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Post by mockingbird on Aug 6, 2008 16:48:27 GMT -5
Let us know what you think of the issue!
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Post by lissilambe on Aug 6, 2008 22:33:59 GMT -5
I want to give a big thanks to Samantha, stepping in to give my poor harried editor Mark a break and editing this monster-sized entry of the Danger Trail. And I want to give a thanks to Mark for letting me loot the shelved "Savage Tales" for the annual, and a thanks to the writers whose tales I looted and provided nice meat to some of Savage's background, David and Susan. Hope you all enjoy this, and learn the origin of the Danger Trail and its connection to the immortal caveman mastermind!  Take care don |
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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 Aug 7, 2008 19:11:37 GMT -5
Finally, the infamous "Savage Tales" comes to light!
It's been a couple years since that I read that request in the Writer's Workshop for a quick, two-page scene to be inserted into this huge tapestry of a story that was being assembled, the plot of which was terrbily ambiguous. All I knew was that it had to involve Vandal Savage somehow, and maybe toss in some mysterious object that could be picked up by another writer. Very DC Challange-y, if you catch my drift. So going off a wild rumor I'd heard somewhere that Scalphunter was distantly related to Vandal, I banged out my scene, sent it to the editors...and then nothing. Long months of nothing. "Well, that was a lovely waste," I thought, and went on with my usual work.
Cut to a few months ago, and I hear rumors that "Savage Tales" is being unearthed by Don for Danger Trail. Really? No fooling? I honestly had my doubts as to how this whole thing would look after collecting dust for so long, but Don's managed to assemble those bits and pieces into a heck of a story. I don't know how many of the original submitted scenes made it into this, but I'm glad to see that Don made it all gel together perfectly. Can't wait to see what's going to happen next issue!
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a2uton
Junior Member
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Post by a2uton on Aug 8, 2008 11:03:47 GMT -5
You've woven an intricate tapestry these last few months. Taken by themselves the stories make interesting snapshots but when you take them as a whole they make a quite interesting mosaic. I love where this is going. I'm also glad to see some of the history of the DC2 and how it fits in the big picture. Britomer is an intriging character. I'm not familiar with her from the DC proper though I did get the Fairy Queen reference. Is she an original creation or did she have an DC incarnation?
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Post by mockingbird on Aug 8, 2008 15:37:18 GMT -5
I loved the way this all came together for the story. I was never confused no matter how much time we spent jumping around in space and time, and all the characters even with just cameos were worked in seamlessly. It was a lot of fun to read, easy to get caught up in, and certianly gives us a lot more information and excitement headed into DT #12.
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Post by starlord on Aug 11, 2008 20:03:05 GMT -5
this was an excellent, excellent, excellent, annual. Weaving all of these scenes together to make one heck of a beautiful tapestry, couldn't have been easy.
I was outright floored by the pure artistry of this story. I honestly don't know what else to say. Standing ovation to everyone involved.
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Post by lissilambe on Aug 21, 2008 14:38:51 GMT -5
Very kind words from everyone, and so far, some great scores for DT Annual. Three five-star ratings. I'm honored. Thanks, everyone, and I hope I can bring this storyline to a satisfying and exciting conclusion in Danger Trail 12. It's been pushed back a week so I can get it done right. It's going to be big (story-wise) and big (word count-wise) so bear with me. ;D Susan, of the file Mark sent me with the Savage Tales stories, only four really got to fit into the Annual. I was disappointed, but mine, yours and David's two were the only ones from before the Danger Trail time period of 1935, and while I would have gladly fit in future tales to help expand things out, the ones included didn't really help to move the narrative of the Stolen Myth Affair and the axis that story moves around. There are some other stories in that collection that I hope do get out, but I'm very glad yours was one I could use, and it fit in so perfectly, providing the perfect hook for me to bring in Steven Savage, the Balloon Buster (who made his DT debut in "The Christmas Trail" stories I did in last year's Holiday special). Glad you liked its inclusion and happy you enjoyed how the annual brought it all together. a2uton, thanks for the comments as well. Yeah, the idea was to provide an underlying thread that could tie up a year's worth of stories while letting the stars of our title wander into whatever adventures cropped up. Glad to see the mosaic threads coming together for you. Laying things out like that is difficult, but it's worth it when the readers see it all come together and find it satisfying. As for Britomart, the DC2U version is an original creation, wholly my own. She is indeed the brave knight from Spenser's Faerie Queen, as you mention, and she comes down to us from Bradamante in Roland's epic as well, and I have a definite arc for this heroine, one that picks up in a new title I'll be taking over in the fall. Watch for it! Sam and Brian, thanks for your kind words. I was worried that it might be a bit dense in characters that kind of flit in and out, as well as jumping around time periods. A lot of the characters that cropped up in this annual aren't going to be going away soon either. Eel is going to be very important in Danger Trail coming down the road (and of course, is very important to New Outsiders...what? Crossover? what gives you readers that idea?  ). Others will pop up here and there, some in Trail, others in other titles, but there's lots of little threads I've laid out for my future work at DC2 in this issue, so I'm glad it worked well. Danger Trail #12 next week. The conclusion to Stolen Myth, and showdowns with Savage, Mary Seward and Dragon Queen. Rowan's true motives, a future threat to the security of the Allies in the making...lots of bang coming up. Stick around Take care Don |
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Post by HoM on Aug 21, 2008 18:29:43 GMT -5
So this is what happened to "Savage Tales". Two words: Fan-Tastic!
