It’s been a while since I’ve thrown the site over to questions, so: Anything you want to ask about?
PAD
234 comments on “What’cha Wanna Know?”
First off, I want to say you’re an awesome writer (product and reaching out to fans) and, something I didn’t know, the writer of my favorite Trek book ever, “Vendetta”.
As for questions
1. As my handle here, and on CCW and CBR indicate, I’m a rugby nut. Any chance of seeing X-Factor playing it (Or other sports, I always liked those intros where the X-Men and Gen X were playing baseball or what have you) I think they could take down Bendis’s Avengers, and not call anyone “Wh**es” while doing it.
2. What exactly from DC has been catching your eye?
3. What genre of writing have you not had a chance to work in that you would like to?
1) That’s not exactly a noir thing for them to be doing. Can’t really see it.
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2) Since I’m exclusive with Marvel, I haven’t really been thinking about what’s attractive at DC.
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3) Western. Westerns would be cool.
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PAD
What do you think of Jim Shooter?
I’ve read many different/conflicting stories/interviews about him ranging from “Champion of Creator Rights” to egotisical task master. Your were there. You would have worked with him. What’s your opinion?
Champion of Creator Rights or egotistical task master? I’d say both, really. Shooter’s a complicated guy and not easily categorized.
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PAD
After your work on Shadow Complex, what is you take on Roger Ebert’s assertion that video game aren’t art and can never be art?
I would say that, once upon a time, there were plenty of critics–not to mention movie producers and writers–who asserted that movies aren’t art and can never be art.
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PAD
Peter,
_
In about, oh, 45 minutes at this rate we’re going to have our second child sticking its head out to say hello.
_
Can you send cash or check if I give you the address?
Congrats, Jerry!
I absolutely can do that, yes. Congratulations. Just remember, if the child sticks its head out and then goes back in, that means six more weeks of summer.
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What the HÊLL are you doing while your wife’s in labor reading my blog? Am I the only one here who thinks that’s kind of strange?
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PAD
Having met Jerry, no. Not at all.
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Besides, don’t you remember how totally useless you were in that situation? Rubbing her feet and doling out helpful advice like “Keep breathing, sweetie.”? And then when it’s over the doctor, just to rub some salt in the wound, offers to let you cut the umbilical cord, yeah, like THAT is going to happen. The baby deflates like a balloon and goes whizzing through the air while nurses try to catch it, no thanks doc.
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Fathers should be forced to go on the internet. Keeps them out of trouble.
Maybe he was in the waiting room, using the Internet on his mobile phone?
And it IS Jerry, after all…
. “What the HÊLL are you doing while your wife’s in labor reading my blog? Am I the only one here who thinks that’s kind of strange?”
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Yeah, it would be strange. Good thing I wasn’t doing that.
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Jenn had Ian via C-Section because he put his hand on his head and blocked the passage way. They debated doing something called a V-Back this go round but decided instead to schedule a C-Section for this morning. We live 15 minutes from the hospital.
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I wrote that while sitting in my living room and waiting for Jenn to finishing going over her personal “must take to the hospital” list.
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Turned out to be more like 2 hours and 45 minutes by the time they finished pulling out all of the red tape/questions/instructions/sign this please that the six hours in their hospital Tuesday was supposed to eliminate but didn’t actually do so though.
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But thanks for wondering about my sanity. You’re not the first and will be far, far from the last.
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🙂
~8?)`
And word on the grapevine is that Aeowyn Elizabeth Chandler was born today at 7:08am weighing in at 6lbs 12oz and 19.5 inches long. Mom and baby are doing well. Dad, if he has a sane bone in his body, is currently sleeping.
Wait a minute. I remember how quickly YOU posted to GEnie after Ariel was born, and posting a bit before besides. I call shenanigans.
This raises the distinction between “can” and “will.”
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Glenn, you’re looking at basic human nature in a nutshell. It’s only strange/wrong/batshit crazy when somebody else does it. It’s fine when we do it. Usually because we know all the details about the times we do it and don’t know the details around when someone else does is.
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Everyone is like that.
Hi PAD
1. When you get an idea for a story, how do know whether to run with it or just discard it as poor and move onto something else? I get loads of ideas for plotlines (including a cool Madrox one!), but I can never judge if it’s “worthy” or not to spend time working on it (sometimes I think, “Would PAD like this”?).
2. Did you check out Misfits yet 😉
Simon.
1) If it sticks in my head and won’t go away, that gives me a pretty good sense that it’s worth pursuing.
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2) Not yet.
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PAD
Hi, Peter!
1.) What are you working on nowadays? Any novels or new comic titles in the hopper?
2.) You and Keith Giffen co-writing an Impossible Man/Ambush Bug mini-series. What do you think?
3.) Any possibility of Space Cases coming to DVD?
Thanks!
