Anthony Zisa
Feb 11, 2003, 05:50 am
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/logos/oscc_logo.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/logos/oscc_logot.jpg" alt="Our So Called Column logo" align=left></a>By Lauren Dougherty (phoenixfire81@hotmail.com) and Anthony Zisa (PopinFrsh@aol.com)
Red Maple Leaf Rising
In perhaps the biggest surprise thus far in 2003, Marvel Comics has rush-solicited their response to DC's recently scheduled Mark Millar-penned Superman: Red Son mini-series. Called Wolverine: Red Bub, this three-issue, prestige format, Marvelscope mini-series will hypothesize what might have happened if the Stalin-era USSR had been behind the Weapon X program and genesis of its most famous experiment.
"I've always promised that Marvel would use, and top, any great idea our corporate-backed competition came up with," Marvel president and Red Bub co-plotter Bill Jemas said in regards to the obvious similarities between the two projects. "And surely, Red Son has great potential, except for one small detail--it's not a Marvel character. Red Bub addresses that glaring fault."
Jemas continued, "We hope here to continue in the great tradition of such projects as Origin, and give our fans and potential fans what they really want--more Wolverine stories."
Marvel Editor-in-Chief and Red Bub editor, co-plotter, and cover artist Joe Quesada elaborated on Jemas' statements. "What we have here at Marvel is a tradition of new, bold ideas. We're not known as 'The House of Ideas' for nothing. And what is more trail-blazing than a Wolverine mini-series? About a COMMUNIST Wolverine, nonetheless!"
Jemas is quick to shoot down any charges that Red Bub might promote a Communist agenda. "If Red Bub is anything it's a parable against communism. Okay, comrades?"
Quesada provided a unique spin on the book's message. "Communism is as American as apple pie and baseball. Without Communism, where would our great nation be? With no interstate highway system, that's where!"
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/misc/redbublogo.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/misc/redbublogo.jpg" alt="Wolverine: Red Bub logo" align=right width=167 height=50></a>Scripting and co-plotting with Quesada and Jemas is Marvel clean-up hitter Chuck Austen. "Chuck was a natural for the project," Jemas quickly says, dismissing the use of other, "hotter" writers. "Chuck is currently blazing trails with the X-Men concept over on Uncanny X-Men, and his new tenure on Captain America makes him a logical choice for the re-creating Wolverine as the Star-Spangled Avengers' opposite ideologue!"
"Captain America will definitely have a large part in the story," Austen assured readers. "I'm hoping to put a unique spin on the relationship between the two, one opposite to what we've seen previously in their team-ups."
The nagging question of continuity, and whether Red Bub will take place within the "classic" or Ultimate universe, Jemas joked, "Let's see how it sells first."
Quesada was not quite so elusive. "What truly separates us from AOL Comics is our dedication to stories that matter. Like Origin and The Truth before it, Red Bub will be within continuity, and have serious ramifications on the character."
"This changes nothing about the character or the history," Jemas said flatly. "Wolverine's still Canadian, just Russian-Canadian. I mean, really. It just adds another layer to the character and his backstory."
Asked why Millar, whose The Ultimates is Marvel's highest-selling book, and whose connection to Red Son would make him a logical choice for Red Bub, was not tapped for the writing chores, Quesada repeated that Marvel was trying for a unique spin on the concept. "He's already writing Red Son, and it would scream of unoriginality to have him write Red Bub."
"Plus, we couldn't risk him having Wolverine violate Captain America in any way."
Millar was unfazed by the news of his being passed over. "Bill and Joe are mates, and I can understand why they decided to go in a different direction. I mean, I would have loved to write Red Bub, but that's just not how it worked out, you know?" Watery eyes, however, told another story--one of heartbreak. Following up on journalistic instincts, we decided to buy Mark a few beers.
"It hurts, you know? To be just ignored? I wanted to write communist Wolverine, dammit!"
"I probably would have had Wolverine violate Captain America, truth be told," Millar continued, explaining how he would have handled the mini-series. "I mean, that's what Joe and Bill want, right? 'More insane ideas, Mark!' That's what they're always yelling into the speakerphone after they get a new issue of The Ultimates. I thought they liked that kind of stuff."
He sniffed. "Do you reckon I can have a hug?"
The solicitation proves shocking in another way--Red Bub marks Bill Jemas' decision to branch into yet another realm of the comic industry, as co-artist. Along with finishing artist Frank Quitely, Jemas will help give Red Bub a distinct look. "I'll be the first to admit I was hesitant about jumping into the artistic foray, but I'm one to adhere to the old adage, 'Seize the day.' My contribution will mostly be to layouts in the first two issues--I'll be doing all the panel design and pacing, with Frank providing finished art. Hopefully, by the third issue, my contribution will be minimal, and Frank will be ready to do most of the book on his own."
Quitely, asked to comment on Jemas' statement, only laughed. "Bill's an inspiration, really."
Quesada, who will be providing covers for the project, praised Jemas. "I'm normally the first to tell Bill when something's a crazy idea. Like his NFL Superpro revival, co-written by Quentin Tarantino and himself. I said, 'Bill, that's crazy talk. You know Quentin's better suited for a Power Pack revival.' I try to be the voice of reason.
