Three Years - Questionnaire - J.D. Coughlan

Who is your favourite comic book character?

That would have to be Jonah Woodson Hex. That's why I made him my first ever Thought Balloons pick. It could be no one else. He is the most morally complex character I have experienced in any medium -- a true western anti-hero -- and if he does end up doing the right thing, he seems to hate himself moreso for it. He's also a surly cuss who hates people, so I can relate.

What is your favourite comic?

Presumably, this refers to a self-contained story and not an on-going series. And excludes the obvious choice of Watchmen. In that case, I'd say Marvels. Which is odd, since I'm mainly a DC guy. Many recommend Watchmen for first-time comics readers, and I'd say that they should read Marvels straight after. While the former breaks down superheroes, the latter builds them back up again and makes you realise why they are so inspirational.


Who is your favourite comics writer?

This is a tough one, but I'm gonna make the patriotic choice and go with a fellow Scot, Grant Morrison. His mad genius makes him the da Vinci or Mozart of comics. While many may be put off by the swirling maelstrom-like nature of his narratives, there is no denying that they always, brilliantly, have something solidly relatable at the centre.

Who has been the most fun to write so far?

Honestly, Deadpool. The only thing I know about the character is that he's supposed to be funny, and, according to those who know me, I'm supposed to be funny too. So I gave it my all and managed to crack myself up in the process.

Which character did you most dread having to write?

Usually, any of the ones I pick. Heh. Seriously though, I've always said that I'd never want to write the characters I love most, because I love them so much. My Batman script was perhaps most difficult for this reason; cramming everything I hold dear about that icon into just one page.

Which non-comics character would you most like to write?

The Doctor from Doctor Who. I love that show, and he's another iconic character to me. The show itself is an infinite playground of possibilities.

Which script do you think has been your best so far?

I don't know if it's my best, but I'm particularly fond of my Ozymandias script, simply because I included a few nods to the techniques used in Watchmen: symmetry, zoom-ins, broken glass symbolism, relevant voiceovers, quote in the title, etc.

Which script do you think has been the best on the site?

After three years, there's been far too many to read, let alone remember, but one from recent memory that stands out to me (and I still find myself thinking of it often) was Dan Hill's Krypto script. I picked Krypto that week, but, as I alluded to earlier, was not satisfied with my own script. Dan said everything I wanted to say about Krypto, but much, much better.

But they are, all my colleagues, magnificent in their own ways, and I look forward to contributing many more scripts alongside them until someone else realises their brilliance.

Getting to Know MK Stangeland Jr. (MK II)

(If you'd like to see the original Questionaire I did back near when I first became a full member, you can find it over this way.)

Who are some of your other favorite comic book characters?

As my ‘Why?’ post for him should have made clear, I’m probably a bit of a Dr. Dinosaur fanboy. I even said as much at the time. And it still stands. Nothing against Atomic Robo, but I find his prehistoric nemesis to be a far more entertaining character in and of himself. In an alternate universe where it’s Dr. Dinosaur who’s the main character of his own comic where his plans of mad science are regularly stopped by a rotating cast of heroes (Robo among them), that’s probably my favorite comic book.

I also feel compelled to mention Stephanie Brown – AKA Spoiler, AKA Robin, AKA Batgirl. Maybe I’m just caught up on the Steph bandwagon since I wasn’t even aware of the character for most of her history, but what I read of the character in Bryan Q. Miller’s Batgirl series quickly made me a big fan of her and her undying, perky upbeat optimism.

Other characters I have a particular fondness for include Taskmaster, Beta Ray Bill, Komodo, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Who is your favorite comic artist?

If there’s one artist that makes me particularly happy to see comic art from, it’s actually two – the Japanese duo most frequently known as Gurihiru. Their art might not be as realistic or complex as other artists, but what it most definitely can be described as is something that I think is an essential quality for comics that far too many seem to forget about these days – fun.

In what is no doubt not a coincidence, whenever I see their name attached to a project, I generally feel safe in assuming that whatever the book is I can expect to enjoy myself reading it, and I’d feel little concern about having to defend or wave of concerns of questionable elements while handing it to a new, potential comic reader and telling them “this is why I love comics.”

Since your last questionnaire, who has been the most fun to write & which of the scripts you’ve written is your favorite?

How can I possibly pick? There have been so many fun characters to write and so many scripts that I love – Peanuts, Dr. Dinosaur, Deadpool, and more.

But if I were to pick one that stands out, I’d choose the unlikely pairing of heroic man and villainous ape known as Baker & Grodd. They’re a duo that I first put together during Animal Man week, then unexpectedly made a return for Planet of the Apes, and in both instances proved to not only be a fun pairing, but very well received by the readers as well.

Odds are that they’ll make a return sooner or later. Potentially when you least expect it.

At the very least we’ve still got a Gorilla Grodd week that’s yet to be utilized, and it would darn near criminal not to put these two back together when that time comes around…

Which non-comics character would you most like to write? 

This could probably vary from week to week based on my mood (last time I named the Animaniacs and Freakazoid!), but these days I think I’m currently feeling partial to Nintendo’s Mario or Samus Aran. The real Samus Aran, mind you, not the imitation wannabe from Other M.

