 AM | TrackBack | Other blogs commenting
Comments
Posted by: Jason at May 27, 2003 12:24 PM

Ha! Hopefully every word. It sounds great.

Posted by: Alex Agostini at May 27, 2003 12:29 PM

Looking forward to it. Hopefully it won't be watered down.

Posted by: Chris at May 27, 2003 12:32 PM

I had no idea that scripts were subject to edits. Shows how much I know. Is ROM the space Knight going to show up in Captain Marvel? I miss ROM.

Posted by: Matt Adler at May 27, 2003 12:43 PM

Well, if Jemas doesn't get his hands on the script, it should be okay...

PAD, have you seen what Jemas says in Marville #7? It's also on the Epic submission guide site:

Super-powers are just gobbledygook unless they have an underlying meaning. Johnny Storm has fire powers ‹ "Wouldn't it be cool if Reed Richards built him an infrared power booster?" NO. Doc Ock has metal arms ‹ "Wouldn't it be cool if they were adamantium?" NO. The Incredible Hulk is brutish and green ‹ "Wouldn't it be cool if he turned intelligent and gray?" NO. We call those kinds of stories "writing a comic book about a comic book."

http://www.marvel.com/epic/rule_3.htm

Posted by: Rick Jones, really at May 27, 2003 12:51 PM

Hopefully, we'll get to see most of it. It sounds like a great concept and lead-in to the big changes to the title you've talked about. That is, Marv getting back to what's laughingly called normal.

Posted by: Paul F. P. Pogue at May 27, 2003 12:59 PM

*"Wouldn't it be cool if he turned intelligent and gray?" NO. We call those kinds of stories "writing a comic book about a comic book."*

Two things.

1: You know your submission guidelines are in serious trouble when you're using them to take cheap potshots at a 10-year-old series of stories from a guy you had a feud with a year ago.

2: If you really want to diss on the idea of "writing a comic about comics", it seems to me the LAST PLACE ON EARTH to do it would be in the pages of MARVILLE.

Posted by: Wade Tripp at May 27, 2003 01:38 PM

Perhaps a week after it comes out, we can see the original and then the edited versions of the script?

Posted by: Warren S Jones III at May 27, 2003 02:02 PM

Hello PAD:

I was wondering if and when you were going to bring Marlo back into Rick/Genis' life. I know with Marvel being insane and all that might be a hard road to hoe but I really miss Marlo and look forward to the day that they are reunited.

Hey your buddy JMS did it in Spiderman.

Regards:

WSJ3

Posted by: andrew at May 27, 2003 03:29 PM

I also agree...Bring back ROM spaceknight!!!!the 75 greatest robot/alien space warrior comic that starred evil wraiths ever!!

Posted by: andrew at May 27, 2003 03:32 PM

I meant to say 75 issues, but it kind of got muddled

Posted by: Scott at May 27, 2003 04:36 PM

NO. We call those kinds of stories "writing a comic book about a comic book."

Alan Moore writes comic books about comic books. What he just described is writing weird fantasy stories.

Posted by: Randall at May 27, 2003 06:34 PM

So, Peter: was it ever settled? Did you officially win? Or did Marvel just quietly let the whole "U-decide" thing slip away into oblivion, where it belonged in the first place?

Mostly, I guess, I'm asking, is Captain Marvel safe from cancellation?

Posted by: Somebody at May 27, 2003 07:03 PM

Matt, I posted that on the MTV topic, and PAD replied there:

Super-powers are just gobbledygook unless they have an underlying meaning. [...] The Incredible Hulk is brutish and green ‹ "Wouldn't it be cool if he turned intelligent and gray?" NO. We call those kinds of stories "writing a comic book about a comic book."

I understand what the writer was trying to say, but it was a spectacularly bad example. Considering the hallmark of the Hulk has always been change...and considering that when the Hulk first started out, he WAS gray and intelligent (and then morphed into green and intelligent)...I would peg this observation right up there with the DC rep comment that World's Finest was being canceled after decades of publication because "Batman and Superman never really worked as a team."

PAD

Posted by Peter David @ 05/25/2003 09:30 AM ET

LOL

Posted by: Shortdawg at May 27, 2003 07:11 PM

I've gotta concur with all the pro-ROM comments, it's been a real treat being able to pick up so many of those wonderful issues in my local quarter bin and getting to read them again after all these years. It does, however, raise a trio of questions I've wondered about for awhile now:

1) Could you, PAD, actually have Rick refer to his time with ROM in a modern Marvel comic, or do copyright considerations make such a reference legally impossible?

2) Was ROM the last series that Ditko drew for Marvel on a regular basis? If not, what was it?

3) What ever happened regarding Bill Mantlo's recovery? I know about five years ago he was still severely cognitively impaired, but what's his status now?

Posted by: Dennis V. at May 27, 2003 07:39 PM

I'd like to see Marlo back as well.

Posted by: Pascal at May 27, 2003 08:21 PM

Marlo has to come back! She is an important character of the book. I think she must have been really worried about Rick, cause he disappeared for months, didn't he??

Pascal

Posted by: Matt Adler at May 27, 2003 09:34 PM

Matt, I posted that on the MTV topic

Whoops, my bad. Guess that's one of the disadvantages of the "post within existing topics" blog system. Can't scan quickly to see if something's already been covered.

The Incredible Hulk is brutish and green ‹ "Wouldn't it be cool if he turned intelligent and gray?" NO. We call those kinds of stories "writing a comic book about a comic book."

I understand what the writer was trying to say

Well, I don't, or if I do, I don't think it's valid. As best as I can figure Jemas is saying "Don't change the status quo" which pretty much eliminates 90% of my favorite stories.

