ALL THINGS MARVEL @ HEROES CON 06

[MattBrady]

At an All Thing Marvel panel that included Daniel Way, CB Cebulski, Chris Gage, Paul Jenkins, and J. Michael Straczynski, Editor in Chief Joe Quesada started things off in his usual fashion, by immediately opening the full ballroom to questions on…well, all things Marvel.

When asked about the changes in his abilities as shown in “The Other,” Straczynski said that the new abilities and developments shown in “The Other” have been somewhat subsumed by the events of Civil War, including the new costume, but, the writer said, the costume will go away and other, Civil War related things will go away, allowing the changes to the character to move to the fore again.

Quesada hinted that there will be new projects spinning out of the current Annihilation event, and said that a Nova project down the road is a possibility.

Winter Soldier will be returning, Quesada said when asked about the character, and suggested that he may be making an appearance in some Civil War related stories.

Way said that the upcoming Ghost Rider series will resolve the situation with Dan Ketch as well as other lose threads surrounding the character and mythology, but the series will mostly be about Johnny Blaze as Ghost Rider. Way noted that the feeling between Mark Texeira and Javier Saltares is that they’ve waited and waited, and are now ready to make their triumphant return to the character. “I looked at the first issue, and each page was like a poster,” Way said. “And then, I’m looking at pages from issue #3 now, and they’re even better.”

In that vein, the upcoming Spirits of Vengeance series of miniseries by Garth Ennis and Clayton Crain will focus on various incarnations of the Ghost Rider through time.

And finally on the Ghost Rider front, Paul Jenkins said that he is currently working on a Mythos: Ghost Rider book with Paolo Rivera, the latest in his series of re-telling and updating the origin stories of the Marvel characters.

Asked about what Marvel movies he’s looking forward to, Quesada said that while he can’t wait for Spider-Man 3, he’s very excited about Jon Favreau’s take on Iron Man, noting how enthusiastic the director is for the film, and how he’s looking to work with fans on it. Straczynski noted that it had just been announced that David Goyer is writing a treatment for the Thor movie.

Quesada said that it’s too early to name particulars, but there are many changes coming for the Avengers. “I can guarantee that you’ll love it…or hate it,” Quesada said.

Joking about when Hawkeye will make his return, Quesada said that he is now the Kenny of the Marvel Universe, and plans call for a return every twelve months followed by a quick death in a gruesome fashion.

Asked by the same fan who asked the question in the day’s DC panel, Quesada said that as a creator, downloading comics is something that ticks him off. He said that while he can see how someday, comics will make the jump to a digital format; he can’t understand the mentality of those who download comics thinking that no one is being harmed. “This is how we earn our living,” Quesada said, speaking as a creator. “Fans are constantly crying about creator’s rights, and making sure that publisher’s treating creators well, and that we, as an industry make sure to treat older creators well, but at the same time, we have fan who download comics. Want to respect creators’ rights? Do the right thing, and don’t download comics.”

Moving back to story elements, when asked about Reed Richards’ motivation for joining the pro-registration side in Civil War, Straczynski said that in an upcoming issue, he has Peter Parker ask Reed that very question. As Straczynski related, Reed tells Peter about his uncle, who was a writer and creator, and was caught up in a McCarthy-esque witch hunt, and as a result, was jailed and saw his career destroyed. When Peter expresses his feelings of how horrible that must have been for Reed’s uncle, Mr. Fantastic says it was, but the law is the law is the law, and his uncle was wrong for not cooperating with the government – a stance by Reed which Peter finds unsettling.

General elements of Civil War as well as the unmasking of Spider-Man took up much of the panel time as well, with Quesada pointing out that the registering of names with the government is only a miniscule part of the actual registration – heroes must undergo training and cataloguing so the government knows who they are, as well as their abilities, and talents – as well as a prohibition against underage superheroes.

