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Tuesday, August 6, 2013

PHANTOMS

I did an interview with USA Today about the Phantom Stranger and his role in the Trinity War.  You can read it here...and enjoy a preview of PS #11 via the link below. Enjoy!

32 comments:

  1. Believe it or not Dematteis, I read this comic and enjoyed it. Though to be fair I was not too keen on the Justice League interfering with my Phantom Stranger. But Batman's characterization was so great I'll let it pass. Your welcome.

    Now as for the music thing... how about Peter Parker? Let me guess, Sinatra? What is with Italians and Sinatra?


    Wishing you nothing, but goodwill and hipness from here to the stars,
    Jack

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    1. Glad you enjoyed it, Jack!

      I just got back from my retreat and my brain is crispy-fried from too much driving, so I can't really focus on the Peter Parker music question. But, off the top of my head. I think he'd go for something melodic and angsty; maybe Death Cab for Cutie? But he might have very different taste when he's Spidey...

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  2. Joke's on you Dematteis. I bought this issue, read it, AND enjoyed it. Even if the Justice League is cluttering up the book. Seriously, there are three books that start with "Justice League," must they invade the off the beaten path books? I know, I know, editor mandate, and Didio planned for this for a while probably. I'll let it go for that reason as well as a few others, A) Batman's characterization was great, spot on, and sadly missing from many of his other appearances B) the Stranger was just as engaging as ever and C) The story was great, and I can't wait to read the next issue.

    By the by, was the light womb thing your idea. It seems very JMD

    Now to continue the music discussion, I think the Silver Surfer would enjoy any music that is a legitimate creative act. A true sign of humanity and all that.

    Now go with Peter. If you have the time. Let me guess... Sinatra? What is with Italian guys and Sinatra anyway.

    Take care,
    Jack

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    1. You're messing with my head, Jack, sending two similar comments! After all that driving, I'm very confused...

      Yes, the light womb was my idea.

      Silver Surfer might like Big Symphonic Music. Strauss, Prokofiev, Beethoven. Also some spacey ambient music.

      I'm feeling spacey and ambient at the moment so, I'm going to get some rest!

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  3. Oh, that? I just thought the first one may have gotten stuck into cyber-limbo. No real malevolence. Sorry.

    As for the Surfer... I could see him above an outdoor orchestra pit in the summer, high above on his board. And musing about the beauty, then hearing a patron scorning his son for his rock and roll (clearly this is during Lee's run) and upon hearing it questioning how there could be so divisive when both represent the unique beauty of humanity, and derive from the universal soul... or some such overly melodramatic-philosophical nonsense. So muc of the barries in music I think arise from living amongst it.

    Wishing you nothing, but goodwill and hipness from here to the stars,
    Jack

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  4. Did In mention the outdoor stuff was Beethoven? I really did mean to sorry.


    Wishing you nothing, but goodwill and hipness from here to the stars,
    Jack

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    1. That sounds JUST like the Surfer, Jack. Perfect!

      I didn't think there was any malevolence involved in the double posting. I was just brain-fried and befuddled.

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  5. As for Pete, well, that becomes complicated. Where as most Superheroes reflect an era, and the best of them adapt, Spider-man only fits that because that is when teenagers started being introduced. Because of this Peter is really more a time in ones life opposed to a time. That is Why we can all agree Hal would like Sinatra, even if his non-changing age makes that unlikely in logic while feel is accurate. So for this reason I will do this in two parts.

    1960s: In the early days I would say Buddy Holly. A nerdy rocker, who I once heard described as having given hope to kids who couldn't make the football team seems right. Especially since in 1962/3 he would have been just out of style fitting into Pete being un-hip. For the later years I think that the Yardbirds fit well into the coffee shop hang out vibe the Romita years seemed to radiate.

    after the 60s: I definitely think you are on the money with alternative rock, wait is Modest mouse Alternative? What people always forget is, is the basis for the genre was nerds and geeks. Even when it got popular in the 90s that was just because of how many nerds and geeks there where. And this IS from a guy who likes a good portion of alternative rock bands from back in the day, and has a passion for comic books and science fiction. Husker Du, the Wipers (who a portion of their work can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjqlz22ETnU and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VkaLHloHCA as well as http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2m7KM8lJCE) they seem right with the angsty and tone and lyrics. Even more popular bands of the genre that came alomng would fit R.Em> seems right. MAybe even Nirvana. But to me the perfect peter parker band is They might be giants. A little nerdy, a little clever, a little funny, and all while dealing with some heavier issues. Just give these a whirl and try to say, even if you don't like them that irt doesn't seem very Peter Parker:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Om7IBJf7-fc

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XdqMGBZjGM

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEjutUbgpH8

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhjSzjoU7OQ

    Well, hopefully your brain is less fried, the music hasn't offended you too much, and my weirdo points didn't annoy you too much


    Wishing you nothing, but goodwill and hipness from here to the stars,
    Jack

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    1. Brain's still a little fried this morning, Jack, but slowly regenerating.

      I think your Parker choices are all excellent.

      And I'm sure that, when I have more brain, I'll have more to say!

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    2. Yay! here's to hoping that brain gets less fried soon.

      Wishing you nothing, but goodwill and hipness from here to the stars,
      Jack

      Delete
  6. Well, hopefully by this point your brain is back to normal, or at least downgraded to sauteed.

    Now you can go back read it over again and say, "What was I thinking?" For Peter and the Surfer its Sinatra, it's always Sinatra!"

    or have some other view, I don't know. What am I a mind reader?


    Wishing you nothing, but goodwill and hipness from here to the stars,
    Jack

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    1. Downgraded to sauteed is just about right, Jack.

