Episode 1622 Talkback - Previews and a Chat with Steve Bryant

Adam_Murdough

Previews time again! We go through the September catalog for items shipping to stores beginning in November. We also talk with Steve Bryant about 'Athena Voltaire and the Volcano Goddess'. (1:49:12)

Listen here.

nweathington

Preach, @ShaneKelly! I'm right there with you on the omnibuses. Have you seen the Y: The Last Man deluxe hardcovers? I love the paper in those, the book design—those are my ideal.

And as always @wildpigcomics, thank you very much for all the kind words. [Edit: Oh, and you mentioned how it was cheaper to print on newsprint, but these days the price difference isn’t nearly as significant as it used to be, because there is far less demand for newsprint and a lot less of it being made, which has brought the price up relative to the price of higher quality paper.]

Mark_Engblom

Re: The post-Rebirth Superman comics: I definitely share the Geeks' enthusiasm for the post-Rebirth Superman titles. I limped along with the New 52 Superman titles for two years, and finally quit in exasperation and disappointment at their rudderless and unrecognizable Superman character.

HOWEVER. I've gotta say, after the first story arc comes to an end in both the Superman and Action titles, I think it's important that Superman get some "solo adventure" time. I don't want Lois and Jon tagging along with him on every storyline....or for every storyline having to do with the family in jeopardy. I rejoice that Superman is now a "family man",...but that can't be ALL he should be. My hope is that the post Rebirth Superman titles will strike a good balance between family focus and solo focus. They should not mistake the initial enthusiasm for "Super Family Man" to mean that's all we now want from Superman.

Mark_Engblom

Regarding Kirkman's Invincible series: I've had the opportunity to read the entire series from the beginning thanks to my local library (a great alternative to buying trades), and while there has certainly been some good stuff (hence my continued readership), I've gotta say that Kirkman's propensity for wildly over-the-top violence and gore has steadily worn down my good will toward the series. Yes, some comic fans can't seem to get enough of exploding skulls, pulverized faces, and unraveling intestines...but I'm definitely not one of them. So...be warned, Geeks...when you finally get around to those Invincible trades, be ready for some extremely violent, nihilistic bloodbaths.

aquatroy

Mark_Engblom said:

Regarding Kirkman's Invincible series: I've had the opportunity to read the entire series from the beginning thanks to my local library (a great alternative to buying trades), and while there has certainly been some good stuff (hence my continued readership), I've gotta say that Kirkman's propensity for wildly over-the-top violence and gore has steadily worn down my good will toward the series. Yes, some comic fans can't seem to get enough of exploding skulls, pulverized faces, and unraveling intestines...but I'm definitely not one of them. So...be warned, Geeks...when you finally get around to those Invincible trades, be ready for some extremely violent, nihilistic bloodbaths.

That's ironic. I used to dance professionally under the name "Nihilistic Bloodbath".

sorry

bralinator

For those that want to follow along, but don't have a copy of Previews. You can grab a PDF of the magazine here for free.

random73

Good to hear the Geeks talk to my man @steve_bryant. I've got Volcano Goddess & Ghoul Scouts ordered.

random73

Full Moon Hollow sounds like a reference to Charlie Band's Full Moon Pictures. I love it!

bralinator

As for the question @wildpigcomics and the geeks asked about the movie rights for Namor The Sub-Mariner, they have been up in the air for years now, with confusion over whether he currently resides at Universal, Marvel Studios, or elsewhere. This confusion was seemingly put to an end back in June of this year when Joe Quesada asserted that Namor is back home at Marvel Studios. In a podcast interview with Kevin Smith, he still sounded uncertain in his language.

TheJoeQuesada said:

"I can’t speak for studios… As far as I know, yeah we do. It’s not at Fox, it’s not at Sony… Yeah.”

Joe Quesada is Marvel’s chief creative officer, so the rights to the characters should be in his wheelhouse, but the answer isn’t as definitive as I prefer, and Quesada has been wrong on this matter in the past.

A couple of years ago, Kevin Feige (while promoting GotG) said the following about whether Marvel had the rights to Namor back:

KevinFeige said:

"Yes, but it’s slightly more complicated than that. Let’s put it this way – there are entanglements that make it less easy. There are older contracts that still involve other parties that mean we need to work things out before we move forward on it. As opposed to an Iron Man or any of the Avengers or any of the other Marvel characters where we could just put them in."

Namor might be the one situation where highly sensitive legal documents are confusing or contradictory, with Feige still waiting for someone a bit more qualified to inform him who can make a movie featuring the character.

Perhaps this is a similar arrangement that Universal had with the Hulk. After the disappointing performance of 2003's Hulk, Universal allowed the film rights to lapse back to Marvel. However, when Marvel made The Incredible Hulk years later, Universal still distributed. Apparently, the studio had worked out a deal where the production rights to a Hulk movie had expired, but not the distribution rights. Marvel's negotiations to ensure this wouldn't happen again with Hulk or anyone else were, and may still be, something of a corporate nightmare. Which is one reason Hulk can appear as a co-star in other Marvel movies.

