A few thoughts as I continue to work ahead on Nightwing. I was originally given the book for four issues - a fill-in actually - but now that I'm on it for a longer run I've started to make some changes in the title that I'm really pleased with and wanted to share with you.

The first thing I wanted when I got the fill-in was to address Dick Grayson's detective and acrobatic skills. Since Wing is human, you can't suddenly have him fly or do things outside the realm of possibilities. Dick was a natural born athlete before he ever met Batman, and I very much wanted to show him doing things nobody else in the DCU could do, certainly not with such command and ease. Secondly, Robin was trained by Batman to be a detective, and I wanted to show how good he could be. I think my first story arc accomplished both.

The next thing I wanted was to showcase Wing's fighting prowess as well as his leadership capabilities and to begin to set up a new cast of characters. Dick was moved to New York before I got on the book but since back in the Titans days I always had him in that city, it felt right to leave him there. Not only that but I knew New York well, which I felt could add real flavor to the book. Much as I love Metropolis and Gotham, and created Bethlehem (Bedlam), my own fictional city for the comic The Man Called A-X, I've always had a fondness for real cities in my comics. So for the present, New York stays.

But being in New York meant bringing in a new cast of friends and foes. Since I didn't want to set up a super romance right away - Dick had been falling into bed a bit too quickly for my taste - I wanted him to find some female friends, not just lovers. At least not immediately. That would come soon enough, I knew. I also wanted to introduce him to a few new male friends. But friends to Dick Grayson, not just to Nightwing. Someone a guy like Dick could go out for a drink with. That's already been started although most readers don't know it yet. More than one character introduced to the series will be returning on a more regular basis although others who look like they were supposed to keep coming back, won't be. That's another thing I wanted to do; not let the reader know in advance where I'm going. We need to keep some surprises, after all.

Like our first arc, our second arc introduces some new villains. I like the idea of providing Nightwing with his own rogue's gallery, although some better known DCU characters will appear from time to time. The characters of Bride and Groom are intended to push Nightwing to the brink and maybe beyond. Something happens in our second B&G issue - on sale in a week or so - that I think is going to affect Nightwing for a long, long time to come. And because of what happens, there is definitely going to be long term character changes and ramifications that will become even more apparent when artist Jamal Igle and I begin our third arc.

Jamal had a character idea for a villain and I had a storyline I wanted to tell, about a missing year in Dick's life and how that has affected so many of his decisions and attitudes since then. We will introduce several new characters in that arc as well as bring back a particular favorite I'd done before, long ago. Our third arc will push Nightwing further than we've ever seen. We're not changing him as a character so much as letting him walk the edge and see which way he teeters.

The trick to Nightwing is giving him purpose and drive. Because the murder of his parents was resolved quickly he never developed the rigid obsession that has motivated Batman. His motivation comes from the pursuit of justice. But maybe something happened between the last days of the first run of Teen Titans when he disbanded that group for reasons we will learn, and the first issue of the New Teen Titans where he returned to the fold more grown up and less a kid sidekick than he ever had been before. Coincidentally, it's also a year where he wasn't with Batman 7/27. Something changed him then, and now that something has returned. And as I say, if what happens in our second Bride & Groom story lights the fuse, our third storyline is where everything in Dick's life is going to explode.

The Nightwing fans care very much for Dick and company, and what I'm hoping to do is not just change the status quo that we've seen 'til now, but make them like what we're doing. For some reason Dick Grayson has always been one of my favorite characters to write. I hope to make him one of the most compelling to read, too. And because the Wingnuts out there are also some of the most verbal fans I've ever met, I know they'll let me know if I succeed or not. Please let me know that, too, right here on Today's Views. Your comments and thoughts are not only welcomed, but solicited.

Labels: Nightwing

Still in Wolf typing mode (see below) but I had a few minutes. Since I've been working nothing new or special has happened, so instead of giving news, I'll TV review a bit.

