August 26, 2003

ANY QUESTIONS?

It occurs to me that you folks may have general questions you never get answered. So feel free to post them here. What I will then do (or at least am planning to do, unless it turns out I can't for some reason) is use the edit function to respond directly to the questions right where you ask them. That way folks won't have to scroll like mad to find the answers.

If I think the thread's getting too long, I'll cut off responses and we'll do another round in a week or so.

PAD

ADDENDUM: Okay, it's 12:30 AM and I'm cutting off the postings now. I'll answer these as I have time over the next few days.

Posted by Peter David at August 26, 2003 02:20 PM | TrackBack | Other blogs commenting
Comments
Posted by: Jerry Smith at August 26, 2003 02:27 PM

1. What format do you find most challenging/satisfying to write? Comics? Screenplays? Novels? Which format is overall the most profitable for a writer?

They each have advantages and disadvantages. Ultimately what's the most creatively satisfying is that which (a) is a story I feel I've told well and (b) a story that's well received by the audience.

2. Who's the biggest non-comics celebrity you've ever met? Did you enjoy the meeting?

I've met Shatner and Nimoy at various times. That was pretty cool. I met Bonnie Hunt coming off an airplane into Canada once; she was very sweet. Met F. Murray Abraham once. He said I should call him "Murray." I asked if anyone ever called him "F." He just looked at me oddly and said, "Uh...no."

3 Do you think colorfully garbed comic book villains with visions of megalomania are appropriate post 9/11?

Of course. Who else would colorfully garbed comic book heroes battle?

Posted by: Tom Dakers at August 26, 2003 02:31 PM

My only question at the moment is how I'm going to get Fallen Angel 2 now that my comic shop didn't get their comics last the other week? Diamond send them 26 boxes of toys and crap and no comics.

The only one that bothers me is missing Fallen Angel.

Call up Lone Star Comics in Texas. They're now only selling the book to people over 18, which means they've got copies they can't/won't move. Tell them I sent you and that they should sell you one mail-order.

Tonge Lashing finally showed up at my local bookstore so got that and had to special order One Knight Only from them. It seems like they are getting out of stocking books. Most of the floor space is now candles and junk like that. They want me to order my books from thier web site. But I'd much rather just pick it up off the shelf.

Anyway guess there really wasn't a question in there. Just a rant.

Hope you feel better for it.

Posted by: Maja Rosenberg at August 26, 2003 02:33 PM

Ok, then lets start with some really general things:

What is your favorit time of day? Why?

Don't really have one.

What is your favorit movie? Why?

The Adventures of Robin Hood starring Errol Flynn. That, and Casablanca. Why? Why not?

What is your favorit TV series? Why?

Of all time? Hill Street Blues. Again, why not?

What is your favorit book? Why?

The phone book. It's very handy.

What is your favorit food? (Not why) :-D

Pizza. Nature's perfect food.

This should be enough for the beginning, shouldn't it?

You'd think that, wouldn't you.

Greetings from Germany

Maja

Posted by: Steve Horton at August 26, 2003 02:45 PM

Have the sales numbers for Fallen Angel #1 come in yet? Will you be doing it for awhile?

First issue posted around 26,000 copies, ranking at #96. As to whether I'll be doing it a while, that depends on the fans. Well, no actually, it depends on the retailers.

Did CBG send you a copy of the Comics Buyer's Guide to the Hulk? I wrote the entire "Merged Hulk" section. What did you think?

They didn't send me one, actually. Cheap SOBs.

Posted by: Mike D. at August 26, 2003 02:46 PM

1) What do you think Captain Marvel does not get any love/respect from Marvel?

I'm probably the wrong person to answer that question.

2) If you could do whatever you pleased with the book to increase sales, what would you do?

Full frontal nudity with Marlo.

3) What character would you love to write into CM that has not yet appeared?

The Ultimates.

4) Why do you tolerate the increasing games and criticism from Marvel brass? (Thank you for doing so BTW)

It's been decreasing recently, actually. At least in regards to me.

Posted by: PonceMan at August 26, 2003 02:48 PM

Hey PAD,

1) Do you intend to continue writing comics until your twilight years? Or did you have plans to become a full-time novelist, etc?

I dunno. Maybe these ARE my twilight years. But no, I can't see myself writing comics in my 50s and 60s. Then again, Mick Jagger stated decades ago he couldn't see himself jumping around on stage at age 50 belting out "Satisfaction," so who ever knows?

2) Are you a fan of science writers like Richard Dawkins, Carl Sagan, or Stephen Jay Gould?

Intermittent. Read more Sagan than any of the others.

3) I'm not sure if you've stated this in the past, but what's your take on the Ultimate books? Specifically, do you like Spidey or Ultimates more?

I'm kind of a traditionalist. The Ultimate books strike me as the Hollywood-ized Marvel titles. They're like monthly pitches to unseen movie guys, as if Marvel was saying, "Okay, here's how we would drop 40 years of baggage and do these as films."

4) What journals, newspapers, or magazines do you read regularly, besides The Week (which *is* good, thanks for the recommend).

Time. Newsweek. Newsday. NY Daily News. Entertainment Weekly.

Thanks,

Carlos

Posted by: Doug Atkinson at August 26, 2003 02:48 PM

This question got lost in the shuffle when I asked it before, so this seems to be a good time to try again: What are the German titles of the Sir Apropos books? (I'm curious about how the translators handled the wordplay.)

Truthfully, I don't know. As soon as I get my copies in the mail, I'll post what the new title is. Too bad we haven't sold French rights. That'd be easy: "Monsieur Apropos du Rien.

