As we get closer to the MLB postseason, and since the X-Men are obviously big baseball fans, who do you think are the favorite baseball teams of each of the flagship leaders (Rogue, Cyclops, Emma+Kate)? Feel free to throw in any other character(s) you feel passionately about lol
When you bring in an outside writer who usually works in other mediums, do you impart any tips, tricks, rules, guidelines etc. about writing for comics and specifically Marvel Comics?
A while back Tom posted the guide his office would give writers coming to Marvel Comics from movies with tips/ tricks/rules. I tried using the newsletter "search" function but couldn't find it, maybe you'll be luckier. It's there somewhere...
Years, I did something similar when the then manager (now owner) of captain blue hen got married and I spent most of SDCC getting wedding-related sketches, many of which I’d lined up ahead of time. A lot of the sketches were from friends of mine or Joe or both, so everyone was happy to do them and, perhaps more wonderfully, free of charge. (It was the late 90s, so getting sketches were not like today)
I read an old fanzine blurb on how Kurt Busiek was planning a Madame Masque mini series - any memory of what this would have been about? I guess this was on his time on Avengers?
I always loved the character - great femme fatale and frenemy for Stark and the Avengers.
That was waaaay back. To give you an idea how far back, it fell apart when Denny O'Neil abruptly left Marvel and went back to DC. And I asked Jerry Ordway if he'd be interested in drawing it, but he was tied up inking CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS. Way back.
It was about Whitney realizing she wasn't in good mental health (as indicated, back then, by how she had been a good-bad girl with a tragic past up until Bill Mantlo left the book, and then a stone killer in the Michelinie run. Her good side had become aware of what her bad side had been doing, and she'd sought out therapy. Her therapist told her she needed to avoid stress, but the only way out Whitney could see was to bring down the Maggia, which she'd been building up as her bad side.
To do that, she'd need help, so she sought out Iron Man. And Iron Man had to figure out how to help her dismantle a worldwide crime organization while struggling to hold on to her fragile mental health and prove to herself she could overcome her issues.
Which was very much not what the therapist had suggested.
I used bits of it in her AVENGERS appearances, but that was so much later that it all took a different form. I still wound up putting her back in the role of "bad girl with a good heart, and no one knows what she'll do next." But as I recall, the next time she showed up she was a stone killer again.
Got a question that can also give you an excuse to plug: I've really been enjoying the new X-FACTOR series and was curious what went into the selection process for the members of the team? Were there any that have surprised you with how well they've been handled?
Also, you don't have to tell us what, but is the return of any other classic X-book on the horizon for 2025?
What was the process of getting Declan Shalvey to do Mystique? Like, I'm assuming he's not currently on a Marvel contract, so it wasn't just spreading the pitch around the office. Did you specifically reach out to him suggesting a Mystique project?
I'm only catching up on your newsletter after a week walking through the northern Spanish countryside. In reference to Alvaro's question, and your response (from #129: Mystery Package), as well as your previous comments on will they won't they romance in fiction.
In Spider-Man specifically: One More Day/Brand New Day, or more to the point our knowledge of the behind the scenes decisions, broke any sense of investment in will they won't they because we know the answer will always be they won't, they can't. So readers have no reason to get invested in Peter and MJ since they'll just break up again, and any other love interest will soon be unceremoniously put on a bus.
In reference to Superman and Lois, I personally think the idea that marriage kills romantic tension to be the result of an inability to write romance that isn't based in conflict and push and pull, also infidelity is not the only external source of drama for a committed relationship. Oh, and in 2024, Clark maintaining 2 identities with Lois smacks of gaslighting and red flags, it's not fun and romantic.
Lastly, will they won't they is an inherently flawed concept. When it works, it's only in stories that end novels/films/TV, it only works if they do or they don't. You can't maintain it for 80+ years of stories and expect the audience to continue to care. Consummating a relationship doesn't kill romantic tension, a difficult pregnancy and terrorists at the Nakatomi Plaza taking away your leads and them developing a toxic dislike of each other kills romantic tension (Moonlighting).
TLDR, people who want to write compelling relationships/drama between settled characters can do it, they just have to imagine it's possible.
As we get closer to the MLB postseason, and since the X-Men are obviously big baseball fans, who do you think are the favorite baseball teams of each of the flagship leaders (Rogue, Cyclops, Emma+Kate)? Feel free to throw in any other character(s) you feel passionately about lol
Pretty sure Kitty was established as a Cubs fan, at least as far back as the Excalibur days.
My GOD that sketchbook. Incredible.
What a gift! Love those pieces, particularly Stuart’s one. And wow, Adam Kubert’s handwriting is impeccable!
You left out X-Force again
Thank you for sharing that sketchbook. That's an amazing piece. I'm thinking Butch Guice needs to do a full Doom cover someday.
Do you have a favorite memory from Baltimore?
What a wonderful gift!
