Mark Sable

You can find me on tumblr now

2011-03-21T08:44:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone...

For the foreseeable future, I'm going to be shifting my blogging over to http://marksable.tumblr.com/.

It seems that's where all the cool kids are at these days. I reserve the right to come back here if that changes, but I think I'm reaching more people there. I hope to be posting there a lot more frequently than I have here, and really make it a destination worth coming to more often. If you haven't had a chance to check it out, please do. And as always, if there are things you want me to post (process stuff about a particular comic, for example), let me know.

Emerald City Comic-Con

2011-03-04T03:22:00.000-08:00

GRAVEYARD OF EMPIRES (and GROUNDED, and AMAZING SPIDER-MAN) artist Paul Azaceta and I will be at Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle THIS WEEKEND, March 4-6 2011, at Table G-25.

We’ll be showing off art from Graveyard, Paul will be sketching, and I should have copies of all my books for sale. That includes RIFT RAIDERS, my Kickstart book with Julian Totino Tedesco (pictured above). Rift Raiders sold out from Diamond, and while it will be re-solicited, if you are there this may be your only chance to to get a copy until June.

If there’s anything you’d like me to bring in particular (some single issue of GROUNDED or FEARLESS, for example), let me know. But as much as I like to sell stuff, the reason ECCC is one of my favorite cons is the fan interaction. It’s more comic-centric than most cons, and while well attended it’s still intimate enough to actually converse. I’m always happy to chat comics, please come by and say hello.

I should also mention there will be a number of my collaborators there besides Paul, including Sean Murphy (Teen Titans: Cold Case, Joe the Barbarian), Jeremy Haun (Two-Face: Year One) and Matthew Southworth (What If? Spider-Man, Stumptown). Matthew did fill-in work on Spidey which I've never gotten to thank him for.

All will be happy to sign. Too many friends to name, and overall one of the strongest talent lineups I’ve seen.

I'll be reachable and try to update my goings on via Twitter.

(Sorry - this is pretty much the same post I put up on Tumblr, but I'm not fully packed and I'm leaving for the airport soon).

GRAVEYARD OF EMPIRES

2011-03-03T10:50:00.001-08:00

I'm pleased to officially announce my next creator-owned book, GRAVEYARD OF EMPIRES, the first issue of which is coming this June from Image Comics. It's illustrated and co-created by Paul Azaceta, artist of my first book, GROUNDED, as well as my most recent, WHAT IF? SPIDER-MAN.

I think it's both of our best work, and in many ways it feels like my career is coming full circle. Five years after GROUNDED, with a lot more work under our belt, we bring a lot more to the table. This is also a collaboration in the true sense of the word. Paul has had significant input into the story, and I'm hitting him hard with reference and trying to push the boundaries of what either of us has done on the page. Definitely a case where the whole will be better than the sum of the parts.

Here's the solicit:

Afghanistan. Marines face a never-ending onslaught of Taliban. But even hell can get worse. The dead are coming back to life in The Graveyard of Empires, and only together can both sides of today’s conflict survive tomorrow’s undead assault.

It's full color, with 32 full pages of story at the incredibly low price of $2.99. DC and Marvel titles at $2.99 will only give you 20 pages of story these days.

We're looking at "Criminal" model for this book. Basically, to publish it in volumes or seasons. This volume will be 3 issues, and offer a complete story (which will be the equivalent of at least 4 22 page issues), with a beginning, middle and end. If there's demand for it, we have plans for sequels.

This is not just another zombie book. Yes, if you like zombies, you'll get them, and you'll see them used in unique ways. But this is first and foremost a war comic. Paul and I did an incredible amount of research, and I think you'd be hard pressed to find a comic that depicts the reality of war in Afghanistan.

(It's crazy to me that at a time when we are fighting two wars there are little or no war comics -"Garth Ennis' Battlefields, set in WWII, is a notable exception - let alone contemporary ones.)

The pitch for this was "Hurt Locker" meets "Dawn of the Dead". The first issue is certainly closer to the former than the latter. And, like Dawn of the Dead, while it is a genre piece, the zombies serve as a metaphor for something called "insurgent math".

Kill an insurgent, and you are likely to create 10 more - you've pissed of his family and friends, and possibly caused collateral damage to civilians he may be hiding among.

Kill someone in an area where the dead are returning alive, and they'll come back as a zombie, biting and infecting you and your friends, creating more zombies and perpetuating a different kind of endless war.

As seriously as we took the research, this should still be a fun, action-packed book.

I will have more to say and post about this soon, both here and on my new Tumblr blog. Paul and I will also be at Emerald City Comic Con this weekend at table G-25, March 4-6, 2011, where we'll have art to show you and be happy to chat about this.

Listen to me on Meltdown Comics MELTCAST

2011-02-20T22:38:00.000-08:00

Ever since I've had an apartment in LA, Meltdown Comics on Sunset has been my primary comic book retailer. Yes, it helps that I live a few blocks from there. But, as dorky as it is to admit...the fact I could walk to a comic book store did play a role in picking where I live when I'm on the West Coast.

Picking up comics on Wednesday (for those of you who don't read comics regularly) can be what helps you make it through get over the hump of a long week. It gives you something to look forward to Monday and Tuesday when Friday seems so far away.

But for me, Meltdown isn't just a place where I pick up my books, it's a destination. I work from home, primarily, so it's an excuse for me to get out of the house. But even if it weren't for the comics, or the oasis it represent from work, it would still be a great place to hang.

There are great events there, from signings to art exhibits to comedy shows. Most of which have free alcohol. Having grown up in an era when comics were dorky, it still blows my mind that it's considered a cool place to hang out, even for - maybe especially for - civilians. You can take your girlfriend there without having her feel out of place.

(Let me take a quick break here to say that Meltdown is by no means the only great comics store in LA. I'm sure I'll leave some out, but I'd note that Ryan Gottlieb's Golden Apple on Melrose is super well stocked and run, and Ed Greenberg's Collector's Paradise in Winnetka - the valley - is as well, in addition to being kid friendly. And when I'm in Manhattan, I always love stopping by Jim Hanley's Universe in the shadow of the Empire State Building, where Vito and friends have included me in some fantastic signings. I promise I'll give them some ink here at another time, as they've been great to me as well.)

As much as I enjoy the events (particularly when they are about me and my work), it's the weekly conversation I look forward to the most. It's rare to walk in there and not run into a fellow comic creator. In an industry where we're spread all over the world, and in a city when people don't like to travel very far, that's no small thing.

My favorite conversations are with staff, although the line between staff and comics professional is a blurry one. It started when my good friend Matt Gagnon, now the frightfully young and talented Editor in Chief at BOOM! Comics was manager. Caleb Monroe has been behind the counter for as long as I can remember, but it hasn't stopped him from writing books for BOOM! and Archaia, including UNTHINKABLE artist Julian Totino Tedesco's American debut.

Caleb is still there, but now I spend much of my time talking to manager and fellow New Yorker Chris Rosa. Yes, we spend an awful lot that time commiserating about our Knicks and Jets, or Chris' obsession with Namor, the Sub-Mariner. But Chris is also the host of one of, if not the best comics podcasts in the business - THE MELTCAST.

Along with Caleb, former MySpace comics guru and current CBGB/Fraggle Rock writer Sam Humphries, and engineer Aaron Brewer, they've recreated the same atmosphere that makes the store so much fun. The Meltcast is many things - smart, funny, wide-ranging...but more than anything, it's just a great place to talk comics.

They were nice enough to have me again on this past week. Like always, we talked about what's new in the world of comics and about our trade paperback picks of the week (mine were James Robinson's STARMAN Omnibus and Brian K. Vaughan's EX MACHINA, both drawn by Tony HARRIS) - which are offered to Meltdown customers at a substantial discount.

I also got to talk about my work. Because I don't have anything new for sale, it wasn't about plugging, it was a chance to look back at the process of writing TEEN TITANS: COLD CASE and WHAT IF? SPIDER-MAN. I didn't have to shill, and instead I thought I could share some insight on the challenges that come along with writing continuity heavy titles for Marvel and DC.

It's a great episode of a great podcast, and you can listen to it for free here. Since it's not a call in show, I'd love to hear your opinions, and I'm happy to answer whatever questions you may have.

Thanks to the entire Meltcast's, er...cast, for letting me go off on tangents and find my way back, and for not letting me burn TOO many bridges.

Next post: updates on what I'm working on, with art!

TEEN TITANS: COLD CASE out WED DEC 22nd

2010-12-21T21:18:00.000-08:00

This Wednesday, my last published work of 2010 hits stores - TEEN TITANS: COLD CASE, drawn by superstar artist Sean Murphy. It's a double-sized special with 44(!) pages of story.

Comic Book Resources has a 4 page preview of it here.

As I've hinted at before, this Teen Titans tale means quite a bit to me. To explain why, let me give you a little bit of its history.

TEEN TITANS: COLD CASE started out as a two-issue Teen Titans arc called "FATHER'S DAY", about 3-4 years ago when Geoff Johns was finishing his great run on the book. I had just written GROUNDED, and this was my first work for hire assignment. Former DC and now Marvel editor Jeanine Schaefer came up to me at New York Comic-Con, and having seen how I'd handled teens in GROUNDED, and told me I'd be perfect to pitch for a Teen Titans story.

Jeanine is someone I owe a lot to in my career. Not only did she give me my first break at DC, she also gave me a chance to write darker material with TWO-FACE: YEAR ONE, at a time when I was worried I'd get typecast as the teen superhero guy.

Along with Eddie Berganza, she helped guide me as I wrote characters that for the first time weren't my own. They also paired me with one of the best artist's I've ever worked with, Sean Murphy. At the time he was best known for his Oni book "Off Road" and Scarecrow: Year One (the latter is, coincidentally, packaged in trade paperback with my Two-Face story). Sean knocked the Titans issues out of the park...yet despite all the pages being fully inked, they never saw print.

To this day I'm not entirely sure why. We were told various things, either involving continuity or office politics. At the time, I was not happy. Now, I realize things like that happen all the time. Until this summer, I contented myself with the fact I was paid for my work, and that I had a great piece of Sean Murphy's original art on the wall - a double paged spread of The Teen Titans fighting the Flash's Rogues Gallery of villains. Not to mention that the unpublished Titans story led to me writing CYBORG, SUPERGIRL and more for DC.

Flash forward to this past summer. I'm at San Diego Comic-Con, where I don't want to be, because my father had just passed away. I forced myself to go because I didn't want to let down any of my creative or business partners, and I knew my father would want me to - no one believed in my career more than him. I run into Eddie Berganza, who congratulates me on my Teen Titans story getting published.

I'm not someone that necessarily believes in something bigger than myself, but the fact that a long lost story called "Father's Day" was going to finally see print after I'd lost my own father...I have to admit that in some way it felt like a sign.

The only problem was...I'd written the story years ago. Continuity had changed quite a bit. Some of the Titans were no longer on the team, and some of them were dead. It was written as a two issue arc, not a giant-sized one shot. And upon reading the story, I realized that the flip side of being a much better writer than I was back then is that the story needed a lot of work.

Because the story was already drawn, my options for improving it were limited. Sean had moved on to bigger and better things (Hellblazer and Grant Morrison's Joe the Barbarian, to name a few). His newfound success might be why the book was seeing print, but he couldn't have redrawn the pages if he wanted to.

I always do a dialogue pass on comics when I see the lettering. But this time, with the help of Eddie and Editor Adam Schlagman, I did the most extensive series of rewrites I've ever done on a comic. I added narration to make the continuity clear to readers (like me) who haven't picked up Titans in a while (or ever), to tie the two issues together, and to add a level of emotional depth that I thought was lacking.

In doing so, I realized that was I fortunate this story hadn't come out earlier, exposing my less polished work to the world. But more importantly, I probably wasn't able to tell the story I wanted to until the terrible events of this past summer.

TEEN TITANS: FATHERS DAY was re-named TEEN TITANS: COLD CASE. It was changed to avoid confusion with another title, to reflect the presence in the book of Captain Cold, the lead villain in the Flash's Rogues Gallery, and to play off the idea of an untold story, an unsolved mystery from the past.

But there was a reason it was originally entitled "Father's Day". When I wrote the book, Tim Drake, at that time Robin to Bruce Wayne's Batman, had just lost his father, Jack Drake, in a mini-series by Brad Meltzer called Identity Crisis. He was killed by Captain Boomerang, who he took with him to his grave. That left two sons without fathers. While the hook of the story is to two teams of super-heroes and super-villains fighting it out for the first time, it's really about two families facing grievous losses.

Until this summer, I don't think I truly understood loss. A while back in this blog, I wrote about how my father inspired me to write TWO-FACE: YEAR ONE. He was not just my dad, but my best friend, and my hero. Like Harvey Dent, he was a prosecutor in a sometimes less than ethical justice system. Unlike Harvey Dent, he was able to overcome his demons and be a real force of good. He put away spies and mafioso, and later, as a judge, helped bring fairness to the trials of both the accused and their alleged victims. The term hero gets thrown around loosely, particularly in comics, but my dad was also a guy who once physically took down a madman with a machete. I couldn't make this stuff up.

Re-writing TEEN TITANS: COLD CASE, I realized it was in some ways like a last letter to my dad. Robin, like Bruce Wayne, is struggling not only with the loss of his dad, but also with the fact that his father died with something in his hands Bruce never would have approved of - a gun. Robin was also afraid of a possible future he had glimpsed where he used a gun to kill a villain.

Metaphorically, I think those things stand in for all our fears, of losing loved ones, and of inheriting qualities of our parents that we hope to avoid.

My father carried - but never used - a gun, something I had very mixed feelings about growing up. I'm not a gun lover. But as the son of an Assistant U.S. Attorney I grew up under very real death threats aimed at my family. It's a story for another time, but I've had a gun pointed at me since I was literally in the womb. Suffice to say I understand the necessity of firearms for personal defense.

Without spoiling the story I hope you'll read, I came to many of the same conclusions Robin did. My father was faced with incredibly difficult decisions, and while I may have made different ones, that doesn't make him any less of a hero. And while, like Robin, I'm jealous of people who still have fathers (even questionable ones), I wouldn't trade my father, or the time I had with him, for anything in the world.

WHAT IF? SPIDER MAN (KILLED KRAVEN THE HUNTER)- OUT NOW

2010-12-14T20:19:00.000-08:00

My Marvel Comics debut, "What If? Spider-Man" is out in stores as of this Wednesday, December 15th 2010.

It's hard to say what means more to me, achieving my lifelong dream of working with Marvel, or having my name on another book with Paul Azaceta.

While I've enjoyed writing for DC, I was a Marvel guy growing up. The theme of my Bar Mitzvah was Marvel Comics. Somewhere out there are shirts with a caricature of me in Iron Man's silver and crimson armor with the words "I had a MARVELous time at Mark's Bar Mitzvah".

That particular Iron Man suit, along with a bearded Thor and a Black and Red Captain America, also heralded my favorite Spider-Man garb - his black and white costume. To me, that's the iconic version, and it's the one he wears through most of our What If? story.

What If? Spider-Man spins out of Joe Kelly's recent GRIM HUNT storyline. In it, Spider-Man is run through a gauntlet, with many of those close to him killed by his classic foe Kraven The Hunter. Spider-Man comes close to killing him, and our story asks what would have happen if he'd taken that next step.

There's some people I should thank for this opportunity. Editor Tom Brennan, who not only picked me for this assignment but really stepped in and made this a better story. Steve Wacker, who I wrote an as yet unpublished Spider-Man story for that got me this gig. And Mark Waid, former editor-in-chief of BOOM! Studios. Mark recommended me to Marvel when I was working on Unthinkable, and helped get my foot in the door. That was no small favor - it's hard to imagine the EIC of any major publisher recommending a writer or artist to a competitor. It speaks to the kind of guy Mark Waid is - a mensch.

While it's a dream come true, so is working with Paul again. While he did the covers for UNTHINKABLE, this is the first time we've collaborated on a story since my first published work, GROUNDED, nearly five years ago. Since that time, Paul has become one of the main Spider-Man artists, and one of the top talents in the industry. There's no greater compliment to me than an artist wanting to work with me again. If you like what we're doing here, you're going to love our creator-owned book, GRAVEYARD OF EMPIRES, which should be out in 2011.

In the meantime, I hope you'll check What If? Spider-Man out. Next Wednesday, December 22nd, my last book of 2010 comes out, when I head back to DC Comics for TEEN TITANS: COLD CASE with Sean Murphy.

RIFT RAIDERS well-reviewed and out NOW, What If? Spider-Man Out next Wed, Dec 15th

2010-12-08T20:29:00.000-08:00

I should have posted this weeks ago, but Rift Raiders is now available in stores. While I'd love you to support your local comic shop, you can also pick it up at Walmart, or download it on Comixology.com. I believe it will be available in more venues next year.

The reviews so far have been fantastic.

David Pepose made Rift Raiders one of Newsarama's "best shots". He said:

"If Rift Raiders is the flagship of Kickstart Comics, I have to say — this could be the beginning of a beautiful relationship."

Imagine National Treasure mixed with Runaways and throw it through time instead of space, and you've got the basic gist of Mark Sable and Julian Totino Tedesco's new book. Broad enough to embrace new readers and way more stylish than it has any right to be, there is a whole lot to like about Rift Raiders."

I particularly like that he said "But the real success story in this book is Julian Totino Tedesco, who pulls a page from the Sean Murphy playbook with some looser, more cartoony lines than his work on Unthinkable — and man, does it look absolutely slick." It's not false modesty to say that, as proud as I am of writing it, Julian is the real star of this book.

I love the comparison to Sean Murphy, who is a superstar talent and a friend. He drew my upcoming Teen Titans: Cold Case book, out December 22nd. Speaking of which, Kevin Mahadeo did a great interview with me about that book at Comic Book Resources, where I discuss why that book has special meaning for me.

There's another nice Rift Raiders review from Stewart Ryder at Paradox Comics. An excerpt"The pairing of Mark Sable and Julian Totino Tedesco impressed me last year...in the terrific Unthinkable...luckily...Kickstart have managed to reunite the duo to spin a tale of adventurous time travel."

Finally, I did a fun interview with EJ Feddes over at Spunky Bean focusing on Rift Raiders.

Thanks David, Stewart, Kevin and EJ for the reviews and interviews. If you are a (legitimate) reviewer, and would like to review Kickstart, I can arrange for a copy to be sent your way.

