Been a while since I've done a straightforward Q&A. So post your questions here about my work or my thoughts on stuff or wha tever and I'll do my best to answer them. Please, for God's sake, one question each.
PAD
Posted by Peter David at April 14, 2007 02:04 PM | TrackBack | Other blogs commentingWhere is more satisfaction derived from, creatively or otherwise, writing using pre-established characters and putting your creative twists on them and their situations (Star Trek, Spider-Man, Hulk, Dark Tower, etc) or creating new universes with your own creations (Fallen Angel, Sir Apropos, etc)?
I DERIVE SATISFACTION FROM BOTH, FOR DIFFERENT REASONS. IN THE CASE OF PRE-ESTABLISHED CHARACTERS, THERE'S A SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT IN CONTRIBUTING TO A SORT OF GRAND TAPESTRY THAT IS THE CHARACTER'S HISTORY. ON THE OTHER HAND, WITH THE ORIGINAL CHARACTERS, IT'S A LIBERATING FEELING NOT HAVING TO COORDINATE WITH OTHER WRITERS AND KNOWING THAT I'M IN SOLE CHARGE OF WHAT HAPPENS TO THEM.
As an aside, please stop writing Hulk comics. I thought I left that series years ago, but you keep coming back for short periods (like the upcoming "World Breaker")and I keep having to purchase those. (Honestly, keep up the fantastic work, though!!)
SORRY.
What was with the double-twist endings in "Sagittarius Is Bleeding"?
Someone slipping a little chamalla into Roslin's toothpaste was such a simple, logical explanation for the return of her visions, and then you go and make that a lie from Baltar, leaving us hanging. I could also ask similar questions about Boxey and "Legion," come to think of it. It was very ambiguous for a stand-alone book.
BECAUSE THE REALLY COOL THING ABOUT BSG IS THE AMBIGUITY. THE FEELING THAT, JUST WHEN YOU THINK YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, THE EASY ANSWER IS NOT WHAT YOU THINK IT IS. SO I WANTED TO DO SOME OF THAT IN THE BOOK.
Which one of your Marvel Universe books-- X-Factor, FNSM, or a project yet to come, will have the biggest impact in the post Civil War Marvel Universe?
PROBABLY X-FACTOR, IF YOU DON'T COUNT THE HULK ONE-SHOT THAT LEADS INTO WORLD WAR HULK.
I've been thinking lately that there are some characters (Plastic Man, the "Shazam!" Captain Marvel) which may be best done as mini-series, only done when someone has a good idea for the character. What might be your view of this idea?
YOU MAY WELL BE RIGHT. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THESE DAYS LIMITED SERIES DRIVEN BY CHARACTER--AS OPPOSED TO MEGA-EVENT--ARE A TOUGH SELL. THE FEELING FROM RETAILERS/FANS SEEMS TO BE THAT A LIMITED SERIES THAT DOESN'T HAVE A MAJOR TIE-IN WITH THE ONGOING "UNIVERSE" CAN EASILY BE SKIPPED. AND UNFORTUNATELY IF PEOPLE FIND A REASON TO SKIP SOMETHING, THEY WILL.
What do you think about the idea of comics being sold via iTunes (or some similar distribution channel), as an alternative to paper copies?
I know you said a while back that you weren't interested in discussing web-comics, but I'm hoping that this is a sufficiently distinct topic; since you used to work in marketing, you can probably offer a perspective from that angle as well as the writer's.
(Personally, I'd like to see it happen - that way I could buy monthly issues of several comics without running out of storage space, and buy collections of the ones that I want to read over and over again, e.g. Fallen Angel.)
IF IT CAN BE DONE IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT'S FINANCIALLY VIABLE AND THE CREATORS DON'T GET SHAFTED, THEN SURE.
We know you took an anti-Registration stand during Civil War. Given the new pro-Registration status of the Marvel Universe, do you now have the freedom to pursue stories that might focus on the negative aspects of this brave new world? Or is there a mandate from above indicating that writers shouldn't chip away at the new government-sponsored initiatives? I'm picturing some bad guys getting a hold of superhero secret identities off a computer database and taking them out, one-by-one, a la Syndrome in The Incredibles...
IF MARVEL WERE TO DO A STORYLINE ABOUT THE IDENTITIES GETTING OUT, THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE GENERATED BY UPPER EDITORIAL AND BE A MAJOR EVENT--EVEN TIE-IN STORY--IN THE MARVEL UNIVERSE. AT THIS POINT I THINK MARVEL IS MORE INTERESTED IN TRYING TO WORK WITHIN THE ALREADY ESTABLISHED STATUS QUO.
have you ever thought of doing a maddrox/namor/mr. fantastic crossover and call it "the impossibles"?
WELL, NO. THEN AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ACTUALLY REMEMBER MULTI-MAN, FLUID MAN AND COIL MAN. I CERTAINLY THINK A REFORMED HYDROMAN WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE THAN NAMOR. ALWAYS LIKE MULTI-MAN'S SHIELD.
With all of the Star Trek work that you've done, are you interested in the possibility of writing one or more teleplays for CBS's animated Star Trek project?
SURE, WHY NOT. ALTHOUGH, HONESTLY, I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THERE WAS ONE.
Do you have any books getting published soon? And if so when can I look for em?
MY NOVELIZATION OF SPIDER-MAN 3 IS OUT RIGHT NOW. COMING IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS IS THE FIRST BOOK IN MY NEW FANTASY SERIES FROM TOR, "THE HIDDEN EARTH: DARKNESS OF THE LIGHT." FOLLOWING THAT WILL BE A FANTASTIC FOUR NOVEL, "WHAT LIES BETWEEN," AND A STTNG NOVEL, "BEFORE DISHONOR."
When is the Next NF book out and any other authos wanting to take a swing at writing them again ?
PUB DATE IS OCTOBER 30.
Is there a movie you are just dying to write? And if so, what is the genre?
I'D LOVE TO WRITE "CASABLANCA," BUT TRAGICALLY, IT'S ALREADY BEEN WRITTEN.
WOULDN'T MIND WRITING A REALLY GOOD THRILLER.
What's a recent idea for comics/film/TV you tossed out because you knew management/editorial wouldn't go for it?
"SPIDER-MAN LOVES MARY MARVEL."
After your exclusive ends with Marvel, let's say that your business relations with DC improved. Let's say someone there asked if you had any interest in starting up Young Justice again, and you believed it would get legitimate support.
Given the constraint of not being able to use the characters that are in the Teen Titans (Wonder Girl, Robin, etc), do you think you could make Young Justice work, and would you even want to?
THAT'S A LOT OF "IF'S" INVOLVED. COULD I MAKE "YOUNG JUSTICE" WORK WITH OTHER CHARACTERS? SURE. BUT I'M NOT SURE IF, IN TODAY'S ENVIRONMENT, PEOPLE WANT TO READ COMIC BOOKS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO BE CHARMING ANYMORE.
With characters like Apropos and Liandra, you seem to be delving more into nihilistic aspects of humanity. Both characters claim to care for nothing but, as Lee once put it, "could be I'm full of shit."
Is this lack of affect something you're discovering within yourself lately, or are they a product of the darker times in the world? Put another way, are you projecting these characteristics or drawing them from external sources?
Feel free to go off on this tangent as much as you'd like. :)
I HAVE A BASIC CORE OF PESSIMISM THAT RUNS THROUGH ME AND INFORMS MUCH OF MY CREATOR-OWNED WORK. BUT I ALWAYS TRY TO BALANCE IT WITH AT LEAST SOME HOPE OF REDEMPTION AND ULTIMATELY ELEVATION OF THE SPIRIT. CONSIDER THAT APROPOS INEVITABLY DOES THE "RIGHT" THING, THE THING THAT BENEFITS OTHERS, WHILE FEELING COMPELLED TO RATIONALIZE THAT HE'S DOING IT FOR SELFISH REASONS. AND LIANDARA, AS YOU NOTE, ADMITS SHE MAY BE FULL OF SHIT. I'M MUCH THE SAME WAY. AS THE MEL BROOKS SONG FROM "THE TWELVE CHAIRS" GOES, I HOPE FOR THE BEST WHILE EXPECTING THE WORST.
What are some of your favorite titles coming out from both Marvel and DC that you aren't connected with?
FABLES FROM DC. SHE-HULK AND SPIDER-MAN LOVES MARY JANE FROM MARVEL.
Due to the events during Civil War, many of Marvel's finest have been deemed villians. Iron Man and Reed Richards especially. Given your experiance with Genis Marvel, what do you think needs to be done for these characters to be returned to hero status in the eyes of the public? And by public I mean comic readers.
I CAN'T REALLY ANSWER THAT BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT *IS* BEING PLANNED.
What are your thoughts on the main writers who have handled the Hulk since your original departure (Jenkins, Jones, Pak), and given your short-term dabblings with the character in the past few years, do you think you would ever be willing to make another long-term (2-3 years or more) commitment to writing him again?
(I know it's kind of two questions, but they're closely related....)
I AM ABSOLUTELY THE WORST PERSON TO ASK ABOUT THE HULK, BECAUSE I HAVE VERY SPECIFIC IDEAS AS TO WHAT IS RIGHT AND WRONG, AND I CAN'T REMOTELY READ THE WORK OF OTHERS IN ANYTHING APPROACHING A DISPASSIONATE OR FAIR MANNER. SO IT WOULDN'T BE RIGHT OF ME TO COMMENT. AS FOR MAKING ANOTHER LONG-TERM COMMITMENT, I DON'T KNOW THAT ANY COMMITMENT I MAKE WOULD BE LONG ENOUGH FOR FANS. I MEAN, WHEN I CAME BACK, I WAS ON IT FOR A YEAR AND FANS COMPLAINED THAT I HAD BAILED. IF I WAS ON TWO, THREE YEARS AND THEN LEFT, THEY'D STILL COMPLAIN. THAT'S THE PROBLEM WHEN YOU WRITE A CHARACTER FOR TWELVE YEARS: EXPECTATIONS ARE AT AN IMPOSSIBLE LEVEL TO MEET.
What's the strangest question that you remember ever getting in one of these Q&A sessions and what was your answer?
THIS ONE.
When writing Sagittarius is Bleeding, how much of the show had aired, and what information (if any) did you have on the direction of the show?
I ask because I found Adama being willing to let Sharon torture someone (a civilian, at that) at odds with his actions in "Pegasus", where he defended the rights of his men to prevent Sharon from being tortured. Even though it takes place after "Epiphanies", it doesn't really seem to mesh with what came before. (Or later, for that matter, with Adama letting Helo off for killing the Cylons before they could be used as carriers for the virus.)