Alan
Hello Mr. David
Why don’t Longshot and Shatterstar ever have dialog between them?
Is there some grievance between them I have forgotten?
Thanks
Aren’t they supposed to be father and son?
We don’t know that yet for sure. The two have never appeared together before (as far as I know). What I do know is that a lot of people are anticipating the inevitable dialogue between them.
Wouldn’t it be funny if one or the other left the team without ever having said a word to each other? Or better yet, it turns out that they can’t see nor hear each other?
First, let me apologize for straining your brain and asking about a 4-year-old story, but I coincidentally happened to reread my review of the Untold Tales of the New Universe: Justice one-shot last night. Did you have a specific place in continuity in mind for this issue? As best I can tell, it should probably take place either before or after JUSTICE #17.
PAD,
When you go to a convention, especially the relatively smaller ones like the Motor City Comic Con (any plans to be at one of those in the near future, by the way?), do you (and/or whatever family members may have come along) ever get a chance to see the sights, do the tourist bit, etc? Or is simply a matter of fly in (or drive, if a convention’s close to home), do the convention, and fly out again?
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Rick
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P.S. If you won $100 million, which would you do, use it as seed money for a crime-fighting operation in which you battle criminals while dressed as a bat, while a child accompanies you, dressed in bright primary colors; or give it to me?
Very rarely do I actually get out to see anything. I try to be around for the fans as much as possible. For instance, a friend gave me Cubs tickets when we were at C2E2 but it would have meant leaving the convention for the afternoon, so I sent my wife and kids. The last time I did anything touristy was when I was in Uruguay, and a guy tried to boost my wallet for my trouble, so maybe the universe is trying to tell me something.
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PS–Maybe I’d just give it to you so that YOU could battle crime while dressed as a bat accompanied by a brightly colored child.
I meant do you ever do the tourist bit (go to a ballgame, visit a museum, go to an amusement park, whatever) in addition to the convention. Seems like it might be a way to combine what’s essentially a few days of marketing yourself (the convention itself) with a bit of vacation (maybe a day or two before or after). It’s cool that your wife and kids were at least able to enjoy a baseball game on that one occasion.
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Rick
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P.S. You could give me the money, but the battling crime while dressed as a bat and accompanied by a small child scenario only applies to the first option.
Hey Peter,
will you do any more Doctor Who fiction in the future? When are you going to release your new “Sir Apropos” novel (yes, the one you aren’t allowed to talk about)?
*hoping*
Thanks,
Pascal
Well, I don’t have any plans to do any DW fiction, although I certainly wouldn’t be opposed to it. As for the “Apropos” novel, I think what you’re recalling was the comic book miniseries which came out from IDW.
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PAD
Did you thwack Bendis upside the head for spoiling baby Madrox on wordballon? (I had thankfully already read the issue when I listened to the interview.)
Are there any plans of Wolfsbane returning to X-factor? She is pretty illused at X-force.
I second that motion. She can come back just in time to throw a monkey-wrench into Shatterstar/Rictor’s relationship then kill the hëll out of Madrox/Layla on their wedding night. (That’s what I call a slow-burner of a plotline)
Peter, from your work I only know the Centauri Trilogy from the B5 universe and I really liked those three books, so my questions are related to that:
1 -How much input did JMS have on the whole trilogy main story, character development and general story direction?
2 – Were you pleased with the end result and from today’s perspective would you change anything?
3 Are there any new books set in the B5 universe planned with you involved?
4 – You should do a Cowboy Peter’s edition about Stargate Universe, an excellent sci-fi series that puts characters first and action next.
5 – Congrats to team USA for an excellent world cup, good luck to my team tommorrow against Brasil.
1) He had plenty of input. It was his story; he gave me a good deal of latitude in how to tell it, but it was his story.
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2) Yes, I was. Would I change it today? Well, I’d have to sit down and read it.
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3) Not that I know of.
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4) Didn’t really watch SGU.
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5) Thanks, although the truth is that the only time most people in in America cares about soccer is when we’re in some global competition.
Considering your recent work on X-Factor and how some creators (ok, fine, one creator) reacted to how you were portraying one of his creations how do you handle it when you see someone taking a character or a story line in a direction you did not envision?
So Vertigo wants you to make them a new comic. What would you pitch them?
I’m exclusive with Marvel, so it’s moot.
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PAD
Hey, PAD.
Have you ever had an interest in writing Green Lantern? If so, which one of them?
I did write “Green Lantern,” years ago, in Action Comics weekly.
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PAD
Really? Well, then I’ve got some back issues to track down.
It was in issues #608-620.
Peter, as a fan of musicals, I would like to know what are your favourite musicals (mine, in no particular order: Fiddler on the Roof, Les Misérables, My Fair Lady, West Side Story).