A common theme that kept coming up was that, given the real-world similarities to elements of Civil War, many portions of stories wrote themselves as the real world would occasionally mirror events playing out in the comics. For example, Jenkins noted the theft last month of a laptop with the names and social security numbers of millions of current and former servicemen and women in the military. “I didn’t even have to make that up,” the writer said. “I just put that right into Front Line.”

Asked if Spider-Man’s webbing was organic (as a fan noted the scene in Amazing Spider-Man #533 when an un-costumed Peter Parker webbed a gunman’s hand) both Quesada and Straczynski said that it’s been organic for a while now with the character.

Asked if there will be international reactions to the Registration Act, Jenkins said that he has a scene in an upcoming Front Line where a team of foreign superheroes land in the middle of New York City in support of their costumed brethren, and challenge the authorities to arrest them.

Straczynski noted that at least one hero will quit the country, and take up residence in Paris.

In regards to Bryan Hitch’s next work after Ultimates 2, Quesada said that it will hopefully be announced this summer, though declined to say if it would be in the Ultimate Universe or the regular Marvel Universe.

There are no plans to change the title of Black Panther to reflect his upcoming marriage to Storm. Additionally, there are no current plans for any more 2099 material. “Although,” Cebulski said, “If Robert Kirkman had his way, there would be loads of it.”

Asked if there would ever be another Marvel vs. DC crossover, Quesada said that there are no inter-company crossovers planned, adding that, it’s his understanding that DC executives have said that there won’t be any until Marvel fires him, to which Straczynski quipped, “So – next month, then?”

Jenkins said that he has many, many more Sentry stories to tell, and as far as he’s concerned, the sky is the limit with the character. It’s up to Quesada and Publisher Dan Buckley as far as how much they want him to do, Jenkins said, but he has stories that would put the Sentry squarely at the center of the Marvel Universe.

Asked if it was a coincidence that the main scientists of the Marvel Universe were on the pro-registration side, Quesada said that nothing shown in Civil War is coincidental, and the fact that virtually all of Marvel’s scientists have taken one side of the debate is leading towards something.

Beyond! is tied in to Secret War events and continuity – the original Secret War, that is.

There wil be more Power Pack miniseries coming out under the Marvel Adventures line, and a Power Pack/Spider-Man miniseries was noted as being forthcoming. More Franklin Richards projects are planned as well, as both do well for Marvel in the mainstream. Quesada noted again, that Marvel Adventures Spider-Man is Marvel’s best selling comic in terms of subscriptions.

Running down the panel when asked what they feel is Marvel’s best book that not enough people are reading:

Cebulski: Runaways
Way: Daredevil
Quesada: Nextwave
JMS: Nextwave
Jenkins: Runaways
Gage: Runaways

Likewise, asked what project they would like to do if they had access to any and all properties…

Cebulski: in comics, Cloak and Dagger, other media, Star Wars
Quesada: Batman, with Brian Bendis writing
JMS: Forbidden Planet: The Series
Jenkins: Elektra with Jenna Jameson
Gage: Marvel branded Godzilla vs. Shogun Warriors with Devil Dinosaur, drawn by Art Adams.

Look to the pages of Wolverine for Namor’s reaction to Namorita’s death in Civil War #1.

Asked by a Canadian fan if Alpha Flight will return, Quesada’s answer was “Yes and no. You’re going to love it…you’re going to hate it.”

As for the whereabouts of Daredevil Father #6 Quesada said that he finished it two months ago, but in the interim, inker Danny Mikki and colorist Richard Isanove had and continue to have other projects that they have rot work on to get out monthly, and as such, progress on the final issue of the miniseries has been relegated to when they can find time among their other projects.

When asked about post Civil War comics, Quesada said that at the recent editorial summit, many titles and pitches were considered, and many were turned down as a point of volume overload was reached, but, he said, Dan Slott pitched a concept that was so cool everyone felt that Marvel had to go forward with it, so Slott’s unnamed project will be one of the post-Civil War series hitting in the months following the conclusion.

There are no follow-up plans for Magneto after his recent appearance in New Avengers, although, Quesada said, if he was going to show up, the X-books would be the safest place to look for him.

