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Post by HoM on Oct 31, 2009 12:07:55 GMT -5
Firstly, a pre-emptive apology-- there's no excuse really, but I'm concerned that the editing in this issue isn't up to par. I have no one but myself to blame, but with real life and sickness getting in the way, I'm surprised I was able to get the issue up in the first place.
Secondly, I hope you enjoy the tales of terror we've shared with you this Halloween... and I want to know what you think!
See you next year...
EDITOR'S NOTE: "The House on Herren Street" takes place at least year after the events of Wonder Woman #35-36.
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Post by David on Oct 31, 2009 16:59:23 GMT -5
Nice job, Charlie!
This issue was a lot of fun! I really enjoyed writing "The House on Herren Street" (actually, it's become one of my personal favorites), and I hope others get a kick out of it as well.
Mike's Slaughter Swamp story was tense and well-paced, the kind of story where you knew something was going to jump out at you at any moment--- and what a great ending!
I have no experience of Dagon outside of Jay's defining run on Teen Titans, and really enjoyed his story as a great character-building piece. Dagon always seemed a bit generic to me (nor does the name fit very well, IMO), but now I understand and like him better. The scene in the church was especially well done, and hints at perhaps developments to come...?
Tattoo Man was creepy and disturbing! This character has the makings of an A-List villain here, and I look forward to seeing him appear again in the DC2nivers after so long a hiatus!
The framing scenes with the Phantom Stranger were foreboding, too! Left me wanting to know more about who the Stranger's unidentified victim was, and who are his masters.
Ramon's cover with the Stranger beckoning the reader in was perfect, and set the mood for a spooky issue.
All in all, a fun Halloween treat--- and it won't even give you cavities!
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Post by arcalian on Nov 1, 2009 16:33:50 GMT -5
Just a small note, and not to piss Charlie off or anything, but in his human flashback sequence, Dagon's name was David.  |
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Post by David on Nov 4, 2009 7:55:39 GMT -5
It would be great if folks would read and comment on this special holiday issue!
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Post by HoM on Nov 4, 2009 12:06:22 GMT -5
Now I feel like I've been manipulated into commenting... dammit, Dave! But alas... Just a small note, and not to piss Charlie off or anything... ...Well now I'm just pissed off...  This special was a joy to edit. With Dave's brilliant Monster League, and the somewhat disconcerting child-cameos, the first story was brilliant, ramping up suspense and drama chapter by chapter, shifting gears from comedy to horror without missing a beat. Bravo, D. Mike's story was by-the-book horror, mainlining expectation and suspense through every paragraph, and the payoff at the end was somewhat expected, but still packed a powerful punch. Jay's Dagon piece was great, a crash course in the character from his Titan's roster, and highly enjoyable without being exposition heavy. These works came together to create a tight, albeit light, collection of stories, and I'm happy to have been part of them. |
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Post by HoM on Nov 4, 2009 13:21:57 GMT -5
I want to apologies to James Stubbs! For reasons beyond my own understanding I didn't post his amazingly macabre short story inside the issue, and what a terrible shame that was-- but that's been rectified now. The story builds to a terrific climax, one that sent chills down my spine! I hope everyone takes a minute to scroll down and read the story, as it would be a shame for it to be overlooked, especially because of my stupid move! |
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Post by David on Nov 5, 2009 7:57:42 GMT -5
Thanks for the feedback, Charlie. The horror was implicit in the story, while the comedy just wrote itself in the interactions with the varied characters (Dr. Zeul proved to be an especial revelation). There's a little bit of the Giffen/DeMatteis/Maguire BWA-HA-HA Justice League about this story (just a little, as it is played totally straight, and any slapstick is completely unintentional), and I had so much fun doing it that I think we can expect the Monster League to pop up again somewhere eventually--- that is, if there is some interest among readers  . |
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Post by David on Nov 5, 2009 8:10:06 GMT -5
Glad to see this story by James see the light of day! Who doesn't love the Creature Commandoes? And oddly enough, for an obscure character, Warren Griffiths is the only character that appears in more than one entry (though his other appearance is a blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo).
Some very literate period storytelling here, with an excellent grasp of history and detail. And yet, at no time does that overshadow the human drama/tragedy transpiring herein. The denoument is chilling and sickly satisfying, balanced just right to give the reader that feeling of unease that all good horror fiction must deliver.
Let me be the first (though I'm certain not the last!) to call for James to do a Creature Commando anthology or mini-series! As good as this entry was, I'd love to see what else he can do with the rest of the team.
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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 Nov 16, 2009 2:27:46 GMT -5
Don't fret about the edits, Charlie. I'm so late reading this, I never would have notcied. Nice Phantom Stanger bumpers BTW (and Ramon gives us PS with muttonchops!).
David: Your story made me giggle all throughout, and not just because of those three familiar trick-or-treaters (and no, I've never dressed as Jonah Hex for Halloween...but I do have a homemade Robin costume that I sported back in my college days).
Mike: I'm sorry to say your story kind of didn't work for me. There was some good mood-setting moments and all, but the payoff...I don't get it (I'd elaborate more here, but don't want to put up spoilers).