Posted by: shinfifo at August 26, 2003 02:50 PM

Hi Peter,

Do you think you'll ever write for the Babylon 5 universe again? Your Centauri Prime trilogy was amazing, and I'd love to see what else you'd do with B5.

Depends if there are any more venues for B5 fiction, and whether JMS is interested in having me do it. I'm not seeing it as hugely likely in either aspect, but one never knows.

Posted by: Jasmin at August 26, 2003 02:50 PM

Will Linda Danvers be reappearing any time soon, in Fallen Angel or otherwise?

Not likely, or every issue, depending upon what you think about Fallen Angel.

Posted by: Will Berkovitz at August 26, 2003 02:54 PM

Will you ever let it be known what you were planning for the Hulk before you left?

Hulk #467, my last issue, was pretty much an encapsulation of two years worth of stories, summarized into 22 pages.

Posted by: Corey Tacker at August 26, 2003 03:00 PM

1. Can you give us an update on the Howling Mad movie?

There's a draft of a script, and it's being shopped around to both potential directors and stars.

2. SpyBoy #13.3 comes out tomorrow. Any plans for more SpyBoy beyond that?

DH is definitely interested in more Spyboys. I just have to sit down and write up an outline for the next series.

3. Do you have any novels lined up for 2004 beyond Spider-Man 2 and perhaps a third "Knight Life" book?

At least three more New Frontier novels, plus another fantasy series I'm currently working on selling.

Corey

Posted by: Greg Morrow at August 26, 2003 03:07 PM

General questions, huh? OK.

1. Why are inertial mass and gravitational mass the same thing?

Gravitational mass is the property of an object for the gravitational force exerts on another object. Newton's Law of Gravitation is expressed using the product of two gravitational masses. The inertial mass is the property of an object that is a measure of its resistance to acceleration. It is used to express Newton's Second Law: F = ma. Experimentally they are equal. Newton found that the two concepts were equal to one part in 1000. As of today this has been reduced to one part in a billion. This principal of equivalence is the foundation of Einstein's general theory of relativity. (As per Dr. D. O'Shea.)

2. To what extent did FDR know, or not know, about impending Japanese attacks prior to Dec. 7, 1941?

Depends which theory you adhere to. Personally, I suspect he knew something was coming, but didn't know exactly when or where. I very much doubt he knew the details and simply allowed it to happen, whatever rationalizations for spurring the country to war one might come up with.

3. Concerning the evolution of flight in avian dinosaurs, which is more correct, the trees-down or the ground-up theory?

Actually, the ground-down theory--the one postulating that dinosaurs were ground down into fossil fuel--is the most correct.

Posted by: Matt Adler at August 26, 2003 03:41 PM

Over at the Crew message board, we are trying to get a letter-writing campaign started to save the book. The Crew is written by Christopher Priest/Jim Owsley, and like your books, it requires thought to appreciate, something I think we can agree works against it in this shallow marketplace.

Anyway, I wonder what are your thoughts on comics activism, the Internet, and the best ways to organize such campaigns?

It worked for Spider-Girl, (and fortunately a campaign wasn't necessary for CM, due to the Open Letter), but I for one would like to see something more formalized, so that when a book is announced cancelled, it is easy to mobilize its fans from a central point with instructions on what to do and such. What do you think?

The problem becomes that if every single canceled book causes fan mobilization, publishers are just going to assume it's a knee-jerk reaction and stop paying attention. Then again, you can't really say to people, "Okay, the book you like is worth trying to save, but you other guy, your book isn't worth it." I am pretty sure, however, that the only thing which really has impact on publishers are individual written-and-mailed letters. The thought being that if people took the time to sit down and write a letter, stick a stamp on it and mail it, it must be something they really care about.

Posted by: Rob at August 26, 2003 03:49 PM

What's your writing schedule? How many hours per day; days per week? Do you work on certain projects on certain days, or does each project get a little bit of time every day or week?

I try to block out different days and different times to work on different projects. But there's no science to it. For instance, when I'm getting to the last hundred or so pages of a novel, the book picks up a momentum all its own and I just put everything else aside and barrel through it.

Posted by: Michael Pullmann at August 26, 2003 03:49 PM

Here's one that's a blatant setup for bragging: Caroline do anything cute lately?

She's started saying "Mama" in direct reference to Kathleen, so that's pretty cool.

Posted by: Wade at August 26, 2003 03:52 PM

I am wondering about

1.) What are some of the worst choices in your work that was not made? (such as choices made by editors and you were able to stop it or made by you and the editors stopped it)

I'd really rather not say. There's no way for me to answer it without me coming off sounding good and specific editors sounding stupid.

2.) What are some of your ideas/plans that you were most proud of, but never got used.

The original concept for an X-Factor abortion story, which got trashed into a story about genetic manipulation instead, completely killing the concept. Also, my favorite line of dialogue that got tossed was from an issue where Spider-Man finds an abandoned child in a dumpster and brings him to a hospital. I had the nurse in the hospital saying, "Spider-Man...this child...are you the father?" And Spidey replied, "Gee, I dunno. Let's throw him against a wall and see if he sticks." Spidey's response was cut.

Posted by: eddie bart at August 26, 2003 03:53 PM

I touched on this topic once before- and I'm still curious about it- Supergirl #65 where SG helped out at a deaf school-

what sort of research did you do?

Actually, most of the research was done by editor Mike McAvennie, who was the one who suggested I do a story about deaf kids. He provided me with a bunch of info and articles.

why deaf children? (I'm actually seeing if you have any direct or oblique connections to deaf people/deaf culture... outside of having me as a fan of your work heh)

Again, Mike's suggestion.

