Lonewolf36
08-05-2006, 02:25 AM
From Newsarama
http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=79466
Friday afternoon, DC Comics held its DC Nation panel, which took the form of an open free-for-all question and answer session with the panelists: Dan Didio (who hosted), Keith Giffen, Geoff Johns, Jann Jones, and Bob Wayne (VP Sales).
As he introduced the panelists, Didio joked, “We don’t have Greg Rucka here, so we needed another curmudgeon,” in reference to Giffen, who proved Didio’s description true throughout the panel with his dry wit and deadpan humor.
Newsarama Note: With nearly all panels at conventions, virtually all responses were told with tongue firmly planted in cheek, or at the least, in god-natured fun.
Jumping right in the fray, Didio took a poll, based on applause, of who was enjoying which storyline of 52, and was taken aback when he received a “boo” after asking about the Booster Gold storyline.
“Why are you booing Booster Gold?” Didio asked.
“Because you’re dissing the guy!”
Didio agreed, and was joined by Giffen adding that there’s much more dissing to come.
“Booster Gold knows a lot more than he’s letting on,” Johns said, adding shortly after in answer to a question that yes, it was the real Booster Gold appearing in 52.
Highlights from the panel…
The chances of seeing Bat-Mite? Grant Morrison is trying to work him into his run on Batman.
Hoppy the Marvel Bunny? Giffen: “He’s in rehab.”
All-Star Ma Hunkel written by Geoff Johns with art by Keith Giffen? “We’re talking,” Didio joked.
Was the “Easter Egg” wall in Rip Hunter’s cave Giffen’s idea? Not really – Giffen said he gets full scripts from writers, and doesn’t pay too much attention to what’s coming up, so he can still be surprised by the story.
Didio added that Giffen’s role in 52, along with doing page breakdowns, is to kick the writers in the ass – as he has told the writers that if they don’t turn their work in, he’ll turn the issue in with his work in it. Giffen nodded, indicating that he was serious about keeping the book on schedule.
When asked to clarify the “Easter Egg” wall, Johns said that he wrote the scene, and everything there is on those pages for a reason.
“Even the thing about Superman’s son?” a fan asked.
“Read Donner and me on Action Comics,” Johns replied.
Didio (doing a take at Johns): “What are you doing in that book, man?”
Johns: “A lot.”
Didio: “That’s not what you told me…”
Moving on - how much Superboy story is left to be told, and how much is the character’s removal from the DCU is due to litigation (with the Siegel family)?
Didio: “Bob?”
Bob Wayne: “We don’t comment on pending litigation.”
Will there be other appearances by Earth-2 characters as seen in Superman/Batman?
Giffen: “We don’t comment on Earth-2 characters.” [crowd laughs]
Didio: “Not at this time, other than the fact that Power Girl will be around for the foreseeable future.”
Which is Superman’s true origin following Infinite Crisis, Man of Steel or Birthright?
Didio: “That’s a new story for us to tell…”
Did Infinite Crisis wipe out Zero Hour?
Didio: “Oh God, I hope so.”
When will we see SUpergirl act more like Supergirl, and less like the Punisher?
Didio: “When sales drop.”
Wayne: “I’ll second that.”
Asked about seeing the Cassandra Cain Batgirl again, Johns said that she is the Batgirl in the upcoming “Titans East” stryline in Teen Titans.
Seeing Black Alice in the future?
Didio: “A one-shot in January.”
More Shazam in the classic mold? Jeff Smith’s Shazam and the Monster Society of Evil starts in December. Four issues are done, and the second two are at the breakdown stage, and he’s working on them.
Jann Jones said when asked that they are doing everything they can to get Supergirl back on schedule, and will have a couple of fill in artists to help along those lines. Didio noted that regular series artist Ian Churchill is not a “monthly” guy.
The Emperor Joker storyline will collected in 2007, according to Wayne.
The changes and variations in the portrayal of Nightwing? “Nighting will be reconciled,” Didio said.
Johns added that around issue #30, Morrison is writing a full issue of 52 featuring Bruace Wayne, Tim Drake, and Dick Grayson, and Didio noted that in Nightwing’s regular series, Marv Wolfman and Dan Jurgens’ previously announced four-issue run has already been extended, though he didn’t say how many more issues the team will be doing. Didio also noted that there will be a couple of specials that will tie up what was happening in Nightwing and Outsiders.