“Man of La Mancha.” “Li’l Abner.” “Into the Woods.”
1956, 1964, 1986. Isn’t “Into the Woods” a bit modern for you? (He said teasingly.)
Do you approach writing a novel different then when you are writing a comic book? Do you start with an outline of some kind or just sit down and write until the story ends?
Depends on the novel. Sometimes I outline it; sometimes I just make it up as I go.
Any chance you’ll be selling any of your creator-owned comics digitally (say, through ComiXology’s iPhone/iPad/web store)?
I think “Fallen Angel” is going to be available digitally.
I got 2 for you.
1. I am currently keeping pace with all the new Star trek novels coming out, set in the continuing TNG/TTN Universe, the post-Destiny stuff. It’s absolutely amazing and I’m loving it all. I noticed that the Excalibur crew and ships were mentioned in the Destiny books from time to time, particularly the Ecaliburs battles against the Borg. Firstly, how much input do you have in what gets put in for “your” characters (yeah, I know, it’s not yours in ownership, but you know what I mean 🙂 ) Has it forced you into any changes for future or current plotlines for NF? Also, will we get to see what happened during all of the recent books? I’d love to see what Calhoun did against the Borg 😀
2. I currently run a very tiny internet radio station and wonder what your musical tastes run to? Are you a Rock nut or do you prefer the Dance genre? Jazz? Easy Listening? Violent Death Metal?? Any favourite groups, artists or albums you might wanna recommend?
Hello. I’m a longtime reader of your stuff.
What was the first comic you remember buying/reading? How did it influence you? And what is your favorite comic book memory?
According to the April 2007 thread, a Casper the Friendly Ghost comic in a barber shop. This is also in his Wikipedia article, along with much of the info I added from these threads.
I don’t care if it’s novel, short story, comic, tv, movie or even video game format. Please tell me there’ll be more Sir Apropos. Did the comics sell well enough to have more commissioned?
You seem to have been building a subplot from “Stone & Anvil” through “Treason.”
Is this going to be a big “Blaze of Glory” ending to NF?
Also:
Do you have any plans of playing with NuSkul Star Trek, with Spockler? Or no?
Also Also:
Will we see the Lady Q/Janeway dynamic set up in “Before Dishonor” explored in your books?
What will be your contribution to September’s “Origins of Marvel Comics: X-Men #1”? Do you know the artist with which you’ll be paired? (I’m trying to decide if I want to add it to my pull list.)
I recently read the BID column you did about your work on Aquaman. I just wanted to day I bought the whole run and enjoyed it. I do not get why people gave you heat for it. I really like including Dolphine in the book. Just want to let you know.
Peter, if I am allowed a follow-up…
Have you considered writing any pulp, and what pulps have you read?
PAD: Most of them, I can’t talk about. I can tell you that I’ve written a second episode for “Ben 10: Ultimate Alien” and am going to be doing a third.
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David S: OOOPs! I should have known that there’s a non-disclosure rule regarding pending TV & Film projects.
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Why are there non-disclosure rules that prevent you from talking about upcoming projects? I would have thought that publicizing that a noted author will be contributing a script would be a good thing, stir some interest.
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I certainly seem to see a lot of mentions that so-and-so has been signed to star in such-and-such. And while writers don’t don’t tend to be as widely recognized as actors, there certainly are still mentions of who is attached to write what scripts.
I would hazard to guess that, given the number of changes a project can go through before it’s actually presented to the public, there’s an inclination to wait until it’s in its final form before revealing it to the public. Otherwise, you risk losing an audience before you even get starting, if radical changes occur.
Plus, of course, given that the changes can involve almost complete overhauls of staff and stories, advertising a writer’s involvement can do harm if that involvement winds up being thrown away, and the writer speaks negatively of it. Note the references to Peter’s own experiences trying to write the script for a HOWLING MAD movie years ago, earlier in the comments.
PAD,
Are there going to be anymore NF startrek books?
next one is out Jan 2011, I believe.
Hope it’s not too late to ask a question or two.
1. Are there any artists you’d like to work with at the moment?
2. Would you like to take a crack at writing an episode of the new Young Justice cartoon? I know it’s not exactly the same team, but still!
3. Which movie are you looking forward to more: Captain America or Thor?
Why don’t you do Stash Wednesday anymore?
What happened to the letters page in X-Factor?
Hello Mr. David,
Thank you so much for taking the time to do this. These question and answer topics are some of my favorites, because other people always ask the questions I was wondering about (like when the next New Frontier or Fallen Angel adventures will be coming out) along with questions that never occurred to me before.
I do have two questions for you:
1 – Have you ever been writing a story and affection for the character caused you to change the direction of the story? For example, if you were planning on killing a character or having a tragedy befall him/her and decided to steer the story another way.
2 – About how many hours of therapy do you think it will take to recover from this What’cha Wanna Know?
