JIM LEE-A-RAMA: ED BRUBAKER

[MattBrady]

<center><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/Creator_Owned/lee_art_high_res.jpg" width="450" height="95" border="0" hspace="1"></center>

<i>by Jim Lee</i>

Ed Brubaker doesn’t hold back. Whether it’s arm wrestling fans to help promote his recent releases, writing about the pain and heartaches of growing up in his autobiographical indie hit <b>Lowlife</b>, or guaranteeing reader satisfaction with his books by offering to personally refund their money, Brubaker is a creator who lays it all on the line--every time, every project. Such intensity has brought him both critical praise and a growing, loyal fanbase who eat up his work on such noir hits as <b>Catwoman</b> and <b>Sleeper</b>. Recently announced (unofficially—press release forthcoming with details) as the new writer on <b>The Authority</b>, Brubaker takes on his first ever team book. Think he’s scared of the challenge?

For the full interview, click here (http://www.newsarama.com/pages/JimLeeWeek/Leearama_4.htm).

[rockieman]

Bru is definitely one of the best writers out there today and probably my favorite at the moment (Rucka ain't far behind). Sleeper is my favorite monthly with Gotham Central and Catwoman right there, as well. I completely relate to his comments on artists he works with, since I've taken part in many threads praising the work of Cooke, Stewart, Pulido on Catwoman and bemoaning Gulacy's/Palmiotti's work on the title.

I'm a little nervous about Bru's upcoming work on Authority. I enjoyed Ellis' and Millar's runs (except the last couple of issues which had their legs cut out from under them). The new direction didn't appeal to me in the least, but hopefully Bru will breathe new life into it (assuming Levitz can keep his hands off).

Looking forward to lots of stories from Bru in 2004.

[IanZL]

In regards to Brubaker writing a team book. He can do it no problem, Sleeper comes off as very much of a team book now. I mean Holden is obviously the 'star' and its defintely his 'show' but with the different missions and such, it kind of feels like a team book right now, and with it being amazing, I may actually check out his Authority.

[QCCBob]

In no way meaning offense to Mr. Brubaker and Mr. Lee, I find it continuously fascinating that the 'professionals' in the industry are so totally clueless as to why books sell, especially the 'critical acclaim' tagged ones.

So, for free, I'm going to use my over twenty years of comics retailing expertise to answer this question for them.
Lowest common denominator. Commercial success is based on appealing to as many people as possible, while at the same time, alienating as few people as possible.

Case in point: Sleeper
Strike 1- No offense meant, but Wildstorm as a specific imprint hasn't set the world on fire for quite awhile. There's a certain guilt by association effect. There's also a negative connotation in many reader's minds whenever the 'old' Wildstorm universe is invoked, i.e. Daemonites, I.O., Gen anything, and the rest of the early days continuity best left forgotten. That stuff is SO late '80s/early '90s and hasn't been gone long enough to become nostalgic.

Strike 2- No offense meant, but you can't expect huge numbers on an 'intended for mature audiences' style book because that locks out a decent sized portion of the already small comic buyers pool. There are people, regardless of age, who simply have no interest in comics with dirty words and mature themes which seems to be exactly what the critics like. Maybe you could raise sales by cutting out comps to the critics?!?!

Strike 3- No offense meant, but Sean Phillips (or Michael Lark, for that matter) is not the flashy, Jim Lee or Bryan Hitch style artist currently in vogue with comics buyers. Not that he's bad and not that he isn't a pretty darn good storyteller, he just has a non-fan favorite style. While not exactly a negative, he's not exactly a positive towards higher sales, in terms of grabbing attention on a wall full of bright shiny colors..

In short, good isn't always good enough. There are a lot of quality comics out there and not enough buyers to support all of them. A big part of it is marketing on the company level. When the majority of the marketing is aimed squarely at the people who already buy the book or have theoretically at least been exposed to it, it's not overly productive. Sleeper IS a good book, it's just not a book with a great sales potential in this market. Changing the book defeats the purpose, so the only option would be accept lower sales or move on. My guess is 'season two' is the last, which is a shame. My only hope is that TPB non-direct market sales are strong enough to compensate.

[Michael Eidson]

Brubaker is my favorite comic book writer and I'm elated he will be taking over The Authority. Plus Sleeper Season 2, more Catwoman and Gotham Central, and issues of Tom Strong and Hawkman? Looks like 2004 will be his biggest year yet.

Totally agree with his thoughts on the comics industry, too. What a sad state we're in when no one wants to read brand new concepts anymore. I blame the superheroes.

