Justice League Creators Talkback!

[James Harvey]

This thread went off-topic a long time ago, so I'm splitting it into it's own thread. To see the beginning of the thread, click here for Justice League #4 Talkback (Spoilers) (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19756)

Wow...it's so cool seeing creators here discussing each others work...almost surreal. So Ty -- where are you hiding out? :)

I couldn't help but notice the similairites in some of the stories as well, which reminds of tonne sof Hollywood lawsuits where writers are claiming that directors and studios stole their stories. Look at the above. These awesome writers wrote stories that all featured similair sequences.

And Paul, as a semi-Hawkman/girl fan...I was surprised you didn't use the mace in the issue, but neglected to mention it until you just brought it up. It never crossed my mind. How much research did you do outside the animated continuity for some of these stories? I guess this questions applies to everyone who wants to answer...

<a href="http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=20230">Vote.</a>

[PDStorrie]

Dan,



Originally posted by Dan Slott
"Consider yourself fortunate! I only had the series bible. Guess I should grumble to Steve W."

PDS

PLEASE don't grumble to Steve, Paul. Steve doesn't like grumbling.

Whew! You caught me just in time.

Actually, Steve and Dan R. were both great to work with on JUSTICE LEAGUE ADVENTURES.


I probably got more ref. than you because I live in New York and it's easy for me to drop by DC and read stuff in the office. (A lot of the scripts are "top secret" and can't leave the premises-- or else they release the dogs!)

Ah. That explains a lot. Sometimes I really regret living in Detroit (well, okay, I was in LA when I wrote issue two) rather than NYC. There's a lot to be said for the ability to drop by.


By the time I was working on Issue #6 though, I was able to read the scripts for "Injustice for All", "The Fury", "War World", and "In Blackest Night". This is one of the joys AND curses of working on licensed properties-- you GET to see the stuff ahead of time-- AND you MUST see the stuff ahead of time. It makes it really hard to ENJOY the show as a fan because you know all the surprises and NOTHING is new. I am SO looking forward to "The Brave and the Bold" episodes, because I have no idea what's going to happen in them!

Plus, you run into people asking, before the shows air, "Hey do you know if [fill in the blank] is gonna happen?" Since it's all top secret, you end up making a whole lot of vague, dodging-the-issue replies.


BTW Paul, your story really HONKED me off! No offense-- it wasn't the story itself, (AN ACTION PACKED STORY and a RIPPING YARN!!!), BUT it WAS a story about women warriors fighting the Justice League with magic weapons. When I read the scene where one of your female warriors zapped Hawkgirl with magic water and then blasted J'onn with magic fire I was all, "AHH! That happens in my story too! Nooooooooo!"

Thanks for the kind words on issue two. Imagine the weird sense of deja vu I got when I hit the panels in issue four where Hawkgirl gets zapped with magic water and J'onn gets blasted with magic fire! Literally stopped me cold for a second or two. Of course, I knew that your script was done way back when but it was still a weird feeling.


Now bear in mind, my issue was in the drawer well before Ty Templeton's, Fabian Nicieza's, and months before yours! Oh, the agony!

Months before? Now you've got me curious as to how far back you were working on this tale. Mine was done back in ... July?


Now NONE OF US KNEW WHAT THE OTHERS WERE DOING of course (except for maybe Ty and myself-- we're buds and bounce stuff off each other all the time. Fabian has been my official-comic-book-mentor for over a DECADE and we gab about stuff too). But that didn't stop Ty and myself from having nearly identical lines of Flash dialogue (Issue#1 FLASH: "Hey, I'm the Flash. 'Quick' is my middle name!"/ Issue #4 FLASH: "Lady, 'fast' is my middle name!"). And that didn't stop both Fabian and me from having key fight scenes in the DCU country of Qurac! AHHHHH!

I guess a lot of it comes from the old 'drawing from the same well' concept. Still, the frustration is there when you think, "Wow, this is such a unique bit!" and then up it pops in another story.


So there you have it! Through nobody's fault, my issue ends up with little bits of Issues #1, #2, and #3! But, he says screaming like a lunatic from the bell tower, I was HERE FIRST! AHHHHH!
Whoa! That was theraputic! Anyone who read through my lil' session there-- thanks for puttin' up with my histrionics. It's appreciated.

Feels good, doesn't it? I find that my phone bills go through the roof because I'm calling my comicbook writin' pals across the nation to vent and bounce ideas all the time. Another drawback to not being in the hotbed of comics publishing that is New York.


BTW Paul, you've chimed in on your Justice League Adventures experience-- but what did you THINK about the issue itself? I'd really like know, man! So out with it-- I can take it. :)
TTYL!

I really enjoyed it. Both you and Min did a great job. Favorite bits include Hawkgirl's reaction to GL's insistance that she and WW sit out the fight, Batman's "acid-rang", the shot of Diana on page 20, panel 1 (admittedly, that's more a comment for Min than for you but it's a darn cool pic!) and the closing line.

PDS

[PDStorrie]

Originally posted by Jim Harvey
Wow...it's so cool seeing creators here discussing each others work...almost surreal. So Ty -- where are you hiding out? :)

I couldn't help but notice the similairites in some of the stories as well, which reminds of tonne sof Hollywood lawsuits where writers are claiming that directors and studios stole their stories. Look at the above. These awesome writers wrote stories that all featured similair sequences.

And Paul, as a semi-Hawkman/girl fan...I was surprised you didn't use the mace in the issue, but neglected to mention it until you just brought it up. It never crossed my mind. How much research did you do outside the animated continuity for some of these stories? I guess this questions applies to everyone who wants to answer...

<a href="http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=20230">Vote.</a>

James,

Research outside the animated continuity? Not a ton. However, that's only because I've done a whole heck of a lot of comic book reading in my life and am blessed with a pretty good memory for that sort of stuff. Just don't ask me to remember when the bills are due. That's what organizers are for.