I THINK "PEGASUS" WAS A VERY DIFFERENT SITUATION. ADAMA WASN'T DEFENDING THE RIGHTS OF HIS MEN TO PREVENT SHARON FROM BEING TORTURED. HE WAS REFUSING TO LET THEM BE RAILROAD AND EXECUTED BY ADMIRAL CAIN. I DON'T THINK THE SHARON-TORTURE ASPECT WAS REALLY THE MAIN ASPECT OF HIS REASONING. PLUS HE HAD DEVELOPED AN ATTACHMENT TO, EVEN RESPECT FOR, SHARON. IN "SIB," HE WAS FACED WITH AN INSTANCE WHERE HE NEEDED INFORMATION AND SHARON COULD PROVIDE IT FOR HIM. I DIDN'T PORTRAY IT AS AN EASY DECISION FOR HIM TO MAKE, BUT HE DID WHAT HE FELT WAS NECESSARY.
THE ADAMA/HELO EPISODE, I DIDN'T HAVE THE SCRIPT OR EVEN AN OUTLINE DESCRIPTION FOR WHEN I WROTE THE BOOK.
I recently finished "Cutting Ties," which is an excellent and solid addition to the NF series and beautifully written. I found that the fate of the Mirror Universe Elizabeth evoked pathos, and I loved how this impacts Muck's journey. It was also nice to see McHenry in a NF story again.
I was wondering if you have plans to or would consider telling more NF stories in the Mirror Universe or with the Mirror Universe NF characters.
Thank you!
I'M KICKING AROUND THE POSSIBILITY IN MY HEAD, YEAH.
All the other NF questions I can think of have been asked :) but there is another one:
I know that you have an exclusivity contract with Marvel but nevertheless, I want to ask: Is there a chance for another New Frontier comic?
IT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED, YES. ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.
Why don't you establish permanent threads on this website so that people can comment on your books and comics as they read them.
I INTRODUCE THREADS ABOUT THE BOOKS WHEN THEY COME OUT, SO THAT SHOULD BE ENOUGH.
Are you well, prosperous and enjoying your life?
SO FAR. THEN AGAIN, THE DAY IS YOUNG.
Has anyone expressed interest in adapting Fallen Angel for film or TV?
YES, SEVERAL PEOPLE. AND, ONE AFTER THE NEXT, TIME WARNER HAS SHOT DOWN ALL COMERS. NOT THAT THEY'RE DOING ANYTHING WITH THE DRAMATIC RIGHTS THEMSELVES; THEY'RE JUST PREVENTING OTHERS FROM DOING ANYTHING. CONTRACTUALLY THEY CAN'T HOLD ONTO DRAMATIC RIGHTS INDEFINITELY, BUT FOR AS LONG AS THEY CAN, IT APPEARS THEY WILL MAKE SURE NO ONE ELSE DOES A FALLEN ANGEL FILM OR SERIES WHILE CONTINUING TO DO NONE THEMSELVES.
If you were a woodchuck... how much wood would you chuck? (assuming that woodchucks would chuck wood...)
AS MUCH AS WAS REQUIRED TO GET THE JOB DONE.
Given how there akways seems to be a new one, the DC Animated Universe series of TV Shows seems to be very successful.
I wondered what you thought of them, if you had a fave series, what you thought f the potrayals of the characters and most important....would you ever consider writing for them!
I'd love to see your interpretation of Supergirl in them :)
I THINK THEY'VE DONE A TERRIFIC JOB ON ALL THE SERIES, ALTHOUGH I STILL HAVE A FONDNESS FOR THE ORIGINAL BATMAN ANIMATED SERIES. IF I'D BEEN APPROACHED FOR ANY OF THE MORE RECENT ONES, SURE, I'D HAVE DONE IT IN A HEARTBEAT.
When is the next NF book due to be released?
MIDDLE OF 2008, I BELIEVE.
Is there any chance of Peter actually getting to have a conversation with Betty Brant in FNS?
I love to have her back in the book, but I'd love it even more to see her actually talk with Peter or Mary Jane.
BOY, YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE THE NEXT FNSM STORY ARC. YES, BETTY AND PETER ARE FINALLY GOING TO BE FACE TO FACE.
And is there any reason why so little was shown of the people's reaction to seeing Spider-Man's face after the unmasking? I just always wondered why we didn't get to see more people's reactions to finding out there's a very human guy underneath the mask.
(that and you'd think he'd run into some people who'd at least be grateful to him for saving their life/friend/familymember/city/country/planet...)
YOU MEAN WHY SO LITTLE OF IT WAS SHOWN IN OTHER BOOKS? BECAUSE FNSM HAS BEEN DEALING VERY SQUARELY WITH THAT. ON THE OTHER HAND, FNSM ALSO IS THE LOWEST SELLING, SO MAYBE THE OTHER TITLES HAVE THE RIGHT IDEA. DON'T GET ME WRONG: MANY, IF NOT MOST, FANS ON THE INTERNET SAY THEY WANT TO SEE THE SAME TYPES OF STORIES YOU'RE CITING. BUT AS ALWAYS, THERE'S A VAST GULF BETWEEN WHAT THE INTERNET SAYS IT WANTS AND WHAT THE BUYING PUBLIC ACTUALLY SUPPORTS. FNSM DEALS MOST DIRECTLY WITH THE HUMAN-LEVEL ASPECTS OF THE UNMASKING, AND IT DRAWS THE LOWEST NUMBERS, SO...DO THE MATH.
Someone already beat me to the woodchuck question (though mine involved cybernetic limbs), so...
If you had to write an erotic/pornographic comic book, with no limitations (access to all comic characters from all publishers, no censorship), what characters/teams would you have gettin' it on? And (for a quick 2nd) who'd you want to illustrate it?
SORRY, I WOULDN'T TOUCH THIS QUESTION WITH A TEN FOOT POLE (ALTHOUGH, INTERESTINGLY, IF REED RICHARDS WERE A PORN STAR, THAT WOULD BE HIS SCREEN NAME. ISN'T IT CURIOUS THAT IN COMIC BOOKS THE GUYS WITH STRETCHABLE BODY PARTS ARE THE FIRST TO GET MARRIED? COINCIDENCE? I THINK NOT.)
Who's going to win this year's Stanley Cup?
PROBABLY THE RANGERS. IF NOT, THEN DEFINITELY A HOCKEY TEAM THAT'S NOT THE RANGERS.
Are conventions to you a necessary evil, so to speak, of getting your name out there to help sell your work, or is it the interactions with the fans (for better or worse) that keeps you going out to them? Not that I'm complaining, I love that you do them!!
I DON'T CONSIDER THEM AN EVIL AT ALL. I DO CONVENTIONS BECAUSE I'M INTERESTED IN DOING THEM. I THINK IN THE BOTTOM LINE, REAL ASPECT OF SELLING COMICS, THEY PROBABLY HAVE VERY LITTLE IMPACT SINCE I SUSPECT THE VAST MAJORITY OF COMIC BUYERS HAVE NEVER BEEN TO A CONVENTION IN THEIR LIVES.
Did you write any of the Spider-Man 3 junior/children's books under a pseudonym like you did for Spider-Man 2?
NOPE.
Would you consider if given the chance to write a Transformers mini-series some day?
I THINK THERE'S PLENTY OF WRITERS WHO GENUINELY ADORE THE TRANSFORMERS OUT THERE WHO--BECAUSE OF THAT--WOULD BE MUCH BETTER SUITED FOR THE ASSIGNMENT THAN ME.
First of two questions I've always wanted to ask you during one of these threads (#2 will wait till later, 'taint urgent or anything :) ).
How exactly does a writer go about getting the official go-ahead to do novel tie-ins and adaptations and the like? I understand it's a 'by invitation only' deal, and that the invitees are (usually) published writers already, but beyond that, how would someone who's, say (for example), a published writer and a major Dr. Who fan, go about letting TPTB over Dr. Who's licensing deals know that they'd like to do a Dr. Who novel for them, if the company so desires?
In other words, how do you get gigs like that for stuff you like?
Chris
CONTACT THE EDITORS. TELL THEM OF YOUR INTEREST AND AVAILABILITY. NOT MUCH BEYOND THAT, REALLY.
JamesLynch, who was beaten to his question, beat me to mine, (I was going to ask if you would ever consider writing a Xxxenophile type story / comic). So instead ...
Of all the books you've written, there have been some unresolved plotlines, due either to cancellation, editorial decisions, or some other interference. Which one of them would you most like to revisit to either wrap up or restore to your original intention, and how would you do it?
PROBABLY MY ORIGINAL RUN ON HULK. IT HAD BEEN MY INTENTION TO STAY ON THE BOOK UNTIL ISSUE 500 AND USE THAT AS AN APPROPRIATE POINT TO LEAVE THE TITLE. I HAD SEVERAL STORYLINES IN MY HEAD THAT I WANTED TO PURSUE, WHICH I DIDN'T GET TO DO. SO BASICALLY I COLLAPSED EVERYTHING INTO HULK 467, WHICH WORKED OUT OKAY, I GUESS, BUT I REALLY WOULD HAVE LIKED TO EXPLORE THEM OVER 20 ISSUES RATHER THAN 20 PAGES.
Hi PAD,
I'm a daily reader and annual poster. What did you think of the new thunderbolts story line that killed off Genis-Vell? I thought that your ending to his story was cool.
WASN'T HAPPY, OBVIOUSLY. THOUGHT IT WAS A WASTE OF POTENTIAL.
What's the latest news on Apropos? Besides Heroes in Training. I guess I'm not really sure whatever happened with the publisher not doing original universe novels any more, but not giving up the rights to the first three, issue that you explained at Dragon*Con 2005.
WELL, AS I SAID, THE PROBLEM REMAINS THAT AS LONG AS S&S KEEPS THE FIRST APROPOS NOVEL IN PRINT, THEY RETAIN THE RIGHTS TO THE SERIES. SO THAT MAKES IT HARD TO TAKE TO OTHER PUBLISHERS. ON THE OTHER HAND I'M HOPING THAT I CAN USE THE NOVELLA AS A SPRINGBOARD TO ANOTHER PUBLISHER TO TELL STORIES OF APROPOS LATER IN LIFE THAT WOULDN'T BE AS DEPENDENT ON THE FIRST BOOKS.
A recent article quoted you referring to the pirate comic in Watchmen as padding out the page-count. I agree the pirate comic could have been handled better to fulfill its function of revealing a character whose identity we aren't supposed to know, but if it were up to you to remove the pirate comic and compensate for this function, do you know what you would do?
SURE. CUT THE SERIES TO EIGHT ISSUES. NINE TOPS.
With characters like Apropos and Liandra, you seem to be delving more into nihilistic aspects of humanity. Both characters claim to care for nothing but, as Lee once put it, "could be I'm full of shit."
Is this lack of affect something you're discovering within yourself lately, or are they a product of the darker times in the world? Put another way, are you projecting these characteristics or drawing them from external sources?
Just wanted to say I picked up the latest X-Factor, noticed yet another suicide, and still think an X-Factor/Suicide-Squad crossover would be bad-ass.
I THINK AS FAR AS SUICIDAL CHARACTERS GO, SIN CITY STILL HAS US BEAT. BUT I'M WORKING ON IT.
I heard that Brian K. Vaughan (Y the Last Man, Runaways) is writing a chapter of Lost.
