WW PHILLY '08: DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT PANEL

[MichaelDoran]

Report by Sarah Jaffe

Dynamite Entertainment is fast becoming the HBO of comics world, according to both publisher Nick Barucci and Blair Witch Project writer Eduardo Sanchez during their panel discussion at WizardWorld: Philly.

What does the Blair Witch Project have to do with anything, you ask? Well, the Blair Witch team is putting out a new original comic with Dynamite and writer Robert Napton of Dynamite’s Battlestar Galactica, based on the famed pirate Blackbeard. And who doesn’t love pirates? [and if you do, look for many more details here]…

Sanchez explained the decision to go with Dynamite as a reflection of their indie-film ethos. “Dynamite is an indie company, it’s the complete opposite of a studio mentality,” he said.

That creator-friendly attitude is also what landed Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson’s The Boys at Dynamite after being dropped from DC. Barucci was asked how they ended up with the series, and he explained (modestly) that they won the rights “on the merits.”

He offered Ennis the same deal he got from DC—plus total artistic control. “In my opinion,” he said, “You’ve got The Sopranos, and we’re HBO. If you go somewhere else, eventually you’re going to get lost in the shuffle, or someone’s going to say they don’t want that scene because it makes fun of their character.”

It didn’t hurt that Barucci was a real fan of the series, either. And he sounds genuinely enthusiastic about all of the books on his imprint, from Xena and the Lone Ranger and the other licensed titles that Dynamite is still largely known for to the new batch of original works coming out.

One of those original works, of course, is Project Superpowers, with the super-team of Jim Krueger and Alex Ross. Krueger also appeared on the Dynamite panel, as did Brian Reed of Red Sonja.

Project Superpowers took over three years to develop, according to its creators, and it’s not stopping anytime soon. In September, Dynamite will release another #0 book that will launch three new series out of Project Superpowers, on the Black Terror, Masquerade, and the Death-Defying Devil. Krueger will be the writer on the Black Terror as well, and Alex Ross will be doing the covers for all of the books. Mike Lilly recently signed an exclusive contract with Dynamite, and he will be working on some of the books as well.

Additionally, late in 2008 or early 2009, the main Project Superpowers will return.

Of the length of time that it took to create Project Superpowers, Krueger noted, “It really was creating a universe, and how do you do that?”

Barucci and Krueger agreed that to some degree, Superpowers has inverted the trend of decompression in comics, packing a lot of information into each issue. Barucci said “What I originally thought it would be, was in issue #0.”

He noted that from the beginning, the question was, “What can we create that’ll be cool, that’ll be ours?” And with Superpowers and The Boys, Dynamite has started to build a library of titles that don’t have to answer to licensors, which will continue with Blackbeard.

The Blackbeard envisioned at Dynamite is going to be different than anything we’ve seen on the subject before, Gregg Hale promised.

“He was a pretty trippy guy,” Hale said. “We see him as a guy who had been oppressed his whole life—being a sailor was pretty close to being a slave, the captain had the power of life and death over you. So he’s rebelling against any kind of oppression at all,” he said, noting that Blackbeard had a crew that was largely African-American during the time of slavery, that he had captains and a right-hand man that were African-American, and that Blackbeard did attack slave ships.

They promised action, too, though, for those of you who thought this sounded too serious.

Dynamite isn’t giving up on all your favorite licensed series, though. Lone Ranger and Xena were discussed, as were the delays on each of those series, which Barucci generously chalked up to “meticulous” artists.

I had to ask, on Xena, whether much outreach had been done to the character’s legion of female fans, women like me who grew up on the character. Barucci noted that it’s hard to do out-of-market advertising with a limited budget, but that with graphic novels in Barnes & Noble and on Amazon.com, hopefully that will change.

Several questions were asked about other licensed characters, to which the joking reply was often, “I’ve got the address for their lawyers, and you can write to them…”

And as for Red Sonja? “We killed her, she’s dead, and now I have to clean that mess up,” Reed joked, though he noted that having her dead creates an excellent new starting point for readers unfamiliar with Sonja’s past.

The Dynamite guys also wanted to remind everyone that they have a podcast [http://www.dynamiteentertainment.com...epodcasts.xml] on their site every week for the latest news, and that they do indeed have art and statues, and perhaps some The Boys action figures down the line…

Newsarama Note: There will be one or two Highlander projects this year, and hte franchise will be relaunched at Dynamite in 2009.

