Finally found it. Thanks to everyone at Comic-Con for tracking it down.
This was easily one of the true highlights of my life, and it wasn't until I watched it myself that I saw what I said. I physically could feel my heart kicking through my chest. Notice the sweat growing on my forehead. (and, how cool does Sam Jackson look.).
After a full year (longer?) absence, I finally get back to the real business of comics on Wednesday as DC Comics publishes Last Will & Testament. And yes, I’ve had this story in my head since JLA. If I had two more issues, this is what I would’ve told. The odd part is, I thought someone else in a different book was going to tell the tale (or wrap it up differently), but when they didn’t, well...this was the perfect format. So there’s where the Geo-Force/Deathstroke storyline comes from. As for the rest...there’s lots of good stuff planned this year. Just like JLA 0, hints abound throughout the issue.
And as for Adam Kubert (and did I mention his guest inker Joe Kubert?), just wait till you see his Deathstroke. I miss comics so damn much.
A preview has been posted on Newsarama.
And watch here over the next week. Lots of cool stuff coming.
More from Comic-Con. My favorite costumes ever. And they were near each other.
Thanks to Iñigo for sending it!
This was the first superhero comic I ever read. And this is the page that started the addiction. So when reader Lynn came up to me at Comic-Con and offered to send me a scan of the pencils...well...Lynn, marry me.
And now, shared with you.
Click on the image to enlarge
There are few professional things that have really undone me:
But this...
Samuel Jackson comes out to present the Eisner Award for best single issue story. I smile to myself, telling my Dad we can't win, but excited that at least in announcing the nominees, Sam Jackson will say my name.
And then he reads the winner.
Add super slow motion effect here where I hear nothing by long inaudible syllables. My brain says, "Did he just say 'Justice League?'" My father sits there next to me, just as confused. And finally Judd Winick hits me from behind as if to say, "Go schmuck! He said YOU!"
I will find the video so you can see it. But I. Was. Undone. It was three months to the day that my Mom had passed, and I know that she must've cut lines and pulled strings to make it happen. The swell of emotion was all the cliche things bad Oscar speeches have. But I want to be clear about one thing. I meant when I said that that award was accepted for all the freaks and losers and outcasts and geeks and nerds and weirdos and outcasts -- for anyone who ever felt different or awkward or sat in a corner by themselves. That award was for us. It was for my Mom. And like I always say, it only happened because of you.
Yes. You.
Reading this.
It also happened because of our team. Because of genius Gene Ha. Because of Michael Turner bringing people in. And because of my brother Noah Kuttler, the Calculator, who storyboarded all my insanity so Gene could roll his eyes at me (and who most people don't know, does all the technical stuff when it comes to posting these blogs). Thanks, Noah!
But you have to see the video to see all the emotion I was armed with at that moment.
This was better than the D-minus.
Thanks to all who voted and rooted...
Rest of Comicon reports tomorrow...
I'm excited about Flash. And Green Lantern. And a Benes Wonder Woman. But c'mon, we get Geo-Force.
DC COMICS SOLICITATIONS FOR AUGUST 2008 (Newsarama)
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA SERIES 3 ACTION FIGURES
Designed by Ed BenesIt’s here – the third series based on the popular DC Comics series, JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA, written by New York Times best-selling author Brad Meltzer and illustrated by Ed Benes! Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash and Geo-Force are the latest JLA heroes to be made into action figures!
Just got the hardcover for The Lightning Saga, which I think comes out this week (if I'm gonna whore and plug away, I gotta get better at this). But let me say this: working on that storyline -- especially with Geoff, who I love like a brother -- that was living the dream. All the hours spent playing "wouldn't it be cool if X met Y" when we were eleven were finally put to use. Dawnstar and the Hawks. Vixen and Gorilla City. Jay and Hal. Batman and Karate Kid. Wildfire and Red Tornado. All the character moments that I hope bring out the best in each character. Plus, we got to bring the old "real" Legion back, a detail that makes me as proud as can be (silly but honestly true). And we got to bring yet another character back in that lightning wand (see Geoff's current Action Comics story, which is breathtaking). I love these characters. And I love even more when we acknowledge the old stories that came before. Nothing makes me prouder as a writer.
