There's no better way to spend my Friday afternoons around the store than chatting with Gregg. Last Friday he dished the dirt on more easter eggs, inside scoops, and edits on X-Babies #2!
I'm super pressed for time today setting things up around the store for the Sitdown with the MOB signing this weekend, but I'll be sure to come back and add more specific pictures later on!
First, the 1st ever RE: Comics! EXTRA! Remember last week when Gregg and I were talking about his pitch for a Spice Girls/Deadpool crossover? Well, HE FOUND THE ART! Feast your eyes, Merc with a Mouth and Girl Power fans everywhere!
If you want to read even more about it, head on over to Hatter Entertainment.com. For now, we're getting into some X-Babies!
I was gonna start out with a little, "When we last left our heroes...," but you take care of all that on the first page.
12:09 PMÂ Gregg:
Yeah, when I first started working on this issue I was told a recap
page HAD to be in the issue. I asked if we could create an original
recap page and once given the go-ahead, we were off to the races.
12:10 PMÂ me:
What's your general take on the inclusion of recap pages in pretty much
every Marvel book? Do you read any that you really enjoy?
12:12 PMÂ Gregg:
I still cling to the idea that you can bring a reader up to speed in
the course of the comic itself, so I actually don't usually read the
recap pages. For the most part I want to see how well the story pages
themselves hold up without any assistance.
  That
said, I did read an issue of HERCULES that had a fun recap page (the
Thorcules/Herculor fight issue). And I thought they tried some clever
stuff with the recap pages in the HELLCAT mini.
12:14 PMÂ me:
Do you know if Marvel counts the re-cap page as a "story" page when
doing their solicitations or whatnot? And yeah, all of Jeff Parker's
pages are great in Hercules and Agents. Peter David had a hilarious bit
on X-Factor where he was using it as his personal soapbox, talking
about WHATEVER he wanted, including what he got for Christmas last year
or what he'd just eaten.
12:15 PMÂ Gregg:
Typically no, the recap pages doesn't count as a story page. So for
this issue, because we generated an "original" recap page, you'll
notice there are only 21 pages of X-Babies that follow.
12:16 PMÂ Usually
the recap pages are generated in-house by the editorial team. Which was
the case when Marvel did those recap gatefolds back in the late '90s as
well.
 me: Gotcha. More Cyclops/Wolvie fighting. Love it!
12:18 PMÂ Gregg:
Thanks. Clearly that's a dynamic I enjoy playing with. In fact this
issue has quite a bit of infighting between X-Babies. But it was also a
way to do the recap thing without it being too static. And maybe a
little funny. I think. I hope.
12:19 PMÂ But then we get to the opening spread and the start of the story, where I still insist on doing some recapping in the dialogue.
  And the roll-call, which is a thing I always liked as a kid in Justice League or Avengers comics.
12:21 PMÂ me:
Now I don't specifically remember from Planet Terry the characters
enjoying musical extravaganzas, so I guess we're seeing more tampering
going on. (I always liked that, knowing exactly which characters you're
getting as soon as you open the book)
12:22 PMÂ Gregg: Planet Terry characters were not prone to singing, dancing, and/or rapping, in their original incarnation, that is true.
  How do you mean, tampering?
12:25 PMÂ On the one hand there's us as the creative team taking the original Planet Terry characters and presenting them in this new way.
12:26 PMÂ On
the other hand there's an internal story going on where there's a guy
presenting new programming on Mojoworld. Though, at this point in the
story we and the X-Babies are technically on an alien planet.
12:27 PMÂ In either case, yes, Planet Terry has been tampered with.
 me:
Sorry, a lot happening right now, checking someone out, referring to
X-Babies #1, buying Polish dogs from a local baker hahaha. But yeah, I
meant within the contexts of the story with the new programming being
presented.
12:29 PMÂ So Planet Terry is breaking off some beats...is that a hint at you yourself being quite the MC?
12:30 PMÂ Gregg:
Then yes. Though again, we don't find that out specifically for a few
pages still. Though one could make that assumption coming off of #1. So
what are you looking up in that issue, by the way?
 me: I was looking up Mr. Veech's name as it slipped my mind in the whirlwind of the moment.
