Here's my panel schedule for this weekend's Baltimore Comic Con. The rest of the time I'll be at my table signing books. If you're at the convention, please come by and say hello!
FRIDAY
Room 343-344
2:30-3:30 - J.M. DeMatteis Spotlight
Award-winning writer J.M. DeMatteis began his career in the late-'70s working on DC Comics' horror line of books. In 1980, he moved over to Marvel, where he worked on The Defenders and Captain America. He is currently working with long-time collaborator, Keith Giffen on DC's Scooby Apocalypse, as well as The Adventures of the Augusta Wind Vol. 2: The Last Story and The Last One from IDW Publishing. Join DeMatteis, along with moderator Robert Greenberger, for a look back at his amazing career!
SATURDAY
Room 343-344
12:15-1:15 - The Process of Writing
One of the big questions asked of writers is "how do you do it?" That's difficult to answer because there are many ways to write. Join writers J.M. DeMatteis, Paul Storrie, Amy Chu, Mark Waid, and Hope Larson as they discuss how they write. Moderated by Robert Greenberger.
SUNDAY
Room 343-344
12:15-1:15 - Worlds to Build
Building a new world for comic characters to inhabit takes skill and planning. J.M. DeMatteis, Keith Giffen, Walter Simonson, and Fabian Nicieza along with moderator Paul Levitz talk about the power of world building.
Room 347-348
1:30-2:30 - Music and Comic Books
Comic books are silent - no music. But what about comic book creators? Join Charles Soule, J. M. DeMatteis, Amy Chu, and karaoke king James Tynion as they discuss how music influences them and their creativity. Moderated by Christina Blanch.
I've really got to ask what you were thinking regarding music influence- just guessing it had a LOT to do with the Beatles! One good thing about questions inspired by these seminars: it's fresh on your mind! But the beautifully-Celtic-sounding Myrwann, Augusta Wind, Savior 28,Joshua Rose, even Ben Reilly all beckon too- and I offered to keep the whole thing to 15 questions and used 9 of them. Feels like I have a magic lamp, but don't want to annoy the djinn! I hope you came away with few 'Con germs, had a great time in Baltimore- and happy Star Trek anniversary, J-Marc! M.C. J-Marc: your hip hop handle- if that's your after dinner cup of tea!
ReplyDeleteIf you want to go to 20 questions, Cecil, that's fine! As for musical influences: Beatles, John Lennon, Beatles, John Lennon, Beatles...
DeleteOf course there were MANY others, but that is the top of the list.
I think I'll tap into the wealth of interviews you've given to take the questions further afield; between your podcast about your IDW work and the Spider-Panel at Terrificon, there's more profile material than you can shake a web at! AT least we're about to dig on your musical venture. It's nothing short of amazing: few writers of your freshman era are still published as widely (I can think of, at present, none, going so far back as '78 to present), much less monthly. Your gratitude really shines.
ReplyDeleteI'm tellin' ya, there's a decent-sized biography here to write. It's formative to a relative ingenue such as myself.
I don't know how interesting that biography would be!
Delete"Sanctification" is awesome!
ReplyDeleteI look forward to the rest of my new LP purchase, between writing interview questions and so on. :-D
Thanks, Cecil. That song is very short, a gentle (but totally heartfelt) tease leading you to the rest of the album. Enjoy!
DeleteI just played "Santification" for Angela Dawn. About :45 seconds in, she's impressed, and over the next twenty seconds she just blurts out: "Damn, he's got a good voice!" I listened to several songs Saturday and noted you use several vocal approaches or "voices": you have really got the goods, J.Marc! The lyrics were thoughtful, as well: I made sure I had no distractions, except for, uhm, some of your JLI I hadn't read in so long. Peeked at them, too. I look forward to wherever else the songs will go musically, but there's real talent, and not just one restrained songwriter's voice, but a love of melody! Take it from one who has known the joy of such things, I mean it sincerely. Between you and my discovery of Alice Cooper, and us feeling healthy, there may be a full revival of Integr8d Soul's songs. How one makes peace between making music and writing or drawing- fitting them into a life that doesn't shut others out too harshly- was an early thought I had for your questions. Afua Richardson was still singing while drawing for Marvel to this year- I see how naturally it comes to some, that they must make songs as well as write, perhaps even paint or draw. It's all a matter of time! And I got the impression you'd say, "just listen for wherever the gifts resonate. Make what's asking to be made, and don't worry for yourself!"
ReplyDeleteSo glad you're enjoying the CD, Cecil. I'm as proud of that as any creative work I've ever done; and making it was one of the single greatest joys of my creative life. Years have gone by since "How Many Lifetimes?" came out, but I'm still hoping to go into the studio and record more songs. And this time it'll have to be a double album!
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