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Kirkman’s manifesto on fixing comics

August 14th, 2008
Author JK Parkin

Comic Book Resources has posted a video editorial from Walking Dead creator and recently named Image partner Robert Kirkman. I’d tell you what it says, but to CBR’s credit, they made it embeddable, so you can watch it for yourself right here:

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 14th, 2008 at 12:03 am and is filed under Creators, Image, Industry. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

13 Responses to “Kirkman’s manifesto on fixing comics”
  1. Hubert V Says:
    August 14th, 2008 at 9:06 am

    They need to turn down or nix that background music and punch up the volume on Kirkman.

  2. Matt Says:
    August 14th, 2008 at 9:56 am

    I saw the original and it didn’t have any music. No clue why someone saw fit to add in music…it doesn’t do much for Robert to be clearly laying it on the line and saying how serious this all is, and have the lite rock version of “Dueling Banjos” playing in the background. Unfortunate.

  3. Lawrence Says:
    August 14th, 2008 at 10:26 am

    The music makes me think of those ONE commercials. “We’re not asking for your money, we’re just asking for you voice…”

    Other than that, Kirkman speaks the truth. Although I don’t think all the burden should be placed on DC and Marvel. Dark Horse publishes STAR WARS. If you publish comics for one of the biggest/popular franchises out there and you’re not publishing comics that are kid-accessible (especially considering there’s a Star Wars KIDS movie and a Star Wars CARTOON out) then that’s just plain wrong.

  4. thefourthman Says:
    August 14th, 2008 at 10:32 am

    Dark Horse does publish a kids Star Wars book, it is called Clone Wars Adventures.

    What kid’s movie? Clone Wars? There is a book based on that coming out in 5 weeks.

  5. Matt Says:
    August 14th, 2008 at 10:36 am

    Yeah, my son (8) adores the Clone Wars digests and the new Indiana Jones digests from Dark Horse. The Gremlins stuff gets a look or two, but he’s all about the Clone Wars comics. Lawrence, why did you think that Dark Horse didn’t publish stuff that’s kid accessible based on Star Wars?

  6. Lawrence Says:
    August 14th, 2008 at 10:52 am

    No no no, you misunderstand me. Kirkman said in his “address” that Dark Horse and Image should focus on the Mature stuff, while Marvel and DC should aim for the younger audience. I was pointing out that Dark Horse has Star Wars and they should be grouped with Marvel and DC in terms of reaching out to younger audience.

    Also, “For Kids” is different from “Kids Accessible.” The Clone Wars stuff is a great gateway, but if Dark Horse and comics in general are going to keep them, they need to make sure their “core” Star War comics are written, not for kids, but in such a way that a kid can appreciate them.

    I’m not saying they do, and I realize my first post seemed like it. I just felt it was unfair to put the whole “bringing in new readers” was all placed on DC and Marvel.

  7. Lawrence Says:
    August 14th, 2008 at 10:55 am

    Don’t, not saying they don’t. BAH. I should proofread BEFORE I hit send.

  8. thefourthman Says:
    August 14th, 2008 at 12:03 pm

    @ Larence,
    but even with the Star Wars stuff, it is Marvel and DC that bring in the lion’s share of readers, period… they need to lead the way for new readers to approach the hobby. Image and DH do print a fair amount of kid accesible and appropiate stuff… DC and Marvel need to step up their game as they are THE GAME.

  9. D. Peace Says:
    August 15th, 2008 at 12:06 am

    “I did it to save the entire comic book industry.”

    If there’s anyone who should have written a series called “Messiah Complex” it’s Kirkman.

    I kid! I kid cause I love!

    Seriously, I found this clip to be really inspiring and I agree with it. I don’t hate creator-owned properties, but I always found it baffling that people consider them to be the ultimate goal of a creative person in comics. Creator-owned projects are absolutely a higher calling and, until fans and creators alike recognize that, things will be upside-down.

    I wholeheartedly support this mission statement. Beautifully said and I hope more people get behind a Kirkman-led Image, as well as indie books in general.

    As for the age issue, I agree that fanmen have been way too greedy in demanding that Marvel and DC’s iconic characters remain in their own back pocket. Grow up and try some new stuff and let the kids have their books. There’s no reason the Big Two can’t be way more inclusive than they have been.

    Really, though, if you want to reach kids you have to go where they’re going. I mean physically. If comics are going to proliferate, they’ll have to move out of the LCS and into more mainstream venues. There’s no way to sell a product to mass audiences if you’re using a niche outlet. Really, re-think distribution and break Diamond’s strangle-hold on the industry.

    While I’m on that topic, comics should be distributed digitally in a pay-per-download system. This isn’t just an option, it’s a necessity moving forward. Kids are on the internet… I would love to see any major publisher explore this sales possibility to a much greater extent than it’s been done in the past.

    Kudos to you, Robert. Your video resonates with me. The part about “..6 of me… 20 of me..” was especially stirring. I think we should all want to be part of something better than what we have. Your open-mindedness and forward thinking ideals are awesome. Cheers.

  10. David Hine Says:
    August 15th, 2008 at 6:40 am

    Nice one! Robert has brilliantly articulated all the things most professionals I know have been muttering about in private for years.

    Also, I have realised that if you put a long-hair wig on Kirkman, he looks just like Jesus.

  11. Joey Esposito Says:
    August 17th, 2008 at 11:56 am

    I hope they get sued for stealing NIN.

  12. Brian Beardsley Says:
    August 28th, 2008 at 2:57 pm

    As an independant creator and matureFan (well over 30 for me) I really noticed that I am gravitating to the independants like Top Shelf, Oni Opress and others for that complext story or newer ideas to fullfill my appetite for comics. I never expect it from the big two. There are far many more fresh ideas and characters from the independants than the big two.

    I also believe that Robert has touched upon a great subject and that is the pecking order that seems to be in place. Don’t get me wrong I WOULD KILL for a chance to work on a title for Marvel or DC but I am not popular and probably never will, but I stand a better chance at publishing my own stuff and growing than getting into the big two.

    I feel like this topic he has presented has many layers and many people are getting bogged down by dumming it down to Image vs Marvel/DC. I hope that there is a discussion on a cruise someday, and from that, both the top two or all of them start to invest in more creators and there ideas and the generations to come will enjoy and be surrounded by more comic titles and graphic novels and really make more mainstream than have been. Just imagine that half of Barnes and Noble is graphic Novels!

  13. Vlastion Says:
    August 28th, 2008 at 6:30 pm

    Ok first of all, Kirkman’s delusions of grandeur are frankly astonishing in this video, I think.

    Second of all, the very idea that Marvel and DC shift their output to concentrate solely on younger readers is utterly pointless because…can anyone imagine it ever happening? Ever? Does he honestly think they’ll listen to him? You’ve got to give him credit for trying something but, to me, this whole ‘mission statement’ of his is a pointless endeavour.

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