Cullen Bunn's Blog, page 25
February 25, 2013
Emerald City Comicon
It’s convention season, and I’m on the road again this weekend! If you’re in Seattle, I hope to see you at ECCC. This will be my first time at the show, and I’m very excited about it.
I’ll be setting up at table L-17, right next to Brian Hurtt, so it’ll be a cornerstone of Sixth Gun awesomeness.
I’ll also be participating in a number of panels and signings. Here’s where you’ll find me when I’m not at my table.
FRIDAY
6:00pm – 7:00pm – Panel: BREAKING INTO COMICS TH MARVEL WAY (Hall B)
SATURDAY
11:00am – 12:00pm – Panel: PINT O’ C.B. (Hall B)
3:00 – 4:45 – Signing at the Oni Press Booth (with Brian Hurtt, Bill Crabtree, and Brian Churilla)
6:00 – 7:00 – Panel – ONI PRESS REVOLUTIONIZE COMICS (Room 3AB)
SUNDAY
2:00 – 3:45 – Signing at the Oni Press Booth (with Bill Crabtree and Brian Churilla)
February 11, 2013
VisionCon
Friday
5:00 pm – Opening Ceremonies.6:00 pm – Marvel Comics Today
Saturday
10:00 am – ReadingNoon to 2:00 pm – VIP Luncheon4:00 pm – Marketing Yourself As A Writer
February 9, 2013
Let’s Talk About THE FEARLESS DEFENDERS
First things first, you bought it, right?
If you haven’t had a chance to pick it up, get to your local comic book store NOW and grab your copy. If you prefer to read your comics digitally, you can pick it up on ComiXology. Go ahead. Get it and read it. I’ll wait.
If you did not purchase your copy and instead downloaded it illegally, move along. I really couldn’t care less what you thought of the book.
Anyhow… THE FEARLESS DEFENDERS is a new series from Marvel Comics. I’m writing the book. Will Sliney is drawing it. The book is colored by Veronica Gandini. Letters are by Clayton Cowles. And it is edited by Ellie Pyle. The cover was by Mark Brooks (with variants by Milo Manara, Mike Deodato & Rain Beredo, and Skottie Young).
The Origin…
I’ve written books for Marvel pretty steadily for the past couple of years, but this is the first project that I brought to them. In most instances, an editor has approached me with at least the basic premise. “What kind of Wolverine story would you tell?” or “What would you do with a book about Deadpool killing every character in the Marvel Universe?” This idea, though, is near and dear to me because it was the first proposal I took to my editors instead of the other way around. (Well, it was the first they accepted. I still have my US ACE proposal and my THOR/GHOST RIDER: METAL SOULS pitches on hand).
The set-up for this series came to me while I was working on FEAR ITSELF: THE FEARLESS (which you should buy for more Valkyrie awesomeness). The concept, as it appeared in my original pitch document (written 12/7/2011) was:
Valkyrie, the greatest of the Shield Maidens, gathers a new group of the Valkyrior to stand vigilant against threats to both Asgard and Midgard. These Shield Maidens, though, will not be chosen from among the women of Asgard. Their ranks will be filled by the greatest heroines of Earth.
One part Avengers, one part Lady Liberators, one part Seven Samurai, this series will focus on earthly and cosmic action from the point of view of an all-female team. Some members of this group may not be accustomed to working with others. Some will be facing threats on a scale they’ve never encountered before. Some will be stepping into the role of “superhero” for the very first time.
In the end Valkyrie, who has long been an agent of death, must learn what it means to be an agent of life. She will find that her definitions of heroism and honor are put to the test by the women she leads and the challenges she faces. This is Valkyrie’s dream team, and her vision sets the tone for the entire story—making it come true, seeing it sometimes fail, and learning to adapt when changes need to be made.
Before the book was greenlit, it was passed around to a number of editors. Each editor had different notes, some of them suggesting radical changes. One day I might tell you about some of those. But as the concept moved closer to approval, it was placed in the capable hands of Ellie Pyle, who was supportive of me returning the book to its roots.
