A COLBERT/QUESADA WRAPUP

[MattBrady]

There was no mention of the role of bears in Civil War, but in the end, Marvel Editor in Chief Joe Quesada seemed to have found a fan in The Colbert Report’s Stephen Colbert during Thursday night’s episode on which Quesada was a guest.

“Considering what I do for a living,” Quesada began, “it is an honor sir, to be here with a real, true, flesh and blood American superhero.”

Colbert, apparently moved beyond words, just shook Quesada’s hand, finally saying, “I admire what you do – I’m a big fan of comics…”

“Glad to hear it,” Quesada said.

“But I’m torn – because I hate books.”

Quesada then offered the term “graphic literature” to Colbert, which he liked, given that the term makes it sound like there are no words.

Moving to Colbert’s questions, Quesada was stymied when asked by the host, “You’re not encouraging kids to read, right?” which kicked off the lightning round from the host (accompanied by Batman-style sound effects.

Colbert: “Comic books are destroying America.”

Quesada: “No.”

Colbert: “You’re rotting our children’s brains.”

Quesada: “No.”

Colbert: “Superheroes look sexy in tights.”

Quesada: “Yes.”

After the exchange, Colbert questioned Quesada about the Marvel Universe, giving the Editor in Chief the chance to explain that Marvel Comics happen in the “real” world, that is, in one where George Bush is President.

“How’s he doing?” Colbert asked.

“About the same that he’s doing in real life,” Quesada responded.

“Fantastic!” Colbert replied. “That’s great! So no more super-villains?”

“No, there are still super villains out there.”

Colbert: “But they’re running scared, I bet.”

The host then asked Quesada about Civil War (with both agreeing that the destruction of Stamford was no big loss), giving him the opportunity to give the rundown of the storyline in a nutshell, and explain that the leaders of the two sides were Captain America and Iron Man.

Colbert was incredulous that Captain America was against the Registration Act (“But he’s Captain America – how could he be wrong? You’re talking about Steve Rogers here! He’s red, white, and blue. He’s like a flag himself, with rock hard abs!”) but later understood why Iron Man was on the “right” side – “He’s an industrialist – he let’s the Free Market take care of our liberties.”

Further explaining the story, Quesada said, “At its core, it’s about one very simple idea, which is: what’s more important t you, your civil liberties or your personal freedom? I think that’s something that everyone in America is thinking about, especially in this post 9/11 world.”

“I’m not thinking about it,” Colbert deadpanned. “It sounds mentally painful.”

The segment ended with Colbert asking Quesada what it felt like to be a god, given his control over the Marvel Universe, to which Quesada replied that he was no god and only a minor deity compared to Colbert. “My job doesn’t suck,” Quesada admitted. “And it’s not just about superheroes – we tell stories about all sorts of things, we tell romance stories, we tell horror stories, pulp fiction, crime…you name it, we’re doing it in comics.”

“I look forward to the rest of the series,” Colbert said, wrapping the segment, “I loved the beginning of it.”

As the show went to commercial, a Quesada drawn comic book cover (depicting Colbert as a bear-slaying Incredible Colbert) was shown. Check back later today for New Joe Fridays as Quesada will show off the cover, and talk about his appearance on the show.

The homepage for The Colbert Report on ComedyCentral.com can be found here

[TheLizard207]

go get em' Joe

[Tandaemonium]

Crap! I forgot to TiVo it. Would some nice person let those of us who missed it know when the interview hits You Tube or Comedy Central's site, please? Thanks.

[Thorngren]

twas a fun interview

[buster04]

Sounds like Colbert got serviced. Get Grant Morrison on there for f@ck's sake! Or at least Mark Millar.

[Spider-Man]

Colbert says Queso is like a god, since he controls the Marvel U.

Very appropriate. Though he'd have been more appropriate with "mad god."

Spidey

[bsmith]

I'm not the hugest Q fan, but he does have a good rapport with media. Hopefully it will do all comics good that he was on the Colbert show (what a great program).

