i heart Bryan K. Vaughan

[Keepcoolbutcare]

Escapists 2 came out today...this just keeps getting better and better.

oh my, yes.

Just some damn fine storytelling, from the anecdotes about Cleveland, the anti-big business attitude, the meta. Add that to the two distinct artistic styles to correspond with the "actions" of the Escapist, and Vaughan has struck gold again. Love the rotating cover artists (Miller, Jean, #3 will be Cassady) as well.

I don't want this to end, six is not enough!

[doglips]

Interview and info on Dr Strange - The Oath

[DennisMM]

Read Y: The Last Man volume one last week and was underwhelmed. The writing is fine, though I don't care for the art. Everything seems a bit too calculated, from Yorick's name to Hero being an Amazon to the many possible causes for the devastation of the males. Won't be going for volume 2 unless I can be convinced it gets better.

I will admit a fondness for the Republican coup attempt and the sec. of agriculture becoming president. Not unlike Galactica.

[doglips]

Interview and preview art forPride of Bagdahd

The art looks stellar, but this one is all about the writing. Can BKV hit another tale out of the park this year? It's certainly going to be an interesting read.

[Leckomaniac]

NOOOOOOOOOO!

VAUGHAN TO LEAVE RUNAWAYS AFTER ISSUE #24!!!!!!!!!

My heart has just broken in two.

[MasterWhedon]

NOOOOOOOOOO!

VAUGHAN TO LEAVE RUNAWAYS AFTER ISSUE #24!!!!!!!!!

My heart has just broken in two.

DAMMIT!! FUCK!

This is shit, shit news, although I assumed it would happen at some point. I just really, really wish he'd taken us to 100 issues or so before leaving.

The one bit that gives me hope is the following:

I love these characters more than you can possibly imagine, and I swear I wouldn't abandon them unless I knew for a fact that they were going to end up with the very best creative team possible. Marvel will be announcing that new team in about a week, and to say that you guys will be thrilled is probably an understatement.

One of the only possible names who could fit that bill is Runaways #1 fan, Joss Whedon.

* crosses fingers *

[Leckomaniac]

As much as I would love Joss to take over Runaways...with Goners and Wonder Woman coming nearer and nearer to getting started...will he have the time to take on an on-going series?

[Keepcoolbutcare]

As much as I would love Joss to take over Runaways...with Goners and Wonder Woman coming nearer and nearer to getting started...will he have the time to take on an on-going series?

it's Joss.

he can juggle projects / multi-task with the best of them.

even if it's bi-monthly, it would be WHEDON, writing Runaways.

good enough for me...

[doglips]

OK, I might cry now.

[Leckomaniac]

OK, I might cry now.

Cry??? No its just...there is a lot of smoke in here and my eyes are getting all misty...I'm not crying!

*sobs a bit*

Damn smoke.

[Leckomaniac]

Newsarama just posted an interview with Vaughan where he talks about his departure, among other things.

Some interesting quotes:

I know people are saying that Runaways needs a "superstar" writer to stay alive, but I certainly wasn't a superstar when I started writing the book, nor am I really one now. I'll let the talkbackers decide the worthiness of our successors when they're announced early next week, but we just wanted to find daring young creators who were fans of our book, and yet not afraid to take the series in a wholly unexpected new direction.

And his advice to the new creative team?

Oh, and try not to kill Molly.

You can read the whole interview here

As for the new creative team?

My Wishlist is as follows:

1) Joss Whedon
2) Dan Slott
3) Sean McKeever

Make it so Marvel.

[doglips]

Thanks for the links Lecko.

I'm really starting to like the idea of Slott getting Runaways.

[Leckomaniac]

Me too. His Spider-Man/Human Torch mini-series was AWESOME!

[doglips]

I'm gonna have to pick up some of his She-Hulk books. Have you read those?

[Leckomaniac]

I'm gonna have to pick up some of his She-Hulk books. Have you read those?

Indeed. She-Hulk (like most of Slott's work) is a fun read. Not nearly as fun as the short lived THING series (I still miss that) but She-Hulk is totally fun.

So the watch word with Dan Slott: fun.

[Ribbons]

I do seem to recall Bendis saying in his interview with Slott last month that Slott was about to get the keys to a really cool project. So that might be, y'know, this...

Bendis: Funny. Here we are now and things are going really smooth and you have a big project for next year that we can't talk about...

Slott: A super-cool project.

Bendis: I'm very excited for you. I like when you're looking at a writer and you can see that the wheels are turning in that great way.

Slott: It's going to be HUGE!

[doglips]

Good memory Ribbons! I hope so......

What about the artist? Who was the guy that stood in for Alphona those couple of times? I really liked his work.

