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Post by HoM on Jun 7, 2007 7:42:02 GMT -5
Please, tell us what you think!
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Post by Mr Clown on Jun 7, 2007 9:23:54 GMT -5
Very nice, Dr Occult, The Shade, and small parasitic monstrosities from hell? What's not to love? Five Stars man, keep this going as long as you can man.  |
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Post by HoM on Jun 7, 2007 9:56:47 GMT -5
Thank you!
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Post by Crow on Jun 7, 2007 10:12:09 GMT -5
You know I love your stuff man. This is just awesome. You're meant to pen tales of magic. I have to get back in the game and get some good stuff out like yours. Keep it going.
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Post by HoM on Jun 7, 2007 10:17:49 GMT -5
Thank you for the kind words, M and thanks for editing! I couldn't be here without someone as dedicated as you watching my back! Can't wait to collaborate further with you!
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Post by HoM on Jun 7, 2007 10:56:26 GMT -5
I just thought I'd share with you the solicit of the issue I'm most looking forward to releasing to the DC2:
Doctor Occult
Issue Five: In-A-Gadda-Da-Vidda
Written by House Of Mystery
Cover by Ramon Villalobos
Edited by Masoud House
Richard Occult awakens in a world where the Golden Age of heroes never ended, and where he sleeps comfortably in the arms of his wife, the enigmatic Rose Psychic! How did Richard reach this paradise? And what is the dark secret behind this new world?
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Post by starlord on Jun 13, 2007 11:25:46 GMT -5
I know nothing about this character. I know nothing about his past or even what he really is, so this was brand spanking new for me.
I'm never been one to delve into the magical realms of the DC universe. But I do have to admit that this character intrigues the daylights out of me! Great stuff, and I can't wait to see the conclusion to this story!
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Post by HoM on Jun 13, 2007 11:50:34 GMT -5
Next issue is a corker!
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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 Jun 13, 2007 12:39:44 GMT -5
I really enjoyed this! Probably the most original stuff you've done since those first few issues of The Question. The Greenhouse from Hell was especially creepy. I did have a little difficulty reading a few scenes -- they got a bit muddled to me -- but all in all, a wonderful piece of work!
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Post by HoM on Jun 13, 2007 15:45:09 GMT -5
I'm really trying to bring a VERTIGOesque tone to this book, and if you thought the greenhouse was creepy... Wait till #3...  |
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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 Jun 14, 2007 15:36:56 GMT -5
Dark and nasty. Very nice.  The green house was creepy. The description was very vivid... I had no problem picturing it in my head. I liked the way the Shade was represented here. Marching to his own drum. Very fitting. Two questions: 1. Was Scratch *THE* Scratch? (the devil himself)? 2. Was that the Infinity Bar or something simular? In any case, Nice work Charlie! |
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Post by HoM on Jun 14, 2007 15:45:21 GMT -5
Scratch... Why should I answer that question? Keep reading the book.  The demon bar was an alternate version of all those lovely cosey bars you see those magical types in. You'll see a normal version... Sometime |
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Post by darthsylly on Jun 14, 2007 18:45:39 GMT -5
just like starlord i knew nothing about the character either and reading this issue has definately perked my interest! looking very much forward to the second part of this story!
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Post by arcalian on Jun 14, 2007 20:07:40 GMT -5
So the Shade pulled the plug on the whole thing....but where does that leave the good Doctor?
I'll be back.
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Post by HoM on Jun 17, 2007 14:34:02 GMT -5
Where does that leave Doc O? High and dry!!! Check out next issue, in two months (after the IXXE has been and gone, of course!)
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Post by therealsuperjosh on Jun 17, 2007 15:52:53 GMT -5
Great first issue. I have to agree with everyone else here and say that the greenhouse scene was incredibly creepy and well written. Great job.
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Post by HoM on Jun 17, 2007 15:56:59 GMT -5
Thanks Josh, for sparing your valuable time |
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Post by David on Jun 25, 2007 8:33:37 GMT -5
Terrific issue, Charlie! This is probably one of your best issues yet, and some of your cleverest writing. The scenes with Scratch and the one in the Garden are inspired and downright creepy.
I have to say, I am impressed with how much you've grown as a writer. This is head and shoulders above your Question stuff (although I know some will disagree, and rightly so: that title has a devoted following), in not only story and content, but style as well.
The only thing that kept this from being a perfect 5-star effort was that Occult doesn't quite have his own voice yet (he is virtually interchangable with John Constantine here), and you rely so heavily on Robinson's interpretation of the Shade (even to his taking of absinthe and his is-he-or-isn't-he-a-villain ambiguity); as a result, the Shade is a more fully-formed character than the headliner.
Loved the idea of a Mnemovore (or is it Mnevore? It's spelled both ways...), and the bit of arcana that you sprinkle in the story. You create a convincing cosmology. And the Garden of Randall Fine (nice name--- you have a knack for that sort of thing) is straight out of Lovecraft!
Nice cliffhanger--- although I will withold final judgement until I see how it plays out with the Shade's involvement. You've set up a tricky situation here (again) and run the risk of your title character being upstaged!
What does "Tarah" mean? Should I know, or is it a mysterious word that will be explained next issue?
Nice cover Ramon, as always. Love the smirk on the Shade's face!
All-in-all, an extremely entertaining issue! Very much looking forward to the next one!