PDS

[Dan Slott]

Paul,
In your previous post you wrote, "Now you've got me curious as to how far back you were working on this tale. Mine was done back in ... July?"
This will scare you: My original outline for Issue #4 is dated April 3rd, 2001.
And THIS might scare you some more: My plot for Issue #6 is dated June 28th!!!
How did I work that little bit of magic? Simple, I was the "rocket scientist" (and/or "brain surgeon," choose which ever sarcastic-fake-genius-expression you'd like) who went up to Dan Raspler with a proposal and said-- "Hey, you know a cartoon of the Justice League is going to come out. If we started work on a comic NOW, we could pull off a simultaneous launch." Even though I'd only seen fanzine and web articles about it (and heard rumors from my buds down in WB's Burbank offices) I had cobbled together a good 15 or so ideas for possible stories... and voila, the rest is history. So if "yours truly" wasn't around, would there STILL be a Justice League Adv. Comic? Shyeah! Of course there would! Who am I kidding? But would it have been ready by launch time... who knows?
(Though, come to think of it... Where is the Smallville comic?)
Anyway-- there's the inside scoop for ya!
TTYL!
Dan

[James Harvey]

(Though, come to think of it... Where is the Smallville comic?)

Apparetly DC Comics has one in the works to coincide with season two. That's all I know of.

Dan...I wonder, if given to you, would you have taken the position of full time writer on the series (like what Peterson is to Gotham Adventures)?

[Dan Slott]

Jim, in your last post you asked...
"Dan...I wonder, if given to you, would you have taken the position of full time writer on the series (like what Peterson is to Gotham Adventures)?"
I would LOVE to do ANY monthly super hero book. But it's not in the cards-- for now. As you know, there's a LOT of writers working on Justice League Adventures-- and I'm just proud to be counted as ONE of them. I mean-- geez, my stories are in there mingling with those of comic book royalty: Ty Templeton, Fabian Nicieza, and Mike W. Barr (just to name a few!)-- and also amongst those of rising stars like Paul! I'm just happy to be invited to the party!
I've already got to do JL Adv. #4, a Justice League story I've ALWAYS wanted to do, JL Adv. #6, a fun and wacky caper featuring almost ALL of my favorite DCU villains, and JL Adv. #10, which I feel is the single-best superhero story I've ever done! I'm telling you, if I got hit by a bus tomorrow-- I'd die a happy man!
Oh-- and I didn't tell you yet-- but I'm working (as we speak) on another JL Adv. epic that-- well it's kind of top secret-- so you'll just have to wait! But hoo-boy is it gonna make a lot of people happy-- it is B-I-G! As in HUMUNGOUS! Oh the scope of this thing-- it's MINDBOGGLING! The best teaser I could give you, is that when Dan Raspler read my original JL Adv. pitches (about 15 springboards in all), he went down the list reading them saying... "Mm-hmm... Yeah... Okay... Hmm..." but when he got to THIS pitch, he stopped and said, "That's GOOD!". So there you have it. How's THAT for dodging the issue with hyperbole?
One last note-- I know posters like saying stuff like "You know WRITER-X and ARTIST-Y should be the regular team on BOOK-Z! Let's all write in!" But I'm telling you, in the case of JUSTICE LEAGUE ADVENTURES you'd just be wasting your time. There's a lot of GREAT issues already in the drawers and ALL of them have been done by a wide assortment of STELLAR TEAMS! So save your strength for page turning, issue by issue critiquing, and life-in-general! And to all of you other creators out there on the boards-- you can stop campaigning 'cause it ain't gonna happen. JUSTICE LEAGUE ADVENTURES is (for quite a while) going to be a book ABOUT a GROUP of heroes-- BY a GROUP of top-knotch creators (and a few young hopefuls like myself)! And maybe that's for the best!

[DisneyBoy]

Don't get me started on what Peterson is to Gotham Adventures :mad: :mad: :mad:

[PDStorrie]

Dan,


Originally posted by Dan Slott
Paul,
In your previous post you wrote, "Now you've got me curious as to how far back you were working on this tale. Mine was done back in ... July?"
This will scare you: My original outline for Issue #4 is dated April 3rd, 2001.
And THIS might scare you some more: My plot for Issue #6 is dated June 28th!!!
How did I work that little bit of magic? Simple, I was the "rocket scientist" (and/or "brain surgeon," choose which ever sarcastic-fake-genius-expression you'd like) who went up to Dan Raspler with a proposal and said-- "Hey, you know a cartoon of the Justice League is going to come out. If we started work on a comic NOW, we could pull off a simultaneous launch." Even though I'd only seen fanzine and web articles about it (and heard rumors from my buds down in WB's Burbank offices) I had cobbled together a good 15 or so ideas for possible stories... and voila, the rest is history. So if "yours truly" wasn't around, would there STILL be a Justice League Adv. Comic? Shyeah! Of course there would! Who am I kidding? But would it have been ready by launch time... who knows?

April 3rd, you say? Methinks that you and I think much alike. My first batch of story ideas went to Dan R. on ... April 4th! (My mind boggled when I checked the file date.)

See, I had been writing BATMAN BEYOND stories for Michael Wright over at the Bat-office and when I heard about the JL 'toon I said to myself, "Paul, you KNOW there's gonna be a book -- get in on this!" So I called Michael and by the time I talked to Dan Raspler later that afternoon, Michael had already passed on my BB scripts. Sounds like I jumped in right about the time you were priming Dan R. on the "simultaneous launch" idea. Let me just say, "Thanks!"

Thanks too for the the "rising star" label. Now I just have to convince a few more editors.


(Though, come to think of it... Where is the Smallville comic?)

Can't figure that one myself. I know a very talented new writer, one known for working with smalltown teen angst, who pitched one almost immediately upon hearing about the show. Sadly, nothing came of that.

I've heard rumor that there will be a Smallville books before too long but haven't heard a thing about who'll be involved.

PDS

[Dan Slott]

Paul,
You wrote,
"April 3rd, you say? Methinks that you and I think much alike. My first batch of story ideas went to Dan R. on ... April 4th! (My mind boggled when I checked the file date.) See, I had been writing BATMAN BEYOND stories for Michael Wright over at the Bat-office and when I heard about the JL 'toon I said to myself, "Paul, you KNOW there's gonna be a book -- get in on this!" So I called Michael and by the time I talked to Dan Raspler later that afternoon, Michael had already passed on my BB scripts. Sounds like I jumped in right about the time you were priming Dan R. on the "simultaneous launch" idea. Let me just say, 'Thanks!'"

April 3rd is when I had my story outlitne for #4 in. My pitches were in back in Feb/March. So there! :)

[PDStorrie]

Dan,


Originally posted by Dan Slott
April 3rd is when I had my story outlitne for #4 in. My pitches were in back in Feb/March. So there! :)

Heh. I figured that. Sounds like you were ahead of me by a bit. My call would have followed your pitches by a week or two, I expect. You're also more of a "go-getter" -- I didn't put together any pitches until after talking to Dan Raspler.

