PRINCESS DIANA REMOVED FROM X-STATIX

[MattBrady]

<img src="http://www.newsarama.com/Marvel/DianaX_t.jpg" width="185" height="280" border="0" hspace="2" align="right">According to <I>Business Wire</I>, Marvel has chosen to remove all references to Princess Diana from the upcoming <b>X-Statix</b> storyline in which she was slated to return from the dead.

The storyline, "Di Another Day," was slated to begin in issue #13 of the series, set to ship in September.

The release reads: Marvel Comics had planned to release a book using the spirit of Princess Diana as one of its heroines. While Lady Diana was portrayed in a positive light in the comic book, upon reflection, the company has decided to remove Princess Diana and all references to the Royal Family from the five-part <b>X-Statix</b> series.

In originally confirming that the late Princess would return on Fanboy Radio, Marvel Editor in Chief Joe Quesada said of the story: "If comics are anything we're subversive, you know? I think we work the best once when we're on that level. This is really a wonderful story by Pete Milligan and I don't want to give away anything."

<b>UPDATE</b>

While Marvel confirmed that the report was true on Thursday, the publisher on Friday gave this statement to Newsarama: "The <b>X-Statix</b> series serves as an exploration into the realities of celebrity in today's world. Although the character choice in the story stirred a lot of interest and controversy, this is still a tale that can be told without the presence of a well-known personality.

"Peter Milligan has constructed a poignant and intelligent allegory for life as a celebrity with a conscience that Marvel feels stands on it's own. Accordingly, the story will be released as scheduled this September without references to Princess Diana and the Royal Family, or anything related to them."

In short, the story in the series will remain essentially the same, while specific names, events, and likenesses will be changed. While the arc will be retitled, it will not be fundamentally changed.

[KingStalin]

Well I have no idea what the story will be about now (prob just use a generic princess) but that sucks because the books might be late now due to all the changes that will be needed.

[Scooby2099]

Sigh...

[Hunter]

Well, it seems that even if the six fanboys that post online have no clout, the royals do.

Mike

[shakey]

Gee what happened to the "subversive attitude that comics needed to take", as JQ explained in his Fanboy interview?

I smell the threat of Litigation

It's too bad, but Marvel did it to itself with the trial balloon publicity tease .

Whatever, while I'm not one of those who have nominated her for Sainthood, I feel that Diana's death was tragic , because it was caused by the relentless pursuit of the Paparazzi , the very people she was trying to avoid.

[OM]

...Of course, had this been written by Americans, then Princess Died could have gone on to been resurrected as Allred had scripted. The loophole is simple: This country was founded upon several principles, one of which is that royalty is a crock of shit, and the so-called- "highborn" are no different than the guy tilling the fields or horsing the shoe. Ergo, if they bitched about it from a royalty standpoint - "We are <u>not</u> amused." - then they could simply be told to go fuck themselves and the throne they rode in on.

Gotta thank Dr Norman Brown, my Texas U. AmHist prof for that little tidbit...

[gOgIver]

What the hell is it gonna be about now? Here's an idea.
They should have never killed of U-Go-Girl. Just photoshop the Di stuff out and bring Edie back from the dead. Snip & Clip edits and U-Good-to-Go-Girl. Okay? Please???

gOgIver

[Charles RB]

There is a possibility that Business Wire could be misinformed. And I bloody well hope they are, because it would sicken me greatly if this storyline was diluted because of a bunch of old, useless, tax-hoovering bastards that we only keep around because we're too apathetic to get rid of them.

[xdemon]

For what it's worth, msnbc had a survey with the article about the original story. At the time, about 8,500 responses had been cast with about 85% against the story and 15% for it.

It may not necessarily been a lawsuit but a possible public backlash that would have made the Waid/FF incident look like a newborn baby fight, especially due to their higher visibility from the movies.

[Cayman]

Maybe they'll have to use Mother Theresa instead.

Cay

[Starpilot]

Levitz and Quesada sittin' in a tree
Pulping comics
1-2-3!

:rolleyes:

[jawaplumber]

I was worried they might cave in, with all the B.S. surrounding this. When I saw a poll up on the AOL main page, my concerns really kicked in. I think this is crap and I wish Marvel had stuck to their guns. This will make for some nice bonus material in a hardcover of some sort twenty years from now, though.

And you know, the Royals should check out THE INVISIBLES, sometime....

[boors]

Here in reply to what mr. or mrs. OM wrote:

making fun of somebody who died tragically doesn't seem like a real 'neat' idea. this isn't about royalty. it's about smearing somebody's memory to boost sales and Jemas' bonus.

maybe it's just me and probably a whole lot of other europeans with our centuries worth of culture and us knowing to eat properly with a knife and a fork.

but then again, you don't give a f###, right?

[TemporalFlux]

So I assume all of the art is being redrawn then. The images look just like Di as they are...there's no way to remove all reference if those are still there. Or should we expect witty dialogue like "Oh...um...she just looks like Di...alot. Yeah..."

[Dan20]

I was never a big fan of this idea in the first place, but this is just a big embarassment to Marvel.
For God's sake, Diana's on the cover of the issues! Are they going to have to rewrite and draw the entire arc? Why hype it up in the first place? Did they think the Royal Family would order a subscription or something?
Marvel needs to forget all this lame controversial stuff and just go back to letting good creators do good work (they can start by bringing back Waid, whose FF #500 was a great read this week).

[Tom Daylight]

This sucks.

[Eric Yonge]

I was never a huge Princess Di fan, but I was sad when she died. It was just so tragic. Still, I'm a huge X-STATIX fan, so I was morbidly curious as to how Milligan and Allred would pull this storyline off. Now I'm curious as to what they'll do now that it has to be changed.

Maybe the character will become JFK jr! :p

[Graeme McMillan]

Wow.

Now that is funny. And kind of sad.

Will Milligan walk off the book because of the editorial interference?

[jawaplumber]

Originally posted by boors
Here in reply to what mr. or mrs. OM wrote:

making fun of somebody who died tragically doesn't seem like a real 'neat' idea. this isn't about royalty. it's about smearing somebody's memory to boost sales and Jemas' bonus.

maybe it's just me and probably a whole lot of other europeans with our centuries worth of culture and us knowing to eat properly with a knife and a fork.

but then again, you don't give a f###, right?

How do you know she was going to be made fun of? According to Marvel, the story was going to show Di in a positive light.

Besides, we do this all the time to ourselves over here in America. All's fair. Look at how often we splatter Elvis' likeness and character all over our pop culture. He was royalty, too, you know ;)

[Aaron Weisbrod]

What's that old expression about "two steps forward, three steps back?" :rolleyes:

*sigh*

I'm guessing that, if this story is true, they'll just be using a generic Princess with a similar appearance to Di...

Heck... maybe they'll even keep the title of the story-arc the same! :p

Almost wishin' someone would just go all "Fountainhead" about it,
Aaron Weisbrod

[jawaplumber]

Originally posted by TemporalFlux
So I assume all of the art is being redrawn then. The images look just like Di as they are...there's no way to remove all reference if those are still there. Or should we expect witty dialogue like "Oh...um...she just looks like Di...alot. Yeah..."

My best guess is that they'll replace the arc with something they already have in the can. Marvel and DC always have stuff sitting around they can use in an emergency. They don't even have to replace it with actual issues of X-STATIX. They can have another X-Statix related mini, just like they did the past two months with WOLVERINE/DOOP taking the place of the regular series.

[Chris Hunter]

Ouch.

I do find it amusing.

[tralfaz]

I see now NUMarvel is run by a bunch of wimps

bwahahahahahahahahaaaaaa

Oh no, public opinion deems our upcoming story as distasteful even though no one has read it yet.
buncha losers I tells ya

hey NUMarvel, why dont you grow a set!!! You're all talk about how youre changing, but all i see is you hiding in this bar fight.

[GeorgesBush]

"I see now NUMarvel is run by a bunch of wimps

bwahahahahahahahahaaaaaa

Oh no, public opinion deems our upcoming story as distasteful even though no one has read it yet.
buncha losers I tells ya

hey NUMarvel, why dont you grow a set!!! You're all talk about how youre changing, but all i see is you hiding in this bar fight."

I actually feel more stupid after reading your post.

Thanks!

:D

[AllAboutMe]

this whole idea seemed lame to start with. No disrespect, but I still am not over how much the "great" Princess Di was drilled into our heads after her death. Wow. she married into royalty. And then divorced it. ooohhh.
I think Marvel should concentrate on more important things like making Steve Rude change how the Moth looks so it doesn't look so much like the Punisher movie logo.
Steve: You don't want to be mistaken for what will undoubtedly be another disappointing Marvel movie...DD...Hulk.

[Midnight Pelican]

Originally posted by boors
Here in reply to what mr. or mrs. OM wrote:

making fun of somebody who died tragically doesn't seem like a real 'neat' idea. this isn't about royalty. it's about smearing somebody's memory to boost sales and Jemas' bonus.

maybe it's just me and probably a whole lot of other europeans with our centuries worth of culture and us knowing to eat properly with a knife and a fork.

but then again, you don't give a f###, right?

I seriously doubt they were going to make her look bad.

They would have made her awesome. She would have come back as a superhero mutant, and could have inspired so many people. And then, if she ever did die, they could make her really super-heroic and give her an awesome death scene.

I think it was a great idea!!!

[I-Ching]

I'm not too sure why people are upset over this.

The idea was pretty juvenile and uninspired to begin with. Mavel and Milligan's act of desperate attention worked but in a way they were expecting. People weren't intrigued they were looking down at Marvel and the poor decision making.

I'm glad they changed it. It's not something you'd want to be known for. Instead of criticizing Marvel would should applaud them for them taking action when they moved forward with a huge mistake.

It's not that it's Princess Diana, it's not because she's dead, it's because the idea was just dumb.

Any writer could use any dead person to get an extreme reaction that does not make it a quality concept. Don't mistake that because when you do they'll feed us more tripe like this. Saying this is a bad decision is like saying losing holofoil covers is a bad thing as well.

Marvel reverses this decision and people cry foul but if they reversed their decision on Mark Waid and FF you'd be singing a different tune. Too predicatable for words.

[TVerBeek]

Originally posted by OM
This country was founded upon several principles, one of which is that royalty is a crock of shit, That was how Tom Jefferson and his Enlightenment-subscribing ilk saw it, but the man on the cobblestone street just didn't like George III, and would've been happy to crown that Washington fella in his place. Americans are just as enamored with royalty as Brits; we just like to choose them by popular acclaim. What was the Election of 2000 but a contest between two princes - sons of past high-office-holders - to sit in the highest of them: the Oval Office? With the House of Kennedy in such decline and the artisocrats of Hollywood always self-destructing, the House of Windsor - and especially the martyr Diana - are the ones the American public choose to put on that pedestal. This has far more to do with a domestic backlash than any disapproval from Betsy Windsor.

[paulski]

Jesus, Joe just can't get a break at the moment, can he... ;)

Again, I'm torn on this. I felt the whole idea was distasteful to begin with, but the demented side of me was looking forward to reading it. For Marvel to completely cave in here (by all appearances) is decidedly surprising. Not like the Two Stooges at all. I can only surmise that some serious pressure must have been put on them from somewhere.

Can't wait to hear the whole story!

[TVerBeek]

Originally posted by I-Ching
It's not that it's Princess Diana, it's not because she's dead, it's because the idea was just dumb.Could you spell out what the idea was, and how it was dumb? Not just the "Diana comes back from the dead and joins the team" plot synopsis, but the idea: what Milligan was trying to say. I ask this because it hardly ever got any mention in the news reports (probably because that silly Milligan was saving it for the books :rolleyes: ), but from what little he said, it sounded like he had some interesting commentary on the nature of celebrity planned. And if you're familiar with the series - you must be if you know what this story was going to say - you know that's a major theme of it.

[Crusader]

Dumb idea to begin with. No big deal.

[BillReed]

Either Marvel is a bunch of softie "wimps..."

