You know, I had just about managed to grasp the notion that DC didn’t believe in the return of Kara Zor-El in “Supergirl” as remotely marketable until I did it, whereupon they canceled the comic and then did it again in a new series…
But Marvel roundly and publicly excoriated my return to the 2099 Universe in “Captain Marvel” as an example of everything that was wrong with my writing (because who gave a dámņ anymore about 2099?). The book eventually wound up being canceled…and now there’s a launch of 2099 one-shots in September. New characters, to be sure, but it’s still aimed at readers who have fond memories of the Marvel future-verse…just as my much-maligned Spidey 2099 guest appearance in “Captain Marvel” was.
I used to take pleasure in being proven right. Now…not so much.
PAD
• 
Heh…it’s easier to take pleasure in it when you’re also taking the paycheck, I imagine.
I don’t blame you.
“…everything that was wrong with my writing”
And yet they keep hiring you (Of course I’m glad they do). Sounds like Marvel is of the “the beatings will continue until morale improves” school of thought. They want you to work for them because you make them money, then they treat you like crap.
Unfortunately, about the best you can do is to take pleasure in the fact that you were right.
I’m going to ask what may be a silly question: If the uppitty ups at Marvel really hated the idea of letting you use Spider-Man 2099, why did they approve the story? Surely these plots are written well in advance so they could have nixed it back when the idea first came up, right? So… what gives? Are they just jerks?
Also… I’ll admit that I missed that storyline. I had stopped reading the title because the characters just didn’t interest me (no fault of your writer, of course, I just didn’t like the characters), but had Marvel publiced a guest shot by Spider-Man 2099, I would’ve picked that up in a heartbeat. I hope my saying so isn’t akin to pouring salt in your wounds. But I always enjoyed the 2099 titles (some of them anyway), and your Spider-Man 2099 title in particular.
What issue of Captain Marvel was that?
Your Supergirl story made more sense given the set-up that Superman was supposed to be the only Kryptonian survivor (of the mainstream universe anyway)—I think it’s just they wanted a 21-yr-old S-Girl to breathe heavy about–I mean look at her new outfit. No SGirl book survived longer than 2 yrs til yours so all these decisions make no sense to me. And while I like Fallen Angel, I wanted Linda back in the ‘S’–I’m only gonna read Fallen Angel and Doom Patrol from now on (can I actually talk about a Byrne book here or is there a rule about that?–he’s ignoring Grant Morrison’s storylines)
I see it more as “It’s been a few years since we put this stuff on a cover, better protect that copyright.”
But that’s just my opinion…and since it’s just a series of one-shots, I don’t expect any follow up to them, kind of like DC’s “Tangent” line a few years ago.
“But I always enjoyed the 2099 titles (some of them anyway), and your Spider-Man 2099 title in particular.”
I must admit, I did too…!
Lou
I have a real affection for Spider-Man 2099. It came out at a time when I was just starting to diversify my reading.
It’ll always have a place in my heart as the comic book title in which the first letter I’ve ever gotten published appeared. I think my letter was published in issue 36 or thereabouts, right around the introduction of Venom 2099.
You know, come to think of it, I’ve only ever had three letters published in comic books, and two of those letters were praise for PAD’s work. (One in Supergirl, the other in Spidey 2099.) I’m just not much of a letter-hack.
Incidentally, the other letter was early in Dan Jurgens’ Sensational Spider-Man run, which was the “Ben Reilly is the real Peter Parker and is now Spider-Man” period. I was filled with praise on that one, too, giving me pause to ask what the heck I was on then. 🙂 Ah, probably just wanted to see my name in print, but part of me did like the freshness of that run.
I seem to have wandered off topic. 🙂 Good times. Good times.
Marvel cannot seem to come up with new ideas for titles these days, so they dig up old ones to try ’em again.
She-Hulk,Iron Fist, Alpha Flight to name a few. I only wish they’d bring back Cloak & Dagger!
At least “Witches” is mostly a new idea for them, though it’ll likely be more of ‘Dr’ Strange and his hot girl sidekicks’…OR maybe it’ll be ‘Dr. Strange’s Angels’…?
But it’s nice to see doc in a comic again, he is Sorcerer Supreme of the Earth, right? Or of this dimension? That should rate him a friggin’ monthly book, IMO.
