Frank Miller got me thinking...

Above photo (Left to right): Klaus Janson and Frank Miller at the School of Visual Arts’ “100 Years of Genius: The Life and Legacy of Will Eisner” event in April 2017. Photo by (DC Comics editor and SVA faculty member) Joey Cavalieri.

Frank Miller got me thinking.

On April 4, 2017, during his chat at the School of Visual Arts’ “100 Years of Genius: The Life and Legacy of Will Eisner,” Frank Miller talked a bit on the topic of Will Eisner and comic book Creators’ Rights. Miller explained Will’s views on comic book Creator’s Rights and contracts:

The most frequent business advice [Will Eisner] gave me was: ‘Stop whining.’ Because I would go in saying: ‘Creators’ Rights this, Creators’ Rights that, Creators’ Rights this.’ And he’d say: ‘Look, if you sign the contract, it’s over. Stop complaining about anything.’ His point of view was simply that if you’re working on other people’s material, then you don’t have that much of a claim. And so, clearly, his whole point was that the future of comics was for people to be introducing new material.

(You can watch the entirety of SVA’s “100 Years of Genius: The Life and Legacy of Will Eisner” event here on Youtube.)

In the book EISNER/MILLER, Will stated:

Take a look at the marketplace and understand what its realties are. I never subscribed to this Creators’ Bill of Rights because I believe that there was no reality to it. In the marketplace, moral rights are often disregarded.

And…

Well, there is no ingrained right, there are no God-given rights here. The rights are what you negotiate.

Now, it’s true that Will was a very savvy business person. (And you really have to be if you want to have a successful career in the arts.) I don’t think that Will would have needed to be reminded by something like (the very important) Creators’ Bill of Rights. However, the vast majority of young artists do need to be reminded and told about the Bill and about Creators’ Rights.

(I lecture on all of this in my Sequential Art: Comics Illustration class at SUNY Orange.)

In an interview on the Creators’ Bill of Rights and Creators’ Rights for THE COMICS JOURNAL (No. 137, September 1990) by Gary Groth and with Steve Bissette, Scott McCloud stated:

Whatever crimes are going on at companies where Creators’ Rights are not honored become pretty quickly irrelevant because essentially it’s your own damn fault if you decide to work there… if there is an alternative… yeah, if you went in with some knowledge. ‘What’s smoking?’ As long as the warning is there.

(A must-read and/or must-listen interview with Stephen Bissette and Scott McCloud.)

Over the years, I’ve been quite outspoken about comic book Creator’s Rights.

In 2005, I began becoming more vocal and more public about my views on Creators’ Rights. I started conversations with folks like Steve Bissette, Dave Sim, Rick Veitch, Scott McCloud, and even with Denis Kitchen, Erik Larsen, and Fernando Ruiz.

(All of these discussions are collected and posted at www.yacanteraseink.com)

Dave Sim had suggested to me that my eventual departure from Archie Comics may have been due to my public outspokenness on Creators’ Rights. Dave could very well be right.

In 2010, I officially ended my contributions toward work-made-for-hire.

(Two weeks ago, for about an hour, I was on the phone with a publisher and trying to convince him that I had no interest in working on their work-made-for-hire project.)



Above photo: This photo was taken in June 2014 during the "Creator-owned Comics (vs. Corporate-owned Comics)" panel at the Special Edition: NYC comics convention which was held at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City. I was joined on the panel by Mike Allred and Kurt Busiek.

In 2014, I was on the “Creator-owned Comics (vs. Corporate-owned Comics)” panel held at the Special Edition: NYC comics convention. The panel featured a discussion between myself, Michael Allred, and Kurt Busiek. That panel pretty much summed up my view on Creators’ Rights in regards to Creator-owned Comics versus Corporate-owned Comics.

Simply put: Comic book publishers have a horrible history with treating their writers and artists. If you’re interested in playing in the work-made-for-hire sandbox, then know the environment in which you’re working and know what your rights are. For me, now, creator-owned comics are the only thing that I’ll be doing in comics.

The topic of comic book Creators’ Rights does still interest me a great deal. I still believe that, at the very least, the Creator’s Bill of Rights is a must-read for professional comic book creators and for young artists who wish to have a career in comics and/or in animation.

It’s just that, now, I don’t know if we can actually change the policies of comic book publishers that promote work-made-for-hire. Maybe it’s just best to ignore the likes of Marvel and DC. There are more creator-friendly publishers out there. Why keep flogging a dead horse?

