PETER TOMASI STEPS DOWN AS EDITOR, SIGNS EXLCUSIVE WITH DC AS WRITER

[MattBrady]

When a door closes on one career at DC, apparently, a window opens. Today, the publisher officially confirmed that former Senior Editor Peter Tomasi will be leaving his editing position at DC Comics, and has signed an exclusive contract with the company as a writer.

“The fact that I couldn't add more numbers to the face of a clock was the deciding factor,” Tomasi told Newsarama when asked why he made the change. “I had recently been repped by the Hollywood agency juggernaut that is CAA, sold a screenplay, and started trying to write more comics for the company. At the same time, I was trying to squeeze every hour in the day to find a healthy balance between my amazing day job at DC and my wonderful family.

“Actually, I was completely surprised when the offer was made. I kept pestering Dan on a regular basis to do more writing for the company not only for the extra dough, which is great, but also because I simply can't turn off the writing switch in my head when it comes to these characters. A conversation between Dan and I evolved into Dan simply saying maybe it's time to put away your editing hat and put on your writing hat full time, and literally two minutes later talk of an exclusive contract was underway. So, as they say, timing is everything, and the offer of the exclusive writing contract from DC was an offer I couldn't refuse.”

As those who’ve followed Tomasi’s career know, he’s always been writing - occasional issues of JSA, The Outsiders, and Steel as well as The Light Brigade, an original miniseries published in 2004 by DC, with art by Peter Snejbjerg. It’s something, he says, extends back to his childhood.

“Since I was a kid, making movies, writing and drawing comics were my passion. It seems I've been a storyteller-type from pretty early on. I was lucky enough to discover what I love and work towards it. It'll be nice not to have to work till 2 or 3am writing specs after a full day at work anymore that's for sure. Now I can do most of my writing when some shiny object I believe they call the ‘sun’ is up.”

Not one to shy away from the obvious, Tomasi said that his 15 years as an editor at DC does give him an advantage in the writing game.

“I think -- and hope -- my advantage is that the editors who I've worked with feel I'm a talented writer who has something to offer, along with already being plugged into the DCU whereby making their jobs a little easier,” Tomasi said. “I've written a few comics over the years and passed them around and gotten favorable responses, so doors are opened and relationships already exist, which is always a plus over having some proposals tucked under my arm and knocking on doors for the first time. Breaking into this business as a writer has always been incredibly tough, so it was fifteen years well spent.”

While his comics work will be at DC, it’s not all that he’ll be writing.

“I'm looking to have my fingers in a lot of different mediums, but all of it centered in putting words on a page. Having an established agent at CAA has helped me get my material in front of people who can actually get stuff done in film and television. Of course it's still a tough process, but at least it helps the odds a bit.”

Speaking of those odds, Tomasi’s original screenplay, House of Penance has already been purchased by Andrew Lauren Productions, so yeah – it’s safe to say that he’s starting to tilt the odds in his favor.

“House of Penance is a drama/horror script that I pitched and sold to Andrew Lauren Productions about Sarah Winchester, the heir to the Winchester rifle fortune, who, feeling that she and her family is cursed by the blood spilled thanks to the Winchester repeating rifle, decides to build a house 24/7 for close to forty years. Sort of The Others meets The Shining.”

Back on the comic front of course, Tomasi has been named as the writer of the upcoming Black Adam miniseries, something which he was able to spill a few more details on.

“It's titled Black Adam: The Dark Age and it picks up right where 52 left off and leads into the start of Countdown. It's being drawn by Doug Mahnke, inked by Christian Alamy and edited by Mike Siglain. The pages that have come in are pretty damn spectacular! It follows Adam in Kahndaq and around the rest of the globe as he searches for the magical word he lost in 52.”

And after that? Where will Tomasi show up next at DC?

“Honestly, I'm interested in everything here. There's a great stable of characters at DC that I would love to write. I've edited quite a wide variety of books in my tenure here, so I'm looking forward to casting my net pretty wide and tackling established characters along with developing new properties. No reason to limit myself at this juncture when so many doors are open.

“Wish I could say more, but Dan Didio and I are still finalizing which books I'll be working on so I can't let the cat outta the bag just yet.”

[jedifish]

Congrats Peter. Disappointed that you are leaving the editorial reigns, since I seemed to enjoy a lot of the books you were editing, but interested in checking out more of your writing.

[grphxkindaguy]

Which JSA issues did Tomasi write? The Gentleman Ghost arc, that closed out the previous series?

now I know what book Doug Mahnke left Stormwatch for!!!

[Brian009]

the Gentleman Ghost arc was by Paul Levitz.

I remember the Swamp Thing issue with the rifle heiress and her house during Alan Moore's run. LMAO!!!

Cheers,

B

[SeamusMcClernan]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

“It's titled Black Adam: The Dark Age and it picks up right where 52 left off and leads into the start of Countdown. It's being drawn by Doug Mahnke, inked by Christian Alamy and edited by Mike Siglain. The pages that have come in are pretty damn spectacular! It follows Adam in Kahndaq and around the rest of the globe as he searches for the magical word he lost in 52.”

...according to Joe Rogan, there's three.

Unless it's "ass" like, Bender's.

[DerecDonovan]

Peter was one of the First people I worked with at DC and has always been a great guy- I look forward to seeing what he does both in and out of comics- Good Luck Peter!

[darthdad]

I gotta say that I am really excited about a black adam mini series. I'm really intrigued to see the search for the magic word, and I'm curious to find out what billy changed the magic word to. There were so many great endings to 52 issues, but issue 50 was just flat out outstanding!

[Kevin T. Brown]

Originally Posted by DerecDonovan

Peter was one of the First people I worked with at DC and has always been a great guy- I look forward to seeing what he does both in and out of comics- Good Luck Peter!