(There was a point when I wasn’t sure if this book would be approved or not. I was pitching for another title in the Marvel NOW! line-up. My pitch for that series rocked, quite frankly, and I really wanted to do that book. If I had been chosen for that series, I would have probably let this idea drop. So I’m very pleased that my proposal for the other series wasn’t selected.)
The Cast…
Since the series was announced, the cast has been the subject of much conversation. Many readers hated the idea of building the “team” of Shieldmaidens over time. The now-now-now mentality reared its ugly head. But I believe in a team book it’s important to work a little more slowly in revealing characters, especially when dealing with characters many people aren’t familiar with. That gradual gathering of the team has always been the plan.
From the original proposal:
Valkyrie takes center stage as the leader of this all-female super team. In early arcs, she recruits and vets various heroines from the Marvel Universe. Seven women will be chosen as the Shield Maidens of Earth. They are no longer tasked with ferrying the souls of the dead to the afterlife. Instead, they are tasked with the protection of the living.
During her search for this team, Valkyrie will turn to many known characters. (Imagine Arana, She-Hulk, Lyra, Loa, Kitty Pryde, Monica Rambeau, Dani Moonstar, Lionheart, Hellcat, Songbird, Ms. Marvel, the Invisible Woman, the Savage She-Hulk, Ghost Rider, X-23, Photon, or others being offered the position and powers of a Shield Maiden.) While some known (and lesser known) heroines will accept Valkyrie’s offer, the team will also be joined by new characters who may have no previous powers. Police officers, doctors, firefighters, nurses, etc., will change the way Valkyrie defines heroism.
Don’t read too much into the description above, though. This has changed quite a bit over time.
I’ve been really thrilled by how many people have mentioned that this book was their first real exposure to Misty Knight and Valkyrie. In the days to come, we’ll be adding Dani Moonstar and Hippolyta to the cast. We’ve also introduced Annabelle Riggs, my favorite character in the book.
Now, a lot of people are concerned that there aren’t that many A-List characters in the book. To that, I have to point out that few characters start out as A-Listers. They need a showcase… some place for readers to fall in love with them. My hope is that THE FEARLESS DEFENDERS provides that vehicle.
That said, there will be plenty of A-List characters (and plenty of lesser known characters) appearing in the series. In the fifth and sixth issue of the book, we have a LOT of guest stars. And there’s really no place this series can’t go. You could see almost any character in these pages.
While the Valkyrior is composed of nine women, there will be a much, much bigger cast of recurring characters. If you have a favorite Marvel lady, there’s every possibility she’ll show up at some point… and maybe she’ll stick around.
But They’re All Women, Right?
Yes, the stars of this book are the ladies of the Marvel Universe. But I didn’t set out to write this series in order to make a statement. I came up with an idea that would allow me to tell fun stories featuring characters I love. They just happen to be women.
And I know… I’m a guy… writing a comic about women! Why didn’t Marvel give this book to a female writer? Simple. I’m the writer who pitched the concept.
I’m no stranger to writing strong female leads. Check out THE SIXTH GUN sometime. I feel as though I handle female characters well… because I treat them like human beings first. Writing a solid character is about character first, not gender.
The Tone…
I’m not sure how I originally envisioned the tone of the book, but while writing the first issue I decided that the name of the game would be unapologetic super-heroic FUN. The team-up of Misty and Valkyrie was unexpected, and I want to carry that off-beat sensibility throughout the series.
The Feedback…
I’ve really been blown away by the response to the first issue. Thank you all for the kind words and support! It means a lot. I never really expected the outpouring of love for the book… and for newly introduced character Annabelle Riggs… but it thrills me to no end. Writing comic books can be challenging and more disheartening than most people really know. But the past few days have been truly inspiring!
My goal is to make THE FEARLESS DEFENDERS unlike any other book on the stands. It’ll be strange and quirky and unexpected and pulpy. I’m glad people have enjoyed it so far.
I’m realistic, though, and I know I can’t please everyone. I’ll keep trying, of course, but that’s a losing battle.
One scene in particular (I’m being secretive here to avoid spoilers)… brought about cries of “fanservice!” I hadn’t heard the term until this week, but I’ve gotta say it’s kind of a stupid concept. I write books that I want readers to like. In the end, isn’t that fanservice? I guess there might be people out there who hope no one enjoys their work. I’m sure there is more to the “fanservice” term, but it sounds a little ridiculous to me. I’m sure someone could send me a lengthy description of the term and how I’m misinterpreting it, but, really… no, thanks… I’m okay.