Could there be a new Who’s Who in the DC Universe to help all the changes as a result of Infinite Crisis? Jones: “Sure.”
Asked if we will ever see comics back in grovery stores, Wayne said probably not, due to the fact that as individual items, comics don’t have a high enough cover price and don’t move enough copies per square inch of display space to justify their presence according to the ways stores analyze their space.
When will we see more All-Star Batman & Robin? Jones: “We just got another page last week.”
Didio: “If we published All-Star Batman & Robin page by page, would you buy it?”
Fan: “Yes!”
Didio: “Bob, make a note.”
Wayne: “Done.”
Asked if there will be more African American characters spotlighted in DC titles, Johns said that the fan will be really happy when they see the lineup of the Justice League, and pointed out that Mr. Terrific leads the JSA, and that Cyborg is in Teen Titans every month.
Further explaining the position, Didio said that DC has very strong team books right now, and the goal with them is to let the characrers take root and grow, so they can see which ones develop followings and can be spun out on their own. “My job is to build equity in these characters,” Didio said, noting that, currently, Mr. Terrific could support a miniseries, Cyborg deserves one, and Morrison produced two as part of Seven Soldiers, Mr. Miracle and Manhattan Guardian. “We’re trying to do this right,” Didio said in regards to their approach in creating new minority characters, “Not haphazardly.”
Ther are big plans for Wonder Woman and her stories in the first quarter of next year.
How many of Justice League of America #0’s storylines will come to pass?
Giffen: “(sigh) I don’t care.”
Johns: “Some of those will happen.”
Didio: “Some are so far in the future that we’ll all be gone, but some will be coming in the next few years and feed into what we’re doing.”
Readers will found out what happened to Bart Allen’s missing years in the coming months.
Any chance of seeing more Tangent characters, given that the Tangernt version of the Green Lantern landed on earth in Crisis? No.
Rags Morales? According to Jones, is doing art on an upcoming JSA Classified arc with Michael Bair.
Possibility of a Doom Patrol series or miniseries?
Johns: “I like playing with them in Teen Titans.”
Didio: “I like primarily using them as supporting characters. They’ve had a couple of tires over the last few years – and we’re at a place where we want to give everything an opportunity to build its base before we launch a new #1. “We have a lot of #1’s out there, and not all of them are going to sell well…(to Wayne) it’s okay Bob”
Wayne (back at Didio): “Not all of them are going to be good either…”
Where’s Roy Harper? Didio (thoughtful): “That’s a really good question.”
Could Azrael come back? (crowd boos) Didio: “The fans have spoken.”
Wrapping things up, Didio invoked the Lightning Round, asking for short questions, and promising shorter answers…
More done in one stories? Yes.
Wally West show up again? Johns: Yes
Weekly comic sustainable for a long time – can 52 turn into 104? Didio: Maybe, but with a different team We’re going to keep on looking at the weekly format, maybe something there
Waverider? 52
Aztek? Didio: Dead but getting better as we speak.
Sinestro Corps? Johns: Going to kick the GL Corps ass pretty soon.
Alan Scott lose the eye patch? Jones: Eye patches are hot.
Suicide Squad? Johns: Checkmate and 52.
Seven Soldiers #1? Wayne: October.
Giffen’s run on JLA collected in trades? Giffen: Probably not. Didio: We hate Keith and his run on Justice League.
Giffen on Legion after Waid? Giffen: (whines) No.
Ray Palmer unshrink, Scott Free, or Big Barda showing up? Didio: No, yes, yes. Johns: We see Little Barda in 52. She’s a Teen Titan, but still 7’ 2”
Another book like DC Challenge? It was a mess but hysterical… Didio: That’s our publishing plan - it’s a mess but hysterical. Giffen: Was it supposed to be funny?
Why wait until December for JSA #1? Giffen: Because we hate you.
Didio: You’re putting Greg Rucka to shame. You’re making him look huggable.
Johns: He just hasn’t had his whisky today.
Barry Allen? Didio: Yes, he’s staying dead. Actually, it’s not Bart, it’s young Barry Allen.
Plans for Kyle after Ion? Giffen: He’ll get a good costume.
Static Shock in Teen Titans? Johns: I’ve wanted that character since we launched. Didio: It’s hard to coordinate.
Dude, what is up with Catwoman? Giffen: Dude, we don’t write the book.
Didio: Her story will be told soon.
