Changes in Store for Supernatural Origins?

I've just gone through and read the previous entries and comments about the comics, and had to giggle a little bit. Yes, we are an obsessed bunch who notice every little thing!

Thanks, Mr. Johnson, for taking the time to address the concerns raised and do something about it. Though I noticed the errors as well, I have enjoyed the story you're giving us and will continue to support your efforts.

(And I agree with you about Dean nearly running away at that age--the most level-headed kids under normal circumstances consider doing just that, and these boys were not living under normal circumstances!)

WOW!!! Thank you !! I was one of the many upset before about the Impala issue early on and I appreciate that you have come here and let us know your plans for restoring the Impala to John.

I must admit in the second issue I really hated the idea of John pushing Mary's uncle over the edge of a cliff/quarry while he was still alive.

That was until a friend reminded me that although Uncle Jacob was family ...Jacob had made a real threat of taking the kids from John. He wasnt in his right mind, in his state of anguish over the death of Mary, the danger to his children and now the iminant death of Jacob. If Jacob had survived he had made a very real threat of taking the kids fron John, and that could have colored his decison in the heat of the moment.

Maybe his marine training would have allowed him to slip back into the mode of following orders from a person of Authority, that authority being the nameless hunter.

I was very angry over the idea that John would allow a relative to die like that until I took all of those mitigating factors into account.

Now I can see where a decision like that may have been made.

Thank you for coming back to us and informing us of your plans to bring back our beloved Impala to the family with out the other version of how John got it.

Will that change the scene that I was having trouble with before or will Uncle Jacob still be there threatening to take the boys away? If so will he still suffer the same or similar demise? Now I am very curious as to how you will go forward from here.

As I said before , thank you

Juanita, Qld Australia

WOW.
I'm quite speechless, but I do feel like mr. Johnson deserves a honorary fan place of a sort. I hope his idea will be accepted by DC, so that we will get to have both versions eventually. Thank you so very much for listening to the fans - typos and timeline mistakes can happen in a publication, so many people involved, but the scene in the Pilot with the broken Winchester family sitting on the Impala is so very poignant for the SPN fans...again, thank you.

I haven't read #3 yet, but in principle, I totally agree that a 13 yo Dean is just a teenager with all the typical and fleeting teenagers' impulses. A saint, he was not. If I remember correctly, Dean has a couple of lines in Born Under A Bad Sign where he refers to 'smoking and breaking bottles' as habits more typical of him than Sam, and in What Is and What Should Never Be, he seems to recognize again as typical of him a behaviour that is less than stellar (using Sam's ATM, hooking up with Sam's date on prom night, missing Sam's graduation, etc)...that is to say, Dean wasn't probably a model of behaviour during his teen years, which is a lot more realistic than him being all home and family.

Anyway, I'm digressing. Again, many thanks to you, Mr. Johnson, for paying attention to us on the matter of the Impala. I do hope the series is selling well, because I'm looking forward to read so much more about John and those 20plus years of back story :D

Stop being like this guys! Is there any need to take things so seriously? Just enjoy the comics! I know I'll enjoy them as long as they don't focus on Rubella! lol

Thank you so much for reconsidering the Impala issue!

I agree with you regarding 13 year old Dean. I don't think it is out-of-character at that age to respond to stress by running away. Or to not keep his little brother in the forefront of his mind at all times. Dean isn't perfect, he's human. Also, Sam would be nine. When Dean was nine he was taking care of himself and Sam. I don't doubt that Dean feels that Sam could certainly take care of himself for a while.

And to continue the theme of how obsessed SPN fans are with details and minutiae, Jared actually won not for 'debate' but for 'Duo Interpretation' (drama). He did a scene with another student from "Dominic and Eugene".

thanks, mr. johnson!

i haven't been able to read origins (i'm from europe) and i wasn't planning on doing so - i SO did not like the cover of the first issue!

reading this i get the feeling you do care about writing in character and that's the most important thing. plus i just discovered that john even looks like john! yay! only problem now is: i have to find out a way to import origins! ;)

Your responsiveness to the (fabulous and committed) fans of Supernatural is so respectful -- you must be a fan yourself, which is a huge compliment.