I'm a deaf comicbook reader and it always interests me to see deafness handled in comic books, and Supergirl #65 was one of the best I've seen.

Glad to hear it...no pun intended.

eddie

Posted by: AnthonyX at August 26, 2003 04:00 PM

Q: The tail end of your very entertaining and succesful run on the Hulk hinted, or at least reminded me a little of Superman inspired tales. Did the amalgamated Hulk/Banner character offer you a chance to go down that road??

Not consciously, no. Superman never ran an outlaw organization that went around interfering with nations against their respective wills. Or did he? Anyway, no, it wasn' inspired by Superman.

Posted by: Joseph J. Finn at August 26, 2003 04:19 PM

What will you be speaking on at Dragon*Con this year, and is there any chance you'll be doing another panel like the one on humor in comics with Judd Winick?

I'll be speaking at Dragon*Con, yes, but to the best of my knowledge, I'm not on a humor panel with Judd.

As a more general question, do you think the geographical spreading-out of creative types (since you no longer ned to be within messenger-range of New York), will bring changes to the comics industry beyond the ones we've seen already?

Probably not.

Posted by: Doug Hahner at August 26, 2003 04:39 PM

I have always been curious about how many drafts of a comic script you go through before the editor "okays" it? I realize that not all scripts are the same and that some scripts only need one draft while others may need 3 or more, but in general how many drafts do you usually go through?

One or two at most. I try to get it right the first time.

Posted by: lewjaschin at August 26, 2003 04:40 PM

I can understand if you might not want to get into this topic, but given that you've had some less than fortunate run-ins with company bosses yourself, I'd be curious to know what your opinion is on the whole matter with Crossgen and the non-communication/payment of freelancers etc.?

I know exactly as much about the matter as you do, so I'm not exactly what to say. It seems CG is having cash flow problems and people aren't getting paid. Speaking as someone who's had companies go out of business owing him sizable sums, I think when you're dealing with a company other than Marvel or DC, you have to proceed cautiously. I've been fortune as of late in that companies such as Dark Horse and Dreamwave have been good about paying me in a timely fashion. But there is a degree of risk for working for an Indy.

Posted by: Michael Cravens at August 26, 2003 04:57 PM

Okay, I just have three questions, then I'll shut up.

1.) Are there any comics out there that you're really digging lately...in other words, what kinds of stuff do you read?

The Crossovers. Liberty Meadow. Kath got me into Knights of the Dinner Table. Fables.

2.) Would you ever want to take another crack at writing Spider-Man? I know he's guest-starred in Captain Marvel, and you wrote the movie novelization of course, but I'm just curious if you'd like to write a one-shot, limited series, or ongoing comic featuring the character again.

Sure.

3.) Okay, this one's weird, but I remember reading a comment you made somewhere, maybe online, that you've met Alan Oppenheimer, who voiced Skeletor on the original Filmation He-Man and She-Ra cartoons. Do you have any opinion on that cartoon/toyline/licensed property? I only ask because it was one of my favorites growing up. How did you come to know Alan?

Alan had a supporting role in the two "Trancers" movies I wrote, and I hung out with him a bit while I was out in Romania for filming. I don't really have any opinion on the current reincarnation; I haven't seen it.

By the way, thanks for doing this. :-)

Posted by: Howard at August 26, 2003 05:01 PM

Just one question. I re-read Sachs & Violens over the weekend. Good stuff. Any desire to see it collected in trade form?

Absolutely. You offering?

Posted by: Jason Powell at August 26, 2003 05:03 PM

Oh, what a neat idea! Here's mine. It is about your Hulk run:

I once heard that you ask every artist you're about to start working with, what sort of stuff they like to draw. I heard that on Hulk, when you asked Todd McFarlane, he said he wanted to draw lots of sci-fi settings (hence, the SHIELD van and the Leader's headquarters, and the overall sci-fi feel of those issues). Jeff Purves said he wanted to draw Iron Man, hence the crossover. Gary Frank wanted to draw anything but buildings -- hence the trips to space, Asgard and South American jungles. Liam Sharpe said he also wanted to draw anything but buildings, and you said, "Well, tough," because after the exotic locales of the Frank run, you needed to have some more down-to-earth stories. And that Dale Keown was the best, because when you asked him what he wanted to draw in the Hulk, he just said, "The Hulk!"

Okay, that was a really long-winded set-up. Basically, I was wondering, do I have the above all correct, or am I misinformed?

No, that's about right.

And I've also always been curious as to what was Angel Medina's answer to the question before his Hulk run? What about Deodato? And Adam Kubert?

Don't remember (although I never really got a handle on Deodato, basically because I never communicated with him.

Thanks!

Posted by: Michileen Martin at August 26, 2003 05:08 PM

This question has been itching at me for a while. It regards your work on THE INCREDIBLE HULK, in particular, issues #349-351. It starts off in Web of Spider-Man #44, continues if TIH #349, goes to FF #320, back to TIH #350, to Avengers Annual #17 (The "Evolutionary War" annual) and finally back to TIH #351. My question is, how and why did this crossover come about? Maybe I'm completely out of my mind, but I could never imagine the idea for this came from you. Not only did it seem to rudely interrupt the Vegas storyline just as it started rolling, and not only did it seem counter-productive to the Hulk's goals at the time (he wants everyone to think he's dead, and by TIH #351, he's let The Avengers, Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, Doctor Doom, and the combined populations of Atlantis and Lemuria know he's alive), but I've heard you aren't the biggest fan of crossovers. The timing for it seemed odd and I've just always been curious about why it worked out that way.

Thanks for your time.