Have you considered writing for TV? If so, which show?
WELL, I *HAVE* WRITTEN FOR TV. BABYLON 5, CRUSADE, PLUS I CO-CREATED, AND WROTE MANY EPISODES FOR, SPACE CASES ON NICKELODEON. IN TERMS OF WHAT'S ON THE AIR NOW, I DUNNO: HEROES WOULD PROBABLY BE COOL TO WRITE FOR. BUT IT'S REALLY TOUGH TO DO THAT IF YOU DON'T LIVE IN LA.
Can you jump to DC and help re create the All Star Squadron.
NO.
Also can you please explain to me the history of Supergirl and the Legion Of SuperHeroes. I am so confused.
I DON'T READ THAT BOOK. I'M NOT THAT INTERESTED IN READING THE NEW SUPERGIRL. IT'S NOT A KNOCK ON THE CREATIVE PERSONNEL; I'M JUST A BIT TORQUED AT THE CONCEPT.
Any chance of seeing a straight up horror (or even comedy/horror) novel from you? There's sometimes such an interesting connection between comedy and horror, I'd love to see what a PAD take on full on horror would be.
IT'S CALLED "HOWLING MAD" AND IT CAME OUT QUITE SOME TIME AGO. PLUS I'VE CONTRIBUTED SEVERAL STORIES TO THE "SHOCK ROCK" ANTHOLOGY.
Can you jump to DC and help re create the All Star Squadron. Also can you please explain to me the history of Supergirl and the Legion Of SuperHeroes. I am so confused.
If you're just going to post in a Q&A thread to criticize my question, I have no reservation against replying to you:
DOESN'T THAT CHIP ON YOUR SHOULDER RUIN THE LINE OF YOUR JACKET?
My question follows up an opinion Peter gave. If anyone else but Peter can answer what he would do to resolve the discrepency he found, please feel free to do so.
Any chance of "Knight Life" being a movie?
NO ONE'S OPTIONED IT, ALTHOUGH I DO HAVE A SCREENPLAY TREATMENT OF IT I'VE WRITTEN.
First time poster. Love your work.
Were you ever approached about scripting the new Star Trek film?
NOPE.
You've done some "jam" sessions with other writers on various ST novels. Name some comics writers with whom you would like to collabroate, and the character/project that would lend itself best to that scenario, like 52.
IT'D BE COOL TO COLLABORATE WITH NEIL ON SOMETHING. AND WITH BENDIS: I THOUGHT THE BACK AND FORTH WE HAD ON LAYLA WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE CHARACTER DEVELOPING AS MUCH POPULARITY AS SHE HAS.
How's your wife, Diane Duane, doing? :-)
WE'RE EXPECTING OUR FIRST CHILD.
I've been getting the Babylon 5 scripts that JMS is publishing (www.babylon5scripts.com if anyone is interested). Unfortunately JMS said that, due to rights issues, he can only publish the scripts he wrote. Is there any chance that your own B5 scripts, as well as the Crusade one, will be published at some point? Maybe make a deal with JMS to add them to one of the upcoming volumes? Thanks!
Raphy
THERE'S ALWAYS A CHANCE. I'VE NO INTEREST IN SELF-PUBLISHING MY SCRIPTS, BUT IF JOE CAME TO ME AND WANTED TO WORK SOMETHING OUT, THEN SURE.
Will there be any more Knight books?
I THINK THE THREE ARE SUFFICIENT, ALTHOUGH I HAVE TOYED WITH THE IDEA OF DOING ONE FOCUSING ON MERLIN MUCH EARLIER IN HIS LIFE.
Did you know all the TRANCER films are finally out on DVD in a box set? Do you get royalites?
YES AND YES. ACTUALLY I GOT A CHECK LABELLED "TRANCERS" ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND WAS CONFUSED, HAVING NO IDEA WHY I'D GOTTEN IT. THEN I HEARD ABOUT THEM COMING OUT ON DVD AND THOUGHT, OH, OKAY, THAT'S WHAT THE MONEY WAS FOR.
So, who do you like for President in 2008?
Out of the currently announced candidates, of course-or is there someone you'd like to see in the race who isn't yet? (Oops, that's 2 questions-sorry!)
HONESTLY? I'M NOT THRILLED WITH ANY OF THEM.
What is the airspeed of a cocoanut-laden African swallow?
DEPENDS ON THE SIZE OF THE COCONUTS.
FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, IT HAS BEEN ESTIMATED THAT THE AIRSPEED OF AN UNLADEN EUROPEAN SWALLOW IS 11 METERS PER SECOND OR 24 MPH.
Will DC be releasing the rest of Fallen Angel in a third trade?
Will you be writing the dark tower after the first mini series?
DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO EITHER ONE.
If there was to be a movie version of one of your books, be it your own creation or someone else's, who would be your dream star for the lead?
I'D LOVE TO SEE SETH GREEN AS APROPOS.
Can you give a rundown on how and what you use to work: pc/mac, MS word?, desktop/laptop, outline, etc.
A SONY VIO DESK COMPUTER. MY COMIC AND NOVEL WORK I USE MS WORD, AND FOR SCREENPLAYS I USE FINAL DRAFT.
Any tips on continued weight loss?
Almost 30 lbs for me since December but I was curious to hear from someone else how they are keeping it going as the months go on.
THE LONGER IT GOES, THE MORE IT BECOMES INGRAINED HABIT. WHEN I'M HUNGRY I CRAVE WATER OR FRESH FRUIT RATHER THAN JUNK. IF I DON'T GO AND EXERCISE, I GET SO TWITCHY THAT I NEED TO GO OUT AND BURN OFF CALORIES. IT'S NO LONGER REALLY A MATTER OF WILL POWER; HAVING MADE THE RESOLUTION TO LIVE MY LIFE DIFFERENTLY, I PRETTY MUCH REWIRED MY BRAIN SO I'M NO LONGER THINKING LIKE AN OVEREATER WHO NEVER EXERCISES.
A LOT OF WHAT HELPED FOCUS ME IN THAT DIRECTION, I THINK, WAS THAT I WEIGH MYSELF EVERY DAY. FORGET THE NOTION OF ONCE-A-WEEK. THERE'S TOO MUCH TEMPTATION TO CHEAT IN THE INTERVENING TIME.
How does your relationship work with the other Spider-Man writers? Like, what type of contact do you have with them to make sure all three titles make sense?
MAKING SURE THAT EVERYTHING MAKES SENSE IS PRETTY MUCH THE JOB OF THE EDITORS. SOMETIMES SCRIPTS GET SENT AROUND SO THAT WE ALL KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING ELSEWHERE.
Through the NF and TNG novels you have written I have become an admirer of all your books. Thank you for your contribution to Literary Society. My question for you is, given that there are so many Star Trek fans out there who get all out of sorts and upset because they do not feel that the books follow any sort of continuity or some even hold that they do not have a place in the Star Trek world and cannot be considered cannon. How do you feel about that and what steps do you take to stay True to the world of Star Trek, past present and future and ensure your characters and books keep a place in that world?
WELL, I CERTAINLY TRY TO HEW TO THE CONTINUITY THAT I MYSELF ESTABLISH. AND I TAKE PAINS TO MAKE SURE THAT I DON'T CONTRADICT ANYTHING THAT WAS ON TV (MORE PAINS, I SHOULD NOTE, THAN THE PRODUCERS ACTUALLY DID FOR THEIR OWN SHOWS.)
Thanks You for taking time!!!
Steve R.
Why were you so eager to quit X-Factor the first go round - was it really because of all the crossovers and tie-ins forced up you by editorial? And if so, why are you so willing to embrace them now?
I WASN'T "EAGER." IT WAS BECAUSE, BETWEEN THE INCESSANT CROSSOVERS THAT KEPT DERAILING MY ONGOING STORIES, AND THE EDITORS BLITHELY REWRITING MY DIALOGUE WITHOUT CHECKING OR CLEARING IT WITH ME, I GOT FED UP. THE "TIE-INS" THAT ARE HAPPENING NOW ARE A VERY DIFFERENT ANIMAL. I'M WRITING STORIES THAT ARE REFLECTING THE CHANGING STATUS QUO IN THE MARVEL UNIVERSE RATHER THAN WRITING SINGLE CHAPTERS IN ONE MASSIVE STORY. AND YES, THE STORYLINE LAUNCHING IN OCTOBER IS EXACTLY THAT; BUT IN THAT INSTANCE I HAD SEVEN MONTH'S NOTICE SO THAT I COULD BE SURE THE DECKS WERE CLEARED FOR IT.
After World War Hulk, is there any chance you'll get Rick Jones back in a regular book? I'd love to see you pen him a meeting with the Winter Soldier.
I DON'T SEE HIM AS REALLY FITTING IN WITH THE TITLES I'M CURRENTLY WRITING, ALTHOUGH PERSONALLY I THINK IT'D BE A KICK TO SEE HIM WANDER THROUGH "DARK TOWER"...
[Insert pointless inane fanboy question here]
INSERT GENERIC RESPONSE HERE.
Look, it was either I write that crack or something stupider, because I couldn't think of any question---good or fanboyish. (This is a pre-emptive strike on any potential replies to a joke)
TOO LATE.
Could you pass something on to Stephen King for me? : -)
[Seriously, another approach worked out]
What's your convention/out-of-town appearances schedule look like for the rest of the year?
I'LL BE ATTENDING HEROES CON IN JUNE, SHORE LEAVE AND SAN DIEGO IN JULY, DRAGON CON AND THE ORLAND COMIC CON IN SEPTEMBER.
What was the first comic book you ever remember reading?
A CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST COMIC IN A BARBER SHOP.
Peter, before I ask my question, please allow me to opine that responding to the questions in boldface, as you did in the last couple of Q&A's, looks much better. It reads better, and is more pleasantly, in part because all-caps is an Internet meme for screaming.
I KNOW, BUT I'M A LITTLE FUZZY ON HOW TO USE FB. IF I DID IT IN THE LAST FEW, IT WAS ENTIRELY ACCIDENTAL.
Now my question: I compiled and organized into categories the contents of the last four Q&A threads, but some answers are a bit dated, and there is at least one instance of answer you gave to a question repeated on two of them being contradictory.
DO I CONTRADICT MYSELF? VERY WELL, I CONTRADICT MYSELF. I AM VAST; I CONTAIN MULTITUDES.
If I emailed you some of these, could you offer your thoughts, and if so, post it as an FAQ section on your site? Many personal sites have FAQ's and this may alleviate fans asking the same questions over and over. Thanks.
I CAN RUN IT PAST GLENN.