Next week, Dec 15th, my first (published) Marvel work, What If? Spider-Man, comes out. It's drawn by Paul Azaceta, artist and co-creator off GROUNDED, my first published work, period. So it's like things have come full circle.

I'll have more on Spidery soon, but I have to get back to work. Which right now includes GRAVEYARD OF EMPIRES, my next Image book (also drawn and co-created by Paul), DECOY, my next Kickstart book, some motion comic work for an upcoming blockbuster movie, my teaching for The Writer's Boot Camp and...god, that's not everything and already I'm both excited and stressed out.

Long Beach Comic Con and Upcoming Project News

2010-10-30T06:19:00.000-07:00

As I write this, I'm preparing for two special events at Long Beach Comic-Con, which I'll be attending today, Saturday October 3oth. I'm conducting a workshop called "Writing for Comics, TV and Film" from 12-12:45pm - in Seaside Room 301 and the signing is 2:30-4pm at a location TBD (I'll update as soon as I know).

The bad news is that I won't be signing Rift Raiders. It was supposed to be out already, and I was supposed to be signing copies for the first time today. Evidently, there is some kind of problem with the printer. It's a shame because Rift Raiders has been done since before San Diego. Julian is an extremely fast artist and any delay should be no reflection on him (nor on Kickstart, for that matter).

Like I said, though, I'll be happy to sign anything else. But I'm mostly excited about the workshop I'm having.

Aside from writing, my other "job" is teaching screenwriting for The Writers Boot Camp. It's an acclaimed writing program based out of Santa Monica and New York, and I teach writers from literally all over the world online. I've had a great track record, with my writers winning contests, fellowships and getting hired to adapt bestselling novels for the screen.

The workshop at LBCC will be my way of passing on some of my teaching experience as well as my years of experience writing professionally. It's a short class, but I plan to really delve into substantive storytelling material, along with the usual "how to break in" stuff. I will try and drop as many behind the scenes stories into the mix as possible, the common theme of which I imagine will be "do as I say, not as I do".

As for where I am with my writing now, I'm doing quite a bit more than awaiting the release of Rift Raiders. December will see the release of What If? Spider-Man from Marvel, and Teen Titans: Cold Case from DC. Paul Azaceta is drawing Spidey, and the pages so far look PHENOMENAL. If you've been loving what he's been doing with Mark Waid on The Amazing Spider-Man as I have, you ain't seen nothing yet.

Even better news is that as soon as Paul is finished with What If?, he'll be ready to start our creator owned project, GRAVEYARD OF EMPIRES. If I say Zombies vs. Marines vs. Taliban, will that whet your appetite. I promise, it's like no zombie book you've ever read, and hopefully one of the stronger war books that you will. GRAVEYARD finally has a publisher, which I hope to announce soon.

I'm also working on my second book for Kickstart. It's called DECOY, and it's a mix of sci-fi and espionage. If you dug UNTHINKABLE or Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD, it should be right up your alley. Hopefully there will be an artist announcement soon. The names in consideration have me excited already.

Finally, a webcomics I've been working on for years, DRACULA: SON OF THE DRAGON, will be drawn by my Tori Amos Comic Book Tattoo collaborator Salgood Sam and should see the light of day soon.

I'll have art to show from RIFT RAIDERS, GRAVEYARD and DRACULA for anyone who shows up at Long Beach today.

New York Comic-Con 2010

2010-10-02T15:52:00.000-07:00

I'll be attending New York Comic-Con all weekend, from this Friday, October 8th to Sunday October 10th, 2010.

I'll primarily be in artist's alley at table Q-11. I'm sharing the table with artist PJ Holden, who not only collaborated with Dave Roth and me on our Image book FEARLESS, but is a popular 2000 AD artist and just did the "Happy Valley" arc for Garth Ennis' Battlefields.

I'll have copies of FEARLESS (which are hard to find), as well as GROUNDED, UNTHINKABLE, TWO-FACE: YEAR ONE, CYBORG etc. for sale. I'll also be showing off pages from Rift Raiders and other assorted upcoming work.

Additionally, I'll be signing at digital comics distributor Graphic.ly booth 1751 on Friday from 2:30-3PM. Graphic.ly is currently publishing UNTHINKABLE online and for the ipad/iphone. I'm going to be doing creator commentary for UNTHINKABLE (and any other books of mine the publish). I also hope to be publishing an original digital comic with them. Details to come.

Please stop by. I'm happy to sign anything and chat with you. In fact, interacting with readers is the highlight of the convention for me.

NOTE: I won't have any copies of RIFT RAIDERS for sale, which I had hoped. I will have them for my next convention, Long Beach Comic-Con, which I'll be attending at the end of this month. I'll be teaching a class on how to write for comics, film and television and LBCC as well. Finally, I hope to announce a surprise international convention that I've been invited to really soon. It's a truly unique and exciting opportunity.

Big Fun with the Big Two: What If? Spider-Man and Teen Titans: Cold Case

2010-09-29T17:28:00.000-07:00

Wow...December is shaping up to be a big month for me. Two books from the big two.

The first is one I haven't announced yet: WHAT IF? SPIDER-MAN

Picking up from Joe Kelly and Michael Lark's Amazing Spider-Man arc "Grim Hunt", it asks the question "What if Spider-Man had Killed Kraven the Hunter?".

I'm excited about it for so many reasons I don't know where to start first. How about the artist - Paul Azaceta. Paul has been kicking ass with Mark Waid on Amazing Spider-Man for the past year, so he's a natural fit. If you're not familiar with my creator owned work, Paul drew and co-created my first book, GROUNDED, and did the covers to UNTHINKABLE. This is the first book that we've done together since. (Although it won't be the last, we're working on a creator-owned project that I hope to announce soon, and I think will be BOTH of our best work to date).

If the cover doesn't look like classic Azaceta to you, it's because it's drawn by industry superstar Phil Jimenez. Very excited about that as well.

This will also be my first published work for Marvel (I did do a Web of Spider-Man story that hasn't seen print yet, but I'm still hoping will see a digital release). Saying that I'm a Marvel fanboy would be an understatement. The THEME OF MY BAR MITZVAH was Marvel Comics. I'm debating whether, next time I'm in NY, I should dig out my message board with a mock-up of me as Wolverine, or the t-shirt with my caricature posed in Iron Man's silver and crimson armor.

SPIDER-MAN? What if will be in stores December 15, 2010.

Exactly one week later, will see the release of TEEN TITANS: COLD CASE

This is a project I've mentioned before. A few years ago, my first work-for-hire assignment was to write an arc of Teen Titans for DC. The art was finished, but for reasons I'm still not clear on, it was shelved. Until now.

The artist on the book, Sean Gordon Murphy, is red hot now, due in large part to his great work on Vertigo's JOE THE BARBARIAN with Grant Morrison. Trust me when I say that his Titans art is worth the wait.

(You'll notice that the cover is NOT by Sean - it's by someone named Jay Fabok. I don't know Jay, but if the pencils are anything to go buy he's got it down).

Why is the book called "COLD CASE". Well, in part, it's because it's an untold story of the Teen Titans, like an old murder case being re-investigating.

And, as the cover suggests, it features Captain Cold. It's actually the first meeting between the Titans and The Flash's Rogues gallery, so Cold is just one of the MANY villains the Titans face. I don't want to give to much away, but the story also ties into Brad Meltzer's Identity Crisis, providing an answer to an unresolved mystery there.

If you're worried that you won't understand the book because it takes place in the Titan's past (or because you didn't read Identity Crisis, or follow the Titans or Flash etc.) - don't. DC didn't just dust this story off and publish it. I went back and did a major rewrite, with the primary aim being to make this book as accessible as any other I've written.

The original title was actually Father's Day, as one of the threads deals with (then Robin) Tim Drake, and how he deals with the loss of his father. It's an odd bit of coincidence, as I lost my father this year. The rewrite was incredibly emotional because of this. My father was a huge supporter of my work, and a real-life hero (a Federal prosecutor who went after the mob, tried espionage cases etc...he even once chased after a guy with a machete). So I like to think that this story finally seeing print is a sign of some sort.

On a more cheerful note, with the price of comics so high these days, the book is a bargain at $4.99. I know - $4.99, bargain and comic should not be in the same sentence. But it's two issues - 48 pages worth of story! - for less than five bucks. Considering most of the Big Two's comics are $3.99 each, I think it's better than buying two books for eight bucks. When you factor in that it actually tells a complete story, with a beginning, middle and an end (I know shocking in mainstream comics), that's a great deal.

That's out December 22nd 2010.

There are more projects in the works, particularly on the creator-owned side of things. And more announcements. But for now, I hope you pre-order these books from OCTOBER PREVIEWS - I'm quite proud of them book.

(I'll post in more detail later, but I'll be appearing at New York Comic-Con next week, sharing a table with FEARLESS artist PJ Holden, and signing at the Graphic.ly booth as well. And I hope to have copies of RIFT RAIDERS, although I can't guarantee that).

Rift Raiders, Kickstart and San Diego Comic-Con

2010-07-21T01:26:00.000-07:00

I'm proud to finally be able to announce RIFT RAIDERS, my newest graphic novel with UNTHINKABLE artist Julian Totino Tedesco.

Described as GOONIES meets TIME BANDITS, Rift Raiders is the story of three orphaned teens who learn they're not orphans at all. Their parents have been hidden throughout time. A strange man offers to help them save his parents if they travel through to time retrieve mystical artifacts for him. But what is his REAL agenda?

In terms of tone, it's pretty close to GROUNDED. Meaning a smart, funny action adventure story accessible to a younger age group but equally as rewarding for older readers.

As great as Julian was on Unthinkable, he's even better on Grounded. It's a less crowded book, and I tried to step out of the way to let his artwork shine. His art is the real star of the book.

The book is 100% complete, and will be shipping as an 88 page OGN in October around the time of New York Comic-Con.

RIFT RAIDERS will be published by Kickstart Comics, a new publisher I'm pretty excited about because, among other things, they'll be distributing books beyond the direct market. In other words, not only will they be in comic book specialty stores, they will also be everywhere form Walmart to Best Buy with exclusive shelf-space. In another post I'll talk about why I think that's good for the comics industry, but I'm about to leave for San Diego Comic-Con.

Speaking of which, I will be in San Diego for Comic-Con. I don't have a table, and I won't be doing any signings or panels. I'll mostly be taking meetings and walking around. I'm still happy to sign things, do interviews, podcasts etc. The best way to reach me is probably Twitter (@marksable - easy).

Again, sorry for the brevity, but prepping for the con is always fraught with panic. I promise I'll be back to speak about RIFT RAIDERS and more soon.

What I'm Working On

2010-04-14T17:00:00.000-07:00

It may seem like my productivity has been down, but that couldn't be further from the truth. While nothing has hit the stands since the Unthinkable trade (available in comic shops now), I have been and continue to be writing for both comics and other mediums.

I've got three creator owned comics projects that I'm really excited about, but can't announce yet. A big reason for this is that they are all with artists I've worked with before. It's a huge compliment to me whenever artists of this caliber want to work with me again. More importantly, these are artists that certainly don't need to be doing creator owned work, and it says a lot about their passion for the projects that they are willing to slum with me.

Two are in pitch form, and one is definite, but there is art for all three.

The first is a project with Unthinkable's Julian Totino Tedesco. That's definitely coming out, hopefully in time for San Diego. I can't say what it is, but I can say that it's very different from Unthinkable in tone (I'd say it's closer to Grounded). While it still has the same detail and dynamism that Julian's past work has, it's a real testament to his versatility.

Don't believe me? Check out the image above. That's a double page spread.

I can't announce the publisher yet, because, well, it's a new publisher that hasn't even announced its existence yet. But they've got really great creators, editors and executives on board, and I'm proud that our book will be one of the debut books.

I'm afraid to jinx the other two projects by getting into specifics, despite the strong interest we've been getting from publishers. But I will say the artists are Paul Azaceta (Grounded, the covers to Unthinkable) and Salgood Sam (maybe best known for Sea of Red with Rick Remender, who drew and lettered our contribution to the Comic Book Tattoo anthology).

Paul and I have been trying to work together since Grounded, which as scary as it sounds, first came out almost five years ago. Grounded was a breakthrough book for Paul, and he's now one of the regular artists on Amazing Spider-Man. With that project, it's a question of not only finding the right publisher, but finding a gap in Paul's incredibly busy schedule. But trust me when I say that his sketches alone are worth the wait.

There's actually 8 pages of Salgood's art in the can. As with our Comic Book Tattoo story, he did everything himself - not just the pencils and inks, but colors and hand-lettering. Salgood is one of the most collaborative artists I've ever worked with, with significant story input as well. For a hint as to what he's doing check out his Dream Life webcomic/blog here.

The genres are pretty diverse from military/horror to time travel to historical fiction. We're looking at one as a possible web comic, which is a medium I've been dying to work in again since my experience with the Heroes graphic novel.

I've got other creator owned comic pitches in the works, but those are the farthest along.

I also wrote a story for Marvel with one of their most popular characters which was a dream come true. I really hate being vague, but if and when it comes out is up to Marvel to announce (and, to be honest, a bit up in the air). I hope it does, but I had a lot of DC work that never hit the stands (two issues of Teen Titans by Sean Gordon Murphy comes to mind), and I'm hoping this is just the start of things between myself and the house of ideas.

I'm very seriously considering offers for film and interactive writing work. Again, I hate being vague, but I'm trying to walk the line of letting those who care know that I'm working, without revealing information my partners want confidential.

It may seem like my productivity has been down, but that couldn't be further from the truth. While nothing has hit the stands since the Unthinkable trade (available in comic shops now), I have been and continue to be writing for both comics and other mediums.

I've got three creator owned comics projects that I'm really excited about, but can't announce yet. A big reason for this is that they are all with artists I've worked with before. It's a huge compliment to me whenever artists of this caliber want to work with me again. More importantly, these are artists that certainly don't need to be doing creator owned work, and it says a lot about their passion for the projects that they are willing to slum with me.

Two are in pitch form, and one is definite, but there is art for all three.

The first is a project with Unthinkable's Julian Totino Tedesco. That's definitely coming out, hopefully in time for San Diego. I can't say what it is, but I can say that it's very different from Unthinkable in tone (I'd say it's closer to Grounded). While it still has the same detail and dynamism that Julian's past work has, it's a real testament to his versatility.

I can't announce the publisher yet, because, well, it's a new publisher that hasn't even announced its existence yet. But they've got really great creators, editors and executives on board, and I'm proud that our book will be one of the debut books.

I'm afraid to jinx the other two projects by getting into specifics, despite the strong interest we've been getting from publishers. But I will say the artists art Paul Azaceta (Grounded, the covers to Unthinkable) and Salgood Sam (maybe best known for Sea of Red with Rick Remender, who drew and lettered our contribution to the Comic Book Tattoo anthology).

Paul and I have been trying to work together since Grounded, which as scary as it sounds, first came out almost five years ago. Grounded was a breakthrough book for Paul, and he's now one of the regular artists on Amazing Spider-Man. With that project, it's a question of not only finding the right publisher, but finding a gap in Paul's incredibly busy schedule. But trust me when I say that his sketches alone are worth the wait.

There's actually 8 pages of Salgood's art in the can. As with our Comic Book Tattoo story, he did everything himself - not just the pencils and inks, but colors and hand-lettering. Salgood is one of the most collaborative artists I've ever worked with, with significant story input as well. For a hint as to what he's doing check out his Dream Life webcomic/blog here.

The genres are pretty diverse from military/horror to time travel to historical fiction. We're looking at one as a possible web comic, which is a medium I've been dying to work in again since my experience with the Heroes graphic novel.

I've got other creator owned comic pitches in the works, but those are the farthest along.

I also wrote a story for Marvel with one of their most popular characters which was a dream come true. I really hate being vague, but if and when it comes out is up to Marvel to announce (and, to be honest, a bit up in the air). I hope it does, but I had a lot of DC work that never hit the stands (two issues of Teen Titans by Sean Gordon Murphy comes to mind), and I'm hoping this is just the start of things between myself and the house of ideas.

I'm very seriously considering offers for film and interactive writing work. Again, I hate being vague, but I'm trying to walk the line of letting those who care know that I'm working, without revealing information my partners want confidential.

More details (and art!) coming soon.

Unthinkable: The Movie & Other News

2010-03-19T04:00:00.000-07:00

If it seems like I've abandoned this blog, it's because I have. Well, not really. But I've been extremely busy, and what spare internet rambling time I've had has been devoted to Twitter.

So, what have I been up to that's so damn important?

Well, I suppose the biggest news is that the feature film rights to my Boom! Studios book, Unthinkable, by Mandalay Entertainment.

That's right, UNTHINKABLE WAS OPTIONED!

Here's the story at The Hollywood Reporter's "Heat Vision Blog"

Here's me talking out of my ass to MTV Splash Page reporter Blair Marnell about who I think should play the roles in the movie. In reality, I won't have any say. But rumors seem to work for other creators, so lets add my speculative fuel to the fire.

The word option gets thrown around a lot, but it's not necessarily clear what it means. Basically, Mandalay has paid for the right to make an Unthinkable movie within a certain time period.

I use the word with both caution and pride. Caution, because I don't want to be another braggart who implies that I've hit Hollywood gold - and you can to, if you write creator owned books. And pride, because, quite frankly, most options that you hear about don't involve money. The fact that someone was willing to bet money on Unthinkable, especially in this climate, is a real vote of confidence in not just me, but everyone involved with the book.

The inevitable questions that arise when there's news like this is are:

How much money am I making?

There's no good answer to this. A high number invites envy, a low number pity. I am tempted to say it's none of anyone's business, and it isn't. But I also appreciate that there are aspiring creators who want to know. To those creators I'd say this - don't write a comic if you are looking to make a fortune in Hollywood. Write a comic because you want to make a comic.

Don't get me wrong - I'm extremely flattered by the interest Hollywood interest in Unthinkable. But if I wanted to make money, I probably could have found an easier way with all my degrees than going into the creative side of the entertainment business.

And if I was dead set on making on Unthinkable movie...I could have just written the screenplay. There are a number of reasons why I wrote a comic and not a screenplay. But the most important of all is that, while I have many screenplays sitting in drawers that no one will ever see, none of them mean as much as having published books that I can hold in my hands.

