PeterDavid.net

I was about to refer you folks to comicbookresources.com where there’s a nice article about “Fallen Angel,” complete with more artwork from issue #1. And there, on the same page, is a diatribe from Erik Larsen that angrily scolds creators who merely work on company-owned characters rather than on characters they themselves own–which, technically when you get down to it, includes Lee, Kirby, Ditko, Buscema, etc., since everything they created was company owned…just as any characters created for those same titles now are company owned. Yet in the world of Erik Larsen, creators who labor only in the company owned field are “pussies,” resting on their “fat asses” and failing to “show (Erik) what (they’ve) got.”

Now I haven’t bothered with Larsen’s previous columns, despite his swipes at me (and his oh-so-clever use of “But I digress” for transitions.) But the combination of blind irony and blatant hypocrisy on this one, I just have to address…

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As those of you who read my wife’s web log know, she is currently stage-managing a new play called “Most Happy.” The play is a showcase in New York City and the first show for the new Unofficial New York Yale Cabaret. Kathleen explained to me that the Yale Cabaret is the graduate student run theater at the Yale School of Drama and this theater company was formed by a number of alumni of the school. Compared to ticket prices for other shows in New York, this is very reasonable.

For more information on the show and ticket prices
Most Happy Information

You can also see her millinery skills since she is making tudor-style hats for the show.

The following is an excerpt from the website for Necronomicon http://stonehill.org/necro.htm, a convention in Tampa, FL that I’ll be attending October 28-30:

Calling all fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Peter David or (best of all) both. Want to go on a little adventure to kick off Necronomicon. Check this action: The beautiful San Marco Theater in Jacksonville is going to be screening two of the most acclaimed “Buffy” episodes ever at 11 PM Friday, October 28: “Hush,” followed by the karaoke version of “Once More With Feeling.” Organized by none other than Peter’s daughter, Shana, the showing will not only feature Rocky Horror-esque audience participation, but extras including a trivia competition with nifty prizes courtesy of IDW, the publishers of the “Angel” and “Spike” comics.

Now Peter’s going either way, but we’ve come up with a plan if enough hardy souls are interested in going along…”

If you’re going to be attending Necro, and are interested in participating in a small adventure, check out the website and read up on it. And if you’re a Buffy fan, be sure to relay this information to other fans as well.

Hope to see you there.

PAD

Sorry. That’s just where my head’s at after having read the following:

http://www.zod2008.com/

Anyway, below we begin the 2005-2006 round-up. Rather than gathering them all, I’ll just do them as I go along (since I’ve been out of town, I’m just now catching up with stuff.)

Spoilers below:

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Today is Peter’s Birthday.
It is 3 weeks after Ariel’s and 2 weeks after mine. So if Ariel’s birthday is on a Friday we know Peter’s and mine are too.
Kath

I’m heading out to a book fair in–of all places–Deadwood, South Dakota (now I wish I watched the program). I’ll be out there with editor Andy Schmidt, pushing the notion of comic books as being something other than the province of children and forty-year-old virgins, although we will be doing a panel on comic books aimed at kids. .

I’ll be back Sunday afternoon.

PAD

Pilot episode to a proposed animated series: Turned in. Producers working on making it happen. Will keep everyone informed.

Manuscript for “Fall of Knight”: Done. Some line-editing needed, but hopefully minor. WIll be turned in Monday morning. On schedule to be published in summer of 2006.

Script for X-Factor #4: Turned in.

Script for Soulsearchers #74: Turned in.

Fourth “Apropos” book: Here’s the thing, guys. Pocket Books is no longer acquiring original fantasy novels. And it’s difficult to move a series to another publisher since they can’t have the first three books. So I’m basically stuck at Pocket until I can get the rights reverted…which won’t be happening anytime soon since they keep going back to press with the first book, and are just coming out with the paperback of the third one. I’ll probably be working on doing short stories of the character in my copious spare time.

Sleep: BWAAAHAHAHA

PAD

I’m sorry, but I simply cannot accept the idea of Geena Davis as president.

