PeterDavid.net

Just to keep you guys in the loop on upcoming projects.

I’ve written an episode for “Ben 10: Alien Force.” A few weeks ago they recorded the script; it’ll be on the air sometime next season. Entitled “In Charm’s Way,” it will be the first appearance of the villainess Charmcaster who hasn’t been seen since the original “Ben 10″ series. I’ve also scripted a “Ben 10: Alien Force” manga for Del Rey entitled “Ben Folds Four.”

I’ve also turned in the manuscript for a new “But I Digress” collection that will be published this summer by Mad Norwegian Press, with cover by J.K. Woodward and intro by Harlan Ellison.

I’ve been asked to write more issues of “Wolverine: First Class” and I’ve just seen the first pages of an issue guest starring Thor. I’ve also turned in the first issue of a new limited series that’s going to be announced next weekend at the New York Comic Con.

PAD

Someone needs to tell Michelle Obama that her kids are public figures.

Understand, I think it’s somewhat tacky that a toy manufacturer is producing a pair of dolls that share the name of her daughters. And if that’s what she wants to say–that it’s tacky–I’ve no problem with that. If she wants to say it’s mercenary, also fine. If she wants to say that she thinks a sizable percentage of the revenue generated should be donated to charity, that’s great.

The one thing she doesn’t get to say is that her daughters are private citizens. Amy Carter is a private citizen. The Bush twins just became private citizens. The Obama daughters just aren’t. It’s unfair, sure. They didn’t do anything to bring this on themselves. The spotlight is on them because of a decision made by their parents, one of whom is already an action figure and the other of whom will probably be a fashion doll before too long. But her parents DID make that decision, and if they didn’t want their daughters to become public citizens (so to speak) then they should have made a different decision.

I think as much privacy should be reserved for them as possible, particularly considering their age. I think the media circus that their first day in school became was ridiculous. But, well, they ARE the first family, and it’s not like the dolls are ugly. In four to eight years they’ll be private citizens. But now, well…they aren’t. And that was their parents’ call to make, and they made it, and you can’t unring that bell just because people can buy your kids and put them on shelves.

PAD

As I foresaw, people tried to claim that the muddling of the oath meant that Obama wasn’t president. He actually went ahead and redid it in order to quiet them. And they promptly jumped on the fact that he didn’t swear a second time on a Bible.

And now some people are complaining about the following line in his speech: “We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus, and nonbelievers.”

According to the AOL news feed, that line is drawing fire from religious quarters: “(The President)
seems to be trying to redefine American culture, which is distinctively Christian,” said’ Bishop E.W. Jackson of the Exodus Faith Ministries in Chesapeake, Va. “The overwhelming majority of Americans identify as Christians, and what disturbs me is that he seems to be trying to redefine who we are.’”

So is he saying we’re NOT a nation of various religions? Would he prefer that Obama had said, “We are a nation of Christians and a handful of other people who are going to hell when they die.”?

Personally I think the ones who should be complaining are the Wiccans for being left out.

PAD

No, it’s not really the last issue of “Fallen Angel.” We’re relaunching with a new storyline in a few months.

As for X-Factor, my feelings on spoilers for this issue are well known, but I figure I might as well start a comments thread before people start posting in other threads. All I ask is that if you have not yet read X-Factor, for crying out lout, DON’T READ THIS THREAD.

PAD

UPDATE: On Newsarama the week of January 5th, there was some debate as to whether there should be active speculation about the baby. Those who felt they knew what I was up to were worried that accurately guessing would spoil it for others. I didn’t think that it would, but I offered to let people send me guesses and I would post in this space if anyone got it right so they could have bragging rights.

One person did: The fan who posts under the name “Wraith.” He didn’t quite foresee the shocking result, but he got the main beat correct. So he gets to boast that he thinks like Peter David…which, in the final analysis, is a dubious distinction at best.

And so…it begins.

11:23: With wind chill, it’s 14 degrees. This is ridiculous. Enough with tradition. Move elections to March and have the inauguration to May. Everyone has to be freezing their asses off because 200 years ago George Washington didn’t feel the cold?

11:26: Shots of the outgoing First family, walking away while trucks load up their stuff. May I say on behalf of everyone: Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.

Rest of comments below the cut line.

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When we began the Freedom Clock nearly two years ago, it seemed that we would never be rid of Bush. Now the 600+ days have ticked down to a scant few hours.

Tomorrow I will be blogging live as we hit the glorious count of 0 days/hours/minutes/seconds and swear in a new president. Feel free to swing by.

PAD

People seem eager to discuss BSG, so much so that they’re putting spoilers/ruiners on the Larsen thread. This is grossly unfair to people who may be reading along about Larsen and suddenly find themselves staring right at the identity of the final Cylon. The design of this blog makes it impossible for people to refrain from seeing such information if they’re just cruising along on a particular thread. Please refrain from that practice.

If you want to discuss BSG, as a courtesy I’m providing this space. I’m not discussing it yet because, honestly, I’m still processing it.