Not that I’m expecting to ever get the opportunity, Nintendo being who they are, but I think it would be especially fun to try the challenge of writing an all-ages style Mario comic that maintained his trait of hardly ever saying anything the audience can actually understand.

Which character, if any, do you most wish you could re-write your script for?

If I make it easier by counting only the scripts written since officially becoming part of Thought Balloons!, I’d love to take a re-do on my “What If…?” script. While I love to be able to write my scripts as thought they were part of a larger story that could theoretically be taken out of or put into a full 20/22/whatever page comic, I think that this opportunity was one instance where trying to write that way backfired on me.

It’s particularly disappointing on a personal level for two major reasons – one, because it was during a week that I myself choose; two, because it was based on a continuation of both one of my favorite one-shot comics and actual “What if…?” issues, the Newer Fantastic Four. So aside from it being a sub-par script, it also feels like a bigger let down because of what it came from.

Which script(s) have been your favorite on the site?

Aside from the scripts I pointed out since the last questionnaire I wrote from this site, the new additions I’d add to my favorites written on this site include:

* J.D. Coughlan’s “Pugilarchy” from Wrestlemania, due to a small part of me wishing it was a more accurate representation of real politics than it is;

* Shaun Richen’s “Contacts” from Peanuts, due to how much it read like a genuine Peanuts script;

* Ben Rosenthal and Rol Hirst’s script from the Christmas 2011 North Pole Week “Luke Cage’s Sweet Christmas” (Part I & Part II), a two-part script written in the vein of Twas the Night Before Christmas which provided me a second prompt for the week when I felt compelled to write a Part 3 conclusion;

…and…

* Matt Duarte’s “Elseworlds” from the special DCnU Pitch week, because I’m jealous for not having thought of it myself.

Any lessons you’ve learned while writing at Thought Balloons?

One thing I’ve learned is that giving feedback and criticism is sometimes harder than you might think. Especially if you’re trying to give meaningful feedback.

It’s one thing to read a script and just say “Nice job”. Most the scripts that show up on this site are decent at the very least, and a majority of those are even better. Saying nothing more than “Nice job” is something that can just as easily be accomplished with the use of the stars. But to actually think of something meaningful to say that’s not being pulled out of nowhere, that takes more effort.

It’s especially true when – as seems to be the case for a lot of scripts I read – what I’m aiming for in my scripts and the style/tone I write with is different from what other people are aiming for. And you can give absolutely the nicest piece of feedback/criticism in the world, but if it completely divorced from what the author has tried to write, it isn’t worth the words it’s made up of. It’s one thing to point out where someone can make an improvement, it’s another to suggest they go a direction with their writing that doesn’t suit them.

It’s all a tad regrettable, since the amount of feedback I give on other people’s scripts these days (or lack thereof) makes me feel like I’m slacking in my involvement in the site a lot of the time.

What do you think has been your biggest improvement while writing at Thought Balloons?

While I think everything has improved at least a little, I think the part that’s gotten the biggest improvement has been the pitch and submission process. I’d already had experience writing scripts - comic and otherwise – prior to learning about Thought Balloons!, even having developed my own scripting style, trying to sell people on what I’d written was a skill I was effectively clueless on.

Since then, I’ve managed to see some great examples, get some great feedback from other Thought Ballooners, and all in all I think I’m leaps and bounds above where I used to be in this area. While I’m certain my pitch skills could still use some improvement, at least I’m not nearly as clueless about it as I used to be. 

Three Years - Questionnaire - Grant McLaughlin

Because I love hearing myself talk (reading myself type?) I'll cover all the same questions Ben hit on the weekend, but I'll throw in a few of the old ones again for my own edification.

Who are some of your other favorite comic book characters?

I still (and will always) hold a special place in my heart for Atomic Robo, but I must confess to having fallen
in love with Kate Kane and Maggie Sawyer. These two characters share one of the best relationships in comics. Everything between them, whether good or bad or happy or sad, just feels so true to life. I don't know that I could ever get enough of them.

Beyond that, I must confess to having developed a much greater interest in creators over specific characters these past few years. I'll read certain writers and artists regardless of what they're working on, and if they leave a title, I'll more often than not leave with them.

Who is your favorite comic artist? (alternately, "Which comic artist would you love to work with?")

Oh, man. Like Ben, I'd say there are far too many to go through an exhaustive list. Instead, I'll name but two. Michael Walsh and Ibrahim Moustafa. These guys are both crazy talented and crazy nice, and I'm always excited to see their latest work.

Which character, if any, do you most wish you could re-write your script for?

I'm generally pretty pleased with at least some part of every script I post here, but I will say that I wish I could go back and retool some of my pieces for the thought balloons Avengers-thon. I felt like I had a good idea there, but it kind of fell apart towards the end.

Oh, well. C'est la vie.

Any lessons you’ve learned while writing at Thought Balloons?

I don't want to parrot everything Ben said, but he's spot on with everything he listed. So instead of rehashing what's already been written, I'll focus on one other lesson that's been important to me.

