Comments on: Image “Experience(s) Creativity” in 2012 http://blog.newsarama.com/2012/01/02/image-experiences-creativity-in-2012/ The Blog@ Team and prominent comics personalities share what’s on their minds. Thu, 23 May 2013 17:07:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: C. Christian Scott http://blog.newsarama.com/2012/01/02/image-experiences-creativity-in-2012/comment-page-1/#comment-707551 C. Christian Scott Mon, 02 Jan 2012 23:34:47 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=30525#comment-707551 I think Image is pitching to their strengths. In their wheelhouse, people follow creators, and it makes sense, because you get a few Kirkman books, you follow him around, that works. You read Brubaker or Hickman, you're following the writer. Yes, the Extreme line may not quite work for that, but neither does Top Cow. Those are specific examples, but I don't think that's what Stephenson and co. are pitching. Now, I think DC and Marvel need to realize that the opposite should be true for them. I think Marvel started, and then DC followed, making the creators more important than the characters (and certainly more important than the stories). Which means that when those creators go, it's a scramble to get a bigger name on those books to almost save face, let alone make good comics. I'm all for recognizing a creator's work, and I might single out someone I'd follow from title to title, but does it make sense to pitch Mark Millar or Brian Bendis over the names of Captain America or Spiderman? Which is going to give you more long-term? You're a company built around the characters you own... That's your strength (good or bad). Taking care of your creators is great, and I completely support that. But do it behind the curtains. Don't make every exclusive signing your selling point. Your selling point should be Peter Parker, Matt Murdock, Steve Rogers, etc. In the public eye, you need to do right by those guys. I think Image is pitching to their strengths. In their wheelhouse, people follow creators, and it makes sense, because you get a few Kirkman books, you follow him around, that works. You read Brubaker or Hickman, you’re following the writer. Yes, the Extreme line may not quite work for that, but neither does Top Cow. Those are specific examples, but I don’t think that’s what Stephenson and co. are pitching.

Now, I think DC and Marvel need to realize that the opposite should be true for them. I think Marvel started, and then DC followed, making the creators more important than the characters (and certainly more important than the stories). Which means that when those creators go, it’s a scramble to get a bigger name on those books to almost save face, let alone make good comics. I’m all for recognizing a creator’s work, and I might single out someone I’d follow from title to title, but does it make sense to pitch Mark Millar or Brian Bendis over the names of Captain America or Spiderman? Which is going to give you more long-term? You’re a company built around the characters you own… That’s your strength (good or bad). Taking care of your creators is great, and I completely support that. But do it behind the curtains. Don’t make every exclusive signing your selling point. Your selling point should be Peter Parker, Matt Murdock, Steve Rogers, etc. In the public eye, you need to do right by those guys.

]]> By: Simon DelMonte http://blog.newsarama.com/2012/01/02/image-experiences-creativity-in-2012/comment-page-1/#comment-707522 Simon DelMonte Mon, 02 Jan 2012 22:01:27 +0000 http://blog.newsarama.com/?p=30525#comment-707522 I am all for creativity, but I maintain that you can have both creativity and corporate properties. Image's efforts seem more like a poke at my love of DC than a real reason to buy their comics. I am all for creativity, but I maintain that you can have both creativity and corporate properties. Image’s efforts seem more like a poke at my love of DC than a real reason to buy their comics.

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