Curious question Tom. DC has been investing a lot into compendium books. I’m curious if Marvel will eventually do the same with their comics and events. Because I would love to buy the Secret Wars (2015) Battleworld (with the Jim Cheung cover for preference sake lol) vol. 1 as a Compendium format and there’s certainly a lot of runs and events or even character focused stories that I feel would fit well for compendiums.
Since the Fantastic Four live in Arizona now, will we ever see them team-up with some Arizona-based heroes (Sam Alexander/Nova, Thunderbird and Warpath, etc.) Just asking as someone who lived in Arizona for a good chunk of my life and love the rep my home state gets through different heroes and stories!
Hi Tom, first of all, I’d like to congratulate you on the incredible work you’ve been doing. In the latest Phoenix issue, we saw that she gave birth to the cosmos, with all life emerging from her flames. Given this portrayal, could the Phoenix Force be the light and fire that the One-Above-All uses to create existence? In other words, is Phoenix a manifestation of the One-Above-All’s power—an embodiment of the creative force behind all that exists?
I’ve always enjoyed the cover to Thunderbolts 30, with Hawkeye kissing Meteorite, and I think part of it was the cover copy of “Uh-oh…”, which tickled me. I remember a Mini-Marvels strip later parodying the moment (but without the cover copy).
Was this particular cover copy yours or Kurt Busiek’s idea, or an uncredited assistant editor?
And another tangent- I miss word balloons on covers, they still happen periodically but nowhere near the prior level of regularity. How do you feel about them, and do your thoughts vary from your perspective as both a reader and an editor?
"Uh-oh..." was my title for the issue, and I repeated it in the dialogue more than once, I think.
When we were figuring out what would go on the cover, I'm sure it must have come up, given the cover scene we chose. But the actual decision to put it on the cover would have been Tom's, whether I suggested it or not.
I personally love when Polaris appears in the Scarlet Witch books by Orlando.
Also, I’ve definitely seen chatter and praise for Carmen’s work on Exceptional and the fact she’s delivered on every issue! But I’m biased as it’s one of my favorite team books
Back during Blood Hunt, there were 4 X-Men one shots (Jubilee, Laura Kinney: Wolverine, Magik, and Psylocke), since then, all but Jubilee received a solo series. Was there a reason she didn’t or did the Blood Hunt issues have no connection to the others receiving their own series. If there was no connection, are there any chances, Jubilee will get a solo series down the road.
Tom - I totally agree with your summation of the new Dr Who series episode 1. We can’t say it’s for children and then go,on about incels. I think it’s too camp and lacking in intensity. If you wrote an episode which villains would you use - I can’t let you say the Daleks, it’s to obvious?
I'm absolutely willing to believe this is just a case of us looking different places but tbh i've seen a LOT of people talking about artists like carmen carnero, peach momoko, and other artists who don't need fill ins. if i could, i'd attach screenshots here, but on comic websites like League of Comic Geeks, whenever a marvel artist goes more than 4-5 issues in a row there's definitely buzz. not saying this disproves what you're saying, but for instance on league, the solicit pages for exceptional 6-10 all have comments about how carmen has done all the issues so far.
Tom, when will we see Monet again? I know she makes a brief appearance in Uncanny X-Men #9, but when will we see her in action again, like what was teased on the bonus page?
Since you are editor of the X-Men and Fantastic Four, can we expect to see those two books crossover again at some point? It left a very sour taste in my mouth the last time they met during Krakoa, with how the X-Men mistreated them. I would like to think with the new era, heroes like Cyclops would be much more appreciative towards the F4, who have only ever been good allies and friends.
What’s a great final issue that reads like it was always intended to be the final issue, tying up outstanding plots with well-paced pages, but was alas due to cancellation?
I’d say Peter David’s last issue of Supergirl was well done, even though it was a real gut punch to readers who followed the Linda Danvers/Matrix incarnation of the character from the start.
In regards to Evan not recalling you telling him that Bob didn't like his Sabra issue...one thing that must be said about you is that you were never one to pass the buck. As an editor you always took the heat for whatever decision had been made that we creators might not like. You always tried to make the best of a decision that you may have had to finesse because it wasn't YOUR decision solely. That's called integrity for those out there who don't know. And you owned your OWN personal decisions regardless of how we reacted.