My opinion hasn’t changed, exactly. I like to think that my focus has just evolved. I don’t care what the corporate comic publishers are doing anymore.

I’m wondering if Will Eisner was more often correct about Creators' Rights than I previously thought.

AN ACT OF FAITH: THE SWORD OF EDEN Motion Comic...

AN ACT OF FAITH: THE SWORD OF EDEN Motion Comic...

Framed...

Above: This photo was sent to me by the new owners of the original artwork to the cover of AN ACT OF FAITH #1. I am flattered...

AN ACT OF FAITH #2 now on sale!

AN ACT OF FAITH #2 is now on sale at iVerse Media!

You can see Messianic Comics' publisher section on this page.

Which takes you here.

And you can preview pages of AN ACT OF FAITH #2.

For news, preview art, and updates to AN ACT OF FAITH.

Thanks for reading.

Holy is Yeshua!

AN ACT OF FAITH now on sale!

AN ACT OF FAITH #1 is now on sale at iVerse Media and here.

AN ACT OF FAITH #1 is available on the ComicsPlus app by iVerse Media. Download the app. Each issue costs $1.99.

You can download the app at the Apple store.

If you’re not using an app and prefer to download and read the book on the web, here's a direct link to the book.

AN ACT OF FAITH is a downloadable digital comic that can be purchased through iVerse Media, and read on tablets, smart phones, and computers. Each new issue will be available every six weeks, or so.

AN ACT OF FAITH is self-published by Messianic Comics. The comic is aimed at a readership of thirteen-years of age and older.

AN ACT OF FAITH introduces readers Rebecca Stern as she begins her career as a super-hero. What will happen when our young heroine joins forces with Nemish-Man, Kid-Cockroach, and Professor Jack in retrieving the Sword of Eden (the legendary sword used by angels to keep Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden). In their adventures, our heroes battle demons, zombies, a bunch of ninja, and other super-villains. And how will these super-heroes cope when they must combat mythological villains such as Count Orlok or the Green Knight? If that ain’t enough, will our heroes be capable of locating Noah’s Ark?

For AN ACT OF FAITH comics news and preview artwork, stop by www.anactoffaithcomic.com.

Or visit us on Facebook.

Let me know what you think of AN ACT OF FAITH.

Thanks for reading.

Holy is Yeshua!

"Vampires should be dusted, not hugged!"

Above: Line art for the cover to AN ACT OF FAITH #5 by me.

This past week, I’ve been working on the covers for AN ACT OF FAITH. Here’s the line art for the cover to issue five.

I suppose there’s always been a sense of romanticism associated with vampires in fiction. There’s been Bram Stoker’s DRACULA, Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau’s NOSFERATU, Bela Lugosi, and Anne Rice’s VAMPIRE CHRONICLES (I think that that’s when things started getting really weird), to name the most prominent.

Nowadays, though, things have been getting way out of hand with TWILIGHT and THE VAMPIRE DIARIES. Vampires are walking dead things. They shouldn’t be nice guys that all of the young girls want to make smoochies with. Vampires make excellent villains. They should be dusted, not hugged.

That’s going to be one of my points with AN ACT OF FAITH #5.



Isaiah 5:20 (King James Version): Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

LETHARGIC LAD 2011...

Above: Cover to Greg Hyland’s LETHARGiC LAD 2011. Lethargic Lad and all other prominent Lethargic Lad characters are TM and © 2012 Greg Hyland.

Tired of comics that are reboots? Annoyed with comics that are the "New" that, or "Next" this, or full of "52" crap? Then, it’s time you gave up on corporate super-hero comics and paid more attention to super-hero comics that are fun.

Today, my mailbox gave me LETHARGiC LAD 2011. The book was signed, numbered, and included a keen "Holy Crap" Lethargic Lad cover sketch by cartoonist Greg Hyland. LETHARGiC LAD 2011 is nicely printed, and the widescreen format is brilliant (as always). (Greg is still very smart.)

Greg’s writing is hysterical and his artwork is sharp. (Nice inking, Mr. Hyland.) And Greg’s annotations are entertaining and informative.

With LETHARGiC LAD 2011, Greg mocks WIZARD magazine (and who really doesn’t want to?), Rebecca Black (I forget who she is), super-hero deaths in comics, DC’s ‘New 52’, and Frank Miller’s HOLY TERROR (My favorite part of the book. But unlike Greg, I did enjoy HOLY TERROR.).

If you want to read comics that are witty and fun, then you’ll love LETHARGiC LAD 2011. I did.

