This Week's Advice Column

Apr 16, 2009

You want your weekly dose of counsel and advice on being in a creative medium? Really? Is that what you want? Fine. Here: spend the sixty lousy bucks on Quicken and be done with it. Don’t just throw all your receipts and 1099s into a big drawer and expect to be able to neatly and effortlessly organize them on the morning of April 15, because you will instead spend that entire day sifting through a gigantic mound of paper and keening for the help of an unattentive but doubtlessly amused God. And you will miss any deadlines you had for the rest of the week. Like this one. Are you listening, Mark Waid of April 16, 2008? I thought not. You jerk.

Meanwhile, to quote John Rogers, yesterday, “all across America, thousands of people whose taxes will go down [were] marching and protesting the fact that my taxes will go up.” I love my country, but sometimes I feel far less charitable towards the people in it. Thanks for the concern, Tea Partiers! Hope you enjoyed being puppets of Fox News! If O’Reilly ever gets ahold of the Anti-Life Equation, it’s all over.

Next week, business as usual.

  • Press Release DC Announces 'Batman and Robin: Year One' by Waid and Samnee
    Jul 17, 2024
    It’s not easy to impose structure on a circus kid who’s never had any… DC Comics today announced a new 12-issue comic book series, Batman and Robin: Year One, by storytellers Mark Waid and Chris Samnee. The adventures kick off on Wednesday, October 16, when the first issue of the new series hits... more

  • RINGO AWARDS KEYNOTE ADDRESS
    Oct 02, 2023
    HOW TO STAY IN COMICS   The following--“How to Stay in Comics”--is the keynote speech I gave at the 2023 Ringo Awards in Baltimore, so named after the late artist--and my good friend--Mike Wieringo. Even if you’re not familiar with Mike, you will be by the end of the speech. I hope you enjoy it;... more

  • Superpowered: The DC Story
    Jun 27, 2023
    Award-winning writer Mark Waid is featured in this 3-part docuseries offering a comprehensive, inside look at DC’s iconic characters, cultural impact, and enduring legacy.

  • Netflix Sets Feature Take Of ‘Irredeemable’ & ‘Incorruptible’ Graphic Novel Series With Jeymes Samuel Directing, Kemp Powers Writing, Jay-Z & James Lassiter Producing
    Mar 17, 2022
    Netflix is developing a live-action feature take of the bestselling Boom! Studios comic series Irredeemable and its sister title Incorruptible with BAFTA-winning The Harder They Fall filmmaker Jeymes Samuel directing, Oscar-nominated scribe Kemp Powers writing and producers Shawn ‘Jay-Z‘ Carter and... more

  • Shaping a Universe: Mark Waid Returns to DC
    Mar 15, 2022
    Two years ago, a colleague introduced me at a promotional event for the Harley Quinn animated series to writer and frequent unofficial “ambassador of comics” Jimmy Palmiotti. To break the ice, she described me to him as the DC website and community’s resident trivia expert and knowledge-keeper. “... more

  • Rest In Peace
    May 11, 2020
    Can you point to something specific you read, something specific you saw or heard as a kid that is the one thing that made you what you are today? Chances are you can't--lives are huge tapestries full of so many, many threads, and we're the sum and expression of millions of experiences. I can,... more

  • Acclaimed comic book writer Mark Waid has a story for a Superman movie
    Aug 28, 2018
    If anyone has the sheer credibility to write a Superman movie, it's Mark Waid. The longtime and acclaimed comics writer has penned terrific story arcs for both of the big houses, Marvel and DC, and has put his imprint on many of the greatest heroes in each of those universes, including The Flash,... more

  • Send in Questions for Comic Book Writer Mark Waid!
    Jun 21, 2018
    Mark Waid, current writer of Marvel’s Doctor Strange and Ant-Man and the Wasp and Archie Comics’, well, Archie, and past writer of seven zillion comic books, will be doing a chat with us next week based on YOUR questions! We’ll be taking reader-submitted questions until Thursday, June 21st at 11:59... more