However Joey Q's statement that they do "a lot of stuff besides superheroes - horror, crime, etc..." - I sure hope they're moving that way, but one look at their lineup and you might find one crime book (Brubaker's Criminal) and no ongoing real horror series the way DC/Vertigo or some of the indie publishers have. So he's not really telling the truth there... the diversity in DC and other comic companies is a real strength, and the more companies that actually walk the walk instead of talk the talk the better.


bsmith.

[MattBrady]

Originally Posted by bsmith

I sure hope they're moving that way, but one look at their lineup and you might find one crime book (Brubaker's Criminal) and no ongoing real horror series the way DC/Vertigo or some of the indie publishers have. So he's not really telling the truth there...

well, Haunt of Horror and the recent Dracula reprint/completion stuff aside apparently (as well as the forthcoming Son of Satan, and Zombie, and using the narrowest of classifications on something like Marvel Zombies), the quote was "we tell romance stories, we tell horror stories, pulp fiction, crime…you name it, we’re doing it in comics” not at Marvel, as historically, when Quesada appears on TV, he promotes comics as a medium.

Given your admission, I can see your reasoning and desire for trying to call Quesada a liar, but I think you're stretching there.

MattB

[TheFinn1225]

Seemed like he was trying to hard.

[delawarejoel]

Usually, the previous night's Daily Show and Colbert Report are repeated the next night at 8PM and 830 PM EDT respectively - so the Quesada interview should be on tonight if that holds true.

Sounds like Joe Q held his own. Many fall before the relentless barrage.

[Northstar04]

Without putting this moment of television under a judgemental microscope, let me just say that I think Q did a great job, it's nice to see Colbert interested in comics, and hopefully this segment will help out the comics industry.

[Groovemaster]

Just the fact that comics are being mentioned more and more in more popular media is a good thing, especially when it's done like this: people from the comicworld and comic industry getting a chance to explain what it is.

Eventhough the article makes it sound as if not much has been said in comparison to what could have been said about comics as a medium (which is, I admit, a lot), this is one step in the good direction. When people like Joe Quesada can formulate their love for comics, it has a lot more and better effect for the medium than people with no understanding of comics talking about comics (the CNN coverage of the lesbian Batwoman, for example, was absolutely horrible).

(I don't know how it is in the United States of America, but here in The Netherlands comics don't get real coverage, anywhere. On the other hand, I find Bone and Sin City in bookstores nowadays, which is a step in the right direction.)

[SpyGuy]

Originally Posted by Northstar04

Without putting this moment of television under a judgemental microscope, let me just say that I think Q did a great job, it's nice to see Colbert interested in comics, and hopefully this segment will help out the comics industry.

Colbert voiced Professor Impossible on THE VENTURE BROS. and Reducto on HARVEY BIRDMAN, ATTORNEY AT LAW...How could he not dig comics?

[BlueThunderArmy]

I missed this last night and will be away from my TV for the rerun, so I'm really hoping this gets posted on YouTube or somesuch. Sounds like a good time.

[Cyphon]

I had to force myself to stay awake to watch the episode (I was REALLY tired), but it was worth it. Great job by Joe!

[turbo53]

Actually, you forgot to report Colbert's funniest line of the night.

At the show's opening, after announcing that Quesada would be on the show, he said that his other guest would be Elenor Holmes Norton, the non-voting delegate to Congress from DC.

He then said, "I hope Quesada isn't upset".

I wonder how many viewers got the Marvel/DC reference.

[tbumpkins]

Nice interview, and although it might of seemed like Joe was sucking up it goes perfectly with Colbert's show persona. Also, I don't doubt Colbert when he says he's looking forward to the rest. From watching him for years on the Daily Show he's thrown random comic stuff out there every once in a while so I actually believe he's a fan. Like in the beginning when he made the DC joke, my roommate didn't get it but I gave a chuckle. ( Sidenote- His interview with the DC rep was hilarious!)

[bsmith]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

well, Haunt of Horror and the recent Dracula reprint/completion stuff aside apparently (as well as the forthcoming Son of Satan, and Zombie, and using the narrowest of classifications on something like Marvel Zombies), the quote was "we tell romance stories, we tell horror stories, pulp fiction, crime…you name it, we’re doing it in comics” not at Marvel, as historically, when Quesada appears on TV, he promotes comics as a medium.