The Oscars: Pretty good. Actually, aside from a few disagreements on winners it was entertaining and fun. For once I absolutely loved how they handled the writer categories. Most people, although if asked say they know better, still think either the actors make up the scene descriptions and dialogue, or that the director tells them exactly what to say. As shown here it starts with the printed word. There's a famous story in Hollywood that may or may not be true. I will take the quote from writer Ken Levine's site. You can read the whole piece on his blog by going HERE, but the significant part of it is: (There was) supposedly a writer who was sick of always hearing about the Capra Touch set 120 blank pages in front of him (Capra) and said, Here. Put the Capra Touch on this. By showing the segue from the printed word to the screen we put those beliefs to rest.
I could try to analyze Ellen's hosting (liked it!) or the individual wins, but I'd be more than a few days late and a couple'a dollars short. Despite its length I thought it was one of the better shows, although if forced I could say my major complaint was not having a "major" category award for the first 45 minutes. Of course, I'd like to see any movie made without art direction, sound or set design, so I can't really insist those are minor categories.

24 continues to be solid although the plot isn't coming together yet. This is a show made on the kinetic adrenaline rush it gives. But I would like to see a specific story start to rear its ugly head. It seems to be going everywhere at once a if they didn't have a core idea and decided to throw the kitchen sink at us.

Heroes on the other hand is really coming together. I loved this week's featuring only HRG and his family. I actually got a sense of real progression although we saw hardly anyone else. Loved the idea that Hiro's dad may be behind this. Also, it made me wonder something else. Hiro's dad tells HRG that he's giving him the baby girl because his wife has been having trouble conceiving. Yet they do have a younger son. Adopted, too? Another hero in the making but one with a power that hasn't yet clicked in?

I never thought I'd say I liked the Sarah Silverman show. Whenever I've seen her stand up I always got the impression that people laughed more because she's a cute girl who talks like a truck driver than because of her jokes. But I love the show. It's sick and twisted but somehow engaging. A dirty, subversive Pee Wee's Playhouse for addled minded adults. Like me.

30 Rock, a show I didn't much care for, has found its way by ignoring what it's about. The show used to be about the behind the scenes making of a Saturday Night Live kind of show. Essentially a show for the people who do that kind of thing. Now it's closer to the Mary Tyler Moore show, where you really care about the characters much more than about what they're doing. Mary Tyler Moore wasn't about programming the news, and the Dick Van Dyke show wasn't really about making a variety show, and this is no longer about SNL. It's just a really funny TV show set in the TV studio. The cast has jelled and it is often knee-slapping funny. Last week's episode was down and dirty hilarious.

The Class & How I Met Your Mother: May lose me whatever little cred I still have, but I find both shows really funny. I don't ask much more from a comedy than to make me laugh and most simply don't. I watch them with an amused smile. Not these two or the other two comedies I also enjoy: My Name is Earl and Two And A Half Men.

I'm behind on Battlestar Galactica, not because I want to be but because Noel insists on watching it, too, and she hasn't had much free time. So it's sitting on my TiVo waiting. Still, somehow, she has the time to watch Psych, another show we enjoy. It's completely mindless and the plots make little sense, but it's fun to watch. Actually, she usually wants to watch Psych because you don't have to think when it comes to it. Actually, thinking would probably ruin the show. We do have one big complaint: Why did they stop the fake "outtakes" at the end of the shows? Really enjoyed them. What's not waiting on my TiVo is the Dresden Files. Gave up on that already.

I know there's more shows I watch and enjoy but my time's run out. Later.

Labels: Oscars, TV Reviews

My friend Mark Evanier usually posts a picture of a can of Campbell's soup when he's too busy to blog. God knows what that means but he's consistent and that's all that matters. This week has been Evanier busy and there's no immediate end in sight, which I'm actually quite happy about. So the wolf at the typewriter, drawn by Brent Anderson way back when for my "wolf" mug book, is now my own official can of soup to signify that I haven't forgotten about posting. Just too busy. Hopefully something more interesting than "I had pizza for dinner" will happen while I'm working and if it does I promise to let you know. Otherwise the next week or two might be spotty. On the other hand I may need some breaks and blog more than usual. Check your subscription thingie which is the easiest way of knowing.

