View Full Version : Greg Rucka Not Reupping His DC Exclusive Contract
DWEarhart
12-05-2007, 07:56 PM
From Greg Rucka's blog:
… I’ve been in a slump for the last six-to-eight weeks or so, dealing with a variety of issues related to writing in general, and my writing in particular. Continued frustrations in dealing with people who really ought to know how to do their jobs properly, for instance, and the lethargy that seems to always set in just in time to really complicate the already exceptionally complicated rush into the holidays. I don’t know if it’s just SAD from living in the PNW during weather like this (and for a wonderful write-up on just how, uh…wet it’s been for some folks, take a look at mercuryeric’s journal) or something else, but, like clockwork, my mood and my productivity both go to Hell in a handbasket around my birthday.
I was in LA on personal business the last two days, and I got to spend some time with my brother and his bride, and I got to see Andrew and Xtie, and that was good for the soul, especially opposite the contortions I’ve been going through the last several weeks. I feel better. I’ve made some decisions. One of them is that I’m not renewing my exclusive with DC. Others less deserving of announcement at the moment, but of no less import to myself and my family.
If you haven't kept up with Greg Rucka's blogs, his frustrations with the company have been more and more prevalent. As a fan of Greg Rucka, I'm pleased with this. Screw that, I'm happy.
Cayman
12-05-2007, 07:59 PM
I wonder if we'll still get some Batwoman issues from him as rumored?
DWEarhart
12-05-2007, 08:00 PM
He hasn't stated that he's leaving the company all together, but one can only wonder if that's where this is heading.
Jack Zodiac
12-05-2007, 08:02 PM
Well, can't say I didn't see it comin', but it's still a shame. It's not a shame that he'll be able to go off and do his own thing again while still being able to do the work he's doing for DC now, but it's a shame that he came to this conclusion because he was unhappy, and not because he wanted to work on something else again.
At any rate, I hope he sticks around with his great work on Checkmate, and maybe, hopefully, eventually, the Batwoman book he'd been talking about doing for so long. But if not, I'd totally understand it. It'd just be an even bigger shame.
DWEarhart
12-05-2007, 08:29 PM
Checkmate is fantastic. But Rucka's writing outside of that book feels flat. His last novel, Patriot Acts, was quite bland. It seems that the stress started with 52 because of the manic schedule, but also because of the people he's alluded to being less than good at their job.
If he stays only on Checkmate for DC, I'm cool with that, but if he does leave as a whole, please, DC, do not put Judd Winnick on it. Give me Mark Andreyko or something, just not Judd Winnick. But I would love it if Rucka stayed on it.
Cayman
12-05-2007, 08:31 PM
Checkmate is fantastic. But Rucka's writing outside of that book feels flat. His last novel, Patriot Acts, was quite bland. It seems that the stress started with 52 because of the manic schedule, but also because of the people he's alluded to being less than good at their job.
If he stays only on Checkmate for DC, I'm cool with that, but if he does leave as a whole, please, DC, do not put Judd Winnick on it. Give me Mark Andreyko or something, just not Judd Winnick. But I would love it if Rucka stayed on it.
If he left, I would think Ostrander would be a good choice to continue the title.
DWEarhart
12-05-2007, 08:35 PM
I would dig Ostrander on it, but I don't think it would be well received all around. New fans don't seem to dig him all that much. Maybe on his Star Wars stuff, I'm not sure, but his material for DC this last year has been ill met by most fans. I like him, definitely, but I think I'm in the minority when it comes to DC.
Deathstroke
12-06-2007, 04:11 AM
I would be really disappointed if Rucka left Checkmate.
Of course this does mean there's a chance we'll get more issues of Queen & Country. And maybe just maybe we'll finally get to see more of his Felon character.
Sean Walsh
12-06-2007, 05:51 AM
His mentioning of DC editorial sounds quite valid.
Just looking at how they're killing the New Gods - and how there seems to be no sensible continuity between COUNTDOWN and DOTNG and other appearances - proves that there's a growing problem with them.
titanfan
12-06-2007, 10:37 AM
He must continue to write Checkmate. (I've been a little concerned lately with that title having various co-writers on it.) Everything else, I think he's probably replaceable on.