Who’s the better captain….
Malcolm Renyolds or James Kirk?
The comics field has certain great tandems that seem to go hand in hand ie Morrison/Quitely, Millar/Hitch, JMS/Gary Frank, etc. Is there a certain artist you feel particularly attached to? One who you think best represents your definitive work?
Peter, would it possible to fix the site so that the post/text fields are wider, previews return, and making spaces in between lines requires only using the Enter/Return key, instead of having to remember to insert a period? Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease???
1. Is there a genre or story idea you’ve been wanting to tackle, but found no publisher interested in, so you’re just kind of sitting on it right now?
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2. Personal curiosity for me, but are you aware of/what do you think of the Warhammer 40K universe, and would you ever consider writing a Black Library novel set in it?
Toy Story 3. Do you feel as if this is the end of an era?
I do. I was only five when it came out, I feel as if my younger brothers have missed out on something special.
How long does the angst and heartbreak from the end of a long-term relationship last, and what is the best way to deal with it in the interim?
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[This is a sadly practical matter for me 🙁 ]
Hey Peter,
I was just curious how it’s like working with Claudio on the Amory Wars? Is it any different working with him on his property as opposed to the other established properties you’ve worked on?
Not really a question, just a suggestion re. Potato Moon from a page back. I would say just write the ending if you want (or leave it as is, as I said, not a bad ending right now) and if you want to do another group-writing-thingie (which I thought was a blast), I would say make the cut-off at, like, 60 entrants because it kept fairly on track until around then and then you can structure it as a 3-act plot (20 chapters per act). And if anyone doesn’t make the cut-off they can go into the next one. My suggestion for a fan-fic parody, something to do with Albus Serveus Potter & Co., just cause that is probably the biggest fan-fic out there right now.
Peter:
If needed, I’m available for more Potato Moon, and I would certainly love to participate in another round robin.
Will a sequel for Darkness of the Light be coming out?
Richard:
That was asked and answered back at the beginning of this thread.
Peter said he turned in the manuscript last year, but the publisher has never gotten back to him about it.
How do you know so much stuff about fiction and the real world? I’ve never met anyone who seems to have such a limitless store of arcane knowledge and trivia of the economy, politics, world history, fiction, psychology and morality. How have you absorbed so much information?
I’m not PAD, but I can mention at least some of my thoughts on this one.
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All of us are exposed to massive amounts of random information (“tidbits’o’crap,” in the vernacular) over the course of our lives. The question is really (a) who gets exposed to more vs. less, and (b) who happens to have one of those trap-door minds that lets them RECALL the information fairly quickly.
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PAD’s said many times that one of the keys to being a good writer is to read, and it’s clear that he does. He reads a lot, watches a fair amount of television (based on his posts), and is pretty much always observing his surroundings rather than zoning out. That takes care of the absorption.
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As for the recall, that’s probably luck of the genetic draw. I’ve got that one myself, as do several several of my family members. It’s not an especially lucrative trait unless your name is Ken Jennings, but it’s certainly an entertaining one to have. 🙂
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So that’s my two cents, anyhoo.
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TWL
Is there plans for a Hulk Forever and if not what do we need to do to make it happen?
Did you write Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #6 – ‘Ace II’? There are no credits for some reason. Will Ace ever return? Does anybody else even remember Ace?
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Did you have big plans for Peter Parker’s neighbour, Bambi? You seemed to be setting something up before the wedding happened and changed everything.
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Sorry I seem so obsessed with old Spider-Man stuff. I do like your newer stuff, too. I really do. But I’ve had some twenty years to read these stories over and over, so that’s what I tend to think of.
I can’t find a “contact” link on this site, so please forgive me for asking this here. But I can’t seem to get my comments to post here any more. Is there some kind of activation that I’m supposed to go through? I can’t find where there is information concerning this. Of course, if this comment is lost also, I won’t get an answer. And if this posts, I won’t need an answer. But I’ve wanted to comment and participate, and none of my comments have shown up in the last few months.
It’s one of these, it’s not you it’s us jobbies.
We are working on the problem and I have been trying to clear the cache once a day or so.
Are you going to blog the fireworks display this year?
I’m writing a story set in 1938 and I’m having trouble getting a real feel for the period. I’ve read about the events, cultural movements, and general history. I’ve watched the movies, listened to the music, and read a few books published in that time. Of course, I’ve checked out the golden age comics. But I still feel like I don’t feel like I have a genuine appreciation for what it felt like to be there and then.
Do you have any suggestions?
PAD,
When you leave a book–especially one you’ve written for a long time (Aquaman, Incredible Hulk, Supergirl)–do you find yourself still developing stories or thinking about subplots or characterization? I don’t mean in the “writing ideas down” way, just the process of thinking about the ideas. Or is it easy for you to just stop thinking about the book?
