Professor Uslan's Feedback to Final Projects
Professor Uslan gave some feedback on the top 5 voted final projects that were submitted. He read through all the submissions and then decided to pick out a few to comment on. Even though his feedback is about specific projects, his comments about building logical storylines and creating "rules" for the character's powers are applicable to everyone's final project. To see the project submissions that Prof. Uslan commented on, check them out on the discussion thread. Each of the projects has been "endorsed" by a staff member so that it can be easily identified.
Top 5 voted submissions:
For ElObal:
Feedback: this is very creative and fun. What is missing here are "the rules." It is important that rules we set governing the characters powers and abilities as well as those of his photo. Then this must be consistently followed. For example, you say he has the powers of a ghost. Well, what exactly are the powers of a ghost? This must be clearly set out in a way that makes sense based on the situation you have created. Next, why would a government/Cartel kingpin have special powers? Apparently, nothing weird happened to him. Create your own logic and rules and then stick to them. Again, this is all great fun but just needs to be taken a step further in laying it all out.
MU
For WalterDLZ:
To me, this very culturally rich story evoked a bit of Marvel's Thor and a lot of Archie's The Jaguar (research this character's back story on-line), and I mean that in a positive way. Stan Lee, himself, tackled this kind of subject matter in his rendition of Wonder Woman he did for the DC "Just Imagine" comic book series about 10 years ago. It's also important that you research DC Comics' superhero, Aztek. Make sure you don't make your character too close to that one.
MU
For mscarmean1:
The good news is that this asks a lot of interesting questions which set up a premise that will be intriguing to follow. The cautious news is that the first half of this story may too closely evoke the earliest X-Men stories of the Angel... up till the time he is dropped off at Professor X's school to keep him away from the public and his family. Do everything you can to distance yourself from anything at all similar to the Angel’s back story.
MU
For DaughterOfEris:
This could just as easily be a new monger as well as an American graphic novel. It also has enough potential to be developed into a TV series or other media. There is a sophistication to this in terms of backstory, plot, textured characterization, tone, that makes it stand out from all the others. Plus, that art is awesome! I seriously think this has possibilities and a good shot at getting a publishing deal and then… Who knows?! Bravo!
MU
NicolasTouris:
This is out-of-the-box creative and different! What I need to know are the exact "rules" for the use of colors this way. If this is rooted in science, then I need a consistent mambo – jumbo explaining how it works, how it doesn't
Work, and how certain colors create certain powers. You need to get the audience to suspend it's disbelief so, therefore, you need to create a believability through these rules.
Next question: what is the town? Is this going to be more like "Kick Ass" or "The Powerpuff Girls?" Once you define your audience, it will become easy to set a consistent tone.
Lots of fun!
MU
Other submissions that Prof. Uslan picked out:
For icallringbearer:
I also think this is very cool. It's been too long since we had a down-to-earth teenage character like Peter Parker was in the early Spider-Man comic books. This also feels very much like a retro underground comic book story from the 1970s, but the look and tone are very contemporary. I think this actually works to your advantage in today's world of graphic novels and Web associates willing to go beyond traditional superhero stories. This is creative and more unique than many of the superhero creations I have seen recently
MU
For secoh:
What fun!
What is needed is a clear and simple and direct set of "rules" that govern exactly what his powers are, how, when, and why he transforms between human and coyote and back to human. What is the advantage of his adapting a superhero identity in his human form as opposed to his coyote form, or did I misread this?
In terms of tone, decide upfront if this is going to be aimed at younger comic book readers or older comic book readers. If the former, make sure the look, the story, and the characterization could all be turned into an afternoon cartoon series, for example. Or look at some of the earliest "Doom Patrol" or "Teen Titans" comic books that first featured Beast Boy. If the latter, make sure all of the above elements are consistently more in line with characters like Wolverine, the Beast, or the Hulk.
MU
For baquitania:
This is a lot of fun! I have a question about the history it is predicated on. Wasn't the alien incident at area 51 supposed to have happened in the 1950s as opposed to the early days of World War II? If you intend to tie this to the history, that becomes a fatal error that needs to be reworked. I think it's an easy fix if you simply change the background from World War II to the Korean War.
MU
For ericpaul123:
This is a noble venture, indeed! It evokes "Captain Planet" to me in its intent to convey an important message to younger comic book readers. I agree with the creator regarding the power of comic books to teach and enlighten globally. In fact, I'm currently working with the United Nations on a project to accomplish just that. The most important thing to remember here is that it cannot sound preachy. The lesson or theme may speak if conveyed organically within the context of the story and the characters.
MU
For MashaMildenberger:
MU
Top Questions You Asked Stan Lee in Week 2
QUESTION 1: When you created your first superhero was there anyone in your life who was the inspiration for the character?
STAN LEE'S ANSWER: I never based any of my characters on real life people. I guess I never knew anyone who was superheroic. When writing I'd add character and personality traits similar to those of people I've known or might imagine.
QUESTION 2: I was wondering what scrapped characters from Marvel that you wish could get a second chance? Are there any existing characters that you regret putting into existence?
STAN LEE'S ANSWER: Actually, I can't remember any scrapped characters. Just about all of the ones we initially featured remained to join our list of superheroes. I can’t think of any characters that I regret bringing into existence.
QUESTION 3: I was just wondering what it took to get your characters and your stories as far as they are today? How many times were you turned down before your ideas were published?
