Thursday, May 13, 2010

BOOSTER, THE FRIENDLY GHOST

Over at Comic Book Resources, there's an interview with Keith Giffen and some other guy about their run on DC's Booster Gold (the first issue of which came out yesterday).  And Jazma Online is running an interview with yours truly, focusing on Ardden Entertainment's Casper relaunch (the second issue of which—finally!—arrives in stores this month).  Okay, I've run out of hype.  We now return to our regularly-scheduled program.

33 comments:

  1. I'll be honest, I'm not real familiar with Booster Gold beyond his animated and "52" incarnations. I might have to check that out. I can't remember--did you write the JLU Booster Gold episode?

    Glad to see that Casper is back on track. I dig the FF1 homage cover!

    David

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  2. No, David, I didn't write the JLU Booster episode, but he figures prominently in my two upcoming JLI BRAVE AND THE BOLD episodes. Give the comic a try: I think it's a fun mix of high adventure and low humor. Like it or not, check back in after you've read it and let me know what you thought.

    I, too, am glad CASPER'S back on track. Circumstances beyond our control forced the excruciatingly long delay between issues. We're doing everything we can to make sure it doesn't happen again.

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  3. As luck would have it, I enjoy high adventure and low humor. And most everything that falls between. I'll check it out.

    BTW, I've always wondered, does the first writer to tackle a given DC character on B:TBATB get to shape the interpretation, or is there a kind of character bible the writers go by?

    David

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  4. It's usually the producers who shape the vision of the characters, David, with the freelancer adding to that vision and expanding on it.

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  5. Makes sense. Thanks!

    (And everyone involved with B:TBATB does great work.)

    David

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  6. They do indeed. It's a been a real pleasure contributing to the show.

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  7. I had enjoyed this series so far, but I was thrilled to hear you and Keith were taking this series over. I thought the first issue was handled beautifully. You managed to balance your classic version of Booster with the new mature Booster, your jokes with some seriously heavy drama, and the established style of storytelling of this series with the G&D style - and in all of that you brought back that very familiar relatable depth to the character again.

    You two writing a Booster Gold series that includes both Time Travel and visits the old JLI is somewhat like a dream come true for this fan. That sounds like an amazing toy box of possibilities for you two to be playing in.

    Every few years I pull out my comics and revisit that full JLI run - and it is one of the few things I loved as a kid that has only gotten better with age. Heading to the comic store to pick up the first regular monthly (main feature) Giffen and DeMatteis DC series in nearly 20 years definitely brightened my day yesterday.

    And I don't know if I'm the only fan hoping you get your wish of getting G'Nort into this series - but you can tell Keith you have at least one supporter on that!

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  8. Very glad you enjoyed it, Drew. It's a fine balance here, going back...and yet remembering that the Booster of today isn't the Booster of the JLI-era. What we're discovering as we write is that sometimes Booster himself forgets. He slides into old habits, old styles, and then comes back to himself.

    As for G'nort: I will not rest until he shows up in BOOSTER GOLD!

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  9. I'll be picking up this Booster series. He's a great character.

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  10. It's been fun getting to know the character again, Nicholas. It's like meeting up with an old friend and discovering that you still have lots in common.

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  11. I guess I still have that feeling to look forward to (being a noob writer and all).

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  12. That's the real magic of creating a story, Nicholas: having it -- and the characters -- come alive till the process feels less like crafting something and more like receiving a transmission from another dimension.

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  13. I picked up the new Booster Gold issue this week. I was raised as a Marvel kid and never even thought about crossing over to DC when I was growing up. Lately however, a lot of things going on in the Marvel universe have made me fairly mad and more and more I've been looking at DC stuff. I've picked up several trades, but haven't really picked up any single issues of any ongoing series. I've tried before but my old programming is hardwired in to deep. However, I saw the new Booster issue on the shelf and snapped it up in a heartbeat. I'm glad I did too. It was definitely a fun read that left me eagerly waiting on the next issue. I also picked up the first JLI trade. I figured I'd better go ahead and start familiarizing myself with the history of the creative partnership. I haven't finished reading it yet but I've enjoyed what I've read. I've always had a healthy respect for Captain Marvel and recently have come to like Guy Gardner, Booster Gold and Blue Beetle, so it's great to see all of these characters together.

    In your post, you said you've run out of hype, but I think you forgot something. You better believe I picked up this weeks issue of Web of Spider-man for the Ben Reilly story. I think it's a shame it didn't make it into the solicits, so nobody really knew it or was coming or even to look for it. This story really showcased a lot of things I like about the character. It really effectively showed that he's a character caught in a constant flux. Thanks to his continued soul searching in regards to the status of his humanity, we really cheer him on when he decides to make something of his life. We want him to find that happiness and break the chains of his unnatural birth. Because of that, we understand when his mood swings and he lashes out in anger and falls back into depression. His character and history make his bipolarness work and help the reader to sympathize with him when normal we would have a much harder time admiring such a potential angry and depressed character. It's hard imaging Lost Years time without seeing JRJR's artwork, but the stuff in this issue was fine. Is this going to be an ongoing story? The ending seemed to suggest that we may see a continuation, but I could also see it as a self contained story.

