I was recently interviewed by editor/proprietor Eric Newsom of VicSage.com, a terrific site with loads of info about The Question in all his (and now her) incarnations. He asked me a few questions about the current Question, Renee Montoya, because of my work with her in the Gotham Girls mini-series a few years back. 

You can check out the article here: A History of Renee Montoya - Part 1: Secret Origins

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.

It’s been over a week and Saturday was a late, late night.  This time around is going to be even more scattered than the last.

About midday on Saturday, I finally made it all the way through Artist Alley.  Yes, you read that right.  It took me over two days (counting Preview Night) to see where everyone was situated.

Some highlights:

Running into old pal Jason “Poe” Asala.  He’s been absent from the comics game and convention scene for a while now.  He’s planning his return.  Get ready for some cool comics, folks!

Introducing writer pal Terrance Griep to DC Creative Services Editor Michael Wright and watching/listening to them spend nearly an hour talking wrasslin’.  Now keep in mind that I’m not a wrestling fan myself, but it became obvious to me that Michael is.  And Terrance?  Terrance wrestles himself, under the name Tommy “the Spider-Baby” Saturday.  The two of them had such an amazingly animated conversation that it almost makes me wish I knew something about professional wrestling so I could have joined in.  Almost.

My semi-annual chat with DC VP – Sales Bob Wayne about a possible collected edition of my Gotham Girls mini-series.  See, I get fans and retailers asking me all the time when they’re going to do a TPB or digest of the series.  Bob informs me, however, that HE very seldom hears the same from retailers.  Which means it’s not likely to happen.  I salute Bob for his patience in listening to me bring it up time after time!

(Also, let this be a clarion call for folks who’d like to see Gotham Girls collected: If you’re a fan, tell your local comics retailer to ask DC for a Gotham Girls collection.  If you’re a retailer who thinks he or she can make sell the heck out of a Gotham Girls collection, let your DC rep or the aforementioned Mr. Wayne know.)

Catching up with Three Geeks creator Rich Koslowski.  Although maybe folks know him more for his releases through Top Shelf, including Three Fingers, The King and The List.  Rich has also done a lot of inking for Archie over the years.  And, he’s making the leap to writing in the superhero mainstream at Marvel in the upcoming Marvel Comics Presents. 

Shooting the breeze with Mike Norton, B. Clay Moore and Jeremy Haun in their corner against the far wall of the con.

Talking with Joe Gentile about new and exciting opportunities at Moonstone.  Keep your eyes peeled for more on these as the days and weeks progress.  

Grabbing a spare minute or two with J. “Teen Titans Go!” Torres and Will “Catwoman” Pfeifer as they were doing signings in the DC booth.  Big thanks go to J. for a lead that may turn into a new project.  Will, in his ‘mundane’ life, is an entertainment writer for a newspaper, so we spent a bit of time critiquing the available media.  In this case, the clips from upcoming DC-related TV shows and movies playing on the overhead screens. 

And while in the DC booth, I also did a bit of scheming with The Batman Strikes! artist Christopher Jones, which is always fun.  Chris and I have known each other for quite some time and keep talking about how it would be cool to do a project together.  We’re hoping it won’t be too long now.

Once again, I’m probably forgetting a bazillion people and conversations from the convention floor.  Sue me!  It’s been well over a week now!

Saturday night was awesome, starting off with the happy hour over at the Embassy.  They actually had most of the atrium area where the happy hour is generally held roped off for a wedding reception.  Poor planning on the part of both the hotel and the wedding party, to my way of thinking.  Still, I was able to snag a table with good friends Jeff and Karen Limke and it seems to my fuddled memory that Kevin Brown joined us as well.  We made excellent and extensive use of the free bar before heading out to meet some other friends for dinner at a local steak place.

Oh, and just before I had to split, I was able to spend a few minutes catching up with John Jackson Miller, formerly of CBG.  Which, I must admit, came as a surprise to me.  I’d missed the news of his going strictly freelance.  I know he’s doing some work on the Star Wars titles over at Dark Horse these days, so be sure to check those out.

At the steak joint, we joined up with web designer letterer, sometimes colorist and all-around cool gal Terri Boyle, her gentleman friend Mike (dang, there were a lot of Mike’s around that weekend), our mutual pal whom I generally refer to as Big Dave (‘cause he is and ‘cause I can never remember his last name) and his pal Kevin, whom I mistakenly referred to as Keith, much to my chagrin.  We were, perhaps, a bit loud and raucous, but it was definitely a good time.

Back at the convention center, the Limkes and I headed for the Red Bar.  Where I proceeded to run into a whole bunch of folks, most of whom have been mentioned previously in this narrative.  Including one Erik Larsen, Publisher at Image Comics. 

As I believe I mentioned in an earlier entry, I don’t think I’d ever met Erik before.  Certainly we’d never had an extended conversation.  But, miraculously and bizarrely, he seemed to be flying under the radar of just about everyone when I ran into him.  That was particularly strange for two reasons: 1) Erik has been in the industry a long time and knows boatloads of people.  2) He’s the publisher at Image and that’s normally enough to bring freelancers circling like sharks.

That particular night, no boatloads and no sharks.  So I stepped up, introduced myself and proceeded to have my most humbling experience of the convention.

As part of my introduction, I told Erik that I was a writer.  He asked what I did.  I said most people knew me from Gotham Girls.  He gave me a blank look for a couple of seconds, shook his head a bit and said, “Sorry.” 

So I just said that I’d done a bunch of DC animated stuff and the conversation continued.  No big deal and certainly no fault of his – there are a lot of comics out there and no one can keep track of all of them.  But, as I said, humbling.

Couldn’t tell you what all we talked about.  Comics in general.  I do remember mentioning to him that I'd been seated near him at Giordano's the night before.  And that a 'civilian' pal of mine had spotted him at a convention a couple years ago, excused himself from our conversation and gone over to talk to Erik.  They had a brief conversation and my pal came back.  "What'd you say?" I asked.  "I told him that he draws awesome women with gravity defying cans."  I was left at something of a loss.  When I related the story to Erik, he was equally bemused.

Several friends of mine came up while we were talking and usually I’d say hello, introduce Erik to them, and the conversation would continue.  (One of the people was Moonstone co-publisher Dave Ulanski, who hung out for a while.  I mention that, because I was talking to Dave on the phone a couple days back and said, “You’ll never guess who I ended up hanging out with on Saturday at the Con.”  Needless to say, he guessed.  I’m telling you, my memory is fading like Marty McFly in the Polaroid in Back to the Future.)

Also had the good fortune to run into IDW EiC Chris Ryall.  I recently did a Star Trek story for them (Alien Spotlight: Andorians, due out in November) and we talked a bit about how I’d like to do more stuff for them.  Chris seemed amenable.  More if and/or when it develops.

Okay, I’m going to call it a wrap for this particular entry.  Just one more day!

If you’re lucky, I’ll have this con report finished by Christmas.

 

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.