PAD

UPDATED: Okay. I’ve processed it. Comments below the cut line

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He feels betrayed and wounded because Marvel has Barack Obama encountering Spider-Man, asserting that plot elements were swiped from Savage Dragon. He states on Comicon.com:

I hear that they’re even doing a story similar to the one I did four years back, where an image-altering villain disguises himself as the President (in my story the Impostor replaced President Bush and took his place for a speech–in theirs the Chameleon, the shape-shifting villain, is going to spoil a speech being given by President-Elect Obama). The whole mess just feels really underhanded. I feel betrayed and, frankly, ripped off and in the real world–the one outside our funnybook bubble–Marvel will spin themselves as these great innovators who came up with this terrific publicity stunt–instead of the thieves they are.

I can totally sympathize. I remember some years back when I had a storyline in which the Hulk had to face the dilemma of giving a friend a blood transfusion in the hopes that it would cure him of AIDS. Imagine my chagrin when, a year or so later, The Savage Dragon had to face the dilemma of giving a friend a blood transfusion in the hopes that it would cure him of AIDS.

Boy, was I pissed off.

PAD

It’s not enough that the valiant pilot who is becoming known throughout New York as “Sully” (since it’s easier to remember than his full last name) landed what was effectively nothing more than a minivan with wings smoothly on the Hudson. What really blows me away is that he walked the length of the sinking plane TWICE to make sure that every single passenger was out.

Meanwhile, the question that no one seems to be asking

Were the geese who flew into the plane, in fact, terrorist geese? Trained by Osama bin Laden? Kind of like “Day of the Dolphin” but with poultry?

I expect a congressional investigation into this fowl business immediately.

PAD

Kathleen here posting on Peter’s site.

Patrick McGoohan has passed away at the age of 80.

obit here

The Prisoner is a series that has shaped my life in ways that I can’t even imagine. For years I thought the image of the Rover and other odd visuals was just a bizarre dream that I had as a child until my parents informed me that no, that was a TV series that I saw when I was child.

He was describe by a friend of mine who worked with him as an actor’s actor and I have to agree.

I always enjoyed his performances and I am sadden at his passing.

Keith DeCandido pointed this out on his website. A review of the bestselling title “The Secret.” It’s a must read.

Amazon Secret Review

PAD

Seriously.

The woman who couldn’t cite any specific newspapers she reads said the following in a recent interview:

Palin, who has long criticized media coverage of her campaign performance, also said she is interested to see if reporters are equally tough on Caroline Kennedy as she pursues the appointment to the likely-vacant Senate seat in New York.

“It’s going to be interesting to see how that plays out and I think that as we watch that we will perhaps be able to prove that there is a class issue here, also that was such a factor in the scrutiny of my candidacy versus, say, the scrutiny of what her candidacy may be,” she also said.

Well, I’m here in New York, and I can tell you that Caroline Kennedy’s getting hammered. An interview with the New York Times is coming across as much of a fiasco as Palin’s with Katie Couric, with Kennedy saying “You know” 138 times. Verbal tics are one thing, but this is ridiculous. Her poll numbers are in free fall after an initially positive response.

In short, the supposedly liberal-biased, class-ridden media is treating Caroline Kennedy the exact same way that Palin was treated.

If Palin actually read any newspapers, she’d know that.

Could they stop doing interviews with her now?

PAD

Bill mentioned this elsewhere, and I did know about it. I figure I might as well post a link here. “Tigerheart” got a rave review in Aintitcoolnews. I thought that was, well…cool.

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/39684

Also my interview at “The Stack” is up in several parts on “Youtube,” if you have an hour or so to kill.

PAD

COMIC BOOK CLUB
A Live Weekly Talk Show about Comic Books

Hosted by Justin Tyler, Pete LePage, and Alex Zalben

Tuesday, January 6th @ 8:00 PM

Featuring:
Peter David (Fallen Angel, She-Hulk, X-Factor)

Tickets: $5
Online: ThePIT-NYC.com
Phone: 1-800-838-3006
Questions? 212-563-7488

The Peoples Improv Theater
154 West 29th Street, 2nd Floor
Between 6th and 7th Aves.

Whad’ja think?

PAD

Reacting to the incursion, chief negotiator for the Palestinian Authority Saeb Erakat said: “What this will do is undermine the peace process.” The Palestinian Authority is the government of President Mahmoud Abbas.

Is that what they have over there? A peace process? Processed peace, which is just as much real peace as processed meat is real meat.

Or perhaps it’s a spelling error and he said “piece process” which consists of Hamas raining down missiles from Gaza and trying to blow Israel to pieces.

Idiots. The second the cease fire was over they started firing lobbing artillery at Israel. What did they THINK was going to happen?

PAD

Caroline informed me that she wants to be a detective when she grows up. And she has a very special case in mind. Be aware that this is ENTIRELY her invention, developed purely by my asking her questions after she gave me her initial intention.

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