Landridge is no longer going to work for DC and Marvel

[Grapeweasel]

JMS coming out and essentially saying 'people get fucked over all the time but that's life, deal with it' seems to have been a motivating comment for some creators so it'll be interesting to hear feedback from Mark Millar's convention in London this weekend as Dave Gibbons will be there along with some creators apparently on the verge of leaving.

I hope there are people telling DC and Marvel to fuck off next month when Before Watchmen comes out, but realistically we might get one or two others mainly because I think a lot of people don't realise just how hard it is to make a decent living off comics while having things like a mortgage and a family behind them.

I think everyone realizes how hard it is making a living in the comics field. But it's even harder when you don't have a job. And it's a nice symbolic gesture to get up from the table and storm out, but it's kind of pointless when someone is sitting in your chair before you make it to the door.

[Darrell D.]

It's his principles, and that is what he feels is right for him.
I'm not sure how that is a bad thing.
Plus, as the article stated, he hadn't really been working for DC or Marvel for over a year or more, and he has had work coming in steadily in the meantime.
I'm very interested to see who is going to announce next.

[king mob]

I think everyone realizes how hard it is making a living in the comics field.

No, 'everyone' doesn't.

But it's even harder when you don't have a job. And it's a nice symbolic gesture to get up from the table and storm out, but it's kind of pointless when someone is sitting in your chair before you make it to the door.

No, it's not pointless. It's a point of principle and when you make a stand like this against companies who are still actively shafting creators and employing people who happily join in with shafting their fellow creator then that's not pointless.

See it's easy to mock someone like Landridge from afar, or even like these kids did on Sunday, from a ridiculous position of ignorance about the person sitting several feet from them, but the truth is he won't starve as he'll always get work, but choosing to tell DC and Marvel to fuck off til they do the right thing should be applauded automatically by fans and not treated with this sneery contempt.

[Grapeweasel]

No, 'everyone' doesn't.



No, it's not pointless. It's a point of principle and when you make a stand like this against companies who are still actively shafting creators and employing people who happily join in with shafting their fellow creator then that's not pointless.






See it's easy to mock someone like Landridge from afar, or even like these kids did on Sunday, from a ridiculous position of ignorance about the person sitting several feet from them, but the truth is he won't starve as he'll always get work, but choosing to tell DC and Marvel to fuck off til they do the right thing should be applauded automatically by fans and not treated with this sneery contempt.

Everyone does because everyone realizes how hard it is making a living doing anything. And I'm sure Steve Rude thought he wouldn't starve because he'd always get work, too.

[king mob]

Everyone does because everyone realizes how hard it is making a living doing anything.

No, people don't. Seriously, they don't. I've seen far too many people turn up and con's with a portfolio expecting to be the next big thing but promptly told where to go.

And I'm sure Steve Rude thought he wouldn't starve because he'd always get work, too.

As I'm sure you know, there were a number of reasons why Steve Rude found himself in a bad situation but yes, when you're a talent like Rude you expect to be in work but that just shows DC's current attitude.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Good for him.

I just hope he doesn't screw up my order next time I use the drive-thru.......

Yeah, pretty sure the article had mentioned he had plenty of work. Plus it was in the OP.
But, reading is hard, I know.

Landridge also mentioned he really does more illustration work didn't he ? That basically comics is a side thing for him more or less .

It reminds me of when there was rumors Chuck Austen was coming back a year ago. Fans went insane as usual over that mere name of his possibly coming back. But he basically said , nope...never coming back. He does work in animation now and isn't in a hurry to return from what he's posted the past few years.

But some will believe he's suffering in some way I'm sure. By him not writing that Blackhawks series at DC last year.

[Darrell D.]

Landridge also mentioned he really does more illustration work didn't he ? That basically comics is a side thing for him more or less .

It reminds me of when there was rumors Chuck Austen was coming back a year ago. Fans went insane as usual over that mere name of his possibly coming back. But he basically said , nope...never coming back. He does work in animation now and isn't in a hurry to return from what he's posted the past few years.

But some will believe he's suffering in some way I'm sure. By him not writing that Blackhawks series at DC last year.

Plus, in the animation industry he has a pension, health insurance, etc.
Why the fuck would he want to come back to an industry that doesn't have any of that?
It reminds me of when Kirby left Marvel for the second time in the 70s and got a job at Ruby-Spears animation studio.
It was the first time he had health benefits.
Shocking, I know, but that's why some sort of guild for comic freelancers would be a very, very good idea.

[finfangfool]

Illustrated storytelling as an art isn't dying, but the stapled periodical form of it will die out in my lifetime. Probably in the next 10-20 years. This is what I meant when I said "it's a niche hobby that's dying". In that form. If someone chooses not to believe that, I can't convince them otherwise so I'll just move on. When it does move to a digital-only hobby it will compete (and already is) with a vast range of free entertainment out there. I have a feeling this will change how creators craft their stories, and perhaps how frequently we get our "fix" (could mean we get a bit every couple of days, or maybe a page a day, or it could be one large self-contained story once every six months, or something else entirely). But it will be different from the monthly, $2.99 a month for 22 page format we've all become familiar with. I do think super heroes are in no real danger, as it's a genre almost exclusively associated with the artform and it's hard to get your fix elsewhere if that's what you're into.