Been waiting for so long to reveal this. I still think the cover to issue 7 is my favorite piece of art Ed did, and now, you get to own it for yourself. I begged them to do this. Of course, I wanted the whole team too, but the financials and tiny details are so hard. Anyway, I think it's a knockout and next to my Dark Knight statue (the first one, duh) and a Charlie Brown one, will be the only one I'll put in my office.
JLA BUILD-A-SCENE STATUE: PART 1
Based on the art of Ed Benes
Sculpted by Alterton Bizarre(click on image to enlarge)
Ed Benes' legendary image from the cover of JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #7 stands tall as it becomes a multi-part statue! Sold in three parts, each features two of the world's greatest superheroes and includes a piece of a bonus Red Tornado figure. (To fully assemble Red Tornado, all three Build-a-Scene statues are needed.) All of the pieces slide together to make a complete cover scene in striking 3-D!
- The first part of the statue includes Batman, Wonder Woman, and the base and tornado portion of Red Tornado.
- Part two will include Superman, Black Canary, and the torso of Red Tornado.
- Part three will include Green Lantern, The Flash, and the head and cape of Red Tornado.
The JLA BUILD-A-SCENE STATUE is a limited-edition, hand-painted, cold-cast porcelain statue measuring approximately 8" tall x 14" wide x 10" deep when fully assembled. (Each piece measures approximately 8" tall x 5" wide x 5" deep, except for Red Tornado, which measures approximately 10.375" tall x 8.5" wide x 5.5" deep.) It includes a certificate of authenticity and is packaged in a 4-color box. This limited edition statue is manufactured to order.
Advance-solicited; on sale August 13, 2007 * Statue * $150 US
Minor assembly is required.
Just got the proofs for the JLA hardcover of Lightning Saga. It's just packed with comics -- not just the JSA crossover, but issue 11 with Gene Ha, 12 with Benes and Wight, and issue 0 with everyone. Plus Patton Oswalt doing the intro. And the interesting part is the cover. This weekend, I saw two comics on the main octagons in Barnes & Noble: Dark Tower and Shooting War. Comics are competing for that mainstream eye. So expect a Mr. Alex Ross making a great appearance.
And for those who aren't watching, the next step in the story is taking place in Action Comics right now with Geoff writing. Superman and the Legion of Superheroes. Just check it out. Worth every penny.
Just got the introduction for the next JLA hardcover, written by Patton Oswalt, who...c'mon...we love. And not just because he wrote a beautiful intro. The guy yells out, "Hal Jordan" in the middle of his act to signify will power. My hero.
And yes, this last hardcover has The Lightning Saga as well as issues 11, 12, and zero.
The best part of this is that the ONLY artist DC didn't let me approach for JLA 0 was Simone Bianchi. At that point, I'd just seen his 7 Soldiers stuff and said, "He's the next big gun. We have to get him." And that day, I heard he left for Marvel. I still give Loeb crap for stealing him away.
One day...
Full interview with him here.
Still weaning off vacation, but came back to two of the nicest gifts around:
First, Alex Ross kindly sent the original pencil sketch (from our conversation) that became the cover for JLA 12 (Thanks, Alex -- truly first class);
And second, Eddie Berganza and DC Comics sent a framed JLA certificate with my name on it (and thanks to editors Adam Schlagman and Jeanine Schaefer who clearly had a hand in it). As I told them, I know the League isn't real. But c'mon...you know it is.
Still wiping the tears from my eyes.
Now...onto the novel...
That's it...13 issues...well over 300 pages...11 members...and yes, despite Grundy, Amazo, Professor Ivo, Felix Faust, Dr. Impossible, Parasite, Electrocutioner, Plastique, Cavalier, Starro and others, plus the return of the "true" Legion of Super-Heroes, and Wally West, there wasn't enough action, fistfights or villains.