You sure you got the timing on that right? I don't have the issues in front of me, but I seem to recall that Hulk #350 was the slugout with the Thing, which had nothing to do with any sort of Evolutionary War. But as for the Hulk keeping a low profile...that's never an easy thing for him to do, and he rarely succeeds at it.

Posted by: Andre Williams at August 26, 2003 05:10 PM

Why can't there be ST: New Frontier on Comics books with you writing it? I do have the one from Wildstorm, but why not more? Get Marvel interested or something!

We actually had a plot for a second NF comic ready to roll when the plug was yanked. Bottom line: Trek comics just don't seem to sell no matter who's doing them.

Posted by: thomas moudry at August 26, 2003 05:11 PM

1. any chance of sachs and violens, round 2?

Well, I'd need to find a publisher and an artist since George isn't available at the moment. So other than that, the way's clear.

2. will you be doing a jla arc any time soon?

Not to my knowledge.

Posted by: Travis at August 26, 2003 05:21 PM

I could put in a question like "So, really, how much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?"

But, that'd be lame, because it would show that I try to be witty, but really am not.

So I guess the serious question is this:

Besides the Hulk, what one character from any Universe do you have the desire to spend over five years on?

The Fallen Angel.

Travis

Posted by: Ralf Haring at August 26, 2003 05:27 PM

Why does Fourth World have the same 20-year old action figures taking up an entire wall almost as long as the store itself?

Why has no employee there actually ever tried to sell me something?

You obviously have some sort of personal beef with Fourth World, and I'm not sure why you're airing it here. I got there about once a week. They have a good assortment of action figures, from old to recent, and they constitute approximately one eighth of the upper portion of one wall, so your description is not remotely accurate. Why haven't they TRIED to tell you something? Most comic book stores I know of have employees who are visible and available to help with someone who clearly is having problems (and Fourth World is no exception) but otherwise they tend to let people browse. Fourth World is, for my money, the best store on Long Island.

Posted by: Steve at August 26, 2003 05:31 PM

How do they get oxygen in a tank?

Carefully.

thanks

Posted by: Dee at August 26, 2003 05:44 PM

1. What is one story you most regret NOT being able to tell in a comic book/Star Trek novel/other work based on a licensed property?

Had a really good story about the death of the mother of Ariel, the Little Mermaid. I wanted to write it for the comic book, but Disney wouldn't let me.

2. What universe or character would you like to write for but haven't (yet)? Why?

Tarzan. Always loved that character. My dream project is Tarzan vs. the Phantom.

3. Given the inevitability of the eventual heat death of the universe, what's your position on the rising cost of beer?

Beer bad.

Posted by: Michael Brunner at August 26, 2003 06:16 PM

3 questions:

1) What is your favorite colour?

Blue.

2) What is your quest

To dream the impossible dream. To fight the unbeatable foe. To bear with unbearable sorrow. To run where the brave dare not go.

3) What is the airspeed of an unladen swallow?

What do you mean, an African or a European swallow?

Posted by: luke at August 26, 2003 06:18 PM

1)Is your cat okay?

Pandora? Fully recovered, thanks.

Posted by: ObeeKris at August 26, 2003 06:58 PM

Who is your favorite New Frontier character?

Calhoun.

Who wrote the "Author Bio" portion on the Tong Lashing cover?

I did.

Can somebody tell me what kind of a world we live in where a man dressed up as a bat gets all of my press?

Sorry. That's a rhetorical question.

Posted by: Brian Tait at August 26, 2003 07:00 PM

OK,

1. You're given carte blanche at both Marvel and DC. You can have total control over ONE book at each company. No editorial interference, no crossovers, you can do whatever you want. Who do you pick and what do you do with them?

I never answer questions like that. Because what invariably happens is that whoever's doing the books currently will be told, "Peter David said he didn't like what you're doing on your title and is busy talking about all the great stuff he'd be doing about it." I made the mistake recently of saying I'd have done the "Dragon's Lair" comic if I'd been asked, and Andy Mangels came up to me at a convention and said, "Thanks for trying to take my job!" He was kidding...well, only semi-kidding.

2. You're drafted to be the head of a new initiative to get more people interested in comics. What's the first thing you would do? Besides quit.

I wouldn't take on such a position if there wasn't enough of a budget to make national advertising a viable option.

Posted by: Brian C. Saunders at August 26, 2003 07:03 PM

Thanks for the offer, PAD. Here are my questions:

1. Who built and operated the Hulk robot in What Savage Beast?

The Leader. I was laying groundwork for a second book which never got written.

2. What were your plans for the Hulk before the Lee/Liefeld deal tanked them?

I wound up eventually doing the stories I was going to; they simply had to be delayed with additional (and, frankly, inferior) stories to accommodate what was going on with Heroes Reborn.

Brian

Posted by: James M. Gill at August 26, 2003 07:06 PM

1)Have you ever found yourself in a position where a character simply will not allow you to manipulate him/her in a way that you had initially concieved to further a story? (You know what I mean, how some characters are so well defined in your mind that they can practically write themselves?) If so, can you furnish an example?

It's happened, yes. I can't come up with a specific example off the top of my head, because by this point it's become so second nature to tailor the story to the character that no instance of the story going off the rails comes to mind.

2) Which artists have come closest to matching the visuals that you've had in your head while writing a comic script?

Leonard Kirk, George Perez, Dale Keown.

3) Have you ever come close to just hanging up your comic writing career out of sheer frustration, based on the amount of poor editorial choices handed down to you by both Marvel and DC?

I've quit specific books out of sheer frustration. As for the career itself, I don't plan to quit comics. I wouldn't be surprised, though, if comics quit me.