Writing at thought balloons has reminded me that I what I really love are the small moments in people's lives. The quiet moments where little to nothing of importance is going on is what I love to write about and I don't think that will ever change. At the same time, writing here has helped me push myself to also write other types of scripts and emphasized the importance of changing things up.

What do you think has been your biggest improvement while writing at Thought Balloons?

As above, I think I've improved in every single way that you can during my time writing here. My scripts have come a long way, and I'm eager to keep getting better with each and every one.

Who has been the most fun to write so far (since the last time I did this questionnaire)?

Without question, I had the most fun with J.D.'s Amalgam Comics choice.  Coming up with all those ridiculous combinations of DC and Marvel's lamest villains was a blast and a half, and I'm still pretty proud of what I managed in the end.

Which script do you think has been your best so far?

While it's hard to narrow them all down to one (see how much I love tooting my own horn?), I remain quite proud of my Pokemon script.  Playing through that series on Gameboy (and with Pokemon cards) remain among some of my fondest memories, and I worked hard to find an appropriate topic to write on.  I was thrilled when I hit on a tangential look at the motivation behind the creation of the Pokeball.  I researched the hell out of Japanese funeral customs and traditions and I'm still happy with how it all turned out.

That being said, I still have warm feelings for my original Lois Lane script.

Which script do you think has been the best on the site?

Like last time, I'd like to look at my favourite scripts by each tenured writer.  I even looked through Ben and MK's stuff for my favourite script since the last time I wrote this up.  Like for myself, it's mighty hard to narrow down to only one script for each tenured - they all have so many good ones! - so I'll qualify this as my favourite scripts right now. (Please note: this was a super tough list to make.)

Ben - Starship Troopers - I was actually mighty tempted to pick Ben's Jimmy Olsen page, but it felt like shortchanging to pick the script he wrote the very week I last did this questionnaire (although the continuous reveals are mighty good).  So instead, I'll go with an excellent Starship Troopers script.  The sense of dread and terror that Ben builds is wicked, and it's all the more impressive to me because it's outside his norm.

Dan - Wonder Woman - Dan's ability to write amazing war stories blows me away every time, and while this one isn't as heavily-focused on war, it still qualifies.  I love the banter between Diana and Carter - it feels spot on.  But what really makes this script for me is the brilliant use of setting.  As always, some terrific research going into a quality comic page.

J.D. - Foggy Nelson - I still adore this script.  Over the top in all the best ways possible, your version of Foggy Nelson has everything I could possibly want and much, much more.  Plus: I don't know that I'll ever get tired of the sunglasses over sunglasses gag.  Too good.

MK - A technical cheat on my part, but I love MK's Buddy Baker and Gorilla Grodd team-up scripts (which can be found in his Animal Man and Planet of the Apes pages).  One of the best examples of how enjoyable the odd couple trope can be.  Buddy and Grodd have no real business appearing in a story as allies (of a sort), but MK crushed it both times.  Can't wait to see them again.

Niel - The Rarebit Fiend - A page that channeled the original incredibly well while still managing to feel fresh and new.  Love the conversation between the dreamer and the screen - a nice little potential commentary on the relationship between entertainers and their audience.  Either way, a mighty fun page.

Ray - Spider Jerusalem - Captured the character perfectly.  This page absolutely oozes vitriol and righteous anger.  Bonus points for how it also functions as a relevant criticism of today's problems.  Spider would be proud.

Ryan - Rainbow Dash - Admittedly Ryan went a little over the one page limit here, but it was still pretty good in spite of that.

Shaun - Spider Jerusalem - Spider really brought out some of our best.  The page tells a complete story while also sinking its claws deep into the reader. I still find myself wondering how this one ends...

As before, these are just some of my personal favourites.  There's plenty more greatness from each and every one of these talented writers to be found throughout thought balloons' archives, so feel free to explore!

Three Years - Questionnaire - Ben Rosenthal

Seeing as how MK, Grant and I answered the questions last year, here are some alternative ones we have decided to answer to get to know us more.

Who are some of your other favourite comic book characters?

Spider-Man still reigns supreme, although in the past year there have been numerous other ones to take my interest.  Deadpool will always be up near the top of the list due to the way he was written during Joe Kelly’s run on the title.  A few weeks back I mentioned that Quantum and Woody also had a special place in my comic booked heart.  Others include noire-themed Jamie Madrox, Norman Osborn and two characters whom I never thought I would love – Cyclops and Hakguy himself Clint Barton.

Cyke has developed so far beyond his scout boy image in the past year he is actually a pleasure to read now instead of the plain crisp leader he has been for years.  As for Hakwguy – well, it is a testament to Matt Fraction’s brilliance as a writer that I now consider his book one of the best out on in the market today. 

Who is your favourite comic artist? (Alternately, "Which comic artist would you love to work with?")

Oh man, too many to mention.  I have already had the chance to work with some awesome artists, with some of my words in the hands of artists as you read this waiting for them to be drawn to life.

Anyone who is willing to work with me is my favourite comic artist.  Is that a cop out?

True, nonetheless. 

Any lessons you've learned while writing at Thought Balloons?