[ChrisArrant]

Great interview. One fault is Jim's mention of Ed Brubaker's essays on his website..... they're not posted. They were taken down several months ago.

They were quite good,e specially the rant about Crossgen's printing.

[Ed Brubaker]

I've never suggested that Sleeper should be in the top ten of sales. I know it's a book that won't appeal to everyone, but I think it could easily sell as well as other good mid-level books. Any store that can sell Y or 100 Bullets or Astro City could sell Sleeper if they wanted to.

And I'm not clueless as to why some books sell -- but thanks for putting professional in quotes anyway -- what I'm concerned about is the fact that a lot of the best new comics aren't even given a chance to sell because no one puts them on the shelf. I also know there are plenty of books that do just the things you talk about and still don't sell that well. That's what I mean by saying a writer can't control their sales. You just hope for the best and do your best.

[QCCBob]

Originally posted by Ed Brubaker
IAnd I'm not clueless as to why some books sell -- but thanks for putting professional in quotes anyway -- what I'm concerned about is the fact that a lot of the best new comics aren't even given a chance to sell because no one puts them on the shelf.
Firstly, that 'no offense meant' part was meant very seriously because I did not mean to fault you. The 'professionals' was not meant as a shot at you. It was meant to indicate a generality because we get that sort of cluelessness from lots of professionals or, should I say, from the industry. The quote from Jim Lee was Ok, I have to ask you this: you write some of the most critically praised books out there. The industry loves Gotham Central which you co-write with Greg Rucka, it loves your fresh take on Catwoman and everyone I know loves Sleeper. Yet - and you knew it was coming - these titles don't sell a huge number of copies which is a real shame. Is there something wrong with the industry when the books which are so critically praised, books which are held up as examples of comics could be, should be, are not embraced by the masses? You, Mr. Brubaker, were not coming off as 'clueless' therefore 'professionals' in general, as opposed to you specifically.

Secondly, I tried to explain why the book was not getting on store shelves, despite it being a good book. I thought I phrased it well enough to avoid my post being taken as any sort of personal assault. Believe me, Mr. Brubaker, if I thought you or the book sucked, I'd have no problem saying it straight. I've tried to push the book personally. I like it and Gotham Central, as well. That doesn't mean I can make them sell all that well, even from a Vertigo/WS standpoint.

[Frans Blix]

This should be interesting. A writer I really like on a book that I'm fairly lukewarm about. Normally the former doesn't compensate for the latter for me, but I try anything Ed Brubaker does.

[Ed Brubaker]

Hey Bob -- Thanks for commenting back. I wasn't offended, but I maybe did mis-understand the quotes. It's hard to get the tone someone meant sometimes.

And I appreciate your comments, I just don't think that a book like Sleeper or Gotham Central is any less commercial than Y the Last Man or Alias. So, while I'm not suggesting that the books should sell 100,000 copies, I don't think we should simply give up trying to sell more than we are now. Or trying to get more retailers to carry them on the shelf. Buzz only works if the material is available, after all, to the consumer.

I know of dozens of stores that sell as many Gotham Centrals or Sleepers as they do Avengers, so if someone wants to, and the circumstances are right, they can move the units. I've worked in a few comic stores in my time, and I never had a problem selling a book I personally liked.

[Jeremy Williams]

Finally there`s hope in The Authority.

[Ionicavenger]

It is nice to have a civilized conversation on this board for a change.

My point I would like to get across as a consumer is that you do not see books like Sleeper in all shops. I usually visit three different comic shops during the course of a month, it is amazing to see what these retailers are deciding people should be reading. That to me is a travesty. It took two of the three shops well over a year to start carrying Y, the Last Man on a regular Basis. Hell, I never see Powers on the shelf. I'm a mainstream reader, probably accounts for 90 percent of my buys during a given month, but to have to search for the smaller circulation books can be disheartening. Don't get me wrong, if I want a book I will find it. But when it comes to the nonchalant comic reader, the guy who hits up the shop once a month and picks up what he/she thinks is the best read on the shelf, there is serious danger of alienating that consumer. Well, that is unless the stores what him to buy the forty different variant covers for Transformers.

dave

[Ed Brubaker]

Yeah, it's sad to hear about how hard it is for people to find even buzz books. Most consumers don't want to even ask about a book if it's not on the shelf, I found in my many retail years. So the subscription service mentality, while it keeps books on life support, is not allowing the business to grow the way it could.