In the meantime, enjoy the Oscars this week. I haven't seen all the movies up for awards, but that doesn't mean I don't have favorites. Since when do you need facts to guide your choices?

Labels: busybusybusy

So the other day Noel and I were driving along Ventura Blvd. when we saw TV news crews lining the street. Well, we see them all the time, and besides, they were in front of what I knew to be the Edgar Rice Burroughs offices so I assumed there was some announcement going on inside. There is supposedly a John Carter movie in the works and there's always something happening with Tarzan. I was wrong. Butting the ERB offices happens to be Esther's Hair Salon. The place I've gone to for a zillion years to have my admittedly sparse hairline trimmed and styled as best any human can make it, and Esther is about the best I know. But they weren't there to ask Esther about fringing my follicles. They were there because just a short bit before what's her name the pop tart shaved off her own hair and Esther applied the finishing touches. The cut locks are being auctioned off on eBay. I bet they'll get more than mine ever has.

I am now expecting hundreds of Britney wannabees to trek to Esther's for the same shave and a haircut two bits. Assuming I can get an appointment, I can't wait to go back in a few weeks and find out everything that went down. Of course, now that the shop is famous, they'll probably raise their prices. Damn you, Britney Spears, you did it again!

Labels: Britney Spears

I usually don't pass along joke emails; we all get far too many, but my friend, writer Steve Cuden, sent me these and I just had to resend them. Being this came from the net I have no idea how many of them are real quotes, but frankly, it doesn't matter. They are wonderful.

WHEN INSULTS HAD CLASS

"He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire." -- Winston Churchill

"A modest little person, with much to be modest about" -- Winston Churchill

"I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure."
-- Clarence Darrow

"He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary."
-- William Faulkner (about Ernest Hemingway)

"Poor Faulkner. Does he really think big emotions come from big words?"
-- Ernest Hemingway (about William Faulkner)

"He can compress the most words into the smallest idea of any man I know." -- Abraham Lincoln

"I've had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn't it." --
Groucho Marx

"I didn't attend the funeral , but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it." --
Mark Twain

"He has no enemies, but is intensely disliked by his friends." -- Oscar Wilde

"I enclose two tickets to the first night of my new play, bring a friend... if you have one."
-- George Bernard Shaw to Winston Churchill

"Cannot possibly attend first night; will attend second, if there is one."--
Winston Churchill, in response.

"He is a self-made man and worships his creator." -- John Bright

"I've just learned about his illness. Let's hope it's nothing trivial." -- Irvin S. Cobb

"He has Van Gogh's ear for music." -- Billy Wilder

"He is not only dull himself, he is the cause of dullness in others." -- Samuel Johnson

"He had delusions of adequacy." -- Walter Kerr

"There's nothing wrong with you that reincarnation won't cure." -- Jack E. Leonard

"They never open their mouths without subtracting from the sum of human knowledge." -- Thomas Brackett Reed

"In order to avoid being called a flirt, she always yielded easily." --
Charles Count Talleyrand

"He loves nature in spite of what it did to him." -- Forrest Tucker

"Why do you sit there looking like an envelope without any address on it?" --
Mark Twain

"His mother should have thrown him away and kept the stork."
-- Mae West

Labels: Quotes

Just a quick note that I'm one of the guests at the March 16-18 WIZARD WORLD LA. I'll have more information, including panels and signing times as we get closer to the event, so start saving your pennies now.

Labels: Wizard World

Maybe it's just me, but when I watch TV I don't find myself confusing fiction with fact. Politically, I'm a liberal, have been so since I was old enough to think for myself, but I love the TV show 24 and have never once thought "You know, I love how Jack Bauer tortures people and that is how I want my real government to work."

Maybe it's because I write stories where people fly and are generally out for revenge against something done to them at an early age, but I can divide my thoughts when it comes to fact or fiction. I love when Jack Bauer shoots a villain's wife in he leg to get the terrorist to talk, but only because... IT AIN'T REAL! That sort of action would appall me in real life, but it makes for great drama and tension. Am I rationalizing? I don't know. But I do know the difference between good and bad and real and unreal as well as what makes for an interesting drama as opposed to what is acceptable in real life. And I don't confuse the two.

