Comments on: Eric Trautmann Wuz Robbed

By: Brian Cronin

Brian Cronin — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 10:21:14 +0000

By the by, yeah, for the record, Jones had critical (and sales) support on Hulk for quite awhile.

Then he went on this, like, 15 issue run of bad issues, and he lost both.

By: Dan (other Dan)

Dan (other Dan) — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 18:42:06 +0000

I thought Bruce Jones’ Warlord was pretty good. Just sayin’.

By: Jack Norris

Jack Norris — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 01:09:35 +0000

I seem to recall a fair amount of positive response to Jones’s Hulk, not the universal scorn people seem to be recalling here. Most of the complaints I do remember tended to focus on the fact that there wasn’t enough Hulk action, and too much mystery/intrigue, which could potentially make Jones a decent fit on Checkmate. Mostly, I just remember people getting a bit fed up with how long and drawn out it got towards the end. I certainly considered it one of the more notable Hulk runs in the years since Peter David left (speaking of whom, he stayed too long).

By: The Funk Doctor

The Funk Doctor — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 00:23:56 +0000

Two names – other than Jones and Trautmann – that I would have liked to see take this over.

Matt Fraction. I’m pretty sure he’s Marvel exclusive, but I’m not certain. The tone of the book would certainly change, but I think it would be an improvement.

Second: Brian Azzarello. Now he may not want to do any more in-continuity, superhero stuff, but I think he’d be brilliant on the book.

By: Dan Bailey

Dan Bailey — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 15:41:31 +0000

Just out of curiosity, & totally off-topic … when’s the last time Jones drew anything?

Back in the day he was a pretty darned good artist in the Al Williamson mold, as I was reminded a couple of days ago while reading a short one-shot strip of his in an early Marvel Fanfare. Apparently, he’s also quite slow with the pencils, which is why he drew so infrequently even way back when.

The first time I ever came across his name, I’m pretty sure, was as an artist in Marvel’s Unknown Worlds of Science Fiction b&w. Seems like he probably wrote those strips, too, some or all of which may’ve been reprinted from undergrounds. Next thing I knew, he was writing “Red Sonja” in Marvel Feature, if memory serves.

By: J.C.

J.C. — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 13:20:24 +0000

I don’t really know Jones from Adam. I read Nightwing OYL and was…underimpressed but not hate engorged. And while I was bummed out to hear that Rucka was off the book, I remembered that I didn’t like Rucka when I first read him on the Batbooks and had to grow into my appreciation of his style. So Jones gets a pass from me for at least an arc.

By: Matt D

Matt D — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 13:09:01 +0000

I really don’t know why they just wouldn’t cancel it like they did with Gotham Central after Brubaker left. It’s not like it’s a big selling property for them.

Is it a case where Jones has an exclusive contract and it’s a waste if they don’t use him?

By: The Orange

The Orange — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 11:21:03 +0000

Trautmann was obviously being groomed for this position and if you read his blog you’ll see that he was certainly expecting the job to be his. I, of course, have no way of knowing what DC’s thinking is on this one but I find it hard to believe that they would make the assumption that Bruce Jones would increase sales on this book. Checkmate’s fanbase is small but dedicated, I would even say hardcore, Rucka fans and to not go with his guy, someone who has been around a good long time and who has done excellent work, just feels like a kick in the teeth to quite a few of us. Needless to say reaction in Checkmate fan circles has not been at all positive, both regarding the Eric snub and the fact that a man so completely wrong for this book has been named as Rucka’s replacement. Has Bruce Jones ever written anything for DC that was even half-way decent? I know he did some good horror stuff back in the 80s but that was twenty years ago and a completely different genre. If this is how it’s going to go down it would be better to just cancel it when Rucka leaves at #25, rather than let Jones slowly murder it with his hackery.

By: Dasbender

Dasbender — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 11:20:58 +0000

Yeah, I don’t think anyone is already judging Bruce Jones’ work on Checkmate — because it hasn’t even happened yet.

But I WILL say that historically I have hated everything I’ve ever read of his, and the only reason I was buying Checkmate was because I loved reading about Rucka’s little corner of the DCU. There’s no reason for me to read the book when the reason I’m reading it leaves and is replaced by a creator that has a history of work I don’t like.

Period.

That’s not snarky — it’s just true.

By: Apodaca

Apodaca — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 07:13:42 +0000

This is becoming embarrassing for comics fandom. Judge the book after it comes out – not before.

No one’s judging the book. They’re judging the writer.

By: The Dane

The Dane — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 05:52:25 +0000

I actually loved Bruce Jones’ Hulk pretty much up until the last arc or two. After he wrapped his main storyline, he didn’t seem to have quite so clear an idea of where to take it.

By: Filipe

Filipe — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 05:16:19 +0000

The problem is the only readers Checkmate has left are probably pretty much the same readers that were reading Gotham Central (Rucka’s previously DC low seller title), plus some hardcore spy thriller fans, it has already bled all the OMAC Project readers that help it to launch with decent numbers and bring a bland new creative team will not change that. The were only two reasons to still have a Checkmate around: 1) Editorial wants to have a Greg Rucka book 2) Editorial believes it has to keep a Checkmate book out of inertia.

By: FunkyGreenJerusalem

FunkyGreenJerusalem — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 04:48:46 +0000

This is becoming embarrassing for comics fandom. Judge the book after it comes out – not before.

We’re all just shooting the shit man – what’s wrong with people having a chat about what they’ve heard?
Personally, I don’t like Checkmate, and I’ve got nothing against Bruce Jones (I find him a bit hit and miss), but I’ve got no problem with those who have brought his works before and been disappointed being annoyed he’s taken over a book they like.
It’s like when Brett Ratner got X-men 3 (for arguments sake) – should I have not mentioned how bad I thought (well knew) it was going to be until after it came out, even though I think Brett Ratner is one of the all time worst and unoriginal directors of all time?
Or should I have asked it not be brought up until the film was out?

By: BG1

BG1 — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 04:40:35 +0000

Can we stop with the Bruce Jones hatred for 2 minutes or at least til the issue ships?

This is becoming embarrassing for comics fandom. Judge the book after it comes out – not before.

By: FunkyGreenJerusalem

FunkyGreenJerusalem — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 04:39:28 +0000

The book sales are low enough that its questionable weather ir makes sense to keep the title going without its main creative force, not even give it to the guy Rucka prefered is really weird.

The sales are probably why they ignored who he wanted – if he and his co-writer had a top book, I’m sure they would have kept him on, if sales are bad, this is editorial trying to get new readers on the book.

By: Filipe

Filipe — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 04:23:14 +0000

It truly makes no sense. The book sales are low enough that its questionable weather ir makes sense to keep the title going without its main creative force, not even give it to the guy Rucka prefered is really weird.

By: Joey K

Joey K — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 04:00:48 +0000

Bruce Jones. I can understand picking him since people clearly loved his Nightwing and Hulk.

By: Vincent J. Murphy

Vincent J. Murphy — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 02:36:19 +0000

Auuugh! Bruce Jones? I’m having Nightwing: One Year Later flashbacks! Noooooooo!