Tom, so far 'Exceptional X-Men' is the book where we have the least information about what will happen or which side he will take in the Cyclops vs. Rogue feud. Will it really interact with the other books, or will it float between them?
Tom, quite some time ago you expressed your disdain for the character of Illyana Rasputin, Magik, and your lack of desire to do anything with the character. Now she is front and centre, can you tell us of your reconciliation towards the character?
Rob Liefeld has, this week, announced that first Deadpool Team-Up would be his final Deadpool work and then that it would be his final Marvel work, as he does every now and then. A fair few years ago now, the pair of you had a few war of words that seemed hard to walk back from. Has that caused any issue when Rob has been working for Marvel, and did your appointment to the X-books office, including Deadpool, exacerbate his recent decision do you believe?
And finally, addressing your reader, Little Tiny Fish, asking about New Warriors, it might be worth noting that Marvel showed retailers at San Diego Comic-Con an image by Luciano Vecchio, who was lined up to draw the most recent planned New Warriors comic that got canned a) because of the pandemic or b) from being mocked by Joe Rogan. Using the New Warriors slogan from their very first issue, Change The World, we got Kid Juggernaut, Spider-Boy, Cadet Marvel, Hellrune, Moon Squire, Liberty, Coal Tiger, Moon Squire and Fantasma all together, with something for 2025. The image mirrored that of New Warriors #1... though that also mirrored Giant Size X-Men #1 as well. Either way it looks like a new New Warriors. But then again it might be The Defenders.
And finally, finally Tom, I have become a regular donor to the HERO Initiative now, rather than an occasional one, thanks to this Substack.
I never liked the MASTER EDITION of MARVEL UNIVERSE. It was indeed a great reference for the offices and for creators, but having ONE artist do all the figures in that incredibly boring pose...even a great artist like Kieth Pollard...ruined it for me. Like you I loved having all the different artists. I even got into BIG trouble for hiring artists who had too much "STYLE" for Editor in Chief Jim Shooter. He insisted that the figures should all be consistent and that it was Joe Rubinstein's JOB to ink them all so they looked like the same person drew them. Ughhh. I argued the point and indicated that the FANS, the people who actually BOUGHT these Handbook, LOVED seeing the different artists. He grumbled. Rubinstein tried to explain that he had too much respect for the artists to redraw it so they all looked the same. More grumbling. We ignored it and he never argued it again.
It was a strange feeling to suddenly be the ONLY writer on Deathlok at this point. I had been trying so hard to make sure what I did would fit in with what Dwayne did, and get frustrated that he didn't want to pick up my story threads. My recollection was that you and I had a long conversation about what story threads needed to be wrapped up, and which ones needed to continue. So my mission with this issue was to basically put the book on track and get new readers as well as try to get readers who were lost...to return. Thank goodness for Kevin, who immediately got what I was doing and really became a COLLABORATOR and not just someone drawing what I said to draw.
First thing I knew had to be done was to straighten put the family story. Tracy had now been pregnant for 25 issues...more than 2 years...and even with time not being "accurate". it was too much. Also, it really was logistically silly for this cyborg to be living at home...and never really addressing how dangerous it was for him to be publicly linked to them, regardless of whatever security SHIELD had in place. I also wanted explain why Deathlok was more in tune with his African American heritage now...compared to when he was a human. Dwayne had done a great job having him address this, but not WHY he didn't express it before. I'm not sure it was ever clear enough for the readers, but Michael Collins was a naive man, safe in his beliefs that what he was doing was right, and believed he was in the company of friends...who were really just using him. Becoming Deathlok woke him up, especially after talking with Misty Knight. And this was a perfect way to try and bring both HER and the CYBERFOLK idea back. Plus I was trying to weave Luthor Manning back into the book. Thankfully, I had you Tom, to talk me through a lot of complicated issues. Once Tracy gave birth..the baby needed a name and I chose the name Patricia, to honor someone who at that time was an important person in his life. I also felt it was the perfect opportunity to show just how difficult Michael's family's life was..I couldn't just write them out of the book...it had to be wrenching for everyone. I really had confidence that we would get folks back to the book with Kevin on board as a regular artist and Luthor Manning finally became part of the book. A lot of what I was thinking came from a fan letter that complained about the book not being FUN. The letter writer pointed out what made the original version of Deathlok more FUN. So I was trying to do that...