And for those of you who don't know where those previous four threads are, here they are:
ANY QUESTIONS? August 26, 2003
http://peterdavid.malibulist.com/archives/000943.html
WHAT’CHA WANNA KNOW? October 21, 2003
http://peterdavid.malibulist.com/archives/000870.html
WHAT'CHA WANNA KNOW? November 26, 2003
http://peterdavid.malibulist.com/archives/000817.html
What’cha wanna know? June 20, 2006
http://peterdavid.malibulist.com/archives/004131.html
And if any of you want a copy of the PAD FAQ (which is still incomplete), let me know where to email it. :-)
A few genre series currently on the air show intelligence and wit, the qualities I associate with your writing. I'm thinking of Heroes and The Dresden Files specifically; some others might include Battlestar Galactica. Given that you have some status in genre fiction and screenplay writing, do you still have to submit spec scripts to these shows to write for them? I'm guessing that Straczynski would come asking for you if he needed scripts, since he knows you and has worked with you, but has anyone come to you out of the blue and asked you to write for them, based on your reputation only?
I'D BEEN IN DISCUSSION WITH THE GUYS FROM STARGATE SG-1 ABOUT WRITING FOR THEM, BUT THE WHOLE CANCELLATION THING KIND OF KILLED THAT. REALLY, THE PROBLEM WITH TRYING TO WRITE FOR TV IS THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF EPISODES ARE WRITTEN BY STAFFERS, AND THE HANDFUL THAT ARE FARMED OUT ARE USUALLY TO FRIENDS OF PRODUCERS AND SUCH.
Okay, ONE question:
Professionally, do you have a "dream" project that has yet to be fulfilled?
Clarification:
You know, like there might be an existing/licensed character or creator owned idea that you have yet to write.
Personally, I would love to see you do a Doctor Who episode or novel, but I digress... ;)
A FOUR ISSUE LIMITED SERIES: TARZAN VS. THE PHANTOM.
Any glowing nuggets of wisdom for the first-time father of an absofreakinglutely adorable 13-month-old girl?
-Rex Hondo-
DON'T BLINK. IF YOU BLINK THEY GROW UP.
Given that you and Joe Quesada are big Mets fans, and Stephen King's baseball team predilections (or if you prefer, perversions) are well known-- is there a gentleman's agreement in place to never discuss 1986, or to mention the word "Mookie"?
HASN'T REALLY COME UP, NO...
When you were Marvel's Direct Sales Manager, what were your responsibilities, and what did you like most about the job?
RESPONSIBILITIES: PUTTING TOGETHER THE SOLICIT INFORMATION, ASSEMBLING THE ORDER NUMBERS AND HELPING DETERMINE PRINT RUNS, INTERFACE WITH DISTRIBUTORS AND RETAILERS, ATTEND CONVENTIONS TO PROMOTE THE BOOKS, OVERSEE MONTHLY PRESS CONFERENCES, HELP ADMINISTER VARIOUS RETAILER PROGRAMS SUCH AS RACK CREDIT AND CO-OP ADVERTISING. INTERFACE WITH PRINTERS AND TROUBLESHOOT. WHAT DID I LIKE MOST ABOUT IT? PROBABLY THE CONVENTIONS.
What do you think Marvel can do in order to reestablish death as an actual plot device? I WANT to care about the death of Captain America, but I don't. And I want to care about the death of Aunt May, but after the "genetically altered actress" death of a few years ago... how can I?
HONESTLY? AT THIS POINT? PROBABLY NOTHING CAN BE DONE. I MEAN, YEAH, THE MEDIA GOES NUTS OVER THE DEATH OF CAPTAIN AMERICA, BUT HOW MANY LONG TIME FANS REALLY BELIEVE IT?
Hi PAD
You're not an author living in New York - you're an ordinary guy (with no powers) living in the Marvel Universe.
Who would you be and why? (you don't get to choose yourself in NY!)
I WOULD PROBABLY BE ONE OF THE GUYS WHO WRITES THE AUTHORIZED MARVEL COMICS ABOUT THE SUPERHEROES.
Simon.
Peter David said:
"WELL, NO. THEN AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ACTUALLY REMEMBER MULTI-MAN, FLUID MAN AND COIL MAN."
-----
{blink}
{blink again}
{go to bathroom, look in mirror}
{return to computer}
Well, I remember ONE of them!
:)
We tend to agree 100% on politics. Have you seen/heard of the book Rise of the Vulcans by James Mann ? At first I thought it was a Trek novel I hadn't heard of, and quickly looked to see if you'd written it, but it is subtitled "The History of Bush's War Cabinet". I promptly choked. Allegedly, though I'd never heard of it before, bush's (I will not use a capital here) War cabinet is known as "The Vulcans", which, as far as I can see, is about the biggest oxymoron I've heard in a long time. Unfortunately, the book was being shipped elsewhere and I didn't have time to look at it in more depth. Sorry, dubya, Tricky Dick Cheney may be a Ferengi, but he ain't no Vulcan.
I DID HEAR ABOUT IT, ACTUALLY, ALTHOUGH I HAVEN'T READ IT. IT CAME TO MY ATTENTION AFTER DEMOCRATIC SENATOR DAVID WU DECLARED THAT THERE WERE, IN FACT, KLINGONS IN THE WHITE HOUSE RATHER THAN VULCANS, JUDGING BY THEIR WARLIKE TENDENCIES. WU WAS WIDELY SEEN AS RAVING NUTS BY PEOPLE WHO WERE UNAWARE OF THE EXISTENCE OF THE BOOK OR THE NOTION THAT BUSH'S CABINET OF ADVISERS REFERRED TO THEMSELVES AS VULCANS. THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THEY DIDN'T DO IT IN A TREK MANNER; THEY NAMED THEMSELVES AFTER A STATUE OF THE GREEK GOD IN RICE'S HOME TOWN.
> A FOUR ISSUE LIMITED SERIES: TARZAN VS. THE PHANTOM.
I would pay to see it
WELL, THAT'S ONE SALE RIGHT THERE.
Well, I don't have any deeply insightful questions, especially as we've had some very good questions and answers here already - such as the one about which former series of yours you'd like to return to and resolve as you originally planned - but I have wondered: Are you reading the new Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 8 series, and do you have any thoughts about it which you'd care to share?
IT'S NICE TO HAVE THEM BACK, ALTHOUGH I WAS A LITTLE CONFUSED OVER THE NOTION THAT AMY WAS STILL IN SUNNYDALE WHEN IT WENT DOWN. NOW IF IT HAD BEEN ANYA DISCOVERED MIRACULOUSLY ALIVE, THAT WOULD HAVE MADE A LITTLE MORE SENSE TO ME. LOVING THE GIANT DAWN.
(And thank you for once again taking the time to do this. There've already been many interesting new insights given and curiosities satisfied [and, of course, just plain fun replies].)
1What is your name?
What is your quest?
What is the airspeed of a coconut laden swallow traviling northward?
SORRY, I WAS VERY SPECIFIC, ONE QUESTION ONLY.
If you worked in a bookstore, which books (not counting your own) would you put on the "reccomended by the staff" shelf?
ANYTHING BY ROBERT CRAIS. "ADAMS VERSUS JEFFERSON." THE NEW TRANSLATION OF "DON QUIXOTE."
Hi, Peter. I'm a fan of your Trek books and have been reading your blog for a while. My question is, out of theme, plot, character, and style, which element is most important to you in your writing, and which one drives your work? (I hope that's not two questions--I see it as one issue.)
WELL, THAT'S KIND OF LIKE SAYING WHICH BODY PART HAS TO BE FUNCTIONING BEST FOR THE BODY TO SURVIVE, HEART OR BRAIN OR KIDNEYS. IDEALLY EVERYTHING RECEIVES EQUAL CARE. IN YOUR EXAMPLE, I'D PROBABLY LEAN MOST TOWARD CHARACTER. IF THE READER DOESN'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT YOUR CHARACTERS, THEN NOTHING ELSE IS GOING TO MATTER.
I liked the wildman character from your run on Hulk. I don't remember his story ever really be resolved. Did you have more plans for that character or was his story side tracked by the Heroes Reborn/Return events at the time?
THERE WERE OTHER THINGS KICKING AROUND IN THE BACK OF MY MIND WITH HIM, BUT YEAH, WITH EVERYTHING ELSE GOING ON I NEVER HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE THEM.
These are part of your standard "any advice for someone trying to break into the industry?" questions, I suppose. I've had articles published in newspapers around the country, but I've never had any of my fiction or prose published. Does the fact that people have paid me to write help me get my foot in the door?
IT INDICATES A CERTAIN DEGREE OF PROFESSIONALISM.
Also, would it help to go to conventions this summer to try to meet people, or is that just a waste of my time?
NO, IT DEFINITELY HELPS. ALLOWING EDITORS TO HAVE A FACE TO PUT TO THE NAME CAN AID IN LIFTING YOU ABOVE THE REST OF THE HERD.
Have you enjoyed the Planet Hulk storyline so far? As a lifelong Hulk fan, it's been the closest thing since your departure that hits (to me, at least) alot of the same themes, I'm just curious to your feeling on how it wrapped up.
WITH THE REPEATED UNDERSTANDING THAT I'M THE WORST PERSON TO COMMENT ON THESE THINGS, IT SEEMED LIKE "GLADIATOR" MEETS "JARELLA'S WORLD," BUT TOOK A LOT LONGER. I FELT AS IF THE LENGTH OF THE STORY WAS MANDATED NOT BY THE STORY, AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN, BUT BY THE NEED TO KEEP THE HULK OUT OF CIVIL WAR, WHICH IS CERTAINLY NOT GREG PAK'S FAULT.
Your comment re HOWLING MAD. Wasn't it optioned by some film studio a year or two ago? If so, any progress being made on that front?
DO THE WORDS "DEVELOPMENT HELL" MEAN ANYTHING TO YOU...?
PAD,
Do you like Iron Man and would you ever consider writing his series? I've noticed that I haven't ever seen the character pop up in any of your works, but he's my favorite Marvel character and you're my favorite Marvel writer, soooo... How about the Avengers?
IRON MAN HAS SHOWN UP SEVERAL TIMES DURING MY RUN ON "HULK." HE'S NOT MY FAVORITE, BUT HE'D BE A LOT OF FUN TO WRITE.
Thanks.
I own a first edition of Howling Mad. I should have been more clear in the question by pointing out that I was kind of hoping for a straight horror novel from you these days and wondering what it would read like from the more experienced writer and storyteller you've become.
Missed the Shock Rock stories. I'll have to check them out. Thanks again.
DON'T BLINK. IF YOU BLINK THEY GROW UP.
Amen, Brother. Amen.
What was the inspiration for the current 'Lin' storyline in FA? Was it Linda fans clamoring for more? Was it your wanting to write Linda one more time? Or a little of both ...
WHO SAID THAT WAS LINDA? *I* NEVER SAID THAT WAS LINDA.
NOW IF IT *HAD* BEEN LINDA, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN INSPIRED BY COMMENTS FROM DC MANAGEMENT THAT SHE WAS PERMANENTLY GONE FROM THE DCU, CONSIGNED TO OBLIVION. AND I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT WELL, Y'KNOW, THAT BEING THE CASE, WHY NOT PROVIDE A PAYOFF TO ALL THOSE FANS WHO WAITED TO SEE A CONNECTION.
BUT I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S THE CASE.