A metric buttload – but I cannot think of any of them in this point in time.  It has taught me to hit a deadline.  It has taught me to force a story or an idea out of my head even if it is blank.  It has taught me that the weeks that you just throw something together to hit the deadline without researching are sometimes you best weeks, and those where you put you all in to a script can be your worse.  It is has taught me that it is much easier to write characters you have no idea about rather than characters you love.  It has taught me that the comic industry is full of awesome people.

What do you think has been your biggest improvement while writing at Thought Balloons?

My scripts.  That’s pretty much it.

And an insane desire to be half the writer that Dan Hill is.  That would be nice.

Getting to Know Grant McLaughlin

Who is your favourite comic book character?

As you may have gathered from my first thought balloons choice, I am a huge fan of Brian Clevinger's Atomic Robo. I am a firm believer of the importance of comics being accessible to and enjoyable for all ages, and this is one of the best examples of that that is currently being published. It also doesn't hurt that it also happens to be one of the best comics being published right now, period. Seriously, if you somehow haven't taken a look at Robo, you owe it to yourself to do so, post-haste.

What is your favourite comic?

Building on my penchant for all-age comic books, it might not surprise you that I fell head over heels for Roger Langridge and Chris Samnee's Thor: The Mighty Avenger.  That this series only lasted for 8 issues (9 with the Free Comic Book Day addendum) is a crime of the highest order, but I will treasure the short time we had.  I wish that more books like this were coming out, and even more than that, I wish they could be financially successful.  Hopefully that day will come sooner rather than later.

Who is your favourite comic writer?

I've already touted both Brian Clevinger and Roger Langridge, and I would certainly rank both of them right at the top of my favourite writers, but to avoid repeating myself, I'll offer Jeff Lemire's name for your consideration.  Although he only came to my attention last year with all the hubub about the re-release of Essex County, he's quickly rocketed towards the top of my favourite writers list, as well.  He has a knack for character driven stories, and he writes dialogue like no one else.  While I've certainly enjoyed him paired with the various artists he's worked with, I must also say that I find his writing to be at its best when it's coupled with his art.  It's unreal.

Who has been the most fun to write so far?

I know it wasn't what Rol was looking for, but my Dracula script (from back when I was a play-at-homer) is perhaps the most fun I've had writing for thought balloons.  To be fair, all the scripts I've had the pleasure of putting together here have been fun for their own reasons, but I was particularly pleased with everything I managed to accomplish in that one page.  I felt that I managed to write two believable characters, living in a unique world and having a funny conversation.  I really need to expand on that idea one of these days...

Which character do you most dread having to write?

My first instinct is to say characters with which I have no experience, as it can be hard to get a handle on how to write them when you don't really know who they are, but upon reflection, I think my answer would actually be characters I really care about.  The more I like them, the harder it is to write, because I find that I want to live up to all the amazing depictions I've seen before, and it can be hard to meet those raised expectations.  Even when you knock out a stellar script, it's easy to imagine how it could have been better.

Which non-comics character would you most like to write?

While not a specific character, I would love to write some comics set in the world of The Warriors.  I'll be one of the first to admit that the 1979 film isn't actually that great, but it has so much style and creates such a rich world over the course of its hour and a half run time.  The Rockstar video game that came out years later only added to the franchise's lore and made me more excited for the many story possibilities.

Which script do you think has been your best so far?

I'm going to have to once again return to my play-at-homer days and go with my Lois Lane script, which is actually the first thing I wrote at this site.  I thought for two or three days trying to figure out what situation I could put Lois in, and just when I was on the verge of giving up, the simple "talking on the couch with Clark about paint swatches" idea came to me, nearly fully-formed.  I think it's among the best things I've written here, and I'm especially proud of it because it was the first thing I submitted.

While I'm tooting my own horn, I'll actually throw up a link to something I've written since getting my tenureship.  My Dashiell Bad Horse script is another one I'm rather proud of, particularly because I don't write such serious scenes nearly as often.

Which script do you think has been the best on the site?

Oh, gosh.  I haven't even been here since the beginnings of the site, and even so, I've come across an abundance of amazing scripts.  How could I possibly choose just one?  

I've been talking up my own stuff so much, I figure I could at least shine some light on some of my colleagues' earlier works.  So if you'll permit me (and frankly, even if you won't, 'cause I'm writing this post), I'll offer my take on one script that I particularly enjoyed from each of my fellow members.  These are from Lois Lane onwards.

Ben - Kate Kane - This page reads so well.  Kate and Renee's conversation plays out so perfectly.  The whole thing is fun and playful, but still feels really honest.

Danial - Ben Reilly - For someone who hasn't read any Spider-Man, you managed to put together one fine page featuring his cloned doppelganger.  This one is so cute is almost hurts.

Matt - Atomic Robo - I'm slightly biased on this one, but this was my favourite script from Atomic Robo week.  It blew me out of the water with how creative, intelligent, and exciting it was.  Love it to pieces.

Maxy - Stephanie Brown - This is a solid - and hilarious - Batgirl page.  Love the use of Johnny C (rest his comic book soul) and the quick banter.  Reads just like the Stephanie Brown we all know and love.

MK - J. Jonah Jameson - This page makes me laugh every time.  I know it's a J. Jonah page, but I love the way you write Spider-Man.  That last line is solid gold.

