JMS at NY Comic-Con Oct 8-10, 2010

[frulad]

I was at today's signing. Got there right at 4 o'clock and the line was pretty long. He stayed past his hour to continue signing. I got my two things signed at about 5:15 and there were about ten to fifteen folks behind me.

Jan, I'll look for you at the Spotlight tomorrow. I'll be wearing a jeans, red shirt and a black sports jacket.

[Jan]

I'll look out for you, Frulad. I'll be wearing all black and have a yellow messenger bag. I'll probably be close to the front of the room.

I'll bet the con staff was surprised at the number of people wanting JMS's autograph. They kept trying to shoo us away when we wanted to form the line an hour ahead of time. They didn't seem to understand that there could be lots of fans looking for JMS if it wasn't a ticketed signing.

Jan

[Dan Dassow]

I'll bet the con staff was surprised at the number of people wanting JMS's autograph. They kept trying to shoo us away when we wanted to form the line an hour ahead of time. They didn't seem to understand that there could be lots of fans looking for JMS if it wasn't a ticketed signing.

Jan

You would expect after all these years that convention organizers would know about the crowds that JMS brings for signing.

Coincidentally, the New York Film Festival (NYFF) is closing tonight with Clint EastwoodÆs film, Hereafter. Limited tickets were just released to the 7, 8:15 and 10 PM shows on Sunday.

Since Mr. Eastwood has been at the NYFF, I wonder whether he and JMS had plans to meet.

Dan Dassow

[frulad]

So this guy threw a chair at his sister...

[Jan]

"The maids who work the Plaza
are very hard to shock.
They wait until you're naked,
then they enter, then they knock."

The stage in the room where JMS's panel was had a small 'catwalk' and the first thing he did was take a chair from behind the long table on the stage and bring it out to the catwalk. He then taught us the above poem so we'd know what it was like to stay at the Plaza Hotel.

In this update on projects, JMS mentioned that he's

- finished (re?) writing the script for Underworld 4 which should begin filming in March.
- done the script for Shattered Union which they liked well enough that they hired him for a second project. Despite coaxing, he wouldn't tell us what.
- He's doing a movie for Dreamworks Animation that he also can't give us details on.
- Forbidden Planet is looking for a director since Cameron is doing Avatar 2 which will take 35 years of prep.

He talked a bit about the online reaction to what he's been doing with Wonder Woman with some complaining that it's not 'their' Wonder Woman. Of course not, she's been raised differently in this timeline. JMS grew up during the Silver Age when they did all sorts of things to the characters without it having to go to an 'elseworlds' book - such as the times the writers turned Jimmy Olsen into a turtle or gave Superman an ant head. He mentioned that there are clues to what's going on throughout the book, such as Diana being able to pass Cerberus in the latest issue when only Hades is supposed to be able to.

That covers the first part of the JMS Spotlight. I'll listen to the recording later to cover the Q&A. One thing that came up twice is worth mentioning, though (and I'm afraid it may upset some folks) is that there are no current plans for a B5 comic or graphic novel. The long-awaited 100-page graphic novel wasn't mentioned specifically but JMS was definite that there weren't any plans for anything B5-related in comics.

Jan

[Dan Dassow]

basicallygeek

http://basicallygeek.com/?p=131

J. Michael Straczynski Panel, NYCC 2010
By admin, on October 10th, 2010

[frulad]

As on the other few times I have seen JMS speak, he was hysterical and full of life. Between his and Bruce Campbell's panel later in the afternoon, I have never laughed so hard while attending a con in a very long time, if ever.

But the best part of the day was getting to finally meet Jan face to face and then hanging out with her for a while chatting. Hope your flight back home was smooth.

[KoshN]

"The maids who work the Plaza
are very hard to shock.
They wait until you're naked,
then they enter, then they knock."

Were they struck blind? (a little Sheridan/Londo humor)

In this update on projects, JMS mentioned....

One thing that came up twice is worth mentioning, though (and I'm afraid it may upset some folks) is that there are no current plans for a B5 comic or graphic novel. The long-awaited 100-page graphic novel wasn't mentioned specifically but JMS was definite that there weren't any plans for anything B5-related in comics.

Jan

Nah, that won't upset anyone. I doubt that anyone really expects anything B5-related in a new graphic novel, comic or anything else, anymore. JMS has clearly moved past B5, and is extremely busy, and there's no Warner Brothers serious interest in B5 anything.

Warner Brothers doesn't care about B5, and there are no customers (I mean companies, not us.) for comics, graphic novels, novels, etc.