Again, I tip my hat to you for getting the ball rolling!

PDS

[DisneyBoy]

(sniff) Isn't anyone going to reply to my last post? :( That time I actually had something concrete to say instead of mere paranoid speculation.... :( (sniff)

[Dan Slott]

Disneyboy,
Sorry. Thanks for the kind words-- glad you enjoyed the issue! In your review you mentioned, while giving due to praise to Min's awesome art, "The Supergirl cameo was funny - especially J'onn's expression upon Batman's suggestion!"

I thought you might get a kick out of seeing that section of the original plot. This is the description that Min had to work with when drawing that panel:

PAGE SIX/PANEL FIVE
SUPERMAN looks over at J'ONN and says that that shouldn't be a problem-- not if J'ONN'S properly dressed for the occasion. J'ONN raises one brow in a "Mr. Spock looks confused and yet intrigued" kind of expression.

Didn't Min S. Ku just NAIL THAT?! I totally cracked up when I saw the art.

BTW, the "bracelet bit" (robbing an Amazon of Themyscira of her powers by bonding her bracelets together) predates the Lynda Carter/Wonder Woman show (of which I am a HUGE fan of-- especially the first season where she's always fighting Nazis!). This bit goes ALL the way back to the original run of Wonder Woman by her creator Dr. William Moulton Marston (who, as a bunch of you already know-- was ALSO the inventor of the Lie Detector-- which I consider the BIGGEST argument for why Wonder Woman's lasso should never lose its truth-telling abilities!)

Can I write a run-on sentence OR WHAT?! :)

TTYL!
Dan

[Maxie Zeus]

Clearly I must go down and yell at the guys in the comic book store (who thankfully are not "Comic Book Guys") for not having #4 on hand. They had #3, so I'm hoping it's just a matter of being in the boonies. :rolleyes:

[DisneyBoy]

YES YOU CAN! :D But I'm so good at that too that I won't complain! I didn't know that little bit of Amazon trivia, so thanks! And I just laughed out loud in a public computer lab here at my school upon reading the "Spock" bit! LOL! Priceless!

[Min S. Ku]

Originally posted by DisneyBoy
I finally had a chance to pick up JLA #4, and now I'm beginning to feel like my comments last week may now overshadow the fact that I did enjoy this read! Yup, I liked it !

Now, for all of the complaints that I hand you, Min, I was surprised by how many panels I really thought were perfect ! Frankly, if you only drew the heads of the characters, I'd have nothing to complain about! Um...let me re-phrase...I think you have some trouble getting the legs on Wondie and co. right, especially in action shots, but the facial features were dead-on! Diana, Batman and J'onn looked great in several panels (which I can't name now since I don't have the issue here), but the Flash on that first panel looked - yikes! His head just didn't look right at that angle....but all in all, this was leaps and bounds ahead of #1!

WHOA! Did I just read that right? Disneyboy actually liked [some] of my art? :p All kiddings aside, I think you'll find my work slowing improving in the upcoming issues (hopefully). You can't help but get better as you draw more and more. I'm glad you liked the story too... I thought it was a hoot!



But anyways, I really enjoyed it! Finally a story that didn't take me five minutes to read! I'll be re-reading it over and over thanks to your work and Min's art - though I still plan on criticising until he gets it perfect! :D

I wouldn't expect anything less from you DB! ;)

Min

[DisneyBoy]

To the writers here, like Dan Slott and Paul Storrie, when you sit down to write an issue of a series, how much of a role do the panels play in your mind? For example, Gotham Adventures is becoming "known" for it's four-panel pages and introductory three opening splash pages. You mentionned, Dan, that you had written an issue "in the drawer" for B: GA. Did you necessarily feel required to follow Peterson's formula? Ditto to Paul. Did Gotham Girls feel like it needed a certain structure panel-wise?


It's no secret that I don't enjoy the endless pages Peterson requires Levins to draw in which nothing really happens, but that's not really why I brought this up. I guess I want to know how much writers worry about making their fill-in issues fit in with their respective series...and yes , I am curious to know whether or not Paul and Dan felt pressured to go along with what has now become a plain waste of space. Somehow I doubt that great writers like Mr. Storrie and Mr. Slott felt they couldn't do their own thing.... ;)

[PDStorrie]

Originally posted by DisneyBoy
To the writers here, like Dan Slott and Paul Storrie, when you sit down to write an issue of a series, how much of a role do the panels play in your mind? For example, Gotham Adventures is becoming "known" for it's four-panel pages and introductory three opening splash pages. You mentionned, Dan, that you had written an issue "in the drawer" for B: GA. Did you necessarily feel required to follow Peterson's formula? Ditto to Paul. Did Gotham Girls feel like it needed a certain structure panel-wise?

It's no secret that I don't enjoy the endless pages Peterson requires Levins to draw in which nothing really happens, but that's not really why I brought this up. I guess I want to know how much writers worry about making their fill-in issues fit in with their respective series...and yes , I am curious to know whether or not Paul and Dan felt pressured to go along with what has now become a plain waste of space. Somehow I doubt that great writers like Mr. Storrie and Mr. Slott felt they couldn't do their own thing.... ;)

DB,

First off, you should know that I, at least, am often tempted not to reply to messages which slag on other writers (or artists). Mostly because it feels like I'm somehow afirming the slights presented.

Just to be clear -- I'm not.

Personally, I enjoy Gotham Adventures. Pick it up every month. I don't know him personally but I think Scott is a pretty talented guy.

With that out of the way, let me reiterate what I mentioned earlier: when I first started writing "Animated" comics, I looked through a lot of them and checked panel counts. Mostly because it gave me a good idea of what the editors were looking for in terms of those types of books. After all, if there's a trend to lower panel count (which there tends to be in Animated-style books) then the editors must be pretty happy with the pacing of those stories.

That said, I certainly don't let what has gone before dictate entirely how I tell my story. I try to determine what I need in terms of panels and captions and dialogue to tell the story I'm telling and go from there. The work of the regular writer on a book informs my decisions but doesn't dictate them.

In the case of Gotham Girls, there was no previous writer's work to use as a rule of thumb. However, the three Animated-style scripts that I had written previous to GG led me to the conclusion that what I had been doing was working, for me, for the editors and for the readers. I stuck with a lower panel count than I normally use with non-Animated books but I try never to skimp if I need more panels to get a certain story point across.