Here is my question for this week!
When you bring in an outside writer who usually works in other mediums, do you impart any tips, tricks, rules, guidelines etc. about writing for comics and specifically Marvel Comics?
A while back Tom posted the guide his office would give writers coming to Marvel Comics from movies with tips/ tricks/rules. I tried using the newsletter "search" function but couldn't find it, maybe you'll be luckier. It's there somewhere...
Congrats, Tom. on being awarded the Ringo Lifetime Acheivement of the Year Award https://bleedingcool.com/comics/all-the-winners-of-the-ringo-awards-2024-at-baltimore-comic-con/
Wow!
Looks like he only presented that award (to Klaus Janson) and actually received the Lifetime Achievement Award - awesome! Congratulations Tom!
I'm seeing on another site that he did in fact win Humanitarian of the Year?!?!?!
Years, I did something similar when the then manager (now owner) of captain blue hen got married and I spent most of SDCC getting wedding-related sketches, many of which I’d lined up ahead of time. A lot of the sketches were from friends of mine or Joe or both, so everyone was happy to do them and, perhaps more wonderfully, free of charge. (It was the late 90s, so getting sketches were not like today)
I read an old fanzine blurb on how Kurt Busiek was planning a Madame Masque mini series - any memory of what this would have been about? I guess this was on his time on Avengers?
I always loved the character - great femme fatale and frenemy for Stark and the Avengers.
That was waaaay back. To give you an idea how far back, it fell apart when Denny O'Neil abruptly left Marvel and went back to DC. And I asked Jerry Ordway if he'd be interested in drawing it, but he was tied up inking CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS. Way back.
It was about Whitney realizing she wasn't in good mental health (as indicated, back then, by how she had been a good-bad girl with a tragic past up until Bill Mantlo left the book, and then a stone killer in the Michelinie run. Her good side had become aware of what her bad side had been doing, and she'd sought out therapy. Her therapist told her she needed to avoid stress, but the only way out Whitney could see was to bring down the Maggia, which she'd been building up as her bad side.
To do that, she'd need help, so she sought out Iron Man. And Iron Man had to figure out how to help her dismantle a worldwide crime organization while struggling to hold on to her fragile mental health and prove to herself she could overcome her issues.
Which was very much not what the therapist had suggested.
I used bits of it in her AVENGERS appearances, but that was so much later that it all took a different form. I still wound up putting her back in the role of "bad girl with a good heart, and no one knows what she'll do next." But as I recall, the next time she showed up she was a stone killer again.
Ah well. Comics!
Wow - sounds amazing - thanks Kurt!
Got a question that can also give you an excuse to plug: I've really been enjoying the new X-FACTOR series and was curious what went into the selection process for the members of the team? Were there any that have surprised you with how well they've been handled?
Also, you don't have to tell us what, but is the return of any other classic X-book on the horizon for 2025?
What was the process of getting Declan Shalvey to do Mystique? Like, I'm assuming he's not currently on a Marvel contract, so it wasn't just spreading the pitch around the office. Did you specifically reach out to him suggesting a Mystique project?
I don't know if you saw but Declan is in this very comment section! :-)
I am so jealous about your sketchbook! It's fantastic, pardon the pun. I do have to say Stuart totally captured you perfectly.
X-Force #10 will have a legacy numbering of X-Force #300. Will it be a special edition, double-sized, or just a regular issue?
I'm only catching up on your newsletter after a week walking through the northern Spanish countryside. In reference to Alvaro's question, and your response (from #129: Mystery Package), as well as your previous comments on will they won't they romance in fiction.
In Spider-Man specifically: One More Day/Brand New Day, or more to the point our knowledge of the behind the scenes decisions, broke any sense of investment in will they won't they because we know the answer will always be they won't, they can't. So readers have no reason to get invested in Peter and MJ since they'll just break up again, and any other love interest will soon be unceremoniously put on a bus.
In reference to Superman and Lois, I personally think the idea that marriage kills romantic tension to be the result of an inability to write romance that isn't based in conflict and push and pull, also infidelity is not the only external source of drama for a committed relationship. Oh, and in 2024, Clark maintaining 2 identities with Lois smacks of gaslighting and red flags, it's not fun and romantic.
Lastly, will they won't they is an inherently flawed concept. When it works, it's only in stories that end novels/films/TV, it only works if they do or they don't. You can't maintain it for 80+ years of stories and expect the audience to continue to care. Consummating a relationship doesn't kill romantic tension, a difficult pregnancy and terrorists at the Nakatomi Plaza taking away your leads and them developing a toxic dislike of each other kills romantic tension (Moonlighting).
TLDR, people who want to write compelling relationships/drama between settled characters can do it, they just have to imagine it's possible.
Wow, that sketchbook is amazing!!!
(Hope you had a great time in Baltimore ;)
That Sketchbook is absolute gold.