It had to happen...

The END of Fanzing!

(HYPE HYPE HYPE)

by Editor Michael Hutchison

Don't worry...it's not THAT big a deal. I just realized that DC Comics often hypes huge events by giving the impression that the universe is coming to an end. Zero Hour, Crisis on Infinite Earths, Our Worlds At War... kill off a few characters and act like it's armageddon. If DC can do that...then I can call a simple redesign "The End of Fanzing."

For 2002, we are going to redo Fanzing in both site design and organizational structure. The style and colors will be redone, and the Table of Contents will be retailored. Some old columns will be going away to be replaced by new regular features, others will be reworked.

The new art museum will debut. It will be a prestigious facility, and artists will throng to have their works analyzed by our masterful curator. You all are very familiar with him, and we are delighted to have him joining our staff.

For 2002, we are hoping to find more contributors who are willing to contribute from time to time or on a monthly basis. All contributors will now get short blurbs telling the readers about them, while regular staffers will receive full bios and links on the redesigned Staff Page. (Membership has its privileges!)

Very shortly, we should have our communication mailing lists back up and I'll be keeping in closer contact with the Fanzingers. Since I'm asking Fanzing's contributors to plan ahead more and make more structured commitments, I'm obliged to give back something in return. For my part, I will be thinking more long-term, working more closely with the artists to generate the month's art pieces and working to meet my own publishing deadlines.

The new issue of Fanzing will be, appropriately enough, the Reboot issue. We'll be talking about John Byrne's "Man of Steel", Miller's "Batman: Year One" and more.

Limbo Rocks Announcement

by Assistant Editor David R. Black

In between the December "Times Past" issue and the February "Reboot" issue, we're going to do another assistant editor's month. Just like last January, when we did the Sword and Sorcery #0 issue, we're keeping the tradition alive. This January's theme will be "Limbo Rocks" and it'll be issue #-1. (Yes, negative one!)

So, you're asking, what can I submit for the Limbo Rocks issue? Well, the answer is simple....Anything you want! (As long as it's tasteful and doesn't suck, that is.)

Here's a few suggestions for possible articles/columns/art

1) Any character currently in limbo - This can range from more recognizable characters (such as Black Lightning) to the cult favorites (i.e. Ultra the Multi Alien) to the long forgotten (i.e. Mysto the Magician)

2) A discussion of times when limbo actually appeared in comics (for example, Animal Man #23-26, Son of Ambush Bug #4-6, Crisis of Infinite Earths....anybody know of anymore?)

3) Series that went directly into limbo and never came back - Ever want to write a dissertation on Sonic Disruptors or Tailgunner Jo or Tempus Fugitive? Here's your chance!

4) A list/drawing/discussion of which character(s) is most deserving of a return from limbo - Think Booster Gold should get a series back? Think Dragonsword deserves another shot? Do you miss the Creature Commandos? Tell us why! (This would be a perfect chance to write a springboard for our Brainstorm's Corner column!)

5) What Fanzing columns do you miss? After the reboot, a lot of old columns are going bye-bye! Ever want to write a "Superman 101" column? Want to revisit "Classics Revisited" one more time? Think you could make a few "Senseless Stats"? Want to write Vanishing Point before it vanishes? Now's your chance!

Whatever you choose to do for the issue, submit it to [email protected] by Monday, January 14th, 2002.

I think this will be a fun opportunity for some of our contributors (and new contributors!) to cut loose and let their hair down!

Idea Men and Artist Partnerships

by Phil Meadows

Hey. We all know each other here, right? So I'll be brief: I have found an excellent method for doing art for publication in Fanzing: Get an Idea Man.

It goes like this: The next Fanzing Art Challenge has been announced, "do a picture of DC Heroes or Villains playing a popular Board Game" or some such. Sounds great, so you put your chin in your hands to come up with an Idea.

And nothing happens. You say, "Ah well, something will come to me" and go about your business. The trouble is, time is fleeting and by the time you actually come upon a good idea (Plas and Elongated Man playing Twister!) the deadline is past.

It happened to me with the Painting Parody, and I know it's a common circumstance.

WELL, if you had an Idea Man, someone to give you some direction, it would be a lot easier. I know we all want our pics to be completely our own, but think about this—comic book artists, the PROS, draw what they're told to most of the time. Plus, I find that it's good to have someone to show an unfinished pic to, for a little friendly critique.

And having someone that you can count on to ask you "is it done yet? is it done yet? is it done yet?" is good motivation.

I reccommend one of those "other" guys, Fanzing's writing contrubutors. I am using David R Black for help on the current Art Challenge, and let me tell you, I will go to him again! He's an idea machine! I have also worked with Hutch...he's a busy man, but we're doing the work, so go ahead and ask.

This will also tend to unite the two warring factions of the Fanzing Community....no more melees with savage warriors scalping those poor british soldiers while they reload their muskets.....wait....sorry, that's The Last of the Mohicans.

All characters are ™ DC Comics
This piece is © 2001 by Michael Hutchison, David R. Black and Phil Meadows.
Fanzing is not associated with DC Comics.
All DC Comics characters, trademarks and images (where used) are ™ DC Comics, Inc.
DC characters are used here in fan art and fiction in accordance with their generous "fair use" policies.

Fanzing site version 7.1