4) What was the final verdict on the "best comic book movie" thread from some months back?

Superman

Posted by: Shortdawg at August 26, 2003 07:19 PM

1) Do you ever use, er, “chemical stimulation” to find your muse? Translation: Does any of your inspiration for fantastic plot ideas come from drugs? (You can answer honestly, I sincerely doubt John Ashcroft has time to read your Web site!)

Absolutely not. I've never done drugs. Ever. I think doing anything to screw with your mind is inherently destructive.

2) In a pitched battle between Attila the Hun and Genghis Khan, who would win?

Neither. They've both been dead for centuries, so a pitched battle would be unproductive.

3) If a tree fell in a forest and no one was around to hear it, would Matt Murdock’s super senses still be able to isolate the sound from Hell’s Kitchen?

The question's inherently contradictory. If it's close enough for Murdock to perceive it, then he's "around to hear it."

Posted by: John C. Kirk at August 26, 2003 07:28 PM

In your Trek novels, I've noticed that Picard and Jack Crusher show up together (in flashbacks) every so often. Each time this has happened, I wonder "Is this Jack Crusher's final mission?" Is that a story you're ever planning to tell?

Nope.

I realise that this question may be moot, now that the only Trek novels you write are New Frontier (if I remember your comments from a previous interview correctly), and now that there's an ongoing Stargazer series (I haven't read it, but I assume it features Jack Crusher). And in a way, even if you aren't going to tell that story (e.g. if Paramount have reserved it), I guess it makes sense not to tell anyone, so that I'll always have that question in my mind.

But despite all those disclaimers, it's something I've been wondering about for the last few years, so I figured this was a good time to bring it up.

It is a good time, but the answer remains "Nope."

Posted by: Balder at August 26, 2003 07:29 PM

Why is it that a majority of comic people lean towards the liberal side, politics wise?\

I don't know that they do.

How do you vent?

Throw a blowhole in the back of my head.

How many keyboards have you gone through during all these years of writing.

Three Smith Corona typewriters, back when I was using those. With my current computer...about four.

Why just a rock? (re: hulk figure from years ago)

Because that's what the figure came with. The Hulk didn't have a cool prop from the comic, so they gave him a big rock. Which prompted me to have the Hulk comment on it in the comic a la Charlie Brown: "I got a rock."

Have you read "Prey" by Michael Crichton? (Just curious)

No.

Ever have one of those moments where someone tosses you something (like a ball or other object) and at the last second catch it like it was nothing, surprising even yourself?

Not tossed it to me, but hit it at me. Once I was pitching for the Marvel softball team. Bases loaded, one out. Batter lined a ball right at me. I gloved it on the fly, pivoted, and flipped it to the first baseman, doubling the runner off first before he could tag up. The opposing team couldn't believe it. There we were in major trouble, and five seconds later, we were trotting off the field. That was pretty cool.

What's on your desk next to your computer at the moment?

A couple of books, a mug in the shape of a monkey head, and a small plush doll of Tigger dressed as Pooh.

How influential are fan letters to a comic book editor?

I dunno. Ask a comic book editor.

Posted by: Faith No More at August 26, 2003 08:14 PM

Is the traveller from Star Trek TNG really Q guiding Wesley as he becomes a Q and is Jean Luc Picard secretly his father which is why Q has such a fascination with him as humanity will eventually develop into the Q and Jean Luc was the father of the first Q? Is this the source of animosity from Q to Beverley Crusher and was Q responsible for Jack Crushers death? And would this be a great basis for a final TNG movie?

And wouldn't a cameo from Janeway in which Q admits he'd just been messing with her and none of their encounters were real and he'd orchestrated their being stranded in the Delta quadrant since he was setting up something with the Borg and humanity since he introduced us to them early in the first place, thus undoing all the awful Q/Voyager episodes be really good? Some way of negating all the awful Borg episodes would be appreciated too...

Shouldn’t Janeway have died getting Voyager home really, making it far more dramatic and poignant? Maybe killed by Neelix who had been repressing residual emotions of the Tuvix character he and Tuvok merged into who Janeway killed to bring them both back? (I always had a problem with that not being used, a lot of wasted potential I thought)

Yes, yes, no, no, yes, no, yes, no. But not in that order.

Posted by: Dan Forinton at August 26, 2003 08:18 PM

Are you regretting this yet?

Should I be?

Posted by: Bruce kline at August 26, 2003 09:15 PM

Long time reader, first time writer.

A few questions:

Which one propells the other? ie does a joke that you have set up the story or does the story set up the joke?

The vast majority of the time a joke will develop out of a story or situation. There are some who would have you believe that I routinely develop a gag and then tailor an entire story around it. The technical term for such folks is "pinhead." I will, on rare occasion, come up with a gag and a story will arise from it. For instance, one of the main reasons I introduced Dolphin into Aquaman was so I could write a story called "Single Wet Female." She was intended to be a guest star. But I discovered I liked her so much I kept her around.

Who are your influences from a writing standpoint and where does your sense of humor come from?

I'm influenced by far too many people to list here. My sense of humor comes from my mother.

Have you ever thought of passing on your concepts on successful writing tips for novels or comics by doing a creative writing seminar?

I've done occasional one-shot writing seminars at conventions and such, but I've no desire to teach an ongoing class.

Lastly, would you take on a concept offered by someone who felt they had a fairly good idea of how they wanted a story to go but, not having written before couldn't figure out the whole scripting of the story (comic or novel)?

No.

Posted by: Jess at August 26, 2003 10:14 PM

Who put the bomp in the bompshubompshubomp?

