This was actually a series of posts that I put up during my first days of working on my Marvel blog. The idea was to chart my workflow through the course of a single day’s work at Marvel–since every day is different, it can be difficult to summarize things for people. This was a snapshot example, reported in real time. I’m not 100% certain that this represents all of the posts I did that day, but I think it’s most of them,
April 28, 2007 | 1:00 AM | By Tom_Brevoort | In General
It’s Monday morning, first day, so I figured I’d start by walking through a so-called typical day, since people ask about that sort of thing all the time.
Been here an hour, and already have new scripts to read: the full script from Brian Bendis for the first issue of his project with Frank Cho. Cho’s already working from a partial script. The first script from Warren Ellis for his new project in my office. And a “Correspondence” story from Paul Jenkins to replace the one that ran into rights issues.
All of these scripts need to be read this morning and forwarded on to the next appropriate step, whether that means sending them off to the artists, or back to the writers for any necessary tweaks or revisions.
Also received a bunch of art files, including two pages from Steve Epting for CAPTAIN AMERICA, a page from Roger Cruz for MARVEL TEAM-UP, a colored page from Morry Hollowell for CIVIL WAR, and an image from Frank Cho for the sketchbook that Wizard is going to be running.
And also, have around fifty e-mails to deal with from over the weekend, of one sort or another.
More later.
Tom B
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April 28, 2007 | 1:00 AM | By Tom_Brevoort | In General
All scripts read, and some e-mails answered. Also went through the printer’s book for NEW AVENGERS #21, which is on press this morning, to make sure that everything will print correctly.
Next up, it’s time to do the voucher spreadsheet, so that all of our creators can get paid.
More later.
Tom B
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Monday, 11:36
April 28, 2007 | 1:00 AM | By Tom_Brevoort | In General
Spreadsheet done. Compiled by me and my crew, including assistant editors Molly Lazer and Aubrey Sitterson. Also went over the status of October-shipping covers, which we need to have ready by a certain date for the Previews catalog.
We’ve now got a good idea where things stand for the week, and who’s falling behind–and thus, who we need to contact. We’ve got 13 books to get into the Bullpen this week, of which 4 are already in place. Plenty to do.
I also got to compare Mark Millar to James Doohan. Life is good.
More later.
Tom B
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April 28, 2007 | 1:00 AM | By Tom_Brevoort | In General
Received this week’s update to the production schedule, and made adjustments to our in-office charts. Tedious, but imperative if books are to come out in the right sequence–and if the assorted CIVIL WAR tie-ins are going to ship in the right order.
Also began the daily ritual of calling Dan Slott for script. He’s still got over half of the dialogue to THING #8 to turn in, and the book needs to leave house today. It would be a good idea for us to perhaps letter the script as well, and that takes time.
More later.
Tom B
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April 28, 2007 | 1:00 AM | By Tom_Brevoort | In General
Proofread SPIDER-GIRL #100, sad final issue.
Off to lunch now.
No further script from Dan.
More later.
Tom B
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Monday, 2:32
April 28, 2007 | 1:00 AM | By Tom_Brevoort | In General
Ralph Macchio’s lunch order: two poached eggs on whole wheat toast, with two strips of very crisp bacon.
One more page of THING #8 script waiting when we got back, Page 8.
Also, questions from Matt Brady for the CIVIL WAR ROOM that runs at Newsarama after every issue of CIVIL WAR comes out. I know you’ve got your copy reserved this Wednesday.
And Mike Malve sent along his weekly update of how titles are selling in his chain of stores. FRONT LINE #1 seems to be the big winner of the week for Atomic.
More later.
Tom B
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April 28, 2007 | 1:00 AM | By Tom_Brevoort | In General
Back from the Character Management Meeting, which we try to hold once a week to coordinate the appearances of characters throughout the line. Haven’t had one in a while, so this week both the Mark Paniccia office and the X-Office ran down their plans.
We also had the countdown of the top-10 covers for August as voted on by the editorial staff–a competition designed to keep us all on our toes. The X-office took the top two spots, which would be infuriating if it wasn’t absolutely accurate–they had some great covers this month. Joe Q was again dismayed that his WOLVERINE: ORIGINS cover didn’t make the top-10, but it would have had a better chance had it been completed in time for the catalog.
Next up: I’ll be going through the composite for BEYOND #1, and hopefully sending it out to the printer. LAST PLANET STANDING #5 left earlier today.
More later.
Tom B
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April 28, 2007 | 1:00 AM | By Tom_Brevoort | In General
Mark Beazley just stopped by to show me the guts to the ETERNALS omnibus coming out in a few weeks. Looks sharp. I remember how strange and bizarre, almost shrill, these comics seemed to me when I first encountered them, mostly in the 3-comics-in-a-bag packages that you could once find in any supermarket or low-rent department store.
Spent most of the last hour dissecting the script to THUNDERBOLTS #109 with my whole crew, Molly, Aubrey and Andy Schmidt. We do this sort of round-table discussion with as many scripts as we can, in order to get as many viewpoints and observations into the mix as we can–but at the end of the day, it’s either I or the main editor on the series (in this case, Molly) who makes the final decision about what comments to go back to the writer with.
No further dialogue from Dan Slott. THING #8 is not going to the printer today.
Have a composite for MARVEL TEAM-UP #23 on my desk to go through, but it’ll probably wait for tomorrow, as most of the Bullpen has already made its exit.
Need to read a pitch for Aubrey before I leave today.
More later.
Tom B
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April 28, 2007 | 1:00 AM | By Tom_Brevoort | In General
Starting to wrap up for the day. Went through all of the open e-mails and got back to people with answers.
Looked over a prospective list of collections for the next 18 months and made comments and suggestions in an advisory capacity.
Set up a lunch with Jonathan Lethem and our crew for when he’s in town, to talk about plans for OMEGA.
Dan Slott promises me the balance of the dialogue tomorrow. He needs to get it in early, as he’s off with Nicole Boose and Paolo Rivera to meet the winner of the Target create-a-character contest. We’ll see.
This is how it goes, five days a week, fifty-two weeks a year. Every day is the same, every day is different.
Hopefully, we’ll be able to start uploading images in a few days, once the blogging system is debugged, so that I can show you some of this stuff.
More tomorrow.
Tom B
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The Tom Brevoort Experience 