••

Longer than my original X-MEN run!

++++++

John seems to give each series its own unique texture/ambiance and I both love and respect that. Which in no way says I will automatically jibe with it right away.

••

When I was a kid, Bob Kane was my favorite artist, by virtue of the fact that he drew my favorite character.

Of course, I did not know "Bob Kane" was effectively a house name, and the real work was being done by many different artists. I just assumed, in my innocence, that "Kane" modified his style to fit each particular story. I noted that he kept what I considered his best style for the annuals, presumably since they were special.

I had no way of knowing, back then, that the annuals were reprints, and the best "Bob Kane" was actually Dick Sprang. (Coincidentally, he'd drawn the first Batman story I'd ever read, which probably helped cement his as the best style.)

In any case, this planted a nearly subconscious need in my brain -- a need to give each project I worked on its own visual identity.

••

A Magneto who is a "boring villain" is a Magneto who is being written poorly.

+++

Look at Thor where he's travelled to the far future and found the only other people alive are Wolverine (inhabited by the Phoenix force) and Dr Doom (who has the powers of Iron Fist, Ghost Rider, Dr Strange and the Starbrand). Look at new hot writer Donny Cates who created Cosmic Ghost Rider who is...Frank Castle in the future who has kidnapped Thanos as a baby to try and kill him before he becomes what he is. Having multiples and clones and alternate versions and Older versions of characters is now the new normal, not the thing you'd see in What If?

••

"Every issue is the first issue for someone" is apparently an alien concept, these days.

Whenever I write exposition, there are invariably complaints. “We already know this!” cry the dwindling audience, as they wonder why they dwindle.