AMBIDEXTROUS #236: GET BACK

[MattBrady]

#236- Get Back

Come on, people…let’s do this.

My name is Brandon Thomas and for more than six years, I’ve been writing this column for another site, chronicling my rise from an aspiring creator to a professional one. I’ve been fortunate enough to script over a dozen comics featuring popular Marvel and DC characters like Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, Black Panther, Hulk, Batman, and Robin, the Boy Wonder. In February, things get serious though with the release of my first creator-owned project The Many Adventures of Miranda Mercury from Archaia Studios Press. You’ll be hearing much more about that project shortly as it’s a large reason why Newsarama head honcho Matt Brady was kind enough to invite me onboard.

Quite simply, Ambidextrous is about the love of comics and every single conceivable element that goes into them, when you become insane enough to cross that threshold and attempt to create them. I forgot where I read it, but I’ve often heard people compare the life of a writer to that of an incredibly absorbent sponge, insinuating that neither is worth anything if it’s not capable of picking up large amounts of material. You’re expected to assimilate everything possible from everyday life and quite a bit beyond it actually, which is why everyone is always telling you to read exhaustively and make sure much of it isn’t comics related. But I never thought reading was ever enough, and so music, movies, and television have always come into the frame for me, and this will be reflected in the commentary you read here. That’s in addition to the reviews, interviews, and behind-the-scenes features I’ll be providing, several of them spotlighting a character and project I’m very excited about -- Miranda Mercury.

Miranda is meant as something of a personal statement. It’ll stand as the most pure, undiluted example of my work, one without many restrictions or concerns other than trying to tell an incredible set of stories, and build enough momentum and sales to allow me to continue. Don’t misunderstand. Being able to put words into the mouths of characters like Spider-Man and Batman is something that’s almost indescribable, but this whole deal just feels a little different. I’ve been developing this project in some capacity for over two years and I’m working on the third script while watching pages for the second story stream in…it’s all a little surreal and I hope some of that comes through when I get into it a bit more.

A big reason Brady asked me to be here is because I promised to really dig into the guts of the creative process and shed light on all considerations that arise when you’re putting a book into the direct market. It should be exhausting and exhilarating, but far more of the latter, and a natural extension of the reason I started writing the column in the first place, which was to chronicle and bolster my chances at “breaking in.” Thankfully, with some persistence, luck, and what I’d like to think is a sliver of talent, I was moderately successful. If you’re the least bit interested in any of the above, you’ve come to the right place. What Ambidextrous will not be a place for are those that get off on overwhelming negativity, hate, or general ________, so let this serve as your one and only warning.

I love comics storytelling. If I didn’t I wouldn’t be here, and if you don’t, you shouldn’t be either. We’ll all wait while you excuse yourselves.

……………………………..

Okay, tight. It’s just that I’ve encountered quite a few things during my admittedly short time in the biz, some incredibly positive, but some incredibly negative. Especially when we started shopping Miranda around for a like-minded publisher. I heard a variety of things from a variety of sources. I was told repeatedly that the odds of success for anything new in this market are not incredibly strong, that female characters can’t headline books, that chancing a minority character to the direct market makes those odds even worse, and that this was all a waste of my time. That I’d be better served by moving into almost any other line of work, and shifting this silly notion of creating comic books for a reasonable living onto the same mental slush pile as my dreams of being a world famous super-spy. But here’s the thing though -- four little words that I’ve been telling myself through six years of resistance, criticism, and sorry ass explanations from people that just couldn’t wait to tell me no in capital letters…

I don’t believe you.

And there’s nothing you can do to change that.

Now on to other business…

The Cool-

Oldheads will remember a little section called the New Hotness from the previous iteration of this column, which was devoted to the product considered in my humble estimation to be of exceptional quality and permanence. Consider this the return of said feature with one critical difference…what once was hot is now cool. If they are contributing in any large way to the writing of this column, this is where you’ll be hearing about it every week. Most times, I’ll probably be all over the place, but again…that’s really the whole point, isn’t it? Let’s get to it…

Get Back- Little Brother

Anyone that knows the first thing about real hip-hop shouldn’t need a lesson in who exactly Little Brother is, and just why they’ve been one of the most talked about groups of the last five years. Their approach to music, their obvious intelligence, and their disinterest in catering to an audience that wants to sing about “Superman-ing a ho” is well documented, as is their recent split with longtime group member and super-producer 9th Wonder. Obviously, there a larger story there, but none of them seem willing to indulge the media and deliver the sordid details it craves, which is just another reason to get excited about them. Without 9th, the soundscape is slightly different, but it’s not so drastically unfamiliar to detract from the obvious: that the group has served up yet another very excellent example of hip-hop with both heart and brains. LB is providing the blueprint that could possibly save the soul of hip-hop music…why isn’t any one paying attention?