There's a fascinating article about the show 24 in the online edition of The New Yorker. You can read it HERE. I don't agree with creator Joel Surnow's actual right-wing politics, but he's a great story teller. I've been a fan since The Equalizer, La Femme Nikita and now 24. He tells a damn good story and when I put on the TV that's all I care about. I think 24 works because despite a possible conservative attitude, there's also a healthy dose of liberalism in it. Last year the President, a rather dense dunce of a man turned out to be the villain. This year one high ranking administration muckety-muck is pushing for an end to Habeus Corpus and he is treated pretty much like any of the other standard 24 baddies; he lies, he plots, he has shifty eyes. And to think he was such a nice guy on Ally McBeal. Oh, Biscuit, I hardly knew ye.

24's politics skew all ways, which I like, since in real life no side has any ownership of the truth. But, more importantly, 24 works for me because it's great fun. I check my brain at the door so I don't have to think about the giant inconsistencies that occur every week, and just enjoy a really well-crafted roller coaster ride. Is 24 conservative because its creator is? Who knows? Is it liberal because it questions the bad intentions of those in charge? I dunno. But I do know it's a helluva show and I can't wait for the next installment. Maybe, this is a show which everyone, despite their politics, can enjoy. Which may prove we are all much more alike than the politicians would have us believe.

Labels: 24

After I write whatever silliness I tend to scribble, a lot of you actually write back with some cogent comments. So take a look at the COMMENTS made. They're a lot more pithy than some of the stuff they're commenting on. And also don't forget, if you have something to add to or augment something I've said, please do add a comment. I love reading them. Etiquette rules apply, but other than that have fun.

I also wanted to remind that you can subscribe to this blog by hitting the ATOM word either at the top right of the page or the bottom. After that it's easy to see any newly added words of wisdom. It costs nothing and is worth twice that.

Labels: Subscribing

That's 300 multiplied by the number of arms and legs that are cut off during the movie and that's just on the Spartan's side. If you throw in the Persians, I'd say it's closer to 32 million severed limbs. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

I saw an early screening of 300 last night and thought it was okay. To be fair, it's a lot better than okay. It's well acted. It looks good. And it's stylistically unique. But when you get down to it, it's a not a helluva lot richer than the swords and sandals pics they used to do in Italian with Steve Reeves back in the 1960s. But with tons more production value and style. It even has its requisite number of shirtless men all with muscles popping out of the whazoo; there are more six-packs on display here than in a beer can factory. For comic fans, it does bring Frank Miller's graphic novel to the screen, but it doesn't do a lot more than that and having already read the original, and liking it a lot, I wanted more.

The blood spurts with abandon, but because it's intentionally animated and designed blood rather than great gushing gobs of the red stuff, it is almost lyrical in its spurt patterns. And because of that despite the overwhelming amount of maiming, the violence actually isn't all that violent. In a weird way it is almost pretty. It doesn't repel as violence should; it rivets and makes us want more.

Which may be one of the problems I have with it. I felt I was watching video game animatics when I wanted to see a strong film. In video games - which I do love playing and am currently enjoying the very violent Gears of War - we go from one big action scene to the next and the animatics serve to lead us to the next big battle. In 300, the story unfolds the same way. Here's the Greeks fighting Persians. Now the Greeks are fighting masked Persians. Now the Greeks are fighting mastadons. Now the Greeks are fighting Rhinos. Now the Greeks are fighting the giant monsters, now the Greeks are fighting the one-eyed, one-horned giant purple people eaters. There is character in the movie, and when there is you want it to go on longer because there's some real substance, but character seems to exist solely to propel us to an even bigger and more incredibly done action scene the next time.

