John Delaney Talkback

[John Delaney]

Originally posted by Dick Grayson
My only complaint about the issue was the cover. The fact that they took out that awesome sphere with the JL logo, and put in a really bad "natural" JL logo just didn't mesh with me. I can say I enjoyed the issue as well as the art. The coloring is still on the iffy side for me, as well.
Hey Dick,
Sorry you didn't like the replacement logo on the cover but it was done so that the cover would work with DC's "all cover" month. It's supposed to incorporate the logos into the design ( ala Will Eisner's Spirit) so that was done to look like the auroa borealis. Interesting to note is that cover has actually gone through three changes. The original cover had the earth where the JL sphere was(actually if you look really closely at the sphere you'll see my original earth drawing shrunken down and orbiting the sphere.) then DC wanted to use the design in the "all covers" so the sphere was popped in there for the solicitors magazine until we could put in the northern lights effect. I must admit when I saw the sphere I thought it looked pretty cool too, but I think DC thought it was too much of an actual logo. Whew! that's a lot of explanation, but I hope it helps.
Cheers
JD

[John Delaney]

Originally posted by flhero311


I'm looking forward to issue 3 as well, I really liked the work you did on the ADCU series, that was some really underated stuff. I didn't start picking them up from the begining, but issue 12's cover got me hooked....
Hey Flhero
Thanks for the kind words. Issue #12's cover was fun to draw and was a real collaberation piece. Steve Vance (the writer on ADCU) sent me a rough of the idea and I took it from there.
Thanks2
JD

[John Delaney]

Originally posted by Brian Cruz


That's very interesting. Is there any way we can see your original pencils for this cover?
Hey Brian
I don't have the original pencils since they were inked over but I do have a photo copy(it's a bit light but you should be able to make eveything out) I'm just heading out of the studio right now but I'll scan it when I get back and you can take a look
Ciao
JD

[John Delaney]

Originally posted by Dick Grayson


Thanks for the explainaiton, John. It just sorta looks...well...MORE like an official logo. Then again, it's likely very hard to incorpoarate a name like that into the picture. B:GA did is cleverly and Superman Avdentures was so-so successful.
Hi Dick
I agree the Gotham Adventures one looked fantastic, we didn't know that JLAdv was going to be done until after the cover was done hence the addition, I wish I had had the time to concieve an "all cover" concept from scratch but time did not permit it.
Oh well maybe next time
JD

[James Harvey]

Oh - you didn't know? That's it...right there. I assumed you already knew this cover was going to be used as a "full coverage" cover. Although - now that I remember, the inmage was released way back in June or July if I remember correctly. That's likely before DC thought to do the "Full Coverage!" cover event thingie. I guess that explains the weird "auroa borealis" thing goin' on...

[John Delaney]

Originally posted by Dick Grayson
Oh - you didn't know? That's it...right there. I assumed you already knew this cover was going to be used as a "full coverage" cover. Although - now that I remember, the inmage was released way back in June or July if I remember correctly. That's likely before DC thought to do the "Full Coverage!" cover event thingie. I guess that explains the weird "auroa borealis" thing goin' on...
You Bet!

[John Delaney]

Originally posted by DisneyBoy
First let me say how cool it is to have Mr. Delaney and Mr. Storrie visiting us regularly! Now as for issue number two:

Artwork first:
I liked it. I must say that I'm not a fan of Rousseau's often inconsistant, overly-angular style, but I guess Return of the Joker and "Family Day", both Batman Beyond stories, have warmed me to it, which is quite a feat since I detested his work in Gotham Adventures. I especially enjoyed the appearance of the leader of the Snake women. Very mysterious, though I can't shake the feeling that this group has something to do with the Amazons. I hope they reappear and are further explored/explained in the years to come, which brings me to the story:
Mr. Storrie's tale did split the group up, making the events which took place more easy to handle and less complicated to follow. Though the developments were easier to follow and much less predictable than issue one, I still found myself a little unenthused. How is it that every story told on the show and in the comics can be so monumental as to require the League to fight off baddies? I foresee that these battles will soon grow old. A possible solution may be to involve only certain members of the league at a time (a la "In Brightest Day" episodes), though fans will no doubt complain about the lack of their favorite hero. I, personally, would like to see in Justice League Adventures stories which developp the group interaction rather than their butt-kicking abilities. Perhaps a future story could simply invovle the heroes resting in the watchtower, reflecting on some of their first individual adventures. It would be very interesting to see how the world first reacted to the newer heroes, like GL, Hawkgirl or Flash, when they first arrived/appeared on Earth.

