So Dan Slott's new book is officially titled, eh? I'm still very interested. Does this mean Slott on an Older School Avengers roster, or a whole new team? It's good that Joe Q thinks so highly of him, although he's oblivious that it's his company's lack of promotion of Slott's past titles that have caused him to be a "best least known writer" in the biz. Plus, he's been in the biz a good 10-15 years, he's hardly a rookie.
Some lowlights:
Joe Q said:
But heck, there are people right now reading this that at one point or another or on a consistent basis view me as a huge idiot.
No offense to Marvel's Lord and Master, but you hardly do much to put aside that notion. Evidence?
Joe Q said:
Recently at Marvel we've seen the introduction of the Sentry, Echo, Ronin, Runaways, Arana, X-Statix, NYX , X-23, Jessica Jones, Santerians, Marvel Boy, Gravity, Live Wires, Vegas, Spellbinders, The Hood, Underworld and Awesome Andy just to name a few. While none are icons at this juncture (though my money's on Awesome Andy), they're still new characters and I think show that there is definitely a shift going on.
Awesome Andy, cool as he is, is NOT a new character. He is the Awesome Andriod with a new motive and revamp, at least unless Slott changed that. Lee & Kirby made him in the 60's. I could shrug it off if a casual fan made that error, but you're the EIC. You should know a little better. It's stuff like that which makes some folks see you "as a huge idiot".
mikeyg - Joe, I'm a huge fan of Marvel Comics, but your paper stock is killing me. It warps in the heat, the ink rubs off on your fingers and this month the center page tore out of two of my books as I was reading them, Uncanny X-Men and Onslaught Reborn. Since it's the center page the staple just tore the flimsy paper as I was turning the page. Are there any plans to upgrade the paper stock to something a little more durable?
JQ: Hey, Mikeyg, I checked up and down the halls of Marvel today to see if anyone in editorial, sales or production have heard of this happening of late and as far as anyone can tell, this is the first we're hearing about this problem with our current paper stock. But, here's the thing, I don't doubt anything that you're saying here. You're suffering from a condition that is striking at the heart of every True Believer who is reading our current batch of Marvel titles. I'm very familiar with the symptoms, you're blood pressure is rising, you're at the edge of your seat, your palms are getting sweaty, you're brow's soaked and you're hands are shaking. Don't panic, it's been happening a lot and to be honest, outside of printing our comics on sweat proof Kevlar, I don't think there's anything I can do to help you in this matter.
And here you are answering a legit question about the paper quality, which is one of the few "real" reasons that have been given as to why no Marvel comic can be below $2.99, with a blow-off. I've actually had ink smudges and whatnot in some rare books. It's something that may be explained via a shipping bungle or accident, but who needs that when you can just make a joke at his expense? That's what customers like, they enjoy being mocked while bringing up a legit question.
Before
iloveclones mentions his "the customer is always right, except when he/she is a jerk" pariable (which is wise & true), the customer I didn't think was being a jerk here. It was a legit question and I am sure Joe could have given a better answer.
So, Joe, if you don't want to be seen as an idiot, stop coming off like one. "If it quacks like a duck, walks like a duck, and all that..."
At least he made fun of Mark Millar's obnoxious promise about finishing Ultimates 2 in 2006.
And while Finch has kicked arse on MOON KNIGHT, every issue since maybe the first or second has been a good 3 weeks late or so because of him so if they want to give another artist who may be timlier a try, then so be it. At least the first arc is over. Let's see Mico Suayan's stuff and judge it fairly.
Joe Q said:
Singer/McNiven/ Ultimate X-Men- we'll see, but hopefully 2007
I can't believe that Joe Q is STILL holding out hope for "Singer on Ultimate XM in 2007". Dude, you've been trying to sell his run for about 2 full years! I remember when BKV was merely supposed to do a 6-9 issue run to "lead up" to Singer, and then ended up doing another 10 issues (plus an annual). Then I remembered Kirkman only supposed to be on for 9 issues for the same reason, and now he's the writer for "the forseeable future", i.e. maybe a year and a half like Vaughan. Singer left X-MEN 3 for WB's SUPERMAN RETURNS and has left a core Ultimate book hanging with delays for two calender years...and I doubt the fans of the book are nearly as eager for Singer as Wizard and the editors are. THIS is why writers & artists at Marvel are such primadonnas about deadlines; here Singer has essentially stood up Marvel since 2005 and they're STILL waiting with the door open. If his first issue can't even come on time, are you really expecting TWELVE to be on-time!? This isn't even mentioning that McNiven can't even do a 7 issue event title on time, much less a 12 issue stint on UXM. This sort of thinking leads to, well, EVIL THAT MEN DO and ULTIMATE WOLVERINE VS. HULK debacles. Joe, when you're stood up, eventually you have to leave and let go. Otherwise you come off as needy and get taken advantage of. And you seem to have no end of writers and artists who more than abuse your "good faith" system. It's time to crush some ego's. You'd only need to do it once or twice to send the message. Maybe THEN some fewer people will see you as a "huge idiot".
"We'll see!?" A boss who can't hold employees to a deadline is a wuss. I hate being crude, but there it is. Joe not only seems uninclined, but POWERLESS. That is the problem.
And only a hopeless X-fan truly wants the level of overexoposure that they had in the 90's. When Marvel only focuses on them, the MU suffers. CW has it's flaws but at least it has propped up most of the MU (at least what ANNIHILATION missed).
Good to know McDuffie will follow up BEYOND! on FF, even if FF has a jack stupid line-up that makes zero sense, unless you imagine an editor with a Marvel Handbook and a 100 sided die.
And definately bring on Slott's influence and book! "Meh" title aside, even Slott at his worst beats many books at their best. I am not expecting his worst.