I’ve said enough for now…I think
Dave
I ve said this before Peter, and please believe i mean it as a compliment; You’re greatest strength as a comic book writer is taking a boring, seldom-used character (supergirl, captain marvel, and the other-wise second strings mutants in xfactor) or a one-trick pony (hulk) and making it a wonderful and exciting read through humor,plot and a strong supporting cast.
The catch-22 of that is that people who dont read the comics cause of a pre-determined bias are likely never to change their mind, part of the reason the new and VERY good She-hulk series wont last long.
Kind of like Clinton bashing the Reagan and Bush policies to get elected and then turning around and using their conservative policies during his own term.
I’m wondering –
“But Marvel roundly and publicly excoriated my return to the 2099 Universe in “Captain Marvel” as an example of everything that was wrong with my writing”
What the hëll kind of idiot promotes their product by saying that it’s no good & the person preducing it isn’t up to the job? (Of course, I’m referring to Marvel, not PAD)
Is Marvel being run from Bizarro world?
“We am bashing product so people am buying it more”
Tom Brevoort said a return of you to Spider-Man 2099 is possible if these sell well. Not so?
Not that I disagree with what you said, because you’re very much right in the Big Two’s ability to get it wrong SO many times, but, even though I jumped for joy when I heard the 2099 Universe is coming back, it’s not true. 2099 in name only. Entirely new mythology, from recent interviews. Which is an incredibly missed oportunity.
“If you’re going to be worried every time the universe doesn’t make sense, you’re going to be worried every moment of every day for the rest of your natural life.”- G’Kar
fwiw, there’s a lot of folks remembering Spidey 2099 very fondly over at newsarama…
http://newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14528
Peter …have you ever thought of or been approached for a Vertigo or MAX title? I mean those books are full of creator freedom, right? You could start anything you wanted…like The Adventures of PAD….or something.
I just think that you could really rip up the numbers in that market. Your stuff always makes me think so I believe in a title that gives you no holds barred, you could make people like me think for days…
So you gonna do “Superboy 2099” for DC?
Heck, I’d setttle for for a PAD-written “Supergirl One Million” limited series, particularly if she’d find her mom. 🙂
KET
Hmmm…this is what really gets me, writers always get the short end of the stick when a title doesn
“Kind of like Clinton bashing the Reagan and Bush policies to get elected and then turning around and using their conservative policies during his own term.”
Y’know, the next time an army of dickweeds claims I make this forum too political, I want this post–shoved into a totally comics thread–remembered.
PAD
“Peter …have you ever thought of or been approached for a Vertigo or MAX title? I mean those books are full of creator freedom, right? You could start anything you wanted…like The Adventures of PAD….or something.
I just think that you could really rip up the numbers in that market.”
I’m not sure what you mean by “Rip up the numbers.” If you mean get big sales, there’s no way. I mean, I appreciate the sentiment,but the numbers are pretty consistent: No one “rips up the numbers” on anything wholly original or novel or innovative. Safe and familiar is rewarded with big sales; wildly different or innovative just gets you low numbers. Even the most popular Vertigo books still way undersold “Supergirl” and “Young Justice” (which were, of course, canceled).
PAD
hmmm…. ‘army of dickweeds’.
i believe that was the working title for a particular sam raimi film…but test audiences found the ensuing visual to be unsettling (at best).
🙂
Charlie:
>>hmmm…. ‘army of dickweeds’.
>i believe that was the working title for a particular sam raimi film…but test audiences found the ensuing visual to be unsettling (at best).
🙂
I just saw Bubba Ho-Tep with Bruce Campbell. A truly bizarre, wacky, surreal, independent film that is now on DVD. I’d recommend it for any Campbell fans or people who enjoy the skewed type of vision that Raimi has shown in some of his creative endevours.
Fred
How much did you know about it ahead of time, or were you informed along with everyone else? Also did they ask you for any advice, comments, setting questions, for the revisited 2099? Not wanting to stir up to many hornet’s next but I am curious.
Peter,
I hate to break it to ya, but the 2099 titles were about as well received in CT as “The New Universe.” Spidey2099 was the only stand out because of the writing and the great art by Rick Leonardi. Marvel’s new 2099 one shots will fail as usual, As much as I would love to see you return to do more Spidey 2099 stories, you an I both know it won’t ever happen.