Mr. Dream Merchant Vol. 2- 9th Wonder

I’ve loved 9th Wonder from the moment I heard Little Brother’s “Whatever You Say.”
A good friend steered me in their direction years ago, and even now I can clearly remember the day I was sitting at the computer and listening to their first official single over and over and over again. Like most things, I’d either love it immediately or dismiss it just as fast, and after only a few minutes I knew that I’d be following Little Brother for a long, long time. And probably following their excellent beat-maker 9th for longer than that. My guys always joke that the soundtrack for my college years was supplied by Timbaland, and presuming that to be true (which it kinda is) then 9th Wonder has crafted the musical backdrop of my mid-to-late twenties. I own probably 96% of everything he’s ever done and his name on a project means that it’ll be purchased instantly. Which naturally includes this new collection of collabos and guest appearances that stands as some of strongest material the producer has ever put together. In 9th’s case, that’s saying quite a bit and again he demonstrates that real producers make hot albums, not three or four hot songs for the radio. The spiritual successor of Pete Rock and DJ Premier does it again.

X-Files- Complete Series Collection

If Chuck Dixon is the man that made me want to write comics, Chris Carter is the one that made me want a TV show one day. I can remember the exact Friday night I watched the pilot on Fox, just instantly falling in love with the vibe, the sense of incredible conspiracy and the obvious chemistry between Mulder and Scully. I knew this show spoke to me, just as much as I knew it’d be cancelled before its twelfth episode. Nine seasons and a feature film later and we have this beautiful little box set that I got for an unbelievable price that would likely make you a bit envious if I quoted it.

Despite how it all ended up, probably a season and a half too late, there’s no denying this was one of the most groundbreaking genre shows ever to air and the “father” to things like Buffy, LOST, and Heroes that deal with elements of the supernatural and the unknown. In fact, one of the things that makes me want to just slap the hell out of people is when producers/writers/commentators/whoever invoke the X-Files as an example of what not to do in episodic television. That its mistakes have formed some kind of blueprint for shows that wouldn’t even exist without it to follow. That’s kinda funny from shows that haven’t even managed to string together two hot seasons, let alone the five classic ones X-Files dropped. However it all turned out, X-Files and the work it did has reverberated through a number of shows that should do their best to keep quiet and follow the leader. Maybe one day their work will be collected in something like this.

Sensational Spider-Man #41 (J. Michael Straczynski/Joe Quesada/Danny Miki)

Man, did the Internet have me scared to read this book. Excuse me for being late to the party but I’ve been in the process of moving apartments the last couple weeks so I hadn’t gotten to this quite yet. But from the buzz I was getting from the boards, this One More Day thing is heading dangerously close to the area of fan based infamy reserved for things like the Clone Saga and the Sins Past storyline. Terribly inappropriate and awful moments of storytelling that ultimately diminish the character forever and scar the company and creators involved for the remainder of their days. After a couple of reads, I’m sorry to say to these obviously unsettled folks…well, no…not really. This is actually quite good, considering.

Mephisto’s presence here is somewhat odd, but then, when can’t that be said about Mephisto’s appearance in almost anything? Priest used him in Black Panther a few years ago and it was dope, and JMS uses him skillfully here, pulling out every stop to make this unlikely pairing one that works in Peter Parker’s world. I’ve always been incredibly fascinated with questions of chance and fate and destiny, and having Peter come face-to-face with alternate versions of himself goes a long way in selling the premise they’re trying to present here. It’s like JMS is trying to lower us into the pool gradually so the shock of the cold water doesn’t send us jumping out. What makes it all worth it is the twist at the chapter’s close, when we realize that Mary Jane is receiving the same offer as her husband. Weird that a moment like this really exemplifies the effect that Peter’s marriage has on his stories, just as it looks like they’re bringing it all to an end. Involving Mary Jane in that decision, however unlikely and potentially far-fetched, grounds it enough to make it work. And Joe’s art is fantastic throughout, which while no great surprise certainly bears mention.

Know people feel very strongly about this whole issue, but without the intense level of speculation that’s been surround this thing for months, this is none more nearly preposterous than any other thing happening in mainstream comics. Taken on its own merits, it’s a good story with great art, interesting dialogue, and a strong hook. What else are people asking for?

I leave you folks with a bit of a Newsarama exclusive…the cover for The Many Adventures of Miranda Mercury #296. Lee Ferguson, artist and co-creator, promises that this story, “Miranda Mercury and the Doomed Glass Planet,” is going to make our first issue look silly by comparison, which is an incredible thought considering this.

Next week, we’ll peel back the layers on this thing and discuss just how the series came to be, and why you should give us a look early next year. Glad to be here and hope you’ll find the time every week to join me. Until then.

B

[quixotic]

As someone whose feet are just getting wet in mainstream comics, and who's looking to closely follow a very similar path to the one you're walking...

...I don't believe them either.

Justin Peniston

[bcondray]

Welcome to the asylum.

Glad you moved over here...now if we could get Beau Smith over here...I'd never have to leave the Rama...well excpet for LitG...


