Category: But I Digress…

“The TruBatman Show,” Part 2

Posted By: Peter DavidPosted On:

digresssml

Editor’s note: Part 1 of this story was published on this site December 28 and can be found here. We’re getting back to the regular schedule of posting classic BID columns. Part 3 (of 3) will appear on Monday.

Originally published July 17, 1998, in Comics Buyer’s Guide #1287

“The TruBatman Show, Part 2”

The arctic wasteland stretched before him.

Bruce Wayne drew the white camouflage more tightly around himself, approaching the entrance he knew was waiting for him. He’d been there before, any number of times, but it had always been under carefully controlled circumstances. It had never been like this, never in some sort of skulking manner. And never, ever, under a circumstance where he felt that he could trust no one.

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“The TruBatman Show,” Part 1

Posted By: Peter DavidPosted On:

digresssmlOriginally published July 10, 1998, in Comics Buyer’s Guide #1286

“The TruBatman Show”

We have a world that is possessed of infinite capability for amusement. Our people can sit for hours, even days, wrapped in worlds of holovids and endless possibilities. And I, one of the greatest scientists of our age—have decided that that is wrong. That we have lost touch with reality. Because we have become so enamored with fiction—we have lost sight of the simple, enriching joy of fact. This was my first, greatest concern when I embarked on this grand adventure which has captivated millions. We wanted it—and we needed it…

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The Illusion of Change

Posted By: Peter DavidPosted On:

digresssmlOriginally published July 3, 1998, in Comics Buyer’s Guide #1285

“The illusion of change.”

That’s what Stan Lee always said was the secret to Marvel storytelling. Make it seem as if things were changing in the life of a character… but, in point of fact, have them remain exactly the same. It’s a terrific theory, and creators and publishers still abide by it.

However, at this point it may have led to a readership that is so jaded that it’s hard to convince readers that anything matters anymore.

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Creative Differences, part 2

Posted By: Peter DavidPosted On:

digresssmlOriginally published June 26, 1998, in Comics Buyer’s Guide #1284

I was speaking last week of my favorite gags.  These were concepts, notions, dialogue, or whatever that I came up with which, for whatever reasons, were overruled and tossed.

Favorite Lost Star Trek Subplot: I do a series called New Frontier for Pocket Books.  We launched it last summer, and Paramount let the first four books sail through with virtually no changes.  The books did very well.  Naturally, that meant that when books #5 and #6 showed up, it was time to start gutting stuff.

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Creative Differences, part 1

Posted By: Peter DavidPosted On:

digresssmlOriginally published June 19, 1998, in Comics Buyer’s Guide #1283

“Creative differences” happen all the time.

The term has become something of a catchphrase to encompass a wide variety of reasons why someone leaves a particular project. It’s nice, it’s non-inflammatory. It doesn’t assign blame; it simply says that two (or more) parties were unable to see eye-to-eye on a situation, something had to give, and one of the parties simply threw up their hands and walked away.

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Movie review: Godzilla

Posted By: Peter DavidPosted On:

digresssmlOriginally published June 12, 1998, in Comics Buyer’s Guide #1282

In considering Godzilla, I’ve decided that–rather than depend upon my own opinions–I’m going to fall back on the experts. See what they have to say.

First: professional movie reviewer Mark McEwen.

In a full-page ad for Godzilla, McEwen of CBS This Morning is quoted. It’s an opinion that the marketing folks were so proud of that it leads off the ad without sense of irony. McEwen’s pull-quoted description of the movie was:

“The A-Ticket Ride of the Summer!”

Now…

Let’s think about this.

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“Seinfeld, P.I.”

Posted By: Peter DavidPosted On:

digresssmlOriginally published June 5, 1998, in Comics Buyer’s Guide #1281

And now, the pilot of Jerry Seinfeld’s next series…

seinfeld, p.i.

“I got us a client, Jerry.”

I looked up from my Superman comic book, as my partner, George, walked into our impeccably neat office. The door had the words “Seinfeld and Costanza, Private Investigators” stenciled on the glass. George clapped his hands together briskly, swinging the door shut behind them. “Her name’s Elaine Benes. Says her husband’s cheating on her. We got a client!” His excitement seemed to convulse his entire stubby body.

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