Landridge is no longer going to work for DC and Marvel

[Kid Omega]

Langridge is writing the new POPEYE series from IDW, and it is amazing. It totally nails the feel of the old Segar strips.

His series SNARKED is great too.

[Slam_Bradley]

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.

It's not just the fans who feel Watchmen is pretty spiffy.

http://entertainment.time.com/2005/1...e-dave-gibbons

[king mob]

Illustrated storytelling as an art isn't dying, but the stapled periodical form of it will die out in my lifetime.

I think the first time I heard this was in the early to mid 80's and it's never happened, and it never will because it'll remain enough of a niche product to ensure it survives. Yes, digital downloads will hit it, but it'll help save monthly superhero comics at the same time.

It's like vinyl records. They were supposed to be long dead but they still go on and actually have a growing market.

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.

There may be popular creators who could step say into Grant Morrison's shoes should he (and he won't since he's a DC companyman these days) decide to discover his youthful morals and leave DC, but there sure as fuck isn't a lengthy list of talented replacements.

As said, Marvel tried this in the 90's after the Image crowd left and it ended up with the company floundering badly, so the example is still sitting there should a group of creators decide to go 'fuck this' and leave all at the same time. Now that would seriously hurt rather than this steady drip (and contrary to some opinion, it is becoming a steady drip) of creators saying 'enough' and going off into other things.

[king mob]

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

That was the gossip at the Bristol Expo last weekend, but the stories about DC wanting to do a sequel are bloody strong.

[king mob]

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.

In order:

1/ Yes, DC are pushing this as a great artistic work. Fans are also doing it. Both are talking shite.

2/ Everyone know these are comic books

3/ Watchmen is the best example of a superhero comic book which can cross over into a mainstream readership ever created because it's a genuine work of literature. It's been put in it's position because it's one of the few cases where it deserves it. DC know this, hence this attempt to gain the same sort of acclaim by osmosis even though Moore and Gibbons washed their hands of this.

The line 'the Before Watchmen stuff are just comic books. Well, so is Watchmen.' is designed to drag Watchmen down to DC's current level. It's a line I see used a lot, and heard a few times last weekend. It is however, bollocks.

[kalorama]

In order:

1/ Yes, DC are pushing this as a great artistic work. Fans are also doing it. Both are talking shite.

Not in anything I've seen. They're pushing it as a big noteworthy event, but that's no different than what Marvel is doing wit AVX, a book about guys in costumes beating the crap out of each other. I've seen nothing in the promotion of Before Watchmen that suggests DC things it's great literature.

2/ Everyone know these are comic books

But some are under the impression that they're much, much more when in the vast majority cases, they're not.

3/ Watchmen is the best example of a superhero comic book which can cross over into a mainstream readership ever created because it's a genuine work of literature. It's been put in it's position because it's one of the few cases where it deserves it. DC know this, hence this attempt to gain the same sort of acclaim by osmosis even though Moore and Gibbons washed their hands of this.

The line 'the Before Watchmen stuff are just comic books. Well, so is Watchmen.' is designed to drag Watchmen down to DC's current level. It's a line I see used a lot, and heard a few times last weekend. It is however, bollocks.

And with that you've pretty much made my point for me.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

That was the gossip at the Bristol Expo last weekend, but the stories about DC wanting to do a sequel are bloody strong.

They likely are gonna judge reaction to these and if they sell well do it. But they will wait and see how these go 1st.

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.

Oh I'm sure that is true. I am sure they discussed it a lot but they always shot it down. But once Harras and others came into spots after Levitz stepped down , they realized... we have a property we still make money on. (I had heard Watchmen still sells well in TPB form even now) Lets go ahead and do it.

I'm pretty sure if Frank Miller never did a sequel to Dark Knight , that right now DC would be discussing sequels to it with the right creative teams.

[king mob]

Not in anything I've seen. They're pushing it as a big noteworthy event, but that's no different than what Marvel is doing wit AVX, a book about guys in costumes beating the crap out of each other. I've seen nothing in the promotion of Before Watchmen that suggests DC things it's great literature.

Avengers Vs. X Men is just a way to grab people's money and Marvel aren't trying to hide it. It's what you expect a company to do. Before Watchmen has had every single piece of promotional material mention the original book with the clear intention to suggest this is an approved and sensible extension beyond what we've already seen.The entire thing is cashing in on a reputation and that's the problem people like Roger have.

And when you have stuff like this if you've got any sort of ethics then you have to fuck off these comics.