...or they'll just change the name of the Princess Di character and go ahead with the story. :D

[Jason Seaver]

Bummer; I was really looking forward to this. The basic idea is clever - combining a world where resurrection is maybe not commonplace but certainly not unheard of with a famous celebrity death. And, heck, since the entire point of X-Statix is the intersection of superheroics and celebrity - a story like this would be perfect.

Ah, well. Who could they replace Di with? Someone recently decesased, popular, internationally famous? I dare them to redraw this story with Aayialah, for instance.

[tralfaz]

Originally posted by GeorgesBush
"I see now NUMarvel is run by a bunch of wimps

bwahahahahahahahahaaaaaa

Oh no, public opinion deems our upcoming story as distasteful even though no one has read it yet.
buncha losers I tells ya

hey NUMarvel, why dont you grow a set!!! You're all talk about how youre changing, but all i see is you hiding in this bar fight."

I actually feel more stupid after reading your post.

Thanks!

:D

no problem newbie, go rent another sandler film

[Buzzowl2]

Ah, well. Who could they replace Di with? Someone recently decesased, popular, internationally famous? I dare them to redraw this story with Aayialah, for instance.

It's Katherine Hepburn! Back from the dead as a mutant named Quakeula! Feel her awesome power as she harnesses her palsy and turns it against you!

I'm not sure how to feel about this. I was looking forward to hearing about it and would even have read it if I hadn't given up all of my Marvel comics.

So I'm disappointed that they caved.

Then again, maybe they didn't cave. Maybe it was part of a plan. As some have mentioned, they started it with their little PR campaign.

Now, they get their free press, their buzz, etc. And they get to apologize. And everyone will know the story is about Diana even if she's never mentioned.

On the other hand, apologizing in general doesn't seem like a great idea. Who, exactly, is going to be mollified by this? Whoever got pissed at Marvel in the first place over using Princess Marrywell in their book isn't suddently going to love Marvel because they changed their minds at the last minute.

The royals are awfully protective of their little princess now that she's dead, aren't they?

[jawaplumber]

Originally posted by TVerBeek
Could you spell out what the idea was, and how it was dumb? Not just the "Diana comes back from the dead and joins the team" plot synopsis, but the idea: what Milligan was trying to say. I ask this because it hardly ever got any mention in the news reports (probably because that silly Milligan was saving it for the books :rolleyes: ), but from what little he said, it sounded like he had some interesting commentary on the nature of celebrity planned. And if you're familiar with the series - you must be if you know what this story was going to say - you know that's a major theme of it.

I don't even read the series, and I can tell you that :) This wasn't just a gimmick. There was an intended point behind using Diana specifically. You can't explain this to some people, though, they refuse to or aren't capable of conceiving it.

[wraith]

Originally posted by jawaplumber
How do you know she was going to be made fun of? According to Marvel, the story was going to show Di in a positive light.;)

Marvel (well more specificly Millar) also said that the PG+ rated Trouble mini series was an "all ages" book that was perfectly suitable for 9 year olds. My point is, that you can't beleave everything nu marvel says.

Not only am I glad that this story has been either rejected or revised, but I hope that this will lead to quemas's eventual removal from marvel (although it probaly won't).

[jawaplumber]

Originally posted by wraith
Marvel (well more specificly Millar) also said that the PG+ rated Trouble mini series was an "all ages" book that was perfectly suitable for 9 year olds. My point is, that you can't beleave everything nu marvel says.

Not only am I glad that this story has been either rejected or revised, but I hope that this will lead to quemas's eventual removal from marvel (although it probaly won't).

LMAO!!! Oh yeah, a little wishful thinking there, wouldn't you say?

And when did Millar say that about Trouble? Not that I doubt it, but I'm curious. On top of which, that's Mark Millar, not Joe Quesada or Bill Jemas. There are many times when writers have seperate and differeing opinions of their work aside from their editors and publishers. You're grasping at straws.

[BartAllen]

Marvel reverses this decision and people cry foul but if they reversed their decision on Mark Waid and FF you'd be singing a different tune. Too predicatable for words. [/B][/QUOTE]

Big difference between the two
THe princess DI thing was in poor taste and disrespectful

the Waid thing was them making a mistake that will lower sells

[tralfaz]

Originally posted by BartAllen
Marvel reverses this decision and people cry foul but if they reversed their decision on Mark Waid and FF you'd be singing a different tune. Too predicatable for words.

Big difference between the two
THe princess DI thing was in poor taste and disrespectful

the Waid thing was them making a mistake that will lower sells [/B][/QUOTE]

why is it in poor taste and disrespectful? explain please

[Cry For Life]

Originally posted by BartAllen
the Waid thing was them making a mistake that will lower sells


I'm not saying this to nitpick, but to educate, and wouldn't really bother if it weren't for the fact that I see a lot of ppl making this mistake on comics message boards in particular (and that i'm an obsessive compulsive English major).

Just to let ppl know "sell" is a verb, "sale" is a noun, the word your looking for is "sales" as in "lower sales".

Again I don't mean to nitpick or piss anyone off, I just notice that a lot of ppl seem to make this mistake.

"GRAMMAR FRIENDS ASSEMBLE!!!"

[BartAllen]

Originally posted by tralfaz
Big difference between the two
THe princess DI thing was in poor taste and disrespectful

the Waid thing was them making a mistake that will lower sells

why is it in poor taste and disrespectful? explain please [/B][/QUOTE]


We are talking about a recently deceased person with children
If your mom just passed away would you want her ain a comic book

Using a recently dead person just to hype a comic , so you can get you name in the paper is in ppor taste

[Ben543250]

Originally posted by Cry For Life
I'm not saying this to nitpick, but to educate, and wouldn't really bother if it weren't for the fact that I see a lot of ppl making this mistake on comics message boards in particular (and that i'm an obsessive compulsive English major).

Just to let ppl know "sell" is a verb, "sale" is a noun, the word your looking for is "sales" as in "lower sales".

Again I don't mean to nitpick or piss anyone off, I just notice that a lot of ppl seem to make this mistake.

"GRAMMAR FRIENDS ASSEMBLE!!!"

Is it okay if someone nitpicks...er, I mean educates YOU on your comma issues.........?

[Ben543250]

Originally posted by BartAllen
why is it in poor taste and disrespectful? explain please


We are talking about a recently deceased person with children
If your mom just passed away would you want her ain a comic book

Using a recently dead person just to hype a comic , so you can get you name in the paper is in ppor taste [/B][/QUOTE]

My mom died 6 years ago when I was 18. If I found out she was going to appear as a mutant superhero, I'd be psyched. In fact, I had my friend write her into a Star Trek novel he'd written and it was AWESOME! So your answer doesn't explain how it's disrespectful. Sorry.

[Midnight Pelican]

Originally posted by Ben543250
We are talking about a recently deceased person with children
If your mom just passed away would you want her ain a comic book

Using a recently dead person just to hype a comic , so you can get you name in the paper is in ppor taste

My mom died 6 years ago when I was 18. If I found out she was going to appear as a mutant superhero, I'd be psyched. In fact, I had my friend write her into a Star Trek novel he'd written and it was AWESOME! So your answer doesn't explain how it's disrespectful. Sorry. [/B][/QUOTE]

I agree with you. People are acting like they're writing her as a child molesting stripper or something.

[Rod Odom]

the lot of you. Unsated with the carcasses of classic superheroes you want to dissect and "deconstruct" the memories of dead people.

Go make stories about your own dead. Play with your own food.

[Cry For Life]

Originally posted by Ben543250
Is it okay if someone nitpicks...er, I mean educates YOU on your comma issues.........?


Abso-friggin-lutely. ^_^ Especially since you're right; my message should have read as follows:

I'm not saying this to nitpick but to educate, and wouldn't really bother if it weren't for the fact that I see a lot of people making this mistake on comics message boards in particular (and that I'm an obsessive compulsive English major).

Just to let people know "sell" is a verb, and "sale" is a noun. The word your looking for is "sales" as in "lower sales".

Again I don't mean to nitpick or piss anyone off; I just notice that a lot of ppl seem to make this mistake.

"GRAMMAR FRIENDS ASSEMBLE!!!"

[amaraswen]

Cowards!

26 years ago, in 1977, a Punk Rock Band called The Sex Pistols (http://www.sex-pistols.net) signed with Virgin Records and released the single "God Save the Queen" just in time for the Queen's Silver Jubilee. The song being banned from radio quickly went to number one on the New Musical Express charts. In a publicity stunt to make themselves heard, the Pistols played in a boat just behind the Queen on the day of her Silver Jubilee.

http://thesexpistolsfiles.com/gallery/pic5.jpg

"God save the Queen
the fascist regime,
they made you a moron
a potential H-bomb.

God save the Queen
she ain't no human being.
There is no future
in England's dreaming

Don't be told what you want
Don't be told what you need.
There's no future
there's no future
there's no future for you

God save the Queen
'cos tourists are money
and our figurehead
is not what she seems

Oh God save history
God save your mad parade
Oh Lord God have mercy
all crimes are paid.

God save the Queen
we mean it man
we love our queen
God saves
there is no future
in England's dreaming

No future
no future for you
no fufure for me"

Rock & Roll had the balls to go far beyond this "Di Another Day" would dream of.

Virgin is a big corporation like Marvel, the Pistols were as British as Milligan, and "God Save The Queen" remains unsurpassed as the ultimate attack to the British monarchy. So why oh why should Marvel in the year 2003 step down this inoffensive little joke? Because of a poll in a website? Don't make me laugh. Their blatant cowardice is the only explanation.

[Warren V. Wind]

It was a fucking stupid idea anyhow!!!!

No big loss.
I'm sure this doesn't make or break Marvel either way.
As far as I was concerned it was just to get publicity for X-StatiX.
There NEVER was really going to be a storyline invloving Princess Di!!

JoeyDaQ - EIC
JoeyDaQ - Media Whore!!

I better watch out that could be the next "new" member of X-StatiX!!

At Least it saves me from NOT having to buy X-StatiX for 6 months.:(

[wraith]

Originally posted by jawaplumber
LMAO!!! Oh yeah, a little wishful thinking there, wouldn't you say?

And when did Millar say that about Trouble? Not that I doubt it, but I'm curious. On top of which, that's Mark Millar, not Joe Quesada or Bill Jemas. There are many times when writers have seperate and differeing opinions of their work aside from their editors and publishers. You're grasping at straws.

You can find Millar's coments about Trouble on this very site (in that big press conference/interview that was done with Millar and quemas). I should also point out, that niether Quesada or Jemas corrcted Millar, when he said that Trouble was an all ages book and perfectly sutable for 9 year olds. So no, I'm not grasping at straws on this one.

[BonanzaGuy]

Thank God!!!

For a moment there, I thought that I'd have an issue of X-Statix
that might actually sell! Boy, that order ajustable thing is just the trick...

Quesada, go back to your hole........and pull Jemas in behind you.

[tralfaz]

Originally posted by BartAllen
why is it in poor taste and disrespectful? explain please


We are talking about a recently deceased person with children
If your mom just passed away would you want her ain a comic book

Using a recently dead person just to hype a comic , so you can get you name in the paper is in ppor taste [/B][/QUOTE]

recent? its been a couple of years now.

why would a comic book use my mom, she wasnt a public figure like princess Di was.

there's no such thing as poor taste, just people with no sense of humor, mentalities that percieves life too seriously, too stuck up, too stupid, extremely uneducated, boring, bland, etc. etc. etc.

its not like she's the only dead celebrity to be used in fiction

[jawaplumber]

Originally posted by wraith
You can find Millar's coments about Trouble on this very site (in that big press conference/interview that was done with Millar and quemas). I should also point out, that niether Quesada or Jemas corrcted Millar, when he said that Trouble was an all ages book and perfectly sutable for 9 year olds. So no, I'm not grasping at straws on this one.

That's cool, but that's still not the point. The point is that there could still be a difference of opinion, it doesn't require Millar and Quesada/Jemas to bicker back and forth in public over it.

And yes, you ARE grasping at straws. You're looking for any little tidbit you can to bash Marvel. It's not like with some of the others (including myself) who are just upset because they wanted to see the story and feel like Marvel is wimping out. You're just jumping on this because it's something "negative" about Marvel and trying to make more of an issue of it than it really is, hoping it leads to the powers that be getting the boot. Seriously, that's what you call making a mountain out of a mole hill.