And so, let me answer the most asked questions:
Any regrets?
I wish I would've had Cyborg join. (Wanted to do it, but once 11 and 12 were planned out, just didn't have the room to make it happen).
What was the story with the older versions of Degaton, Despero, and Ultra Humanite?
As you can tell, The Lightning Saga is a smaller story within a bigger story (and it was our story -- Geoff and mine -- not a story that DC pushed on us). Geoff and I talked about whether to leave the villains in or pull them out entirely. Admittedly, this got a bit crunched for space (which is what happens when you have two writers and four different artists working simultaneously to make sure it all comes out on time), but this has clearly not been forgotten and was never meant to be a silly tease. Look at who the third team was. Time travel is a game of dominos.
What about Vixen's powers/Geo-Force/Deathstroke/etc?
Let me say this about all the so-called open threads: for each one, I asked DC: Do you want me to close this? Or would you rather build on it, in which case, I'll keep it open? The ones that are open, they said they wanted open. So check out JSA, and Geoff's Legion story, and the Green Arrow/Black Canary wedding special and, of course, JLA. Is that a ploy to get your money? Only if it doesn't involve great story. So, yes, the last thing I want is to be party to some fake "event" tie-in that simply has red skies in the background. But I feel these stories are in incredible hands, from Reddy to Vixen to Black Lightning to the rest. Even more important, this comic isn't a miniseries that was just for me. It's the Justice League of America, and it's ongoing, and at its best, its consequences should spill over into every part of the DCU.
When are you coming back to comics?
Buffy is next. But right now (and actually for the past year), it's been new novel full-time.
Anything you would change?
Every single story I write, the moment it comes out, I find new flaws/mistakes/words that I can't believe I didn't catch the first fifty times we went over it. But as a whole, each writer should only ever write the story that they have to tell. And these were the stories I had to tell: not about the giant menace (and believe me, I love giant menace stories), but about what makes the hero within. Issue zero, The Tornado's Path, The Lightning Saga, Walls, and Monitor Duty all deal with that same issue head-on. I don't love these heroes for their super-powers. I love them for their greatness within (which is just another way to say their humanity). I love that every day, even though they can die, they keep fighting forward. I love that Red Tornado would risk everything to be closer to his wife. I love that the Legion and JLA and JSA will risk it all to save their universe. I love that Red Arrow doesn't give up even when he should. And I love that the League will exist long after we're all gone. That is what greatness means: to keep going...to never let anyone stop you from what you love doing...even when the most impossible odds stand in your way.
I believe there is greatness in all of us. And especially in the smallest of us. Every single story I write is about that. Every story -- from JLA, to my novels, to Jack & Bobby -- is about fighting the fight for what you love (whether it's your wife, your universe, your family, yourself, or your team). And the best fights are the ones where you're fighting for who you are. The odds never matter. What matters is who we are underneath. What matters is that we're true to what we love. And what matters is never ever ever changing to be anything but who you are. And that's what I -- again -- learned from the Justice League.
See you on monitor duty. And can't wait to see Dwayne's run. It's gonna be beautiful, and best of all, it's just beginning.
Today is my last issue of JLA. I miss it like you wouldn't believe. But I'm leaving the big post/goodbye for tomorrow, just so you have a chance to read it first.
Thanks so much for reading it. Really.
More tomorrow...
Last JLA is this week, so looking forward to and so saddened at the same time. Like last issue, this is also a sort of risky experiment (and yes, no fistfights, again), but one that also ties back to issue zero (not the future stuff, the opening sequence). One day of Monitor Duty to show what the League is really made of. It's got extra pages, Eric Wight doing his magic and Ed Benes doing his as well. Plus Alex Ross and the final Turner cover.
Also, this trailer is so fun. If it were anyone else, I'd say the movie might suck. But Eternal Sunshine is a personal favorite, so let's have some faith. The best stories are indeed the ones we tell each other.
First, we're bringing back the logos on the monitor chairs. It's so sad how much this excites me. Some are obvious. Here are the others:
Also, check out this article about how Disney is taking out ALL smoking from its films. It's amazing how Congress can't change the world, but some well placed politics can.
