Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 5, 2012 20:43:48 GMT -5
Thanks for the comments. I *only* have a plot outline for hte first 25 issues so its not that tightly plotted As I get the core characters together through the course of the first arc, there will be less skipping around, but I am a fan of the quick cut a la David Mamet, so I like to get in and out of a scene and move on but come back later. That said, I am trying to bring the core of the book into focus through the first arc. I needed to establish some backstory but as the story moves forward I will be using the .5 issue sot do the bulk of that work leaving more room in the main issues for the current events. I do agree that there is a lot of balls in the air and I can see how it can frustrate a reader so I am taking that into consideration. Issue #2.5 is a single story told as a flashback. The flashback is a memory Madame Xanadu had just after the Stranger appeared in her shop in issue #1 and was going to be a flashback scene in issue #2, but it was too big and grew in the telling so I shifted it into a story of its own. I appreciate that you think there has been consistency with Ryan's depiction of Zee. I tried really hard to fit my vision of what I wanted for Zee in with what had been established for her. She has been through hell between the end of Ryan's series and the start of BoM, as has been alluded to by her. As Zee and Constantine are currently the lead vote getters, I think the story of Constantine's rescue of Zatanna from the Enchantress and their walkabout may be one of the stories I get to sooner in a .5 issue rather than later, but I need to arrange some claims before then (Ligur, the Enchantress, etc.). Speaking of which h-dies anyone know if Ligur was an original creation by Ryan or a pre-exisitng DC character-I have been unable to find a reference in any DC source I have access to. -M
|
|
|
Post by C_Miller on Mar 5, 2012 20:50:38 GMT -5
Yeah. I looked for Ligur, but I can't find anything. I'm wondering if it was either a misspelling or an original character...
Wait! I just found Ligur. Apparently it was in Neil Gaiman's novel Good Omens. I don't think you need to claim it.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 5, 2012 21:09:46 GMT -5
Yeah. I looked for Ligur, but I can't find anything. I'm wondering if it was either a misspelling or an original character... Wait! I just found Ligur. Apparently it was in Neil Gaiman's novel Good Omens. I don't think you need to claim it. Huh, I've read that novel at least a half dozen times but I can't place the name (of course the last time was over a decade ago). I think I have bought that book like 5 times, every time I do, I talk it up to someone, I lend it out and it disappears. I think the book is cursed. Good Omens indeed -M
|
|
|
Post by C_Miller on Mar 5, 2012 21:44:51 GMT -5
Yeah, I've never read it. I've read a lot of his prose (American Gods, Stardust, Anansi Boys, and both his short story books. I think I might go get that due to your recommendation.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 5, 2012 22:20:09 GMT -5
Yeah, I've never read it. I've read a lot of his prose (American Gods, Stardust, Anansi Boys, and both his short story books. I think I might go get that due to your recommendation. It's a comedy about the end of the world, and Terry Pratchett's presence is very strongly felt. I first read it when I was a senior in college while student teaching at an all girls Catholic high school in the Boston area, and I used to get the strangest looks form the nuns as carried the book around and even worse when I would hit a laugh out loud moment while reading it when I was monitoring study halls. I don't think they appreciated apocalyptic humor ;D I have to warn you, I have wanted to own a Bentley since I read the book so it will do strange things to you -M
|
|
|
Post by jackalope on Mar 7, 2012 5:22:28 GMT -5
Fuck, I love Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman so much, if I had a womb I'd have their babies.
I don't know if that's actually true.
Good stuff for issue #2, lots of jumping around but you handled it well. I know a little bit of Timothy Hunter, but nothing of Amy, so I'll look forward to seeing what happens there. I'm enjoying the crew you've brought together- it'll be good to see some shit go down, and have them handle it. Well described. Love Constantine. Keep it up.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2012 0:40:56 GMT -5
Ultimate books of Magic 2.5 is up. This is a standalone story of sorts detailing the Stranger's first meeting with Madame Xanadu...
It is the first of many .5 stories I will tell fleshing to the backstory of many of the characters (see the poll to vote on who you would like to see get a .5 issue)
Issue #3 should be up in a week or two after I finish CM& Shadowpact #5 (I am halfway through the first draft of the script on that one and there's an outside chance it will be up this weekend, if not early next week.
-M
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2012 3:09:22 GMT -5
the Future of Books of Magic...
is in flux so this post was deleted.....
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2012 3:17:15 GMT -5
The .5 Issues
These are the stories you will be seeing as I get the chance to do .5 issues-what order I do them in depends on final poll results and other factors.