Off topic for a sec:

Derec, loved the work you did on Connor Hawke, I hope to see a lot more of your work at DC in the near future!


Back on topic:

Peter Tomasi is a hell of a nice guy, I wish him well in his endeavors. I truly suspect he's going to kick ass in all he does.....

[atanamar]

I absolutely loved "Light Brigade", and I'm psyched for the Black Adam mini. Congrats.

[Stressfactor]

Tomasi's Flash/Wildcat two-issue arc for JSA Classified was stellar! I'm looking forward to seeing what else he gets to do aside from Black Adam.

[dantebk]

Congratulations! Always happy for anyone who can live the dream!

[jonnynyc]

congrats
light brigade was awesome
but please don't ever write anything like those Outsiders fill-in issues again
they were not so good

[Scotty Ton]

Peter Tomasi, Doug Mahnke and Christian Alamy on Black Adam? That book's gonna kick loads of Ass.

Good luck Peter.

Scot Eaton

[Kamandi]

Now if Dan Didio can step down as well...
DC could get some editors that can actually put out books on a regular basis...
And maybe even try to get some creative teams to stay on a book for a few months in a row...

DC has been sinking ever since IDENTITY CRISIS.
And I used to be a major DC fan.

Now all I buy is the occasionnal TPB or Archives.

[Kolimar]

Congratulations and good luck, Peter.

[Applecheeks]

Where the hell is Tom Nguyen and why is he not inking Doug on this??? He is the ONLY inker for Doug...

[FilterKing]

Originally Posted by Kamandi

Now if Dan Didio can step down as well...
DC could get some editors that can actually put out books on a regular basis...
And maybe even try to get some creative teams to stay on a book for a few months in a row...

DC has been sinking ever since IDENTITY CRISIS.
And I used to be a major DC fan.

Now all I buy is the occasionnal TPB or Archives.

Dude, c'mon was that really necessary? Go bitch somewhere else.

[Kolimar]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

“House of Penance is a drama/horror script that I pitched and sold to Andrew Lauren Productions about Sarah Winchester, the heir to the Winchester rifle fortune, who, feeling that she and her family is cursed by the blood spilled thanks to the Winchester repeating rifle, decides to build a house 24/7 for close to forty years.

That sounds exactly like one of Alan Moore's Swamp Thing stories. Does anyone else remember it? The rifle was a cheap copy of the Winchester. Two married couples entered the house. The good looking guy was having an affair with the other guy's hot wife. Inside the house they found many ghosts, victims killed by the rifles, including buffaloes. Several of them were still shooting at each other. It was a great issue. Bah, like all of Moore's.

I guess the difference is Tomasi's story will focus of the Winchester family and Sarah herself and how they deal with the curse.

[Stressfactor]

Uhhh.... you do know that this is based on the real-life Sara Winchester and the Winchester Mystery House that still stands today?

She really did believe that the deaths of her husband and child were caused by the souls of all those killed by Winchester rifles and the only way to appease the spirits was to keep building for them.

I've never been to the Winchester House but one of my friends has... she said its pretty freaky.

[Kolimar]

Originally Posted by Kamandi

Now if Dan Didio can step down as well...
DC could get some editors that can actually put out books on a regular basis...
And maybe even try to get some creative teams to stay on a book for a few months in a row...

DC has been sinking ever since IDENTITY CRISIS.
And I used to be a major DC fan.

Now all I buy is the occasionnal TPB or Archives.

[Kolimar]

Originally Posted by Stressfactor

Uhhh.... you do know that this is based on the real-life Sara Winchester and the Winchester Mystery House that still stands today?

She really did believe that the deaths of her husband and child were caused by the souls of all those killed by Winchester rifles and the only way to appease the spirits was to keep building for them.

I've never been to the Winchester House but one of my friends has... she said its pretty freaky.

I think I heard something a long while ago but it's a very distant and hazy memory that got obliterated by the much stronger recollection of Moore's story.

[MatthewSmith]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

“It's titled Black Adam: The Dark Age and it picks up right where 52 left off and leads into the start of Countdown. It's being drawn by Doug Mahnke, inked by Christian Alamy and edited by Mike Siglain. The pages that have come in are pretty damn spectacular! It follows Adam in Kahndaq and around the rest of the globe as he searches for the magical word he lost in 52.”

A Black Adam book with art by Doug Mahnke?

Well, I think its safe to say I'll be giving Tomasi's writing a shot.

[TheGrayHulk]

Originally Posted by grphxkindaguy

Which JSA issues did Tomasi write? The Gentleman Ghost arc, that closed out the previous series?

now I know what book Doug Mahnke left Stormwatch for!!!

No no no no. Levitz did those issues. (and please don't mention them again!! )

[OM]

Originally Posted by Kamandi

Now if Dan Didio can step down as well...
DC could get some editors that can actually put out books on a regular basis...

...You know, despite his oft-denied sadistic hatred for all things JLI, Didio's had far, far, FAR more success in keeping books on schedule than The Q has over at Marvel. Granted, he may come across as a jerk when it comes to spoilers, and some of his EIC decisions regarding character revamps and post-crossover new series have been hit-or-miss, but he's managed to give DC a revitalizational shot in the arm that's kept Marvel playing "catch-up" while still not quite grasping that they can no longer rely on the Marvel Zombies to bolster sales on crappy books.

Oh, frack it. Why am I bothering to use logic here? You're just trolling.

[Shakes head in total disgust]

[Prometheus3]

Congratulations to Peter Tomasi and good luck with the new writing job at DC. It is a shame he is no longer an editor for DC though because he was one of the best editors DC had.