Please Love Me
"FATHER...I SHALL BECOME... A BETTER WRITER MAYBE"
I worked with Tom on Spider-Man: Life Story, Invaders and Marvel Two-in-One. I’m working with him right this moment on a new secret project (SHHH). I don’t think any editor will disagree with me when I say he’s the best in the business. He helps shape story and is supportive and incredibly on top of things. He’s been at Marvel for 90 years and will be there for 90 more, editing stories about my death (Marvel owns my likeness).
I’ve often said this to my fellow creators that there are only two people in this world that I desperately want to impress, as if they’re my father. The first is Jonathan Hickman, because he’s evil and rich and when everyone’s talking story beats he is a heavy sigh in human form, wondering why these “people” can’t see what’s so blindingly obvious. He is smarter than all of us and I need him to like me if only so he won’t destroy me.
The other is Tom. Here’s an example of an email from any other editor at Marvel or DC when I send in a script:
“Thanks for the script! It’s AMAZING!! I love how Spider-Man goes to kill Green Goblin but then doesn’t!! Can’t wait to see what (fill-in artist TBD) does with it!! Keep up the great work!! I know you need this ego stroking in order to survive and keep producing scripts!!”
And here’s one from Tom:
“Thanks.”
He is an efficiency machine and when I get an email that says…
“Good job on this. Thanks.”
…tears well up in my eyes because I’ve made him proud. I tear my clothes off and walk into the woods, screaming to the heavens, “Fatherrr!! There is no limit to what I can do!”
…
Anyway, Tom is on Substack now and he’s unflinchingly honest and an amazing reservoir of Marvel history. Go subscribe.
Oh, and I should mention that there’s a third type of email you get from Tom once in a while:
“This handling of Mole Man is a complete misunderstanding of the character that will cause irreparable damage and I will not stand for it.”
But enough about MARVEL! I’m also a DC BOY! Today the next installment in my epic Batman mini with Carmine Di Giandomenico and Ivan Plascencia is out! BATMAN: THE KNIGHT #4 features the classic mentor Master Kirigi and also has Bruce’s first meeting with Ghost-Maker!
It’s not easy becoming Batman it turns out.
In other news, this week I finally saw Spider-Man: No Way (Way) and Th(r)e(e hour) Batman from the comfort of my covid-terrified home in the forest and—SPOILERS—I enjoyed them. I do miss movie theatres though, because sometimes when I’d go to my local theatre in Toronto I’d see magic. Like this time back in 2008 when I went to see The Incredible Hulk and wondered where the H went and then rounded the corner and everything in the world made sense:
Have a good week everyone.
Love,
Chip
That movie marquee is great. “Ulk is the wrongest one there is!”. Watch out for that “Ulk smash!” scene, though. NSFW!
I'm loving Tom's newsletter! I like Tom, too!