Sep 10, 2000 12:22 AM

Hey Friends,

Glad to see that you are talking with each other. I look forward to seeing the art, Faraday.

Happy Birthday Faraday.

I'm glad some of you here are reading Fortune and Glory. I really enjoy that book. It's also sorta cool that I'm one of the characters in it and a part of some fo the stories. Bendis tells a great story.

As far as Faraday's concerns for the Kabuki Film... So far, so good. I'm learning a lot and am fascinated at each stage of the progression. I've also been able to meet and work with some amazing and talented people. I've signed a confidentiality agreement, so I'm not allowed to mention any of the details aside from what capacity that I have been employed to work on it. It has been a great experience so far.

Sometimes I can't believe how many things I am working on at once. It can seem like I have five carreers.

It's interesting that I'm painting the next DD story while the one that I wrote is in the process of being released. It will be cool when I have two DD trades, one that I wrote and one that I drew. Very curious as to haow people will react to each of these stories in thier entirety.

In response to Kurt Cobain:

I'm glad you like my current DD story. I don't really know what week the next issue ships. As far as I know, the next storyline that you mentioned will ship regularly. I'm actually painting (doing the complete art on it) not just penciling. The cool thing is Quesada will also be drawing a couple pages of each issue that represent a different "state" of what is happening with one of the characters. It is an interesting story with a range of schizofrenic art styles.

I'm very happy for Joe Quesada. I think that it is great that he is the new Editor-in-Chief at Marvel. Very Cool. I think Marvel Knights was a great proving ground for his skills and I'm glad his is given the chance to put the same caliber of creators on all of the Marvel books.

Also wanted every one to know that the only other convention/signing that I have scheduled for this year is the Mid-Ohio-Con in November. It is in Columbus, Ohio the Saturday and Sunday after Thanksgiving (as always).

This is a very fun and friendly show. I will have a table next to Bendis as usual. Also Andy Lee will be there. Will have all the Kabuki books, prints, original art, shirts, etc.

Hope you can make it.

I also want to remind you that the new Previews catalogue has a full page solicitation for Kabuki Agents: Scarab #5. It ships in November but you need to ask your retailer to order it now from the current Previews catalogue.

Back I go to paint Daredevil.

Hi Faraday,

Give my regards to your retailer friend. It's good to hear that kind of feedback.

Glad you saw Rick's Spider Woman designs from way back (95 I think). If anyone else wants to see them I think they are up at Bendis' Jinkworld site. www.Jinxworld.com

As far as near misses, there are a ton of interesting ones. My favorite personal one was a Marvel Knights project that fell through over a year ago. The project was to involve Me, Bendis, Bill Sienkewiecz, and Jim Steranko all colaborating on a new Nick Fury Agent of Shield. It was a big secret for a while, but I guess I can mention it now cause Bendis mentioned it on his Message board. At the time it was pretty exciting. Bendis, SIenkewiecz and I had a cool meeting about it at a San Diego Con. Then we met with Steranko to discuss his involvement.

Since then there have been a ton of other possibilities on the back burner. It will be interesting to see which ones remain there and which ones make it to the finished project. Most of it just concerns fitting things in to the creator's schedule (mine specifically).

I'm looking forward to showcasing a lot of Rick's other designes and styles in the Scarab Artbook as soon as I get a chance to put it together. His sketchbooks and original canvas paintings are amazing. I'm going to fit it all in the book.

Droideka!

Hello again. Yes I really did continue painting DD after that post and continuously since. Hee Hee. Now I'm going to do it again.

Nick, I'll keep you posted when we discuss the trades and format.

Bye people.

Hey Faraday:

I know what you are talking about. I find that it is best to do the drawing, and then move on to the next one, and then the next one, and then come back and reconsider if they work or not after I've finished others and am in a more objective frame of mind. Usually I can look at them two days later and instantly see what they need to make them work. Sometimes it is just a waste of time to try to figure that out before starting the next page.

A fresh perspective can do wonders.

Hey Spence,

Thanks for the kind words about my Daredevil work.

As far as the shipping schedule... certainly, no one likes to see the new issue come out more than I do, but it is out of my hands. I totally understand where you are coming from but I can't really speak for Marvel or anyone there.

I can say it has been a pleasure working with Marvel Knights. As you Know Joe Quesada has become Marvel's new Editor-in-Chief. He has a ton of duties. But it is important to both of us that he finish the artwork for this storyline rather than having a fill-in finish it.

And as you said, he has hired a new artist to do the next storyline. In case you don't know, the artist for the next storyline is me. I'm painting a four issue DD story (issues 16-190 [sic] with my friend Bendis scripting it.

I completely empathize with your point of view. I understand how this affects your situation on the retail level. I appreciate your support of my work on DD. And want you to know I'm doing the best job I can on the artwork for the next DD story. I'm also trying to have the whole thing done by the time Joe finishes his, so they can put the next story line out very frequently and regularly (which of course is Joe's intent on having me do the art for the next story).

Ha! I'd go insane (at least more so). 16-190

really means (16-19)!!!! I'm only painting four issues, not 175.

Thanks Droideka.

dm

Hey there! SOme QUICK responses!

To Droideka in 577:

Ultimately nothing compares to the satisfaction of writing my own characters, but working on DD is a great challenge in terms of approaching the character with respect for all that previous creators have brought to the character while simultaneously trying to bring something to it that only I could.

It is two different kinds of satisfaction. Just like some times it is great to work completely alone, and sometimes it is great to collaborate. They each have their challenges and rewards. I like to go back an forth between both ways of working. It keeps me energized.

I did read Frank Millers Daredevil when I was younger. So it did have an influence on me and it is amazing to think that I am now writing and drawing a book that I grew up on.

Of the current books out there, the one I never miss is Powers. It is just plain fun. I've been friends with Mike Oeming and Bendis for YEARS. Like over eight years. So it is great to see them working on something together and it really clicks for me.

Besides that, I usually pick up and try anything by some of my favorite creators. My faves are the ones that create form their own unique POV. They are bringing their own back graound and quirks into their comic work.

Hey Faraday, You are welcome and I Hope the advice helped.

Hi Adam:

THe Scarab Artbook will come out, but I haven't nailed down the month yet. I have all the art, but I have to personally put it together and I've been overwhelmed with deadlines as of late. I will certainly post here when I know the exact month. I am glad you are looking forward to it. You are going to love it. I'm showcasing sides of Rick Mays that people have never seen before: Oil paintings, layouts, sketchbooks, Manga, cel paintings, and some real fine arty stuff. You'd never guess that he is capable of so many mediums and styles.

Hey Spence,

Thanks for the kind words. While I do intend to do more Kabuki stories, there are also many other creator owned stories that I have written and have not yet had the time to draw. I am really looking forward to working on these.

Nick and Faraday, Thanks for the good points. Yeah that is pretty much the way I see it too.

Thanks Morph! I'm very happy for Quesada. Spoke to him a couple of times today. He is really trying to do some good things at Marvel.

Hi Morpheus! Can I draw your girlfriend in Kabuki? I can't make any promises, but you are welcome to send photos in case the opertunity presents itself. Either way, I thank you both for reading.

Yo PrinceNick!

Word.