Fatguy
12-06-2007, 11:05 AM
This is exciting, in that I think exclusive contracts are one of the worst things for comics right now.
DWEarhart
12-06-2007, 03:03 PM
This is exciting, in that I think exclusive contracts are one of the worst things for comics right now.
I had the same feelings when these exclusive signings began a few years ago, but the books got better, and I'm all for creators garnering steady paychecks.
The worst thing in mainstream comics right now, in my opinion, are these big events, which is pretty much beating a dead horse at this point, but they are why I stopped liking mainstream product. Marvel and DC have firm plans to continue them well throughout 2008. That's why I dropped the majority of my mainstream books. Checkmate and Manhunter (whenever it starts up again) are the only ones I still get. The rest is indies.
CYOTI
12-06-2007, 08:22 PM
This is exciting, in that I think exclusive contracts are one of the worst things for comics right now. Only in that it inevitably helps drive up the price of labor.
SUPERECWFAN1
12-06-2007, 08:26 PM
He should have never been allowed off Wonder Woman. That was a major screw up there.
The Xenos
12-06-2007, 08:29 PM
Well, don't most exclusive contracts allow smaller indie work? Like Queen & Country? Maybe not so much Dark Horse or Image. Though certainly his buddy Brubaker's been doing a bunch of stuff at Marvel. All the luck to him. Where ever he goes, I'll be interested to see what he does.
stealthwise
12-06-2007, 08:41 PM
Eh, I'm not a big fan of either Rucka or DC right now, so this is a pretty big non-news event to me.
The less exclusive contracts though, the better, as we can get more varied projects from different creators. I think Rucka would be a good fit on some of Marvel's street-level characters.
Babylon23
12-07-2007, 12:59 AM
I don't see a problem here. He can still write Checkmate or (fingers crossed) a Question series, but has the freedom to write non-DC titles as well. Either way, Rucka fans win out.
While I'm not a huge fan of Marvel current output, I'll check out any book he writes for them or any other company.
Stanlos
12-07-2007, 09:28 AM
He should have never been allowed off Wonder Woman. That was a major screw up there.
Quoted for the Gods, Testament and Truth!
And what was the cause of that? His refusal to go along with TPTB in betraying the character.
CYOTI
12-07-2007, 12:44 PM
And what was the cause of that? His refusal to go along with TPTB in betraying the character.
No just the attrition following IC where the writer and artist for almost all the trinity and major league books got switched with newcomers. There were I believe exactly a handful of exceptions.
SUPERECWFAN1
12-07-2007, 12:48 PM
DC ruined Hawkman and Wonder Woman post OYL. I lovvvveed Wonder Woman and Hawkman in 2005. Constantly good reads and in 2006 Pffffff. Gone ...horrible.
He should have never been allowed off Wonder Woman. That was a major screw up there.
Yeah, Wonder Woman kicked ass under his tenure. On the plus side though, we have Gail Simone writing her now.
I wonder what this means for Marvel, specifically for characters like Black Widow.
Carter Hall
12-07-2007, 02:23 PM
Wait, so Greg Rucka lives in the Pacific Northwest!??? Is he from there!? Anyone know? If he is, that's awesome!! I'm from Seattle and as far as I know the only comic-celeb from there is Tim Sale.
Wait, so Greg Rucka lives in the Pacific Northwest!??? Is he from there!? Anyone know? If he is, that's awesome!! I'm from Seattle and as far as I know the only comic-celeb from there is Tim Sale.
You're from Seattle, eh? Well no ones perfect. ;)
*Waves to his fellow North Westerner*
Oh and to answer your question: Gail Simone lives in Oregon, I believe George Perez lives up here too or maybe Jimenz I'm not sure which one of them lives here, if either live here.
ultramandingo
12-07-2007, 05:36 PM
........ he shoulda ditched dc when "gotham central " got axed - love to see him and bru working on a marvel version of that - or he could do his own icon crime book ala " criminal "
CYOTI
12-07-2007, 06:21 PM
........ he shoulda ditched dc when "gotham central " got axed Gotham Central didn't get axed. He ended the book himself after his co-partners left the book.
enediol
12-07-2007, 06:32 PM
Doesn't really bother me - I don't read much of his stuff and Checkmate couldn't keep my interest.
