I’m a Costco Exclusive (sort of)

Posted by Bob Greenberger on November 27, 2010

I have been meaning to mention this but have completely forgotten so let me rectify that by alerting you to a Costco exclusive.

The publishers behind The Spider-Man Vault, the book I aided Peter David in writing, was scheduled for mass market release this fall, but it was subsequently decided to hold off.

Instead, only members of Costco can find it for sale this holiday season. Reports are that the warehouses are filled with copies of this and my own Batman Vault, which was cowritten with Matthew K. Manning.

I suppose the theory is to wait for the fourth Spider-Man movie to come out in 2012 rather than the imminent Broadway debut of the Spider-Man muscial. The problem there, of course, is that the book will be seriously dated by then. So, if you’re interested in the subject — and you should be — now you know where to buy this.

Being Thankful

Posted by Bob Greenberger on November 24, 2010

As the year winds down, people have taken the time to begin taking stock of their life, the year, the decade, whatever moves them.

It usually begins now as we share the things we have to be thankful for.

This year has been a struggle for me and Deb and promises to be tough in the coming months as I switch from fulltime freelance to part-time freelancer and fulltime student. There have been health issues and the general frustrations that come with being a homeowner, an employee, a citizen of the United States, and a human being on Earth.

So, finding the things to be thankful for isn’t coming as easily as usual.

But, once I put my mind to it, obviously there are plenty of things to appreciate.

It begins with Deb, my partner in the journey. We passed the 30 year mark and show no signs of slowing down. It continues with Kate whose accomplishments continue to shock and awe us.

It also encompasses our friends and neighbors. Once more, when things grew tough, we have been showered with love and support. Those nearby and those far away have been sources of strength and without them, life gets a lot less interesting.

I’m thankful that we continue to live in a country that enforces freedom of thought and expression no matter how much we don’t necessarily like what we see, hear, or read. As we watch other peoples suffer with fraudulent elections robbing them of their voice, we had a contentious but perfectly legal election that continues to be a beacon for others.

Enjoy the feast by yourself or with friends or with family. Take the time to be kind to yourself and those around you. Do something for those less fortunate and be thankful you can be of help.

A Pox on U-Verse and Stuck with Cabelvision

Posted by Bob Greenberger on November 22, 2010

I came home from summer camp one year and was amazed to see my father watching an uncut movie on television. He explained it was a clearer picture and we had all these new channels to watch thanks to this thing called cable television. We were among the first to subscribe to Cablevision when it launched back in the dim times. While in high school, my friends and I made one goofball project on ¾” video tape and took it to the corporate headquarters, which at the time was in Jericho, and offered it up for their public access channel.

It was my first exposure to the Dolan family who founded the company and I distinctly remember coming away from it not all that impressed with father or so. That feeling has not changed, nor has my ambivalence towards Cablevision altered.

Still, when I was living on my own just before marrying Deb, I subscribed to Cablevision and have remained a subscriber without interruptions since 1980. Today, though, we almost moved away from them, severing the relationship.

Back in mid-October, two salesmen from ATT’s competitive U-verse came door-to-door in my neighborhood. Since we’ve been looking for ways to save money and have been frustrated with the limitations of Cablevision’s DVR and channel line-up, we listened. Deb was favorably impressed and the pricing for an apples to apples comparison of our cable, internet and phone service meant we could save $40 a month while gaining a more robust DVR and several channels (BBC America and DIY) which we’re longed for.

Kyle and his partner spent close to two hours with us given slow computers at their end, getting us set up. One hang up was that we had three phone lines to transfer, one more than the norm and it required what they kept referring to as an override. Kyle kept assuring us this was not a problem.

A few days later we got a call confirming the paperwork was being processed but she mentioned only two of the phone numbers. I mentioned the override, was assured it was being checked on and we’d be good to go.

The call confirming our appointment, promised for November 15 came November 19 and no one said anything was amiss. This morning, Tim the technician arrived and guess what? That’s right, there was no override and he wasn’t certain a third line could be handled by their equipment.

Tim and Deb spoke with customer services at varying levels and it was learned that we’d need a standard landline for the third number which, when added with the other pricing, put us on par with Cablevision. Since this was not at all what we wanted, we canceled the installation and suspect Kyle will be getting a scolding.

