NYCC '08: THE DABEL BROTHERS PANEL

[MattBrady]

report by Michael Avila

The Dabel Brothers panel at the New York Comic Con started a few minutes late since the Shannara held in the same room just before it discussion went long.

Rich Young, business manager for the Dabel Brothers, started off by announcing the company is no longer Dabel Brothers Productions, but Dabel Brothers Publishing.

“In the past, we…would actually produce the content and publish to another company. Whereas now, we’re handling everything. All the printing, marketing, sales and all that,” Young said.

The past few months, the company has been busy prepping its partnership with Del Rey, Young explained. Basically, Dabel works with the writers and artists developing the graphic novel content and acquiring new licenses while Del Rey handles the marketing. They also mentioned the Dabel/Del Rey sampler for Free Comic Book Day.

Neal Schwartz, Dabel’s head of marketing, talked about new titles that stick to the company’s core business of adapting fantasy books into comic book form. They include new original stories based on best-selling author Patricia Briggs’ character Mercy Thompson. The first issue of the limited series ships in September.

Next, they showed a few pages of artwork from the adaptation of Dean Koontz’ Frankenstein: Prodigal Son. The story surrounds a serial killer called The Surgeon who’s terrorizing New Orleans. Chuck Dixon and Brett Booth are handling storytelling duties. The 1st issue in the 3-issue limited series hits stores in May ($2.99).

George R.R. Martin’s Wild Cards: The Hard Call is being written by Daniel Abraham with art by Eric Battle (who’s also doing the cover art). Set in the world of the popular series of alternate reality fantasy, this story revolves around Croyd Crenson and his search for justice after he’s been framed for a murder in the notorious New York City slum, Jokertown. The first issue of the six-issue limited series is already on sale.

You could tell who the three dozen audience members in attendance were there for by the loud cheers that greeted the transition to The Dresden Files: Welcome To the Jungle and the introduction of Dresden author Jim Butcher.

Welcome to the Jungle is an all-new adventure written by Butcher that finds wizard-for-hire Harry Dresden being hunted by a supernatural killer in the Lincoln Park Zoo.

The 1st issue of the 4-issue series is out now. Issue #2 is due in May ($3.99). Chris McGrath’s cover art was shown, and it was stated that the hardcover collection of the miniseries will ship in October.

Butcher started off by discussing why this mini is a prequel to the book series. He says he always drops references to other cases in the other Dresden books and that he always intends to go back to do short stories based on them. He says this story was actually inspired by a line in the pilot to the Dresden Files TV series referencing a past case at the zoo.

“Oh, that mess in the zoo, that sounds so vague … it leaves so much room.” So when he was asked to write an out-of-continuity story to introduce Dresden to comic book readers, Butcher said “I called it ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ and threw in some Upton Sinclair quotes …and thus justified my college education. To myself anyway.”

Butcher said it was a struggle doing comics since he’s never had to worry about panel descriptions and limiting words before. “It was really difficult at first because I was a newbie working in…a new style basically.”

Another fan asked what comics he loved as a kid. “Between 1983 and 1986, I bought every title Marvel published except for the overt marketing ones, like GI Joe and Transformers…and none of that New Universe crap!” Butcher said.

Butcher says he pretty much stopped reading comics after getting his drivers license.

He calls Spider-Man a huge influence on his work and said Harry Dresden is really Peter Parker with magic. “Poor Peter Parker. He’s the guy who can never catch a break.”

Butcher says the adaptation of his Storm Front is next on Dresden’s comic book agenda, but he’s not doing it. He did say that the Dabel Brothers may sucker him into doing a four-issue mini series set just after that storyline.

As for a Dresden Files movie, Butcher says he will be getting the film rights back from Lionsgate very soon, in four years from last Wednesday. “Not that I’m keeping track,” he joked.

[NoPrize]

Good Stuff. The Dabel brothers have done it once again.

[edgejedi]

I think it's funny that even their panel starts late.

im surprised that the panel didnt end early and in the middle of a sentence.

[Jed Saxon]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

its partnership with Del Rey

Should we take bets if this lasts more or less than a year?
I'm quite curious to which publisher they will jump next...

[Cray_ws]

Originally Posted by Jed Saxon

Should we take bets if this lasts more or less than a year?
I'm quite curious to which publisher they will jump next...

You realize of course at the end the road they will likely go back to Image.

[STL]

Guys, please get the runs on the board. I've placed a lot of faith in you guys but nothing I've followed other than the Hedge Knight has been completed. New Spring was my other favourite offering but that bit the bullet a long time ago. I'm keen to support you guys but i, and I'm sure other readers, need you to back it up.

I keep reading all these press releases but I wonder how much I'll get before it disappears or tanks. Let's hope you guys have sorted all the issues out.

[Arkadian]

Originally Posted by STL

Guys, please get the runs on the board. I've placed a lot of faith in you guys but nothing I've followed other than the Hedge Knight has been completed. New Spring was my other favourite offering but that bit the bullet a long time ago. I'm keen to support you guys but i, and I'm sure other readers, need you to back it up.

I keep reading all these press releases but I wonder how much I'll get before it disappears or tanks. Let's hope you guys have sorted all the issues out.

