WORD BALLOON: BRAD MELTZER

[MattBrady]

In this episode of Wordballoon, host John Siuntres talks with writer Brad Meltzer about The Lightning Saga, the current JLA/JSA/Legion Of Superheroes Team Up, co written with Geoff Johns. Meltzer also discusses the paperback release of his 2006 best selling novel, The Book Of Fate.

We'll also preview Brad's remaining stories on Justice League Of America, and revisit his first JLA arc, "The Tornado's Saga," His Green Arrow story "The Archer's Quest" and discuss the fan reaction to Sue Dibny's controversial rape in Identity Crisis.

Click here for the episode.

[Rob S.]

Excellent -- I can't wait to hear it!

[yoshimi20]

I really am enjoying these World Balloon, especially the Greg Rucka ones (hopefully getting 3rd part soon ).

I wanted to say though before people complain about podcast and not having the bullet points these are over an hour long so it takes quite a while to listen too so you have to wait if you want to people post the bullet points.

[AbacusComics]

Originally Posted by yoshimi20

I really am enjoying these World Balloon, especially the Greg Rucka ones (hopefully getting 3rd part soon ).

I wanted to say though before people complain about podcast and not having the bullet points these are over an hour long so it takes quite a while to listen too so you have to wait if you want to people post the bullet points.

yeah, please...

[KoozyK]

anyone else notice in the last issue of usm, peter's principal was siuntres?

made me laugh.

[dmarvp]

is it me or the link is not working well ?

[caats19]

HAHAHAHA meltzer talking about benes butt shots..hilarious. hearing meltzer talk about this, makes me realize how a loot of people just don't understand/buy what meltzer would do cuz it was'nt the normal type. o well.

[Lex]

Wait, one of the locations in the Book of Fate is South Dakota? Now I have to buy the book.

[Scorned1]

Awsome interview, very good insights of the man.

[whitemarkd]

Originally Posted by caats19

HAHAHAHA meltzer talking about benes butt shots..hilarious. hearing meltzer talk about this, makes me realize how a loot of people just don't understand/buy what meltzer would do cuz it was'nt the normal type. o well.

Listening to it right now - loved how he said he had cut down the number of butt shots that Benes wanted to put it!

[yoshimi20]

Heck of a lot of paraphrasing and maybe some misinformation, so don't blame me if I'm wrong. But here is some very brief points that were discussed, everything is way more detailed in the interview and this doesn't even come close to replacing the interview.

1) Lots of book of fate stuff (which sounds very good), funny jokes about his dealings with the masons because of that book.

2) His first book tour after Identity Crisis discovering comic books fans, "comic book fans are the best type of fans to have on your side".

3) Identify Crisis called his 6th novel in a recent book review magazine (he seemed very happy about that).

4) Thanks his publishers for putting JLA ad's in the back of his reissued books.

5) First JLA arc, in seeking motivations for Reddy he realized the comparisons between Reddy and Grundy (hates the taking over the world plot).

6) Ed Benes butt shots ... keeps having to get Ed to redraw his butt shots into different poses (but he still loves them).

7) Doesn't think about splash shots when he's writing his stories.

8) Referring if his stories are too slow, as a writer you have to "earn" the action.

9) It's the point that they're just sitting there. The big 3 have to discover that nothing is more important than the league and they have to discover that their flaw is that they're sitting their judging people.

10) Is obsessed with the Seven Soliders.

11) Supergirl being in future is nothing to do with lightning arc.

12) The thrill of the JSA/JLA cross overs is watching them have "tea parties" together.

13) Readers are smart don't need stuff spelled out for them.

14) Geoforce hasn't joined yet (maybe he will, maybe he won't).

15) Roy Harper was one of his first picks.

16) The JLA 11th issue is a standalone issue with Gene Ha doing the art ... Most ambitious thing he has ever done, whole issue is underground. Whole thing might totally flop.

17) Writes his stories first and talks to editors afterwards ... but will do whatever editors want.

18) Identify Crisis rape ... letters that he got from rape victims did "get to him" ... But he feels he wants to include things that happen in real life ... Not going to apologize for making people care about a character.

19) Could of killed Jonn Jones and The Atom in Identify Crisis but refused to kill them. ... He doesn't want to cash in on the death of characters.

20) Identify Crisis only meant to be a small story, wasn't completely intended to lead into future stories.

21) Will be back in comics after he finishes his next novel, likes to alternate between writing novels and comics.

22) "Everyone gives him crap for the first names thing", firmly believes if you been saving some ones life for 10 years you call them Bruce and Clark.

23) Best thing that came out of Identify Crisis was that death mattered and was felt through the whole community.

24) Marvel, admires that Civil War/Capt America effects their universe.

[Lex]

I continue to disagree with Meltzer about Sue's rape. He keeps talking about trying to treat that event with respect. But the only reason Sue's rape was in Identity Crisis was to get the male JLA members angry enough to mess up Dr. Light's mind and set off a new plotline. After that the rape wasn't brought up again.

