Well, maybe not a thousand, but 83 characters and 16 teams sure gets you a lot.
Kurt Busiek has posted on his blog a comprehensive list of all the characters he has created or co-created, apparently as a new accounting process for Marvel. The craziest part of all this — this doesn’t include Astro City, or any of the characters Busiek has made for DC or elsewhere. This is 100% Marvel — such as Phil Sheldon, the man holding the camera in the above cover of Marvels.
Considering the guy is a continuity whiz — take a look at last year’s DC weekly Trinity if you don’t believe me — it’s an interesting and amusing read. Click here to check it all out.
[Hat tip to Caleb for the heads-up]
December 2nd, 2009 at 4:58 pm
It’s interesting how few of those characters are in play right now (and/or have been in play over the last few years).
December 2nd, 2009 at 6:53 pm
I wonder what prompted Marvel to want such a list? From the timing the first thought is that the new Disney overlords want an accounting of what exactly they’re buying in terms of characters, especially if any of them are subject to copyright reversion like the Kirby characters.
December 2nd, 2009 at 7:57 pm
Ooooooh could this be a hint to new Essential New Warriors and Thunderbolts editions? PleasepleasepleasePLEASEPLEASE!!!!!!
Kurt Busiek is amazing….
December 2nd, 2009 at 8:00 pm
or even his Thor and Iron Man runs…I not picky…lol
December 2nd, 2009 at 10:29 pm
Kurt Busiek will be remembered as one of the greatest comic writers of all time…and Astro City should be looked at as a seminal masterpiece!
December 3rd, 2009 at 10:43 am
“I wonder what prompted Marvel to want such a list?”
They want to make sure that should any of them get used in a TV show, cartoon or film (Or any other medium for whom the rights are not 100% locked down) they’ll be able to offer the creator a “thank you” payment, likely in exchange for a signature on a few pieces of paper. Len Wein got one for Lucius Fox, Neal Adams (and Denny I believe) got for Ras Ahl Ghul and Jerry Robinson got for The Joker. It’s pre-emptive planning, and rightly done.
December 3rd, 2009 at 1:21 pm
Actually, what I got from DC for Lucius Fox was contractually obligated (a contract signed, BTW, at Paul Levitz’s urging) and by no means a “token” payment. When any of my DC characters are used in other media (cartoons, live action TV, whatever), I see money from them.
So far, Marvel has not contacted me for a list and I’ve not seen a dime off of the four X-Men films, the three X-Men animated series, nothing. At this late date, some money would be nice.
December 3rd, 2009 at 1:40 pm
I wasn’t clear, Len – I knew Lucius was covered by a contract (you just recently told that story when paying tribute to Paul Levitz, who talked you into signing that contract) but I believe (correction welcome) that Neal and Denny’s, and certainly Jerry’s were “after-the-fact” CYA actions. Marvel is (so it appears) just following suit with what DC has already been doing. Disney wants more protection from any claims down the road.
And I agree, since Marvel is asking for said lists, it certainly doesn’t weaken your case.
Here’s Bleeding Cool’s coverage of the story.
http://www.bleedingcool.com/2009/11/23/marvel-instigate-special-character-policy/
Apparently “almost all their comic book creators” can be read as “Except Len”.
December 4th, 2009 at 12:58 am
Well, the linked-to article seems to say this is only for creators within the last decade (post Marvel bankruptcy, maybe?). I don’t know if Len Wein has worked with Marvel since then (last non-reprint story I have from him at Marvel is from 1998. Hey, Len, see if that qualifies, you could get some of that lucrative Longarm money). Without seeing the actual request they sent, I don’t know if Busiek went back to his earliest work just on his own initiative, or if that’s what they asked for.
It’ll be a bit odd if the creator of some minor background character used in a movie gets some money while the creators of characters like Wolverine, Iron Man, Blade, the Fantastic Four or Spider-man don’t see a cent.
And hopefully any creators will take a good look at the “Special Character Agreement contract”, maybe run it by a lawyer, since Marvel doesn’t have the best of records with respect to such retro-active contracts.
December 16th, 2009 at 3:34 am
Hmmmm, not an impressive list. He does great work with existing characters, but his own creations, not so much.
December 17th, 2009 at 10:24 am
Wow, I forgot about Kurt’s awesome run on iron man with Sean Chen. I wish my comics were organized better so I could fish those out and have a reread weekend. I seem to recall a flying Plymouth Prowler.
December 25th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
Wow. Looking over that list just reminds me how overrated he is. Early Thunderbolts, Early Astro City, then way downhill from there.