FOR APPROVAL: FF OFFICE POSSIBLE MOVES - DAY 4

Is this stuff due today or Sunday?

Apologize to Dan for forcing the re-write; check with the powers-that-be about getting him some additional payment for the new story (and hang onto the softball stuff he's already written for possible use at a later date so it's not money burned). Ask Dan if he'd like to take off the Rise of the Defenders issues for breathing room; if so, offer them to Reggie. Inform Reggie that T'Challa is an integral part of Defenders/Balance of Power and that his input is equally integral. Also, ask Paul Ryan if he'd do a retro She-Hulk cover to fill-in for Amanda, and see if anybody else thinks they’ll need a fill-in or breather in the coming months.

Put together a Defenders/Balance meeting with Reggie, Dan, Dwayne, Robert and JMS (after we've put the ideas to the room maybe he’ll take the job). With Cheung too slow/leaning toward Big Money, I'm still inclined to move Deodato over from FF (replaced by Jimenez, Pelletier or McGuinness), so Balance is a natural extension of Rise of the Defenders, or ask Finch or Jimenez. Speaking of Defenders/Balance, let EIC and VP-Ops know that, while we view this as a single crossover, we're willing to do whatever it takes to best ensure the story ships smoothly and timely as one continuous unit.

Balance Story Points EIC requested I share with JMS to see how he feels about:

1. Doom and Reed both observed seismic data indicating the massive tectonic shift was imminent--Reed misinterpreted it but Doom didn’t and planned accordingly.

2. She-Hulk joins the FF midway through Balance and its tie-ins, replacing Sue. Sue feels that Reed is no longer the man she married, that he’s emotionally defective and too certain of his abilities, and that their love is not enough. She is worried about her children growing up with such a man as a role model, as well as for their safety in perilous New York, so she accepts Namor's invitation and takes her children to stay with Namor in Atlantis. Though she doesn’t love him, his recent heroic conduct causes her to consider marrying him, believing her children will have a better life and that she can do the most good as a Defender.

3. Black Panther is the voice of reason for the Defenders; as long as he has influence over Namor, the Defenders act with dignity and grace. T’challa is busy battling the exposed-to-still-be-a-bad-guy Magneto later in the series, when a Defenders aid patrol to Cuba enters American waters and is destroyed by an Initiative hero. Doom convinces Namor Reed’s to blame; Namor oversteps, sends an attack force to American soil to kill Reed, but he is stopped by Sue, who realizes that her love for Reed actually is all that matters. Namor, heartbroken, disappears into the rubble of Manhattan, and Doom and T'Challa move into a dual leadership position of the now not-quite-so beloved Defenders.


A few important story points on Balance that the EIC requested I share. Check with JMS to see how he feels about:

1. Doom and Reed both observed seismic data that indicated the massive tectonic shift was imminent--Reed misinterpreted it and Doom got it right and planned accordingly.

2. She-Hulk will be joining the FF midway through Balance and its tie-ins, replacing Sue. Sue feels that Reed is no longer the man she married, that he has grown emotionally defective and dangerously competent in his abilities and even though they still love one another very much, that that isn't enough. She is worried about her children growing up with such a man as a role model, as well as for their safety in perilous New York, so she accepts Namor's invitation and takes her children to stay with Namor in Atlantis. Though she does not love him, in light of his recent conduct and heroism, she strongly considers accepting his wedding proposal in the belief that her children will lead a better life among the Defenders and that she can do the most good among their company.

3. Black Panther is the voice of reason for the Defenders; as long as he has influence over Namor, the Defenders act with dignity and grace. He is busy battling the exposed-to-still-be-a-bad-guy Magneto later in the series, which is how Doom (who is trying to act with the world's best interests in mind) manages to convince Namor that Reed must be killed for the world to be safe after some overzealous Initiative operatives under Reed's direct command kill a Defenders patrol on its way to Cuba, when the Americans declare the Defenders to be entering their waters. Namor oversteps his bounds and sends an attack force to American soil to kill Reed, but he is stopped by Sue, who realizes that her love for Reed actually is all that matters. Namor, hurt beyond words, disappears into the rubble of Manhattan, and Doom and T'Challa move into a dual leadership position of the now not quite so beloved Defenders.