[Jeremy Williams]

There`s worst: where I buy my comics it`s not a comic-book shop per se. It first started as a comic shop but it evolved into an entertainment shop that sells toys, DVDs, role playing games, swords etc...And now, there`s not even comic-book racks, excepted for a few leftover copies. So to get the comics, you have to get them from reservations-only with previews. I keep saying that they should have a genuine comic rack and it`s always "one day...".

[Ionicavenger]

I feel your pain, cat daddy. I watched five comic shops close over four years while I was attending Michigan State a little while back. And I did see another transform into a role-playing haven, while another went strictly manga. Sad to see. That's why the trade paperback direct market (to Borders, Amazon and B&N) is scary. To think that in efforts to boost profits, the publishers might actually be running their core buyers out of business. Interesting quandary.

I hope for changes. And I hope every number issue sells 200,000 units from here forward (ultimate ff).

[CBCN]

I think "Wanted" is another great book that might go unnoticed. I only found it because I stumbled over the last copy behind some other image stuff. I don't know how well the first issue sold but I think it's a great read that might take awhile to get going and might not get the advertising push it will need to stay afloat.

That's one thing I love about my shop. They make an extra effort to advertise some of the smaller books that end up being really great reads.

[Ken Kneisel]

I guess I must be spoiled living in the Bay Area, where shops like Comic Relief, Comix Experience and Isotope carry a wide selection of great books, but I've never had a problem finding Sleeper on the shelf.

Ed is an awesome guy and a great sport (re: the armwrestling thing) and I'm really looking forward to his Authority! That Tom Strong arc with Duncan Fegredo sounds pretty intriguing as well.

[BlakSun]

We should frame this thread to show how people can have differing opinions without flaming each other

:D

Carry on...

[Jeremy Williams]

Originally posted by CBCN
I think "Wanted" is another great book that might go unnoticed. I only found it because I stumbled over the last copy behind some other image stuff. I don't know how well the first issue sold but I think it's a great read that might take awhile to get going and might not get the advertising push it will need to stay afloat

At the same time, it`s not like Wanted is a book that went quiet into the night, being done by the best-known writer in comics supported by a decent promotional cross-companies move. I think the sales could be huge, actually.

[Frankenstein]

Ed, you just kept me on Hawkman at least until after you're issue. Any idea what # it'll be in?

Don't suppose there's any chance of you writing this series full-time?

[mitchgo]

ed says:Almost all other entertainment markets thrive on the NEW, but we thrive on rehashes of the old.

this is a great interview, and I LOVE Ed's work on Catwoman and G. Central.

But honestly, I can't think of a single form of "entertainment market" that thrives on newness. Hollywood films? last year Hollywood produced no fewer than 22 sequels. TV? Same formulas persist from season to season. Rock music? Explain Creed and Dave Matthews, if newness has any value in the marketplace.

I'd like to see more open-mindedness in ALL of our country's cultural outlets. But Americans aren't big on new. It's just too scary. (And hey, we're more scared now than ever.)

Keep up the great work Ed!

MG

[BillReed]

Ooo, must get that Gotham Central trade. Thanks for the remind.

[Hannibal Tabu]

Hmm you could bungee jump naked with your comic's logo painted on yer butt. That was an early, thankfully never executed idea that Todd McFarlane had to promote Image, but I digress…

DING!

The captain has turned on the "too much sharing" sign in preparation for our landing in Los Angeles. Please return your comments to their full upright and locked position. Thank you.

*Hannibal looks for a handi-wipe for his brain*

[James Sime]

I certainly can't speak for anyone else's comic book stores but SLEEPER makes the Isotope's top 15 sellers easy, and GOTHAM CENTRAL is always one of my top 10 books, month in and month out.

Granted, I've invested some time, energy and retail space to promote these books in my store to customers because I enjoy them and I think my customers will too. And I'm happy to say that they do. Brubaker is pure gold as far as my customers and my cash register are concerned.

Sometimes all it takes is letting the people know what's out there that's good and giving them an excuse to pick it up...

James Sime
Isotope - the comic book lounge
San Francisco
www.isotopecomics.com

[COREMARK]

Ed Brubaker is one of the best writers in comics today and it kills me that books like Gotham Central and Sleeper aren't in the top 50. We have 2 comic stores here in St. John's, I shop at Downtown Comics where the owner stocks at least a couple of copies of everything on the shelves, no matter how "small" the book may be. A friend of mine went to the "other" store here in St. John's and asked if they had a copy of Sleeper #1 when the book first hit and the guy behind the counter said "We don't order any shelf copies in because it doesn't sell." My friend said that he didn't understand how they could know it doesn't sell when it's the #1 issue of a book that has been on sale for 1 whole day. The guy then replied, "Trust me it isn't going to sell." That was the last day my friend ever ventured into that poor excuse of a comic store. My friend did find a copy of Sleeper at Downtown Comics and has continued buying the book and all of his other books there ever since.

