WAID FIRED FROM FF WITH #508

**MattBrady** · 06-15-2003, 10:47 PM

Mark Waid’s writing gig on Fantastic Four seemed like the perfect fit in many ways both for Marvel and Waid. It was a popular writer on a book that needed some love, and Waid had said he was enjoying his run tremendously. Well, that’s over. Mark Waid has confirmed for Newsarama that issue #508 will be his last.

The decision came at the end of last week, according to Waid. “Friday, I received a call from Marvel informing me that FF #508 would be my last issue,” Waid told Newsarama. “I'm very disappointed, but, hey--it's Marvel's sandbox, not mine.”

Waid began his run on the title with last August’s much ballyhooed issue #60, which was priced at $0.09, a promotional “one-upping” by Marvel of DC’s recent $0.10 issue of Batman, and Waid’s first comic work following his no-compete clause from CrossGen, which had expired. Joining Waid on his run was former Flash collaborator, Mike Wieringo. Under the two, the series gained critical and commercial acclaim, and climbed upwards in the Top 300 selling comics list, as calculated by Diamond.

For the full story, click here.

Dylan · 06-15-2003, 11:05 PM

If Waid's leaving the title then so am I, but probably the issue before Howard Porter comes onboard, not a Porter fan. I was going to get the Porter issues, but if Waid's not writing the issues after I don't see much point, I'm better off saving my money.

cncoyle · 06-15-2003, 11:05 PM

Okay, I'll admit I haven't picked up Fantastic Four in a while, but if Jemas pushes F4 in that direction, then this is horrible, horrible news.

JK Parkin · 06-15-2003, 11:11 PM

This sucks! The book has been great under Waid, with the "Unthinkable" arc so far being awesome.

csGuy · 06-15-2003, 11:12 PM

hmm...not impressed. Waid's one of the best writer in comics, to fire him because he was trying to stay true to the characters is...well...stupid.

I hope the new direction isn't a nearly insipid as I'm imagining it to be.

Mark Waid · 06-15-2003, 11:19 PM

By the way, Matt, I hope I made it clear that while I'm sad to be fired, I understand that's just the way it goes. I'm told I'm being replaced by Bill himself. It's a tough assignment--all the luck, Bill!

jagtech13 · 06-15-2003, 11:20 PM

Great. Having read FF since Simonson's near classic run, then the crap soap opera era of Tom DeFalco/Paul Ryan "Johnny, I'm really a Skrull you married and carrying your baby, wait... No, I'm not pregnant at all, wait... Yes I am and it's yours... No, it's some strange alien egg, oh and Reed's dead... Maybe..." into Heroes Reborn, Heroes Return, Claremont, Pacheco, and now Waid, I have to ask this. WTF is wrong with Jack@$$ Jemas!? FF Subbies!?!?!

Now I agree with Waid when he says it is Jack@$$ Jemas' sand box to play in for the time being, but can they at least try to keep some form of continuity?

I swear this absolutely sucks and blows! Nice way to bite us older fans (though just a big kid at heart) on the collective @$$es. Does Jack@$$ Jemas actually think up these ideas or does he have some inane gambling pool at the Bullpen on how big of a fit he can put fandom into at a given shot. Hey Jemas, I have a idea you'll love. Reed dumps Sue for Johnny! It'll be great, have Zimmerman write it! Now where the F is the villagers with the torches and pitchforks to kill our very own Frankenstein's Monster?

jagtech13 · 06-15-2003, 11:25 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Mark Waid:
By the way, Matt, I hope I made it clear that while I'm sad to be fired, I understand that's just the way it goes. I'm told I'm being replaced by Bill himself. It's atough assignment--all the luck, Bill!

Mark, I swear to G-d I hope you are joking about Jack@$$ Jemas writing FF! I would hate to have to dump my favorite superhero team because a egomaniacal twit has the hots to pretend to be a writer! Just say it's not true! [Eek!]

dcj666 · 06-15-2003, 11:28 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Mark Waid:
By the way, Matt, I hope I made it clear that while I'm sad to be fired, I understand that's just the way it goes. I'm told I'm being replaced by Bill himself. It's a tough assignment--all the luck, Bill!

you know, i really want to write for marvel's epic line, i've already sent one script in and am currently working on a second and third idea (the first being a marvel character and the other two being mine), but this REALLY discourages me. how in the name of hell can jemas actually believe that the fans want to read this horrid half-assed idiotic idea? HOW? it just doesn't seem at all possible that he can be so removed from reality to consider such a concept.
is waid's run not performing as they believe it should? OR, is this some pathetic attempt to prepare us for the ff movie, which several people have claimed the execs want a family sitcom approach as far as the script goes? is this what they have in mind to "ultimatize" their universe? there is truly no excuse whatsoever for this kind of behavior, and i believe it is mark has hit the nail on the head in that jemas is playing in his own little fantasy world and doesn't really give a damn what the rest of us think.

Drew Reiber · 06-15-2003, 11:29 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Mark Waid:
By the way, Matt, I hope I made it clear that while I'm sad to be fired, I understand that's just the way it goes. I'm told I'm being replaced by Bill himself. It's a tough assignment--all the luck, Bill!

And again, I'm reminded why more of my money is being shifted to non-comic related entertainment.

Oh well, they better leave Authoritative Action alone. I want to enjoy this run, however limited.