That scene in particular was discussed at length with Will and Ellie to make sure it played well and was handled in a tasteful, respectful manner. Every big moment in this series rolls into another big moment, so I try to make sure everything works in the best way possible.
Keep in mind that no one knows what I have planned for the characters in this book. With this series, I’m writing for the long game, and some of the things I have planned will thrill readers and piss them off and break their hearts… if I’m doing my job.
And guess what? That serving the story, the characters, and the fans.
It’s exciting for me to see where readers think character arcs are headed. But I’ll warn you that you’ll be hard-pressed to figure out what’s in store for these characters based on a single issue that was pretty action-oriented.
What’s Ahead?
Future stories will feature characters and guest stars you won’t expect, and they’ll be barreling through some of the most unusual adventures in the Marvel Universe. I’ve got stories planned that take us to Latveria, Chinatown, and the mean streets of the urban jungle. We’ll be running afoul of sorcerers, gods, amazons, ninja, and a new team of super-villains!
But Here’s the Thing!
If you like this title, it’s still very important that you tell your retailer to stock it. Subscribe to it. Tweet about it. Blog about it. Write to Marvel and let them know what you think! Write a letter for the book’s letter column! Tell your friends. I was in the comic shop just this week and watched as the clerk physically put the book in a customers hand and told them to read it. Hot damn! We want a long run on this series. We think it deserves it. But sales typically drop after a first issue. Word of mouth and your support can help keep this title going! It’s vital!
And if you didn’t like the first issue, maybe give it another issue or two. It might grow on you.
The Reviews…
Here are links to a few reviews that have popped up! There are plenty of others, of course, but here are a few to get you started.
Robot 6 Chain Reactions: Fearless Defenders
IGN Gives Fearless Defenders 9.0 out of 10.0
Comicosity Gives Fearless Defenders 9.5 out of 10.0
Newsarama Best Shots Advance Reviews: Fearless Defenders
Talking Comics Reviews Fearless Defenders
Between the Panels Reviews Fearless Defenders
Too Dangerous For a Girl: Fearless Defenders
ComicVine Review: Fearless Defenders
ComicsBlend Review: Fearless Defenders
Would You Like To Know More?
Will Sliney and I have done a few interviews about creating THE FEARLESS DEFENDERS. Here are a couple of links:
USA Today: Odd Couple Heads Up Adventurous ”Fearless Defenders”
Newsarama: Fearless Defenders Post-Game
The Beat: Cullen Bunn Pitches The Fearless Defenders
Multiversity: Cullen Bunn Brings The Fearless Defenders to Life
Comicosity: Cullen Bunn Takes on The Fearless Defenders
The Beat: Will Sliney Profiles Valkyrie
The Beat: Will Sliney Profiles Misty Knight
If you want to stay in the loop on THE FEARLESS DEFENDERS, you can keep an eye on this site. You can also check out the FEARLESS DEFENDERS Tumblr or follow me on my Tumblr or Twitter.
I’d love to hear from you, so please drop me a line and let me know what you thought of the book!
THE FEARLESS DEFENDERS #1 – On Sale Now!
The Fearless Defenders #2 – On Sale March 2013!
February 8, 2013
January 22, 2013
NBC Orders a Pilot for The Sixth Gun
It’s been a long strange road thus far, but it’s only going to get stranger (at least for me) from here! As reported on Deadline.com, NBC has ordered a pilot for THE SIXTH GUN. That means that in the weeks to come, we’ll be learning more about the director and actors. The pilot will be shot in the coming months! LOST veteran Carlton Cuse is producing. Ryan Condal wrote the pilot. Eric Gitter and Andy Borne of Closed on Mondays, the sister company of Oni Press, are executive producing.
Stay tuned for more information!
If you haven’t read THE SIXTH GUN, now is the time! You can read the very first issue of the series for free here.
