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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

Hazed Video - Part 1

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.