12:31 PMÂ Gregg:
Actually, I very much dislike when characters rhyme in their speech in
comics. I find it super distracting and annoying. Especially something
like Etrigan the Demon. I love silly stuff in comics, bit that one
doesn't sit right with me. So by making Terry sing and rap and rhyme
I'm just amping up his cloying, annoying factor.
12:32 PMÂ me: haha
12:33 PMÂ Gregg:
And there's also the idea that Mr. Veech has a very different POV on
what's "entertainment" or what entertainment SHOULD be. We saw a hint
of it with the Adorable X-Babies in issue 1 and now we're seeing the
bigger picture.
12:35 PMÂ me:
As we talked about in the first issue, I'm right there with you on that
theme as it's prevalent right now with Marvel Super Hero Squad, etc.
12:36 PMÂ Then half the gang gets popped by Terry's "fun-gun" and can't stop movin' and shakin'
12:37 PMÂ Gregg:
And that's what was so appealing to me about using the Star characters
for this story...because 25 years ago they were similarly constructed
to appeal to "young readers".
12:39 PMÂ Absolutely.
Credit on that to a degree goes to an editorial note. Originally I had
it where some X-Babies just get into it and some don't. But it was
suggested there be some kind of impetus to make them dance against
their will and that maybe it just didn't affect some of them. And
therein came the Fun-Gun.
12:40 PMÂ me: And Rogue's unspoken plan is great.
 Gregg:
Thanks. Of course all that dancing, friendship and fun doesn't quite
jive with the X-Babies' M.O., so it's only a matter of time before
fists and claws start flying.
12:41 PMÂ I'd be lying if I said I didn't love that they have no REAL motivation for kicking but outside of "that's how they roll".
 me: Adam's favorite part is always when Wolverine says "SNIKT" as his claws make the sound.
12:42 PMÂ Gregg:
People love that. Again, credit there goes to Jacob. That was his idea.
Although technically, motivationally speaking, Rogue's dialogue in
panel 5 of page 7 kind of brings readers up to speed on why they're so
hot to fight.
12:44 PMÂ me:
Was there any concern with Wolverine going berserker into a pack of
somewhat harmless aliens, what with the claws and all? A knock on the
head from Rogue probably doesn't have the same lasting effect as losing
a hand.
12:46 PMÂ Gregg:
Well first, I'd suggest that this isn't Wolverine going
berserker...trust me on that one. And otherwise, the understanding in
context is that these are (a) aliens and (b) aren't "real". Plus, no
one really loses a hand or any limbs...there's no blood. Were the
Comics Code still a thing, this would pass muster.
12:47 PMÂ In fact, looking at it, he only uses his claws for ONE slash, so...it's not SO bad.
12:48 PMÂ me:
I was just thinking more like on page 8 (looking ahead a little) where
he's full on swiping at a guy. That's where the thought came from.
12:49 PMÂ And
in theory looking to save his own skin (and dignity in not wanting to
dance and sing), Wolverine suggests Cyclops to blast the fun-gun to bits
12:50 PMÂ Gregg: Right.
  And
then we see that Planet Terry and his alien friends are under the
control of Mr. Veech, who keeps a watchful eye on all of the
proceedings.
12:51 PMÂ me: Mr. Veech flips the switch and more FIGHTING!
12:53 PMÂ Gregg:
Darn tootin'. Matter of fact, if this issue has a flaw it's maybe TOO
MUCH fighting and maybe not enough time or energy given to the bigger
story and motivations for characters. I actually was lucky enough to be
able to go back in, as it was being lettered and adding dialogue to
help flesh stuff out. The Veech dialogue as he flips the switch, that
was a later addition.
  And yes, that IS a reference to the old G.I. Joe PSAs.
12:54 PMÂ But
more fighting and more of Jacob kickin' all kinds of butt drawing every
freakin' alien and all kinds of awesome choreography. That big panel
with the aliens attacking...the bit with Nightcrawler bamfing out of
the way of that one alien's punch as it connects with another...I love
that.
12:55 PMÂ And Rogue pulling on that dude's eye stalks.