Peter David said:
"WELL, NO. THEN AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ACTUALLY REMEMBER MULTI-MAN, FLUID MAN AND COIL MAN."
Hanna-Barbera's "The Impossibles"
Peter,
What was your favorite Hanna-Barbera cartoon?
SECRET SQUIRREL.
George W. Bush,
Great President...or the Greatest President?
I'D SAY "GREATEST," ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE MERRIAM-WEBSTER DEFINITION BELOW (NOTE THEIR EXAMPLE OF USE: PARTICULARLY APT)
3 : remarkable in magnitude, degree, or effectiveness
THE MAGNITUDE AND DEGREE TO WHICH HE HAS SCREWED UP THIS COUNTRY AND THE EFFECTIVENESS WITH WHICH HE HAS SHED BLOOD...DEFINITELY GREATEST.
How far ahead do you know about things such as the Death of Captain America?
ANYWHERE FROM FOUR TO SIX MONTHS.
Any chances of seeing something with Spyboy again at some point?
WELL, IF I WERE TO WRITE IT, SOMETHING WOULD HAVE TO BE WORKED OUT WITH MARVEL. EVERY SO OFTEN I HEAR BUZZ ABOUT YET ANOTHER STUDIO BEING INTERESTED IN OPTIONING IT, AND SHOULD THAT HAPPEN, IT'S LIKELY THERE'D BE MORE.
Hi Peter, hope I'm not too late (this is what I get for not going online much the past couple days)...
I was recently looking at all my Peter David books (and marvelling at just how many there are) when I got to wondering -- you've written a fair amount of short stories, too. Is there a liklihood of those stories being put in a collected volume?
I'VE CONSIDERED THAT FROM TIME TO TIME. NO IMMEDIATE PLANS TO DO SO, BUT IT'S NOT IMPOSSIBLE.
Thanks for your replies, both to my questions and the others'.
I don't know if we're allowed to do this, but it's worth a try:
"I AM ABSOLUTELY THE WORST PERSON TO ASK ABOUT THE HULK, BECAUSE I HAVE VERY SPECIFIC IDEAS AS TO WHAT IS RIGHT AND WRONG"
I'd hope so, which is part of why I asked. I guess I can understand then why you might not want to say too much. If I may ask, though, who among those writers has come closest to matching those specific ideas?
PROBABLY PAUL JENKINS, ALTHOUGH I'M STILL NOT SANGUINE ABOUT THE WHOLE "PROFESSOR" THING.
"AS FOR MAKING ANOTHER LONG-TERM COMMITMENT, I DON'T KNOW THAT ANY COMMITMENT I MAKE WOULD BE LONG ENOUGH FOR FANS."
I agree with that completely. But even with that, would you be willing to make another 2-3 year+ commitment if offered? (How about if they gave you an exemption to your exclusivity contract that allowed you to do the "Tarzan vs. The Phantom" mini for Dark Horse?)
IT REALLY DEPENDS UPON WHAT ELSE WAS GOING ON WITH ME AT THE TIME.
PAD,
In the 80's a Cap comic depicted Ronald Reagan as a gigantic effin' snake. Any chance Marvel would let you give Bush(it) the same treatment? >:-D
I THINK A GIANT ASS WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE. NOT THE BRAYING KIND. I MEAN AN ACTUAL GIANT ASS.
Silly question:
Have you ever thought (even remotely) about appproaching (with Paramount) Jerry Anderson's organisation to see if "Star trek: New Frontier" could be given the
"The New Adventures of Captain Scarlet" "hypermarionation" 3D animation treatment?
Megan
NO, IT'S NEVER OCCURRED TO ME. I THINK IT WOULD BE A HOOT.
What's the strangest question that you remember ever getting in one of these Q&A sessions and what was your answer?
THIS ONE.
Well, I guess I asked for that. I hope that the above question wasn't an annoyance to you.
NOPE.
Is there really hope for the return of the True Ben Reilly as the Scarlet Spider? If so, I would buy 10 copies per month of any Scarlet Spider title.
I AM SOMEWHAT DUBIOUS OF THAT. ON THE OTHER HAND, IF IT WERE IN THE OFFING, I COULDN'T TELL YOU, SO...
Firstly I wanted to thank you for answering an email I sent you. I didn't really expect that you would take the time to respond and I think it is lovely that you interact with your fans.
My question is when you kill a character do you feel a sense of loss?
YES. I ALWAYS FEEL A SENSE OF LOSS WHEN KILLING A CHARACTER. IT'S ONLY WHEN I KILL ACTUAL PEOPLE THAT I FEEL NOTHING AT ALL...
Megan,
I just want to be the first person here to say that your idea may well be one of the coolest ideas I've ever read here. I'm not sure the tone and style would be 100% right, but I'd buy it.
" Jerry Chandler at April 15, 2007 06:55 PM "
Thank you for saying that. We were watching Seasons 1 & 2 of the "New Captain Scarlet" last week, & thinking that it might work with ST:NF.
Is it possible to see the reactions of Candi, Randi and Bambi to the unmasking? Even if it's just in the background of a panel or something, it's been great. That was my favorite era of spidey. OH and Mrs. Muggins too!
I VERY MUCH DOUBT WE'RE GOING TO BE SEEING THAT. I MEAN, FNSM SEEMS TO BE THE ONLY BOOK REALLY DEALING WITH THE REACTIONS OF PETER'S LONG-TIME ASSOCIATES, AND I KNOW I'M NOT DOING IT.
1 Peter unless I'm off base, it appears the thinking at marvel these days is that any number of civilians have been killed during the Hulk's rampages over the years.
Does that work and still leave the character sympathetic and or redeemable in any way? It just strikes me as horribly unsettling to know that thousands might be dead because of Bruce's mental disorder and the coping mechanism that grew out of it. I can't imagine he could live with that either...
CAN'T SAY AS I SUBSCRIBE TO THAT THINKING. I MEAN, I KNOW IT SEEMS PREPOSTEROUS THAT THE HULK COULD HAVE BEEN DESTROYING AS MUCH AS HE HAS ALL THESE YEARS AND NO ONE HAS DIED. BUT THAT'S NOT A CAN OF WORMS I WOULD HAVE OPENED.
I bought a lot of X-Factor collections recently and I really like the Madrox stuff, so:
What is it about Jamie Madrox in particular that appeals to you personally?
(Not asking you to play favourites, but it's his name on the Madrox graphic novel, so I figured there was something more than Strong Guy or Wolfsbane. If not, name a Marvel character who does have particular appeal to you personally and pretend I asked about them.)
IT WAS HIS NAME ON THE GRAPHIC NOVEL BECAUSE ANDY SCHMIDT CAME UP WITH THE NOTION OF DOING MADROX IN A NOIR DETECTIVE STYLE. I PERSONALLY FIND HIM COMPELLING BECAUSE HE'S SORT OF THE MARVEL EQUIVALENT OF HAMLET.
Question #1 down, now for #2. . . . .
When you (or any writer, for that matter), say "write to PublisherX if you want more of this series of books/comics/ect. and let them know there's a market for this stuff", who exactly at PublisherX are we the fans supposed to send our missives to? That is, which department head would be most interested in guaging the interest levels and potential market for a work they have the rights to? Head Sales Director, Senior Editor of the line in question, Yo! Beancounter! down in Accounting, someone else? Also, for movie/TV series, who would be the counterpart in the studios to send these missives to?
Chris
WRITE TO THE EIC AND CC THE HEADS OF SALES OR MARKETING.
How's your wife, Diane Duane, doing? :-)
WE'RE EXPECTING OUR FIRST CHILD.
Current odds on it being a girl: 9-1 in favor. : -)
HIGHER, I'D THINK.
Many moons ago, probably towards the end of your
first run on the Hulk, there was a story that involved the Gyrich character, the governmental
thorn in the side of the Avengers.
There was a scene that struck me at the time, for a couple of reasons. In a word balloon or two, you gave the character more back-story than he'd
had in all of his previous appearances.
You also echoed what my current life experience
was at the time, and to be honest, it was not a good feeling.
I've read comics for a good part of my life, and
I've never considered them trivial, but this felt
like a part of my life was being trivialized.
None of this stopped my love for comics, my purchasing them or my respect for your work.
I guess my question is - was there any sort of reaction to this "reveal" about Gyrich? I imagine
the idea was to give some insight on what made him
what he was, but I don't know that anyone ever
built on it. And since you usually spend more
time on character development than a panel or two,
it seemed kind of out of character for you.
Could I get some insight on what was behind this?
GOD AS MY WITNESS, I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT I WROTE. SORRY.
Thanks for your time.
--Ed
This may be a bit different from your usual questions, but how do you feel about atheism and/or atheists? Thanks for your time.
I DON'T BELIEVE IN ATHEISTS.
Peter, I've compiled all the past four Q&A's, putting them into categories, etc., but some of the answers are dated, and in at least one question that was asked on two of those boards, you gave two different answers . If I email you my notes or questions, can you answer them, and maybe put them as an FAQ feature on your site, so that in future threads, the same questions won't get asked again? (Btw, I tried posting the links to the first four such boards, but my post didn't go through, probably because of the spam filter.) Thanks.
Also, this isn't so much a second question as a clarification of two conflicting answers you gave to the same question on this board: You answered James Revilla's April 14, 3:04pm post by saying the next NF book comes out October 30, but then you answered the same question in Wayne's April 14, 6:03pm post by saying, "MIDDLE OF 2008, I BELIEVE." Was this a mistake on your part? Were you actually thinking of the NextGen book "Before Dishonor" when you said Oct. 30, and the NF book is indeed in mid-2008? Thanks.
YEAH, THAT WAS MY SCREW-UP. "BEFORE DISHONOR" IS COMING OUT END OF OCTOBER; THE NEXT NF COMES OUT SOME TIME IN 2008.
1 Hi PAD,
You may or may not remember me from the recent NY Convention where I mentioned to you how much I would love to see you and Bill Mumy contribute a story to JSA Classified on the strength of the issue of Aquaman you'd written together. You both did such a beautiful job writing the Golden Age Flash and Green Lantern that I wanted to see more. I agree with the above posters who stated that you should be allowed to create a new All Star Squadron once your Marvel exclusive expires.
Getting to my point...Could you discuss the collaborative process with Bill Mumy as well as with some your other co-writers? Maybe you could compare and contrast the different experiences?
Thanks for the opportunity to ask you a question. I really, really appreciate the time you're taking to do this. Bye for now.
Sincerely,
Patrick Herman
I'VE COLLABORATED IN MORE WAYS THAN I CAN DETAIL. SOMETIMES FACE TO FACE, SOMETIMES OVER E-MAIL. MY COLLABORATIONS WITH BILL HAVE PROBABLY BEEN THE MOST INTENSE, PARTICULARLY WHEN WE WERE WORKING IN SPACE CASES. I REMEMBER ONE TIME WHEN HE WAS UP IN CANADA AND WE WERE WORKING ON A SCRIPT. HE WAS WRITING THE FIRST ACT, I WAS WRITING THE SECOND, AND SOMETIMES ONE OR THE OTHER OF US WOULD HIT A POINT WHERE WE HAD RUN INTO TROUBLE, AND WE'D JUST GET UP AND SWITCH PLACES AND PICK UP WHERE THE OTHER HAD LEFT OFF.
