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Dark X-Men
I'm alone in the house for a couple of days, so I've taken advantage by really racing for the finish line of the novel. Of the original vast pile of notes (and one page of plot as a PC document), and I'm now down to two pieces of A4, with most of the notes on them crossed out, as I use them up. The plot's down to five lines as well. Most of the notes are payoffs for things I've written in earlier on. So when someone says 'you see that ornate and rather ostentatious gun I have hanging on the wall?' I'll have a note that reads 'gun must be fired'. (Note for demonstration purposes only. Content of actual notes may vary.) I've told my Agent that I'll have it done by the end of this month, and I think that's well on. I might get to the actual ending by the middle of next week, and then will come a long read through, where I polish up all the bits that have all the beats in there, but not neccessarily in the right order, and sometimes repeated, damn it. ('Did I show you that gun I have on the wall?') I'm very psyched about it, but of course this is all just a first draft, and much revision is ahead of me even after that. But still, the end is in sight!
Meanwhile, I also suddenly have three comics to write, so have requested deadlines from my editors, so that I may plan my days. All three are exciting, but no, sorry, I can't reveal any of the details yet. ('Do you remember that gun he kept pointing out to us?')
However, what I can talk about, and coming out tomorrow (in the US, Thursday in the UK) is the first issue of Dark X-Men: The Beginning, an anthology title detailing how members of said team came to be in Norman Osborn's employ, put together by various creative teams, including eleven pages of me and Leonard Kirk (together again) in each issue. Leonard's got even better, if that were possible. And it's an honour to be in the same book as so many creators I admire. My old mate Rob Williams is writing one. Here's a preview with three pages of each of the stories in the first issue (my Namor/Norman; Mimic and Dark Beast):
And here's an interview about it, with bits from me and much more erudite bits from editor Nick Lowe:
Okay, back to the novel I go. With the Ashes on in the background tomorrow, Torchwood in the evenings, and Faringdon Arts Festival this weekend: who could ask for more? ('So you've got a gun on your wall, stop going on about it!') Cheerio!
Labels:
Comics,
Cricket,
Dark X-Men,
Marvel,
Novel,
Torchwood
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Dear Paul,
Glad to hear your novel's going so well.
I remember reading your occasional positive comments on Lost's most recent season.
I was just wondering what you thought of the Season 5 finale?
best wishes,
Danny
I really enjoyed it. I'm assuming that nobody's died, especially Juliet, because she is, frankly, my favourite. I thought ending it like that was typically bold of them. And of course 'Jeremy Bentham' is a preserved body in a case at UCL...
Glad to hear you liked it, so did I. And yes, Juliet is..splendid!
In the finale the Jacob/Enemy conflict and the weird science that surrounds the island kind of reminded me of elements from Clive Barker's The Great and Secret Show.
The Bentham auto-icon is quite creepy; I hadn't known about that-
The Locke arc this season was fascinatingly strange for prime-time network television.
Thanks for replying, enjoying the blog and your work as always-
Danny
Looking forward to Dark X-Men - the news that it's you and Kirk together makes me happy and almost - ALMOST - makes up for the loss of Capt. Britain (I'm know I'm late, btw, but sorry to hear of it ending - honestly, it's going to feel like a little papery bereavement)
Cheers, Sir!
Karlos
If you'd like to subvert the old 'gun on the wall must be used' cliche, you could always do this:
Bad guy pulls gun off wall.
Bad guy says "See this gun that was hanging here in scene one? Now I'm going to use it on you!"
Bad guy aims gun at hero and pulls trigger three times.
Gun clicks harmlessly three times.
Bad guy snarls and throws gun at hero.
Gun misses hero.
:-) :-) :-)
Jack Beven
I didn't know you had a story in Dark X-Men. Must have passed me by. However, I did pick up the second Captain Britain trade bringing me up to date on all the issues. Great stuff.
