Click here to listen to the show
A poor play on Charles Darwin's Natural Selection, but hey — it sounded better than all the other stuff we came up with (ha).
The impetus of this episode was the mystery as to why some of our favorite comic artists aren't doing more work. Why aren't they more visible in the marketplace from month to month? Well, we attempt to answer that question on this one.
Surviving (and succeeding) in the world of comics is probably just as challenging as it is in any other industry. Not unlike other fields, I'm sure it comes down to a few simple rules — show up, create and foster good relationships, do great work, and finish the job — on time.
The rules above are universal in most trades, but from where we sit, they're not always universally applied within comics.
For example, if you're popular in comics, all can be forgiven pretty quickly if you miss a deadline. Editors and fans have certainly been known to turn their heads when "superstars" are late.
What if you're good at your job, but can't strike a solid rapport with those that will hire you? You can end up out of sight and out of mind.
Here's another one. What if you're an older artist with a style that's seen as "old school"? It can probably be a struggle to get assignments. Ageism exists everywhere (sadly).
And last, what about the possibilities of embracing an all-digital workflow to meet the demand by companies for quicker turnarounds of production? The needs of the business beckon.
Opinions and theories abound on this one, 'Nation. And with the comic book industry evolving in nearly every other facet in terms of production, now more than ever is a good time to discuss the challenges of maintaining a fruitful comics career in the 21st Century.
- SWAiN & ADRiAN
lots going on this episode, but i'll comment on the campbell part. i was talking about this with my girl the other night. she likes his art, it's cute and I dug it back in the 90's, but she asked why i wasn't into it now. the reason being is...it hasn't changed...at all....I would have expected to see some change to his work given his time working as a professional, but i don't see it. I think that the reason for that might be a simple one. it's fear. fear of losing the following you might have, the clients you might have, the jobs that you have. If you make a living with your art, it can be scary to change and risk your art no longer selling. Although in his case, if he is making a pretty decent living through his art, he can probably afford to take a chance and try to improve on what he does. Not change just for the sake of change, but trying something new as you push to improve. I think fear can play a big part in creating art, but i'll leave that alone for now, cause thats a whole other topic :P
Posted by: Mario Chavez | October 27, 2011 at 12:16
Loved the episode, as usual. Your description of Buckler is hilarious. Also, *Levitz*, of all people, turning down anything by Toth is... laughable. A fucking travesty, really.
Anyway, ABOUT "style"... I should point out Herb Trimpe's diary from the 90s. Don't read if you get easily depressed:
http://www.hulklibrary.com/hulk/info/news-herbtrimpefired.asp
In short, here was a man who gave decades to the business (one company, actually), tried his hardest to adapt to every changing trend, and was acutely aware of editorial weeding him out. It sounds like a car crash in slow motion.
Another point of interest is this fact filled dateline of Colan's treatment by Marvel up until his death:
http://deathtotheuniverse.blogspot.com/2011/07/wake-up.html
Although the most coldhearted, ignorant fanboy may boil it down to "Hey, it's just the biz, man. Deal with it, Kirby, Trimpe, and Colan... screw you if you can't get your shit straight", doesn't mean that attitude is accurate or just (scary how dominant it is, though). It's not simply "the biz", it's human beings putting in way more than they can ever hope to get back, and that's the sober reality of comics that goes beyond style or trends or flavors of the month. It's all too random and fickle to nail down to a science.
I'm curious about this new generation of artists, those who know that their time will come and how they're preparing for it. Because their time WILL come. Whether you're a mainstream hack, an "indie" guy who really just looks mainstream, a fan fave, an erratic genius, a newbie who just got his story optioned, an ignored workhorse, or an illustrator who's slumming it in comics... there will come the day that editors stop. Calling. You. Back.
Remember, it was Kirby who once said that "comics will break your heart." He hasn't been proven wrong yet.
Posted by: Michel Fiffe | October 28, 2011 at 11:14
Moebius *is* French.
Posted by: DSC | October 30, 2011 at 20:42
Great show but the highlight was the fact you gave some love to Rich Buckler!! It was a quick comment but it caught my ear. So often you only hear of how Buckler "swiped" a certain artist & had no style of his own. I discovered him as a kid in the late 70's & mostly loved his work because he reminded me of my favorite Neal Adams. It wasn't until I bought his run of "Deathlok" off Ebay a few yrs ago that I really appreciated his work. Dude was an AWESOME artist!! I love that series! Rick Buckler is so much more than the guy who drew like Kirby & Adams. Thanks for giving him some props!
Posted by: Marc | November 19, 2011 at 12:38
Great show guys! Thanks a lot.
I read that Herb Trimpe article years ago in the newspaper. It was truly heartbreaking. I was getting tons of work storyboarding TV commercials at the time in L.A., so I actually tracked him down and called him at home, to talk with him about getting into storyboards. He was very touched that a fan would go to that trouble, but he said he'd folded up his drawing board, and was happy teaching Junior High. I think he was in upstate NY. This must have been about 1999?
He sounded genuinely happy, and was glad to be rid of constant deadlines and editors. It was a new chapter in his life, and he sounded very upbeat about it.
For me it was nice coda to that sad story.
Posted by: Josh Sheppard | March 14, 2013 at 11:19