Millarworld regular Rob Helmerichs makes public a message that J. Michael Straczynski posted to his newsgroup, about upcoming comics work:
On the comics front, incidentally…it was just announced by Marvel that I’m going to be taking over and re-launching the Thor monthly title. Because this is a big mythological show, it’s very much in my wheelhouse, as it were, and it’s really important to make this work. So I’m giving some thought to pulling back on some of the other comics work, notably FF, to make room to give this my full attention.
Start your bets now as to the new writer on Fantastic Four, in that case.
September 15th, 2006 at 10:30 am
I hate to say this, but this is great news.
My number recommendation for the next writer on this book:
DAN SLOTT!
September 15th, 2006 at 10:36 am
I think the last year has been kinda lackluster under JMS…the title became “Fantastic Four (and the return of Thor)”…and I’m looking forward to a new writer.
September 15th, 2006 at 10:36 am
As much as I enjoy Slott (and even though Fantastic Four: Death In The Family blew goats) I would love to see Karl Kesel get this gig that he apparently seems to have been born for. If he could capture just half of what made me love his ‘98 Annual so much in a monthly FF comic, I would gladly give up my three bucks for it.
September 15th, 2006 at 10:40 am
I’ve really liked JMS’s run on FF, though I have to agree that I would love to see Dan Slott take over. His writing is solid and I would love to see him run free on a book I cared more about (I just can’t get into She-Hulk, no matter how well written it is).
September 15th, 2006 at 10:41 am
Too bad, he made the title redable..
September 15th, 2006 at 10:45 am
YEAH!!! Finally!! Now I wonder who they will put in his place..
September 15th, 2006 at 10:46 am
Byrne baby, Byrne!!!!
September 15th, 2006 at 10:46 am
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, GIVE THE TITLE TO KARL KESEL.
He deserves it. He really truly does.
September 15th, 2006 at 10:52 am
Mark Millar, he was just on word balloon raving about how much he loves the FF.
September 15th, 2006 at 11:09 am
Honestly from what rumors ive heard, post civil war the FF will not be the FF that’s currently in place. its going to be a diff squad (they’ll probably re-assemble the original crew in time for the movie though).
If its a new motley crew then i’d like to have Daniel Way write and draw so that they can take him off Origins. If they cant take him off origins then they should get wierengo
September 15th, 2006 at 11:12 am
Oh my gosh it had better not be Millar! Anybody who can just freely throw away forty years of character development in order to make Mr. Fantastic a jerk doesn’t need to be anywhere near them.
I agree with everyone above: either Dan Slott or Karl Kesel. C’mon Marvel! Put some writers who actually understand the FF on the book!
September 15th, 2006 at 11:13 am
Kesel would be a wonderful choice. Marvel being Marvel, they’ll probably just bring him in to write one or two issues until the new writer takes over. Again.
September 15th, 2006 at 11:37 am
Ok guys, I think some of you are being a little harsh. And did someone say Byrne? He was great back in the day, but he is terrible now, I’m sorry. He would not be the right choice. Now who wouldn’t wanna see Neil Gaiman on FF? I know it’s a long shot, but c’mon, it’s perfect for him!
September 15th, 2006 at 11:37 am
I really enjoy JMS’s writing, but I have to admit that I think FF is his worst book right now. It was too much of a departure from the tone Mark Waid re-established during his run. I’m perfectly happy with ASM, Squadron, and Book of Lost Souls (whenever they resume publishing that one).
Thor seems to be right up his alley, though. It will be a book where his “mystic” storylines will be more welcome.
September 15th, 2006 at 11:48 am
I’m thinkin’ Slott with a ‘New Fantastic Four’, possibly including She-Hulk. We know he’s supposed ot have a big project coming next year…
..and I’ve never been a big FF fan, but JMS’ FF has beeen REALLY dull. not really bad, just the opposite of exciting and interesting. and i’ve been liking his Civi War issues of ASM…
September 15th, 2006 at 12:01 pm
I would love to see Adam Warren take over.
September 15th, 2006 at 12:04 pm
If she wasn’t exclusive to DC (and probably has more than enough on her plate), I’d nominate Gail Simone- All-New Atom has the kind of quirky science adventure the FF is well-suited for.
