iFanboy - Episode 90 - Robert Kirkman, Brian Michael Bendis:

[1977Melville]

Marvel and DC retread the same old stuff. I wasn't that excited about the DCNU. I read Marvel's Ultimate line but even that is retreading the same old stuff. I find I buy less stuff from both companies as time goes on.

[jbeihl1]

speaking from the standpoint of a professional who has only done independent books, I can say I would have to agree with Mr. Bendis. When you have to pay rent every month, and you are only getting paid in so many installments, with only so large a page rate. you are going to struggle for a while financially.

[alekesam]

The thing is, creator-owned work while from the beginning isn't the most lucrative route to go from the start, I like the idea of running with something you created. If you're good, it should sell. If it doesn't, you can keep trying, just be smart about it. A lot of people cheer on the big company's and trying to get with them but 1) there's a serious blockage there with more artists than there is work 2) the time that you're using trying to make submissions you could be using to finish your

[alekesam]

book, not to mention while you're actually finishing something you can get all the bad kinks out of your work as opposed to doing three to five pages per company since you have to use their characters in a submission 3) If you're really that good that someone will buy your stuff, you're going to get noticed anyway. You rarely see people make it big anymore through standard submissions. But by then, you could have developed your own audience (again, no guarantee, you still have to be good).

[alekesam]

which in the long run, is the best option as you have fans that conceivably could follow you on multiple projects 4) Should you do be one of the lucky ones (a Kirkman, Penny Arcade, Dave Sim, etc) to make a living out of your art/writing, the financial reward is beneficial as you control all aspects of your work and you certainly can't get fired over a disagreement over your work (like how the Big Two do). I mean, in other countries, comic authors are closer to novel writers in that the

[alekesam]

creator is synonymous with his or her work (and certainly can't be parted from it without the creator's say-so). But here, until recently, american comics have always been dwarfed by the big two (Marvel and DC) and Marvel pretty much sells itself as being the only kind of comics for the most part, which are superheroes. DC isn't as bad as they sell pretty much anything but suck at marketing anything other than Superman and Batman. So for me, creator owned (while harder) is well worth the work

[alekesam]

if you're willing to persevere through hardship. I mean, how different is it to make your own comic versus writing your own novel? Roughly the same odds so why not try.

[Ozzzzzman77]

I'm...I'm conflicted who to stand with. KIRKMAN is awesome in writing comics in every kind of Company, and so does BMB, I don't know who to hate and who to praise in this situation.

But I would root for BMB in short.

He is a good writer all the time.

[hanshotfirst1138]

Subtitles would be immensely useful :P!

[argonPOS]

Best I can tell....Creator Owned, even though they ARE trying to become successful without writing/drawing DC/Marvel/Image etc, are in the end, regardless of whether they fail or not, a big stepping stone towards proving themselves worthy of writing/drawing legendary comics! If they take off? Rad. If not? Hopefully someone notices your skills.

[CrashLanden]

This is no David vs. McFarlane....

[hanshotfirst1138]

@CrashLanden Are there any videos of that?

[CrashLanden]

@hanshotfirst1138 There HAS to be. I've seen about a 30 second clip of David ripping McFarland while comparing him to Switzerland. McFarlane took the podium afterwards with a big smile saying "He's good..." That's all I've ever seen. I remember reading a partial transcript, too (in CBG maybe?). I have that clip somewhere and since I'm going to try and upload some of the old comics stuff I have, I'll be looking for that one. I'm sure the whole thing is out there somewhere.

[CrashLanden]

@hanshotfirst1138 Supposedly (and I think this was according to David... I think he had this in one of his 'But I digress' columns YEARS ago) McFarlane challenged him to a public debate at a con. David agreed, but later found out Todd was staging something elaborate (cheerleaders were involved)... So he backed out until Todd promised there would be no shenanigans. From what I read and from that clip I saw, David tore McFarlane a new one. I, myself, would pay money to see the rest of the video*.

[CrashLanden]

@hanshotfirst1138 *And I like Todd.

[Reklawniks]

NI've always thought of Bendis as a hack, because of his atrocious Marvel work, and some of his half-decent smaller work just not fulfilling the hype, but I'm hardly a fan of Kirkman either, seeing how he doesn't seem to have improved as much as he could've in the past few years. But I'm siding with Kirkman here just because Bendis is completely misunderstanding the topic and doesn't even seem to consider the concept of creativity.

[hanshotfirst1138]

@Reklawniks How is Bendis "misunderstanding the concept of creativity?"

[TheBSG]

Bendis is right about todays industry. I think it's going to be around for a while, but Kirkman is on the cutting edge. The world is getting large enough that big media must recycle, and cannot afford to re-invent. They appeal to the widest audience by compromising quality. The large number of consumers means that a creator-owned comic can appeal to a large group that makes up a minority of the overall eyes while retaining integrity. With fewer people to pay, this model can be more lucrative.

[ZipBlockBloody]

This was a great debate. More creators should have these, I'd like Kirkman and Geoff Johns to sit and talk like this.

[shitsmuggler]

Kirkman is right. Don't Believe the Hype. Marvel(Disney Now!) and D.C. (Time Warner) just control the talent to control the Market.

[alekesam]

@shitsmuggler Very true.

[TheCrazyBanana1]

Bendis: "And I'm not talking about quality..." That about says it all there....

[michaelkmadsen]

The walking Dead is great but I tend to

agree with Bendis.

[ocelott22]

lol classic "Fuck you Bendis" I jsut got back into comics and I'm in love with The Walking Dead!

[bbggww]

Robert Kirkman is a very smart man...But I think he is a bit lost. Most indie comics fail. Most creators don't have the resources to only work the indie market. Bendis is correct. You should be well rounded and work with as many companies as possible. Based on Kirkman's on history he should know that he is one of the lucky ones.

[Dyler]

This feels like the Empire(Marvel & D.C.) v.s the rebellion(Image & independents)all over again.

Superman has been chasing Luthor for 80 some odd years. Can't we, as fans and creators, embrace and champion new material?

You're delusional if you can't innately predict the outcome of every mainstream superhero comic book.

If not let me spoil it for you. Superman, Batman, and Spider-man have been telling, and will continue to tell, the same stories for years.

[1977Melville]

@Dyler. Spot on. Spider-Island is a joke to me and how many times can you kill/resurrect Batman?! Rather spend my money on books like Atomic Robo or smaller presses like Image, Archaia, or Avatar.

[TakumProti]

Even though I feel inclined to lean towards Kirkman and Image as Marvel has burned me good before and I really don't care for Bendis's work, I have to say that to some extent both Bendis and Kirkman have good points.

[hthvjd]

comic creators sure have dirty mouths O_o