"So, anyway, when Bill approached me about doing the layouts, I was naturally skeptical. But I do think the audience is going to be pleasantly surprised by how nicely this book is lain out."
"Red Bub is going to blow everyone away," Jemas assured. "It's going to be up there with stuff like Watchmen, The Dark Knight Returns, Origin, and Mort the Dead Teenager. This is going to be taught in Soviet-American Studies courses in a few years, I guarantee.
"This is just the best work I've yet seen from everyone involved. Everyone's pulling his weight, and no one is slacking. It's our own little microcosm of the Soviet dream! Ha ha ha! Right, comrades? Ha ha ha!"
Why should the average comic reader care? "In troubled times like these, we need to remember the American dream. This book will hopefully remind us all what America stands for," Quesada answered.
Wolverine: Red Bub will be a three-issue, prestige format mini-series presented in the Marvelscope format. Each issue will be 64 pages, and retail for $6.95.
SOLICITATION TEXT
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/misc/redbub.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/misc/redbubt.jpg" align=left></a> Wolverine: Red Bub
Cover by Joe Quesada.
Bill Jemas, Joe Quesada, & Chuck Austen (w)/Bill Jemas & Frank Quitely (a)
WOLVERINE AS YOU'VE NEVER SEEN HIM BEFORE!
What if the Weapon X program was the "Opyxne X" program? Bill Jemas and Joe Quesada, the duo behind Wolverine's Origin join with Chuck Austen (Uncanny X-Men) and Frank Quitely (New X-Men) to bring you the Canucklehead like you've never seen him before-AS A SOVIET! It is your civic duty to pick this one up, comrades!
All characters ™ and © their respective owners. All Rights Reserved. The preceding article was a work of fiction, and any similarities to persons living or dead is purely coincidental. All parody of public figures protected under Hustler Magazine v. Falwell, 485 US 46, 108 S.Ct 876, 99 L.Ed.2d 41 (1988), and is intended to be comic, not malicious.
This column is dedicated to Gail Simone. She is truly an inspiration to dog-humpers everywhere.
Lauren Dougherty has been writing since the age of three, and speaking since the age of seven. Her craft was only heightened due to her voice condition, and she was sent to live with Peabody Award-winning narcoleptic nomads, whom she traveled with for ten years. She now tours in support of her book, "Nomads and Me: A story told in crayon".
Anthony Zisa is world-renowned for his Nobel Prize-winning work in sub-molecular cosmic theory. When not raking in the massive science bank and fending off groupies, he waits patiently for a final showdown with his father, whom he has never forgiven for naming him Sue.
Red Maple Leaf Rising
In perhaps the biggest surprise thus far in 2003, Marvel Comics has rush-solicited their response to DC's recently scheduled Mark Millar-penned Superman: Red Son mini-series. Called Wolverine: Red Bub, this three-issue, prestige format, Marvelscope mini-series will hypothesize what might have happened if the Stalin-era USSR had been behind the Weapon X program and genesis of its most famous experiment.
"I've always promised that Marvel would use, and top, any great idea our corporate-backed competition came up with," Marvel president and Red Bub co-plotter Bill Jemas said in regards to the obvious similarities between the two projects. "And surely, Red Son has great potential, except for one small detail--it's not a Marvel character. Red Bub addresses that glaring fault."
Jemas continued, "We hope here to continue in the great tradition of such projects as Origin, and give our fans and potential fans what they really want--more Wolverine stories."
Marvel Editor-in-Chief and Red Bub editor, co-plotter, and cover artist Joe Quesada elaborated on Jemas' statements. "What we have here at Marvel is a tradition of new, bold ideas. We're not known as 'The House of Ideas' for nothing. And what is more trail-blazing than a Wolverine mini-series? About a COMMUNIST Wolverine, nonetheless!"
Jemas is quick to shoot down any charges that Red Bub might promote a Communist agenda. "If Red Bub is anything it's a parable against communism. Okay, comrades?"
Quesada provided a unique spin on the book's message. "Communism is as American as apple pie and baseball. Without Communism, where would our great nation be? With no interstate highway system, that's where!"
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/misc/redbublogo.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/misc/redbublogo.jpg" alt="Wolverine: Red Bub logo" align=right width=167 height=50></a>Scripting and co-plotting with Quesada and Jemas is Marvel clean-up hitter Chuck Austen. "Chuck was a natural for the project," Jemas quickly says, dismissing the use of other, "hotter" writers. "Chuck is currently blazing trails with the X-Men concept over on Uncanny X-Men, and his new tenure on Captain America makes him a logical choice for the re-creating Wolverine as the Star-Spangled Avengers' opposite ideologue!"
"Captain America will definitely have a large part in the story," Austen assured readers. "I'm hoping to put a unique spin on the relationship between the two, one opposite to what we've seen previously in their team-ups."
The nagging question of continuity, and whether Red Bub will take place within the "classic" or Ultimate universe, Jemas joked, "Let's see how it sells first."