Rol - Dashiell Bad Horse - Perfectly conceived concept that was executed even better.  Bonus points for the incredibly dark humour.  More bonus points for coming up with the various screams of that poor sob.

Ryan - Dashiell Bad Horse - This one still sticks with me.  The idea took me completely by surprise and hit me like a ton of bricks.  I wish every page of every comic could feel so poignant (well, that might be a little exhausting, but still...).  The title is perfect, too.

Sime - The Riddler - Oh man, this one gives me shivers.  Great take on the Riddler - and an even better take on the Joker.  I don't envy Edward's plight, but I envy you for having written it.

Of course, these are only some of the many scripts I've had the pleasure of going through since discovering this site, and I can't wait to see the many, many more that are yet to be written.

If you've made it this far, you have my thanks for taking the time to read some of my somewhat self-indulgent thoughts.  I hope they've been somewhat enlightening for you.

Getting to Know MK Stangeland, Jr.

Feel free to call me Michael if you feel so inclined. I’m good going by either.

Who is your favorite comic character?

Rocket Raccoon - he’s a super-intelligent wise cracking rodent. His best friends are a tree that says little more than it’s own name, followed closely by Star-Lord and whatever ridiculously large gun he happens to be using at the time. Guns that would be ridiculously large for a normal human, mind you, let alone a two-foot furry woodland critter. All while being an a**-kicker of the Fantastic.

What’s not to love?

What is your favorite comic?

This is a toss up.

On the one hand, there’s the 2008 Guardians of the Galaxy series as written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning (DnA). It features the same soft sci-fi mix of action, cross-galaxy/universe landscaping, fun characters, and lack of techno-babble that originally made me such a fan of Star Wars.

On the other hand, there’s Bryan Q Miller’s Batgirl series with Stephanie Brown which has sadly now ended at the hands of the DC reboot. Steph alone makes the series a lot of fun, being someone who’s both relatable as a human being and entertaining in her own right. Plus, Bryan does an amazing job of setting a series in the normally grim and gritty Gotham City while managing to keep it as lighthearted as it is.

I think that when it comes down to it, however, I have to tip it to the Guardians .

Who is your favorite comic writer?

I think the closest thing I have to a favorite comic writer is DnA, on account of Guardians of the Galaxy and the phenomenal finale in the form of Thanos Imperative. If nothing else, it gave me reason to check out the new Heroes for Hire series simply because they were writing it, which I think is a pretty good reason to pick them.

The only other writer I can say as much about is Brian Clevinger, who I first learned about through his hilariously dark and outrageous 8-Bit Theater webcomic, which lead me to purchasing the Atomic Robo Trades as they come out, and thus far I’ve at least taken a look at any comic projects I find out he’s writing for.

I think Warrin Ellis might be making a strong argument as well, between Nextwave, the part of his Ultimate Fantastic Four run I’ve read, and depending on what he does with his upcoming work on Secret Avengers.

Who has been the most fun to write so far at thoughtballoons?

The Batgirl/Robin team-up from Stephanie Brown Batgirl week is a definite winner. Those two just go together so incredibly well, and even as someone who’s normally a Marvel Guy, the potential loss of their highly antagonistic relationship is something I’ll regret the loss of if it doesn’t survive the DC reboot.

Which character do you most dread having to write?

I’d say the character I’d dread most is Mephisto, so I think I’ve dodged the biggest bullet right there since he was picked long ago. That said, he’s part of a larger grouping of characters that really leave me feeling uneasy about the possibility of having to try to write them, all falling in the realm of some kind of ‘evil mystical’ aspect of comics. It’s the kind of category in which I’d also place characters like Satanna and Sabacc (or however you spell his name)

Which non-comics character would you most like to write?

Given time to think about it, I’d probably say either the Animaniacs or Freakazoid!. Those two are probably due for a comeback, anyway.

Which script do you think has been your best so far?

Without a doubt, the Batgirl/Robin team-up script from the Stephanie Brown Batgirl week, “Best of Frenemies”. I had a lot of fun putting that page together, and I think everyone else had a lot of fun reading it, too.

Again, it’s a shame that the DC Reboot is on the horizon, because I have little doubt that if they’d had the time to put out a Batgirl & Robin book starring those two first, even if it was just a miniseries, it could have surpassed Guardians of the Galaxy as my favorite comic.

Which script in total do you think has been the best on the site?

Most dreaded character may have been the most difficult question, but this comes in second. Matt Duarte’s Poker Face script featuring The Thing stands out as an early favorite, simply because that was the week I was first introduced to the website, and it stands out as a winner from that week.

I also have to give props to Ben Rosenthal’s Twas the Night Before X-Mas starring Deadpool as Santa.

Finally, I also like both Max Barnard’s Stretch Armstrong script with Reed Richards and, more recently, FUNderbolts. The former, I still can’t honestly say I really understand what’s going on with that thing, but it still gives me a warm fuzzy feeling inside for some reason. The later I just happen to find incredibly charming.