• 
First off, I want to say you’re an awesome writer (product and reaching out to fans) and, something I didn’t know, the writer of my favorite Trek book ever, “Vendetta”.
As for questions
1. As my handle here, and on CCW and CBR indicate, I’m a rugby nut. Any chance of seeing X-Factor playing it (Or other sports, I always liked those intros where the X-Men and Gen X were playing baseball or what have you) I think they could take down Bendis’s Avengers, and not call anyone “Wh**es” while doing it.
2. What exactly from DC has been catching your eye?
3. What genre of writing have you not had a chance to work in that you would like to?
1) That’s not exactly a noir thing for them to be doing. Can’t really see it.
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2) Since I’m exclusive with Marvel, I haven’t really been thinking about what’s attractive at DC.
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3) Western. Westerns would be cool.
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PAD
What do you think of Jim Shooter?
I’ve read many different/conflicting stories/interviews about him ranging from “Champion of Creator Rights” to egotisical task master. Your were there. You would have worked with him. What’s your opinion?
Champion of Creator Rights or egotistical task master? I’d say both, really. Shooter’s a complicated guy and not easily categorized.
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PAD
After your work on Shadow Complex, what is you take on Roger Ebert’s assertion that video game aren’t art and can never be art?
I would say that, once upon a time, there were plenty of critics–not to mention movie producers and writers–who asserted that movies aren’t art and can never be art.
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PAD
Peter,
_
In about, oh, 45 minutes at this rate we’re going to have our second child sticking its head out to say hello.
_
Can you send cash or check if I give you the address?
Congrats, Jerry!
I absolutely can do that, yes. Congratulations. Just remember, if the child sticks its head out and then goes back in, that means six more weeks of summer.
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What the HÊLL are you doing while your wife’s in labor reading my blog? Am I the only one here who thinks that’s kind of strange?
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PAD
Having met Jerry, no. Not at all.
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Besides, don’t you remember how totally useless you were in that situation? Rubbing her feet and doling out helpful advice like “Keep breathing, sweetie.”? And then when it’s over the doctor, just to rub some salt in the wound, offers to let you cut the umbilical cord, yeah, like THAT is going to happen. The baby deflates like a balloon and goes whizzing through the air while nurses try to catch it, no thanks doc.
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Fathers should be forced to go on the internet. Keeps them out of trouble.
Maybe he was in the waiting room, using the Internet on his mobile phone?
And it IS Jerry, after all…
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“What the HÊLL are you doing while your wife’s in labor reading my blog? Am I the only one here who thinks that’s kind of strange?”
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Yeah, it would be strange. Good thing I wasn’t doing that.
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Jenn had Ian via C-Section because he put his hand on his head and blocked the passage way. They debated doing something called a V-Back this go round but decided instead to schedule a C-Section for this morning. We live 15 minutes from the hospital.
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I wrote that while sitting in my living room and waiting for Jenn to finishing going over her personal “must take to the hospital” list.
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Turned out to be more like 2 hours and 45 minutes by the time they finished pulling out all of the red tape/questions/instructions/sign this please that the six hours in their hospital Tuesday was supposed to eliminate but didn’t actually do so though.
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But thanks for wondering about my sanity. You’re not the first and will be far, far from the last.
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🙂
~8?)`
And word on the grapevine is that Aeowyn Elizabeth Chandler was born today at 7:08am weighing in at 6lbs 12oz and 19.5 inches long. Mom and baby are doing well. Dad, if he has a sane bone in his body, is currently sleeping.
Wait a minute. I remember how quickly YOU posted to GEnie after Ariel was born, and posting a bit before besides. I call shenanigans.
This raises the distinction between “can” and “will.”
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Glenn, you’re looking at basic human nature in a nutshell. It’s only strange/wrong/batshit crazy when somebody else does it. It’s fine when we do it. Usually because we know all the details about the times we do it and don’t know the details around when someone else does is.
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Everyone is like that.
Hi PAD
1. When you get an idea for a story, how do know whether to run with it or just discard it as poor and move onto something else? I get loads of ideas for plotlines (including a cool Madrox one!), but I can never judge if it’s “worthy” or not to spend time working on it (sometimes I think, “Would PAD like this”?).
2. Did you check out Misfits yet 😉
Simon.
1) If it sticks in my head and won’t go away, that gives me a pretty good sense that it’s worth pursuing.
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2) Not yet.
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PAD
Hi, Peter!
1.) What are you working on nowadays? Any novels or new comic titles in the hopper?
2.) You and Keith Giffen co-writing an Impossible Man/Ambush Bug mini-series. What do you think?
3.) Any possibility of Space Cases coming to DVD?
Thanks!
Alan
Hello Mr. David
Why don’t Longshot and Shatterstar ever have dialog between them?
