Dialogue Year In Review Questions
What is the biggest challenge facing the comics industry today?
The recent collapse of the sports trading card market presages the biggest threat now facing the comics industry.
Collectibility is an advantage intrinsic to the comics medium. However, during recent years, so much emphasis has been placed upon the collectible aspect of comics that the entertainment aspect has been neglected. This trend has been fostered, promoted and exploited by publishers, distributors, retailers, fans and creators. Lately, a great many tricks that can only be pulled once a decade or so have been used to add collectibility to comics, including new number one issues, various cover gimmicks and even the “death” of Superman! That’s how enamored we’ve become with the short-term benefits of collectibility.
Comics are an entertainment medium first and collectible merchandise second. We as an industry, must resist the urge to turn comics into a fad.
Here’s what happened:
Chris, X-Men editor Jim Salicrup and I went to lunch at the Ultimate Lotus, a Chinese restaurant that happened to be in the same building as Marvel (575 Madison Avenue) to discuss a new story arc for the X-Men. Freewheeling, I pointed out that while Marvel had many heroes who started out as villains–the Black Widow, Hawkeye, several others–we’d never had a hero who went bad. I suggested that Chris evolve Phoenix into a villain, permanently and irrevocably, the new “Doctor Doom” for the X-Men. Salicrup and Chris liked the idea and Chris began work on what eventually became the “Dark Phoenix” saga.
In those days, I had so much to deal with besides the comics–the change in the copyright law, schedule problems, two or three lawsuits against Marvel, domestic licensing, international licensing, fighting with the board of directors re: royalties and incentives, trying to teach the writers to write, the pencilers to tell stories, the inkers to ink, the colorists to color (the letterers were basically okay) that I often didn’t read the comics until they were in the “make-ready” stage. Make-readies were, essentially, printer’s proofs.
So, I started working on it. If you read the extra looooong revised series outline, you saw how the character would be introduced.
But, I thought this might be of interest. It’s a document I wrote early on in the process:
Here are some thoughts regarding Super Lad:
First of all, remember that I’m wicked old….
Jack Kirby was crowned King by Stan Lee when Stan gave Jack the Marvel nickname “King.” Did Jack deserve the coronation? Certainly. His creative record is not only unmatched in the comics field, but possibly, idea for idea, unmatched by anyone in any field. Ever. At his peak, in the early to mid 1960’s, Jack was the absolute master of comics storytelling, and had evolved a powerful, wonderful, exciting, magical style that blended just enough solid drawing with just enough abstraction and just enough exaggeration. He changed everything. He influenced countless creators. He awed and entertained millions of readers. His work moved people. King, indeed.
“Wow, Jim, I’m sorry to hear about all the trouble you had while on Legion of Super-Heroes. I get the feeling Mark Waid probably went through something similar when he returned to The Flash. His LoSH run doesn’t read like it went through too much editorial interference, but I bet it was a little disconcerting when Justice League of America brought back the original incarnation of the team, instead of using Mark and Barry Kitson created.
Anyway, great overview. You had a lot of good ideas and it’s a shame not all of them made it into print. I’ll be honest, though, I’m a little confused by the rationale for Invisible Kid becoming Stealth? How did his attraction to Gazelle convince IK that he was a woman stuck in a man’s body? Maybe I missed something…
When I first moved to New York City in 1976, as it happened, Dave had a room to rent and I needed a place to live. We didn’t know each other at all, but it worked out fine for the eight months or so I stayed there. Dave was good-natured, easygoing and easy to get along with—also, totally honest and honorable. The place was great. I tended to avoid the room where he kept the snakes and lizards. They stunk. Or, I guess, some of what they ate stunk. Anyway….
Archie Goodwin
Ask the average fan to name the greatest creators in the history of comics and the name Archie Goodwin will not leap to the minds of many, because so much of Archie’s brilliant work was behind the scenes or flew under the mainstream radar. But ask the creators with whom he worked! Ask other all-time great writers, artists, editors and creators! Gather the elders, the best of the best and ask them! His name will be among the first mentioned. Archie Goodwin was an amazing writer with outstanding story sense, penetrating insight, a gift for dialogue, an effortless knack for character, a flair for drama and utter mastery of the art of delivering the payoff. His sheer creativity ranks with the best ever. He was an all-time great editor and teacher. He made everyone he worked with better. On top of that, Archie Goodwin was a fine, wonderful, noble and honorable soul, loved and respected by everyone because he deserved it. This industry may never see his like again. How sad. He is desperately missed.
Also… More and different stuff will be posted later today!
(Continued from yesterday’s blog)
SG checks the Duty Roster. PP’s location also does not appear.
SG tracks PP to her lair, picking up clues from the minds of people who saw her pass. It’s almost too easy. Does PP want SG to find her?
SG follows the trail to an ancient building on a lower level of the city. Once, it was a cathedral. Long ago it was stripped of religious icons—only the building’s basic architecture identifies its origins. It has been converted into a palace of sorts for PP by her subjects. It’s not nearly as posh as her former residence, but it’s a step in the right, royal direction….
Meanwhile, on Triton, the ADs charge—but they’re different! They’ve adapted on the fly into new, dangerous forms, designed, it seems, to cope with the powers of their opponents. At SG’s urging, Giselle feints a headlong attack, drawing fire, then executes a spectacular leaping somersault to cover. Star Boy brings down a building on many of the ADs. TW eviscerates one that escaped. Giselle also takes out one of the remaining ADs.
The battle rages. It’s even more difficult and more interesting (I hope) than before.
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