PDS

[DisneyBoy]

I just wanted to apologise for seeming unfair to Scott Peterson. I wasn't trying to "slag" him...then again, I wasn't paying him a compliment either. Didn't mean to put you in an awkward position Paul, so thanks for responding! You're right, if the publishers and editors are keeping it that way, that means they like it that way. I'm just hoping that a new creative team can breathe some fresh air into the series before it loses it's audience. I miss cramped pages :p ! Justice League #4 actually winded me cause I was so out of shape! It just kept going and going (LOL)..but, that's a good thing Mr. Slott, not a bad one! Keep it up! Thanks again to you guys for hanging around!

[Dan Slott]

Hmm...
This is a tricky question. I have been working on comics BASED on licensed properties for over ten years now. This seems to be my little niche in the comic book world (Ren & Stimpy, Looney Tunes, Pinky & the Brain, Animaniacs, Scooby Doo, Cow & Chicken, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, Disney's Aladdin... just to name a few. In fact, once I log off here-- I'm going to touch up a Powerpuff Girls script, before moving on to my next Justice League Adventures story! Phew!).
My usual approach to doing a licensed property comic is to COMPLETELY IMMERSE myself in the property in its native form-- cartoon, tv show, film, whatever. Before writing Looney Tunes #75 I had over 32 hours of Bugs Bunny/Daffy Duck cartoons on tape (yes, a lot of them were repeats)-- and I just kept taking notes, trying out different twists on gags, and bouncing ideas off friends. I think it's my job to give the reader a similar unit of entertainment that they'd get if they were experiencing the licensed property in its original form. The characters have to sound right, act right, but do NEW things. It's a fun exercise-- like playing a jazz riff on a familiar theme. The reader has to get a fun new adventure/story with a familiar character-- a character that THEY have invested time with too!
With that said, the DC Adventures books are a whole different ball of wax. The cartoons ARE awesome-- I have almost every episode of Batman/Superman/Batman Beyond/Justice League on tape-- and let me tell you, THAT'S A LOT OF TAPE! Now if that was ALL I had to go on, I'd be a happy camper-- HOWEVER, these properties ALSO exist as a decade-long franchise in comicbook form, and a LOT of the Adventures books are MASTERPIECES! (My favorites being Dini & Timm's Mad Love AND Dini's first Batman Adv. Annual, the Superman Adventures where Scott McCloud had Mr. Mxyzptlk make time run backwards, Ty Templeton's stories where Batman convinces the Riddler that he IS insane-- and the one where Bruce Wayne takes a date and her young son to the movies, and THEY are held up while walking home from the theater.)
With the BOOK having SUCH a great legacy (and attachment with the fans), the question becomes-- do you try to make a comic feel like the cartoon-- or do you try to make the comic feel like the comic of the cartoon? I know this SOUNDS silly, but to ME this is an important distinction! ALSO, I LOVE SUPER HEROES! I've ALWAYS wanted to write Super Hero Comics! So when I get a chance to work on Batman, Wonder Woman, and company, it's REALLY hard to not completely GEEK OUT and do EVERY GOSH-DARN Super Hero bit and run every base possible! (I've GOT to keep that in check-- I really do!). I mean, just check out Superman Adventures #57! That thing is practically a love letter to Superman Comics! Hey, I'd be damned if I only got one shot at Superman and Perry White DIDN'T say "Great Ceasar's Ghost!"-- if someone in the crowd didn't yell out "It's a bird, it's a plane, it's SUPERMAN!"-- and, most importantly, if I didn't get to do my Clark-changing-into-Superman scene that I've had in my pocket since the dawn of time!
Anyhoo-- (bear with me, I JUST woke up-- and I have a horrible tendency to ramble!) When I'm writing an Adventures story, I'm juggling 3 variables. 1) Should this read/look/feel like the cartoon? 2) Should this read/look/feel like the comic BASED on the cartoon-- which a LOT of people love? And 3) Should I reign in my inner-geek?
Answers: Usually Yes, Yes, and No. But, more often than not, Maybe, Maybe, and Yes-but-I-don't-care.
What was the original question?
If you've read through all of this drivel... WHY? It's a beautiful day outside! Go on! Go out and play! Well, enough stalling, I'm going out to work!
TTYL
Dan

[Min S. Ku]

Originally posted by Dan Slott

Answers: Usually Yes, Yes, and No. But, more often than not, Maybe, Maybe, and Yes-but-I-don't-care.
What was the original question?
If you've read through all of this drivel... WHY? It's a beautiful day outside! Go on! Go out and play! Well, enough stalling, I'm going out to work!
TTYL
Dan

ha ha ha ha ha ha! You just crack me up!

[DisneyBoy]

If only I could go out and play :( I love the snow....


Darn school...

[James Harvey]

For Dan and Min,

Here's a review of your latest peice of work from Superman Homepage:

http://www.supermanhomepage.com/comics/2002-post-crisis-reviews/jladv4.html

The review is fairly positive, giving kudos to the story, art and cover of the issue.

[John Delaney]

Originally posted by Dan Slott

One last note-- I know posters like saying stuff like "You know WRITER-X and ARTIST-Y should be the regular team on BOOK-Z! Let's all write in!" But I'm telling you, in the case of JUSTICE LEAGUE ADVENTURES you'd just be wasting your time. There's a lot of GREAT issues already in the drawers and ALL of them have been done by a wide assortment of STELLAR TEAMS! So save your strength for page turning, issue by issue critiquing, and life-in-general! And to all of you other creators out there on the boards-- you can stop campaigning 'cause it ain't gonna happen. JUSTICE LEAGUE ADVENTURES is (for quite a while) going to be a book ABOUT a GROUP of heroes-- BY a GROUP of top-knotch creators (and a few young hopefuls like myself)! And maybe that's for the best!
Hey Dan
I gotta disagree with you on this one. While I also know that JLAdvs. is to be a rotating creative team book, and while I also agree that this is a very cool thing and allows a wide variety of approaches to the book, I don't think the fans should be discouraged from writing in and expressing whatever opinion they have.
Letter writing campaigns have a long history in both comics and entertainment in general. It creates buzz about the book and let's the editorial staff gauge reaction to what is working and what is not. Plus best of all, it gives voice to those who buy the book. I can't speak for any of the other creators but I haven't seen any "campaigning" going on so much as creators encouraging the fans to forward the thoughts and opinions they've expressed to the people who actually make said decisions. I don't think that can ever be a waste of time.
Cheers
John

