fenway
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Dec 24, 2004
- Messages
- 456
Someone told me that Image's business model involves no editors, and complete risk/control of characters/property for creators.
This got me to wondering...
Perhaps this is why Image's output has been so amazing! (Understand, that I am actually STARTING with the 'Image is amazing' thesis in my mind, and forcing a hypothesis to fit ). Creators actually getting to do what they want with characters they create. If the story you want to tell is only 6 issues, then just take 6 issues - don't try to stretch it to 700, making some dough (from people who are collectors, not readers) but sacrificing quality and vision. Does your character die after 6 issues? Fine!
By the way - YOU find the artist that matches your vision - we won't tell you what the public wants. Instead, you give us what you have, and if the public wants it, they'll buy it (Saga) - heck, they may even support it all the way to a BBC adaptation after only 8 issues (Peter Panzerfaust), or even a VERY popular AMC show (TWD) If they don't want it, they won't buy it, and we're less likely to entertain your ideas in the future.
A buddy of mine agreed with someone on this site, suggesting some writers NEED to be reigned in (Mark Millar). I think I agree too - he wouldn't be a great fit for Image. Others, I think, need to be GIVEN free reign to tell the story they want, and let it sink or swim.
Lets be honest - which have you enjoyed more - Saga? Manhattan Projects? Fatale? or have you preferred whatever comes out of the Marvel Summit? Maybe I'm getting too jaded, but Marvel may have the characters I loved as a kid, but they are telling the stories I yawn at as an adult. Remember when you first started liking Spider-man? Are the stories anywhere near as good now, or are you still buying them because its Spider-man? (I'm OK with hearing you say they ARE still good - tell me )
Now I doubt that this model is the sole contributing factor to Image's great year (after all, its not the first year they've employed it), but MAN, in 35+ years of reading comics, 2012 was the absolute best, for me, and 8 or 9 of my top 10 I think, are from Image. (And my favourite Marvel comic, Hawkeye, FEELS like an indie! )
This post is 100% opinion, so I certainly welcome disagreement! If your opinion turns me on to a Marvel/DC comic I wasn't following, so much the better!
Do you think a comic publisher had a better year than Image?
This got me to wondering...
Perhaps this is why Image's output has been so amazing! (Understand, that I am actually STARTING with the 'Image is amazing' thesis in my mind, and forcing a hypothesis to fit ). Creators actually getting to do what they want with characters they create. If the story you want to tell is only 6 issues, then just take 6 issues - don't try to stretch it to 700, making some dough (from people who are collectors, not readers) but sacrificing quality and vision. Does your character die after 6 issues? Fine!
By the way - YOU find the artist that matches your vision - we won't tell you what the public wants. Instead, you give us what you have, and if the public wants it, they'll buy it (Saga) - heck, they may even support it all the way to a BBC adaptation after only 8 issues (Peter Panzerfaust), or even a VERY popular AMC show (TWD) If they don't want it, they won't buy it, and we're less likely to entertain your ideas in the future.
A buddy of mine agreed with someone on this site, suggesting some writers NEED to be reigned in (Mark Millar). I think I agree too - he wouldn't be a great fit for Image. Others, I think, need to be GIVEN free reign to tell the story they want, and let it sink or swim.
Lets be honest - which have you enjoyed more - Saga? Manhattan Projects? Fatale? or have you preferred whatever comes out of the Marvel Summit? Maybe I'm getting too jaded, but Marvel may have the characters I loved as a kid, but they are telling the stories I yawn at as an adult. Remember when you first started liking Spider-man? Are the stories anywhere near as good now, or are you still buying them because its Spider-man? (I'm OK with hearing you say they ARE still good - tell me )
Now I doubt that this model is the sole contributing factor to Image's great year (after all, its not the first year they've employed it), but MAN, in 35+ years of reading comics, 2012 was the absolute best, for me, and 8 or 9 of my top 10 I think, are from Image. (And my favourite Marvel comic, Hawkeye, FEELS like an indie! )
This post is 100% opinion, so I certainly welcome disagreement! If your opinion turns me on to a Marvel/DC comic I wasn't following, so much the better!
Do you think a comic publisher had a better year than Image?