I think it is grossly unfair that she is able to become President of the United States without having been properly vetted through the rigorous campaign process of the “West Wing.” The fact that she has not had to slug it out with Alan Alda or Jimmy Smits for the candidacy, and that she has not had her campaign managed by anyone who worked for Martin Sheen, casts–in my opinion–a pall of illegitimacy upon her entire presidency that cannot be ignored, even if a decision comes down from a full majority Supreme Court featuring Glenn Close, Edward James Olmos and Sally Field.

PAD

If someone is standing in a shallow pool, and the leads of a taser are fired into the water, will it discharge electricity through the water that will stun the person standing in the pool even though the leads never touched the person himself?

PAD

After a slightly shakey start, I thought Ellen did a very nice job hosting the Emmys this year. Glad that “Daily Show” did as well as it did (although comparing what Hugh Jackman did in one show to what John Stewart does night after night seems ridiculous to me.) I’m glad that Felicity Huffman won for DH, and pleased/stunned that Shatner won for Boston Legal.

And speaking of Shatner, his expression mirrored mine for the winner of the surprisingly entertaining Emmy Idol competition. TRUMP? For his off-key rendition of the theme of “Green Acres?” No f’ing way. Shatner was my sentimental favorite for the theme to “Trek,” although Kristen Bell’s rendition of “Fame” showed anyone who missed “Reefer Madness” that she has singing and dancing chops (although…what? Neither Irene Cara nor Erica Gimpel were available? I mean, c’mon.) But DONALD TRUMP? Sheesh.

They’re missing a bet. They could make a whole prime time special out of the theme song thing. I once did that at an August Party convention years ago: Organized an entire afternoon entertainment that was like “Side by Side by Sondheim” except we sang TV theme songs. People were so dubious at first, and by the time we finished our program, we had volunteers lining up wanting to do more songs.

PAD

Back in the “West Wing” episode “A Proportional Response,” Leo and Bartlet have a blistering confrontation over the proper use of armed military might by the lone remaining superpower trying to maintain a degree of conscience. It’s a fascinating sequence, especially in light of Bush’s actions several years later. When Leo presents certain actions as essentially the worst thing someone in power can do, and then you realize Bush did it, it’s sobering to say the least.

In the second season, “In the Shadow of Two Gunmen,” the director of the NSA states–after a shooting incident involving the President–that they do not know the whereabouts of several key terrorist leaders, “including bin Laden.” This was a reference that meant nothing to most viewers (including me) because it was pre-9/11.

And now, in the current ramrodding down the nation’s throat of John Roberts, I am moved to remember the first season episode “The Short List” wherein Bartlet is looking to fill a slot on the Supreme Court. The initial prospect, played by Ken Howard, seems good to go…until it’s discovered that he does not believe that the right to privacy is a fundamental right of American society. The INSTANT that they determine that, Bartlet and his people show him the door because, to them, the right to privacy is such a given, such a necessity, such an obvious and basic right for any number of reasons–not just abortion, but mandatory drug testing, illegal search and seizure, internet activity–that putting Howard’s character on the bench is simply unthinkable.

Funny how the real life administration is 180 degrees from that, embracing a candidate who does NOT believe in the constitutional right to privacy…a belief that would nicely erode everything that bothers the Bushies, ranging from legal abortion to protections from the intrusiveness of the Patriot act.

Every single place where, on the “West Wing,” the Bartlet administration–an administration of conscience–zigs, Bush’s administration zags. I just find that interesting.

I wonder if the next real-life election will involve a youthful Hispanic lawyer/cop going head to head with a likable former surgeon from a MASH unit.

PAD

I have three deadlines crashing up against each other. I’m working on finishing “Fall of Knight,” the third Arthur book; a rewrite on my “How to Write Comics” book; and a teleplay for an animated pilot which I won’t go into.

So I’m jumping from one project to the next to the next. Every time I slow down with one, I put it on hold and move on to the next one. Going to be a pretty exciting two weeks.

PAD

Conclusion to the “House of M” tie-in. Whad’ja think?

PAD

Studio executives have been sitting around scratching their heads or their backsides and wondering why in the world movie going is dropping off. They’re blaming DVDs, they’re blaming cable, they’re blaming all kinds of things.

