How X-Men: The Animated Series Revised the Phoenix's Origin

This week at CBR, I'm looking back on the animated adaptation of the original "Phoenix Saga." And, just for kicks, examining some of the ways Chris Claremont edited his own material in Classic X-Men.

My New Novel - BLACK HAT BLUES!

My novel is now available for download! Check it out for free if you’re a Kindle Unlimited member.

Apparently, I do receive fairly decent royalties based on how far readers make it into the novel. With Amazon, you never know how long something lasts, but I hope you guys consider a download.

Black Hat Blues is the story of a washed up comics professional, facing the end of his career. Exciting stuff, I know.

Well, I’m not here to bore anyone. What if the bitter old man came face to face with his most malevolent creation? And people started disappearing?

Is the fictional comics pro based on any real creator? Well, there is that guy who still only communicates via fax.

And the prolific writer who once referred to Marvel’s editor-in-chief as “subliterate.”

And the living legend whose disdain for modern fanboys is palpable.

And the man who wove a creative tapestry over the course of decades, only to be removed in the middle of a storyline.

And the renowned artist who turned in pages of stick figure drawings, confident his contract allowed the creative expression.

And the creators who self-published an underground parody, later watching it become a worldwide merchandising sensation.

And the idealist writer working on that merchandising sensation who viewed it solely as a means of educating kids on hot-button environmental issues.

And the fiery lefty who was shamed by the internet, told his comic about a minority hero wasn’t “his story to tell.”

And the famous cheesecake artist who caused a stir when he dared present a fully clothed image of a superheroine with her butt in the air.

Seriously, he’s not based on anyone in particular. But all of these things were inspiration, adding some color to the character.

It’s not exactly a superhero story in the prose format, but comics-specific writing is an influence.

I’ve never read Mayer’s SUPERFOLKS, but I imagine it’s treading a similar path. Morrison and Busiek view SUPERFOLKS as revelatory. I’ve also heard complaints it’s poorly written. Don’t know.

I didn’t want the novel to influence what I was doing, but I’ll fully acknowledge other people have tested these ideas before.

Instead of setting a superhero story against the backdrop of a mid-life crisis, it’s more about looking back at the end and reflecting on what you’ve created.

It’s about creativity, and the forces standing against it. About family, what we leave behind, and how much of it even matters.

It’s also about those 1980s half-hour toy commercials, and the moral outrages of today, compared to yesterday’s.

I hope you give it a shot. I wrote it for a general audience, but comics fans, I think, can appreciate it on a different level.

However you feel, please leave an Amazon review. Apparently, a novel needs 15 reviews for Amazon's algorithm to notice, so I do need your help. Thanks!

Captain America Epic Collection: The Bloodstone Hunt, Part Four

CAPTAIN AMERICA #363 - Nov ’89. Where’s the indignant think piece devoted to lovesick Diamondback’s repeated subjugation on these covers?

Stan Lee's Odd Connection to One of Spawn's Nastiest Foes

I continue my deep dive into the HBO adaptation of Todd McFarlane's Spawn. This time, we're revisiting the (sorta) Stan Lee co-creation Overt-Kill.

Marvel’s Greatest Obstacle To Casting Wolverine Is Its Own Success

Over at CBR, I'm examining the actors who would've made fantastic Wolverines in the MCU. Too bad they were already cast in other roles.

G. I. JOE Season 3.5: Endings without Worlds - Part V

More from my final G. I. Joe novel. (Hopefully Sunbow fans have guessed just what Destro's new base is.) Download for free at Smashwords!

PART V: [ARE MADE OF THIS]

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

HIGH-PITCHED TRILL OF THE COBRA-LA DRONE WARRIORS was giving Low-Light a headache. The sniper was out of breath, sprinting through the crowd of crunchy bug-soldiers, trying to keep up with Duke and Falcon.

“Sniper for a reason…” he muttered to himself, in-between pained breaths.

When X-Men: The Animated Series Borrowed from...Everywhere

This week at CBR, I'm revisiting the Morlocks and Reavers' odd role in the animated adaptation of the original Phoenix Saga.

Captain America Epic Collection: The Bloodstone Hunt, Part Three

CAPTAIN AMERICA #357 - Sep ’89. Summer biweekly schedule begins. (Original) colorist already being credited as “Joe Schmoe.”