Something like this went on almost twenty years ago, when DC decided to not print a Swamp Thing that had Jesus Christ in it. Did anyone get fired over it? Nope, and why should they? After all, they did what those who complained wanted, and pulled the comic. What's the difference between that and what's happening here with Marvel?

[Barry]

X-cellent. :-p

Sorry, couldn't resist. Wondering if Marvel's stockholders had any say in this particular matter...

[Barry]

Originally posted by amaraswen

No future
no future for you
no fufure for me"


Sadly I often think that this applies to the comicbook industry...

[Oswald Carver]

Originally posted by Cry For Life
I'm not saying this to nitpick, but to educate, and wouldn't really bother if it weren't for the fact that I see a lot of ppl making this mistake on comics message boards in particular (and that i'm an obsessive compulsive English major).

Just to let ppl know "sell" is a verb, "sale" is a noun, the word your looking for is "sales" as in "lower sales".

Again I don't mean to nitpick or piss anyone off, I just notice that a lot of ppl seem to make this mistake.

"GRAMMAR FRIENDS ASSEMBLE!!!"

The grammar friends are going to kick your ass.

See, if you were actually the grammar king you claim to be, your post should have read (corrections in bold):

"I'm not saying this to nitpick, but to educate, and wouldn't really bother if it weren't for the fact that I see a lot of people making this mistake on comics message boards in particular (and that I'm an obsessive-compulsive English major).

Just to let people know, 'sell' is a verb, while 'sale' is a noun. The word you're looking for is 'sales,' as in 'lower sales.'

Again, I don't mean to nitpick or piss anyone off, I just notice that a lot of people seem to make this mistake.

'GRAMMAR FRIENDS ASSEMBLE!!!' "

Jesus christ, this world is going to give me a coronary before I'm 40.

Oh, and this whole Milligan-getting-rewritten thing: sniff, sniff! Do I smell Jemas?

[Edited to add more a more detailed exhibit of Cry for Life's obvious lack of grammar skills than was offered in the original version. And, to be a little less mean.]

[PretentiousMoi]

There is something fishy about this whole story. I seriously doubt that the Royals could have forced Marvel to back out of this fictional story when they couldn't even prevent the publication of several tell-all books that have come out since Princess Di's death. And I also doubt the books creators would not have screamed bloody murder to the fan press by now if this had actually occurred. Someone is pulling a few yards of wool, I think.

[Chris]

This is why Marvel stopped giving out so much info in solicitations to begin with. They seriously need to stop spouting out so much information before a book ships, and let us be surprised once in a while. If the issue had shipped, there would have been a little outrage, but life would have gone on. Now we've been cheated out of a storyline. Yes, the story will probably happen with a different person, but we'll all KNOW what it should have been, and it may turned out half-assed. I feel bad for all the retailers who ordered extra copies because of the Di connnection...



Chris

[Kevin]

Originally posted by PretentiousMoi
There is something fishy about this whole story. I seriously doubt that the Royals could have forced Marvel to back out of this fictional story when they couldn't even prevent the publication of several tell-all books that have come out since Princess Di's death. And I also doubt the books creators would not have screamed bloody murder to the fan press by now if this had actually occurred. Someone is pulling a few yards of wool, I think.

You hit the nail on the head, dude. Very fishy indeed!

-Kevin

[The Marvel]

Chicken$hits. I guess Diana wasn't Maxim enough for the Jemas regime.

My only question is what in the living hell will the story be about now? I guess X-STATIX isn't one of Marvel's Big Talent books anymore - those spots are for masterpieces like NAMOR and the magnificent MARVILLE.

Marvel makes it so hard to care anymore.

[cult of Pat]

Despite what someone said earlier about this story arc not being a gimmick. This is a plot gimmick, like almost everything else Marvel has done lately.

In the 90's Marvel was enamoured with cover gimmicks, everything was a foil embossed holographic chromium limited edition with a dozen variant covers.

Today it's all about shock value to attract attention: Let's make the Rawhide Kid gay, let's get Aunt May Knocked up, let's resurrect a nearly diefied public figure in a comic and make her a mutant.

Jemas is so busy trying to court public attention to the books he'll try anything, except good storytelling.

[Victoronehalf]

Wait a second, this doesn't make sense. Joe Q was all-out stirring the controversy stick, playing up the fact that to some people, the story will be disrespectful, and suddenly, they pull it? What the hell kind of bullshit market strategy is that? There is more to this story!

And you "oh, the story is just trying to boost sales through controversy" people are ignoring the fact that that's how the story is merely being promoted, if you've ever read an issue of X-Statix, you'd know that Pete Milligan is way above that kind of thing. He most definetely had an intelligent, deeply satiric story up his sleeve. And it gets trashed. This is a sad day, indeed.:(

[wraith]

Originally posted by jawaplumber
That's cool, but that's still not the point. The point is that there could still be a difference of opinion, it doesn't require Millar and Quesada/Jemas to bicker back and forth in public over it.

And yes, you ARE grasping at straws. You're looking for any little tidbit you can to bash Marvel. It's not like with some of the others (including myself) who are just upset because they wanted to see the story and feel like Marvel is wimping out. You're just jumping on this because it's something "negative" about Marvel and trying to make more of an issue of it than it really is, hoping it leads to the powers that be getting the boot. Seriously, that's what you call making a mountain out of a mole hill.

Something like this went on almost twenty years ago, when DC decided to not print a Swamp Thing that had Jesus Christ in it. Did anyone get fired over it? Nope, and why should they? After all, they did what those who complained wanted, and pulled the comic. What's the difference between that and what's happening here with Marvel?

1. Why would Quesada or Jemas saying that "Trouble is actualy not an all ages book aimed at 9 year olds, but is instead a PG+ rayed book aimed at teens and adults",cause an argument with their GOOD buddy Millar?

2. I don't want to bash marvel. I only want to bash quemas's NU MARVEL (the publishing division). Next time get it right.

3. I did'nt expect, nor did I want nu marvel's decision to pull the DI ANOTHER DAY storyline to get quemas fired. After all, that would mean that the suits above quemas are supporters of this kind of tasteles/ crappy story idea. I did, however, want (and hope) that the fact that quemas approved this type of story and that all the negative media attention and critacism marvel is getting over this storyline, causes the suits upstairs to fire quemas.

[Roman a clef]

Hasn't anyone read Milligan's story in issues 2 and 3 of Shade? On the surface, it was about the giant head of JFK erecting itself in the middle of Dallas (gunshot wound and all). But underneath it all, it was a pretty thoughtful study of the still-resounding impact the assassination of JFK had (and has) on American culture. I was looking forward to "Di Another Day" for the reason that I have a good deal of confidence in Peter Milligan as a storyteller, and I wanted to see if he could actually elevate the death of Diana to something higher than that of an unfortunate accident and maybe make it mean something. Take day to day life and turn it into something much bigger. You know, like writers do sometimes.

But I guess we aren't allowed to make our own decisions about what we want and don't want to read. That's for the shareholders to decide. Thank god Shakespeare wasn't writing for a corporation...

[toolverine]

I though that this was a good idea and an interesting twist. More to the point, it seemed to be keeping in line with how the book always looks at life in a satirical manner.

[Charles RB]

Originally posted by jawaplumber
There was an intended point behind using Diana specifically. You can't explain this to some people, though, they refuse to or aren't capable of conceiving it.

Amen, Jawaplumber. And I note most of those people aren't actually British, so why are they giving a shit about how a British writer treats British monarchs in his stories?

[Charles RB]

Originally posted by BartAllen
We are talking about a recently deceased person with children
If your mom just passed away would you want her ain a comic book

I will point out:

a) She wasn't a very good mother in the first place, spending more time away from her children on holidays, at parties and on her PR exercises- er, I mean charity work than actually with her children.

b) Prince William has used Diana as a way to get into the front pages of the tabloids by going on about how he wants to be like his mum. So I doubt he'd really give a shite about X-Statix.

[Rob Jensen]

Hmm. Now that they're not going to use Di (and I think that caving into whatever pressures they've caved into is pretty cowardly of them), I suggest the following possible replacements for Di in the story:

JFK, jr.
Kurt Cobain
John Lennon
Natalie Wood
Phil Hartman
Sharon Tate -- actually, the more I think about the possibility of this one, given the direction the series appears to be going in, the more I like it
John Belushi -- or Chris Farley or any other comedian who self-destructed, but preferably Belushi

And then, there are my less serious suggestions:

Fatty Arbuckle
James Dean -- he'd be perfect for this kind of celebrity-satire story, but he's sooooo frickin' overused
George W. Bush -- well, since he's brain dead, there's a good chance that he could come back to life, unfortunately
Ronald Reagan -- same thing (Isn't this starting to sound like the lineup of the X-Presidents?)
The Head of Richard M. Nixon -- Futurama no longer allows me to perceive him in any other way

Any of these suggestions from either list would make for an interesting read, IMO.

- Rob Jensen

[Bullwinkle]

What a great marketing ploy! ;)

Does anyone really think that Marvel didn't see this coming?! They're not that dumb.

But, what they did manage to do, was put their name out there for a while and get some exposure that would not have otherwise had.

Bravo, I say. It may be in bad taste, it may be shameless, and it may be crossing the line - but I still have to offer kudos for a job well done. I'm sure the comics will still come out on-time since they probably saw this coming .... :)

- Chris

[OM]

Originally posted by boors
Here in reply to what mr. or mrs. OM wrote:

...It's "Mr.". "Mrs." is Elayne Riggs, who you should give respect to as well.

Originally posted by boors
making fun of somebody who died tragically doesn't seem like a real 'neat' idea. this isn't about royalty. it's about smearing somebody's memory to boost sales and Jemas' bonus.

...Oh, I know that. However, it depends on how the weight is thrown around as to whether or not I say "fuck off!" to any complaints. File the grievance as a normal person, fine. File it as the Queen of Englandland and screaming "Off with 'is 'ead!", and you'll get to choose which middle finger I'll respond with.

Originally posted by boors
maybe it's just me and probably a whole lot of other europeans with our centuries worth of culture and us knowing to eat properly with a knife and a fork.

...And do you drink tea with your pinkie extended? Remember, Englandland is the place where they eat jellied eels like we eat pickles. That shit makes Vegemite palatable!

Originally posted by boors
but then again, you don't give a f###, right?

..."Fuck", son. The word is "fuck". Use it or lose it, I say!

[DrDoom]

Finally some brain in Marvel : they have canceled it..

Otherwise They would have meet the Wrath of BuckinghamPalace (Queen, hold your horses: it was no insult ...just a joke)

[Nobody]

"..."Fuck", son. The word is "fuck". Use it or lose it, I say!"

Funniest damn thing I've read all day.

[Jeremy Williams]

It`s funny you see: every fucking time Marvel does something great, you can be 100% sure they`re going to do something bad after it. It`s the law of nature for that regime. So it doesn`t matter if they ask God himself to write one of their books, because you can be sure Satan will be waiting in line to crap on everything the next day because they would have made a deal with him.

"Trouble" seemed intriguing but they revealed that it was about a young Aunt May to gain more sales making it far less bold than a genuine staight romance. Wolverine relaunchs with acclaim and a new mean look and attitude? Next thing you know, they want him to look more like Hugh Jackman. Not to mentions all the editorial interferences on acclaimed books after saying that creators would have free creative reign from now on. They made JLA/Avengers happen with a state of mind that all the bickering between Marvel and DC were stupid, it prevented great work to be done, but a few months later they were more anti-DC than any other previous Marvel regimes.

Behind every revolutions to free the masses, there`s always something even more sinister at the end of it waiting in line.

[jawaplumber]

Originally posted by wraith
1. Why would Quesada or Jemas saying that "Trouble is actualy not an all ages book aimed at 9 year olds, but is instead a PG+ rayed book aimed at teens and adults",cause an argument with their GOOD buddy Millar?

