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I can tell already that my tenure at Marvel is going to anger many readers. No more Ultimate line. It failed. The original point of the line was to make the books accessible to new readers. Ultimate continuity is as boggled as mainstream Marvel U. Instead of a ground zero relaunch, I'm proposing a new take. We're instituting some major changes, but how it fits into the history of the Marvel Universe doesn't matter.Clear, concise storytelling.The most major change is that no longer was Steve Rogers Captain America during World War 2. The original Captain America was Nick Fury, who fought as Captain America alongside his Howling Commandos during the second World War. He is currently the head of S.H.I.E.L.D. and leads the Avengers in a Mission Impossible type scenario. If you are a super-hero in the Marvel Universe, you're an Avenger. Each mission designates it's own group of characters, which in turn allows more action, less soap opera and more opportunities to create interesting stories.Here are my first five books, their creative teams and the pitch.1. THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN by Jeph Loeb and J. Scott Campbell
Teen-age Peter Parker has been Spidey for 18 months or so (all the characters throughout the line have been active for approximately 1-2 years). No need to reintroduce bad guys, but gives the opportunity to play around with the strong Lee/Ditko/Romita supporting cast.
2. THE FANTASTIC FOUR by Darwyn Cooke
The best cartoonist in comics today needs an opportunity to tinker in Stan and Jack's toybox. 3. THE UNCANNY X-MEN by Warren Ellis and Salvador Larocca
Warren Ellis' strengths include incorporating science into pulp conventions. If the next stage of evolution isn't scientific enough of an opportunity to play around with genetics, pop-sci and futurism, then I don't know what is. Larocca has proven to collaborate well with Ellis with his clear storytelling on newuniversal and has a history with the characters. Excelsior!
4. THE AVENGERS by Joe Casey and Arthur Adams
Nick Fury runs the Avengers (as a division of S.H.I.E.L.D) Every super-hero in the Marvel Universe is game.Including the new Captain America, Steve Rogers.
5. THE INCREDIBLE HULK by Erik Larsen
Larsen can draw action and mayhem (and monsters!) Make the Hulk a book about a man on the run searching for a cure and redemption, throw in plenty of destruction, the military and creatures and you've got the opportunity to tell Hulk stories on par with Lee and Kirby's first six issues.
My main objective as the new editor-in-chief of DC Comics is to streamline the line. No more difficult continuity. Accessible and fun. DC's characters are iconic and their titles should reflect this. Since it's my first day on the job, I'm going to focus on the five most important titles.
1. SUPERMAN by Grant Morrison and Frank QuitelyThis was the easy one as Morrison and Quitely are already doing my favorite Superman work ever in All-Star Superman. Clark. Lois. Jimmy. Perry. Luthor. Brainiac. Bizarro. Kryptonite. Phone Booths. Krypto. Fortress of Solitude. Kandor. Supergirl. Daily Planet.
Use it all.
2. BATMAN by Ty Templeton and Paul Pope
Take the classic sensibilities of Templeton (late of the various Batman Adventures titles) and combine it with the electric line work of indie sweetheart Paul Pope and you've got the most exciting Batman title of the last decade. Like the Superman title, it's time to focus on the iconic. Batman. Robin. Alfred. Commissioner Gordon. Bat-signal. Batmobile. Batcave. Riddler. Joker. Catwoman. Penguin. Two Face. Man Bat. Poison Ivy. Utility Belts. Bat-a-rangs. It's time to get the organized crime out of Gotham and focus on the Rogues Gallery.3. WONDER WOMAN by Allan Heinberg and Terry Dodson
I'm a big believer in the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" philosophy. Heinberg and Dodson's far too brief run on the title was the first time ever that I liked the character, in no small part because Heinberg embraced every iconic symbol that the general public knew about the Amazonian princess and wove it flawlessly into a ridiculously entertaining super-hero book.
4. THE JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA by Mark Millar and Carlos Pacheco
It's time for Millar to prove his worth at DC writing the premiere super-team in comics. Let him tell the biggest stories possible with one of the greatest artists working in comics today.
5. THE TEEN TITANS by Grant Morrison and Mike McKone
Morrison's run on NEW XMEN succeeded in part to his acknowledgement to the work of Chris Claremont and John Byrne. Now I want to see what he can reimagine in the world of Marv Wolfman and George Perez. I NEED to read Grant's take on Trigon, Brother Blood, Deathstroke, Raven, Terra, Blackfire, as well as his interpretations of the Titans new and old. McKone's solid storytelling and affinity for the characters make him a natural collaborator.
Let's imagine that the post 52 and Civil War universes of DC and Marvel Comics have deemed so unsuccessful (which they weren't) that the shareholders demand an immediate change! You have been given the reigns at DC or Marvel (or both).
Here's the rub:You need to re-imagine the lines. 15-20 titles. No more.
A writer can write up to three titles a month, an artist can do only one book. You can only use living creators. There are currently no exclusivity contracts. A one line synopsis of the book can also be submitted. Be creative! Now go, and reinvent mainstream comics!!!
