Thursday, August 5, 2021

A GENTLE REMINDER

Justice League Infinity #2 is on sale now.  As our return to the classic Justice League Unlimited universe continues, we find reality breaking apart like a shattered mirror, Superman swept away to a world of neo-Nazis, the Martian Manhunter forced out of retirement by a new threat...and Amazo, the ever-evolving android, may hold the key to it all. 

I co-wrote the book with the great James Tucker, producer of JLU, and the art—very much in the style of the TV show—is by Ethen Beavers, with colors by Nick Filardi and letters by Tom Napolitano.

Hope you pick it up and enjoy the ride!



15 comments:

  1. I recently read the Wikipedia page for Meher Baba. Part of it said "In the 1930s and 1940s, Meher Baba worked extensively with masts, persons "intoxicated with God". According to Baba, these individuals are disabled by their enchanting experience of the higher spiritual planes. Although outwardly masts may appear irrational or insane, Baba claimed that their spiritual status was elevated, and that by meeting with them he helped them to move forward spiritually while enlisting their aid in his spiritual work." Was Charlie Limbo from Seekers into the Mystery a mast? The mast is a fascinating concept that I have never heard about before. That is why I just assumed that Charlie had schizophrenia because on the surface he looks like he has the disease. So, it must be difficult to look beneath the surface and see if someone is a mast or if they have the brain disease schizophrenia instead.

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    1. Charlie Limbo was indeed based on a mast, William; a very specific mast named Mohammed. You can read about him here:

      http://www.jmdematteis.com/2012/11/touching-love.html

      It was truly one of the most extraordinary, memorable and profound experiences of my life.

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  2. J.M., I have a theory about your version of Dr. Fate and Seekers into the Mystery. In the first issue of the Dr. Fate mini you implied that Linda suffered sexual abuse at the hands of her husband. So, Dr. Fate could be seen as a journey to healing for a woman who suffered through abuse.

    In Seekers you flat out said that Lucas was sexually abused by his father, so this story was about the journey to healing for a man who suffered through abuse. So, it is interesting to compare the two stories to see the different ways both men and women heal from the same thing.

    Dr. Fate was a super-hero comic mostly read by men and boys, so it was like you wanted us to see things from a woman's point of view. Seekers was a Vertigo comic and Vertigo comics generally had more female readers than super-hero comics. So, it was like you wanted women to see things from our point of view. You seem to be trying to have men and women see things from the point of view of their opposite sex so that we can all better understand each other.

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    1. That's a fascinating insight, William. That shift in POV wasn't intentional on my part, but it doesn't make your insight any less valuable. And, of course, the truth is, as a writer, I'm always trying to get the audience to go on a journey with the character, to understand and empathize with them.

      Thanks for sharing that. Much appreciated!

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  3. Back when you were writing JLI with Keith Giffen I got a bunch of back issues of the original Justice League series. One of my favorites was #112 with Amazo written by Len Wein. I thought this character was fascinating, so when the trade comes out I'm going to get it so I can see your take on this classic character.

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    1. Len's JL run is one of my all-time favorites. Great stuff!

      Hope you enjoy our take on Amazo, which grows directly out of some classic episodes of the JLU TV series.

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  4. J.M., I recently watched the movie "The Soloist" about a real life Superman who works for the L.A. Times named Steve Lopez. He befriended a homeless man with schizophrenia named Nathaniel Ayres and through that friendship was able to get him off the streets and into an apartment. He also reconnected him with his sister. As someone who has schizophrenia I can attest to the fact that it is very difficult to recover from this disease. Looking back on my own life I see that I didn't have one Steve Lopez in my life, I had many. It's like the Depeche Mode song "Alone" which has the lyrics
    "I was there when you needed me most
    I was there when you wanted me least
    I was your father, your son and your Holy Ghost and priest
    Through your failures and success
    Through your losses and gains
    I didn't see much happiness or pain

    I couldn't save your soul
    I couldn't even take you home
    I couldn't fill that hole
    Alone"

    It's like the old adage goes, it takes a village.

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    1. It does indeed, William, and I'm glad you found yours.

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  5. J.M., I just realized that my previous comment should have been a post on my own blog. So, I just started my own blog.
    It can be found at wthomas53.wixsite.com/website

    I hope you will check it out!

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  6. Thanks for checking out my blog! I hope you liked it. I've felt really inspired to write lately. This afternoon is Bible study at church, so I made out cards with the blog address on them to hand out to whoever shows up. Hopefully, I'll get more readers that way! I've also told my counselor about my blog and I've told a friend that I used to work with at my part time job about it too. They both seem really excited to read it, once they have the time. They are busy people, so it will take them time to get around to it. Maybe by Friday I will have more readers!

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  7. It will probably come as no great surprise that I love what you're doing with JUSTICE LEAGUE INFINITY.

    --David

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    1. Honestly, David, it's ALWAYS a pleasant surprise when people enjoy the work. Thanks for taking the time to tell me!

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  8. J.M., I have a question about "The Life and Times of Savior 28." Savior 28's first paradigm shift occurred in part due to the events of 9/11. When you first came up with this story while writing Captain America 9/11 obviously had not happened yet. So, in your original proposal what world event led to Captain America's first paradigm shift? Was it the fall of Saigon or something like that?

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    1. In the original version, Cap's paradigm shift came as a result of his final battle with the Red Skull (which climaxed in Cap #300). The Skull was dead, Steve himself nearly died, everyone close to him was threatened...and he looked around and realized the futility, and destructive power, of trying to change the world through violence.

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