BENDIS ON WIZARDWORLD'S DD/BATMAN BROUHAHA

[MattBrady]

On his messageboard at the Image Comics website, Brian Bendis posted the follwing statement regarding the proposed Daredevil/Batman crossover, and what happened at this past weekend's WizardWorld Chicago:

Hi-

For those who care I just have a couple of things to say about what went on at my panel at Chicago con.

I regret the whole thing. Can’t say it any simpler that that. What I intended was to start a grass roots campaign to get the proposed Batman/ DD book off the ground, not to create a wrestle mania circus.

I apologize to everyone involved at DC comics. It was wrong for me to try and do this without your involvement. My frustration with the current climate between the companies pushed me to make what I feel now was the wrong choice.

For those of you who think this was a marketing stunt. There is no book so there is nothing to market. This was not a stunt. This book does not exsist and probably never will under current conditions. I do not need nor do I want this type of publicity.

For the record, I do not know and had never met bob wayne from dc comics. I have never spoken with him on the phone. I was genuinely surprised by his involvement in my panel. and while I greatly admire his blunt honesty that day it did take the panel into places I would never have gone. Things were said in the debate that I was not going to say outloud and the tone of the panel, by the nature of crowd reaction turned very circus like. In fact, for those who know me, I am the polar opposite of a wrestling guy and have never pulled a stunt like that in my life. And I can almost guarantee that I never will again.

I will say that the conversation between us on stage was probably one of the most honest conversations I have ever seen on a panel. Most panels being ‘rah rah’ panels, this was a lively debate about the mechanics ‘behind the curtain.’ those looking for a show certainly got one but I felt like shit afterwards and it only escalated as the weekend continued.

There was one thing in particular I said during the debate that I instantly wished I could take back. I wished I could grab the words out of the air and pull them back. And that was the line about dc being mad about joe’ kicking their ass every month.’ I truly regret saying that immature line. I am not a professional public speaker, in fact, I spend 99 percent on my life not speaking but writing. And my inexperience at public speaking is to blame.

I am in no way calling for or supporting any kind of ban on dc comics. Some of my very favorite comics and creators work at dc comics and I purchase dozens of them every month and will continue to do so.

All I was and am hoping for was some retailer and reader support in getting this big book going. I sincerely appreciate all those who got behind me on this and hope that one day we will get to do this story.

[Mike Cruz]

Wow. Judging by the wording of the statement, it sounds like Bendis got a very serious browbeating. He may actually have been threatened by Marvel execs with pulling him off of his Marvel projects, including but not limited to, pulling "Powers" from their Icon imprint.

Still, these panels are a draw for fans to see creators from both companies thrash each other publicly every now and again. The simmering that's taking place right now has made for some very good creativity on both sides of the mainstream aisle.

If anybody's benefitting, its the fans.

-Mike

[Comiccub]

First off I have to say that I would really love to see this book happen! Unfortunatly Mr. Bendis went the way of Joe Quesada and handled it in the most child like of ways. I was really disappointed in both Mr. Bendis and in DC Comics for conducting themselves like total morons in public. Glad to see that Mr. Bendis has made a public apology hopefully DC will do the same.

[cactusmaac]

Originally posted by Mike Cruz


Still, these panels are a draw for fans to see creators from both companies thrash each other publicly every now and again. The simmering that's taking place right now has made for some very good creativity on both sides of the mainstream aisle.

If anybody's benefitting, its the fans.

-Mike

Creativity? Benefitting the fans?

It's just childish squabbling by people who should know better.

[Comiccub]

Originally posted by Mike Cruz
Wow. Judging by the wording of the statement, it sounds like Bendis got a very serious browbeating. He may actually have been threatened by Marvel execs with pulling him off of his Marvel projects, including but not limited to, pulling "Powers" from their Icon imprint.

Still, these panels are a draw for fans to see creators from both companies thrash each other publicly every now and again. The simmering that's taking place right now has made for some very good creativity on both sides of the mainstream aisle.

If anybody's benefitting, its the fans.

-Mike

Wow those are some really wild conclusions you came to. Why would you even think that Marvel would threaten his job over something Joe Quesada does all the time? Mr. Bendis is Marvels #1 writer, take hime away and there really is not much to look forward to at Marvel.

Do you really think this made for some very good creativity? What creativity came about from this rediculous event? The way I see it this whole thing made Mr. Bendis and DC look like a bunch of asses who don't know how to conduct themselves in public. As a fan I gotta tell you I hate when these panels become a venue for the companies to trash one another. I go to panels to find out what the creators and companies have in store for me in the coming months not to hear what they think about their competitors.