Not sure, but I'd like to shake his hand.

Groo wrote the book of love?

No.

Where did I put my pen?

It's behind that thing.

Posted by: Eric Gjovaag at August 26, 2003 10:22 PM

Peter, you've written books in so many different sci-fi universes, I'm wondering if you could ever be persuaded to write a Doctor Who novel. I'm sure the BBC would jump at the chance of publishing something from you.

It'd be fun, yes. I've spoken with DW publishers on occasion, but haven't yet got around to pursuing it seriously.

Posted by: Chuck at August 26, 2003 10:26 PM

What do think of Todd Nuack New book Wild gaurd?

Haven't read it yet, didn't know it was out. But the premise sounded good.

What do you think of Todd Nuack as artist? seeing how worked with him on Young Justice.

Oh, I think he's terrific. Todd was able to draw anything I threw into the plot. It was great.

Posted by: Carl Henderson at August 26, 2003 10:49 PM

1. "What is your name?"

2. "What is your quest?"

3. "What... is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?"

That's hilarious. No one ever asks me that.

Posted by: Hob at August 26, 2003 10:52 PM

Awhile back there was some leader of a black radical group that was trying to get famous. He'd insult people like Barbara Walters and Ted Koppel so that they might mention him on their shows. Do you think you comicbook creators who always seem to be fighting are using the same tactic?

Nah. We're just assholes.

PAD

Posted by: Aaron at August 26, 2003 11:05 PM

I noticed that ROM: Spaceknight had several cameos in the early issues of Captain Marvel as a bust. Is this just because Rick was, for a brief time, his sidekick, or is there more to it?

No, that's pretty much the only reason.

If you were to go back and re-do Secret Wars 2, how would you have done it?

Better.

Why is it when resturaunts say "No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service", they leave underwear and pants optional?

They're not optional. Local ordinances dictate minimal appropriate and acceptable covering of one's "private" areas. It's already against the law to walk into an establishment unclothed from the waist down. Restaurants are simply stipulating additional conditions in order to accommodate a specific dress code that they feel best suits their atmosphere and clientele.

PAD

Posted by: Marcus Sarzalejo at August 26, 2003 11:27 PM

1-Now that you reveal that Thanatos is an alternative reality Rick Jones… would you mind telling us if back when you wrote Spider-Man 2099 # 11-13, where those your original plans? I was very happy with the time flies story but I keep wondering if those where your original plans

Rick was one of several solutions I had as to the identity of Thanatos. When I decided to revisit the character and do the reveal, I went with the Rick scenario. But there were others, ranging from Jonah Jameson to Norman Osborne. Rick, though, was the best, I thought.

2- could you tell us what where your plans for Spider-Man 2101? Were there any plans or did it ended on just talks?

We were just starting to develop them when it was shut down.

Thanks in advance for taking the time

Marcus Sarzalejo

Posted by: Redford at August 26, 2003 11:33 PM

Did you like Priest's Black Panther run?

Didn't read it. Marvel dropped me from my comp list, so I got out of the habit of buying Marvels for the longest time. I've only recently started buying them again.

Posted by: Jason Henningson at August 26, 2003 11:53 PM

Back in 1999, I went to I-Con for the first time, and me and a few friends got the privilege of interviewing con guest Sylvester McCoy, the 7th actor to play the lead character in the British series Doctor Who. As me and my friends were waiting in a green room area of the gym, we noticed a man with a Space Cases jean jacket meet up with McCoy, showing him a Muppet version of his alter ego. Since I found out it was you, I've noticed a few Doctor Who references here and there by you, most notably your introduction to I, Who 2 by Lars Pearson. So...

1. Still a Dr Who fan?

Yes.

2. Ever go to a DW con?

No.

3. Would you go to one, say one in Massachusetts?

Depends on when, etc.

4. Wally in Supergirl - look influenced by McCoy's Doctor?

Boy, at first I thought you meant "Star Trek's" Doctor McCoy. You mean Sylvester McCoy. No. Not really. Certainly not consciously

PAD

Posted by: Mike Wilkinson at August 26, 2003 11:58 PM

One Comic industry related question I have had for sometime is: how much control do you have over what assignments you get from your various publishers? Do you get to come in and say, "I have this great idea for Aquaman. When there is an opening can I get next dibs?" or perhaps, "I have some ideas for that 2099 project you have been tossing around let's get together and cut the edges off of it." Or is it like, "Dammit, the Hulk writer just walked out. You - David, tomorrow...my office. I need three ideas for the next issue. Get on it!

It's a combination, really. Sometimes they approach me, sometimes I approach them.

"? The same could actually go for your genre novels. Do the people at Star Trek call you and say they would like two novels from you in the next two years. One featuring Q, and one about helping a planet which has become the trash dump for all the other planets in a territory.

On occasion I'll be asked to write a specific type of novel. "Vendetta" grew from a desire to write a major book about the Borg. "Imzadi" came from Pocket getting Roddenberry's office to agree to a novel about Riker and Troi's early years. That kind of thing.

Hey, um... on the personal side I collect the signatures of my favorite authors and you are one of them that I really want. What are the odds that you can add some of these letters to the comic letters page you spoke of in an earlier blog and start making with autographs? It doesn't even have to be a comic... just something to hang by the old writing desk for last minute inspirations.

If you send something for me to sign to my postal box--PO Box 239, Bayport, NY 11705--and be sure to include a self addressed, stamped envelope, I'll sign it and send it back. Does that help?

Posted by: Sean Archer at August 27, 2003 12:02 AM

Hey Peter,

Love Cap'n Marvel. And here's my questions.

when are you going to write Iron Man? Do you even have any desire to? What direction would you take if given the chance?

