I think the cloth from his chest represents the attempt to draw all of the poisons out.

Fables 81 came out today. This concludes a story I knew I'd be doing for some years, but kept to myself for most of that time, even keeping it from the editor and the artists until they absolutely had to know.

        What a joy to be able to make long range plans for a story, a series, and the characters within it. For all of the fun of working inside the DCU fictional universe, I don't control that one, and those that do make so many changes, so often, usually on the fly, that long range planning for DCU comics series is almost a wasted effort, and always one fraught with frustration.

        Maybe it's just the way I tick, but my stories need time to grow and ferment, for some really big payoffs later. This issue of Fables contained one of those payoffs, the first seeds of which were planted way back in The Last Castle story.

        On a not entirely unrelated note, take a look at this gorgeous final cover from Fables' long time cover artist James Jean. In addition to its central theme, you can see bits and pieces of his entire run on the covers scattered here and there around the composition. Quite an impressive goodbye. We'll miss you, James, but will continue to follow your amazing work, and the complex and involving stories you continue to tell with it.

Once again it seems I lied.

Apparently I am not going to post daily writing progress updates here, during the month of February. Just as I have decided to go deep into the writing hole this full coming month, my buddy and oft-times writing partner Matt Sturges has decided much the same thing, although in deference to the fact that he has a loving family that needs occasional attention and care, his hole won't be dug quite as deep or isolated as mine.

        But, that said, the fact that Matt is doing much the same thing for the same month is too much of an opportunity to pass up. So, instead of just posting my own daily progress here, Matt and I are both going to post daily progress reports over at the Clockwork Blog. That doubles the accountability, which is the entire purpose of posting daily reports in the first place. You can get to the Clockwork Blog by clicking on the link right there in the upper left hand side of this page.

February Plans

In March I move into the new digs, up in snowy Minnesota, just in time to officially move in on April 1st. That means I can't count on getting too much writing work done then. So I need to get ahead on all deadlines and various writing obligations now.

        Therefore, in the month of February, I am disappearing deep into the writing hole. No days off. No dinners out with friends. Few phone calls. No computer activity not directly related to getting my work done. Just writing, and more writing.

        Here's what I need to get done in one month: 1) I need to finish the current novel, which is fully plotted, researched and begun, but much of which remains unwritten. 2) I need to write at least three full issues of Fables. 3) Along with Matt Sturges, I need to complete, at a minimum, two issues of Jack, two issues of The Literals, and two issues of JSA. 4) I need to finish a couple of short stories and various items that always come up, and can't really be scheduled.

        Can I do it? Sure. I'm pretty prolific when I decide to knuckle down. For the prose work I just need to channel my inner Chris Roberson, who can write a full length novel in a long weekend. For the comics work I just need to do daily what I am able to do, when I really dedicate myself. Will I do it? We'll see.

        In order to help keep the fire lit under my too-often lazy (insert earthy anatomical reference here), I'm going to try to post daily progress reports here.

And here's another one.

Continuing our list of My Favorite JSA Characters, we have Doctor Fate, who used to be a fellow named Kent Nelson, then wasn't, then wasn't, then wasn't, but then he was again, but not the same Kent Nelson as the original, unless that bizarre helmet of his, that sometimes contains the spirit of Nabu, and sometimes doesn't, and sometimes contains its own pocket universe, and sometimes doesn't (all depending on who's writing it I suppose) is playing some sort of game of its own.

        My departed friend Steve Gerber was hired to sort through all of the past continuity and redesign Doctor Fate in a way that preserves the cool stuff and discards some of the chaff, while adding a few new, uniquely Gerberesque elements to the good doctor.

        Steve died before he could entirely explore the new Doctor he'd fashioned, but we'd had some opportunities to discuss Steve's long range plans, back when the Las Vegas based funnybook writers were getting together for regular lunches, and Steve was helping me come up with ideas behind the change in magic status in the DCU -- ending the fictional universe's Ninth Age of Magic and ushering in the shiny new Tenth Age. In doing so, Steve provided all of the best lines for my Detective Chimp special issue, which was part of Steve's Helmet of Fate event, that would lead into his new Doctor Fate series. Steve was a most generous fellow.