[Jan]

As on the other few times I have seen JMS speak, he was hysterical and full of life. Between his and Bruce Campbell's panel later in the afternoon, I have never laughed so hard while attending a con in a very long time, if ever.

I know the feeling. One year I was room-squatting before a JMS spotlight and Bruce Campbell was the panel immediately before. It was hilarious on it's own but they were also giving away inflatable horsies (like the ones with a horse head on a stick that kids used to ride). JMS snagged one and started his panel riffing off of that. My stomach hurt the whole day from laughing.

But the best part of the day was getting to finally meet Jan face to face and then hanging out with her for a while chatting. Hope your flight back home was smooth.

Yes, at long last Frulad and I have met and had a *very* enjoyable time talking. Pity we didn't have the sense to have somebody take our picture, Frulad.

Were they struck blind? (a little Sheridan/Londo humor)

They'll probably be squinting a bit for a while. That poem reminded me of a book written by Shelly Berman *many* years ago called "A Hotel is a Place" which covers how the maid's knock often comes after the door is open. I'm in the hotel business and it really hit the mark on the oddities of the industry from a guest's perspective.

Nah, that won't upset anyone. I doubt that anyone really expects anything B5-related in a new graphic novel, comic or anything else, anymore. JMS has clearly moved past B5, and is extremely busy, and there's no Warner Brothers serious interest in B5 anything.

Okay, who are you and what have you done with the real KoshN?! As for JMS having moved past B5, it's obvious that he still loves that universe even if he's not writing in it these days.


ETA: I've put up some photos here. Apologies for the quality, a photographer I'm *not*.



Jan

[Dan Dassow]

... He talked a bit about the online reaction to what he's been doing with Wonder Woman with some complaining that it's not 'their' Wonder Woman. Of course not, she's been raised differently in this timeline. JMS grew up during the Silver Age when they did all sorts of things to the characters without it having to go to an 'elseworlds' book - such as the times the writers turned Jimmy Olsen into a turtle or gave Superman an ant head. He mentioned that there are clues to what's going on throughout the book, such as Diana being able to pass Cerberus in the latest issue when only Hades is supposed to be able to. ...

Jan

The gods are gone ... or are they? Much like Lyta Alexander carried the essence of Kosh, and Capt. John Sheridan carried the essence of Kosh and Lorien, so too Wonder Woman may be carrying the essence of the gods.

Dan Dassow

[Jan]

The gods are gone ... or are they? Much like Lyta Alexander carried the essence of Kosh, and Capt. John Sheridan carried the essence of Kosh and Lorien, so too Wonder Woman may be carrying the essence of the gods.

When one fan asked (rather apologetically-he was asking on behalf of the forum he belongs to) about some inconsistencies in the continuity (specifically that the golden lasso never belonged to Diana's mother), JMS said that whatever the gods did that changed the past was done hurriedly which is why there are inconsistencies and clues.

Jan

[JoeD80]

One thing that came up twice is worth mentioning, though (and I'm afraid it may upset some folks) is that there are no current plans for a B5 comic or graphic novel. The long-awaited 100-page graphic novel wasn't mentioned specifically but JMS was definite that there weren't any plans for anything B5-related in comics.

I always hold out hope, but this doesn't upset me. Since I've started trying to do the professional writing thing from about a year and a half or so ago, I've learned a lot of things, and I've especially learned how some of your projects will push other projects away from yourself and your thoughts but that doesn't mean it was because you were trying to ignore it purposefully. My thought is that Joe will eventually put out a B5 graphic novel when he has a story that's burning to be told in the B5 context, but I'll be happy to see his other stories not involving B5 as well. I think the key to remember is that the 5-year arc is still there, and can be watched any time.

[KoshN]

Okay, who are you and what have you done with the real KoshN?!

I've given up on it, and have ZERO faith in Warner Brothers.

As for JMS having moved past B5, it's obvious that he still loves that universe even if he's not writing in it these days.

Doesn't matter because B5 (and Crusade) are surrounded by millions of layers of Catch-22s.

[sftv]

Full report on jms' NYCC Talk

Comic Book Resources posted a fairly detailed report on Joe's talk at NYCC.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=28907

[Whyruss]

Comic Book Resources posted a fairly detailed report on Joe's talk at NYCC.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?p...ticle&id=28907

ôI said to Warner Bros. a while back, 'When youÆre ready to do something real with 'Babylon 5,' either a big-budget film or a TV show, if you want to do one of those two things, call me, otherwise donÆt bother me.' About a month ago the phone rang. I donÆt know where this is gonna go yet, but when they call you, thereÆs something going on. I canÆt tell you what it is yet and it may not go anywhere, but there is movement in the tall grass.ö

Hmmmm :-D