I'm with Brian, if I wasn't about to go to sleep right now, I'd give you a standing ovation. I was amazed by how easily these scenes seemed to come together in the end. I was always worried, from what you told me about the Annual, that it was going to be clunky, disjointed and simply not work. But my, Don, you have out done yourself today. Using other peoples words for your story and then reinforcing them with a solid spine of your own work has done wonders. "Tapestry" is a word that's been flung about this letter column, and I have to say it works. Masterpiece could work too, if I was being honest.
It's times like these that I cannot wait to collaborate with you in the future. If only we can find a project that is deserving of it!!
Thanks Don! I'll be back next... Issue... Week... Last?
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Post by David on Jul 6, 2009 9:37:21 GMT -5
I had all but forgotten the "Savage Tales" anthology that Brandon and I cooked up a few years back, so imagine my surprise and delight to see my name in the credits of one of my new favorite titles...! I am very glad that these were put to some good use, and extremely impressed at how perfectly integrated they were into the "Stolen Myth Affair." Man, Vandal Savage has turned out to be such an important (some might say: central) character of DC2 continuity. The glimpses we have of him down the ages show his hand in some pretty influential events, as a master manipulator of history. Love the strong opening with two of my DT faves, I... Vampire! and the Enemy Ace. A chilling scene, lit by the bonfires of hate and ignorance. The three-way mirroring monologue of Savage, Von Hammer and Bennett was very clever and set the stage for this big story beautifully. Love the intro to Steven Savage. The Balloon Buster has a terrific personality, and his encounter with Eel O'Brien was very noir. Susan's Scalphunter flashback was a tightly written, punchy scene with some fun characterization! Loved Brian's entrance! Vandal is such a ruthless bastard here, and the mystery of the family Bible plays a more meaningful role now given the through-line of the main story. Nommo, Wizard-King of Kor! Is this the Mist from Global Guardians? If so--- genius! Believe it or not, I think I actually toyed around with using this character once, but I can't for the life of me remember for what  (might even have been for "Savage Tales")! Adam. So glad you called him Adam. Here is a character I wish I had seen more of. Don, if you do an issue of DT with him, I think you might persuade Brandon to give you another cover. Regardless--- more of the spawn of Frankenstein, please! The Spencerian bit was nicely done, and I'm beginning to see how this might play out in modern DC2 continuity. Britomart might just feel at home in Camelot... Or with it's surviving denizens (Speaking of...! How long before Jason Blood and the Demon take a trip down the Danger Trail? Please consider that a request ;D) My own Brother Blood/R'as al Ghul tale holds up pretty well in this context (if I do say so myself ), and I couldn't be more please to see it used in this title (thanks)! Also, I'm flattered that you used my pre-historic origin (or rather my recounting of the traditional origin). Mister E and the Phantom Stranger! Sweet! Only natural they should pop up in this millenia-spanning tale--- but the King! At first I thought I was reading King (as in Faraday) but this is the Golden Age Master of Disguise! When I realized that, I got a little thrill, and that is why this title is so much fun, little touches like that! The Clockwork Men of Dr. Tock was a great segment, too (they promise to be a lot of trouble--- but some great Steampunky fun), and it dovetailed perfectly back into the "Stolen Myth Affair." I don't usually comment on the covers (I usually read and respond to these at work, and the images are blanked out) but if I rememeber correctly, this was that beautiful Roy Flinchum pic of vandal stabbing a map of the world--- and nothing could be more perfect for this story! This was just what an annual should be--- a fun and exciting tale that enhances the main story and gives loyal readers something extra and special. Well done to all on this! |
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Post by lissilambe on Jul 7, 2009 12:46:17 GMT -5
A lot of how this came about with the different scenes from the lost "Savage Tales" project has been covered in previous posts, Dave, but suffice to say, thanks again for the great entries and allowing their use. Yes indeed, Savage is a major pillar of DC2U history, and a scary one at that. The opening scene in Omenplatz Plaza was the very first bit of writing I did for this site, and was meant as a prologue of sorts for the Danger Trail series (which had just gotten approved), and I really, really wanted to make it stand out, moody and evocative and different from the other entries, thus the three viewpoints, and no real names used. you have to figure out who each speaker is, and I think it comes out pretty well. Glad you enjoyed it, sounds like it hit all the notes it was supposed to. Well, Eel is a melodramatic player who