More than anything, I hope this series is able to make bigger moves than it's predecessors, in terms of show/comic continuity. It would be great to see parts of Hawkgirl's past be explored in these pages once they have actually been agreed upon between the show's writers and the comic's writers. Perhaps once a continuous creative team is decided upon, more long-term storylines and interweaving plots between the show and book will come into play.

Personally, I think the best team would (no joke) consist of Storrie and Delaney, who have both proven themselves to be proficient in this medium. I pray Aluir Amancio drops by from time to time, only after he visits Gotham Adventures, of course!

Just please don't subject us to too much of Ku's work!
Hey DisneyBoy
Thanks for the very kind words. I must say that I too am a big fan of Aluir Amancio's work. I love how he takes the Bruce Timm style and adds his own feel to it. I think with the animated books, the fans are really split between those who want the book to exacty match the look of the show and those who enjoy a more free- form interpretation of the style. I definately see both sides of the argument. From a fan's perspective I can definately see that when the comic looks really on model it helps to transport you into the show more and possibly you can hear the voices better, however from an artist's point of view I can definately see how an Amancio or a Rousseau would enjoy injecting some of their own style into it. After all nobody wants to just be a clone of somebody else.
Now, having said all that, after my experience on Adventures in the DC Universe, I definately got the idea that alot of the more vocal fans want a real strict adherence to the Timm style and so on issue # 3 I attempted to do that.Please let me know what you think on Jan.09 when it comes out.
Cheers
JD

[John Delaney]

Originally posted by Arachkid
Don't go changing for anybody, Mr. D! I personally dig your take on the animated style, and enjoy seeing different variations on it. I specifically bought all the "How to Draw" Batman/Superman/DC Superheroes books because they had different artists' takes versions of the style, I am still trying to find all the issues of ADCU!

I'm looking froward to #3 even more now, just to see what magic your pencil has wrought. :)

(Hey, that wasn't too much fanboy butt-kissing, was it? :D )
Hey Arachkid
Wow! Thanks ton'O. The How to Draw Batman Beyond book is out now and it's my personal favorite of all the "How to" books I've worked on (Superman, WonderWoman & DC Heroes) It has great coloring and and really nice production plus I was able to co-write some of Bruce Wayne's dialogue direction.
P.S. There's no such thing as too much fanboy butt-kissing ;)
Thanks2
JD

[Brian Cruz]

John e-mailed me his pencils to the JL Advs #2 cover: Here it is:

http://www.toonzone.net/comics/covers/jladvs/jladvs02-pencils.jpg

[James Harvey]

That is nice looking! I'd like to post that in the newspage soon - because it looks really, really nice. I must admit. I'll be honest, Mr. Delaney, I'm not a real big fan of yours, but I know what I like...and this I like...

[John Delaney]

Originally posted by Arachkid
As the young hipsters on Batman Beyond would say, "SCHWAY!" Thanks for sharing, Brian! :D

And thanks for the heads-up on the BB drawing book, Mr. D, I'll make sure to pick it up! :)
Hey Arachkid
I hope you like the BB book.
Be sure to let me know...and call me John
Cheers
JD

[DisneyBoy]

Mr Delaney,

After seeing what a great job you did on Wonder Woman for The Adventures in the DC Universe, did you ever consider doing a Wonder Woman Adventures series??? Was the subject ever breached by DC or the other guys you worked with, like Steve Vance?

I realize now that she's in JLA, that probably won't happen, but it honestly should! I think you'd do a great job.


P.S. Although I am studying Fine Arts,
I am actually pretty clueless concerning
the ways of an artist. I realize they
have to make money and all, but would
you or anyone else ever consider doing a
piece of art free of charge, or would that
just be illogical? It would be great to
know for the future if I were to ever meet
another animated aritst who's work I adored.
Is that just one of the things you don't ask?

[John Delaney]

Originally posted by DisneyBoy
Mr Delaney,

After seeing what a great job you did on Wonder Woman for The Adventures in the DC Universe, did you ever consider doing a Wonder Woman Adventures series??? Was the subject ever breached by DC or the other guys you worked with, like Steve Vance?