      Well, now I have this image in my head of the Silver Surfer, a hat cocked over one eye, a raincoat tossed casually over his shoulder, sailing across the cosmos, singing "Fly Me To The Moon"!

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    2. isn't that already extremely close to a cover from your run?


      http://www.coverbrowser.com/image/silver-surfer-1987/129-13.jpg

      Wishing you nothing, but goodwill and hipness from here to the stars,
      Jack


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    3. Yep. That was the issue when the Surfer went back in time JUST to hear Sinatra sing!

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  7. There seems to be a consensus emerging about Batman's portrayal in PS 11. Great stuff. I'll admit that coming out of issue 10, I fully expected Batman and PS to go head to head. He's typically not the guy you want to run into when you're going through the grieving process. At least not as he's been portrayed most of the time. So that was really refreshing. There was another twist that pleasantly surprised me as well. I loved that Batman was fully in control of his Heaven, and ready to claim it for himself only when the time was right.

    When Peter's feeling melancholy, he doubtless rocks out to Pearl Jam's spin on "Last Kiss" and thinks about Gwen...

    "Oh where oh where can my baby be, the Lord took her away from me..."

    When he's web-slinging, pretty sure he goes with Jay Z's "Empire State of Mind," which is a love letter to New York (warts and all).

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    1. The great thing about Batman, David, is that he's open to many different interpretations, from the BRAVE AND THE BOLD cartoons to the Nolan movies and everything in between. I've written the slightly psycho Batman, and that's fun. but I prefer a Batman who, despite being all business, is compassionate, smart and can tell the difference between the role he plays and the man he is. (Although it's fun when that line blurs and even he's uncertain.)

      I'll leave the musical debate to you and Jack!

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    2. What about They might be Giants(cover of) Ne York City? I just realized with your Pearl Jam mentioning (very true by the way) that the TMBG song "how about another first kiss," meshes perfectly with that JMD story with Pete looking over a photo album.

      The three of us are cooking with gas now.


      Wishing you nothing, but goodwill and hipness from here to the stars,
      Jack

      Delete
    3. Oh no, Dematteis, you aren't getting out of this one. Once your brain gets under boiling you're right back into this.

      And I would recomend digging out that story you did with Romita, "Kiss?" something like that. It's a great read, and while I just made this revelation and haven't dug out that issue to check, I think it does sink up well. Or don't do it. I don't know it is your life Dematteis, not mine. At some point you have to make your own decisions.

      Wishing you nothing, but goodwill and hipness from here to the stars,
      Jack

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    4. I loved working on "The Kiss" with Romita. He was, and remains, one of my comic book heroes—and I couldn't believe how lucky I was, having a chance to collaborate with the guy who drew many, maybe most, of my favorite Spider-Man stories. What a great artist—and a wonderful man. The entire experience was a highlight of my career.

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    5. No Dematteis, the highlight of your career is talking with David and I on this site.

      And here is the question, no wrong answer, was it more of a thrill working with Romita than sharing a by line with Stan Le? Its gotta be a tough call.


      Jack

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    6. The possible musical accompaniment for the story (two versions):

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=au-B2W7S6lc

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByI487qz8sc

      personally, I like the second one more, but the firat one is probably more accurate for the stories tone. So what do you think? was I right about your baby?

      Jack

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    7. It was a thrill sharing a byline with Stan, but we didn't get to really work together: I plotted, he scripted, and that was that. With Romita it was a real collaboration; we spoke on the phone, discussed my story and his approach to it. So, experientially, Romita wins by a nose. But, really, working with Stan was such an honor that I have to call it even.

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    8. Yes, Jack, I think the first one fits the tone. Good song, never heard it before!

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    9. Well Dematteis, he is still alive, and occasionally does do comic work for Marvel still. Maybe it isn't too late for a Lee-Romita-Dematteis collaboration. I can't imagine anything cooler than that.

      In fact (and I swear to God this is true) I once heard Peter David say something regarding you and Stan Lee. either before or telling how Stan was responsible for him getting custody of his daughters, he told a story of Lee introducing him once and saying something along the lines of, "here is the author of (one of the?) best comics of the year Greenberg the Vampire." And he then had to correct him and say it was some no-name called "Marc Dematteis." Like I said he said that, I swear.

      So maybe this could happen, especially if Romita puts in a good word. Lets make this happen. Seriously... that may be the single greatest thing in my comic-buying life.

      Ooo ooo, if you unveiled it in Detroit with a signing, meet and greet or what ever I could even cover it, and do an article!

      Anyway, don't feel bad about not hearing it, if you don't listen to They Might Be Giants it isn't that weird.

      The real question is though are you saying I'm right about Pete's taste? If so, are you willing to concede Captain America would at least put Guthrie in his "need to re-buy" list when he was unfrozen?

      Wishing you nothing, but goodwill and hipness from here to the stars,
      Jack

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    10. I'm all in for They Might Be Giants, Jack, but still resistant where Cap and Woody are concerned. Until Steve Rogers tells me different, I'm sticking to my story!

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    11. And, yes, I've heard that Peter David story...from Peter David himself, so it must be true!

      Re: Lee and Romita. Any time those two want to work with me, I'll drop everything and run.

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    12. Yes! should have been clear about that! : )

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    13. Okay, great, all we need it to get you to a comic show with one of them to talk about it. And don't be afraid to work the sentimental "you shaped my youth" jive.

      Are you at least willing to concede Rogers would have enjoyed Guthrie on the radio back in the 30s?

      Wishing you nothing, but goodwill and hipness from here to the stars,
      Jack

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    14. Okay! Okay! He would have loved "This Land is Your Land"! Are you happy now?! : )
      (Actually, I think he would have.)

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    15. I don't know, a little I guess.



      Wishing you nothing, but goodwill and hipness from here to the stars,
      Jack

      Delete