RICHARD: Do you believe things have changed of late though? A heavier editorial influence in the last few months that in the previous year, say? That's what I'm hearing Joe... anything in it? (29)

And Flattery gets you everywhere. There are plenty of proper comics journalists, until recently there was a paucity of rumor columnists. Admittedly, with Heidi MacDonald and Alan Donald and... hang on... what's with all the Donald rumor mongers? Sorry, distracted, but why do you think actual investigative journalism will expose comics as a wondrous thing and move the medium on?

That's more likely a PR job. Advertising. (30)

Tell you what, you'll get some free radio scripts out of me for comics. Maybe in this very column. Fancy the sound of that? (31)

(26.5) The 'Judge' thing was a gag. Probably a bad one. (32)

(27) "I don't know" is the most honest answer a man can give. (33)

(28) RE: Marville, Oh, har. That'll explain the lack of contracts in my Inbox.

(28.5) Okay, why not, let's talk Teresa. It's been indicated that she's out to scour other media for potential comic writers. Damn good idea. But what kind of message does that send out to the fanboy you were talking about earlier wanting to break into comics? (34)

MARVILLE #1 - SIGNED VERSION

Talking of writers from other media, Daredevil/Bullseye: The Target thing. Given Kevin Smith's history, should it have been scheduled as it was? Even the artist, Glenn Fabry,, expressed surprised when the first issue came out... he wasn't expecting it for ages. (35) JOE: (29) Holy Jeeze, Rich, please tell me you're joking at this point. (29.5) (30 It certainly would be a start wouldn't it. We don't have many people really doing that -- WELL. Don't you read some online interviews or exposes and just want to kill yourself? But again, how do you feel about Ben and J-lo on the front page of the newspaper, you're dodging the question.

(31) This world is in deep $#!%, Rich, but Ben and J-lo on the front page, right or wrong?

(32) Hmm, a revealing one, BWAHAHAHAHA! You're on a Freudian role my friend.

(33) But what if you do know, then "I don't know" is just a cop out and an even bigger lie.

(34) Wow, it's amazing, I try to steer you to a question about something cool happening at Marvel and you focus on who could possibly get screwed because of it, wow, that's a talent!

JQ- "Hey, Rich, I hear that Donald Trump is giving away thousand dollar bills at Times Square today!"

RJ- "But what kind of message that send to people that need two thousand dollars to make ends meet?"

The fanboy who wants to break in is absolutely part of the mix. I've sent her at least 20 fan scripts that came in last week and she gleefully accepts them and reads them. She's looking for the next great writer any place she can find them. Of course going through other professional ranks may yield someone sooner, she is not cutting off any venue. It's just fantastic knowing that we actually have a professional scout for lack of a better word, reading submissions for the sole purpose of discovering that one diamond in the rough.

I'm sure you've often heard me say how difficult it is for writers to break in but now we're taking steps to shorten that gap!

(35) This is a case where I listened to Kev and he underestimated how much time he actually had to work on the project. It happens and he and I have discussed it off line. The hope was that even though he was running behind we would have the second issue possibly a month late but then it never came. We were looking to have this book in TPB format for the time of the movie but there ya go. We'll get it from him sooner or later.

RICHARD: (29.5) I'm not trying to joke... just continuing a line of questioning. (36)

Ben and J-Lo aren't on the front page of my newspaper. Currently I've got a story about Tony Blair's popularity plummeting, a warning to pharmaceutical giants about distribution of drugs to the third world and the London Congestion Charge. People buy the newspaper they want for the journalism they want. There's a Wizard, there's a CBG and there's a Comics Journal. Online, there's a Heroes Realm, a Comicon Pulse and a Ninth Art. (37)

I'm pointing out that criticism you applied to me, could be applied right back. It's all about perception, your reply might influence that perception for the better. We've all read that Teresa's been appointed, and what her mission is. Great. Fantastic. Hopefully she'll start bringing interesting people in. Wonderful, expands the comics influence base, stops creative inbreeding, and should bring new sensibilities to Marvel's line. But she's just been employed - hopefully there'll be questions to ask about who she's bringing in, on what, where and how to come. (38)

BTW, I've got a copy of the Marville #7 cover by Greg Horn, featuring the regular lovely lady standing next to a sign spelling out word EPIC on TV screens, gameshow style. What does it all mean, Joe? (39)

JOE: (36) Sounds like the same question to me. (40)

(37) Rich, one more time, how do you feel about it. They may not be front page news today but they were several weeks ago, besides the British tabloids are the worst for this kind of stuff. How do you feel about that kind of stuff?

(38) But, your first question focuses right on the "guy holding up the bar" aspect of our world. Come on, Rich, this is what I rallied against so hard when I first started as EIC. The Internet was filled with nothing but doom and gloom, that's changed a lot but not enough. We're all so worried about our own demise that we haven't bothered to focus on how to survive and grow.

(39) Hmm, pretty interesting, Huh? I wish it was mine to announce at this point, but it's a bit too soon. See, that was a pirouette!

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