3Q3A 010
"They can't miss you if you don't leave..."
Good news!! This is a hectic week getting the Sourcebook ready for the printers, so lucky you, this is gonna be a shorter than usual 3Q3A.
In fact, let’s get to the questions NOW!
(But make sure and read to the very end for a special announcement about next week's column!)
Q1
Chaeovatyrxia pounds out:
Mr. Wacker, sir, will 3W/3M ever be open for amateur comic creators to contribute to the universe? Like even a zine or something?
A1
I don’t see us ever officially publishing something like that since the team has enough stories to take them many years to get to. Plus, there are a few 3W3M projects in discussion with other creators that I should have news on in the coming weeks.
But look, while I would strongly suggest you tell your own stories, what used to be somewhat dismissively called “fan-fiction” is now sometimes a viable way to hone your craft — as long as you aren’t trying to make money off of it.
Q2
Ian A. sez what?!:
I'm not sure if this was addressed when the black-and-white version of THE LAB was posted, but two of the three-word balloons in panel 3 of page 3 appear to be misattributed.
A2
Great catch! Last week’s color version of THE LAB was inadvertently posted with outdated lettering. We’ll be updating the post soon. Be on the lookout! (And nice editing! Now can you help me figure out how to tell the Mikes apart?)
Q3
After I mentioned buying a record player, Tvrold’s fingers clicked:
Ok, maybe this is a weird question, but what record player and what is your favorite vinyl you've played so far?
A3
I bought a pretty basic Audio-Technica off the shelf at my local electronics store. I’ve spent more time replacing all the old records I used to have …including these beauties!
REMEMBER SEVEN DAYS AGO?
Last week while showing off pages from the [SYSTEM] Sourcebook, I talked about some other beautifully designed books, and you came back with some other great ones in the comments. Here are a few:
MUSEUM FREMEN: O Human Star by Blue Delliquanti –“A phenomenal story about love, robots, resurrection, and gender identity. And the production is top-notch.”
LOGAN LEGER: The Urban Comics edition of Curse of the White Knight - “It’s an absolute masterpiece of printing, and the art is simply incredible. Took a lot to get one imported, but so happy I was able to get one.”
CHAD: The Locke & Key Head Games IDW Limited Editions –“with the massive box, the Rodriguez prints, all the extras, and of course, a key.”
WYNNESOME: Weapon X Gallery Edition; Silver Surfer Black treasury edition. The Declan Shalvey Marvel Monograph book; Mike Huddleston’s Art of Decorum (Ed’s note: YES!! I WANT!!)
NEXT WEEK!
By popular demand, I am taking a week off, so next week’s 3Qs will come from a special guest Editor.
We will be welcoming my old officemate… and Substack convert…longtime Marvel editor Tom Brevoort to answer your questions …and field any complaints about me. (Believe me, it’s his favorite subject.)
Yup, It’s 3W3M’s first official crossover!
Subscribers can leave questions for Tom below, and we will pick the best 3 for next week.
All I ask is that you at least PRETEND to miss me.
See ya in Seven!
Viva Templar!
Steve
05/02/22
This may not be the best question for guest editor week, but it's been bugging me (slightly) the last couple of weeks, so why not?
Post-Sourcebook/Foundations will we be getting more of a connected narrative or narratives, plural? The worldbuilding is absolutely superb, there's no question. And I know I'm probably just being an impatient douche, but it's hard to like...describe 3W3M to people. There's not really a "story" yet so when they ask "What's it about" I end up rambling about Science/Magic cycles, Space Whales, and direct creator support, then by the time I'm done they've already written me off as a madman, or worse, a huge nerd.
I want nothing more than to see interest grow in such a cool concept/world, but As 100% all-in as I am about it, I haven't been able to convince one person to sign up.
I just want to be able to have a like one sentence explainer to get people interested. "Alt History Sci-Fi Western", "High Schoolers training to be assassins", "Duck-Totem anti-hero fights Trickle-Down economics" Something quick, you know?
I don't know. Maybe I'm just a bad hype man.
Don't take this as doubting the direction of things, I've already budgeted for year 2, I just want to see it grow into something more than a hyper-niche web-comic.
Questions for Tom: when pitching, what is one thing newer writers aren't doing that they should be doing and which writer holds the Marvel record for most charts per pitch?