Wednesday
Mar312010
Interview: Tom Brevoort
Wednesday, March 31, 2010 ;)
Following the Dollar Bin Forum backlash of Steve Rogers showing up in Marvel event The Siege and Invincible Iron Man before returning in his own mini series, Captain America Reborn, Adam grabbed an opportunity to discuss with Marvel Vice President Exectutive Editor Tom Brevoort (@TomBrevoort) the many aspects of being a high level editor including dealing with the unexpected.
Runtime: 44 minutes 43 seconds
The Dollar Bin audio player requires javascript to work. Please enable javascript or use the download link below to listen to our show.
Reader Comments (10)
I am so bummed about this interview for two reasons: 1. I had to miss it. 2. Adam did such a good job I am now unnecessary for future episodes. I have to say though, The Dollar Bin is steppin it's game up. Up next? Quesada.
Joel I don't think Brian would be able to control himself in that interview.
Another solid interview Adam! Not the answer I was hoping for in terms of event fatigue, but it makes total sense as to why they continue that route. Now if we could just get the Marvel addicts to vote with their wallets and not their keyboards we'd be in good shape!
It's good to get an inside look at the editorial process at the House of M. Also, nice job of tying previous podcasts together as well, hopefully something will come of it and we'll see Priest on some Marvel books soon! *fingers crossed*
We'd probably never get another interview with anyone ever again but it would be fun to see Brian lose it on Quesada and God help him if we ever got Frank Miller on.
Great interview. Brevoort's one of comics more likable upper editors and this interview makes that even more true.
Good job with the interview, Adam.
I've heard Brevoort interviewed before and have occasionally read his blog. He isn't one of my favorite people in comics. He comes off, to me at least, as a very rah-rah (let's go Marvel!) kind of guy. I get the impression that he is always looking at the bottom-line and the bigger picture, not quite so focused on the individual books. In a way it probably makes his job easier if all or most of the books are tied together in one or a few big events. He implies that if the books are selling then why should they change, after all they must be doing the right thing. I'm not sure if he really believes that and doubt that he would characterize it that way but that seems to be the path that his line of reasoning leads down.
Anyhow, I don't read the big event books. Comments like the ones that Brevoort made certainly don't encourage me to read the big event books. I was also surprised by the way he ended the interview. He didn't sound very interested in another Dollar Bin interview.
Its too bad you didn't have someone else (Joel, Terence, Brian, etc.) in on the interview. Someone who might have taken a different approach or given you a chance to think of some other questions while they take the lead asking questions. Regardless of who the subject is I think it helps to have more than one person on the line asking questions for those exact reasons.
OK, I'm stepping down from my soap box now and looking forward to next week's show. :)
Kilmarock makes a few good points but I think that part of his job is to be a cheerleader for Marvel. As the second only in line to the big Q at Marvel even if he doesn't like the direction he can't say it publicly. I have backed up my dislike for megacrossovers with my wallet and have only bought a handful of Marvel trades in the past 5 years so I've voted with my wallet. I think Adam's planning a round 2 for Brevoort in a couple of months so we'll see how that goes. Speaking of interviewing editors way up the Marvel chain we've lined up an interview with a former Marvel EIC in a few months. Can't tell you who but I am so excited I can't see straight.
I much more having another person doing the interviews with me so I can collect my thoughts and play off someone else' style.
I don't think Brevoort would mind doing another interview. If the ending came across abrupt its cause I cut about 10-15 minutes off of non interview material and spliced the ending on.
I don't buy many event related titles from Marvel or DC, but I do read Shawn's, though she too is cutting back. I'm not asking for lulls or downtown just more focused story telling.
I've decided there won't be a new show this weeks 'cause Shawn and I are honeymooning. However, we have so good interviews in the can, an Anime show, and we are going to be a Mocca this weekend and so will Frank Miller, so we'll see.
See you all in a couple weeks.
I hope you have some prerecorded Brian Eison hate to play for Frank Miller if you ever see him.
Sounded like Marvel is in tune with its readers avoiding company-level events as to avoid staleness and keep events tied to family books, which us long time readers have seen in the early 90s (X-Tinction Agenda in the X-Titles and Operation: Galactic Storm in Avengers books).
So, yay.
I did cringe at the "boring story" remark — there's nothing wrong with a small, character-driven one part story. Or even a well-crafted two-parter — Jonah Hex and Spider-Man, for example. A breather is good for us readers and for the characters. Company-wide crossovers run the risk of becoming so plot heavy that characterization is lost and dialogue becomes interchangeable (cough cough DC cough cough). Or, characters get lost in the shuffle or unable to continue their progressing story line having to pause their respective title and momentum for the big event.
I'm cautious of family title crossovers, these days.. It boggles my mind how a single title Hulk birthed a multi-book crossover to include Red Hulk, two book-end comics, changing Incredible Hercules back to Incredible Hulk for a third title, and Savage She-Hulks.
Good interview.