The best answer to the money question is, I suppose, is "I don't know." I'm guaranteed a certain amount. I'm promised more if a studio buys it, and even more if it gets made. I have my hopes for both those things happening, but this is a business where few things are bought and even fewer are made.

Will I write the screenplay?

Highly unlikely. But that's okay. One of the other reasons that I chose to write a comic is...when I came up with the idea for Unthinkable, I knew it was something with commercial potential. But I truly wanted to say something with this book. Boom! let me tell the story I wanted - they even gave me an extra issue to do so. And I'm not sure there's a film director or special effects studio that can do on celluloid what artist Julian Totino Tedesco can do on paper. The point is, I got my vision out - so now I'm okay if someone else messes it up.

I say that jokingly. I actually think the project is in great hands. The producers have it out to "A-list" writers who have a much better chance of getting this made than I do. I could write the best screenplay in the world...but this is a big budget action movie, and studios will want a proven name attached.

Hopefully, one day I'll be that proven name. I continue to work on film and TV projects, and I'd be lying if I said that I didn't want to write a feature. Having Unthinkable (and other books) optioned ultimately makes it more likely that it will.

Which brings me to the last question:

WHY SHOULD YOU CARE ABOUT THIS?

Well, I'd like to think that you love me as a human being and wish me happiness. But in these tough times...it's hard to be happy for anyone, especially in Hollywood.

But if you've been a fan of my comics work...thinks like this makes it much more likely that I'll produce more. What money I get from things like this allows me to write professionally. I'm also a creator that puts his money where his mouth is. I've spent more money than I'd care to remember paying various members of my creative teams.

I'm hoping this news augurs well for future work (there are already some cool things on the horizon which I'll blog about soon).

But regardless of what happens from here on out...I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude not only to the creative, editorial and publishing teams of Unthinkable, but to the reviewers that helped make this both a critical and commercial success.

Mostly, though...I have to thank my readers. There's been no better salesman than word of mouth. But more than that, I've learned a ton from my readership. They are smarter than me, quite frankly, and as a result I have to constantly work to become a better writer so I can amuse and surprise them.

Next post...what else I've been up to.

P.S. There's a movie coming out called "Unthinkable" with Samuel L. Jackson in it. That is NOT my movie, just a bad coincidence.

Forgive Me Internet, For I have Sinned

2009-10-11T03:10:00.000-07:00

It has been...well, far too long since my last blog post. In my defense, I've been hard at work on Unthinkable and I've probably "tweeted" over a thousand times. I'm sure if you multiply 240 characters by 1,500 that's enough for a quite a few blog entries.

When last I posted, Unthinkable #3 had just come out in time for Comic-Con. As I write this, all five issues are out, and I'm proofreading the trade paperback, which should be out in the next month or two.

Like most writers, I don't particularly like re-reading my own work. It's a bit easier with comics than with prose, because I get to appreciate how the artist, colorist and letterer brought my work to life. But it's impossible for me to look at old work without thinking of the myriad ways I could have made it better.

Nevertheless, I'm tremendously proud of Unthinkable. I've said before I think it's the best writing I've ever done. I suppose I should be more specific. For a long time, I've struggled with the dilemma of writing something personal that is still something other people want to read. Unthinkable is probably my highest concept, but the execution is very personal.

The protagonist, Alan Ripley, is as close to me as any comics character I've written. He's not only a writer, he's a writer that feels he should be, well, more of a do-er. Particularly when it comes to doing something for his country.

Unthinkable is filled with issues of national security, military foreign policy, my passions. I through just about every terrorist scenario into this series as possible. That may have been a mistake - although I'm very thankful that Boom! gave me 5 issues to tell my story instead of the usual 4 - this is a story I would have preferred to tell in a longer format.

Still, the density of the issues is something that was personal to me as well. My favorite comics - my good friend Brett Lewis' The Winter Men for example 0 are works that don't feel decompressed. They give you your money's worth, and can't be finished before you flush the toilet in a quick trip to the bathroom.

But the most personal thing about Unthinkable may not evident in the work itself. Instead, it's the long journey that brought it from my head to the printed page. And the even longer journey that took me from that of an aspiring writer adapting my fifth spec screenplay (Grounded) into my first comic, to where I am in my comics career today.

I hope to write about that journey a bit more on here soon, hopefully before the Unthinkable trade comes out. I still believe that I can make this blog something that gives interested readers of my work some added value, rather than just spilling my thoughts and promoting my work.

But right now, that story will have to wait. I'm lucky enough to have multiple upcoming projects that demand my attention. I can't announce them yet, but I hope to bring to them the same mix of character driven high concept with a personal touch that I did with Unthinkable. If nothing else, Unthinkable has set a very high bar for my future work.

UNTHINKABLE #3 and San Diego Comic-Con 2009

2009-07-21T09:46:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. Unthinkable, and all the hoopla surrounding it, has taken up most of my time. So much so that I forgot to announce the release of UNTHINKABLE #3, which is IN STORES NOW. (See Paul Azaceta's cover above).

(I also forgot to mention that my TWO-FACE: YEAR ONE mini-series is now collected in trade along with Scarecrow Year One Bruce Jones and Sean Murphy - my unpublished Teen Titans artist. The collection is entitled Batman: Two-Face/Scarecrow Year One and is also In STORES NOW

The script for Issue #3, you remember, is what got me detained by the TSA. boingboing picked up on the story, as did Heidi MacDonald's The Beat blog on Publisher's Weekly, and as a result I've been bombarded with media requests.

But as unpleasant as it was being hassled by airport security, I'd rather focus on the issue itself. I think Issue #3 is the best issue yet. BOOM! Editor in Chief and comics writing legend said he felt it's the issue where I really found the characters voices and "hit my groove", and critics so far seem to agree.

It features an incredibly intense opening, the death of a major character, and a great twist at the end. And oh yeah - the terror scenarios deal with religious extremists of various faiths trying to bring about the Apocalypse in Israel.

I just finished what I hope is the final draft of Issue 5, and the art in Issue 4 is almost completely done. Artist Julian Totino Tedesco continues to blow me away as I throw more and more seemingly impossible things for him to draw.

I also wanted to take this opportunity to mention that I'm going to be at San Diego Comic-Con every day and night, including previews. For the first time in the past few years, I won't have my own table. However, I'll still be happy to sign any of my work - Unthinkable, Batman: Two-Face Year One, Grounded, Fearless, Hazed, Supergirl, Cyborg, Heroes etc. Or just chat about comics.

The best place to find me is by the BOOM! Studios booth, #2543. I'll be hanging by there the most, and if I'm not there, one of the many nice people at the booth should be able to get a hold of me. Twitter is also not a bad idea - @ me or send me a DM. My twitter account is http://twitter.com/marksable and my Twitter name is, well, marksable. I'm clever like that.

Hope to see you all there, and thanks so much to those of you who are helping make Unthinkable a hit!

UNTHINKABLE #2 out THIS WEEK, West Coast Release Party @Meltdown in LA, Collector's Paradise signing in Winnetka, CA

2009-06-09T01:42:00.000-07:00

It's a big week for UNTHINKABLE. First off, the second issue is in stores this Wednesday, June 10th. While I'm glad that the reception to Issue One was so positive, the first issue was mostly set-up for the action that kicks off in Issue 2 and doesn't let up. Our hero, Alan Ripley, has already witnessed some of the many terror scenarios he imagined for the (real-life) government Think Tank he joined after 9/11 come true.

Now, it's up to him to stop the rest from coming to fruition. His problem. He's a writer, not an action hero. We're going to finally start to see the comic and tragic consequences of the gap between who Alan is and who he thinks he is play out.

Speaking of writers with delusions of grandeur, (despite my run-ins with the TSA, I'm no Jason Bourne), I'm having a "West Coast Release Party" for the book at Meltdown comics this Wednesday, June 10th, from 7PM on. It should be fun, if for no other reason than there will be free beer and vodka.

If you can't make it, or just can't get enough of me, I'll be signing Unthinkable this Saturday, June 13th, from 12-3PM at Collector's Paradise just off the 101. I'll be playing second fiddle to the extremely talented Marc Guggenheim (writer of Spider-Man, TV's Eli Stone and the upcoming Green Lantern film). He'll be signing his new book, Resurrection.

More info to come...

UNTHINKABLE #1...the reviews are in

2009-05-12T22:00:00.000-07:00

...and they are overwhelmingly positive. Like best reviews of my career positive. I'm thinking I should quit while I'm ahead positive. But don't just take my word for it.

edit: this is my second attempt at posting these, hopefully the font will be readable

ASSOCIATED CONTENT

"Sable has created a dark and chilling tale that is both comic book whimsy and real-world commentary... Grade: A" - Associated Content

THE BUY PILE (CBR)

"A thought-provoking comic book that posits big ideas and bigger
conspiracies, with a relatable lead with some real character
development."

NEWSARAMA:

"...a great book..." - Newsarama

COMIC PANTS:

"It's not everyday you can call a comic book a truly chilling experience, but Unthinkable is about as close as they come... I can't wait to see what happens next."

COMICS BULLETIN:

"Writer Mark Sable sets up a great plot that I can't wait to keep following, with a main character and supporting cast that are quirky enough to seem real and interesting. "

HYPERGEEK:

"... Unthinkable #1 is a great start to what will hopefully be a great series. Both writer and artist have given us quality here and the first chapter of an intriguing story. If you're looking for an extra title to pick up, this is one with a promising start."

"I have read a pre-release copy of Unthinkable #1 and I was
incredibly impressed with this opening issue. Unthinkable is a tense,
original, intriguing, and thrilling political drama which really
reflects the times of paranoia and mistrust that we currently live
in." - HYPERGEEK

THE PULLBOX.COM

"This is a great beginning...Grade: A-"

COMICVINE:

"4.5 out of 5. ...a refreshing change ... I wouldn't mind seeing more comics like this..." - Comic Vine

MONDO MAGAZINE

"4out of 5"

BROKEN FRONTIER:

"Do you dare to think the unthinkable?" - BROKEN FRONTIER

DON MACPHERSON, EYE ON COMICS

"8 out of 10"

FOURTH WALL:

"Another Hit For Boom Studios"

FANDOMANIA:

"Obviously, the use of real life events helps set that feeling up, but the way Sable handles the material plants the "Holy macaroni, this could totally be happening right now" seeds in your grey matter. I feel Unthinkable will be a shining example of why "smaller" publishers should be getting more recognition and press than they are." - Fandomania

Gregor's Comic Book Review:

"WOW what a great idea, Predicting global catastrophe es, by using a
genius fiction writer! HAH!The Writing was clever, the concept is
clever, This book is FRESH." -- Gregor's Comic Book Review

GOOD COMICS:

"...is pretty keen... The book looks quite nice - Tedesco does a good
job with the many characters, and has a flair for action... Sable
does a good job setting up the concept..."

CBR

"... entertaining..." - CBR

"Unthinkable" #1 does what a first issue should: it makes you want to
see what happens next."

IO9

"... for anyone who loves a good conspiracy..."

And yes, they even like me in France (COMIC BOX):

"...quite a thriller..."

UNTHINKABLE finally out TODAY, Wednesday May 13th...signing at Jim Hanley's Universe in NY to launch

2009-05-12T14:03:00.001-07:00

This is going to be a very short post - I'm exhausted from jet lag, my appearance on Comic Book Club Live, and oh yeah...being detained by the Transportation and Safety Administration and interrogated about the script for Unthinkable #3.

But, Unthinkable - what I think is my best work yet (so far...some very generousadvance reviews agree)- is finally out today.

UNTHINKABLE, my new comic from BOOM! Studios, is a fictional spy thriller rooted in the real world.

After 9/11, many reacted by saying the events of that day were like something “out of a Tom Clancy novel.” Our government took that reaction seriously, and commissioned a think tank made up of thriller writers to come up with worst case terror scenarios, In doing so, we could devise ways to stop these "unthinkable" attacks before the terrorists even had a chance to plot them.

The comic tells the story of Alan Ripley, a fictional young writer who joins this real-life think when his brother is killed on 9/11. Almost a decade later, the nightmare scenarios he imagined start coming true.

I'll be at signing Unthinkable at Jim Hanley's Universe in NYC today from 6 to 8PM along with cover artist Paul Azaceta and some surprise guests. (Two-Face: Year One is also being released in trade along with Bruce Jones and Sean Murphy's Scarecrow: Year One...I'll be signing that as well). I'm sure I'll do an LA signing for issue 2.

More soon...links to articles and reviews, more about my experience with the TSA, a creator commentary of the ARG etc. In the meantime...I hope you'll check UNTHINKABLE out regardless of whether you can make it to a signing. And I'd love to know what you think.

UNTHINKABLE - a 10 - count'em 10 page preview

2009-04-06T19:26:00.000-07:00

Boom! Studios has a lot of confidence in UNTHINKABLE, my upcoming thriller coming out in May. So much so that they released not the usual five, but a ten page preview. Why show almost half the book up front? Because we believe that the 2nd half is just that good.

Major Spoilers

Newsarama

Splash Page Previews

For those of you who don't know, Unthinkable is based on a real-life government program. After 9/11, there were many who felt like what happened was out of a Tom Clancy novel, or a Jerry Bruckheimer movie. Some people in the government took this seriously, and created a think tank made up of novelists and screenwriters. Their task was to come up with worst case terror scenarios. If we could imagine the next 9/11 before the terrorists did - maybe we could stop that.

Where I depart into the realm of fiction is with Alan Ripley, a young Tom Clancy-esque novelist who joins this Think Tank when his brother is killed in 9/11. Eight years afterwards, he finds that the nightmare terrorist scenarios he envisioned have started to come true. Now, it's up to him to stop them. The problem - just because you write about action heroes doesn't mean you can be one.

I've never been more proud of a project, creator-owned or otherwise. Much of that is due to the great work of Julian Totino Tedesco, who does the interiors you'll see on those ten pages. Paul Azaceta, my first ever collaborator on Grounded does the covers. That's the cover for Issue #2 above. Issue #1 however will be out in May.

Unthinkable has been the reason I haven't posted more - it took incredible research, and I put nearly as much into the marketing - which involved an ARG (Altered or Alternate Reality Game) - as I did the comic. I plan on posting more soon - at the very least links to the many interviews I've done, the reviews (which are not out yet, but should be coming sooner than you think), and behind the scenes stuff.

I've agreed to do a "director's commentary" for the ARG. If that goes one, I've always wanted to do one for an actual comic, being a process junkie (or just a narcissist) myself. I think this is a book that lends itself to it, because of the amount of research, ties to the real world and the ARG etc. I'd love to get some others involved - maybe Julian, marketing/gure Chip Mosher and the rest of the ARG team (Dafna Pleban and Ian Brill), Paul, series editors Mark Waid and Matt Gagnon etc. My priority is the book, but I don't want readers of this blog to think I've forgotten about it.

Top Ten Reasons to Buy Teen Titans Spotlight: Cyborg - TODAY

2009-03-17T21:17:00.000-07:00

The Top 10 reasons to buy my Teen Titans Spotlight: Cyborg trade TODAY:

10.He’s black. You’re not. Racist? Do the math.

9. Find out what’s underneath those steel underpants.

8. This Cyborg not in a wheelchair.

7. tCyborg trade: Man vs. Machine theme not explored enough Battlestar Galactica

6. You don’t need to read Final Crisis to understand it.

5. Surprise crossover with Marvel – he rapes Machine Man Iron Sheik style.

4. @Shaq promises to follow up his Steel performance when movie made.

3. Real reason for Vic's cybernetics – hit with bottle at Comicon

2. Cyborg trade: Sonic disruptor replaced by Sybian.

1. Cyborg trade: Vic finally cured…of being black!

All meant in jest...hope you'll pick it up if you weren't able to pick up any or all of the single issues.

Newsarama, CBR and Comics on Comics on Unthinkable; and On Decompression

2009-03-16T21:44:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. Particularly now, with the announcement of Unthinkable, I should be posting here like it was Twitter (which, incidentally - I'm on under "marksable"...that's been quite a drain on my time). But I've not only been writing Unthinkable and writing/managing the ARG (Alternate Reality Game), but doing everything I can to promote Unthinkable. From interviews to podcasts to cold-calling retailers.

Speaking of interviews, You can see Mark Waid interview me at Newsarama and read a great interview with Jeffrey Renaud at CBR. Finally...I did an audio podcast with the funny folks at Comics on Comics. I say audio because they also do video podcasts, one of which I was lucky enough to do last year.

The Newsarama piece features the 1st five pages of Unthinkable #1 (of 5). To keep to our exclusive arrangement, and take up the entire blog, I'm just going to show you Page 2:

Why not Page 1? Well, it's a splash, and you've seen those before. But the first 3 pages - 2 and 3 especially - are part of a really amazing opening sequence. I basically asked (Unthinkable artist) Julian Tedesco to cram pages worth of material into a variation of the nine-panel grid. He was able to do so without sacrificing detail. It's probably the single hardest thing I've ever asked an artist to do and he pulled it off effortlessly.

One thing I haven't talked about in the interviews is that Unthinkable is a really dense book. Not dense in the "inpenentrable" sense of the word, just dense in that, I wanted to tell a lot of story in 22 pages. For better or for worse, we're living in an age of decompression. But this is an epic, even if it's told in 5 issues, and I want it to feel that way.

Quite frankly, I don't believe the majority of comics right now are giving you the bang for the buck that other media are. Most comics don't tell a complete story...so you wind up paying $3.99 for what would be an act of a 4-act TV episode...when you can get an entire TV episode for $1.99 off itunes.

At the same time...decompression happened for a reason. While the comics of 2o or more years ago told a complete story...much of it was filled with redundant exposition.

In the past, I've written my creator owned books at closer to 32 pages than 22 pages, and I've done so at great expense to myself - both in terms of paying my collaborators and giving up ad space.

I'd think to think I've found an artist who can help me deliver the kind of density of great books from The Dark Knight Returns to The Wintermen, without heavy handed exposition. Ultimately, that means more story for you.

UNTHINKABLE - READ THE COMIC, PLAY THE GAME!

2009-03-04T20:49:00.000-08:00

I'm proud to OFFICIALLY announce UNTHINKABLE, my latest, and I think greatest, creator-owned comic book series, coming this May from BOOM! Studios (and available for preorder NOW).

