Filed under: Events | Tags: CBCebulski, JoeQuesada, KAPOW!, KieronGillen, MarkMillar, marvel
Joe Quesada would have loved the opportunity to talk to the guys in charge of Marvel and DC back in the day. This recurring panel is Joe’s way of giving back: ask him anything from comic books to love lives. Joining Joe on the panel at Kapow! 2012 were Mark Millar (Kick-Ass &c.), Kieron Gillen (Phonogram, Journey into Mystery), CB Cebulski (Marvel Talent Scout).
First up – Joe was asked about digital comics in the next couple of years:
We’ve launched an initiative called the Infinite comic… Which is a format of digital storytelling and which, for me, is the future of the digital strip.. It’s not a motion comic; it’s not an animation. It’s something that keeps the purity of the comic, while at the same time uses the tools that can be applied within the digital world. The Infinite comic is the perfect tablet comic. If you haven’t checked it out, please do… The comics community still has the desire to read comic books the way the comics should be read: panel by panel, caption by caption, balloon by balloon, where you’re still controlling the timing.
Comics Anon’s Craig previously wrote about how innovative the Infinite comic is here.
Quesada discussed what is arguably a unique aspect to comic book purchasing – the mass release of comics on a Wednesday. Digital comics gives an opportunity to release any day of the week. The situation’s more complicated for print, with Wednesdays currently being a nice tidy milestone in the week, logistics issues and, as Oor Linsay pointed out, the distributor has a significant part to play. Mark Millar illustrated (with his own £20 Nokia) that digital comics are only accessible to those with the right technology, whereas Kieron Gillen argued that comic shops can be equally inaccessible: some towns don’t have one.
An audience member asked about Marvel’s relationship with Disney (which purchased Marvel a couple of years back). Quesada was really positive about the relationship: Disney gives Marvel autonomy but adds ‘muscle’, worldwide, in the form of the ‘Disney marketing machine’. There’s now Marvel animation studios as a result. Frustratingly, Millar brought up the ‘fact’ that essentially (in his mind) Disney is for girls and Marvel is for boys. Just like Clint was marketed toward 18-35 year old men. I’m not accusing sexism, rather Millar’s own ignorance of his audience. I can’t have been the only one with those thoughts as, right after this discussion, someone commented on the promotion of Carol Danvers to Captain Marvel. Gillen pointed out that his nemesis designed her costume. If you haven’t seen it yet, click here to see Captain Marvel in all her swash-buckling glory.
Another question was posed about crossovers of team movies in future, but Quesada confirmed that wouldn’t be possible, as the various teams had licences to different production companies. Quesada also explained the rationale for the split in villains between the team movies: characters and villains have so-called ‘families’, usually dictated by the character or villain’s first appearance. Fairly straight forward. Quesada added that the focus of Marvel’s business plan at the moment is to make blockbusters and there are several movies in the works just now. Further down the line, smaller characters might get a look-in.
Check out our overview of Kapow! 2012 and stay tuned for more panel run-downs and interviews.
Gillian – @surelyshine
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