Tom, I wonder why some villains in the Phoenix books so far are Thor villains? Because I don't remember Phoenix having anything to do with Thor... Can you tell us whose idea it was?
As a diehard jean fan I’m loving the book the way it is and I really don’t get all this criticism it all seems to stem from twitter users as well and not any other community
Hey, Tom! I’m bummed to hear that FF #24’s cover will be Alex Ross’s last, but very much looking forward to seeing the art of whoever’s teed-up to do the next run! I want to take this last opportunity to complement Alex for his terrific redesign of the FF’s uniforms and for crafting an emblem that finally at once looks like both a “4” AND a “F”! (once I saw it, I just couldn’t unsee it!) Please, even if their outfits are changed in the future, I hope the emblem (and the logo) is kept as it is - it’s just perfect IMO!
Tom, was Kwannon being part of X-Men an editorial decision or a preference of Jed's? I'm so happy that she can finally be in the spotlight, and I'm loving how Mackay writes her.
Alex Ross has been doing great work on Fantastic Four and I'll be bummed to see him go. His recent covers have really enticed me to buy books; they are obviously great illustrations, but they also give an indication of what's going on inside the book and build a sense of tension instead of just having characters standing around.
You joked about a cartoon show being "animated methadone" for other, better cartoon shows. Made me think certain characters are methadone of sorts, such as Power Girl for a world without Supergirl. Who do you think is Marvel's biggest example of comic book methadone, the fill-in character because the Real McCoy isn't available?
Hi Tom. I imagine that you already know that the Jean fans arent happy with the PHOENIX's artist due to the polemics involving him and with Jean's suit. I would like to know if theres plans to change the artist and maybe Jean's suit?
If you decide to do, say, a flashback story showing what The Living Tribunal was up to during War of the Realms, which design for The Living Tribunal would be used?
Why bring the love triangle back at all? Scott and Jean's relationship is already an unpopular and hated one and lots of Cyclops fans prefer him with Emma because it was stable and Scott didn't have to compete with the most popular X-Man. Why not give us good material featuring them as a couple, spending time with Nathan or Rachel, etc. instead of trying to screw them over and over again and claim that they're still X-Men's OTP?
Yes I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at the non answer. Either decanonize the throuple (like you’ve done) or keep doing Jean/Logan nonsense, pick a lane.
I started collecting the Marvel Universe in 1987, so getting the '89 Update was a joy for me and I loved the look and feel inside and out. I got the first few (maybe 10 months) of the Master Edition. I thought it was a good idea at first, but having to organize the new sheets every month became a chore, the holes ripped easy and I had to keep upgrading binders. I understand why other than a few specials, there haven't been many updates since then. But another late 80s series that is great for historians that I don't think has ever been reprinted is Marvel Saga, and the similar recap in Marvel Age for a few years. What would it take to have those collected, or a new version put into production? I realize Wikipedia covers a lot of that material, but the actual art from Marvel Saga was a great part of the books.
Although I love them both, I always preferred Who’s Who over Handbook, at least the original incarnations. I liked the idea of often having artists associated with the character draw the entry over the more static shots in Handbook.
Has Marvel ever considered making a new digital storefront for comics? I know that there was a Marvel app, but it was shut down last year and you could view your purchases through Marvel Unlimited IIRC, but I wonder if the idea to make a new storefront has been floated around. Or is Marvel Unlimited the main focus for now?
Stop spamming him with questions to try and get a moment on twitter at Jean's expense
Tom, so far 'Exceptional X-Men' is the book where we have the least information about what will happen or which side he will take in the Cyclops vs. Rogue feud. Will it really interact with the other books, or will it float between them?