UNTHINKABLE is edgy spy thriller with roots in a controversial, real-world government initiative. Shortly after September 11, 2001, the Defense Department commissioned "think tanks" comprised of some of America's most darkly imaginitive writers. Since the 9-11 attacks seemed like something out of a Tom Clancy novel, the Pentagon asked these writers to come up with worst case terrorist scenarios. Their hope was that if our best writers could come up with these nightmare plots first, we could devise defenses before our terrorist enemies thought about, let alone planned, the next 9/11.

UNTHINKABLE tells the story of Alan Ripley, a (fictional) writer who joins this real life think tank, only to find that the devious terror attacks he imagined have started to come true. Realizing someone is using his imagination as a blueprint for terror, it's up to Ripley and his fellow Think Tank members to stop these unthinkable attacks they unwittingly planned from becoming reality.

With covers by GROUNDED artist Paul Azaceta:

And DMZ's Kristian Donaldson:

...interior art by rising star Julian Tedesco , and edited by Mark Waid (Kingdom Come) and Matt Gagnon, there's a dream team of creators helping me bring to life a story I've been researching and dying to tell for for years.

If my pitch isn't enough to convince you, than I'm hoping that THE UNTHINKABLE ARG (Altered Reality Game) will. An "ARG" is an interactive, online game that uses the real world as a platform. The UNTHINKABLE ARG, created by myself and a marketing team headed by BOOM!'s Chip Mosher, is the world's first ARG for a comic book.

Starting now, by going to http://www.wolfpackpmc.com,/ you can sign up to apply for an intelligence position in The Wolfpack, a (fictional) Private Military Contractor. Next week, those of you who are accepted into the Wolfpack's training program will be tasked to search the internet for clues that can help them apprehend the dangerous characters in the book. At the very least, the ARG is a way to get the kind of supplementary material found in books like Watchmen to readers for free. More than that, it gives you a chance to interact with UNTHINKABLE'S fictional players in a very real way. I've spent nearly as much time crafting the game as I have the comic, integrating the world of UNTHINKABLE into our own.

It's completely free to play, and there's a tangible prize for the winner(s). You can sign up for the game NOW at http://www.wolfpackpmc.com/ by clicking the "join" button.

I have had the privilege of working with many talented people on a wide variety of projects, but I can say without hesitation that both the comic and the game are the best work I've ever been involved with.

I hope you'll ask your retailer to pre-order the first issue by giving them the pre-order code of MAR094127.

Some changes before the big announcement

2009-02-28T15:52:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone. If you've been wondering why I haven't been posting with much frequency it's because I've been spending a considerable amount of time on the project that will be officially announced on Wednesday. Not just the comic series, but the ARG (alternate reality game)/contest I've been creating to promote it. Or, to put in another way, you know you are in deep when you are spending more time creating blogs etc. for your ficitional characters than for yourself.

In the meantime, I thought I might point out some changes to the blog.

First, I've updated the links and pictures to my published works. You'll notice that both Teen Titans: Spotlight and Batman: Two-Face/Scarecrow: Year One are collected editions of both those mini-series that will be out in March and May respectively. You can order them on Amazon, although I'd prefer if you purchased them at your local comic shop. On a selfish level, it means my sales numbers will be higher. With the economy the way it is, I'd also rather you help a small business than a large one. Plus, you'll get the books a week or more earlier that way.

I've also started to link to SOME of my friends' and collaborators' blogs. If you are one or the other and would like a link, e-mail me or comment on this thread. This is by no means an exhaustive list, it's just a start.

At some point, I'd like to do longer pieces on or with people I worked with - interviews, guest blog posts - whatever they'd like.

In the meantime, I thought I'd introduce you briefly to the first batch:

Paul Azaceta is the artist and co-creator of Grounded, and has since gone on to do work such as Daredevil, Foolkiller and the upcoming Punisher Noir for Marvel, as well as Hellboy BRPD: 1946 for Dark Horse and Potter's Field for Boom! He's doing the covers for my new project and I couldn't be happier to have him aboard.

Jason Badower was the artist on my first Heroes webcomic, "Blackout", featuring Suresh. It's not only in Volume 2 of the Heroes Hardcover, it was reprinted as a 2008 San Diego Comic-Con exclusive (of which I only have one copy). He's got a fantastic, photorealistic, painterly style that he does entirely on the computer.

My friend Jen Grunwald, otherwise known as the "hottest girl in comics", is a Special Editions editor at Marvel Comics. She's very cool, even when she drops names of all the famous comic book creators she knows.

Valerie D'Orazio, aka "Occasional Superheroine", is the writer of one of my favorite comic blogs. It's often labeled as a feminist blog, which to some extent it is (she is the President of The Friends of Lulu, the premiere women's organization in comics), but that label is kind of reductive. She covers anything worth covering in comics, is incredibly prescient as far as where the industry is going and is a hell of a writer.

Salgood Sam is the artist who illustrated/co-created my contribution to Tori Amos' Comic Book Tattoo collection, "Upside Down", a graphic adaptation of the song of the same name. He does a great deal of really inspired creator owned work as well.

Finally (for today), if you don't know who Mark Waid is, you probably haven't read comics in the past twenty years. Generally, skipping the last 20 years of comics might not be the worst thing in the world, but during some of the dark times in the 90s Mark helped re-invent heroic fiction, whether it was his legendary Flash Run, the groundbreak Kingdom Come, or...the list is long, but chances are if you haven't read anything by him, you've read something that wouldn't exist without him. He's now the editor-in-chief at BOOM! Studios, the publisher of my next work. He's the best editor I've worked with bar none, and he's also served as a mentor to me.

I've had the privilege of working with other great artist, writers, creators etc. who I hope to introduce you to soon. Chances are if you like my work, you'll probably like the worked of those who I linked to.

2009-02-04T05:53:00.000-08:00

In about 6 hours or so I'll be headed to NY for, among other things, The New York Comic Con. I'm going to be sharing a table with artist Paul Azaceta (GROUNDED, FOOLKILLER, BPRD: 1946) in Artist's Alley, Table L7. Hopefully, FEARLESS artist PJ Holden and co-writer Dave Roth will be hanging around the table as well.

As always, I'm happy to talk to anyone, sign anything, and I'll be selling my Image Books. If you want my DC works signed, you're probably going to have to bring your own copies of TWO-FACE: YEAR ONE, CYBORG and SUPERGIRL #16. And if you happen to have San Diego's limited edition HEROES comic from last year, you can be the first to have me sign a copy.\\ If I'm not at my table, I'm likely just taking a walking around break, or doing a signing for Comic Book Tattoo (the hugely successful Tori Amos anthology I contributed a short story for).

But the real treat will be getting a sketch from Paul Azaceta, who does kickass - well, everything, but particularly Daredevil. And you'll never see him more excited if you ask him to draw Darkhawk.

Looking forward to seeing old friends and making new ones.

My favorite interview so far

2009-02-03T22:47:00.000-08:00

Although I'm not promoting anything (yet), my good friend Mike Le (pictured above) conducted what I think is the best interview I've ever done. Not just because he asked really insightful questions about the comics medium and my writing process. But also because he somehow got me to talk about my embarassing Bar Mitzvah memories, the best strip clubs in LA, and why going to to Tijuana during the San Diego Comic Con would be a bad, bad idea for me.

In addition to being a friend, and the best wingman in LA, he is VP of HQ Entertainment (Tyrese's production company), an accomplished screenwriter, and the creator of the must-read web comic "Don't Forget to Validate Your Parking". It's about the trial and travails of being an assistant in Hollywood, but you don't need to be an industry insider to appreciate it's absurd humor.

Doing interviews with my many talented friends and collaborators has been something I've been thinking of doing here when it's a slow news day/week/month for me. What do you guys think?

GROUNDED - now on itunes

2009-01-31T05:50:00.000-08:00

When my mother first discovered text messaging (at the end of last year), I welcomed her into the 20th century.

Now, courtesy of Uclick welcome GROUNDED, my first (and possibly best, comic work) to the 21st century. Each issue is available for 99 Cents as an application on itunes. You can download to your iphone, or ipod touch (I'm not sure about previous models of ipods...if your ipod handles apps, it should work).

It's a cheap way to try GROUNDED if you haven't already, or to get a hold of one of the incredibly scarce single issues you missed.

Click HERE to go directly to the itunes store and, hopefully, buy it. If you don't plan on buying it, don't have an iphone or ipod...well, say hi to my mom in the last century. Seriously though, even if you don't have any of these things, if you can click on the link and leave a review...no words are necessary, just five stars, that would mean a lot.

I think this is a step towards the future of comics, and I'm proud to be embracing it.

Here's the official press release:

Grounded Comic Book Now on iPhone and iPod Touch from UCLICK®

Kansas City, MO (January XX, 2009) – Grounded, Mark Sable’s coming-of-age superhero tale with a clever twist, is available now on iPhone and iPod Touch through Uclick, the #1 distributor of comics and games on mobile phones. The first three issues of the acclaimed series are available for download on the iPhone App Store at $.99(US)cents each.

Grounded, written by Mark Sable and illustrated by Paul Azaceta, starts with the classic superhero-in-training premise, but quickly turns that premise on its ear. When Jonathan Shepherd discovers that his parents are secretly superheroes, he is sent to a special school for kids with superpowers, despite the fact that he has none himself. While other teenagers might wilt under those circumstances, Jonathan remains determined to prove he has the makeup of a hero.

“Some comic books only claim to have an everyman hero,” said Uclick CEO Douglas Edwards. “Grounded really has it. Jonathan is a hero in a way anyone can be, but few actually are.”

“Grounded is a six-issue character study that takes place in its own brightly colored, self-contained universe,” said Edwards. “Above all else, that makes it instantly accessible – a perfect fit for the Uclick iPhone player, because instant accessibility is what our player is all about.”

Uclick has created dozens of comic apps for the iPhone and iPod Touch in recent weeks, including Bone, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Godland, Halo & Sprocket, as well as webcomic collections Pibgorn, Basic Instructions and We the Robots and the manga hit Dramacon.

The iPhone Uclick apps feature tap-and-swipe, panel-by-panel controls. The large multi-touch screen on the Apple devices enables clear, high-resolution presentation, but users can also utilize the zoom feature to get an even closer look at any panel.

To get Grounded and other favorite comic books, manga and graphic novels for the iPhone and iPod Touch go to the new Uclick Web App by typing Uclick.com into the Safari browser or visit the App Store on the iPhone or on iTunes.

About UCLICK:

UCLICK® is the leading digital entertainment provider of humor, comic strips, manga, graphic novels, editorial cartoons, and other content for desktop, web and mobile phones. Uclick is also the leading creator and distributor of crosswords, and other word and number puzzles. Partners featuring Uclick content include the leading consumer portals Yahoo!, MSNBC.com, New York Times, Slate.com, washingtonpost.com, CNN, USA Today, and AOL. Uclick features include the top brand franchises Garfield, Doonesbury, Calvin and Hobbes, Paul Frank, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, TOKYOPOP, USA Today, Pat Sajak, Wyland, and many more. Uclick creative content and services are available through the GoComics.com website, U.S. mobile phone operators, the iTunes App Store, and other distributors worldwide. UCLICK, LLC is a division of Andrews McMeel Universal, the leading newspaper syndicate and publisher of humor books and calendars in North America.
For more information on Uclick, visit http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=mumq4ucab.0.0.mrm4ttbab.0&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.uclick.com.

Part 2 of my Comics on Comics interview, Heroes, and graphic novels galore

2008-12-07T18:27:00.000-08:00

My apologies for not posting for a while. I've been busy trying to finish up a lot of new projects before the holidays. Maybe when things have calmed down I can talk about some of the exciting things I've got lined up for next year.

In the meantime, for your viewing (or listening) pleasure, the second part of my appearance on Comics on Comics is up. You can watch it here or download a medium or high quality video at itunes, if you're inclined to watch it on your ipod or iphone. Speaking of the iphone, I hope to have AT LEAST one cool announcement about that when the New Year comes along.

If reading is your thing - and I imagine it is or you wouldn't be reading my books, let alone this blog - the Heroes Graphic Novel, Volume 2 (cover pictured above) is now available in stores. The hardcover contains my first two-part story, featuring Mohinder Suresh (before he turned into the fly). It's got fantastic art by Jason Badower. And that's just my story - if you're a Heroes fan it should be a real treat.

And while we are on the subject of graphic novels, it looks to be good news for those of you who may have missed some of my single issue comics over the past year (or for those of you who'd like to re-read them). As I was looking through Amazon to find the details about the Heroes Hardcover release, I was surprised at that just about all my storied from the last year will be collected in trades by DC.

According to the site, CYBORG will be out early next year, followed by TWO-FACE: YEAR ONE, which will be packaged along with SCARECROW: YEAR ONE. I'd strongly recommend you pick up the latter, and not just because I think Two-Face is the best thing I've done in years.

Scarecrow: Year One was drawn by the super-talented Sean Murphy. We collaborated for two as-yet-unpublished (but fully written and drawn) Teen Titans issues last year. It was my first paid work for DC, and as much as I've grown as a writer, I'd still like to see it published because I think Sean's work was amazing.

Plus, it's a nifty little story that ties Brad Meltzer's Identity Crisis to the dark future of Geoff Johns Titans Tomorrow story. And it features the younger titans first ever battle against the Rogues of Flash fame. I'm not just talking about Captain Cold and Mirror Master. It's virtually the scarlet speedster's ENTIRE Rogues gallery, and Sean did some amazing work on the massive fight scenes (one of which is hanging up on my apartment wall). I think Titans fans would dig it.

That's all for now. Rest assured that you're going to see more DC and creator-owned work from me next year, and hopefully much, much more.

Part 1 of My COMICS ON COMICS interview is online

2008-11-19T09:01:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure on taping the LA based video podcast, COMICS ON COMICS at Dream World Comics. It's a fun show, where some of LA's best up and coming comediands talk about comics with LA's comics professionals.

Now, the first part of the multi-part video is online:

It's also available on itunes in medium and high quality versions. Past episodes are on itunes as well.

The show was fun, it's not just an interview with me, it's also me giving my thoughts on comic book current events and debating with the other panelists.

Thanks to everyone who came out to the taping, everyone from Comics on Comics (especially Blair Marnell for coordinating everything), and Dream World Comics.

It was my first time at Dream World, and they are definitely a retailer worth supporting if you're on the West Side of LA. Not only to they specialize in graphic novels and trades, they have built a BATCAVE in the back, where we taped our podcast. Yes - A Batcave, with a bathroom that's made to look like Mr. Freeze's cell in Arkham.

Here's there info:

Dream World Comics

12400 W Washington Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90066

(310) 390-7860

When more parts are online, I'll post here and on my message board at Image Comics to let you all know.

In one of the interviews , I talk about Unthinkable, my next creator owned project with BOOM!

studios, and reveal more about it than I've ever done before.

More POLARITY

2008-11-16T03:01:00.000-08:00

In a previous post, I spoke about the genesis of POLARITY, the original animated pilot I was hired by Cartoon Network to write. I posted the original one page pitch, and promised to share some more detail about how the story evolved and the behind the scenes reasons for its evolution.

To recap POLARITY was pitched as a modern day version of the WONDER TWINS. Two friends (later brothers) who are polar opposites in personality. Through an accident (or was it?) they are granted polar opposite superpowers as well. The catch - the accident has also made it impossible for them to leave each others side. Move more than 100 yards away from each other, and they weaken and die.

I had already developed quite a bit more than that one pager when I successfully pitch Polarity to the CN. I had a fully flushed out world, supporting cast, sample episodes and series arcs. I did more work based on CN's notes, writing treatments, then a draft of the pilot.

I'm know I'm kind of skipping to the end here, but I figure I can always go back and fill in the middle.

Long story short, they liked what I did, but towards the end there was talk of bringing in an experienced show runner. Quite frankly, I wasn't surprised or bothered - I'd never written on staff for a TV show, let alone run one. I appreciated the opportunity I had to give it by best shot, and to refine my craft on their dime.

I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't have liked to have a shot at rewriting the pilot. But I'd a) like to think that a 2nd or 3rd draft may have changed their mind, b) I would have wound up with a better writing sample, and c) most importantly, I think the process of rewriting a network show would have made me a better writer, sooner. (Or is that a bitter writer, sooner. I kid - Cartoon Network and the folks I worked with were great).

Before I was told there would be another writer (there never was), I was asked not to do another draft but to come up with some different takes. Essentially, they loved the concept, but they wanted a different dynamic than two friends that had drifted apart in high school over one's love of comics and the other's desire to put that behind him (something I could relate to).

Below are the three different takes I came up with:

THE PROJECT

Herc and Zeph are newly minted step-brothers, in a mixed-raced blended family. Herc is the perfect scholar athlete, and Zeph, the cool kid who has better things to do with his time than school. The two are not only forced to live together when Zeph’s mom marries Herc’s dad, they have to move to a new town so their scientist mom can be closer to her work, a solar cell factory. (Note: the fact they are step brother eliminates the need for their powers to have a proximity rule, since this alone will keep them together when they don’t want to be. This hopefully simplifies the rules that define how their powers work).

They know they hate each other from the start, and being forced to go to a new school together, let alone live in the same house together, is driving them crazy. In an attempt to bring the two kids together, their MOM pulls them out of school for Take-Your-Kids-to-Work day.

What THEY don’t know is that Zeph mom is that their mom’s solar panel factory is just a cover for a top secret military program. While they are supposed to stay in the cafeteria, Zeph wanders off. Herc follows, intent on making a good impression on his new step-mom, and afraid Zeph will get them both in trouble. They discover that solar plant conceals a “Project Cadmus” type operation. The government is trying to create a a SUPER-SOLDIER to counter the growing number super-humans. When a cute, 18 year old FEMALE SOLDIER steps into the POLARITY CHAMBER, she is able to fight a captured super-villain or renegade super-hero by gaining their OPPOSITE POWER. The effect is not long lasting, but does last long enough to get the job done.

Of course that’s not what happen when TWO PEOPLE step in the chamber at the SAME TIME. Zeph impulsively decides to try it for himself, and Herc tries to stop them. They’re both locked in THE CHAMBER, which gives them permanent, short bursts of opposite powers while binding them together.

They fight, destroy the facility and with it the government’s only way to counter the growing superhuman threat.

Zeph wants to keep his powers – they’re fun, while the more responsible Herc wants to be rid of them and return to his normal life. Either way they want to be rid of each other.