The Crew At Supanova Con 2011

This site is a strange beast in that we all hail from such different places. The Australian contingent is surprisingly high - and I say that because though I am Australian this site was created online. I had the whole internet (or my Twitter pals) to choose from and yet there are 4 Aussie tenures. The rest hail from Europe and while we lost out American connection we've now gained it back and got a Canadian to boot in the trade.

But with such space between us all, even the Aussies are anywhere from 3 hours to 12 hours apart, the odds of getting all the Tenures in a room together is slim at best.

And while we didn't get everyone together recently, we did get 3 Tenures together and it was a blast.

Supanova is a comic convention held annually across four Aussie cities and I was given a leave pass from the wife and kid to go up for a day. It's a 3 and a bit hour drive but I knew I'd be catching up with Ben and Sime while I was there. It was totally worth it. I packed into the car with and a mate from work and the road trip was a blast.

After arriving at the con, and wandering the floor for a little bit, I finally managed to corral Ben and Sime into the same space. It was pretty awesome meeting these lads in person, finally.

So...many...jokes...

Sime really is the brooding heart of thoughtballoons (except for the fact he smiles all the time) and Ben didn't disappoint. He walked up to me, deadpan, with this massive brown leather duffel bag in hand. I wasn't sure if he had the tools with which to kill me or just Gwyneth Paltrow's severed dial full of head cheese. Creepy or awesome...I think you know the answer.

These blokes were a blast to hang out with, though I was only available for a few hours. We talked plenty of comic smack, so here's some eclecticisms on what went down:

• Ben owns an arcade machine. Did you know that?
• Sime wants to buy every DCnU #1 - whether he will, or can find the time to read them all is another question but at least he's got a goal.
• I told Sime he could write a massive The Weekly Crisis post full of paragraph reviews of each of the #1s. The offer still stands.
• Ben owns an arcade machine. You knew that, right?
• I am indecisive and don't spend enough money at cons.
• Ben knows how to spend plenty at cons.
• Sime was there to see me back issue dive for ages and come up with just one issue.
• Yes, the issue was Daredevil. It was issue #380 - actually excited to read it.
• I bought Dave Johnson's sketch book and a wicked Marvel print from him.
• Dave Johnson was the nicest guy ever. So extremely nice.
• I chatted with Ben Templesmith and he's also very cool.
• It wasn't until too late I realised I need to get Templesmith to sketch Franken-Castle for me. One day.
• Ben commissioned a very cool Deadpool sketch from Dave Johnson. You can peep it below.
• Sime is off on a work funded international jaunt. Lucky bugger.
• I managed to chat with an artist and actually get his details. Another nice bloke.
• Ben is hilarious and I need to make more time for the man. Much more time. Sleepovers are called for.

That was the con. Shooting the breeze with other comic writers and really enjoying it. There aren't enough peope in my life that 'get' this passion of mine so it was nice to sink into the nerdfest and just enjoy it. Oh, and since this is a script site here's a little script of just one thing that went down while at Supanova.

Ben, Ryan, and Sime in Peer Pressure

Sime: I'm going to buy all the DC #1 books.

Ben: I'm getting a few.

Sime: You getting Morrison's Action Comics?

Ben: No.

Sime: Seriously?

Ben: No.

Ryan: Aren't you getting Action Comics?

Ben: No.

Ryan: Even I'm getting that one.

Ben: I don't want to.

Ryan: Go on, get it.

Sime: Yeah, get it.

Ryan: Come on, Ben, get it.

Sime: Get it.

Ryan: Seriously, get it.

Ben: Alright, I'll get it.

Scene.

I propose a thoughtballoons writer's workshop next year. Whether official or at the pub, I've already put in for my overnight leave pass and we'll see what we can drum up. Maybe Supanova would be interested in what we have to say - or maybe a coffee shop wants to put us up for a few hours while we laugh and scratch the pads. I say coffee shops because it seems none of us are realy drinkers.

One year from now if you are at Supanova you should track us down. We'll be there, shooting from the hip, where will you be.

Oh, yeah, and the Rev Johnson's Deadpool. Really makes me jealous I didn't invest in an Iron Fist.

Getting To Know Danial Carroll

Who is your favourite comic character?

I've only been reading comics since mid-year, and it was Hulk who was the first to grab my attention. However, I soon discovered a guy named Moon Knight, who quickly took his place. Sure, he’s similar to Batman, with his cave and themed weaponry, but then he’s so much more. Constantly taunted by the Egyptian moon-god, Khonshu, who resurrected him, years ago, he is never quite sure of his own sanity, which, to me, makes him a very exciting character.

What is your favourite comic?

The series that introduced me to Moon Knight was his solo title of 2006. It was drawn by the master, David Finch, and written by Charlie Huston, and gets right into the head of the less-than-perfect hero after a rather literal fall from grace. Though the series drifted downhill towards the end, I consider the very first arc, The Bottom, to be the best thing I’ve read in my short comic-reading career.

Who is your favourite comic writer?

Being fairly new to comics, I don’t have a very large base for comparison, but so far, I’d say, Greg Pak, primarily for his recent work on the Hulk series’. Planet Hulk, World War Hulk, through to the recent storylines, he managed to make Hulk interesting again, which many people will agree, is quite a feat.

Who has been the most fun to write so far in 26 weeks of Thoughtballoons?