I realize now that she's in JLA, that probably won't happen, but it honestly should! I think you'd do a great job.


P.S. Although I am studying Fine Arts,
I am actually pretty clueless concerning
the ways of an artist. I realize they
have to make money and all, but would
you or anyone else ever consider doing a
piece of art free of charge, or would that
just be illogical? It would be great to
know for the future if I were to ever meet
another animated aritst who's work I adored.
Is that just one of the things you don't ask?
Hey Disneyboy
Thanks very much for the WWcomments. She has always been a favorite of mine and of all the characters I did on ADCU she seems to be the one that struck a chord most with the fans.
We did bat around the idea of a WW Adventures book but we found that books without a cartoon were a tough sell.
I pencilled a WonderWoman animated adventure storybook for DC licenced publishing but unfortunately the plug was pulled on it by the publisher (I think it was Golden or Landol although don't quote me on that) because their slate was full with other projects and they were scalling back.
As for free sketches I've always been more than happy to whip a sketch off for free at conventions and book signings but the difficulty with doing them for fans over a web site or the internet is the demand. I'm a working animation director/artist and as such I have to make paying jobs a priority. If I was to say yes to one free sketch I would have a difficult time saying no to anyone else and that could unfotunately take up a lot of time away from my paying jobs.
However, since you are not the first to request this, I would be willing to send a sketch a week to Toonzone if they would like to post it. If Toonzone wants ( and I know how busy they must be already so if they don't want to, I'm sure we would all understand) they could take a poll each week and find out which character the fans voted on and I could supply a pencil sketch.
I hope I'm not causing any headaches for the great cats at Toonzone.
Cheers JD

[John Delaney]

Originally posted by flhero311
That'd be awesome if you were allowed to do that, JD! The poll thing especially, getting to vote for a character drawn by you would be really cool.... speaking of the ADCU book, do you know of any stories that were being thrown around, if any, before the book got cancelled? I always wondered what other tales could have been read and seen....
Hi Flhero
Just before being cancelled we were working on a Superman / Phantom Stranger team up. There was also talk of doing another Legion story and I know Steve Vance had always wanted to do a Sgt. Rock story. I was always pushing for a Black Lightning adventure or a Cliff Steele solo story.(I love that big robot guy) Steve and I used to talk all the time about all the unsual and hardly seen DCU characters we could do and we had planned on doing them in back-up stories but the only one we got to do was ULTRA the Multi-Alien! We also had a proposal for a really cool JLA/JSA team up that we really wanted to do but unfotunately the axe fell before we could sell it.
Thanks for the question
JD

[James Harvey]

Hey Mr. Delaney!

That weekly sketch would be a great idea, and I am all for that! Toon Zone is a tremendous and great site. I always find it amazing when creators come to interact with the fans. Hopefully, as I type this, you are talking out the details with Toon Zone head honcho Brian Cruz.

I vote for JL Batman as the first pic...

Now we're really off topic! :)

[John Delaney]

Originally posted by Dick Grayson
Hey Mr. Delaney!

That weekly sketch would be a great idea, and I am all for that! Toon Zone is a tremendous and great site. I always find it amazing when creators come to interact with the fans. Hopefully, as I type this, you are talking out the details with Toon Zone head honcho Brian Cruz.

I vote for JL Batman as the first pic...

Now we're really off topic! :)
Thanks Dick!
Toon Zone is indeed a great site. From a creators point of view I think it's very cool to be able to get first hand response from the fans. I think it's something that can really help drive the comic book industry.
I'll let you know how the weekly sketch thing goes once Brian and I have a chance to communicate about it.
P.S. Call me John, Mr.Delaney is my Dad. ;)
Cheers
JD

[Trent Lane]

JD, that cover to issue one was what made me wonder. There were so many characters that I figured would pop up. Black Lightning was one, Steel, Etrigan, Hawkman, Deadman, and a few others I'm not sure of. That would've been cool to see...

Oh, BTW, I second DG's JL Batman drawing...

[Maxie Zeus]

Yes, behind the scenes we're extremely excited about the offer. Thank you so much for making it! :bosko:

[John Delaney]

Originally posted by Maxie Zeus
Yes, behind the scenes we're extremely excited about the offer. Thank you so much for making it! :bosko:
Thanks Max
I've communicated with Harley at ToonZone and it looks like it's going to happen! :D I'm really excited to do this , I think it will be alot of fun. We'll keep evetbody posted(pardon the pun) as to when it officially begins but everyone might want to start thinking about which DC character they'd like to see in the animated style. If I was to cast a vote I'd say The Question.
Cheers
John

[James Harvey]

The Question is a charatcer I was dieing to see animated, and I still hope that JL will fiz that. I am eager to see your rendition of Batman Beyond, though.

