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New Cap Preview and How Things Are
Sorry I've been away so long. Chicago was excellent. Good to spend time with the Big Finish circus again, and with Tara O'Shea and her mob (soup at her house on the day after, that was restful), and it was especially good to see Simon Guerrier working so hard to promote his new batch of authors, as featured in the How The Doctor Changed My Life volume of Short Trips.
Now I'm back at my desk and frankly, swamped. I've chucked all the work that's just for fun, and let down some friends for favours, and I still have two major deadlines before Christmas. I'm not going to skimp on either one, but that means working into the evenings, and maybe not getting a Christmas holiday. If you see the Twelve Blogs of Christmas starting up, it means I've exceeded my own expectations. This could happen. I've already written my best issue of Captain Britain, the first one of the Dracula arc, starting in issue ten. It's the first part of six, which means, yes, we've gone past our initial order of twelve issues! So mission accomplished there.
There are two nice surprises to announce soon, both of which have perked me up a bit. Next year, I'm going to have to make some major decisions about what I do and how I do it.
In the meantime, here's the preview for issue eight of Cap, which is out on Wednesday (and for which this blog will, as always, serve as a letters page):
With six pages of lovely Leonard Kirk art. And yes, I know it's presented as being issue nine.
I hope you're all getting that Christmas feeling. Normally at this time of year I get all numinous, but I'm struggling to feel anything other than tired. I really must decorate. Goodness, listen to me, moaning about too much work. I should really count my blessings, in that the work itself is all stuff I really love, and really want to do, and hey, I have work.
I hope I'll get back to you more quickly next time, and rest assured that the Comments will be attended to every morning. In the meantime, Cheerio.
Labels:
Big Finish,
Captain Britain,
Chicago Tardis,
Doctor Who
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Lovely to hear from you again.
(Now, stop reading this, and get back to work!)
Well done with the extended Cap commission and with the new projects.
Congrats on all the new stuff!
Normally at this time of year I get all numinous, but I'm struggling to feel anything other than tired.
Sounds the same for just about everyone this year. Things have to get better, right?
Congrats on Cap and MI:13, an early Christmas present for me. Can't wait to see what happens with Dane and Ebony Blade.
Great news about your Captain Britain extension (oh, er, missus... sorry... couldn't help that).
I've really been enjoying it and it's one of the only regular comics that gets me back into the comic shop.
It's so great to see a Cap series that hadn't been total pants, like the last couple of feeble attempts. Keep up the great work.
BTW. Nice mention for Simon Guerrier's Short Trips- 'How The Doctor Changed My Life' - Good read and one of my mates has a story in that volume, so I keep plugging it too. Every little helps.
As 'Peter A' said "...get back to work!" :)
All my best.
I has a mob! win! We could be the Chicago Fangirl Mafia, except for the part where Lizzie is from Scotland.
And as always, so excellent to hang out with you and Caroline. I promise, some year we'll manage Being Cultural. Sofa + soup = Restful to me as well, but I want to show off my city more, when I'm not completely knackered someday.
I've been feeling the Christmas spirit for the past week. Since I had to do all my shopping for my nieces and nephews early to get their gifts shipped to them in time for Xmas.
And good luck with the deadlines, and with the whole Christmas season.
:D
Thanks, all. Del: that's lovely, thank you, but please don't break my rule by criticising other writer's work here. Tara: we must do that sightseeing some day!
Hi Paul.
I'm so sorry if I stepped into an uncomfortable 'No Man's Land' with the 'pants' comment, but my views aren't really intended to pour scorn and ignominy on specific individuals, but to underline that I think the direction, professionalism, and all the loving knowledge of the legacy of your subject matter(s) in taking back the glory and complementing the classic adventures with your great creative team, is a cause to celebrate.
I totally understand your point about not criticising other people's work (especially on your blog, sorry) and I do know that writing isn't the easy craft it can look like from the sidelines and wish I had the skill and tenacity of all previous creators that I may unthinkingly tar with my opinions, but I still have a profound passion and respect for this creative field and I suppose what I was trying to achieve with my verbiage (or verbage) is to cheer on and encourage my team and enjoy the game.
It's all a bit like following your favourite footie team. You'll stick with them through the dark days as I have, but when you have a good run, like the one you and the team are ploughing through now, you'll shout it out loud.
In the end I'm a supporter as well as a fan, as I buy the damn stuff (proudly), even in monthly (it was weekly in my youth, but don't get me started) instalments instead of only waiting for the TPB, which I will probably purchase too.
