It’s gonna have to be a short one this week, as I am just wrapping up Week One of my two-week, two-movie, multiple-project pre-WGA strike crunch.
The good news is that I have complete drafts now of both movies and just turned in the script for the third issue of the Star Wars project I keep teasing (because I’m not yet allowed to talk about it).
Q&A
In the comments, Blitz wrote in to ask:
Hey Marc question, In the finale episode of Arrow we learn when Oliver created the new multiverse he changed some of the things that happened in the show, were there any changes he made that you weren't able to show in the finale for whatever reason? For example did Pike still die in season 6 in the new multiverse?
None that I can recall, to be honest. The key word here being “recall” as it’s more than possible we chatted about so-and-so or such-and-such and I’ve simply forgotten.
That said, we did discuss bringing back Slade Wilson — not through multiversal means, however — for the finale. That character is the one I regret the most not being able to bring back for Oliver’s funeral. But by that point, DC had told us that Slade had to go back into the toybox. Such are the breaks…
With respect to Pike specifically (Frank Pike, named after — of course — Wiseguy character Frank McPike), he didn’t come up. The reason, however, is that Oliver was mostly keeping his multiversal changes to a minimum. Which meant Oliver pretty much only brought back those closest to him, like his mom and Lance.
Thanks for asking the question. I hope this was mildly helpful.
A WHOLE MESS OF COVERS
Yesterday, Marvel Comics published it’s “solicitations” — the comics that it’s publishing — for July. I’ve got two coming out, the end of one story and the beginning of another: Star Wars: Yoda #9 and X-Men: Days of Future Past - Doomsday #1.
You can check out the beautiful covers below.
STAR WARS: YODA #9
This is the third and final issue of my Yoda arc. It wraps up the whole Clone Wars-set storyline with Anakin and Yoda. We actually put the issue to bed yesterday. I’m very happy with how this one turned out.
The series is designed to end with the next issue, #10, written by the incomparable Cavan Scott, who served as the “head writer” for this project.
X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST - DOOMSDAY #1
I published this last week, but for completeness’ sake, here’s the “main” cover by Geoff Shaw:
A variant by the amazing Stefano Caselli:
Each year, Marvel’s X-Men throw an event they call “the Hellfire Gala.” Here’s the variant cover by the supremely talented Erica D’Urso:
This is pretty cool. Marvel got Mico Suayan to also do a variant. Mico actually illustrated the second part of the very first comic I ever wrote for Marvel, Trial of the Punisher. (Although Punisher was my first scripted work for Marvel, it didn’t see actual publication until many years after I wrote it.)
And last but certainly not least, I’m thrilled that Marvel is also publishing a variant by X-Legend and Prophet creator, Rob Liefeld:
Of course, Rob is homaging this iconic cover by John Byrne and Terry Austin which set the whole Days of Future Past story in motion:
Issue Two is being drawn as we speak. Looking forward to getting this one out into the world starting in July.
Like I said, short one this week.
Be good to each other.
Best,
Marc
Encino, California
4.21.23
Awesome cover artwork!! The Arrow insight was greatly appreciated as always. Thanks for sharing.