    Thanks for all the great work. I've been heavily recommending the Life and Times of Savior 28 to everybody I know who has ever read a comic book and has ears.

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  14. Thanks so much for the kind words, Colin. Very glad you're enjoying BOOSTER. It's a fun book to write. Familiarizing yourself with the JLI is a great idea because those characters will be a big part of the coming stories.

    To be honest, I'd forgotten the Ben Reilly story was coming out this week. I think your analysis of Ben's character was right on the money. He is -- especially at the early stage of his wandering, which is when this particular story is set -- a kind of bi-polar character, but one we absolutely sympathize with.

    I purposely left a dangling thread at the end of the story in hopes of picking it up down the line. What I'd really like to do is a Reilly mini-series, but that doesn't seem to be in the cards at the moment. There is a possibility of more Ben for WEB OF SPIDER-MAN, though.

    And deep thanks for spreading the word about SAVIOR 28. As you probably know from reading this blog, that story means the world to me.

    All the very best - JMD

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  15. Oh, I know all about those inter-dimensional transitions. I am a musician too. And I'm sure all my best ideas come from outside of my own head. (know-what-I'm-sayin'?)

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  16. The Ben Reilly ish is out?

    Now I have TWO reasons to try and make it out to the comic store (a bit of a ways for me). :)

    I heard they were mixing up the WOS format a little bit. Fred van Lente will be writing the lead story for every issue, which will focus more on Peter's supporting cast than ASM. I like the idea, personally, and FVL is a great writer. Maybe the consistency factor will help bring attention to your Reilly stories. Neither Colin or I realized it was coming out this past week--so I can only assume there are a lot of potential fans out there who didn't realize this was Reilly week, either.

    Of course Marvel could solve that problem easily enough by making WOS a one-two punch with a MONTHLY Reilly backup. :)

    David

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  17. I totally know what you're saying, Nicholas. I LIVE for those moments when I'm just a channel for the angels of Cosmic Creativity.

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  18. As previously noted, David, I'd love to write a monthly Ben Reilly feature, but it's just not in the cards right now.

    When you get your hands on the current Ben story, let me know what you think.

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  19. I will definitely let you know.

    And until a monthly Reilly is in the cards, Marvel just isn't playing with a full deck!

    David

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  20. You've certainly got a way with words, David!

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  21. Thanks, JMD. Coming from you that means a lot.

    David

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  22. Hi J.M. (Is this really J.M.'s blog?)

    You signed a copy of J.L.I. for me at Anaheim Comicon because I intend on binding the whole run. (If you remember I am the guy with the mohawk that showed you a leather bound copy of the original Battlestar Galactica.) Well I was bummed that I had already sent out my 24 issues of Dr. Fate that you wrote to be bound and didnt have THAT for you to sign. It arrived today and I reread it for the first time since I was 12 and have to say it is even greater than my 12 head could wrap around. It's it's like Edgar Allen Poe meets Douglas Adams. You are the most fun comic writer I has come across and I hope you at another comicon so I can get your autograph on this Dr. Fate bind it had made.

    Your so cool you made me love Guy Gardner,
    Rich

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  23. Oh, and sorry if some of that last message was filled with typos or downright incoherent. ...it's the whiskey typing. :)

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  24. Hey, Rich -- great to hear from you. So glad you enjoyed re-reading DOCTOR FATE. I had an incredible time writing that book. There I was, working with a pre-existing DC Universe character, yet being allowed to treat it as if it was my own creation; taking it in whatever directions I pleased. That was a rare opportunity and I remain very proud of that run. It's near and dear to my heart, for many reasons.

    Thanks so much for checking in, Rich. All the best -- JMD

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  25. I just sent out your run of Spectre to be bound today. I've never read it but am looking forward to it.

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  26. Very cool, Rich: I should do the same!

    Hope you enjoy SPECTRE: it's a run I had a lot of fun with.

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  27. Do you have any So. Cal appearances scheduled in the near future?

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  28. I was just out in Anaheim last month, Rich, and, as of now, I've got no Southern California appearances planned. If anything changes, I'll be sure to mention it here.

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  29. Any chance you are going to be at the Long Beach Comic Con Oct 29-31?

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  30. Sorry, Rich: no Long Beach con for me. I'll be at the New York Comic Con at the beginning of October and the Ottawa Writer's Conference at the end of the month. Maybe next year...if they invite me! Best -- JMD

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  31. Just finished Booster Gold #40. It was the best I have read since the JLI storyline with L.Ron the robot (which was awesome). Great intro and the last frame was a huge "Say What?!?" Looking forward to seeing where the story goes.

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  32. Glad you enjoyed it, Rich. As for where the story's going...I think it's someplace unexpected (and I hope you agree). It's also leading Giffen & DeMatteis right out the door...as BOOSTER GOLD #43 will be our final issue!

    I love L-Ron, too. He's one of those characters that began as a complete throwaway and became an integral part of the JLI.

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