[SW_Santini]

Ed, Sleeper, Point Blank and Gotham Central are some of my faves out there right now.

i don't mean to flame, but i think the problem is DC's marketing. i mean they marketed the hell out of the "Hush" Storyline in Batman, and that wasn't a tenth as good as any sleeper issue i have read yet. if theres fault to be had, i think its mostly with DC, and their unwillingness to push the best books on the market. People i have talked to Rave about Stormwatch, Wild Cats and Sleeper, yet they don't sell. DC, knowing how critically acclaimed these books are should be promoting the hell out of them.


thats all. rant mode off.

:)

[gOgIver]

Originally posted by COREMARK
A friend of mine went to the "other" store here in St. John's and asked if they had a copy of Sleeper #1 when the book first hit and the guy behind the counter said "We don't order any shelf copies in because it doesn't sell." My friend said that he didn't understand how they could know it doesn't sell when it's the #1 issue of a book that has been on sale for 1 whole day.

I hate stores like that too. To bad, I think, they are a majority.
Man there was some good reading here. My favorite Bru book is Catwoman. I know you would like it to sell more but I feel Special ;) Being part of an exclusive readership and all.:D

Quality Control Bob had a cool quote:
Maybe you could raise sales by cutting out comps to the critics?!?!

Yeah, screw those jerks:p ;)

And Bru kinda said what COREMARK pointed out:
So the subscription service mentality, while it keeps books on life support, is not allowing the business to grow the way it could.

Enough. Now go buy something in this article:D You can thank me later:cool:

[DocBrass]

Ed...maybe you should change your last name to Bendis??

:D

[Cray_ws]

I think the real solution to market growth from help of retailers is cutting out subscription box service or charging a higher premium service to reserve copies for customers. I realize Its huge risk for retailers, but in the long run it may increase more traffic and wider sales.

Another thing I think many retailers need to shelf their books in alphabetical/ genre order like most book stores, instead of by publisher. There are just too many customers who go straight to one publisher and avoid browsing the other, that kinda mentality isn't helping.

One other thing, with mass amount of trades out there, there's just too many to be "waiting" for them. I didn't wait for Sleeper, I bought other trades, when Sleeper came out I bought it because it looked like worthy read. (granted I knew about it from all the acclaim it was getting in monthly format). I think Ed is very much content I bought his works in trade. I understand the survival aspects of Sleeper and Gotham Central, but I think you can promote the trade just like you promote the monthlies. Another words Ed sell me a trade and I'll put it on my list of books to get.

10,000 trades is very realistic with the right promotion.

[Hdefined]

I'm not a Bru fan yet, to the extent that his name doesn't get me to pick up a book, but admittedly I can't think of anything he's written that I didn't enjoy . . . well, perhaps his first Detective arc, but the art really hampered it.

[Hdefined]

Originally posted by DocBrass
Ed...maybe you should change your last name to Bendis??

:D

Maybe Bendis should change HIS name to Brubaker

[Ed Brubaker]

It's okay to like us both, you know. It's not a competition.
;)

[Ken Kneisel]

I know it's way too early to even be talking about it but I've got a question for you about your Authority, Ed.

One common complaint I've heard over and over again about Morrison's run is that it feels so tepid, like generic superhero comics. Will you be going for that outrageous JLA-on-crack feeling that Ellis and Millar captured so well?

I'm really looking forward to you and Jim's Authority: Coup D'Etat ish BTW. I can't believe it's only a month away now! And look, everybody! There's a preview of it up at the DC site now! (http://dccomics.com/comics/ws_display.html?cm_ws_itemCode=eoscoup1&month=February) :eek: *messes pants*

[chubbyp]

A friend of mine in Brighton in the UK had Sleeper on order at his local comic shop. He got issues 1 to 10 and then they told him they weren't going to be getting the last 2 issues in because they weren't going to stock it anymore! And being a small town it is probably the only comic shop there so he can't go anywhere else!

Luckily I live in a larger city with 3 comic shops so theres competition and my shop is pretty damn good! When they had order problems and missed an issue of Sleeper they had it in for me the next month. I'm going to try and get Sleeper for him from mine to help him out!

