The manga signing at Golden Apple last night was awesome. We drew a very large crowd by comic book in-store signing standards, and it was more like an informal party than anything else.
I’m telling you, if you’re local and into comics or Star Trek, you should come out to one of these things, because we have a lot of fun getting our geek on.
At last night’s event, the SoCal contingent of Enforcers from PAX was in full effect, so we posed for a picture to protect our rep against the Seattle Enforcers, who I understand are always taunting the SoCal Enforcers with tales of awesome. Well, who’s awesome now, beeches?!
I also got to meet filmmaker John Singleton, who was on his way to a dinner, but stopped to get his comics on the way.
"Wow, I am a huge admirer of your work," I said when we were introduced.
"I’m an admirer of yours, as well," he said, and I could tell that he meant it. A lifetime in the entertainment industry has given me a nearly flawless bullshit detector, and I was totally floored by his sincerity.
I stayed at the shop until they closed down, and picked up Batman #668, which will wrap up Grant Morrison’s outstanding run on the series. I also grabbed a 100 Bullets trade, a 1602 hardcover, and a book for Nolan called The Big Book of Hoaxes, which I think he’ll like. I now have so many unread comics, trade paperback, and graphic novels, I will have to take a full day to do nothing but read them. It’s a sacrifice, I know, but I’m willing to make it. Stiff upper lip and all that.
I met a bunch of people from TokyoPop, including the publisher. In the film and television world, this would be the equivalent of meeting a network or studio head, and those guys are always douchebags, but Mike from TokyoPop was a cool guy. In fact, everyone from TokyoPop was cool, and I felt like I was talking to people who are in this because they’re passionate about the work and excited about the future of Manga in America.
And speaking of the Manga, there’s another review out today, from activeanime.com:
The first volume really had a fan fiction feel to it, and frankly, the
art work left a lot to be desired in many cases. In this volume, the
stories have more punch, and the design is better. Perhaps some of the
talent behind the stories is to account for this. One of the writers
is Wil Wheaton- yes, that Wil Wheaton of TNG fame. He shows he has the
right stuff as a writer for the franchise with his work “Cura Te Ipsum”
which headlines the book. Damaged engines, Scotty getting new crystals
from the middle of a war zone, and McCoy wrestling with his conscience
and the Prime Directive whilst seeing a civilization tear itself apart
are prominent elements in the classic tale that could easily have been
an episode in the original series. You can see the author has caught
the essence of what the classic shows were all about and has cleverly
distilled it in a compact manga format.
Dude! I’m 2 for 2! Awesome.
Our next stop is at the West Hollywood Bookfair this Sunday, where we’ll have a Q&A, then we’re down in Manhattan Beach next week at Comic Bug for the final comic shop stop on the tour.
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Not. Fair.
Fly me to LA?
gah! i can’t believe i missed it – i’m excited for the book fair though!
Told ya so…
Wheaton-Sensei.
This is definitely the better of the two volumes.
Now, about that favorite scene you once mentioned?
Not the shocker!?! Oh, it’s on now…go West Coast!
Not the shocker!?! Oh, it’s on now…go West Coast!
Seattle Enforcers FTW! Everyone in that pic should move up here! 😛
I thought for a second that John Singleton agreed that he’s a huge admirer of his work as well. For that second he was the biggest ass hat in the world.
Wish you would have included a stop in the valley for this tour, of course I also wish the Golden Apple in Northridge hadn’t closed down.
sounds like a great time!!any chance of coming over to the East Coast for a signing? *sigh* wishful thinking..
Glad to hear that everything went well, Wil! (hey, alliteration! I’m Jese Jackson, and I never noticed…) Among the Tokyopop crew, did you happen to meet Shaenon Garrity? She’s a webcomic artist whose work I would highly recommend.
Good point, Hans. I’ve updated the original post with clearer dialog.
I recalled John saying, “So am I,” to me, meaning that he liked my work as much as I liked his. I took license in the update so that there’s no misunderstanding.
Damn it, Wil, next time pick up a copy of Suicide Squad: Raise the Flag! Mama needs a new pair of s– I mean, a sushi dinner! These books can’t sell themselves, as great as the inking is on them! 🙂
Wil is a big doodie-head and he wrote a story full of doodie! Is this what you’re afraid of reading out there?
Dude – STOP KEEPING SCORE! Your work rocks. Just be proud of what you created and start workin on the next thing. Just…enjoy this time. 🙂
The “Big Book” series is great; I think I’ve got half a dozen of them. (I’m probably most partial to “The Big Book of Conspiracies,” but, then, I’ve got a theory that there are subliminal message hidden with the artwork which TELL me that I’m partial to it.)
Note: JediFreeman used to live in SoCal!
Anyway, it means a lot that you posted the picture Wil. It was fantastic talking with you and just chilling… I’m reading your story after this and I’m super excited! Hope to catch you soon!!
Be careful regarding TokyoPop before being too enthusiastic about them. Google around for information on their history with contracts, artists’ rights, etc.
I concur with wintersweet (who I think I know…) on being cautious while dealing with TOKYOPOP. You might also want to talk to Rikki Simons (voice of Gir, Invader Zim) about how things went with the original book that his wife Tavicat did through them.
I hope you told Singleton that if he ever needs a geeky white boy for any of his films that you’re the man/geeky white boy.