[dee_dee26m]

I don't think Bendis handled this in a 'child-like' manner atall. he spoke hoenstly and enthusiastically, and with good humoured exaggeration, about comics in the same way we the fans do....excpet that A Suit happened to be passing and decided to pour rain on his little parade.

This is comic books, not state secrets.

I'm just glad that nobody has taken it too seriously and that bendis wasn't given a wrist on the slap by a knee-jerk marvel...

Interestingly, i was watching the DD movie DVD the other day and in the comics documentary, Joe Q is very vocal about crossovers between the two companies being a tiresome boring thing..... take it he's changed his opinion??!?

[Moonbeam]

There are some very good people out there who do media training for a living. I saw many speakers in Chicago who might want to give them a call and ask about rates.

In other words, Mr. Bendis, the mess that was made was not yours alone, and there are a few people higher than you who should help clean it up.

[djcoffman]

The only product to push--- is their own names.... and controversy ALWAYS sells-- whatever it is.

I kinda agree with Joe Q... I liked it when Marvel and DC hated each other.

In Bendis's defense, I really don't think he meant it to go bad like that. I think he was trying to do something positive-- but you see who mucked it up. It wasnt Brian.

And Brian, quit fucking apologizing man. It was YOUR panel. Not DCs-- and whatever you said, NEVER take it back. It was how you honestly felt. It's time to just fucking be honest-- We need MORE people to just say how they feel. Especially when confronted on your OWN fucking panel. You don't need to apologize man, you did NOTHING wrong. There's not even a need for damage control. Unless of course you did get a brow beating from some suits or something.

[Tom Daylight]

With all due respect to Bendis, I honestly hope this ISN'T the end of this, as I would like to see this project happen.

[JohnnyONeal]

I've given Brian the benefit of the doubt throughout this. In everything he writes, it's clear that he's just not an asshole. He's a well-meaning guy who loves his job and this industry. This statement drives home that point again.

It doesn't sound to me like Brian got a "browbeating." It sounds like he realized he said some things he didn't want to say. I don't think his original statement or approach was really that out of line, but identifying Paul Levitz as the source of the "problem" seems to have been a mistake. And the "kicking your asses" comment was regrettable, obviously. But his motivations were pure and he apologized right away.

If people walk away from this thinking that Bendis is a jerk, they're walking away with the wrong message.

[holtom2000]

Why would DC apologize?

[DanteHicks1972]

Originally posted by Mike Cruz
Wow. Judging by the wording of the statement, it sounds like Bendis got a very serious browbeating. He may actually have been threatened by Marvel execs with pulling him off of his Marvel projects, including but not limited to, pulling "Powers" from their Icon imprint.

Still, these panels are a draw for fans to see creators from both companies thrash each other publicly every now and again. The simmering that's taking place right now has made for some very good creativity on both sides of the mainstream aisle.

If anybody's benefitting, its the fans.

-Mike

I too am of the opinion that Bendis just realized he put a foot in his mouth and I don't think one of Quesada's main boys really has anything to worry about plus when you make money it makes your margin a lot bigger. Bendis was right on the money about panels just being a rah rah session it wouldn't shock me to find out Quesada put him up to it either......

[djm72]

The idea wasn't bad, Bendis just went too far. He could have just said DC isn't interested in doing it right now and I want to change their minds. Instead, he went into great detail about why DC wasn't interested and his conversation with Levitz. That was his mistake.

He should have just left it at: Brubaker and I have a plan for two Batman/Daredevil specials. Here's the outline of what we want to do. Marvel is willing, but I can't convince DC to do it. I'd like the fans and retailers to politely write DC and tell them you want to see these specials.

End.

By getting into details and making it look as though DC was being unreasonable (doesn't matter if they are being unreasonable or not, you don't have to point it out) he ticked off DC and some reaction was to be expected.

On that front, however, Bob Wayne from DC made an idiot of himself. Now, I'm actually a DC fan, I read one Marvel title, but he should have kept his mouth shut. He should have listened to Bendis, took notes and then, later, issued a statement.

[Halapeno]

I tend to doubt anyone at Marvel gave Bendis crap over this. After all, Marvel's own EIC has said much worse in regards to DC than "we're kicking your asses."

I imagine it is what it is. He felt bad about it.

And IF there's an underlying motivation for the apology, it's probably his survival instinct kicking in. Bendis is one of Marvel's golden boys today, but everything comes to an end. Don't want to burn any bridges.

[Augie De Blieck Jr.]