[Comic2read]

Did Dynamite say anything or show artwork from Frank Cho's Jungle Girl: Season 2?

[Psivage]

What about Highlander?

[bangbangbang]

Originally Posted by Comic2read

Did Dynamite say anything or show artwork from Frank Cho's Jungle Girl: Season 2?

Isn't that coming out in '09 for some bizarre reason?

[MrToady12]

Highlander's on hiatus? Had no idea! I was buying it when Connor was the central character, but dropped it when Duncan McCleod took over the bulk of the stories. I was never really interested in the Highlander TV series. I did pick up Highlander: Way of the Sword, and really enjoyed it - hopefully Dynamite will continue to follow this trend, as I'd love to see a Kurgan: Origins limited series.

Project Superpowers is a must read for me - particularly now my favourite Golden Age characters Hydro "Man" and the Flame have entered the picture. Dare"devil" is great as well, but I'm a little concerned they've redone him as a Snake Eye's clone somewhat. From what I remember, he never had a problem speaking to anyone. The title has slowly picked up speed, needs less Black Terror, and more of the other characters, but enjoyable nonetheless.

Cheers

[PhilipAMoore]

I would like to have see more of the Green Lama all Dynamite would have to do is barrow some talant from Virgen .

good day

[Eagle Al]

Sorry I'm confused here.

Is Project Superpowers going on hiatus until 2009, to be replaced by a series of mini-series ?

If so, then I'm no longer interested in the book. The main series did me fine, but I've no interest if they're then using it as an excuse to already launch spin off's with the numerous characters.

[HotRob]

Any info about Painkiller Jane?

Thanks.

[MrToady12]

Originally Posted by Eagle Al

Sorry I'm confused here.

Is Project Superpowers going on hiatus until 2009, to be replaced by a series of mini-series ?

If so, then I'm no longer interested in the book. The main series did me fine, but I've no interest if they're then using it as an excuse to already launch spin off's with the numerous characters.

Project Superpowers was always intended as a series of ( I think 3?) six issue limited series, with breaks in-between each series to allow the creators time to write and draw them. This limited series format was widely publicised on Newsarama and elsewhere.

It looks like in-between this already pre-determined break, Alex Ross and Co. have decided to release three new solo limited series to tie fans over during the break (and probably because now the characters are viable and will sell individually).

I'm always confused why fans complain when they are getting more stories and more issues than was intended? If you're enjoying the series then logically it makes sense that you'd want to read more about the characters and be happier (like me).

And who cares if they are releasing the main stories in a number of self-contained, six issue limited series? At least you don't get the "fill in" issue syndrome between story arcs that DC and Marvel are well known for doing. You get the predetermined creative team everytime. If your problem is that you want the boxes in the corner to go from #0 - #21, instead of #0 - #6 x 3, then you are missing the point of why you should be reading comics - for enjoyment, not a system of numbers in boxes.

Cheers

[mindtaker]

Originally Posted by MrToady12

Project Superpowers was always intended as a series of ( I think 3?) six issue limited series, with breaks in-between each series to allow the creators time to write and draw them. This limited series format was widely publicised on Newsarama and elsewhere.

It looks like in-between this already pre-determined break, Alex Ross and Co. have decided to release three new solo limited series to tie fans over during the break (and probably because now the characters are viable and will sell individually).

I'm always confused why fans complain when they are getting more stories and more issues than was intended? If you're enjoying the series then logically it makes sense that you'd want to read more about the characters and be happier (like me).

And who cares if they are releasing the main stories in a number of self-contained, six issue limited series? At least you don't get the "fill in" issue syndrome between story arcs that DC and Marvel are well known for doing. You get the predetermined creative team everytime. If your problem is that you want the boxes in the corner to go from #0 - #21, instead of #0 - #6 x 3, then you are missing the point of why you should be reading comics - for enjoyment, not a system of numbers in boxes.

Cheers

All very valid points, personally I only reaad trades these days so the multi-mini series format(it works for the Hellboy/BPRD books) doesn't bother me.

Dynamite looks like it will be having a good couple of years out of this title. The only Dynamite stuff i have read so far is the first Lone Ranger trade but I intead to pick up Man with No Name, Zorro, The Boys, more Lone Ranger and Project Superpower Books when they to get traded.

[E-MAC]

Cool stuff I hope they get someone big to write The Devil series he's become my favorite character in Superpowers.

[Timothycat]

Any word on when they will be publishing more of Starlin's Dreadstar?

Best,
timK