To order the limited edition LETHARGiC LAD 2011 and to read new weekly LETHARGiC LAD webcomics, stop by the LETHARGiC LAD website.

I give LETHARGiC LAD 2011 four out of five NM’s:

The 2012 Harvey Awards...

Below are my votes for the 2012 Harvey Awards. I didn’t vote in all of the categories. I had a tough decision to make with the "BEST CONTINUING OR LIMITED SERIES" category. I love both ATOMIC ROBO and RACHEL RISING. I did vote for RACHEL RISING for "BEST NEW SERIES."

BEST LETTERER
Chris Eliopoulous, FEAR ITSELF, Marvel Comics

BEST COLORIST
Dave Stewart, HELLBOY: THE FURY, Dark Horse

BEST SYNDICATED STRIP or PANEL
MUTTS, Patrick McDonnell, syndicated by King Features Syndicate

BEST NEW SERIES
RACHEL RISING, Abstract Studio

BEST GRAPHIC ALBUM PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED
PS MAGAZINE: THE BEST OF PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE MONTHLY, Abrams ComicArts

BEST DOMESTIC REPRINT PROJECT
WALT SIMONSON'S THE MIGHTY THOR ARTIST'S EDITION, IDW

BEST COVER ARTIST
Mark Simpson (Jock), DETECTIVE COMICS, DC Comics

BEST BIOGRAPHICAL, HISTORICAL, or JOURNALISTIC PRESENTATION
PS MAGAZINE: THE BEST OF PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE MONTHLY, Abrams ComicArts

SPECIAL AWARD for EXCELLENCE IN PRESENTATION
WALT SIMONSON’S THE MIGHTY THOR ARTIST'S EDITION, edited by Scott Dunbier, IDW

BEST CONTINUING OR LIMITED SERIES
ATOMIC ROBO AND THE GHOST OF STATION X, Red 5 Comics



Above: And, of course, I voted for the still awesome cover to DETECTIVE COMICS #880 by Mark "Jock" Simpson.

Stan Lee on Creator’s Rights...

Above: Comics legend, Stan "The Man" Lee.

In an interview, Stan Lee shares his opinions concerning comic book Creator’s Rights:

Then I ask him if he feels, in general, that the comic-book industry has been fair to comic-book creators.

"I don't know," Stan says. "I haven't had reason to think about it that much." Five-second pause. "I think, if somebody creates something, and it becomes highly successful, whoever is reaping the rewards should let the person [who] created it share in it, certainly. But so much of it is — it goes beyond creating. A lot of people put something together, and nobody really knows who created it, they're just working on it, y'know? But little by little, the artists and the writers now are a different breed than they were, and most of them, if they create anything new, they insist that they be part owners of it. Because they know what happened to Siegel and Shuster, and to me, and to people like that. I don't think it's a problem anymore. They make much more money than they used to make, when I was there. Proportionately.

"Everybody thought that I was the only one that was getting paid off, but I never received any royalties from the characters. I made a good living, because I was the editor, the art director, and the head writer. So I got a nice salary. That was all I got. I was a salaried guy. But it was a good salary. And I was happy."

Podcasting: The Avengers Movie and Creator's Rights...

The Avengers movie is taking over the world. A new video by Mike Kitchen and Blair Kitchen "talk about conventions, and The Avengers Movie, and Creator’s Rights, and other comic stuff." At the 22-minute mark, the Creator’s Rights website,"Ya Can't Erase Ink...", is mentioned. For me, in regards to comics, there’s nothing more important than the treatment of comic book creators.

For more information about comic book Creator’s Rights, visitYa Can't Erase Ink... Here, we will feature conversations and interviews with Scott McCloud, Dave Sim, Steve Bissette, Rick Veitch, and others about The Creator’s Bill of Rights and other Creator’s Rights issues.

Happy Free Comic Book Day!!!

Don’t forget about Free Comic Book day… which is May 5th.

2012 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards…

I voted online for the 2012 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards. I had several "Write-In" votes…

Best Continuing Series
RACHEL RISING Terry Moore (Abstract Studio)

Best Limited Series
ATOMIC ROBO AND THE GHOST OF STATION X Brian Clevinger and Scott Wegener (Red 5)

Best Archival Collection/Project--Comic Books
WALTER SIMONSON'S THE MIGHTY THOR: ARTIST'S EDITION (IDW)

Best Writer
(Write-In) Robert Kirkman INVINCIBLE, THE WALKING DEAD (Image Comics)

Best Writer/Artist
Terry Moore RACHEL RISING (Abstract Studio)

Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team
(Write-In) Ryan Ottley/Cliff Rathburn INVINCIBLE (Image Comics)

Best Cover Artist
(Write-In) Jock, DETECTIVE COMICS #880 (DC Comics)

Best Comics-Related Journalism
TwoMorrows Publications: ALTER EGO edited by Roy Thomas, BACK ISSUE edited by Michael Eury, DRAW edited by Mike Manley, and JACK KIRBY COLLECTOR edited by John Morrow



Above: Still an awesome cover to DETECTIVE COMICS #880 by Jock. I don’t know why this wasn’t nominated. I voted for it, anyway.