If the movie were bad or even poor I wouldn't bother talking about it at all. But it's a really wonderfully produced film, well acted, incredible to look at and fascinating in its scope. It is, as I said earlier, visually unique in the good way. And because of the action and some bare breasts, it should score big with the young male crowd, but I wanted to see something richer and deeper, something with more character that moving past the visuals would take it one step beyond those old Steve Reeves Hercules movies. That I didn't see.

Would I recommend seeing it? Yes. And you should see it in the theaters since it should be experienced on the large screen. You've never seen anything quite like it before. And, as I say it is well done. But while what's on the surface is incredible to look at, there's not much beneath.

Labels: 300, Movies

Labels: LD, Noel

Although Lea (Hi! Hope things are returning to normal) posted the major info, after the movie was over I did some further checking. If you want to know more about the SOLO pilot, you can read about it HERE! The reason it was somewhat familiar is that I'd seen a slightly different version of it, under the MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. title, when it was first aired way back when. In introducing the pilot, the network said the show was created by James Bond creator Ian Fleming. If memory serves, that's not quite true. Bond was riding high and Fleming was approached, but all he did was come up with the name Solo, a name taken from the Bond character who was car compacted in the movie Goldfinger. I don't believe he had any further involvement. U.N.C.L.E. 's first season was decent, especially for the time, but the show quickly went down hill, and that's not just looking at the episodes today, which really don't hold up at all. I remember becoming less and less enamored of the show with each passing year. It had gone from an action show to pretty much a dumb comedy that appeared to be shot on a ten cent budget. Still, for a kid, that first year was magic.

Labels: MAN FROM UNCLE, Solo

Even as I write this, I'm watching what the network is calls the unaired pilot for The Man From U.N.C.L.E. It doesn't have the U.N.C.L.E. title and in fact is simply called SOLO. But it is in color whereas the first season of the show was in black and white. But it also doesn't have Mr. Waverly, U.N.C.L.E.'s boss for the series and instead has someone else. Further, it has scenes from the show's regular opening credits indicating this indeed may be the pilot. Ilya, in the closing credits, doesn't have a last name, either and he's just one of several U.N.C.L.E. agents instead of Solo's partner. But the questions is this - Is this an unaired U.N.C.L.E. movie/pilot that was shot in color? Is it a B&W movie that has been colorized? Has it actually been unaired. or just unaired since it was originally shown. I'm having very vague memories of it, but who knows? I'm hoping one of you do? back in the day when I was a kid I loved the show. More recently when I see it, the show, well, suffers. But this movie or whatever it was is actually decent for its time and has better production values than the whole series... combined. So, what's the scoop?

Labels: MAN FROM UNCLE, Solo

NIGHTWING #129 is coming out today. It's part one of BRIDE AND GROOM. So what do you think?

Paramount Pictures has set Thursday, May 22, 2008 for the release of the next Indiana Jones movie, which the studio is now officially referring to as the 'Fourth Installment of the Indiana Jones Adventures.' The picture maintains the Memorial Day weekend release strategy of the last two Indiana Jones movies, and it mirrors the last two 'Star Wars' movies and 'The Matrix Reloaded' with its Thursday launch.

Also currently scheduled for Memorial Day weekend 2008 is Warner Bros.' 'Speed Racer.' Two other event-style pictures have previously staked out May 2008 releases dates: Paramount's 'Iron Man' (May 2) and Buena Vista's 'The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian' (May 16).

Labels: May 2008, Movies

Synchronicity. About two weeks ago at a gathering a number of my friends were discussing the very, very, very old TV show Coronet Blue which we all loved although barely remembered. It had a mystery - what did the words Coronet Blue mean? It had a hero who didn't know who he was - a theme I for some reason love and have repeated myself - and was for the time, really nifty. And of course it lasted half a season. Actually, if memory serves, and it probably doesn't, it was a summer series back when they did those. But it was never picked up and so the mystery remained unsolved. Anyway, over at MARK EVANIER'S WEBSITE Mark not only has a video of its opening, but the actual solution from the show's creator. After 40 years. Wow! And I actually like the solution. I can now sleep easily once again.