The Xenos
12-07-2007, 06:45 PM
You know what? This exclusive contract stuff is crap. They're forcing creators to remain with a specific company. It's a sign your company is crap. Gee. If your company is so great and things are going so well for you, then shouldn't the creator want to stay with you? The only good thing is that the creator gets a bunch of extra money for sticking with the company.
david r
12-07-2007, 07:49 PM
I see some Marvel books soon with the name "Rucka" on the cover.
Let's see: "Iron Man"
Or maybe Bendis is leaving "New Avengers" and the title needs a new writer...
Ryan Day
12-07-2007, 08:33 PM
You know what? This exclusive contract stuff is crap. They're forcing creators to remain with a specific company.
Who's being forced? As far as I know, everyone signs contracts voluntarily, and there are plenty of creators going back-and-forth.
Not to mention the fact that it guarantees employment and benefits to creators, unlike freelance status. I don't know about you, but I certainly like knowing I'll still have income next month.
And for that matter, in most cases it's not even restricting them that much - generally, it just means you can't do superhero work for DC/Marvel. Plenty of creators sign exclusive deals, then go and do their best work at smaller companies. So no one's creativity is being restricted at all.
stealthwise
12-07-2007, 08:39 PM
Who's being forced? As far as I know, everyone signs contracts voluntarily, and there are plenty of creators going back-and-forth.
Not to mention the fact that it guarantees employment and benefits to creators, unlike freelance status. I don't know about you, but I certainly like knowing I'll still have income next month.
Agreed, with my family, there's no way I would even consider working without some security and I'm sure a lot of the current writers feel the same way.
You know what? This exclusive contract stuff is crap. They're forcing creators to remain with a specific company. It's a sign your company is crap. Gee. If your company is so great and things are going so well for you, then shouldn't the creator want to stay with you? The only good thing is that the creator gets a bunch of extra money for sticking with the company.
Actually from what I heard, writers get a benefits package when they sign exclusive deals with a company, such as a medical and dental plan.
Will.S
12-07-2007, 10:14 PM
I'm a little surprised to hear this as he's been having success with shaping nice portions of DC with 52 and Checkmate. I'm a fan of his Checkmate work and I'm purchasing almost anything he puts out from DC like the Crime Bible stuff.
But I guess given the current state of DC I shouldn't be surprised. DC is basically putting out a ton of crap with "Countdown" slapped across it alongside hiring a bunch of new exclusive writers doing their headlining event so there's some chaos there. Plus I heard on his podcast with John Siuntres that he was really disappointed in the direction they took WW and that they messed up in that regard.
I think he belongs at DC where he can re-invigorate more DC characters but he might be better off as non-exclusive depending on his priorities. Hopefully he'll put out his usual DC output and he'll cross over to do Marvel stuff as well. I'm sure he wants to do more female spy action at Marvel like Black Widow or something along those lines.
david r
12-08-2007, 06:20 AM
So the "Big Five"--Morrison, Waid, Rucka, Johns, Winnick-- of DC writers is breaking up? First Mark Waid. And now Greg Rucka.
Waid was pretty vocal about dissatisfaction with DC, when his exclusive contract ended. And now Rucka's comments have me wondering about DC Comics editorial.
Geoff Johns seems pretty established at DC, and the recent Word Balloon interview appeared Geoff has DC plans for years to come.
Grant Morrison is penning FINAL CRISIS and will be writing BATMAN thru 2009. So he seems esconced at DC Comics. But who is next?
CYOTI
12-08-2007, 01:24 PM
You know what? This exclusive contract stuff is crap. They're forcing creators to remain with a specific company. It's a sign your company is crap. Gee. If your company is so great and things are going so well for you, then shouldn't the creator want to stay with you? Not necessarily. Most writers and artists at the bottom line are primarily motivated by higher wages and benefits not by some unmeasurable quality of said company.
CYOTI
12-08-2007, 01:25 PM
Waid was pretty vocal about dissatisfaction with DC, when his exclusive contract ended.
I wasn't aware of any negative comments made by Waid following the end of his exclusive. The same goes for Rucka, he hasn't said anything bad about DC following the end of his contract.