[DisneyBoy]

I am all for a Wonder Woman picture!!

[DisneyBoy]

By the way, John ,

I think this is an awesome thing for you to offer to do!!! Really, you made my yesterday when I read it!!! Love your work!!!


So, you pencilled an entire issue of an unpublished Wonder Woman Adventures, did you? Not to be too greedy before Christmas, but what can you tell us about it? Will it ever see the light of Toonzone??? :rolleyes: hmmmmmm...?

[John Delaney]

Originally posted by Dick Grayson
The Question is a charatcer I was dieing to see animated, and I still hope that JL will fiz that. I am eager to see your rendition of Batman Beyond, though.
Hey Dick
Cool! I've been privlidged to draw Batman Beyond in 2 Storybooks and the "How to Draw Batman Beyond" book. I love the design of that character! There was rumours of the Question being part of the JL animated a few years back, and we did him in a back up story to the Blue Beetle/Booster Gold story in Adventures in the DCU. Love the character! Love the original Steve Ditko design,Tres Cool!!!

[John Delaney]

Originally posted by DisneyBoy
By the way, John ,

I think this is an awesome thing for you to offer to do!!! Really, you made my yesterday when I read it!!! Love your work!!!


So, you pencilled an entire issue of an unpublished Wonder Woman Adventures, did you? Not to be too greedy before Christmas, but what can you tell us about it? Will it ever see the light of Toonzone??? :rolleyes: hmmmmmm...?
Hi DB
The WonderWoman storybook was a very cool story that had WW fight the Cheeta in London England! Climaxing in a fight above the London Bridge. I know I must have some photocopies of it somewhere in my files, I'll see if I can dig it up and scan it but I don't think it will happen before the new year. Meantime you can always vote for a WW sketch.
I'm really pumped to do this sketch poll thing too! It should be alot of fun
Cheers
John

[DisneyBoy]

I hope you can scan us a copy (provided it's OK), as that would totally rock!!!

One question: not to spill any secrets or anything, but Ares has always been the greatest foe Diana has ever had to face. He hasn't been mentionned as a villain in the JL show (yet!), and I can't help but fear that he may never appear, as the whole ancient Greek religion aspect of Diana's past is rather complicated to explain in a show that really doesn't revolve around her. I also fear that he may never be dealt with in the JLA comic either.

Don't say anything you shouldn't, mind you, but are my fears warrented? Feel free to email me at DisneyBoy100@hotmail.com should you not wish to spill anything on the boards! Thanks a bunch and Happy Holidays, John!

[James Harvey]

I split the Justice League Adventures #2 Talkback into two becuase we were getting way off topic with the John Delaney discussions. I decided to split it into a seperate Delaney thread. Let the discussions continue...

[Batman 80]

Hey Mr. Delaney, I would love to see your versions of different DC villains. Keep up the good work!

[John Delaney]

Originally posted by hot rod
Hey Mr. Delaney, I would love to see your versions of different DC villains. Keep up the good work!
Thanks Hotrod
It's a definate go! Harley at ToonZone has given me the thumbs up,however with the holiday season upon us I believe we'll formally start the sketch poll the week after Christmas. I'm really looking forward to all the requests.
Have a wonderful Holiday
Cheers
John
P.S. Please call me John, as WW said to GL in JLA "We don't stand on ceremony."

[Kal-el]

Oh man! This is great! I always had that feeling, but know I know for sure...Toon Zone membership DOES has it's privileges (new TZ slogan maybe??)

[James Harvey]

Originally posted by Kal-el
Oh man! This is great! I always had that feeling, but know I know for sure...Toon Zone membership DOES has it's privileges (new TZ slogan maybe??)

Here's one:

Toon Zone Forums: Sign up, who know who you'll meet.