What are your thoughts on the death of Kurt Vonagut?
I'M SADDENED BY THE LOSS OF A BRILLIANT WRITER.
In regards to this:
"Hi PAD,
I'm a daily reader and annual poster. What did you think of the new thunderbolts story line that killed off Genis-Vell? I thought that your ending to his story was cool.
WASN'T HAPPY, OBVIOUSLY. THOUGHT IT WAS A WASTE OF POTENTIAL."
I couldn't agree more. Any chance you can get in on the Annihilation stuff and bring him back? And what do you think of Phyla as the new Quasar?
I DOUBT IT. AS FOR PHYLA...RESERVING JUDGMENT.
Greetings from Japan...
I've spent the past few days perusing the Star Trek fan productions online, such as "New Voyages", and I was just wondering if you had any comments or reactions to them. I see that the Next Gen-inspired "Hidden Frontier" actually used the Mackenzie Calhoun character, so I would assume they had checked with you first.
NOPE. NEVER CHECKED WITH ME. THAT SAID, I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY ENTERTAINING.
Hello Peter,
This is an odd little question I've had for a while. Whenever you are contracted to write a novel, do you receive requirements concerning the length of the novel (it has to be a minimum of this many pages but no more than that many pages) or are you given free rein on how long the story becomes?
Thank you for offering to answer these questions. I hope I speak for all of us in saying how much we appreciate the time you take to respond to them.
A CONTACT ALWAYS HAS WORD COUNTS BUILT IN. THEY ARE PRETTY MUCH A GUIDELINE. YOU CAN GO REASONABLY UNDER OR REASONABLY OVER AND BE FINE. FOR INSTANCE, I'M WORKING ON A YOUNG ADULT NOVEL RIGHT NOW THAT'S CONTRACTED TO BE 40,000 WORDS. HOWEVER I CAN GO AS HIGH AS 50,000 AND BE OKAY. IF IT'S 60,000, THEN I HAVE A PROBLEM.
1How does one become a Direct Sales Manager (or get into sales) at Marvel?
IN MY CASE, I MET CAROL KALISH AND WE HIT IT OFF. OTHERWISE I SUPPOSE YOU'D GO TO PERSONNEL AND TRY TO GET IN THAT WAY, OR KEEP AN EYE ON WANT ADS.
Hi, Peter. You once said that in the Spider-Man story "The Others", some things about it were exciting and worked well, and others just made you wince. Which parts of it made you wince?
AUNT MAY AND MARY JANE IN THE IRON MAN ARMOR COMES TO MIND.
Posted by Rex Hondo
Any glowing nuggets of wisdom for the first-time father of an absofreakinglutely adorable 13-month-old girl?
DON'T BLINK. IF YOU BLINK THEY GROW UP.
As the granddaddy of a 15-month-old (as of Friday the 13th) who we only see every couple weeks now (stepdaughter and hubby having moved down to the macon are) i'll second that.
Posted by Carlo Recagno
A FOUR ISSUE LIMITED SERIES: TARZAN VS. THE PHANTOM.
I would pay to see it
Also ich.
Consulting Philip Jose Farmer for biographical details?
I've loved all of your New Frontier novels - but two things always seemed off, both with Shelby. First, why do you have her as a stickler for the "regs" when she came off in "The Best of Both Worlds pt 1" as being more of a maverick and NOT playing it safe?
BECAUSE I NEEDED HER TO BE MORE OF A COUNTERPOINT TO CALHOUN.
Second about Shelby (but don't answer if you only want to answer the first), why in "Double or Nothing" did she seem really angry at Riker when their last scene in "TBoBW pt 2" had her accepting Riker's decision to stay on the Enterprise longer, with them leaving on pretty good terms?
BECAUSE WHAT SOMEONE SAYS AND WHAT THEY ACTUALLY FEEL DON'T ALWAYS MATCH UP.
Were was the NF story "Cutting Ties" in? I cant find it.
was there any sort of reaction to this "reveal" about Gyrich?
Could I get some insight on what was behind this?
GOD AS MY WITNESS, I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT I WROTE. SORRY.
>>>>>
Not to beat a dead issue, but I found the panel.
In Incredible Hulk 456, Betty and Gyrich have a confrontation. "Thunderbolt" Ross has returned from the dead, Betty is angry about the government
covering up the fact that her dad's body has been missing, Gyrich makes an X-Files joke, Betty talks about her father dying in her arms, Gyrich
cuts her off and says -
"My father died of Alzheimer's, lady. I took a year's leave to care for him so he wouldn't be watched over by strangers that my crummy salary couldn't even afford. I cleaned up after him, tended to him, and his last words as I cradled his
dying body were, "Who in heck are you?"
Pretty powerful word balloon, there, or maybe it was just my perspective at the time. But as I said, more backstory for the character than seen before or since.
Don't know if this triggers any sort of recollection about the background of the event,
if not, I can go with your original answer.
Thanks, again.
--Ed
OHHHH YEAH. OKAY. WHAT IT CAME DOWN TO WAS THAT, QUITE SIMPLY, I WANTED TO HUMANIZE GYRICH. HE WASN'T MY CHARACTER--HE WAS AN AVENGERS CHARACTER. SO I COULDN'T DO MUCH. BUT I WANTED TO GIVE HIM SOME SORT OF BACKSTORY SO THAT HE WAS MORE THAN THIS BIG SCARY GUY WHO WAS BASED ON JIM SHOOTER. SO I WROTE WHAT I DID.
1
I always wanted to know where you were heading with the Genosha storyline you started in your original X-factor run. As much as I liked Scott Lobdell's writing on X-men and GENERATION x, I was really miffed to find you'd been replaced. So what was your plan with the Genosha storyline? Thanks
DO YOU MEAN SPECIFICALLY WITH THE BIG GUY BEHIND THE DOOR. FUNNY YOU SHOULD ASK. STARTING WITH X-FACTOR #21, YOU'RE GOING TO FIND OUT.
When will the next Star Trek: New Frontier novels be out?
AGAIN, SOME TIME IN 2008.
Not a question, just a comment on Ed's post. I remember that issue of the Hulk, and I found that scene very powerful as well. I think that one scene is the reason that Gyrich's my favorite government agent in the Marvel U (And thus I risk opposing the legions of Valerie Cooper fans), despite the fact that he's more often characterized as, well, evil.
Ahh, you answered my question about NF above. Disappointed that it's so long between novels. Love that series.
"I DON'T BELIVE IN ATHEISTS"
But, Peter - we belive in you!
You seem to be one of the few around who seems to belive in supporting characters such as Snapper Carr - I loved "Blasters" even if I'm the only fanboy out here who did - and Rick Jones - who's appearances in your Hulk run added so much -
any theories on why they have so many haters/are largely ignored by other writers & DC & Marvel? have you ever got any flack from others in -industry about your use/obvious love for them?
NOPE. NEVER HAVE. AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY SUPPORTING CAST MEMBERS SEEM TO HAVE FALLEN INTO DISUSE. I THINK THEY'RE WHAT MAKE MANY OF THESE TITLES.
Is there anyone you really miss from the old guard at the House of M?
personally I missed Danny C. He was a great guy, he always threw in some extra moolah for us interns to get lunch.
YEAH, CRESPI WAS GREAT. AND THE GUYS IN THE STAT ROOM.
AND OF COURSE THERE'S THE FOLKS FROM THE DIRECT SALES DEPARTMENT: SANDY, MY ASSISTANT, AND HER ASSISTANT FRED, AND ED SHUKIN, AND OF COURSE CAROL KALISH.
I love your Sir Apropos novels and hope you eventually are able to write more of them. Have you thought up a rough time line for his future history, or are you still making it up as you go along? If the former, about how many novels would you envision writing before reaching the end?
I HAD WANTED TO DO TWO MORE BOOKS ABOUT HIM: ONE THAT WAS A COLLECTION OF SHORTER TALES, AND THEN ONE ABOUT HIS LATER LIFE. I'VE GOT GENERAL THOUGHTS FOR THE OVERALL DIRECTION THAT I WOULD TAKE HIM.
Just read Sagittarius is Bleeding yesterday. (Yeah, in one day. It was a quickly-moving, very enjoyable ride.)
I truly enjoy you work and eagerly watch for each new one. (OK, was never really able to get into that B&W comic with the witches(?), etc. Name escapes me.) But with that exception I have everything I've been able to lay hands on; your name alone is enough for me to part with increasingly scarce cash. All of which is by way of saying "With all due respect" while I ask about a couple nits.
##SPOLIERS WARNING FOR ANY WHO HAVEN'T HAD CHANCE TO ENJOY TO BOOK YET##
I was slightly bothered, during the initial battle that ended with the blind jump, that the Cylons seemed to know where the fleet was headed, and that they weren't really shooting at the Raptors. Any concerns over weak writing and plot holes were, of course, squashed immediately after the fight when one of the characters asked exactly the same questions and I was suitable chagrined for doubting you. The former became one of the key plot lines, of course. But what of the latter? I didn't notice any explanation for why the Cylons basically provided the clue that tipped Adama to the trap.
THEY WEREN'T INTENTIONALLY PROVIDING THE CLUE. THEY WERE TRYING TO HERD THE GALACTICA AND THE RAPTORS TO WHERE THEY WANTED THEM TO GO.
Second nit is near the end. Tyr gets his head blown off. A couple pages later Roslin says she saw pictures of the scene and recognized Tyr. Huh?
THERE WAS ENOUGH OF HIS HEAD LEFT TO IDENTIFY.
Final nit: If Baltar was lying about the paste, what WAS Tyr doing in her bathroom?
THAT'S IN THE NEXT BOOK...
Thanks for the indulgence!
- Sean M.
Any chance of ever writing Captain Pike again? I loved The Rift.
I'VE NO PLANS TO DO SO, BUT I GUESS YOU NEVER KNOW.
And I read Vendetta in one night. (man, was I tired at the end of that book.)
ME TOO.
So, PAD, what do you think of Ed Norton as Bruce Banner?
I HAVEN'T SEEN HIM AS BRUCE BANNER, SO THERE'S NOTHING FOR ME TO THINK. ALL THEY DID WAS ANNOUNCE THE CASTING.
Here's a question:
Nowadays, it seems like lots of comics writers are being recruited from other media--prose novelists or screenwriters, etc. You've obviously written prose and for the screen and you've literally witten the book on writing comics. What's the first, best piece of advice you would/could give writers used to other media when it comes to writing for comics?
DON'T BLOW THE DAMNED DEADLINES.
Hey Peter-
I was just wondering, having read some of your Star Trek novels and all the loose ends they usually ties together from different series, do you just see Star Trek episodes and remember these details, or do you watch to refresh yourself to their content?
Rob
A LITTLE OF BOTH.