Currently writing a book about fandom community, from both a social/psychological perspective(I'm a psychologist and psych prof) and a literary perspective (co-author is an English prof, both of us associated with universities in the US). Building on Jenkins' ideas of transmedia storytelling, of which Origins is a prime example, and convergence culture itself. One of the topics we're addressing is the reciprocal relationship between fans and source media, specifically the immediacy of the relationship as facilitated by instant online communication -- and your responsiveness is a perfect example!

Love your work, love your obvious respect for this fandom (we're writing from an 'inside' perspective as huge SPN fans ourselves), and would LOVE to interview you for the book if you're interested.

Looking forward to hearing your contribution to the panel at ComicCon - let me know if you're interested in discussing this more, either at that venue or in correspondence.

Thanks (and congrats on Origins) again!

The main reason why I am still not happy with Dean thinking about leaving Sam isn’t so much that he thought about doing it. He was a kid and it would be perfectly understandable. My problem stems from the fact that it happened in 1991… had it happened some years earlier it would have been more believable to me. In episode 1.18 of Supernatural, “Something Wicked”, we learn of the Shtriga incident. Supposedly, this was the incident that once and for all pushed Dean over the edge to become the perfect soldier and the good son… He disappointed John and almost lost Sam because he left the room for a short while and it clearly left its mark on him. Now, in the episode Dean says that it happened 16-17 years ago which would have made it approx. 1988-1989… a couple of years earlier than the comic story. I guess I just have a hard time seeing how Dean would even for moment consider leaving a young Sam alone after that. I’m not overly upset about it, it just makes the pictures in my mind clash.

I’m not getting into the Impala issue because other people have said it well… I’m surprised but also quite excited that Mr. Johnson listened to the good arguments and wasn’t scared to turn around on the subject. Not that I think fans should generally decide what happens in these sort of things but sometimes good points are good points.

Arh… genre-fans. They’ll give you their heart and soul but they’ll slaughter you if you don’t pay attention to details and consistency, heh.

The comics are still quite lovely for the most part. I'll continue to buy every month... I mean, it's about John. Doesn't get much more awesome than that!

A big thank you to Mr. Johnson for taking the time to respond and debate with us crazy people. It’s appreciated.

I'm amazed at how much you've taken the fans' opinions into consideration and am slightly humbled by the changes that are being made because of them.

I also just wanted to say I completely agree with you on the Dean running away issue. At 13, you make those kinds of decisions and it makes sense in his mind. I'm completely in love with the brother's relationship and, I think, this adds something to it. Contrary to what a lot of people think, Dean's only human and he's not perfect. I didn't even consider it an issue!

But thank you, and I just wanted to add that I'm actually really enjoying the comics. I can't wait until the next one comes out!

Mr. Johnson, you have my respect! Listening to the fans when they make good points, but sticking to your guns with others! I agree that the Impala issue was a pretty significant aspect to tinker with, and I'm glad you're revising this change. However, I'm glad you are stretching outside the box to come up with some good stories for this. It's hard when the fans themselves have had 2 years to construct their own backstory for this series -- there are certain things that have just been assumed and become accepted as The Way It Was even though the show hasn't gone into it directly. It must be a delicate balance to strike in coming up with something that will be fresh and dramatic while not going so far out there it changes something fundamental and important. I don't think Dean running away is such a problem: I think it shows a new facet to his history and character. If it seems to go against "Something Wicked," well... maybe that can be addressed in the comic at some point. Dean's attachment to Sammy has become something sacred and a bit exaggerated in the fandom, if you ask me, but I don't find it unbelievable that he would run away. I'm glad to see he actually DID rebel at least a little during his teen years! If the poor kid never even had that, well damn, what a sad life of total subordination. Still, I think you can only take it so far, because his loyalty is without a doubt deeply ingrained and John piled a lot of responsibility on him at an age so young he didn't even realize he had a choice in the matter, and that's what he grew up thinking. So... I guess I'm interested in how much a teenage Dean would beat himself up for letting his family down after making such a rash decision. ;)

Anyway, thank you SO MUCH for this response! It's really great to feel like a show's creators are sharing this experience with you, instead of just handing it down from on high and expecting everyone to love every bit of it. The give and take the internet allows is incredible! :)

But dude... what is UP with the spoilers for season 3?!?! I don't want to think you guys would make the same mistake twice... you're walking through a mind field with this -- AGAIN. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and wait and see how this plays out, but man... there are SO many ways for this to go wrong. Hope you gave your casting agent as much time and money as possible to do this thing RIGHT.

