CBR: WC11: Robert Kirkman Spotlight

[CBR News]

During his WonderCon panel, Robert Kirkman discussed the latest issue of "The Walking Dead," whether Stephen King was writing an episode of the TV series, his hidden fears, why he may have sold out and more.


Full article here.

[the_speedball]

"The Carl thing was planned for a while," he continued, to huge groins of disappointment from the crowd at the accidentally slipped spoiler.

Umm...yeah.

[md62]

Finishing off the panel, someone asked which comic book character Kirkman would love to write. "There was a time when I would have liked to gotten ahold of Spider-Man, but that kind of stuff just doesn't interest me anymore. It's not cool that all of the most talented people in comics just want to write Batman and Superman and Spider-Man and Wolverine. I wish all those people would just create their own comics."

I like Kirkman's passion for creator owned books but it doesn't have to be an either/or situation. Why can't writers/artists do both? I'm sure if creator owned comics were top sellers more writers & artists would do them. Plus getting benefits, etc has to be a big incentive.

[maniacmatt]

Finishing off the panel, someone asked which comic book character Kirkman would love to write. "There was a time when I would have liked to gotten ahold of Spider-Man, but that kind of stuff just doesn't interest me anymore. It's not cool that all of the most talented people in comics just want to write Batman and Superman and Spider-Man and Wolverine. I wish all those people would just create their own comics."

I like Kirkman's passion for creator owned books but it doesn't have to be an either/or situation. Why can't writers/artists do both? I'm sure if creator owned comics were top sellers more writers & artists would do them. Plus getting benefits, etc has to be a big incentive.

Yeah, I agree that creator owned stuff needs to become a bigger part of the market, but Kirkman seems to think that because he was successful, everyone can be, which simply isn't possible.

That said, I'll definitely pick up Super Dinosaur. I read Invincible and Walking Dead sporadically through trades.

[RolandJP]

I think he is correct. there was a time when creators (the brightest) thought to themselves..I want to take a poor selling title and see if I can turn it around. Like John Byrne on the X-men. Simonson on Thor. Miller on Daredevil. I believe they were in it for the challenge.

Side rant: I find myself supporting small press publishers more and more. Maybe its maturity, or ive reached the point where I know, things change in mainstream comics then reset back to the way they were before the change. :shrugs:


Another side rant: I am surprised no-one on the panel asked Kirkman if he would consider a Walking Dead crossover with Resident Evil. Or having the company that handles that franchise do Platform games (PS3 XBOX360, WII) for his series. :Fangasm:

Anyways..To those creator's who blaze new trails, thank you!

[maniacmatt]

I think he is correct. there was a time when creators (the brightest) thought to themselves..I want to take a poor selling title and see if I can turn it around. Like John Byrne on the X-men. Simonson on Thor. Miller on Daredevil. I believe they were in it for the challenge.

Side rant: I find myself supporting small press publishers more and more. Maybe its maturity, or ive reached the point where I know, things change in mainstream comics then reset back to the way they were before the change. :shrugs:


Another side rant: I am surprised no-one on the panel asked Kirkman if he would consider a Walking Dead crossover with Resident Evil. Or having the company that handles that franchise do Platform games (PS3 XBOX360, WII) for his series. :Fangasm:

Anyways..To those creator's who blaze new trails, thank you!

I completely agree. I find that the biggest problem though isn't in the willingness of creators, it's in the willingness of fans. The audience needs a drastic shake up for any sort of real change.

[GRANT!]

I completely agree. I find that the biggest problem though isn't in the willingness of creators, it's in the willingness of fans. The audience needs a drastic shake up for any sort of real change.

I think that's the main issue.

People just want to read the same characters over and over again and not want to embrace something new.

[maniacmatt]

I think that's the main issue.

People just want to read the same characters over and over again and not want to embrace something new.

Exactly. I think most creators would love to do their own thing, but most of them have to make a living, so it's not as easy to do. Marvel and DC are a guaranteed paycheck if you can get in.

[anilbangkok]

You're telling me that the "black" invincible wasn't an april's fool joke?!?

[maniacmatt]

I assumed it wasn't from the get-go. It would've sent a terrible message.
"We're making Invincible an African American next year!... jk! Yeah right! Could you imagine?! Ha! That would NEVER happen."

[impossibleink]

"Finishing off the panel, someone asked which comic book character Kirkman would love to write. "There was a time when I would have liked to gotten ahold of Spider-Man, but that kind of stuff just doesn't interest me anymore. It's not cool that all of the most talented people in comics just want to write Batman and Superman and Spider-Man and Wolverine. I wish all those people would just create their own comics."


I really feel the same way and decided to get up and produce my own graphic novel series. Hopefully i can get where Mr. Kirkman is one day.

check out my Kickstarter project page:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...-graphic-novel

[kong]

Yea doing Creator Owned books with no names is a difficult sell, especially at conventions. But at the same time most people don't want the pitch, the few that do are really cool people and that makes it all the worth while.
Having said that here is a shameless plug for my Creator Owned comic The Silver Bullet which is like a comics Mockumentary. Cbr files of every issue are available at http://silverbulletcomic.com

SilverBulletComic.com

[boyhangover]

The thing Is I could pretty much care less about Kirkman. Sure Invincible is good and I liked his irredeemable ant-man but I could care less about Walking Dead or anything else he has done. I'm getting the next issue of Guardians of the Globe and picking up the super dinosaur but I am starting to have my doubts on that book.

[prismablue]

I admire Robert Kirkman's ability to thrive the way he does as an independent writer/creator in the current marketplace, because of that I can't understand why the most popular writers don't at some point leave the big two and focus on doing original material.