First things first, you bought it, right?

If you haven’t had a chance to pick it up, get to your local comic book store NOW and grab your copy. If you prefer to read your comics digitally, you can pick it up on ComiXology. Go ahead. Get it and read it. I’ll wait.

If you did not purchase your copy and instead downloaded it illegally, move along. I really couldn’t care less what you thought of the book.

Anyhow… THE FEARLESS DEFENDERS is a new series from Marvel Comics. I’m writing the book. Will Sliney is drawing it. The book is colored by Veronica Gandini. Letters are by Clayton Cowles. And it is edited by Ellie Pyle. The cover was by Mark Brooks (with variants by Milo Manara, Mike Deodato & Rain Beredo, and Skottie Young).

The Origin…

I’ve written books for Marvel pretty steadily for the past couple of years, but this is the first project that I brought to them. In most instances, an editor has approached me with at least the basic premise. “What kind of Wolverine story would you tell?” or “What would you do with a book about Deadpool killing every character in the Marvel Universe?” This idea, though, is near and dear to me because it was the first proposal I took to my editors instead of the other way around. (Well, it was the first they accepted. I still have my US ACE proposal and my THOR/GHOST RIDER: METAL SOULS pitches on hand).

The set-up for this series came to me while I was working on FEAR ITSELF: THE FEARLESS (which you should buy for more Valkyrie awesomeness). The concept, as it appeared in my original pitch document (written 12/7/2011) was:

Valkyrie, the greatest of the Shield Maidens, gathers a new group of the Valkyrior to stand vigilant against threats to both Asgard and Midgard. These Shield Maidens, though, will not be chosen from among the women of Asgard. Their ranks will be filled by the greatest heroines of Earth.

One part Avengers, one part Lady Liberators, one part Seven Samurai, this series will focus on earthly and cosmic action from the point of view of an all-female team. Some members of this group may not be accustomed to working with others. Some will be facing threats on a scale they’ve never encountered before. Some will be stepping into the role of “superhero” for the very first time.

In the end Valkyrie, who has long been an agent of death, must learn what it means to be an agent of life. She will find that her definitions of heroism and honor are put to the test by the women she leads and the challenges she faces. This is Valkyrie’s dream team, and her vision sets the tone for the entire story—making it come true, seeing it sometimes fail, and learning to adapt when changes need to be made.

Before the book was greenlit, it was passed around to a number of editors. Each editor had different notes, some of them suggesting radical changes. One day I might tell you about some of those. But as the concept moved closer to approval, it was placed in the capable hands of Ellie Pyle, who was supportive of me returning the book to its roots.

(There was a point when I wasn’t sure if this book would be approved or not. I was pitching for another title in the Marvel NOW! line-up. My pitch for that series rocked, quite frankly, and I really wanted to do that book. If I had been chosen for that series, I would have probably let this idea drop. So I’m very pleased that my proposal for the other series wasn’t selected.)

The Cast…

Since the series was announced, the cast has been the subject of much conversation. Many readers hated the idea of building the “team” of Shieldmaidens over time. The now-now-now mentality reared its ugly head. But I believe in a team book it’s important to work a little more slowly in revealing characters, especially when dealing with characters many people aren’t familiar with. That gradual gathering of the team has always been the plan.

From the original proposal:

Valkyrie takes center stage as the leader of this all-female super team. In early arcs, she recruits and vets various heroines from the Marvel Universe. Seven women will be chosen as the Shield Maidens of Earth. They are no longer tasked with ferrying the souls of the dead to the afterlife. Instead, they are tasked with the protection of the living.

During her search for this team, Valkyrie will turn to many known characters. (Imagine  Arana, She-Hulk, Lyra, Loa, Kitty Pryde, Monica Rambeau, Dani Moonstar, Lionheart, Hellcat, Songbird, Ms. Marvel, the Invisible Woman, the Savage She-Hulk, Ghost Rider, X-23, Photon, or others being offered the position and powers of a Shield Maiden.) While some known (and lesser known) heroines will accept Valkyrie’s offer, the team will also be joined by new characters who may have no previous powers. Police officers, doctors, firefighters, nurses, etc., will change the way Valkyrie defines heroism.

Don’t read too much into the description above, though. This has changed quite a bit over time.

