Following her Facebook-fueled Saturday Night Live hosting gig this spring, Betty White is facing an unprecedented career resurgence at the age of 88. In the past year-and-a-half, she’s co-starred in The Proposal, won an Emmy, appeared in commercials, landed a role on Hot in Cleveland, and will guest star this month on the season premiere of Community. Given this newfound cultural relevance, there’s only one logical next step:
That’s right — in what may be the highest-profile comic book starring a female senior citizen since Marvel Team-Up #137, Betty White’s the latest subject of an unauthorized biography comic from Bluewater Productions. It’s scheduled for November, and is the same length of their Justin Bieber bio, despite one having 72 years on the other. Bluewater president Darren G. Davis seemed to have similar feelings, given his statement in the company’s official release:
Betty White has had such an amazing entertainment career. It’s one that has now spanned more than 70 years. The biggest challenge that the creative team behind this book faced was figuring out how to include as much of this career as possible in one comic.
Bluewater haters may be interested to note that the Golden Girls cast picture in the background of the Betty White cover reads “Thanks for being a friend,” when the actual theme song lyrics were, of course, “Thank you for being a friend.”
As broke last week, Bluewater is in a bit of a legal stickety-wicket after cease-and-desists were issued over their Bieber and Lady Gaga comics.
September 7th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
What the F?
September 7th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
if they were around 5 years ago they’d have so many chuck norris comics
September 7th, 2010 at 5:05 pm
Hahahahahahahah
I’m totally buying this.
September 7th, 2010 at 5:16 pm
This is causing inappropriate fantasies. Ah, those wrinkled lips, that powdered skin, that old-lady smell that envelops me, pulling me close…
September 7th, 2010 at 5:38 pm
You have got to be kidding me. What’s next, Lady Gag – oh, wait…
September 7th, 2010 at 9:24 pm
This has to be God punishing comic book readers for something.
September 7th, 2010 at 10:35 pm
Who even buys this crap?
September 8th, 2010 at 8:47 am
Somewhere, Betty White must be turning over in her grave.
(Too soon?)
September 8th, 2010 at 8:55 am
Darren Davis should be ashamed of himself. This comic is no different than buy the Enquirer of O.K. Magazine. I’m not saying that other comic publishers don’t try and capitalize on a trend to make a quick buck…but this is ridiculous.
September 8th, 2010 at 9:52 am
Okay, this is just too much. As someone who reviews comics professionally AND has been working with Darren Davis, let me just say some of the posters here really need to find a new hobby. Seriously. let’s the take the most idiotic comments and address them, in order.
@Russ Burlingame: “This has to be God punishing comic book readers for something.” What idiocy and insecurities prompt such a ridiculous comment. On what level are you or any other comic book readers being “punished”. You don’t know the quality of the project and even if after doing so in your subjective opinion it was terrible, no one is forcing you or anyone else to read it. Did you really feel your comment was justified or logical? Or were you trying to impress friends? Or even strangers?
@Malfunction: “Who even buys this crap?” Another witty statement. Believe it or not, there are people who but these biography comics who are interested in the people being profiled. Most of them are – shudder – non-traditional comic readers who would rather read about the life of a famous politician, pop star or TV legend than another battle between Batman and the Joker. Believe it or not, these people do exist. You get to read what you like and they get to read something that interestes them. So what’s the problem?
@murkywater:”Darren Davis should be ashamed of himself. This comic is no different than buy the Enquirer of O.K. Magazine. I’m not saying that other comic publishers don’t try and capitalize on a trend to make a quick buck…but this is ridiculous.” Okay. Someone who goes by the name Murkywater is going to say someone else who is putting together professional unauthorized biographies should be ashamed of himself. That’s pretty rich in and of itself. I could be snide and say the chances are good the grammar in the comic will at least be superior to that which you’ve displayed in your post, but I’ll refrain. First, the Enquirer and O.K. Magazine have higher circulations than most if not all comics currently being published, so even if the comic was no different than those publications, how is that an insult. Second, unlike those publications, the comic will simply tell the life story of someone who has been a beloved entertainer for 60 years. Third, Betty White IS ht right now, to the point where there was a Facebook – do you know what that is? – movement for Bluewater to do a bio comic on her. However, Darren being the visionary he is, had planned on doing the comic before then. Finally, what is truly ridiculous is people like you, who sight unseen, criticize a comic you haven’t read and a man you don’t even know for daring to publish different kinds of material that is causing people to pick up comics for the first time or the first time in a long time. That only helps this medium so many of us love. If anyone should be ashamed of themselves it should be you for being so ignorant, arrogant and judgmental about a project no one is forcing you to read and a man you know nothing about.