Most vital new news -- casting in Watchman. I've tried to remain clam, but Jackie Earle Haley as Rorshach? Best. Ever.
From Newsarama:
According to both of today’s Hollywood trades, the long-awaited big-screen adaptation of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons Watchman has the first additions to its cast, and they are Patrick Wilson, Jackie Earle Haley, Matthew Goode, Billy Crudup, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Malin Akerman. Zack Snyder 300 directs.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, "Set in an alternate America, 'Watchmen' follows costumed hero Rorschach, who is living a vigilante lifestyle because most masked heroes have retired or been outlawed. While investigating a murder, Rorschach learns that a former masked-hero colleague has been killed, prompting him to begin investigating a possible conspiracy."
Haley - best known for this roles as a teen in Breaking Away and The Bad News Bears before mounting a comeback with his Oscar-nominated role in Little Children will play Walter Kovacs, aka Rorschach, "who ignores the ban on costumed vigilantes."
Crudup (Almost Famous, long-time voice of the Mastercard “Priceless” commercials) will play Dr. Manhattan, "a superpowered being with godlike powers and temperament."
Akerman will play Laurie Juspeczyk/the Silk Spectre, "who is involved with Dr. Manhattan -- but that relationship begins to fall apart as he becomes more disconnected from humanity."
Goode will play Adrian Veidt/Ozymandias, "a costumed adventurer who retired voluntarily, disclosed his identity and built a large fortune. He hatches a plot to avert a global catastrophe he believes will be caused by Dr. Manhattan."
Wilson will play the Nite-Owl, "a crime-fighter who uses technical wizardry and has an owl-shaped flying vehicle."
Morgan will play the Comedian, "a cigar-chomping, gun-toting vigilante-turned-paramilitary agent."
Shooting is set to start this fall in Vancouver, with Snyder reportedly employing many of the filming techniques he used for his adaptation of 300.
Just a huge thanks for the emails and postings and bits of love about JLA 11 -- and especially those who said they wanted to hate it and were surprised how much they enjoyed it. Gene and Art killed themselves on this issue. And to be honest, I was terrified we took too big a leap in a book that's lived so much with attacking aliens and world threats. But my one belief is you have to tell the story you have to tell. So thanks.
I love this Harry Potter New York Times story about the guy who does the audio books.
And with JLA 11 being previewed yesterday, people have been asking about Gene Ha's stunning art and what he did that's different from his other work. I can't explain it. So I asked him. And so...from Gene:
The short answer is gray Copic markers and Photoshop.
The first stage is tight thumbnails. I scan this into my computer and print it as a blueline onto good /inkjet/ paper or Copic marker paper.
I then go to work with graphite pencil, gray Copic markers, white charcoal pencil and white paint. I mostly used Copic paper on this issue for the grainy, dusty effect. I prefer good quality inkjet paper because it absorbs the marker better without bleeding.
I use the pencils for fine details (like outlines and facial details) and the markers for most everything else. The white media lets me to create clean highlights.
After that Art puts it into Photoshop and tints the gray originals (The finished artwork couldn't have been done without a fine colorist like Art Lyon.).
There are two main techniques. Our classic technique is to select an area and Ctrl-B it. The other technique is to create another layer that makes the area darker, lighter, glow, etc. You'll have to ask him for more details!
Let me elaborate on Gene's description of the coloring, if I may. Maybe no one cares and I will cry.
This issue had more than the usual number of insertions, meaning stuff Gene drew separately from the full page of art which I then inserted into the art. These are usually backgrounds, but are often common in situations where we have similar looking panels with limited but significant differences: an arm has moved, something has come into frame, etc. I've learned that in most cases it's best to insert these into the art and then flatten it and color it all as one thing.