I’ve been really thrilled by how many people have mentioned that this book was their first real exposure to Misty Knight and Valkyrie. In the days to come, we’ll be adding Dani Moonstar and Hippolyta to the cast. We’ve also introduced Annabelle Riggs, my favorite character in the book.

Now, a lot of people are concerned that there aren’t that many A-List characters in the book. To that, I have to point out that few characters start out as A-Listers. They need a showcase… some place for readers to fall in love with them. My hope is that THE FEARLESS DEFENDERS provides that vehicle.

That said, there will be plenty of A-List characters (and plenty of lesser known characters) appearing in the series. In the fifth and sixth issue of the book, we have a LOT of guest stars. And there’s really no place this series can’t go. You could see almost any character in these pages.

While the Valkyrior is composed of nine women, there will be a much, much bigger cast of recurring characters. If you have a favorite Marvel lady, there’s every possibility she’ll show up at some point… and maybe she’ll stick around.

But They’re All Women, Right?

Yes, the stars of this book are the ladies of the Marvel Universe. But I didn’t set out to write this series in order to make a statement. I came up with an idea that would allow me to tell fun stories featuring characters I love. They just happen to be women.

And I know… I’m a guy… writing a comic about women! Why didn’t Marvel give this book to a female writer? Simple. I’m the writer who pitched the concept.

I’m no stranger to writing strong female leads. Check out THE SIXTH GUN sometime. I feel as though I handle female characters well… because I treat them like human beings first. Writing a solid character is about character first, not gender.

The Tone…

I’m not sure how I originally envisioned the tone of the book, but while writing the first issue I decided that the name of the game would be unapologetic super-heroic FUN. The team-up of Misty and Valkyrie was unexpected, and I want to carry that off-beat sensibility throughout the series.

The Feedback…

I’ve really been blown away by the response to the first issue. Thank you all for the kind words and support! It means a lot. I never really expected the outpouring of love for the book… and for newly introduced character Annabelle Riggs… but it thrills me to no end. Writing comic books can be challenging and more disheartening than most people really know. But the past few days have been truly inspiring!

My goal is to make THE FEARLESS DEFENDERS unlike any other book on the stands. It’ll be strange and quirky and unexpected and pulpy. I’m glad people have enjoyed it so far.

I’m realistic, though, and I know I can’t please everyone. I’ll keep trying, of course, but that’s a losing battle.

One scene in particular (I’m being secretive here to avoid spoilers)… brought about cries of “fanservice!” I hadn’t heard the term until this week, but I’ve gotta say it’s kind of a stupid concept. I write books that I want readers to like. In the end, isn’t that fanservice? I guess there might be people out there who hope no one enjoys their work. I’m sure there is more to the “fanservice” term, but it sounds a little ridiculous to me. I’m sure someone could send me a lengthy description of the term and how I’m misinterpreting it, but, really… no, thanks… I’m okay.

That scene in particular was discussed at length with Will and Ellie to make sure it played well and was handled in a tasteful, respectful manner. Every big moment in this series rolls into another big moment, so I try to make sure everything works in the best way possible.

Keep in mind that no one knows what I have planned for the characters in this book. With this series, I’m writing for the long game, and some of the things I have planned will thrill readers and piss them off and break their hearts… if I’m doing my job.

And guess what? That serving the story, the characters, and the fans.

It’s exciting for me to see where readers think character arcs are headed. But I’ll warn you that you’ll be hard-pressed to figure out what’s in store for these characters based on a single issue that was pretty action-oriented.

What’s Ahead?

Future stories will feature characters and guest stars you won’t expect, and they’ll be barreling through some of the most unusual adventures in the Marvel Universe. I’ve got stories planned that take us to Latveria, Chinatown, and the mean streets of the urban jungle. We’ll be running afoul of sorcerers, gods, amazons, ninja, and a new team of super-villains!

But Here’s the Thing!

If you like this title, it’s still very important that you tell your retailer to stock it. Subscribe to it. Tweet about it. Blog about it. Write to Marvel and let them know what you think! Write a letter for the book’s letter column! Tell your friends. I was in the comic shop just this week and watched as the clerk physically put the book in a customers hand and told them to read it. Hot damn! We want a long run on this series. We think it deserves it. But sales typically drop after a first issue. Word of mouth and your support can help keep this title going! It’s vital!

And if you didn’t like the first issue, maybe give it another issue or two. It might grow on you.

The Reviews…

Here are links to a few reviews that have popped up! There are plenty of others, of course, but here are a few to get you started.

