PeterDavid.net

For the first time, the original novel will be available as an eBook (trade paper will also be available) with a brand new cover by J.K. Woodward. And in VERY short order, the long-awaited sequel will be coming out as well.

PAD

Preamble: We, the fans and pros of www.peterdavid.net, in order to form a more perfect union of fan/pro interaction, wish to let it be known that: with conventions and the Internet providing extensive opportunities for fan/pro interaction and; with new fans not quite understanding the “rules” and social mores and expectations of conventions and thus feeling uncomfortable or uncertain of what is expected of them and; partly in response to some conventions where fans in general and female fans in particular were targeted for harassment and abuse, and; in order to fill what is perceived as a needed guide for fans and pros to know and/or understand what to expect of each other in order to minimize or eliminate misunderstandings or ill-will; it is hereby resolved that this document will serve as an attempt to fill that need by spelling out the specifics of these matters to the best of our abilities. This is being done unilaterally by an assortment of fans and pros, and all the matters addressed within this document are drawn from genuine, real-life experiences of the participants (as hard as that may be to believe in some cases.) The rights set forth herein are not intended to represent the opinions or policies of any conventions or organizations, and may be considered by some to be merely guidelines. Nevertheless, it is our intent to present a series of simple, common sense, basic rights to which all fans and pros should be entitled.

For the purpose of this document, “fan” will be taken to mean anyone not working professionally in the science fiction/fantasy industry, and “pro” will include writers, artists, actors, or anyone—particularly for the purpose of convention-going—who is an advertised guest and/or panelist and/or is scheduled for autographing sessions and/or is set up with a table at either artist’s alley or the dealer’s room or an exhibition hall. The male pronoun is uniformly used to refer to all pros and all fans, not to give short shrift to the female gender, but simply for convenience sake.

The order in which this list is presented is not intended to reflect on the relative priorities of each right, save for the first one, which we have decided to call:

The Prime Directive

Fans and Pros have the right to be treated by each other with the same courtesy that they themselves would expect to be treated.* Fans and Pros who act like jerks abrogate the right to complain when they themselves are treated like jerks.

*The expectations of masochists notwithstanding.
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Originally published May 10, 1996, in Comics Buyer’s Guide #1173

So imagine my surprise to discover that Space Cases was on the cover of Weekly Variety…

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Now people are bitching because Obama didn’t mention God in his Thanksgiving address?

Here’s a thought: How about people complain because he didn’t mention that we screwed over Native Americans? Certainly that’s certainly as relevant to the day, if not more so.

PAD

A nationally published picture of me as part of the Marvel/Macys team in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. No, that’s not the natural glow of my charisma; that’s a highlight my brother Wally dropped around me in order to make it easier to see me.

PAD

Originally published November 24, 1995, in Comics Buyer’s Guide #1149

And so, as the holidays—which, as we all know, is the time for peace on Earth, good will towards men, and escalating depression among the unmarried population—I once again embark on the belated job of attending to the CBG gift list.

Usually, I incorporate this into BID, and this year is no exception. So let’s see what we’ve got:

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Just a heads up that Peter will be in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade today with the Spider-man Balloon.

just look for this guy

with this Balloon

Have a Happy Thanksgiving

Kath

I was sitting in class in Demarest Elementary School. My teacher was called out of the room and we sat quietly waiting for her return. We heard her voice in the hallway, talking to the Principal. I wondered who was in trouble. Then the teacher walked back in and, looking utterly shaken, she informed us that President Kennedy had been shot and killed. I was terrified, not because of the notion that JFK was shot–I was seven years old and somehow the concept seemed very far away–but because our teacher was fighting back tears and wasn’t entirely succeeding. I had never in my life seen an adult cry. I thought that was something that only kids did; that when you grew up, you outgrew crying somehow.

I learned otherwise that day. When I came home, my mother was crying, and when my father got back in that evening, even his eyes looked red rimmed.

Adults cried. Who knew?

PAD

This is one of my favorite covers, ever.

PAD

Originally published May 3, 1996, in Comics Buyer’s Guide #1172

Some interesting developments on the First Amendment front which I thought I’d share with you folks.

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That sounds pretty bad. Only nine percent of Americans believe in Congress.

I think that’s worth putting in perspective, though. It should be noted that, in various polls:

Thirty-four percent of Americans believe in ghosts. Forty eight believe in ESP. About one third believe in UFOs, and nineteen percent believe in the existence of witchcraft and spell casting.