[Dan Slott]

John,
We are TOTALLY on the same page here! Fans should voice their opinions at each and every turn! Write in, e-mail, post on boards, let your opinion be heard! If you like someone's art/story/coloring/letters what-have-you-- let the people in charge know! Your enjoyment of the final product is VERY IMPORTANT to the editorial teams and EVERYONE working on the titles!
But if you're going to "cast a vote" for a regular team on Justice League Adventures... You might as well send in your absentee ballot from the last election and vote for Ralph Nader. It would have JUST as much impact. I'm not trying to be mean or anything. Just telling it like it is.
TTYL!
Dan

P.S. Just saying this ONE more time so I don't end on a down note-- YOUR OPINIONS MATTER! Do you want to see two-part stories in the JL Adventures book? Do you like what you've seen so far? Are there certain characters that you want to see spotlighted? Maybe even see them in a solo adventure? Lay it on, man! Speak, and ye shall be heard!

[MattL.]

I would be all for two part adventures in this title. 3 even (but having that be the max.)

I think it allow more room for you guys to create stuff thats on par with the show. One of the problems the Adventures titles have had in my opinion is that even when they are really good, it reads to much like the kiddiequickie series. Its just all too short and a little too thin sometimes.

I think that the animated series are able to achive a great balance like old school superhero comics used to do. I think the Adventures books could do that to but you need more room to do it and to crank it up just a notch.

After all, this book isn't just the kiddie book, the Bruce Timm series are a complete alternate universe version of the DCU. I honestly think it could compete with Ultimate in that regard.

As for the art on this book, please give us more John Delaney and let Tim Levins have a shot it to.

Anyway, these are just my thoughts. Thanks to all the guys working on the books who would take time out of their day to visit the board and listen to us.

[John Delaney]

Originally posted by Dan Slott
John,
We are TOTALLY on the same page here! Fans should voice their opinions at each and every turn! Write in, e-mail, post on boards, let your opinion be heard! If you like someone's art/story/coloring/letters what-have-you-- let the people in charge know! Your enjoyment of the final product is VERY IMPORTANT to the editorial teams and EVERYONE working on the titles!
But if you're going to "cast a vote" for a regular team on Justice League Adventures... You might as well send in your absentee ballot from the last election and vote for Ralph Nader. It would have JUST as much impact. I'm not trying to be mean or anything. Just telling it like it is.
TTYL!
Dan

P.S. Just saying this ONE more time so I don't end on a down note-- YOUR OPINIONS MATTER! Do you want to see two-part stories in the JL Adventures book? Do you like what you've seen so far? Are there certain characters that you want to see spotlighted? Maybe even see them in a solo adventure? Lay it on, man! Speak, and ye shall be heard!
Hey Dan
I laughed heartily at the Ralph Nader reference! Very funny. Please don't misunderstand, I in no way thought you were being mean. What you're saying is absolutely true. I was just saying that whatever motivates a reader to write in is important to the reader, but what's important to the editors is that they are getting response and can judge whether it's working or not and perhaps what needs to be fixed or not.
Y'know same thing you said.
Cheers
John
P.S. Personally I think these books would benefit greatly from 2 issue expanded storylines.The stories have to be immense to properly showcase the characters. 44 pages woulld give both writer and artist a real chance to shine. Not all the time but say, every 4th issue or so.

[Min S. Ku]

Originally posted by John Delaney


P.S. Personally I think these books would benefit greatly from 2 issue expanded storylines.The stories have to be immense to properly showcase the characters. 44 pages woulld give both writer and artist a real chance to shine. Not all the time but say, every 4th issue or so.

I agree as well. Besides it'd be neat to have the two parters in the comics since the JL show consists of two parters (some even three!).

Min

[DisneyBoy]

..give Tim Levins a chance??? :rolleyes:


Ok, Ok, I'll stop now!

[Salvor]

Originally posted by DisneyBoy
..give Tim Levins a chance??? :rolleyes:


Ok, Ok, I'll stop now!
Geez you could at least pay a little respect to the guy. I mean, you may not like him and feel like criticizing his work (just like I do for Scott Peterson), but no need to show such scorn... just because he isn't around much anymore it doesn't mean you're entitled to despise him (or anyone) so harshly.

Sorry, I just had to get this off my chest. Tim is actually a friend of mine... sort of. And besides, just like Maxie, I'm getting tired of ppl deliberately NAMING those whose work annoys them.

[DisneyBoy]

...sorry. Didn't mean to disrespect anyone. I know I complain about the B: GA creative team a lot...maybe more than I should...but I have no reason not to respect the actual people. So, to be clear, I don't know Scott Peterson or Tim Levins and respect them as much as I would anyone. I just don't like their work very much. And I've always said this regardless of whether or not they visited the boards...

[DisneyBoy]

...and it's because I don't really enjoy Tim Levins' work in GA that I'd prefer that he not do an issue of JLA...

If he did, I wouldn't really freak out, I just prefer to see less of his work in animated form from now on...

[Dan Slott]

Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!
Everyone play nice, okay?
Comic creators are people too. If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us...
Well, you get the idea.
Please criticize the WORK all you want-- but PLEASE be constructive and specific. Don't just slam for the sake of slamming. WHAT don't you like about someone's work? HOW can they make it better? WHERE did they take a wrong turn?
Everyone deserves to have their OPINIONS heard. That's what's great about this country! G.B.A.! But, let's keep the vague slamming down. The fact that you don't care if these people (Scott and Tim) visit these boards is valid-- It's tantamount to saying, "I would say this right to their faces if I could." And... wait... who's that knocking on your door! Oh my GOD! It's THEM! RUN!
Just funnin' ya.