Robot 6 Chain Reactions: Fearless Defenders

IGN Gives Fearless Defenders 9.0 out of 10.0

Comicosity Gives Fearless Defenders 9.5 out of 10.0

Newsarama Best Shots Advance Reviews: Fearless Defenders

Talking Comics Reviews Fearless Defenders

Between the Panels Reviews Fearless Defenders

CraveOnline: Undead Threats

Too Dangerous For a Girl: Fearless Defenders

ComicVine Review: Fearless Defenders

ComicsBlend Review: Fearless Defenders

Would You Like To Know More?

Will Sliney and I have done a few interviews about creating THE FEARLESS DEFENDERS. Here are a couple of links:

USA Today: Odd Couple Heads Up Adventurous ”Fearless Defenders”

Newsarama: Fearless Defenders Post-Game

The Beat: Cullen Bunn Pitches The Fearless Defenders

Multiversity: Cullen Bunn Brings The Fearless Defenders to Life

Comicosity: Cullen Bunn Takes on The Fearless Defenders

The Beat: Will Sliney Profiles Valkyrie

The Beat: Will Sliney Profiles Misty Knight

If you want to stay in the loop on THE FEARLESS DEFENDERS, you can keep an eye on this site. You can also check out the FEARLESS DEFENDERS Tumblr or follow me on my Tumblr or Twitter.

I’d love to hear from you, so please drop me a line and let me know what you thought of the book!

THE FEARLESS DEFENDERS #1 – On Sale Now!

The Fearless Defenders #2 – On Sale March 2013!

• Art by Paul Pelletier & David Meikis, colors by Rain Beredo, letters by Cory Petit, and a cover by Mike Del Mundo aren’t enough for you?
• How about Elsa Bloodstone? Because she’s kind of awesome!
• How about the glorious return of Murderous Lion?
• Do you like Kung Fu throwdowns? Because there’s a big one!
• All this and… Murderloks!?

Sounds to me like you should get on it!

Captain America #18

• This is my final issue of Captain America (co-written by Ed Brubaker) and I’m going out with a bang!
• Captain America’s final confrontation with Codename: Bravo and Queen Hydra!
• Dum Dum Dugan is still one of my favorite characters to write in the Marvel Universe… and in this issue he teams up with Agent 13 to fight Baron Zemo… in space.
• Flying fortresses, jet packs, hundreds of super villains, helicopter battles, giant robots, space stations… this is one action-packed 20-page comic!
• Omega Madbombs!

Wolverine #314

• The beginning of my second arc on Wolverine! This one kicks off a crazy, globe-hopping pulp adventure!
• The Covenant (last seen in Captain America and Namor) return!
• Kung Fu, belly-dancing assassins, monster hunters, and shotgun blasts to the face! What more could you want?
• Paul Pelletier (who worked with me on the “Rot” arc of Wolverine) draws the definitive Wolverine… and a pretty awesome Elsa Bloodstone, too!
• I introduce the concept of Shi’ar microbrews!

Special Bonus! Scarlet Spider #10

• Okay… I didn’t write this one, but it is part of the Minimum Carnage arc that I’m working on with Chris Yost!
• Scarlet Spider vs. Venom!
• The Microverse… and the Micronauts… await!
• Venom and Scarlet Spider find themselves on different sides of a hostile alien universe!
• What is the connection between the symbiotes and the Microverse? We aren’t telling ya yet, but the seeds are planted!

Minimum Carnage Alpha

• This is the issue that kicks off a bloody 6-issue science fiction crossover!
• Venom and Scarlet Spider… teaming up… to take down the worst killer in the Marvel Universe!
• Introducing a whole new group of nasty villains!
• This one sets the stage for the appearance of characters I’ve always wanted to write–the Micronauts!
• Chris Yost, Lan Medina, Clayton Crain, Mark Bagley (for the variant)!

Superman/Batman: Sorcerer Kings Trade Paperback

• Collecting my superhero-meets-sword & sorcery epic!
• Batman rides a dragon! Superman has a big-ass sword!
• Guest starring Detective Chimp, Blue Devil, Shadowpact, Etrigan, Klarion the Witch Boy, and more!
• Everybody loves Nina from Scare Tactics!
• See the Justice League of the magical world!