Well, we just came back from the premiere of “Green Street Hooligans,” a film that every single major studio passed on distributing, and I can tell you with full confidence that at least one factor in audience erosion is that studios can’t discern quality when it’s right in front of them.

And quality is what “Green Street Hooligans” most certainly is. It’s easily the most riveting two hours I’ve spent at a movie this year. Elijah Wood plays a disconnected, frustrated college dropout who sojourns to England and becomes involved in a “firm”–a gang, if you will, of cocky, proud, hard-drinking, fight-seeking football (not “soccer,” please) hooligans. When Wood’s character tries to compare the rivalry between certain rival firms as “Yankees and Red Sox,” he’s corrected with “More like Israelis and Palestinians.”

What unfolds is a fascinating tale of brotherhood on numerous levels, and the ultimate futility of lives lived in violence and vengeance. It is, quite simply, a brilliant piece of movie making.

Yet every major studio passed. Insanely, they claimed that it glorified violence, making it seem like a positive means of solving problems. Any person with an IQ above that of a kumquat who sees this film will realize that the studios completely and totally botched it. It takes some serious stupid to think this movie is a celebration of violence.

You absolutely must see this film. You must get all your friends to see it. And as soon as you do, you must go and plug it long and loud on your own blogs and get the word out. Not just because it’s a fantastic movie. You must see it to send a message to movie executives, in terms so plain and firm as to command their assent. They have to be told that they are insane to pass up high quality films such as this one. They have to be told that audiences are not getting it up for the movies because they want to see something other than the latest paint-by-numbers action flick or play-it-safe romantic date movie. That movies such as “Green Street Hooligans” deserve studio support and audience attention.

Also, on Kathleen’s blog, she’ll be writing about the film as well (and since she used to hang with football hooligans in London, she knows about this stuff personally) and also posting a photo of Ariel with Elijah Wood.

PAD

Over on Newsarama, the first seven pages of “Fallen Angel #1″ are up. You might want to check ‘em out.

PAD

The Bush administration has embraced a term that truly sets my teeth on edge: The Blame Game.

Yet again, the administration trivializes that which it wants to draw attention from or diminish, finding new and innovative ways to dodge questions and avoid responsibility.

I have no clear idea yet, for certain, if lapses in administrative judgment can be blamed for everything from siphoning money away from shoring up the levies in order to support the war and Bush’s tax cuts, to slow response to the emergency. But these are questions that must be asked. Clearly, the Bush administration embraces this notion with the same enthusiasm and thirst for truth that it did the 9/11 panel. Instead it endeavors to sprint along the obvious “high road”: The Bush administration will not play “the blame game” when people need to be helped.

You know what? The government is large enough to multitask. There’s no reason it can’t help people AND investigate. Not play “the blame game.” It’s not a game, Mr. Bush. Perhaps much of your life has been thus far. Play with toys such as corporations, governments and armies, run them into the ground, and then wait for others to clean up your mess. But it’s not. A game. It never has been, and that’s something that this administration has yet to comprehend.

One thing guaranteed, though: They’ll try to find a way to blame it on Clinton. But Clinton shouldn’t take it personally. It’s all part of the game.

UPDATED 10:45 AM. Maggie Thompson sent me the following link: http://www.thisisnotover.com/archives/2005/09/heres_what_gets.html This is one of those “I wish I’d said that” entries.

PAD

In addition to the awesome art of J.K. Woodward, the first issue of “Fallen Angel” from IDW will feature an alternate cover from original series artist David Lopez. Check it out.

Over in her on-line blog at Comicon.com, in an entry entitled “Quality or Ramifications”…since apparently the two are mutually exclusive…Heidi MacDonald cited a question asked by a retailer during the Spidey press conference on September 1. The retailer said his readers were concerned that they would read eleven issues of Spider-Man having “spider-cancer” and at the end of the storyline, he’d be cured, and there’d be no ramifications. He asked if if there would be any lasting impact as a consequence of the storyline. I said, “Yes.” Heidi then wrote:

“The Pulse’s transcript doesn’t make it clear, but David’s yes meant tat (sic) there would, indeed be ramifications.

“Which made us wonder…what “ramifications” did WATCHMEN have? or DARK KNIGHT? Or SANDMAN?