But while that might be their ultimate goal, they have a responsibility to stop super-villains until Zeph’s mom can rebuild the chamber – a problem they brought on by themselves. They are reminded of this responsibility by the only witness to their transformation, the female soldier who was the first test subject for the chamber. While she feels cheated out of becoming America’s first super-soldier, she agrees to both guide them and keep their secret.

The latter hits close to home, because Zeph’s MOM, in addition to rebuilding the chamber, is assigned to track these two new “heroes” down. It’s up to this unlikely, and seemingly unqualified step-brothers to take down the supervillains, all the while trying to keep their identities secret – not only from their enemies, but from their family as well.

LAB PARTNERS:

In this take, Herc and Zeph are two kids who just rub each other the wrong way. Herc is the perfect scholar athlete, while Zeph is the cool kid who has better things to do with his time than school. They’d probably get into fistfights in school just because they’re opposites, but when you add DEENA, a GIRL they both like enough to fight over, to the mix, coming to blows is an inevitability.

When they fight over who gets to be Deena’s lab partner in chem, they are instead assigned by her father - their SCIENCE TEACHER - to be LAB PARTNERS with each other.

Because of their bickering, they blow experiment after experiment and are forced to stay after school to complete their lab work. They fight, and as a result wind up trashing the lab and stumbling upon their teacher’s secret.

Their Science Teacher is a former mad scientist now trying to live life on the straight and narrow. But he’s being blackmailed by a LEGION OF DOOM type organization of SUPER-VILLAINS into creating the POLARITY FORMULA for them. The formula is meant to counter superhero’s powers when one person takes it. But when two are doused in it simultaneously, it gives them opposite powers while binding the together.

When the science teacher can’t give his blackmailers the POLARITY FORMULA since his lab was destroyed, the SOCIETY OF SUPER-VILLAINS arrive in town to find the formula, even if it means draining our heroes of their lifeblood to extract the only remaining sample.

Zeph wants to keep their powers – they are fun, and can be used to impress Deena. The more responsible Herc wants to return to his normal life – he thinks he can impress her with his good looks and good grades. Either way they want to be rid of each other. But while their ultimate goal is to get it out of their system, they have a responsibility to stop the super-villains who have descended on the town first.

They are given guidance by their teacher. Even though he wants them away from his daughter, he knows he has a responsibility of his own. Hiding out as a teacher isn’t enough to make up for his mad scientist past. It’s up to him to help our heroes

put the Society of Supervillains out of business for good.

BLOOD TIES:

Herc and Zeph. Two kids from feuding families, the Ramseys and the Flynns – this world’s Montague and Capulets, a modern day version of the Hatfields and McCoys. Once part of the same family, they split a couple generations ago over control over the town’s largest employer RAMSEY PHARMACEUTICALS.

Herc is from the well-to-do Ramseys, while Zeph hails from the down-on-their-luck Flynn’s. Herc tries to stand out from his rich relatives by working at the chemical plant even though he doesn’t have to. Zeph tries to stand out from his criminal cousins by staying on the straight and narrow. But neither of them know that about the other – they can’t see past the stereotypes. To Zeph, Herc is just a spoiled brat. To Herc, Zeph is just a bad seed from the wrong side of the tracks.

One night, Zeph is pressured by his UNCLE, the town’s CRIME BOSS, to break into RAMSEY pharmaceuticals and steal what is rightly theirs – the POLARITY FORMULA. Invented by Zeph’s great-grand dad…it’s the secret to the Ramsey fortune. Zeph doesn’t want to do it, but he’s worried his struggling family won’t be able to eat if he doesn’t.

On the night of the break-in, Zeph evades the ROBOT SECURITY GUARDS only to find out Herc is working the late shift at the factory. They get into a fight, and FALL INTO A VAT of the formula.

The POLARITY FORMULA was designed to counter superheroes’ powers when one person takes it. But when two are doused in it simultaneously, it gives them opposite powers while binding the together. Herc and Zeph get opposite powers, have to stay within a mile of each other etc.

Their super-powered fight wrecks the factory and destroys the only sample of the formula. Herc would turn Zeph into his cops, but he learns a deadly family secret. His GRANDFATHER has been selling this formula to SUPER-VILLAINS. The two of them have to team up to fight the super-villains, who return to their town jonesing for more of the formula.

Herc wants to be rid of his powers, Zeph wants to keep them. Zeph thinks Herc only wants to get the Polarity Formula out of his system so that Ramsey Pharmaceuticals can stay in business, keeping his corrupt family rich. In reality, Herc wants to be rid of the evil he now knows his family helped create. Herc thinks Zeph wants to keep his powers so he can be a supervillain himself, continuing to steal for his no-good family. Instead, Zeph want to keep them so he can change what his family name has come to stand for, and make up for breaking into the factory himself – becoming what he hated.

Regardless, they want to be rid of each other, and that’s their ultimate goal. But they realize they have a responsibility to stop the villains first. Moreover, our heroes’ lives are at stake. The villains realize that the only remaining sample of the Polarity formula is IN THEIR BLOOD, and don’t care if draining it from the costs Herc and Zeph their lives.

I particularly liked "THE PROJECT". I particularly liked the idea of doing a mixed-race, blended family, and a kick-ass mom character. Not something you see done on TV, let alone for boys. I would have loved for one of the HEROES to be a girl...but demographically CN believed that wouldn't work (and they evidently had focus group info to back that up).

The truth is, I liked all three. Forcing me to come up with three new takes at first seemed like a slap in the face - "hey, your pilot sucked so bad we want you to start from scratch". But after making many small changes throughout the development process, having to radically rethink the concept recharged me creatively. It's a bitter sweet feeling that I felt like I was really hitting my stride right before POLARITY was killed.

What ultimately killed it was not the content. There was regime change at CN, and with it, a new mandate. They wanted Live Action shows (of course, what else would you expect to find on the CARTOON Network). That brought us back to the same problem we had when we pitched it to Disney...this was not a show that the execs believed could be done at the time in live action.

Hope springs eternal, though. GROUNDED started out as a screenplay I wrote in 2001 (actually, the ideas date farther back than that), and I had to wait until 2005 for it to become a comic. That wait seemed interminable, but the end result was worth it, not just because Paul Azaceta turned my vision into something no director could, but because it launched both our careers in comics. More important than what that would mean for me in terms of work, it also made me realize that, no matter what other mediums I may write for, comics was a place that I wanted to stay.

POLARITY may be dead at Cartoon Network in 2008, but I believe that you'll see it at some point, in some way. At the very least, you'll see some of the ideas in my work (not just the ideas I've shown here, but the many, many ones that are in documents too long to post). Again, the idea of two siblings/heroes (from a mixed-race, blended family) with opposite powers and personalities, physically forced to be together in both heroics and life...I think those elements are too strong not to work SOMEWHERE.

My only fear is that by posting my ideas they'll show up in SOMEONE ELSE'S work. That's the risk of posting, but I feel if I'm going to have a blog, I need to give readers a reason to read them. Sharing stuff like this, that you won't find elsewhere (unless you are in the industry, where I'm sure my script has been passed around).

If you'd like to read more about Polarity, or any of my other work (published or not), write me here.

See me in LA this week for a taping of "Comics on Comics"

2008-10-20T16:03:00.001-07:00

On the west coast and feel like seeing me? Come to Dream World Comics in Culver City for a live taping of "Comics on Comics", a video podcast where the greatest (stand-up) comic minds meet the greatest minds in comics in a round-table discussion of sequential art.

Given my past performances on radio, TV and the internets, I'm likely to say something so offensive that will jeopardize my career.

In addition to the show, I'll be happy to hang around, sign books, and grab a drink.

The Time: Wed Oct 22 @8PM
The address: Dream World Comics, 12400 W. Washington Boulevard, Los Angeles CA 90066.

Two-Face Year One #2 out now, Cyborg #6 out this Wednesday

2008-10-13T17:07:00.001-07:00

As of this week, the final issues of both my mini-series for DC Comics will be out. Two-Face: Year One #2 (of 2) is in stores now. As far as I'm concerned, I think it's the best thing I've ever written.

Issue One chronicled the rise and fall of district Harvey Dent, culminating in the acid splash to the face that made him, well, Two-Face. It also Dealt with the formation of Commissioner Gordon's squad of "untouchables", the only honest cops on Gotham's force, the ones that wind up becoming the core cast of one of my favorite series of all time, Gotham Central. Finally, it introduced Harvey's nemesis, corrutp mob lawyer Mort Weinstein.

In Issue Two, there is no Harvey, only Two-Face. Mort Weinstein, still working for the mob, is running for D.A. But there's a catch - Harvey's name is on the ballot. He decides to run as Two-Face. His campaign platform - you're better off getting justice from a flip of the coin then from a city as rotten as Gotham is. Batman, Gordon and his untouchables are caught in the middle of this no win situation.

The second issue has the same noir tone of the first, but adds a ton more villiains from Batman's rogue's gallery, some well known, and some obscure. And if you ever wondered where the coin came from in the Batcave, I'll finally give you the answer.

Issue 6 of DC Special: Cyborg, is out this Wednesday, October 15th. In the previous five issues, we've learned that the mercenary Mister Orr (from Brian Azarello and Jim Lee's Superman run) has stolen the technology of Vic Stone, the man known has cyborg. Orr has given the technology to a group of maimed veterans. The catch - if they want to keep their limbs, they've got to keep killing for Orr - no matter who the target is.

In the final issue, Vic has met the recipients of his cybernetics - The Phantom Limsb. Vic is faced with the moral dilemma of whether or not he should take those cybernetics back. At the same time, he's confronted with a team of supervillains called the Cyborg Revenge squad. Not only does Issue 6 resolve these dilemmas, it makes some major changes in Vic's social life as well.

I hope you'll check both issues out. I should be back here soon to start talking about next years upcomins projects.

See Paul Azaceta and I in New York this Tuesday (Oct. 7th) at 8PM in person at Comic Book Club: Live!

2008-10-05T16:43:00.000-07:00

Along with The Timony Brothers (creator of the great Zuda webcomic "Night Owls"), Grounded artist Paul Azaceta and I are the guests at this week's COMIC BOOK CLUB: LIVE! in Manhattan.

The Comic Book Club, sponsored by Midtown Comics (my old LCS), features comedians talking to comics professionals about, well, comics. They've had everyone from Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada to cast members of SNL and The Daily Show...to well, me.

Sure, there will be a podcast of it at some point, but wouldn't it be fun to see us, meet us, hang out aftewards? I'm known to be a bit politically incorrect (okay, really, really offensive) at these types of things (ex: my appearance on Jonesy's Jukebox)

The show takes place at :
The Peoples Improv Theater

154 West 29th Street, 2nd Floor

(Between. 6th and 7th Aves.)
www.popcultureshock.com/cbclub

It's Tuesday at Oct. 6th at 8PM.

CYBORG #5 out this Wednesday; Two-Face: Year One and Heroes updates, and an early year in review

2008-09-16T15:33:00.000-07:00

This Wednesday, September 17th, the fifth and penultimate issue of DC Special: Cyborg is in stores. Illustrated by Carlos Magno and inked by Jonathan Glapion, I'm really excited about this issue because it's not just me taking familiar DC characters and putting them in new situations. I've created a group of new characters - The Phantom Limbs - maimed veterans who were given Vic Stone's cybernetics by the mercenary known as Mr. Orr (from Brian Azzarello and Jim Lee's Superman Run). Their catch - they only get to keep their new limbs if they continue to kill for Mr. Orr - no matter who the target is.

Are these Phantom Limbs (the title doesn't just refer to their literal cybernetic limbs; "phantom limbs" refers to the sensation that amputees have of still feeling their limbs even after they lost them) - friend or foe? Well, the glib answer is read and find out. But what I'm really hoping is that, just like I'm using other creator's characters, The Phantom Limbs will be part of my legacy on Cyborg. That someone else, somewhere down the line have fun with the toys I've added to the wonderful toybox that is the DC Universe.

Speaking of DC, many of you might be wondering where the second issue of Two-Face: Year One is (some of you may even be saying, wait, there's a Part Two?). It was scheduled to come out already, and I'm not sure why it hasn't - I've seen the finished art and lettering - but it's been rescheduled to come out on Wednesday, October 8th. I've said this before, but I think it's one of the best things I've ever written.

It keeps the same noirish tone of the first issue, and spotlights the cops that Ed Brubaker and Greg Rucka created in - Gotham Central - they're Jim Gordon's "untouchables", the only honest cops in the Gotham City Polic department. But the story moves away from Two-Face's origin and deals with Two-Face running for D.A. against a corrupt former mob lawyer. And if an election-themed story sounds boring, don't worry - it's fulled with bullets, Batman, and more Bat-villains than I thought could an artist could fit on a page (sorry, Jesus...and by Jesus, I mean artist Jesus Saiz). Did I mention it's got Batman.

It looks like I'll be doing an appearance in NY the day before Two-Face hits, on October 7th...more on that as it gets sooner.

The following Wednesday, October 15th, the sixth and final issue of Cyborg should be in stores. That's where I pit both Cyborg and The Phantom limbs against The Cyborg Revenge Squad, a team of supervillains designed specifically to take out, well, cyborgs. I also wrap up everything, and there's a major change in Vic's personal life.

Finally, on November 19th, Wildstorm will be printing the first two-part webcomic I did for NBC's Heroes as part of a hardcover collection. In additon to featuring stories by my good friends Pierluigi Cothran, Christine Boylan and Heroes writer/editor Chuck Kim, Heroes Vol. 2 will showcase the print version of my Suresh story, "Blackout", illustrated by fan-favorite Jason Badower. (Interestingly enough, that story was published in a special issue at Comic Con this year, of which I only have one copy. If anyone wants to give - or sell me a copy - please e-mail me).

And that wraps up my publishing schedule for 2008. It's been a pretty remarkable year. I've had at least one book come out every month with the exception of December. Fearless and Hazed from Image, Cyborg and Two-Face: Year One from DC, as well as stories in BOOM!'s Cthulhu Tales and Tori Amos' Comic Book Tattoo. And that's not even including my Heroes webcomics...

I'm not sure what next year will bring. I'm working on at least one creator owned series, for one of the publishers I mentioned above. Hopefully, the work-for-hire offers will continue, and there will be good news about the pilot for Cartoon Network I've been working on.

I mention this not to pat myself on the back, but to thank all the talented collaborators I've worked with, and more importantly, all the readers who've continued to follow my work. I promise you that whatever comes next will be full of surprises and better written than what's come before.

Cyborg #4 in stores now.

2008-08-21T22:40:00.000-07:00

Issue 4 of D.C. Special: Cyborg, has been available since Wednesday. As you can see from the cover, supervillains kick the Teen Titan's ass while Cyborg does nothing but weep for them. Actually, while the supervillains (Wildebeest and Equus) take on the Titans and Teen Titans, Vic learns he's not the only cyborg in town, and goes in search of wounded soldiers forced to use his stolen technology.

After this, there's two more issues of Cyborg coming out in September and October. Also in September, the second issue of Two-Face: Year One arrives in stores. It's been a pretty busy year so far - I don't think there's been a single month yet where I haven't had a graphic novel, comic or webcomic published.

I'm now working on my next round of creator owned projects, as well as pitching to the big two, and hope to have some announcements here soon.

Cthulhu Calling

2008-08-14T20:14:00.000-07:00

Out in stores now is Cthulhu Tales #4, which contains th 11 page story "There Will Be Blood". You can see the two cover variations above.

For those of you wondering who, or what "Cthulhu" pronounced ka-THOO-loo, he's an enormous, evil, tenacled god created by H.P. Lovecraft. Lovecraft is one of the most important horror writers of the 20th century, crafting an entire mythos around Cthulhu and The Necronomicon, a mystical tome that drove men mad. His stories were both vivid and extremely bleak.

Cthulhu tales is BOOM!'s anthology series giving modern writers a chance to offer their own takes on Lovecraftian horror. My story is set in present day Iraq, and is one of the more politically charged stories I've ever written. But don't worry. It's full of madness, tentacles and people dying in awful, awful ways. (Actually, that doesn't sound too far off from Iraq today...minus the tentacles).

This is my first work for BOOM! Studios (but definitely not my last). They published one of my favorite espionage books, Chip Mosher's Left on Mission, and two of GROUNDED artist Paul Azaceta's books, Talent and Potter's Field. The latter was written by Mark Waid, their new editor-in-chief.

Waid, who is probably best known for "Kingdom Come" with Alex Ross and his run on "The Flash" (although my favorite Waid work is Empire and Fantastic Four), is a living legend, and the main reason I'm working with BOOM! Not only is he one of the most accomplished writers in comics, he's also the best editor I've ever worked with. His notes on just this short story alone were like a master class in comics writing. And to top it all off, he's a hell of a guy. It's truly an honor to have my name on a book with his (he wrote the other story in this issue).

It was also a great pleasure to work with artist Sergio Carrera, who illustrated "There Will Be Blood". His style is simple but evocative, and I have no doubt you're going to be seeing a lot of work from this rising star very soon.

2008-08-01T10:47:00.000-07:00

Still not recovered from Comic-Con yet, but nevertheless, I'm headed to Golden Apple Comics in Los Angeles tonight, Friday August 1st at 6PM to sign copies of Tori Amos' Comic Book Tattoo anthology (along with Cyborg, Two-Face and anything else if people ask). I got to meet Tori at Comic-Con, and she was extremely gracious. She talked about how much the song "Upside Down", which I adapted with Salgood Sam, meant to her. Of our story, she said "how brave", and I think the fact she picked it to promote the book on MySpace Comics (click the link to read our story FREE, in its entirety) is testament to how happy she was with it.

From my end, it was a blast to work with Max (aka Salgood), a true collaboration in the best sense of the word. It was an honor to not only work with Tori but to be included with contributors of such talent. And most of all to work with Editor Rantz Hoseley, who killed himself to make what I think is one of the most impressive comic anthologies in the history of the medium.

Again, while you can read my story for free by clicking on the MySpace link above, I encourage you to buy it. Whether in hard or softcover...this book is something to be seen. 12x12 (LP size) and I don't know how many inches thick, this book is a tome, and you're not likely to see art presented this way for such a reasonable price.