I enjoy your column....welcome once again.

[Tobey Cook]

Glad to see you're still around, Brandon. Keep up the good work, and I look forward to reading Miranda Mercury when it comes out.

[Xero]

I am a longtime reader of your column from that other place Brandon glad to see you moved it here to Newsarama. I know quite a few people who will also be glad to know you're here.

[Tobey Cook]

Originally Posted by bcondray

Welcome to the asylum.

Glad you moved over here...now if we could get Beau Smith over here...I'd never have to leave the Rama...well excpet for LitG...


I enjoy your column....welcome once again.

Beau won't leave where he's at unless someone gives him a good reason. He's been treated pretty well there (and this coming from someone who's edited his column in the past).

[EricJ]

What's happenin' Brandon. Welcome to the 'rama, man.

[johnlayman]

Doesn't "ambidextrious" mean you can do things as well with your feet as you can with your hands?

[IronWolf]

Nice Welcome

[Brother Zag]

Welcome Brandon!

As a writer (sometimes artist) on the edge and still tryin to break in, It's good to read your words, and I look forward to any insights and bones you can throw my way.

I never saw the four little words before, but they are the neophyte's armor, aren't they? When Erik Larsen told me "Panthea Obscura" wasn't commercially viable, I didn't believe him. So I self-published and I'm still plugging away on it and my other projects. But, damn, it gets hard to keep up that self-confidence, self-belief, really, as time goes on. How do you silence the niggly little voice that says, "uh... maybe they're right"?

Maybe you just have to ignore it. I am trying to... we've got issue three in the works, hoping for an early '08 release. And the writing thing doesn't stop, it's kinda like breathing. Just finished the 2nd draft of my third novel...

Anyone curious about the above can click on the links in my sig...

No giving up!

[NewRisingSun]

Any little brother fan is a friend of mine

Now I guess I'll have to check out your comics.

Look forward to reading them.

[Marius665]

Little Bother. Yes

Please tell me you like J Dilla???

[1genxer]

Originally Posted by johnlayman

Doesn't "ambidextrious" mean you can do things as well with your feet as you can with your hands?

That would be awesome, but ambidextrious means you can use your left and right hand equally.

[NewRisingSun]

Originally Posted by Marius665

Little Bother. Yes

Please tell me you like J Dilla???

Yes. And madlib, del, the coup, quantic..all of that good stuff.

[Ambidextrous]

Originally Posted by Marius665

Little Bother. Yes

Please tell me you like J Dilla???

Is that even a question---you mean J. Dilla of PayJay Productions---greatest rap producer there ever was!!??

No question...LOOOOOOOVE Dilla. Sure one of his many classic albums will get stuck on rotation in the IPOD I'm gettin' for Christmas and he'll make an appearance here very soon.

To everyone else offering kind words---thank you. It's much appreciated and there's a LOT of people that have contributed to the column in one form or another. Six years and running, baby---support the movement!!

Back with more later...

B

[NoPrize]

As someone once said to me, when I joined Rama. Welcome to hell!!!

[Cray_ws]

I used to read Ambidextrous column way back in the day. I had sorta forgotten about it once I read that you were writing some books. I figured once you break-in you'd stop doing this column eventually.

Anyway its good to see you haven't forgotten your roots, Its been awhile for me but I look forward to reading your column again Brandon.

[Jeremy Williams]

Duuuuuuude! I used to read the column a few years ago back on the Silver Bullet Site.

Welcome Brandon! This should be interesting. Look out for the feedback, everybody has knives and bullets over here.

And congrat to Newsarama for coming up with this.

[toddmichaelr]

Good attitude.

-mE.

[Skyhawk]

Looking forward to Miranda Mercury and future columns.

[Tom Daylight]

Glad to see I'm not the only Spider-Man fan who doesn't hate OMD. Granted, I would prefer a divorce to a mindwipe (although the idea of such a long storyline invokes bad memories of the Clone Saga), but this is otherwise a pretty powerful story that gets right to the heart of who Spider-Man really is. In fact it gets right down to the core of power and responsibility. (And only four issues (if the first two even count), compared to the Clone Saga's hundred or so.)

[JLAJRC]

Welcome aboard.

I'm also liking OMD, but I do wish they'll throw us a curveball in the final chapter, as everything that has been predicted has basically come true so far.

Of course, this is Marvel, where they're known for surprises. Look at Speedball/Penance and Cap.

[Vig]

Hey, man. I used to read your article regular like from that other website a couple of years back. I just loved your insight and attempts at breaking into the industry.

Welcome to Newsarama!

[BClayMoore]

You go, B.

-BCM

[bluefrog]

Originally Posted by 1genxer

That would be awesome, but ambidextrious means you can use your left and right hand equally.

It's "ambidextrous," not "ambidextrious." Sorry to nitpick...that's just a pet peeve, heh. Sort of like when people say "mischievious" rather than "mischievous."