I wouldn't even be surprised if FOX piped up over a movie being made since Marvel once promoted Namor as "Marvel's First Mutant." Regardless, no one is in a rush to make, or watch, a Namor movie, according to conventional wisdom. So does Marvel have the rights back to make a Namor movie? Right now I think the best answer is "definitely, maybe."

CBR has more on this subject here.

SolitaireRose

And, a case could be made that Namor is part of the fantastic Four package in the same way that the Silver Surfer and Galactus are.

bralinator

SolitaireRose said:

And, a case could be made that Namor is part of the fantastic Four package in the same way that the Silver Surfer and Galactus are.

That's certainly valid. I'm sure FOX's attorney's have that case prepped and ready to go. Though with Sub-Mariner having been created by Bill Everett nearly 30 years earlier than 'Marvel's First Family', I'd wager that if Marvel decided to proceed that they'd have a strong case to do so.

Again, my impression is that the legalities are probably either confusing or contradictory when it comes to Namor. Maybe we'll see one day.

EdChambers

Always great to hear from Steve Bryant! I miss chatting with him at live events and really need to make an effort to get to more cons. Boy, I miss CGS Super Shows!

LibraryBoy

Mark_Engblom said:

Regarding Kirkman's Invincible series: I've had the opportunity to read the entire series from the beginning thanks to my local library (a great alternative to buying trades), and while there has certainly been some good stuff (hence my continued readership), I've gotta say that Kirkman's propensity for wildly over-the-top violence and gore has steadily worn down my good will toward the series. Yes, some comic fans can't seem to get enough of exploding skulls, pulverized faces, and unraveling intestines...but I'm definitely not one of them. So...be warned, Geeks...when you finally get around to those Invincible trades, be ready for some extremely violent, nihilistic bloodbaths.

Yes. Exactly this. It starts off wonderfully, but I think Kirkman often confuses ultraviolent "Holy Shit!" moments with plot development (which I suspect is at the heart of @wildpigcomics problem with Walking Dead?) and by about the 5th or 6th time I saw someone's jaw knocked clear off their skull as their entrails are ripped out of their abdomen and left to flop around on the ground (or float around in space, as the case may be), I was done.

LibraryBoy

Both post-Rebirth Superman books have been pretty good, but I was a bugged that both books featured Clark saving Lois and Jon from "Death of Superman" villains in battles that culminated on the moon... seems like Jurgens and Tomasi could have compared notes ahead of time, or maybe the editor should have noticed something? Both were good reads in their own way, but the samey-ness of it was a let down.

Mark_Engblom

LibraryBoy said:

Both post-Rebirth Superman books have been pretty good, but I was a bugged that both books featured Clark saving Lois and Jon from "Death of Superman" villains in battles that culminated on the moon... seems like Jurgens and Tomasi could have compared notes ahead of time, or maybe the editor should have noticed something? Both were good reads in their own way, but the samey-ness of it was a let down.

Agreed. And, as I said earlier in this thread, how about a break from Lois and Jon tagging along with Superman at every stop once this first story arc is done? I love the family man thing...but please don't bludgeon me with it every stinkin' month going forward.

bralinator

Mark_Engblom said:

LibraryBoy said:

Both post-Rebirth Superman books have been pretty good, but I was a bugged that both books featured Clark saving Lois and Jon from "Death of Superman" villains in battles that culminated on the moon... seems like Jurgens and Tomasi could have compared notes ahead of time, or maybe the editor should have noticed something? Both were good reads in their own way, but the samey-ness of it was a let down.

Agreed. And, as I said earlier in this thread, how about a break from Lois and Jon tagging along with Superman at every stop once this first story arc is done? I love the family man thing...but please don't bludgeon me with it every stinkin' month going forward.

I did enjoy the Lois & Clark 'Road to Rebirth' 8-issue run and I'm hoping that some of what was laid out there will become the focus going forward, but I don't necessarily want it to be about family every issue either. There should be plenty to focus on in addition to how the Watchmen universe has affected this universe.

BionicDave

I'm in the opposite camp regarding Rebirth Superman.

My favorite iteration of the character is not "Daddy Superman" anymore than it was "Depowered Superman," "Doomsday Superman," or any other D-Superman. I was okay with H-Superman (Husband Superman) because Lois wasn't chained to his hip in most of his adventures back then. But I just want my favorite character back. The *Real* Superman... living on the planet his father Jor-El sent him to, not this clunky New 52 mirror universe Earth... and not forced to indulge his Scrappy Doo son. Grrr...! :joy:

Mark_Engblom

Yeah, it's definitely a very tricky balance they are going to need to strike following this first story arc. Love that Superman is a dad, and a husband...but that can't be all that he is going forward.

