Marvel_B0y LIVES!

Who knew that so many people would care about what I thought? I started this blog because one of my sibling(s) (yes, I’m now at the point where I can't even say if I have a brother, a sister, brothers, sisters, a brother and a sister, brothers and a sister, sisters and a brother, a stepdog, large calf muscles, like the Tigers, enjoy Slurpees or sleep with the tv on because I'm being profiled at work and by all of the cyber detectives out there). Anyway, as I was saying, one of my sibling(s) had one and he/she said he/she enjoyed doing it. So I started one. I wrote a few entries and realized that I did enjoy doing it. It was free therapy. It felt like I had a diary or a journal (and who knows one day when I got published, I could actually collect the entries into a book to get published). Granted it was a diary that people had access to but other than the few people that I told about it, I really didn't think anyone would see it.  Then I heard about companies using MySpace and Facebook searches as part of hiring process. So I thought ok, maybe I need to be a little more careful so I started a different blog with some edits. But still, I already had a job so that wasn't that big of a concern and what were the chances of anyone I didn't know actually reading it? Seriously, there are like 7,345,651,876 blogs out there, who the hell was going to find mine, let alone read it? Apparently a lot of people. I'm not sure who stumbled across it but when it got a mentioned in an article, thats when things started getting out of hand. Yeah, I didn't help teh situation and I enjoyed the fact that people were reading my stuff but it still got way out of hand. I'm at the point where I could actually get fired and according to what I've read sued! How the hell did that happen????? I was just writing about my life and some stuff at work. Next thing I know, people are attacking me online and IT's checking browser histories. And on top of that, I am getting cease and desist letters from the legal department. This was a journal. A freaking blog. Everyone is doing them. 90% of the people that work here are doing them. There are old ladies in North Dakota doing them. It's not a newspaper. It's not a magazine. It's my personal thoughts. It's my opinions. How can I get sued for libel because I wrote what I thought? I'm pretty sure that is protected under the Bill of Rights (yeah, I'm a little addicted to John Adams - great I just told everyone I get HBO, another piece to the puzzle of who I am...or maybe one of my friend’s do)

Anyway, it seems that this thing could get me in real trouble and that's not why I started it. Maybe I was a little too honest on how I felt or maybe I went a little too far on my critiques. But if I did, it was only because I care. I wasn't looking to hurt anybody or take food off of anyone's tables I wasn't looking for my 15 minutes. (I plan on getting that the right way through my writing, and trust me, its going to last longer than just 15 minutes.) I was just trying to point out what I thought was wrong as far as some of the things that we’re doing. It's how you get things fixed and make sure they get better. You talk about a problem and figure out a way to fix it. People do that all of the time. Why my blog became such a big deal I have no idea. And I know there's gonna be a lot of you out there saying that it was the "spoilers" but I hate to tell you that my blogs are about much more than just spoilers. They were about a guy who loves comics and works in the industry giving some insights on how we can make comic books better. How we can take characters that are broken and fix them so that the fans love them again. I don't get why that's wrong. If I worked at bank and saw something that didn't make sense, would I get in trouble for saying that I know a better way of doing it? No, I'd probably get a promotion and a raise and an actual office. But instead I got attacked and now possibly fired. What sense does that make? Let's fire the guy that is trying to make our company better. That'll learn'em!

Whatever. The bottom line is that this was supposed to be fun and relaxing and all it's done is created problems and make me lose hair. I've got enough things to worry about without throwing in the possibility of having my IP tracked  And it's really not a lot of fun showing up to work every day for the last two weeks wondering if I’m going to get called up to HR for a "discussion". I do actually like my job and the concept of being able to pay my rent every month. I work at a comic book company, how cool is that? I've seen some things here that I didn't expect and didn't like but then again, I ain't getting up at 5 in the morning to lay cement either. And this is only the beginning of my career. This job is just the first step in me getting into the industry. So when I do start to get some recognition and fans, things will change and then thats when I'm going to be able to change things too. Wouldn't be the first time a writer got put in charge. So I dance the dance for now. If your tangled up, just tango out and that's what I'm gonna do.

