A personal anniversary: Ten years ago today, I was working, as usual, in the Krause Publications offices on the week before New Year's; I tended to do that a lot, because we always waited to do the Year-in-Review articles for Comics Buyer's Guide until the year was actually over. (A lot of major comics events had happened during that last week of the year, from DC's purchase of Wildstorm to Marvel's purchase of Heroes World Distribution; as CBG was a weekly back then, there was no problem in waiting to do the review features.)I don't think I was actually there to write the article, that year, as I had been promoted and shifted that year to work on the Standard Catalog of Comic Books line — but for whatever reason, I was in the office to take a call from Marvel's Michael Doran — a colleague previously (and again now) at Newsarama. He conveyed an invite to pitch for Marvel's "new talent" line under the revived Epic brand. After getting permission from my superiors, I began work that night. By the end of the weekend, I'd finished the script for what would become (after many revisions) my first professional comics project: Crimson Dynamo #1. (Read the detailed story behind the story here.)
With a release-filled 2012 of comics and prose work ending — and a busy 2013 on the horizon with Star Wars: Kenobi as well as some announcements to come — I am again working this week between Christmas and New Year's. But I have no complaints — and am glad I was in the office to take the call years earlier, on the Friday before New Year's. If I'd gone to Vegas, I might still be scribbling in sketchbooks. For this happenstance, I am thankful — and I am looking forward to more years writing for you fine folks. You are all appreciated!