Have fun at ComicCon! :D

Reading over the fan responses, I'm at once thrilled that our community is so invested in this story and a little ashamed that some folks cannot express their concerns and critiques with better manners and a bit more poise. I know you guys love these characters and know them inside and out and have put a great deal of thought into what makes them tick, and I think it's awesome that we as a fandom connect so deeply and take our own ownership with the characters, becoming an active part of the process, but we have to remember who created it all, who holds the pen. This is not to say that they should be treated as infallible; simply offer them your respect even as you challenge their decisions (which, again, I think is great, as many of you did have amazing reasons and thoughts behind those comments).

For Peter, thanks so much for taking the time to read through the fans' comments, address issues, and even go so far as to act on them. I think you and Eric are doing a wonderful job with the show in general and the comic and everything - if it wasn't wonderful to start with, you never would've attracted such a legion of fiercely devoted fans! But that you're allowing it to be this organic, interactive process, not opposed to taking in feedback and ideas from folks outside of the writer's circle, so to speak, recognizing that we love and, more importantly, know this story, analyze and interpret and interact with the text, is just...a rarity, I think, and I for one really, trully appreciate it.

I've never been much of a John fan - the boys just always captured my attention - but you're really bringing him to life here, and I look forward to see where else you take him. The simultaneous story with a slightly older Dean and Sam is a great touch, too - all these interweaving stories (pairing these readings with the show then, as well) are just fascinating and so revealing - Keep up the amazing work, and thanks again for listening to us :)

Ps. I am enjoying the artwork. I think the dark edges and shadows reflect the very way that the show is filmed, the atmosphere, the grainy reality of it, the constant reminder that there are shadows in the world, falling on all of us, but some of our actions stand out.

Okay, end ridiculously long ramble :)

I think this is a great decision. I have a subscription to the comics and was thus getting the whole series anyway. Although I hadn't commented earlier I had the same feelings as many of the commenters who expressed concerns about the jarring elements in the comics.

That said, I agree with PJ's comments about young Dean. I think it's unreasonable to expect that a child (or adult) is ever going to be flawless and consistent no matter how strongly they believe in certain things. His reasoning for it also seemed to be fairly true to Dean's feelings about himself.

Thank GOD! I could forgive the name thing with Jo, and I actually liked the Dean wrap around in the lastest book. But the Impala was driving me CRAZY! Thank goodness. So Peter Johnson, anyway you'll make it that it was Mary's car?

I'm embarassed! You're giving a really bad idea of the supernatural fandom! Complaining about everything! God! Mr. Johnson is taking the time to talk to the fans and it's like you're attacking him! Cut a break! He shouldn't change a thing! He's the writer! He tells the story whatever he wants to! And we shoud feel lucky there's some SN merchandise! Cause seriously, acting like this we're not gonna get much! I feel bad! :(

Thank you, Peter Johnson! I am one of the many who wrote a letter concerning the Impala decision, and your resolution makes me extraordinarily happy. Now I have added incentive to look forward to the collected graphic novel version, when it comes out.

Apart from the Impala's original characterization and some minor issues, I have been enjoying the comic. I love learning about John's initiation into the hunter life, and I am eagerly awaiting future issues.

I'm also looking forward to seeing and hearing you at ComicCon!

Thank you for caring as passionately as we do.

That's awesome. Thanks so much for taking the ideas and reasons for it seriously. The Impala and the part it plays in the Wincester's world is so major. Besides, then the original version(in the initial run of the comic) kind of becomes a collector's item. Sort of like a dollar bill with an error on it. :-) ---

I can't say I agree with the reasoning about Dean--he wasn't a normal 13 year old. He was a highly parentified 13 year old and he'd also already gone through having "screwed up" at 9 because after three days stuck in a small motel room with no outside contact he acted like an almost normal 9 year old for half an hour and, after very carefully locking the door, went 30 ft across the motel parking lot to play a video and as a result almost lost Sam so I don't see him ever even considering it after that.

