Not too long ago, Warner Brothers made the announcement that they were releasing the entire 13-episode run of the BIRDS OF PREY TV show on DVD.  And, as a bonus feature, they're including the 30+ episodes of the Gotham Girls web cartoon.

As many of you know, that cartoon holds a special place in my heart, because it was the inspiration for my 5-issue Gotham Girls mini-series at DC.  Watching the fun and quirky webisodes, I thought to myself, "I don't know why DC isn't doing a comic to tie in with this!"  So I pitched one.  DC decided that, for once, I wasn't completely mad and agreed that it would be a good idea.

Anyway in honor of the DVD release of the web 'toon, James Harvey of World's Finest Online, one of the premiere websites for info about cartoons based on DC Comics, got in touch and asked me a few questions about Gotham Girls.  You can find the answers in a brief article  titled Storrie Provides Update on "Gotham Girls" on World's Finest.

There's also a bit of news there about some recent honors for some of my past projects and a brief mention of a new one due out any time now from Moonstone Books.  Perhaps this will serve as a prod to get me to actually post of those here? 

Speaking of Birds of Prey, although many people were dissatisfied with the live-action TV show, it holds a certain nostalgia for me, in that I wrote written a story for the anthology based on the show that DC had in the works when the show was canceled.  Although that story never saw print, it did lead to my being offered a slot in Birds of Prey Secret Files 2003.

I have something of a reputation, among my friends and acquaintances in the comics industry, for knowing everyone.  This has even led, on occasion, to me not being introduced to someone in a convention conversation because the person I do know assumes that I know the person I don't. 

The rep is exaggerated, but I come by it honestly: I've been networking at conventions and online for 10 years or so.  However, it sometimes results in people assuming I'm more "in" in the comics industry than I actually am. 

For example, a convention buddy of mine -- nice guy and talented -- recently got in touch because he was trying to snag an in-house position at DC Comics (the Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman people, for those of you who aren't comics folk) and wanted me to put in a good word for him .  Which I happily would have, except...

A) I wouldn't have known where to begin.  He didn't give me the name of anyone involved in the vetting process and I had almost no idea who would be hiring for such a position.

and

2) He was vastly overestimating the value of having me vouch for him.  As I pointed out in my apologetic reply, I haven't really done much work at DC for years. 

The last 'big' project I did over there, Gotham Girls, a five-issue mini-series that I (and others) saw as my big break, was finished by early 2003.  After that I did an 8-page story in Birds of Prey Secret Files 2003 and an issue of Justice League Unlimited, along with a couple of stories that I got paid for but will never see print.  One of those was for a comic based on the short-lived and seldom lamented Birds of Prey TV show.won't be published.  The comic was canceled when the show was.  The other was an inventory story for the most recent Batgirl comic.  (An inventory story differs from a fill-in in that an inventory story is done in case the regular creative team needs a month off, rather than because they definitely do.  It sits in a drawer, waiting for a health crisis or family emergency or flat out blown deadline.)

I can understand his mistake, though.  After all, I spend a lot of time at the DC Comics booths at conventions, hanging out with as many DC editors as possible (both because they are friend and acquaintances and to remind them that I'm still alive and writing).  But as far as having an pull with the Powers That Be over there?  Well, if I did have such pull, rest assured I would be using it to make sure I had some steady work for myself.

Don't get me wrong -- I'd rather be connected to the limited degree that I actually am than having no foot in the door at all.  But as all door-to-door salesmen know, having a foot in the door doesn't necessarily mean you've made a sale.

Sometimes it just means a bruised foot.

PDS

P.S. I was particularly happy with Gotham Girls and the Birds of Prey Secret Files 2003 story, so if you get a chance to snag them at a comics shop, convention or online comics retailer, I think you should.  It won't put any extra money in my pocket at this point, but you might enjoy 'em.