Meantime, I called Cablevision this afternoon, letting them know ATT has come calling and as a loyal customer of three decades’ standing wanted to see what they could do for me. First, I was assured a new, more powerful DVR that would surpass the ATT model was being tested and would be rolled out in early 2011. After that, the answers were less than wonderful.

Despite John Bickham, the company’s president advocating he was in favor of ala carte pricing in 2005, she couldn’t tell me when he’d put those words into deeds. She couldn’t tell me when the customer rewards program that offered free movies to patrons in other states, would either start offering them in Connecticut or stop taunting Connecticut customers with the e-mail reminders. Yes, she confirmed, many other customers have asked for BBC America but she had no real explanation why they’re being so thickheaded.

And no, we were offered no additional incentives for staying with them rather than switch companies.

As usual, I feel stuck with a company that does not give me the services I want.

Work Update

Posted by Bob Greenberger on November 19, 2010

Since coming back from Baton Rouge, I have been rather busy and for a change it has been mostly freelance work and not school work. Let me fill you in…

Zenescope Entertainment hired me to edit two graphic novels for them as part of their deal with the Discovery Channel and Animal Planet. For now, we’re producing two books with hopes for more. The first will be about ten different dinosaurs, spanning the ages; while the other will focus on ten animals.  These are fact based books filled with information for readers 12+ but told via graphic stories.

I fell into this via my pal Barbara Kesel, who suggested me to them. I am now assigning stories and artwork and acting like a comic book editor, something I haven’t done in way too long and miss terribly. I need to close both books right after the New Year and they will be out later next year.

I am working with people I know and trust (and are willing to work for the rates available) while also getting to work with people new to me so it’s all very exciting.

Meantime, Dynamic Forces asked me to work on a few more projects for them — two editing gigs and one writing — so those are now up and running. More details when I’m allowed.

I also wrote my article for February’s Star Trek magazine, the first time I’ve done work for them in about a year and it was certainly fun to dig back into that world.

I’ve also been asked to write articles for future issues of Marvel Spotlight magazine as well as a Captain America 70th anniversary magazine.

Of course, there remain numerous other pitches and projects that bop around the ether and I remain ever hopeful that some get approved.

Maybe things are starting to pick up a bit. While all of the above improves my feeling about the freelance career, none of these will make me rich or deter me from the teaching path I have embarked on.

Fandemonium Wrap-up

Posted by Bob Greenberger on November 14, 2010

Running a convention is similar to the old Vaudeville routine of spinning a series of plates atop sticks and keeping them all going without letting any fall and crack. When Robert Picardo couldn’t be on hand to screen his movie on Friday night, they bumped it to Saturday. What I didn’t learn until Saturday morning was that my personal spinning plate was going to jump sticks a few times.

Since I was going to do my usual Trailer Park gig in the auditorium at Noon, followed by Picardo’s solo hour, it was decided to screen his movie and go right into his time, since there was an empty hour after him. That would mean shifting the trailers to the Hilton where I was scheduled to do comics-related panels from 2-4. I agreed but insisted that proper signage go up to make certain people knew what was going on for both the movie and me. As it was, the schedule merely listed me in the auditorium, nary a word about the trailers was mentioned, which experience tells, is a selling point to some fans.

As a result, I did my hour at 11 on myths and Marvel, sitting with a rather knowledgeable high school teacher who nicely retold the classic myths for a cute but bored eight year old dragged there by her grandfather (who I first met in 1983 when I was down for the short-lived Acadianacon). After that, Alan Chafin and I were asked to escort Picardo from the Hilton to the theater and he immediately remembered Alan from July’s Mystery Trekkie Theater skit which was nice.  The movie was enjoyable on many levels although Picardo was the best thing in the film, cast opposite a relatively weak bunch of performers. The fantasy sequences suffered from budget constraints and the script tired to be universal in its themes but there were too many missing specifics robbing the characters of depth. Overall, though, it was very entertaining and I’m glad I saw it.

Once the lights went up, I ran back to the other hotel, checked out (don’t ask) and ran down to show my trailers to the 6-8 people who came by. That is, we got them running once the computer was brought to the room and then was properly set up to the projector so the trailers, nicely assembled for me by Glenn Hauman (thanks Glenn!) would project. Once we were done, no one came in for either schedule comics talk so I chatted about general themes and issues related to getting material optioned for Hollywood, trends in audiences’ tastes and the like. At some point, a woman came in with her portfolio and I snagged it, flipping through her work and holding it hostage so we could chat about it when I was free.

