CBR: NYCC: Spotlight on J. Michael Straczynski

**CBR News** · 10-15-2010, 01:22 PM

JMS hosted a lively and raucous one-man panel Sunday at NYCC, where he discussed the "Thor" movie, his comics and film careers, "Babylon 5" and more, as well as offering advice to aspiring creators.

Full article here.

**froinlaven** · 10-15-2010, 02:10 PM

I don't get JMS...

He had great runs on Spider-Man and Thor, but so far his Superman and Wonder Woman arcs are just terrible. Brave and the Bold was so good. What happened?

**Allen T** · 10-15-2010, 02:55 PM

Originally Posted by froinlaven

I don't get JMS...

He had great runs on Spider-Man and Thor, but so far his Superman and Wonder Woman arcs are just terrible. Brave and the Bold was so good. What happened?

Simple, some of his work is a slow burn, while other is great right out of the gate. His magnum opus, Babylon 5, was a generic scifi show the first season. Its in the second season and definately the third season that Babylon 5 becomes epic.

**Neutrino** · 10-15-2010, 05:21 PM

“When I was first assigned 'Wonder Woman,'" said Straczynski, "one of the first things Geoff Johns said to me was, 'Don’t go on the Internet. It’s gonna be bad.' It’s been interesting to watch the reaction.”

Heaven knows, we wouldn't want him getting the idea that his work isn't beloved by all.

**Nevertheless** · 10-15-2010, 05:30 PM

Originally Posted by Neutrino

Heaven knows, we wouldn't want him getting the idea that his work isn't beloved by all.

I get the impression from that panel that he's aware that his work isn't to everyone's taste...

He comes across as a really nice guy here I think. I'm sufficiently intrigued by Wonder Woman to keep on reading, and Superman I enjoy parts of so far (haven't yet read 703). They certainly provide a very different experience from other super-hero style books on the stands, and that's a plus.

**chronin** · 10-15-2010, 09:09 PM

I wish someone would've put him on the spot about "The Twelve".

**Chris McFeely** · 10-16-2010, 02:09 AM

Originally Posted by chronin

I wish someone would've put him on the spot about "The Twelve".

Too bloody right!

**Xero** · 10-16-2010, 04:55 AM

He's an older guy with chronic lung problems and a huge workload, and he's delivered on a long and amazing career of writing. This man was writing radio plays before most of you were fetuses, and he wrote a lot of the cartoons you watched while attending preschool. So yeah I cut him a lot more slack than I would George R.R Martin.

Achieving just one percent of his lifetime output would be an amazing feat for any writer, so no you don't get to criticize his work ethic.

If you're annoyed because a book you wanted to read hasn't come out yet that's fine. If you're butthurt because he did something you don't understand with the fictional character that you currently have an unhealthy obsession with, that's also fine. But you do not get to question his work ethic, that man has more than proven himself.

Maybe you need some reading material J. Michael STraczynski (Wikipedia)

**Irresistiblement** · 10-16-2010, 05:27 AM

This sounded like a fun panel to attend, I'd give my left arm to be able to go to SDCC or NYCC and it's always a bummer when someone goes to a panel like this just to call the guy out.

Anyway, I thank JMS and the Morlun story in Amazing Spider-Man for getting me back into comics.

**daveageallen** · 10-16-2010, 05:39 AM

i think its funny that everything he does is in hindsight really well written by fans.

when thor was going on, most people were saying it was too slow moving and since it was every other month, boring and pointless. pretty much the same thing we hear about his superman/ wonderwomen, and brave and the bold.

also he gave the story that lost a lot of spiderman fans. one more day was his story, along with the iron spider, and the secret identity reveal. but now he is still looked on in a good light. while the team that followed OMD, get crap for that story.

**Scott Iskow** · 10-16-2010, 07:38 AM

I'm still hoping for more Book of Lost Souls. I swear, when I was reading it I thought I was reading the next Sandman.

**POWRSURG** · 10-16-2010, 09:12 AM

Originally Posted by Scott Iskow

I'm still hoping for more Book of Lost Souls. I swear, when I was reading it I thought I was reading the next Sandman.

I could not agree more. The Book of Lost Souls was my favorite series to come out from in the last decade. I wish there were more than 6 issues.

**Squashua** · 10-16-2010, 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by chronin

I wish someone would've put him on the spot about "The Twelve".

Correct.

Screw everyone in that room for not one of them asking about The Twelve.

Granted, I don't know if the question actually was asked and was just omitted from the report.

The Twelve is some great stuff and we're left hanging. :-(

**Sijo** · 10-16-2010, 02:21 PM

JMS in indeed one of the greatest writers in any media, and I'm glad he sounds like a nice and informed man in person as well.

I agree with him that a story should only be judged after it's complete. Thing is, some stories take WAY too long to tell. I was happy to wait several years to see Babylon 5 come to its (great) conclusion. But that was for free. Paying for several month's worth of comics to see if Superman: Grounded or the new Wonder Woman work? No, sorry. Of course they'll collect them in trades later, and those I might read.