Ungoliantschilde

Hello John, how do you feel about that Disney is paying Marvel comic book creators $5,000 for work it's adapted for billions (total shocked i know) and the recently news that talented creators are starting Substack subscription services for their comic book projects?

First. Be careful about throwing around numbers like that. Maybe one creator got $5k. Maybe you heard a rumor that it was standard. Regardless, the only people who know the truth are the artists, writers, and staff working at Marvel Comics. And anyone that doesn’t currently work there and frankly never has is a moron for telling you they know how much money these people make. People used to argue with Brevoort on here about his sales figures. As if some jackhole on Tumblr knows more about the comics industry than a 30+ year veteran that’s still working at the highest level. So, your quote of $5,000 is dubious. But, I digress.

I think… I think that Marvel and DC treat their talent departments like professional athletes. And that really is a pretty good analogy. Being able to produce interior artwork for a monthly comic book is akin to being a high level athlete playing a professional sport. I have gradually gotten my family to understand why I like comics so much by being as clear and blunt as possible: the BEST figure artists in the world draw comics. Period. Being able to quickly and imaginatively render body language and facial expressions is a basic job requirement for a pro comic book artist. Animators on movies rarely get credit. But the lead designer? The lead artist? They get all the awards and recognition. Those are the pencilers of comic book art. Those are the people whose last name is listed on the cover of a book, right next to the logo of the publisher. They’re like pro athletes, competing at the top of the game.

Now. Follow that line of thinking. Derek Jeter was a fantastic shortstop for the Yankees. Fantastic. One of the best ever. And when he was done, he was done. He doesn’t get to go places and advertise himself as Mr. Yankee the Shortstop. He goes and advertises himself for autographs as… Derek Jeter. The guy that played shortstop for the Yankees.

I talk a lot about Barry Windsor-Smith as my favorite artist of all time. Barry… Barry never got that he was the artist for a company that was paying him on a work for hire basis. He doesn’t own the rights to Conan the Barbarian. He doesn’t get to dictate how Marvel reprints his work if they so choose.

If Ralph Lauren hired you to design a necktie for them, and it wound up being a huge sales success that became this iconic necktie for Ralph Lauren. It would still say “Ralph Lauren” on that tag thing on the back of the necktie. It wouldn’t say your name. You designed the necktie. Ralph Lauren produced it, bought the materials, paid for the manufacturing, shipping, distribution, marketing, and paid you. It’s Ralph Lauren’s necktie. That’s not a capitalism or “America is bad” thing. That’s a business thing. That’s called work for hire.

I am a very amateurish artist myself. I have debated trying to write and draw my own stuff for a while now. And I might someday. But I grew up loving the licensed properties published by Marvel and DC. They inspire me and I still love reading and rereading them.

I am not at all surprised that Disney is lowballing the talent. That’s how Disney makes money. You get the best product for the least amount of money, and you sell it for a profit. That process is absolutely not cool to the talent. That’s why creator owned projects are on the rise. That’s basically the core business model of Image and Dark Horse. Artists make names for themselves drawing Spider-Man, Batman, the X-Men, or Superman. They get burnt out on playing the pro-sports version. Their work gets edited a lot. And they don’t get paid what they’re worth. Some of them stick it out and become hardcore company players.

John Romita, Jr. is a BEAST. Dude has been firing on all cylinders for decades. And he’s a company man thru and thru. Robert Kirkman started at Marvel and DC, and he clearly found a different avenue of success.

If Disney is paying its talent less then they feel they deserve, then I wish them the best of luck in trying to make a backend deal to make more profits off of the books they’re producing for Disney. Seriously. Good fucking luck. Disney absolutely SCREWED Scarlet Johansson on the Black Widow royalties. According to her lawsuit, She got fucked out of $50,000,000 million. And Disney’s response to her lawsuit was to call her all kinds of horrid shit in public. I was not surprised. I just shook my head and thought of the countless number of other creative people that have tried to fight Disney for their royalties. And lost. Check my tags for Carl Barks.

Make yourself a name drawing Wolverine. Then go shove it down Disney and Warner Bros’ throats by creating your own thing.

I know you have a lot of love for the DC writers so my question is if you could pick 3 and pitch a book for them, kind like how you did with rucka and the cyclops one. Have any in mind?

all i know if geoff johns should write x-men one day.

that would be cool.  

also i could take a nap :)