Originally posted by Mike Cruz
Wow. Judging by the wording of the statement, it sounds like Bendis got a very serious browbeating. He may actually have been threatened by Marvel execs with pulling him off of his Marvel projects, including but not limited to, pulling "Powers" from their Icon imprint.

Mike, you have no idea what you are talking about.

Bendis is an honest guy. I believe his heartfelt apology here. And, yes, he did say a couple of things that might have been flameworthy or, perhaps, silly. The readers owning the characters is one of them. I understand his point, but he made it out to sound like some sort of public domain situation. And he came very very close to "Do it for the children" types of arguments that would have lost me.

If you ask me, DC came off very poorly in this thing, particularly with Bob Wayne's insistance that it's not a personal issue, while claiming the only way it would happen is if Quesada resigned because Levitz doesn't want to deal with him.

In any case, Marvel threatening to effectively fire Bendis? Are you nuts?

-Augie

[TrueBeliever]

After reading any article I can get my hands on about this event I fail to see what Bendis did that was wrong. He is a creative man and talked passionately about a project he would love to do. At some point DC's Bob Wayne came to the panel and made this debate into a character attack against Quesada.

"Again, we’d love to do a crossover with Marvel, but we’ll have to wait until there’s a change in management.”

This is a call for the replacement of an Editor in Chief of a company. A representative of DC comics advocates the firing of a man. Of course DC wants Quesada gone, he has proven to be one of the strongest Marvel EiC's in recent history and poses a major threat to DC.

Whats worst is the position Bob Wayne puts the fans in. -If you really want this fan-favorite event, we wont' do it until Quesada is gone. You should push for him to get fired-

I fail to see how Bendis is the childish one here.

[SHABBAZZ]

I'm glad the door is pretty firmly shut on this subject. Hopefully Bendis' statement will actually help to head off the downward spiral of negativity that has been brewing between the big two. I've always thought that the importance of being the number one selling title in given month or selling the most units overall have been overblown achievements and both companies seem(ed) likely to sell their firstborn to secure that no 1 position.

The mounting pressure has led to mounting hostility whether passive (exclusive contracts) or aggressive (renaming a project to mock/capitalize on another company's momentum) and a lot of creators who would do more good for the industry playing in both sandboxes have been polarized by politics.

The comic book industry is truely at a crossroads. There are more quality books produced in a wider array of genres, by big publishers, book publishers and indies, than ever before. There is more movie/TV buzz surrounding comicbook properties than ever, period. More high profile artists and writers are dabbling in the industry (Whedon, Singer, Meltzer, Smith) than at any previous time, but comic books as a medium have not grown appreciably into the mainstream. Comics are still considered a subculture, or underground or certainly fanboy intensive.

Big guns like Bendis are better served telling great storie, like he does every month in Powers, than in pissing contests with DC. Tend to the industry, focus on the growth of the medium. Both of the big 2 make a lot of money off of other revenue streams besides their comics, who cares who's #1? Cultivate your industry, celebrate what the other guy does that brings NEW readers to comics because ultimatley that new reader will stumble across the competition.

If the focus were trained more on comics in general there would be less time to kick each other in the balls and this environment of animosity wouldn't prevent the publciation of Batman/Daredevil or Superman/Captain America or Spiderman/Robin or whatever else hopeful fanboys can dream up.

[ussescort]

You know, I had heard rumblings of some sort of "fight" about the financials and other items in regards to JLA/Avengers. Perhaps some of those rumors were true, maybe something we know nothing about happened, which is leading to DC feeling burned by JoeQ and refusing to go through it again. If this is the case, and DC and Marvel were keeping their dirty laundry to themselves, then it is a pretty sneaky move to say to Bendis, "Don't mention this during the 'official' panel, but have at it during your own." That way, DC looks like the child and JoeQ comes across as the victim. There is more to this than meets the eye, we just do not know the whole story.

[videofarmer]

Originally posted by Mike Cruz
Wow. Judging by the wording of the statement, it sounds like Bendis got a very serious browbeating. He may actually have been threatened by Marvel execs with pulling him off of his Marvel projects, including but not limited to, pulling "Powers" from their Icon imprint.

It seems to me that he is a stand up guy and just felt bad about it. I can't imagine any browbeating. At the most, he might have gotten a "why don't you let that drop now," from Marvel. If that.

[SpyGuy]

Although I wasn't at any of these panels in Chicago (dammit, why couldn't something this interesting have happened in San Diego?), I managed to follow the various news reports here at Newsarama and at other comics news sites.

