I’ve Been Interviewed
There’s a meme going around the blogosphere right now that has bloggers interviewing each other. (According to Answers.com, a meme is, “A unit of cultural information, such as a cultural practice or idea, that is transmitted verbally or by repeated action from one mind to another.”) I decided to throw my hat into the ring, and as a result have been interviewed by blogger, writer, and artist Thom Gladhill:
1. 60’s Wacky or All Star God-Damned Batman?
Oh, Christ.
All right, I’ll hold my nose and go with “All-Star God-Damned Batman.” As bad as Miller’s current interpretation of the character is, it still has more in common with my preferred vision of the character — a dark, tormented hero — than does the campy version epitomized by the ’60s T.V. series.Â
Ironically, I think Frank Miller wrote the most fully realized version of the character in “Batman: Year One” (even though that story was told from Jim Gordon’s point-of-view). And Peter David, savant that he is, crisply captured what I believe to be the Dark Knight’s essence in a single caption in the final issue of the “Marvel vs. DC” miniseries: “From the nothingness of a blighted soul, he fashioned a dark guardian…”
2. If you could choose any pro as a co-writer…who would you choose? Why?
Joss Whedon, hands down. When he’s on his game, I think he exhibits something close to “perfect pitch” if such a term can be applied to writing. His “Astonishing X-Men” is a great example. He knows what makes each character tick and has them — gasp! – show you who they are by how they act rather than tell you through unnecessary dialog. He drops in little funny bits that make the characters believable, so that when the big dramatic flourishes occur you actually give a damn. And his ability to pace a plot and throw twists at you that seemingly come from nowhere but make perfect sense as soon as you think about them — well, what more can you ask for? Â
3. Beatles or the Monkees?
Beatles. They transcended their pretty-boy pop roots and eventually wrote music with real meaning.
4. You wake up tomorrow trapped in the Marvel Universe with a mutant power. What is your mutant power and what X-Team do you join?
The power to make Kitty Pryde, as written by Joss Whedon and drawn by John Cassaday, fall in love with me. So of course I’d join the Astonishing X-Men.
(Uhm, Kitty’s at least 18 now, right? If not, I’d choose the power to make cats behave themselves. Mine were just insufferable last night, getting into EVERYTHING and waking me up at least twice.)
5. As a creator, what do you find your greatest impediment to working on comics to be?
Excessive self-criticism, pure and simple. Many’s the half-penciled page I’ve thrown away out of disgust for what I perceived to be my poor results. Intellectually, I know that the best page is the one you’ve finished, because only by finishing page after page after page can you improve. I’m trying to drive that point down into my subconscious, however, and that’s never an easy task.
So, as the rules go…if you want to be questioned:
1. Leave me a comment saying, “Interview me.â€
2. I will respond by asking you five questions. I get to pick the questions. (They probably won’t be the same ones you see above!)
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.
June 21st, 2007 at 11:14 pm
Y’know, looking at question four, either way you’re going to be taking care of cat problems.
This kinda makes me wish I had a blog, love to see the questions you’d throw out. Although, I think I could answer them 1) Any of them, all the same show, 2) I had no idea that video was even still around, 3)She’s my ex-girlfried for a reason, 4) What do you want to keep that under your hat? and 5)Does Jeannie know how sick a sick person you ARE, Myers?
June 24th, 2007 at 6:55 am
I guess this is a good opportunity as ever to visit your blog Bill.
“Joss Whedon, hands down. When he’s on his game, I think he exhibits something close to “perfect pitch†if such a term can be applied to writing. His “Astonishing X-Men†is a great example. He knows what makes each character tick and has them — gasp! – show you who they are by how they act rather than tell you through unnecessary dialog. He drops in little funny bits that make the characters believable, so that when the big dramatic flourishes occur you actually give a damn. And his ability to pace a plot and throw twists at you that seemingly come from nowhere but make perfect sense as soon as you think about them — well, what more can you ask for? ”
I couldn’t agree with you more. Well, maybe I could, but I’m too lazy to try.
“5. As a creator, what do you find your greatest impediment to working on comics to be?
Excessive self-criticism, pure and simple. Many’s the half-penciled page I’ve thrown away out of disgust for what I perceived to be my poor results. Intellectually, I know that the best page is the one you’ve finished, because only by finishing page after page after page can you improve. I’m trying to drive that point down into my subconscious, however, and that’s never an easy task.”
You can say that again. You don’t have to, but you can if you want. I have the same problem with writing.
June 26th, 2007 at 7:54 pm
The Beatles??? Like, what did they ever do? A couple of hits here and there? The Monkees gave the world Head.
And does Buffy know about this thing of yours for Kitty Pryde? Do you know the damage that a dust up between those two would be like?
June 27th, 2007 at 10:21 pm
“The Monkees gave the world Head.”
Man, I wish I’d said that. And if I were Bill, I’d be a touch more worried about, say, actual flesh and blood women finding out about Bill’s thing for Kitty. Call me crazy.
June 28th, 2007 at 11:30 am
Sean Scullion: “Does Jeannie know how sick a sick person you ARE, Myers?”
Yes.
June 28th, 2007 at 11:32 am
Micha: “You can say that again. You don’t have to, but you can if you want. I have the same problem with writing.”
I would love to see something you’ve written. You have a keen mind, a vast wellspring of knowledge, and an understanding of human nature. These alone do not a writer make — but they’re a damn good foundation.
June 28th, 2007 at 11:33 am
Jerry Chandler: “And does Buffy know about this thing of yours for Kitty Pryde? Do you know the damage that a dust up between those two would be like?”
Uhm, I would imagine not much damage at all. Kitty would just turn intangible and Buffy’s attacks would pass right through her. They’d probably just get tired out and call it a day.
June 28th, 2007 at 11:34 am
Sean Scullion: “And if I were Bill, I’d be a touch more worried about, say, actual flesh and blood women finding out about Bill’s thing for Kitty. Call me crazy.”
My girlfriend would prefer me to have crushes on fictional women rather than real ones, I’d imagine.
And you’re crazy.
June 28th, 2007 at 10:00 pm
No one here is going believe this, but that particular innuendo honestly never crossed my mind. I was just trying to make fun of one of the most unintentionally funny movies outside of an Ed Wood collection in a really quick post. The first time what I wrote actually registered was from coming back here just now and reading Sean’s post.
I am sooooo off my game this month.
June 29th, 2007 at 6:58 am
Jerry Chandler: “…that particular innuendo honestly never crossed my mind.”
You’re right. I don’t believe you. But, then again, I know you.
July 1st, 2007 at 6:24 pm
Jerry Chandler: “And does Buffy know about this thing of yours for Kitty Pryde? Do you know the damage that a dust up between those two would be like?â€
Bill Myers: “Uhm, I would imagine not much damage at all. Kitty would just turn intangible and Buffy’s attacks would pass right through her. They’d probably just get tired out and call it a day.”
I don’t know. Buffy always finds a way to defeat her enemies. I’m surprised Whedon didn’t have a story like that. Well, maybe in his new Buffy comic.
July 12th, 2007 at 3:06 pm
“The Beatles??? Like, what did they ever do? A couple of hits here and there? The Monkees gave the world Head.”
This is absolutely beautiful.