Tuesday, July 30, 2013

This week’s assignment from the League: I have a dream…






This week’s assignment from the League: I have a dream…



We all have them. Some are ambitious, some are farfetched, and some might even be attainable. This week’s assignment for the League of Extraordinary Bloggers…



I have a dream…






For those who know me, or have read my blogs or listened to my podcasts, you would know I am a huge comic book fan. I have been a fan of the comic book art form for most of my life, except for about 8 years in my 20’s when my focus was on partying, then girls, then eventually getting married with children. So for a good 20+ years of my life I have enjoyed comic books in some form or another. At first I was all about the art: the style & the colors is what sold me. But as I got older and matured I actually began to read comic books and appreciate them as a print medium, rather than just art.

I was about 12 years old when my Mom, who would often pick up random comics for me while grocery shopping in town, brought me a copy of ‘The Incredible Hulk’ issue 397.




It was part 1 of Peter David’s epic ‘Ghosts of the Past’ 4 part story leading into issue #400. This story (with art by Dale Keown) literally blew me away. And for the next 6 years I did not miss an issue of Peter David’s run on the Hulk comic book. I caught the last 6 years of David’s 12 year run writing this book, and it is in my opinion THE BEST run in comic book history, period. I remember being upset when Peter David left the book with issue 467. Marvel Editorial in their infinite wisdom questioned David’s future plans for the book and character. They wanted him to go back to Savage Hulk (“Hulk Smash”) depiction of the character, and that conflicted with his goals for the book so he left. And the Hulk took a plummet in sales numbers with Marvel losing a lot of money.




In 2012 I got a chance to meet Peter David at the Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo. I spent probably 20 minutes asking him questions and getting him to sign some of my Hulk comics. Peter David really is a great guy. Sadly Peter suffered a stroke last Christmas while on holidays in Florida. He has made a remarkable recovery since but as you can imagine he has a lot of medical expenses. So if you are a fan or at all interested in discovering his work go buy his graphic novels or novels, that will definitely help him out with the bills.



Anyway back to this week’s league topic: I have a dream. In 1996 while reading the Hulk I decided my ultimate dream job is to be a comic book writer. My dream is to one day write for comics. Even after all these years that’s still something I want to do. I’ve got a couple of proposals I’m going to submit to DC Comics, and some creator owned stuff I have been developing, some since 1996… But work, family and ‘real life’ have slowed me from pursuing my dream to be a comic book writer. But I am about to get off my ‘butt’ and get cracking on this dream. At least one day I can say I tried…




The Random Nerdness Blog is a proud member of 'The League Of Extraordinary Bloggers'. Go to www.coolandcollected.com

to get all the addresses of the other League blog members. These blogs are also part of the league, please check out their blogs too:



www.goodwillhunting4geeks.blogspot.com



www.infinitehollywood.com



The Cavalcade Of Awesome at: http://blog.paxholley.net/





Also be sure to check out the 'Random Nerdness Podcast'!! Available to stream at www.randomnerdness.podbean.com

and download from iTunes.



Chris is also a Co-Host of the weekly 'Geek Fallout' podcast. Give that podcast a listen at www.geekfallout.podbean.com , download from iTunes and available on Stitcher!



See you in the future!!





4 comments:

Joe B said...

Good luck with your ambition! I was saddened to read about PAD's stroke, his run on Spider-Man 2099 is one of my favourites. Here's hoping he makes a full recovery!

Evan said...

That's another thing we have in common. I have at least a dozen ideas that could make good ongoings. And of course I would love to write Superman or even Aquaman.

Evan said...

That's another thing we have in common. I have at least a dozen ideas that could make good ongoings. And of course I would love to write Superman or even Aquaman.

Brian (Cool and Collected) said...

There are so many comic authors and illustrators out there just looking for the chance to do something like this. It seems like there should be a place online where all of you could connect and get something going together. Maybe there already is, I don't know. It wouldn't certainly be an amazing feeling seeing your name in the credits of a comic! Good luck!