JMS back at Marvel?

[Ubik]

This, from Bleeding Cool (I know they're trash, but that's where the news came from).

https://www.bleedingcool.com/2019/05/07/j-michael-straczynski-returning-to-marvel-with-ed-mcguinness-in-august/

Also, someone via Twitter quizzing JMS on if this might be linked to a Supreme Power continuation... he replied in typical cryptic JMS fashion but didn't outright dismiss it. Interesting...

Definitely a lot more exciting than the AWA comics stuff.

[Jan]

JMS' answer. Truly cryptic!

J. Michael StraczynskiVerified account @straczynski 11h11 hours ago

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J. Michael Straczynski Retweeted Afronerd

It's a thing, and a thing upon which I cannot comment, except to note that before one should say that THIS thing is THAT thing or the OTHER thing one should wait and gather more data to avoid jumping to confusions. So yes, I can say it is a thing, but what thing, I cannot say.

ETA: And I'm quite excited by the AWA announcement since it includes JMS writing his own titles again.

[Ubik]

JMS' answer. Truly cryptic!

ETA: And I'm quite excited by the AWA announcement since it includes JMS writing his own titles again.

Yeah, I should try be more positive / withold judgement there, but their business model and proposed titles made me instantly think 'not for me'! Oh well, let's hope JMS puts out something that proves me wrong. I am a bit burned out on superhero stuff tbh. I don't keep up with comics like I used to, bar a few creators who I know always knock it out of the park.

[Looney]

So after reading this thread I thought about it for awhile and here is the question I've come up with. If JMS is respected in the "Comic World" why didn't Joe's Comics do better? I mean I know the material was there, but it definitely seems the sales weren't - if they had been they would likely still be running. Is this just the fickle nature of the "Comic World" or is do people think there is a direct correlation between how Joe's Comics organized? Or did JMS try to release too much at once?

Personally I'd be more excited if JMS were getting back involved with the writing of the Marvel Movies than comics. That is the high profile he needs.

[Jan]

Can't speak for him, of course, but I think JMS prefers his own characters and the freedom to break them if he feels that's where the story needs to go. I'm not sure of the timeline but I've felt that his vision issues had much to do with his phasing out Joe's Comics.

[Ubik]

So after reading this thread I thought about it for awhile and here is the question I've come up with. If JMS is respected in the "Comic World" why didn't Joe's Comics do better? I mean I know the material was there, but it definitely seems the sales weren't - if they had been they would likely still be running. Is this just the fickle nature of the "Comic World" or is do people think there is a direct correlation between how Joe's Comics organized? Or did JMS try to release too much at once?

Personally I'd be more excited if JMS were getting back involved with the writing of the Marvel Movies than comics. That is the high profile he needs.

I think he's well liked by sections of fandom, but perhaps hasn't got the reputation and sales of some of the bigger names in mainstream comics. I'm thinking here of people like Bryan K Vaughan, Brian Bendis, Ed Brubaker, Warren Ellis, Grant Miorrison, etc. I'm not sure JMS has really had that career defining creator owned comic book hit that would make him a household name. Although, that said, his Marvel work seemed to be well received, especially his Spiderman run. But yeah, it's all about the creator owned stuff and doing something that fans go nuts for and takes on a life of its own.

I liked Midnight Nation and Rising Stars, but whilst they're solid comics, they wouldn't get anywhere near my top 10 comics / GNs / series. Whilst B5 broke the mold for SF TV, I've yet to see JMS do anything that revolutionary in his comics writing.

[Looney]

Can't speak for him, of course, but I think JMS prefers his own characters and the freedom to break them if he feels that's where the story needs to go. I'm not sure of the timeline but I've felt that his vision issues had much to do with his phasing out Joe's Comics.

Do you know if it was financially lucrative? I just think it is odd that he would go back to the comic world and have it not be through Joe's Comics. Of course do we actually know he is going back to write comics for them or could it be something else?

And yes I totally understand about his desire for creative control, which is another reason I would be surprised if he went back to write comics for someone else. But I don't know what the state of Joe's Comics is in - as a company. And isn't one of the reasons he gained acclaim in the Marvel / DC comic worlds was for breaking some of those characters?

I think he's well liked by sections of fandom, but perhaps hasn't got the reputation and sales of some of the bigger names in mainstream comics. I'm thinking here of people like Bryan K Vaughan, Brian Bendis, Ed Brubaker, Warren Ellis, Grant Miorrison, etc. I'm not sure JMS has really had that career defining creator owned comic book hit that would make him a household name. Although, that said, his Marvel work seemed to be well received, especially his Spiderman run. But yeah, it's all about the creator owned stuff and doing something that fans go nuts for and takes on a life of its own.

Definitely. I think he is a known name, but not on every comic book fans list of must read unless they must read everything. From what I understand he is famous in the Marvel / DC comic worlds for coming up with a few innovative plots that people really enjoyed, correct?

[Ubik]

Definitely. I think he is a known name, but not on every comic book fans list of must read unless they must read everything. From what I understand he is famous in the Marvel / DC comic worlds for coming up with a few innovative plots that people really enjoyed, correct?

Yeah, for sure. I was just browsing sales figures on comicchron for some JMS titles, and he does pretty well on the whole. But for me, I struggle to come up with that 'classic' creator owned series that everyone references when they think of JMS, without falling back on Spiderman and Thor. Joe's Comics was an imprint under Image comics, so Joe will have been paid a healthy cut as Image are very fair. No idea how those titles did on the whole, but you could look it up.

I dunno, I just don't have him on my radar as a 'classic' comic book writer. Still enjoyed some of his work though.

[Ubik]

Yeah, for sure. I was just browsing sales figures on comicchron for some JMS titles, and he does pretty well on the whole. But for me, I struggle to come up with that 'classic' creator owned series that everyone references when they think of JMS, without falling back on Spiderman and Thor. Joe's Comics was an imprint under Image comics, so Joe will have been paid a healthy cut as Image are very fair. No idea how those titles did on the whole, but you could look it up.

I dunno, I just don't have him on my radar as a 'classic' comic book writer.

Actually, I just found this... interesting:

https://www.npr.org/2008/10/24/96046866/we-call-him-jms-comics-fans-br-on-the-man-behind-changeling?t=1558424552779