Cyborg #3 out Wednesday

2008-07-29T20:27:00.001-07:00

Just back from San Diego, and still too exhausted to post about it. But I wanted to let you all know that the third issue of my mini-series DC Special: Cyborg is out this Wednesday. For those of you who have been reading, a certain someone long thought dead is back as Vic Stone's cyborg enemy. This issue will reveal how he was saved from certain death, became a cyborg, and why he's been attacking S.T.A.R. Labs facilities. There will also be lots of cyborg on cyborg fighting, plus more action from the Titans, teen and otherwise.

This issue is also the debut of Carlos Magno on the book, who is replacing the great Ken Lashley as penciller for the duration of the series (issues 3-6). I think Carlo's work is great, and since the inker is still Jonathan Glapion, there shouldn't be too much of a transition.

One thing I will say about San Diego is that I got to meet Bill Walko. He runs a website, http://www.titanstower.com, that's the place to go for all things Cyborg and Teen Titans on the web. His site served as a tremendous resource for me (as it does for a number of DC creators and editors), and if I could have given him a thank you in the book, I would have. It's good to know he's a great guy in person as well as a dedicated Titans fan.

In Two-Face: Year One news, the response has been great so far. Please check it out, it's still on the stands (which you may have missed if you were at or headed to San Diego last Wednesday).

Two-Face: Year One out this Wednesday, my dad, and where I'll be in San Diego

2008-07-21T19:21:00.000-07:00

Above is Mark Chiarello's awesome cover to the first issue of Two-Face: Year One, which is finally out in stores this Wednesday. It's 48 pages, prestige format, with art by Jesus Saiz and Jeremey Haun, inks by Jimmie Palmiotti and lettering by my friend, and great comic creator in his own right, Sal Cipriano. It's a deeper exploration of Harvey Dent (for those of you who don't read comics, Aaron Eckhart's character in the wonderful Dark Knight), as much a hard boiled crime story as a Batman superhero tale. And I'm more proud of the writing on this as just about anything I've ever done.

It occurs to me as I write this, that despite the many interviews I've done for this book, I don't think I've talked about how much my dad was an influence on this project. Like Harvey Dent, my father is a former prosecutor (Federal, not state), and a lifelong civil servant who remained honest despite the sea of corruption that often categorized the REAL Gotham, New York City. Unlike Harvey, my father never crossed over to the dark side, but he did provide me with a plethora of stories about cops, lawyers and mobsters that found their way into this project. When you read the joke about a cop being assigned a two-thousand year old murder case, that's my dad and his humor right there. Although I may not have followed in his footsteps (I have ga law degree but have never practiced law), he's still my hero.

***

As for San Diego, I'll be at Comic-Con this whole weekend. I'll be at the Image table, primarily, either signing my own books - Grounded, Fearless and Hazed, or signing Comic Book Tattoo with my fellow contributors to that Tori Amos anthology. Of course, I'm happy to sign Two-Face, Cyborg and Supergirl, my DC projects to date, or the award-nominated Image anthologies Popgun and 24/7 Volume 2.

(note - if you're reading this, and are looking for a particular issue of Grounded or Fearless, let me know and I can make sure to bring it).

EDIT: Signing (and sketching) with me will be Grounded's Paul Azaceta, Hazed's Robbi Rodriguez, and Fearless co-writer Dave Roth (Dave probably won't sketch).

Also, evidently there is a special edition Heroes comic for the con that features my two-part Suresh story from last year. Not only will I be happy to sign that, but if anyone can snag me a copy I'll happy to pay you for one and throw in some free stuff as well.

Midget Westerns, and why I'm an award magnet

2008-07-15T17:53:00.000-07:00

Since my days at Howard Stern, where I got to work with the late, great Hank the Angry Drunken Dwarf and Beetlejuice (although sadly, not Eric the Midget, er, Eric the Actor), I've dreamed of bringing the midget experience to the page. More specifically, the untold stories of the midgets who tamed the west. My first (but hopefully, not last), midget Western, "They Shoot Ponies, Don't They?" (illustrated by Rob Guilroy), was published in Image's Popgun anthology. Not only was "Ponies" groundbreaking work, it's now being recognized for it's brilliance.

So far I've been published in two comic book anthologies (not including Comic Book Tattoo, the Tori Amos project out soon). And so far, both have been nominated for major awards. 24/7 Volume 2, edited by Ivan Brandon, is nominated for an Eisner.

Now, Popgun Volume 1, edited by Mark Andrew Smith and Joe Keatinge, is nominated for a Harvey. Coincidence? Let's just say if you're putting together an anothology, I might just be your good luck charm.

Seriously, I was flattered to be in both anthologies. Ivan, writer of Cross Bronx and NYC Mech, helped me on all my creator owned projects, whether he's been credited or not, and helped me get Grounded to Image, launching my career. Mark, the writer of Amazing Joy Buzzards, Aqua Leung and Kill All Parents was one of the first pros I've met, and is both exceedingly talented and down to earth. And Joe, now marketing director at Image, has been my behind the scenes champion there, promoting my work, making sure it gets out on time, and handling the thousands of crises that pop up when you trying to get a comic out on time.

So I'd be remiss not just to thank these guys publically, or encourage you to buy their books, but in the case of Popgun, to vote for it so it's not just a Harvey nominee, but a Harvey award winner. You can do so here.

Coming soon, word on where and when I'll be during San Diego Comic-Con, word about Two-Face: Year One (out next week!) and my new creator-owned project.

Read my Comic Book Tattoo (Tori Amos Anthology) story for free on MySpace Comics

2008-07-03T10:39:00.001-07:00

Back in December, comic book creator and all around great guy Rantz Hoseley, who I met on Ivan Brandon's message board, asked me to contribute to a top secret comic book anthology. All it took were two words to get me to say yes in two seconds - Tori Amos. Aside from being a phenomenal singer songwriter, she's the inspiration for Delerium in Neil Gaiman's Sandman series, my all time favorite work in any medium.

After I said yes, I realized I was coiming in late in the process. It looked like all the cool songs were taken, as well as the good artists. My initial excitement quickly turned to panic. Luckily, I was wrong on both fronts. The song Upside Down proved incredibly inspiring, and I got paired with artist Salgood Sam (aka Max Douglas), of Therefore Repent and Sea of Red Fame. You can see a page of his art from the story we adapted from Upside Down above.

Aside from the fact that that Tori Amos is involved (and by involved, she didn't just stick her name on it, she treated this like one of her albums), this is a special anthology for many more reasons. It's a a limited edition hardcover, 12" x 12". Despite the fact that (or perhaps, because) Tori is a gifted storyteller those of us involved were told not to do literal adaptations, but let the songs be jumping off points, and the resulting diversity is amazing. Add to that an all-star list of creators...this is one of the greatest projects I've had the privilege of being involved in.

That honor became even more flattering when Tori decided to pick a story that best represented the book for MySpace Comics. She chose Upside Down, and as a result, you can read our story in its entirety FOR FREE here.

CYBORG #2 out Wednesday, #5 available for pre-order

2008-06-16T20:08:00.001-07:00

The second issue of my six issue Cyborg series, is out this Wednesday, June 18th. For long time Titans fans, it's got a hell of a twist at the end. Between this, Two-Face: Year One, my Tori Amos/ Comic Book Tattoo anthology story and a Cthulhu Tales anthology for BOOM! Studios, I should have at least one comic out every month from now until October. Hopefully there will be some more announcements soon.

The fifth issue of Cyborg is now available for pre-order (That's the cover to #5 above, not #2). Here's the solicit info:

DC SPECIAL: CYBORG #5

Written by Mark Sable, Art by Carlos Magno & Jonathan Glapion, Cover by Mike McKone

Meet The Phantom Limbs, an elite team of wounded soldiers saved by Cyborg's technology. The catch? The only way they can keep their new limbs is by killing for the mercenary Mr. Orr. Will Vic be able to save them from this Faustian bargain – or will they kill him first? On sale September 17 • 5 of 6, 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US.

Part 2 of Heroes: Faces

2008-05-28T13:49:00.001-07:00

The second part of my two-part Webcomic for NBC's hit show HEROES is now up, and available for free here. It's about a mother-daughter team of agents that work for the show's mysterious "Company" and should provides a little comic relief from this summer's ongoing story.

Listen to me on Jonesey's Jukebox this Friday May 23rd

2008-05-22T17:44:00.000-07:00

Never mind the bollocks! This comic book thing is getting more and more surreal. This Friday, I'm going to be on Jonesey's Jukebox, one of LA's most popular radio shows, hosted by Steve Jones, guitarist of the Sex Pistols. Along with SCUD's Rob Schrab and GODLAND'S Joe Casey, we'll evidently be judging the weeks newest tracks (something I am excited for yet completely unqualified to do) and to promote HAZED. You don't need to be in the LA area to hear me if you've got one of those internets. Press release below.

SCHRAB, CASEY, SABLE ON JONESY'S JUKEBOX 05.23.08
Press Release
This Friday, SCUD THE DISPOSABLE ASSASSIN's Rob Schrab, HAZED's Mark Sable and GØDLAND's Joe Casey will appear on INDIE 103.1 FM's Jonesy's Jukebox, from 12 to 2 PM."Jonesy's Jukebox is a one of my favorite radio shows so being part of it in time to celebrate the end of SCUD is surreally awesome," Schrab said. "It's a perfect way to cap off over ten years of the series."Jonesy's Jukebox, hosted by Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols on what Rolling Stone declared the best radio station of 2008, airs every Friday from Noon to 2pm with the first hour repeating at 6pm. Each episode features four guests panelists talking about and judging the newest tracks to hit the radio with this week's including Casey, Hazed and Schrab. In addition, they'll be discussing their latest projects such as the Eisner-nominated GØDLAND CELESTIAL EDITION, CHARLATAN BALL, HAZED and SCUD THE DISPOSASBLE ASSASSIN: THE WHOLE SHEBANG. Joe Casey added, "Big Steve Jones fan. Huge guitar sounds hit me just the right way. Moving into the last year of GØDLAND and launching of CHARLATAN BALL, this is a very cool way to get the word out."Jonesy's Jukebox will air Friday, May 23rd from 12 to 2 PM. Listeners out of the Los Angeles area can listen via http://www.indie1031.fm/4045_Listen_Live.php?id=27. GØDLAND CELESTIAL EDITION (MAY071862), a 360-page hardcover for $34.99, and HAZED (DEC072052), a 160-page graphic novel for $14.99, are available now. SCUD THE DISPOSASBLE ASSASSIN: THE WHOLE SHEBANG (TP - APR082180/HC-APR082181), a 786-page black & white collection, will be available June 25th. CHARLATAN BALL (APR082158), a 24-page full color comic book for $2.50, will be available June 11th.

CYBORG #1 out today, pre-order issue #4 and Two-Face: Year One #2

2008-05-21T00:35:00.000-07:00

Well, the first issue of my new six issue mini, DC SPECIAL: CYBORG, hits stands today, Wednesday May 21st 2008. It's the first solo series for one of the most popular Teen Titans in his 28 years of existence, and I'm really excited to see your reaction to it.

The above cover is for Issue 4, which hits stands August 20th. You can pre-order it while your in the store picking up Issue 1. Here's the solicit:

The mysterious Mr. Orr has transformed one of Cyborg's friends into a killing machine! But is Vic's friend the only victim?Orr has cloned two of the world's deadliest super-villains to prevent Cyborg and The Titans from finding out.On sale August 20

And while you're pre-ordering, why not get Part Two of Two-Face: Year One. Check out this amazing cover by Mark Chiarello:

Here's the solicit.

TWO-FACE YEAR ONE #2
Written by Mark Sable
Art by Jesus Saiz & Jimmy Palmiotti
Cover by Mark Chiarello
The election coverage continues as Two-Face throws his hat in the ring! It’s the shocking conclusion to the tightest race in Gotham City history, and it’s only the beginning of Batman’s struggle with a man who used to be his best friend — and the monster within.On sale August 13 • 2 of 2, 48 pg, FC, $5.99 US

No slight to Cyborg or any of my creator owned works, but I think Two-Face: Year One is the best thing I've ever written. Hopefully it will get a boost from the Dark Knight sequel, which opens the month before. You can read about how I put a "Dent" (as in Harvey Dent) in Two-Face on CBR.

Between Cyborg and Heroes this may be the most readers I've ever had. Huge week, and more to come...

New HEROES Webcomic

2008-05-20T00:18:00.001-07:00

Last fall, I was privileged enough to write a two-part story for NBC's hit show, HEROES, starring Mohinder Suresh. This week, the first part of my new webcomic, FACES, starts, starring a mother-daughter team of Company agents of my own creation. You can read it FOR FREE here.

Like the last online graphic novel, this one is considered just as much a part of the Heroes canon as any episode. And while ties into this summer's over-arching story that leads into this fall's new season, you can read it without having any knowledge of past chapters. Hell, you can read it without having watched a single episode of Heroes.

With CYBORG coming out this Wednesday, and the second issue of TWO-FACE: YEAR ONE now available for pre-order, this is shaping up to be a huge comics week for me.

Hazed - Video Part 2

2008-05-16T02:15:00.001-07:00

The second part of my interview with Comics on Comics about HAZED, my dark comedy about sororities and eating disorders. Robbi and I discuss the creative process as well as what goes into pre-production. Filmed in the green room at Meltdown's Pledge Party.

Chat with me about Cyborg this weekend!

2008-05-14T22:22:00.000-07:00

Next Wednesday, May 21st, the first issue of my six issue CYBORG series debuts. This Saturday, May 17th, at 8:30 PM EST, I'll be participating in my first ever live chat.

I'm happy to talk about Cyborg, my past work on Supergirl my unpublished Titans issues (featuring the first ever meeting between the Titans and the Flash's Rogues Gallery), my upcoming Two-Face: Year One mini-series, and anything else you want to ask me about.

(As a disclaimer, this is not an official DC chat, and anything I write is my own opinion, not DC's etc.)

I'm truly honored to get to contribute to the legacy of one of comics greatest characters, and I think old-school fans will be happy with what Ken, Carlo, Jonathan and myself have done with Vic.

As for how it's going to work... you need to have aol or aim to get in on this chat , just make up a screenname. Then either instant message teentitan2002 (who is gracious enough to host this chat) on aim or aol, or reply to this thread on DC's Teen Titans messageboard maybe one lucky fan might get a surprise after the chat.

Emerald City Con Re-Cap

2008-05-12T20:30:00.000-07:00

When I go to a new city, I like to do the most obnoxious, touristy thing possible, as revenge for having to take friends to the Walk of Fame in Hollywood and direct out-of-towners to Ground Zero when I lived in New York (disgusting how quickly that became a tourist destination). In Seattle, home of this past weekend's Emerald City Con, that meant visiting the world's first Starbucks. How can you tell this Starbucks is special? Check out the logo behind me. Unlike the traditional, ubiquitous mermaid, this one's nipples are exposed.

There were no exposed nipples on display in Seattle, despite the presence of Slave Leias (mandatory at any con) and The Suicide Girls (who I think are teases...have any of them actually killed themselves? Or even tried? They should be like Menudo, but instead of simply being kicked out of the band at age 16, there should be a Logan's Run like rule that they must off themselves as a career capper).

There was something even better on display, however. What's that shirt Marvel editor (and hottest girl in comics) Jen Grunwald is wearing next to Ed Brubaker's trademark Fedora at the Mondo Marvel Panel?

Why it's a HAZED t-shirt. All the cool kids are wearing them, and you should too.

Of course, you'll have to wait for San Diego if you want one of these suckers, as Emerald City will be my last con until then. In order to tide you over, I'm going to give you one of my trademark extra long con re-caps.

Emerald City was definitely one of the better cons I've been to. I'm starting to appreciate smaller cons (at least small relative to SDCC and NYCC) that are more focused on comics than other media, where you don't have to hear Spike TV blasting wrestling music or gamers mangling Rock Band covers.

What struck me most about ECCC were the fans. I did better than expected business-wise, but most of my interaction with fans was not trying to sell books, but rather readers who brought copies to sign, and more importantly, came to discuss the work. I think the strangest thing for me was how many people brought copies of the one issue of Supergirl that I co-wrote with Joe Kelly. Granted, that issue (which is collected in Supergirl: Identity trade if you want to contribute to my royalty fund) features a new origin for Kara Zor-El, but I didn't realize it had made anyone's radar. I don't know how much the increased recognition was a function of the show, or whether I'm slowly but surely building a fan base, but I've never seen a more engaged group of convention attendies.

What's cool was that it wasn't all "I love your work/what are you doing next". Not that I don't appreciate either of those sentiments, but oddly enough one of the best experiences I had was from someone who read Hazed, liked it, but was offended by my portrayal of fraternity and sorority life.

I give the guy a lot of credit for having the guts to come up to a creator and express their feelings in person, without the safe anonymity of the internet. That said, his argument essentially boiled down to two things. One, his fraternity (AEII) wasn't like the one I portrayed in HAZED. Ironically enough, when I was at Duke, I got in a bit of trouble for ridiculing that particular frat. I had a satirical weekly newspaper column, and I wrote, having attended the self-styled "Jewish fraternity's" lame "Disco Inferno" party, that I haven't felt this sorry for the Jewish people since Schindler's List. I'm a Jew, so I thought it was okay to say that, but evidently the letter-writers calling me a KKK hooded Nazi and the phone callers who threatened my life disagreed.

His other criticism was and that I should have shown the "good side" of fraternities. Which - if you are looking for a fair and balanced portrayal of the Greek system, Hazed isn't for you. I don't think it's my job as a satirist to be even handed. It's my job to make you laugh, and tell the truth, even if it's ugly.

The reaction to Hazed has been pretty much what I thought it would be - extremely polarizing. People seem to love it or hate it, identify with it or find it completely incompatible with their own experiences...and not much in between. As a writer, I think that means I was successful. I'd much rather readers have a negative reaction than no reaction at all. I felt proud that I was able to engender such a strong reaction from someone, and he walked away with a free copy of Grounded #1 (the least offensive thing I could think to give him).

The more intimate setting also allowed me much more quality time with fellow creators. Ed Brubaker was nice enough to play host to a bunch of pros visiting from out of town by showing us some of his hometown drinking establishments. Ed may be the last person in comics in need of a plug, but Criminal is without a doubt the best crime book out there, and it's a book that's worth getting in single issues because it's got some of the best backmatter in comics.