STAN LEE'S ANSWER: If you're referring to the Marvel days, there were no turn-downs. I was the editor and featured any character or characters I wanted to.
QUESTION 4:
STAN LEE'S ANSWER: Our movies are the best encouragement. When most youngsters enjoy a Marvel superhero on screen then it's very likely he or she will want to read the comicbook to enjoy more of the hero's adsventures. Since the success of the Marvel movies, the sales of the Marvel comicbooks have skyrocketed.
Want to know more about Stan Lee's time at Marvel? Watch the video in Week 4!
Top Questions You Asked Prof. Uslan in Week 1
QUESTION 1: What are the challenges of bringing comics to the big screen?
PROF. USLAN'S ANSWER: It is a very different situation today than it was back in 1979 when I first began my quest to bring a dark and serious Batman to the Silver Screen. You must place it in the context of its times. Back then, nearly all of the executives in Hollywood, as well as the agents, writers and directors, we're from the "Seduction of the Innocent" generation that looked down on comic books, superheroes, and their creators. They generally thought that, at best, comic books were nothing more than cheap entertainment for children. Many of them thought they were potentially harmful to children. And no one thought there was a single comic book property besides Superman that was capable of being made into a blockbuster movie. The above is the most specific reason it took me and my partner, Ben Melniker, 10 years from the time we first acquired the rights to Batman from DC Comics to get a dark and serious Batman feature film made. To me, today's biggest challenge in bringing comic book properties to feature films and television is over-saturation which, in the history of Hollywood, has never been a good thing.
QUESTION 2: How do you feel about the sexist portrayal of many female characters in comic books? Do you see this as an issue? What can we do as readers/artists/writers to make the comic book work more accessible to women as a whole?
PROF. USLAN'S ANSWER: The roots of this problem probably go back to the Golden Age of Comics when comic books were aimed primarily at a pubescent male audience. Keep in mind also that the second biggest audience for comic books were US servicemen back then. Sensibilities in our society were different. That has been exemplified by a lot of portrayals in some comic books of that era that would today be called racist, biased, prejudiced and/or sexist. I felt that for many years, the American comic book industry often turned its back on female readers. This, to me, is one of the reasons for the explosive growth of manga from Japan in which many of the heroines are young females fighting cyborgs, etc. Now, I think this is an issue that needs tending to and I am pleased whenever I hear that individual companies are taking steps to address this responsibly. I think part of the solution is to recruit more women as writers and artists in the comic book industry. Gail Simone is a shining example of what women bring to the comic book industry and how they elevate it.
QUESTION 3: Do you think it is still possible to create a new superhero, and have it be absorbed into the pop culture, to the degree of Superman or Batman? Are we too over saturated now to create any new "legends"?
PROF. USLAN'S ANSWER: This reminds me of the tale of the closing of the US patent office some 125 years ago because they thought everything that could be invented had finally been invented. Creativity is not always about creating something brand-new, but rearranging things that have existed before in new ways with new creative topspins to them. So, no, I do not believe there can never again be a great, new worldwide superhero appearing on the scene. But I remember asking Dick Clark if there could ever be another Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, or the Beatles that would have the entire world as united fans. Dick felt that rock 'n roll had become too segmented with so many different types of music comprising the one term of art, that there could never again be one star or one act that so brings together all the fans of the music genre. I believe that Dick's thinking could also apply to comic book superheroes. That said, however, I think there can be a great new hero, but that it will probably emerge from a different mythology than the traditional Greek, Roman, and Egyptian mythologies that have been the basis for most of our American superheroes. So I am looking primarily to other cultures and countries to see what will emerge next.
QUESTION 4: What is the psychological and emotional underlying factor that you see "gets" to the American public in a story? What makes them motivated, inspired, connected feel they relate to the character in an American comic book context? In Manga it is different, because of the cultural context, so I am curious what you would have to say with all of your experience and devotion to this topic.
PROF. USLAN'S ANSWER: Batman is the best example here. First of all, he has no superpowers beyond his humanity. People from all over the world can identify with him readily. Next, he has one of the most primal origin stories ever told, which transcends cultures as well as borders. Also, he has the greatest rogues gallery of super villains, and ultimately it is the super villains who will define the superhero. As Stan Lee often says, the greatest and most enduring superheroes are the ones who have had the greatest super villains. I do believe that. Finally, I have to add… the car.
QUESTION 5: What is the definition of a superhero? I listened to your story about how you convinced the dean to accredit your class on comics with great delight, but then I started to wonder — is Moses a superhero? He has some pretty awesome powers (calling down plagues, splitting seas, getting a whole bunch of notoriously stiff-necked people to move in the same direction) and as I recall, in The Ten Commandments, he even wore a cape. Some are born super (Superman, Wonder Woman), some achieve superiority (Iron Man, Black Widow), others have it thrust upon them (Spiderman, the Hulk). So is there a working definition we can use on which we might found our understanding of what it means to be a superhero?
PROF USLAN'S ANSWER: To me, a super hero is a person who believes that one person can make a difference in this world, and they are then willing to make personal sacrifices in order to commit to that ideal. I don't care if it's a fiction story or real life, this is what makes someone a "superhero" in my eyes. Ideals. Commitment. Honor. Integrity. Sacrifice. In my lifetime, my real life superheroes have been my parents and a few great teachers who made an incredible difference in my life.