Asked if it would be possible to see villains seize upon the uncertainty and instability of Civil War to redefine themselves, and offer their services to hunt down anti-registration heroes, Quesada said, “Absolutely” and noted that Damage Control will be seen shortly in a new role, related to the events of Civil War.

Speaking briefly on Planet Hulk, Quesada said that Greg Pak will be on the series for quite some time, even after the conclusion of the space-faring storyline. Planet Hulk ios the tip, Quesada said, of 2-3 years worth of Hulk stories to come from Pak.

Quesada said that he is currently drawing the first issue of the miniseries he’s doing with Straczynski.

As for the uncensored, MAX version of Frank Cho’s Shanna, the She Devil, Quesada said that he’s fairly certain it’s being done, but is unsure of when it will be released.

Finally, in speaking about the Ultimate Universe, Quesada said that there are no current plans to add a new ongoing series, but, as Straczynski noted, there will be plenty of changes coming, as the upcoming Ultimate Power miniseries which will crossover the Ultimate Universe with the Squadron Supreme universe, just may see one character from each side end up on the “other side of the wall.”

[LucasSiegel]

I love what Marvel's doing right now. How awesome would a Bendis/Quesada Batman story be, though? Sigh...it's just not meant to be.

[Abstrakt]

whats dc's problem with quesada anyways?

[havokX24]

goyer on thor has a lot of promise

[BlueThunderArmy]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

Moving back to story elements, when asked about Reed Richards’ motivation for joining the pro-registration side in Civil War, Straczynski said that in an upcoming issue, he has Peter Parker ask Reed that very question. As Straczynski related, Reed tells Peter about his uncle, who was a writer and creator, and was caught up in a McCarthy-esque witch hunt, and as a result, was jailed and saw his career destroyed. When Peter expresses his feelings of how horrible that must have been for Reed’s uncle, Mr. Fantastic says it was, but the law is the law is the law, and his uncle was wrong for not cooperating with the government – a stance by Reed which Peter finds unsettling.

Reed Richards, world-class ay-hole.

Seriously, I've met a few people who hold this "rules are rules, the law is the law" mentality, and they're not people you'd like to party with. And they are generally about the farthest thing from a super-genius you could ever hope to meet.

EDIT: You know, except for Socrates. On both counts.

[nietoperz]

Bendis on Batman: my personal nightmare!

[Blind Assassin]

I really love Supreme Power/Squadrom Supreme and part of what I enjoyed was that it wasn't crossing over into any other Marvel book. It was its own thing.

I don't read much of the Ultimate Universe books any more, but I guess I will be fair and give JMS and Co a chance to wow and surprise me.

keeping an open mind, but not happy about it.....

[motteditor]

Joking about when Hawkeye will make his return, Quesada said that he is now the Kenny of the Marvel Universe, and plans call for a return every twelve months followed by a quick death in a gruesome fashion.

And people wonder why I say they ruined Hawkeye...

Reed tells Peter about his uncle, who was a writer and creator, and was caught up in a McCarthy-esque witch hunt, and as a result, was jailed and saw his career destroyed. When Peter expresses his feelings of how horrible that must have been for Reed’s uncle, Mr. Fantastic says it was, but the law is the law is the law, and his uncle was wrong for not cooperating with the government – a stance by Reed which Peter finds unsettling.

That's because it's an idiotic stance. What if the law was that all Jews get sent to death camps. Reed would just go along with it?

A common theme that kept coming up was that, given the real-world similarities to elements of Civil War, many portions of stories wrote themselves as the real world would occasionally mirror events playing out in the comics. For example, Jenkins noted the theft last month of a laptop with the names and social security numbers of millions of current and former servicemen and women in the military. “I didn’t even have to make that up,” the writer said. “I just put that right into Front Line.”

Why bother? The government waited all of a day before it leaked its first secret ID -- Robbie Baldwin.

Look to the pages of Wolverine for Namor’s reaction to Namorita’s death in Civil War #1.