G’nort? Johns: Howard Chaykin is bringing him back in the Guy Gardner miniseries
http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=79466
Friday afternoon, DC Comics held its DC Nation panel, which took the form of an open free-for-all question and answer session with the panelists: Dan Didio (who hosted), Keith Giffen, Geoff Johns, Jann Jones, and Bob Wayne (VP Sales).
As he introduced the panelists, Didio joked, “We don’t have Greg Rucka here, so we needed another curmudgeon,” in reference to Giffen, who proved Didio’s description true throughout the panel with his dry wit and deadpan humor.
Newsarama Note: With nearly all panels at conventions, virtually all responses were told with tongue firmly planted in cheek, or at the least, in god-natured fun.
Jumping right in the fray, Didio took a poll, based on applause, of who was enjoying which storyline of 52, and was taken aback when he received a “boo” after asking about the Booster Gold storyline.
“Why are you booing Booster Gold?” Didio asked.
“Because you’re dissing the guy!”
Didio agreed, and was joined by Giffen adding that there’s much more dissing to come.
“Booster Gold knows a lot more than he’s letting on,” Johns said, adding shortly after in answer to a question that yes, it was the real Booster Gold appearing in 52.
Highlights from the panel…
The chances of seeing Bat-Mite? Grant Morrison is trying to work him into his run on Batman.
Hoppy the Marvel Bunny? Giffen: “He’s in rehab.”
All-Star Ma Hunkel written by Geoff Johns with art by Keith Giffen? “We’re talking,” Didio joked.
Was the “Easter Egg” wall in Rip Hunter’s cave Giffen’s idea? Not really – Giffen said he gets full scripts from writers, and doesn’t pay too much attention to what’s coming up, so he can still be surprised by the story.
Didio added that Giffen’s role in 52, along with doing page breakdowns, is to kick the writers in the ass – as he has told the writers that if they don’t turn their work in, he’ll turn the issue in with his work in it. Giffen nodded, indicating that he was serious about keeping the book on schedule.
When asked to clarify the “Easter Egg” wall, Johns said that he wrote the scene, and everything there is on those pages for a reason.
“Even the thing about Superman’s son?” a fan asked.
“Read Donner and me on Action Comics,” Johns replied.
Didio (doing a take at Johns): “What are you doing in that book, man?”
Johns: “A lot.”
Didio: “That’s not what you told me…”
Moving on - how much Superboy story is left to be told, and how much is the character’s removal from the DCU is due to litigation (with the Siegel family)?
Didio: “Bob?”
Bob Wayne: “We don’t comment on pending litigation.”
Will there be other appearances by Earth-2 characters as seen in Superman/Batman?
Giffen: “We don’t comment on Earth-2 characters.” [crowd laughs]
Didio: “Not at this time, other than the fact that Power Girl will be around for the foreseeable future.”
Which is Superman’s true origin following Infinite Crisis, Man of Steel or Birthright?
Didio: “That’s a new story for us to tell…”
Did Infinite Crisis wipe out Zero Hour?
Didio: “Oh God, I hope so.”
When will we see SUpergirl act more like Supergirl, and less like the Punisher?
Didio: “When sales drop.”
Wayne: “I’ll second that.”
Asked about seeing the Cassandra Cain Batgirl again, Johns said that she is the Batgirl in the upcoming “Titans East” stryline in Teen Titans.
Seeing Black Alice in the future?
Didio: “A one-shot in January.”
More Shazam in the classic mold? Jeff Smith’s Shazam and the Monster Society of Evil starts in December. Four issues are done, and the second two are at the breakdown stage, and he’s working on them.
Jann Jones said when asked that they are doing everything they can to get Supergirl back on schedule, and will have a couple of fill in artists to help along those lines. Didio noted that regular series artist Ian Churchill is not a “monthly” guy.
The Emperor Joker storyline will collected in 2007, according to Wayne.
The changes and variations in the portrayal of Nightwing? “Nighting will be reconciled,” Didio said.
Johns added that around issue #30, Morrison is writing a full issue of 52 featuring Bruace Wayne, Tim Drake, and Dick Grayson, and Didio noted that in Nightwing’s regular series, Marv Wolfman and Dan Jurgens’ previously announced four-issue run has already been extended, though he didn’t say how many more issues the team will be doing. Didio also noted that there will be a couple of specials that will tie up what was happening in Nightwing and Outsiders.
Could there be a new Who’s Who in the DC Universe to help all the changes as a result of Infinite Crisis? Jones: “Sure.”
