For proof that the Emerald City Comicon is the coolest and laidback convention around, one need look any further than Saturday’s “Pint O’ C.B.” panel.
A spin-off of Joe Quesada’s “Cup O’ Joe” panels – where the audience is given free reign of questions – editor C.B. Cebulski was joined by current Marvel Universe architects Brian Michael Bendis (New and Dark Avengers), Ed Brubaker (Captain America and Daredevil) and Matt Fraction (Iron Man and Uncanny X-Men).
Cebulski told the crowd he lost a list of announcements he was planning to make, and that the audience was free to start asking questions. The dialogue between creators and fans was light, making the hour fly by.
While no news was pimped, the informal Q-and-A covered everything from what books the creators were digging to reflections on the old Marvel Fanfare book, Rom: Space Knight and the death of Ultimate Daredevil.
The gauntlet for good questions was dropped when Bendis announced that he had brought along a few advanced copies of his Free Comic Book Day New Avengers issue, drawn by Jim Cheung, and would reward only “great” questions.
“And by great, I mean really kiss my ass.”
The panel began with clearing up some rumors surrounding the potential of a “Dark X-Men” book, which Fraction said, “at this point in this in time, there is no Dark X-Men book.”
One of the first questions was if Wolverine could be a candidate for Sorcerer Supreme, referring to Bendis’ current arc on New Avengers.
The writers then threw out some suggested ideas for what a more magical version of the hairy Canadian might look like, including Fraction’s revelation that Logan is already dressing like Zatanna, with fishnets and a top hat.
Bendis offered proof that the feral mutant might already be displaying new magic-based powers:
“He made his movie magically appear on the Internet,” which drew some laughs from the crowd.
Next, Brubaker talked about his decision to leave Daredevil.
“I figured out the plotline all the way to #500…and I realized if I left right there I would be screwing over the person who followed me in the exact same way [Bendis] screwed me over.”
He also said that’s he been continuously taunting Andy Diggle, his successor on the book.
The conversation turned to the writers discussing comics they’re currently enjoying, and Bendis gave away the first free comic of the panel.
Fraction said Scalped, Ivan Brandon’s upcoming Viking and Fear Agent.
Brubaker cited Ted Naifeh, creator of Courtney Crumrin, Locke & Key, Northlanders and the Buffy comic. He then asked his fellow writers if he “should recommend a book that outsells all of ours?”
Props were given by Bendis to Fraction’s Casanova and Brubaker’s Sleeper, and also Jonathan Hickman’s Transhuman and Nightly News. Cebulski gave praise to Joe Kelly’s I Kill Giants and to manga creator Noaki Ursawa (Monster and Pluto), which Fraction also agreed with.
Some of the geekier discussion revolved around praise for Marvel Fanfare (which might be reprinted!) and Bendis’ love for Rom: Space Knight, which ended with him stating he could die happy if he ever got to write a nerd-porn crossover with ROM, Buckaroo Banzai and the Micronauts.
Discussion also turned to the going-ons of Norman Osborn and it was agreed that the initials of H.A.M.M.E.R. would probably never be revealed because it’s more fun guessing, similar to how the initials in W.A.S.T.E. [Fraction’s organization in Casanova] never stay the same from issue to issue.
One fan asked Bendis why Ultimate Daredevil had to die in the tidal wave that destroyed much of Ultimate New York, to which Bendis revealed that aside from helping Peter man up, it also boiled down to science. (The buildings in Hell’s Kitchen are lower?)
But a highlight was Fraction’s re-enactment of Ultimate Daredevil’s final moments.
“No, seriously, guys – I hear what sounds like running water. Does no one else hear that? It’s so weird.”
One convention-goer asked the writers if there was anything that Marvel had rejected of theirs.
“I can’t get the word “taintpunch” into Ultimate Spider-Man. I’ve written 133 issues – that means I’ve tried 133 times.”
Bendis also said he’ll never be able to get another humor book printed after Wha…Huh?.
Fraction described his pitch for a Sabretooth story that involved the mutant teaming up with a P.R. manager and killing a busload of children. Despite it being rejected, the crowd seemed into it.
Fraction also talked about one of things he was most proud to see appear in his and Brubaker’s Iron Fist: Artist David Aja’s sound effects, which included a neck being broken to “ka-neck” and a shirt slashed with a sword to “shrrt.”
The panel quickly ended with a fan calling for the return of Graviton – which he was denied – along with the last free comic.
However, the highlight of the panel was unquestionably a verbal throw-down between two fans, ending with one getting a free comic for a quick and snarky comeback to a heckler in the audience regarding Thor’s odds of joining the Avengers.