That Liefeld video idea might be one of your best yet, and hot take: Good for Rob having such sincere enthusiasm in that video. That video really explains a lot about Jonathan's Ultimate Spider-Man run, to be honest...
Chip is everything okay? I see that Waid's name is above yours on Absolute Power, does that mean Waid has Absolute Power over you? Let me know if you need me to send Mark a stern email about this...
Yeah, really excited to see Gotham War finally out in a complete trade. Was killing me, the wait between this next volume and the previous one, so you better believe I devoured it soon as I got it! Really was a fun read, but by God on high, I swear you and Tini probably wrote the most unlikeable and insufferable Batman I have ever read. Granted I know Zur was influencing him, but seriously, by the time I was done, I really wanted to give Bruce a superman powered SLAP right across the face for some of the dumb shit he got up to in this one. and he’s supposed to be one of the smartest men on the planet and yet he can’t see that he’s definitely acting wrong, and that something is off about him (even if Zur was pressing on him to ignore those feelings that in itself should have clued him in that something was off.)
My hope is that, with Dark Prisons done, and that Fight with Zur finished, that Bruce will take from this chapter in his life and learn NOT to manufacture a second personality inside his brain that can gain independence and take control over him! In that sense, Joker definitely was ahead of the curve in that lesson.
Actually, and as i write this I can’t believe I’m saying it, there’s a part of me of late that really has been considering that Joker, of the two, may in fact be more intelligent that Batman is. I mean sure, Bruce is the world’s greatest detective and all that, and he prepares for everything, and Batman always wins and shit, but at the same time, especially of late in the past decade, Joker has thrown things at Bruce that if honestly the clown had wanted, or if others hadn’t intervened to help, could have beaten Bats. It’s like Captio said: They all live and breathe because Batman and Joker allow everyone to. if they wanted, really wanted, their war could burn the world down to ashes and leave them the only survivors at the end of the day.
But I digress. Batman 150 is around the corner, Absolute power is looming over us for the rest of the summer and beyond, and I am absolutely dying to see what you have planned for after the event passes for the Dark Knight. Any chance you might be willing to share the name of your next Batman arc after Absolute Power ends???
"that Bruce will take from this chapter in his life and learn NOT to manufacture a second personality inside his brain that can gain independence and take control over him! "
haha I think you can safely say he won't do this again
And sure, why not? The next arc is called "The Dying City"
Hopefully. Have to admit, of all the crazy things he had put himself through to be prepared for “anything” this one always sounded like a very very VERY bad idea. Just glad Bruce finally picked up on that, however many years later since Zur first appeared back in Grant’s run.
The Dying City. Huh, sounds very interesting to say the least. Thousands of possibilities for what this will entail flash through my head, but I have learned by now not to solicit spoilers from you. So i will just eagerly await to see what the fall brings for us. Though if I WERE to form a hypothesis for what this could have to do with, my comic senses tell me I should look to Savages new friends, who helped put him in the commissioner chair there in GCPD.
Consulting my Help Out Chip duotang: How about "HNHonion"? Here's another idea: SIX CRIMINALS. Six criminals are criming. They stop to have s@xy times and are arrested, convicted, and now have adventures doing time. Why not do a shiny Batman? He seduces criminals with his shiny bat-thighs and then punches them right in the ol' kisser.
one quick quibble about this back and forth you had with yourself:
"hunt it down in a couple of weeks if you’re a CHIPLETIONIST!"
"I DON’T THINK THAT’S A THING AND ALSO IT SOUNDS A LITTLE DIRTY"
"Damn right"
i think it IS a thing AND i think it doesn't sound dirty at all, because look at the syllable that "chip" is replacing in "completionist"! the dirtiest syllable of all! and now it's gone, thanks to chip! you are a hero of cleanliness!
okay, one quibble with my one quibble: i think it might be two quibbles.
Hey Chip! When I first read this newsletter I was laughing thinking about Hickman getting 787 advice from liefeld. but then I realized rob thinks that this is somebody leaving their steady job not to mention that they are the top salesperson and that's his advice?!! Sheesh!! I really also wanted to thank you again for your response to my previous comment. Your honest and relatable advice and view on FOMO has really helped me more than I can really describe. Thank you again and safe travels especially if you are driving les nessman.
Watching this Rob cameo the day after watching Wolverine & Deadpool (the true title of the money) was gold. Finally it pays off to be extremely bad at emails!
Chip, you're such a legend. That Rob video had me cackling.
he's very enthusiastic! Best hundred bucks I ever spent.
“Maybe show your coworkers your comic when you’re ready. Big John.”
I think a Hickman is legally required to sign all comics as “big John” from here on out.
haha YES
That Liefeld video idea might be one of your best yet, and hot take: Good for Rob having such sincere enthusiasm in that video. That video really explains a lot about Jonathan's Ultimate Spider-Man run, to be honest...
His enthusiasm is infectious!!!!
I'm going to be laughing forever.
🙏
Seriously!
I'm on the fucking floor crying laughing
when you SHOULD be at the writing table practicing 7/8/7!!!!!
