CBR: Shelf Life - Dec 1, 2011

[CBR News]

Ron Marz brings his Thanksgiving leftovers to the table this week, sharing thoughts on a variety of topics that have been occupying space in his brain recently.


Full article here.

[rev sully]

this has become one of my favorite columns about comics. I usually read "When Words Collide" weekly, great column. A real insight into how to critique a funnybook. But yours is often funny and so insightful with our guided peek behind the curtain.
Thanks. Always charming and always worth the read.

Eric O'Sullivan
Boston, MA

[aleph]

As a freelancer, you know there is always, always someone willing to do your job cheaper. As a writer, there's almost always someone willing to do your job for free.

Standard page rates in the comics industry haven't gone up in years. In some places, they've actually been rolled back. That's the reality of being a freelancer in a floundering market.

I've had this fear that someday, companies will start paying freelancers such low amounts no matter the quality of work that it simply wouldn't be a sustainable career choice (or for a more extreme view, just get those people willing to do it for free). Is this a rational view of the creative industry?

[Steve Broome]

"I'm much more likely to pick up a comic because of who drew it, rather than who wrote it."

Same, also completely agree about the quality of writing versus other mediums. I think comics are giving the best overall content and variety of anything out there.

[virtuadept]

NIce article. John Carter Marz would have been EPIC.

Deserted Island Book: I'd go with Action Comics #1. a 2 million dollar comic might be incentive for someone to try to rescue me.

I may have to hunt down that samurai book, looks like it might be my thang.

[Disco_Magic]

John Carter Marz made me want to run around the office telling everyone how clever that would be... until I realized that no one here knows who either John Carter of Mars or Ron Marz is.

Desert Island comic: New Mutants Special Edition
Chris Claremont & Art Adams spin a wonderful tale of the young mutants in the various realms of Asgard. Awesome!

[SJNeal]

I would definitely pick up both Dr.'s Strange and Fate if you were to write them, Mr. Marz!