  But even in the physical fighting, the X-Babies start to go at each other, too...not just Cyclops and Wolverine this time.
12:56 PMÂ me: Yeah, lots of bickering on the way to the ship.
12:57 PMÂ You said in the first commentary that we'd see Kitty's relationship with machines coming into play again and here we have it.
 Gregg:
And even more once they're on that ship, which, for those of you who
care about these things, IS the same ship from PLANET TERRY #1, check
the black-up reprint for proof.
  Yeah, she's got a knack for jogging mechanical stuff. She's like Fonzie that way.
12:58 PMÂ (hoping you know who Fonzie is)
 me: COME ON!
  haha
12:59 PMÂ Gregg:
And then they finally take off, Veech returns Terry and friends to
their "regularly scheduled programming" and things, again, get dicey
for the X-Babies.
1:00 PMÂ And tensions rise. Even Kitty gets fired up at Colossus!
1:01 PMÂ me:
But what we're really seeing is that they've come to the end of Terry's
"set" and are about to break on through to the other side.
1:02 PMÂ Gregg:
Yep. It was all a soundstage and another one of Veech's new
shows...which we knew, but it's news to the X-Babies, who again, crash
through and into stuff.
1:04 PMÂ me: Not too long before they meet their next Star Comics adversary
 Gregg: Indeed. We get a quick one-panel reboot before we meet Wally and the Wizard.
1:05 PMÂ Who
I had way too much fun writing Wally's dialogue. He's just so
enthusiastic about the science of magic and the magic of science.
 me: I'm seein' some Peabody and Sherman dynamics here.
1:06 PMÂ Gregg: Peabody and Sherman, yes. Mr. Wizard is in there too. But amped up to, again, a potentially obnoxious degree.
 me: hehe, Mr. Wizard.
1:07 PMÂ Terribly inferior to Billy Nye the Science Guy.
 Gregg:
And for those keeping score: Marlin's line about having his pick of any
apprentice in the kingdom is a nod to the original comics, where Marlin
said that at least once per issue in exasperation over Wally's actions.
  Whoa, whoa...hold it, young buck...now you're declaring generational war with this Bill Nye smack-talk.
1:09 PMÂ me: Don't even make me bring in the Beakman's World wild card!
1:10 PMÂ Gregg:
Alright, let's not fight. Let's just agree that there have bee science
shows on TV geared towards kids and move on. Because after all, your
favorite thing's just around the bend.
 me: YAY!
 Gregg: After Wolverine and his hilariously large noggin give the Wizard some sass.
1:11 PMÂ And
then I, despite my claims otherwise, once again have characters speak
in rhyme (though, to be fair, it's a magic spell and those often have
to rhyme for the magic to be effective).
 me:
It's such a good slow build too, starting with the letters trickling
out of his hat and then the whole page of seemingly nothing happening.
1:13 PMÂ Gregg:
Thanks. I'm glad you feel that way. You can't help but worry about
having a page of just talking (and again, credit to Jacob for giving
them life and personality, as it could have easily been a straight
talking-heads page), but you gotta slow things down every now and again
so when the big stuff hits, it HITS.
  And we get to see Wolverine with a cigar-like piece of grass in his mouth. And all kinds of apologies and sweetness, too.
1:14 PMÂ And then...
1:15 PMÂ me: ALPHABOT!!!!!!!!!!!
1:17 PMÂ You
showed me the black and white preview in your hotel room while you were
here in October and I was first shocked at the detail and creativeness
in the concept and then busted out laughing when I saw the LOV and HAT
knuckles!
1:19 PMÂ Gregg:
The knuckles are awesome, but just the beginning. If you REALLY wanna
get into it, throughout the fight Jacob has letters flying off it that
spell stuff out. For example, when the "J" cannon comes out of its
forearm, letters spell out "surprise"...impact points spell
things...yeah, Jacob took it beyond even what I'd conceived. (which, by
the way, I also had considered including some Num-Borgs as well, but in
the end, the Alpha-Bot's better as the massive menace it is).
1:20 PMÂ And it was nice to see the X-Babies actually work together as a cohesive team.
1:21 PMÂ me:
That's CRAZY! I didn't even see the extra words! And in the same scene
we have my other favorite moment, the DODGEBALL SPECIAL!
