OMD/BND/SOS Thoughts and Interviews

[moraldeficiency]

I’m bored and trying to keep my mind off my upcoming engagement so I decided to grab a bunch of the interviews on BND/OMD/SOS and put them together rather than the scattered way their all over the place. These are the opinions of either writers or Marvel employees. I tried to get as many varied opinions as possible, then listed my thoughts on them. Note they are my thoughts, not fact, just my opinion (agree, don’t agree, it doesn’t matter). I tried to get the most recent interviews but if I missed something or misrepresented an interview, please correct it. If you know another interview by someone not on this list, post it up with your opinions on it (keep them reasonably short), but try not to get too personal because it just makes you look like an @sshole who’s opinion shouldn’t matter.


Keith Geffen: http://www.comicbookresources.com/columns/?column=27

My thoughts: This is about on line with my opinions, I don’t mind undoing the marriage, just the way it was done. I also like that he called out the writers for not taking ownership of anything.

Erik Larson: http://www.comicbookresources.com/columns/?column=20

My thoughts: About the same as Geffen. It’s not about the change of status just the way it was done and the confusion it brought about. Good alternate ways it could have gone.

Mark Millar: http://forums.millarworld.tv/index.php?showtopic=76856

My thoughts: He skipped over actually talking about the issue other than saying, “This is by far the greatest work of his career so far and probably the best illustrated Spider-Man comic since Steve Ditko was still talking to Stan Lee. I'd go as far as to say it was the best-drawn book of the past twelve months and, believe me, I am the snobbiest art-***** in the industry.” Come the @uck on! Sorry but that was just a sad level of @ss kissing. Hey I liked the art too, but best ever? Maybe if Joey Q could draw a face that didn’t have that silly putty effect I might consider considering him as a great artist, for now I’ll just say he’s hit or miss.

Peter David: http://peterdavid.malibulist.com/archives/005921.html
follow up: http://peterdavid.malibulist.com/archives/005924.html
follow up: http://peterdavid.malibulist.com/archives/005926.html

My thoughts: I think this is both honest and careful. He does work for marvel. He doesn’t hate the idea just how it was executed. He also knows what its like to feel the hate over a creative decision (though I was for the majority a fan of his FNSM).

Dan Slott: http://comics.ign.com/articles/844/844895p1.html

My thoughts: I like Dan. I have nothing against the man. I love, repeat love, his AtI (best avengers book out there and the only one you should be bothering with). He’s in a tough situation with for the first time having the majority of comic nuts not on his side. Still I think he handled it well and didn’t talk down to anyone. He loves Spider-Man, that’s obvious, and right now he’s jazzed to be part of this. I think he’ll write some great classic stories, but I think he like everyone else can’t answer jack as far as any real questions regarding Pete’s past, so we’ll see if they even mention any past events in spider-man (I doubt it) and I think he’s lying about explaining things in the book (beyond a brief MJ and Harry point or two I doubt it’ll be mentioned).

Steve Wacker: http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=141937
Part two: http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=142504

My thoughts: Steve is the perfect man for this job. He’s handling things well IMO. He’s the right guy to keep ASM coming out on time (something that could be a coffin nail to this book if they slip). He goes into a bit of a rant and I think some of this pressure might be showing, but he comes off pretty good. I like how he mentioned Kraven’s Last Hunt as his favorite story (one of my favorites too).

Tom Brevoort: http://www.marvel.com/blogs/Tom_Brevoort/

My thoughts: Nice try, the youth thing didn’t ring nearly true but the positivity point did have some valid statements. Personally I always thought Pete was about responsibility over everything else. It’s about making a mistake and being man enough to not only recognize it but do something about it (now you can see how a devil dealing Pete just pisses me off to no possible end).

Wacker/Brennan: http://www.marvel.com/blogs/Spider-Office/ (scroll down)

My thoughts: Cute, and especially with the gale thing in the beginning and then wacker “stepping in to defend nay saying fans” but you’ll have to do some more fancy devil dealing magic to make that sound less contrived. For the Top Five reasons at the bottom:
1. I would be very happy to not have another ninja mentioned in comics for the rest of the year.
2. Bigger supporting cast? I’m a fan.
3. Don’t care.
4. Yeah, that’s what makes this boycott hard.
5. ??