[Leckomaniac]

I have this vivid memory of posting something similar to what Ribbons did. Mentioning how Slott has kept mum about this "super-cool" project and how it could be Runaways. I searched long and hard but I couldn't find it. I must have done it in my head and never posted it.

In any event...thanks for finding that quote Ribbons. Slott is a young creator who is willing to try new things (She-Hulk, The Thing, Spider-Man/Human Torch)...so he fits the bill of what Vaughan talked about in that interview.

I would really love to see Slott tackle the Runaways. As much as I love Whedon...I would have to have the Runaways move to a bi-monthly schedule. Slott can do it...lets hope Marvel agrees.

EDIT: So I did a little more research into this new title that Dan Slott has been talking about...and the first I heard of it was from one of the New Joe Fridays...and Joe Q. says that it will be Slott's "Break out title" and that it is a new title that will spin out of Civil War...so I guess this new title isn't Runaways. That doesn't mean that Slott won't be getting Runaways...but it does mean that the title everyone is talking about is not Runaways...does that make any sense?

[doglips]

Yep! Only a few days to wait till they make the announcement.........

[Leckomaniac]

I'm still waiting for the call from Marvel.

Lecko: Hello?

Marvel: This is Joe Q...want to take over for K Vaughan?

Lecko: Most definitely

Marvel: Done deal...how quickly can you get to Baltimore.

I've got my fingers crossed.

[doglips]

Have you written much stuff then? I'd love to have a go at coming up with a premise and characters for a book. Then letting someone else write the damn thing!

[Leckomaniac]

I do my best with the writing. Self publishing is a bitch. Its fun though. Reading K. Vaughan's interview...I can totally relate. People always bitch about how hard it is to be a writer and how hard it is to break in and all of that jazz...and it is...I wish I knew how to do it...but writing is its own reward...and that is the truth.

Creating your own universe and then toying around with it.

Any day now...Joe Q. is going to call.

[doglips]

Well, good luck to you mate. I hope your phone rings too!

[Leckomaniac]

Thanks. And I wouldn't kill Molly!

The anticipation of this announcement is killing me. I have such an emotional interest in this title. I NEED to know who is taking it over.

[doglips]

Sounds like the announcement will be Mon or Tues, so not long to wait now.

What about the artist? Who would you like to see take over from Alphona?

[Leckomaniac]

Actually...I'd really like Takeshi Miyazawa to give it a go. Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane is one of my favorite titles right now...and he did an excellent job filling in for Alphona. But he is going back to Japanese comics I hear.

Ugh. Bagley perhaps? Not sure. Glad the decision is not in my hands.

[doglips]

Yeah, I actually preferred Takeshi's artwork to Alphona's.

I don't think Bagley would be right for Runaways, it's a difficult one for sure.

[Leckomaniac]

The Baltimore Con (where the announcement is supposed to occur) begins TODAY (saturday)!!!!!!!! It ends on Sunday....which means the time approaches!

[Leckomaniac]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! COULD THIS BE A PREVIEW OF THINGS TO COME!?!?!?!!

FROM THE JOE Q. PANEL:

Joss Whedon will be sticking around at Marvel after Astonishing X-Men, Quesada said, noting that there will be some announcements coming soon that will mention this.

Could it be that Joss is taking over Runaways???? My spider sense is tingling!

Some more info:

There is a plan in place for the new team on Runaways, Quesada said, noting that writer Brian K. Vaughan brokered the deal for the new writer himself and picked his successor on the title.

EDIT: Apparently the announcement will be made on Monday in a special "New Joe Mondays" article over at newsarama.com. I can't wait!

[doglips]

OK, it's bet time!

I don't think it will be Whedon.

Out of the names we have thrown around, I'm going with Sean McKeever .

[The Garbage Man]

Argh, Quesada's being a deutschbag about the announcement.

Just tell us, hot dammit!

[Leckomaniac]

Yeah I saw that as well.

The suspense is killing me!!

[Ribbons]

Argh, Quesada's being a deutschbag about the announcement.

Just tell us, hot dammit!

Oh, Joe.

I'll say this: he's a good spokesman.

[doglips]

Argh, Quesada's being a deutschbag about the announcement.

Just tell us, hot dammit!

ARGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! ©

[The Garbage Man]

From this article about Baltimore Comicon published yesterday on CBR:

Who's the new creative team on "Runaways?" "You'll find out in a week," Quesada said, adding that there is a plan for Runaways and he thinks everyone will dig it. "Runaways" writer and co-creator Brian K. Vaughn was able to hand-pick his successor.

Quesada's on crack, right? He actually meant "next week" as in today and not "in a week" meaning around 7 days from yesterday... right?

Today was confirmed as the day the announcement would be made, right?


Please?

