Occasional Links: The Hank Pym, Superstar Edition

Despite Fan B**tching, Spider-Man's Brand New Day Top Of Sales


Amazing Spider-Man #546 made the top of Diamond's sales charts for January, followed close by Hulk #1. Marvel took 9 of the top ten slots; Dynamite Entertainment's Project Superpowers #0 made an impressive showing in fourth place.

The DC titles that managed to crack the top 20 were Justice League of America #17, Batman #673, and Countdown #16.

And Dan Slott had three books in the top ten, and four in the top 30. Go, Slott!



GI Joe's Red, White, and Blue Is Gone?



The MTV Movie blog has what might be the first picture of the new GI Joe logo -- and its patriotic red, white, and blue have been replaced by silver and black.

I understand the need by Hasbro to extend the popularity of GI Joe beyond the USA. But...

Maybe I'm just nostalgic. Was watching the old cartoons the other day.


The Joker Returns

The New York Post ran an article called "Cruel Joker" about the decision to release action figures and other Dark Knight merchandise despite actor Heath Ledger's death:

"Heath Ledger lives on - as an evil 6-inch figurine."

I love how the Post just reduces things...

Anyway, here is the Joker action figure...what do you think?




"Shaun of the Dead" director to helm Ant-Man?


Could Shaun of the Dead director Edgar Wright be up for directing the Ant-Man movie?

Wright told Empire Magazine:

"I finished the script and I'm having a meeting about it next week, but it depends which comes first in the queue basically. I've been working on two at once, and I'm also about to start developing two more scripts, one of which is with Simon (Pegg). It could be Scott Pilgrim [Scott Prilgrim’s Precious Little Life] is next or it could be Ant Man, we shall see."

In other news, there's going to be a Scott Pilgrim movie...


Video: William M. Gaines Interview from late 1980s


Some interesting stuff to point out in this interview:

* Gaines says in the interview that he has no plans to ever accept advertising in Mad, because of the conflict of interest. Of course, that has now changed post-Gaines.

* Gaines also says he would never license Mad out for other products:

"I just think that sucking every last buck out of a product with merchandising is not neccesarily the way to go and Mad doesn't do it."


As we can see by the current DC Direct Alfred E. Neuman and Spy Vs. Spy toys, this is another big change from the Mad Magazine of yesteryear. However, to be fair, I did remember playing with a Mad Magazine board game as a youngster (it kicked ass).

* Gaines refused to do market research, because he was afraid that if they knew the exact demographics, they would sub-consciously start writing to target that demographic.

* Gaines (and company) on the sale of Mad to Time Warner:

Gaines: "I didn't sell Mad to Warners, I sold it to somebody who sold it to Warners..."

Staffer: "Like the Contras deal..."

* Gaines was required by Warners to have a yearly physical; he regularly sent another staffer to take his place.

Occasional Interviews: Dan Slott On Spider-Man's "Brand New Day"

I had a chance recently to chat with new Amazing Spider-Man writer Dan Slott about "Brand New Day," his first comic book memory...and wheatcakes.

OS: Dan, were you a fan of Spider-Man? Did you read the comic as a kid?

SLOTT: Oh God, I love Spider-Man! My cousin had this comic book collection when I was a kid...back then I didn't know you could even buy comic books, I just thought of his stash as this magic comic collection. And he lent me comics, and that's how I started to read them.

And then I found out that Spider-Man was "appearing" at the 7-Eleven in my home town. It was like I could hear "Ave Maria," I was so excited. And even though I didn't have any money on me, I must have spent like the entire day at the 7-Eleven, choosing the best comic that I would bring up to Spider-Man to sign. Then I rushed home and asked my dad if he could give me any money to buy the comic book, and right then and there he gave me my first allowance, 25 cents.

I camped out early the day of the Spider-Man appearance, even though it turned out like only three people showed up. I wanted to make sure I got there early so I could see him swing down from the skies. I was actually looking to the skies. And then this pick-up truck drives down the freeway, and they've got Spider-Man standing in the back with his arms akimbo. The truck stops and he jumps off and lands in a perfect Spider-Man squat. I was awed and scared to talk to him, but he was really nice.

Ever since then, comics became a weekly habit for me. The comic books I read back then are long gone now -- I read them so much their covers disintegrated. They totally fell apart.



OS: So how does it feel now that you're actually writing the character?

SLOTT: It's still unreal to me. I know the book exists, I've held the pre-production copies in my hands...but there's still that disconnect. I'm just so close to the Dream, you know?

