Susan Hillwig
Staff
I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested.
Posts: 1,612
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Post by Susan Hillwig on Jul 15, 2007 18:41:49 GMT -5
Hey there, kids, hope you enjoyed WWQ's first collabrative issue. If you didn't...well, it's only half my fault, so there.
Being so far back in the past and just plain old lacking the time, I don't get that many chances to team up with the other DC2 writers (this is technically my second collabaration, but the first has yet to see the light of day) so when the opportunity comes up and I can swing it, I do my darnedest to make it happen. Brandon's the one who came up with this ditty, mostly: he sent me a note close to a year ago offering me a character he'd made called "Penny Dreadful", but WWQ was in the middle of "Death and Gunsmoke"at the time, so lil' Penny had to wait her turn. Putting her up against Bat Lash was a no-brainer, considering both his womanizing and scheming ways, and the story pretty much wrote itself. My only regret with this is that Brandon couldn't supply the cover, as we'd originally planned. Thank God for Roy, who stepped up to bat (pun intended) at the last minute and gave me his best rendition of "Miss Dreasney, are you trying to seduce me?"
As for whether or not you'll be seeing any more double bylines on WWQ, I welcome anybody who's got an idea to drop me a note, I'm always willing to listen. That whole "For the fans, by the fans" motto applies to this title as well, so don't be gun-shy, kids.
Besides, I've got a couple other projects that are nipping at my heels, so I could use a break.
- Susan Hillwig
RECOMMENDED READING: "The Time Traveller's Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger. A charming tale about life, love, and Chrono-Displacement Disorder -- I'm only halfway through it, but it's already one of my favorite books.
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Post by Mr Clown on Jul 17, 2007 14:45:00 GMT -5
Heh, best one yet. Great dialogue, awesome character moments, five stars easy. I agree that a character like Penny works best with Batlash. I didn't expect Hex and Scalphunter to make a cameo though. And was the incident Lash told Penny about the story that introduced him in the Hex series being written by Gray and Palmiotti in the new series?
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Post by arcalian on Jul 18, 2007 19:41:19 GMT -5
I love bad girls, and if Bat was half as smart as he thinks, he woulda struck up with her and stayed for half the royalties. But of course he couldn't leave the west--or his pride--behind.
Well done.
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Post by darkknight814 on Jul 19, 2007 9:46:53 GMT -5
Lash was as arrogant as she was sly... But I guess you could say that Bat was sly too in the end.. Great tale.
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Susan Hillwig
Staff
I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested.
Posts: 1,612
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Post by Susan Hillwig on Jul 19, 2007 19:55:42 GMT -5
Glad everyone enjoyed it. Yes, I suppose if Penny hadn't bruised Lash's ego so badly, he would've suggested that they team up, but a man's gotta have his pride, y'know. Besides, there's always other tales to be told...whether the subject wants 'em told or not.
I held my tongue on Hex and Scalphunter's cameo just so it could be a surprise, Clown. And indeed, the story we overhear Lash relating during dinner is based on the one in JONAH HEX (vol. 2) #3, and is also mentioned in the Who's Who entry I wrote up for DC2. That story by J&J was just too dang good to ignore, so I decided to make it part of WWQ's "official" history. I'm hoping to work in some other stuff from the current Hex series down the line, but as of now, that's the only bit to make the transition.
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Post by Mr Clown on Jul 20, 2007 12:41:10 GMT -5
I thought it was that issue, I agree it's one of my favourites. I couldn't help but notice you mentioned El Diablo this issue as well...
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Post by starlord on Jul 22, 2007 17:18:26 GMT -5
Great issue! I couldn't help as I was reading this, thinking that Bat seemed a lot like one of the few old westerns that I loved to watch, which was Maverick.
It got to the point where I was hearing James Garner's voice everytime he spoke.
I thought the Vigilante was my favorite so far, but I honestly think this has topped that one. I think. No, they're both awesome! Aww hell, forgot about Jonah. Never mind, Susan, your work with every character has been superb to say the least.
And really nice cover, too!
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Susan Hillwig
Staff
I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested.
Posts: 1,612
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Post by Susan Hillwig on Jul 22, 2007 18:03:39 GMT -5
I think Bat Lash was created around the same time Maverick was, Brian, so maybe one sort of bled into the other over the years -- I think I even told Roy to picture Maverick when doing the cover, but wearing more white than black and with Owen Wilson's features. While I've seen very little of the original James Garner version, the movie with Mel Gibson is one of my favorites. Matter of fact, I'd say "Maverick" is to Bat Lash what "The Outlaw Josey Wales" is to Jonah Hex or "The Quick and the Dead" is to Cinnamon: the closest we'll probably ever get to seeing those particular characters on the big screen.
Good catch, Clown. Yes, El Diablo is running around out there somewhere, and when the time comes for him to make his appearance, I promise it'll be a show-stopper. But that's a ways off, we've got other fish to fry in the meantime. As for Jonah, he's just about rested up from his vacation, and itching to strap on his Dragoons once again. His appearance this issue was merely a warm-up before his big return...
...and he's bringin' some old friends with him. ;D
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RocketeerZ
Staff
Don't look at me, it was broken when I got here.
Posts: 379
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Post by RocketeerZ on Aug 8, 2007 17:02:32 GMT -5
Well that was just a fun read. Great dialogue and a very "Maverickish" feel to the whole thing. I couldn't help but actually picture Jodi Foster as Penny and a younger (and blonde) Mel Gibson as Batlash.
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RocketeerZ
Staff
Don't look at me, it was broken when I got here.
Posts: 379
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Post by RocketeerZ on Aug 8, 2007 17:05:41 GMT -5
That's pretty funny... I didn't read the letter pages until AFTER I posted my letter... and see I wasn't the only one who saw/felt a Maverick connection! ;D
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Post by capeandcowl on Aug 9, 2007 19:45:36 GMT -5
Good issue!
I agree with the others that it had a very Maverick feel to it. All that was missing was James Gardner.
I particularly like the bait and switch in the opening, making the reader think this is a gun fight, only to have it turn into a game of poker! well done.
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