Sunday, May 27, 2007

Final Moves Thoughts

Hope everyone's having a good weekend so far. I've been able to relax (a little) and reflect on our final moves in the sim.

Phil -- I think you've got some solid thinking on dealing with Finch. Definitely like the start by talking to other editors, and following up with getting the production staff to develop something that could be used as a cover. Rather than going down the ultra-secret QT route, though, I might suggest being more open about doing a graphic to use IN CASE you need to drop something in at the last minute. I think if you go behind Finch's back, and he DOES find out about it, he'll go totally ape-shit. So I'd make another call to Finch and say that you REALLY don't want to go this route, but he needs to understand, as a professional, that we have deadlines to meet. But so long as he can turn the artwork in on time, then we'd much prefer using that.

Also, I'd suggest NOT pointing to an actual graphic of any sort. (Or even verbally defining it that clearly.) We're not supposed to really be doing creative, and I'd be concerned that trying to tie down to a specific design within the sim might work against us.

Good work with Brubaker.

Mike -- I like your thoughts about Christina. I'll do what I can to secure her as an exclusive and, as long as Phil's happy with her on BoPow, then I think we've got a plan.

Last thing I want to throw out there is Ramon Bachs. Any ideas on what to set him on post-BoPow?

Of course, then I have to address rumors of Tom heading to BigMoney and the massive security leaks in BigMoney's email system, but I think I've got that covered. ;)

10 comments:

Philip Schaeffer said...

Finch is going to go ape-shit no matter what we do. But I'll make no secret of preparing an in-house cover (and the one I posted here was an example for you guys to see what I was talking about, not part of the official move).

Provided this Finch falling off the radar is atypical behavior, and after I've called him one last time as per your description (which he presumably won't answer), I need to have SEVERAL back up artists lined up.

Mark Bagley seems to be the general consensus from various comments; I don't know that I think he's right for it, but he's fast. I'm not all that familiar with who's fast, only with who's slow.

Provided Christina can adjust to less stylized coloring, we'd love to have her aboard Balance.

As for Ramon Bachs... You remember that weird post a few days ago in which I laid out my long term plans for She-Hulk and FF? If you were okay with my plans and based on the current She-Hulk sales spike you didn't think we needed to cancel that title to make way for FFLA, I think Bachs would be fine for the new book. I might prefer somebody a little flashier, especially for the covers, but Bachs is capable of a light-heartedness that would suit FFLA nicely.

If we cancel She-Hulk I'd want to move Amanda over for FFLA, but it might be nice to continue She-Hulk in L.A., having her own title focus on the legal stuff everybody likes so much and letting FFLA just be about kicking butt and going to the beach.

Tuckenie said...

Bags can do dark and serious if you hook him up with the right inker. When he did the Ultimate Clone saga and the Deadpool arc they changed inkers and the look was way darker.

Philip Schaeffer said...

This is a good point, and well taken.

Michael Heide said...

Ramon Bachs could do the MAX Cloak and Dagger book once BoPow is over. I can see him pencilling the Punisher. One of the smaller X-books. Or a Hannibal King book. The Hulk. Daredevil? A 52 or Countdown-like weekly series? A mini like Bullet Points or Dr. Strange: The Oath?

I think Marvel has enough characters to keep him busy after BoPow.

As for Christina Strain - who will tell Tom about our plans? I mean there isn't much I can do except write "Ask Sean if he can do something", but there's nothing else I have to take care of. Except writing Solicitations.

Philip Schaeffer said...

Whenever I've got Sean's approval for something I pull the "I spoke with the EIC and he gave me the go ahead to..." It's also good for Sean because it means he doesn't have to waste time on smaller matters.

Bachs is pretty versatile; I think you're right he'll fit in somewhere.

BTW, did you ever officially propose the C&D MAX mini on Tom's blog? If so, when?, cause I completely missed it.

Sean Kleefeld said...

I don't think the C&D idea ever made it to Tom's board, but I think FFLA did show up at some point. I'll mention that in my post.

Mike, WRT Christina, go ahead and offer her the exclusive since you've (presumably) been working with her. Butter her up with "you and Adrian are a package deal", "You've been part of the success behind the book", etc.

You might also want to mention that you do some follow up with existing creators. Particularly Jenkins and Bachs on Frontline.

Michael Heide said...

Maybe a Frontlines ongoing? Kinda like Pulse?

Patrick Cook said...

Yikes! First he fires my ass, then he accuses me of being the security breach over at my new place of business! This Kleefeld guy has it in for me!!!!

Philip Schaeffer said...

Hey, here's something you could investigate if you wanted to, Mike, as the sometimes coordinator of all things Balance of Power.

When I picked up my comics this last Wednesday there was a World War Hulk checklist postcard inserted in this week's issue of CSN. Maybe we should see about getting some of those made?

Michael Heide said...

I completely agree. That should be part of the promo package for retailers, along with the snap wraistbands and the new posters.