And like a Football supporter (not the yuppie fair weather fans who... but don't get me started) I do feel a bit of ownership and I dare say you do too, as I believe you grew up to love the same material. So again my verbage (sic) is a thing of passion untainted with malice.
Sorry if I've gone on, but there you go, it's given me inspiration to write out my thoughts. Next stop a blog. You may have unleashed a beast into the bloggosphere, Mr Cornell.
Again all my best and keep up the good (hard) work.
C'mon you Red, White & Blues!
No problem, Del, I only mention it because the rule here is a bit different to the rest of the internet. Your hearty support is most welcome.
Paul-
I picked up the Wisdom tpb on a lark and said WHO THE HECK IS THIS GUY AND MORE CAP'N MIDLANDS! I'm a huge fan of your comics work, new that it is. PLEASE stay on Cap for as long as possible. Ok? Black Knight has always been a step away from being the cool jeans super-hero we all need and you have put him over the edge. I've been trying to tell everyone I know to buy the title (click my name for the link). Happy Holidays. Best, Brad
Hi, haven't been here much before, but I just got into Captain Britain and MI:13 and am enjoying it very much (so much so that I back tracked through Wisdom and New Excalibur to get better continuity). I haven't seriously read comics before, but someone told me I HAD to try this one, and now I'm hooked (and confused, but I'm working on that).
I just laid hands on issue 8, have read it twice, and am enjoying how the story is unfolding. I love that I can call some stuff, but be completely surprised by other bits.
Faiza is far and away my favourite character. I hope that she gets to interact with someone other than Dane at some point (not that I don't like that relationship, I'd just like to see more about how she fits into the team).
I am very glad to read that you've got an extension on the run, and hope to read it for some time to come.
Merry Christmas and happy writing,
JJ
Thanks very much, you two. Brad: I'm here for the duration, I'm not leaving this! Cheers.
LeFay's dinner party explains Alistaire's changing appearance, but it doesn't explain Colton shouting "Stewart" (though I suppose anyone can spell any way they want when they speak).
Well, I think you have your No Prize there.
Only got round to the latest issue last night - gah, Christmas! I loved the moments with Blade and Jackie - I can't believe you've made me stop hating the vampire hunter - and Stuart, the Morgan LeFay thing is a clever patch. The Betsy scene was heartbreaking, and as for Syd - ouch!
I'm chuffed Jamie wasn't what he seemed, I'm rather tired of him as the mega-powered bad bro who pops up then pops off again.
It must be a couple of months since I moaned about Cap's new costume . . . yeech, the Union Flag stripes splaying out from Brian's (tragically maskless) head make him look like a jester on Bryan Hitch's cover. Go on, celebrate the extension (well done all!) with a return to the Davis classic!
This book was perfect. Kirk Leonard is the perfect artist for this series, too. Peter Wisdom was very much a leader in this book. This issue was very well crafted and heartbreaking. If it wasn't for the cover for CB&MI:13 #9, I would feel very badly for Captain Britain!
I, too enjoyed the explanation for Alistaire's changing appearance as well as the explanation as to why 1963 was such an important year for Captain Midlands!
Just why was Spitfire's arm burned the way it was, anyhow?
Thanks for being in the industry.
Thanks, you two. Spitfire's arm was burned like that because when Blade staked her started to disintegrate, starting with the hand. And no, we're keeping the new costume! You've mistaken me for someone with no spine. Cheers.
i absolutely ♥ MI13! I do have a silly question, maybe it's just because I know nothing about Blade, but where did Blade get the Wordsword? does he carry it around with him, or does he fashion it out of magical texts just then and there? Apart from this odd curiosity, I am LOVING the fact that Marvel now has an awesome team dealing with magic. I was sad when Shadowpact got canceled. I hope you keep writing Captain Britain and MI13 forever!
Thanks very much. I think Blade made the Wordsword in advance, it'd be hard to get it done in the circumstances. I hope you like where we go in the next arc. Cheers.
Dear Paul;
IMO, Pete was justifiably angry with Blade in this issue, yet if the roles were reversed, Pete would do the exact same thing for the same reason -- duty. As you have stated before, Blade and Pete have much in common.
Will Harold Wisdom or Johnathan Raven ever appear in this series? Who is Johnathan's father?
I greatly look forward to the Dracula issues.
Have a Happy Holiday and Happy New Year.
Indeed, that's true. I wouldn't rule out any such guest appearances. Thanks for coming along for the ride.