2. I don't want to bash marvel. I only want to bash quemas's NU MARVEL (the publishing division). Next time get it right.

3. I did'nt expect, nor did I want nu marvel's decision to pull the DI ANOTHER DAY storyline to get quemas fired. After all, that would mean that the suits above quemas are supporters of this kind of tasteles/ crappy story idea. I did, however, want (and hope) that the fact that quemas approved this type of story and that all the negative media attention and critacism marvel is getting over this storyline, causes the suits upstairs to fire quemas.

Paranoia will destroy ya...

1.) I never said an "argument", in the personal way you are suggesting. What I meant was public bickering, dispute, what have you. This sort of thing goes on all the time in the entertainment industry between collaborators/co-workers, etc.. And I love your "GOOD buddy" comment. Shows you are another one of these guys who thinks it's bad and conspiratorial to be in the good favor of your employer. It's a concept I'll never understand.

2.) That has to be the lamest answer I've ever heard on Newsarama. You only want to bash "Nu Marvel" and not Marvel itself? That's too funny. I'm not even going to bother trying to get into that discussion with you.

3.) Again, my point here is that Jemas and Quesada did the "right thing" by pulling the story, so why would they get fired? And "all the negative" press? One time where they cause Marvel a black eye in the public (outside of the little crap that only paranoid Marvel bashers and internet fans care about), when they have done so much else to get attention from the media and mainstream. Sure, has it generated sales in the range of the 90's boom? No, but it certainly has increased sales from where they were before Jemas and Quesada took over, and overall awareness of comic books.

You may as well get over it, pal, because Jemas and Quesada are going to be a part of Marvel for a long time to come. So, just move on and find yourself another hobby.

[thebeast]

Gotta say I'm pleased that this has been pulled, it was cheap, crass and quite frankly disrespectful to the memory of a great woman. And the the poster who said that she only married into royalty then got divorced should look into her charity work for aids patients (a taboo subject at the time) and the vast amount of work to rid the world of landmines. (one of the biggest killers in the third world) She actively sought to help change the world.
I am British and proud of it, but I'm not a royalist, I can take or leave the royal family as a whole. Diana's death did upset me and I think that goes for most of the UK, and whether this story was good or bad is irrelevant, it's just not on. I'd say if 20 years ago Marvel had decided to make a big play of JFK coming back to life, the reaction would have been similar. Some things take time to get over...

[Charles RB]

Originally posted by thebeast
Gotta say I'm pleased that this has been pulled

I'm not. It's a blow against British dark humour & satire.

And the the poster who said that she only married into royalty then got divorced should look into her charity work for aids patients (a taboo subject at the time) and the vast amount of work to rid the world of landmines.

What, the work she did after her popularity was going down and where she was always sure to get photos taken of her looking saintly? No, she wasn't in it just for the PR at all...

I am British and proud of it

I'm British and I'll be proud of it when the BNP are taken out with napalm and chainsaws.

Diana's death did upset me and I think that goes for most of the UK

I think it doesn't, because outside of TV I didn't see a single person sad about it. I did see in the media evidence that people were using her death as an excuse to skive off work.

Some things take time to get over...

I was six years ago and someone none of us knew personally or had any personal experience with. How much goddamn time do we need? And hey, I note it didn't stop Grant Morrison on The Invisibles, and nobody cared when he did his little Diana story a few months after her death...

[Jason Seaver]

Originally posted by thebeast
Gotta say I'm pleased that this has been pulled, it was cheap, crass and quite frankly disrespectful to the memory of a great woman.
How do you know it was "cheap, crass and... disrespectful"? We haven't seen the story yet! The idea is outrageous, but it struck me as the good kind of outrageous - the kind that makes you think about things that you take for granted.

Folks come back from the dead in comic books every month, and we're told these fictional characters are famous in their fictional world. We've gotten used to it. Stick in the name of a real person as the one being resurrected and outed as a mutant, though, and it changes the way many people look at it, the same way people seem to attach greater significance to a movie when it has "based on a true story" in the trailer.

[lorbaat2]

Originally posted by shakey
...I feel that Diana's death was tragic , because it was caused by the relentless pursuit of the Paparazzi , the very people she was trying to avoid.

Really? I mostly feel it was tragic that she chose to get into a car driven by someone who may or may not have had too much to drink, and who must have made a bad judgement call at some point along the way. Since the car Diana was in didn't collide with another vehicle, it's kind of hard to blame anyone but the driver of her vehicle. Even if being "relentlessly pusued" a driver has options, including "slow" and "stop".

Don't get me wrong, I feel her death was tragic, and while I don't nominate her for sainthood either I feel the world did lose a very rare thing- a person willing to use their fame, money, and power to truly try and make the world a better place. But that doesn't protect her from having made a very poor choice about who to use as a driver.

[Brian Langlois]

I'll toss in my two cents (though I probably shouldn't).

I am an American. As an American, I have no use for any kind of royalty. I usually think they're pretentious and snobbish and serve no purpose other than to reinforce the elitist class structure.
That being said, I definitely found this story to be offensive and disrespectful. Diana's death was indeed a tragedy. It touched so many lives and brought about worldwide mourning. This story was just a cheap publicity gimmick. This and a couple of other recent Marvel moves (i.e. Waid) were my primary reasons for dropping ALL Marvel books (at least the few I was still buying) from my list. I just can't support a company that would do something in such poor taste. Those of you who say that we don't know that the story would have been distasteful obviously don't realize what comic you've been reading. X-Statix is nothing but distasteful and I have serious doubts that this story would have been any different. I for one am glad Marvel decided to drop this story, but it still won't convince me to go back to buying their books. Until Quesada and Jemas are gone and some responsible leadership takes the reigns, Marvel is dead to me.

[MadPiscus]

Using a recently dead person just to hype a comic , so you can get you name in the paper is in ppor taste

I think the problem here is that you are assuming this is why the writer chose to do it, and the only reason.

I have read X-Statix often and disagree.

Besides, as for the "recently deceased mother" bit, these kids went through much worse from the popular British press when she was alive.

Not everyone believes that death makes people untouchable... I'm not sure to this day why all the media people who got steamed over Trent Lott's comment at the old man's birthday party (figuratively) bowed their heads in a moment of silence when Strom Thurman died.

If you hated the old bastard, why not say it? At least don't act like he was a "noble statesman" with your careful wording.

Anyway, I think that, while certainly contreversial, the book could have been good... and wonder that it's true they've backed off. If it is, well then I hope they can move on quickly because I always enjoy picking up their book.

[MadPiscus]

Originally posted by Rod Odom
Go make stories about your own dead. Play with your own food.

What exactly is our own dead?

If you mean Americans, I'd have you know that there have been plenty of movies and projects involving American "royalty"... but this book was to be written by a Brit, so he is playing with his "own" food.

[poppa_kapz]

dear fellow readers,

in case no one has mentioned it, what you have just witenessed what is called A PUBLICITY STUNT.

generally an entertainment company will create some outlandish LIE in order to generate a buzz. in hindsight kinda pathetic but often a effective tool at getting peoples attention.

marvel, for the moment had yours, the news media, and the Royals attention. there was only one bit of art (a cover) no pages and no real details about the story.

not that marvel would give away such juicy info but still this was all fake. they had no intention of printing this story. it was disrespectful-- but most importantly it was liable.

read those indecias comrades "characters resemble no person living or dead..."

kudos bill&joe, you got us all talking about... nothing.

hey joe, next time have george bush jr. as magneto gay transvestite lover that's sure to get us all riled up.

:rolleyes:

[slug N lettuce]

I just hope they dont pull a 'Waid' on Mulligen and Allred. I know its not the same situation though. Of course if you fire someone because they don't want to do a story line that will automatically go into the 25 cent bin then you might fire someone for getting a royal family pissed at you.

[d477wt]

lol lol lol lol lol

[slug N lettuce]

Originally posted by poppa_kapz
dear fellow readers,



hey joe, next time have george bush jr. as magneto gay transvestite lover that's sure to get us all riled up.

:rolleyes:

How could you even mention something like that about our fairly elected president who will be known as the greatest mind since Marx, Plato, Zinn, or Howie Mandell!!

[Buzzowl2]

Alfred E. Neuman for president in 2004, not the pale imitation we have now

Hah! And then he can appoint Spy vs. Spy to run our defenses!

The black spy can be the Secretary of State and the white one can be our Secretary of Defense!

And they can bicker all the time! And engage in all sorts of cloak-and-dagger trickery!

...waitaminnit....

[Damian]

this is just a shame, because you know it was gonna be good. i don't really understand how referring to princess di is automatically "smearing her memory" or whatever. x-statix is a clever reworking of x-book tropes into a satire about fame, right? princess di was one of these people who are famous for being famous. she died being chased by people wanting to take her picture because she was famous. she's a real life embodyment of an x-statix story. and it's not like it's unheard of to use existing public figures in literature. none of us even read the story (and i guess we never will read the story) so how can you say it's desecrating di? milligan and allred could've had her saving the world or some goofy superhero stuff. but maybe that's what was desecrating her memory, huh? daring to include her royal likeness in, gasp, the grubby little pages of one of those disgusting children's picture publications.
the next time quesada and jemas feel like making a snide comment or two about the self loathing comics community, perhaps they should bear in mind that, when they cave like this, they're as guilty as anyone of perpetuating the myth that comics ain't much more than disposable crap.

-----------------------------------------------------------
check out Whisp and Tristero, USA online at
http://rehab25.net

[meverat]

I was looking forward to the story but more importantly I think pulling this is a bad for the ocmics industry. Thousands of people who would never regullary buy comics would have been going into comic stores but now you lost them.

[gwangung]

generally an entertainment company will create some outlandish LIE in order to generate a buzz.

Ah, no. Companies don't LIE...they exaggerate or hype, but they don't lie.

Not that it makes any difference to you bozos who think this death is "recent" and are intent on embalming the memory of this poor woman or deifying her.

Seems to me that this sort of attitude is ripe for satirization....but I suppose some people can't stand being made fun of....

[Mr. Special ED]

dear fellow readers,

in case no one has mentioned it, what you have just witenessed what is called A PUBLICITY STUNT.

I was thinking the same thing. I know MARVEL likes to keep art underwraps, but we've seen one image, and Rich Johnston gets this right MONTHS before an announcement. But then again, even if people have unfeeling knee-jerk reactions, this was a pretty DUMB ex-celeb to pick.

And for those poopooing on folks who actually were touched by the death of someone "they didnt even know for godness sake", I will use Nazi Reference #315 and say that we wouldnt be crying the same foul if someone poopooed on the deaths of the Jews waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back when.

[tug3000]

I seem to recall an issue of Hellblazer ("The Secret History of England" or something like that) where Constantine tells how the royals are all really evil snake-people who impregnated Princess Di with a spiky, venomous dildo, and then he explained that Di's death was a plot by the evil snake-royal family. (Ain't Warren Ellis grand?)
So, the question is, how could one comic story about Di being impregnated by a spiky dildo be less offensive and go to print with no problems, and one where she is simply being brought back as a mutant not?
The answer's simple: Marvel just bit off more than they can chew. I don't remember hearing anyone at DC going around and promoting the new issue of Hellblazer, featuring the Truth about the Royals (and Why Di Died!).
The lesson: despite the old saying, there is such a thing as bad publicity. And while some may argue that "Hey, this story had people at Buckingham Palace talking about Marvel Comics", it's not like those same people are out buying the issues.
The real tragedy is that what was probably going to be a great story by Milligan will now never be seen. Ah, well...

[matthewstarnes]

No matter what, Marvel knows how to produce free publicity. This even made it into People magazine.
Look at all these posts.
Like it or not Marvel knows what they are doing in regards to publicity.

[J.C. Bakken]

Originally posted by boors
Here in reply to what mr. or mrs. OM wrote:

making fun of somebody who died tragically doesn't seem like a real 'neat' idea. this isn't about royalty. it's about smearing somebody's memory to boost sales and Jemas' bonus.

maybe it's just me and probably a whole lot of other europeans with our centuries worth of culture and us knowing to eat properly with a knife and a fork.

but then again, you don't give a f###, right?