Peter, I met you at DragonCon 2006, and got some FNSM scripts from you. I told you I enjoyed the ending of Captain Marvel 25 ... it was marvelously ... Apropos. You'd said you'd caught a lot of flack for that.
My question: I happened to see you chatting with the still beauteous Erin Gray, who was in a conservative but still lovely navy suit. You looked like you were in exposition mode, or maybe brainstorming, and she seemed to be intently listening. Judging by your obvious skill set and portfolio, I'd guessed that maybe there were some interesting sci-fi ideas being discussed.
What were you talking about, if it's not under NDA?
CAN'T TELL YOU.
(Inspired by recent Edward Norton announcement)
In your opinion, what (are/ought to be) the defining traits of Bruce Banner's characterization?
Warning! Fan gushing below! Those with weak stomachs proceed no further!
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
I remember the very first times I ever cared about finding out who wrote a comic book story. Both were Spider-Man titles. One story was "The Commuter Cometh!", The other was "The Death of Jean DeWolfe." Having come back to comics relatively recently, I'm getting the same enjoyment out of reading X-Factor and Friendly Neighborhood as I did the old Amazing and Spectacular issues. I'm also in the process of getting caught up with the Hulk Visionary volumes. Thanks for your stories.
YOU'RE WELCOME.
Do you like anime series?, if so can you name some of your favourites?
I DON'T REALLY WATCH ANY OF THE RECENT ONES, ALTHOUGH I'VE SEEN A LOT OF "SAILOR MOON" THANKS TO ARIEL'S INTEREST.
Coming in tothis late...hope it makes the cutoff.
what do you do with all your comps? Given the recent(sort of) Compgate scandal at DC, and recognizing that you must get comped by several publishers, what do you do? Do you store them and keep them for reference in case you need them for a later story? Do you give them out on the 8 nights of Hunnukah? Are they donated to local schools and libraries?
Just curious. A long career = a lot of books.
garbonzo
I HOLD ONTO THE COMICS THAT I FOLLOW, AND THE REST I GIVE AWAY FOR HALLOWEEN INSTEAD OF CANDY.
Which book are you the proudest of?
COMIC BOOK? FALLEN ANGEL.
Me: "...All of which is by way of saying "With all due respect" while I ask about a couple nits."
Ohhhh, my bad. Sorry if that stepped over the "one question" rule. (Not to mention the just being a, y'know, a picker of nits.)
Oh, awesome! Thanks PAD.
If I'm not too late to the party, I'll use my single question to get your opinion as a writer on whether this guy may actually have a shot at being noticed by DC and becoming the new writer of "Legion of Super-Heroes"...
ANYTHING'S POSSIBLE, ALTHOUGH IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE HE HAS WAY TOO MUCH TIME ON HIS HANDS.
http://mightygodking.livejournal.com/305099.html
You may enjoy looking at how he photoshopped "Civil War" and gave everybody different dialogue to get an idea of his skills. I figure at the very least you'll bust a gut laughing:
So...is there any chance of the Atlantis Chronicles coming out as a graphic novel? I'm generally pretty lenient about what I lend out to my friends, knowing that some of it is never coming back, but there's three things that never leave the house: The Chronicles of Master Li Po and Number 10 Ox by Barry Hughart, Zot! by Scott McCloud, and the Atlantis Chronicles. Folks just have to read 'em here.
I WAS PROMISED BY TOP DC BRASS THAT AC WOULD BE COLLECTED AS A TRADE. THAT WAS OVER TEN YEARS AGO. SO I'M NOT REALLY HOLDING MY BREATH.
You mentioned you read FABLES. Any chance of you writing a story arc?
VERY UNLIKELY.
Seth Green as Apropos--Brilliant!
As someone who (is trying to)collect all of Rick Jones' appearances, I would love to read about his adventures int the land of 'The Gunslinger'.
Peter, I love the characters you introduced in Hulk during the Pantheon era, especially Cassiopea (sp?) and I was wondering, is there any chance that she and/or some of her siblings might show up in a comic you're writing?
PAD,
What is the best superhero story idea you've had (for an existing character or team) that has either been rejected or has never seen print for whatever reason(s).
I'VE HAD SEVERAL. THERE WAS A STORYLINE INVOLVING THE DEATH OF AQUAMAN. THERE WAS MY CONCEPT FOR STARTING UP A NEW "MANHUNTER" SERIES EXCEPT MANHUNTER WAS A FEMALE. AND THERE WAS THE JSA REVIVAL THAT BILL MUMY AND I PITCHED. IN EACH AND EVERY INSTANCE DC EDITORIAL SHOT IT DOWN , SAYING THEY WEREN'T INTERESTED...AND THEN TIME PASSED AND THEY SUBSEQUENTLY DID IT WITH OTHER CREATORS.
Thanks!
Garrett
If anyone's still reading this after all the posts and the verbal slugfest going on in the 2nd Imus thread...
Here was my question and answer:
Someone already beat me to the woodchuck question (though mine involved cybernetic limbs), so...
If you had to write an erotic/pornographic comic book, with no limitations (access to all comic characters from all publishers, no censorship), what characters/teams would you have gettin' it on? And (for a quick 2nd) who'd you want to illustrate it?
SORRY, I WOULDN'T TOUCH THIS QUESTION WITH A TEN FOOT POLE (ALTHOUGH, INTERESTINGLY, IF REED RICHARDS WERE A PORN STAR, THAT WOULD BE HIS SCREEN NAME. ISN'T IT CURIOUS THAT IN COMIC BOOKS THE GUYS WITH STRETCHABLE BODY PARTS ARE THE FIRST TO GET MARRIED? COINCIDENCE? I THINK NOT.)
All I can say is...
So *that's* why he's called Mister Fantastic!
I have a pitch for a fill-in issue Spider-Man story. Flashback to teen Peter. Human Torch seeks out Spider-Man, because he has a date all worked out with a babe he's been gaga over, but she'll only go out with him if he brings a super-buddy along for her friend. Torch hooks Pete up with one of Reed's image-inducers (a la Nightcrawler and the looking human down at the coffee house) and gets him to sign on.
There are lots of ways to take it from there, so I'll just shut it.
Any interest?
NONE, AND GUYS, PLEASE DON'T PITCH ME IDEAS. IF THEY'RE SIMILAR TO SOMETHING I'M ALREADY DOING, THEN I HAVE TO KILL MY STORY LEST I BE ACCUSED OF THEFT.
Noel R.: Where was the NF story “Cutting Ties” in? I cant find it.
Luigi Novi: It's in the Mirror Universe anthology Obsidian Alliances, as seen at: http://www.amazon.com/Mirror-Universe-Part-Obsidian-Alliances/dp/1416524711/ref=sr_1_1/002-8738131-7016030?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1176791619&sr=1-1
Noel R.: Where was the NF story “Cutting Ties” in? I cant find it.
Luigi Novi: It's in the Mirror Universe anthology Obsidian Alliances
Noel R.: Thanks Luigi, I was confused because the description didn't list Shellby.
PAD:
Given that Spider-Man 2099 is part of the Exiles now, My question is rather simple, if given the chance, would you write a new Spider-Man 2099 Mini Series?
SURE.
Thanks!
Could you allow me to interview you about your Wonder Man mini series for my website?
AS LONG AS IT'S SHORT.
The reason I read SiB in one day was that I was stuck in bed with a nasty head cold. A head stuffed with who-knows-what and medicines adding to make it all feel kinda loopy may not the best combination for asking reasonable (or polite) questions.
Mea culpa on the nits, PAD. I really did enjoy the book and am looking forward to your next.
- Sean M.
PAD,
When did you decide that you wanted to be a writer and when did you realize that, hey, you actually were a writer?
WHEN I WAS A KID, MY FATHER WAS A REPORTER FOR THE NEWARK EVENING NEWS. AND SOMETIMES, PURELY AS A SIDE THING, HE'D BE SENT TO REVIEW FILMS. IF IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS AGE APPROPRIATE, HE'D BRING ME ALONG. AND THEN WE'D GO BACK TO THE NEWSPAPER OFFICE, AND HE WOULD WRITE HIS REVIEW, AND I'D WRITE MINE. AND ON OCCASION HE'D CRIB STUFF FROM MY REVIEW AND USE IT IN HIS OWN.
THAT'S THE ANSWER TO THE FORMER. TO THE LATTER, PROBABLY AFTER THE FIRST YEAR OF MY BEING A FULL TIME FREELANCER.
Another question: What do you think of the recent (as in a couple of years ago now) revelation that Lorna Dane is really Magneto's daugter (making her the younger half-sister to Pietro and Wanda)? Do you feel that was a good direction to take the character? (Personally, I would have preferred to have made them (great)uncle and (grand)niece, or some varity of cousins once removed or something like that, to fit it better into their respective backstories. Less upheavel that way.)
WELL, AS I RECALL, THE CONCEPT WHEN SHE WAS INTRODUCED WAS THAT SHE WAS MAGNETO'S DAUGHTER, SO I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH GOING BACK TO THE ORIGINAL CONCEPT.
Chris
Please tell me where to find "Cutting Ties" discussed in the following post. I was unable to find mention of it on Amazon. *Thanks!*
I recently finished "Cutting Ties," which is an excellent and solid addition to the NF series and beautifully written. I found that the fate of the Mirror Universe Elizabeth evoked pathos, and I loved how this impacts Muck's journey. It was also nice to see McHenry in a NF story again.
I was wondering if you have plans to or would consider telling more NF stories in the Mirror Universe or with the Mirror Universe NF characters.
Thank you!
I'M KICKING AROUND THE POSSIBILITY IN MY HEAD, YEAH.
Duh...started reading from the bottom and went up, and there it is. My Bad
Thankyou for taking the time to answer my question.
Cheerio
Megan
I miss thought balloons in comics. Why are they so passe now?
THEY'RE NOT ENTIRELY PASSE. IT'S JUST THAT FOR THE MOST PART THEY'VE BEEN REPLACED BY NARRATIVE CAPTIONS. IT'S JUST PART OF THE ONGOING PROCESS OF COMICS BEING WRITTEN AS IF THEY WERE MOVIES.
Also, Are there any characters/comics out there that you don't want to write, not because you don't like the character/comic, but because you do enjoy them so much that you would rather just sit back and read and enjoy them as opposed to having to be responsible for their every thought and action?
NOT REALLY. I'M GAME FOR ANYTHING.
PAD,
Sorry to come so late to the table. I was initially going to skip this round of Q & A, having already had my questions answered on past occasions.
Then a thought about the fact that you have this forum in the first place. The blog in general, that is, not just the Q & A thread. I imagine when you began this blog you approached it with a "wait and see" attitude. After all, it was something you were doing in addition to your regular writing, not your primary source of writing. Since you don't get paid to host a blog, to some degree it takes away from your livelihood. True, the blog allows you a degree of self promotion that might not be possible in other venues, but does it balance out the time spent away from writing something for pay?