        So what happens when a brand new Kent Nelson Doctor Fate joins the JSA that used to have an entirely different Kent Nelson Doctor Fate as one of its early members? Finding out is going to be fun.

Another JSA Favorite

Obsidian was a favorite character of mine ever since I first saw him, long before I had any idea who he was or what he could do. Why? I think visually he's among a handful of the best designed superheroes ever.

        Then when I learned that he's the son of the original Green Lantern and that his powers are basically the same, except with solidified darkness rather than green light, then that sealed the deal. Obsidian's going to be a big part in my JSA plans.

        He hasn't taken a very active role in recent issues, being more of a "living security system" plot device. That's fine. Geoff Johns did me a huge favor by basically letting him lie fallow for some time. Now, when he returns to the forefront, he can return rejuvenated -- sort of like how a favorite food tastes even better when you haven't had it for awhile.

JSA Favorites

When Matt and I were invited to take over writing the JSA we were a bit daunted at the huge size of the team. One way we're dealing with it is to each pick our favorite JSA characters and sort of be the one to "take the lead" in writing that character, when he appears in a given story.

     Among my favorite JSA characters is Mr. Terrific, for a couple of reasons. First and foremost he's supposed to be a very smart fellow, and the challenge of writing a character vastly more intelligent than myself is irresistible. 

        For another thing, a hero should have a code, and this one makes sure everyone knows it. It's written there in bold letters right on his sleeve. Corny? You bet, but I like it.

        Don't much care for the mask though. Since he's a publicly known superhero -- meaning he doesn't keep a secret identity -- and since it's already established that he can turn the mask invisible at will, I wonder if we might just have him lose it. No changes to the Fair Play jacket though. Love the jacket. DC should produce them for sale.

JSA Days (and Daze)

As you may already have heard, I'll be writing DC Comics' JSA series soon, in collaboration with my oft-times funnybook writing partner, Matt Sturges. By the way, the image to the left isn't from one of our issues, as they've yet to come out. It's from a previous JSA issue and doesn't show the full immensity of the team that we'll be inheriting from Geoff Johns, the current JSA scribe.

        Since this news broke, I've been asked more than once, "Why would you even consider taking over a book from Geoff Johns? It's about as suicidal a career move as whoever the long forgotten act was who appeared after the Beatles, in the old Ed Sullivan Show." (Too ancient a reference for you? Ask your parents.)

        Believe me, I have the same concerns. Geoff is a titan of superhero writing. It would be folly to try to follow him, right?

        Sure.

        That's one way to frame the argument. But, after much consideration, I have a drastically different way of looking at it. Following Geoff Johns on any project is a no-lose situation. Confused? Then think it through as I did. The two possibilities are that I fall flat on my face, or I do a good job with the book against all expectations.

        If I fall flat on my face, that can't reflect badly on me, because he's Geoff Johns. No one can be expected to do well following him. See? Can't lose.

        However, if I succeed against all expectations then the glory is even more sweet, because who would have thought I could do it, following Geoff Johns. Once again: can't lose.

        So that's my reasoning. Or at least my rationalization.

        I have no idea why Matt agreed to this folly.

Not a single shot fired this time.

Matt Sturges came into town for a three day mini writing camp. In that time we wrote two issues of the Great Fables Crossover, tweaked a few finishing touches into our first JSA issue, broke down our second JSA issue, and actually had a few hours for sleep and the odd meal or two.

        Not bad, considering that the last time Matt came into Las Vegas for a similar concentrated work retreat, we did anything but work. We hung out at Sunset and Vines -- a wine bar and restaurant that I own a modest piece of -- swilling good wine and dining on good food. We fired tommy guns, modern machine guns, silenced pistols, sniper rifles and various other implements of death and destruction at a local gun range (and mostly shot at one of their "pick your favorite villain" targets, with the image of a fellow that looked disturbingly -- or delightfully -- like DC Comics' own Dan Didio). Oh how we filled Dan full of holes! We played poker. We saw the sights. And even drove to LA for a day of signings and musings at the LA book fair. What we didn't do then is get a single bit of work done -- the planned reason for the visit.

        This time we did a bit better. The fellow pictured above is one of the characters you'll run across during the upcoming Great Fables Crossover. He's a Literal, and Russ Braun provided the visual design for him. That's all I'll say for now.