To all of you haters out there that keep calling me a hater, let me spell this out for you. I do not hate Marvel comics, I do not hate Marvel. I do not want to bring the entire company down. I am not doing this because I am an attention whore. I just don’t like some of the things that they have done and I am trying to use this as a forum to get Marvel to rethink some of these editorial decisions, starting at the top. I actually DO like some books!

X-Factor – great book (thought the Skrull on the team inclusion was going to be forced but PAD made it work)

Avengers: The Initiative – Greatest thing to come out of Civil War, and Mutant Zero is someone NO ONE has guessed.  Slott is brilliant.  So is Gage.

Agents of Atlas – yeah this came out last year, but they are coming back, thank GOD. 

Daredevil - ...unless Quesada approves Brubaker doing that Mila-becomes-the-new-Typhoid-Mary storyline he keeps talking about

Uncanny – Any team that includes Karma is a good team in my book.

Brand New Day – say what you will about how they got there, the stuff coming up is even better than these past few months.  Two words:  Kraven.  Venom.

And Bogart, instead of spending so much time looking for me, maybe you should join your editors in their search for your Editor In Chief. 

Who Do You Trust?

It started off as the grammatically-incorrect slogan for Secret Invasion and is now the office motto!

Well "True Believers," the drama continues! After my LJ blog got taken down on Saturday, I thought for sure I was walking into an ambush this morning. But as you can see, I live! I thought the man was on to me but apparently, they still have no clue. I clocked in, fired up the computer, and all my files were still there.  No security to escort me, no being called in to Bogart's office and definitely no ten people who already knew who I was. And the best part is that everyone thinks I was caught. Anyone that called in sick or who took off is now assumed to be me. Priceless. All morning a group of editorial sleuths thought it was JG until someone finally told them that he sent an email saying he was sick. This is the best reality tv I've watched in months.

The Almighty Brevoort's office has gone into a sort of lockdown though. They are being super secretive with everything, especially Secret Invasion, to the point that they are only making one copy of scripts and pages and if you need to see anything, you have to go to Tom’s office to see it and only as he sits there with you. That's about as creepy as it gets. Trust me.

Anyway, I am back and still standing. I've put my blog back together as best as I could (shout out to the guy that suggested I back it all up in case the law came a knockin'). I can't figure out the layout stuff here so if anyone has any clues on how to fix that, let me know. Otherwise, you're just gonna have to deal with the design until I figure it out... or get chased to another blog site.

One last thing. Remember I told you about the 70s heroes?  Well, early copies of Wizard came in today, and look at what they have in there.  This pic...  Who Do You Trust? Marvel B0y!

  Date:     2008-03-21 19:23

  Beatdowns & Spoilers

 Interesting day at work today. I got in early, fired up the computer, sat back with my cup o’ joe (get it?) and watched as security descended upon Wacker and beat him like a deaf monkey with rolled up copies of Brand New Day comic books. Poor guy, never saw it coming and now he has to live the rest of his life knowing he got beat down by Aunt May. LMAO. Ok, so he was really just questioned for like an hour or so.  Sorry Steve. The man was on my trail and I had to throw him off my scent by offering up a DC mole. Hope there are no hard feelings and I’m sure those papercuts will heal up soon.

Have a great weekend!  Here's some Good Friday presents:

The Cage/Jones baby is a Skrull. 

As is Dum-Dum Dugan. 

Starhawk is joining the Guardians of the Galaxy. 

The Falcon is going to die and it will be Bucky/Cap’s fault.

Date:     2008-03-20 23:55

 On Second Thought...

I've been thinking about this and after rereading that PDF from legal a few times (LJ will give out your email with any pressure apparently.  Ugh), I'm starting to think this could be serious. I don't want to get in trouble and I don't want to get anyone else in trouble so I’m just going to come right out and confess. It was me, Steve Wacker. I just want to apologize and say I’m sorry.  And to make up for it, I am advertising (not spoiling, Legal guys) all of these books for free on this blog.  Please go buy them all next week.

Date:     2008-03-20 21:17

Still Standing

Looks like the game is getting serious now! Not only did I get a shout out in the senior editor meeting today but now the lawyers are involved and they can’t even figure out who I am.  Seriously?  Is this even legal if it’s addressed to “Mr. Conners?"  Like I’d use my REAL NAME?!?!   