That's a rhetorical question. My actual question is this: Now that you've been writing this blog for several years, how would you assess its overall merits as a means of communicating your ideas to both new and existing readers? In other words, in the long run, has it been worth the hassles (such as trolls) that come with the territory to have remained in the blogging game?
Rick
I SUPPOSE IT HAS. THE THING IS, I'VE NO DOUBT THAT IT'S COST ME FANS. PEOPLE WHO MIGHT HAVE BOUGHT MY WORK DECIDED THAT THEY DIDN'T LIKE MY POLITICAL LEANINGS AND THUS DECIDED TO STOP SUPPORTING ME...WHICH OF COURSE MAKES NO SENSE, BUT I'VE GOTTEN USED TO IT. ON THE OTHER HAND, IT'S PROBABLY PICKED ME UP READERS I WOULDN'T HAVE OTHERWISE GOTTEN, SO I SUPPOSE IT'S A WASH.
dranj70: What was the inspiration for the current “Lin” storyline in Fallen Angel? Was it Linda fans clamoring for more? Was it your wanting to write Linda one more time? Or a little of both?
Peter: Who said that was Linda? *I* never said that was Linda. Now if it *had* been Linda, it would been inspired by comments from DC Management that she was permanently gone from the DCU, consigned to oblivion. And I would have thought well, y’know, that being the case, why not provide a payoff to all those fans who waited to see a connection. But I’m not saying that’s the case.
Luigi Novi: But what about the bloody glove? And your DNA at Nicole's house? And the knife Mark Fuhrman found in your house? And cut on your middle finger?
:-)
COINCIDENCE.
Any chance we will ever see the Panthenon again. If not can you reveal if you had any plans for them orginally and if so what they were.
I DID EVERYTHING I INTENDED TO DO WITH THEM AT THE TIME. EVERY SO OFTEN ANDY SCHMIDT AND I KICK AROUND THE NOTION OF A PANTHEON LIMITED SERIES. I'M NOT CONVINCED AT THIS POINT THAT THERE'S ENOUGH OF A MARKET FOR IT.
Any chance we will ever see the Panthenon again. If not can you reveal if you had any plans for them orginally and if so what they were.
Heh. I'd considered asking if we'd ever see the Pantheon or the Troyjans again. I'm especially looking forward to this answer.
Peter said in a previous Q&A thread, "I doubt you’ll ever see them again."
Was that before PAD went exclusive? Now that he's contracted with Marvel, that may no longer be the case.
Heck, fugitive Peter would make a good recruit for the new Pantheon.
PAD,
If you come back and answer more questions, I have one if it is not too personal:
A while back you shared about your wife's miscarriage. Maybe you commented somewhere else, but I missed it. I was just wondering how you and she are doing.
Iowa Jim
DOING AS WELL AS CAN BE EXPECTED.
I was able to interview Alan Davis, John Byrne, David Michelinie, Gerard Jones, Steve Englehart, Roger Stern, Kurt Busiek, even Jim Shooter for my Wonder Man fansite but repeated attempts to establish communication with you thru your e-mail and this blog have proved futile. I thought this questions and answers session might be my last resort but no dice. It might be that you have been extra busy the past few months or just a plain dislike for fansites, I don't know. :( I would just appreciate even a simple "NO" answer to my request, that way I will know at least not to ask again.
ALAN DAVIS, JOHN BYRNE, DAVID MICHELINIE, GERARD JONES, STEVE ENGLEHART, ROGERT STERN, KURT BUSIEK AND JIM SHOOTER HAVEN'T BEEN FIELDING A DOZEN INTERVIEW REQUESTS A WEEK, AVERAGING TWENTY QUESTIONS EACH, EVER SINCE DARK TOWER HIT. SO MANY THAT AT THIS POINT I JUST SKIP OVER THEM IN MY E-MAIL BOX UNTIL I CAN GET AHEAD ON THE VARIOUS PROJECTS THAT I'M ALREADY COMMITTED TO.
Hey Peter,
I just read the first two trades of Friendly Neighborhood. Love them! One thing left me perplexed. It has been a while since I read the original issues of Spectacular, but I could have sworn the last we saw of Debra Whitman was it was revealed she was an alien and went back with her "people". Is my recollection correct?
Rob
MY GOD, I HOPE NOT. THAT RINGS NO BELLS WITH ME, NO ONE ELSE ANYWHERE ELSE HAS MENTIONED IT, AND IF THEY DID DO THAT, IT'S A HORRIBLE IDEA.
Yo Moon Man, I think that was Marcy Kane (the ice queen) that you're thinking of.
Hopefully I won't upset anybody too much for slipping in another question before this thread completely peters out. (No pun intended)
An odd question occured to me the other night, I don't know why. If you could write any character's final adventure, be they legendary, television, comics, or other, who would it be? And off the top of your head, if you have an idea, what do you think would be a fitting ending to their saga? Falling in a final heroic combat? Ambiguously riding/sailing off into the sunset? Passing the mantle to the next generation?
Okay, so actually two questions... (And I know, you've already done it with King Arthur)
-Rex Hondo-
TARZAN. I'D PROBABLY HAVE HIM WIND UP BEING KILLED BY LA OF OPAR AND JANE AVENGES HIS DEATH WITH KORAK'S AID.
(Atlantis Tales)
I WAS PROMISED BY TOP DC BRASS THAT AC WOULD BE COLLECTED AS A TRADE. THAT WAS OVER TEN YEARS AGO. SO I'M NOT REALLY HOLDING MY BREATH.
If it's any consolation, it *has* been published as a trade, ten years ago or so...here in Italy. I really liked it...
OK. You have mentioned wanting to do the Tarzan vs Phantom mini-series for years. A am patiently waiting. What's the hold up?
If that doesn't work, here's an Idea. Tarzan vs Tonto vs Frankenstein....(fond memories of Phil Hartman are running through my mind)
Sean: Final nit: If Baltar was lying about the paste, what WAS Tyr doing in her bathroom?
PAD: THAT'S IN THE NEXT BOOK...
There's a next book? Whoo hoo!
As a Spider-writer, maybe you know the answer to this.
Is Deb Whitman related to Dane Whitman (The Black Knight)?
Matt
Posted by Sean Ferguson at April 16, 2007 07:35 PM
Which book are you the proudest of?
COMIC BOOK? FALLEN ANGEL.
I apologize for not being more clear. I was actually referring to your novels since I am a huge fan of them. I was curious as to which of your novels is your favorite. Thanks for responding though! I'll have to check out Fallen Angel.
> Posted by Raphael Sutton at April 14, 2007 09:39 PM
> I've been getting the Babylon 5 scripts that JMS is publishing
> (www.babylon5scripts.comif anyone is interested). Unfortunately JMS
> said that, due to rights issues, he can only publish the scripts he
> wrote. Is there any chance that your own B5 scripts, as well as the
> Crusade one, will be published at some point? Maybe make a deal with
> JMS to add them to one of the upcoming volumes? Thanks!
> Raphy
> THERE'S ALWAYS A CHANCE. I'VE NO INTEREST IN SELF-PUBLISHING MY
> SCRIPTS, BUT IF JOE CAME TO ME AND WANTED TO WORK SOMETHING OUT, THEN
> SURE.
I sent the above to the B5 newsgroup that JMS posts to and here is his reply:
Yes...at some point we plan to approach Peter and Larry DiTillio and
others to make an arrangement that will give them a proper royalty for
the publication. We just want to get the jms scripts done first.
jms
Peter David responded: "I DON'T BELIEVE IN ATHEISTS."
I posted that question forgetting something. Upon remembering, my response is a very tongue in cheek, guess that leaves Harlan Ellison non-existent. :) (unless that bit of info is false, of course)
I found this over on Newsarama:
Q: Will Monet come and track down the Loners when she hears about Penance being back?
C.B. Cebulski: Makes sense that she would, right? X-Factor is one of my favorite comics at the moment and if Monet wants to come and play with the Loners, she's more than welcome. I'll call Peter David and see what we can do!
What do you think, PAD? :)
> TARZAN. I'D PROBABLY HAVE HIM WIND UP BEING KILLED BY LA OF OPAR AND JANE AVENGES HIS DEATH WITH KORAK'S AID.
I would pay to see that, too...
"I HAVEN'T SEEN HIM AS BRUCE BANNER, SO THERE'S NOTHING FOR ME TO THINK. ALL THEY DID WAS ANNOUNCE THE CASTING."
Well, that feels like a dodge... But okay.
1
Will you be focusing and expanding on Peter's powers in FNSM, since it seems we have been left hanging for quite some time about it?
"I DON'T BELIEVE IN ATHEISTS."
So *that's* why they never seem to be around in foxholes!
Sasha: Was that before PAD went exclusive? Now that he's contracted with Marvel, that may no longer be the case.
Luigi Novi: He said during the second question-and-answer thread ("WHAT’CHA WANNA KNOW?"; October 21, 2003; http://peterdavid.malibulist.com/archives/000870.html ), which was more than two years before his exclusivity was announced. But what difference would this make? It's not like anything was preventing him from writing more Pantheon stories before that.
If you want me to email you the Peter David FAQ I've compiled from the five question-and-answer threads to date, Sasha, let me know. :-)
Having written so many characters for so many different companies, have you ever started writing a story (or even just began formulating a really cool character bit or plot twist in your mind)only to suddenly realize, "Oh, crap, I can't have Snapper Carr hit on Mary Jane, they belong to two different universes!"?
"Well, that feels like a dodge... But okay."
I don't think he's dodging so much as reserving judgement until we see him in action.
Okay, I realize I'm probably far too late to get an answer, but I just stumbled upon this thread and thought I'd give it a shot.
PAD, in your response earlier to the Kurt Vonnegut question, you don't give any indication of whether you were actually a Vonnegut fan or not. And since I happen to enjoy your work immensely while also viewing Vonnegut as a literary god (his "Deadeye Dick" is arguably my favorite novel of all time), this surprised me as the similiarities between the two of you seem rather dramatic. You're both masters of taking an overwhelmingly sad scenario and punctuating it with an absurdly funny "punchline." You're also both lumped together as "science fiction writers," at least as far as the general public is concerned.
So, I guess I'm just wondering if Vonnegut was a significant influence on your own style and sensibilities and, if so, what some of your favorite works of his are. And if you don't get around to answering, that's okay, too. Since the way I figure it, in some alternate reality where Dresden was never bombed by the allies you did, in fact, respond.
And so it goes.
How many people do you know of who refer to a writer as "brilliant", as Peter did, if they're not a fan? :-)
How long is your exclusive contract with Marvel? I ask because I was curious to know if there would be any chance of you contributing an arc or two to Buffy: Season Eight over at Dark Horse ...
It's a simple (I hope) question. What was the inspiration / start idea that helped you to develop the ST:NF character of Burgyone172. Is s/he based on a person in some form?
I'm a little dismayed that we at Hidden Frontier didn't give you a courtesy heads-up of our use of Mackenzie Calhoun. I cannot speak for the production as a whole in this, but I personally apologize for the oversight.
John A. Whiting
Head of Makeup
"Dr. Henglaar"