From: cl2g+@andrew.cmu.edu (Charles Anthony Leone)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics
Subject: Marveleone II
Date: 13 Apr 92 19:38:17 GMT
Organization: Senior, Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA

Okay,

As was put by someone, I wrote my last post as a dictator... something
that I didn't like about Tom DeFalco. Anyway, here we go with New
Marveleone Policy.

(This is still my dream, so bear with me or read elsewhere).

1. Number ONE: The writer is in charge of the book he's doing. The
editor is there to make sure no that the book is not confusing to read,
the art doesn't mislead the reader, typos and mistakes can be caught,
and all characters' powers are basically consistent with what they
should be. THAT'S ALL. We don't do Gruenwald/Harras/Macchio here.

2. No editors are allowed, under any circumstances, to write stories.
Not even fill-ins, or issues of What If. Editors are there to debug the
system, not to program it.

[As a result of  (1) and (2), Marveleone won't need many editors. 4 or 5
should do. The Editor In Chief is there to coordinate editors with each
other, recommend new directions, and keep the continuity records.]

3. We hire writers! Yes, and we pay them. As you'll see below, since we
don't have 8 million artists we pay our writers well- we need them.

4. I raised this before with Amazing Spiderman: no reappearances of the
same villain in one book for 2 years, minimum. A writer with a long run
(Byrne on FF, for example), can use this and make his appearances more
dramatic.

5. For a year or so, I'd phase a lot of books out. It would pretty much
amount to who wants to do said book, and the ones that are unwanted by
creators die. I'd like to limit the line to 2 books, tops, for a big
team (including Spiderman).

6. Now, here are some directions that I, personally, would like to see.
BUT, I welcome other ideas (email?).

======================================
First: Start with the Infinity Masters, the fight for the Gem of
Infinite Reality, which allows sweeping changes to take place IF THEY
ARE NEEDED.

There is no way that I'd allow the events of FF 355-present to hold
water. The new writer, which would be me if no writer wants the job
(hence we'll need an EIC to replace me, recall rule #1), is encouraged
to develop Frank Richards as an adolescent not a child; deepen Johnny
and Alicia's marriage; recognize Reed's age; find Ben a personal life;
and let Doctor Doom grow into a noble character along the lines of what
Walter Simonson had planned originally for FF 350. In fact, if I could
get him I would.

The same goes for Thor 383-present; the new writer has a GOD to write
about, and I'd like someone who is into Norse mythology to come up with
scenarios that parellel Thor as both an Asgardian and the protector of
Earth.

Spidey loses Web and Spectacular, and Marvel Tales too. Amazing is his
main book, McSpidey is a rotating book for various stories. Since he
won't have 4 books, his supporting cast can be restored to stable lives.
that is, less of Cardiac and Venom, no smoking M.J., no Harry as a
villain, etc. I also want to see a story where Aunt May dies- and I want
to cry when I read it.

The X-books are freed up, though X-Force is a goner. X-Men and Uncanny
can both be written by the same writer. In my dream, Jim Lee still draws
X-Men but he doesn't do more than co-plot the stories with the writer
(Chris Claremont, who else). X-Factor is still PAD's book; he can pick a
new art team. Alan Davis of Excalibur stays as one of my few
writer/artists.

[Oh yeah, there's another thing. In my company, the writer can choose
his art team from whoever is available. Transition periods may need to
take place, so we train new artists on bridge issues.]

The Avengers need a cleanup. Thor has already been addressed, but the
guy that is really up in the air is Iron Man. I see Cap as the silvery
knight in a dark world, which is how I'd do him, but he needs some life.
Also, that lightsaber they gave the Black Knight makes me vomit.

I'd like to avoid future titles, since that opens up a really big can of
worms. Big, ugly, mutant tunnel worms. I'm not excited about 2099.

I put Daredevil (wrongly) in the class with Punisher and New Warriors,
but it should be important. He'd be the only really gritty book that
stays.

After Infinity Masters, Doctor Strange should be cleaned up too.

Namor is OK as is, and I can't complain about Hulk or She-Hulk (if we
nuked the CCA we'd lose half the humor in the book). I wish Namor would
pick up the pace it had last summer, though.

Despite a few people who don't like him, I'll keep the Silver Surfer as
the only cosmic title. What I ask of the writer is to stop Surf from
brooding over his past. He has a life to live, and doesn't need to
always be depressed. Oh, yeah, and Nova should stay as Galactus' herald.

They may sell books, but the New Warriors, Punisher (all but the main
title), Ghost Rider (both), Barbie, Cage, Darkhawk, Moon Knight,
Sleepwalker, and Guardians of the Galaxy go in the can. None of them
have any characterization.

Well, enough of my rambles, I have GPC to do...

________________
Tony L.

8^\)
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