On Friday word leaked out on Newsarma.com that the four Februrary-launch Epic titles, including our own “Young Ancient One” would not be released as individual series, but as part of one big anthology title. Follow up reports appeared on ComiX-Fan, Comicon Pulse and Comic Book Resources. Several outlets asked me for my comments on the situation. I’m posting them here as well:
As reported, myself and the rest of the “Young Ancient One” creative team received an e-mail on Friday informing us of Marvel’s intention to combine the four unpublished Epic comics into one anthology title.
The news came as a shock and disappointment. A shock, because I had been assured just weeks earlier that the three-issue series would be published as promised. A disappointment, because the chances of the anthology going to a second issue seem miniscule.
It’s a real shame. My team has been doing fantastic work on the book and we’re all proud of how things are working out. Everyone who has seen Andy and Bill’s artwork so far agrees that it is of extremely high quality. Andy’s rendering of 15th century Asian architecture and weaponry, his cool character designs, his Ditko riffs have got everybody drooling.
I did a few interviews before the news came down. If you get a chance to read one those, you know I had high-hopes for the long-term potential of “Young Ancient One.” There are 500 years worth of stories to tell.
There’s still hope, I suppose, that the entire three issues of “Young Ancient One” will be published, as promised. If not, I’ll certainly be disappointed. At the same time, I have to look at the positives:
I’ve made a good friend in Andy Kuhn, who I can’t wait to work with on whatever’s next.
The strength of the three completed scripts has opened doors for me both inside and outside the comic industry. I’m presently attached to write a screenplay (a comic adaptation, naturally), which was a direct result of the “YAO” scripts serving as writing samples.
And, I can say with certainty that the Epic struggle has been a terrific learning and growth experience.
While I certainly wish the four Epic books would be published in their intended form, right now we can only hope for the best and dig in to the opportunities that have come up.
Dude, this sucks majorly big stinky ass. I WILL be buying the anthology, however, and really I don’t see why Epic supporters would be so against it if “fresh new talent” is something they’re so concerned about. I’ll probably e-mail you a little more concerning this.