Is there some grievance between them I have forgotten?
Thanks
Aren’t they supposed to be father and son?
We don’t know that yet for sure. The two have never appeared together before (as far as I know). What I do know is that a lot of people are anticipating the inevitable dialogue between them.
Wouldn’t it be funny if one or the other left the team without ever having said a word to each other? Or better yet, it turns out that they can’t see nor hear each other?
First, let me apologize for straining your brain and asking about a 4-year-old story, but I coincidentally happened to reread my review of the Untold Tales of the New Universe: Justice one-shot last night. Did you have a specific place in continuity in mind for this issue? As best I can tell, it should probably take place either before or after JUSTICE #17.
PAD,
When you go to a convention, especially the relatively smaller ones like the Motor City Comic Con (any plans to be at one of those in the near future, by the way?), do you (and/or whatever family members may have come along) ever get a chance to see the sights, do the tourist bit, etc? Or is simply a matter of fly in (or drive, if a convention’s close to home), do the convention, and fly out again?
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Rick
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P.S. If you won $100 million, which would you do, use it as seed money for a crime-fighting operation in which you battle criminals while dressed as a bat, while a child accompanies you, dressed in bright primary colors; or give it to me?
Very rarely do I actually get out to see anything. I try to be around for the fans as much as possible. For instance, a friend gave me Cubs tickets when we were at C2E2 but it would have meant leaving the convention for the afternoon, so I sent my wife and kids. The last time I did anything touristy was when I was in Uruguay, and a guy tried to boost my wallet for my trouble, so maybe the universe is trying to tell me something.
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PS–Maybe I’d just give it to you so that YOU could battle crime while dressed as a bat accompanied by a brightly colored child.
I meant do you ever do the tourist bit (go to a ballgame, visit a museum, go to an amusement park, whatever) in addition to the convention. Seems like it might be a way to combine what’s essentially a few days of marketing yourself (the convention itself) with a bit of vacation (maybe a day or two before or after). It’s cool that your wife and kids were at least able to enjoy a baseball game on that one occasion.
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Rick
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P.S. You could give me the money, but the battling crime while dressed as a bat and accompanied by a small child scenario only applies to the first option.
Hey Peter,
will you do any more Doctor Who fiction in the future? When are you going to release your new “Sir Apropos” novel (yes, the one you aren’t allowed to talk about)?
*hoping*
Thanks,
Pascal
Well, I don’t have any plans to do any DW fiction, although I certainly wouldn’t be opposed to it. As for the “Apropos” novel, I think what you’re recalling was the comic book miniseries which came out from IDW.
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PAD
Did you thwack Bendis upside the head for spoiling baby Madrox on wordballon? (I had thankfully already read the issue when I listened to the interview.)
Are there any plans of Wolfsbane returning to X-factor? She is pretty illused at X-force.
I second that motion. She can come back just in time to throw a monkey-wrench into Shatterstar/Rictor’s relationship then kill the hëll out of Madrox/Layla on their wedding night. (That’s what I call a slow-burner of a plotline)
Peter, from your work I only know the Centauri Trilogy from the B5 universe and I really liked those three books, so my questions are related to that:
1 -How much input did JMS have on the whole trilogy main story, character development and general story direction?
2 – Were you pleased with the end result and from today’s perspective would you change anything?
3 Are there any new books set in the B5 universe planned with you involved?
4 – You should do a Cowboy Peter’s edition about Stargate Universe, an excellent sci-fi series that puts characters first and action next.
5 – Congrats to team USA for an excellent world cup, good luck to my team tommorrow against Brasil.
1) He had plenty of input. It was his story; he gave me a good deal of latitude in how to tell it, but it was his story.
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2) Yes, I was. Would I change it today? Well, I’d have to sit down and read it.
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3) Not that I know of.
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4) Didn’t really watch SGU.
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5) Thanks, although the truth is that the only time most people in in America cares about soccer is when we’re in some global competition.
Considering your recent work on X-Factor and how some creators (ok, fine, one creator) reacted to how you were portraying one of his creations how do you handle it when you see someone taking a character or a story line in a direction you did not envision?
You be the judge of how he took it: http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2010/06/20/meta-messages-6/
So Vertigo wants you to make them a new comic. What would you pitch them?
I’m exclusive with Marvel, so it’s moot.
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PAD
Hey, PAD.
Have you ever had an interest in writing Green Lantern? If so, which one of them?
I did write “Green Lantern,” years ago, in Action Comics weekly.
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PAD
Really? Well, then I’ve got some back issues to track down.
It was in issues #608-620.
Peter, as a fan of musicals, I would like to know what are your favourite musicals (mine, in no particular order: Fiddler on the Roof, Les Misérables, My Fair Lady, West Side Story).
“Man of La Mancha.” “Li’l Abner.” “Into the Woods.”