Dam I loved Boyz N the Hood.
Right at the end when the Cube is walking away from the Cuba, and he fades away as he crosses the street is a great scene man. Fucking classic if ya ask me yo.
Anyways, congrats on all the good things happening to ya in the past little while,
Mark.
If only you’d asked Singleton the status of the forever-in-the-making “Luke Cage” movie that he’s been attached to for years now…
You rule, getting props from the man who wrote one of the greatest lines ever.
From Shaft:
“I’m gonna fuck you up for making me run!”
I also love the “Big Book of…” series. We have all the ones that have been put out. They’re easy reads, and filled with lots of nifty and interesting stories.
My husband picked up the manga a couple of weeks ago and I read your story in it. I, too, found it worth of the original series style.
Uber(sp?)cool! Good to see you are wearing your “expendable” tee-shirt and getting some use out of it – but you’ve proven once again you are not the expendable/disposable ensign!
If I can be at the Book Fair, I will be. I have a sudden urge to buy this book.
Very sweet interview — congrats on getting a killer story in the manga!
You know I can only but imagine, but I bet it feels great to get reviews like that, congrats I can’t wait until my copy of this graphic novel and my signed copy of your new book (please) finds it’s way to my door.
“It’s a sacrifice, I know, but I’m willing to make it. Stiff upper lip and all that.”
You are such a trooper. Y’know what would ease your burden as you take on this struggle. A couple of good dark beers. You know it makes sense. 🙂
Congrats on the review/book/PAXpix/Singleton-encounter day!
Sorta Off-topic…but, not…seen this?
http://icanhascheezburger.com/2007/09/27/khaaan/#comments
but, even better (buried in the comments:
http://www.tinyurl.com/yuzrj3
(Beverage alert)
Okay, so I read this post and checked out the pic before going to sleep last night. Then dreamt that I and my seriously hung over friend were buying concessions (like liquorice) from you at a hotel conference thing. Pretty weird. But the coolest part about the thing whole was, you had a hardback copy of Happiest Days and signed it and sold it to me! I was really excited for about 5 seconds after I woke up. Then reality intruded. 🙂
Wil, I doubt you’ll read this response all the way down here, but I kinda tried to be witty, not angry about John’s mutual respect comment. Guess not so well. Thanks for your reply though!
I am so happy to hear about the wonderful things that have been going on lately 🙂 I watched some PAX07 video on YouTube and was totally impressed by your keynote – and I want so desperately to see/hear the whole thing! It was incredible. Add to that the reviews and stuff you are getting and it looks like you have crossed yet another threshold.
I can’t wait to check out the manga. Congrats on everything!
“then we’re down in Manhattan Beach next week at Comic Bug for the final comic shop stop on the tour”
Does that mean that the Huntington Beach signings have been canceled?
Wil – congrats on all the positive turn of events in your life. You have worked really hard and you deserve all the accolades and fun. I hope this trend continues to satisfy your creative journey.
I finally got a chance to stop at the neighbourhood comic store tonight, and guess what? They didn’t have it. Worse: They didn’t even know the manga existed. At least the comic guy looked properly embarrassed and promised to try to get it. Not sure I can wait though…
dude. you rock!
I’m not sure where else to put this… but my 11th wedding anniversary is the 28th. My wife and I have spent countless hours talking about Star Trek. However, I don’t think she knows this is exactly the 20th year since TNG premiered. This is weird and I’m not sure what else to say, but… thanks, Wil… I feel like I kind of grew up with you.
Wil, I wish I did still live out there in L.A., I would love to check out Golden Apple, form the pic, it sure looks like it was fun! I had recently discovered your blog, and enjoy the hell out of it. You make us part of your world, and I also love your TV Squad STTNG reviews. Thanks for treating the fans like people. I used to extra work out there, and most principals were cool to us, but there were a few that were total asses. If you ever get out to Dallas, hope I get a chance to say Hi!
Wow, is this a shock to the system! I used to read your blog way back in 2002 for a good while and for some reason stopped. I can’t remember how I remembered or found this site again, but it’s so cool catching up on what you’ve been doing!
Morning Wil!
Can you post a list of where you are going to be with the signings? Also, any chance you are coming out Ventura county way?
Evie
Is the signing at Barnes and Noble on Oct 4 still on? Hope so!
Read this. Does anyone write sci-fi shorts like this anymore? No, not since the days when they had only books to read and occasional TV shows or reruns (eg: Star Trek, Space:1999). I remember reading my brother’s Isaac Asimov monthly readers and thinking what a cool and weird world they depicted. TV and movies really just don’t come close.
We have lost something with all these new gadgets; gained too, yes, but lost as well. Pity plenty of “kids these days” will never know the joy of getting hold of the latest copy of any periodical they might have liked, a rare but regular occurrence, once-a-month, and you had to pay for it, too, saving allowance money. Now it’s all “free” and blandedized on the Internet. Oh well.
I’m sure I’m not the first person to point this out, but the entire beginning of “Boyz in the Hood” is a clear reference to “Stand By Me”. You have the boys walking down the railroad track and the dead body. And then, at the end, Doughboy’s fadeout is the same as the one Chris Chambers does at the end of SBM.
So in sum, yeah, I’m pretty sure John wasn’t just bs-ing you!