Well, I let the second Friday in a row get away from me without putting out this newsletter due, in large part, to me jamming on a (semi-self-imposed) deadline on PROJECT HOURGLASS.
I’m writing this up on the following Saturday, but I’m going to hold this edition until Monday.
Well, that didn’t age well. Turns out I let yesterday get away from me as well. But I’m putting this newsletter out TODAY, dammit!
Onward…
TOO DEAD TO DIE
On Wednesday (12/14), we’ll finally publish Too Dead To Die, my graphic novel with Howard Chaykin. To commemorate (and as previously threatened), here’s an exclusive preview of one of the short stories that is included in the blook. It’s called “Manuel.” Story by moi. Art by Howard. With colors by Yen Nitro and lettering by Ken Bruzenak. I hope you enjoy
If you want to support the book, the best way is to buy a copy at your local comic book store. But if online is your thing, my friend Steve Saffel (and one of my former bosses back when I was interning at Marvel Comics) was kind enough to assemble a variety helpful links where you can order/buy the book:
Amazon: https://a.co/d/4plBs7j
Comixology: https://a.co/d/3VCEjav
Midtown Comics: https://www.midtowncomics.com/product/2143060
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/.../too-dead-to.../1141622924
IndieBound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781534324510
In response to last week’s edition, Mark Bromage asked the following:
I’m looking forward to reading Too Dead to Die. How did you collaborate with Howard on the Story?
Thanks for the question, Mark! I’m going to answer even though you misspell your name:
I’d actually started the script for what would become Too Dead To Die without any idea of who might draw it. It was the start of the pandemic, television and film production was shut down, and I — like many others — found myself with a lot of unexpected time on my hands. I decided to use it to write some things “on spec” that I normally wouldn’t have any time for. TDTD was one of those projects.
When I write a comic, I usually picture the art in my head. About 10-12 pages in, I realized the art I was seeing in my mind’s eye was Howard’s. (Howard and I had collaborated previously on Blade and Wolverine, among a pair of other short stories.) I sent the script for the first twentysomething pages and asked Howard if he’d be up for working together again. Howard had enough poor judgment to say “yes.”
As a reminder, Howard and I will be signing copies of TDTD at Collector’s Paradise in Pasadena on Wednesday. Info below
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4 KIDS WALK INTO A BANK
No, this isn’t a project of mine. 4 Kids is a graphic novel that was published back in 2017, written by Matthew Rosenberg and illustrated by Tyler Boss. I read it on the recommendation of Greg Pak and found it to be particularly brilliant and incredibly funny. I laughed out loud at multiple junctures.
But the best part of it is how it uses the medium of comics to tell its story. More to the point, it uses the medium of comics to place you inside the heads — and imaginations — of the eponymous four kids. To say more would be to ruin it, but this book is well worth you’re time even if you don’t fancy comics but especially if you do. I’ve already bought a few copies to give away as holiday gifts. You can too, as it’s available for order on Amazon here.
AGAIN WITH THE WRITERS GUILD STUFF
I’ve previously mentioned the Substack newsletter From The Trenches: Working Writers In Conversation. This week, they (we?) have put out an edition about the possibility of the Writers and Directors Guilds potentially aligning in the upcoming negotiations with the studios. It’s definitely worth a read if you’re (interested) in the entertainment industry. You can check it out here.
Normally, I’d say “that’s it from me” for this week, but on Friday I’ll publish one last edition for 2022, a year-end summary of what I’ve written over this past year (for those mildly interested in such things).
Be good to each other.
Best,
Marc
12.12.22
12.13.22
Thanks for the kind words, Marc!
Really appreciate these updates, Marc!!!!