I've been informed by editor Andy Schmidt that CAPTAIN MARVEL got the go-ahead for another six issues beyond where we're scripted, taking us to issue #24. Think of it as being informed by the network that your show's doing well enough to be picked up for the rest of the season. So that's pretty positive.
Since Ivan was snapped up to draw "Superman," I don't know yet who's going to be penciling it. Hell, any volunteers?
PAD
Posted by Peter David at July 30, 2003 10:14 AM | TrackBack | Other blogs commentingLove your work on Captain Marvel, Peter and I'm glad to hear about the extension.
Grats!
I'd offer to draw it, but I have slightly less artistic ability than a mildly retarded plank of wood.
I couldn't even sketch out those Professor X and Storm doodles you refer to in the BID trade...
1. Congrats.
2. I do believe you just offered your fans a scoop as to who else is moving to Metropolis in the next Superman shuffle, unles I missed something prior to this.
Well, congratulations, of a sort. It's good to know the editors and PTB are showing some more faith in the book. The bad news is the artistic shuffle continues. Very mixed messages there. Here's hoping for an artist who can at least approach ChrisCross's standards.
Congrats Peter.
I guess we know who the U Decide winner was but Marvel will never admit it.
Here's an artist who could keep Captain Marvel going forever:
Todd McFarlane.
I would love to see PAD and the Toddler work together again. However there is no way in hell Toddy will ever work for Marvel again. Plus if I remember correctly there was some bad blood between PAD and Todd.
Oh well, one can dream.
Congratulations Peter! I've loved the run thus far.
Oh, and since you asked, feel free to check out the webcomic on my website (plus some raw pencils of the latest issue in the Pencil Sketches section of my website) - remember, I'm only plugging this here 'cause you asked :)
Hey, do you want to have an open calling for artists to send you work? Perhaps have that as a contest like U-Decided to try and boost publicity?
The greatest artist presently living is my dad. Can he send you some samples? :)
Congrats, Peter. I'd like, without his permission, to volunteer my husband. :)
Is Andy at all amenable to a return by Starlin?
yeah, i miss chriscross. the stories havn't been the same for me without his incredible facial expressions and wild hand gestures adding to PAD's irreverant humor.
Yeah, Captain Marvel gets another 6 issues.
Side Note: I hope Marv will be sane by then. I am hoping for a four way battle between Marv, Rick and each of their egos. Seriously.
No seriously.
I mean it.
C'mon... it be great!
I never picked up a Captain Marvel book until the U-Decide thing. I must say that I LOVE the book and I am very excited to see that it will continue.
I really don't like how CM's artists are snapped up and taken away, but I do like how the CM book seems to get young fresh talent. That, in a way, makes it very exciting. However, you really can't argue that unstable art makes for an agrivating read.
On a side note, I read that article at NRAMA about Marvel's Q2 earnings and I was plesantly suprised to see your response. I'm glad to see that a Marvel character that you helped shape for so many years is helping out the company...even if you don't get the acknowledgement that you deserve.
volunteer
v. intr
1.To perform or offer to perform a service of one's own free will.
2. To do charitable or helpful work without pay
I would LOVE to volunteer to draw the comic! Come on, one issue, free of charge! Heck, I'll pay YOU if I can draw for a comic that you wrote! I'm not a half bad artist, either. I'm no Chrisscross, but I would like to think there's at least SOME talent!
(Sadly, I know you're only joking...)
Great news that Captain Marvel's still goin' strong, by thew way! Here's to another 24! (And beyond, of course!)
I hereby volunteer.
(who know it would be this easy?)
Wait....does volunteering mean I'll still get paid?
Peter, is Andy currently accepting submissions? If so, where should I send them?
I'd like, without his permission, to volunteer my husband. :)
Are you kidding?! I've been inking Peter's stories for the past ten years, I'd kill for the chance to pencil one.
Congratulations on having the run extended, Peter. Counting the first series that'll take you up to five years on this title. Damn good going yet again.
--Robin.
What's Alan Davis up to?
He's kinda busy right now writing and drawing Another Nail for DC.
Congrats to you Peter. It's always great to hera about good people keeping their jobs. That said I've decided to drop Captain Marvel until I see Marlo Jones in the book. The Rick & Marlo hijinks was what brought me in and now that I've paid for 12 months with out it, I'll pay no more.