(And, BTW, why is this in the ongoing series forum? Is this an unlimited run? I thought it was a mini?)
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Post by HoM on Jun 25, 2007 14:14:18 GMT -5
Terrific issue, Charlie! This is probably one of your best issues yet, and some of your cleverest writing. The scenes with Scratch and the one in the Garden are inspired and downright creepy. I'm really proud I've written something that has stuck with people. I was really going for a Lovecraftian vibe with this installement, and I don't think you'll see a first person narrative in this book again. I'm once again experimenting with form, and I think that it was out of place for the story I was telling. Let Doctor Occult become a character through his actions, and not his own inner thoughts, I think. I have to say, I am impressed with how much you've grown as a writer. This is head and shoulders above your Question stuff (although I know some will disagree, and rightly so: that title has a devoted following), in not only story and content, but style as well. Whilst I'm proud of my TQQ work, I looked back at some of my stuff (The Flash in particular) and MY GOD I was bad. I wasn't good. I don't know how you put up with me. Seriously, my writing over a year ago was SO questionable. The Question Quarterly, I have to say, was a mess in itself, and I don't understand the praise it got. It's a mess. Honestly, ouch. The only thing that kept this from being a perfect 5-star effort was that Occult doesn't quite have his own voice yet (he is virtually interchangable with John Constantine here), and you rely so heavily on Robinson's interpretation of the Shade (even to his taking of absinthe and his is-he-or-isn't-he-a-villain ambiguity); as a result, the Shade is a more fully-formed character than the headliner. You'd think after a year of planning this story I'd have a set idea of what Richard Occult would be like as a character, but to be honest, yeah, I'm still finding his voice. I think, by #5, you will see his characterisation fully, because in #5 he is going to be put in a cuisinart, and you'll see how he works in a whole different way. I REALISE the Constantine parallels, and I'm trying my best to get him away from that style of character, and by #12, he'll be someone completely different, but yes, there will be similarities (oxymoron blah blah, shush). The Shade is one of a group of immortals that will pop up throughout this series. I'm not saying it will be guest star driven, and they will be used barely, but the Shade is going to be part of the cast of characters we'll be returning to in one way or another. I love the Shade, and because of that, he'll be gone by #2, because I need to concentrate on rounding out Doc. Loved the idea of a Mnemovore (or is it Mnevore? It's spelled both ways...), and the bit of arcana that you sprinkle in the story. You create a convincing cosmology. And the Garden of Randall Fine (nice name--- you have a knack for that sort of thing) is straight out of Lovecraft! Just the vibe I was going for! Lovecraftian and creepy, dark and kind of... Suggesting horror instead of showing it, but I think the greenhouse had to be shown. Actually, it's based on a memory from my childhood, when I went into my grandparents greenhouse, but, y'know, without the Old Gods slapping their tentacles trying to steal my memories. Mnemovore was a 2005 miniseries by Hans Rodionoff, Ray Fawkes and Mike Huddleston. It was the first comic book to truly grip me, and scare me at the same time. I wanted to incorporate elements of that into my story, and I think... I think it worked. If you haven't read it, pick it up, I think it's in TPB form by now The arcana is something you'll be seeing more of. I'm trying to create a solid magical foundation in the DC2, with Grimoires and spells that are based in "reality", as it was. I did a lot of research for this issue, trawled through many weird, crazy sites, and came up with a lot of cool content that you'll see in the upcoming issues. Nice cliffhanger--- although I will withold final judgement until I see how it plays out with the Shade's involvement. You've set up a tricky situation here (again) and run the risk of your title character being upstaged! If you can believe it, #2 will be MUCH quieter and down key, though by the end, after a visit to Madame Xanadu, things will be... Not good. What does "Tarah" mean? Should I know, or is it a mysterious word that will be explained next issue? Heh, it's an English term, old fashioned, meaning "Goodbye". You'll see it in those old fashioned 40s/50s comedy films. The Shade is ace Nice cover Ramon, as always. Love the smirk on the Shade's face! AND he agreed to do every cover for the entire run All-in-all, an extremely entertaining issue! Very much looking forward to the next one! (And, BTW, why is this in the ongoing series forum? Is this an unlimited run? I thought it was a mini?) Thanks for the kind words and indepth review Dave, I appreciate it. And if you read the "Foreplay/Longtime: An Introduction of Sorts, you'll discover some things Again, thanks! |
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Post by lissilambe on Aug 5, 2007 15:15:36 GMT -5
Well, finished issue one. Since Charlie's wanted to pry comments out of me for the longest time, his series gets my first review.
I agree also with the comments on Shade and Occult personality-wise. Shade was stolen straight out of Starman, and to be honest, that's not my favorite intrepretation of him. Doctor Occult is kind of bland, and not really Occult, but then, you've said you're still trying to find his voice. That struggle, and the use of Shade as is from Robinson, definitely makes the former shine over the latter.
the story is good...you move it along alright. The greenhouse was typically horror novel.
Scratch seems ill-defined as a villain and to be honest, the whole end kept kind of twisting up in itself, with this revelation immediately ladeled on top of that revelation which was neutered by another revelation, leaving Occult with nothing to do but watch a bunch of other people kind of walk through his story.
But the writing itself was mostly solid, well constructed, good use of vocabulary, description and setting, which is tough to do, especially on a story like this.
Take care
Don
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