Gail Simone: What's next?

[darkesword]

I'd love for her to do something like Welcome to Tranquility again. I mean I realize that with Wildstorm rolled into the DCU that's technically impossible, but with WtT she created a lot of fun new heroes with a lot of great character dynamics. She should get together with some other writers and artists and maybe take a stab at building a new superhero universe. Maybe head over to Boom! Studios and put together a couple of books.

[the4thpip]

That is true for the most part, at least when you just control for overall writing ability. Being able to write passable male characters is a requirement for all writers who want to put food on the table, while for the most part the same is not true for female characters. And your writing style is as much shaped by the stories you grew up reading as your own personal experience, so few female comic book writers would have had the chance to follow and idolize competent female protagonists, which for men of course is something that is wholly expected and taken for granted.

As for Gail, I do wish she would stick around at DC but I imagine it would be difficult given the way they've treated her, and I don't really expect her to go to Marvel since she has spoken in the past of a kind of frathouse mentality there that wouldn't exactly be conducive to letting her tell the kind of stories she wants to tell. On the other hand, she probably does need a job at one of the major publishers in order to pay the bills, so I wouldn't be surprised if they try to kiss and make up in some capacity.

Here it is... Full disclosure: The entire thing started when I asked the then-editor of Miss Marvel why no women ever wrote the character in her solo books in an interview:

I think it’s more likely that aspiring female writers know that Marvel isn’t their best shot.

I like Marvel. I have a lot of friends at Marvel. But there is definitely a Howard Stern/partytime/fratboy/strip club element.

Again, I like Marvel. But when I was there, it was INEVITABLE that every female who left or was let go would be referred to as a ‘crazy bitch’ at some point. I don’t blame any one person for it, but it is something that could bite them in the ass if they’re not careful.

And on the flipside, big kudos to editors like Mike Marts who could NOT have been more gracious and welcoming. And Joe Quesada has been nothing but nice to me as well. It’s not the individuals, it’s just sort of an institutionalized faux ‘badboys’ environment, to my mind.

As a final caveat, let me add that it’s been some years since I was there and it all may have changed since then.

Links:
http://blog.newsarama.com/2006/08/07...h-says-simone/

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?p...ticle&id=15322

http://www.comicbookbin.com/littlems001.html

[Zak213]

maybe something creator owned or indie.

[Desean101101]

maybe something creator owned or indie.

She has some creator owned lined up and She says that some of the DC Hire ups were talking to her about another series they want her on. and They said it was a mistake for him to tell her when he did. So I think they wanted her on another book and Cunningham kinda jumped the Gun before they talked to Gail about the other book.

[Spidey Sense]

Justice League. Team book or something that doesn't polarize her as a go to fem character writer.

[Billy the Cat]

She has some creator owned lined up and She says that some of the DC Hire ups were talking to her about another series they want her on. and They said it was a mistake for him to tell her when he did. So I think they wanted her on another book and Cunningham kinda jumped the Gun before they talked to Gail about the other book.

Thats what the higher ups are saying NOW after this has become public, the thing is she has said that this action "has left me without a paycheck from DC this month" and said "some editors are running around like mindless sheep" after being given and then took off Deathstroke ! IF she stays at DC this will be talked around at every con she go's too about her treatment by DC

[Ghost Shark]

A Deadshot/Catman buddy book. Can you imagine those two on a cross-country road trip with Gail behind the wheel?

[Nomads1]

She has some creator owned lined up and She says that some of the DC Hire ups were talking to her about another series they want her on. and They said it was a mistake for him to tell her when he did. So I think they wanted her on another book and Cunningham kinda jumped the Gun before they talked to Gail about the other book.

I do hope she does stay on at DC, and gets some high profile work. IMHO, DC has been taking her for granted lately. Gail is top talent and should be treated as such.

Peace

[the4thpip]

She tweeted a few hours ago that she would love to write a team book again.

[ForeverTaskmaster]

I second a Black Widow series for Marvel. I think she could really make Black Widow extra awesome.

A Huntress series I would also like.

A Lady Shiva series might also be interesting. I loved her version of Shiva.

Of course an Agent-X relaunch. Agent-X was by far my favorite stuff by Gail Simone. Not that Birds Of Prey was bad or Secret Six, but Agent-X was really something special.

Has a female ever worked on Avengers? If not, I would love to see her take on the Avengers.

Has a female ever worked on X-Men? If not, I would love to see her take on the X-Men.

And of course a Taskmaster series would be awesome.

[LEADER DESSLOK]

I just read about the facts surrounding the origin of this thread. If DC has offered her other projects I will withold some judgement. All I know from personal experience and with friends and associates of mine, any time something like this happens and job performance isn't the issue, politics are usually the real, uglier reason: Somebody's girlfriend or boyfriend needs a job, or the new editor wants to move things in "another direction"--usually a worse one--if Batgirl starts wearing a thong, I'll know I was right!

If Ms.Simone stays with DC I hope her next assignment will be a good fit with less interference. Personally, I wouldn't mind if she wrote for a GLORY comic over at Image. Then she could do the type of "Wonder Woman" stories she wanted to. Or perhaps, WITCHBLADE? I've liked BOTH of those concepts in the past, if not always the execution! With Gail writing those books I would DEFINITELY check them out!

[Melbourne Mew Mew]

My emotional response:

"Gail, you're too good for DC, or Marvel for that matter. Go somewhere you'll be appreciated!"

[42n8s1]

I just read about the facts surrounding the origin of this thread. If DC has offered her other projects I will withold some judgement. All I know from personal experience and with friends and associates of mine, any time something like this happens and job performance isn't the issue, politics are usually the real, uglier reason: Somebody's girlfriend or boyfriend needs a job, or the new editor wants to move things in "another direction"--usually a worse one--if Batgirl starts wearing a thong, I'll know I was right!

If Ms.Simone stays with DC I hope her next assignment will be a good fit with less interference. Personally, I wouldn't mind if she wrote for a GLORY comic over at Image. Then she could do the type of "Wonder Woman" stories she wanted to. Or perhaps, WITCHBLADE? I've liked BOTH of those concepts in the past, if not always the execution! With Gail writing those books I would DEFINITELY check them out!

This is how I feel.

[Captain Midnight]

Glad to hear the news that Gail is staying on Batgirl but if she could do Spidergirl or Spiderwoman for Marvel I would be happy.

[net06]

It would be kind of cool if they give her Catwoman as an apology after Nocenti gets finished crashing and burning it.