Okay, this is hard for me, because I have to admit I didn't always like you as a writer. This is purely a taste issue: I simply wasn't interested in or impressed by the Hulk run, or also some of your commentary on comic book writing in general.
It wasn't until your run on Young Justice (not my favorite book, but mainly due to the inability I had to find it where I lived at the time) that I realized that many of my axes to grind with your style come in part from the specific character you were writing when I was first exposed to you. (I like the Hulk big green and dumb...raging engine of destruction is okay by me, too.) Being a big fan of Captain Marvel, I'm glad you've gotten the renewal.
All this is prologue to a serious question on my part: have *you* any interest in writing Superman? You've done Supergirl, and Superboy in YJ, and you've done an interesting run on Captain Marvel showing that you can bring new ideas to an established character (well, the son of one, but still) so what about the big blue boy scout?
This is great news. I'm hoping we'll get sane Marv and Marlo Jones back by issue 24.
Congrats -- great news.
In terms of artists: okay, I'm in the minority here, but I never quite got into ChrisCross's style. A little too cartoony for me. (Don't get me started on Humberto Ramos doing Spider-Man.) I could certainly live with it if someone like him comes back on the book, but he wouldn't be my first choice. Call me old-fashioned. :-)
TWL
speaking of looking for another artist for the book...what is Angel Medina doing these days?
I remember he did fantastic work on Dreadstar and I've met him in sa diego once or twice and he seems like a very nice guy too
How about Jim Califore.
He and PAD have worked together before (Aquaman).
He just lost his new ongoing gig (Black Panther).
He keeps getting work with Marvel, so he's at least politcaly neutral.
I VOLUNTEER!!! Put up a couple of sample pages of script and tell me who to send the submission to in the Marvel offices!!!!! For real; I just updated my resume recently, would they like a copy?
I can draw pretty good stick figures...
Maybe John Byrne will draw it for you... (just kidding of course)
I'd like to humbly suggest one name who would make Captain Marvel even better than it is now(and that is nigh impossible!). Salvador Larocca.
Please Peter, do this for me. Pass on the thought of Sal Larocca for Captain Marvel.
I won't stop reading if it isn't him but I want the thought out there.
Col
Woo hoo! Best news I've heard today. I just hope it keeps going on well past issue 24
I am happy for your success, but unfortunately I have dropped my sub for CM. I may be in the minority, but I do not like the current run (I have ready every issue of PAD's CM up to this point, as well as Aquaman, Supergirl, X-Factor, etc., so I am a huge PAD fan). I may pick up a few more issues to see if there is any change, but I just don't get into CM being so brutally insane. There is not doubt that the issues are well written, but I must admit (gasp!) that I read comic books to be entertained. I am not looking for "cotton candy," but if I want depressing, I can turn on the news. The conclusion of the Coven arc was more satisfying than the previous arc, but not enough to keep me.
Anyways, it is a matter of taste, and that is where I am at. Can't wait for your New Frontier novels in October. Fortunately it is my birthday then, so I will most definitely get them!
James
Thanks, Robin, for the info.
Hey Peter, isn't Dave Sim just about done drawing Cerebus? Maybe you could make him an offer he couldn't refuse? :)
Other thoughts:
Leonard Kirk
Howard Porter
Sal Velluto
Howard Porter is going to be drawing Flash and as much as I would like to have him draw Captain Marvel I want him to be the regular artist on Flash after the new guys 6 month run. Btw congrats on extention. Lets hope there is MANY issues to come. :-)
what has jim lee been up to these days? Oh yeah.... well my suggestions would be Ron Lim, who drew cosmic battles with the infinity trilogy, haven't seem him for awhile. would be very nice to see gary frank and cam smith, even if it was for an issue or two. I love those guys!
anyone who can draw clean and strong facial expressions is all I ask.
As much as I am happy to see Captain Marvel vol. 4 continue, I have to say I understand a little of the frustration of people with Crazy Marv. That said, I loved the ending of Coven and am on board for as long as it goes. But I had a question. It seems to me maybe some of the complaints might not have do with the storyline as much as maybe the current Marvel house style that seems dominant in the plotting. Is there any chance of getting back to your traditional pacing?
Brian
Sorry, I write a lot better than I draw.