Agreed. Loved the work on Hedge Knight, but not seeing that much else being done in all honesty. Here's for hoping stuff actually gets done very soon, or Dabel Brothers is finito.

[Derek Ruiz]

Next, they showed a few pages of artwork from the adaptation of Dean Koontz’ Frankenstein: Prodigal Son. The story surrounds a serial killer called The Surgeon who’s terrorizing New Orleans. Chuck Dixon and Brett Booth are handling storytelling duties. The 1st issue in the 3-issue limited series hits stores in May ($2.99).

Frankenstein is 5 issues for the first arc not 3.

[connorfan]

Butcher's first issue was fantastic, it was a great read that matched up with the tone of the novels while still feeling like a comic book. I'm really wary after welcome to the jungle is over and they put someone else on the book to do stormfront. If they could find a way to keep Butcher on the comic, they really should.

[spidertour02]

Originally Posted by edgejedi

I think it's funny that even their panel starts late.

im surprised that the panel didnt end early and in the middle of a sentence.

I needed a belly laugh today. Thanks!

[Derek Ruiz]

Originally Posted by connorfan

Butcher's first issue was fantastic, it was a great read that matched up with the tone of the novels while still feeling like a comic book. I'm really wary after welcome to the jungle is over and they put someone else on the book to do stormfront. If they could find a way to keep Butcher on the comic, they really should.

Why would you be wary? Just curious because I'd like to put you at ease.

It would be someone taking Jim's work and making it into a 12-18 issue maxi series.

For one we use thematic consultants on everything and secondly Jim would still have to approve everything before it hits the market.

[Mellow Doubt]

What, no word on the Fall Out Boy comic? Looks like Matt Groening's lawyers put a stop to that.

[AbacusComics]

Good luck, guys! Looks like some exciting work ahead for y'all.

[connorfan]

Originally Posted by Derek Ruiz

Why would you be wary? Just curious because I'd like to put you at ease.

It would be someone taking Jim's work and making it into a 12-18 issue maxi series.

For one we use thematic consultants on everything and secondly Jim would still have to approve everything before it hits the market.

Because I loved Magican's Apprentice as a novel and didnt like the comic, I have a ton of Dr. Who books and watch the show but the comic is a confusing mess, and every time Whedon goes off of Buffy Season 8 it's curveball time.

Approval and that same magical flare are two different animals imo. Jim having approval is a very good thing but I assume Feist had similar constraints and I know Whedon has his hand in the pie for all of season eight.

I've read stormfront about 8 times now. I can see it becoming a comic book but I'm not sure that a different author is going to play with the script in the right way to make it really work as a comic. I know it wont be a word for word match up just like any translation to a different art form, however really imo where an adaptation shines or flops is in taking the heart of the story and finding a way to build each issue into an enjoyable expereince which follows suit.

Anyone reading the dresden files knows that there is a bit of a formula built into all the stories, a quirky start off, a time gap, and two threats coming at Harry. But comics are a different animal, in terms of the placement of action cliffhangers and talking heads. I am wary because matching these things up is not easy, sure a writer could stay faithful to the novel, but the pacing for a comic would be way off. Or they can adapt which can be really jarring if it's not done just right. Skewed the wrong way and story either contradicts novels, or worse it contradicts the spirit of the novels.

I'm not saying I won't give it a shot but I believe that Stormfront will be a highwire act and I simply think there is more of a saftey net in Jim Butcher keeping the spirit alive than someone else taking it on.

[Jed Saxon]

I'm currently reading the first Dresden novel and bought the comic because it is an original tale. Can someone tell me if I can read it after the first novel or would I get spoiled on the further novels?

[Gently]

Though I'm not running over with joy concerning all things done by Dabel, it turns out Dabel isn't to blame for the demise of New Spring. If you read the blogs over at dragonmount.com, you'd find out it was Red Eagle which had a huge falling out with Robert Jordan.

Jordan was so angry with the actions of Red Eagle, he forbade them to publish any issue after number 5. Recently, Red Eagle lost all rights to any Wheel of Time material, including the movierights. As these rights do not land in limbo as some comiccharacters, they have automatically returned to the heirs of Robert Jordan.

What is in limbo, is the remainder of this series. Harvey Tolibao has confirmed he has pencilled issue 7, which was half a year ago so it could be assumed issue 8 has been done too.

As the heirs of Jordan are very busy with taking care of the last WoT book, it could take awhile before they get around to the comic. On the Dabel forum it's been mentioned they'd love to finish it, but it's just wait and see what the Jordan estate will do and to whom they'll give the rights.

[The Guvnor]

I was hoping for some news regarding XIII. The first trade was superb but it's sad to see it sitting alone on my bookshelf.

[STL]

Originally Posted by The Guvnor

I was hoping for some news regarding XIII. The first trade was superb but it's sad to see it sitting alone on my bookshelf.

I agree. I got around to that a few months ago after buying early last year. It's quite an amazing read and I hate it being in limbo. Is it with Marvel now?

[Derek Ruiz]

Originally Posted by STL

I agree. I got around to that a few months ago after buying early last year. It's quite an amazing read and I hate it being in limbo. Is it with Marvel now?

Nope. News soon.

We still have Chicago and SDCC for announcements.