WeaselFierce
14-10-2000, 00:09
When I started reading comics for real (ie. spending large sums of money each month on regular titles) I have to admit I mainly read DC's stuff. They had interesting stuff like Hellblazer and Swamp thing and a recently renovated Batman courtesy of Frank Miller. In short, they had books with content and that content came because of the creativity of the writing talent they had working for them.
Marvel on the other hand (at the time) seemed more concerned over the art as content. Sure, you had some great artists working on their books but, to be honest, not a lot of great writers.
Lately though, this seems to have turned around. While Joe Quesada's Marvel Knights deal has been scooping up quality writers, pairing them with excellent artists, and letting them loose on some classic Marvel properties, DC seems to be making a point of pissing off and generally alienating it's most bankable talent.
Warren Ellis' Hellblazer story 'Shoot' is pulled after completion because someone gets cold feet. Ellis quits the book despite the fact he'd barely got started on what he wanted to do with the character. (Incidently, despite the timing, who exactly was this story supposed to offend? The readers? I don't think so. The readership isn't THAT high to begin with. Plus, I've read the story and I thought it was an intelligent and well done piece of work. No, the people it would have offended are the moralising assholes out there who probably don't even know Hellblazer even exists but would decide to criticise it anyway purely because of the tentative link to recent news events)
DC buys up Wildstorm which brings with it, among others Warren Ellis, Alan Moore and Rick Veitch (the latter having quit DC a decade before due to been ****ed over by them). But they stay. Relationships begin to heal. Then DC editor Paul Levitz pulps a complete print of one of Alan's books because he finds the use of the word 'marvel' offensive. Okay, no problem yet. Then, he decides a story in another of Alan's books can't be run. Alan asks, 'why not?'. Levitz answers 'legal reasons'. Alan meets company lawyer. Company lawyer says, 'it's fine, there's no legal ramifications'. Levitz still says, 'no'. Brilliant. DC manages in only a few short months to alineate once again problably the finest writer in the comics field today. Round of applause please. That's excellent work.
With Frank Miller also recently returned to DC to do a follow up to Dark Knight Returns, one can only hope the editors keep their mouths shut and don't piss him off too.
Marvel on the other hand (at the time) seemed more concerned over the art as content. Sure, you had some great artists working on their books but, to be honest, not a lot of great writers.
Lately though, this seems to have turned around. While Joe Quesada's Marvel Knights deal has been scooping up quality writers, pairing them with excellent artists, and letting them loose on some classic Marvel properties, DC seems to be making a point of pissing off and generally alienating it's most bankable talent.
Warren Ellis' Hellblazer story 'Shoot' is pulled after completion because someone gets cold feet. Ellis quits the book despite the fact he'd barely got started on what he wanted to do with the character. (Incidently, despite the timing, who exactly was this story supposed to offend? The readers? I don't think so. The readership isn't THAT high to begin with. Plus, I've read the story and I thought it was an intelligent and well done piece of work. No, the people it would have offended are the moralising assholes out there who probably don't even know Hellblazer even exists but would decide to criticise it anyway purely because of the tentative link to recent news events)
DC buys up Wildstorm which brings with it, among others Warren Ellis, Alan Moore and Rick Veitch (the latter having quit DC a decade before due to been ****ed over by them). But they stay. Relationships begin to heal. Then DC editor Paul Levitz pulps a complete print of one of Alan's books because he finds the use of the word 'marvel' offensive. Okay, no problem yet. Then, he decides a story in another of Alan's books can't be run. Alan asks, 'why not?'. Levitz answers 'legal reasons'. Alan meets company lawyer. Company lawyer says, 'it's fine, there's no legal ramifications'. Levitz still says, 'no'. Brilliant. DC manages in only a few short months to alineate once again problably the finest writer in the comics field today. Round of applause please. That's excellent work.
With Frank Miller also recently returned to DC to do a follow up to Dark Knight Returns, one can only hope the editors keep their mouths shut and don't piss him off too.