The fact that you were right, and as usual, they were wrong seems to be an ongoing thing with the Big 2, and it isn’t just you. I watched people drop the X-Books for the last 10 years, and even more drop Green Lantern in the same time frame……Ut Oh, time to call Chris Claremont, and figure out a way to bring Hal Jordan back.
Give it a year or two you’ll be back on Hulk,
Aquaman,and Supergirl when the boneheads realize how badly they messed up a good thing.
Until then, we’ll read your X-Factor reunion in Madrox, Fallen Angel, Spy Boy, and patiently whittle away the time til your next novel sees print. We’ll take what we can get until the powers that be wake the hëll up.
Thanks for years of entertainment,
Pete Chuka
Bridgeport, CT
“No one “rips up the numbers” on anything wholly original or novel or innovative. Safe and familiar is rewarded with big sales; wildly different or innovative just gets you low numbers.”
…although I always find it ironic how both ‘Big Two’ publishers will twist the hype to this creative BACKPEDALLING, to make belive it’s a sudden innovation:
“It’s the 2099 universe, only it’s NOT the old one you knew!”
“It’s Kara Zor-El, only she’s NOT the old one you knew!”
KET
Spider-Man 2099 was my favorite of the 2099 books.
Favorite issue of Spider-Man 2099 was where Miguel had to get his mother away from the Thorites, and succeeded in confusing the heck out of them with aplomb.
I was ROTFLMAO over that particular issue.
Thanks, Peter
Steve Chung
argh! there’s a Spidey 2099 appearance in Captain Marvel? What issue? I only ask because this weekend through the “magic of the internet” *coughcough* I read all 46 issues of Spidey 2099 in about 2 days straight. So I’m so up for seeing how Captain Marvel incorporated the 2099 verse into it.
just a note to PAD on Spidey 2099 (which I had never read before) – Bravo. My favourite issue was the one where the Spider-Man accolyte threw himself off a building waiting to be saved by Spider-Man. That was pretty great stuff. I wonder, though, did you always intend for the guy to go SPLAT or did you want to have him saved by the Net Prophet in the end?
Marvel cannot seem to come up with new ideas for titles these days, so they dig up old ones to try ’em again.
She-Hulk,Iron Fist, Alpha Flight to name a few
———————–
I’m enjoying the new She-Hulk series. “Supernatural Law” with Superheros. This month Spider-Man sues the Daily Bugle for libel.
David
I loved “Spider-Man 2099”. In fact, I loved the whole 2099 universe.
Unfortunately, I stopped buying comics a few months after Fantastic Four 2099 started.
Off topic but…
How did FF 2099 work out anyway? Did the FF make their way back to the present? How did they get to the future? Did they ever encounter Doom in 2099? Has it ever been mentioned in mainline FF continuity?
There’s a Spidey 2099 appearance in Captain Marvel? What issue?
Vol. 3, #27-30, the “Time Flies” storyline.
Corey
I’m reminded of the stand-up comic in the 80s who, commenting on the then popular Don Johnson look (stubble and a t-shirt under a suitcoat), said “My uncle used to sit around on the stoop in a t-shirt with three days growth of beard, and we thought he was just a slob. Now I know he was a man ahead of his time.”
What exactly is a dickweed?
You don’t wanna know.
Maybe if you payed attention you’d have noticed this was a ressurection of only the 2099 name, not the actual characters. I would have to agree with the current Marvel regime that those characters were pretty worthless, I read the first 20 or so issues of Spider-Man 2099, can’t remember a dámņëd thing about the character except his name. Not what I would call memorable.
This one at least has something interesting to offer, Kirkman’s really got me into Invicible and if Mutant 2099 is half as good as Invicible it’ll be 10 times better than any of the original 2099 books, no matter how much the net-fanboys loved that line of junk.
I’m sorry, I felt really betrayed by all those 2099 books I bought. The future was so generic and lame. Oooh, evil corporations control the future! Like I haven’t seen that a billion times in sci-fi since Blade Runner(my first exposure to the cliche, sue me). When you base an entire line on one cliche, it’s bound to suck. The future of the first Marvel 2099 was utterly without redemption IMO. It could’ve been really fun. Instead it beat you over the head with lame grim n’ gritty BS. Vulture’s a cannibal! Oohh!