Joey Q: http://www.aintitcool.com/node/35318

My thoughts: Complement sandwich time.
What I like about you: I love most of your changes, you and Bob Harris really did bring Marvel back around with new and creative ideas that reinvigorated the status quo and brought Marvel back to something written for the fans.
What I don’t like about you: Quote: “Let’s take Aunt May off the table for a second, lets just say it was some random woman.

Mephisto pops up and says to Peter, “See that woman over there, she was hit accidentally by a bullet that was intended for you because you unmasked yourself and someone wanted you dead. Look, I know you don’t know her, a perfect stranger, but I can save her life, I just want your marriage.”

How would we all feel if Peter said, “nah, sorry, let her die.” End Quote. That would work unless you fill that in a little more. Let’s include the fact that the woman was shot as a result of one of her decisions, let’s also include that the woman ASKED TO DIE. Then let’s finally include that Pete used to be depicted as pretty smart so if the devil pops up and makes an offer most smart people understand that when you make that deal evil always comes out on top. But I digress….
What I like about you: You hire some great talent (except Hudlin and Bendis)

 

[Harlekin]

And this deserved its own thread, why? This could've gone in the OMD thread.

 

[GNR]

What the hell is this,Newsarama?

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

I’m bored and trying to keep my mind off my upcoming engagement so I decided to grab a bunch of the interviews on BND/OMD/SOS and put them together rather than the scattered way their all over the place. These are the opinions of either writers or Marvel employees. I tried to get as many varied opinions as possible, then listed my thoughts on them. Note they are my thoughts, not fact, just my opinion (agree, don’t agree, it doesn’t matter). I tried to get the most recent interviews but if I missed something or misrepresented an interview, please correct it. If you know another interview by someone not on this list, post it up with your opinions on it (keep them reasonably short), but try not to get too personal because it just makes you look like an @sshole who’s opinion shouldn’t matter.


Keith Geffen: http://www.comicbookresources.com/columns/?column=27

My thoughts: This is about on line with my opinions, I don’t mind undoing the marriage, just the way it was done. I also like that he called out the writers for not taking ownership of anything.

Erik Larson: http://www.comicbookresources.com/columns/?column=20

My thoughts: About the same as Geffen. It’s not about the change of status just the way it was done and the confusion it brought about. Good alternate ways it could have gone.

Mark Millar: http://forums.millarworld.tv/index.php?showtopic=76856

My thoughts: He skipped over actually talking about the issue other than saying, “This is by far the greatest work of his career so far and probably the best illustrated Spider-Man comic since Steve Ditko was still talking to Stan Lee. I'd go as far as to say it was the best-drawn book of the past twelve months and, believe me, I am the snobbiest art-***** in the industry.” Come the @uck on! Sorry but that was just a sad level of @ss kissing. Hey I liked the art too, but best ever? Maybe if Joey Q could draw a face that didn’t have that silly putty effect I might consider considering him as a great artist, for now I’ll just say he’s hit or miss.

Peter David: http://peterdavid.malibulist.com/archives/005921.html
follow up: http://peterdavid.malibulist.com/archives/005924.html
follow up: http://peterdavid.malibulist.com/archives/005926.html

My thoughts: I think this is both honest and careful. He does work for marvel. He doesn’t hate the idea just how it was executed. He also knows what its like to feel the hate over a creative decision (though I was for the majority a fan of his FNSM).

Dan Slott: http://comics.ign.com/articles/844/844895p1.html

My thoughts: I like Dan. I have nothing against the man. I love, repeat love, his AtI (best avengers book out there and the only one you should be bothering with). He’s in a tough situation with for the first time having the majority of comic nuts not on his side. Still I think he handled it well and didn’t talk down to anyone. He loves Spider-Man, that’s obvious, and right now he’s jazzed to be part of this. I think he’ll write some great classic stories, but I think he like everyone else can’t answer jack as far as any real questions regarding Pete’s past, so we’ll see if they even mention any past events in spider-man (I doubt it) and I think he’s lying about explaining things in the book (beyond a brief MJ and Harry point or two I doubt it’ll be mentioned).