Happy birthday, Will Eisner!

Above: Comics legend and teacher, Will Eisner. William Erwin "Will" Eisner was born on March 6, 1917.

Will Eisner was always a wealth of information. Many members of P.I.C. were once students in Will’s ‘Sequential Art' class at the School of Visual Arts.



Above photo: Original artwork from Will Eisner’s A CONTRACT WITH GOD. This piece was part of the School of Visual Arts’ Ink Plots exhibit. The photo was taken during the exhibit's reception on October 14th 2010 by Miguel Martinez Joffre.

"I think comic books are far more than two mutants trashing each other." -Will Eisner (September 1986)

"I feel the same as the other winners ... proud and pleased by the approval of my peers. Of course I'm embarrassed at winning an award that has my name on it. But it will not stop me from continuing to produce the very best I can do. Perhaps I ought to change my name." -Will Eisner (who won a 2002 Eisner Award for "Best Graphic Album" for his THE NAME OF THE GAME)

"That’s one of the main struggles in this medium, anyway, is the struggle for sovereignty over storytelling and art. I believe this is a language. I think of it as a literary form. Comics is literature." -Will Eisner (from an interview in HERO GETS GIRL! By TwoMorrows Publishing)

"(SHOP TALK interviews) reinforced the feeling I always had about the fact that this (comics) is a valid literary form and also a valid field to be in. And when you talk to guys like Joe Kubert and Jack Kirby- as simple a guy as he was- you got the feeling that you were part of group of giants. That’s exactly what they were." -Will Eisner (on his new book, SHOP TALK, 2001)



Above photo: Original artwork from Will Eisner’s THE SPIRIT.

Another letter from Dave Sim...

Today, my mailbox gave me a new package from Dave Sim. Normally, I wouldn’t post a letter such as this. It really has nothing to do with Creator’s Rights. However, the message is a good one, especially when I see all manner of foul language commonly used on the Internet. Anyway, Dave was referring (in part) to Frank Miller’s thoughts on the "Occupy" movement.

Steve Bissette talks about Marvel/Disney, Jack Kirby, and THE AVENGERS film...

Above photo: Kirby toughness… comics legend, Jack Kirby. (I swiped this photo from Bleeding Cool. Thanks, Rich.)

The great Steve Bissette talks about Creator’s Rights, Work-for-hire, Marvel/Disney, Jack Kirby, and THE AVENGERS film in "Marvel/Disney v Kirby: Do Avengers Avenge… Or Not?":

DC Comics, Paul Levitz, and Jenette Kahn started working out ways to work royalty shares with Kirby while he was still alive (using Super Friends as the initial vehicle).

Marvel hasn’t. Marvel has repeatedly demonstrated, from the late 1960s to today, that they’re not even remotely interested in "working out ways" to resolve this.

Fine. It’s their business.

And they’re getting no more of mine.

For me, it’s simple: the judgment of 2011 was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Do what you want; I’ve had it with Marvel as a consumer at this point.

I won’t be seeing The Avengers movie. I will encourage others to avoid it, if and as I can.

The thought of sitting through another bloated multi-million dollar-budgeted charade about how "it’s right to fight for justice" when Marvel/Disney can’t cough up the equivalent of, say, one day’s shooting budget for catering or grips to toss a bone to Jack’s heirs—well, that act of enduring that film isn’t at all attractive or appealing to me any longer on any level.

THE AVENGERS? It’s a sham.

And…

Work-for-hire does not, ipso facto, mean a creator or co-creator benefits not at all from their creations earning (in this case) billions for the parent corporation. I earn royalties on Swamp Thing to this day. Every quarter, they show up. I earn more royalties for John Constantine, Hellblazer; when the movie option yielded a movie, we each banked a $45,000 check from our fraction of a percent of our co-creator shares.

My 2012 Harvey Awards nomination ballot...

