If Robert Kirkman wants to worry about something...

[Jack-In-The-Box]

he should worry about getting his work and the rest of the Image books out on time. As far as I know, Bendis doesn't have that problem.




I'm still waiting for the rest of the Infinite Horizon series to come out. Most of the Image titles are several months behind their solicitations. Anyone else see a problem?

[GRANT!]

he should worry about getting his work and the rest of the Image books out on time. As far as I know, Bendis doesn't have that problem.

He is working on that. A bunch of his books were resolicited in December Previews and the current issues have been coming out more frequently (three weeks between Invincible 52 and 53).

And Bendis does have that problem. Powers has had several delays not to mention the first 6 issues of Mighty Avengers.

I'm still waiting for the rest of the Infinite Horizon series to come out. Most of the Image titles are several months behind their solicitations. Anyone else see a problem?

It's the nature of Image. Creators have more of a hand in the publishing of the book. It's always going to be that way with the smaller companies. Marvel and DC can afford to have several issues in the can before they solicit them and even they have lateness problems.

[xarathos]

I don't think that a lot of the creators at Marvel or DC would be the next big indie thing in anycase, you've got them exclusive anyway and your not going to get the most original thing out of the guys that brought you Civil War. Just my thought on the subject.:frown:

[GRANT!]

I don't think that a lot of the creators at Marvel or DC would be the next big indie thing in anycase, you've got them exclusive anyway and your not going to get the most original thing out of the guys that brought you Civil War. Just my thought on the subject.:frown:

Two of the most successful creator owned books (Kick Ass and War Heroes) this year were written by the guy who did Civil War.

Either way this response is a bit of a non sequitor? What does this have to do with late comics?

[BigBoss]

Robert said he hired himself a editer now and has his mind in the game, I got faith in him espiccially with invincible coming out 3 weeks after 52.

[vickvega]

Image comics is continuing to grow. Invincible and Walking Dead have long runs ahead of them in my opinion. I think they will get better as the dough rolls in from these excellent titles. Marvel has been in business for 40-50 years so its understandable that they have the shipping down pat. Though books like Hulk do suffer setbacks, they sellout anyway. I think Invincible and Walking Dead will have much longer entertainment value(they are timeless), than books like Hulk or New Avenger(forgettable).

[bebopeva88]

As was said, it was just announced at the Image panel that Kirkman got an editor for his 3 books. However, those people championing the fact that Invincible #52 and 53 shipped close to each other, this is nothing new at all. Both TWD and Invincible have pretty much always been released in a circular pattern of delays, followed by a rapid succession of issues a couple of weeks apart, followed by delays.

On a whole, Bendis is timelier than Kirkman, and using Powers and MA aren't really very good examples of Bendis himself being late, as Powers isn't his focus, nor is it intended to be monthly. Bendis' core Marvel work takes precedence, and his ICON work gets done when it gets done -- same thing with Bru and Criminal regarding core Marvel working taking priority over ICON work. As for MA, the delays on the initial 6 issues were due to Frank Cho -- Bendis was well ahead on scripts.

With Kirkman, from what I can recall, only some of the Astounding Wolf-Man delays were due to the artist (in this case, Jason Howard having another job, prior to his apparently deciding to work on Wolf-Man full time when it was announced as going "monthly"). Pretty much all of TWG and Invincible's delays are from Kirkman's end, and he's said that.

As for delays to things like The Infinite Horizon, you can hardly place any blame for that at Kirkman's feet.

[DeeSnider]

Both TWD and Invincible have pretty much always been released in a circular pattern of delays, followed by a rapid succession of issues a couple of weeks apart, followed by delays.

This is why I never understand the amount of criticism Kirkman gets for his "late" books. It's not as bad here, but on the Image boards it seems like there's a post a day complaining about it. If you look back on 2007, 10 issues of Invincible and 12 issues of Walking Dead were released. I think he does a pretty good job of publishing his books in a timely manner, especially for Image titles.

Don't even get me started on Gutsville. I've pretty much given up ever seeing that end at this point.

[JoshuaCee]

The problem with Image, is that ALL of the money the creators see is on the backend. Meaning, you produce just one issue of a comic book, print it (which costs the creators money), ship it and then wait. Sometimes it months before anyone involved sees a penny. I don't know about you, but I couldn't afford to do 1 month's worth of full time work and not get paid.

Now, I have heard some rumors about a possible page rate program at Image. Creators could elect to receive a small page rate up front in exchange for a percentage of the backend profits. That might not be a bad idea, especially for new creators.

[Jay Faerber]

The problem with Image, is that ALL of the money the creators see is on the backend. Meaning, you produce just one issue of a comic book, print it (which costs the creators money), ship it and then wait. Sometimes it months before anyone involved sees a penny. I don't know about you, but I couldn't afford to do 1 month's worth of full time work and not get paid.

Well, Image fronts the money for printing, so it only "costs the creators money" in that it's taken out of the profits on the back end. And you're right -- it is awhile before you see your first check on a new series. But that's why I start my new series slow. As long as you don't solicit it too early, you can put your first two or three issues together over a period of 6 months or even a year, so that you can still work a day job (or take other gigs, or whatever) while working on those first few issues. Then, when the money from the first issue comes in (assuming it makes money, of course) you can ramp up production speed to meet whatever schedule you've set for yourself.

~ Jay

[JoshuaCee]

Well, Image fronts the money for printing, so it only "costs the creators money" in that it's taken out of the profits on the back end. And you're right -- it is awhile before you see your first check on a new series. But that's why I start my new series slow. As long as you don't solicit it too early, you can put your first two or three issues together over a period of 6 months or even a year, so that you can still work a day job (or take other gigs, or whatever) while working on those first few issues. Then, when the money from the first issue comes in (assuming it makes money, of course) you can ramp up production speed to meet whatever schedule you've set for yourself.