But I personally know of 3 artists who would kill me if I didn't at least try to recommend them: German "ZiO" Mora, CK Russell, and Amber "Dixey" Shelton. :)
Ok Peter,
why not ask Todd Nauk? see if he wants some work come his way
I'd be in heaven to see a Mirage/TMNT artist have a go at it. A.C. Farley. Yeah, go ask him. :)
I was sad to see Chris Williams go, but what about another Chris: Chris Batista, who's currently on Legion? His work on the fill-in issue with Spidey 2099 was really nice.
Starlin's doing a new Thanos ongoing, so I doubt he could find the time to pencil CM on a regular basis. I'd love to see another fill-in, though.
Having seen the scanned art on his website of a cover for an upcoming issue of the book, I'd reccommend Neal Adams.
But then, I'd nominate Neal Adams for just about anything. It's been way too long since Adams has done any regular mainstream comics.
Believe it or not, Ron Lim contributed a few pages to Sonic the Hedgehog #125 from Archie Comics!
Unfortunately, I'm a couple of issues behind in my CM reading, so unless you've done this already and I haven't gotten to it yet, how about an update on Marlo and Moondragon?
Meanwhile, about the only artist who has to worry about competition from me is Fred Hembeck, so I won't be offering my services in that area, but if you ever have any other creative job openings, let me know.
I would love to draw Captain Marvel each month...and I'd do it for free!
If not me...
KEVIN MAGUIRE!
DALE KEOWN!
ALAN DAVIS!
ED BENES!
GARY FRANK!
This may have been answered in other postings, but what is Chriscross up to these days. I really liked his work.
I also have a larger question for PAD. What is your relationship with the artists on your books? I have to admit that I have no real clue to how comics work, but have you met every artist that you have worked with? This is just a question that I've always wondered about.
I vote Adam or Andy Kubert, Dale Keown, George Perez, Alex Ross, Alan Davis, or Alvin Lee from UDON, to do the art.
Anyway, glad to hear about the extension...wait! It's ending with issue 24? That means...after that, it's over? One of the greatest series I ever read, and it's over? First AGENT X, now CAPTAIN MARVEL? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! IT'S NOT FAIR, DAMMIT! I'm getting emotional now. Goodbye, Miss Simone. Goodbye, Mr David. I'll never blow my money on your quality series again. Sob.
To see Chriscross, just pick up yesterday's JLA. Didn't do much for me as a whole, but the art's there...
It's OK Pete, I think this announcement just means that CM will continue at least through 24, not end at 24.
Kubert! Kubert! Kubert! Any of them. It's all good.
Lets see... hmmmm... penciling Captain Marvel.... working with Peter David... getting my comics work published... Wow. I'd file that under D for 'Dream come true'.
But considering my chances, I figure the best I can do is sit upright at the back of the class with my hand raised …while anxiously mouthing 'pick me! Pick me!'
Congrats on 24 and here's hoping for another.
Scott Shaw!
Cmon... everyone wants to see a Captain Carrot/Marv crossover!
Hmmm.
Really, I always liked Victor Bridges work (Freak Force). I haven't seen his work in ages.
And possibly, just possibly... Paul Smith (Golden Age, Leave It To Chance)... but those are my wishes.
Congrats Peter.
Travis
HEY!
I can do it!
PAD, if you want, I can even draw "Captain Marvel" in the style of that "Wolverine vs. Storm" piece you got from me on that eBay auction! ;)
Seriously, I really can draw... No, really! But, I assume Bill Jemas is not about to hire me after having his boss come down on him. :)
But!... If there's a chance that you are serious (Stranger things have happened!), and Jemas doesn't hold any grudges (Strang... Er...), then I can send you some "real" art that I did!
If you recall, I sent you a Hulk pic along with the silly art X-Men piece. That's more my regular style.
Matt Hawes
Comics Unlimited
654-B E. Diamond Avenue
Evansville, IN 47711
Business: (812) 423-6952
Yeah! Get one of these folks who've never done a book before!
I wasn't a big fan of Reiss so I'm not too sad he's leaving. I loved Chriscross though! Miss him.
CM is great. Congrats Peter! Any word on another tpb?
Shawn
My art is atypical. But I think stick figure Captain Marvel would sell.
Mr. David,
Congrats on the extension! I sincerely hope this book continues. I have been in Supergirl and Young Justice withdrawal for months!
I know that your read every response on your website, so it would be ignorant of me to pass up this opportunity. I would like to volunteer my skills!
I am just getting into this industry and I can honestly say that one of my dreams is to eventually work from one of your scripts. I respect and admire your creativity and understanding of the characters you write. I enjoy drawing anything and your style lends itself to that.