Tobey Cook · 06-15-2003, 11:33 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Mark Waid:
By the way, Matt, I hope I made it clear that while I'm sad to be fired, I understand that's just the way it goes. I'm told I'm being replaced by Bill himself. It's a tough assignment--all the luck, Bill!

This is probably one of the stupidest decisions Marvel has ever made.

tralfaz · 06-15-2003, 11:36 PM

THE FINAL STRAW HAS BROKEN THE CAMEL'S BACK

FUCK YOU JEMAS!!!

FUCK MARVEL IN GENERAL NOW!!!

everyone that believes that Marvel is headed in the right direction should remember this day as the day Marvel died.

its dead to me.

Jemas writing FF... its a big fuck you to the fans

kinda like the way they ended Farscape when Sci Fi put that disclaimer of how they would like to thank the viewers...

fuck u Jemas

sorry for all the cursing, feel free to edit, this just really pissed me off.

hey Waid, go back home, go back to DC!!!!

Curious Wanderer · 06-15-2003, 11:36 PM

I absolutely can not believe the idiocy running Marvel Comics these days. Does Jemas actually believe people will buy this? If I had an ounce of confidence in him as a business person or an intelligent story teller, it has completely gone out the window. Issue #508 will end my long term tenure as a reader of the series as well.
Brian Tallent

TemporalFlux · 06-15-2003, 11:39 PM

Jemas has lost his mother f***in mind.

ctsmith83 · 06-15-2003, 11:39 PM

Way to go Jemas! Another quality creative team goes the way of the dodo and another Marvel title goes straight down a sinkhole.

gOgIver · 06-15-2003, 11:44 PM

I bought the 9 cent issue and, although I did not add FF to my LIST afterwards, I do plan to buy #500.
Mark Waid used the word "Ultimately" a couple of times. Perhaps now we will see the long awaited "Ultimate FF"?
Also I'd like to see more of the "Unstable Molecules". That series was Fantastic.
At least Mark Waid did not suffer from a price increase or, to my knowledge, a loss of readers.
I'm sure we will hear the other side of this story soon.

tralfaz · 06-15-2003, 11:45 PM

shouldn the topic be called WAID FIRED FROM FF?

jerkyboy · 06-15-2003, 11:46 PM

If Tom Brevoort was smart, he would be sending out his resume right about now, as it is pretty evidentthat his days are numbered (he is one of the last Harras-era editors that avoided the axe). As NuMarvel's regime replaces established talent with Hollywood personalities with zero work ethic, it's only a matter of time before the entire line gets cannibalized. My last monthly title is Avengers, and with Johns being replaced by hipster Chuck Autin, that will proabably end my 20-year monthly habit of buying Marvel titles. It's obvious that NuMarvel does not want the money of the dedicated collectors, since we're just not "cool" enough anymore. Oh, well, time to go elsewhere with my money.

BTW, I did not read Waid's FF run, so I have no comment on its quality, but it's a safe bet that anything he did or would have done would be better than what Jemas is about to do to the book.

Kryptokid · 06-15-2003, 11:46 PM

This couldn't have come at a better time, just as I was thinking about cutting my comic collecting from 50 to 30 titles a month. There was no way I was cutting Fantastic Four from the list (as long as Waid was writing it) but now that's one less title I have to make a tough decision on. Once Mark Waid's gone, so am I.

Can't wait to see him back on a regular title for DC.

Dave Pruitt · 06-15-2003, 11:46 PM

Sounds like Jemas is the one who needs to be fired. How long can this nightmare continue? Give us back our Marvel. Please!!

Curious Wanderer · 06-15-2003, 11:47 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Mark Waid:
By the way, Matt, I hope I made it clear that while I'm sad to be fired, I understand that's just the way it goes. I'm told I'm being replaced by Bill himself. It's a tough assignment--all the luck, Bill!

508 will definitely be the end of my run.
What are the higher ups at Marvel trying to do? Kill the company? I truly do not see how this man can be considered good for the company.
I picked up the Marville trade over the weekend just to see what the fuss was about. Despite seeing nothing inside that seemed halfway of interest to me, the afterword just cinched it for me. When someone goes so far as to say the only reason a book is being published is because he is the publisher and can do what he wants and no one can say anything about it, is a sure sign that the lunatic is running the nuthouse.
Very rarely will anyone see me write a post asking for someone to lose their job, we all have to eat, but Bill Jemas is killing the comics industry, not just Marvel Comics. I have been a comics reader for over twenty five years and never have I been more embarrased of what is being published in the field than I am right now by Marvel Comics.

MrThatGuy · 06-15-2003, 11:50 PM

anyone else out there think a horrible thought:
The movie will be a comedy, "...where Reed's a nutty professor who creates amazing but impractical inventions, Sue's the office-temp breadwinner, the cranky neighbor is their new "arch-enemy", etc."

Marvel may be trying to hit a family market with this...... i sincerely hope i wrong

but what do i know?

ZOD · 06-15-2003, 11:55 PM

This is one of the most idiotic decisions Marvel has ever made. FF is dropped from my list with 508. Stupid shit like this makes me want to stop buying comics.

exlax · 06-15-2003, 11:55 PM

I was never a member of the Jemas hating bandwagon... But honestly... If what Mr. Waid is saying is true...

Wow. Just wow...

TemporalFlux · 06-15-2003, 11:55 PM

If people will band together to flood them with letters for Spider-Girl...well, this one's alot more important. How long before Spiderman is the "King of Queens"? It's got to stop.

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