So Disneyboy, keep writing in. I really DO want to hear what you have to say-- but remember, comics aren't mass produced by robot-workers in Detroit. We're people. Actually, most of us are sensitive artsy types... and we bruise very easily. (sniff sniff) :(

[James Harvey]

Wow...this thread has gotten so off topic maybe we should open a new thread where we can just chill with the creators. I'm not slamming the thread or anything (it rocks), but I can't remember when we last talked about JLAdv #4 in here...:)

Maxie says-- Hint taken.:)

D'oh! Now people will have to go back and reread the old posts, just to look for any edited-in replies I make! :D

[PDStorrie]

Originally posted by Dan Slott
So Disneyboy, keep writing in. I really DO want to hear what you have to say-- but remember, comics aren't mass produced by robot-workers in Detroit. We're people. Actually, most of us are sensitive artsy types... and we bruise very easily. (sniff sniff) :(

As a Detroiter, I'll try not to take that personally, Dan. ;)

PDS

[DisneyBoy]

Yikes, yikes, yikes!!!


Ok...(deep breath) I think everyone is getting the completely wrong impression of me here! :( I do appreciate the fact that Batman Gotham Adventures even exists ! I am always willing to give constructive criticisms! I try my darndest not to "slam" anyone! Really ....!!! :(


I'm worried now that if I post a message about what I think Levins and Peterson should improve on, everyone'll lynch me! I care about how I make others feel, I really do , and I when I said "give Levins a chance? :rolleyes: " I only meant that I don't think he'd be able to handle Justice League Adventures any better than he handles Gotham Adventures or those Flash and Superman issues! If he's doing the best he can, great ; I'm all for patting him of the back, but since I don't know him, all I can do is evaluate his work from my perspective. My honest opinion is that I think he has done a decent run on the series and in order for it to survive the "Adventures Curse" (cancellation after the cartoon ends), the series needs a new artist and writer. As for talking behind his back, that's not what I'm doing. I never insulted him as a person or said he couldn't draw- cause he obviously can! And I've even told him, here at these boards, that I didn't enjoy most of Peterson's aimed-at-children stories...really, I did! And I didn't do it to be mean. Rather, to let him and the writer know that they're heading off track. He took it like an adult and said he didn't mind Peterson's tales and I accepted that...and that's all that happened.

I think if I was blindly attacking writers and artists without validating my words, then it would be necessary for others to remind me that I should control myself, but I've done everything possible to respect the boundaries and behave maturely...I hope you guys can see that... :(

I'll cut back on any sarcastic jokes if it would make you all more comfortable...I don't know if you guys know this, but I'm a sensitive artsy type too, studying Fine Arts as we speak...and I'm always willing to avoid bruises on either side...

So don't worry, I'm not here to cause trouble, and I'm sure Levins would be honored by you looking out for him. Just thought you guys should know that you have nothing to fear from me...

[TheHuntressDiana]

Originally posted by PDStorrie
Ah. That explains a lot. Sometimes I really regret living in Detroit (well, okay, I was in LA when I wrote issue two) rather than NYC. There's a lot to be said for the ability to drop by.

You know Paul, if I hadn't met you a while ago, and you're a very nice guy, I'd almost have to be upset with you 'bout that little comment. ;)

But I can understand the "drop by" factor being convenient.

Maybe you can work on getting a DC office in Detroit? Na, Auburn Hills would be better...much more to do 'round there. ;)

-Bianca

[PDStorrie]

Originally posted by TheHuntressDiana
You know Paul, if I hadn't met you a while ago, and you're a very nice guy, I'd almost have to be upset with you 'bout that little comment. ;)

Hey, Bianca, it wasn't a shot at Detroit, just a comment about the convenience of being by the NYC publishers! :)


But I can understand the "drop by" factor being convenient.

That's all I'm sayin'! (Although NYC is a terrific town. Loved it when I visited there.)


Maybe you can work on getting a DC office in Detroit? Na, Auburn Hills would be better...much more to do 'round there. ;)

For me, Royal Oak would be more convenient. Closer to home and plenty to do there too.

Oh, and can I buy a clue? I assume you stopped by my table at a convention but I'm at a loss to remember which.

Wow, we couldn't get anymore offtopic than this, could we?

So, what did you think of Justice League Adventures #4? :)

PDS

[TheHuntressDiana]

Originally posted by PDStorrie
Oh, and can I buy a clue? I assume you stopped by my table at a convention but I'm at a loss to remember which.

Wow, we couldn't get anymore offtopic than this, could we?

So, what did you think of Justice League Adventures #4? :)

PDS [/B]

It was a Motor City Comic Con...I couldn't tell you which one it was, because I don't remember. But I did meet you there. {hint, I've got pictures, all one needs to do is ask} :)

As for issue #4, I'll let ya know later tonight. I'm going to pick up my books on my way home from work.

But the art from the first four pages looks great.

[PDStorrie]

Originally posted by TheHuntressDiana
It was a Motor City Comic Con...I couldn't tell you which one it was, because I don't remember. But I did meet you there. {hint, I've got pictures, all one needs to do is ask} :)

Okay, I'm askin'! Just email away to PStorrie@aol.com.


[b]As for issue #4, I'll let ya know later tonight. I'm going to pick up my books on my way home from work.

Excellent!

Of course the question now becomes, did you pick up Justice League Adventures #2, the one I wrote?

PDS

But the art from the first four pages looks great. [/QUOTE]

[TheHuntressDiana]

Originally posted by PDStorrie
Of course the question now becomes, did you pick up Justice League Adventures #2, the one I wrote?


Yes I did. I enjoyed it.

The "snake women" and their Amazonish qualities, especially the use of the word "sisters"...and the very heartfelt moment between J'onn and the little girl at the end.

I enjoyed #2 a lot. :dot:

[PDStorrie]

Originally posted by TheHuntressDiana
Yes I did. I enjoyed it.

The "snake women" and their Amazonish qualities, especially the use of the word "sisters"...and the very heartfelt moment between J'onn and the little girl at the end.

I enjoyed #2 a lot. :dot:

Thanks!

PDS

[Dan Slott]

Geez, maybe the two of you should get a room! :)!
(Just kiddin'!)
TTYL!
Dan

[PDStorrie]

Originally posted by Dan Slott
Geez, maybe the two of you should get a room! :)!
(Just kiddin'!)
TTYL!
Dan

Dan,

First the slam on Detroit and now this after I sent another reader out to buy Justice Leagues Adventures #4!

I'm deeply, deeply hurt (or I would be if I weren't an essentially shallow person)!!

PDS

[Dan Slott]

Paul, my brother-in-Justice-League-Adventures-Comic-Writing,
I meant no disrespect to the Utopia-on-Earth we mere mortals have named Detroit. A thousand pardons, sir.
Your humble servant,
Dan

(They're still BUYING JL Adventures #4, right?)
:)

[TheHuntressDiana]

Originally posted by PDStorrie


Dan,

First the slam on Detroit and now this after I sent another reader out to buy Justice Leagues Adventures #4!

