TWENTY-FIVE

Just came back inside from smoking a couple cigarettes, trying in vain to delay the inevitable, writing this week’s Bum’s Rush. As I pulled the last few drags from the last cig it went out all by itself, the cherry falling out, taking the rest of the tobacco and the last few puffs with it. Right. A clear sign to stop mucking about and get down to the task at hand.

It’s certainly a daunting task sometimes, writing a weekly column. It’s hard to believe I’ve been doing it for about six months now. There’s times when it’s really easy. There are more times when it’s very difficult. But it’s always enjoyable. Honestly I don’t think I could have done this for six months if I didn’t enjoy doing it. I think the most difficult part is finding a topic, one that will keep the interest of you, the reader, as well as my own as I write about it. Sometimes I will find myself with so much to talk about I can’t fit it all in. And then there are the times where I wonder if I’ll even be able to fill up an entire column.

But we’ve covered a lot of varied subjects over the course of six months haven’t we? Favorite characters have died. Great comics have been cancelled. We’ve talked about the good, the bad and the ugly of cover design. I’ve pimped, several times, the amazing work of newcomer Corey “The Rey” Lewis. You’ve seen my own little adventures into the world of comics, like 24 Hour Comics and Free Comic Book Day.
The Bucky Thing, Breach, Street Angel, Grant Morrison and the Crisis in Da Hizouse. The Batmobile flew and you listened as I cried on your shoulder about it. Yeah, there’s been a lot to talk about. And there still is.

So here’s to the next six months of Stumblebum Studios and the next six months of the Bum’s Rush. You keep reading and enjoying it and I’ll keep writing it and doing the same.

Here’s to what lies beyond.

Memorable Comics That Never Made It To Twenty-Five (aka - I Stole This Bit From Dana)

Major Bummer (DC Comics); 15 issues – Hey, a comic book about a slacker with tremendous abilities. Well, consider this column the sequel.

Kazar (Marvel Comics); 20 issues – This book was surprisingly fantastic for the first 14 issues before petering out under a new creative team and ultimately getting the ax.

Vext (DC Comics); 6 issues – Keith Giffen’s hilarious comic about the adventures of the god of bad luck. Ironically unlucky to be cancelled after only six issues.

Swamp Thing Vol. 2 (DC Comics); 20 issues – I met writer Brian K. Vaughn once and told him how much I loved this book. Judging by his reaction I think he was surprised that anyone was reading it.

Doom Patrol (DC Comics); 22 issues – From the writer of Major Bummer. Not even the amazing art of Tan Eng Huat could save this book from destruction.

Soldier X (Marvel Comics); 12 issues – If you count the fact that this wonderful book continued the story started in Cable (which was cancelled to launch this book) by the same creative team then technically Soldier X lasted about 23 issues. Probably one of the best X-Men related titles ever on the shelves.

El Cazador (CrossGen Comics); 6 issues – Pirates man! Who does comics about pirates! Well, no one anymore I guess. This book went kaputsky when the entire CrossGen line of comics collapsed.

HERO (DC Comics); 22 issues – Cemented Will Pfeifer as a favorite writer. Man, this list is starting to depress me.

Wildcats 3.0 (Wildstorm); 23 issues – Probably one of the most unique and entertaining superhero comics of the last 10 years. So why is it that stuff like that can’t survive? Jeez.

District X (Marvel Comics); 14 issues – Another one of the best X-related titles to hit the stores. So I guess that’s the message here. Don’t do great comics; you’ll only end up getting cancelled. Aim for mediocre and you should be fine. Just like in real life.

Fallen Angel (DC Comics); 20 issues – I’ll admit, I didn’t get into this Peter David created comic until after it was shelved, but the good news is it’s coming back soon courtesy of IDW.

Mystique (Marvel Comics); 24 issues – Another one that started strong and finished weak. Are you taking notes?

Breach (DC Comics); 11 issues – As you know from reading this column, Breach was just about my favorite new comic of the entire year. So obviously it’s going to end soon. Last issue hits November 9.

I’m sure there are a ton more that I’m skipping. But don’t worry, unlike these fine reads, I’ll be around for a long time and I know we’ll be watching together as a lot more really amazing comics bite the dust. Count on it.

Quick Bits

1. The new Night Stalker from ABC is actually a pretty good show. Stuart Townsend’s not quite as good a Kolchack as Darrin McGavin from the original series but it’s still entertaining. Very much in the vein of stuff like X-Files and Millennium, which isn’t surprising considering the man behind Night Stalker, Frank Spotnitz, was also a producer and writer for those shows.
2. One of my favorite new Image comics, Small Gods, has been cancelled. What does it take for good comics to make it in the market these days?
3. If you go here you’ll find a few of my Stumblebum Studios co-conspirators and me listed as guests in Wizard World Texas’ Artist Alley.Of course I’m listed as “Paul Millison” instead of “Paul Milligan.” Don’t they know who I am? Jeez.
4. DC’s Annuals are set to return in a big way, promising stories that have an actual impact on the books they represent. First up is Teen Titans Annual #1 and Batman Annual #25.
5. In my first ever story tip, and following up on a story I first talked about waaaay back in
   The Bum’s Rush #2, my good buddy Mike Marrs pointed out this quote from www.digitalbits.com:
   
   “Also today, there are online reports from various Superman-themed websites (including Superman Cinema) that Warner Bros. and producer Ilya Salkind have finally negotiated a deal for the release of director Richard Donner's original unused footage from Superman II. This would allow for the creation of a long-awaited Superman II: Director's Cut that would be closer to the film Donner was crafting before the film was taken away from him by the studio back in 1979 and given to replacement director Richard Lester. Donner, as many of you know, also directed the original Superman: The Movie (the two films were shot, for the most part, simultaneously). The idea behind all of this, of course, is that Warner wants to release new DVD special editions of Superman II, Superman III and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace in conjunction with the theatrical or DVD debut of Bryan Singer's currently in production Superman Returns. The new film is expected to hit theaters in June 2006.”
   
   I should have put that up last week but I was running sooo late that I completely forgot. Thanks Mike!

NEXT WEEK: Time to revisit some of my favorite subjects. Namely Infinite Crisis and PENG!

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