Labels: Coronet Blue

Every so often I like to remind folk that some of my novels and comic collections are still available for sale at amazon.com. If you are interested, here are a couple of the books you can buy by simply clicking on the covers or their highlighted titles. And, as I always like to remind you, if you link to Amazon through this page, I get a few cent rebate from every purchase which helps keep this site in shiny new software.

First an foremost: THE ABSOLUTE CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS. I honestly believe this is the best printing of any comic that I've ever seen. The paper is wonderful and unlike any other printing, it doesn't glare at you. You get two hardcovers put inside a really cool looking slipcase.

The first volume reprints the entire original Crisis on Infinite Earths comic at a much larger size than any of the other printings, which allows you to clearly see George Perez's incredible art and his remarkable detail like it's never been seen before.

Volume two (pictured to your left) is a behind the scenes look at how the Crisis was created, complete with personal memos that I wrote at the time to the other editors and creators, original plots, and much, much more. The second volume alone makes this worth while.

My second book is the CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS novel. This is not just a retelling of the original Crisis story, but an all-new look at Crisis. In fact, it's about 70-80% completely original. Told through the point of view of Barry (The Flash) Allen, we discover that many of the events you read in the comic happened with a little help from our (dead) friend. I wrote this nearly 20 years after I wrote the original comic, and I'm very pleased how this book let me revisit the original Crisis but in an all-new way, allowing me to shed some light on many of the events we saw.

The final book suggestion for today is my novelization for last summer's movie, SUPERMAN RETURNS. Although I adapted this from the final draft of the screenplay, there are several major scenes in the book that never made it into the final edit of the film. Beyond that, I sat down for a long talk with the writers of the film and I was asked to flesh out characters, provide background to the story, and do the type of things one can do in a novel that simply can't easily be done in a movie. So, with their encouragement, I added scenes and really delved into character relationships. Once again I am very pleased with the results. I think you will be, too.

Let me know if this is helpful to you and if you'd like me to do this with some of the other collections of my work that are available. As always, if you are at a convention I'm attending, you can bring the books in for me to sign if you wish. I don't charge for autographs.

Labels: my books for sale

I've been hearing that a lot lately. KLAK KLIKITY KLAK Working and not posting as anyone can tell. I am boggled by those out there who can not only post every day but sometimes several times a day, and still produce more other writing than I can.

First draft of "The Judas Contract" animated movie is at Warners for their notes. I'm finishing up another animation project this weekend. Nightwing #131 is being drawn. I'm going to start #132 on Monday. Once I'm done with #132 I go into video conferencing with artist Jamal Igle where we'll discuss the next Nightwing arc which examines a missing time period from Dick Grayson's life. While that's being approved I'll finish the final issue of the Raven mini-series. In between that I have a few other projects going which I can't discuss, but they are wrapping up, too, while I'm about to start on some others, in comics and out.

I did take a break yesterday eve and helped some friends "beta" test a brand new experimental kind of game. It was an incredible time and I can't wait for them to work out all the kinks. It's gonna be a mind-blower. All I can say is my team won.


I finally had a chance to see the Richard Donner edit of Superman 2 on that incredible new 14-disc Superman movie collection. As I say it's incredible with lots and lots of extras, one of which betrays the quality of the rest of the discs by making the mistake of interviewing me. Also, the extras I've been watching has included a lot of material I'd never seen before. Watching Christoper Reeve talking about making the movie is heart breaking , but also very life affirming. Despite his pain and the difficulties he must have had, instead of just concentrating on his own infirmity he spent his last years trying to help others like him. That is the very definition of hero.

This collection makes up for having me on it by also including all 17 episodes of the "Fleischer" Superman cartoons which may be the best "movie" version of Superman ever done. Maybe the best Superman in any media, period. I saw them on TV when I was a kid - in black and white - and they were thrilling. I've seen them again as an adult, in color this time, and they are even better. These are also really good prints. You can order it on Amazon.com for a speedy delivery. Just click on the pic of the Ultimate Superman DVD or if you prefer, click HERE.

Labels: Donner's Cut, work