Asked by a Canadian fan if Alpha Flight will return, Quesada’s answer was “Yes and no. You’re going to love it…you’re going to hate it.”

*sigh* Guess I won't get to see Namor's reaction. Shouldn't something that important be in the main mini?

As for Alpha Flight, why not try to do something everyone will just love. I'm totally envisioning something called Alpha Flight that's neither set in Canada nor featuring a single character in any previous version of AF. If so, I'll pass.

he said, Dan Slott pitched a concept that was so cool everyone felt that Marvel had to go forward with it, so Slott’s unnamed project will be one of the post-Civil War series hitting in the months following the conclusion.

In Slott I trust. If it's the return of the real Avengers, I may swoon.

Asked if it would be possible to see villains seize upon the uncertainty and instability of Civil War to redefine themselves, and offer their services to hunt down anti-registration heroes, Quesada said, “Absolutely” and noted that Damage Control will be seen shortly in a new role, related to the events of Civil War.

Would have been a great place to pitch TBolts, since that seems to be part of that story.

I'd love Bendis on Batman. Get him off my Marvel books.

[tesh_karde]

Originally Posted by nietoperz

Bendis on Batman: my personal nightmare!

didn't Bendis say his batman would suck?

I'm digging the interview. I'm excited about Goyer on Thor.

[Thor2006]

Originally Posted by nietoperz

Bendis on Batman: my personal nightmare!

You never read his work on Daredevil,he does streetlevel charactors very well.

[EyesBL7]

As for the whereabouts of Daredevil Father #6 Quesada said that he finished it two months ago, but in the interim, inker Danny Mikki and colorist Richard Isanove had and continue to have other projects that they have rot work on to get out monthly, and as such, progress on the final issue of the miniseries has been relegated to when they can find time among their other projects.

[deldredz]

Originally Posted by nietoperz

Bendis on Batman: my personal nightmare!

You obviously haven't read any Bendis Daredevil. Or Powers. He kills with noir.

[Thor2006]

The best parts about this I took were that Spiderman will be getting back to dealing with his changes after "the other" event took place,see his new abilities and curses as it might seem.

Also that David Goyer writing a Thor movie is excellent news.

Good to see Greg Pak staying a long time on Hulk since he is really writing a great book.

The Ghost Rider push is looking great after he was brought back by Ennis and Crain.

Jenkins idea's for The Sentry seem really cool sounding, I think he will be getting pushed even more so during this Civil War that is ocurring.

[Goat warrior]

Originally Posted by ArmyMonkey

I love what Marvel's doing right now. How awesome would a Bendis/Quesada Batman story be, though? Sigh...it's just not meant to be.

That would be awesome !!! That means they wouldn't be at Marvel anymore, my dream

[blankpoint]

Originally Posted by Abstrakt

whats dc's problem with quesada anyways?

He said that they couldn''t get it up.

[Reliant]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

When asked about the changes in his abilities as shown in “The Other,” Straczynski said that the new abilities and developments shown in “The Other” have been somewhat subsumed by the events of Civil War, including the new costume, but, the writer said, the costume will go away and other, Civil War related things will go away, allowing the changes to the character to move to the fore again.

Yeah, it seemed to me that there was a bit of bad timing (or at least pacing), that "Civil War" came too quickly on the heels of "The Other". I'm almost inclined to think that that the two are somehow connected...

Way said that the upcoming Ghost Rider series will resolve the situation with Dan Ketch as well as other lose threads surrounding the character and mythology, but the series will mostly be about Johnny Blaze as Ghost Rider. Way noted that the feeling between Mark Texeira and Javier Saltares is that they’ve waited and waited, and are now ready to make their triumphant return to the character. “I looked at the first issue, and each page was like a poster,” Way said. “And then, I’m looking at pages from issue #3 now, and they’re even better.”

In that vein, the upcoming Spirits of Vengeance series of miniseries by Garth Ennis and Clayton Crain will focus on various incarnations of the Ghost Rider through time.

