I can’t believe that the only review I’ve ever given of it was this:

“Val also wrote a great book, Memoirs of an Occasional Superheroine, which you can buy as an ebook from her website. I need to get a proper review of it written up, but I will say that its a worthwhile read if you want an insider’s view of the comics industry, and some of the less-nice things that happen to good people sometimes.”

Wow. I must say that I regret not reviewing it sooner. It really is a great read, and if you check it out while its free, maybe go and click the “donate” link on Val’s site and send a little thank-you her way.

Val used to work for DC. She probably had some great times there, but without a doubt she experienced some really dark ones. I don’t feel like I can adequately describe or do justice to everything she experienced and described in her book, but let’s just say that she’s been handed a lot of shit in her life, and after everything, she’s managed to come through it all with a pretty healthy outlook.

Anyway, her blog and this book have secured her in my mind as a writer and person that I like and respect, and her book is worth your time.

She also has some books coming up with Marvel that I’m excited for:

Bleeding Cool reports that Val D’Orazio (who writes the excellent Occasional Superheroine) will be writing a story for Punished MAX – one of Brian and my favorite titles.

Why this is awesome:

1) This is awesome because she is awesome. I recommend her Memoirs of an Occasional Superheroine – her story about life in the comics industry. Its about how awful and shitty some people can be, even if they make good comics. But you know, uplifting.

2) This is awesome because Punisher MAX is awesome. It started with Ennis writing great, messed-up stories about the Punisher, and letting him get away from the Marvel Universe is a good thing (I mean, Frankencastle? Seriously?).

3) This is awesome because (from the Bleeding Cool article):

[D’Orazio is] telling a violent, gory, sinful, sexy and decadent story about the publishing world. …She has since written verbosely over issues of sexism within the industry, and allegations of sexual harassment and bullying from senior employees within DC Comics.

Punisher may be payback time.

In summation, this is awesome.

First Warren, and now Val D’Orazio, better known as the Occasional Superheroine.

I love her blog, but what brings me to mention it tonight is something she wrote about for her column for Comixology, called Comics Op. She recently wrote a piece on rumors and the comics industry, called Rumors, Vicious Rumors. She opened up for submissions, and I gave my input, my two cents on the matter.

She included some insight from people far more influential than I in that article, but had some spillover of submissions, which she posted on her blog. Among them was what I had to say on the subject of gossip of a personal nature in the industry:

“Sure. I mean, I don’t care about most of it personally, I’m not big on gossip, but basically, if you want your name to be known publicly, you have to accept that you’re going to be under that kind of scrutiny, and for your life to be under the microscope. You ask for fame? Then expect everything that goes with it.

I mean, offhand, how much do I know about, oh, Neil Gaiman, for example? As someone who doesn’t really follow these things (but enjoys his work), I know he has multiple children (two? I think), at least one daughter. He lives in Minnesota, which I find odd for and Englishman. Imagine if someone cares to know more?

You’re putting yourself into the public sphere. Deal with it.

Even in a literary field, if your name is big (which includes publishers in the comic industry, sorry – you help make plot decisions, it makes you noteworthy), expect people to want to know about you. Expect the scrutiny that goes with being a “name”. If you want to look outside of comics? Think Steven King. Think Michael Crichton. Think Dan Brown. Think JK Rowling. Think whoeverthehell wrote “Twilight”. If people care enough, they’re going to know about these people’s lives. Enjoy it if people care. It means that you’re probably pretty big. What did PT Barnum say about publicity?”

You can read even more here: GOSSIP: Follow-Up on Occasional Superheroine

Val also wrote a great book, Memoirs of an Occasional Superheroine, which you can buy as an ebook from her website. I need to get a proper review of it written up, but I will say that its a worthwhile read if you want an insider’s view of the comics industry, and some of the less-nice things that happen to good people sometimes.