Chip is everything okay? I see that Waid's name is above yours on Absolute Power, does that mean Waid has Absolute Power over you? Let me know if you need me to send Mark a stern email about this...
age before beauty!!!!
hi
what
just saying hello do we know each other
That Rob Liefield video is not only hilarious, and that's genuinely good advice for writing a pilot. My substack subscription continues to pay off
Yeah, really excited to see Gotham War finally out in a complete trade. Was killing me, the wait between this next volume and the previous one, so you better believe I devoured it soon as I got it! Really was a fun read, but by God on high, I swear you and Tini probably wrote the most unlikeable and insufferable Batman I have ever read. Granted I know Zur was influencing him, but seriously, by the time I was done, I really wanted to give Bruce a superman powered SLAP right across the face for some of the dumb shit he got up to in this one. and he’s supposed to be one of the smartest men on the planet and yet he can’t see that he’s definitely acting wrong, and that something is off about him (even if Zur was pressing on him to ignore those feelings that in itself should have clued him in that something was off.)
My hope is that, with Dark Prisons done, and that Fight with Zur finished, that Bruce will take from this chapter in his life and learn NOT to manufacture a second personality inside his brain that can gain independence and take control over him! In that sense, Joker definitely was ahead of the curve in that lesson.
Actually, and as i write this I can’t believe I’m saying it, there’s a part of me of late that really has been considering that Joker, of the two, may in fact be more intelligent that Batman is. I mean sure, Bruce is the world’s greatest detective and all that, and he prepares for everything, and Batman always wins and shit, but at the same time, especially of late in the past decade, Joker has thrown things at Bruce that if honestly the clown had wanted, or if others hadn’t intervened to help, could have beaten Bats. It’s like Captio said: They all live and breathe because Batman and Joker allow everyone to. if they wanted, really wanted, their war could burn the world down to ashes and leave them the only survivors at the end of the day.
But I digress. Batman 150 is around the corner, Absolute power is looming over us for the rest of the summer and beyond, and I am absolutely dying to see what you have planned for after the event passes for the Dark Knight. Any chance you might be willing to share the name of your next Batman arc after Absolute Power ends???
"that Bruce will take from this chapter in his life and learn NOT to manufacture a second personality inside his brain that can gain independence and take control over him! "
haha I think you can safely say he won't do this again
And sure, why not? The next arc is called "The Dying City"
Hopefully. Have to admit, of all the crazy things he had put himself through to be prepared for “anything” this one always sounded like a very very VERY bad idea. Just glad Bruce finally picked up on that, however many years later since Zur first appeared back in Grant’s run.
The Dying City. Huh, sounds very interesting to say the least. Thousands of possibilities for what this will entail flash through my head, but I have learned by now not to solicit spoilers from you. So i will just eagerly await to see what the fall brings for us. Though if I WERE to form a hypothesis for what this could have to do with, my comic senses tell me I should look to Savages new friends, who helped put him in the commissioner chair there in GCPD.
Consulting my Help Out Chip duotang: How about "HNHonion"? Here's another idea: SIX CRIMINALS. Six criminals are criming. They stop to have s@xy times and are arrested, convicted, and now have adventures doing time. Why not do a shiny Batman? He seduces criminals with his shiny bat-thighs and then punches them right in the ol' kisser.
dear chip,
love the newsletter!
one quick quibble about this back and forth you had with yourself:
"hunt it down in a couple of weeks if you’re a CHIPLETIONIST!"
"I DON’T THINK THAT’S A THING AND ALSO IT SOUNDS A LITTLE DIRTY"
"Damn right"
i think it IS a thing AND i think it doesn't sound dirty at all, because look at the syllable that "chip" is replacing in "completionist"! the dirtiest syllable of all! and now it's gone, thanks to chip! you are a hero of cleanliness!
okay, one quibble with my one quibble: i think it might be two quibbles.
thanks for all you do!
love
myq
hm good quibbles tbh
well, they don't call me Quib Zdarsky for nothing!
(they don't call me that for anything either.)
((they don't call me that.))
Hey Chip! When I first read this newsletter I was laughing thinking about Hickman getting 787 advice from liefeld. but then I realized rob thinks that this is somebody leaving their steady job not to mention that they are the top salesperson and that's his advice?!! Sheesh!! I really also wanted to thank you again for your response to my previous comment. Your honest and relatable advice and view on FOMO has really helped me more than I can really describe. Thank you again and safe travels especially if you are driving les nessman.
Oh man! I'm glad it helped!
Watching this Rob cameo the day after watching Wolverine & Deadpool (the true title of the money) was gold. Finally it pays off to be extremely bad at emails!
haha PERFECT
You’re too funny
Wow. *Bows
Chip, that video. 😂👏👏😂 Rob being a great sport (I miss 22 page comics), you being a super genius, and Big John moving from X to US-M.
Wait, there’s no Blooming 🧅 or Super Sized 🧅?
I think those silly legal people must give you Zdarsco Inc. back, dammit.
Have a nice week.
Man, that whole Liefeld video had my guts a’bustin. Here’s hoping Big John got a kick out of it!