Tom, quite some time ago you expressed your disdain for the character of Illyana Rasputin, Magik, and your lack of desire to do anything with the character. Now she is front and centre, can you tell us of your reconciliation towards the character?
Rob Liefeld has, this week, announced that first Deadpool Team-Up would be his final Deadpool work and then that it would be his final Marvel work, as he does every now and then. A fair few years ago now, the pair of you had a few war of words that seemed hard to walk back from. Has that caused any issue when Rob has been working for Marvel, and did your appointment to the X-books office, including Deadpool, exacerbate his recent decision do you believe?
And finally, addressing your reader, Little Tiny Fish, asking about New Warriors, it might be worth noting that Marvel showed retailers at San Diego Comic-Con an image by Luciano Vecchio, who was lined up to draw the most recent planned New Warriors comic that got canned a) because of the pandemic or b) from being mocked by Joe Rogan. Using the New Warriors slogan from their very first issue, Change The World, we got Kid Juggernaut, Spider-Boy, Cadet Marvel, Hellrune, Moon Squire, Liberty, Coal Tiger, Moon Squire and Fantasma all together, with something for 2025. The image mirrored that of New Warriors #1... though that also mirrored Giant Size X-Men #1 as well. Either way it looks like a new New Warriors. But then again it might be The Defenders.
And finally, finally Tom, I have become a regular donor to the HERO Initiative now, rather than an occasional one, thanks to this Substack.
Mocked by Joe Rogan?! Lol
Oh yes. https://bleedingcool.com/comics/comics-store-ordered-500-copies-marvel-new-warriors-1/
I never liked the MASTER EDITION of MARVEL UNIVERSE. It was indeed a great reference for the offices and for creators, but having ONE artist do all the figures in that incredibly boring pose...even a great artist like Kieth Pollard...ruined it for me. Like you I loved having all the different artists. I even got into BIG trouble for hiring artists who had too much "STYLE" for Editor in Chief Jim Shooter. He insisted that the figures should all be consistent and that it was Joe Rubinstein's JOB to ink them all so they looked like the same person drew them. Ughhh. I argued the point and indicated that the FANS, the people who actually BOUGHT these Handbook, LOVED seeing the different artists. He grumbled. Rubinstein tried to explain that he had too much respect for the artists to redraw it so they all looked the same. More grumbling. We ignored it and he never argued it again.
It was a strange feeling to suddenly be the ONLY writer on Deathlok at this point. I had been trying so hard to make sure what I did would fit in with what Dwayne did, and get frustrated that he didn't want to pick up my story threads. My recollection was that you and I had a long conversation about what story threads needed to be wrapped up, and which ones needed to continue. So my mission with this issue was to basically put the book on track and get new readers as well as try to get readers who were lost...to return. Thank goodness for Kevin, who immediately got what I was doing and really became a COLLABORATOR and not just someone drawing what I said to draw.
First thing I knew had to be done was to straighten put the family story. Tracy had now been pregnant for 25 issues...more than 2 years...and even with time not being "accurate". it was too much. Also, it really was logistically silly for this cyborg to be living at home...and never really addressing how dangerous it was for him to be publicly linked to them, regardless of whatever security SHIELD had in place. I also wanted explain why Deathlok was more in tune with his African American heritage now...compared to when he was a human. Dwayne had done a great job having him address this, but not WHY he didn't express it before. I'm not sure it was ever clear enough for the readers, but Michael Collins was a naive man, safe in his beliefs that what he was doing was right, and believed he was in the company of friends...who were really just using him. Becoming Deathlok woke him up, especially after talking with Misty Knight. And this was a perfect way to try and bring both HER and the CYBERFOLK idea back. Plus I was trying to weave Luthor Manning back into the book. Thankfully, I had you Tom, to talk me through a lot of complicated issues. Once Tracy gave birth..the baby needed a name and I chose the name Patricia, to honor someone who at that time was an important person in his life. I also felt it was the perfect opportunity to show just how difficult Michael's family's life was..I couldn't just write them out of the book...it had to be wrenching for everyone. I really had confidence that we would get folks back to the book with Kevin on board as a regular artist and Luthor Manning finally became part of the book. A lot of what I was thinking came from a fan letter that complained about the book not being FUN. The letter writer pointed out what made the original version of Deathlok more FUN. So I was trying to do that...