My Creds: I was published for the first time earlier this year by Moonstone Books. I drew 10 pages in Moonstone Monsters Vampire Vixens (I know you're thinking that title is ridiculous. It is. But the point is, I drew a story set in the '20s featuring period fashion, buildings, and art deco accents. All of this I researched and had a blast drawing!), then they hired me to draw a 46 page Robin Hood script by Paul Storrie. Again, it allowed me to research the time period and I found the experience very rewarding. That should be published later this year. Most recently, I was hired by Mirage to draw an issue of a TMNT series for next year. This is ironic since you write TMNT for Dreamwave! I look forward to this job and will receive my script in September. I'm currently working on sample pages to submit to Marvel Epic. Spookily, they feature Captain Marvel.
Anyway, I am ready and willing to give the Captain a chance if you're willing to give an up-and-coming artist a chance! If you're serious about volunteers, please feel free to contact me and I would be more than happy to send samples in any manner your desire.
Nate Melton
"what about another Chris: Chris Batista, who's currently on Legion?" Well, that should answer your question. He currently has a book. Very, very few pencillers can manage two monthly books. (For that matter, very few inkers can as well; Robin's one of the exceptions.)
Great news PAD! CM is a great title, and I am glad to see it's going to be around for a while more.
I'd like to throw my name in the hat as CM artist. But, I should warn everyone that I can't even draw decent stick figures ;)
What's Martin Egeland up to these days? Haven't seen his work around much lately but would love to see the two of you reunited even if only for a few issues. Or even Todd Nauck.
Is there any chance of getting back to your traditional pacing?
Not to sound too "Sunset Boulevard," but I am writing in my traditional pacing. It's the attention span of the readership that's withered.
Look at "Incredible Hulk," arguably my longest-running success. The Search for the Gamma Bomb storyline: A year. The Mr. Fixit storyline: A year. The Merged Hulk/Pantheon era: Four years.
Four. Years.
If I were trying to write that storyline today, I'd be besieged within six months by readers saying, "Okay, he's merged, he's the toughest mofo around, we get it, so what's next?" Two years into it, we'd be hemorrhaging readers. Three years, there'd be no one left.
The shrinking attention span of the Sesame Street/MTV generation coupled with the tendency to get fidgety when a story or status quo goes beyond six issues is crippling the ability to tell a story longterm.
PAD
But are attention spans getting shorter, or are fans just getting whinier? Back when you had to write a letter on paper to share your opinion, fewer people felt the need to share every passing thought with the world. Now it doesn't take much effort at all to put your opinion on forums like this one, and since it's easier to complain than be constructive, everything comes off as being beseiged with complaints. I don't say you're necessarily wrong, but I think the immediacy of the 'net contributes to this perception.
PAD, I think what you are missing is from issue 1, most people didn't enjoy the crazy Marv story line and we wish it to end. I have a very long attention span, but not for stuff I don't like. The previous series was great. Wonderful. The current volume is just annoying. I keep holding on, hopeful that the next story line will return the book to its glory.
A few more...
someone mentioned VICTOR BRIDGES!...he did great Byrne style work on Freak Force! He definitely would be cool.
ADAM HUGHES! (we could dream)
ALE GARZA!
Whoever Marvel gets to draw Captain Marvel (Norm Breyfogle gets my vote), I hope they get an inker, too.
--your pal, Hoy
In my book, fans are both whinier and more impatient. It's an urge for instant gratification.
As well, there's a kind of fetish for the past. You can see it on Peter's run on Supergirl (where visions of the past obscured the current Linda Danvers, who evolved into a formidable character and hero) and here on Captain Marvel.
God what they would have done with the original Celestial Madonna or Thanos sagas.....
Hmmm...well, I honestly thought it was differently paced...if you are doing the story you want, that's a different matter. It does seem devoid of subplots and I think the art hasn't told your story very dramaticly, but that complaint is out the door. And the fact the title hasn't a real long term future doesn't allow a lot of playing threads out. I guess I mean if you aren't being asked to stretch anything out, then I am good with it. It is getting hard to tell the difference anymore. But at least Captain Marvel is still in his book.
PAD,
I understand your frustration with shorter attention spans. You have a point. But in my case, I know that is not the problem. I loved the 5 year arc on B5. I loved Supergirl which went through many changes. I loved "The Pretender" which only lasted a few seasons but was good at answering some questions while only raising more.