Weirdly enough, such children are often even more conscientious and harder on themselves than adults in the same position would be. But, hey, can't agree on everything and the Impala thing is changing so... :-)

"If the poor kid never even had that, well damn, what a sad life of total subordination."---

That is what the show has shown us though. Sam even thought of him as the 'golden boy' because he never did anything out of place and was always the 'good little soldier'. The first time he actually spoke up to John in a capacity outside of being their referee in Dead Man's Blood John and Sam both looked at him like he'd grown another head. Had Dean rebelled he'd most likely be much more emotionally and psychologically healthy now.

Parentification is one of the most damaging things that can happen to a child particularly when it starts as young as it did with Dean and on top of the already highly traumatic violent death of a parent because the effects can become part and parcel of every aspect of their emotional and psychological development. Unlike with many adults who face trauma, there literally isn't a 'normal' emotional place to go back to, even in a adulthood, because such a person never had that baseline development in childhood to begin with. Sam got to go through most of those so-called normal phases because Dean was there 'taking the heat'. As a result as we've seen, Sam grew up more emotionally and psychologically healthy with a better sense of self, a common occurence in such situations. Many of the needs the actual parent(here known as John) isn't fulfilling are being fulfilled in some way by the older child.

I just want to say to Mr. Johnson that I am enjoying the comics a great deal. With regards to the impala situation, I too was thrown when he picked up the car and didn't have it since Mary's death, but reading your opinion has opened up my opinion on the matter. The only other thing that threw me was young Dean and Sam at the roadhouse. I would've thought that Dean would remember it because he remembered some aspects of the fire and in Everybody Loves a Clown he says that he doesn't know them. Aside from my ramble I just wanted to say that I am enjoying the comics, storyline, and artwork. Keep up the good work.

Thanks so much!!! For trying 2 correct things. I agree with you about 13 yr old Dean, It's not like he wanted 2 leave Sam behind he just felt if he did there dad would pay more attention to him. Again, Dean is thinking about Sam FIRST.

Thank u so much~! Wish you all the best on the next issues and I'm sorry if we're (diehard fans) giving too much pressure on you~ I'll be waiting for TPB issue.. heheheee~ ^^

While I haven't been able to read the comics I'd heard the complaints from many (some not very pretty) over slips and deviations from Supernatural canon. I think it's great that Mr. Johnson took the time then to bring fans' suggestions on board and amend things; reaching out to a enthusiastic (and sometimes rabid ;) ) fandom takes some guts. Thank you so much, sir!

Wow, I'm stunned that you're going to fix the continuity errors, Mr. Johnson. That's very noble of you and I hope DC goes for it...

...of course now this means I'll have to buy the comics all over again when they come out in the trade. Sigh... Here's hoping there'll be something else in the trade - like a previously unpublished Issue 0 or epilogue or something - to "sweeten the pot" at the YED would say ;)

I think it's neat that you're going to try and fix the errors, but I hope that the fans don't take advantage of that and start saying, "Well, howabout that line in issue 3? John would never say THAT. Change it!" Fans--you give them an inch and they wanna be a ruler.

I disagree that Dean would have considered leaving Sam after the Shtriga incident. A simple change of the year would make more sense to me. Dean has never been able to shed his role of "Sam's Protector." Dean said he "had no choice" but to sell his soul to a Demon in order to revive Sam. By the same token, it was not until after his own "rebirth" that Sam now seems ready to let go of his "little Brother in distress" role. In his fight with Sam, Jake had the physical advantage (strength being his YED given gift). It appeared Jake broke Sam's arm as well. However, Sam was able to defeat Jake by fighting smart; he used his feet and knee to deliver body blows, he used Jake's own strength against him by side stepping a punch and then striking while Jake's hand was stuck. Sam's fatal mistake was letting down his guard the minute he heard Dean's voice. He reverted to the role of needing to be saved and it cost him his life. Parents assign life roles to their children based on birth order, gender, IQ and physical attributes. It is part of a healthy adult psyche to shed negative assigned roles, but it is part of Sam and Dean's charm that their psyches seem so damaged.