Props to Bendis for publicly apologizing for his share of this mess, but I also hope that public apologies are forthcoming from Bob Wayne, Joe Quesada and Paul Levitz. And following those apologies, it seems clear (to me, anyway) that all three of these men should resign from their positions.

Why? Because enough bad blood exists between the two companies' head honchos that the retailers and the fans (i.e. consumers) are going to lose out on potentially beneficial projects like Bendis' BATMAN/DAREDEVIL. Joe Quesada's constant thumbing his nose at DC and Levitz and Wayne' refusals to work with Marvel until Quesada and any other higher-ups they aren't playing nice with are gone has turned this into the comics industry's version of the Cold War. And like the Cold War, it's childish, petty and stupid, with nobody winning.

[VinnyPic]

I love how everyones bashing DC over this when Quesada called them a bunch of pussies in his interview. The Guy is as late as Kevin Smith and he sucks.

[mikey_danger]

I say Bendis did the right thing... what is the point of being a go to guy if you can't try and make stuff happen. Screw PC and hurt feelings. I applaud his passion for the project. If people weren't so damn petty it wouldn't have resorted to him starting this, let alone the fact that he had to apologize...

This whole thing makes me hate the hypocrites in power... and as trite and cliche as this is, DAMN THE MAN!!!

[djcoffman]

Let us all not forget, that compared to most other entertainment industries--- the comic industry as a whole kinda sucks.

And from the outside looking in, no one really gives a shit at all.

DC vs Marvel has always been good in the sandbox though... Behind closed doors, they fucking depise each other and totally slam each other all the time. Even when one is kicking the others ass---- and if they see something thats new at the other company, they try to implement something similar on their end. They've been doing it for YEARS!!! ahahaha

[Blind Assassin]

First I am going to clear up some misconceptions:

Mike Cruz: I don't think Marvel is gonna do anything bad with Bendis at all. They knew beforehand what he was going to talk about and asked him to have his own panel, instead of speaking about it on a 'Marvel Panel', because they didn't want to be seen as 'stirring the pot'. How are they going to encourage him to say these words (on his own) and then reprimand him for it afterwards? It doesn't make sense.

How do I feel on the issue? Well, I will just cut and paste my response from the Bendis board here--I think it sums up the situation pretty well:


Well, as you can see, some of the people here got a petition started and they have links to it in their sig. It was all done up to drum up support for the project you felt so passionate about.

There was talk of sending cash to DC as an 'advance' on future sales of the book to show them we were interested. One of the guys on Newsarama got an official letter going and chatted with members here about merging the petition with the letter. (So the next time you guys wanna rag on 'those folks at Newsarama', think for a minute)

A lot of us who couldn't make it to Chicago rallied behind this because we believed in it, like you believed in it.

There was also a very vocal opposition to the idea and of course people raged and flamed, and got behind ways to prove their side was right.

And each side wanted to be right so badly.

We became like the backstory of Marvel and DC-- we squabbled. we called names. We were really no better (and hopefully no worse) than the people who we were blindly insulting (Paul and Joe). We accused them of being childish, and when a voice of opposition spoke up, we, in turn, acted like children.

When I say 'we', it is a collective 'we'. There were also those who remained quiet on the subject and carried on with wonderful comportment. (yes, I used 'comportment' in a sentence. One sec while I look it up to make sure I used it correctly. As you can tell, I really do blather on late at night )

In the end, no matter what 'side' we were on, the point was that the community cared. Whether they said that you aired private dirty laundry, or whether they said you were trying to drum up support for a project you believed in, we were passionate about it.

One thing you have to admit, we wouldn't be so passionate if we didn't generally care about the medium we love. You are part of that. Brubaker is part of that. Joe Quesada is part of that. Paul Levitz is part of that. Bob Wayne is part of that. Daredevil is part of that. Batman is part of that.

Your above statement only proves that you, too, are passionate about the medium--the medium that you work in. I don't think you intended to have this thing become the way it became.

Either way, I supported your decision. I defended your postion. And I applaud the fact that you are still man enough to say that you felt wrong and you apologised. That is why I respect you. You always say what you feel--right or wrong. There is no bullshit posturing.

Sorry I got all blah blah blah, but its raining, I'm tired, and its 4 am in Boston.

[algertman]

it just looks like to me, that it went to far, and Bendis apologized for it

which i respect him for it, cause i doubt anyone else at MARVEL would have to balls to apologize, and we all know things have been said alot worse on the both sides of the fence

But in all honesty i would love, if this ever happens, which i think will. Cause it took JLAvengers 20 yrs to heppen. That we get all this in the collected edition with all crazt stuff in it. Just like the JLAvengers companion book