It is, in many ways, hard to consider the many ways in which Gail Simone being fired off Batgirl via email last week seems like a mistake, isn’t it?
For one thing, there’s the way it looks, from a PR standpoint; coming less than a week after Karen Berger stepped down as Executive Editor and SVP at DC, it revives memories (and discussion) of DC’s perceived sexism both in terms of those working at the publisher (Berger and Simone were not only the most high-profile women within the company, for awhile Simone was the only female creator working on an ongoing title at the company, remember) and the output of the publisher (Last week also saw the debut of this cover, reminding people of just how naked Starfire is these days).
For another, there’s the simple idea of Who could replace Gail on the book? Anyone who follows Gail can tell that she adored working on Batgirl and Barbara Gordon as a character; there was an excitement and passion that was evident and, I think, it was reflected in the sales figures for the book; that Batgirl was such a consistently good performer for DC had less to do with fandom’s hunger for Batgirl, I believe, and far more to do with the readership’s response to the work Simone was putting in not just in writing the series, but promoting it (and the New 52 as a whole). I have no idea who new editor Brian Cunningham has in mind to replace her, but I’ll be very surprised if there’s not a drop in excitement around the book no matter what as a result of this move.
This means that Simone doesn’t have an ongoing DC title for the first time since mid-2003, which feels pretty massive in and of itself; in the last nine years, she has been one of the most vocal DC creators and one of the few DC creators to consistently discuss (and defend) DC’s occasionally-confusing/confounding decisions. It’s hard not to read Cunningham’s decision as an abandonment by the publisher of the creator, and that again seems like a terrible move, publicity-wise, no matter what you think of Simone as a writer. It also – almost by proxy – adds Simone to the long list of once-loyal creators DC has lost in the last few years, from Greg Rucka through Grant Morrison, and draws attention to the fact that DC’s bench of high-profile writing talent is beginning to look a little bare these days.
Presuming, of course, that Simone stays off Batgirl longterm – Surely I’m not the only person who gets a “Mark Waid fired off Fantastic Four” vibe from all this? – the best thing DC could do now would be to publicly embrace Simone and try and repair the relationship by whatever means necessary. Otherwise… Well, Marvel should really be reaching out about now and seeing if Paul Cornell could be just the first New 52 writer they could pull over for a Marvel NOW! book…
December 10th, 2012 at 8:47 am
According to The Beat, Simone had announced last week that her DC exclusive had expired. Along with DC’s jettisoning of the rest of their “name” talent except for anything but special high-profile projects it makes some sense. The way they did it is obviously shitty, but DC doesn’t seem to care too much about PR these days.
December 10th, 2012 at 10:59 am
and Simone has already responded that “there are no villains” in this event… she is writing a story in Time Warp as well.
I have a feeling this isn’t the end of her at DC – just on Batgirl.
December 10th, 2012 at 12:09 pm
“Who could replace Gail on the book?” (in thrilled italics)
Well, they could e-mail some of the people who wrote Batgirl stories for the preceding few decades.
“It’s hard not to read Cunningham’s decision as an abandonment by the publisher of the creator.”
Except that there’s no evidence they won’t offer her another book. Faux-moral indignation.
December 10th, 2012 at 12:41 pm
“Well, they could e-mail some of the people who wrote Batgirl stories for the preceding few decades.”
How many of those folks have written about Barbara Gordon as Batgirl?
And how many of those folks are still on speaking terms with DC?
And how many of those folks delivered sales on the title that were higher than the sales levels on DC titles overall that served as a big part of their motivation for rebooting their entire line in the first place?
December 10th, 2012 at 12:43 pm
“Except that there’s no evidence they won’t offer her another book. Faux-moral indignation.”
Aside from the fact that she’s become much more vocally critical of DC’s editorial direction in the wake of the reboot.
And the fact that she’s brought up in interviews how she wanted to use Stephanie Brown but wasn’t allowed to.
And the fact that, as a writer with a decade under her belt at DC, she’s much more expensive for them than just bringing in a new writer.
December 10th, 2012 at 12:45 pm
“and Simone has already responded that “there are no villains” in this event… she is writing a story in Time Warp as well.”
And J. Michael Straczynski continued to write Thor for a while after “One More Day.” Doesn’t mean there wasn’t bad blood between him and Marvel over it, as evidenced by the public feud between him and Steve Wacker over Amazing Spider-Man’s sales figures.
December 10th, 2012 at 1:14 pm
But…but I love Gail Simone’s writing! Is DC bound and determined to not want my money?
December 10th, 2012 at 2:16 pm
“Well, Marvel should really be reaching out about now and seeing if Paul Cornell could be just the first New 52 writer they could pull over for a Marvel NOW! book…”
He already is: The new Wolverine series with Alan Davis. I hope Gail will join him there too!
December 10th, 2012 at 4:07 pm
David, I believe Graeme meant to suggest that perhaps Paul Cornell will be only the first of many New 52 writers to be invited to work for Marvel, and that Gail Simone could be the second. That last sentence was extremely poorly worded, however, so you can’t be blamed for your confusion.
December 10th, 2012 at 4:16 pm
There is a certain segment among comic fandom that only reads or enjoys Gail’s work because she’s a woman. Frankly, that’s insulting as hell. You aren’t reading her genitals, you’re reading the stories that she creates. She isn’t some delicate little flower that needs your manly protection and defense. She’s a professional writer. If you truly believe in equality, then treat her the same way you would treat a male writer and judge her work by her work’s own merits and not by her genitalia.
Those of you judging Alan Moore’s writing by his penis, please disregard the above paragraph.
December 10th, 2012 at 7:15 pm
and the idea that DC does stuff to piss fans off deliberately is certainly laughable —most likely they are looking at a long term big picture.
And remember this is the age of the internet with instant news …creators were let go like this many many many times in the past — and you hear about it years later…not even before it happened.
sometimes knowing what is behind the curtain is not always the best thing…. and many comics fans should stop acting like they are entitled to the hourly business and editorial decisions that companies make…entitled fans are killing the industry..nothing else.
December 10th, 2012 at 10:11 pm
to be honest i really disliked batgirl and firestorm but I wold like to see her on something eles from her birds of prey deadpool agent x secret six where great by her.
December 11th, 2012 at 12:47 am
If I publicly criticized the company I work for I’d expect to get fired. I don’t know why comics should be any different. It may not be right, but it’s a fact of life.
December 11th, 2012 at 6:35 am
Gail Simone took what could have be a female version of the Batman and make her own person. Her rogue gallery maybe small but they are very interested. I wasn’t too crazy about the way Barbara Gordon suddenly got the used of her leg and replace Stephanie Brown. Oracle was a interested character who handle herself in a battle. I feel sorry for the person who will replace Gail Simone as the writer. They are in a no win battle. I see that DC already created a new Oracle in the Superman magazine.I hope that Stephanie Brown will return as the Spoiler or better yet with a better alter ego and story that lead to her own book. She would be perfect for the Teen Titan or Justice League of America. Good luck in 2013.
December 12th, 2012 at 7:39 am
What’s wrong with how Starfire looks? I am tired of all of these whiners when it comes to any female character who shows flesh! Wonder Woman and Starfire look great the way they are! They don’t need pants or coats or capes or anything else that detracts from how they look, which is beautiful! So go harp on something else or find out why Gail Simone was fired, now that would be something worth your time!