Gail Simone's Blog, page 932

I'll go ahead and ask you "THAT". Have you ever cheated in a game of Boggle?

HA!

No, and no.

Have you ever had to argue with DC on something you wanted to put in an issue, or something they wanted you to write that you disagreed with? Do you think working for a comic book publisher gives you more or less creative freedom than writing independently

Oh, sure, absolutely. It happens all the time, probably with most every writer, and the more distinctive your voice is, the more it happens.

But it’s not cut and dried…it’s not usually because the publisher is a big meanie. Sometimes, they have plans for a character they want to use, or they just did a plot like the one I am asking for.

But sometimes, too, the editor is just right. I had a plot in mind for Villains United #5 that was, well, hilarious but uninspired, otherwise. Editor Steve Wacker pointed that out and I fought like hell.

But he was right and I realized it later. We went in a much bolder direction and it was the right move entirely. It happens.

A great editor is a huge blessing. A terrible one makes you want to quit your job, the industry, and living, in that order.

There is certainly more freedom in creator-owned stuff, yes. But the word ‘creative’ in that sentence gives me pause, because I find working in these shared universe tapestries TREMENDOUSLY creative. I dearly love it, when it works well.

I don’t work at DC because I have to, I truly enjoy writing these characters and working with these people. I like doing both—I’m doing more creator-owned stuff starting this very year.

But I don’t see a time in the near future where I wouldn’t be writing SOME shared universe stuff, because it makes me happy.

Have you ever had to argue with DC on something you wanted to put in an issue, or something they wanted you to write that you disagreed with? Do you think working for a comic book publisher gives you more or less creative freedom than writing independently

Oh, sure, absolutely. It happens all the time, probably with most every writer, and the more distinctive your voice is, the more it happens.

But it’s not cut and dried…it’s not usually because the publisher is a big meanie. Sometimes, they have plans for a character they want to use, or they just did a plot like the one I am asking for.

But sometimes, too, the editor is just right. I had a plot in mind for Villains United #5 that was, well, hilarious but uninspired, otherwise. Editor Steve Wacker pointed that out and I fought like hell.

But he was right and I realized it later. We went in a much bolder direction and it was the right move entirely. It happens.

A great editor is a huge blessing. A terrible one makes you want to quit your job, the industry, and living, in that order.

There is certainly more freedom in creator-owned stuff, yes. But the word ‘creative’ in that sentence gives me pause, because I find working in these shared universe tapestries TREMENDOUSLY creative. I dearly love it, when it works well.

I don’t work at DC because I have to, I truly enjoy writing these characters and working with these people. I like doing both—I’m doing more creator-owned stuff starting this very year.

But I don’t see a time in the near future where I wouldn’t be writing SOME shared universe stuff, because it makes me happy.

you know, i never connected the gail simone of WiR with the eminent, um, you. i am all the more honored that i am following you, and that you decided to follow me. <3

Aw, the honor is mine.

I never know what I’m doing. I’m amazed I haven’t fallen off a cliff like twenty times by now.

But thanks!

itswalky:BecauseThis is PERFECT.I asked for someone to...

itswalky:

Because

This is PERFECT.

I asked for someone to sketch King Shark in Harley’s classic outfit yesterday on Twitter, and a bunch of people responded, I hadn’t seen this one yet.

It’s adoriffic!

I love these two together.I just DO, all right? :)Also,...

I love these two together.

I just DO, all right?  :)

Also, this is one adorable piece of art.

mahmudasrar:Batgirl - Wizard World Chicago 2012 Pre-Show...

mahmudasrar:

Batgirl - Wizard World Chicago 2012 Pre-Show Commission

Wow, that’s stunning.

I really like the black accessories, as well.

I swear, I would go broke in a heartbeat if I bought all the Babsgirl sketches that I have been seeing at conventions lately. At Chicago, EVERYONE had a Batgirl sketch up at their table.

braindeadmegaphone:This entire conversation. I mean, PLEASE...

braindeadmegaphone:

This entire conversation. I mean, PLEASE WORK ON SOMETHING TOGETHER ALREADY BECAUSE OMFG IT WOULD BE THE MOST PERFECT THING IN THE UNIVERSE.

HA!  I would do that in a heartbeat. A lot of people don’t know this, but Kevin Maguire and I DID work together, very early in my career.

It was on a book called X-Men Unlimited, and it was just one story, a funny one about a terrible, low-budget X-men movie being made and how the real X-men hated it. I wasn’t going to write for Kevin Maguire and not do a funny story!

It was a blast, he was one of the first of my art heroes that I got to work with, and he did an amazing job.

I'm visiting New York with my family, and I was wondering: is there anything to do at the DC headquarters there? Like a tour or something? Sorry if this is a stupid question!

I don’t believe the DC offices are open for tours to the general public, which is kind of a shame because there is a lot of cool stuff to see; a huge painted mural by legends of the industry, a floor that looks lik Gotham, another like Metropolis.

But there’s a lot of security and secrecy issues that make casual visits unlikely. Sorry!

Wonderful Girl: What Do We Do About Misogyny In Comics?

Wonderful Girl: What Do We Do About Misogyny In Comics?:

gailsimone:

Someone asked me to make this question from a reader, and my response, rebloggable, so here it is, I hope!

ninjaruski asked: Hi Gail, this week, at Dragon*Con, the Comics and Popular Arts Conference put on several panels where academics (mostly philosophers) discussed…

Girl-wonder.org is another great example.

I wasn’t on the first panels she did, last year. But I heard about them, and asked to meet her—I wanted to meet her AT the DC booth so she could be seen and hopefully some people from DC would come talk to her outside of the panel.

I asked on Twitter, and some people got the message to her, and we had a good chat.

Then, I finally WAS on a panel where she was in the audience, and I have to say, we could NOT hear that she was being boo’d. I heard somebody say, “let her talk!” which confused me because we couldn’t hear, from the dais, that anyone was trying to stop her. My hubby was in the audience, he said he was mortified by the booing, but that there were a lot of people yelling in support of her, too.

It was a subject of a lot of discussion at the DC booth and events after, among the pros and staff. I didn’t speak with a single person who felt she was wrong.

She did a courageous thing and it made a difference. I’m proud to know her.