Making fun of tragic death is in it self never funny, but is the execution (of the funny thing, not the death) if tastefull it can be seen as an hounorble thing.

But on the other hand, art and culture of yore has nothing to do with todays monarchs around Europe. Because let's face it, they take away a lot of money which could be used elsewhere.
I mean, look at the royal families and you see all kinds of things. And I look at my own royal family and see nitwits. The only people who still hold them close are the elders who lived thru the war and the kids who hope to see their favorite fairytale come alive.

Damn, this is my second politics-post in a short while, I better stop now.

Good day.

[Banana_Oil]

Originally posted by boors
Here in reply to what mr. or mrs. OM wrote:

making fun of somebody who died tragically doesn't seem like a real 'neat' idea. this isn't about royalty. it's about smearing somebody's memory to boost sales and Jemas' bonus.

maybe it's just me and probably a whole lot of other europeans with our centuries worth of culture and us knowing to eat properly with a knife and a fork.

but then again, you don't give a f###, right?

Funny, I could have sworn Britain was this country with a reputation of satirizing the rich and famous, especially the Royal Family. I was pretty sure this was the country that produced nothing-is-sacred shows like Monty Python, Spitting Image, Alexei Sayle, and Dead Ringers. I was under the impression that UK writers Like Milligan, Morrison, and Ennis had been using dead celebrities to humorous effect in their work for years and years (JFK, Diana, John Wayne, Bill Hicks) . I must have been thinking of some other country, because the Brits on this board are mighty thin-skinned. Maybe I was thinking of Uganda. It's the number one export in Uganda, satire is, you know...


Oops, I forgot, they were working for DC when they did that, so all is forgiven. Even the bit about Diana getting rogered by extradimensional demons...

[Eschel]

I'm glad that I wasn't the only person who thought this idea was repugnant to begin with.

Regardless of how she was actually going to be treated in the storyline (respectfully or not), there are many people in this world who cared a great deal for her and hold her fondly in their memories (I'm not one of them, but I can understand the sentiment).

I also don't think such a furor would have been raised if it was someone from further back in history, but for many folks (her kids for instance!), the pain is still too real and present.

She's dead. Let her rest in peace.

Eschel

[Banana_Oil]

I wonder how many of the people expressing this sentiment are the same as the people who, on another thread, said that the USA needs to "get over" 9-11. Just asking.

[I-Ching]

Originally posted by tralfaz

there's no such thing as poor taste, just people with no sense of humor, mentalities that percieves life too seriously, too stuck up, too stupid, extremely uneducated, boring, bland, etc. etc. etc.


Not quite.

You're actually contending that poor taste doesn't exist? That's just bizarre and intellectually pathetic.

Of course it exists and if people can't recognize poor taste that most likely means that don't have any taste at all to measure it against.

Was this portrayl of Princess Diana in poor taste? We don't know how the entire story read overall but they way that they used it to garner attention was.

Don't try to discredit something you clearly cannot grasp by using childish namecalling labels like "dumb" and "boring" you only serve to label yourself with such monikers.

For the people trying ot relate this situation to their own mother, don't bother, your mother wasn't followed by the papparazzi every moment of her life nor did people constantly try to make a profit off of her existence. If your mother was mistreated in any way I would hope that you would care and not disrespect your own mother,that my friends would be in poor taste :)

[meverat]

Originally posted by matthewstarnes
No matter what Marvel knows how to produce free publicity. This even made it into People magazine.
Look at all these posts.
Like it or not Marvel know what they are doing in regards to publicity.

I don't know if it worked? This will be quickly forgotted and come September there won't be the same new blood in comic stores there would be if they went through with it. X-Statix may have a little bit more name recognition but it won't gain notoriety because Marvel was unwilling to take risks.

[AForceOfOne]

This is the worst news I've heard all day. What will I ever do? Are comics going to end? It's worse than the diseases and civil wars in Africa! Worse than the strife in the Middle East! How can Marvel do this?! Do they not realize what they're doing?! Damn those Royals! I wasn't expecting this! Reading this was supposed to make comics like god!

You'll notice that's all sarcasm right there. It's a frelling comic and in 5 months time nobody is even going to care. (although expecting anybody to think past beyond dinner is asking alot these days) So for all the fans out there...take a deep breath...it's all going to be ok.

(Just giving the people an actual reason to be angry...damn this board makes me laugh)

[linnen]

even though i like what joe Q has done with marvel since taking over, i have to say that he was the problem here.

remember many, many years ago, peter milligan wrote an incredible series called "shade the changing man"? early in
that series, the characters met up with JFK. it was a tremendous story and no one at DC felt the need to call up the media and let them know the JFK was going to be in the comic book.

joe seemed to blab to everyone that diana was going to be in this book, and when doing so, he didn't act like it was a book written for 12 year olds. nothing that joe said indicated that x-statix is a very intelligent book with a lot to say about pop culture and the media. instead, he made it sound like, well, you know - what most people think comics are!

this would have been a great story too!

[Sparvid]

Originally posted by poppa_kapz
in case no one has mentioned it, what you have just witenessed what is called A PUBLICITY STUNT.I'm actually hoping that's true, otherwise there's some interesting comic books out there that I most likely never get to read...


Oh, and how many here remember the Simpsons episode with the deceased Vincent Price?

[MattBrady]

Just updated the original story with a statement from Marvel:

While Marvel confirmed that the report was true on Thursday, the publisher on Friday gave this statement to Newsarama: "The X-Statix series serves as an exploration into the realities of celebrity in today's world. Although the character choice in the story stirred a lot of interest and controversy, this is still a tale that can be told without the presence of a well-known personality.

"Peter Milligan has constructed a poignant and intelligent allegory for life as a celebrity with a conscience that Marvel feels stands on it's own. Accordingly, the story will be released as scheduled this September without references to Princess Diana and the Royal Family, or anything related to them."

In short, the story in the series will remain essentially the same, while specific names, events, and likenesses will be changed. While the arc will be retitled, it will not be fundamentally changed.

MattB

[tralfaz]

I still think that NUMarvel is full of shit and are just running away because of they are a bunch of skirts.

use her name, use specific names... you say that Marvel stories take place in the real world, prove it.

[Tom Daylight]

Okay, that's the "how" (though I'm still disappointed)... now let's have the "why"?

[BillReed]

So, my prediction was correct. Name-changes for all!

[Mr. Special ED]

I seem to recall an issue of Hellblazer ("The Secret History of England" or something like that) where Constantine tells how the royals are all really evil snake-people who impregnated Princess Di with a spiky, venomous dildo, and then he explained that Di's death was a plot by the evil snake-royal family. (Ain't Warren Ellis grand?)

That was also a "joke" told at the "reporters" expense.


use her name, use specific names... you say that Marvel stories take place in the real world, prove it.

Yes yes, in the name of a few thousand, lets get millions and Buckingham Palace on our ass. Good show.

[Sparvid]

So there will be a dark-haired "Princess Dee" from a non-english country? :p

[TylerS]

Originally posted by lorbaat2
Really? I mostly feel it was tragic that she chose to get into a car driven by someone who may or may not have had too much to drink,

She "chose," like it's her fault. :rolleyes:

[Charles RB]

Originally posted by Brian Langlois
X-Statix is nothing but distasteful

http://www.cs.washington.edu/homes/jonal/wedding/laughing.jpg

[Charles RB]

Originally posted by Banana_Oil
I was pretty sure this was the country that produced nothing-is-sacred shows like Monty Python, Spitting Image, Alexei Sayle, and Dead Ringers.

Don't forget League Of Gentlemen and Brass Eye (which pissed off the tabloids, possibly because they realised the pedophilia episode was mocking them).

[Zonker]

Originally posted by Sparvid
So there will be a dark-haired "Princess Dee" from a non-english country? :p

Exactly.

A few lettering changes, a few coloring changes, ba-da-bing, ba-da-boom, and the issue ships on time. ;)

[OM]

Originally posted by Sparvid
So there will be a dark-haired "Princess Dee" from a non-english country? :p

...Nah, Princess Grace of Monaco would be perfect.

[Matt Hawes]

I have wrote to Marvel's Bill Jemas and Joe Quesada about recent developments concerning the "X-Statix" comic story that was to feature Lady Di. I'll report if they have any comment to offer to me.
What follows is basically the same message I sent along to them, with some alterations to fit a general audience.:

Let me be one of the first to compliment Marvel Comics on finally having the decency to drop the "X-Statix" story featuring the beloved British princess, Lady Diana as a crime-fighting mutant back from the dead. I'm sure her sons are happy that their mother's death will not be mocked in a publication from Marvel Comics.

I understand that Buckingham Palace called the idea "utterly appalling" and a "cheap attempt to cash in on Diana's fame and the tragic circumstances surrounding her death." I agree that it was a sordid affair. I mean, it's bad enough that "The Call," "4-11," and the "Amazing Spider-Man" comics continued to exploit the events of 9-11, but at least there was some attempt to make it appear as if these comics were done as a tribute, rather than a seedy marketing attempt to cash in on people's deaths. Oh sure, "HEROES" was nice, and Marvel published that with the intention of donating the money to charities, but the later comics were obviously just milking what now seemed a moneymaking enterprise for the company.

I hope that someday Marvel will realize that there really are limits to the expression "Any publicity is good publicity." It's not. I'm not writing this to rag on Marvel, but I care about the press Marvel gets, because I want Marvel -- And the entire comic book industry -- to do well.

If I gripe about Marvel's management, it is because I sincerely believe that the company is making decisions that are hurtful to the industry and I want to point this out in a sometimes vain attempt to make Marvel see the error of your ways. If I ever said an unkind word about Bill Jemas and Joe Quesada, personally, in any venue, it is only after hearing disparaging remarks made by the two about retailers who simply disagree on business matters that affect retailers' livelihoods.

Frankly, I would like to see retailers -- Other than just the top dogs of the retailing business -- and Marvel get along and discuss matters. I know that the Editor-In-Chief, Joe Quesada has wrote before that not all retailers are considered equal, but I hope he'll reconsider that position. Every successful business did not start out big at the outset. Marvel's management should remember that, as much as anyone else.

Marvel COO, Bill Jemas and Quesada have recently admitted that they went "too far" with the abandonment of traditional superhero costumes in the X-titles. Bill has conceded that the overprint policy is in need of amendment. Now, Marvel has enraged Buckingham Palace and possibly several millions of people that adored Lady Di. The company has caused more bad will than good business.

My points are as follows: Shock tactics have limits. Making light of very real, and beloved deceased people is not good. Making fun of your customers is not good, whether they are retailers or fans. I was quite saddened that Joe Quesada went on the "Fanboy Radio" to promote the Lady Di story in "X-Statix," and openly mocked comics fans.

Also, every once in a while it is good to listen to other people's opinions. Not *hear,* but actually listen to their views. While it may seem that there is a good vantage point out there in space, some of us living in this forrest can actually see things up close and we are familiar enough to know what may work.

----

Important note to fans of Marvel Comics: I'm one of you guys, too. Too often it seems that criticism of Marvel's management and business direction is taken as a shot at Spider-Man, himself. I love Marvel's characters, and their success affects my business. That is why I feel I have to voice my concerns over matters that may affect our business adversely. I want the company to do well, and I see some of the stuff mentioned above as working against that success.

Anyway, I just thought that needed clarifying for some people.

BTW, Does anyone know if there is a public e-mail address to contact Allen Lipson, Marvel's Chief Executive Officer?

[Elayne Riggs]

Originally posted by OM
...It's "Mr.". "Mrs." is Elayne Riggs, who you should give respect to as well.

Thanks, but propriety demands I point out that, if pressed to choose my preferred honorific, I go with "Ms." rather than "Mrs."

I'm having a ball reading this thread, albeit that I'm somewhat amazed at the macho "You pussies!" posturing going on. No wonder our Commandant-in-Chief can get away with phrases like "Bring 'em on!" if this attitude is so prevalant. Chill and take your estrogen pills, guys. :)

- Elayne

[Charles RB]

Originally posted by Matt Hawes
I'm sure her sons are happy that their mother's death will not be mocked in a publication from Marvel Comics.