I’m not sure how serious this is. The letter sounds all official but I do have freedom of speech so what can they really do? Stuff is leaked all of the time on CBR and Newsarama and I never see them getting in trouble so what can they really do? Yeah I can get fired but truthfully, this place lost a lot of the luster awhile ago for me and I was going to look for a new job anyway. In fact, the only real thing keeping me here is the fun I’m having now. So I might as well ride the bull till it bucks me (is that a phrase or did I just make it up?)

Oh, and as usual, Bendis continues to write bad fiction. Last night he claimed 10 people knew who I was already at Marvel.  Well, no one came to escort me out and my key card works just fine.  I’m not an idiot.  I play the good soldier at work, smiles and GO TEAM attitude.   But here I can say whatever I want and I will, until the day they catch me (which, the way things look here, will be a LOOOOOONG time if ever).  It’s easy to cover tracks, anyone with half a brain and an internet connection can do this without anyone really getting to them.  It’s so simple it’s almost pathetic!  Don't post at work and they can’t track you.  I dumped my old LJ account with more personal, identifiable posts to start this new one. (I DID keep my favorite posts from the past because there are those of you out there who DO like me, and things you should know about me!)  I’m not stupid enough to get caught.  They never caught “Felicia” and they won’t catch me.

And for all of you that think that all I do is bash Marvel, that's not true. I read the make ready for Young X-Men #1 today and it was great. People are going to be shocked by the ending (sorry - I don't spoil books that deserved not to be spoiled).

Date:     2008-03-19 20:57

Spoilers! Want em? Fine.

  So, my art link got disabled by PhotoBucket (I smell Mighty Marvel Legal team at their “finest”) and I’m banned from Bendis’ board for a bit, but that’s fine, I don’t need that ego-site.  All eyes are here anyway. 

  And for all of you haters that think I am making all of this up, chew on this: 

  1) SECRET INVASION - Bendis is finally going to get reunited with his man-crush. Looks like a bunch of the 70’s heroes were replaced by Skrulls which means gold-shirt, tiara-wearing Cage is back.  Not-so-Sweet Christmas. 2 weeks until Brevoort’s praising this on his blog.

  2) One word: MODOG (aka Fraction’s brilliant new idea for an Iron Man villain)

  3) Spider-Man - Brevoort and Slott got into a huge argument today on the phone over who exactly is coming back in Slott’s Brand New Day arc in June.  Those last pages are being drawn and Marvel’s been saying a “red-head” is coming back, but now Slott wants a certain “blonde” to return. No idea how it ended or what was decided, Brevoort went into a conference room after and came out red-faced from either fighting until he won or pissed that he lost.  Or there were red-hot candies in there and he stress-ate them.  Personally, I think MJ should be back but if anyone can make Gwen’s return work, it’s Slott

  Discuss, or diss me, whatever.  Millar, Bendis, Fraction and their little clique (as well as their "yes" man Brevoort) are the current hacks running the office and Marvel into the ground. Eventually, their exclusives will be up and Slott will be the rightful heir.  Trust me.

Date:     2008-03-18 19:52

Unusual Suspect 

The mystery of Marvel_b0y has swept the office! Everyone is playing detective.  I gotta admit, its kind of fun acting innocent and playing along with everyone. I really don’t think anyone has any idea it’s me.  I am Keyser Soze, check out my pimp limp!

 This was on  the printer today. Not sure what it’s for but it looks like Billy Tan is working on a Ka-Zar project or at least a cover. 

Date:     2008-03-18 08:23

 Think you know me?

Wow, looks like I got famous real fast.  Seems like people think either I'm not real or if I am, easy to track down.  You're wrong on both.  I am very real but I'm not dumb either.  I've been around for a while and not been caught yet, and don't plan on it.  You want proof? Wait for it.

Today should be interesting at work...