1956, 1964, 1986. Isn’t “Into the Woods” a bit modern for you? (He said teasingly.)
Do you approach writing a novel different then when you are writing a comic book? Do you start with an outline of some kind or just sit down and write until the story ends?
Depends on the novel. Sometimes I outline it; sometimes I just make it up as I go.
Any chance you’ll be selling any of your creator-owned comics digitally (say, through ComiXology’s iPhone/iPad/web store)?
I think “Fallen Angel” is going to be available digitally.
I got 2 for you.
1. I am currently keeping pace with all the new Star trek novels coming out, set in the continuing TNG/TTN Universe, the post-Destiny stuff. It’s absolutely amazing and I’m loving it all. I noticed that the Excalibur crew and ships were mentioned in the Destiny books from time to time, particularly the Ecaliburs battles against the Borg. Firstly, how much input do you have in what gets put in for “your” characters (yeah, I know, it’s not yours in ownership, but you know what I mean 🙂 ) Has it forced you into any changes for future or current plotlines for NF? Also, will we get to see what happened during all of the recent books? I’d love to see what Calhoun did against the Borg 😀
2. I currently run a very tiny internet radio station and wonder what your musical tastes run to? Are you a Rock nut or do you prefer the Dance genre? Jazz? Easy Listening? Violent Death Metal?? Any favourite groups, artists or albums you might wanna recommend?
Hello. I’m a longtime reader of your stuff.
What was the first comic you remember buying/reading? How did it influence you? And what is your favorite comic book memory?
According to the April 2007 thread, a Casper the Friendly Ghost comic in a barber shop. This is also in his Wikipedia article, along with much of the info I added from these threads.
I don’t care if it’s novel, short story, comic, tv, movie or even video game format. Please tell me there’ll be more Sir Apropos. Did the comics sell well enough to have more commissioned?
You seem to have been building a subplot from “Stone & Anvil” through “Treason.”
Is this going to be a big “Blaze of Glory” ending to NF?
Also:
Do you have any plans of playing with NuSkul Star Trek, with Spockler? Or no?
Also Also:
Will we see the Lady Q/Janeway dynamic set up in “Before Dishonor” explored in your books?
What will be your contribution to September’s “Origins of Marvel Comics: X-Men #1”? Do you know the artist with which you’ll be paired? (I’m trying to decide if I want to add it to my pull list.)
I recently read the BID column you did about your work on Aquaman. I just wanted to day I bought the whole run and enjoyed it. I do not get why people gave you heat for it. I really like including Dolphine in the book. Just want to let you know.
Peter, if I am allowed a follow-up…
Have you considered writing any pulp, and what pulps have you read?
PAD: Most of them, I can’t talk about. I can tell you that I’ve written a second episode for “Ben 10: Ultimate Alien” and am going to be doing a third.
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David S: OOOPs! I should have known that there’s a non-disclosure rule regarding pending TV & Film projects.
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Why are there non-disclosure rules that prevent you from talking about upcoming projects? I would have thought that publicizing that a noted author will be contributing a script would be a good thing, stir some interest.
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I certainly seem to see a lot of mentions that so-and-so has been signed to star in such-and-such. And while writers don’t don’t tend to be as widely recognized as actors, there certainly are still mentions of who is attached to write what scripts.
I would hazard to guess that, given the number of changes a project can go through before it’s actually presented to the public, there’s an inclination to wait until it’s in its final form before revealing it to the public. Otherwise, you risk losing an audience before you even get starting, if radical changes occur.
Plus, of course, given that the changes can involve almost complete overhauls of staff and stories, advertising a writer’s involvement can do harm if that involvement winds up being thrown away, and the writer speaks negatively of it. Note the references to Peter’s own experiences trying to write the script for a HOWLING MAD movie years ago, earlier in the comments.
PAD,
Are there going to be anymore NF startrek books?
next one is out Jan 2011, I believe.
Hope it’s not too late to ask a question or two.
1. Are there any artists you’d like to work with at the moment?
2. Would you like to take a crack at writing an episode of the new Young Justice cartoon? I know it’s not exactly the same team, but still!
3. Which movie are you looking forward to more: Captain America or Thor?
Why don’t you do Stash Wednesday anymore?
What happened to the letters page in X-Factor?
Hello Mr. David,
Thank you so much for taking the time to do this. These question and answer topics are some of my favorites, because other people always ask the questions I was wondering about (like when the next New Frontier or Fallen Angel adventures will be coming out) along with questions that never occurred to me before.
I do have two questions for you:
1 – Have you ever been writing a story and affection for the character caused you to change the direction of the story? For example, if you were planning on killing a character or having a tragedy befall him/her and decided to steer the story another way.
2 – About how many hours of therapy do you think it will take to recover from this What’cha Wanna Know?