OS: Okay Dan, speak to my blog readers directly and tell them why they should pick up "Brand New Day." Talk to them fan-to-fan, like you were in a comic book store with them.

SLOTT: I would ask them to shake their inner Etch-A-Sketch and just give the book a chance. Imagine the art team that brought you Civil War -- Steve McNiven, Dexter Vines, and Morry Hollowell -- finally reunited. And the happy idiot who brought you Spiderman & Human Torch, She-Hulk, and Avengers Initiative on board on writing chores as well.

OS: Let's move on to the mysterious new superheroine on the block, Jackpot. Now, she first debuted in 2007's Free Comic Book Day issue "Spider-Man: Swing Shift"...

SLOTT: Well, that original FCBD comic actually gave away a little too much of the original "One More Day"/"Brand New Day" storyline -- and had to be edited. But on January 30th, the Director's Cut of "Swing Shift" will come out -- fully restored with the original script.

Now, if you're really interested in Jackpot, you should read Mark Guggenheim's three-part arc in February. A lot is revealed...and questions are answered and raised.

OS: How do these arcs work exactly, in terms of who gets to work on what?

SLOTT: Each creative team gets a turn each month -- one arc per month. So we all get to shine.

OS: Where did "Wheatcakes" come from? I'm referring to the line Peter gives in the first issue of "Brand New Day" to Aunt May: "What, no wheatcakes?"


SLOTT: That's actually a reference to Spidey's first appearance in Amazing Fantasy #15. Aunt May tells Peter, "I cooked your favorite breakfast, Peter -- wheatcakes!"

Now what I think is interesting about that issue is that Uncle Ben has only like two lines -- and yet he's probably one of the most important characters in the Spider-Man mythos. Ben's like the Obi Wan Kenobi of the Spider-Man universe. We -- and Peter --only know him for a short time, but he's really important.



OS: What's the coolest thing about working on Amazing Spider-Man for you?

SLOTT: Seeing all of the art as it comes in. Never in my life have I seen such a Murderer's Row of artists stroll right in from the Wizard Top Ten. It's very exciting.

OS: Now, you have a couple of appearances coming up in New York, right?

SLOTT: Yes, I'll be signing copies of Amazing Spider-Man #546 at Jim Hanley's Universe at 4 West 33rd Street this Wednesday January 9th from 5:30-8:00.

Then on Tuesday January 15th at the Comic Book Club live weekly talk show is going to have a Amazing Spider-Man "Brand New Day" event with all four writers: Bob Gale, Marc Guggenheim, Dan Slott and Zeb Wells. Plus ASM Editor Steve Wacker! This will be held at The People's Improv Theater on 154 West 29th Street, 2nd Floor, and admission is $5:00.

OS: Well Dan, I've been following your comic career just about from from its beginning -- Marvel, Acclaim, DC, and now full-circle with Spider-Man. I'm proud of you & I wish you the best of success.

Dos Squirrel Girls

First, a clip from the Fantastic Four cartoon featuring...Squirrel Girl! (no, actually, she just has a cameo as -- you guessed it -- a rejected superhero. The clip actually features a certain green-skinned lawyer. And dig Johnny Storm screaming like a little girl!)

Second, check out preview pages from the Dan Slott story in the upcoming "Deadpool/GLI Summer Fun Spectacular"

I am in awe that Marvel lets Dan get away with this hilarious but no less scathing critique of the emo-izing of Speedball.

Slott!

Note to online comic reviewers: Dan Slott reads his reviews. And if you rip him a new one -- like Comic Slop did with his last She-Hulk issue -- don't be suprised if the dude responds.

Comic Slop:
"Slott immediately turns the character in a strumpet--she has two one-night stands in four issues and attempts another with Wolverine, who tells her--and Marvel's intended nine-year-old audience--he doesn't want 'Juggernaut's sloppy seconds.'"

Slott:
"No. Nine-year-olds are not the intended audience for SHE-HULK. I have actually made a point of that at comic signings, letting parents know that this is a book their wee-ones should NOT be picking up."

And Slott:
"Starting with #15, the character has been promiscuous-- maybe even recklessly so. She's had two flings and tried to initiate a third. If you want to call a person-- who's come off a longstanding-but-failed relationship and then played around with 2 lovers-- a "strumpet", that's your call. I don't think this would even be an issue if the protagonist of this comic were a man."

Huh.

I like "Squirrel Girl," personally.

(with thanks to David The G.)