Date:     2008-03-17 20:23

 House of Idiocy

Stan Lee built this place by letting people be part of the creative process. He knew even the guy sweeping the floors could have a great idea so he listened to all of them. That’s what made Marvel, Marvel. Well those days are all over now. The place has become a joke. Now its all about ego and letting the world know/think you came up with the idea to kill Captain America and you’re a freaking genius. It ain’t about telling great stories, its about telling whatever story you came up with, no matter how stupid. And the editors are too busy kissing the ass of the latest “great” writer to mention that a team of celebrity super heroes in LA has been done fourteen times already in the last 5 years! Groundbreaking! Yeah, so’s the concept of a book getting cancelled after 10 issues. Couldn’t even make it to an annual! Bet you didn’t know you were writing a limited series huh, ass munch?

So you’d think that they’d be begging people for original ideas. Something that at least seemed new. What the hell could it hurt to let someone make a suggestions?  But no, the editors are creative gods and we’re just a bunch of crotch grabbers.  Get this proofread, kill another tree and make a copy of this, get reference for Hitch but if you have an independent thought while walking to the archives it make sure you punch yourself in the nuts.

They had one of their “creative” meetings in the big conference room today so a big group of us went in and sat down.  Then five minutes into the meeting, Bogart looks over at us and 'politely' asks most of us to leave.  All they were doing was talking about what characters each office is using. What the hell could it hurt to let us listen in and hear what we had to say? What I might actually upset someone if I pointed out that WE ALREADY HAVE AN IRON MAN BOOK AND CALLING THIS ONE INVINCIBLE IRON MAN ISN’T AN HOMAGE IT’S LAZY AND UNORIGINAL!!!! 

This place is so frustrating. People need to get their heads out of their asses and realize a good idea is a good idea regardless of who came up with it. There are so many great characters here that I could make into kick ass stories but they’re all afraid that if someone else comes up with an idea, then they’ll look bad. Get over yourself! You EDIT comic books, you don’t even write them. You take what someone else writes and tell them to change a phrase so you feel like you created something. You DIDN’T. Congratulations you’re a glorified spell check. And God forbid if someone who is creative comes up with an idea. That might actually make you feel as small and worthless as you really are. That or making six photocopies of the latest joke you just approved for printing.

Whatever, F it, I’m getting another green beer and then I’m going to read the new issue of Lone Wolf and Cub. Oh, my bad, I mean Cable.

Date:     2008-03-15 10:09

 Ha! These guys can't keep their own secrets.

Looking at the Newsarama post about the Spidey panel yesterday, and so many things came out that were supposed to be hush hush for another few weeks. People around here treat things like Peter finding out the truth about Aunt May like it's a state secret, but then they just accidentally say things on panels in front of con crowds. Hilarious.

Date:     2008-03-11 19:32

 I wish I was going to Wizard World  

But nooooo, I'm here, photocopying and cataloging and helping make sure THE ESSENTIAL SERIES YOU FORGOT EVER EXISTED gets on shelves by the crucial June street date that some marketing genius or another has decided will guarantee maximum sales.

 The glow of the photocopier is much better than Los Angeles, any day of the week.

Date:     2008-03-10 22:32

Who let Brian Reed into comics?

Seriously?

Date:     2008-03-06 18:09

Wow, thanks, Bendis! (sarcasm)

I was just in Jen's office and flipped through the newest issue of POWERS and it's neat and all, but how cool is that ending? No, not the cliffhanger to the story, which is pretty cool and all. No, I mean the 17 pages of Diamond retailer solicitations! It's like Bendis said "I know we put more pages in the book, but I can't be assed to fill them. Here. Go buy these other books I wrote!"

I guess not enough people wrote in e-mails to him this month to fill a proper letter column. Maybe he should go kill another 3rd rate Marvel character or two so he can get some attention again. Oh. Wait. That's EXACTLY what he's doing... not that I said anything, mind you.

Date:     2008-03-05 17:12

I've seen some things.

Ever see Blade Runner? I never had until last night when my buddy was showing off his Playstation 3 and how good Blu Ray looks on his new TV (my friends make so much more money than me I want to cry!). But anyway, I was reminded of that movie just now because at the end the bad guy gives a speech about all the things he's seen. And I have seen a few things here at the office today.

WOW, I cannot believe the things I've seen. Some pretty good, some damn stupid and I hope they'll change before they see print. But still. The urge to scan and post is incredible. 

