I've been more busy than ever over the last month working on issues 8 and 10 of the Marvel Fact-Files (my first issues). Yes the secret is out - that's my destiny for the next 2 years!!!!
There are 4 of us (2 editors and 2 designers) split into 2 teams doing alternate issues to try and manage the weekly schedule. I work on the even numbered issues, but we all chip in and plan the issues together and try our best to make sure they are coherent and factually correct (not always possible on such a tight schedule!)
Like you guys, I was sceptical of it's merits in regard to the CMFC.
Having now worked on it for a month I am beginning to see how this could turn into a really nice collection. Of course it's never going to replace the CMFC, but as something to work on it's better than' Chandeliers Of The World' (I made that up btw). And it's something for Marvel fans to hopefully get in to.
The first issue has done better than expected and it seems to be a success at this early stage.
Bare in mind there are lots of new Marvel fans out that that didn't even know the CMFC existed!
I'm not a total EM drone, so I do have certain (personal) problems with it (mainly 32 pages every 2 weeks as opposed to the CMFC 16 pages, which takes a lot of work, you might say "ah but you don't have to deal with the figurines" But, I do have to commission the gate-fold cutaway artworks that grace every issue - so that takes up a shit load of time in research and communicating with the artists involved. (Just commissioned a War Machine armour cutaway and Dr. Strange's Sanctum Santorium.)
It's also very complicated trying to get your head around the way the thing comes together in the folders - every card has it's coded place in the chapters - so this can get a bit tedious. Also I thought a thicker even laminated card would be better than the thin paper, but hey who am I to stand in the way of progress :)
Here's a very, very rough idea for the Sanctum Santorium. This was scrapped in favour of a full length shot of the whole building with cutaway views of all the levels.
And here's just a detail from the War Machine cutaway...
I'm not going to turn this blog into a Fact Files advert - so don't worry I won't be updating regularly, just thought you'd like to know what's going on.
As for the competition I STILL WANT TO DO IT and I have a simple plan to execute, hopefully I will get around to it soon (imagines picture of Sonic the Hedgehog crossed arms tapping foot).
It will involve a 2 part question to be e-mailed with name and address and I will reward the first 10 with correct answers prizes beyond you wildest dreams (or a broken Crystal perhaps). I've got a box of various figurines that will be shared out amongst the luck few! PS the 10 winners will be in descending order of prizes (e.g first place gets 6 figurines, 2nd 4, 3rd 3 or whatever).
Anyway best get back to the real job. All the best for now and Make Mine Marvel!
