Random Objects in My Office

Big Changes at DC Comics

Hot on the heels of last week's announcement that Disney was acquiring Marvel Entertainment, some big changes have been announced today for DC Comics as well. You can read Heidi MacDonald's article on the developments at DC here .

How any of this will affect me personally is probably at a minimum, though the article does mention "Midnight,Mass." as one of the projects currently in development for television. As many of you know, this was a series I created for DCs Vertigo imprint a few years back (which, incidentally, Heidi MacDonald was the editor on).

The Mouse and the Spider

Disney is buying Marvel Entertainment for $4 billion. This will no doubt mean all manner of merchandising of Mickey Mouse dressed as Spider-Man, Donald Duck as the Hulk or Wolverine, and so on, and undoubtedly some sort of theme park attraction, probably at Disney Studios. Hopefully it will also mean the return of Disney Comics, which have been pretty absent in this country (excepting reprints of archived material).

Details, as they are known at this time, can be found here.

Happy Birthday to the King

When I was a kid, I doubt I knew his name, but I sure knew his art. It seemed like every comic book I read (except for the Disney ones) was drawn by him. All hail Jack Kirby!

Miscellaneous

Jay Stephens has posted his pencil roughs for the cover to CARTOON NETWORK ACTION PACK #44 here. This issue contains a two-part THE SECRET SATURDAYS story that I wrote.

One of my earliest work in comics (be warned) has been posted at Bosch Millennium

Rik Offenberger discusses the Red Circle comic books from DC, including THE HANGMAN, with editor Rachel Gluckstern at Newsarama .

A couple more takes on MIDNIGHT, MASS. going to NBC here , here and here .

Comics Bulletin Interview

Andre Lamar has posted an interview that he conducted with me with at Comics Bulletin where we discuss the two hats I wear in writing comics; the more adult oriented comics like MIDNIGHT, MASS. and the forthcoming THE HANGMAN and the child oriented work I do in SCOOBY-DOO and THE SECRET SATURDAYS.

H.P. Lovecraft's Birthday

Today is the birthday of H.P. Lovecraft. To celebrate I may end up reading one of his stories over some seafood. For more info start here.

New XOMBI comic available today

XOMBI was a comic book series I wrote for Milestone Comics between 1994-1996. It lasted 22 issues and was well regarded by my peers and a cult following. The series was illustrated by J.J. Birch with color by Noelle Giddings and others, and letters by Agnes Pinaha. There were also a handful of guest cover artists including John Byrne, Walt Simonson, Howard Chaykin, and one that unfortuantely went unused by Kent Williams. There was also, sadly, an entire Hanukkah Special that was completed, but never published, with art by Guy Davis and a cover by Guy Davis and Vince Locke.

The series followed David Kim a medical researcher working with nanotechnology. His laboratory is broken into by supernatural creatures sent to steal his research. The creatures mortally wound David with occult weapons, and David's assistant saves him by infusing his body with his experimental nanomachines which restore him at her expense. David soon discovers that he can't die. Cut off a limb, he'll grow it back. Infect him, his body will get rid of the disease. The nanomachines also keep him at an ideal age, and weight, correct his eyesight, and keep him from ever needing to brush his teeth or use a toilet.

Due to the nature of his transformation, David also discovers that he's a weirdness magnet. He becomes the center of a number of bizarre supernatural and just plain weird adventures, assisted and mentored by an odd assortment of paranormal combattants including Rabbi Sinnowitz, Vatican endorsed Nun of the Above and her superpowered sidekick, Catholic Girl, and magician infect with supernatural VD, Julian Parker.

After a thirteen year absence, David Kim returns to comics today in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #26, along with Julian Parker, and DC's spirit of vengeance, THE SPECTRE. The artwork is by Scott Hampton and features a cover by Michael Kaluta.

You Can Now Spend Eternity As A Severed Head

Forget the coffin. Spend eternity gazing down on your loved ones in the form of a severed head. Here's how.

MIDNIGHT, MASS. - The television series

The troubled comic book series, "Midnight, Mass." which I created for DC/Vertigo in the early 2000s may be headed to television.

According to the Hollyood Reporter:

NBC to adapt 'Midnight' comic
Drama among the most heavily pursued DC titles
By Nellie Andreeva
Aug 16, 2009, 11:00 PM ET
"Midnight, Mass." is headed to television.

NBC has picked up a live-action drama adaptation of the comic book series from DC Comics' Vertigo imprint.

Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts are on board to write the project for Warner Bros. TV and studio-based Jinks/Cohen Co.

"Midnight," which has received a script commitment with penalty from the network, revolves around Adam and Julia Kadmons, a sophisticated, sexy, globe-trotting husband-and-wife team who solve mysteries and crimes of the supernatural.

John Rozum's "Midnight, Mass." has been among the most heavily pursued of DC Comics' properties for a TV series adaptation by sister company WBTV.