Hopefully this vision of the year 2099 won’t suck.
Marvel current crew has made mistakes, using Mark Millar on anything is a mistake, hiring Bryan Hitch to do a monthly comic is a mistake, continuing the monthly pamphlet format is a mistake, but this doesn’t look to be one of them.
JAM,
Mark Millar, a mistake? I’ll grant you Brian Hitch on a monthly is a mistake, but Millar, no way!!! You may not like his style, that’s your choice, but the guy is a proved hit & sells very well. when millar writes, marvel makes money, so the more titles you give him the more $$$ marvel makes. that is never a mistake.
I agree the 2099 line did suck, but that isn’t really the writers fault. just like the new universe, 2099 was an editorial concept & the writers have to work w/in the parameters.
Joe
Face it, Mr. D. That’s the reason why you write novels, short stories, even gaming articles (although I haven’t yet found that D&D version of Sir Apropos of Nothing). Each kind of writing gets its own particular kind of abuse.
By doing different kinds of writing, you’re varying the places of your psyche where your employers abuse you. That gives each part of your soul a chance to heal. If you only worked in comics, f’rinstance, the top of your head would be dented in by now. By getting abused by film producers, book publishers and the like, your head has a chance to regain its normal shape.
While i do know what a dickweed is i have no idea what certain online shorthand for want of a better word means.ROLFMAO,IMO,LMAO all sound or look sound i would make puking.Why the shorthand????
Back to the point,that does seem like a wicked ballslap to give some one a hard time for something thats “wrong ” with their writing and then bring back the same concept.Dont read the Batman/Superman comic but it seems kinda silly
to cancel(kill ?)Supergirl then bring her back as a Britney/Jessica simpson lookalike to get the drooling fanboy qoutient.Or better yet bring in John(im good just ask me) Byrne ,and Chris(never met a drawn out solliqouy and reference to Capt.Britain i didnt like )Claremont to a book cause they sell LOTSA COMICS!!!!
Realize economics come into play but dámņ ,how can you continue to bìŧçhšláp creativity and expect talented folks to stick around??
Uhhhhh… D&D version of Sir Apropos? Teach me, Obi-Wan, of what you speak.
Uhhhhh… D&D version of Sir Apropos? Teach me, Obi-Wan, of what you speak.
Sorry for the double post. My computer farted.
“I only ask because this weekend through the “magic of the internet” *coughcough* I read all 46 issues of Spidey 2099 in about 2 days straight.”
I would say its impossible to Rip up the numbers with that kinda crap…support your favorite Artist/Creator!!! Doesn’t matter if its music or books or movies…buy it.
I was sooo jazzed when i first heard that 2099 might be coming back… but now i’m disappointed. This line no longer uses any of the established characters and instead creates a whole new line sharing only the name. How well will this work? who knows. I’m not sure i want this 2099. I may not have liked the entirety of the old 2099 but it had a style and contained feel to it… I’ll look at these in the shop and see how i feel about em.
2099 was a great concept, and PAD’s Spider-Man 2099 was the best of the books. It got ruined at the end by management (they fired the editor who started it all, Joey Cavalieri, and new writers took over and wrecked it).
PAD, seriously, if they asked you to come back to 2099, would you do it? And would you only want to do the “classic” 2099 (seeing as how this new version is a totally different continuity)? I really, really want to know, please answer.
Oh, sorry, don’t get me wrong…the new She-Hulk comic is fantastic! It’s just that the House of Ideas likes to recycle their old ideas…
Dave
:::::::::::::::
Marvel cannot seem to come up with new ideas for titles these days, so they dig up old ones to try ’em again.
She-Hulk,Iron Fist, Alpha Flight to name a few
———————–
I’m enjoying the new She-Hulk series. “Supernatural Law” with Superheros. This month Spider-Man sues the Daily Bugle for libel.
David
This is just another Right Wing conspiracy aimed at PAD! 😉
Seriously, I was a little dispointed not to see PAD’s name attatched to any of these titles. I would have thought he’d be the first person Marvel would have contacted in regards to a tribute to 2099. Oh well, it’s Marvel and a lot they do doesn’t make much sense.