1) No plans to. (2) Not particularly. (3) Haven't really thought about it.

Best, and I look forward to many more years of Genis and Rick.

Sean

Posted by: Jason Wingert at August 27, 2003 12:05 AM

Okay this has been bothering me for a long time. Who was the Net Prophet in Spider-Man 2099?

As is mentioned further down: John Tensen, a.k.a. Justice from the New Universe.

Posted by: Adam Hoffman at August 27, 2003 12:15 AM

1) How are you doing today?

Fine. A little tired.

2) Why do you think Young Justice stirred up so many detractors? (the jokes weren't that bad).

Because, as insane as it sounded, fans couldn't wrap themselves around the notion of a team consisting of a group of teens who just like hanging out together. Somehow that seemed unrealistic to them as they went off to hang out with their friends.

3) What do you currently enjoy writing the most?

The Apropos novels were a lot of fun.

4) Why do hot dog buns come in packs of ten while hot dogs come in packs of eight?

According to the National Hot Dog and Sausage council, "When hot dog buns were introduced, hot dogs were sold in varying quantities at the butcher shop. Not until 1940 were hot dogs packaged the way we currently see them in the grocery store. When manufacturers began packaging hot dogs, they chose the 10 to the pack formula. Today hot dogs are sold most often in eight or ten to the pound packs, but some are sold other quantities as well. Sandwich rolls, or hot dog buns, most often come eight to the pack because the buns are baked in clusters of four in pans designed to hold eight rolls. While baking pans now come in configurations that allow baking 10 and even 12 at a time, the eight roll pan remains the most popular.

Posted by: Corey Tacker at August 27, 2003 12:27 AM

"Okay this has been bothering me for a long time. Who was the Net Prophet in Spider-Man 2099?"

John Tensen from JUSTICE (Marvel's New Universe). PAD and/or Marvel confirmed this long ago.

Corey

Posted by: Glenn Hauman at August 27, 2003 12:35 AM

1. Regarding Apropos: Ma nishtana ha leila hazeh?

I'm just going to pass over that one.

2. Am I ever going to get back those old issues of Aquaman, Action Comics, and Adventure Comics that I lent to you when you first started writing Aquaman?

I wouldn't count on it.

Posted by: Luigi Novi at August 27, 2003 12:36 AM

MikeD, from Any Questions #1: 2) If you could do whatever you pleased with the book to increase sales, what would you do?

Peter David: Full frontal nudity with Marlo.

Luigi Novi: If you could do that……shaved or not shaved?

The legs and armpits shaved. Ther rest, as nature intended.

PAD

Posted by: Neil Robertson at August 27, 2003 02:41 AM

I know you've written Star Trek stories for both novels and comic books... do the differences in the media affect the way you approach the creation of your plot? In other words, all other things being equal, do you significantly tailor a story to the format?

Only in the sense that I know what works and won't work with a particular license.

Posted by: Colier Rannd at August 27, 2003 03:54 AM

I'm gonna take a chance and if you get to this, cool. If not I'll post it again when you do this again. Now to my question, which is more of a request:

Could you please(out of my wheelchair, on my knees begging),please go to DC, get Arrowette,WonderGirl,Secret and Empress and start a girl superhero group so I don't have to get my Cassie fix from Teen Titans which so far I can't stand?And if it's at all possible, could you get either Todd back or Phil Jimenez to do the art? Please, I'm begging....seriously.

Thanks!

Col

Sadly, I doubt that will be happening anytime soon.

Posted by: Dapo at August 27, 2003 06:37 AM

What is your opinion on the Marvel Family?

There is a long standing rumour that you stated a great dislike for them but then your handling of Mary Marvel in Supergirl did not seem to bear it out.

So fan or not, and if fan would you ever consider writing them.

Beware longstanding rumors, as they have often have little relation to longstanding fact. No, I have no dislike for the Marvel family at all. If I did, I'd never have used Mary Marvel. I think the closest I ever came to stating "dislike" was saying that I wasn't thrilled with the new "codename" of CM3. Yes, it's an inherent problem that Junior can't say his own name, but the new codename doesn't do much for me. Otherwise, though, I love those characters. Yeah, I'd consider writing them...presuming they were offered me. Unfortunately, the problem is that they don't seem capable of sustaining a book no matter how well written they are. But if I write them and they tank, it becomes "Peter David can't sustain a book." So I'd have to approach it carefully.

Posted by: Avi Green at August 27, 2003 06:43 AM

1] If DC gave you the job of writing Jessie Quick, the fastest femme alive in the DCU, would you want to write a series or miniseries for her?

Nah. Speedsters make me nervous, because if you play them accurately, they're impossible to beat. I could deal with Impulse because he was easily distracted.

2] If Marvel gave you the job of writing the X-books and gave you the proper freedom in writing it, would you be in favor of working on it?

I have real trouble believing that such a situation could occur.

3] What's your opinion on comics coverage in the mainstream media? Do you think it's too, ummm, sugarcoated? And that it cares more about what's hyped outrageously than about what's really got class?

My only opinion of comics coverage is that there isn't enough of it. As for the media caring more about what's hyped outrageously than what's really class...that may be true, but that's hardly limited to comics.

4] Do you agree that if there's any minorities that should really be featured in comics, it's ones from such backgrounds as Swedish, Danish, Armenian, Dutch, Lebanese Christian, Druse, Corsican, Fijian, Bulgarian, Czech, and Macedonian? The readership does deserve to get to know about such nationalities and their cultures and customs too, don't they?