BionicDave

I feel like Superman is a dad now simply because DC Comics thoroughly lost interest in their own hallmark character. He's not a dark antihero with money and gadgets, and he's not a whorish female Joker, so they just gave up and riffed "hey, let's make him relatable to the 40-somethings who might still buy Superman comics... let's turn him into a dad, just like them." Which is an awful precedent. This is why, in 20 years, we will get Broken Hip Viagra Superman instead of the youthful hero who inspired many generations.

bralinator

BionicDave said:

I feel like Superman is a dad now simply because DC Comics thoroughly lost interest in their own hallmark character. He's not a dark antihero with money and gadgets, and he's not a whorish female Joker, so they just gave up and riffed "hey, let's make him relatable to the 40-somethings who might still buy Superman comics... let's turn him into a dad, just like them." Which is an awful precedent. This is why, in 20 years, we will get Broken Hip Viagra Superman instead of the youthful hero who inspired many generations.

Now THAT'S the kind of hyperbole required to keep these conversations colorful :)

I like it. It's an interesting angle. It won't last though. I'm not caught up yet, but haven't they killed off the New 52 Lois and Clark now? Have they figured out how this Superman can overcome his secret identity being revealed to the world?

BionicDave

@bralinator tbh I've given up. The last I read was, yes, New52 Superman was killed, but New52 Lois survived (at least until Superwoman #1 - because yes, DC also lost interest in Non-Mom Lois, so they... wait for it... gave her superpowers!). As for how Bearded Dad Pre52 Superman deals with New52 Dead Superman having been outed as Clark Kent? I think TPTB wiggle around it by saying that Bearded Dad Pre52 Superman now goes by the name "Jon White," or some other pseudonym. I dunno how that wiggles around it really, but - comics.

Hey, to those of you who like this story set-up, I'm happy for you. I guess I should be glad that there are people left who like any kind of hero with an S on his chest. But this is #notmysuperman

bralinator

BionicDave said:

Hey, to those of you who like this story set-up, I'm happy for you. I guess I should be glad that there are people left who like any kind of hero with an S on his chest. But this is #notmysuperman

I know how you feel. And if I had to say which Superman is "mine" then I would really date myself by saying my favorite was Denny O'Neil with Curt Swan & Murphy Anderson, Denny O'Neill, Jim Aparo, or even the occasional Bob Haney with art by George Tuska. I'm not really attached to any versions since 'Crisis', so as long as the stories are fun or interesting, I'm game. I haven't regularly picked up Superman titles since I was a teen - except for briefly during the 'Death of' event, but I was still never quite a a Jurgens fan, therefore the Rebirth event has been a nice dose of uninhibited, harmless fun for a lapsed reader like me.

alienal

As usual, this Previews episode was quite helpful for me in filling out my order for this month! Good job! Liked the Steve Bryant interview also...

ShaneKelly

nweathington said:

Preach, @ShaneKelly! I'm right there with you on the omnibuses. Have you seen the Y: The Last Man deluxe hardcovers? I love the paper in those, the book design—those are my ideal.

And as always @wildpigcomics, thank you very much for all the kind words. [Edit: Oh, and you mentioned how it was cheaper to print on newsprint, but these days the price difference isn’t nearly as significant as it used to be, because there is far less demand for newsprint and a lot less of it being made, which has brought the price up relative to the price of higher quality paper.]

Interesting and thanks for the info on cost of newsprint vs other paper. So then I will go with, if the Batman Animated series trades being released lately.... if they could please stay newsprint I would be a happy camper. :smile:

ShaneKelly

@BionicDave - So yeah, I have a soft spot for father son stuff. So the Superman and son is good for me, for now. I miss what could have been with Flash (Wally's kids) and the more generational feel of the pre-Flashpoint DCU.

As far as the rebirth happening as a whole. I am happy with what happened in the DCU Rebirth issue as far as a certain speedster goes. I am also happy with things like Blue Beetle (for Ted) and Titans (again tying into the DC Rebirth issue with the speedster). I like Batman, Batgirl and the Birds of Prey, and Nightwing. I won't lie, a big part of this is because I know Tom King, I have talked to Julie Benson on the show, and have followed Tim Seeley for a long time.

I am interested in some of what I see coming up in the DCU as well. However, do not mistake me, I miss the pre-Flashpoint DCU. I still feel like something is missing. I think some of this is a step in the right direction (closer to what I liked) but we are still in the new 52U. For me, they may not be able to catch lightning in a bottle like they did when I was growing up from 1985 to say 2010. This was 25 good years of comics. I will again pair down what I read since now trying a lot of the Rebirth titles and see what happens from here. I have plenty of back issues and trades to read as well. :wink: Good talking point and thanks for the posts!