[The Green Hornet]

mr delaney--

given the spectacular sucess of JL, is there any chance that the 4th season of STAS might come to be?

or maybe some of the episodes might be put into the new show or the new JL comic?

thanks

[James Harvey]

Originally posted by TheFastestManAlive
mr delaney--

given the spectacular sucess of JL, is there any chance that the 4th season of STAS might come to be?

or maybe some of the episodes might be put into the new show or the new JL comic?

thanks

All those episodes have been abandoned - for about 4 years. STAS is basically over and done with - even if it was too premature. The crew is working on JL stories, and won't be bringing back any propsed Superman scripts, although alot of them were storyboarded and close to production. Production on the series stopped when Batman Beyond became a bonafide hit. WB wanted the focus to be shifted over to BB full time, so they cut the STAS episodes by 11 episodes.

STAS is done with. The crew behind the show has splintered off drastically and are all working on their own commitments.

[John Delaney]

Originally posted by TheFastestManAlive
mr delaney--

given the spectacular sucess of JL, is there any chance that the 4th season of STAS might come to be?

or maybe some of the episodes might be put into the new show or the new JL comic?

thanks
Hi TFMA
Thanks for the question, however I should point out that while I am an animation designer and director I don't work on the Justice League cartoon. That's all done by the talented cats at WB in L.A. I work at Delaney and Friends Cartoon productions in Canada where I do alot of in house projects as well as freelance service for others such as Disney, Klasky Csupo, Universal ect. I also storyboard for many of the live action productions shot in Canada including Dark Angel, Smallville(the pilot episode) Millennium, Harsh Realm ect. I 've worked on the Justice League Adventures comic book but that is my limit as to what goes on behind the scenes. Dick Grayson can probably supply answers to those questions earlier than I can.
Cheers
John

[James Harvey]

Originally posted by John Delaney

Hi TFMA
Thanks for the question, however I should point out that while I am an animation designer and director I don't work on the Justice League cartoon. That's all done by the talented cats at WB in L.A. I work at Delaney and Friends Cartoon productions in Canada where I do alot of in house projects as well as freelance service for others such as Disney, Klasky Csupo, Universal ect. I also storyboard for many of the live action productions shot in Canada including Dark Angel, Smallville(the pilot episode) Millennium, Harsh Realm ect. I 've worked on the Justice League Adventures comic book but that is my limit as to what goes on behind the scenes. Dick Grayson can probably supply answers to those questions earlier than I can.
Cheers
John

I forgot you were Canadian - even cooler! I neevr knew you storyboarded the pilot episode to Smallville. One of my favorite sequences in the pilot is when the meteor smashs through the water tower. Small, but just very well done. The right camera angle got that pulle doff very, very nicely. I never knew you did so much extensive storyboard work - excellent!

[John Delaney]

Originally posted by Dick Grayson


I forgot you were Canadian - even cooler! I neevr knew you storyboarded the pilot episode to Smallville. One of my favorite sequences in the pilot is when the meteor smashs through the water tower. Small, but just very well done. The right camera angle got that pulle doff very, very nicely. I never knew you did so much extensive storyboard work - excellent!
Hey Dick
You bet! Storyboards have always been a mainstay of my income. Being a comic book artist, I always seem to get called for the action/adventure stuff which is what I love to do! My favorite part to 'board in Smallville was the opening scenes of the meteors heading toward earth and passing by the moon. In the original boards the director David Nutter had me draw a bunch of meteor splitting off and striking the moon as well but when it came time to do the shot I think that got too expensive. Ofcourse Drawing Jonathon and Martha's first encounter with the child Kal-El really tickled the Fan-boy in me.
Cheers to a fellow Canadian!
John

[James Harvey]

Meteors hitting the moon as well? Interesting. I must admit the opening sequence to SMALLVILLE was breath tkaing in terms of pacing and directing. Everything perfectly played and had a nice flow to it. Were there any other storyboard sequences left out of the final picture?

[John Delaney]

Originally posted by Dick Grayson
Meteors hitting the moon as well? Interesting. I must admit the opening sequence to SMALLVILLE was breath tkaing in terms of pacing and directing. Everything perfectly played and had a nice flow to it. Were there any other storyboard sequences left out of the final picture?
Hey Dick
In Live action storyboarding, you always board as much stuff as you can and then once shooting starts there is various input from the cinetographer, the SFX team, the producer ect. ect. so often what is boarded changes quite signifigantly by the time it makes it to the final cut. We boarded Jonathan and Martha's truck falling into the crater first but it became much more economical to just show them getting swallowed up by the smoke and then cut to the shot of their truck capsized.
JD