Yeah, but as a write you have to be willing to do the research to make it accurate. Otherwise, next thing you know, you're hearing from angry Swedes, etc., complaining that you're doing them an injustice. So as a writer who's just trying to hit his deadlines, you have to decide whether it's worth the...wait. Druse? What the hell is Druse...?

5] If there's any CrossGen titles that you'd like to write if offered a job by them, which would it/they be?

Truthfully, I don't know the CG titles well enough to say I'd be interested in any of them.

6] What places have you travelled to abroad? Have you ever visited Israel too?

Yes. I've been to Israel. I've seen London, I've seen France, although I have not seen your underpants. I've been to Germany, Romania, Portugal, Argentina, Mexico, Spain, Canada, Ireland, Scotland. And yet, I've never been to me.

Thanks very much, and I hope it'll be possible to work on another great Q&A topic like this later on as well!

Posted by: Kira at August 27, 2003 07:32 AM

I love your books, I'm reading Knightlife right now. Superb!! Sir Aprophos is next on the table. I got to know your books due to your writing for my alltime favorite scifi shows Babylon5(incl.Crusade) and Star Trek. The centauri-trilogy is what started my taste into your books, and the New Frontier's got me hooked. Can hardly wait till the new releases in november.

Here's my question; Having written for those scifishows what other shows would you like to write for?

I for instance would love to see a Stargate book or comic at your hand.

Greetings from Holland, Kira

Ah, but saying what shows I'd like to write for is far different from saying what comics OF the shows I'd like to write for. In terms of the latter...none. I'm trying to write fewer licensed tie-ins, not more. What shows would I like to write for? "Angel." "Smallville." The new "Tarzan" series interests me.

Posted by: Marc at August 27, 2003 08:23 AM

Were Crazy Eight (Leslie Shappe) and SpeedFreak (Mr. Shappe) brother and sister, husband & wife, or related in any way? Both assasins, both with the same last name, both crazy...

They were siblings, yes.

Posted by: ERBFan at August 27, 2003 08:29 AM

No question. It's just nice to know you like "Hill Street Blues". The greatest show ever. Makes up for us not agreeing on "That's My Bush".

This may well be the first post in blog history to mention "Hill Street" and "That's My Bush" in the same entry.

Posted by: ERBFan at August 27, 2003 08:30 AM

Oh, and ditto on on Robin Hood and Casablana.

I'll also mention, given your screen name, that I have a stupid fondness for the early Johnny W. "Tarzan" films. Yes, I know they're not remotely accurate to the books. But they have a certain charm. I have several of them on Laserdisk, including one of "Tarzan and His Mate" that includes a beautifully filmed, utterly tasteful five minute nude underwater swim sequence the censors cut (Tarzan has his loin cloth but Jane is starkers. Stunt swimmer, but still...)

Posted by: Sean Brady at August 27, 2003 08:40 AM

Hi Peter,

I know you have a fondness for Doctor Who so...have you ever been approached to write an original Doctor Who story for the various book and audio ranges? And if not, would you ever consider writing one?

Thanks,

Sean Brady

P.S. In case you didn't know, there's a new animated story starring Richard E.Grant as the 9th Doctor being webcast by BBCi in November.

As I mentioned earlier, I've been approached by the book folks, but never actually put together the time or a proposal to do it. And yes, I heard about the Grant one...although, for my money, they got the wrong Grant. I thought Hugh Grant did a wonderful job in his exceedingly brief outing during "The Curse of the Fatal Death.

Posted by: Joe Goforth at August 27, 2003 11:43 AM

from Luigi Novi

re:MikeD, from Any Questions #1: 2) If you could do whatever you pleased with the book to increase sales, what would you do?

Peter David: Full frontal nudity with Marlo.

Luigi Novi: If you could do that……shaved or not shaved?

JG: Pierced or not pierced?

Not.

Posted by: Sean Ferguson at August 27, 2003 12:38 PM

How do you keep up your pace writing all those novels and comic books? How did you get that kind of discipline? Do you have a set goal of a certain amount of pages to write or something else? I would also love to hear any advice you have for those who want to become novelists. Thanks!

There is a degree of discipline involved, yes. On the other hand, there's also seeing bills piling up and going, Damn! Better finish this comic book fast. As for those who want to become novelists, here's my advice: Write novels. Really. That's pretty much it. Everything else is just window dressing. Sit down, write the damn things.

Posted by: Athos Bousvaros at August 27, 2003 09:02 PM

I hope this isn't misconstrued as being rude or intrusive, but my question is:

How do you get four girls through college on a comic book writer's salary?

Well, I haven't done it yet, have I? I've sent exactly one through college.

Posted by: Chris at August 28, 2003 12:07 AM

Based on when the last post was, I think maybe I can post now. I asked before, but got the runaround. So for real: what's up with the name "Falkar?" It's a character in NF, a planet in "Q-Squared," and maybe is mentioned elsewhere, though I'm not sure.

There really isn't anything behind it. I just accidentally combined a couple of sounds at different times in my writing and overlapped without realizing I'd used the name before.

And if there really isn't anything behind it, how do you come up with such great, realistic-sounding words from other languages, character names, etc.?

By piecing together parts of other words to give it a tonality matching the mood I want it to invoke. Either that or I just pull names from other languages entirely. For instance, in "Imzadi," all the villains were named after objects on a Passover plate. What can I say? It amused me to have Riker and Troi being menaced by guys whose names meant "Lamb Shank" and "Bitter Herbs." Unfortunately some people thought I was an anti-Semite for doing that...an interesting conclusion what with my being Jewish and all.

Just curious,

Chris