Glenn Hauman

Glenn is VP of Production at ComicMix. He has written Star Trek and X-Men stories and worked for DC Comics, Simon & Schuster, Random House, arrogant/MGMS and Apple Comics. He's also what happens when a Young Turk of publishing gets old.

You may also like...

6 Responses

  1. Lord Snooty says:

    Having just pressed the "start from the beginning" link and reread the whole thing so far I was shocked by how well it flowed as one long read, seeing Grimjack: the manx cat number 1 is in Augest's previews at 26 pages an issue, I wondered if you have put any throught into how you would break up the story into parts or if you would want it as just an graphic novel ?

    • MARK WHEATLEY says:

      Shocked? Really?Well – Bob and I planned the LONE JUSTICE: CRASH! story as a graphic novel. But we've been trying our best to find good scene breaks for the run here on ComicMix – while trying to keep the segments short enough that I'm not drawing pages in my sleep to stay on schedule. We'll do the same for any of our GNs that end up running as comic books over at IDW/CM in print. Ultimately – print has limits that ComicMix doesn't. When we need to run an extra page or six here on CM we just do. In print – there are just so many pages in an issue – period! So I expect we'll have to make a compromise or two for any print version that doesn't run the story in one lump.

  2. Russ Rogers says:

    I like how you make thematic links between scenes. The last love scene talked about Octavius' and LJ's habits and history with the Ladies. And this scene begins photographic evidence of that history. Now, Batman Comics play up the angle that the Bruce Wayne schtick of being a Playboy bon vivant is just an act, a ruse to keep people from making a connection between Batman and Bruce Wayne. Were Octavius' party days just an act too? Or was that how he used to wind down from the pressures of being a Hero?There is another thematic link (or maybe I'm stretching things) between the talk of Lone Justice's Red Hood last issue and the notion that Octavius is talking like a Bolshevik or wanting to "level the playing field."I don't see why Octavius makes the jump to, "I spent a small fortune here. They can wipe out what I owe and still profit mightily from my patronage." That makes Octavius seem like he still feels entitled. A more diplomatic tact would have been to say, "If the you or the Pioneer Club were to hire me, I would be happy to pay a percentage of my Income toward my debt, with interest of course. But without any Income, can you see how I can settle up? You can't get blood from a stone, Wendell." And when Octavius says the line, "I might, in honor of old times sake, I might just beat the hell out of you. I never used to work up a sweat—but I'll work up some now, because I'll work harder," he comes across as a complete ass-hole! What a self-centered, entitled, douche nozzle bully!Did Octavius threaten to BEAT UP Wendell because he wouldn't give him a job and because Wendell called him a "Bum"?And Wendell says, "We're not in school anymore, Octavius," as if Octavius had beaten and bullied Wendell often back in their school days! Am I following this bit of conversation right? Or did I misinterpret it? Why would Wendell want to give a job to somebody who used to bully him, somebody who just threatened him? Why wouldn't Wendell be justified in wanting to see Octavius squashed like a bug and swept away with the trash?We don't know why Octavius became Lone Justice. Does he have a past that haunts him like Batman? Or did Octavius become Lone Justice just for the cheep thrills of being a masked hero and the opportunity to beat people up? Did Octavius become Lone Justice as an outlet for his natural bully nature? How much does Octavius enjoy beating the crap out of people?Obviously, Lone Justice and Octavius haven't fallen far enough for Octavius to learn much about humility. Octavius doesn't come across as a very nice guy in this scene.

  3. MARK WHEATLEY says:

    Y'know, Russ, Bob was just suggesting that when the LONE JUSTICE DVD comes out, we should have you do a commentary track :) Mainly because it so often seems like you were sitting in on our creative meetings when we were working out the details. I mean, when you get it wrong – it is just a matter of taking a hint and running to the wrong end of the field – you're still in the game.Indeed, Octavius has issues. I'm sure he has gained a taste for party – no matter what he told himself at the time. And he knows how to fight. If it helps, Wendell is older and started the fights back in school. But eventually the skinny kid put on weight and learned some moves. Also – this is 1930. Fists were used more readily to solve disputes. Guys didn't respect each other unless they could stand up to each other. And as adults, Wendell has used Octavius as Octavius has used Wendell. That's how their power game has been played.Oh – and certainly Octavius is still cooking his humble pie. Bob and I don't think a pretty girl and some late night talks are going to wipe out a lifetime of habit and expectation. If there is one solid message in this book it is that many people who have money just cannot grasp what it is like for people who never have had anything. Of course Octavius feels entitled – just maybe a little less than he once did.

  4. Anonymous says:

    As usual I'm reduced to posting anonymously – but in addition to saying how much I eagerly await Russ's detailed critiques of where we are going (and I'm beginning to wonder if he has access to laptop!) I want to point out that early on when we first met Wendell at Octavius's cousin's house we learned how Wendell was a bully who received comeuppance at the hands of Octavius when both were in school. Beyond that, Mark has it exactly right – Octavius has a ways to fall.

    • Russ Rogers says:

      Robert, you are SO right! I'd forgotten Wendell's appearance in LJ #4. Wendell and Octavius talk about the club. And then later in LJ #5, Thayer and Octavius talk about Wendell.Octavius: He treated you like hell in school.Thayer: You took care of that. That was when you could be counted on.Oooh! I'm rereading and seeing more subtext in the text! Thayer's saying that Octavius could be counted on as a protector when they were children. But he can't be counted as a protector now! SO… Wendell must be bullying (or threatening) Thayer again in some way! Thayer needs protection, but from what? Ha!At the time I suspected Thayer of being SCION because of the creepy way he played with trains. I see now that he's probably too timid to be Scion. Now, I'm convinced that we'll find out the Pioneer Club is a nexus of evil in this story. Some Captain of Industry (or secret committee) is using or coercing the members of the Pioneer Club to enact their agenda. Maybe the Mayor and the Chief of Police are both Pioneer Club members too? Oh, Scion wears a tricorn hat! Like the Founding Fathers, the Pioneers? There's some connection! But I don't think Wendell is Scion. He's too doughy.Social Conservatives Improving Our Nation. Maybe Scion is a committee! Just a moment of wild conjecture. I hope I'm not playing spoiler.Knowing that we've established Wendell as a bully earlier in the story makes Octavius' threat here a little less boorish. But he still comes across as an entitled boob. This is good. Octavius and Lone Justice are complex characters, with good points and bad. The character has some room to grow.And Mark and Robert, thanks for the compliments. I just really enjoy reading Lone Justice. I know that some of my comments and conjectures aren't always on the money. But I want you guys to know that you've created a complex and nuanced story, worthy of being read, reread, pondered and commented upon. In short, Lone Justice is very entertaining. The fact that the creators of Lone Justice value my comments by interacting here, answering questions and discussing different points, just makes reading and commenting even MORE fun for me. It's a blast! ComicMix is easily the most fun I've had with comics in my life.