Ian, I think they used a similar method on "Hannibal", the "Silence of the lambs" awful sequel. IIRC, the vilain planned to kill Lecter using some kind of killer pigs.

http://www.vampirella.com

I can't speak for the US; but in the UK, we don't have newstand distriubtion for Marvel and DC anymore. You have to go to comic shops to buy the monthlies, annuals and mini-series. Comic shops are a bit more forgiving (or have no choice?) regarding late shipping. So maybe the comic companies are a bit more relaxed and not too worried if a book is late? No fear of Marvel or DC being dropped by a nationwide distributer?

It seems like, if a book is so important that it has to meet a specific release date (even in the case of a #1 issue, where the fans aren't actually waiting for it yet), the editor should read it before there are only two weeks left. He should be on the ball enough and know enough about what they're doing so that he doesn't have to scrap the whole thing and give them two weeks to start over.

http://www.comicmix.com/news/2008/11/07/inside-fangoria-graphix/

"CMix: It sounds like the two ends of the operation weren’t talking to one another. Is that how the Vampirella fubar occurred?

TB: That bit of ancient history was very much a cart-before-the-horse situation. We knew that there was an attempt at a deal in the works. As for the announcement, well, Scott was on stage at one of the Fangoria Weekend of Horrors conventions. He had Michael Madsen, Amber Benson, Dee Snider . . . a number of people up there with him. One of the executives pulled Scott aside as he was emceeing and said, basically, “Hey, don’t forget to tell ‘em we got Vampirella!” Scott basically did a “Really? Cool”, turned around and announced it.

A couple of days later, that’s all over the internet, and Harris is saying, “Hey, wait!” On Scott’s side, he’d been told it was good. As it turned out, it wasn’t quite a done deal. Fortunately, Harris Comics and Vampirella editor Bon and Scott (hey, Bon Scott!) talked way back in February of ‘07 and the air between them is totally clear. It’s not dissimilar, in some respects, to the controversy surrounding The Phantom this year. In point of fact, the situation went on much longer in the blogosphere than it actually did in practical, realistic terms. Which, as they say, is showbiz."

It's funny that they mention that it went on much longer online. How long do these guys (both Fangoria and Harris) have to keep answering that question?

Turkey made tons of rip-off movies. Batman, superman, he-man, tarzan and others.

A bit of that first X-Factor cover was used as an action shot in Cyclops' Deluxe Marvel Handbook entry. Always wondered where that shot came from.

I'd really love to hear more about the first version of X-Factor #1 & why it was rejected. Was it just the resurrection of Jean Grey that affected everything so much or was there some other reason?

The pages in Fantastic Four #286 that dealt with Jean's resurrection were also heavily rewritten & redrawn (by Chris Claremont & Jackson Guice) shortly before release. John Byrne has the original version of those pages up at his website. I'd put up a link, but his site's not loading for me right now.

Regarding the "lost art" of X-Factor #1, examples of this first pass made its way into the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition, which was publishing concurrently with the launch of X-Factor. Check out the Cyclops art in issue #3. I always wondered where that art came from, and assumed it was commissioned for OHOTMUDE, but now I see that the first pass cover art was the source of one of the pieces.

ph

Would be interesting to hear Shooter’s side of the story, Brian.

I bet Shooter's side of the story would go something like this:

"...you want me on that wall, YOU NEED ME ON THAT WALL!!!
Honestly Quesada, I don't know what the hell kind of an outfit you're running here."

Oh, andf if yoi like 3 Dev Adam, I suggest hunting down a copy of James Batman, a mash-up between James Bond and Batman (It's a Philippine movie from the 1960s).

Speaking of odd foreign superhero movies, I vaguely remember seeing a movie in VHS titled "The Supermen" or somesuch, with several guys wearing Superman-like costumes, except they had no powers (other than the costumes being invulnerable). It was a goofy, very low budget affair. I think it was Italian. Anybody know what I'm talking about?