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Having left Marvel
earlier this year after serving as editor, and talent liason and
coordinator (among other things), C.B. Cebulski is headed back next
week, taking a staff position with the publisher again.
This time will
see quite a different Cebulski cross the threshold of Marvel - while
he had some writing and publishing credits to his name when he joined
the company in early 2002, this time, he's an accomplished writer,
with such credits as Marvel Mangaverse, X-Men Fairy Tales
as well as the upcoming Loners,
Drain
and Wonderlost. Oh, and he also wrote the story for Marvel:
Ultimate Alliance videogame.
Also different when
he comes back to Marvel this time - his responsibilities. But -
let's let C.B. explain that…
Newsarama: So
- can we make an Al Pacino/Godfather 3 joke now? If not that,
at least a Godfather joke about being made an offer you couldn't
refuse? So what did get you back?
C.B. Cebulski:
I think we used that joke the first time I came out of retirement
and got back into comics, Matt! (laughs)
NRAMA: That is
true. Your "retirement" didn't last too long the first time. So
- you coming back for a reason, or just to be trendy?
CBC: Well, I
guess it's just a good time for comebacks; Jay Z's coming out of
retirement with a new album, Matt and Danny are back at Studio
60, BK brought back the triple Whopper... seemed like the right
time to "go home again".
I think it comes as
no surprise to anyone that even after leaving Marvel last year I've
kept in close contact with all my friends there. From panels at
cons to parties, I've been lurking in the shadows at all kinds of
Marvel events. When I first left, Dan and Joe made it clear the
door would always be open for me there, but I choose not to walk
back through it as my freelance writing career was moving along
nicely. And while I'm still writing my ass off with all kinds of
projects in the works, and happy with where I am in my career at
the moment, when Marvel came calling and asked for my help, I couldn't
refuse. You can't say no to family.
 NRAMA:
Long and short - what will you be doing at Marvel? Is it similar
to what you used to do when you were on staff?
CBC: Not exactly,
I'll be going back in a number of different capacities this time
around. First off, I'll be working with Axel Alonso as a consulting
editor in the X-Office. And I'd be lying if I said that wasn't a
big lure to me. I love the X-Men and getting the chance to
get my hands dirty in that universe is a dream come true. Plus,
X-editors Nick Lowe and Andy Schmidt are two great friends and I
can't wait to work with them. Secondly, I'm going to be working
on a number of Marvel's international licensing initiatives, mostly
focusing on Japan and Asia, naturally. And lastly, I'll be assisting
in Marvel's talent management arena, working for Chris Allo on anything
he needs me for, like helping him with recruitment. All that on
top of my freelance writing, so I'll be pretty busy, to say the
least...
Oh, and John Dokes would
kill me if I forget to mention I've agreed to write a regular blog
at over at marvel.com. I'll be bringing readers along for my return
to Marvel by blogging pictures and reports as a kind of virtual
tour of the day-to-day activities there.
NRAMA: Why go
back? Is this a case of what you're going to be doing not being
done when you're not at Marvel?
CBC: Try and
say that five times fast...
No, not at
all. Marvel is a stronger company than ever and has grown by leaps
and bounds since I've been gone. Guess I was just dead weight. [laughs]
As the
publishing division flourishes and the Marvel line expands, it's
only natural that the editorial team expands as well to meet the
demands. Bringing me, Bill Rosemann and Steve Wacker in at the same
time just goes to show the confidence that Marvel has not only in
their own titles and plans, but also in the overall comic book readership
and market place. We're all coming onboard to play roles that need
to be filled as the business grows.
NRAMA: Sell me,
then - what's the importance of having someone like you working
in talent recruitment/liaison?
CBC: Chris Allo
is Marvel's Talent Manager and does an amazing job in handling the
hundreds of freelancers that Marvel employs. It's important for
Marvel to have someone like Chris so that the freelancers have a
neutral contact at the company that they can call with questions
and concerns. Chris also oversees the bigger picture there, figuring
out when people are freeing up, who's falling behind, and just about
every other creative aspect of the Marvel line. However, I know
from experience how taxing that job can be and it can easily overwhelm
you. My role will be to assist Chris in anything he might need and
use my relationships and connections with friends and freelancers
to make his job easier keep Marvel's talent happy.
 NRAMA:
But for you to come back at this time - you've got your fingers
in many pots - will you still be able to work on other projects,
such as Drain, while you're on staff at Marvel?
CBC: Yes, Marvel
has been really cool about that and I greatly appreciate the latitude
they're allowing me. They've always respected my decision to pursue
my writing career and took that into consideration when asking me
to come back. I'm free to continue working on my pre-existing projects
with other publishers. My returning to Marvel will in no way affect
my current titles with Image - Drain, Wonderlost and Shiki)
or other projects I have in the works elsewhere around the industry.
NRAMA: It may
be overreaching, but this sounds something like the studio model
- that is, you've got a production company, and you're also working
at/for Marvel...that accurate, or at least a way to look at it?
CBC: Yeah, I
guess using the Hollywood model is a good way to look at this. I'll
be setting up my "shingle" at Marvel and have my office on their
"lot". But any projects I was developing prior to this arrangement
will remain in place where they are now. Going forward, I'll be
operating exclusively on Marvel's behalf with them getting a "first
look" at anything I bring in or develop in the comic realm.
NRAMA: Do you
get first dibs on the talent that you recruit? Pardon the bluntness,
but help me see the upside for you here - Marvel gets your Rolodex,
your smiling face recruiting talent, you developing projects, and
you get...to keep working on what you've been working on?
CBC: I get free
Marvel comics!
But I see what you mean...
As this is really new territory for both Marvel and me, we're going
into this relationship knowing we'll have to play some of it by
ear. There's going to be some give and take in places, we all know
that. Ultimately, we're going to have the best interests of the
creators and the comic books in mind. That's what matters. If I
bring in someone new and we decide their talents are best suited
on a title I'm not involved with, so be it. And I have no misconceptions
about my place in this industry; I'm still a nobody. I'm a new writer
with very few credits under my belt at the moment and I have to
work my way up the ladder to get to work with some of the bigger
talent just like everyone else. But first and foremost, I'm a fan,
and getting writers and artists on the titles and characters I love
is what's most important for me as I want to be making and reading
the best comics out there.
But if by some miracle
I can get Jim Lee to take a break from Wildstorm/DC and come back
to Marvel, you better believe I want to do a short story with him
first!!
 Oh,
and I'll hopefully be able to call in a favor or two and get some
of Marvel's exclusive talent on a cover or two for my creator-owned
books, like this David Finch variant to Drain #1!
NRAMA: Are there
any specific projects that you're going to be working on that you
can name right off?
CBC: Nothing
I can mention at the moment, no. Sorry. Axel and I have discussed
a number of things and I had lunch with Joe Q. last week to talk
about a couple of ideas he had as well. I'm excited about the possibilities
that this deal offers to both me and Marvel. I'll be wearing many
hats, but whether I'm operating as an editor, a creator or a recruiter,
I'll be working my ass off to make sure that mighty Marvel stays
on top with the best comics, creators and fans!
NRAMA: Alright
then - how about your start date in the offices?
CBC: October
2nd, the same day Bill Rosemann makes his Marvelous return, I hear.
The boys are back!
For more CB-ilicious goodness, check out:
www.chesterfest.blogspot.com
www.myspace.com/chesterfest
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