Is there anything that people believe in LESS than Congress? Fortunately, yes. Only seven percent believe that Elvis is still alive (down from eleven percent in 2002). And five percent (all adults) swore that they saw a monster in their closet. There’s no available data as to how many believed they saw Elvis, or Congress, in their closet.

PAD

Final heads up: My first episode of “Young Justice” airs tonight on Cartoon Network, 6:30 PM Eastern.

Also, my next (and so far, last) episode of “Ben 10″ is tentatively slated for December 9. It’s a pretty major arc episode.

PAD

Originally published April 26, 1996, in Comics Buyer’s Guide #1171

People love to become outraged about Dave Sim… and it is my opinion that Dave loves to outrage them.

He challenged the Friends of Lulu to publicly support the comics seized in the Planet Comics raid, despite the violent images of women portrayed therein. Defying Friends of Lulu to endorse Verotik Comics is kind of like daring Andrea Dworkin to French kiss Andrew Dice Clay.

He adopted a thinly veiled fake-author guise and put together a mysoginist rant blurring the line between personal and fictional opinion.

The thing with Dave is, I learned long ago that what Dave presents to the public is sometimes just for show.  He’s built up a reputation and will sometimes go to extraordinary lengths to support it.

What puts me in mind of this is something to which I referred several years ago, and have since gotten a number of queries on. And that is the Dave Sim Anecdote That Even Dave Doesn’t Know.

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Originally published April 19, 1996, in Comics Buyer’s Guide #1170

Assorted ramblings:

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It’s slated to air this Friday, November 18th, on Cartoon Network at 6:30 PM Eastern time. For those interested, IMDB has an episode description up.

PAD

At a recent West Coast convention, female fans were harassed by a serial groper, who had his membership taken away and was eventually forcibly removed from the convention. By the same token, the abuse that pros have had to suffer at conventions borders on the legendary.

I think it would be an interesting idea to produce a list of simple, basic rights that everyone attending conventions–both pros and fans–should expect. I mean, you’d think that they would be common sense; things that people would just know. On the other hand, the 10 Commandments were pretty common sense too, when you think about it, so I figure if it’s good enough for God…

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On this day, thank you to all veterans, not to mention those currently residing in dangerous territory who will, one hopes, go on to become veterans, for your service to our country.

(Fair warning: Comments along similar lines, not to mention personal anecdotes, are welcome. However I will not–WILL NOT–see this thread degenerate into an acrimonious political thread. Just so we’re clear.)

PAD

Originally published April 12, 1996, in Comics Buyer’s Guide #1169

And now, due to popular demand (well, a couple of people have asked) here’s an installment of a brand new feature which I call:

WEIRD, TWISTED, REASONABLY TRUE COMIC BOOK STORIES

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If one of these “fetal rights” bills passes, granting the concept of personhood, with rights and protections, from the very moment of conception…

Does that mean that a pregnant woman can use the HOV lane if she’s the only one in the car? And if not, why not?

For that matter, if the woman doesn’t know that she’s pregnant yet, gets drunk, falls down a flight of stairs and miscarries, can she be charged with negligent homicide?

PAD

Dear Eddie: (Can I call you Eddie?)

I think it’s no secret that the best thirty seconds in “Tower Heist” are when you and Gabourey Sidibe are endeavoring to crack the safe. The comic chemistry between the two of you was simply masterful. I was suggesting on my Facebook page that the two of you should find a vehicle to work together and a fellow named Richard Kallao suggested an update of “The Odd Couple.”

This, to me, is a brilliant idea.

Not only that, but you could update the concept for the 21st Century.

Sidibe would be the “Oscar” character (you could even call her “Olive” as a call-back to the all female “Odd Couple” of some years back) . You would be the fussy Felix. She’s divorced from her husband. You’re newly separated from YOUR husband. Yes, I know there’s the knock of it being cliche that a guy being neat and tidy = gay, but the hell with it. It’s 2011; embrace the subtext.

The poker buddies could be a who’s who of comic actors. I mean, with all deference to the brilliant Neil Simon, you could pretty much toss out the script for the poker games, set up the cameras, start playing poker for real while ragging on each other, and you’d have comedy gold.

And of course your dates in the second act, the Pigeon brothers, could be played by the Wayans Brothers. Or, if you really want it to go off the rails, Olive met this guy at work and he says he has a brother, so she sets up a double date. And the brothers are played by Wayne Brady and Neil Patrick Harris, who play brothers on “How I Met Your Mother.”

I’d see that movie. I think everyone would. I think it could be one of the top grossing comedies of all time.

PAD