Shortly after 4, we ceded the room to the next programming and I was informed the masquerade and charity auction had been canceled (a general lack of attendance plagued the animation festival, which was charging admission for the first time) so I was suddenly done for the weekend. I was also starving having never had lunch.

I hung out in the hallway, briefly chatting with Kelsey about her work while Alan talked up her boyfriend, Ben. Before I knew, they came over and announced we were all going to an early dinner so artist and editor could properly talk about her work. We piled into Alan’s car in search of dinner but it became clear, most of the restaurants closed early so everyone could tailgate for that night’s LSU game (even if they were playing Monroe, a minor threat at best). We headed out of town until we found a Lebanese/Greek restaurant where we got to know one another over some fine food. After dinner, I spread open her portfolio and we went through her work which had a nice fluid quality to it, with nice body language. I gave her tips, we discussed the digital comics she wanted to produce and I think it helped her.

We dropped them off for the con’s Video Game/Musical Performance evening event while Alan brought me to the Belle of Baton Rouge, where I checked in. Once in my room, I settled in, checked work stuff and then watched two episodes of the wonderful Sherlock (a review of which runs over at ComicMix on Monday).

And now I am headed for home, where my Stat test awaits followed by more project editing and the rest of reality. Overall, I’m very glad I came because those who attended seemed to enjoy my talks while I got to see a plantation, relax with an old friend and meet some new ones.

Fandemonium Day One Report

Posted by Bob Greenberger on November 13, 2010

The Red Stick International Animation Festival has been growing nicely as a Louisiana attraction, honoring filmmakers from around the world and screening works people wouldn’t get to see otherwise. Animation in all forms is being celebrated and over the last five years, the event has been growing.

This year, it was decided to grow by adding a component they called Fandemonium, bringing aboard local SF fans that run their own convention, Babelcon. Red Stick wanted a fan convention experience to attract more people to Baton Rouge and that is how I wound up being invited down here as a guest of the show. The con headliner is Robert Picardo and there’s a dealer’s room, masquerade and charity auction all on the schedule.

Now, I don’t know all the politics or players but I have to note that the connection between Red Stick and Fandemonium is not all it could be. The website, for example, never really played up this aspect of the convention. The online schedule, for example, is about evenly split between Fandemonium activities and Red Stick lectures and screenings but panel participants in the former are not mentioned so you have no idea when I’m talking.

Still, I have been personally made to feel quite welcome.

I flew in on Thursday and was greeted by my old pal Alan Chafin and his cohort, Polly Luttrell. Together, they usually make con appearances talking all things Star Wars, but this time, I was entering Polly’s world. She is the curator at the nearby Rosedown Plantation, and I was given a private tour. Having never been to a plantation before, I wandered slowly; gaping at everything I was shown. I enjoyed the experience immensely.

On Friday, I was given a badge (no lanyard or pocket sleeve, just a card to carry around) and handed two four-color sheets of paper which was the schedule. Given the lack of Fandemonium promotion and publicity, I was wondering how many people would come to the con aspect and then with two tracks of programming, how many would attend either panel.  I also learned the entire Red Stick/Fandemonium event was spread over several venues.

My first panel was “So you want to be a Professional Writer” and the seven members of the audience and I had a lovely and informative chat. I was free for a while so returned to my room to work on stuff then after some wonderful Po Boy sandwiches for lunch, Alan and I regaled four others with a discussion of American genre TV compared with its British cousin. Later, I had a solo hour they cheekily billed as “Bob Greenberger, the man, the myth, the legend”. I’m apparently not all that legendary since one guy came to hear me. He’s an 18-year army vet, having done two tours in Iraq and so we discussed his experiences there but he then peppered me with questions about my editing days at DC so we revisited the late 1980s and it was fun (and boy, do I miss some of those titles).

As a VIP, I was invited to the Awards banquet where the Fandemonium folk were given their own table. I got to meet Howard Nash, Picardo’s producer on next year’s The Legends of Nethiah, which will screen tonight. Picardo himself was delayed after being booked as a guest on an episode of The United States of Tara but is arriving as I write this. Anyway, the lifetime achievement award was posthumously given to animator Pres Romanillos, the man who animated Shan-Yu in Mulan, Pocahontas and Little Tree in Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron. His career was nicely covered with a video retrospective and live comments from Spirit’s producer and a video tribute from Pres’ mentor, Glen Keane. His wife, Jeannine, accepted the award from Baton Rouge’s mayor Melvin “Kip” Holden.