And finally on the Ghost Rider front, Paul Jenkins said that he is currently working on a Mythos: Ghost Rider book with Paolo Rivera, the latest in his series of re-telling and updating the origin stories of the Marvel characters.

Ghost Rider rules.

'Nuff said.

As for the uncensored, MAX version of Frank Cho’s Shanna, the She Devil, Quesada said that he’s fairly certain it’s being done, but is unsure of when it will be released.

I actually thought the uncensored version wasn't going to happen...

[Delta Ass]

Originally Posted by deldredz

You obviously haven't read any Bendis Daredevil. Or Powers. He kills with noir.

I read Powers. I love Powers.

I love Batman.

But I would not love Batman with Powers-speak.

[tiso_spencer]

Daredevil: Father #6 has been done for months now and he gives us some nonsense about artist obligations? On Wizarduniverse, not sure if they mentioned it here, he said it would most likely be solict in December and Hitch's next work he said was Ultimates 5.

“Fans are constantly crying about creator’s rights, and making sure that publisher’s treating creators well, and that we, as an industry make sure to treat older creators well, but at the same time, we have fan who download comics. Want to respect creators’ rights? Do the right thing, and don’t download comics.”

Sure, right after comics drop in prices by 25-50% in prices. Better yet, instead of complaining about it actually do the digital distribution in the next year. Until then, just like the movie industry or the music industry that complains about bootlegs and what not, do not make your prices so high and stop complaining and actually give us a reason not to download away.

[jedifish]

Originally Posted by nietoperz

Bendis on Batman: my personal nightmare!

Agreed. Please no.

[jedifish]

Originally Posted by deldredz

You obviously haven't read any Bendis Daredevil. Or Powers. He kills with noir.

Yeah, well, I want a superhero book with super-villains, not a "noir" book for Batman. If that's what he want to do, he can write Gotham Central.

[jedifish]

Originally Posted by Blind Assassin

I really love Supreme Power/Squadrom Supreme and part of what I enjoyed was that it wasn't crossing over into any other Marvel book. It was its own thing.

I don't read much of the Ultimate Universe books any more, but I guess I will be fair and give JMS and Co a chance to wow and surprise me.

keeping an open mind, but not happy about it.....

Well, I dropped everything by JMS after the crap he did with Gwen, so I'm not happy he gets to force his Supreme Power crap on the Ultimate Universe.

[Bobo Da Hobo]

You know, I'm a huge Marvel Zombie, and crazy for the Civil War stuff - but there's no way I'm reading Worst Creative Team Ever on Wolverine, just to read Namor's reaction to Namorita's offing

[IronWolf]

Bendis and Quesada On Batman! that would be great Bendis is one of the best Noir Writers out there! joey Q is A great artist awsome. to bad it will never ever ever ever ever ever EVER happend.

[Jed Saxon]

Originally Posted by jedifish

Well, I dropped everything by JMS after the crap he did with Gwen, so I'm not happy he gets to force his Supreme Power crap on the Ultimate Universe.

Hey, "Supreme Power" was awesome, but Squadron Neutered is just boring bulls***, a lame rip-off of Rising Stars and when Gary Frank quits the book soon I'll drop it.
I love "Babylon 5" but most of JMS' Marvel comic stuff is not what I like (ASM has its ups and downs, FF is mindnumbling boring, Book of Lost Souls was horrible etc.).
So sometimes it's easy to drop his books.

I'm looking forward to that Slott series as well a Namor showing up in the series (Wolverine) featuring one of the best artists of the industry - Humberto Ramos. =)

[EyesBL7]

As Straczynski related, Reed tells Peter about his uncle, who was a writer and creator, and was caught up in a McCarthy-esque witch hunt, and as a result, was jailed and saw his career destroyed. When Peter expresses his feelings of how horrible that must have been for Reed’s uncle, Mr. Fantastic says it was, but the law is the law is the law, and his uncle was wrong for not cooperating with the government – a stance by Reed which Peter finds unsettling.

If you also think that that is one of the most god damn ridiculous things you have ever read, please join us in a discussion here: http://www.newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75681