043: “It's a Witch.” “Thank you, Janet.” “Kill it."
Hullo.
With any luck, next week will be a big download of what this month has been about. Are you aware of the old 1980s videogame Elite. Not any of its remakes or sequels. Specifically Elite. It's a game about space trading and pirating and lots of other fun stuff. However, the core challenge – the one you have to master to even get anywhere – is the process of docking. In full 2001-esque glory, you have to align your ship to the docking port on a star base. The star base is rotating. You have to rotate and match speeds. You have to do this every time, until you eventually earn enough to get a docking computer, and if you mess up even slightly, your ship explodes.
The last month has basically me just docking, again and again and again. I have yet to earn my docking computer. One day I hope one to shoot some space pirates. That day is a long way off.
Er... this is a metaphor. I haven't just been playing Elite for a month.
Contents!
Masterclass warfare
YA = Young Avengers, right?
Uber Tradeification
WicDiv Christmas Special
Links!
Byeeeeeeeeeee!
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This is going to be interesting.
We at Comics Experience are very pleased to announce our next Master Seminar, Surviving Work for Hire, taught by Kieron Gillen! Gillen is the writer behind the beloved creator-owned The Wicked + The Divine (with the series’ co-creator and artist Jamie McKelvie) and bestselling Marvel titles, including Uncanny X-Men, Star Wars: Darth Vader, and Star Wars: Doctor Aphra.
Basically, Comics Experience have run several in depth masterclasses, and asked if I'd do one. As this stuff is going around my head, and I've always a weakness for craft analysis and talk, I thought it'd be fun. I'll wear a beret and everything, if you think it makes me seem more credible as a writer.
It's a six hour session on Saturday November 18th.
Yes, I'm aware the title is the definition of tempting fate, but it amused me.
But it will be fun. More next time. I may even boot up Decompressed to yabber a bit.
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We're also getting out this weekend. The Southend Centre are having A Young Adult Literature weekender, and including a panel presented by the London Graphic Novel Network of Jamie, Chrissy and Me talking over what we do.
You'll need a pass for the Sunday to go, which can be got here. Includes more details.
So, no, I won't be going to the MCM this weekend, except possibly the bar if I'm tempted out by friends. Be sure to pop into friend Sarah Gordon's table, as she's been killing herself to print up a comic she drew over a weekend. Artists, eh? Interesting news about Reedpop's acquisition of MCM too, of course.
In other notes, I presume it's not this kind of Weekender.
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Many of you have been asking when the next Uber trade is out. It’s out in January!
This collects the first seven issues of Uber Invasion. It’s collected as the sixth volume of Uber, as the story continues directly from it.
My main scripting task this week has been Uber, actually. I pulled together a draft of 13 this morning, and will be polishing it up by Monday. I’m playing with the possibility of rather than doing the last year in twelve issues (and two trades) or doing it in nine issues and (one trade). Basically I’m weighing the material and working out whether space or velocity would serve it best. Writing is editing and all that.
What’s issue 13 about? It’s so far in the future for you lot it seems like a spoiler to say anything, surely? Er… it’s primarily about the Eastern front? I can probably say that.
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A simply astounding article about the effectiveness of Steve Dillon’s art by Kelly Kanayama. Captures so much about him.
I was on a panel at NYCC where we recommended a bunch of comics. This compiles some of it. We did ramble.
Luther Dean is a comedian based in Auckland and wrote an article about five of his favourite things. McKelvie and our work was in it, which is touching in any list, but that he wrote so touchingly about us was (er) touching. Me no rite gud. His other choices are also delightful.
The WicDiv 32 writer notes. Are not done yet. Here’s a link to a 10 minute gag reel for season 1 of the Good Place instead.
(Except that link has been taken down. Go find your own, or I’ll have to do a live version of Janet’s “It’s a Witch.” “Thank you, Janet.” “Kill it.”)
Common D&D characters make me think about cliché in genre a whole bunch.
Some interviews from NYCC. Here’s a text one with Science Fiction Dot Com. Here’s a video one with Fanbros. We do like to yabber.
WicDiv Christmas special art is coming in at a rate where I can’t work out how much I have in yet. The first person to hand one in was Emma Viecelli, and she showed this lovely panel of Tara on her instagram.
She’s doing two stories, one of them is about Tara’s love of her art.
Kris Anka put these lovely pencils up…
And his other pages are arriving, and they’re a joy. By which I mean, excellent penises.
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I mentioned Uber earlier, in terms of scripts I’ve been working on. Last week also involved me managing to hand Aud a draft of WicDiv 1923. It’s… complete? Complete isn’t true. Everything she has to draw is there. It’s just that the issue include a lot more than just what she has to draw. This missing mass of STUFF isn’t done yet, but what it will actually be has been nailed down. I have a plan of engagement, and will be doing that as we head towards Christmas, alongside everything else.
I just handed over my detailed plans for my second arc of Star Wars now, which means that all that needs to be generated before the end of the month is the first script of Spangly New Thing, which I’ve promised to the artist for November 1st. Which is a proper mix of exciting and terrifying, so I’m going to put off thinking about that until tomorrow, and instead weigh up leaving the house to see Death of Stalin, the new Thor or lie on the floor and press my eyeballs against its polished surface and whimper a little.
Byeeeee!
Kieron Gillen
London
27.10.2017