Steve Wacker: http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=141937
Part two: http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=142504

My thoughts: Steve is the perfect man for this job. He’s handling things well IMO. He’s the right guy to keep ASM coming out on time (something that could be a coffin nail to this book if they slip). He goes into a bit of a rant and I think some of this pressure might be showing, but he comes off pretty good. I like how he mentioned Kraven’s Last Hunt as his favorite story (one of my favorites too).

Tom Brevoort: http://www.marvel.com/blogs/Tom_Brevoort/

My thoughts: Nice try, the youth thing didn’t ring nearly true but the positivity point did have some valid statements. Personally I always thought Pete was about responsibility over everything else. It’s about making a mistake and being man enough to not only recognize it but do something about it (now you can see how a devil dealing Pete just pisses me off to no possible end).

Wacker/Brennan: http://www.marvel.com/blogs/Spider-Office/ (scroll down)

My thoughts: Cute, and especially with the gale thing in the beginning and then wacker “stepping in to defend nay saying fans” but you’ll have to do some more fancy devil dealing magic to make that sound less contrived. For the Top Five reasons at the bottom:
1. I would be very happy to not have another ninja mentioned in comics for the rest of the year.
2. Bigger supporting cast? I’m a fan.
3. Don’t care.
4. Yeah, that’s what makes this boycott hard.
5. ??

Joey Q: http://www.aintitcool.com/node/35318

My thoughts: Complement sandwich time.
What I like about you: I love most of your changes, you and Bob Harris really did bring Marvel back around with new and creative ideas that reinvigorated the status quo and brought Marvel back to something written for the fans.
What I don’t like about you: Quote: “Let’s take Aunt May off the table for a second, lets just say it was some random woman.

Mephisto pops up and says to Peter, “See that woman over there, she was hit accidentally by a bullet that was intended for you because you unmasked yourself and someone wanted you dead. Look, I know you don’t know her, a perfect stranger, but I can save her life, I just want your marriage.”

How would we all feel if Peter said, “nah, sorry, let her die.” End Quote. That would work unless you fill that in a little more. Let’s include the fact that the woman was shot as a result of one of her decisions, let’s also include that the woman ASKED TO DIE. Then let’s finally include that Pete used to be depicted as pretty smart so if the devil pops up and makes an offer most smart people understand that when you make that deal evil always comes out on top. But I digress….
What I like about you: You hire some great talent (except Hudlin and Bendis)

"Bob Harris"? Dude, are you kidding me? Sure, Harris was a great EIC....if you're an X-Men fan. The rest of Marvel went right into the crapper under his reign. He had no clue whatsoever what to do with Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Thor, The Avengers, etc.,...he constantly interferred with the writers, demanding The Clone Saga be drawn out as long as possible, Then tried to fix everything by blaming it all on Norman Osborn despite practically all the Spidey writers howling protests...

This meat-head mandated the horrendous and unnescessary Heroes Reborn, and tried to re-vamp Spider-Man with the God-awful Chapter One....

Please tell me what exactly you think he did for Marvel? Because i sure failed to see it....

 

[moraldeficiency]

And this deserved its own thread, why? This could've gone in the OMD thread.

Because I thought so, please feel free not to read or comment here if it bothers you so but I really thought I explained my reasonings. This is for creators interviews and our thoughts on them. It's about OMD and BND so while it could've gone in the OMD it wouldn't have been right.

 

[moraldeficiency]

"Bob Harris"? Dude, are you kidding me? Sure, Harris was a great EIC....if you're an X-Men fan. The rest of Marvel went right into the crapper under his reign. He had no clue whatsoever what to do with Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Thor, The Avengers, etc.,...he constantly interferred with the writers, demanding The Clone Saga be drawn out as long as possible, Then tried to fix everything by blaming it all on Norman Osborn despite practically all the Spidey writers howling protests...

This meat-head mandated the horrendous and unnescessary Heroes Reborn, and tried to re-vamp Spider-Man with the God-awful Chapter One....

Please tell me what exactly you think he did for Marvel? Because i sure failed to see it....

Well I did mention it was only my thoughts and you're really cherry picking one small point that has nothing to do with the thread really, but since you asked and let me state this is only MY OPINION but:

Marvel was going down the crapper before Harris came in, he didn't do a great job story wise (up until very recently the clone saga was my most hated point in comics) but financially he got marvel back on it's feet. His tenure cemented the beginnings for the movie deals that reinvigorated the industry as a whole and got a lot of these new readers I'm always hearing about into the medium. These aren't story points only financial ones, but they're no less important, more so for the long run. So I'm happy I still have this company telling the stories (for the most part) that I grew up on.

