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Comment by cstross | Hacker News Reader

Different field, but ...

I'm a novelist. For some reason, folks in the graphic novel biz seem to think that novelists have a usefully transferable skill set. About six years ago I got an email from a guy at Marvel comics. "We're looking for a novelist to take over writing this superhero property we just rebooted, and Warren Ellis, who did the reboot, suggested you. Wanna Talk?"

We talked, I did some recon on the superhero in question, decided I really hated him and life was too short (even if it was an opportunity to make a big break into comic writing) ... and turned down "Iron Man".

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At the risk of sounding like a fanboy, thank you. I'd much rather read another book in the Laundry series or Merchant Princes (or a return to the universe of Singularity Sky) than a retread of Iron Man. Even if Downey is brilliant as Stark.

How does a HackerNews user not like Tony Starks? ;)

Tony Stark is Donald Rumsfeld's Mary-Sue.

I am a British center-left -- liberal democrat voting -- Volvo-driving organic-eating media luvvie. (I'm also a self-employed businessman and a sometime dot-com veteran; let's not get too carried away with the socialism here.) Muscular two-fisted violent imperialism lacks appeal. I could have written Tony Stark as an anti-hero, but the risk for pushback from the fans would have been significant.

When you're looking for a project to work on for possibly several years, you should pick something you love. As I was simultaneously looking at two multi-book contracts from major publishers for books that I would have complete creative control over (and retain copyright on -- don't forget, Marvel and DC insist on work-for-hire!) I went with the "do what you love" option.

(The books in question, for what it's worth, were "Accelerando", "Glasshouse", and the last three Merchant Princes books.)

I think a lot of the HN crowd identify less with Tony Stark as an ass-kicker, but more because he's one of the few superheroes that you can truly say is a "self-made man" (pun unintended, but apt). He's amazing not because of some genetic accident, but because of his own intelligence.

I don't remember the character being as much of a jerk as RDJ plays him, but admittedly I only ever watched the cartoons as a kid, not read the comic books.

The difference between "genetic accident" and "intelligence" is not big.

On the contrary, the environment play a strong role in intelligence.

Few, if any, poor families taught their children to be an autodidact. Once people are autodidact, I would expect a rise in socioeconomic status.

Let face it, it's going to be hard to rise up when you're stuck in a poor neighborhood with gangsters and bad influences.

Wait... didn't he inherit a multi-billion dollar company?

That's called being born on third and making it home.

As someone who is reading (and practicing) about story structures and screenplays a lot for the last year or so, I can see where you are coming from with that.

Also, it's a really tough job you have. Props.

I think the only proper response here is: "D'oh!" accompanied by a face palm.

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