January 21, 2013
Monday Morning Interview Round-Up
I’ve been doing a lot of interviews lately and I haven’t had a chance to gather them up into a nice collection of links. Today’s round-up covers FEARLESS DEFENDERS, VENOM, and ULTIMATE COMICS WOLVERINE.
Cullen Bunn Looks Home With Ultimate Comics Wolverine – I spent some time with Cosmic Book News discussing the new Wolverine limited series.
Cullen Bunn Plots Eddie Brock’s Revenge on Venom – Newsarama spoke with me about the new Toxin arc in VENOM.
Fearless Defenders: Fighting Fear, Pt. 1 – The first portion of an extended Marvel.com interview about the upcoming FEARLESS DEFENDERS series.
Fearless Defenders: Fighting Fear, Pt. 2 – And it continues!
Fearless Defenders: Fighting Fear, Pt. 3 – The mighty conclusion!
Comic Book Roadshow Interview – For the podcasting set, I spoke with the Comic Book Roadshow about… well… everything.
January 12, 2013
This Week’s Obsessions 1/12/2013
Here’s a quick rundown of the things I’m obsessed with this week!
Scalped – I’ve been a little behind when it comes to finishing up this series, possibly because I really didn’t want it to end. I finally sat down to read the final trade paperback, but before doing so I decided to re-read all of the issues leading up to the finale. The series was phenomenal from beginning to end, and it wrapped up in such a tragic and heartbreaking way. Highly recommended!
Dredd – It’s rare anymore that I watch a movie, then immediately want to re-watch it, but this adaptation of Judge Dredd brought that out in me. From the soundtrack to the set design, I loved it. Karl Urban’s stoic portrayal was spot on. The flick reminded me of old school Robocop. My only complaint is that I would have loved to see more of Mega-City One. Still, what a blast!
January 1, 2013
New Year, New Interviews!
Here are a few new interviews about funnybooks and such.
Two-Fisted Tales From Oni’s Top Gunslingers – PREVIEWSWorld talks to Brian Hurtt, Bill Crabtree, and myself about The Sixth Gun: Sons of the Gun.
Bunn Writes Two Generations of Ultimate Comics Wolverine – I talk with Comic Book Resources about the upcoming limited series featuring Logan and Jimmy Hudson.
Cullen Bunn on Venom, Flash Thompson, and Their Future in Philadelphia – I spoke with Cosmic Book News about Venom’s upcoming relocation to Philly.
Cullen Bunn Wants to Make Philly Important in ‘Venom’ – The Philadelphia Examiner spent some time talking to me about adapting the City of Brotherly Love to the Marvel Universe.
December 31, 2012
2012 In Review
A few years ago, a post like this wouldn’t have included much. A few short story “sales” to low circulation magazines… if anything at all. But, as I’ve said many times, things started to change for me when I really buckled down and treated writing like a job. I think it really shows when you look at my work published this past year.
Ten issues of The Sixth Gun, all published on time! I can’t tell you how proud I am of this book. And we’ve passed the halfway point. The series will come to an end with issue 50! Hold on tight!
Fear Itself: The Fearless 2 – 12
Most of this massive limited series, which put the inspiration (and quite a bit of groundwork) in place for The Fearless Defenders, was released this year. I had always liked Valkyrie as a character, but I fell in love with her while writing this book. I also came to respect Crossbones quite a bit more. This is the series where Hellstrom made a heel turn (later reflected in Venom) and the DOA rose again.
Captain America and Hawkeye 629 – 632
The Captain America team-up book started with a four-issue pulp adventure featuring Stegron and ties to ROM and classic Ms. Marvel. This book introduced Kashmir Vennema to the Marvel Universe.
Captain America and Iron Man 633 – 635
I’ll admit… when I wrote this story, I hated it. As much as I love Batroc, Batroc’s Brigade, M.O.D.O.K., and M.A.D.A.K.s, I just didn’t think this story worked. But readers seemed to like it for what it was–a crazy pulpy adventure. Kashmir Vennema’s plotting continues.
Captain America and Namor 635.1
This issue was a lot of fun to write. World War II era Cap and Namor? I love that stuff! I also used this issue to introduce the Covenant, a group that will continue to surface in the Marvel Universe in the days to come.