Though I’ve only recently joined the ranks of the tenured writers, I have been a “play at home” writer since Spider-Man, so I’ve seen my share of characters. The one who was the most fun for me, which took me by surprise, was Lara Croft. I have never been a fan of her games, or films, and I’ve never read any of her comics, but I found Lara fun to write because of her similarity to various characters of my favourite author, H.P. Lovecraft.

Which character do you most dread having to write?

Any non-Marvel character really. As I’ve said, I’m only fairly new to comics, and I’ve mostly stuck to Marvel, which means that writing someone like Scott Pilgrim absolutely terrifies me, as I know nothing about them… at all. I have a vague knowledge of DC characters, due to the various films and cartoons, so am able to pull something together for them, but the others, not so much…

Which non-comics character would you most like to write?

I’ve been a casual gamer my entire life, so there are many game characters I would love to write. Having recently been playing their games, Rockstar Games’ Niko Bellic and John Marston come to mind as great characters with huge potential.

Which script do you think has been your best so far?

Like most people, I’m my own worst critic, so this is a tough question to answer. However, if I have to pick, I’d say my Lara Croft script. Because I enjoyed writing it, I think it shows.

Which script in total do you think has been the best on the site?

It seems nigh impossible to choose just one, but some of my favourites have been Matt’s recent Ash script, Curriculum Vitae; Rol’s Domestic Violence featuring Superboy and his “parents”; and reaching a bit further back, Ben’s Aquaman entry, Problems.

Getting to know Matt Duarte

Who is your favourite comic character?

I was going to say Spider-Man, but it seems that everyone else beat me to the punch on that one, hasn’t it? I do love me some Spidey.

Aside from that, I think one character that I feel is my favorite is Kurt Wagner, A.K.A. Nightcrawler. I was a big X-Men reader when younger, and I always liked that Nightcrawler is a man of contradictions, one who doesn’t appear what he is, despite all signs to the contrary (and I’m not just talking about his physical appearance). When he’s used right, he can be one of the most interesting characters in comic-dom.

What is your favourite comic?

This question is far easier, just one word:

NEXTWAVESTUARTIMMONEWARRENELLISEXPLOSIONSKICKS.

Ok, that might have been more than one word. NextWave: Agents of H.A.T.E. is the perfect distillation of what comics can, have, and should be in one neat package. Written by Warren Ellis and illustrated by Stuart Immonen, it stars five D-lister characters on a mission to take down a huge terrorist organization. Immensely fun doesn't even begin to describe it. It is both a love letter and a flaming bag of turds in the medium and industry’s door step. If you think that doesn’t make any sense, then you haven’t read NextWave, and I hate you for it.

Who is your favourite comic writer?

Jason Aaron. I’ve read pretty much everything that the man has written, and I haven’t been let down so far. Whether it’s the slice of life drama pieces in his creator owned work in The Other Side and Scalped, or the great handle he has in characters like Ghost Rider and Wolverine, he provides fun and entertaining rides all the way to the finish line. And on top of that, he’s only been writing comic for like five years! There is so much more that we can expect from him.

Aaron is also an inspirational figure for me: he’s a down-to-earth character, a normal guy that showed that through hard work and perseverance, no matter at what stage of your life you are in, you can pursue your dreams and achieve. Man, that’s sappy, isn’t it?

Who has been the most fun to write so far in 26 weeks of thoughtballoons?

I generally like cheery and funny characters, so basically any character that is not constantly moping and wallowing in self tragedy has been pretty fun to write. Araña, Jubilee, The Thing, and Scott Pilgrim all come to mind as some of the most fun I’ve had writing here for thoughtballoons.

Which is not to say I don’t enjoy writing melodrama either. I’ve written some pretty heavy pieces that I enjoyed quite lot, like Daredevil, Constantine and Silver Surfer to name a few.

If I had to choose, it would probably be Machine Man. Ironically, in my script, he only had one single line of dialogue, but the writing the set up to deliver that line was loads of fun.

Which character do you most dread having to write?

None.

Alright, that sounds pretty vain, but let me explain. Every character has a handle, the really difficult thing is finding that handle and carrying it comfortably within your hands. Finding it may be a matter of time and perspective, but it is always there, and once you find it, you’ll realize it was always there, you just couldn’t see it. The thing I dread the most is not having enough time to find the right perspective on any given character. I think I’ve done pretty good with characters that I had no idea what to do originally, and I honestly I could handle anything thrown my way.

Alright, alright, enough with the reach around answers, here’s a character that I dread: Wonder Woman. Too much history, too many conflicting views and takes, and too much expectation from readers.

Which non-comics character would you most like to write?

I think writing Harry Potter would be loads of fun, mostly because it would be a challenge.

Which script do you think has been your best so far?

Based on critical reaction, I think my Iron Man was the most well received. I really do like what I did on that one, and I still think it was a clever idea, which is surprising as it was my first script for the site. My Spider-Man script also seemed to be quite liked, and considering it's everyone's favorite character, I think I did alright.

I’m really proud of the idea that I came up with Casanova Quinn, though perhaps not in the execution. I really would have liked to expand it further, and I think it would have fared better with more space to stretch it’s legs.

