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What have I learned this year, part two: Being Thankful
2008-11-26 11:50:24
So it’s Spring of ’07 and I’ve just had two pretty above average interviews with Steve Wacker, Tom Brevoort and Joe Quesada about becoming an Assistant Editor at Marvel. Still, I’m a pretty pessimistic guy and assumed they’d just invited me back out of kindness. But then again, I'm pretty confident they've hired me, put me to work and paid me for a year and a half out of kindness. When I was called and offered the job, I was obviously pretty excited, but also a bit conflicted, as another opportunity that was equally exciting had availed itself. It was a tough call—both jobs had the same number of pros and cons. But I realized this other opportunity was something I could always come back to, while the door at Marvel might not re-open.
After keeping Marvel’s HR department on hold during the solid 30 seconds of deliberation (while balancing two giant packages in a leaky doorway in the midst of a rainstorm, no less), I accepted and returned home to an email from my new boss, Mr. Stephen G. Wacker, welcoming me to the team with an MP3 of the “Merry Marvel Marching Society” theme and, perhaps more daunting, Tom Brevoort’s now-publicized “Spider-Manifesto.” It brings me to my second “What Have I Learned This Year?” lesson: Be thankful for what you don’t know yet.
As I read over the document to help get myself up to speed on the work I’d been doing, a thought occurred to me: “I can never talk to my friends who read comic books again.” Remember, this was at the tail end of CIVIL WAR. Imagine if you’d have known months before anyone else did how "Back-In-Black" and "One More Day" ended and how "Brand New Day" began—I felt like I’d read a National Security report. But I remember wondering what many of you have wondered (sometimes in profanity laced e-mails)—how did Harry Osborn come back to life?
The answer wasn’t in the manifesto, and it wasn’t in any of the scripts I was handed to get myself up to speed. To be honest, the Braintrust wasn’t sure yet. But they did know they had to address it, they were simply going to wait until they had a story that made the most sense and that you guys deserved. That’s what made some of the early anger about "Brand New Day" so funny to me—most of the complaints were over story points we simply hadn’t revealed yet. But yeah, in some cases we weren’t sure. But that didn’t mean we weren’t working on it.
Liz Allan, Normie and the events of SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #200 were all factored into the plans—we just simply hadn’t found the right story yet and didn’t want to rush such important information out. And then Dan Slott found it—the perfect way to not only bring Harry back but to explain quite a few of the changes between our current Spidey run and the JMS stuff. AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #581 (which we’re pushing out the door in a short holiday week here at Spidey Sentral) is part one of a two-part Slott/McKone gem that bridges the gap, and it’s Peter Parker who asks the question we’ve all been wondering—how did Harry Osborn come back from the dead? We’ll get some answers, but you’re going to have to wait till next month to see ‘em. In the meantime, enjoy some art!
Working on this comic got me thinking about story telling in the age of internet spoilers and excessive need-to-knows. I’m as big a user of spoiler sites as anyone, but being on this side of the comic fence has reminded me how much I love the job designated to a reader—one of discovering the story for yourself. Most fans of my generation grew up after a lot of the seminal Spider-Man moments. I can appreciate the death of Gwen Stacy, but I know the story from the back of a trading card. I can’t appreciate the magnitude of that moment on the same level of older readers because to me, she’s a relic of the past, not someone I watched grow and evolve. I wish I’d have been able to feel the shock readers felt when they turned the page and saw Gwen Stacy die. Part of the fun of being in the seat I’m in now is that these stories can’t help but be new to me—I’m one of the first eyes to see ‘em after the writer finishes. I get the unfiltered shock of turning the page and it excites me. I can appreciate the frustration of some folks in the readership that the secrets are revealed 11 months later, but for myself, I’d much rather discover the answers page by page than read a brief summary with “the answers.” That’s drama. That’s excitement. It takes patience and it takes time, but it’s wroth the wait. We’ve been planning his out for a while and we want to make sure it’s the best story it can be.
Change is tough, as I’ve learned in abundance this year. So for the segment of readership that still isn’t entirely on board with this new status quo, we hear you. We’ve had you in mind from the beginning, and we’re trying to make the kind of stories that will satisfy your curiosity. We’re simply taking the time and effort to get the stories right. Be thankful for what you don’t know, it makes discovering it all the more exciting.
--Brennan
What have I learned this year? Part 1.5!
2008-11-19 15:44:57
What does a year of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN Lettering look like?
Like-a-this.
What have I learned this year? Part one!
2008-11-19 15:43:29
Hey, folks, Amazing Spider-Man assistant “editor,” perennial letters page punching bag and solid utility soccer player Tom Brennan here, and what a year it’s been. A stripper won an Oscar, we learned our favorite English butler was really a Skrull and America made history in electing the first Delawarean to the Vice Presidency. But the biggest deal for me was being part of inarguably the most talked-about era of Spider-Man books. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a message board warrior who wants our heads, you can’t deny that this year’s AMAZING SPIDER-MAN has broken some new ground and shaken the comic-sphere. (Comicsverse? Comicland? Whatever…)
I’ve been privileged to be a part of such a huge effort working with six of the best comic book scribes-a-scribbling today and an army of the best and most diverse artists in the biz. As a fly on the Spider’s wall, I’ve learned a ton and now would like to impart that wisdom on you, the reader. Why? Because I’m only allowed to be unchained from my desk for 32 minutes a day and I’ve gotta do something to pass the time while Wacker and Brevoort go on a six-and a half hour long “Lunch Meeting.”