Thanks Tobias. Higgs is also a really nice guy who replies personally to messages. The Beatles/Bond books was a good read. If you haven’t read his William Blake please do, it’s a stunning introduction to the most unusual of thinkers. A total original.
Apologies if this has been asked before, but have there ever been any overtures made to Noah Hawley for a Marvel project?
Showrunning a well-received series centered on a C-list character like Legion suggests a real love for the mutant books — and he was working on a Doctor Doom film for Fox before the Disney deal. With his ALIEN series coming up (and FARGO not officially over, as far as I know), he’s clearly busy, but it’d be fun to see what he would do with all the toys in the toybox if he ever had the time.
Regardless, would you theoretically be able to use the original characters from LEGION if you wanted to? Some felt like stubs for X-Men cast he couldn’t use, but a lot of them were unique and had potential in their own right.
Do you ever initiate a project based on a established creator talking (usually online) about a dream project?
Greg Rucka recently spoke about wanting to return to Wonder Woman if they reached out to him. Andy Diggle has an ALIEN story he has been wanting to tell, etc. Obviously some of this stuff I happen by chance but if an editor sees it does it make sense to initiate the project?
Regarding the Marvel Vault - do the original pages for the original X-Factor #1 still exist anywhere? I've always wanted to see that, and I remember an issue of Marvel Fanfare that teased that it might come someday.
I also feel like there were a few books around COVID that never came out, that might still exist somewhere.. how about those? (Just not that New Warriors book, which seemed to just exist to troll haters)
Curious question Tom. DC has been investing a lot into compendium books. I’m curious if Marvel will eventually do the same with their comics and events. Because I would love to buy the Secret Wars (2015) Battleworld (with the Jim Cheung cover for preference sake lol) vol. 1 as a Compendium format and there’s certainly a lot of runs and events or even character focused stories that I feel would fit well for compendiums.
Great question - love the compendiums! I recently got the Superman Warworld story in that format.
Since the Fantastic Four live in Arizona now, will we ever see them team-up with some Arizona-based heroes (Sam Alexander/Nova, Thunderbird and Warpath, etc.) Just asking as someone who lived in Arizona for a good chunk of my life and love the rep my home state gets through different heroes and stories!
I would love to catch up with the Desert Stars. Those Initiative teams were so fun.
Hi Tom, first of all, I’d like to congratulate you on the incredible work you’ve been doing. In the latest Phoenix issue, we saw that she gave birth to the cosmos, with all life emerging from her flames. Given this portrayal, could the Phoenix Force be the light and fire that the One-Above-All uses to create existence? In other words, is Phoenix a manifestation of the One-Above-All’s power—an embodiment of the creative force behind all that exists?
Quick and probably silly question-
I’ve always enjoyed the cover to Thunderbolts 30, with Hawkeye kissing Meteorite, and I think part of it was the cover copy of “Uh-oh…”, which tickled me. I remember a Mini-Marvels strip later parodying the moment (but without the cover copy).
Was this particular cover copy yours or Kurt Busiek’s idea, or an uncredited assistant editor?
And another tangent- I miss word balloons on covers, they still happen periodically but nowhere near the prior level of regularity. How do you feel about them, and do your thoughts vary from your perspective as both a reader and an editor?
"Uh-oh..." was my title for the issue, and I repeated it in the dialogue more than once, I think.
When we were figuring out what would go on the cover, I'm sure it must have come up, given the cover scene we chose. But the actual decision to put it on the cover would have been Tom's, whether I suggested it or not.
I personally love when Polaris appears in the Scarlet Witch books by Orlando.
Also, I’ve definitely seen chatter and praise for Carmen’s work on Exceptional and the fact she’s delivered on every issue! But I’m biased as it’s one of my favorite team books
Back during Blood Hunt, there were 4 X-Men one shots (Jubilee, Laura Kinney: Wolverine, Magik, and Psylocke), since then, all but Jubilee received a solo series. Was there a reason she didn’t or did the Blood Hunt issues have no connection to the others receiving their own series. If there was no connection, are there any chances, Jubilee will get a solo series down the road.