One of her son's used her name to get himself on the front page of tabloids. I doubt they give a fuck.

I understand that Buckingham Palace called the idea "utterly appalling" and a "cheap attempt to cash in on Diana's fame and the tragic circumstances surrounding her death."

They didn't. That was the Daily Mail talking bullshit. (When the words "unnamed source" appear in the Daily Mail, then you know that someone somewhere has axe-murdered the truth and buggered its corpse).


Now, Marvel has enraged Buckingham Palace and possibly several millions of people that adored Lady Di.

Most of whom never bought Marvel Comics in the first place, so who cares? Let the tabloid-reading buggers be enraged.

[Cry For Life]

Originally posted by Oswald Carver
The grammar friends are going to kick your ass.

See, if you were actually the grammar king you claim to be, your post should have read (corrections in bold):


I never claimed to be a grammar king (it would be queen anyway). I said I was an English major. There is a big difference; I haven't yet graduated, and I make mistakes like everyone else.

Remember, I wasn't trying to nitpick any one person's faults. I simply was trying to educate people on the whole on a common mistake that for some odd reason seems to plague comic message board posters more than the average population. If I irritated someone's sensibilities then I apologize.

I was trying to be helpful, however the wording of your post seems more hostile than helpful. At any rate, thank you for the correction.

[Cry For Life]

Originally posted by Cry For Life
I never claimed to be a grammar king (it would be queen anyway). I said I was an English major. There is a big difference; I haven't yet graduated, and I make mistakes like everyone else.

Remember, I wasn't trying to nitpick any one person's faults. I simply was trying to educate people on the whole on a common mistake that for some odd reason seems to plague comic message board posters more than the average population. If I irritated someone's sensibilities then I apologize.

I was trying to be helpful, however the wording of your post seems more hostile than helpful. At any rate, thank you for the correction.



oops wrong button, meant to hit edit not quote =p

[Jeremy Williams]

Hey Matt Hawes, that was not shock tactics by Marvel IT WAS A PETER MILLIGAN STORY!

As for X-Statix, I haven`t read the book for a while, with the Diana story I was planning to buy the comic, but I won`t now. In fact, I sent my monthly list to my comic-shop with X-Statix included but I`ve now called them to removed it.

Fucking spinless Joe.

[Slangword]

Originally posted by MattBrady
In short, the story in the series will remain essentially the same, while specific names, events, and likenesses will be changed. While the arc will be retitled, it will not be fundamentally changed.

So, there was really no reason it had to be Diana in the first place, was there . . .

Another cheesy publicity stunt by Marvel, another book I won't be buying. . . .

--Scott

[Charles RB]

Originally posted by Slangword
So, there was really no reason it had to be Diana in the first place, was there . . .

Yes there was. Changing the name's of all monarchs involved to fictional ones weakens the story and suggest Marvel doesn't have the stones to fully say what they want to say.

[Barry]

Originally posted by MattBrady
<b>UPDATE</b>

While Marvel confirmed that the report was true on Thursday, the publisher on Friday gave this statement to Newsarama: "The <b>X-Statix</b> series serves as an exploration into the realities of celebrity in today's world. Although the character choice in the story stirred a lot of interest and controversy, this is still a tale that can be told without the presence of a well-known personality.

"Peter Milligan has constructed a poignant and intelligent allegory for life as a celebrity with a conscience that Marvel feels stands on it's own. Accordingly, the story will be released as scheduled this September without references to Princess Diana and the Royal Family, or anything related to them."

In short, the story in the series will remain essentially the same, while specific names, events, and likenesses will be changed. While the arc will be retitled, it will not be fundamentally changed. [/B]

Cowards.

[Jeremy Williams]

Originaly posted by Slangword:
Another cheesy publicity stunt by Marvel, another book I won't be buying

You must be blind and deaf since I just said that IT WAS A PETER MILLIGAN STORY that HE CAME UP WITH.

[amaraswen]

Marvel announced that the story will appear now re-titled as:

"YOU-KNOW-WHO ANOTHER DAY"

"In a book called X-Statix, the Number One Rule is: Never ruin a good pun", Joe Quesada stated to the press.

In related news, DC has announced to have reached an agreement with Garth Ennis to erase all the references to Kurt Cobain in upcoming printings of the Preacher library. From now on, the origin of the character known as Arseface will have nothing to do with the rock star to whom Ennis fondly refer as "that fucking singer who never knew what soap is". In the new reality-cleansed version, Arseface tried to kill himself just to imitate a generic, blonde, maniac-depressive, frontman of an unspecified popular hard rock band, who happened to shoot himself in the mid 90's. When asked about this decision, Courtney Love lamented that it took so many years for DC to amend this outrageous situation in order to restore the good name of his husband. "Fortunately, Marvel's revolutionary decision about the whole Lady Di affair has set a precedent which will benefit all of us, respectable celebrities, from any disrespect from any form of fiction", stated the Widow of Rock.

[Slangword]

Originally posted by Jeremy Williams
You must be blind and deaf since I just said that IT WAS A PETER MILLIGAN STORY that HE CAME UP WITH.

And Marvel approved it and promoted it heavily, and then decided it "is still a tale that can be told without the presence of a well-known personality. " And then retracted it.

Like I said, a cheesy publicity stunt. That does not contradict what you said.


--Scott Rowland

[Jason Seaver]

Well, isn't a "stunt" someone disingenuous? This just looks like Marvel backing off something they had earlier thought was a good idea.

[Buzzowl2]

She "chose," like it's her fault.

Um. She was the Princess of Wales. Her resources are practically unlimited. She had the power look at her driver and decide whether to ride with him.

When I go out to the bars (which I just did, thanks), I choose who I associate with and who I get into a car with and who drives me home.

If I can't drive and I don't think any of my friends can drive, I dial 4444444 and take a cab.

I don't think fault and choice are the same thing. But she did choose to be in that car at that time. Yes, even the woebefallen Princess had freedom of choice.

(We'll never know, but if I was driving too fast and the Princess of Wales asked me to slow down, I would. I wonder if she asked.)

[boors]

Mr. OM,

in reply to your wittyness, in which you seemingly expressed a longing for some info on table manners, voila!

How to Behave at the Dining Table

Posture: Sit up straight at the table, never lean backward, nor forward and also never let the elbows touch the table. This makes a good impression. When you are not eating, keep your hands on your lap or rest on the table.

"Please" and "Thank you" are basic manners at the table: Say "Please" when asking people to pass you something and "Thank you" when you receive something.

The best way to use a napkin: The napkin should be placed on the lap to catch crumbs or drips while eating food and should be kept back on the table neatly, after the meal is finished.

Food is passed at a family meal by the head of the family or the host/hostess: It is often passed in a counterclockwise movement around the table.

Wait for others to start eating. In many homes they say a prayer first.

It is best to order foods that can be eaten with a knife and a fork. Finger foods can be messy and are best left for informal dining.

The only way to eat is slowly and quietly. Chew small bites of food and swallow with the mouth closed.

Smoking should not be done while dining out.

One should avoid touching nose, teeth and combing hair while dinning.

The table and tablecloth should be kept clean. Do not put bones or any other morsels on the table.

Avoid spitting anything out. If there is something in the mouth, which can't be swallowed, quietly put it in a paper napkin and then continue. (e.g. bones, seeds, etc.)

End the meal properly. When a person has finished eating, the fork and the knife are placed diagonally crossed across the plate, this is the best way to inform the server that you have finished eating.

When you have finished eating, express appreciation for the meal. You can perhaps say "What a delicious meal! Thank you so much." And then wait for all to be finished before leaving the table.

Some Important Table Manners

To handle some of the unfortunate and embarrassing moments while eating food, following are some tips:

If some beverage or food is spilled on some guest while eating: The best way is to handle the situation with a calm and quiet frame of mind. Apologise first and then using the cloth napkin and water wipe it gently or else gently guide the guest to the wash room.

When a bug appears: If a bug or anything of that sort appears in your salad etc. quietly send it back but do not point it out because it might ruin the entire dinner for the rest of the people.

To remove a distasteful food item from the mouth: The food should be removed in the napkin discreetly and the food morsel should be kept out of view from others.

If a piece of silverware falls onto the floor: It should be picked up if one can reach it and the server should be told to replenish it with a clean one.

Some food items can be eaten with fingers: Some food tastes better when eaten with fingers. So you can eat with your fingers provided you use just the first two segments of the thumb, the index and middle fingers to pop the food into the mouth. Avoid licking fingers after finishing the food. Food should be always eaten with right hand.

[kossori]

Originally posted by Buzzowl2
The royals are awfully protective of their little princess now that she's dead, aren't they?

I think what it's called is "tact"...

[slug N lettuce]

Originally posted by tralfaz
I still think that NUMarvel is full of shit and are just running away because of they are a bunch of skirts.

When did Marvel induct itself as NuMarvel? Was this something the comic community came up with or Bill & Ted, err Joe? I remember reading tons of things about how Marvel will not be anything like it was in the past and "this is not your dads Marvel" (sexist bastards) I love old Marvel, thats what I grew up on so this new direction has turned me away and towards DC which seems to have more comics that cater to the older comic reader whom still read costume comics. When was NuMarvel first used? I wonder if this is going to be normal buisness practice for NuMarvel. Marvel feels like a used car lot to me now, the way they pitch things now seems like they went to some guerilla marketing seminar for car sellspersons. I know this is off the subject but it is still about Marvel. I doubt Lee and Kirby would have done it like this. (and I dont need anyone saying they would)

[Sparvid]

Originally posted by slug N lettuce
When was NuMarvel first used?I think it was at comicboards.com

[joeker_1]

If you read The End. You would know. Whoever dies stays dead. This must include Princess Di. So it has nothing to do with fear of a lawsuit or bad taste. I hope Milligan walks.

[Charles RB]

Originally posted by slug N lettuce
I doubt Lee and Kirby would have done it like this.

Stan Lee did do it like this.

[psycha]

See but how would any of you people feel if someone cashed in on your death about six years later by having you join the regular cast of the X-Men? No matter how good they make you sound and no matter how much your life may have been exposed in the public eye, it's still a very unsacred thing to do. Especially if your spouse and children are still alive.

[Alan Coil]

Separate, not seperate.
Definitely, not definately.
Wittiness, not wittyness.

:rolleyes:

[MattBrady]

Originally posted by psycha
See but how would any of you people feel if someone cashed in on your death about six years later by having you join the regular cast of the X-Men?

Not saying anything about the Princess Di issue, but let's back up from this line of thinking. After all, I wouldn't care about it if they didn't wait six years, and did it one second, because I would be <i>dead</i>, and have other things on my mind - the lesat of which would be what the living think of me now that I'm dead. I seriously hope that I won't carry my psychoses with me into the next life. Or I'll be watching the whole thing with detached bemusement from my next life.

So, before this line of reasoning goes any furhter, let's drop the idea of it's good that Marvel isn't doing this, because it will make Diana's spirit upset.

And not that I'm one to throw stones, but "unsacred" = notword. Sacreligious = word.

But like a few posts upstream, I do wonder where all these people were when Milligan brough JFK back in <b>Shade</b> - why was no one rushing to defend the honor of Jackie, Caroline, and John Jr. then?

MattB

[kossori]

JFK had a bit more years before he was in Shade. It allowed people to heal. Plus all the documentary-movies on JFK's death had helped soften people to it.

[Charles RB]

Originally posted by psycha
See but how would any of you people feel if someone cashed in on your death about six years later by having you join the regular cast of the X-Men?

I'd think "hey, cool, I'm in a comic post-humously!".

[thebeast]

This is what they should have done in the first place, no real names, or likenesses! The story about celebrity especially in todays society is warrented but Marvel seems to have got stuck onto the "publicity machine a go round" and can't seem to stop themselves looking for the headlines.

As to "Charles RB" who says... "I'm British and I'll be proud of it when the BNP are taken out with napalm and chainsaws."... Being patriotic and voicing so doesn't mean you are a fascist or are a member of a national front type party and quite frankly I found the implication (if understood right) incredibly offensive. I have nor ever will be into the said style of politics but still believe I can be proud of being British.

