WHAT'S NEXT?

LegalDispatch 0.23

Well, it’s been a week since ABC passed on LA Law.

To be completely honest, I’m still recovering. I’m fairly certain I’ve invented a few new stages of grief. Many, many, many people have been wonderfully supportive. I’ve also increased my daily dosage of Cymbalta, which mentioning might be TMI or de-stigmatizing mental health issues, or both.

As threatened in last week’s newsletter, I’ve forced myself to continue to work. Is that smart? I really don’t know. But moving forward is how I deal with disappointment and setbacks and this has been both.

Here are a few of the things I’ve been up to this past week:

PROJECT SPECTRE

I finished the first draft of a spec screenplay. It’s the first horror movie — horror anything, really — I’ve ever attempted. It has only three main characters and a single protagonist who spends much of her time on screen without anyone else to talk to. In other words, very far afield from what I’ve written before and consequentially very challenging. But in that challenge is reward. Plus, I really enjoyed writing the thing.

STAR WARS: HAN SOLO & CHEWBACCA

The bulk of the week was spent writing Issue 6 of Han Solo & Chewbacca. The hours I spent in a galaxy far, far away were easily the best — and most mentally healthy — hours I’ve had this week. I’m grateful to Han and Chewie for providing a much needed distraction.

Issue 6 is the first issue in the book’s second arc. Here’s the cover by the incomparable Phil Noto (who also painted many of the covers for my X-Men Gold run):

Oh, and Han Solo & Chewbacca #2 came out this past Wednesday. You can find it at your local comic shop or on Comixology.

PROJECT QUARTZ

This is a new project. You can file it under “getting back up on the horse.” It’s a television pitch based on a non-fiction book written by a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist. I’ve never adapted a non-fiction book before, so this is another new frontier I’m embarking on…

TIM COURAGE

This one’s a bit of a fudge as I didn’t really work on it this week save for replying to a few emails, but it’s fun and we’ve decided to break the news on it.

But first, a little background: Those particularly familiar with my work are aware of my completely-nerd-out-fandom for Wiseguy, the only show I hold in as high esteem as LA Law (sniff). I’ve written Wiseguy-related Easter eggs into many comics, episodes of Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow and, most recently, LA Law (sniff sniff).

A number of years ago, I was fortunate enough to meet Wiseguy’s showrunner, the phenomenal David J. Burke, and I’ve come to truly cherish his friendship. Quick story: A number of years ago, when I was working on Crisis on Infinite Earths, prepping Season 2 of Carnival Row, and running for the WGA Board of Directors, I had dinner with David. I don’t recall much of the meal or the conversation because I was about as stressed out as I’d ever been. A few days later, a FedEx package arrived containing the retirement watch Vinnie Terranova was offered in the Season Two episode, “White Noise.” The accompanying note — a line from the script which David co-wrote — said, “Do you want the work? Or the watch?” I’ve chosen the work, of course, but the watch remains on my desk as a constant reminder of David’s friendship.

Anyways, early on in the pandemic, we got together for dinner and I told him that I was getting back into creator owned comics and was finding it extremely gratifying. David was intrigued and wanted to take the plunge as well with an idea he’s long germinated and held dear.

The result is an extremely ambitious period piece. David and the artist, Sedat Oezgen (who is a total pro, a delight, and doing the work of his career), are still in the early stages but we collectively thought to tease a bit of the project on social media:

Next week, I’m going on my first true “relaxation” vacation since before the pandemic started. In the meantime…

Be good to each other.

Best,

Marc

Encino, California

5.20.22