Date:     2008-03-04 19:20

 Quiet Day

Someone entertain me, damnit!

Date:     2008-02-24 11:58

 Oscars and 3rd Parties

Yeah they don't mean anything and are lame, but thanks to the strike, they are the only award show that will be on TV.  hopefully someone will dress as a duck again.  If Michael Clayton doesn't win, I will shoot myself in the face.  So sick of Daniel Day Lewis.  All he does is yell.  "Rargh!  I'm Irish and I yell!  Give me another Oscar!"  It's like Judi Dench winning because she's old and British. 

 Oh yeah, and Ralph Nader running for president?  Way to go douche.  All you do is split the Democrat vote and we end up with more Bush clones.  Anyone who votes for Nader "to make a point," stay home.  3rd party's never gonna win.  Unless Daniel Day Lewis and Judi Dench ran and only the Acadmy got to vote for presdent.  Landslide.

Date:     2008-02-23 10:05

Snow

So, yeah, it finally snowed yesterday but the freaking street cleaners already piled it up on the side salted it so it's all melted.  Black snowy water everywhere.  Thanks Bloomberg.  Good job.  Did see a skinny dude slip and bite it outside of Midtown comics, though.  LMAO.  Wish it had been Joe, tho.  He's pissing me off.

Date:     2008-02-23 01:03  

I am not WE!

And WTH?  No, I will not blog as "we".  Ever.  Bloggers that post "We brushed our teeth today.  We lurvz Nextwave.  We wiped our asses last night, be proud of us" are douche bags who hide behind plural pronouns so they don't have to take the blame for the stuff they post. 

I am ME and I'll take the blame for it.   I hate the time wasted on Britney Spears in the world of "news."  I hate the way the A train smells.  I hate Echo understanding what the hell Spider-Man is saying when he's wearing a freaking mask!!!  Or when someone is BEHIND her!  SHE'S DEAF!  SHE CAN'T HEAR YOU!!!

The only we are me and the voices in my head, but they are mine.  The only "we" in my apartment is spelled Wii.  The only "we" I will be is me, thanks to Nicole (at work) being married.  Ugh.

Date:     2008-02-22 23:02

THE REASON I DON'T BLOG OFTEN, BECAUSE BLOGGERS...

...are by nature quite dishonest. at least the ones I've met. 

And I'm not  talking about bloggers who pour thier hearts out and speak of thier lives in honest introspection. No. You are awesome people who are keeping the written word alive in a time where it is not being respected for what it is.

I'm talking about people who blog about something, criticize it, pick at it, piss on it, snark it when really they want to be doing it.

I work in comics.  I'm sure Rob Gordon would have listed it as one of the top ten coolest jobs of all time.

And there are tons of people who blog about comics who would really rather be making them. Instead of making them, which by the way is very doable...  to make a comic all you need is a pen, a piece of paper and a local Kinkos or a blog to throw it up onto... they bitch about comics.

Why? Because its easier? No. I just told you, It's easy. So why bitch instead of create?

Because its not easy to make a good one! Its not easy to put your ass out there for people to see!! Its not easy to captivate and hypnotize people with the depths of your imagination... but maybe that's it... maybe fear is what brings out the snark?

Snark IS fear... hmmm...

It has to be. Because the snark, i have found, is completely disengenuous. Its a lie. I'm not completely sure any of them know that's what they are doing. Most seem to think they are the perveyors of truth. That they are saving the medium with their snark and piss. They don't seem to see their inner child screaming at them to actually contribute something of value to this medium that has brought them so much joy.

And, yes, I am aware that not all bloggers have the same mental malady. so my question to you is: what about the ones that piss on something that makes them happy just to piss on it?? What is that mental illness called?

I'm asking because I might have it.

 I was so angry at one of my co-workers that I came very close to posting some artwork from the latest issue of Astonishing X-men because I know if any of you saw it the entire internet would fold up onto itself. No, not crack in half, that joke was old before Bendis finished saying it the first time.

 But I didn't. Not this time.

 But I could have.

 So to my fellow bloggers who are submitting material to Marvel with their left hand and bitching about it with their right... time to start a little game we here on Earth call introspection.