Posted by: Prodigal at May 27, 2003 10:05 PM

Love the comment about the Bucky outfit... Did you read the issue of "Alias" where Bendis was showing excerpts from Rick Jones' autobiography? He had a great take on that, as well. But even as good as his version of it was, it wasn't as flat-out hilarious as the "disturbingly necrophilic" line you just shared with us. Nicely done, PAD.

Posted by: Artimoff at May 27, 2003 11:04 PM

3 Rick Jones'? 3 Mar-vells? That sounds like too much story, PAD (get it?) it out to 2 isues. Nope, better make it 6, one for each of them. Then We ( marvel) can put it out as a trade so we can sell it to 5,000 peolpe, at most in, book stores.

Posted by: SlashKaBob at May 27, 2003 11:06 PM

Count me in for looking forward to CM #14 and taking anything Jemas says as "from the man who brought you Marville #1". I completely understand the desire to reach beyond continuity to new fans, but why constantly MOCK, WHINE, MOAN and COMPLAIN about the taste of folks have been giving Marvel cash every month for twenty years? Take our money, put out other books that DON'T tie into history, and SHUT UP IF YOU HAVE NOTHING CONSTRUCTIVE TO SAY TO YOUR OWN CUSTOMERS!! Geez!

Posted by: Matt Adams at May 28, 2003 01:00 AM

I sure would love to write for Marvel Comics, but I have to say that Jemas is an idiot. Quesada...at least he has a vision of sorts, whether you like it or not. I don't read that many CrossGen books, but from what I've heard, their editorial model is the way it should be done.

A side note: that Doc Ock with Adamantium arms bit was a shot at Erik Larsen. Further, it actually WAS a cool idea...I'd love to see Mr. Fixit go up against that version of Doc Ock sometime...maybe I'll write a proposal to Epic and see if they accept it. =)

Posted by: Jim Tonn at May 28, 2003 01:01 AM

Oh lordy...I'm laughing just reading the blog. If it's half as good as it sounds here, I'm buying extra copies for anyone that looks my way at the store.

This series has truly been wonderfully innovative and different from anything I've ever read in the last decade. Keep it up!

Posted by: Mike at May 28, 2003 02:05 AM

http://www.buffy.nu/article.php3?id_article=731

Sorry for the off topic post, but I posted this link in the Buffy topic, but it looks like it's going to go unnoticed and get buried.

It's the alternate script for the Buffy finale and I was really hoping to see what PAD thought of it.

Posted by: Paul F. P. Pogue at May 28, 2003 02:37 AM

"Was ROM the last series that Ditko drew for Marvel on a regular basis? If not, what was it?"

Last thing I'm aware of was Ditko's run on "Speedball" in 1989 and 1990.

Posted by: Lee Houston, Junior at May 28, 2003 03:02 AM

For what it's worth, I vote for a Marlo update too. How are her and Moondragon getting along anyway?

Posted by: Luigi Novi at May 28, 2003 09:08 AM

Peter David: We'll see how much of it actually sees print.

Luigi Novi: Peter, are you saying that the editors have been gutting or heavily editing your scripts lately?

Bill Jemas: "Wouldn't it be cool if he turned intelligent and gray?" NO. We call those kinds of stories "writing a comic book about a comic book."

Paul F. P. Pogue: You know your submission guidelines are in serious trouble when you're using them to take cheap potshots at a 10-year-old series of stories from a guy you had a feud with a year ago.

Luigi Novi: I don’t see how this is a slam against Peter. Rather, it would be a slam against Bob Harras and Al Milgrom, since they, not Peter, changed the Hulk from green and dumb back to gray and intelligent.

Lee Houston: For what it's worth, I vote for a Marlo update too. How are her and Moondragon getting along anyway?

Luigi Novi: More like it getting it on…. :-)

Posted by: Dermie at May 28, 2003 08:42 PM

This issue sounds awesome!! I can't wait to read it!

Also, put me down as another supporter for a return by Marlo and Moondragon (and Al, the comic shop guy).

And, while we're at it, when are we ever gonna follow up on that Elysius/Starfox subplot from CM #32??

Keep up the great work PAD!

Posted by: Ray at May 29, 2003 05:10 AM

See, I prefer the Grey Hulk (or Green with Grey's intellect) cause that way it's two smart guys struggling for control. The savage "Hulk Smash" is boring because he's so limited.

Although, Savage Banner was kind of funny.

Posted by: Mike at May 29, 2003 10:59 PM

Only someone uncreative as Bill Jemas would actually say that in public not to mention in print. Last time I checked your book sucked,And you are the president of Marvel??? Gee lets put some naked chicks on covers to sell books! Thats a novel idea for 1990!! I think you need a career change, my local McDonalds is looking for help, maybe you can help them with the low sales! Hey I got an Idea put a naked chick on the wrapper & if that don't work triple the price!

Posted by: Peter David at May 30, 2003 12:00 AM

And, while we're at it, when are we ever gonna follow up on that Elysius/Starfox subplot from CM #32??

Funny you should ask. The answer is, it starts with issue #15.

PAD

Posted by: Jason at May 30, 2003 10:27 AM

"Funny you should ask. The answer is, it starts with issue #15."

Not to be a *complete* geek, but it occurs to me that if we were to go by the previous numbering, issue #15 would be issue #50. So, is it going to be "Double-Sized"?

Posted by: Peter Svensson at May 30, 2003 12:53 PM

In regards to ROM, last time I checked, they can refer to Rick having adventured with him, but they can't call him by name or show him visually.

A few years back they did a semi-spinoff of Rom called Spaceknights where the word "ROM" was never uttered once. But you could tell who they were referring to...