Jay: Though I haven't been following him in your regular TT work, I thought the Dagon piece was good. The part in the church was a standout, and does seem to be foreshadowing for something down the line.
James: Creature Commandos! The most I've ever seen of them was the old who's Who entry, but I liked this a lot. You do WWII in such a pitch-perfect way, you make even monster GIs look good.
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Post by HoM on Nov 16, 2009 7:28:17 GMT -5
No love for the Tattooed Man?  |
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Post by ryokowerx on Nov 16, 2009 7:54:46 GMT -5
James: Creature Commandos! The most I've ever seen of them was the old who's Who entry, but I liked this a lot. You do WWII in such a pitch-perfect way, you make even monster GIs look good. Thanks Susan! I'm the only person to piss off an entire college-level history class on WWII by throwing the curve for everyone. I blame my dad. I grew up in a house full of military history books and I devoured them and any old war movies that I could watch when I was a kid. My very first comics were some old issues of The Losers and Sgt. Rock that my dad's grandmother still had up in her attic and she let me have them. Look for more war stories coming from me soon! I've got an idea for the Christmas issue - I just hope I can get it written to my satisfaction in time. And... No... I am NOT going to rely on such a overused idea like the "Silent Night" of WWI and transplanting it - that one is almost as overused as rifting on A Christmas Carol (and I'm not including your WWQ #12 in there - that one was very well done). |
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Susan Hillwig
Staff
I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested.
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Post by Susan Hillwig on Nov 18, 2009 2:08:37 GMT -5
Looking forward to more wartime goodness from you. And as for WWQ#12, I did it precisely because I was tired of seeing bad riffs on "A Christmas Carol" -- I was in a "I'm gonna show you kids how it's done" mood.
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Post by Mr Clown on Nov 22, 2009 22:59:20 GMT -5
I feel guilty for not posting sooner... Especially since I actually contributed to this special. lol Dave, very nice work with the Monster League. It was an interesting combination, and I especially liked the dialog you did with Frankenstein's Monster... Very Lovecraftian, nicely done. Also, hats off for introducing Anton Arcane, I wanted to see that crazy SOB in action for sometime now. Dug the Tattoo Man story, even if it was a bit short. It was a pretty solid set up for the characters future though. The Phantom Stranger bits were nice, and well done as well. Dagon story wasn't bad, but admittedly I rushed through that one. Sorry, I'll give it a second read and post more later. My story, I'm not completely satisfied with, and I think I might have given Charlie an ulcer making him wait for it. Overall, it was rushed; and I came off as far too vague for the big finish. Thanks for the feedback though, I know what works, and what doesn't. Much appreciated.  |
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Post by David on Nov 23, 2009 7:47:21 GMT -5
I feel guilty for not posting sooner... Especially since I actually contributed to this special. lol Dave, very nice work with the Monster League. It was an interesting combination, and I especially liked the dialog you did with Frankenstein's Monster... Very Lovecraftian, nicely done. Also, hats off for introducing Anton Arcane, I wanted to see that crazy SOB in action for sometime now. Glad you liked my Monster League story, Mike! That particular combination seemed to work for me and for the concept in general ("Only monsters need apply!")--- and what better foe to pit them against then Arcane and his Un-Men? I think maybe that's where the Lovecraft vibe came in, as I wasn't (at least intentionally) going for it with the Spawn of Frankenstein (though it can be forgiven, I hope, if in my zeal for Shelley-esque romanticism I drifted into mind-warping cosmicism?)... (Incidentally, this is not the first appearance of Adam in the DC2niverse! He has a cameo or two in the brilliant--- and criminally under-appreciated--- Danger Trail!) Thanks for your feedback, sir, it is very appreciated! And if you go back for a second look at "Dagon" (there's a Lovecraft title for you!), give yourself a treat and check out James' Creature Commando story (a late but welcome addition to the issue). |
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Post by David on Nov 23, 2009 7:51:38 GMT -5
David: Your story made me giggle all throughout, and not just because of those three familiar trick-or-treaters (and no, I've never dressed as Jonah Hex for Halloween...but I do have a homemade Robin costume that I sported back in my college days). Thanks, Susie! I had no idea this story would actually get funny until I wrote it, and the characters kinda took over. Though some of the humor, you'll have to admit, is your fault--- in a very meta-sort-of-way! My favorite funny scene: Detective Chimp driving his big yellow Hummer through Arcane's house. Or anything Giganta says. ;D (The more i think about them, the more I find myself wanting to do more with these characters!) |
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Post by Mr Clown on Nov 23, 2009 12:25:00 GMT -5
I think it was mostly how the dialog was shaped with Frankenstein's Monster that had me thinking Lovecraft. That sort of, old school horror feel.
Can't believe I forgot to comment about Creature Commandos. That story was great, it made it difficult to decide who was worse, the werewolf (forgetting his name atm) or the Germans themselves. With the reveal when he starts attacking them, and afterwards; very nice. It was a great, twisted ending. Do hope to read more from ya Ryo.
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