Lesson the First: Trust the veterans of the comic world, for they know what they are doing. Case in point: This week we’re putting the finishing touches on AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #580, by Roger Stern and Lee Weeks. Back when I was but a humble unemployed goon and the Braintrust got to planning this series, they wanted to make sure we had a few issues “in the drawer” to slot in in-case our schedule required a couple issues to breathe in between stories. A page would be left free to make sure that story reflected on the recent subplots and keep a uniformed continuity. “Fill in the Blank” is one such story and we’re lucky enough to have Roger & Lee, two masters of the craft and two incredibly nice guys to boot.
The first time I spoke with Roger Stern, he and his wife both answered the phone at the same time. When I said my name, Roger greeted me with: “Oh, honey, it’s Tom Brennan! The kid Steve keeps making fun of in the letter column.” When a guy whose work you admire and whose name you’ve known since you were 13-years-old is excited to hear from *you*, you can’t help but realize how unique your circumstances are. Rog has written a story that fits in seamlessly with our vision of the Spidey books. The Blank, a character he introduced in WEST COAST AVENGERS, is the kind of cooky crook we’ve had Spider-Man face this year—new guys with new powers to give Spidey a challenge he hasn’t faced before. The story starts with a chase scene that sets the pace and keeps you flipping those pages all the way through. I think I speak for more than myself when I say there’s a distinct honor in having your name on a Roger Stern Spider-Man story.
Lee Weeks was one of the first creators I called in my Marvel tenure, and one of the first pieces of art I received was the beautiful shot of Captain Marvel’s grave in last year’s CAPTAIN MARVEL #1. Lee is one of the most interesting human beings to speak to on the phone. After you settle all matters of business, you can’t help but find yourself drawn into some of the most fascinating conversations about art, science, religion and current events. Lee doesn’t just see this as a job—he agonizes over every single page, taking great pains to make sure every panel matters and every element he uses is additive to the writer’s story. His first page of ASM 580 (included here) was originally simply a chase on foot down a city street—Lee’s take, as you’ll see, takes the tension and ratchets up a bit. (I wanted to say ‘turns it on its side’ but that’s a pun too far). For those of us in the business of setting deadlines, the thorough effort can be a bit nerve-wracking, and I can think of a few conversations where voices were raised. But that’ll happen when you work with a friend and I’m proud to count Lee as one of mine.
So if you’re hankering for some classic Spidey by two guys who know—quite simply— “how it’s done,” check out Amazing Spider-Man 580, on-sale next month. It’s pure, A-level fun.
And check back here for more of my lessons from the calendar year 2008. Next time, I find out what Harry Osborn was up to in “Europe” for all those years, as well as where the Marvel Bathroom *really* is…
TO BE CONTINUED!
DROP THE HAMMER!
2008-10-29 10:28:05
Okay, Spider-Fans, I'm gonna give you all the quick heads up:
Hammerhead. Remember how he used to be a joke? Well, he's not anymore. In this month's AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #575 (by Joe Kelly and Chris Bachalo—on-sale today, kids!), the man with the metal flat top is back and revamped for a Brand New Day of Mayhem!
But how did he get this way? The broccoli-munching big-memory crowd might remember in this year's AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: EXTRA! Special, Joe and Chris brought you the story of Hammerhead's origins and a sneak-peak of where he's heading in "Death of a Wise Guy."
What?! You say you didn't read it? Or you'd like to again? Well you're in luck! Drop your bag of processed puffed cheese and swing on over to:
DEATH OF A WISEGUY: The Free Digital Comic!
Enjoy!
~Brennan
Amazing Spider-Man #574
2008-10-22 09:49:57
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Couple articles about the issue on sale today.
I'll warn ya, they spoil the issue, so wait to click until after you read the issue. You've been warned.
Syracuse.com
LA Times
-Wacker
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Blah Blah Blog
2008-10-17 09:30:17
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If you haven't seen it yet, my boss Tom Brevoort has been answering questions about the Spider-Man books on his Harvey Award losing blog:
Blah Blah Blog
Much of what's there are the same questions we've been answering for months, but Tom gets much more in-depth than I've been allowed to in an attempt to make me look insipid and hebetudinous.
There's always next year, Tom.
-Steve
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A poem from Brennan for moral_d
2008-10-14 09:37:15
As promised:
Twas your orange so divine?
A pulpy droplet of times once passed?
Or was your fruit salad lost in your faustian bargain for the parnip that was your soul?
Whither thou would truly whack her *or* wacker, your flights of fancy can not maintain a sense of the true reality:
moraldrocks. moraldrocks. moraldrocks.
...orange pulp.
The Winner...moral_d
2008-09-30 11:00:58
No doubt about it moral_d wins. Your editor loves song parodies....and "Summer Lovin'".
(Personal note: If you were in the Vista, California area in 1985 then you'll know how Doody was supposed to be played.)
Brennan will write you a poem with 5 words of your choosing (keep it clean).
-SW
How to create an Internet argument- Day 1
2008-09-26 11:38:53
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Your assignment today...use these three unrelated thoughts in an argument about why the current Spider-Man run is the worst comic you've ever read.
-Tupperware
-The Original Movie Soundtrack of Grease
-MTV Sports host Dan Cortese.
You can start the debate here on an another message board. Post links.
Best one gets an e-mailed poem from Brennan.
Good luck,
-Wacker
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About this blog:
Freshly spun news and previews from the office of the Amazing Spider-Man
 | About the author:
Editor "Simperin" Steve Wacker and assistant editor "Typin" Tom Brennan take time out from bringing you Amazing Spider-Man thrice monthly and indulge your need to know everything now!!! |
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