This blog notes the passing of James Doohan at the age of 85.
As many of you know, Peter worked with James on his autobiography, Beam Me Up, Scotty. I’m sure Peter will have more to post about this sad event, and the man himself, later.
Feel free to use this as an open thread.
Well, not “back” technically. Down in Florida where my family is vacationing….the “getting to” of which via Jetblue was a horror story that I’ll write up in my next blog entry.
Most of my San Diego “news” has already been posted elsewhere. Yes, “X-Factor,” the continuation of “Madrox,” will be starting up in November. Yes, I’ve signed with Pocket books to do two Marvel novels, “Fantastic Four” and “Wolverine.” Yes, I’ll be leaving the Hulk because my work load has effectively quadrupled, although I certainly wouldn’t rule out coming back to it at some point in the near future.
Overall, had a really good time this year. Made a lot of very positive contacts, had meals with a variety of friends including Marv Wolfman, Len Wein, Mike Richardson, Mark Evanier, Maggie Thompson, Paul Dini, Chris Valada and her son (whose name escapes me, sorry, dude.) Attended fun parties including a Stan Lee bash where I met Dallas Cowboy Darian Barnes, who turned out to be a big fan of my work (he let me hold his Superbowl ring while he checked out my 800 Bowling ring, an action that Barbara Kesel opined had a bizarre subtext she didn’t want to dwell on.) Met John Landis and his son, attended the Eisners, participated in panels, actually walked the entire floor of the dealers room, resisted the temptation to drop $250 on a replica of the Shakespeare bust from “Batman”, meeted and greeted many fans including folks on this board (including various lurkers who I urged to participate), and found the time to buy and read the latest Harry Potter book (which I’ll start a thread on once more people have had a chance to read it, so please don’t comment on it here.)
For me, a high point was having the chance to chat with Ray Harryhausen. I asked him what he thought of today’s CGI effects versus the way it was done in his day. He made a really valid point: That he preferred the monsters and such that he produced in his day, because the fact that they weren’t perfect–but only close approximations of human or animal movement–gave them a nightmarish quality that heightened the fear element. But that the computerized images generated now are so perfect, that they’ve taken the fantastic and rendered them mundane. I think he may well be right.
In any event, more abot the Jetblue horror show later. We’re off now to visit with Shana.
PAD
“Continuity you weren’t expecting”. Coined by Peter at the Comics Weblog at San Diego Comic-Con– which oddly enough, none of the celebrity bloggers are blogging now.
Yes, I’m cheating, I had to wait till I got back to my room. I stopped paying $4.95 an hour for connectivity when AOL went to an all-you-can-download plan.
March 13, 1992
March 13, 1992
Getting ready to hustle out to San Diego. Here’s my schedule at the present time:
Thursday, 4:30 to 5:30 — Comic Book Weblogs
Saturday, 11:30 to 1:00 — Impact University: How to Write and Draw Comics
Saturday, 1:00 to 2:00 – Signing at IDW.
Saturday, 3:00 to 4:00 — IDW Publishing Overview
Sunday, 11:30 to 12:30 – CBLDF panel (I *think* I’m on this.)
Sunday, 1:00 to 2:00 — Marvel Comics’ Spider-Man: The Other
I’ll also be signing at the Claypool table from 4-5 on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, and I’ll be at the Krause Publications/Impact booth as well. I’m not sure of the times on that yet, so we’ll all be surprised.
PAD
In the interest of full disclosure, I will state what most of you already know: I wrote the novelization of “Fantastic Four.” So obviously it’s to my benefit for the film to do well. Anyone who feels that linkage to the film colors my opinion can disregard it as he or she sees fit.
Now–
Just came back from the FF screening in the city. I heard a number of adults crabbing about how terrible it was, and I was left wondering whether they saw the same film I did. I then asked every kid I could find who was in attendance what they thought of it, and kids of (literally) all ages loved it. Girls liked Sue Storm, boys grooved on the Thing and, particularly, the Human Torch. No one loved Reed. But, hey, what else is new?
Whatever you’re expecting in terms of the more mature angle that comic book films have taken, be it “Batman Begins,” “Sin City,” or even the sophistication of X2…to enjoy “Fantastic Four,” you simply have to set the wayback machine in your mind back to when comic books (and movies thereof) were mostly cornball fun. Think “Superman” but without the camp. Some mild spoilers follow:
• 
Recent Comments