September 8th, 2010 at 10:47 am
Jerome Maida the dildo king of the year.
September 8th, 2010 at 10:52 am
Brion,
Such a nuanced statement, Brion. Must have taken a lot of efort to come up with that.
September 8th, 2010 at 11:12 am
I mean, really. people take cheap shots at a project they haven’t read and a man they don’t even know, I call them on it and I’M the “dildo king”? This is why this industry does not grow the way it should. Too much negativity from too many closed/small minds.
September 8th, 2010 at 1:26 pm
Wow, Jerome, it actually sounds like you’re primed to defend at the slightest provocation, which indicates to me that you knew in your Heart-Of-Hearts (trademark, copyright, void where prohibited) that things like this aren’t such a good idea in the first place.
Regardless, let me put this out there:
There are, indeed, people who desire to read the biographies and engage in interaction with media related to a celebrity they enjoy. I bought the Lady Gaga comic, myself, but only because I REALLY like the artist and wanted it for the collection value; I knew the comic would be a fourth-trimester abortion of epic proportions, and the issue turned out to prove me right… that comic is to be abhorred for plot, script, and art. Despite this, if there’s a quick buck to be made, I won’t begrudge anybody for trying to make it, but let’s be honest about the quality of such endeavors, shall we? We know why gas station hot dogs are so cheap, and we expect the same level of quality from a publisher putting out UNlicenced biographies of celebrities without permission. It’s like selling “Metallika” T-shirts outside a Metallica concert venue.
Also, this is the internet, man. Don’t feed the trolls, or they will bite the hand that feeds. Lulz!
September 8th, 2010 at 2:17 pm
Booster Pyrite,
I am “primed to defend” because I love the industry and am tired of the negativity present in so much of it. Also, I have gotten to know Darren Davis – I did the “Al Franken” bio comic, also did one on Mark Zuckerberg, am finishing one on Bill O’Reilly and plan on doing plenty more. While I can understand and accept honest criticism of each bio – the Lady Gaga comic didn’t exactly make me hot either – the reflexive bile spewed whenever Bluewater even announces a new book is simply astounding. Quality of each of the bios varies. I, for one, read all seven of O’Reilly’s books and transcribed various YouTube clips in order to tell the best story on the man I can, so it will not be viewed as a “fourth-trimester abortion” but something anyone who reads can enjoy, that will educate people and that even the subject will think is fair and enjoyable. Bluewater has had other quality bios as well and it simply seems no one cuts them any slack. The quality WILL be improving, so judge each project on it’s merits, shall we?
September 8th, 2010 at 3:50 pm
“Who even buys this crap?”
Unscrupulous mainstream readers who aren’t aware of Bluewater’s long history of not paying freelancers. Personally, I can’t wait for the day when Davis is writing and drawing the publisher’s entire line of books. I hear it’s fast approaching.
September 8th, 2010 at 3:56 pm
@Maida – People are having a little fun poking fun at a project that, if historical precedent is any guide (including your Franken book which, yes, I read) won’t be any good. I know people buy these, and God bless them. But your gross overreaction and your fawning, reverential hero-worship of Davis–a guy who most fans and pros are pretty wary of–won’t win you any support, which really ought to be your goal as the company shill. Bringing a couple of people over to your side and moving a few units would help you eventually get paid for one of your books a lot more than alienating people and hoping to score a few cheap shots on readers.
As a side note, I agree that it’s great to bring in new faces to the comics industry, and to work on genres not usually explored (I myself have sold a political biography recently)…but making dismissive, mean-spirited generalizations about the readers here will likewise poison the well from which you and your colleagues at Bluewater hope to drink.