Captain America and Black Widow 636 – 640
The Captain America team-up book ended with this arc. Before I scripted the first Hawkeye issue of this series, I had it on good authority that the book might not last past issue 640. So the conclusion of the book wasn’t a shocker for me. I would have loved to have had one more issue of this arc, but I’m pleased with how the Kashmir Vennema story wrapped up!
I co-write this arc with Ed Brubaker. Ed had a ton of ideas he wanted to cover in this arc, and he sent me a bulleted list of ideas to include. Based on that list, I scripted these for issues, introducing the Discordians and the Omega Madbombs.
This graphic novel re-tells Spidey’s origins for brand new readers! It also introduced Katy Kiernan, who went on to guest star in Venom.
When I was asked to take over Venom from Rick Remender, I was given the chance to co-write the violent “Savage Six” arc, which will have long-lasting ramifications for Flash Thompson in the days to come.
Venom 23 – 28 (and Minimum Carnage Alpha and Omega)
At this point, I’ve written 14 issues of Venom… and I’m really just getting started with the character. I added Katy Kiernan and Daimon Hellstrom to the cast… and I set the events of the Descent into motion. With Minimum Carnage, I got the chance to write about the Micronauts!
With these two issues, I was able to fulfill my dream of writing a Devil Dinosaur comic. I also introduced Demon Dinosaur!
Following Jason Aaron’s acclaimed run on a book is no mean feat, but I enjoyed the Hell out of building Dr. Rot’s family in this tribute to horror movies like Texas Chainsaw Massacre, House of a 1000 Corpses, and Phantasm.
The Covenant returns in this arc, which let me tell an Indiana Jones style story with Cthulhu monsters, robot Wolverines, monstrous Kung-Fu fighters, and more!
Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe 1 – 4
Just what the title suggests! In these four issues, Deadpool kills… well… everybody.
Helheim (Black and White Preview) 1
While the series doesn’t launch (in full color) until next year, Oni Press released a special edition black and white preview of this Vikings and undead extravanganza! Look for the series in March!
Creeping Stones and Other Stories
My only non-comic work to be published this year. This is a collection of many of my short horror stories. A follow-up is in the works!
There ya have it! One graphic novel, 66 individual comic book issues, and one short story collection! Not a bad year’s work!
Looking at the list, I see that I need to make sure to get some more of my creator-owned work on the shelves next year. That shouldn’t be a problem with Helheim, The Sixth Gun: Sons of the Gun, and another unannounced project on the horizon. Also, keep an eye out for Deadpool Killustrated (the sequel to Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe), Venom, and the all-new Fearless Defenders! I’m also hoping for a little more of my prose work to make an appearance in 2013!
Thanks for the support in 2012!
Happy New Year!
December 30, 2012
This Week’s Obsessions 12/30/2012
Here’s a quick rundown of some of the things I’ve been obsessed with this week!
Ninja Scroll: The Series – Lately, I’ve been interested in watching anime again. It’s been years since I’ve really watched any. I remember enjoying the Ninja Scroll movie, so I thought I’d give the series a try. So far, the series isn’t as awesome as I remember the movie being. But, the first episode had a werewolf, a giant who turns into a motorcycle, a spider guy, and a woman who could spawn carnivorous frogs from her flesh. The weirdo characters are enough to keep me interested.
Planet of the Apes – I don’t think I’ve watched these movies since I was a kid, but my wife gave me a set for Christmas. There is so much classic sci-fi awesomeness in these movies! The first movie has some real moments of genuine dread. I know the rest of the series doesn’t compare, but I’m still excited to watch them again.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – This one’s credited to my son, who loves the new TV series and watches it over and over. I have to admit, I think the new series is fantastic.
Ultraman – I’ve been watching a lot of Ultraman with my kiddo lately. I didn’t expect him to like the show as much as he does, but together we’ve burned through the first 20 episodes or so.
Mothra – As much as I like Ultraman, I wanted to find something at least a little different to watch with my son. I opted for the Rebirth of Mothra movies, which aren’t great but are fun for a younger audience (and the young at heart).
Judge Dredd – I’ve been reading these giant black and white collected editions of Judge Dredd. They collect all the original stories from the beginning. It’s interesting to see how those original tales (most of which were very short) played out.