If Meltzer wanted to treat it respectfully, then it should've been more than just getting from Point A to Point B.

[sequart]

Originally Posted by Lex

I continue to disagree with Meltzer about Sue's rape. He keeps talking about trying to treat that event with respect. But the only reason Sue's rape was in Identity Crisis was to get the male JLA members angry enough to mess up Dr. Light's mind and set off a new plotline. After that the rape wasn't brought up again.

If Meltzer wanted to treat it respectfully, then it should've been more than just getting from Point A to Point B.

Ah yes. The rape. Here's a good essay called In Defense of Sue Dibny's Rape.

[DarthWader]

Originally Posted by Lex

Wait, one of the locations in the Book of Fate is South Dakota? Now I have to buy the book.

Lex, "The Book of Fate" takes place mainly in Florida. Brad's book with a lot of South Dakota mining action is called "The Zero Game". Both books are very enjoyable. Actually, I've read 4 or 5 of his novels, and they are all really good.

[KyleV]

Ah yes. The rape. Here's a good essay called In Defense of Sue Dibny's Rape.

Ha!

Oh, wait, you're being serious.

I suppose there's some truth to the fact that it is, in fact, an essay about Sue's rape. I wouldn't go so far as to call it a good one.

I do wish Meltzer would just admit that he was basically trying to make an editorial edict work, because at least then it's somewhat understandable on his part, as he had to put it in there. It's bad writing either way, but at least he'd escape some of the blame.

And he very clearly cashed in on a character's death, even if he let J'onn and Ray live.

[Spaz_Monkey]

Originally Posted by DarthWader

Brad's book with a lot of South Dakota mining action is called "The Zero Game".

Great book! 2 twists in it i did NOT see coming.

My favorite book of his, tho, is First Counsel. A main character I identified with, a female lead you couldn't help but like (no matter how frustrating she got) and, well, if I say any more about that book I'll end up giving things away.

I met Brad at a signing in Corte Madera, and actually got a couple minutes before the event to talk to him. Aside from being a great writer and comic fan, he's just a damn nice guy.

[The Guvnor]

Thanks John, always an enjoyable listen.

[TheGrayHulk]

I'm listening right now and I'm sorry, but I can't understand a word he says... the sound is just too bad!

[caats19]

Originally Posted by TheGrayHulk

I'm listening right now and I'm sorry, but I can't understand a word he says... the sound is just too bad!

your speakers must be bad? sorry?

[TheGrayHulk]

Originally Posted by caats19

your speakers must be bad? sorry?

No, the interviewer sounds fine, it's just that Brad seems to be talking through the telephone and the quality of his voice is a mess. I mention it because I had the same problem with other Word Baloon podcasts.

And no, it's NOT my computer.

[TheNoirPI]

I'm still going to give Metzler crap, because superheroes aren't police officers. Police officers don't take on other identities. Superheroes, in the DC universe, don't wear a badge. There's no excuse for having them running around in battle calling each other by their civilain names. I mean Metzler wrote a story about what happens when villains find out identities of the heroes, yet they run around calling each other by their real names infront of villains.

[Ace_ETP]

Originally Posted by TheNoirPI

I'm still going to give Metzler crap, because superheroes aren't police officers. Police officers don't take on other identities. Superheroes, in the DC universe, don't wear a badge. There's no excuse for having them running around in battle calling each other by their civilain names. I mean Metzler wrote a story about what happens when villains find out identities of the heroes, yet they run around calling each other by their real names infront of villains.

Is there any moment in a Meltzer comic book where heroes call each other by their first names in front of villains? The closest thing to that I can recall is the scene in "The Tornado's Path" were Hal Jordan coins the codename "Red Arrow" after almost calling Arsenal by his real name in front of Grundy's crew.

Meltzer's use of real names can be both good and bad. I can't imagine Batman and Superman calling each other anything but their first names, but Red Arrow referring to Geo-Force as "Brion" was just plain weird. They had just met, and no one in the JLA besides Batman and Black Lightning should know Geo-Force's real identity.

[RunnerX13]

Hey John, Solomon Grundy has almost 20 years on the Hulk; Grundy is not the knockoff.

[RunnerX13]

Originally Posted by sequart

Ah yes. The rape. Here's a good essay called In Defense of Sue Dibny's Rape.

I bought "Batman Begins and the Comics" from you guys at this years NY Comic Con, fantastic book!

[OM]

Originally Posted by yoshimi20

Heck of a lot of paraphrasing and maybe some misinformation, so don't blame me if I'm wrong. But here is some very brief points that were discussed, everything is way more detailed in the interview and this doesn't even come close to replacing the interview.

...Son, if we ever meet in person, I owe you a drink on behalf of those who either a) can't spare the hour to listen to a podcast and/or b) are hearing-impaired. Damn fine set of bullets, although one question does linger:

Q: Did he clarify anything regarding just *which* Legion this is?