As for the topic, I certainly wasn't one of those sneering at the man for taking a principled stance. I was just pointing out there are so many talented and/or popular artists and writers out there who would fill the void if even the top 20 creators working today (however you'd want to measure that) walked away from comics tomorrow. Heck, there are dozens of writers and artists out there not doing comics I'd like to see working on something over many creators with regular jobs (though I'd hate to see them coming back to work because of the above scenario). For all I know some of them may have taken a similar stand, I'm just not aware of it.

[Iangould]

When is that shameless cash grab (Before Watchmen) due to come out?

Honestly, even as a cash grab it makes fuck-all sense.

Does anyone think Silk Spectre will make more money for DC that a JMS/Hughes "Wonder woman: Earth One" would have done?

[Iangould]

Illustrated storytelling as an art isn't dying, but the stapled periodical form of it will die out in my lifetime. Probably in the next 10-20 years. This is what I meant when I said "it's a niche hobby that's dying". In that form. If someone chooses not to believe that, I can't convince them otherwise so I'll just move on.

Ducks are fish. If someone chooses not to believe that, I can't convince them otherwise so I'll just move on.

[Darrell D.]

Honestly, even as a cash grab it makes fuck-all sense.

Does anyone think Silk Spectre will make more money for DC that a JMS/Hughes "Wonder woman: Earth One" would have done?

I guess they can pretend its some kind of lofty artistic endeavor, but anyone with a lick of sense knows that isn't the case.
Say what you want about Marvel and the Avenger VS Xmen spectacle, but at least it isn't pretending to be something it isn't.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Honestly, even as a cash grab it makes fuck-all sense.

Does anyone think Silk Spectre will make more money for DC that a JMS/Hughes "Wonder woman: Earth One" would have done?

I guess they can pretend its some kind of lofty artistic endeavor, but anyone with a lick of sense knows that isn't the case.
Say what you want about Marvel and the Avenger VS Xmen spectacle, but at least it isn't pretending to be something it isn't.

Oh I think DC and Warner Brothers knows exactly what they are doing here. Watchmen made pretty well at the box office and DC its claimed sold a shit load of TPB's of Watchmen . That they had printed so many copies for that and sold it so well. Its a big cash grab with the potential to do 3 things..

1.) Sell a shitload of comics now.

2.) Sell a shitload of TPB's with "Watchmen" as the name.

3.) Eventually become the next animated movies to sell with the Watchmen name involved.

I think everyone knows its a mega cash grab by DC. But they see a potential franchise here with money to be made and I can't blame them. People have discussed a sequel or prequel for years. It really is something Alan Moore wouldn't do. But they being DC , don't care. Its something they see future money with.

If these sell well and TPB's move , I expect another set of prequel books to come out yet again.

[kalorama]

I guess they can pretend its some kind of lofty artistic endeavor, but anyone with a lick of sense knows that isn't the case.
Say what you want about Marvel and the Avenger VS Xmen spectacle, but at least it isn't pretending to be something it isn't.

I haven't seen any such pretense by DC, art least not any more than they pretend that about any of the stuff they publish. They're comic books and I'm pretty sure all the folks at DC know and understand that. Most of the pretense comes from the fans, who've elevated Watchmen to the status of the Great Canon of Western Literature and are up in arms because the Before Watchmen stuff are just comic books. Well, so is Watchmen.

[Darrell D.]

Oh I think DC and Warner Brothers knows exactly what they are doing here. Watchmen made pretty well at the box office and DC its claimed sold a shit load of TPB's of Watchmen . That they had printed so many copies for that and sold it so well. Its a big cash grab with the potential to do 3 things..

1.) Sell a shitload of comics now.

2.) Sell a shitload of TPB's with "Watchmen" as the name.

3.) Eventually become the next animated movies to sell with the Watchmen name involved.

I think everyone knows its a mega cash grab by DC. But they see a potential franchise here with money to be made and I can't blame them. People have discussed a sequel or prequel for years. It really is something Alan Moore wouldn't do. But they being DC , don't care. Its something they see future money with.

If these sell well and TPB's move , I expect another set of prequel books to come out yet again.

From what I understand, the only obstacle to this not happening sooner was Paul Levitz wanting to keep a modicum of creator friendliness at DC.
Once he was out of the way, it was full steam ahead, and damn the torpedoes.

[Slam_Bradley]

Illustrated storytelling as an art isn't dying, but the stapled periodical form of it will die out in my lifetime. Probably in the next 10-20 years. This is what I meant when I said "it's a niche hobby that's dying". In that form. If someone chooses not to believe that, I can't convince them otherwise so I'll just move on.

The thing is...everyone has been saying this for the last 60 years. Including lots of people inside the industry. And yet the funny books keep chugging along.

Seriously. Read some interviews with creators and editors. Stan Lee was convinced the industry was dead in the late 50s early 60s. Ditto Gil Kane. Ditto John Romita. Alan Moore was convinced he'd only be working in comics for a few years because they were going to collapse in the 80s.

I'll believe the doom and gloom when they shut the lights out.