I'm deeply, deeply hurt (or I would be if I weren't an essentially shallow person)!!

PDS

Hey buddy! I have JLadventures pulled for me at my shop...you didn't convince me. :p ;)

[PDStorrie]

Originally posted by Dan Slott
Paul, my brother-in-Justice-League-Adventures-Comic-Writing,
I meant no disrespect to the Utopia-on-Earth we mere mortals have named Detroit. A thousand pardons, sir.
Your humble servant,
Dan

(They're still BUYING JL Adventures #4, right?)
:)

Dan, the-great-one-who-writes-so-many-of-the-Justice-League-Adventures-comics-and-makes-me-sooooo-jealous-in-the-process,

Forgive me, but I am in a persnickity mood today and will only grant 999 pardons. The other will be held on the off chance I can use it to convince you to buy me a beverage at the next convention we both attend. I know the chance is, as they say, fat, but who can tell?

And, yes, I'm sure the copy of JLAdv. #4 will still be purchased!

PDS

[PDStorrie]

Originally posted by TheHuntressDiana
Hey buddy! I have JLadventures pulled for me at my shop...you didn't convince me. :p ;)

Shhhhhhh! Dan doesn't know that!

PDS

[MattL.]

Disneyboy: Sorry that you feel my recommendation for Tim Levins to do an issue of JL is like the coming of the anti-Christ, but I like his work and think he would do a kickbutt job, so I'd love to see it.

Just want to throw a question out to the creators on this thread, would any of you consider doing a Superman TAS project like a stand alone mini-series or graphic novel?

and just to keep the post on topic, just want to say that J no.4 had some of the best color work I've seen in a long time on a book.

[Min S. Ku]

Originally posted by MattL.


Just want to throw a question out to the creators on this thread, would any of you consider doing a Superman TAS project like a stand alone mini-series or graphic novel?

If there's enough of an interest by the readers (and sales of the other Adventure books support the enthusiasm), DC could be swayed to bring out a mini-series of Superman Adventures. I know I'm all for it (although I'm betting any of the animated artists out there would be for it as well!). I'd love to see a Batman Beyond mini series resurface as well.




and just to keep the post on topic, just want to say that J no.4 had some of the best color work I've seen in a long time on a book.

John Kalisz's colors are definitely improving as the issues roll by; Can't wait to see how he colored up the different super villains in #6!

And thanks for your two cents on issue #4, TheHuntressDiana... here's a useless piece of info for ya... i came up with the design for that panel with Diana's silhouetted head (as well as the opening page) at my barber shop while waiting for my turn to get a buzz.

Min

[James Harvey]

Another question for all of ya:

Since writer/artists usually don't live in the same areas or work side by side, is it hard to communicate during the whole writing/drawing aspect of making an issue?

Also, is any checking out <a href="http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=20296">John Delaney's Poll</a> up here? Pretty sweet, eh? Yeah - a blatant plug...I know, I know....:)

[Dan Slott]

Jim,
With the issues Min and I did with each other-- we talked SO much on the phone... it's scary! Just the fact that I live on the East Coast and Min is out West... Yowch! I shoulda just put the phone down, save up my money, and bought a plane ticket-- FIRST CLASS! (Just kiddin'!) Actually, since working on these issues Min and I talk to each other ALL the time anyway! He's a hoot!
Also-- Min would send me e-mails of his pages at the end of his working day-- WHICH WAS A GODSEND! Since Min would turn in his work to the office in chunks (a third or half of the book at a time) that would give me a few extra days to think about the script and polish it up. I LOVE having extra time to mull over pages, but usually when an editorial office gives them to you, they want a speedy turn around (this is so EVERYONE ELSE can keep working-- letterers, inkers, colorists, seperators, production-- you name it!). I also try to see how much script I can trim out. It's my personal preference, when I have the time, to keep the script to a mininum. A mistake a lot of writers make (please keep in mind that this is just my personal opinion here) is that they treat comics like they're movies or television. And comics are comics. What I mean by that is, a lot of writers think that their dialogue is like a soundtrack, that they can have the characters SAY as much as they want. BUT THEY CAN'T because in this medium dialogue goes into word balloons and that translates into physical space-- space which eats away at your visuals. And in a visual medium, that's not a good thing.
The first full issue of a Superhero comic that I got to write was WHAT IF? #52 back in 1993 (Please, dear god, don't go back and read it!). I was SO happy to be writing dialogue for DOCTOR DOOM and THE FANTASTIC FOUR that I went a little dialogue-happy. The artist, Manny Galán (one of my best friends-- I'm the Godfather to his son for Pete's sake) was FURIOUS at me! All of his art was being covered up by word balloons! In almost every frame word balloons were cutting into the tops of character's heads. Manny bawled me out, calling them, "Word Balloon Sombreros"! And he was right.
To this day, I still use that term. And if I see I'm making a W.B.S., I take another crack at my script and see if I can say it with less words. And you know what? I think it works-- you see more of the art, get tighter dialogue, and hopefully get a more memorable scene.
My favorite moment in Superman Adventures #57 is PAGE TWENTY ONE/PANEL FIVE. A guy opens up his shirt, revealing a Superman T-shirt underneath. He says four words: "I do it too."
My favorite moment in Justice League Adventures #4 is PAGE NINETEEN/PANEL TWO. And all Batman says is, "Really? So am I!" (I'm not describing the scen for you-- either you've read the book and you know EXACTLY what I'm talking about. Or you haven't... and then just WHAT are you DOING on this thread?!).
Yet again, I've realised that I've rambled horribly off topic and have avoided the original question all together! Ah well!
TTYL!
Dan

P.S. Jim-- Hey! You never DID chime in on the actual issue? What's with that? :)
P.P.S. Hey Paul, make you a deal-- I'll trade you some of my issues of JL Adventures for your FIVE PART GOTHAM GIRLS MINI-SERIES! Oh... and a hundred buck every time you go around "GO." :) :) :)!!!

[PDStorrie]

Originally posted by Min S. Ku
If there's enough of an interest by the readers (and sales of the other Adventure books support the enthusiasm), DC could be swayed to bring out a mini-series of Superman Adventures. I know I'm all for it (although I'm betting any of the animated artists out there would be for it as well!). I'd love to see a Batman Beyond mini series resurface as well.