I was a bit nervous meeting Ed, because Two-Face: Year One features the first appearance of many of the characters he and Greg Rucka created for their classic series Gotham Central. In Two-Face, Jim Gordon and Harvey Dent assemble those characters as a team of the only honest cops in Gotham to bring down the - their version of "The Untouchables". I was afraid to mention to Ed that I was mucking around with their creations, so I didn't bring it up. I did get to speak to Greg Rucka, however, and he was extremely gracious, encouraging me to use his characters, essentially saying that's what they are there for.

Other pros I got to drink with Ivan Brandon, editor of the Eisner nominated anthology 24/7, and his girlfriend/my letterer and designer Kristyn Ferretti; and Jerry Duggan and Phil Noto, writer and artist respectively of the Einser nominated book Infinite Horizon (the Odyssey retold in modern day Iraq). So, I was the token non-Eisner nominated creator, which probably explains why I was not allowed to speak unless spoken to.

Dan DiDio and Ian Sattler of DC were nice enough to host a big DC dinner for all their creators in attendance. There to make me feel small were Kurt Busiek, Bill Willingham and Gail Simone. I got to sit at the kids table with Ian, Phil Noto and Rick Remender. There, Rick suggested that we share our most embarassing stories. Phil's involves a hurricane, Rick involves an enema. Sorry Rick, but I love the idea of people coming up to you at cons asking you about it. If it makes you feel better, everyone should check out his Crawlspace book XXX Zombies...a zombie story set in the porn industry - it's like a grindhouse film in comics form. And my story involved pushing a retarded girl in the subway.

Other pros I should mention - new Birds of Prey writer Tony Bedard and DC mainstay Tom Peyer were cool, and it was great hanging out with Dark Horse's Rachel Edinin, who invited me to participate in a feminists in comics lunch (yes, despite the fact I enjoy writing about sorority hazing rituals like circling the fat and group purging, I consider myself a feminist). Josh Williamson, who I met at Meltdown a few months ago, a comics newcomer who has a great book coming out from Image/Shadowline called "Dear Dracula" about a kid who writes to Dracula...I think it's going to be huge.

Coolest of all , however, was Bryan Lee O'Malley, creator of Scott Pilgrim. He did an amazing sketch (which, like my NYCC sketches, will have to wait until a new blog entry when my scanner is hooked up)...for free. He actually refused money, which I then spent on his tablemate Hope Larson's book Salamander Dream, which I highly recommend.

Hopefully you enjoyed this recap as much as I enjoyed the con. Sorry if this was overly name-droppy, but I feel like plugging others work balances that out karmically. Certainly, you've learned quite a bit about me: I think I have a free pass to make Holocaust jokes, I push retarded women on the subway, and if you come up to be at a con and tell me my work sucks, you can get a free book.

Emerald City Con

2008-05-07T01:20:00.000-07:00

This weekend, May 10-11, I'm going to be attending Seattle's Emerald City Con for the first time. It will be my last con until San Diego.

I'm sharing a table with Jeremy Haun. Not only is he was he a great artist on one of my favorite Image Books of the past few years, B. Clay Moore's Battle Hymn, I also just found out he's doing the flashback sequences for Two-Face: Year One. He joins an already impressive art team - Jesus Saiz handles most of the pencilling, Jimmy Palmiotti's on inks and Mark Chiarello is doing the covers (which are not what you'll find in previews).

I'll be there with copies of Grounded, Fearless and Hazed, and I'll be showing off art from Cyborg and Two-Face. Oh, and Hazed T-Shirts...I'm going to have to get a picture up soon, Kristyn Ferretti did a great job designing them - women's tees with the Hazed logo, and unisex "Stop The Spread of STDs" shirts that I hope to become a staple at comic conventions - Green Lantern shirts for the cool kids (STDs being the name of the fictional sororities in Hazed).

I'll also bring my sketchbook and annoy any artists I know. Hopefully, upon my return, I'll not only have one of my lengthy post-con reports, but have my scanner hooked up so I can show off my sketches from here and NYCC.

Comic Book Tattoo

2008-05-07T01:02:00.000-07:00

It's official - a week after the release of Two-Face: Year One (July 16th), and the same week as Cyborg #3 (July 23rd), Comic Book Tattoo, an anthology dedicated to the songs of Tori Amos that will be released. It features a story by myself and artist Salgood Sam (Sea of Red, Therefore Repent) based on a song which I am not allowed to name yet.

If you don't know who Tori Amos is, she's not only an incredible singer/songwriter, but a comics afficianado who was Neil Gaimain's inspiration for Delerium in his Sandman books.

This is my third anthology story, my others being my Midget Western "They Shoot Ponies, Don't They", drawn by Rob Guillory in Popgun Volume 1 and my paen to New York, LA and Grand Theft Auto entitled Coast2Coast, drawn by The Amazing Joy Buzzards Dann Hipp in the Eisner Award nominated 24/7 Volume Two (if you are a pro or retailer, you can still vote for it.)

Newsarama has a good story on it here - http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=156091, featuring the full track list of creators. Like my other anthology work, I'm surrounded by yet another stellar cast of writers and arstists, for which I have to thank editor/mastermind Rantz Hoseley for including me. This book is something special though, a 12” x 12” 480-page anthology.

Hazed Video - Part 1

2008-04-25T23:20:00.001-07:00

Have you ever wondered what I sound like? Whether Robbi Rodriguez speaks English? Or if my headshot is accurate? Now you can find out, with my first ever video addition to this blog, the first part of a HAZED interview courtesy of the great guys at Comics on Comics. Hear Robbi and I weigh in on the controversies surrounding Hazed and the ugly truth behind sorority life. Filmed in the green room at Meltdown's Pledge Party, where I wasn't exactly drunk but not quite sober either.

New York Comic Con Recap

2008-04-25T22:11:00.001-07:00

You know a con has taken a lot out of you when it takes a week to start posting your post-con thoughts.

For years it was mind boggling that New York, headquarters to Marvel and DC and largest media market in the world, never had a comic convention to hold its own with the likes of San Diego and Chicago (although the Big Apple Con, which I attend as frequently as possible, is probably the most creator- and fan-friendly con around). This changed two years ago, with demand exceeding capacity. In this, the NYCC's third consecutive year, the only two knocks against he con - overcrowding and frigid February weather - were eliminated in heavily attended, well spaced con spread out across a beautiful weekend.

Of course, the change from February to April coincided with the Passover holiday, so I had to divide my time between fans and family seders. It meant that I had to miss out on some networking and partying, but compard against the ten plagues that might have been visited upon me if I hadn't gone home, missing a party or two seemed miniscule. I am the first born in my family, and really didn't feel like being slayed this year.

My weekend started the Thursday night before the con, with a great party thrown by DC Comics. Too nervous to really talk with Darwyn Cooke and Grant Morrison, I nevertheless got to say hi to Cyborg editor and assistant editor Eddie Berganza and Adam Schlagman (sporting a Sodam Yat soccer jersey, Green Lantern fans). I got to thank Two-Face: Year One editor Jeanine Schaeffer for not only giving me the dream job of writing the hard-boiled story of Harvey Dent's fall, but for discovering me two years ago at the very first NYCC when all I had was a few issues of Grounded to my name.

I finally met Bat editor Mike Marts, story editor, Ian Sattler and the amazing Jann Jones, who deserves a big thank you for throwing a party where you could actually talk together together before the madness of the con. I didn't get to thank Jimmy Palmiotti or Mark Chiarello. I just learned last week Jimmy will be inking over Jesus Saiz's pencils for Two-Face (can you ask for a better inker - answer: no), and that Mark will be doing the covers (which are NOT what you've seen solicited).

The highlight of the party though was meeting Geoff Johns. Geoff's work, particularly on Flash, brought me back to reading mainstream DCU titles after a long hiatus. He's a writer I try to emulate because he balances boundary pushing creativity (52, Sinestro Corps Wars) with a real respect for what's come before. It's very rare when someone you admire is as nice you imagine, but Geoff fit that bill or was at least nice enough to pretend to. Having written a seminal run on Teen Titans, he's got a lot invested in Cyborg. Between that and Dan DiDio telling me Two-Face is his favorite Bat villain, I'm either going to be the most popular writer at DC by the end of this summer...or blacklisted.

Friday, I began the job of running back and forth between my artist's alley table with Grounded artist Paul Azaceta and signings at the Image booth. My first signing was with Killing Girl's Glen Brunswick. Great crime book (with art by Frank Espinoza and Toby Cypress), great guy.

I took a break to attend the "Women in Comics" panel, arranged by Occasional Superheroine blogger/Friend of Lulu President Valerie D'Orazio and featuring writer Gail Simone, artist Becky Cloonan and Marvel Editor (and official "hottest girl in comics") Jen Grunwald. I had hoped they would all gush about how the best comic about women was in fact written by a man (that comic being Hazed and that man being, well, me). Instead, it was a refreshingly positive discussion of the contributions being made on every level by female talent despite the barriers to entry this industry makes for women, be they writers, artists, editors or fans.

Still, could no one have worn a Hazed t-shirt? See me for a standing offer of a free trade/t-shirt if you promote/wear one on a comics panel. Yes, I am that shameless.

Saturday was a first - I was a guest on a comics panel. Image: Brave New Worlds, was a panel featuring members of different generations of Image Comics, from founders Erik Larsen and Jim Valentino to longtime Noble Causes/Dynamo Five writer Jay Faerber, to rock star/indie comics writer Claudio Sanchez of Coheed and Cambria/and The Amory Wars, to, well, me.

Jim and Erik were the trailblazers, taking a huge career risk in the 90's to establish a home for creator-owned material. Jay represented the next generation of established big company talent to bring smart, original superhero work over. Claudio is doing something completely different, adapting rich fantasy world he's created in music and translating to the page.

Me...I guess I fit somewhere in between - I love doing original superhero work like Fearless and Grounded for Image. There really was no second choice for me when I pitched those books. And it's hard to imagine any other publisher taking a flier on a dark comedy about sorority hazing rituals.

Using a film analogy, the Image founders seem to me like Coppola, Scorsese and Lucas, doing these epic but personal movies that redefined comics. I kind of feel like I'm closer to the early Kevin Smith/Tarantino generation. Inspired by what came before, we maxed out our credit cards making comics instead of films.

Not that I had a chance to say any of this. Most questions were from Coheed and Cambria's rabid fan base. The only line I got that received any coverage was when Jim Valentino said that Image was for those who wanted more than "guys in panties punching each other." I said that Hazed fit that bill exactly, since it was girls in panties punching each other. Thus, erasing the strides made in the previous day's Women in Comics panel with one fell swoop.

Closed out the weekend nother signing with Nixon's Pal's artist Chris Burnham. I hope to have a sketch of his on here soon. I also got great sketches by Nikki Cook, with whom I hope to work, Aqualeung's Paul Maybury, and best of all, Salgood Sam. Salgood is illustrating an adaptation of a song I wrote for Tori Amos' Comic Book Tattoo anthology. More on Comic Book Tattoo later, but it may be the best project I've been a part of.

With all the signing, sketching, paneling and networking, I didn't have as much time to hang out with my artists as I'd like. Joining Paul and me at our table were both Hazed's Robbi Rodriguez and, all the way from Northern Ireland, Fearless' very own PJ Holden. My writing skills are far too meager to convey how entertaining PJ is in person. He did some great Hulk sketches which Marvel seemed to take some notice of. Here's hoping he gets the attention he deserves.

I'm leaving way too much out. It's always most gratifying to meet readers, so thanks to all of you who came out, whether it was to say hi again or try my work for the first time. I continue to be really moved by people who are so affected by Hazed, particularly. The highlight of the weekend, though, was the kid who told me he almost got kicked out of church for laughing so hard the copy he'd snuck in. It's nice to know that I'm putting youth at risk of not only of moral corruption but spiritual damnation. I've really got to keep my out for those ten plagues...

HUGE NEWS WEEK

2008-04-14T20:09:00.001-07:00

Wow...so much to announce this week.

First of all, DC has finally annouced my top secret project, TWO FACE: YEAR ONE. It's coming out in July, just in time for The Dark Knight (although it takes place in DC, not movie continuity). Here's the cover:

And the solicit info:

TWO-FACE YEAR ONE #1

Written by Mark Sable

Art by Jesus Saiz & Jimmy Palmiotti

Cover by Mark Chiarello

In a time of corruption and greed, the only force keeping Gotham City from collapsing into utter chaos included Assistant District Attorney Harvey Dent, a cop named Jim Gordon, a vigilante known only as Batman — and a mysterious group of untouchable crimefighters working outside the law. Be here to witness the beginning of a legacy, when a meeting between Gotham’s Finest and Gotham’s Vilest spawn the protectors who will safeguard Gotham’s future, as well as the monster who will try to burn it to the ground. Don’t miss the start of this exciting 2-part miniseries featuring one of The Dark Knight’s most fearsome foes!On sale July 16 • 1 of 2, 48 pg, Prestige Format, FC, $5.99 US

I'll have much more to say on it later, but for now...let me just say it's a dream project for me.

Also in July, the third issue of my Cyborg mini series hits. Here's the cover:

And the solicit:

DC SPECIAL: CYBORG #3

Written by Mark Sable

Cover by Tony Daniel & Sandu Florea

Art by Carlos Magno & Jonathan Glapion

Victor Stone thought he was the only man to deal with the power and pain that comes with the name Cyborg. Now, he's learned that someone long thought dead is using Vic's deadly technology to battle the Teen Titans. Can Vic stop this new enemy and learn the dark truth behind his foe's creation?On sale July 23 • 3 of 5 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

More to say on Cyborg later too.

What, that's not enough? What if I told you that 24/7, the anthology where my story COAST2COAST with art by the Amazing Joy Buzzard's DAN HIPP was nominated for an Eisner. And EISNER! I said this on Editor Ivan Brandon's forum, but it was an honor to be asked to be part of a project with so many great creators (Ashley Wood, Adam Hughes, Jason Aaron...the list is staggering). Ivan edited GROUNDED and was the de-facto editor of FEARLESS and HAZED. It's not an understatement to say I wouldn't be in comics if it wasn't for his time, wisdom and patience. He's incredibly deserving of this award, so if you're a voter or a judge, reward him for putting together a phenomenal book.

There's more. I'll post more details soon, but I'll be at New York Comic-Con this weekend, April 18-20th, along with my collaborators Paul Azaceta (GROUNDED), PJ Holden (FEARLESS) and Robbi Rodriguez (HAZED). I'll have a table in artist's alley (K6 to be precise), I'll be signing at the Image table from 3-4 on Friday and doing a panel on Saturday afternoon as well:

Brave New World - Image Comics

SAT 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Room 1e16
Three generations of Image creators, including Image founders (Publisher Erik Larsen), established creators (such as Dynamo 5 and Noble Causes' Jay Faerber) and all-new creators (including the front man of the insanely popular prog rock band, Coheed & Cambria, Claudio Sanchez, who is establishing himself as a writer in The Amory Wars and Mark Sable from Hazed & Grounded) will spend the hour in this exclusive New York Comic Con interview.

Believe it or not, still more news to come...

PLEDGE NIGHT: THE AFTERMATH

2008-04-08T13:15:00.000-07:00

Dave Crosland, me and Brian Lynch

In my short time as a comics pro, I’ve been a part of many signings, both by myself and with others. But I think it’s safe to say that none were as successful as “Pledge Night”, the West Coast release party for HAZED, my dark comedy about sororities and eating disorders illustrated by Robbi Rodriguez.

We had massive turnout. I would say somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 people were there over the course of the evening. But it wasn’t just the numbers of people, it was the quality. Meltdown comics in LA has become a hot spot for art shows as well as comic signings. My non-comic book geek friends from law school, college and “the industry” were all shocked at the fact that these were smart, hip, good looking people who were could converse on topics other than whether Captain America is a Skrull.

Not all of the guests were there for me. Many were there for our co-hosts, Brian Lynch and Dave Crosland, creators of IDW’s “Everybody’s Dead”, about the last fraternity on earth following a zombie invasion. I’ve know Dave for a long time, in fact we discussed doing Hazed together. He and fellow Silky Bureaucrat Jim Mahfood did live art to the beat of DJ Expo.

I met Brian, who also writes Angel with Joss Whedon, that night. Not only is he an incredibly nice guy, but Everybody’s Dead is an absolutely hysterical book which I highly recommend. Chris Ryall from IDW was there, who I still refer to as “Riled”, his old Bendis Board handle.

An example of the live art at the party

The idea, if it’s not apparent, was to take two college-themed comics and have a frat/sorority party. We had a keg. I shot down the idea of Dave Matthews music. Unfortunately, everyone else shot my idea of hiring a model to stand there and let girls circle her fat.

Pledge night also marked the debut of the official HAZED t-shirts, one of which I’m wearing in the photos. The unisex version says “Stop the Spread of STDs” (STDS being the name of the fictional sorority in HAZED), a source of much amusement to former sorority girls in attendance.

Speaking of which, the highlight of the night was not the attention, the chance to hang out with friends, or even the free alcohol. A female college student, an aspiring comics artist, had travelled quite a distance to tell me how much Hazed had reflected her campus experience. While I’m sad that the sorority hazing rituals I learned about at Duke years ago still occur nationally today, it’s small moments like this that make me feel like what I’m writing is resonating with the right audience.

Me and Matt Gagnon

Thanks to everyone who came out, to Asahi beer for sponsoring it, and especially to Meltdown Comics. I also want to single out Matt Gagnon, who organized the party at Meltdown, and is now an editor at BOOM! He’s been a great friend, and while I’m sad he won’t be there every Wednesday to chat comics, I’m happy that he’s finally going to be able to use his sharp comics mind to shape the medium for the better.

More Cyborg!

2008-03-26T10:48:00.000-07:00

My CYBORG special is not one, but SIX issues, and the second issue (on sale in JUNE), is available for pre-order now. Below is the solicit, which neglects to mention there’s a hell of a reveal on the last page of his issue for long time Cyborg fans.

DC SPECIAL: CYBORG #2
Written by Mark Sable
Art and cover by Ken Lashley & Jonathan Glapion
Vic Stone has sworn that he'll never let anyone undergo the horrific process that transformed him into Cyborg. Now it appears he's on a nationwide rampage taking out S.T.A.R. Labs. Are not one, but TWO teams of Titans enough to stop this madness?
On sale June 18 • 2 of 5 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US

PLEDGE NIGHT!