Adam Warren would be an inspired choice, but I’m not sure he’d go for it. Slott would be a good choice, but I’m not sure Marvel would go with such a low-selling if critically acclaimed (and deservedly so) writer.
September 15th, 2006 at 12:15 pm
JMS leaving FF? Best news I’ve heard all day. His run on FF has been pretty dull compared to Waid’s previous run. It just didn’t have the same sort of punch.
Put Peter David on this book, please! He’s the perfect choice to write FF because he understands how to write strong characters. I mean, this is a guy who managed to make the Hulk interesting for so many years - just imagine what he could do with the FF.
September 15th, 2006 at 12:24 pm
JMS leaving Fantastic Four? Wonderful! Now they can get back to being the “World’s Greatest Comic.”
We need a writer who can get pack to the spirit of the Lee/Kirby run (bringing something “new” with every story) while also delivering great character arcs that a modern audience needs.
September 15th, 2006 at 12:53 pm
I’m betting we see Jeph Loeb.
September 15th, 2006 at 12:54 pm
Dear Marvel:
KESEL.
KESEL.
KESEL.
Love,
Ray
PS- Tom, we’re both alumni of U of Delaware. So for the love of Blue Hens, KESEL!
September 15th, 2006 at 1:05 pm
Loeb is about as far from Kesel as one can get, in the “bad choice…. good choice” scale.
Jeph should just get to do timeless 6-12 issue minis, or Ultimate Titles. I want him kept far outside the 616.
Again, I repeat, Kesel.
September 15th, 2006 at 1:07 pm
Actually, rereading the actual quote, he never says he’s leaving, just that he’s pulling back. Which ironically, gives us the best chance of seeing Kesel write FF, since it might mean that there’ll be some fill ins.
September 15th, 2006 at 1:15 pm
Kesel or Slott would really be great, but I always thought Jay Faerber would be perfect on this title.
September 15th, 2006 at 1:16 pm
Actually, he doesn’t even say that. He says he has thought about pulling back. Doesn’t say whether he actually is or not yet.
September 15th, 2006 at 1:25 pm
JMS was not bad on FF if not for interuptions by Civil War the return of Thor and Doom could have been interesting. Why are Hell, Asguard and Earth so close to each other now? Why is Thor’s Hammer doing things it’s never done? Who took it? But no instead we get “REED’S a dick parts one and two. Why? Becuse Mark millar (who if there was no daniel way would be the worst writter at Marvel says so.
September 15th, 2006 at 2:41 pm
Why does everyone think that JMS is leaving. Nowhere does it state that. It says he’s “giving some thought to pulling back on some of the other comics work, notably FF”.
It doesn’t say “I’m leaving FF”
September 15th, 2006 at 2:42 pm
Marvel, PLEASE put Karl Kesel in the writer’s chair for FF. JMS left me cold and I’d like to start buying the book again. Kesel is a good way to make that happen.
September 15th, 2006 at 3:01 pm
I say they let John Marc Dematteis give it a whirl. He’s certainly proven his metal on other books
September 15th, 2006 at 3:24 pm
JMS is the reason I read comics, no joke. It was his Amazing Spider-Man trades I bought at Barnes and Noble after I saw the movie that got me hooked. I own every comic he’s worked on since he left Babylon 5. So when I heard he would write the FF, I was very excited.
I hadn’t read a single FF comic book before, but I was confident JMS would make it Gold. But I didn’t want to be lost at the beginning of his run, so I hit the back issue bins and bought up Mark Waid’s entire run and was blown away. His work on the title was nothing short of incredible, and I learned the true nature of the FF, which is wacky cosmic adventures with down to earth family problems/values. This made me more excited about JMS’s future run.
Then it came, AND IT SUCKED!
I’m not the only one who had this experience either. I got my wife to read Mark Waid’s Fantastic Four run (and she is not a comic book fan at all). She loved the entire thing. When she finished she started reading the JMS issues as they came in from the comic shop (and that’s never happened before or since). Yet about five issues into JMS’ run, she quit because it sucked.