just loves all the trappings, so the noir feel was aimed at by not just the writer in this case. Susan fits the Weird West into the Savage Sins just about perfectly, doesn't she? You'd think she wrote that segment specifically for this annual, and I'm thrilled for that. According to his actual history, Doctor Mist is indeed Nommo the Wizard-King and I felt that just made him perfect for this entry. Loved that you picked right up on that, not that I was worried you wouldn't, of all the readers. Yep, squeezing inthe origin of Dr. Mist's identity, that's the sort of thing this series does. Frankenstein's Monster, Adam, that tortured soul, will be wandering along the Danger Trail at some point down the road, never fear. He's a great character and I won't miss a chance to play some more with him. And a cover from Brandon for him? That would be pretty cool. Britomart's lineage is a storyline that gets played up over in another of my titles, actually, so keep an eye out for the results in Seven Soldiers of Victory (there, I said it). That said, there will be some more of that legacy in Danger Trail, and meanwhile...Jason Blood and/or the Demon? Hmm...an interesting request for certain. I'll have to mull that one over. Your two entries really do round out what I needed to set Savage and the origin of the Danger Trail up perfectly, and they do more than just hold their own in this collection. Great stuff, and I saw no reason not to use the classic history, since it gives the launching point for how Savage creates this frighteningly shadowy road. So thank you, sir, for the help. I knew if anyone else out there, was going to know the King, it would be you (and a2uton, actually, but regardless). Yeah, that's him, and yes, he is slated for another appearance down the road. Here are some more teasers: it's "The M for Monster Affair" and will deal with the trouble Faraday is in for his unauthorized investigations and brings us back to focus on Project M full-bore, rather than skirting the edges like I've done so far. Ah, here's some more...it also has Michael Gallant and presents Lee Travis in his Danger Trail debut! Dr. Tock is dead, but I might get some more use out of him later anyway, as we all know. The clockwork men are so much fun (and yes, partly inspired by "the Girl in the Fireplace" episode of Doctor Who, but that just convinced me to go ahead and use them, after seeing how cool they are and reminding me..."this IS pulp dammit!" LOL) The cover by Roy was actually used by John over at Checkmate, actually, and I have a kind of placeholder that's a collection of the covers up to that point, but with the disappearance of Claw (my artist at the time) and with things dealing with Checkmate I'm aware of, I think I can correct a grave injustice. I forgot the "Tales" cover existed at the time I was putting this issue together, so maybe now, I can get it dressed and used for the annual instead. Thanks for the suggestion! That's how I view an annual as well: big and fun and adding to the main series, and I'm thrilled to see you enjoy it this much, Dave. Now I'm very excited (and nervous) to see your reaction to the climax! Onward! Take care Don |
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Post by lissilambe on Jul 7, 2009 12:49:37 GMT -5
Thanks a lot, Charlie, I'm very happy to see you liked the result, and yeah, it was worrisome for me for all the reasons you said you weren't sure it would work. I had a whole new cast, effectively, to introduce (if you'll notice, none of the regulars save a small bit of Enemy Ace is used in this story): Eel, Balloon Buster, Adam, the King, Mister E, Phantom Stranger, Ubu (sit!); this whole new cast of characters to bring in, give their due and move along quickly, I was worried it would be disjointed and confusing too. So it's great that it seems to have paid off. Tapestry was the word I was aiming for, so to see it used makes me happy.
And we will find that project to work on together, never fear.
Thanks a lot, Charlie.
Take care
Don
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Post by HoM on Jul 7, 2009 18:01:24 GMT -5
Thanks a lot, Charlie, I'm very happy to see you liked the result, and yeah, it was worrisome for me for all the reasons you said you weren't sure it would work. I had a whole new cast, effectively, to introduce (if you'll notice, none of the regulars save a small bit of Enemy Ace is used in this story): Eel, Balloon Buster, Adam, the King, Mister E, Phantom Stranger, Ubu (sit!); this whole new cast of characters to bring in, give their due and move along quickly, I was worried it would be disjointed and confusing too. So it's great that it seems to have paid off. Tapestry was the word I was aiming for, so to see it used makes me happy. And we will find that project to work on together, never fear. Thanks a lot, Charlie. Take care Don ... You're welcome?  |
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). Others will pop up here and there, some in Trail, others in other titles, but there's lots of little threads I've laid out for my future work at DC2 in this issue, so I'm glad it worked well.
(might even have been for "Savage Tales")!