[Sambo253]

Originally posted by cult of Pat
Despite what someone said earlier about this story arc not being a gimmick. This is a plot gimmick, like almost everything else Marvel has done lately.

In the 90's Marvel was enamoured with cover gimmicks, everything was a foil embossed holographic chromium limited edition with a dozen variant covers.

Today it's all about shock value to attract attention: Let's make the Rawhide Kid gay, let's get Aunt May Knocked up, let's resurrect a nearly diefied public figure in a comic and make her a mutant.

Jemas is so busy trying to court public attention to the books he'll try anything, except good storytelling.

Honestly...is this that big of a deal? The Aunt May knocked up thing, is that any worse than publicizing Aunt May dying, or Peter isn't the real Spiderman? There are tons of shock value gimmicks that date back before Jemas

I really really don't understand the fuss about this at all. Why is it okay Azzarello to write a story about how Joe DiMaggio (i think thats who) kills JFK for killing Marilyn Monroe but this story is just down right distasteful? PLEAE PLEASE explain this to me. I don't think there's anything wrong with either story, except one was hyped up way before its release which lead to it getting axed.

The only thing that bothers me is the attention it's getting, this isn't any more groundbreakingly unwholesome than anything using a historical figure in any other comic. Should James Robbinson's Golden Age never been published becasue it brought Hitler back from the dead?

This hulabaloo makes little to no sense.

[Charles RB]

Originally posted by thebeast
Being patriotic and voicing so doesn't mean you are a fascist or are a member of a national front type party

Didn't say it did. What I said was that I'll be proud of being British when the BNP stop existing (along with many other things).

[Sean Walsh]

Originally posted by Elayne Riggs
No wonder our Commandant-in-Chief can get away with phrases like "Bring 'em on!" if this attitude is so prevalant.

Are you kidding??? He's gotten nothing but grief from politicians for that! They go after him for everything......even the slightest imperfections.

I mean, if his pen leaked while he was signing a presidential order, politicians would call for a special election and a public execution... :rolleyes:

Sean

[BartAllen]

THe sad state of this it takes an over the top poor taste stunt to get people in the real world to talk about comics. JUST once i would like mainstream press to talk about a comics because it is good, not due to A movie or a gimmick, but because it is good.

THe only time i can think of this happening was SANDMAN

Wouldn;t it be cool to read an article about a book because it is great
I for one would love to see HEROBEAR AND THE KID , in the paper

[kossori]

Originally posted by Sambo253
I really really don't understand the fuss about this at all. Why is it okay Azzarello to write a story about how Joe DiMaggio (i think thats who) kills JFK for killing Marilyn Monroe but this story is just down right distasteful? PLEAE PLEASE explain this to me. I don't think there's anything wrong with either story, except one was hyped up way before its release which lead to it getting axed.

JFK, Joe Dimaggio and Marilyn Monroe are old news... People aren't as attached anymore. And after the countless JFK conspiracy stories and Marilyn Monroe conspiracies Azzarello's story was just another twist on the same stories, just combined...

Princess Di has been dead how long? How has the family reacted to conspiracy stories or exploitive material? Give them about twenty or thirty more years and then no one will mind as much. It's just a matter of timing and respect.

BTW... the Joe Dimaggio story was done real well... It was only hinted at, no names were mentioned. Joe Dimaggio's referred to by his baseball playing and the number 13. Marilyn is referred to as the woman everyone loved and JFK is mentioned by that fateful event. No names. Just very easily deduced from the writing. The Princess Di thing is thrown out into the press with TWO big pictures to announce it and make it a big deal. Marvel wanted to stir up controversy.

[OcCaM]

Originally posted by BartAllen
THe sad state of this it takes an over the top poor taste stunt to get people in the real world to talk about comics. JUST once i would like mainstream press to talk about a comics because it is good, not due to A movie or a gimmick, but because it is good.

THe only time i can think of this happening was SANDMAN

Wouldn;t it be cool to read an article about a book because it is great
I for one would love to see HEROBEAR AND THE KID , in the paper

I for one would just love to see another issue of HeroBear. Is there a #6 coming?

And when is Decoy/Herobear #2 coming out? It's a bit past the end of last year when it was due out! :)

[OcCaM]

Originally posted by Charles RB
Yes there was. Changing the name's of all monarchs involved to fictional ones weakens the story and suggest Marvel doesn't have the stones to fully say what they want to say.

Wow you've actually read the story then? You know precisely what impact Di would have made vs. some generic princess.

A pyschic and an insensitive person all wrapped up in one, wow!

[Charles RB]

I've read X-Statix. I've looked at what Peter Milligan has said about the storyline in The Guardian. So yes, I have an idea of what I'm talking about you uppity twat.

[Buzzowl2]

Can anyone tell me how to UNsubscribe to a thread?

[kossori]

Originally posted by Buzzowl2
Can anyone tell me how to UNsubscribe to a thread?

Haha...
Don't you hate it when you jump in a conversation and then try to leave... and the people keep talking..?

[Buzzowl2]

No. Mostly I hate it when name-calling becomes a substitute for conversation.

I especially hate it when those names smack of an over-compensating machismo and a generally hateful attitude about females and their genitalia.

And I *really* hate it when I'm reminded of the sort of people I seem to share this hobby with.

Would people call each other "twats" or "pussies" if we were talking in person? I certainly hope not.

(Note to Self: Stop at the ends of the stories.)

[kossori]

I usually skim through the messages... fortunately nobody ever replies to me.
:rolleyes:

I'll let you know that although I haven't totally agreed with your statements, I would not resort to such behavior. At least there's a few of us who can maintain a sensible debate. I hope the rest of them can learn from us two. And those who do lose themselves with such manners only ridicule themselves and belittle their opinions...

[Buzzowl2]

Well, no one has called ME any of those names. I haven't said much in this thread. I'm actually not sure what to think about this issue.

[Redmond]

So you can't parody the royal family in comics now? If they did this in Saturday Night Live, no one would've made a fuss.

[Redmond]

Aunt May is pregnant?!

[Buzzowl2]

So you can't parody the royal family in comics now? If they did this in Saturday Night Live, no one would've made a fuss.

Are you sure? I think it's a sign of our times that they HAVEN'T parodied Di on Saturday Night Live.

Given the conspicuous absence of such a famous and easily impersonated person, I think someone at SNL probably disagrees with you.

[kossori]

Originally posted by Redmond
So you can't parody the royal family in comics now? If they did this in Saturday Night Live, no one would've made a fuss.

Before her death, maybe... And maybe ten to twenty years from now...
But at this moment I think the general public just want to let it go...
Kinda like if Marvel brought back to life all the police and firemen who died on 911 and had them join the X-Men... And then highly publicized the event to get a reaction.

[paulski]

Originally posted by Slangword
So, there was really no reason it had to be Diana in the first place, was there . . .


Interesting point, that. I'd agree with you that the only reason for using Di here appears to be the extra publicity/notoriety gained.

[paulski]

Originally posted by joeker_1
I hope Milligan walks.

Well, I sure as hell don't. I'm thoroughly enjoying his run on the title - why would you want it to end? Nose, spite, face?

[paulski]

Originally posted by psycha
See but how would any of you people feel if someone cashed in on your death about six years later by having you join the regular cast of the X-Men? No matter how good they make you sound and no matter how much your life may have been exposed in the public eye, it's still a very unsacred thing to do. Especially if your spouse and children are still alive.

Yeah, but that doesn't seem to be terribly important to a lot of comic readers, at least going by some of the responses on this thread. Which disappoints me.

If Marvel, or any comic company tried to pull this shit with a deceased member of my family, I'd do everything in my power to put a stop to it. And don't give me any of that "but the story was probably going to be very respectful" crap, either. Like psycha says, the very act of 'bringing them back from the dead' in the first place is disrespectful and upsetting enough.

The woman hasn't even been in the ground 6 years. Even Marvel should have known better than that. Jeez, bring Elvis back if you need a dead celeb...

[paulski]

Originally posted by kossori
I'll let you know that although I haven't totally agreed with your statements, I would not resort to such behavior. At least there's a few of us who can maintain a sensible debate. I hope the rest of them can learn from us two. And those who do lose themselves with such manners only ridicule themselves and belittle their opinions...

Even though I agree with you here, I gotta say it's been DAMN hard to ignore one of the posters in particular on this thread and not respond to the utter bullshit he's posted. But so far I've managed to do so (which surprises me - normally I get sucked into flaming someone far too easily...), so maybe there's hope for me yet.:)

[Charles RB]

Originally posted by paulski
Yeah, but that doesn't seem to be terribly important to a lot of comic readers, at least going by some of the responses on this thread.

Well, no, it's not. Because the Royal Family wouldn't give a damn. They have never, ever done anything to stop people using Diana's death to make easy money, so I doubt they'd care about legitimate satire.

[Redmond]

Originally posted by Charles RB
Well, no, it's not. Because the Royal Family wouldn't give a damn. They have never, ever done anything to stop people using Diana's death to make easy money, so I doubt they'd care about legitimate satire.

There you go, my thoughts exactly.

[arthur pendragon]

Remember when Bill Jemas said that before he came to Marvel they had gone from being the "House of Ideas to the House of Fear?" Gee, I'm glad those days are over. ;)

Viva, Jemas! :p

[Matt Hawes]

I've been seeing the discussion that the whole "Di Another Day" story may have been a big hoax just to generate publicity. If that proves to be true, it seems to me that there is a legal question about false advertisement at hand. After all, the story was solicited in "Previews."

I hope that the rumor is untrue. If it turns out that it is not, I think I will investigate the legal issue of false advertsing. That sort of practice should not be encouraged.

[kossori]

In my next comic I'll have the Olsen twins nude and bring back Elvis and Marilyn to have a gratuitous sex scene...

After I see how the reaction is to the preview art and solicitations, I'll decide whether or not to print it...

[Matt Hawes]

Bill Jemas, COO of Marvel Comics, responded to one of my e-mails this morning. Here is his response:

----

Mike (sic),

People here put heart and soul into Call of Duty, Heroes, and 411.

Chuck Austen and Brian Smith (the editor) visited Brian's dad at his local firehouses, had dinner with the guys road the truck and tried to capture the feeling of being cooked alive in their "protective suits" while trying to save others.

411 was an anthology of stories written by creators who had something to say about Peace and Information. Some writers understood that our nation NEEDED to spend 79 billion dollars (twice the next 79 years worth of US comic industry revenues) searching for dangerous weapons, and also understood that we would end up with another huge - impoverished nation sucking on the worldwide American relief system. Others just hated violence in general - they all got a chance to say what they wanted to say.

And all of the revenues from Heroes - which was more money than Marvel's defined "Net Profit" for 1999 went to the Twin Towers Fund.

With respect to the Lady Di issue, Joe and I were ready to cancel the book, because we knew we would take two and a half tons of grief from from everybody from the mass market press to the "Royal Family", but the creative team had something important to say about a good woman who was hounded to death by the mass market press and the "Royal Family". And we supported the creative team.

And, Mathew (sic, but closer), please don't insult me further by trying to justify all the HORRIBLE things you write about me and my friends by saying that you are personally, morally a better person than any of us.

Sincerely,

Bill

-----


My response to Mr. Jemas sent off this morning:

----

Mr. Jemas,

Excuse me, sir, but it was you that first fired the shot with your attack on retailers that disagreed with your no overprint policy. You'll recall your snide remark about retailers IQ's? On top of that, Mr. Jemas, I still have the text to all the HORRIBLE things you said about and to fans. Remember telling a FAN not to let door hit his "ass" on the way out, when he was expressing dissatisfaction with Marvel?

How dare you act as if YOU are an innocent party, and not an instigator of attacks. Nonsense!

Yet once more, can you provide me with a e-mail address to contact Allen Lipson. Or, should I write "snail mail" directly to Marvel's corporate offices in care of Mr. Lipson. Please advise. Thank you.

Matthew Hawes

----

[Elayne Riggs]

Originally posted by Matt Hawes
Bill Jemas, COO of Marvel Comics, responded to one of my e-mails this morning. Here is his response..