 And that goes double for you so called 'music critics.' Go plug your guitar in and practice. See if it don't make you feel better in the long run??

Date:     2008-02-19 22:36

BIG BROTHER AFTER DARK??

people are watching this instead of reading books or spending time with loved ones?

Date:     2008-02-19 04:01

THE CLUB IS COMING OUT TOMORROW!!

praise be allah!!

A game that isn't COD4. I may need to get into a COD4 12 step program. I am addicted. I am addicted to grenade launching strangers. I can admit it and I think that's the first step to recovery.

Hopefully The Club will be the thing that weens me off. The Demo is godly. Its exactly what I need. Shooting. No Story.

I will have a full review.

I know you and all the voices in my head are eagerly awaiting it.

I need a girlfriend is what I am saying. Working at Marvel does not get you the ladies.

Maybe if I was actually getting paid more...

Date:     2008-01-27 05:54 

DOCTOR STRANGE!!

I  know how to fix him!! Hello!!

This is the part of the job that drives me bonkers!! Its right there, five desks away, A broken Doctor Strange! I can fix him! But I can smell it in the air...I should keep me yap shut.

Bendis has plans! Brubaker has plans!

Everybody has plans!! well, I'm right here and I know my plan is better because I care! I care a lot. that's why I am working here for next to nothing, because I CARE A LOT!!

GOD forbid anyone but Bendis gets to touch the toybox! Honestly, he seems like an OK guy. I met him when he was up here. He's not an asshole like the guy he was with... but he shouldn't be writing both Avengers books. He just shouldn't. It was a bad idea.

AND I CAN FIX DOCTOR STRANGE!!

IN A DAY!!

Date:     2008-01-24 03:47

MICHAEL CLAYTON, EL SNOOCHES!!

I can't recommend this movie enough. i'm not esepcially in love with smarmy George Clooney, but good is good and this is good. Great writing. stellar cast. I didn't know how it was going to end, and I know how EVERYTHING is going to end... including this post!

I AM SHIVA THE GOD OF DEATH!! is my new motto. i'm going to walk around the office yelling it and see what Mister Bogart does!

BTW- whoever invented the omnibus didn't have to stand over a xerox machine for two hours doing prep work for one.  Thanks for being sick, Jen.  Yeah I help because she's one of the hottest (only) girls in comics, but I think I have nipple cancer from the xerox light blasting at me 5643 times.

Date:     2007-12-23 07:10

Headed home for Christmas

Out the door to catch a plane in a couple hours.

I wish I had next week off too, but no, I'll be here photocopying shit while everyone else is getting their New Years on. Yay for me.

Anyway, haven't been back home in a year, so it will be nice to see the folks and my friends, even if I am only in town for 72 hours.

sigh

Date:     2007-12-09 22:37

Ugh

It keeps raining and no snow.  It's freaking NYC!  It should SNOW!!!!

Creative retreat is coming up.   I don't get to go, but people who do always tell us what went down, esp if it sucked.   Good times.

Date:     2007-11-20 19:35

Best Book Ever

Reading the greatest book EVER: "Lamb" by Christopher Moore.  Can't stop laughing.  People on the trains look at me like I'm touched, but whatever.  This is funny as hell!

 Date:    2007-11-07 11:32

MC

 Messiah CompleX rocks so much.  I can't wait to see what you guys think of it!!  Yeah, there's some stuff I don't really get or agree with, but it should have some pretty awesome moments.  And, hell, it's Brubaker & company writing, ppl who respect the characters and do their homework (unlike some people)

Date:     2007-11-02 19:20

First Day

Ok, so I've been at my job for a while now, but have to say, I finally feel like I'm REALLY there.  You know know how you grow up loving Twix, and wondering how in the hell they get the carmel on that cookie and still have it enclosed in chocolate on both ends, but then you find out it's just some machine that spits out the smae thing every day thousands of times over and over again?  You dream of a place for so long but then you get there and it's nothing like what you want it to be?  That's not this.  This is the way opposite of that.   People really DO what I hoped they did, and now I'M actually part of it!  I feel like I have a voice.  It's crazy weird and I can't believe it's real...