It’s that time of year when comic book creators fill out their Harvey Awards Nomination Ballot. Here’s mine…

HARVEY AWARD VOTING CATEGORIES

BEST WRITER
Robert Kirkman INVINCIBLE
Greg Hyland LETHARGIC LAD 2010
Brian Clevinger ATOMIC ROBO AND THE GHOST OF STATION X
Paul Grist THE WEIRD WORLD OF JACK STAFF
Terry Moore RACHEL RISING

BEST ARTIST
Ryan Ottley INVINCIBLE
Alan Davis CAPTAIN AMERICA
Paul Grist THE WEIRD WORLD OF JACK STAFF
Chris Bachalo AVENGERS #13 and #15
Greg Hyland LETHARGIC LAD 2010

BEST CARTOONIST
Greg Hyland LETHARGIC LAD 2010
Terry Moore RACHEL RISING
Eric Powell THE GOON
Paul Grist THE WEIRD WORLD OF JACK STAFF
Steve Remen HIM

BEST LETTERER
Dave Sim GLAMOURPUSS
Terry Moore RACHEL RISING
Greg Hyland LETHARGIC LAD 2010
Paul Grist THE WEIRD WORLD OF JACK STAFF
Rus Wooton INVINCIBLE

BEST INKER
Mark Farmer CAPTAIN AMERICA
Terry Moore RACHEL RISING
Cliff Rathburn INVINCIBLE
Dexter Vines BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER: SEASON NINE
Greg Hyland LETHARGIC LAD 2010

BEST COLORIST
Fco Plasencia INVINCIBLE
Chris Bachalo AVENGERS #13 and #15
Ferran Daniel AVENGING SPIDER-MAN
Greg Hyland LETHARGIC LAD 2010
Ronda Pattison ATOMIC ROBO AND THE GHOST OF STATION X

BEST COVER ARTIST
Jo Chen BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER: SEASON NINE
Jock DETECTIVE COMICS #880
Eric Powell THE GOON
Alex Ross ASTRO CITY
Adam Hughes BATGIRL

MOST PROMISING NEW TALENT
Ferran Daniel AVENGING SPIDER-MAN

BEST NEW SERIES
ATOMIC ROBO AND THE GHOST OF STATION X Red 5 Comics
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER: SEASON NINE Dark Horse Comics
RACHEL RISING Abstract Studio
AVENGING SPIDER-MAN Marvel Comics

BEST CONTINUING OR LIMITED SERIES
INVINCIBLE Image Comics
ATOMIC ROBO AND THE GHOST OF STATION X Red 5 Comics
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER: SEASON NINE Dark Horse Comics
RACHEL RISING Abstract Studio
THE WEIRD WORLD OF JACK STAFF Image Comics

BEST ANTHOLOGY
BACK ISSUE TwoMorrows

BEST GRAPHIC ALBUM – ORIGINAL
HOLY TERROR Legendary

BEST GRAPHIC ALBUM – PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED
ROCKETEER JETPACK TREASURY EDITION #1 IDW

BEST SINGLE ISSUE OR STORY
THE WEIRD WORLD OF JACK STAFF #6 Image Comics
INVINCIBLE ("The Viltrumite War") Image Comics
THE TICK NEW SERIES #8 New England Comics Press
AVENGERS #15 Marvel Comics
ATOMIC ROBO AND THE GHOST OF STATION X Red 5 Comics

BEST DOMESTIC REPRINT PROJECT
ROCKETEER JETPACK TREASURY EDITION #1 IDW

BEST ONLINE COMICS WORK
LETHARGIC LAD http://www.lethargiclad.com/
HIM http://www.himcomic.com/
JONNY CROSSBONES http://www.evilspacerobot.com/
PIPEDREAMS http://scanscorner.blogspot.com/

SPECIAL AWARD FOR HUMOR IN COMICS
Greg Hyland LETHARGIC LAD 2010
Steve Remen HIM
Leslie McClaine THE TICK NEW SERIES/JONNNY CROSSBONES
Stephen Scanlon PIPEDREAMS
Eric Powell THE GOON

SPECIAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN PRESENTATION
BACK ISSUE TwoMorrows
AVENGING SPIDER-MAN Marvel Comics
ROCKETEER JETPACK TREASURY EDITION #1 IDW
INVINCIBLE Image Comics
RACHEL RISING Abstract Studio

BEST BIOGRAPHICAL, HISTORICAL, OR JOURNALISTIC
PRESENTATION
BACK ISSUE TwoMorrows
HOW TO DRAW WOMEN Abstract Studio

BEST ORIGINAL GRAPHIC PUBLICATION FOR YOUNGER READERS
THE TICK NEW SERIES New England Comics Press



Above: Awesome cover to DETECTIVE COMICS #880 by Jock. ("Jock"? What kinda name is THAT? I think I'm gonna start signing my comics as "Stud.")