It's like with Joey Q. I hate a lot of his decisions. He currently has me boycotting my favorite character. Still I have to say for the most part he's been a positive for the industry and comics as a whole. So while I might kick him square in the nuts if I met him on the street, I'd probably also help him back up.

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

Well I did mention it was only my thoughts and you're really cherry picking one small point that has nothing to do with the thread really, but since you asked and let me state this is only MY OPINION but:

Marvel was going down the crapper before Harris came in, he didn't do a great job story wise (up until very recently the clone saga was my most hated point in comics) but financially he got marvel back on it's feet. His tenure cemented the beginnings for the movie deals that reinvigorated the industry as a whole and got a lot of these new readers I'm always hearing about into the medium. These aren't story points only financial ones, but they're no less important, more so for the long run. So I'm happy I still have this company telling the stories (for the most part) that I grew up on.

It's like with Joey Q. I hate a lot of his decisions. He currently has me boycotting my favorite character. Still I have to say for the most part he's been a positive for the industry and comics as a whole. So while I might kick him square in the nuts if I met him on the street, I'd probably also help him back up.

Like you say; opinion. It used to burn my ass how he would put so much effort into X-Men, and leave the rest of the Marvel books flopping around like fish out of water...especially when you could basically slap an "X" on anything back in those days and it would practically sell itself.

I think Joe Q is far more responsible for Marvel's current success than Harras was. And Joe also spear-headed the movement of getting less popular characters some much needed "screen time" at Marvel, which completely fell by the wayside under Harras...Harras is the one EIC i have absolutely NO fond memories of whatsoever.

 

[moraldeficiency]

Like you say; opinion. It used to burn my ass how he would put so much effort into X-Men, and leave the rest of the Marvel books flopping around like fish out of water...especially when you could basically slap an "X" on anything back in those days and it would practically sell itself.

I think Joe Q is far more responsible for Marvel's current success than Harras was. And Joe also spear-headed the movement of getting less popular characters some much needed "screen time" at Marvel, which completely fell by the wayside under Harras...Harras is the one EIC i have absolutely NO fond memories of whatsoever.

So you didn't like any of the Spider-man or X-men movies?

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

So you didn't like any of the Spider-man or X-men movies?

Please don't tell me you think Harras is responible for those. Spider-Man went into pre-production way before Harras even WORKED at Marvel. It spent years in development entanglement until Avi Arad brought it to court.

 

[moraldeficiency]

Please don't tell me you think Harras is responible for those. Spider-Man went into pre-production way before Harras even WORKED at Marvel. It spent years in development entanglement until Avi Arad brought it to court.

I'm no expert but from what I understand Spider-Man finally came about because of that swap deal with James Bond. That was only consider feasible because of the success of X-Men. X-Men was pushed through finally by Arad and Harris. So it's a butterfly effect kind of thing. Look I know you hate him, he pissed me off plenty but there's good and bad like with most there. He was part of what put marvel back in black (financially) and I'm happy about that. Still this is so far off topic, I'm done.

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

I'm no expert but from what I understand Spider-Man finally came about because of that swap deal with James Bond. That was only consider feasible because of the success of X-Men. X-Men was pushed through finally by Arad and Harris. So it's a butterfly effect kind of thing. Look I know you hate him, he pissed me off plenty but there's good and bad like with most there. He was part of what put marvel back in black (financially) and I'm happy about that. Still this is so far off topic, I'm done.

I dont "hate" him, i just think he was a piss-poor EIC.

 

[PhotoJones]

He was a piss-poor EiC. Aside from the fact that ignored everything non-X, he hardly allowed for any creative control from his writers.

 

[moraldeficiency]

JMS - http://jmsnews.com/msg.aspx?id=1-17697

My thoughts - Can't believe I forgot this one. He takes semi ownership and semi passes the buck. I think if left alone his explaination for Sins Past to OMD would have been far superior but you have to do what the boss says. Personally I think he was a great Spider writer that was forced into a corner creatively and did his best. His Thor is excellent.