September 8th, 2010 at 4:15 pm
I wish Newsarama would stop giving these people press.
September 8th, 2010 at 4:34 pm
hahaha:
“SENATOR AL FRANKEN TO GET COMIC BOOK TREATMENT IN MAY
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March 5, 2010 (MMD Newswire) — It’s hard to remember, but there was a time when Al Franken was just a comic and writer. Today, though, he is a rising political star.
Franken is also set to become the latest subject in Bluewater Productions’ Political Power line of biography comics. Political Power: Al Franken will be released to comic shops across the country in May 2009.
Franken made history in 2008, when he defeated Republican incumbent Norm Coleman to become the junior U.S. Senator from Minnesota. Of course, this victory did not come easily. In a race that was decided by a razor-thin margin and involved a recount and several appeals, all the way to the Minnesota Supreme Court, which ruled in Franken’s favor. Franken was finally sworn in on July 7, 2009 after Coleman declined to take the controversial case to the U.S. Supreme Court and instead conceded after a hard-fought, eight-month ordeal.
Political Power: Al Franken will trace the Senator’s rise from Saturday Night Live writer, a position he often used to skewer politicians, to radio talk show host to viable Senate candidate. Writer Jerome Maida said that the comic may introduce readers to sides of Franken’s character that most of them did not know he possessed.
“Al Franken has this reputation – not completely unfounded, if you read the comic – as a metaphorical bomb-thrower, a guy who hates his enemies and has an in-your-face style,” Maida said. “While I did find some stuff that would support that perception, I also found out a lot more interesting stuff that makes him a real person, a character instead of a caricature.”
Maida, for instance, discovered that Franken first fell in love with politics at a young age. He also discovered that Franken co-wrote the powerful film When a Man Loves a Woman, a movie based on his wife’s alcoholism.
Bluewater’s Political Power line has attracted mainstream publicity and strong sales. The company’s comics featuring Ronald Reagan, Barack Obama and Ted Kennedy have all generated strong sales in a declining comic book market. The goal of these biography comics is simple: Tell moving stories of politically powerful individuals in an evenhanded and balanced way.
“At a time in which comic book readership continues to decline, our Political Power books continue to bring new readers to the graphic medium,” said Darren G. Davis, president of Bluewater Productions. “I’m proud of that. And I think our readers will find that Jerome has crafted a compelling tale in Political Power: Al Franken.”
The new comic will retail for $3.99.
For more information about Bluewater or its line of biography comics, visit http://www.bluewaterprod.com.
About Bluewater Productions
Bluewater Productions Inc. is one of the top independent production studios of comic books, young adult books and graphic novels. Its extensive catalog of titles includes the bestsellers “10th Muse” and “The Legend of Isis” “Bluewater publishes comic books in partnership with entertainment icon William Shatner (“Tek War Chronicles”), Logan’s Run and celebrated actor Vincent Price (“Vincent Price Presents”), Additionally, Bluewater publishes a highly successful line of biographical comics under the titles “Female Force” and “Political Power.”
Bluewater aims to unite cutting-edge art and engaging stories produced by its stable of the publishing industry’s top artists and writers.
Following its commitment to green publishing, Bluewater comic books are printed on Forest Stewardship Council certified paper. FSC certification guarantees that the paper used in Bluewater books contains fiber from well managed and responsibility harvested forests that meet strict environmental and socioeconomic standards.
For more information, visit http://www.bluewaterprod.com.”
http://www.mmdnewswire.com/press-release-7348.html
Enjoy the company Kool-aide, man
September 8th, 2010 at 8:39 pm
Of course, by her age the muscle tone leaves something to be desired, and hormonal changes make the taste go “off” a bit, like salty ripe cheese. Still, they push harder.
September 9th, 2010 at 8:51 am
Jerome:
My opinion that Bluewater’s line of biography comics are equal in quality to trashy celebrity rags is pretty bang on. Your reply was that ‘sales are great for those trashy rags…so whatevs’ is pretty childish. You’re kinda a joke, dude. Seriously. Edit my grammar again so you can beat down a paying customer….YES, that’s right…I HAVE BOUGHT BLUEWATER COMICS. BUT NOT ANYMORE THANKS TO YOUR ASSCLOWNERY.