We have no idea of THE OTHER will be any good, but we would have thought that a good, solid story would sell more in the long run than mere ramifications.”

An interesting question. Would that Heidi had actually asked it during the press conference. Instead, with over a dozen retailers and on-line reporters there, as I recall she was the only one who took a pass on asking any questions whatsoever. Of course, maybe she hadn’t thought of it at the time. She could have e-mailed me later. Or gotten my phone number at the Dragon*Con hotel from Marvel and called me. Didn’t do either. Oookay.

In answer to the question directed to me that she never actually asked, I submit the following scenario:

“Peter, will there be ramifications?”

“Well, you know, why can’t we just tell a good story and let that be enough?”

“So you’re saying there will be no long term impact after fans have invested in twelve issues of this storyline.”

“I didn’t say that. But I can guarantee you it’ll be a really good story.”

That loud thud you would then hear would be orders dropping like a rock. So I’ll go with my answer rather than Heidi’s, thanks.

And as for her other question, the obvious answer is that it shows a shocking lapse of understanding of the nature and requirements of on-going serialized stories as compared to series with a beginning, middle and end. In picking up limited series in particular, all readers are looking for is a good story. When they’re being asked to embark on reading a mega-crossover and investing the time and money into reading books they ordinarily aren’t reading, a good story simply isn’t enough. Perhaps it should be…but it’s not. As the retailer’s question makes clear, they want to know they’re going to be present at a major turning point in the protagonist’s fictional life. That’s part of what MAKES it a good story. As a matter of fact–and this is purely speculation on my part–it may well be that one of the reasons various limited or spin-off series nowadays have such a rough slog in terms of sales is specifically because they’re seen as NOT having any sort of impact on the “main” storylines presented in the ongoing titles.

And the less obvious answer is, Yes, you bet your ass the series in question had ramifications. “Watchmen” and “Dark Knight” were responsible for launching a grim-and-gritty mentality into comics that continues to this day (“Identity Crisis” owes far more to Moore and Miller than it does to Marv Wolfman). And the ramification of “Sandman” was that it was responsible for launching the entire “Vertigo” line. The ramifications of “Sandman” are “Fables” and “Y.”

It’s just that no one knew that at the time.

So that’s the answer to Heidi’s question.

Which she never asked me.

PAD

Thus far I’ve seen virtually nothing of Dragon*Con. I’ve either been doing panels or been at my table, autographing stuff and meeting fans. But that’s okay. That’s pretty much what I’m here for, and certainly the fact that it’s been busy for me is far bettr than just sitting there with nothing to do.

Aside from the initial panel I had Friday which was a solo reading, everything else I’ve been doing has been well attended. The major misfire was during my spotlight panel on Friday when I was doing a dramatic reading of an upcoming FNSM story…and discovered to my horror that the last several pages of the script were missing. Apparently my computer never printed them out for some reason. So that kinda sucked. I did my best to summarize the remaining pages, but it certainly wasn’t anywhere near as effective.

The CBLDF raffle for breakfast with myself and Jewel Staite raised around $500 and the winner was, thank God, a nice normal guy. Understand, I love fans, but there are some folks that, y’know, can kind of creep you out a little. But that wasn’t remotely this fellow, so there was serious relief there.

Kath and Ariel are out at the moment, Kath to the con suite and Ariel to go hear the Boogie Knights sing. Caroline needs something. Gotta go.

PAD

Did a phone interview for Marvel yesterday for Spider-Man: The Other. I thought it was going to be Joe, Reggie and I, and it turned out to my shock to be me, some Marvel editors, and a battery of fan reporters and retailers. So that was kind of surprising. I hope I didn’t sound like an idiot.

Stayed in the room last night while Kath, a former Atlanta resident, renewed old friendships and acquaintances on the party circuit. Woke up this morning, showered and am ready for the day. Should be interesting. I have a 3 PM reading in the Williams room that appears nowhere on any schedule, and a 7 PM focus-on-me panel (God help me.) Kath has stuff in the artshow, including a muppet of Scorpius.

Also, the CBLDF is having a raffle to win breakfast with Jewel Staite and myself Sunday morning. So if you’re interested, be sure to check that out.

PAD