The first issue of Q2: The Return of Quantum and Woody shipped last week, which means I probably should blog something about it, but as usual, I’m up to my ears. I’ll try and get back in here over the weekend with a few words. Meanwhile, here’s a recycled clip from my “Watch This Space” post:
I will say I’m more than surprised by the gracious (and puzzling) applause over news that MD Bright and I are doing five issues of comics. For the first few weeks of back-and-forth with Valiant, I was fairly convinced that this was all a practical joke of some kind. I certainly appreciate everyone who actually asked for this project and who have supported this series in the past.
Sorry, there is no goat. We could have put “A” goat in there, but by this point in their lives, I’m pretty sure Vincent Van Goat has gone to Farm Heaven. Forcing a goat into the story pushes us past what we feel is an action-adventure super-hero buddy book (and, all right, super-hero deconstructionism) and into farce, which was never our vision for QW. I think QW is only funny when it evolves along plausible storylines rather than Doc and I sitting around going, “Ok, how do we make this funny?” Sorry to disappoint Vincent fans, but he appears regularly in the monthly.
The project is scheduled for a 2014 release. You can find me hiding under my desk, hoping I haven’t grossly disappointed people who’ve invested so much good faith in these characters and the work. Thanks so much to Doc for working out a way forward, to Dinesh Shamdasani, Warren Simons and Walter Black for their extraordinary patience and persistence in making this project possible.
My LCS got shorted so I still haven’t read it. I figure hey, I’ve waited this long…
Thad: What’s and LCS…?
Local Comic Shop. Mine got slightly damaged copies, and were going to send ’em all back and wait for a reship, but I told them that I was fine with a biffed copy (and, frankly, if they hadn’t said it was damaged I wouldn’t have noticed).
LOL! I made an appearance in Phoenix where they only had 1 copy. I’m trying to figure out did they only *order* one copy or did they only have one copy *left,* which would surprise me…that classic Q&W would be that much in demand. I tend to suspect it was the latter because they had minimum 10+ copies of virtually everything, a well-stocked store, multiples of even books you wouldn’t think were very popular. They may have under-anticipated the demand for Q2; I’m sure *I* did 🙂
Neither of my “LCS'” had this in stock; in fact, one of them (formerly my main) had so few items in stock in general, I’m surprised they’re still around. Looks like they haven’t weathered things well these past few years. I hardly buy comics myself these days.
In any event, I had to go a bit further abroad, but I found it at another shop- one which was a much more fully stocked and apparently successful LCS.
Enjoyed it, and eagerly anticipating the rest of Q2. It was like going home again. Thanks to you, MD Bright, and the rest of the team, sir!
Mannn. This went completely past me as well. So glad to see you writing again. I will definitely support and buy this.
On a side note, I read that Michael Dorn has been trying to get a series started tentatively titled “Star Trek: Captain Worf” for a few years now. With your history and background, I know it would not be a problem at all for you two to at least talk nor for him to really consider a script from you.
LOL! I’d *love* to connect with Mr. Dorn if I knew how to actually do that. It’s knid of funny, considering my impression was he had been running *from* that character for quite some time. Re: “writing again:” as I mention, I’ve been writing all along. What I haven’t been doing is actually publishing anything. A friend goaded me into, at the very least, releasing some of this stuff to Kindle, and I am atleast trying to make a concerted effort to check my blog again. This usually lasts about, oh, eight days before I slip again into what former DC Editor Brian Augustyn calls “The cone of silence.” 🙂
I think you underestimate your place in history and your resume. Being the first Black Editor at Marvel, a one time editor of the Spider-Man books, and the writer who scribed Marvel’s best selling mini-series and later Batman and BP…trust me, I really do believe Dorn would welcome an exchange with you with open arms.
I’m not auditioning to be your publicist, and I know I sound like one of those Eddie_Murphy_Voiced_Yes_Men in the background saying “You Can Win Jesse!! You can be the first black Prez” (LOL), but I really do know that you connecting with Dorn is a very good thing and a very realistic possibility for you to consider. I’m sure his email or some type of contact info is just a Google search away. Haha.
Okay…forgive me for dreaming out loud. Strolling through your park for a little too long has that effect on a person. Back to mixing this gospel album. Haha. Have a god day. And I am glad that I can enjoy your published work again.
Marvel’s best selling mini series at that time… (Spidey/Wolvie).
You still got! I like Q2, but need to get used to this ‘slow burn’ pace you have going. I often have to re-read your stuff to get the full effect. The Omnibus is slated for an end of year present.
LOL! Q2 was commissioned as a graphic novel. Then the company decided to release it first as a mini, so the pacing is a bit weird. Fans of the current incarnation of Q&W are also likely to be put off because our Q&W is satire, not farce, with no deliberate effort made to be “funny.” The old QW had funny *moments,* but in and of itself, it was a fairly straight-on buddy hero book. Hope the burn gets shorter. 🙂
Enjoyed the Q&W #1. Can’t wait to see what comes next. I also got my Q&W Omnibus today and in case you don’t have one yet, it looks fantastic. The oversized pages bring out great detail in the art and all the gags (and drama) are as good as ever.
Hope you are getting some solid royalties. 🙂
Royalties…? BWAAAAA-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! I’ll be lucky if I even get a copy.
Just read Q2 #1. Thrilled to have those characters back. Reserving “judgment” till I’ve read the whole thing, but suffice to say I enjoyed #1 more than I’ve enjoyed many comics in the last few years.
I’d also like to echo what a poster above said about you underestimating your place in history; everyone I know, from shop owners to bloggers to casual fans to lapsed 90s kids like myself seem to have you in the Hall of Fame, and I’ve heard people besides myself- and, like, more than just a few people- name you as either their favorite writer and/or the guy who made them understand that comics could be more than just “tights and fights.” The Ray was the character that made me love comic books, and Black Panther was the run that taught me that the only limits to a story or character’s potential is the skill and imagination of the writer.
Anyways, I know you’re the humble/self-deprecating type, but give yourself some credit, man. You’re an All-Timer, potential Comic Book Rushmore level guy, and anything you write, we’ll be happy (and lucky) to read. Buying Zion today, for example.
PS: Read your post saying you’ve got nothing to do with the Panther movie. Their loss. Hopefully that phone rings and they at least ask you for some tips; you’re the guy that made him a big enough star to warrant his own movie in the first place, and more importantly you’re the guy who finally figured out how to make the billionaire genius orphan kung-fu monarch of a super-advanced African Utopia relatable to us broke, dumb, parent-having regular American jerks; probably a lesson worth learning if they’re going to make a movie about the guy.
Nick– thanks for the very kind words. Re: Panther movie: I’ve been fairly impressed with Marvel’s movies; they seem to get many more things right than they get wrong. I’m also assuming that, as with other films, they’ll invent their own “movie universe” take on BP which may or may not resemble anything I did. I’m optimistic about the project and eager to see what they come up with.