I really regret getting into it so late, I loved the first issue that my brother got signed for me when you were at Forbidden Planet in London and now I've read every issue. Hope to see more stuff like it in the future
Also was cool to hear what you had to say you on the Doctor Who War Games DVD. Interesting stuff.
Please keep up the good work.
All the best,
Leo
Damn!
A gun fell off the wall, went off, and hit me in the butt.
If only there had been some foreshadowing to warn me, so I could avoid this painful fate!
Paul-
What's with men and the size of their guns?!
On a different note, I'm sure you've heard about the tempest over on James Moran blog. TV writers blogging about their shows are a double edged sword. They gain knowledge about their fanbase but also face the anonymous wrath if they pen a controversial item. Unlike snail mail, it only takes a click of the mouse to send. Perhaps that's why more TV writers don't blog or post...If Stephan Moffat were to promote you to head writer of DW or another show, would you stop blogging or would you blog only about your hobbies and such?
Sometimes I think that 4th wall between the a show's cast and crew and the audience helps in keeping the storyline true to the creators vision. I'd be interested in your opinion..
Thanks, all. Sorry I've been absent for a couple of days: just too busy. And sorry, Furious, I guess I just didn't get around to mentioning it. Heather: this is very much in the realm of 'don't get me started', but to be specific about what you asked: if I wasn't comfortable with walking around amongst the audience, I wouldn't do it, but I do think there are times when you go back behind the curtain and they shouldn't come with you, for everyone's sake. It's really hard to make that happen, and I'm aware that, with one eye on the times when I have to do that, I do sometimes come over as not as outgoing with the audience as I could be. I support James vastly, and I'd like to see more folk online asserting that real human lives (like James' and Russell's) are more important than fictional ones. You'd think it'd go without saying, wouldn't you?
Thanks for the insight. I think most of fandom was quite well behaved and based in reality. it's always that tiny fringe that are take it too far IMO. I can only imagine what reception AC Doyle would have received had the Internet been around when he killed off Sherlock Holmes.
So are you ever planning to attend a convention in the Washington DC area?
Wouldn't mind, if one asks me!
Hi Paul,
Finally got a chance to read some comics last night, amongst which was Dark X-Men: The Beginning.
I have to say I was wondering how Namor would be on a new Osborn formed X-Men, after The Sentry did what he did. This story patches that gap really well. And it was great to see Mr Kirk drawing Namor and Osborn, too.
I know that this one is a shot limited series. Are you playing any part in the other two issues?
Hope you are well. If not a little busy.
Mark
(Sword)
Hey Paul,
Agree with you on Lost. Wonderful show. Wondered if you are aware that the lady who plays Juliet is pulling double duty and also has a main role in the new remake of the Classic Kenneth Johnson 'V' series. It be interesting to see how different her new character on that show is from Juliet who has had quite an incredible journey character wise on Lost.
Best of luck with the book.
And sorry that I can no longer look forward to Captain Britain every month. That book and your writing our the single reason I got back into reading comics.
I'm still catching up. Read Watchmen shortly before the movie. Now reading more Alan Moore.
Just got through reading Surrogates which is an interesting one.
Is there any trades you could recommend. Keep in mind have already read Wisdom and most your MI13 stuff.
Thanks
Ian
Thanks, Mr. Sword, and yes, I have stories in both the next two issues, Cloak and Dagger/Osborn and Namor/Emma Frost specifically. Ian: thanks very much. I read Fables in trade, and really love it. And I'm sure she'll be very different, she seems like a very accomplished character actor.
Paul, I just got hold of a review copy of Captain Britain #15 for Comics Bulletin. It'll be getting a four-out-of-five review on Tuesday, but I just wanted to drop in an mention, as a huge fan of a certain character, that while his second incarnation isn't my favourite, it'll do... yes? ;)
Congratulations Caroline!
Awaiting the last Cap Wednesday.
Thanks, Kelvin, glad you liked it, yes? And thanks, Gov.