Tom, I wonder why some villains in the Phoenix books so far are Thor villains? Because I don't remember Phoenix having anything to do with Thor... Can you tell us whose idea it was?
Not Tom but a pretty big Phoenix-Thor connection was unveiled in Jason Aaron's Avengers.
As a diehard jean fan I’m loving the book the way it is and I really don’t get all this criticism it all seems to stem from twitter users as well and not any other community
Hey, Tom! I’m bummed to hear that FF #24’s cover will be Alex Ross’s last, but very much looking forward to seeing the art of whoever’s teed-up to do the next run! I want to take this last opportunity to complement Alex for his terrific redesign of the FF’s uniforms and for crafting an emblem that finally at once looks like both a “4” AND a “F”! (once I saw it, I just couldn’t unsee it!) Please, even if their outfits are changed in the future, I hope the emblem (and the logo) is kept as it is - it’s just perfect IMO!
Tom, was Kwannon being part of X-Men an editorial decision or a preference of Jed's? I'm so happy that she can finally be in the spotlight, and I'm loving how Mackay writes her.
Alex Ross has been doing great work on Fantastic Four and I'll be bummed to see him go. His recent covers have really enticed me to buy books; they are obviously great illustrations, but they also give an indication of what's going on inside the book and build a sense of tension instead of just having characters standing around.
You joked about a cartoon show being "animated methadone" for other, better cartoon shows. Made me think certain characters are methadone of sorts, such as Power Girl for a world without Supergirl. Who do you think is Marvel's biggest example of comic book methadone, the fill-in character because the Real McCoy isn't available?
Dark Beast, clearly.
Hi Tom. I imagine that you already know that the Jean fans arent happy with the PHOENIX's artist due to the polemics involving him and with Jean's suit. I would like to know if theres plans to change the artist and maybe Jean's suit?
No plans to do either.
Oh, that's sad. But thank you for the answer
If you decide to do, say, a flashback story showing what The Living Tribunal was up to during War of the Realms, which design for The Living Tribunal would be used?
Why bring the love triangle back at all? Scott and Jean's relationship is already an unpopular and hated one and lots of Cyclops fans prefer him with Emma because it was stable and Scott didn't have to compete with the most popular X-Man. Why not give us good material featuring them as a couple, spending time with Nathan or Rachel, etc. instead of trying to screw them over and over again and claim that they're still X-Men's OTP?
Yes I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at the non answer. Either decanonize the throuple (like you’ve done) or keep doing Jean/Logan nonsense, pick a lane.
I started collecting the Marvel Universe in 1987, so getting the '89 Update was a joy for me and I loved the look and feel inside and out. I got the first few (maybe 10 months) of the Master Edition. I thought it was a good idea at first, but having to organize the new sheets every month became a chore, the holes ripped easy and I had to keep upgrading binders. I understand why other than a few specials, there haven't been many updates since then. But another late 80s series that is great for historians that I don't think has ever been reprinted is Marvel Saga, and the similar recap in Marvel Age for a few years. What would it take to have those collected, or a new version put into production? I realize Wikipedia covers a lot of that material, but the actual art from Marvel Saga was a great part of the books.
Marvel Saga got an Essential collection or two. It's in black and white but still pretty great to have it all in one sitting.
Although I love them both, I always preferred Who’s Who over Handbook, at least the original incarnations. I liked the idea of often having artists associated with the character draw the entry over the more static shots in Handbook.
I liked the individual character logos in Who's Who!
Has Marvel ever considered making a new digital storefront for comics? I know that there was a Marvel app, but it was shut down last year and you could view your purchases through Marvel Unlimited IIRC, but I wonder if the idea to make a new storefront has been floated around. Or is Marvel Unlimited the main focus for now?
What kind of fallout was there internally at Marvel from Bendis leaving?