1:24 PMÂ Gregg:
Oh man, that was another process...coming up with something that was a
Fastball Special but not called a Fastball Special. Nick, our editor,
thought it needed to be something beyond what we've all seen before.
So...after considering many options I went with Dodgeball. Though,
after the fact, Jacob suggested Lawn Dart Special might've been better
since he's got the claws...but then we thought lawn darts is pretty
much a recipe for injury, so I'm pleased with dodgeball.
 me: Then spelled out dialogue, I forgot the SPELLED OUT DIALOGUE
1:25 PMÂ Gregg:
Ha ha. Yeah. That was fun, too. It's almost a shame Alpha-Bot doesn't
say more. But I think that'd get annoying having to read more than
"Destroy" and "No More Games" spelled out.
1:26 PMÂ me:
Sadly, the Dodgeball Special proves too awesome for the awesomeness of
Alpha-Bot and the X-Babies get a moment to catch their breath.
1:28 PMÂ Gregg:
Just a moment. And a moment for me to drop in a reference to a podcast
I listen to in Wolverine's using the names "Chip Dipson and Dip Dopson".
1:29 PMÂ But
that moment is interrupted by the appearance of Royal Roy and his crew
and out issue two cliffhanger, which, and this is on me, is very, very
similar to the issue one cliffhanger.
1:30 PMÂ I can only promise readers this: the issue three cliffhanger is a whole other level.
  And I don't make many promises.
1:32 PMÂ me:
That podcast being Jordan, Jesse, GO! from Maximum Fun.Org, which also
puts out the Sound of Young America, a podcast that I listen to
frequently.
 Gregg: Indeed. Did you recognize it when you read it or did I mention it?
1:33 PMÂ The Sound of Young America is an excellent show, available as a podcast or on public radio through PRI.
1:34 PMÂ me: I recognized it as familiar when I read it and it hit home when you posted a link to the mention you got on Maximum Fun.Org.
1:35 PMÂ Gregg:
Cool. Yeah, it's admittedly both a nod to the show and a "hey people
who might not otherwise know about this comic, check it out!" move.
1:37 PMÂ But
yeah, that cliffhanger closes out issue two, which, I'm really glad you
liked (and I hope other people liked, too). As I mentioned earlier, I
think there are some flaws in the issue, things that maybe could have
paced out differently overall in the series...and maybe not the
greatest as a stand-alone issue. But I also might (a) be a bit hard on
myself and (b) have looked over and re-read the issue so many times it
can't help but feel light, especially considering what's coming in the
next 2 issues, which are pretty packed with stuff.
1:40 PMÂ me:
I think you are your own worst critic. Personally I can't look at
anything I write or draw ever again once I'm finish working on them. I
loved it and hopefully everyone had a great time reading along with us
or now can't wait to come by the store and pick up a copy for
themselves!
1:41 PMÂ As
we mentioned last week, we'll be taking next week off while you head
home and I wrangle Jen Grünwald, Bendis, Mack, Oeming, Taki Soma, and
Bryan Glass.
1:42 PMÂ Gregg: Aw, shucks. Though, to flip that, and to do some horn-tooting, the last five pages of issue three...totally wicked.
1:43 PMÂ Yeah, I'm going to Miami to enjoy my Thanksgiving. Good luck wrangling that crew.
  But try to enjoy your Thanksgiving just the same.
 me: And Happy Thanksgiving to all, and to all a happy post-turkey nap.
1:44 PMÂ Gregg: Well said, Stephen.
Gregg Schigiel is a cartoonist, illustrator, and
writer. He's worked as a penciller and editor for Marvel Comics and an
illustrator and cartoonist at Nickelodeon in addition to creating his
own characters and books. He's currently writing X-Babies for Marvel
with artist Jacob Chabot and writing and drawing Pix: Teenage American
Fairy and Safari Junior High, appearing in the back of the G-Man: Cape
Crisis mini series from Image. Check out his website at Hatter Entertainment.com.
Stephen Mayer makes his mama proud making contact with 97 out of 100 pitches at the batting cages and measuring out the dimensions of his living room.