So, yeah, Control+B calls up the Color Balance tool in Photoshop. I saved Color Balance settings for all the colors I knew would be cropping up a lot: character costumes and skin tones and hair color, rebar, cement, blood, etc. I spent a lot of time consulting with my oil painter wife Ellen, and with Gene, to get these colors just so. I knew we were going to be seeing A LOT of these colors, so I wanted to get them just right. I sampled colors from recent JLA issues, pictures of Halle Berry and Eric Johnson, and 9/11 and World Trade Center (the movie) images.
First I go through and do the Color Balance thing, which also occasionally involves the Hue & Saturation tool, too. This colors the grays in the original art layer. There are other ways to do this, but actually playing with the original art (rather than just layering in see-through colors on top of the art) will emphasize the texture of the original art, so I went with that.
I had a Shadows layer and a Highlights layer on top of the colored art. It's in these two layers that I do all my detailed coloring work, the stuff that hopefully "sells it". I lightly brush in all the niggly skin tones. I have a nice, fairly light rosey color, a pale green, and a purplish gray. Then reflected colors on an object are sampled from surrounding objects, and lightly brushed in to tint different areas. The advantage of these layers is that I can adjust their opacity, darkness, hue, and the like, and I can erase any area large or small partially or completely.
The Shadows layer is where I did all the blood effects, as well as some dust effects, the secondary light source colors, and dark reflected colors. The Highlights layer is where I did most of the dust effects and lighter reflected color.
Vibration effects are copies of this finished, colored art that have been made less opaque and less saturated. I erased different areas to let the base colored image peak through enough to keep it clear what we're looking at, despite the shaking.
Part of the trick was figuring out how dark to make it down there, and how much to make the characters costumes stand out. I darkened things a lot, and despite the need for grit and dirt and the like, I wanted to make the costumes still colorful enough to make the characters pop and to make the fans happy. Realism and flashiness was a big struggle here, color-wise.
So, that's basically it.
Tomorrow is JLA 11 with Gene Ha. It's a risky one, folks. Not as risky as a JLA/JSA crossover with no villains at all, or the last 5 full issues with no fistfights at all, but you get the pretty pictures. Can't wait to see if it works.
The preview for 11 has been posted to Newsarama.
Also, this is my favorite cover in a long time.
First, just want to make sure everyone saw yesterday's blog about the contest where you can recreate a scene from any of the novels. Really cool prize for the winner. Promise. Again, see yesterday's blog for details and for the example. Be famous! Win! Get the girl at the end!
Also, check out our MySpace Homepage (http://www.myspace.com/bradmeltzer) for your votes on the next Leaguer. Thanks to Sam for setting it up.
And so...onto JLA/JSA...
Okay, there’s the 11th member. And now, wait till you see Michael Turner and Alex Ross’s issue 12 covers (with Flash tucked in there right below Wonder Woman). For those who want to know why Geo-Force is there too…Alex liked drawing Geo-Force and I wanted to see him do it.
As for the issue, first the most asked questions:
Did you and Geoff know Bart was was going to die when you wrote it?
To give you a sense of timeline, Geoff and I pitched all of The Lightning Saga well before either of us ever knew that Bart was being killed. We always wanted the crossover to have a big ending, and like the original Seven Soldiers story we were playing with (where 7 characters return), we wanted the crossover to end in life, by bringing another Flash back. Then when we found out that Bart was going to die (and let me be clear, I love Bart), it was just unreal timing. (And more on this in our Newsarama interview that’ll go up today).
What was Karate Kid saying in Japanese as he braced himself for the lightning?
Fear makes the wolf bigger than he is.
What was the Interlac title for the story?
"The Villain Is The Hero In His Own Story"
Was Wally always the planned return?
Interesting. Who says the story’s done?
Who’s in the lightning rod at the end?
Man, that would be a really good excuse for another crossover.And as I told Vaneta over at Newsarama: All of you readers were amazing with the crossover. When the first issue hit, I saw dozens of posts with people explaining who certain Legionaires were, how their histories worked, and of course, how to speak Interlac. That was what I loved when I was growing up—that instant (and best) sense of community that the comic world could bring. So thanks for bringing that back for all of us.
Now, onto issue 11 and Gene Ha...
B
