Questions for Creators (Fans too)

[carl kolchak]

Wacky Independent theory question. You're a creator. You've just created a character that is taking off to huge proportions (Let's say Spawn or Hellboy). Now you own this character and have written or drawn or both since the beginning.

Here's the problem. If you want to do other things, do you: A. Let other writers tackle your character. This keeps the books coming out and keeps the character fresh in people's minds. B. Refuse to let anyone else touch it. Creator is character. This prevents someone from coming along and "interpreting" your creation. In both cases, you would still be paid royalties for creation and you would still get a "created by" credit.

I'm asking because of 2 thoughts. The first is a question about whether any character outside of the Big Two will last in 5 years (Meaning is this the fault of the Big Two's monopoly or the fault of creators that won't let their creations go "Big Time"). The second is what is more important, that your character survive or that it reamain pure?

[poolgirl]

good question i would let some one else have a go for a while then come back to it if you feel you need to or if the were messing your character up plus they might always be a part of you thinking about the road not taken and you could be stuck on your title forever and if you let someone else have a go they could push the story in places you never thought to explore

[Godfather]

All of my stories that I want to write are finite. Now how many issues/movies/whatever it takes to get to that ending just varies.

I would be more than happy to let anyone take a stab at my creations if I was confident they could put out a quality product. I've never had intentions of creating the next Spawn or Savage Dragon, that will run 120 issues, but then again, you just never know. It really just depends on the kind of stories you want to tell.

I can tell you that there's a few characters I'd love to write that people around here created. I just think it could fit perfectly with one of my characters and it would be cool to have a little crossover or something.

[innocentboy]

wait and see.

[Electric Glove]

While not successful, I nevertheless have had to answer some of these questions. I have a character I like, but wanted to branch out. So I've let other writers take a crack (its an anthology about the character), and I'm trying to move into a more editorial role. That way, stories stil coem out, but I can run quality control over the direction.

[nolanjwerner]

I don't know how I missed this before.


Um...honestly...if I kept the rights, I'd try to do occasional stories with them when I think of them (like miniseries and stuff).

If it HAD to be a regular series then I'd probably take over more of an editorial role and hand it over to another writer that I trusted.

If someone else came to me with an awesome idea for a series, I'd either ask them if I could help them write it (either co plotting or co writing) or have some kind of oversight (since they are my characters) but give them a lot of freedom in terms of doing it.

[Jason Seaver]

I'd probably, at least initially, hire someone else to write it and keep them on a really tight leash. After the inevitable disaster such a situation would create, I'd just move on.

[carl kolchak]

Alright then. To the other question: Why have few characters outside of Marvel and DC secured a shelf life of 10 years or more? Is it the fault of the DC/Marvel monopoly or the fault of creators not wanting to lose ownership? I have no agenda with this, I just want to know.

Would Superman the character have become Superman the icon if he hadn't been taken away from his creator and put in the hands of people like Weisenger, Schultz and Levitz? Again, this isn't a question about aesthetics. It's about money.

[nolanjwerner]

Alright then. To the other question: Why have few characters outside of Marvel and DC secured a shelf life of 10 years or more? Is it the fault of the DC/Marvel monopoly or the fault of creators not wanting to lose ownership? I have no agenda with this, I just want to know.

Would Superman the character have become Superman the icon if he hadn't been taken away from his creator and put in the hands of people like Weisenger, Schultz and Levitz? Again, this isn't a question about aesthetics. It's about money.


Honestly, I would credit the system for that.

Its based on one genre.

It still heavily favours characters over creators.

Marvel and DC basically have a monopoly.

And its really hard to license properties that aren't MArvel and DC.


Second part. No, it wouldn't be an icon. Comics would probably have lost the superhero stuff by 1970

[render man]

Alright then. To the other question: Why have few characters outside of Marvel and DC secured a shelf life of 10 years or more? Is it the fault of the DC/Marvel monopoly or the fault of creators not wanting to lose ownership? I have no agenda with this, I just want to know.

Would Superman the character have become Superman the icon if he hadn't been taken away from his creator and put in the hands of people like Weisenger, Schultz and Levitz? Again, this isn't a question about aesthetics. It's about money.
Actually there are many characters outside Marvel and DC that have lasted 10 or more years. Now they may not have fallen under your particular radar, but they are there. Or if you mean there are few characters who are as popular as Superman or Spiderman, then yes you are right, but come on no character may ever be as popular for so long as Superman or Spiderman, they are just that unique.

Hellboy - Since '93
Spawn - Since 91 or so I think
Love and Rockets characters - Since 86 or so
Strangers in Paradise - Since 92 I think
Jimmy Corrigan (acme Novelty Library) - Since 94 I believe
Flaming Carrot - Since 81
Stray Bullets characters - Since 93
Transformers - Since 85
The Nocturnals - Since 92
Bone - Since 91
Concrete - Since 84
Sin City characters - Since 91

Just to name a few, I'm sure other people can come up with others.

[genetic freak]

Trying to avoid repetion from the previous list.

Goku since '89 I think.
Elfquest characters since the early '80s
Peanuts since the '50s
Archie
Disney characters like Donald Duck
Mario
Smurfs

[carl kolchak]

Trying to avoid repetion from the previous list.

Goku since '89 I think.
Elfquest characters since the early '80s
Peanuts since the '50s
Archie
Disney characters like Donald Duck
Mario
Smurfs

And the Turtles too. Granted, my theory had some flaws.

[grphxkindaguy]

And the Turtles too. Granted, my theory had some flaws.

I'll throw in Usagi Yojimbo and Groo the Wanderer (though he had a huge run at Epic/Marvel)...

[carl kolchak]

I'll throw in Usagi Yojimbo and Groo the Wanderer (though he had a huge run at Epic/Marvel)...

Yeah, and Vampirella too. O.k., you guys have convinced me, I suck!

Let me rephrase, do you think that they'd be more popular if the creators let them fall under an editorial supervision?

[Skatonic10]

If your a writer, you can probably keep writing the book and take on an additional book or two if you can fit it in your schedule. If you do the art as well, you probably have to give up on one or the other if you want a new gig.

Lots of writers do multiple books, I can't think of any artists that do more than 1

[grphxkindaguy]

Lots of writers do multiple books, I can't think of any artists that do more than 1

John Romita Jr. did Amazing Spiderman and Thor at the same time, a couple of years ago.

Tony Moore does Exterminators and Fear Agent

Mike Oeming does Powers and a bunch of creator-owned stuff IIRC.

Sergio Aragones did Groo and Mad magazine way back in the day.

Mark Bagley did New Warriors (vol 1) and Amazing Spiderman (vol 1) for a time in the 90's...

[innocentboy]

the Luna Brothers were doing Spider-Woman: Origin and Girls at the same time too

sure there's more, but can't really think of it off the top of my head

[jayvee]

In the late 80's, Eastman & Laird let a bunch of other creators take over the TMNT book and tell various "interpretations" of the characters, and having read nearly every issue of every TMNT book ever printed, I can honestly say that this run (something like #22 - 48 ish) is one of the worst ever. I hated them.