Jack Zodiac
12-08-2007, 01:36 PM
No, he hasn't, at least not in so many words (http://ruckawriter.livejournal.com/). It's obvious now, and has been obvious since the middle of 52, around the time Steve Wacker left for Marvel, that Greg isn't very happy with DC.
You know what? This exclusive contract stuff is crap. They're forcing creators to remain with a specific company. It's a sign your company is crap. Gee. If your company is so great and things are going so well for you, then shouldn't the creator want to stay with you? The only good thing is that the creator gets a bunch of extra money for sticking with the company.
Extra money, guaranteed employment and health insurance. Sign me up for that "crap."
Sean Whitmore
12-08-2007, 01:40 PM
You know what? This exclusive contract stuff is crap. They're forcing creators to remain with a specific company. It's a sign your company is crap. Gee. If your company is so great and things are going so well for you, then shouldn't the creator want to stay with you?
I wish I lived in magical fairyland too. Things sound so uncomplicated there.
SEAN
Jack Zodiac
12-08-2007, 01:45 PM
Hey, let's say the same thing over and over again, but snarkier and see who's the snarkiest! Ya' schmucks.
He doesn't know how exclusive contracts work. I think Ryan nailed it, so whenever he comes back he'll be educated in the process, and everyone's better for the experience.
Or we could make fun of him some more and touch ourselves while we type with one hand!
Sean Whitmore
12-08-2007, 01:47 PM
Your FACE is typing with one hand!
SEAN
Jack Zodiac
12-08-2007, 01:59 PM
That's it, mother!@#$er! :mad: *starts walking to Lower Belabartòkovitch*
Or we could make fun of him some more and touch ourselves while we type with one hand!
Isn't that always the plan?
The Xenos
12-09-2007, 12:43 AM
True. Freelance doesn't have any of those benefits. When I said forced, I meant after you sign you're locked in. So you have to jump through whatever hoops or clean up whatever mess they toss at you. Though that's rather the whole idea of contacts.
Then again, with Marvel or DC, it usually just means you can't write for the other party. They seem to always bee lenient with work for smaller publishers.
Well, I guess the bottom line is... it sucks to work as a writer. I kid. Well, I half kid. I recently got back into contact with a friend pursuing a career in writing. I was trying to cheer her up about the profession and help have a good outlook on it. Yeah. Not too easy of a task that.
Babylon23
12-09-2007, 04:43 PM
Well, there's still no word that I've seen yet on whether or not Rucka will continue to write for DC. Just because his exclusive agreement is over, it doesn't mean he's leaving the company and running off to Marvel.
botch
12-09-2007, 04:56 PM
Gotham Central didn't get axed. He ended the book himself after his co-partners left the book.
it did get axed. they were just given time to finish it.
K'Nort
12-09-2007, 10:01 PM
Wait, so Greg Rucka lives in the Pacific Northwest!??? Is he from there!? Anyone know? If he is, that's awesome!! I'm from Seattle and as far as I know the only comic-celeb from there is Tim Sale.
He's in Portland. With Bendis. And then Busiek a little bit across the river.
Since you asked whether he's from the PNW too, his website says San Francisco birthplace.
-- Portlander until 2006
Umberto
12-10-2007, 04:43 AM
it's a bad new for me. :(
Cayman
12-10-2007, 09:47 AM
Wait, so Greg Rucka lives in the Pacific Northwest!??? Is he from there!? Anyone know? If he is, that's awesome!! I'm from Seattle and as far as I know the only comic-celeb from there is Tim Sale.
Ed Brubaker lives in Seattle, I've seen him at the Downtown Zanadu several times. Tom Peyer lives in Seattle as well as Vertigo writer G. Willow Wilson.
Babylon23
12-10-2007, 05:42 PM
it did get axed. they were just given time to finish it.
In interviews, Rucka stated that he chose to end the series. A big part of this was due to the departure of Ed Brubaker and Michael Lark.
From http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=6660
"And I'm going to miss it, but I do think that it is the kind of book that…it was very much an ensemble effort. I think it's better that the book go out strong and on its own terms than get cancelled. "
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.0 Copyright © 2013 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.