Wow, and you got his permission to circulate a private e-mail?

- Elayne

[Matt Hawes]

Elayne, you are a friend of Mr. Jemas, so I understand your remark.

If Mr. Jemas asked the message to remain private, it would have remained so. He is a public figure, and his responses are public unless otherwise noted. He's a big boy, so I am sure he is aware of this. That message seemed tailored for distribution, anyway, with its' spin.

Anyway, Elayne, be prepared to be upset with me again. I have another reply and I am posting it. Mr. Jemas can let me know personally if these exchanges are not meant for public consumption. I will accept that only from the sender.

Bill Jemas replies again. (He still can't get my name quite right, though it is plainly spelled out.)

-----

Mathew (sic)

Please feel free to contact Mr. Lipson in any way you please.

Best,

Bill

-----

That was it. But I find it interesting that Mr. Jemas does not want me to know his boss's public e-mail address. -- Surely, he has one.)

Oh, and if there is anyone that wishes to express any thoughts on this matter, pro or con, to Mr. Jemas, his public e-mail address is:

"BJemas@marvel.com"

This is his public business address for fans and others to reach him.

Is that ok with you, Elayne, or do I need your express written consent?

(Edited for typo's.)

[Matt Hawes]

In the event anyone is interested, I have written a letter that I sent to various news publications about Bill Jemas's reply on the matter of the "Di Another Day" story.

What follows is that letter:

-----

Dear editor,

Brash, innovative, irreverent, and "in-your-face"! Rude, insensitive, exploitive, and cynical!

These are just some of the adjectives that may be used to describe the current management at Marvel Comics these days, depending on which side you are on in regard to the opinions of its' leadership.

Recently, there has been a news article circulating in the media about a story called "Di Another Day." This tale was to have been presented in an upcoming issue of the comic book series, "X-Statix," a X-Men spin-off. The story feature a recently returned-from-the-dead Princess Diana Spencer of Britain's Royal Family.

As might be expected, the Royal Family was not amused. Buckingham Palace reportedly responded, that the idea was "utterly appalling" and a "cheap attempt to cash in on Diana's fame and the tragic circumstances surrounding her death."

When originally promoting the comic on "Fanboy Radio," a radio program devoted to comics, Marvel's Editor-In-Chief said, "If comics are anything, we're subversive, you know? I think we work the best once when we're on that level. This is really a wonderful story by Pete Milligan and I don't want to give away anything."

After the publicity started to turn people sour on the company, Marvel issued a press release that stated, "Peter Milligan has constructed a poignant and intelligent allegory for life as a celebrity with a conscience that Marvel feels stands on it's own. Accordingly, the story will be released as scheduled this September without references to Princess Diana and the Royal Family, or anything related to them."

After following the continuing saga, I wrote to the COO of Marvel Comics, Bill Jemas. I took him to task for Marvel having even considered such a thing, writing, " ...It's bad enough that 'The Call,' '4-11,' and the 'Amazing Spider-Man' comics continued to exploit the events of 9-11, but at least there was some attempt to make it appear as if these comics were done as a tribute, rather than a seedy marketing attempt to cash in on people's deaths. Oh sure, 'HEROES' was nice, and Marvel published that with the intention of donating the money to charities, but the later comics were obviously just milking what now seemed a moneymaking enterprise for the company."

Bill Jemas responded, "People here put heart and soul into Call of Duty, Heroes, and 411," "411 was an anthology of stories written by creators who had something to say about Peace and Information. Some writers understood that our nation NEEDED to spend 79 billion dollars (twice the next 79 years worth of US comic industry revenues) searching for dangerous weapons, and also understood that we would end up with another huge - impoverished nation sucking on the worldwide American relief system. Others just hated violence in general - they all got a chance to say what they wanted to say."

"And all of the revenues from Heroes - which was more money than Marvel's defined 'Net Profit' for 1999 went to the Twin Towers Fund."

"With respect to the Lady Di issue, Joe and I were ready to cancel the book, because we knew we would take two and a half tons of grief from everybody from the mass market press to the 'Royal Family,' but the creative team had something important to say about a good woman who was hounded to death by the mass market press and the 'Royal Family.' And we supported the creative team."

Note that Jemas does not address where the profits on other series exploiting the events of 9-11, like "4-11" or "The Call" went. These comics series were published after the "HEROES" charity publication.

It is also noteworthy that Jemas claims that the intention behind the Lady Di story was honorable, while his Editor-In-Chief was celebrating the subversiveness of the story in another forum. Much like a Marvel mutant that appears in one of the company's comics, the management of the company seems to be of two-headed, or at least, of two minds on this subject. There has even been speculation that the matter was all a hoax to generate publicity, begging the question: If true, is this false advertisement?

Marvel should be ashamed for exploiting sensitive matters in the name of sales and hiding behind false sincerity and self-righteousness when questioned for such tactics. The company boasts about it's "Shock and Awe" marketing strategy when it suits them to do so, and hide behind falsehoods when it does not.

Matthew Hawes

[J.C. Bakken]

...to undsub this thread.

No way. Am staying.

[Buzzowl2]

J.C.:

PLEASE tell me how to unsub. I really have no idea.

[J.C. Bakken]

Originally posted by Buzzowl2
J.C.:

PLEASE tell me how to unsub. I really have no idea.

Since I'm a nice guy, I will.
Go to the top of this page, and you'll find a button called "User CP".
Press it.
You'll will now be transported, no, not to Asgard, but to your profile page, I don't know if you're ever been on that page, but amongst other things, you can find the words in a nice spread reading:
PRINCESS DIANA REMOVED FROM X-STATIX ( 1 2 3 4 ... Last page )
Reply | Unsubscribe

Take your mousepointer an click on the word Unsubscribe.
Bingo, fixed, send me a check.

And now, back to the words of fury.

[Buzzowl2]

Bless you, good sir.

I can only assume by your helpful, caring, nature that the J. and C. stand for Jesus and Christ, respectfully.

Your humble servant,

-Buzzowl

[Charles RB]

Originally posted by Matt Hawes
Buckingham Palace reportedly responded, that the idea was "utterly appalling" and a "cheap attempt to cash in on Diana's fame and the tragic circumstances surrounding her death."

THEY DID NOT SAY THAT. THE DAILY MAIL MADE IT UP.

For God's sake, I thought everyone knew that by now.

And God Matt, do you get masturbatory pleasure from publically hounding at Jemas or something? It's one thing to insult him and another to parade his E-mail address in public and spam newspapers so they'll print your rant about how he sucks.

[Matt Hawes]

Originally posted by Charles RB
[
...And God Matt, do you get masturbatory pleasure from publically hounding at Jemas or something? It's one thing to insult him and another to parade his E-mail address in public and spam newspapers so they'll print your rant about how he sucks. [/B]

The address is Bill Jemas's public e-mail address. It is there so that people may address him about topics concerning Marvel. I don't see the foul in reporting that information.

Bill Jemas has used the media, mass market and comics industry outlets, to say what he wants about retailers and fans, oft times he is quite insulting. I feel it is as equally appropriate for me to be as public in my condemnation of his business and marketing practices.

I did not "spam" anyone. All the news organizations that I contacted solicit news items from anyone that may have an item of general interest. I feel that this matter qualifys.

Your attempts at vilifying with such inflammatory remarks seem to reveal that you have some personal investment in how Bill Jemas is viewed pubicly. Is there something you'd like to share on that score?

[J.C. Bakken]

Originally posted by Buzzowl2
Bless you, good sir.

I can only assume by your helpful, caring, nature that the J. and C. stand for Jesus and Christ, respectfully.

Your humble servant,

-Buzzowl

I got myself a humble servant. :D Feeling empowered now.:D

[Charles RB]

Originally posted by Matt Hawes
The address is Bill Jemas's public e-mail address. It is there so that people may address him about topics concerning Marvel.

Oh, OK then.

Your attempts at vilifying with such inflammatory remarks seem to reveal that you have some personal investment in how Bill Jemas is viewed pubicly. Is there something you'd like to share on that score?

He gave me his kidney.

[Matt Hawes]

Did anyone read the latest issue of "Comics Buyer's Guide" (#1550. August 1, 2003, cover date)?
"X-Statix" editor Axel Alonso spoke to CBG and said, "We intend to send ourselves to hell, when we resurrect Lady Di, and we are going to bring her right into The X-Statix."

"We figured that these guys' currency is fame, and no one knows more about fame and milking one's image than Lady Di, so she'll be back from the dead and badder than ever."

-----
OK, let me see if I got this straight, this time!:

Bill Jemas: "The creative team had something important to say about a good woman..."

Peter Milligan: "She looks great in spandex."

Axel Alonso: "We intend to send ourselves to hell, when we resurrect Lady Di."

Joe Quesada: "...We're subversive, you know?"


Gee, the more other Marvel people keep speaking, the less I believe Bill Jemas's spinning. Hmmm...

[brand]

Comic book writer Peter Milligan explains why the Princess of Wales is perfect mutant material

Wednesday June 25, 2003

Spider-man and Princess Dian as seen in X-Statix, published by Marvel
_
I first became aware of Princess Diana's strange, mutant powers on the day of her death.

Speaking as a comic book writer, these powers were nothing compared to the flying, teleporting, lethally oscillating guys I usually deal with, but they were interesting all the same.

I was in my local pub in Muswell Hill, north London, with a mate called Eamonn, soon after Diana died. We raised a glass to her and, I'm afraid, proceeded to crack a string of sick, black jokes about what had happened. Maybe it was just the sort of thing you do when something terrible has happened: a way of warding off demons and bad luck.

However, I noticed that our dark humour had outraged some of the other people in the pub. It wasn't just red-faced Daily Mail readers, either.

A few Irish lads, after tutting and muttering about our banter, eventually decided they had had enough and stormed out. A young black guy found it too much to take, and left. Clearly, Diana exerted a strange, mysterious power from beyond the grave.

Years later, I was writing, among other things, a successful, groundbreaking comic book called X-Force, which I mutated into one called X-Statix.

Its characters have crazy mutant powers, but these powers are really vehicles for exploring our celebrity and fame-obsessed society.

The New York Times called it "a witty blast of media criticism disguised as a garish spin-off of the X-Men". Entertainment Weekly described it as a "cogent, savage deconstruction of celebrity culture in the guise of an X-Men spin-off".

My mutants all have agents, negotiate fees for image rights, open megastores and live the dream. People die in my comic. We even have a character called Dead Girl.

So I thought it was time we had a real dead girl in the team, and, clearly, Diana was made for X-Statix: someone famous for being famous. In the world of the X-Men, the mutants are feared and hated. In X-Statix, they have turned this around and made themselves stars - glamorous, rich and powerful. That seems, to me, to be pretty much what Diana did inside the royal family.

Number one in this storyline, called Di Another Day (I know - it's just the kind of juvenile pun that Eamonn and I were coming up with on the day she died) has just hit the streets, so we're only just gauging reaction.

The Daily Mail's anger was, I suppose, predictable, although I suspect that the Mail's readers are not our target audience.

I was amused to read a source from the palace saying that it was "appalling". I presumed that they all hated and feared Diana, and breathed a collective, establishment-sized sigh of relief when she died.

If any of them actually reads all five episodes of Di Another Day, they will see that Diana comes out of it a lot better than the British establishment.

Indeed, a couple of old palace eminence grise types arrange for this resurrected mutant zombie to be killed. "And this time, let's do it properly," one of them says.

Being one of a small but influential bunch of British writers working in the very American world of comics and superheroes, it is nice to be able to inject something peculiarly British into the comic melting pot. In a sense, we're doing a public service, helping to drag some Americans out of their insularity.

In fact, I'd really like to do a story where David Beckham joins X-Statix. He's the perfect example of some whose powers - the ability to boot a ball around - have been dwarfed by his celebrity status.

I'd like to have him run around in a spandex superhero costume, become a homoerotic pin-up, get his nose busted in a fight with the Hulk and, as a result, have millions wiped off his "share price".

Although, somehow, I don't think I'll get that one past the lawyers at Marvel Comics.