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Wizard Awards Ceremony No More!
2008-07-02 17:30:39

There was no Wizard Awards Ceremony at the Wizard World Convention this year—and I’m told that me and mine are responsible for that.

You see, last year, editor Steve Wacker won the award for Best Editor, primarily for his work on the weekly series 52. By the time the awards were being given out, Steve had switched companies, and was working down here at Marvel. Neither he nor I were slated to be in Chicago for the convention, but Marvel had begun dabbling with doing online videos. So we hit upon the idea of filming Steve’s acceptance speech, and having the Wizard folks play it during the ceremony.

The video we sent is embedded below. And we didn’t hear anything about it at the time, but apparently there were some people over at Steve’s former company who didn’t find it funny (I’m told they actually walked out of the awards ceremony after it played) and who made a big stink about it afterwards. Large enough of a stink that the Wizard folks decided to forego the awards ceremony entirely this year.

Me, I don’t think it’s so bad (but then, I’m not someone like poor Scott Allie, who may feel differently.) Anyway, I’ve asked our skilled technical staff to include it below.

Also, Steve Wacker wanted to express his actual appreciation in receiving the award in question. He writes:

The only reason I got that award was because Jeph….er..Jef..umm…Geoff Johns and “Greg” Rucka pitched the idea of me editing the weekly 52 book to Dan Didio who went along with it (a decision he possibly regrets). I really appreciated the faith from all three of those guys, though.

That got my funny sounding name in front of a lot of the book’s publicity which apparently helped with Wizard readers who like voting for names that sound vaguely dirty.

Unfortunately, my plan to tank the book by leaving halfway through fell apart when Michael Siglain took over the book and practically no one noticed I left. (Thanks a lot, Mike.)

Anyway when the results of the Wizard voting came in Tom and I did this video and I thought it was kinda funny poking fun at both him and me. I had no idea until last week that they even showed the thing or that anyone even watched it. Personally, given Tom’s performance I can see why folks may have gotten mad. I haven’t seen anyone sway on camera so much outside of Eddie Murphy’s Stevie Wonder impression.

More later.

Tom B

quite funny !
Those DC guys have no humor whatsoever !

Posted by baxtos on 2008-07-02 18:34:59

Ouch!
Dang dude! That bites!

Better luck next year Breevort.

Posted by Aziroth on 2008-07-02 19:53:49

I thought it was funny, but I can understand why some people may have been upset. They'll get over it.

Posted by doncorswhazie on 2008-07-02 21:01:59

:)
Looks pretty hilarious to me.

Posted by Jason M Bryant on 2008-07-02 21:54:59

Yeah that's really NOT nice. It's quite simply disrespectful. Oh well. You guys meant well and it is a funny idea, but just not appropriate for being shown at the actual awards ceremony.

Posted by underscore on 2008-07-03 02:56:10

I found it hilarious! :)

I would however advice Tom not give up his day job to try and start an acting career. :-)

Posted by Zigy on 2008-07-03 08:32:54

More proof that you guys ...
need an empathy transplant.

Posted by izzatrix on 2008-07-03 11:23:57

I feel that comics industry is not as “solemn” as other industries. Therefore, I don’t feel like this video is inappropriate for an awards ceremony.

I may not be funny, but its not inappropriate :).

Posted by freyes2000 on 2008-07-03 12:35:32

Really?
That pissed folks off? Good grief! 1)It's a small pond. All the fish know each other. 2) It's not the Oscars. 3) It's comics!

I can't see how this was the straw that broke the camel's back on that. If it was, people need to get over themselves and grow up.

Posted by bigdaddyhub2 on 2008-07-03 17:26:21

Oh fer the love of Bucky!
That was funny. Who the heck is taking themselves so seriously that they decide to get offended by something like that??

Show 'em all Tom: start a weekly webisode YouTube drama with you, Wacker, and the bullpen. (Whatever happened to Marvel TV?)

Posted by Gentleman Jack on 2008-07-03 23:14:42

I thought it was funny...
... Especially how Brevoort looked at the end. :)

Posted by beta-ray on 2008-07-03 23:52:50

aha so thats why Marvel doesn't do weeklys, you had wacker test it at the distinguished competition first

Posted by steelnexus on 2008-07-05 09:00:31

Can't believe people thought that was offensive! You've laughing at yourselves far more than the Distinguished Competition or the Awards.

Posted by cjmcaree on 2008-07-05 10:35:53

Wow, DC's people really are as humorless as their comics. How depressing. :(

Posted by Fetsur on 2008-07-06 11:53:37

Ok...
I guess I'm going to actually have to go with Sean McKeever's account on what happened rather then someone who wasn't there and was just told what happened.
Not that knowing the truth helps anyone.

Posted by hhbx on 2008-07-12 19:56:04

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