  • Mark Waid to Pen New Archie Series ‘Archie 1941’
    Jun 04, 2018
    Mark Waid will team up with co-writer Brian Augustyn, artist Peter Krause, colorist Kelly Fitzpatrick, and letterer Jack Morelli for a brand new Archie Comics series, Archie 1941. The new series will see Riverdale preparing to deal with the impact of World War II and how it affects the personal... more

  • At the 2013 O'Reilly Tools of Change Publishing Conference
    Feb 17, 2013
    I was honored last week to be asked to be a Keynote Speaker at the O'Reilly Tools of Change Publishing Conference in New York (thank you, Kat Meyer, for lining it up!) Here I am, preaching Digital Comics Storytelling (as usual). I'd like to think what I lack in polish, I make up for in enthusiasm.... more

  • Mark and Thrillbent in the New York Times
    Jun 01, 2012
    Hi! Lori here. I feel you should know that Mark, John Rogers, Peter Krause and Thrillbent all got written up in a terrific New York Times article entitled "In New Digital Comics, Each Tap Holds a Surprise.? Check it out!

  • John Rogers interview
    May 01, 2012
    Somewhere, somehow, in the middle of 850 new Dark Knight trailer posts, the web has a really good interview with Thrillbent partner John Rogers on comicbook.com:

  • The "R" Word
    Apr 30, 2012
    In the spirit of trying to learn and be receptive rather than hidebound and ranty, I have a question for all creative types: where do you draw the line on using certain words/images/phrases that could be inflammatory? I ask because a couple of times over the past few weeks, I’ve been brought to... more

  • Mark's digital comics site launching May 1
    Apr 14, 2012
    Hi! Lori here. Mark delivered his big announcement at C2E2 earlier today: On May 1, he and writer-producer extraordinaire John Rogers will launch Thrillbent, their new digital comics website. Mark will post much more about it here when he returns from Chicago so until then, check out this dandy... more

  • Forums are up.
    Apr 07, 2012
    Because Lori Matsumoto lives on seven minutes of sleep every 24 hours, the forums are up and running. I'm gonna get in there and lob some ideas out ASAP.  Come join me.

  • Print Math
    Apr 04, 2012
    Some very harsh truths about comics’ current existence and its future burrowed their way into my thick head about three years ago, back when I was Editor-In-Chief of a comics publisher called BOOM! Studios. I learned a lot at that job about the current state of comics publishing–not just from BOOM... more

  • Re: Muncie
    Apr 04, 2012
    In the previous post, I was using Muncie as an example of a town that ought to be able to support more comics shops than it does given that it's a college town (Ball State). As I'm well aware because I shop there, Alter Ego Comics is in Muncie, and store owner Jason is great and will order anything... more

  • C2E2 2012 Event: Waid Braves Certain Death
    Apr 03, 2012
    Got back yesterday from the 2012 Gem City Comic Con, a great Dayton-area show run by a terrific and energetic young Nate Corddry lookalike named Jesse Noble. I endorse it unreservedly. Amazing show, lots of money drummed up for the Hero Initiative, well worth the trip for me. And only one very... more

  • Welcome.
    Apr 02, 2012
    Welcome to the blog relaunch. Enjoy the show. If you’re just joining us, as many of you are, I’m Mark Waid, a very lucky writer whose 25-year career has depended exclusively on print–specifically, on comic books and graphic novels in their familiar paper format. I’ve had some very good years and a... more

  • Two Years Ago Today...
    Aug 12, 2009
            …my friend and creative partner, Mike Wieringo, was taken from us all way, way too early. Miss you, pal, more than you’ll ever know.

