Author: Kathleen David

According to Bob Greenberger’s website (which you can go read for yourself by pressing on the link over on the right), DC is going back to press on the first “Fallen Angel” trade paperback. There’s no more sure indicator of rising interest than that. Now we can only hope it presages a second collection of the obscenely difficult-to-find issues 7-12.

Keep the word getting out there, folks. Issues 19 and 20 are the make-or-break, and we need to take the two month delay and turn it to our advantage. Remember, if every retailer out there orders exactly one copy more than he’s carrying now (and for a goodly number that would mean basically ordering a single shelf copy since many are only ordering sub copies) that alone will get the job done.

PAD

I have signed with IDT Entertainment to write the screenplay for a new GR theatrical project, “Gene Roddenberry’s ‘Starpoint Academy.'” An original Gene Roddenberry concept in conjunction with Majel Roddenberry, “Starpoint Academy” is intended as a full length animated CGI film. IDT exec and Silver Bullet contributor Clifford Meth will be acting as story editor on the project, which is also being seen as a potential springboard for graphic novels and other venues.

I’ll be making more story details and other information public as the script moves further along.

PAD

In a shocking historical moment, one of the two Thanksgiving turkeys pardoned by President George W. Bush has turned in his resignation, preferring to die rather than be pardoned by someone who refused to pardon human beings in Texas. The turkey, “Biscuits,” was promptly drafted and is being shipped to Iraq.

The other turkey, “Gravy,” pledged eternal fealty to Bush and is considered front runner to the first available seat on the Supreme Court.

We’ll be stuffing more into this story as it develops.

PAD

Sears and K-Mart are going to be merging. The only reasonable thing to call the combined entity? Has to be “S-Mart.”

Shop Smart. Shop S-Mart.

I wonder if Bruce Campbell has gotten the call to be the new spokesman.

PAD

That Dave Lopez and Fernando Blanco, thinking that “Fallen Angel” wasn’t going past #18, picked up some work that, it turned out, they then had to swing into before they could get to the new issues of “Fallen Angel.” So several weeks ago it was decided that #19 would ship in March, not February…and no one mentioned it to me.

So out come the February solicits and guess who’s left going, “What the #*@%?!”

Oh well. I suppose the upside of this is two-fold. First off, you come out with a book on time, month in, month out, and fans take you for granted. Get delayed and suddenly everyone’s talking about you. And second, it gives us that much more time to get the word out about “Sachs and Violens” showing up for a two-issue guest stint. When I get some pages in of Dave and Fernando’s rendition, I’ll post them here.

PAD

People are asking me my opinion (God knows why) on the law suit Marvel has filed against City of Heroes claiming trademark violation.

I’m of two minds on it.

One has to be aggressive in protecting one’s trademarks, because–at least it’s my understanding–failure to do so weakens them to the point of possible forfeit. That’s why George Lucas had to go after the US gov’t over “Star Wars” as applied to SDI, even though it was pretty much a lost cause from the get-go.

So if Marvel’s legal beagles genuinely believe their trademark is possibly being infringed, they literally have no choice but to file suit. The outcome itself is almost secondary to taking the action. I do not believe for an instant the notion that they’re doing so just to try and make money from settlements or wins. There are so many more effective and assured ways for Marvel to turn a buck than the wholly unpredictable option of litigation that it’s just too silly a notion for me to accept.

On the flip side, personally–I don’t think they have a leg to stand on. Similarity of characters? They’ve got a far stronger case to go after “The Incredibles” considering you’ve got a team with a superstrong hero, a stretching hero, and a girl who both turns invisible AND projects forcefields. The fact is that certain character traits and powers have become iconic and trying to patrol against them is a waste of time.

I mean, it’s one thing when Marvel went after Dave Sim because of Wolveroach, because that really DID create confusion in the market place. There were really fans, unfamiliar with Cerebus, who saw Wolveroach on the cover and bought the book thinking it was a Marvel tie-in. But no one participating in City of Heroes is looking at characters named Wolviereen and thinking they’re seeing genuine Marvel licensed products.

Hopefully this will be settled quickly and out of court so Marvel doesn’t have to look like a bully while legitimately trying to protect its legal interests.

PAD

Boy, my dance card is full for the next few months.

I’m working hëll bent for leather to finish the first novel in the “Hidden Earth” series for Tor, because over the next few months I have the FF movie adaptation, plus a major new film project that I’ll announce as soon as the contracts are finalized (although word of it has been leaked elsewhere.)

I’ll still be posting on my blog, and will try to respond to as many postings as I can, but understand if questions or such get overlooked. When the crunch is over, I’ll do a brand new Q&A thread so I can respond to questions folks might have.

PAD