~ Jay

You might want to pass that bit of advice around to your peers. I've noticed that with Dynamo 5 in particular, you and Asrar seem to know what you're doing. That book comes out pretty regularly. And it's good. :smile:

[Jack-In-The-Box]

My initial complaint is not with Kirkman's work specifically. It's with Image and their habit (whether they believe it or not) for being late coming out, if at all. As a new partner for the company I would think that Kirkman has some interest in the quality of service being offered, for his books and others as well.

There is another thread here where Erik Larsen calls another member ignorant for suggesting such a thing. If they don't see a problem then it's pointless to discuss it.

It's sad because Image releases some great stuff, especially in their minis, but I won't be buying anything where I'm unsure if the story will ever finish.

[bushboy]

My initial complaint is not with Kirkman's work specifically. It's with Image and their habit (whether they believe it or not) for being late coming out, if at all. As a new partner for the company I would think that Kirkman has some interest in the quality of service being offered, for his books and others as well.

There is another thread here where Erik Larsen calls another member ignorant for suggesting such a thing. If they don't see a problem then it's pointless to discuss it.

It's sad because Image releases some great stuff, especially in their minis, but I won't be buying anything where I'm unsure if the story will ever finish.

What you have to realize is who's fault the lateness is. There are no editors or people telling the creators what to do or when to do it. Everything is the creator's fault. For the Big Two, you can even blame the company for quality, but Image allows creators total freedom, so blaming Larsen for Kirkman's lateness(hypothetical) makes no sense.

[Jack-In-The-Box]

It makes no difference who is to blame. Image and the creators that work for them won't get my money until they can become more reliable.

[DonC]

My initial complaint is not with Kirkman's work specifically.

Then why did you call your thread "If Robert Kirkman wants to worry about something.."?

[dan bailey]

Presumably because of Kirkman's grandstanding little video manifesto as new Image partner from a few weeks ago.

[DonC]

Being an Image partner doesn't mean he's in control of anyone else's books, though.

[GRANT!]

It makes no difference who is to blame. Image and the creators that work for them won't get my money until they can become more reliable.

Kirkman has put out fifty issues of two comic book series with a fairly consistent art team for a good chunk of issues in the span of 5 years. That's a better track record then most. Including books DC and Marvel. How many issues of Ultimates were released in that span of time? All Star Batman and Robin?

[G. Wayne]

He is working on that. A bunch of his books were resolicited in December Previews and the current issues have been coming out more frequently (three weeks between Invincible 52 and 53).

And Bendis does have that problem. Powers has had several delays not to mention the first 6 issues of Mighty Avengers...

I thought the first 6 issues of Mighty Avengers were delayed because of Cho, and Ultimates because of Hitch, for that matter.

[Jack-In-The-Box]

I am a private contractor. If I don't show up for work or don't do my job properly the company I work for looks bad. Not me. In fact I would never hear about it from anybody but the owner of the company I am contracted to. If a customer complained the owner wouldn't say that it was out of his hands, or that he had no control over his contractors. That would be stupid. He would get back to me and would be hesitant to book me again.

Do I blame Gerry Duggan and Phil Noto because they have failed to put Infinite Horizon out on time? No, because they are just independent contractors. I blame the company they work for.

[bushboy]

I am a private contractor. If I don't show up for work or don't do my job properly the company I work for looks bad. Not me. In fact I would never hear about it from anybody but my boss. If a customer complained, my boss wouldn't say that it was out of his hands, or that he had no control over his contractors. That would be stupid. It would get back to me and he would be hesitant to book me again.

Do I blame Gerry Duggan and Phil Noto because they have failed to put Infinite Horizon out on time? No, because they are just independent contractors. I blame the company they work for.

That would be understandable for marvel or DC. In Image's case, the "contractors" aproach them with a comic, and if the Publisher beleives the idea is solid, they release the comic. All the creator has to do is sell enough issues to cover printing costs and such. That is it. Image doesn't 'hire' these people. It's like the customer blaming the company that made your tools for your bad work and/or laziness. Black&Decker has nothing to do with you actually deciding to do your work.

[Jack-In-The-Box]

That would be understandable for marvel or DC. In Image's case, the "contractors" aproach them with a comic, and if the Publisher beleives the idea is solid, they release the comic. All the creator has to do is sell enough issues to cover printing costs and such. That is it. Image doesn't 'hire' these people. It's like the customer blaming the company that made your tools for your bad work and/or laziness. Black&Decker has nothing to do with you actually deciding to do your work.

Aaaahhh, but the result is the same. I'm less likely to buy a comic with the Image logo on it because there is a pretty good chance I won't even be finishing the story.

If others want to continue to support Image comics, I support you in doing so. I continue to buy Walking Dead in trades.
It's like I said earlier, they do put out good product.
This is just my personal opinion.

[Libaax]

Im starting to lose respect for Kirkman for what is happening to Invincible.

Not only the delays. My LCS complains that reordering Invincible and ordering the new issues are almost impossible.

As an international fan it sucks that Invincible is such a hassle to get. Im starting to even forget the storyline.

I dont want to go and download the best superhero i read ! But soon im forced to because i cant catch up when my only choice is the trade that comes out like once a year !

Fricking idiots. Had it been DC or Marvel i would get Invincible anytime i wanted.

Gongratz to Image they show with Invincible the good side of the big two !!

Thanks to that i feel less guilt of reading so many big two comics. Atleast i know what im getting from them !

[josh straightedge]

How delayed is Invincible? It's not that slow to come out. It's not like we are talking Powers or an All-Star book. Not only that, but was he ever the reason it came out late? Besides, that book is so good, if it takes an extra week, I'm totally okay with it. The wait is always worth it.