The Quarter Bin

Dynamite celebrated their 5th anniversary with a panel at Wizard World Philly today! These guys are always good for a funny, entertaining time, so read on to see what you missed.

The panel was a casual mix of audience questions and news/announcements from Nick Barrucci, President of Dynamite Entertainment. Joining Nick was Mike Lilly, Mike Raicht, Jim Kuhoric, Jeff Katz, Dennis Calero, Garth Ennis, Joseph Micahel Linsner, and Howard Chaykin.

-There is a loud, obnoxious group in the room next door. Nick: “I think it’s some New York improv group.” Howard: “Well, they should go back to fucking New York.”
-Nick wanted Bill Willingham to work for them, and now he will be. Nice! They won’t say anything else, though. He will be bringing a friend with him, full announcement coming next week. Awesome.
-What would you consider some of Dynamite’s best works? Nick starts naming… everything. “Every book is important to us because we are very selective.” “We are one of the only publishers who has taken a book from another publisher and made it more successful.” If it doesn’t mean something, then why would they be doing it?
-For Howard: How did you end up writing Die Hard Year One? Seemed like a good fit when he was approached with it. McClane will be very sensitive to the fact that he’s having a difficult time meeting women because of the public reaction to police in the 1970s, people were averse to cops.
-Garth compliments Nick (“Nicky”) on the level of creative freedom he gives them, freeing them from certain frustration. This freedom made the move to Dynamite with The Boys very good. I love his accent, even though I can’t always understand what he’s saying.
-Athena of Goddess descent getting series this year. “The artists are meticulous, i.e. slow.”
-The Howard Chaykin library is out.

-Power and Glory is continuing. Government invents superhero who is complete fuck-up, guy who trains him does all the work for him.
-Howard Chaykin retrospective late 09/first quarter 2010. 35-year history art book. Feels like he is always working hard to not be discovered as a fraud, “I hate these natural motherfuckers.”
-Project Superpowers statues coming this year.
-The Boys #34 was censored by Diamond. Nick: “What was that little thing that they had us censor?” Garth: “You haven’t told me yet.” Nick: “The swastika.” Image is censored in previews. “They should just bag the books and let the fans decide.”
-The Boys Definitive Volume 2 coming out, $75, also have other books coming out under $30.
-What inspired Man With No Name? They wanted to do it, sent them Lone Ranger, showed they could do a western. Any chance of LR/MWNN crossover? Not at the moment.
-Howard: “It pisses me the fuck off that I work in an industry where publishing things two years late is acceptable.” Awkward (but kind of funny) moment between Howard and Nick. Nick: “We’re publishing bi-monthly now.”
-Lone Ranger/Green Hornet crossover incoming.
-Question for Garth: Do you think you’d be as successful if you weren’t working for Dynamite? Nick: “Yes! Garth is successful anywhere!” Garth has been working for Dynamite only 2 years, and was already pretty well established, but between Dynamite and Avatar he’s happier than he’s ever been right now. Dennis: “Do you feel pressure to go back eventually to bigger publishers?” Garth: “No, but I have a sense that anything could change at any time.”
-Mark Guggenheim is working on classic Battlestar Galactica 1980.
-Collecting Dead Irons for hardcover/trade paperback.
-The Good the Bad and the Ugly #1 coming out next month.
-Matt Wagner will be writing Green Hornet #1, John Cassaday will be the regular cover artist “and may bring a few of his friends.”
-Trial of Sherlock Holmes and Complete Dracula were very successful, hardcovers out this year.
-The Boys: Herogasm was sent back without filling orders due to content, even though it was marked as being for mature readers.
-Battlefield collection, $30.
-BSG omnibus is coming.
-Howard Chaykin: “I’m an engine of bitterness.” Laughter. “You guys laugh, this is true!” Gets really loud next door again. “Shut the fuck up!” Chaykin has gone off on a rant that I can’t keep up with.

And that’s where it all ended. Thanks for another fun panel, guys.