The Sixth Gun #25

• The darkest chapter of the series thus far continues to unfold!
• Guest stars that everyone has been demanding!
• Giant frost-breathing wolves!
• Billjohn the snowman!
• We’re at the halfway point of the series! There’s never been a better time to hop on board!

Captain America and Black Widow #637

• Two Black Widows for the price of one!
• And they’re beating the crap out of each other!
• The adventures strays into some really strange territory as of this issue!
• The mystery of Kashmir Vennema begins to unravel!
• This issue features perhaps my favorite line of Captain America dialogue… ever!

Let me know what you think!

For the next couple of days, you can grab the first 23 issues of The Sixth Gun on ComiXology for less than a buck each! This is a great time to catch up on the series on the cheap… or grab yourself a nice digital version of the book to complement your hard copies!

And as always the first issue is free!

The sale doesn’t last long, so get over there now!

I did a few interviews about the upcoming move. There are clues aplenty in regards to what I have planned for Venom. Check them out… and buckle up!

Marvel’s Venom Pulls Up NYC Stake For Philly Steaks (AP Interview)

Bunn Talks Injecting Philly With Venom (CBR Interview)

Venom in Philadelphia (Marvel.com Interview)

Marvel’s Venom Team Talk Flash Thompson’s Big Move (Newsarama Interview)

Anyhow, here are the tweets. This is how they appeared when originally posted. As I was posting the timeline, a number of people asked me questions. I’ve incorporated my answers below.