You seem like a smart guy, so why get all flustered when folks (WHO BUY COMICS) think a company’s product is garbage. Seriously.
September 9th, 2010 at 2:03 pm
I like the fact that they are doing the Betty White comic. Who would have thought? It’s fun, it’s quirky, it’s pop culture. Good for them.
September 9th, 2010 at 3:48 pm
I just can’t support any company that would screw over their freelancers.
September 9th, 2010 at 7:43 pm
@Richard – That more or less puts you in a position where you don’t buy any comics, unfortunately. I’ll give you Bluewater’s offenses tend to be more egregious, though.
September 10th, 2010 at 12:06 am
@ Russ,
“@Maida”,
First, Russ. Could you please call me Jerome. Calling me by my last name conjures up images of you being my commanding officer in the military or something. thanks.
“People are having a little fun poking fun at a project”
Sorry. the only comment i refuted that I feel could be taken by the most casual observer to be anything close to light-spirited was yours. But calling a book “crap” is pretty negative and saying Davis “should be ashamed of himself”, well that’s a pretty negative comment as well. So I responded in kind.
.
that, if historical precedent is any guide (including your Franken book which, yes, I read) won’t be any good.”
Again, are all the bio comics Bluewater puts out flawless. No. It was actually in my role critiquing their books for the Philadelphia Daily News that I finally decided it wouod be easy just to SAY what they can do better. It’s yet another to actually DO IT. And are you saying you didn’t feel my “Franken” book was any good? You would be well withing your rights to express that opinion of course, but I feel it worked pretty well. I would appreciate an honest critique if you do feel that way.
.
” I know people buy these, and God bless them. But your gross overreaction”
.
As Peter David might say, what you call overreaction I call responding in kind. Fans WHO READ COMIC BOOKS seem to have no problem “honestly” ripping books to shreds or attacking everyone from Joe Quesada to Dan Didio to Nick Barrucci to Brian Michael Bendis and on and on. But then when they are responded to using the same manner and/or tone, they want to claim victimhood. I remember someone trashing Painkiller Jane when the show was canceled and someone posted on the thread reporting that, in a know-it-all tone, something like “Well, this was a poor character to adapy anyway. She never even sold much at the comic level”. When Jimmy Palmiotti promptly responded “Really? Guess what? You don’t know what you’re talking about” and proceeded to explain the actual sales figures and that the guy DIDN”T know what he was talking about, the guy retorted, “What, am I supposed to tremble and bow because a creator is posting?” and refused to concede that he was wrong. I see a lot of this – and it’s frustrating.
.
“and your fawning, reverential hero-worship of Davis”
Sorry. This comment is a bit over-the-top. I simply was defending someone whose character and motives I believed were attacked unfairly.
.
“a guy who most fans and pros are pretty wary of”
Really? Is that why one of the biggest names in comics is excited to do one of the upcoming covers for one of the political bios? Why William Shatner and another cultural icon are doing books with him? Why another company appears set to do an exchange of house ads so they can expand THEIR audience with the new readers Bluewater is reaching? Not to mention the libraies and schools who have actually contacted ME to see how they can get the bios to provide for their students/patrons/ children.
.
“won’t win you any support, which really ought to be your goal as the company shill. Bringing a couple of people over to your side and moving a few units would help you eventually get paid for one of your books a lot more than alienating people and hoping to score a few cheap shots on readers.”
But see, I can usualy read pretty well someone who is engaging engaging in honest, reasoned criticism and someone who simply wants to badmouth people and call stuff “crap”. If they want to talk or bring up valid points, I will deal with them in that manner. if they want to take cheap shots, then I will simply call them on it and use their own tactics against them, which is what REALLY drives them crazy
.
“As a side note, I agree that it’s great to bring in new faces to the comics industry, and to work on genres not usually explored (I myself have sold a political biography recently)…but making dismissive, mean-spirited generalizations about the readers here will likewise poison the well from which you and your colleagues at Bluewater hope to drink.”
.
In all seriousness, what did you find to be dismissive and mean-spirited generalizations? And if the majority of a thread is basically saying “Bluewater’s books suck” then the well is already poisoned. All I did was answer people point-for-point. please tell me what you found to be so outrageous.
