
Marvelman by Marvel EIC Joe Quesada
Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada is one of the most approachable guys in the business. I still regret not taking his very open expression at the Chicago Comic Con a number of years back as an invitation to strike up a conversation because I wager it would have been a lot of fun. As it was I saw him stop to talk to two other fans and he seemed quite happy to talk shop. An artist as well as a writer an editor, Joe Quesada has led Marvel Comics through one of its most successful eras as it rose (Phoenix-like?) from the brink of bankruptcy and into a vibrant time when the guy on the street knows (and cares) who not just Spider-Man, but who Iron Man is.
As such, he is over the moon about the recent acquisition of Marvelman (announced at the 2009 San Diego Comic Con). A relatively obscure superhero made famous by the 200AD series by Alan Moore and Neil Gaiman, the series was the subject of much legal wrangling. The character now has a new home as a Marvel character and anyone familiar with the material will affirm that it’s a perfect fit.
Talking it over with ComicBookResources.com Joe Quesada recognized several unique coincidences that make it appear that Marvelman appearing in the pages of Marvel Comics was written in the stars including the date 2010 (the date of Marvel publication of the new Marvelman series) and the mention of the Daily Bugle (Peter Parker’s famous employer) both appearing in the early adventures of the character in the 1950’s.
Plans are still forming on what will come next year, but Mark Buckingham who worked with Neil Gaiman on the Marvelman story ‘Silver Age’ has some interesting thoughts:
“Obviously, for Neil and I this is a wonderful opportunity for us to finally get the material that we were doing back in the early ’90s back in print again because it’s been 16 years since our last issue hit the stands,” he told CBR moments after the panel ended. “Beyond anything else, we can get that stuff back in print now. There’s material that was produced that’s never been published, so from a fan’s point of view that’s fantastic. There’s more Gaiman and Buckingham just waiting for printing already.”
Marvel publisher Dan Buckley was even more specific:
“We don’t have a lot to say on the publishing right now. We will be publishing some Marvelman material next year. We are talking to all, besides having Mick on board – who by the way is 94 years old, and I spoke to him Wednesday for an hour and a half. It was a pleasure. We’re talking to all the people who were involved in the ’80s and ’90s material – Alan [Moore], Neil, Garry Leach, Alan Davis – we’ve reached out to all these folks. Mark Buckingham, who is also in the house…”
Neil Gaiman tweeted: “Re Marvelman: I think it’s great news that Mick Anglo’s creations is going to be seen again, and hopeful that my work & Bucky’s will be back.”
Quesada has yet to meet with Buckingham but to many the most obvious next step is to get the books back into print and finish what they started. After that… fight the Hulk (obviously).
For the full interview, click here and make sure to catch his weekly ‘Cup O’ Joe’ videos.