Given your admission, I can see your reasoning and desire for trying to call Quesada a liar, but I think you're stretching there.

MattB

fair enough - I wasn't implicating him as a flat-out liar, but stretching the truth (there is a difference IMO). Regardless, I saw "...we're doing it." (implying Marvel makes those products) not "...we're doing it in comics.", which I must have missed the first time around. So my bad.

Marvel would be a lot stronger if it actually did quality ongoing horror comics though...

bsmith

[Robot H Brian]

On so many levels, Stephen Colbert is my hero.

Now that he's shown our community the love, he's that much more awesome.

[POWRSURG]

Didn't Straczynski say that there is more to Civil War than the debate between civil liberties and personal safety in an interview with the New York Times? I know Newsarama covered this, but I can't find it here anymore ....

Regardless, I had really hoped for a slightly better sell than what Quesada presented -- he did not one mention that Marvel feels that their is no "right side" in his interview. And I am quite surprised that Quesada did not mention Spider-Man's involvement in the Civil War. Spider-Man is unquestionably more well known by the general public than Captain America or Iron Man.

[Blind Assassin]

Originally Posted by bsmith

I'm not the hugest Q fan, but he does have a good rapport with media. Hopefully it will do all comics good that he was on the Colbert show (what a great program).

However Joey Q's statement that they do "a lot of stuff besides superheroes - horror, crime, etc..." - I sure hope they're moving that way, but one look at their lineup and you might find one crime book (Brubaker's Criminal) and no ongoing real horror series the way DC/Vertigo or some of the indie publishers have. So he's not really telling the truth there... the diversity in DC and other comic companies is a real strength, and the more companies that actually walk the walk instead of talk the talk the better.


bsmith.

There is more than one crime book: Underworld just completed, Marvel's ICON line has been publishing POWERS for the past 19 issues, as well.

If you want horror, look no further than Edgar Allen Poe's Haunt of Horror. (It's not an 'on going', but you can't discount it as a horror title just because of that. They also have the upcoming ZOMBIE book, as well.

Marvel has lately also been doing its Marvel Romance books, as well as Marvel Westerns.

Kids books, as well, with the Marvel Adventures and books like Spider-Man loves Mary Jane.

Where is this lack of diversity that you were alluding to when you said that Joe 'wasn't telling the truth' about other types of books?

[K_Mang67]

I watched it. It just seemed way too short.

I liked the fact that Colbert seemed to genuinely enjoy comics, or at least Civil War, but I don't know if Joe Q.'s long-winded, and somewhat technical, explanation of the series help snag any potential new readers.

It didn't help when after Joe finished his explanation with 'I think we all think about that all the time.' Colbert responded with 'I never think about that.'

Still, it was great to see a guest allowed to come on a show and talk just comics, not movies, TV shows, or cartoons, Just Comics!

That was Cool.

[BradE]

Just bought it for $1.99 on iTunes. I'll chop out the interview and upload it to youtube tonight.

[Mark Thorson]

Originally Posted by POWRSURG

Didn't Straczynski say that there is more to Civil War than the debate between civil liberties and personal safety in an interview with the New York Times? I know Newsarama covered this, but I can't find it here anymore ....

Regardless, I had really hoped for a slightly better sell than what Quesada presented -- he did not one mention that Marvel feels that their is no "right side" in his interview. And I am quite surprised that Quesada did not mention Spider-Man's involvement in the Civil War. Spider-Man is unquestionably more well known by the general public than Captain America or Iron Man.

I'm sure Joe Q would have liked to go on at length about it, but he was at least able to get the basic premise of the story acoss. I wasn't sure if Colbert would give him any time at all the way it started out. I thought it was a good interview given the short time frame.

[jbrass42]

Originally Posted by Tandaemonium

Crap! I forgot to TiVo it. Would some nice person let those of us who missed it know when the interview hits You Tube or Comedy Central's site, please? Thanks.

It will replay tonight at 8:30 pm!