Thank you for your time,
Jerome Maida
September 10th, 2010 at 12:14 am
i am not aware of this comic book company, but i might buy a copy, i wonder if bluewater would do biographys of bettys golden girls costars, hell id buy all of them.
September 10th, 2010 at 12:32 am
murkywater,
“My opinion that Bluewater’s line of biography comics are equal in quality to trashy celebrity rags is pretty bang on”
.
In your mind.
” Your reply was that ’sales are great for those trashy rags…so whatevs’ is pretty childish.”
.
That’s not exactly what I said. I said those publications do have high circulations. If “Bill O’Reilly” sold as much as the National Enquirer that would be great for the industry and wonderful for me:) That we would look down on the people who pick up these celebrity publications, when they could provide us with a new audience, to me is simply foolish. And reps are tough to live down, but the “National Enquirer” is far from rash these days. Ever since they broke countless stories on the O.J. trial waay back in 1994, they have slowly garnered more respect. They have also been considered for a Pulitzer for their reporting on John Edwards’ scandals, which everyone else ignored. Two people I work with have won Pulitzers. It’s the highest award writers can win. So if you’re trying to say you think Bluewater’s bio comics are Pulitzer-worthy, that would make Darren very happy.
.
“You’re kinda a joke, dude. Seriously.”
Well, that’s always good to hear:)
.
“Edit my grammar again so you can beat down a payingcustomer”
.
You told someone he should be ashamed of himself for putting out a book you don’t like. Are the books racist/ sexist/ Homophobic/ No. You simply don’t like the subject matter, so therefore Darren davis has to be ashamed of himself? And you feel, because, you’re a customer you can just say whatever you want AND not get called on it? the world doesn’t work that way.
.
“YES, that’s right…I HAVE BOUGHT BLUEWATER COMICS. BUT NOT ANYMORE THANKS TO YOUR ASSCLOWNERY.”
So you’re no longer going to buy books you enjoy because I hit you the wrong way. Makes mucho sense
You seem like a smart guy, so why get all flustered when folks (WHO BUY COMICS) think a company’s product is garbage. Seriously.
September 10th, 2010 at 1:00 pm
I would still appreciate an answer,Russ, if that’s not too much to ask.
September 10th, 2010 at 4:08 pm
I can answer for Russ.
“Jerome Maida. The biggest douche in the universe. Way to go you huge douche.”
September 10th, 2010 at 11:28 pm
Wow, Brion. You;ve contributed a total of 27 words in two posts all of which have to do with attacking me for speaking my mind. You don’t even specify what you disagree with. you just want to personally attack. So I will continue to talk with people who are at least sentient and capable of carrying on a conversation, and you can go sit at the little table with the paper plates and plastic forks.
September 12th, 2010 at 10:19 am
Jerome, I was nothing short of happy to step away from this spirited and… er… “intellectual” conversation with just my post, but I feel that an intervention is in order. Stop antagonizing everybody just because you like something that they do not. Seriously, man… just stop.
Anybody who reads comics as a light hobby, a hardcore obsession, or anything in between has every right to both have and express their opinion on this bit of media we love so much. Just chill out and let it go, man; maybe you’ll find a forum full of people who agree with you.
September 12th, 2010 at 12:41 pm
@Jerome – I don’t typically involve myself in these protracted, pointless arguments in the comment threads where nobody ever changes anyone else’s minds, so I’m sorry it took me a while to respond. I won’t do it again, as I don’t think any of this is productive.
The bit I felt went a step beyond defending your product and into the mean-spirited and dismissive territory is when you started attacking mainstream and superhero comics fans.
As a blogger here at Newsarama, I don’t typically engage in this kind of give-and-take publicly on our own site; the editors have a feeling that home-court advantage makes it unsportsmanlike. You can feel free to e-mail me at russell.burlingame@gmail.com if you’d like to discuss anything privately, but don’t expect an immediate response as I’m currently planning my wedding and so angry, attacking e-mails are really unlikely to be the first thing I read when I open the laptop.
September 12th, 2010 at 9:05 pm
Congratulations on your upcoming wedding.
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