The one that I surprised myself with the most is my Superman script. It’s one of those characters that a lot of people struggle with, and I found the voice and scene easy enough.

Which script in total do you think has been the best on the site?

Everyone has done good work, and I could spend a whole other paragraph detailing everyone’s best pieces, but I’ve written enough as it is. If I had to choose a favorite (and it’s a bit of a left-field choice) but Rol’s Molecule Man script was just the perfect mix of humor, pathos, and character work. Just a scene that worked on every level.

Getting to know Sime McDonald

Who is your favourite comic character?

Superman is unquestionably my favourite comic book character. But know that, when I say ‘Superman’, I am referring to the real Superman, not the one currently sauntering around America in a lame attempt to get ‘back in touch’ with the people. Superman has never struggled to identify with humanity – because, first and foremost, he is Clark Kent, son of Jonathan and Martha, who taught him about truth and justice, and instilled within him the realisation that, with his powers, he should be a force for good, a beacon, an inspiration. My Superman is the one who existed in the mid-90’s to early-2000’s; punctuated by great tales from Dan Jurgens, Joe Kelly, Jeph Loeb and Joe Casey. He was Clark Kent first, Superman second. Clark Kent’s who he was; Superman was who he could be – a quote I’ve stolen from Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. When I was a kid, I wanted to be Superman. Not to have his powers – although yes, that would be awesome – I just wanted to be good, like him. I wanted to possess ability to do the right thing, no matter what. I’ve faltered in regards to that. But that okay. I’m human, after all. It’s just such a shame the book has faltered so recently too. Bring back Geoff Johns!

What is your favourite comic?

I have a few choices, but ultimately it's got to go to Action Comics 775. Seriously, if you don't like Superman, if you've never read Superman, find this, read this. It cements Joe Kelly as one of the finest Superman writers of the decade.

Who is your favourite comic writer?

A tough question. My opinion frequently varies on a monthly, possibly weekly basis. I’ve loved work by Brubaker, Fraction, Bendis, Loeb, Joe Kelly,  Geoff Johns, Joe Casey ... but ultimately, the man who never lets me down is Grant Morrison. I was first introduced to his talent towards the end of his run on JLA, which was in the late nineties I want to say, maybe early 2000’s? I quickly went back and collected his entire run, and I’ve picked up his work since. His Batman run has been incredible. I can’t wait for the day when I can just chill out and read everything in a couple of sittings.

Who has been the most fun to write so far in 26 weeks of thoughtballoons?

I really enjoyed Aquaman. I think, jokes aside, there is room for an Aquaman comic on our comic book store shelves. And I think we all – Ryan in particular – did a wonderful job in showcasing potential storytelling routes. Machine Man was great, too. I knew nothing about the character – had never heard of him. And I’m not sure whether, in current continuity, he would do what I was suggesting he could – engaging in the practice of neuromarketing – but I’d sure as hell like to write about the corporations that exist in the Marvel Universe. It wouldn’t last long, but I reckon I could write a killer three issues before it was cancelled.

Which character do you most dread having to write?

I think we’ve already covered two of my most dreaded characters: Casanova Quinn and Scott Pilgrim. Not because I dislike those characters; far from it. They are just so out there – far outside my wheelhouse, my comfort zone – that I struggled to come up with suitable concepts for a single paged script. I didn’t attempt Scott Pilgrim, and I wasn’t at all happy with my Casanova effort. I’m similarly afraid of any character from Marvel’s ‘cosmic universe.’ Nova and the Guardians of the Galaxy, etc – I’d have no idea what to do with them. Saying that, I love being pushed to come up with something; I mean, I had no idea who Machine Man was but I think I came up with a fairly original premise.

Which non-comics character would you most like to write?

I’d love to see Lee Child’s protagonist Jack Reacher star in his own comic series. I think you could adapt the novels that already exist or go nuts and create your own stories within the character’s continuity. He has so much untapped history as a military cop, and the fact he’s a drifter means stories could based in a variety of locations. Reacher really is like a modern day Macgyver / Batman; put him in any situation and he will escape from it, maybe bloodied, maybe wounded, but still ready to kick your arse.

Which script do you think has been your best so far?

I really like my Punisher script. I like the way it divided opinions. Not regarding its quality, thank God – rather, whether the final panel should have included a gun in Frank Castle’s hand. I think the gunshould be there – others disagreed. Ultimately, as a writer, that’s the kind of ‘debate’ you want to instigate with your work; not one that’s based on the quality of the work. The one script I wish I could return to and make additions would be my Iron Man script. I love that whole concept of the Armoury and I’d really love to be able to expand on it. 

Which script in total do you think has been the best on the site?

Damn. Not easy to answer. I think all of our writers have talent. We all bring something different to Thought-Balloons. I can’t name a ‘best’ script,’ but I have a top three; scripts that've stuck with me.

And two of them are mine.

Kidding.

All three are.

Seriously - - - 

1) To Be a Hero, starring The Thing, by Ben Rosenthal.

2) The Duality of Duality, starring Aquaman, by Ryan K. Lindsay

3) Face Off, starring The Question, by Rol Hirst.