Asked if we will ever see comics back in grovery stores, Wayne said probably not, due to the fact that as individual items, comics don’t have a high enough cover price and don’t move enough copies per square inch of display space to justify their presence according to the ways stores analyze their space.
When will we see more All-Star Batman & Robin? Jones: “We just got another page last week.”
Didio: “If we published All-Star Batman & Robin page by page, would you buy it?”
Fan: “Yes!”
Didio: “Bob, make a note.”
Wayne: “Done.”
Asked if there will be more African American characters spotlighted in DC titles, Johns said that the fan will be really happy when they see the lineup of the Justice League, and pointed out that Mr. Terrific leads the JSA, and that Cyborg is in Teen Titans every month.
Further explaining the position, Didio said that DC has very strong team books right now, and the goal with them is to let the characrers take root and grow, so they can see which ones develop followings and can be spun out on their own. “My job is to build equity in these characters,” Didio said, noting that, currently, Mr. Terrific could support a miniseries, Cyborg deserves one, and Morrison produced two as part of Seven Soldiers, Mr. Miracle and Manhattan Guardian. “We’re trying to do this right,” Didio said in regards to their approach in creating new minority characters, “Not haphazardly.”
Ther are big plans for Wonder Woman and her stories in the first quarter of next year.
How many of Justice League of America #0’s storylines will come to pass?
Giffen: “(sigh) I don’t care.”
Johns: “Some of those will happen.”
Didio: “Some are so far in the future that we’ll all be gone, but some will be coming in the next few years and feed into what we’re doing.”
Readers will found out what happened to Bart Allen’s missing years in the coming months.
Any chance of seeing more Tangent characters, given that the Tangernt version of the Green Lantern landed on earth in Crisis? No.
Rags Morales? According to Jones, is doing art on an upcoming JSA Classified arc with Michael Bair.
Possibility of a Doom Patrol series or miniseries?
Johns: “I like playing with them in Teen Titans.”
Didio: “I like primarily using them as supporting characters. They’ve had a couple of tires over the last few years – and we’re at a place where we want to give everything an opportunity to build its base before we launch a new #1. “We have a lot of #1’s out there, and not all of them are going to sell well…(to Wayne) it’s okay Bob”
Wayne (back at Didio): “Not all of them are going to be good either…”
Where’s Roy Harper? Didio (thoughtful): “That’s a really good question.”
Could Azrael come back? (crowd boos) Didio: “The fans have spoken.”
Wrapping things up, Didio invoked the Lightning Round, asking for short questions, and promising shorter answers…
More done in one stories? Yes.
Wally West show up again? Johns: Yes
Weekly comic sustainable for a long time – can 52 turn into 104? Didio: Maybe, but with a different team We’re going to keep on looking at the weekly format, maybe something there
Waverider? 52
Aztek? Didio: Dead but getting better as we speak.
Sinestro Corps? Johns: Going to kick the GL Corps ass pretty soon.
Alan Scott lose the eye patch? Jones: Eye patches are hot.
Suicide Squad? Johns: Checkmate and 52.
Seven Soldiers #1? Wayne: October.
Giffen’s run on JLA collected in trades? Giffen: Probably not. Didio: We hate Keith and his run on Justice League.
Giffen on Legion after Waid? Giffen: (whines) No.
Ray Palmer unshrink, Scott Free, or Big Barda showing up? Didio: No, yes, yes. Johns: We see Little Barda in 52. She’s a Teen Titan, but still 7’ 2”
Another book like DC Challenge? It was a mess but hysterical… Didio: That’s our publishing plan - it’s a mess but hysterical. Giffen: Was it supposed to be funny?
Why wait until December for JSA #1? Giffen: Because we hate you.
Didio: You’re putting Greg Rucka to shame. You’re making him look huggable.
Johns: He just hasn’t had his whisky today.
Barry Allen? Didio: Yes, he’s staying dead. Actually, it’s not Bart, it’s young Barry Allen.
Plans for Kyle after Ion? Giffen: He’ll get a good costume.
Static Shock in Teen Titans? Johns: I’ve wanted that character since we launched. Didio: It’s hard to coordinate.
Dude, what is up with Catwoman? Giffen: Dude, we don’t write the book.
Didio: Her story will be told soon.
G’nort? Johns: Howard Chaykin is bringing him back in the Guy Gardner miniseries