Over the years, almost a dozen producers at the studio had taken a stab at the comic, but this is the first time such a project has been set up at a network.

Berg and Harberts are executive producing "Midnight" with Jinks and Cohen.

ICM-repped Berg and Harberts serve as executive producers/showrunners on NBC/UMS' new medical drama "Mercy" with creator Liz Heldens.

For the record, the main characters are Adam and Julia Kadmon, not Kadmons, and error made in every report I've seen so far.

This is the second attempt to turn Midnight, Mass. into a television series. Hopefully, this one will work out.

To read other reports on the project visit Bleeding Cool and UGO .

In Comic Book Stores Today

Piecemeal returns to plague the Saturdays in a new story written by me, with art by Scott Jeralds and Mike Manley and a great cover by Jay Stephens. It all happens in the pages of CARTOON NETWORK ACTION PACK #40, from DC Comics, on sale today at a comic book store near you. With the second season of THE SECRET SATURDAYS having just finished on the Cartoon Network, this makes the perfect gift for any fans who can't wait until the third season begins this Fall.

40 Years of Ghosts and Ghouls

Forty years ago today, one of my favorite places in the world opened its creaking doors to the public for the first time. Happy Birthday to Disneyland's The Haunted Mansion.

BRAVE AND THE BOLD #26 - Preview

Available August 19th, THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #26 features the Spectre and Xombi, aka David Kim. XOMBI, published in the mid-1990s by Milestone Media, remains the work I'm best known for, and for which I continue to receive the most correspondence. This is the first time I've written the character in about 12 years, and it was a treat. I only wish it wasn't a one time treat.

Here is a sample page with artwork by Scott Hampton.

100 Days Until Halloween

There's only 100 days until Halloween, and only 69 Days until the beginning of this year's 31 Days of Halloween. That's 31 days of daily posts all about the best holiday of the year. Last year over 70 different blogs participated in the annual Halloween countdown. This year, I'm guessing, we'll see over 100. I've already begun compiling my list of this year's participants. If you're planning to join us this year, please let me know.

If you're not planning to participate, but want to be part of the fun anyway, then stop back here on October 1st, and find out how.

If you'll excuse me, I've got a lot of work to do to in order to be prepared.

Interview with Yours Truly on "The Hangman"

I drop some tidbits of information regarding the forthcoming DC Comics series "The Hangman," which will be appearing in issues of "The Web" beginning in September in this interview conducted by Rik Offenberger for Newsarama. You can find links to interviews with the other creators involved in the new Red Circle titles at DC, including "The Hangman" artist, Tom Derenick .

Nearly Headless Nick

With the new Harry Potter movie about to open, I thought it would be a good time to post this photo of Nearly Headless Nick. This prop, which included a belt and sword and scabbard, was actual size and featured legs which trailed off into an ectoplasmic tail. I built it (along with two Dementors) for the book launch party for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" at the now, sadly, defunct Shaman Drum Bookshop in Ann Arbor, MI. Nick was suspended between two ceiling lamps over a table loaded with food for attendees.

For some reason I neglected to photograph Nick, or the Dementors, and this photo (courtesy of former Shaman Drum employee, Laura Grey) is the only picture I have.

Mad Scientist #19

The new issue of the excellent magazine, MAD SCIENTIST, is now available and includes as collage I created of the space monster from "Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster" (1965).


For information on the complete contents of this magazine, as well as ordering information, please visit the website here. Be aware that the website will be moved to a new server in the near future. I will post a new link when it does so.

You can also email the publisher directly at: Mad_Scientist_zine@comcast.net

Tell them I sent you.

My 100th SCOOBY-DOO story

Nearly in time for Independence Day, comes "Yankee Doodle Danger" a tale of monsters and fireworks on the New England coast. This story was written by me, with artwork by Fabio Laguna.

According to fan, ShaggyDoo, this is my 100th published Scooby-Doo story. That's a lot of mysteries solved and a lot of villains who would have gotten away with it if it weren't for those meddling kids.

"Yankee Doodle Danger" appears in SCOOBY-DOO #146, available starting today at a comic book store near you.

New SECRET SATURDAYS Available Today.

CARTOON NETWOK ACTION PACK #39 is now available at a comic book store near you. This issue features a new story featuring THE SECRET SATURDAYS written by me with art by Will Sweeney. The cool cover is by Secret Saturdays creator, Jay Stephens.

Surprises

I've had many things I'd hoped to post by now, but my schedule hasn't allowed for it.

To make up for it a bit, I give you a dozen surprise links to places I like. I hope that after visiting them, you'll find one or two you like as well.

Surprise Link #1

Surprise Link #2

Surprise Link #3

Surprise Link #4

Surprise Link #5

Surprise Link #6

Surprise Link #7

Surprise Link #8

Surprise Link #9

Surprise Link #10

Surprise Link #11

Surprise Link #12