Tom - I totally agree with your summation of the new Dr Who series episode 1. We can’t say it’s for children and then go,on about incels. I think it’s too camp and lacking in intensity. If you wrote an episode which villains would you use - I can’t let you say the Daleks, it’s to obvious?
I'm absolutely willing to believe this is just a case of us looking different places but tbh i've seen a LOT of people talking about artists like carmen carnero, peach momoko, and other artists who don't need fill ins. if i could, i'd attach screenshots here, but on comic websites like League of Comic Geeks, whenever a marvel artist goes more than 4-5 issues in a row there's definitely buzz. not saying this disproves what you're saying, but for instance on league, the solicit pages for exceptional 6-10 all have comments about how carmen has done all the issues so far.
Tom, when will we see Monet again? I know she makes a brief appearance in Uncanny X-Men #9, but when will we see her in action again, like what was teased on the bonus page?
Since you are editor of the X-Men and Fantastic Four, can we expect to see those two books crossover again at some point? It left a very sour taste in my mouth the last time they met during Krakoa, with how the X-Men mistreated them. I would like to think with the new era, heroes like Cyclops would be much more appreciative towards the F4, who have only ever been good allies and friends.
Tom's office edited that book. So maybe if he did another meeting it might not go the way you want.
Krakoa X-Men are not like the From the Ashes X-Men. From the Ashes X-Men don't believe they're better than anyone because of how they are born.
What’s a great final issue that reads like it was always intended to be the final issue, tying up outstanding plots with well-paced pages, but was alas due to cancellation?
I’d say Peter David’s last issue of Supergirl was well done, even though it was a real gut punch to readers who followed the Linda Danvers/Matrix incarnation of the character from the start.
Starman
Was Starman cancelled? I thought Robinson told the story he meant to tell and the book ended.
In regards to Evan not recalling you telling him that Bob didn't like his Sabra issue...one thing that must be said about you is that you were never one to pass the buck. As an editor you always took the heat for whatever decision had been made that we creators might not like. You always tried to make the best of a decision that you may have had to finesse because it wasn't YOUR decision solely. That's called integrity for those out there who don't know. And you owned your OWN personal decisions regardless of how we reacted.
Seconding the John Higgs recommendation — loved his book on The KLF, and his 2022 book exploring connections between James Bond and The Beatles is also a lot of fun. (I talked with him about it here: https://www.insidehook.com/books/beatles-james-bond-book-love-and-let-die)
Thanks Tobias. Higgs is also a really nice guy who replies personally to messages. The Beatles/Bond books was a good read. If you haven’t read his William Blake please do, it’s a stunning introduction to the most unusual of thinkers. A total original.
Hi Tom,
Apologies if this has been asked before, but have there ever been any overtures made to Noah Hawley for a Marvel project?
Showrunning a well-received series centered on a C-list character like Legion suggests a real love for the mutant books — and he was working on a Doctor Doom film for Fox before the Disney deal. With his ALIEN series coming up (and FARGO not officially over, as far as I know), he’s clearly busy, but it’d be fun to see what he would do with all the toys in the toybox if he ever had the time.
Regardless, would you theoretically be able to use the original characters from LEGION if you wanted to? Some felt like stubs for X-Men cast he couldn’t use, but a lot of them were unique and had potential in their own right.
Do you ever initiate a project based on a established creator talking (usually online) about a dream project?
Greg Rucka recently spoke about wanting to return to Wonder Woman if they reached out to him. Andy Diggle has an ALIEN story he has been wanting to tell, etc. Obviously some of this stuff I happen by chance but if an editor sees it does it make sense to initiate the project?
Regarding the Marvel Vault - do the original pages for the original X-Factor #1 still exist anywhere? I've always wanted to see that, and I remember an issue of Marvel Fanfare that teased that it might come someday.
I also feel like there were a few books around COVID that never came out, that might still exist somewhere.. how about those? (Just not that New Warriors book, which seemed to just exist to troll haters)
Wasen't Dazzler supposed to be the 5th member before they decided to resurrect Jean Grey?
Dazzler or Sara Grey were both floated.