Psst...HBO 'Remixed' Spawn Years Before Watchmen

I'm looking back on the second episode of HBO's Spawn adaptation this week at CBR. Hide your kids from that ice cream truck.

Captain America Epic Collection: The Bloodstone Hunt, Part Two

CAPTAIN AMERICA #354 - Jun ‘89. Notice they even altered the corner box.

Experimental layout has two stories taking up equal portions of each page. Gives the reader the option of reading north-south or east-west.

When Batman: The Animated Series Went 'Adult' (No, Not That Way)

This week on CBR, I'm looking back at "Never Too Late," a quietly daring episode of Batman: The Animated Series. 

Captain America Epic Collection: The Bloodstone Hunt, Part One

The Epic reprints of the Mark Gruenwald era of CAP continue. This is the run that transitions from Kieron Dwyer to Ron Lim, meaning two of my favorite CAP artists are represented.

Bloodstone Hunt was deemed a significant enough arc to be reprinted back in the days of Marvel only releasing a few trades a year. Even the trades once had gimmick covers.

G. I. JOE Season 3.5: Endings without Worlds - Part Four

More from my final G. I. Joe novel. I can only hope I did Raptor's legions of fans justice. Download for free over at Smashwords.

PART IV: CAMERA READY


CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE


THE GENERAL MARCHED INTO THE LOBBY. Had a thought about too many Joes occupying too many hospital beds recently.

Those casualties on the island were also weighing heavy. Three Renegades, one greenshirt. Even more hospitalized. At least one given the prognosis he’ll never walk again. Hawk still hadn’t allowed himself to feel those losses. The general maintained his composure as he was greeted by Quarrel, the only Joe involved with the Salem County imbroglio who didn’t require hospitalization.

“Psyche-Out should be released by tomorrow,” she stated after saluting. “But that daft Cobra git did a number on Big Lob. The doctors are afraid there’s some severe tissue damage.”

“Blast it. And the boy?”

G. I. JOE Season 3.5: Endings without Worlds - Part Three

Download the novel for free in any format at Smashwords. Also, check out my latest post on the classic Marvel G. I. Joe commercials on GoL.

PART III: BACK TO THE BEGINNING

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

ARMS THICKER THAN TREE TRUNKS, wrapped around his chest. By Falcon’s estimate, only fifteen seconds remained before his oxygen would fully give out. Before this inhuman beast squeezed the literal life out of him.

Wasn’t how the lieutenant ever figured he’d leave the service, on the receiving end of a bear hug. One delivered by a living bat creature with a monosyllabic vocabulary and rancid squid breath.

Desperate, no other options left, Falcon made the move. Not one he was proud of, maneuvering his head like a snake and biting the wrist of that creature. Humiliating. He could just hear Tunnel Rat and Law giving him grief over this one. Solid month of heckling, easy. Assuming it even worked, that Falcon could tear through enough flesh and evoke the proper response from those nerve endings.

He couldn’t.

Adapting Days of Future Past...without Shadowcat

This week at CBR, I'm revisiting the X-Men animated adaptation of Days of Future Past. Watch as "present day" 1980 morphed into 1993, and Kitty Pryde was shut out again.

Batman Beyond at Twenty (!)

Batman Beyond turns twenty years old today! Feel free to reflect on the bizarre twisting of time as we all grow older. And, check out my retrospective on the series on CBR. 

G. I. JOE - Endings without Worlds, Part II

Download the book in full for free at Smashwords.

PART II: KEPT YOU WAITING, HUH?






CHAPTER EIGHT

GTMO…

Rocks along the beach gave Falcon’s inflatable raft an inhospitable welcome. Did half of the lieutenant’s job for him, cutting a hole in the rubber. Making it easier for him to deflate the rest of the raft with his survival knife, the remains left to drift into the Atlantic. Rainstorm carried heavy winds. They’d blow the olive drab material far away from shore before he’d finished his mission.

The briefing warned of the steep hills surrounding the base. Convenient for their purposes, cutting off Camp Alpha from its immediate hinterland. Lt. Falcon exhaled, prepared himself for the climb. Not enough room in his bag for any hiking materials. He embraced the suck, just forced himself northward.

The Tangled Development of Superman: The Animated Series

I'm looking back on the difficulties developing Superman: The Animated Series this week on CBR. It's actually one of my favorite CBR articles, if only for the interview I digged up with Bruce Timm, explaining just how much Alex Toth hated the show.