Quesada was not quite so elusive. "What truly separates us from AOL Comics is our dedication to stories that matter. Like Origin and The Truth before it, Red Bub will be within continuity, and have serious ramifications on the character."
"This changes nothing about the character or the history," Jemas said flatly. "Wolverine's still Canadian, just Russian-Canadian. I mean, really. It just adds another layer to the character and his backstory."
Asked why Millar, whose The Ultimates is Marvel's highest-selling book, and whose connection to Red Son would make him a logical choice for Red Bub, was not tapped for the writing chores, Quesada repeated that Marvel was trying for a unique spin on the concept. "He's already writing Red Son, and it would scream of unoriginality to have him write Red Bub."
"Plus, we couldn't risk him having Wolverine violate Captain America in any way."
Millar was unfazed by the news of his being passed over. "Bill and Joe are mates, and I can understand why they decided to go in a different direction. I mean, I would have loved to write Red Bub, but that's just not how it worked out, you know?" Watery eyes, however, told another story--one of heartbreak. Following up on journalistic instincts, we decided to buy Mark a few beers.
"It hurts, you know? To be just ignored? I wanted to write communist Wolverine, dammit!"
"I probably would have had Wolverine violate Captain America, truth be told," Millar continued, explaining how he would have handled the mini-series. "I mean, that's what Joe and Bill want, right? 'More insane ideas, Mark!' That's what they're always yelling into the speakerphone after they get a new issue of The Ultimates. I thought they liked that kind of stuff."
He sniffed. "Do you reckon I can have a hug?"
The solicitation proves shocking in another way--Red Bub marks Bill Jemas' decision to branch into yet another realm of the comic industry, as co-artist. Along with finishing artist Frank Quitely, Jemas will help give Red Bub a distinct look. "I'll be the first to admit I was hesitant about jumping into the artistic foray, but I'm one to adhere to the old adage, 'Seize the day.' My contribution will mostly be to layouts in the first two issues--I'll be doing all the panel design and pacing, with Frank providing finished art. Hopefully, by the third issue, my contribution will be minimal, and Frank will be ready to do most of the book on his own."
Quitely, asked to comment on Jemas' statement, only laughed. "Bill's an inspiration, really."
Quesada, who will be providing covers for the project, praised Jemas. "I'm normally the first to tell Bill when something's a crazy idea. Like his NFL Superpro revival, co-written by Quentin Tarantino and himself. I said, 'Bill, that's crazy talk. You know Quentin's better suited for a Power Pack revival.' I try to be the voice of reason.
"So, anyway, when Bill approached me about doing the layouts, I was naturally skeptical. But I do think the audience is going to be pleasantly surprised by how nicely this book is lain out."
"Red Bub is going to blow everyone away," Jemas assured. "It's going to be up there with stuff like Watchmen, The Dark Knight Returns, Origin, and Mort the Dead Teenager. This is going to be taught in Soviet-American Studies courses in a few years, I guarantee.
"This is just the best work I've yet seen from everyone involved. Everyone's pulling his weight, and no one is slacking. It's our own little microcosm of the Soviet dream! Ha ha ha! Right, comrades? Ha ha ha!"
Why should the average comic reader care? "In troubled times like these, we need to remember the American dream. This book will hopefully remind us all what America stands for," Quesada answered.
Wolverine: Red Bub will be a three-issue, prestige format mini-series presented in the Marvelscope format. Each issue will be 64 pages, and retail for $6.95.
SOLICITATION TEXT
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/misc/redbub.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/misc/redbubt.jpg" align=left></a> Wolverine: Red Bub
Cover by Joe Quesada.
Bill Jemas, Joe Quesada, & Chuck Austen (w)/Bill Jemas & Frank Quitely (a)
WOLVERINE AS YOU'VE NEVER SEEN HIM BEFORE!
What if the Weapon X program was the "Opyxne X" program? Bill Jemas and Joe Quesada, the duo behind Wolverine's Origin join with Chuck Austen (Uncanny X-Men) and Frank Quitely (New X-Men) to bring you the Canucklehead like you've never seen him before-AS A SOVIET! It is your civic duty to pick this one up, comrades!
All characters ™ and © their respective owners. All Rights Reserved. The preceding article was a work of fiction, and any similarities to persons living or dead is purely coincidental. All parody of public figures protected under Hustler Magazine v. Falwell, 485 US 46, 108 S.Ct 876, 99 L.Ed.2d 41 (1988), and is intended to be comic, not malicious.
This column is dedicated to Gail Simone. She is truly an inspiration to dog-humpers everywhere.
Lauren Dougherty has been writing since the age of three, and speaking since the age of seven. Her craft was only heightened due to her voice condition, and she was sent to live with Peabody Award-winning narcoleptic nomads, whom she traveled with for ten years. She now tours in support of her book, "Nomads and Me: A story told in crayon".
Anthony Zisa is world-renowned for his Nobel Prize-winning work in sub-molecular cosmic theory. When not raking in the massive science bank and fending off groupies, he waits patiently for a final showdown with his father, whom he has never forgiven for naming him Sue.