2008-03-24T04:13:00.001-07:00

This Saturday at 8:00PM, March 29th, Meltdown Comics here in LA is hosting “Pledge Night!”, the official college-themed release party for HAZED (as well as Brian Lynch and Dave Crosland’s “Everybody’s Dead”, an hysterical book about the last fraternity on earth during a zombie invasion).

HAZED artist Robbi Rodriguez will be there, Jim Mahfood and Dave Crosland will be doing live art to the beat of DJ Expo.

And oh yeah…OPEN BAR courtesy of official sponsor Asahi Beer.

Meltdown (7522 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles CA 90047) is not only within stumbling distance of my apartment, it’s one of the cooler stores and party venues in LA (their Y: The Last Man Party was amazing). Which means it’s suitable for taking your non-comic fan friends and significant others.

Get Ready For Cyborg!

2008-03-16T12:00:00.000-07:00

Who is Cyborg?

He’s the most popular superhero never to have his own series. Until now.

Why should you care?

Because starting May 21st, D.C. Comics is publishing the first ever solo series starring The Greatest Teen Titan of Them All, and I’m writing it.

But seriously, dude, who is Cyborg. I’ve never read a comic book before.

Where do I start? Before the horrific accident (or was it?) that transformed Victor Stone into Cyborg, he was an Olympic class athlete and a genius with an IQ above 160, torn. An African-American torn between his gang-member friends and the (then) emerging black middle class that his family represented. He was rife with conflict even before he had Molybdenum steel grafted to what was left of his maimed, scarred body.

Once he became Cyborg, both power and pathos were added to the mix. With an indestructible body and limbs capable of transforming into an assortment of weapons, he’s physically more than a match for most of the Justice League, let alone their villains. And because he’s half-machine, he still carries around the whole Ben Grimm/Thing angst about whether he’s a man or monster.

The analogy I like to use is that if the Teen Titans are DC’s X-Men (their group of young, edgy characters), he’s their Wolverine.

Follow my logic here. The New Teen Titans were created at about the same time as The All New, All Different X-Men. While others might have been content to keep the Titans a book of sidekicks like Robin and Kid Flash, creators Marv Wolfman and George Perez decided to create new characters. African Americans like Cyborg, women like Raven and…well, orange aliens with big breasts like Starfire.

Okay, I get it, he was a revolutionary character. But the revolution was never televised. What makes you think he’s interesting NOW?

When you read a superhero comic, we’re always being asked to suspend out disbelief. But for me, I’ve always had a nagging question. In a world with not just super-heroes but super science…why can’t everyone have a goddamn flying car?

A lot of creators have sought to answer that question. In Grant Morrison’s Fantastic Four run, he said posited that each of Reed Richard’s devices was a work of art that couldn’t be mimicked. In Warren Ellis’ Planetary, he answered that question by creating an evil FF analogue who purposefully kept their secrets to themselves so they alone could have the power. In GROUNDED, I just made the argument that superhero parents were selfish and self-absorbed.

The idea for my Cyborg run came by asking a more pointed question. In a world where Vic stone can lose his limbs and have them replaced by cybernetic weaponry, why don’t ordinary humans, particularly soldiers in this time of war, have access to Vic’s technology?

If I asked these questions, then certainly they must have occurred to greatest fictional minds in the DC universe…and possibly the more devious ones. Without giving too much away, Cyborg series is about what happens when someone uses Vic’s technology in a way that anathema to who he is and what he stands for.

Wow, that sounds deep. No, really. But I want to see him punch things.

Don’t worry, he punches lots of things. Fan favorite supervillains. “The Phantom Limbs”…an all new characters I’ve created who share Cyborg’s technology and may or may not be on Vic’s side. And not one, but TWO groups of teen Titans.

Oh yeah, and he also punches himself. Chew on that one for a while.

Okay, okay, you had me at African-American Cyborg. Where and how do I get this book?

You can pre-order it now at your local comics shop (comic shop locator link?) from March PREVIEWS. It’s called DC Special: Cyborg, and the order code (I think) is MAR08 135.

Prepare To Be Hazed!

2008-03-02T18:18:00.000-08:00

Two years ago you were GROUNDED. Now…prepare to be HAZED!

On Wednesday, March 5, the comic world changes forever. On that day, HAZED, my masterwork, will be unleashed upon a largely unsuspecting public. Expect rioting to ensue.

A satiric graphic novel about sororities and eating disorders illustrated by Robbi Rodriguez, some have compared it to the films “Heathers” and “Mean Girls”. I find these comparisons to be shamefully inadequate. My work is incomparable.

Just where did this work of genius come from, you might ask? As many of you know, I attended Duke University as an undergraduate. Duke is known the home of the greatest college basketball program of all time, as well as the most infamous lacrosse team. It is also known as the “Harvard of the South”, on par with or better than many Ivy League schools.

But from the minute I set foot on campus, I found myself asking the following question: how is it that the some of the smartest women in the country, who have so much going for them besides their looks, decide to revolve their entire identity around their sexual desirability the second a frat boy asked looked their way?

HAZED is my politically incorrect answer to that question, in comic book form. I know I’m going to take a lot of hits on this, a male writer not just writing about issues like date rape and eating, but writing about them in an over-the-top comedy. But, as one reviewer put it, I’m not making fun of these issues; I’m making fun of the “people and societal pressures behind them.” That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Keep that in mind when you’re reading about girls circling each other’s fat, or purging so often that their dorm drains are clogged with vomit. Also keep this in mind: when I set out to write this book years ago, I used a lot of artistic license. I took the worst urban legends about sorority life and exaggerated them further. And yet sadly, often my imagination was matched, if not exceeded, by stories told to me by sorority sisters. Nothing hurts so much as the truth.

All hyperbole aside, this is a boundary pushing book. At the same time, I’d like to think it’s also hysterically funny, not least of which because of Robbi’s art. I think his cartoonish characters help soften the darkness of my writing, while at the same time he pushed the comedy to the very edge of good taste (Robbi’s favorite three words: abortion sight gag). This is “Animal House” with girls. How could that NOT be fun?

I hope you all will pick up the book this week. Whether you are repulsed, convulsing on the floor with laughter, or both, I’d love to hear what you think (there’s a comment’s section here, as well as a Mark Sable message board). I’m ready for anything. I hope you are.

Why You Should Buy FEARLESS

2008-02-27T12:00:00.000-08:00

This week, the fourth and final issue of FEARLESS, my mini-series co-written by Dave Roth with art by PJ Holden (2000AD), hits comic stores everywhere.

If you’re coming to this site because you’ve read about my work on CYBORG, HAZED or GROUNDED, you may not know what FEARLESS is all about. FEARLESS is the tale of a vigilante who is dependent on an anti-fear drug, which he needs not only to wage his one man war on crime, but to function as a human being as well. The story starts when someone cuts off his drug supply, and things get worse from there

If that Hollywood log line doesn’t sell you, here are some reasons to check it out:

ORIGINALITY: At the risk of being immodest, it’s one of the few original superhero ideas to come along. While I think execution trumps concept, if you start from someplace no one’s been before you’ve got a leg up on the competition.

MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK: In this age of decompression, you rarely get a complete story in four 22 page issues, let alone one. The shortest issue of Fearless is 28 pages, the first and last are 32 pages each. Do the math, and you are getting about five or six issues worth of story for the price of four. And that’s not including wonderful pin-ups by the likes of Rafael Albuquerque (BLUE BEETLE).

PJ HOLDEN & “THE FEAR EFFECT”: Artist PJ Holden kicked some major ass on this book. He’s not just a hired hand, but co-creator. His costume design alone is worth the price of admission. But what really makes this book sing is how he and colorist Nick Filardi (POWERS…as well as every creator owned book I’ve done) handles the sequences where our protagonist runs out of the drug. We don’t just see fear kick in, we FEEL it. Vertigo kicks in as leaping off a one story brownstone in a suit of impregnable battle armor becomes a death defying free fall from a skyscraper. Pathetic henchmen become more muscular, better armed, more numerous. The arch villain becomes, a mere mortal, becomes truly terrifying…it’s as if the protagonist is creates his own Jekyll and Hyde in his mind.

If all that doesn’t sway you, this will: the entire first issue is available FOR FREE on Newsarama .

Check it out, let us know what you think. And if you like it, let Image know what you think…while this is a complete, self contained story, we’ve got more FEARLESS stories we’re just itching to tell. And nothing will help that like strong sales and letters, e-mails and board posts telling a publisher you haven’t had enough of our anti-hero yet.

WONDERCON: A Creator's Perspective

2008-02-27T10:00:00.000-08:00

What did I miss at fill-in-the-blank-con? That’s what everyone seems to ask when I get back from attending a comic book convention. If you are looking for pr from the big companies’ panels, sites like Newsarama and Comic book resources do it far better than I can. If you are looking for gossip, there’s Lying in the Gutters. But I thought it would be more interesting to discuss what it’s like to attend a convention from a creator’s perspective. Don’t worry; I’ll try to throw in a little news and gossip as well.

When I attend a con, my goals are usually this: sell as many copies of my books as I can, and network with as many editors and creators as possible. All this while trying to resist (often futilely) the urge to spend the proceeds of the weekend on comics, action figures etc. and avoid getting sick from being in a poorly ventilated convention center handling germ infested dollar bills.

I rarely have time to attend any of the panels. In fact, I usually find out any news when I get back to wherever I’m crashing that night and check the internet. I did pop in this weekend to the DC Nation panel to see if Dan DiDio would announce my top-secret dream project for DC. He didn’t, but he told me that should be announced sometime this week. All I can say is what he told me, which is that it stars one of his favorite DCU villains. In other words, I better not screw it up.

I also popped in on the BOOM! Studio presentation, deftly run by VP of Marketing/Left on Mission writer Chip Mosher. Again, to see if my name was mentioned. I was asked my BOOM! EIC Mark Waid to do a short story for BOOM!’s Cthulhu Tales anthology, and said yes despite the fact he stole artist Paul Azaceta from me to do Potter’s Field. I’m also in talks with them to do a bigger project…but again, sworn to secrecy.

While I was generally good at avoiding spending money, I did buy two pieces of original art from Ale Garza, who drew the issue of Supergirl #19 that I co-wrote with Joe Kelly. I’m proud of those pages because, whether or not it’s still canon, they are the first appearance of “The Phantoms”, which I helped create. They are the original inhabitants of The Phantom Zone. I’m surprised in more than a half century no one ever thought of who lived in the Zone before.

There were of course some cool meetings and sightings:

Someone dressed as Darth Nihilis (if you listen to Howard Stern you should get that reference).
My buddies Jim Mahfood and Dave Crosland, with whom I’m going to be doing a really cool HAZED signing event at Meltdown Comics in LA later this month (more on that soon).
Early Sandman artist Mike Dringenberg. I got to learn that “Death” was based in part on a schizophrenic Goth dominatrix from Salt Lake City (where they are in sorely needed). Speaking of Neil Gaiman characters based on real people, I should mention I’m doing an adaptation of a song by Tori Amos (the inspiration for “Delirium”) in this summer’s Comic Book Tattoo book.

But most of the WonderCon involved me sitting at my Artist’s Alley table. I think I had the best placement in terms of surrounding talent out of any con, between American Flagg’s Howard Chaykin and Astro City’s Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson.

Still…sitting at and artist’s alley table can be hard work if you’re not a writer. You can’t sketch, and worse, there’s that deflating feeling every time someone comes up and says, wow, that’s a beautiful looking book, and you have to tell them that, in fact, you didn’t draw it. Assuming that as a writer, you only write what’s in the word balloons, they usually walk away disappointed.

Luckily, I had HAZED artist Robbi Rodriguez as my wingman. Besides making inappropriate jokes about how I was able to get him as cheap labor because he’s Mexican (not true, although I did pick him up randomly at Home Depot), Robbi was nice enough to do free sketches for anyone who bought HAZED, which rumor has it he will do at Wizard World LA and New York Comic-Con if you stop by my table at either.

And HAZED (along with GROUNDED and FEARLESS) is really what WonderCon, or any con, is about. Considering the book wasn’t out yet (it’s out this Wednesday the 27^th, along with the fourth and final issue of FEARLESS), it got a great reception – we pretty much sold out. Lots of compliments on the cover that Kristyn Ferretti designed. Ditto for Robbi’s work…no disrespect to Maintenance but I think this is the best work he’s done (Nick Filardi’s grey tones didn’t hurt) As far as the words inside, the best praise I got was from Mia MacHatton and Lee Atchison of Sequential Tart. Speaking of which, Lee did a great interview with me here.

Actually…saying cons are about the work is only half true. It’s about the fans. I’ve been doing this professionally for about three years now, and the magic of someone saying they like a book I’ve worked on, let alone want to buy a copy, let alone want it SIGNED hasn’t worn off on me. My favorite story from this end involves a professor at the University of Oregon (go Ducks!) who is using Grounded as a textbook for a class he’s teaching. I’m hoping to have more about that here when I get in touch with him.

All in all, an extremely successful convention. Got to interact with without exception incredibly nice fans of Fearless and Grounded, and enjoy a great reception for the mini-debut of Hazed. And managed to (mostly) stay action figure and convention bug free.

Convention Schedule (So Far!)

2008-02-24T14:35:00.000-08:00

Robbi Rodriguez and I are currently at WonderCon signing HAZED and FEARLESS (well, Robbi won't be signing Fearless unless he learns how to forge PJ's signature in the next few days).

Also definite:

Wizard World LA (with Robbi and Dave Roth)
NY Comicon (with Paul, PJ Holden and Robbi probably rotating)
San Diego (everyone?)

I can't wait to give you my WonderCon report! Stay tuned!

POLARITY - the pitch

2007-07-12T02:39:00.000-07:00

One of the many wonderful opportunities I've had since I became a professional writer was being hired to create an original animated pilot for The Cartoon Network called POLARITY.

In a nutshell, it was a modern day version of the WONDER TWINS. Two friends (later brothers) who are polar opposites in personality. Through an accident (or was it?) they are granted polar opposite superpowers as well. The catch - the accident has also made it impossible for them to leave each others side. Move more than 100 yards away from each other, and they weaken and die.

What I liked was a) the unique power set - despite the Wonder Twins analogy, I can't think of anything similar; and b) the fact two kids who can't get along are forced to be together - not just as superheroes, but in life. In other words, a story that's both high concept and character driven.

Unfortunately, CN decided to go in a different direction, and the rights have reverted back to me. It's a project I remain passionate about, and I'm determined to bring it to fruition, whether it's as an animated or live action film or tv show, or as a comic.

I'm going to do something I rarely do, which is share the pitch I used to sell the pilot. That's partly in the hopes that someone might see this and want to produce/publish it. But mostly, I want this to be the first of a few posts that shed some light onto both my process and how Hollywood works.

To give some background, this started out as a live action pitch for Disney/Jetix. I pitched Disney a few series ideas (one of which, Rift Raiders, it looks like you'll see in comic form). But Polarity got furthest up the ladder. It came down to the network executive (sorry, not naming names) who could greenlight it. Ultimately, despite the success of Heroes, live action super-hero pilot was not considered financial feasible at the time.

Still, that helped me hone and develop the pitch. My meeting at CN was not one I thought went well. The exec there did not remember me from a past meeting. That threw me, but as a result I was really loose, and like with women, sometimes not caring actually works. After the multiple meetings at Disney, it took just one to get a greenlight from Cartoon Network (it would much, much take longer to get paid...but that's a story for another time, and is just how this town works).

Anyway, without further ado:

POLARITY

POLARITY is the story of two childhood best friends who have drifted apart but must work together as superheroes not only save the world – but to survive.

ZEPH, like Adam Brody on the OC, is obsessed with all things superhero but not afraid to show it. HERC, Ryan Atwood to Zeph’s Seth Cohen, keeps his superhero obsession secret. He’s in with the cool kids now and wants it to stay that way.

Just when seems like their friendship has come to an end, they gain powers through the GENE MATRIX. Like their personalities, their powers are polar opposites of one another. If Zeph controls fire, Herc can generate ice. If Zeph decreases his density so he can phase through walls, Herc becomes so dense that he’s invulnerable. When one uses gravity to attract objects, the other can use it to repulse them. They can choose between theses opposing sets of powers when one of them yells their catchphrase, “Let’s flip the script.”

But the GENE MATRIX didn’t just give them powers, it bonded them together. Their powers only work when they’re in close proximity. Worse, when they’re too far apart, they grow weaker as time and distance increase. If they don’t stick together…let’s just say it’s not good for either of them. They not only forced to remain close to one another to work together, they’re forced to work together to survive.

Now that they have powers, Zeph just wants to use his powers to have fun, to be the athlete he never was, to help him avoid homework and to impress girls. Unfortunately, his joy makes him a little reckless. Herc, on the other hand sees their powers as a burden, and is constantly trying to keep Zeph from blowing their secret identities. With an ailing father, Herc’s got Peter Parker ‘s sense of responsibility, and always strives to do the right thing. Zeph on the other hand is always trying to get Herc to lighten up.

Even though their opposite personalities constantly exasperate one another, they are forced to work and hang out together – all the time. Not only does this provide for great drama and action set-pieces, it’s a source of comedy as well. If Herc is going on a date with the girl of his dreams, Zeph has to sit in the movies with them, even if he has a crush on her.

When they gain their powers, Herc and Zeph learn they live in a world where superheroes are real, but the public doesn’t know it – because the supervillains have won. THE OVERLORD, and evil Professor X, has made the world forget heroes existed. His reluctant mad scientist partner DR. SIPHON, true to his name, siphons off their powers for The Overlord’s benefit.

They also learn that Herc is the son of OMNI, formerly the world’s greatest superhero. Now powerless, he tries to stop his son from assuming his mantle. Meanwhile Zeph learns to his shame that he’s the child of Dr. Siphon – a secret he keeps from Herc, and one that will divide them when the truth comes out.

Like in Harry Potter…our characters wish that they and the world they live in are more than what they seem has come true…but at a price.

Together, the Zeph and Herc creatively switch their powers each week to save a world without heroes. But this unlikely pair’s greatest challenge is not learning to master their opposing powers, but to overcome their differences and work together as team.

That's the short one pager that got me my first "break" in Hollywood (not counting comics). I had already developed the idea quite extensively and would continue to do so. If this proves of interest, I hope to share some more.