If some retailers aren't even going to supply comics to those who want them then theres no hope for the direct market industry!

[SAINT TY]

Ed, keep the faith. My local paper (The St. Louis Post Dispatch) seems to run an article EVERY DAY that makes some significant
reference to this industry & the articles seem to get a little more hi-brow, artsy & cool every day (as opposed to BAM! BIFF! unintentionlly condescending).
There is far too many great things being done in American comics right now by people like yourself (& Moore, Morrison, Bendis, Lapham, Allred, Los Bros, "the Speed" , the Jill, Clowes, Thompson etc. etc. etc.) for it not to break soon.
Ed, (can't believe I'm typing this) Catwoman really moved me.
The issues in the teens, in particular. I mean, this jaded reader was really feeling some shit! Javier Pulido & then Cam's next arc;
I mean........Fuck! I can't believe how much I loved those comics.
I've been pretty vocal on this site about how much I despise the decision to change the artistic aesthetic on this title. I do think it's unfortunate that Gulacy has to be the target of this venom though, as my dissapointment would the same if it was ANY artist in his vein.
Here's the kicker;
Jim Lee (who I can say from personal experience is THE classiest act in the biz) has been a remarkably good interviewer; asking some provacative & interesting questions; but he unfortunately avoided asking some questions that are OBVIOUSLY on a lot of minds;
Was the aesthetic change on Catwoman in any way shape or form YOUR DECISION OR PREFERENCE?
What do you think of that glaringly stupid article by San Gia-Coma?
I know you wouldn't want to say anything negative or disparaging about your current artistic team but candidly expressing a dissapointment in an aesthetic change is not necessarilly a knock on the talents of the current artists.
Ed; really, really love your work & would really love it if you addressed these questions.

[Ionicavenger]

Promotion and Critical Acclaim. Everybody always brings these topics in when a great book isn't in the top ten retailer list. What you have to remember is, promotion isn't easy when it comes to comics. You do not have the advantage of television, newspaper and radio spots. You've only got two main sources of promotion/advertising - Wizard Magazine and the company website. We all know the websites are out of the question since they are only updated once every three months (what a missed opportunity). Wizard does a great job of providing information for most everything coming out, but how many people read Wizard cover to cover? Most fans' attention span isn't that large. I think companies are finally starting to see what a positive avenue sites like this one and the pulse can be. Look at the articles here on newsaramna, then look at the reader responses. It's mind-blowing sometimes.

[QCCBob]

Yes, I know there are comic shops that don't do their job well. Yes, I know that there are shops that just order subscriptions and don't rack books. Here's the key, IF everyone who loves Sleeper told the people at their shop how good it is, maybe they would order a couple extra. If you can't find Sleeper at your shop, tell them to get it. Many back issues are still available through Diamond. If they don't get it, FIND A NEW COMIC SHOP!!!! It's really that simple. The only solution to a bad comic shop is to force change by voting with your wallets. If you keep supporting a bad comic shop, you get what you deserve. If you are geographically hindered, there are online stores. It shouldn't be brain surgery, folks, tell the shop to straighten up or else! I guarantee that if they have any sense at all, they will try to accomodate you. If they don't, go elsewhere and let them know why you are going elsewhere.

There is no good excuse for a good comic shop not to stock books like Sleeper and Gotham Central.

[zeraze]

Originally posted by mitchgo
this is a great interview, and I LOVE Ed's work on Catwoman and G. Central.

But honestly, I can't think of a single form of "entertainment market" that thrives on newness. Hollywood films? last year Hollywood produced no fewer than 22 sequels.

MG [/B]

However, with rare exceptions like LOTR 3 and X2, 2003 was a disappointing year for sequels in terms of profits. Read the full details at USA Today:

http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2004-01-05-sequels-fail_x.htm

Conversely, original films like Finding Nemo, Bruce Almighty, and Pirates of Caribbean emerged as suprise blockbusters. Even indy movies made their mark: the lackluster opening weekend for Charlies Angels 2 was partly due to losing a good percentage of the potential audience like myself to the British horror flick, 28 Days Later.

This validates Ed Brubaker's comments about other forms of entertainment embracing new concepts more readily than comics. If moviegoers had the same mindset as the comic industry, then all the 2003 sequels would have comprised the Top 20 highest grossing films while all fresher material would flop.

I know it's been said before, but I'll say it again: DC and comics as a whole won't be able to support a diversity of material if they don't start drawing in new readers. Manga publishers like Tokyopop and Viz have been able to tap into new markets and therefore enjoy great sales so it can be done.

zeraze