[doglips]

Yeah, I read that article too. I was just pretending it didn't exist.

We will find out today!

[Ribbons]

From Newsarama:

Question: This amazing creative team will soon finished with their legendary team comic run.

Answer: Who are Joss Whedon and John Cassaday?

Question: This award winning team title will be looking for a new creative team.

Answer: What is Runaways?

Questions: This person is the new artist on one of Marvel’s legendary team comics.

Answer: Who is Michael Ryan?

Question: This person is the new writer on one of Marvel’s legendary team comics.

Answer: Who is Joss Whedon?

NRAMA: So putting this together, Joss Whedon and Michael Ryan are the new creative team on Runaways following Brian Vaughan and Adrian Alphona?

Well, you had some people guessing Whedon/Runaways over the weekend, but just a few days ago this would have been entirely unexpected. How did this happen?

JQ: Quite simply, Joss and Brian K. Vaughan speak quite often and I guess they got talking Runaways, which is one of Joss’ favorite titles. When Joss heard that Brian was leaving he called us up and asked if he could do the story following Brian’s last.

[The Garbage Man]

Now that's what I call a birthday present!

Thanks, Ribbons!

[Leckomaniac]

I need a moment here.

FIRST news that Spidey is going "Back to Black" and now SIR JOSS IS TAKING OVER RUNAWAYS!!!!!!!!!

There just isn't enough words. I wonder how long Whedon is planning on staying? Will they keep the schedule the way it is? I am too excited. I still have yet to pick up my jaw off the ground.

[Ribbons]

Pretty glowing review of Pride of Baghdad on the main page...

[DennisMM]

Spidey going back to black is a good thing? What, is this SPOILER microtext mourning garb?

I welcome Whedon on Runaways. Speaking of which, I'm reading it via TP and just finished v.2. This takes place solidly in the 616 Marvel Universe, doesn't it? So why are vampires only vulnerable to sunlight? Over in Blade, silver and swords work just fine last I saw.

Also, are Alex's parents just crimelords, or do they have metahuman powers unrevealed as by #12? I know, wait and see, but I'm intrigued.

[doglips]

Y goodness.

Great interview.

[Leckomaniac]

Doctor Strange: The Oath came out today.

I am about to read it...the first 6 pages have been interesting thus far.

Anyone else pick this up?

[doglips]

It's on order. I won't get it till the end of the month.

[Doc Holliday]

OK OK OK....so you can all puff your chests impressively at me....I'm coming wayyyy late to the Vaughan party and know comparatively little of his work.

I saw the first few volumes of Runaways in my local store (Marvel do pocket size books? I never knew) - so will be getting those shortly, right from the start.

But Dennis - what was this other one you mentioned to me a couple weeks ago...was it Ex Machina? Right now all I know is that makes me want to play Final Fantasy X again

[Leckomaniac]

Alright I just finished the first issue of Doctor Strange: The Oath.

I really enjoyed this issue. I have never been a fan of Doctor Strange...I mean I don't hate the character but I just never got into him. That being said I picked up this issue because it was written by BKV. It introduced some cool storylines and the writing is top notch. I would strongly suggest picking this up.

[Bob Samonkey]

was it Ex Machina? Right now all I know is that makes me want to play Final Fantasy X again

That is what I thought when I first saw the TPB!! I got it and it really is a good read. I am digging it alot.

[Doc Holliday]

was it Ex Machina? Right now all I know is that makes me want to play Final Fantasy X again

That is what I thought when I first saw the TPB!! I got it and it really is a good read. I am digging it alot.

Cool - anyone fancy doing a spoiler free synopsis/summary to whet the appetite? Wiki does have a habit of springing spoileroes on me when I least expect or want them...and besides which nothing can substitute for the thrill of an enthused Zoners love...

[doglips]

was it Ex Machina? Right now all I know is that makes me want to play Final Fantasy X again

That is what I thought when I first saw the TPB!! I got it and it really is a good read. I am digging it alot.

Cool - anyone fancy doing a spoiler free synopsis/summary to whet the appetite? Wiki does have a habit of springing spoileroes on me when I least expect or want them...and besides which nothing can substitute for the thrill of an enthused Zoners love...

Ex-Machina details the life of Mitchell Hundred, formerly known as the Great Machine, the world's first and only superhero, who - in the wake of his heroism in saving thousands of lives in the World Trade Center collapse - is elected Mayor of New York City.
The storylines, set during Hundred's term as Mayor although interspersed with flashbacks, deal with the situations Hundred faces in his position, as well as exploring the odd phenomena linked to his power of control over any or all machinery.

Thats all you need to know, Doc. Go get The First Hundred Days!

[Doc Holliday]

Nice work Dog...thanks!