No Sleep 'Til Bristol

By Jason Brice

Peyer Pressure

I hear that Tom Peyer is to be the 6 months on, 6 months off writer of the new Punisher series alongside Garth Ennis. It's presumed Steve Dillon will be the ongoing artist. Mark Millar was originally going to take this role, but Mark had to pull out when other projects began to press.

Tom Peyer is a comics mainstay, edited Doom Patrol (as well as Mark Waid) when Morrison was writer, wrote Hourman which Mark Millar recommended as his favourite book at the time and indeed Mark Waid gave away free copies to promote it, was part of the failed attempted Superman "coup" with Morrison, Millar and Waid, part of their "Hive" project yet to come to fruition, but who recently gained prominence when it was announced he was to write the fill-in arc of Authority when Frank Quitely bailed on Mark Millar's run.

[Ed - Look out for a very special guest column from Tom Peyer at SBC in the coming weeks!]

This Has A Rumour Value Of 8 Out Of 10

Rucking Elektra

I hear Greg Rucka, crime writer, author of Whiteout and much of the modern Batman line, is to take over from Brian Michael Bendis on the new Elektra series, after Bendis's first six issue arc.

This Has A Rumour Value Of 7 Out Of 10

It's That Miracleman Again

On the Inkwell.com Message Board for Neil Gaiman's new novel, American Gods, Chris Stedman asked:
    Neil -- With all the Miracleman controversy being stirred up again, how do you feel about Mcfarlane bringing him back in Hellspawn 12 & 13 knowing that you and Mark Buckingham own 1/3 (at least) of the character?
Neil Gaiman responded:
    Chris -- sigh. Okay. Direct question, deserves a direct answer.

    I suppose that once in every now and again in life, you encounter a Todd McFarlane. And every time you think you've wiped it away, you look down and there's some more Todd McFarlane, sticking to the sole of your shoe.

    The guy has now broken every agreement he's made with me, every promise he's ever made, everything he's ever signed, everything he's ever said. I guess he's done it because he thinks he can.

    So neither Mark or I are impressed. Either he gave me his share of the rights in exchange for all my share in the Cogliostro character in 1997 (as he said, in writing at the time -- although he never delivered any of the promised papers confirming this, only sent the film, and, he told me, all the Miracleman art in the files), or, even if he doesn't, Mark and I still own 33% of the character -- and he's certainly not sought our permission nor arranged any kind of licensing. We'll have to find out whether he's legally able to do this; but morally, there's Todd McFarlane again, still sticking to the bottom of the shoe...

    At this point , I'd strongly suggest that anyone who has a shred of interest in creator's rights boycotts any of these comics, and lets their comic stores know why.

    (Cheating me seems to have become a badge of honour for Todd by now. Cheating Mark Buckingham is just sad.)
This Has A Rumour Value Of 7 Out Of 10

Einstein Says Go Go

Forget about reprinting Miracleman, what about reprinted Madman! Those strips lost to the days of Tundra and Kitchen Sink will be reprinted shortly. Look for an announcement from a certain medium-sized publisher at San Diego.

This Has A Rumour Value Of 8 Out Of 10

Silver Bullet Comics Censors All The Rage

And there I was thinking I'd entertain you with the DC solicitations that Newsarama has posted in error earlier this week. But my uber-editor Jason says no, as he's wanting to stay pally with DC people. [Ed - Not quite the truth, but it makes for a good story any how!] Fie, I say. I am undone. And so I'd never suggest you'd click here. Ah, you'll all get it later this week anyway…

You ain't seen me, roight?

This Has A Shit Stirring Value Of 9 Out Of 10

A Home From Home

J Michael Straczynski told rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5-moderated on Usenet that he's writing a 100 page Babylon 5 graphic novel for DC's Wildstorm imprint. His current thinking is that it's a Sheridan/Sinclair crossover that takes place before the World Without End story that saw Sinclair leave Babylon 5 continuity. He currently sees it as involving Mars, Minbar, Babylon 5 and conspiracy.

This Has A Rumour Value Of 5 Out Of 10

This Week's Plugs Of Notice

Fantastic Four Day takes place *today* in Pimlico. See past All The Rages for more details. Hmmm. You know who else is staying in Pimlico right now? Anyway…

Comics 2001 is taking place at Bristol next weekend. I'll be there, so I won't be writing next week's column. If you think you've got what it takes to write a guest gossip/rumour column, e-mail me a final draft by Thursday 4pm EST. The best gets a slot.

Also happening at Comics 2001 is the return of one of my favourite panels, based on a Channel 4 TV show of a few years back, namely Hypotheticals. A bunch of comics pros - creators, editor and journalists - including some high ranking names in the industry are given a series of hypothetical situations involving hypthetical creators, retailers, news stories, publishing dilemmas, or distribution crises. Run by Lee Budgie Barnett, it's fast, witty, and guaranteed to be one of the weekend's star attractions.

Watch out for Petra Etcetera #3, a Sleaze Castle spinoff, from Gratuitous Bunny Comix. Go buy a copy and tell them Rich Johnston sent you. They'll give you an excellent withering look…

Also look for Never Mind The Comics, a new anthology put together by Alistair Pulling. I've got a three page comics story in that. And a short text piece in the Doctor Who benefit book to boot! You are truly blessed.

Anyone going to Bristol who wants to meet up for a pint or whatever, I'll be on 0780 1350982 and staying at the Jury's Hotel for Friday and Saturday night.

And yes, the ever present Ebay link - will it ever get old? I doubt it. Plenty of stuff going up Wednesday/Thursday this week.

Right! Ta ta, the lot of you!