Who’s the better captain….
Malcolm Renyolds or James Kirk?
The comics field has certain great tandems that seem to go hand in hand ie Morrison/Quitely, Millar/Hitch, JMS/Gary Frank, etc. Is there a certain artist you feel particularly attached to? One who you think best represents your definitive work?
Peter, would it possible to fix the site so that the post/text fields are wider, previews return, and making spaces in between lines requires only using the Enter/Return key, instead of having to remember to insert a period? Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease???
1. Is there a genre or story idea you’ve been wanting to tackle, but found no publisher interested in, so you’re just kind of sitting on it right now?
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2. Personal curiosity for me, but are you aware of/what do you think of the Warhammer 40K universe, and would you ever consider writing a Black Library novel set in it?
Toy Story 3. Do you feel as if this is the end of an era?
I do. I was only five when it came out, I feel as if my younger brothers have missed out on something special.
How long does the angst and heartbreak from the end of a long-term relationship last, and what is the best way to deal with it in the interim?
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[This is a sadly practical matter for me 🙁 ]
Hey Peter,
I was just curious how it’s like working with Claudio on the Amory Wars? Is it any different working with him on his property as opposed to the other established properties you’ve worked on?
Not really a question, just a suggestion re. Potato Moon from a page back. I would say just write the ending if you want (or leave it as is, as I said, not a bad ending right now) and if you want to do another group-writing-thingie (which I thought was a blast), I would say make the cut-off at, like, 60 entrants because it kept fairly on track until around then and then you can structure it as a 3-act plot (20 chapters per act). And if anyone doesn’t make the cut-off they can go into the next one. My suggestion for a fan-fic parody, something to do with Albus Serveus Potter & Co., just cause that is probably the biggest fan-fic out there right now.
Peter:
If needed, I’m available for more Potato Moon, and I would certainly love to participate in another round robin.
Will a sequel for Darkness of the Light be coming out?
Richard:
That was asked and answered back at the beginning of this thread.
Peter said he turned in the manuscript last year, but the publisher has never gotten back to him about it.
How do you know so much stuff about fiction and the real world? I’ve never met anyone who seems to have such a limitless store of arcane knowledge and trivia of the economy, politics, world history, fiction, psychology and morality. How have you absorbed so much information?
I’m not PAD, but I can mention at least some of my thoughts on this one.
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All of us are exposed to massive amounts of random information (“tidbits’o’crap,” in the vernacular) over the course of our lives. The question is really (a) who gets exposed to more vs. less, and (b) who happens to have one of those trap-door minds that lets them RECALL the information fairly quickly.
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PAD’s said many times that one of the keys to being a good writer is to read, and it’s clear that he does. He reads a lot, watches a fair amount of television (based on his posts), and is pretty much always observing his surroundings rather than zoning out. That takes care of the absorption.
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As for the recall, that’s probably luck of the genetic draw. I’ve got that one myself, as do several several of my family members. It’s not an especially lucrative trait unless your name is Ken Jennings, but it’s certainly an entertaining one to have. 🙂
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So that’s my two cents, anyhoo.
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TWL
Is there plans for a Hulk Forever and if not what do we need to do to make it happen?
Did you write Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #6 – ‘Ace II’? There are no credits for some reason. Will Ace ever return? Does anybody else even remember Ace?
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Did you have big plans for Peter Parker’s neighbour, Bambi? You seemed to be setting something up before the wedding happened and changed everything.
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Sorry I seem so obsessed with old Spider-Man stuff. I do like your newer stuff, too. I really do. But I’ve had some twenty years to read these stories over and over, so that’s what I tend to think of.
I can’t find a “contact” link on this site, so please forgive me for asking this here. But I can’t seem to get my comments to post here any more. Is there some kind of activation that I’m supposed to go through? I can’t find where there is information concerning this. Of course, if this comment is lost also, I won’t get an answer. And if this posts, I won’t need an answer. But I’ve wanted to comment and participate, and none of my comments have shown up in the last few months.
It’s one of these, it’s not you it’s us jobbies.
We are working on the problem and I have been trying to clear the cache once a day or so.
Are you going to blog the fireworks display this year?
I’m writing a story set in 1938 and I’m having trouble getting a real feel for the period. I’ve read about the events, cultural movements, and general history. I’ve watched the movies, listened to the music, and read a few books published in that time. Of course, I’ve checked out the golden age comics. But I still feel like I don’t feel like I have a genuine appreciation for what it felt like to be there and then.
Do you have any suggestions?
PAD,
When you leave a book–especially one you’ve written for a long time (Aquaman, Incredible Hulk, Supergirl)–do you find yourself still developing stories or thinking about subplots or characterization? I don’t mean in the “writing ideas down” way, just the process of thinking about the ideas. Or is it easy for you to just stop thinking about the book?