A new category, SciAn, presented an award to CNN for their consistently excellent use of computer animation in their scientific reporting. Then Golden Baton Awards were given to winner of the student film, music video and all around excellence. It was nice to see clips, showing us the potential available in film today. Many of the LSU student volunteers told me they were art students hoping to become animators so this was especially encouraging and inspiring to them.

And now, another day of programming awaits…

Professional Work Update

Posted by Bob Greenberger on November 7, 2010

I haven’t talked about professional work much of late, largely because there has not been a lot to report and that in itself is a bit of a lesson.

When the Who’s Who was temporarily suspended in the spring, I was surprised and have devoted my time to finding replacement work. As of now, DC Comics remains committed to the title, most recently acknowledging at New York Comic-Con that it is in their 2011 plans. I await word from them who my new editor will be given Bob Harras’ ascension to Editor-in-Chief but no doubt this is a low priority project while the corporate dust continues to settle.

Many proposals continue to float in the ether. Aaron Rosenberg and I have a collaborative fantasy novel sitting on an editor’s desk after having to re-send it because he lost the first copy. Another collaboration sits with the agent, who has yet to read it or send it out. And yet another collaborative project has gone through tremendous birth pangs and may wind up stillborn, similar to the ReDeus project that didn’t get its Kickstarter financing.

I contacted one agent about representing me on a non-fiction project I am passionate about but several publishers privately told me they liked it but couldn’t take it on. I await his opinion. He and his partner were also interested in my Young Adult fantasy idea but wanted to see sample chapters and after getting some 20,000 words written, stalled as time became limited thanks to school, politics, and life.

Three different graphic novel projects that were born as a result of my time in Spain this spring continue to slowly progress as the artists fit in the sample pages around their paying work.

While at NYCC, one publisher seemed particularly interested in my writing for her and I whipped up an armload of story springboards for three different series, sent them off and…silence. Two other projects for a different publisher, one I would edit, the other I would co-write, sits awaiting feedback.

I have also been continuing to pitch comic book stories as opportunities present themselves.

I did take on one short-term editing project for Dynamic Forces and delivered that, which may lead to more work. And this past week, I agreed to edit two one-shots for a new company I have never done work with before. I’m excited because it means I have some paying work, it could lead to more, and I get to work with friends – new and old. More details on this one when I can talk more about it. Marvel Spotlight and Star Trek Magazine have also asked me to pen articles for them in recent weeks so things are a tad busier than they were and maybe that’s a sign of better times ahead.

And of course, I continue my regular column at Fairfield Patch and my semi-monthly column for Westfield Comics.

None of the above is a complaint, but an update. This is the reality of the freelance life for me, and so many of my peers. Publisher has undergone tremendous upheavals between the economy and the arrival of eReaders as a new channel. More than a handful of my friends have taken day jobs once more and of course, I am pursuing my own Plan B, working on becoming a teacher. The hope remains that even after I complete the coursework and find a job, I will have time to write and edit because those are integral to who I am.

Something Old, Something New

Posted by Bob Greenberger on November 4, 2010

Authors usually like it when people buy and read our works, but we also crave feedback. Sometimes we write things and you wait, but are greeted with silence. The Patch column I posted about bsuiness in Fairfield last week got zeor comments, which was unusual.

Then, in a week, you get some nice comments.

Reader Leroy Douresseaux recently blogged about my Scribe-award winning novelization to Hellboy II: The Golden Army. He notes, “Using straight-forward and rather plain prose, Robert Greenberger conjures the creepy Gothic and weird rococo world of Hellboy II – from the exciting action to the fantastic realms and peculiar creatures that inhabit them. For anyone who has seen the film, the novelization is a good way to relive the fun. This isn’t a great fantasy novel; it is simply something that readers don’t always find – a prose adaptation that is worthy of the original film.”

Then, Comics Bulletin posted the first review for Gotham City 14 Miles, the anthology celebrating the Batman television series. The money quote, as they say, is: “One of my favorite articles in the book is Robert Greenberger’s article about the proliferation of Batmania during the first season of the show. Greenberger lays out the history of the era in fascinating and entertaining depth, explaining succinctly and intelligently why the Batman TV show caught the imagination of Americans so thoroughly.”