• I’ve had a bunch of questions lately about how I broke into comics, so I thought I’d tweet the history of it.
• Keep in mind, this worked for ME. The path is different for everyone.
• I had been trying to break into writing comics for YEARS, but had no clue how to do it. So, I switched my focus to prose.
• With prose… at least I knew what was involved in the submission process, y’know?
• And even in prose, I started working on building a network… editors and fellow writers I could turn to for advice.
• I started publishing a small press magazine and taking submissions for writers and artists.
• I had a day job (in marketing) and I tried to make as much time as possible for writing.
• I attended conventions, joined message boards, and even started a small press to meet other creators.
• (Later, Twitter and Facebook and LinkedIn would become my online networking tools of choice.)
• I still sent in pitches for Moon Knight and Morbius and Ghost Rider and Etrigan books, but it was pretty pointless.
• Blind pitches never worked for me.
• Some pitches I remember were Ghost Rider, Morbius, Scare Tactics, Blue Devil, and Moon Knight.
• (For new writers, it is much more common for a big 2 editor to come to you with a character or idea they want you to work on.)
• Finding a reliable, talented artist to work on a project with you can be as tough as finding someone to publish your work.
• Long ago, I started working at a comic shop (The Fantasy Shop in St. Louis) with an aspiring artist Brian Hurtt.
• Early on, Brian Hurtt and I started talking about working on a comic book together.
• Brian was breaking in himself (and that’s his story to tell) and had started working with Oni Press.
• A couple of years passed, and Brian and I pitched our first concept to Oni Press.
• The book we pitched was PENNY DREADFUL, a Victorian era supernatural story. It was a project we had been discussing for years.
• But Oni Press rejected it. Boo! Hiss! (Actually, it was the right call, although I still like the concept and characters.)
• I tried a few more pitches (not 100% sure of the timing here) for books like FREAKHUNTER and DEAD ACRES that never happened.
• When finally Brian and I pitched our next project, THE DAMNED, which Oni Press liked quite a bit.
• Speaking of, if you haven’t checked out THE DAMNED, here’s your chance! http://amzn.to/PJ81Vh 
• While THE DAMNED was being put together, I happened to meet with some Marvel editors at World Horror Con.
• During that pitch session, I was totally lost. But at least it helped make some connections.
• I also submitted short comic scripts to small press magazines, notably Futurequake.
• Futurequake published 3 of my stories.
• The biggest benefit of the small magazines was that they found artists for my stories.
• I tried to build relationships with those artists. One of them led to me getting a lot of paying work later on.
• In terms of networking, you never know where you’ll “strike gold” and you run a great chance of making lasting friendships.
• I followed up on every connection I made. I was polite, concise, and friendly.
• From that meeting, I was put in touch with a few different editors, but no immediate work surfaced.
• When THE DAMNED came out, I sent copies to every editor who agreed to read one.
• It took a couple of more years for a Marvel editor to read the book and offer me a one-shot. Sometimes, the wheels move slow.
• Important lesson! Getting your first book published is hard. Getting your next book published is just as difficult!
• Having one book hit the stands only means you have to keep working to get the next one out there!
• I pitched books and stories to Oni and Vertigo and WildStorm and Marvel and DC. I kept trying to stoke the fire.
• I searched for artists all over—message boards, comic shops, small press anthologies.
• And I got burned several times by people who weren’t as excited about working on a project as I was.
• I’ve never done a page rate for an artist when pitching a project to a publisher.
• I’m not saying I wouldn’t. It’s just not been my experience so far.
• I develop all new rookie mistakes with every project.
• For something creator-owned, I think it is VITAL to build a lot of collaboration.
• I think having a solid proposal/pitch early on can help you find an artist and get them excited about a project.
• My best luck sourcing artists came when I started asking my network of friends if they knew anyone who was looking for work.
• After my first Marvel one-shot, I went through a dry spell.
• I kept working on pitches, mostly for creator-owned projects, and I kept knocking on doors.
• I successfully pitched THE TOOTH to Oni Press, but it took us years to find the right artist. http://amzn.to/PJ8BSU 
• Early on, I found several small freelance jobs that helped a lot.
• Eventually, I pitched THE SIXTH GUN to Oni Press. They liked it, and Brian came on as a co-creator on the project.
• There came a point where I wasn’t happy on the job…I wasn;t getting any younger… and I was making at least a little money.
• Have you read THE SIXTH GUN yet? http://amzn.to/PJ8JSh 
• I was a part of a local horror writer’s group for years. They were my first readers for a while.
• When THE SIXTH GUN came out, I once again contacted other editors to see if they would like to read it.
• It wasn’t long before a DC editor reached out to me on Twitter to see if I’d like to pitch an arc of SUPERMAN/BATMAN.
• A couple of creators at Marvel really went to bat for me at Marvel. They made sure editors read THE SIXTH GUN.
• Marvel contacted me and gave me some short stories and one-shots.
• I made sure I was accessible, easy to work with, and on time with all my assignments.
• These tweets aren’t just about breaking into comics… but also about breaking into your hearts.
• Soon, I was offered bigger projects, like FEAR ITSELF: THE DEEP and FEAR ITSELF: THE FEARLESS.
• During the last couple of years before I went full-time as a writer, I worked my ass off!
• I wrote before I went to the day job, during my lunch break, and late into the night.
• When I started treating writing comics like a job… when I forced myself to make time… I started seeing a lot more success.
• I still feel a little lost in terms of comics, but I try to learn and improve every day.
• My biggest drawback? I’m very shy. I’m not a good face-to-face networker.
• But I’d challenge anyone to say a publisher just “gives” me work. I earn the projects I work on.
• I still feel like I’m hustling every day, trying to make the magic happen.
• Did I get lucky at times? You bet! But it wasn’t all luck. It took time and hard work, too.
• My advice? Treat writing like work. Be easy to work with. Compete assignments on time. Don’t be a dick.
• So… That’s kind of how I did it. I’m sure I missed some steps there. I hope it was helpful, though.
• And I know some people don’t like the idea of “breaking in” to comics. But that’s common wording. It can feel like that. Deal.
• It can be a tough road. Don’t get bitter about other people making headway. I struggled with that. It ruined my momentum.
• Go buy my damn books. http://amzn.to/PJ9ydU 

Cover art by Patrick Zircher

Rick Remender and I have been c0-writing the current arc of Venom. It’s been a lot of fun siccing The Savage Six and Flash Thompson and his family and friends. This week, it was announced that I’ll be assuming the writing chores on Venom as of issue 23.

Once the dust settles from Flash’s encounter with Crime-Master and his crew, I’ll be throwing a new batch of challenges into the mix. Code: Uatu missions, tabloid muckrakers, demons, and the Son of Satan himself will be entering Venom’s orbit as he tries–really tries–to become the superhero he’s always wanted to be. Hopefully, this will be a good jumping on point for readers who haven’t been following the series up until this point.

My first arc will bring story threads from The Fearless and from the Circle of Four story together in a big way. Why did Daimon Hellstrom betray the Avengers and join the forces of the D.O.A.? Little does Flash know, but it’s all his fault. And if you thought Crime-Master could mess with Flash’s head, just wait til you see what Hellstrom has in store.

CBR interviewed me about my plans for the book. Check it out when you have a moment.