Sleeping Beauty-tells the conclusion of Zatanna's encounter with the Enchantress and how she came to be saved by John Constantine
Walkabout-tells the story of John and Zee's year together traveling the subtle realms
Sins of the Father tells an origin of the Phantom Stranger-whether it is the origin well , we'll see
Curse of the Black Cat-A Mark Merlin adventure
A Night at the Circus-an origin story for Deadman
Stranger's Night Out-what happens when an young John Zatara and his mentor and predecessor in the Shadowpact decide to take the Phantom Stranger out for a night on the town in San Francisco of the late 60's/early 70's (otherwise known as How the Stranger got his Groove (and Fedora) )
Seasons of Winter-a tale exploring Baron Winters adventures through the ages
More to come as we approach later arcs.
If any of these appeal to you let me know via comments or poll votes I will adjust order based on responses.
-M
|
|
|
Post by buck on Mar 11, 2012 0:03:50 GMT -5
Fuck that was good.
I can't really formulate what I liked so much about it, but fuck that was good.
|
|
|
Post by superecwfan1 on Mar 17, 2012 12:29:50 GMT -5
I liked the #2 issue for the few things in it. We see Tim Hunter and Amy as kids. Which we see the Phantom Stranger and Cramer protect them . I wish we could have seen more of that really. I liked that a lot really. That and the John Constantine part at the end made me laugh. I did like how he left and suddenly is in another world.
Beyond the jumping around and cut scenes , I can sense what you were trying to do there. At one point I actually skipped down and read all the Tim Hunter/Amy scenes and then did that with Phantom Stranger action scenes lol.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2012 0:53:09 GMT -5
Issue #3 is up...Awakenings Chapter 3: Trick or Treat!
I intentionally scaled back the length a bit-clocking in around 3500 words instead of the usual 5500, so I hope it still feels like a full issue. Think of the first two issues as double-sized specials to launch the series, as I hope future issues continue at the 3500 target.
I hope you enjoy. -M
|
|
|
Post by buck on Apr 1, 2012 14:00:56 GMT -5
The 3500 target was a nice break. The issue was fantastic and all the separate plot lines look to be building towards something awesome. Keep up the good work.
|
|
|
Post by superecwfan1 on Apr 2, 2012 12:09:41 GMT -5
I really liked the Constantine spot with his ancestor Lady Constantine. I just hope we don't get a weird , hey to keep the bloodline , we must sleep together. Like the whole funny spot with Fry in Futurama where he is his own Grandpa lol. But it was a nice issue and I loved reading the scenes there and the one with Tim Hunter and Amy . Nice read.
|
|
|
Post by jackalope on Apr 2, 2012 23:42:22 GMT -5
Good stuff. Neat to see a but of time travel, Interested as to Puck's motivations, well everyone's motivations I guess. Magic has certainly stepped up in the UDCU between this and Shadowpact- nice to see them linking and creating a large history.
|
|
|
Post by The Wonderful Wachter on Apr 3, 2012 23:39:34 GMT -5
I agree with Buck about the storylines and disagree with Superecwfan about the bloodlines (I'm easily amused like that). You are doing a fantastic job of building each of the scenes and slowly establishing the personalities of your individual characters. As someone with an equally big cast in Spoilers and BatB, I know how difficult that can be to do properly.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2012 0:30:03 GMT -5
Well, Ultimate Books of Magic #4 is up. It's the penultimate chapter of the first arc and things are moving towards the climax. Shot for 3500 again, but missed by a few hundred, sorry Buck! damn epilogues...).
The shite is headed for the fan now....
-M
|
|
|
Post by The Wonderful Wachter on Apr 15, 2012 15:22:18 GMT -5
Quite the number of interwoven plots you're weaving. I found the various epilogues out of place with the issue itself but I can understand your choice in adding them. I look forward to the conclusion and the issue that will bring BoM into continuity.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2012 18:15:14 GMT -5
Quite the number of interwoven plots you're weaving. I found the various epilogues out of place with the issue itself but I can understand your choice in adding them. I look forward to the conclusion and the issue that will bring BoM into continuity. Most of the epilogues were more like prologues of things to come, but I wanted to give a sense of the bigger picture in this issue and makes sure all the dramatis personae were in their proper places for the climax. I wanted to give the readership a glimpse of just what the destiny of these two kids are that has everyone so worked up over. They were tacked on yes, but part of the bigger tapestry I am weaving. -M
|
|
|
Post by buck on Apr 23, 2012 16:32:11 GMT -5
Solid issue can't wait to see how things wrap up
|
|