My problem is not a short attention span. When something is like nails on the chalk board, any amount of time is too long. The Capt. Marv. insanity thing is like nails on the chalk board to me. This is the first time that has happened in all of the Star Trek, New Frontier, Hulk, Supergirl, X-Factor, Aquaman, Spider-man 2099, etc., that I have read by you. It may be just a matter of "taste," but it is definitely not attention span, at least in my case.
Perhaps I am missing something. Feel free to enlighten me (if it does not give too much away). Feel free to tell me if a major shift is going to remove this barrier. But for the moment, I need a little of "mental" peace.
By the way, I did love Fallen Angel. It was incredibly well written. I am not sure where you are going, but I can't wait to find out.
James
PAD, I think what you are missing is from issue 1, most people didn't enjoy the crazy Marv story line and we wish it to end.
Guess I'm not most people. I've been enjoying this arc quite a bit, though I'll admit I'm ready for the current situation to change now. (Fortunately, it seems as though that's about to happen.) Peter's certainly done things that aren't quite to my taste (SpyBoy being one of them -- gave it a few issues but just couldn't get into it), but I enjoyed the first six "relaunched" issues more than I did the first six issues of the previous series.
As for pacing ... the problem can't be the Sesame Street/MTV generation, because that's ME. :-) I love long-term pacing -- one of my consistent Trek complaints over the years was how much more long-term thinking it could be doing than it was. I think some of it can be due to readers' needs for instant gratification, but I also think a lot of it is the whole "we need a smash instantly" mentality of those marketing everything. With movies now, first-weekend gross is everything if you're trying to be a big hit. It's harder and harder to be a mid-list author in bookstores (I remember Spider Robinson writing about that a couple of years back). TV shows can get pulled in three episodes or less sometimes. (You can even insert a comment here about how our current gov't doesn't seem to plan long-term for anything except electoral dominance if you wish.)
The idea of letting something find an audience and having that audience grow organically seems to be dying off. I don't know whether it's primarily due to the consumers or the marketers, but it's a damn shame.
TWL
I personally love the crazy CM story line and if I had it my way he would stay this way for a while.
What I can't wait for, and I'm sure its on it's way, is for CM to have his arse handed to him by someone (*cough-AVENGERS-cough*).
Will Eisner! Will Eisner! Will Eisner!
Really, it'd be great.
"The idea of letting something find an audience and having that audience grow organically seems to be dying off."
Well, as we've seen in the comics retail world, the structure and economics are set up to prevent growth.
Hell, any volunteers?
Hehe, sure! I volunteer! That'd be very very cool to get to work on a comic with you.
later
don
Sadly, I've dropped Captain Marvel. A recent layoff (thank you, SFB Bush) has me forced to cut back and, well, Cap lost. Heck, I'm not sure I'm getting any regular monthly comics any more.
When Bush fixes the economy though, I'll be back.
I'm enjoying the insane Captain Marvel arc as well. Here's hopeing for Captain Marvel #50 and #100 written by PAD.
I'm happy for Ivan if he's doing a Superman book, but sorry to see him leaing CM. Scott Eaton would be a great choice, if you could pry him away from Thor. Ron Lim, too. Hm, what's M.D. Bright doing these days?
The shrinking attention span of the Sesame Street/MTV generation coupled with the tendency to get fidgety when a story or status quo goes beyond six issues is crippling the ability to tell a story longterm.
For myself, I don't mind a long story arc, as long as I feel that the writer hasn't lost his sense of direction, like the relatively recent (and immensely tedious) Kang story arc in Avengers. The current Avengers arc is paced much better, but I certainly hope the author didn't count on my being surprised that Dell Rusk is in fact the Red Skull. Yeesh, wotta shock. Riiiight.
dAN
Hello, Peter--It was great fun working with you on WEB of SPIDER-MAN ( #40-43 ) way back when. If you are still looking for someone to pencil Captain Marvel, please keep me in mind (if everyone else you,ve thought of is busy.) I can show you my current stuff--just let me know.--Thanks--Alex
Loved your work way back Alex! You'd have my vote!
Slidude.
Alex, I loved your Web of Spider-Man run. Crystal clear storytelling. I kept buying it because of the art, even though there were certain writers (not Peter) that I really didn't care for. I also liked your "animated" style on Spider-Man Adventures. Please keep us updated on any projects that you do, as I will be sure to buy them, and also talk 'em up on various boards ;)