Heck, I'd love to WRITE a Batman Beyond mini-series! I had a great time writing the two issues that I did and more ideas were popping into my head all the time.

PDS

[PDStorrie]

Originally posted by Jim Harvey
Another question for all of ya:

Since writer/artists usually don't live in the same areas or work side by side, is it hard to communicate during the whole writing/drawing aspect of making an issue?

Most of my contact with the artists I work with is via email. At least on my "mainstream" work. On my first comic book series, I talked on the phone with my artist all the time.

With most of my stuff for DC, primarily because I've been doing fill-ins, I haven't had all that much contact with my artists. I turn in the scripts, the editors ask for tweaks as needed and I see the finished product when it hits the stands.

I envy Dan and Min their phone time (though not their phone bills).

PDS

[PDStorrie]

Originally posted by Dan Slott
P.P.S. Hey Paul, make you a deal-- I'll trade you some of my issues of JL Adventures for your FIVE PART GOTHAM GIRLS MINI-SERIES! Oh... and a hundred buck every time you go around "GO." :) :) :)!!!

Sorry, Prof. Zoom, no can do. Even if I wanted to, I've already written the scripts! :)

Say, what else have YOU got on your plate these days? Any exciting new projects we haven't heard about yet?

PDS

[Dan Slott]

Paul,
You wrote: "Say, what else have YOU got on your plate these days? Any exciting new projects we haven't heard about yet?"
Well... I've got Justice League Adv. #6 coming out in April, #10 in August, and another story in the works as we speak. In the next week or so I owe an inventory issue of a DCU Superhero book (not telling which one... but I WILL say that it involves some of my favorite DCU characters and leave it at that.).
I've still got to wrap up the script for an inventory issue of Gotham Adventures (guest starring THE CREEPER! Woo-hoo!). AND, right after I log off here, I'm going to put the finishing touches to a Powerpuff Girls comicbook script. For the truly devout members of the Dan-Slott-Fan-Club (get your decoder rings ready!) if you really feel the intense completist need to read EVERYTHING I do, next month in Looney Tunes #89 you can catch a one page gag I did-- trust me it's well worth the price of admission (at least that's what Mom says).
As for "The Big Projects" and other news... well, that's all "Top Secret Status," and I don't want my blabbing about it to upset the delicate balance of comic book politics. (But for members of the DSFC, set your rings to Alpha/Epsilon: GXN MQXXH TU7W7!)

TTYL!
Dan!

P.S. BRX RKKZ G7WCJX SQOPQX!!! (Ha! That one always cracks me up!)

[DisneyBoy]

I already clearly said that I don't think Levins is an anti-christ , Ok?

Sheesh...let's get back on topic, K?


To Dan and Paul and Min...I'm really getting lost! Your posts are all so witty and cleverly written that I find myself needing to re-read them! It feels really wierd knowing that the people that create the stories that we all read and treasure are starting to drop by to chat about...well, anything! :p It's like Diana sitting down to lunch with the Gods! ;)

[Failure]

Originally posted by Dan Slott
Manny bawled me out, calling them, "Word Balloon Sombreros"!

LMAO! I just want to say how totally awesome it is that creators like you and Min and Paul are shmoozing with the fans!

[Min S. Ku]

Originally posted by Jim Harvey
Another question for all of ya:

Since writer/artists usually don't live in the same areas or work side by side, is it hard to communicate during the whole writing/drawing aspect of making an issue?

Not really... especially since most of us have e-mail addresses. If not over the phone, I've communicated with the different writers that I have worked with, through e-mail. It's an easy way of asking for clarifications on a particular script. Gotta love the internet!

Min

[PDStorrie]

Originally posted by Dan Slott
I've still got to wrap up the script for an inventory issue of Gotham Adventures (guest starring THE CREEPER! Woo-hoo!).

Grrrr. One of the ideas I had floated for my next BATMAN BEYOND fill-in/inventory was "Return of the Creeper (Vid at 11!)"

Sounds like you're keeping pretty darn busy. Congrats! Make sure to keep the Toonzone crew posted as new things develop.

Oh, and my decoder ring is broken. Your first message came out, "Net Batty Powow" and the second...well, I can't print that on an all-ages board.

PDS

[PDStorrie]

Originally posted by DisneyBoy
To Dan and Paul and Min...I'm really getting lost! Your posts are all so witty and cleverly written that I find myself needing to re-read them! It feels really wierd knowing that the people that create the stories that we all read and treasure are starting to drop by to chat about...well, anything! :p It's like Diana sitting down to lunch with the Gods! ;)

Gee, DB, I haven't been compared to an Olympian god in DAYS! Thanks. :)

Seriously, message boards like this are a great 'quick fix' for a Convention junkie like myself. I love meeting and greeting with other pros and the fans at shows so this is just an extension of that.

PDS

[DisneyBoy]

"Gee, DB, I haven't been compared to an Olympian god in DAYS! Thanks. "



LOL :D :D :D So, care to fill us in on who said that ??? LOL


...nevermind, I just don't want to know! :o

[John Delaney]

Originally posted by Jim Harvey
Another question for all of ya:

Since writer/artists usually don't live in the same areas or work side by side, is it hard to communicate during the whole writing/drawing aspect of making an issue?

Also, is any checking out <a href="http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=20296">John Delaney's Poll</a> up here? Pretty sweet, eh? Yeah - a blatant plug...I know, I know....:)
Hey Jim
As always, a great and insightful question. I always try to open the lines of communication with the writers and inkers I work with. On Adventures in the DC Universe, Steve Vance and I talked almost daily as well as inker Ron Boyd and I. When a book has a regular team that's always an easier thing to do. Generally I like to call the writer on the phone( as I did with Fabian) when I first get the script to find out if there's anything they'd like to flag. With the exception of one creator, I can think of no one who doesn't like to have a vocal conversation at the outset to try and go over the story. Although, like Min I also use our friend the internet to go over plot points and visuals with writers and editors. Also the San Diego Con has always been great for meeting collaborators face to face. When I met writer John Rozum (who I frequently work on Scooby Doo and Dexter with) I found his sense of humour so engaging that I found myself laughing even harder while reading his scripts since I now know where he's coming from. That really helps when I'm trying to draw a visual gag described in the script.
Cheers
John