Oh, for heaven’s sakes. Maybe if everybody actually checked out the newsarama.com story on this at least a few of you would realize:
A.) It’s a totally different concept. Even Punisher 2099 isn’t the Punisher 2099 we knew
B.) It is all being written by a writer a lot of people seem glad to get the assignment
C.) Feelings are actually split on whether the original 2099 universe was actually any good, so it’s not like Joe Quesada suddenly shouted out, “Here’s a beloved idea that is going to outsell “Astonishing X-Men” and “Superman”. It’s an original conceot tied into the Marvel Knights line
D) Quite a few people – a lot, actually – cite PAD’s “Spider-Man 2099” as a title they think should be collected in TPB to coincide with the new 2099 release in September.
So why not, I don’t know, go to newsarama.com and agree with them (or in your case thank them PAD) instead of just having another “let’s bash Marvel and DC” session.
With all the talk about all the other stuff you write no one seems to be commenting on “Soulsearchers” from Claypool. How long have you been with them, a million years? Though small, they, at least, appreciate your talent. Never thought Bridget and Baraka would tie the knot. Glad to see I was wrong.
I seem to recall JQ saying (in response to your letter) that 2099 wasn’t a big deal because it was “defunct,” (hence the reason why the return of the 2099 characters/settings in CM wasn’t advertised well). Something like that. And, well, he did have a point there. You probably would have had better luck using characters from Age of Apocalypse, (which is also technically “defunct,” even though some of those characters keep cropping up in places). Why they’ve decided to revive 2099 now is anybody’s guess. Superheroes in the present, superheroes in the future, it’s all the same to me. DC and Marvel must drive themselves batty (and spidery, respectively) trying to come up with ways to keep superheroes interesting. It’s not easy, I’d wager. Heck, I love superheroes, and I’ve been losing interest lately. Maybe I’m getting old.
I think the reason I’ve become a PAD fan is because he’s not afraid to allow (and sometimes force) a character to change. Who could have predicted all the changes Hulk went through? Aquaman losing his hand? Supergirl sprouting fiery wings? Captain Marvel going insane? Any of Young Justice? And the best part is that PAD *sticks* to these ideas, lets them run their course. It makes me feel like the characters are on a journey. Honestly, if a character’s not going anywhere, why the hëll should I come along for the ride, only to know where we’d end up, (which would be right where we began)?
With these specials coming out, Marvel seems to be testing the waters for a potential audience. If it’s going to be successful, (i.e., good enough to launch a couple ongoing titles), it will probably be due to the younger readers who haven’t been exposed to the older material, rather than the older readers who allowed 2099 to die off to begin with. (Perhaps this is a good opportunity to publish previous 2099 material in trades?)
It is kind of suspect that, two years after declaring that 2099 wasn’t worth advertising, here they are making a big event out of it. (And I actually find it annoying that DC is doing the Kara Zor-El thing pretty much right after PAD’s. And just how many Supergirls currently exist in the DC Universe anyhow?)
PAD, got any other ideas that Marvel shot down? I doubt we’ve seen the last of them.
Scott,
I understand what you’re saying. I really do. PAD always has a plan with his books, and it is a wonderful journey more often than not. And, obviously the less “iconic” characters are able to be played with nore, which meand PAD can do more with them and REALLY tell the stories he wants to tell.
But unfortunately, right now, when comic readership is still relatively low, it is hard for ANYTHING new to break through. marvel hyped the hëll out of their Tsunami line, and even though “Runaways” and “Sentinel” in particular were well-received by critics, were talked about in WIZARD and chatted up endlessly by Joe Quesada, all of the titles from that line are gone, EXCEPT a Spider-related book”Venom”, and two X-related books “Emma Frost” and “Mystique”. There were abunch of other titles like “Namor” and “Human Torch” ,and they tried to do some with a manga style. Yet the only ones that made it to now are the latest offerings in marvel’s two major tent poles. So marketing deoesn’t always help. It’s difficult to get retailers and fans to change their habits.
THAT is why I would desperately LOVE to see PAD reintroduce himself to fans who have jumped on board the last few years and have no idea who he is. Hopefully “Hulk” will do it. I feel when, not if,he gets another “blockbuster hit” book on his hands, sales on his other projects will rise as a result.