  • KCRW Guest DJ
    Jul 22, 2009
    KCRW, maybe the best-known, most well-respected indy station in America, has a weekly Guest DJ slot where they have famous folks come in and talk about their favorite music. Some of their guests include David Lynch, Tony Hawk, Tracy Ullman, Paul Feig…and, today, me.  I’m really, really proud of... more

  • Twitterazzo
    Jun 15, 2009
    One of the life lessons I will apparently never learn is that it never, ever pays to mix it up on the web. Last Friday morning, I was awakened by an early phone call. A friend of mine–let’s call him/her “Pat,” just to keep her/him out of this mess–was calling to tell me that industry rumormonger... more

  • What The Perfect Cover Looks Like
    Jun 11, 2009
      This is, hands down, the best cover I’ve seen on a comic for a while, maybe all year: DC’s THE SPIRIT #29 drawn by Paul Rivoche. It’s a master class in everything a cover should be, and I’m going to be using it as an example of “how to do it right” for perhaps the rest of my life. Let’s walk... more

  • Quick Update
    May 08, 2009
    It’s not that I don’t have anything to say about the craft of comics this week–it’s that I’m too busy writing them to get my thoughts together, so thanks for your patience as I try to wrap up scripting THE UNKNOWN. In place of my usual weekly lecture, I will instead refer you to the most invaluable... more

  • This Week's Advice Column
    Apr 16, 2009
    You want your weekly dose of counsel and advice on being in a creative medium? Really? Is that what you want? Fine. Here: spend the sixty lousy bucks on Quicken and be done with it. Don’t just throw all your receipts and 1099s into a big drawer and expect to be able to neatly and effortlessly... more

  • INCREDIBLES
    Mar 27, 2009
    The Incredibles #1 came out yesterday. Artist Marcio Takara made me look good. As usual. And I’m pleased that it seems well-received. I mention this not to plug my own work (though nothing makes Ross happier), but to brag about how I am roiling with only a little bit of bitter jealousy that The... more

  • The Watchmen/Eureka Connection
    Mar 10, 2009
    BOOM! co-founder and creator of the TV series EUREKA (comics on sale monthly from BOOM!) points out to me that there were no fewer than eight (!) EUREKA actors in WATCHMEN.  Three were non-speaking roles (Mike Carpenter and Clint Carlton, both stunt doubles on EUREKA, played Nite Owl I and Young... more

  • The Short Review
    Mar 06, 2009
    On the whole, I’m very pleased with WATCHMEN the movie. It reminded me a lot of BRAZIL–not because of the 1985 connection or because it was just as long, but because WATCHMEN was a wholly immersive experience. We made a BOOM! outing of it and everyone went, so if you weren’t at our offices today... more

  • Some Overdue Linkage
    Feb 20, 2009
    There are some folks who have been very kind to mention this blog on their sites, and since I’m fans of them all, I want to share some links with you (here, at least until our webmaster sets up a links sidebar for me. It’s not just my being polite; it’s that this will hopefully lead you to some... more

  • The Friday Miscellanea
    Feb 06, 2009
    Some totally random catchup items as we continue to wait for the podcasts to be edited, DAFNA. (“Dafna” is either [1] “Dafna Pleban,” our editorial assistant, or [2] the acronym of a sophisticated Kryptonian missile defense system. Your choice.) * 2009 New York Comicon this weekend. Unfortunately,... more

  • Coming Soon... to a blog near you
    Jan 30, 2009
    Normally there would be a much longer post here, but it's been quite a week, so for now, check out my interview on CBR about The Incredibles, and a keep eye out on this blog because we've got something special in the works!

  • The word's out as of today
    Jan 27, 2009
    The word’s out as of today. With the inestimable help of artist Pete Krause, I’m launching my next BOOM! series in April: IRREDEEMABLE. It’s a complex story about a complex man, but the short take is this: How does a man go from being the world’s greatest superhero to its greatest supervillain?... more

  • Welcome to MarkWaid.com
    Hi, and welcome to Mark Waid’s blog. If you’re here, I’m gonna presume you’re already passingly familiar with my resume, so here are the highlights: have written comics (like KINGDOM COME, FANTASTIC FOUR, EMPIRE and AMAZING SPIDER-MAN) for more than two decades; have been a publisher, an editor, a... more

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