[finfangfool]

"Comics" as a concept isn't going to die (or at least isn't likely to). I agree that past predictions of the death of the medium were overblown. And (once again, for those reading a different point from what I've actually written to one they feel more comfortable arguing against) I'm not with them. I'm not saying comics are going die. I even went so far as to disagree with those arguing (hoping?) that superhero comics were on the decline. What I'm saying is like newspapers (another printed form of media predicted to eventually die out, again not by me) they're going to transition from periodical printed form to something different.

If anything this will be very healthy for the hobby. In the late '80s and early '90s the comic boom brought enough money into the industry to support a healthy selection of independent and creator-owned titles. When the boom was over it was harder for many independent creators to cover the costs associated with producing their product (and so we had a smaller selection of quality independent titles). Now that it's transitioning to digital it will be much easier for artists to focus on the important stuff (creating stories) and have the ability to put their product out there for a fraction of the cost. This will also make it less likely they'll have to swallow their pride or principles to work for companies that treat them like garbage, and allow them to shine on their own.

I myself happen to enjoy going to my local comic shop every Saturday (too busy on Wednesdays) and seeing what came in. I like holding a paper comic in my hand, and I even enjoy putting them in bags and filing them away in alphabetical order in a white box in my basement. But I honestly don't believe that I'll always have that option. Not by my choice, but because the cost of doing business in this way will eventually push the companies to digital-only. I'd like to be alarmist and eventually be proven wrong, I just don't see how it makes sense for companies like Marvel or DC (let alone guys and gals who self-publish).

[king mob]

"the cost of doing business in this way will eventually push the companies to digital-only.

It won't, really it won't. You will have an increase of digital first launches, but the traditional comic will be around for a long time to come because the market is still there.

I'd like to be alarmist and eventually be proven wrong, I just don't see how it makes sense for companies like Marvel or DC (let alone guys and gals who self-publish).

Market. Simple.

[Johnny P. Sartre]

I'm still amazed that people still think you need the big two to be successful in life or have it as some sort of, "yep, you're a comic creator now" badge; it be bullshit... Huge bullshit. There have been stories of successful to hugely successful indie cartoonists, writers and artists in the comic scene. How are people ignoring that?

Yes, it does help to work for the big 2, there's no denying that but you won't die if you don't work work for them.

Also, the little snarly comment of Landridge messing up a fast-food order was way out of line, stupid, unnecessary, ignorant and out-of-this world rude. You dare never say that to Landridge face and you deserve to be called out for something that stupid.

[FanboyStranger]

I'm still amazed that people still think you need the big two to be successful in life or have it as some sort of, "yep, you're a comic creator now" badge; it be bullshit... Huge bullshit. There have been stories of successful to hugely successful indie cartoonists, writers and artists in the comic scene. How are people ignoring that?

Yes, it does help to work for the big 2, there's no denying that but you won't die if you don't work work for them.

Also, the little snarly comment of Landridge messing up a fast-food order was way out of line, stupid, unnecessary, ignorant and out-of-this world rude. You dare never say that to Landridge face and you deserve to be called out for something that stupid.

Many people are unwilling that anything without a cape in it actually exists, and that's the domain of the Big Two. You say "Los Bros Hernandez", and they say, "What issues of Batman did they do?"

[Charles RB]

''Gaiman's not a big deal, I mean what's he done in the last few years, that's right nothing!!! If Morrison or Johns quit then I might care but I don't unless it's a really big name working now'''

If that happens, I bet the above springs up in various shapes and forms everywhere.

And then if either Morrison or Johns quit, it'll be all "ah they've not been doing that great anyway" and "why are they so ungrateful to the poor company that made them famous?!".

I should say there was gossip at the Bristol Expo that a few other creators are considering telling Marvel and DC where to go but are holding out for a prime time to drop the announcement so I'd pay very close attention to social media around the time of Before Watchmen.

That would be an awesome time to do it. If you're going to burn bridges, that's a way to do it...

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.

Of course someone else will replace Landridge. But unless they're as good as Landridge, it's still Marvel & DC losing out on a good, acclaimed creator.

[Johnny P. Sartre]

And then if either Morrison or Johns quit, it'll be all "ah they've not been doing that great anyway" and "why are they so ungrateful to the poor company that made them famous?!".

Many people are unwilling that anything without a cape in it actually exists, and that's the domain of the Big Two. You say "Los Bros Hernandez", and they say, "What issues of Batman did they do?"

These comments are sad because they're so true, I wish it wasn't but some people's mentality are like that.

[king mob]

And then if either Morrison or Johns quit, it'll be all "ah they've not been doing that great anyway" and "why are they so ungrateful to the poor company that made them famous?!".

Neither will, but if one did then yes, that's almost exactly what's going to be said because this same shite line is used against Kirby's family, or Ditko, or anyone who dares threaten the monthly fix of superheroes and those brave, and amazingly wealthy multinationals.