I don’t know why such a talented writer who has experience with the sci fi genre dropped the ball so bad on this title, but he did. I would welcome another writer.
However, I would be very sad if I saw him leave Amazing Spider-Man, I love his work on that series.
September 15th, 2006 at 3:41 pm
I’ll give you a lot of credit for not being a blind fan of his work(or anyone’s work). I’m a B5 fan too, one who was very excited when his Marvel gig was announced, and I’ve found his comic work to be lacking. Midnight Nation is the only thing of his I’ve REALLY enjoyed. I think Supreme Power is pretty competant, even if the pacing is a bit skewed.
As for the DeMatteis suggestion, it’s out of left field, but I think he could do some fun, weird stuff with the FF.
Still, Kesel.
September 15th, 2006 at 4:11 pm
I’m glad that Thor is relaunching, but I didn’t like JMS’s comments about putting Thor back into a mortal identity with the 60 second rule. I mean that is so 1960’s its not even funny. The mortal ID thing is ok, but not the 60 seconds.
Also Mike Ommeing did a great job closing out Thor, and we need to see some continuity here. You can’t just bring Thor back like Ragnarok didn’t happen, and keep him at the previous power levels.
The previous writers spent years depowering Thor until he was just average, and Thor needs to return to the status of one of Marvel’s biggest hitters. To do that Thor doesn’t need to be running around with the Runepowers, but he does need to be tougher, strong, and have more of a mystic arsenal he can call upon.
So if Thor just turns out to be turned back into a dumb guy with a hammer who gets his butt kicked by every 2 bit villain Marvel dreams up, then I’m done with the title for good after 20+ years.
September 15th, 2006 at 4:52 pm
JMS’s work on the FF wasnt awful, but considering that he basicly tryed to erase a lot of the great stuff that Waid brought to the book. Like more of a spiritual theme to it. Showing how great of a magician Doom is and some amaazing character development.
JMS was average on the FF and you cannot follow up greatness with average. It just dosent work
September 15th, 2006 at 5:12 pm
People I’d like to see on Fantastic Four (In no particular order - I apologise for mispellings)
JM Demattis
Brian k Vaugn
Peter David
Dan Slott
Dwayne McDuffie
September 15th, 2006 at 6:31 pm
Y’know, I’m glad I’m not the only one who thought that FF had really become rather dull since JMS took over. I actually dropped the book when Waid and ‘Ringo left, but I would occasionally thumb through an issue in the chance of seeing something that struck my fancy to make me come back–nothing did, unfortunately.
Now I love JMS on ASM, but FF did seem rather pedestrian with him on it. Maybe I will come back with someone new at the helm…
September 15th, 2006 at 8:24 pm
I think Millar would be AWESOME for the FF, although given the choice, I’d probably prefer to see him return to UFF instead.
Joe Casey is doing an amazing Lee-Kirby riff over on the - BUY IT NOW YOU MARVELHEADZ - Image book GODLAND. Plus he did some cool MR MAJESTIC tales. So he might be v. cool on FF. Or “Formnerly Known As FF.”
September 15th, 2006 at 8:54 pm
BKV would be good.
September 15th, 2006 at 10:48 pm
Here’s my wish list:
Slott with Ty Templeton
Kesel
Beta Ray Bill (’cos I just like the name)
Todd Dezago (with ringo)
September 15th, 2006 at 10:49 pm
Should have mentioned Stuart Moore (or is he exclusive with DC right now).
September 15th, 2006 at 11:07 pm
When I clicked on these comments, I knew that the first few responses would be ‘DAN SLOT PLZ’.
It’ll never happen. First of all, he can’t handle more than two titles a month. If that. He has a new Civil War project in the works.
Second, he doesn’t have any track record of sales success. Spider-Man/Human Torch (which is his only work on a popular character) sold horribly.
Do you really expect competent executives to give a guy with a track record of late books and sales bombs one of their flagship titles?
September 18th, 2006 at 10:41 am
I think Millar would be horrible, Kesel could be great (although he is a bit too hit or miss for my tastes), Jeph Loeb could be good, but personally I liked Claremont’s run several years back and I’d like to see a return to that, or maybe even Joe Casey.