Neil Gaiman and Todd McFarlane settle...

Above: The cover to SPAWN #9 which introduced Angela, Cagliostro, and Medieval Spawn.

Several news outlets are reporting that Neil Gaiman and Todd McFarlane have finally settled their dispute over Gaiman’s contributions to SPAWN.

The NY Daily News reports:

Fantasy industry giants Neil Gaiman and Todd McFarlane finally called a truce in their long-running legal feud over who owns which characters in the Spawn universe, according to court documents.

Gaiman and McFarlane have been sparring for a little more than a decade over royalties from a handful of characters from the Spawn comic book series. Their attorneys filed a joint notice Friday in federal court in Madison saying they’ve reached a deal.

Jeffrey Simmons, one of Gaiman’s attorneys, said terms of the agreement were confidential. A jury had already found Gaiman a 50 percent owner of content in two Spawn issues and the first three issues of a Spawn spin-off. Simmons said reiterating that declaration would block any appeal.

"This is intended to put an end to the whole thing. It’s fair to say both parties are pleased to have this resolved," Simmons said.

For all of the hub-bub, check out "Neil Gaiman versus Todd McFarlane feud".

Problems in Riverdale...

Above: Partial cover artwork to ARCHIE & FRIENDS #138 by (penciler) Fernando Ruiz and (inker) myself.

Bleeding Cool continues to report on the events concerning Archie Comic Publications’ dispute with the co-Chief Executive Officer of Archie Comics, Nancy Silberkleit, accusing her of sexual harassment and bullying.

I was debating whether I should blog about this because of some of the more adult language involved in the story… which is why I’ve waited until now.

I’ve spoken to Nancy Silberkleit only once. She called me a couple of years ago to contribute to a documentary that she was working on at the time (which I decided not be involved). To me, Nancy seemed like a very friendly person.

Still, if the allegations are true, I suppose you shouldn’t point at men while in the work place and say "penis."

Over at The Beat, Archie co-Chief Executive Officer Jon Goldwater once stated:

I can’t speak for things prior to my being here, but things that have gone on previously with how artists were treated has nothing to do with where we are now. We support every artist, every writer, every employee of Archie. They are valued. They are treasured.

I find this all very ironic considering, as Steve Bissette put it recently:

...and arguably no comics publisher with that company's longevity has badly used and ill-treated more creators than Archie...



Above: Artwork from ARCHIE ALL-STARS VOLUME 3: THE CARTOON LIFE OF CHUCK CLAYTON by (penciler) Fernando Ruiz and (inker) myself.

DC Comics' new logo?

Bleeding Cool is reporting that DC Comics and DC Entertainment will be getting a new logo. The current logo is the DC Swoosh (which I’ve grown to like) and before that was the DC Bullet.

Man, this new logo is ugly. Did DC actually pay someone to design this? And how is this an improvement?

Stupid corporate comics.

ZOOTANAPUSS #1: The Al Nickerson Edition...

Above: Cover to Dave Sim’s ZOOTANAPUSS #1. TM and © 2012 Dave Sim.

Today, my mailbox gave me a nice surprise, a signed copy of Dave Sim’s ZOOTANAPUSS #1. Dave signed it with "Al Nickerson Edition #1/1." I thought that funny. As it turns out, ZOOTANAPUSS #1 is the incentive variant cover to GLAMOURPUSS #22.



I liked Dave’s mentioning of Will Eisner’s definitions between "graphic narratives" and "graphic novels." I enjoyed the Frank Miller ("For Al Gore and Mother Gaia!")and Todd McFarlane ("Die, Violator Bunny!") parodies. Hee-hee.

Also, as Dave Sim mentioned somewhere else:

We have Glamourpuss 22 coming out and you’ll notice that instead of it being the fourth annual swimsuit issue, it’s not the fourth annual swimsuit issue and that’s because I’ve decided to go off in a completely different direction. I’m doing a Zatanna parody, Zootanapuss.

There’s also a Glamourpuss 22 incentive cover and this is probably very destructive of the comic book field, but we’re all just trying to keep ourselves alive. So, for the Zootanapuss number one cover you gotta buy four of the regular ones to even get the number one cover. Now is that absolutely evil or is that absolutely evil?