BILL MESSNER-LOEBS: DOWN, BUT NOT OUT

[MattBrady]

It took one article on former comics creator Bill Messner-Loebs to get the wheels rolling.

The article, which appeared in The Detroit News on January 20th related Messner-Loebs’ story, which, to outsiders, isn’t a particularly happy one. Loebs is probably known best for his work on his creator-owned Journey, as well as lengthy stays on Wonder Woman (Loebs’ run with Mike Deodato Jr. in the mid-‘90s was arguably the most heat the character had seen in over a decade at that point) and Flash (his four-plus year run coming between Mike Baron who launched the character’s new series following Crisis on Infinite Earths and the then up and coming writer, Mark Waid) for DC. Along with those properties, Loebs also handled the writing chores on Comico’s Johnny Quest series, as well as scripting Sam Kieth’s Maxx and a handful of other projects for publishers, as well as some of his own creator-owned work, including Epicurus The Sage, published by the now defunct Piranha Press imprint at DC in 1989.

Like many other creators of the time, Loebs found the late ‘90s to be a period of tremendous change, which ultimately left him without regular work. After an auto accident, Loebs and his wife Nadine lost their house in 2001. Loebs’ plight at that point became public knowledge, and the then newly-formed ACTOR, which aids creators who’ve fallen upon hard times, stepped in, and was able to help the couple in their purchase of a mobile home.

As The Detroit News article relates, unknown to the Loebs’, the home was full of mold, the seller refused to take it back, and it was stolen months later. Since that time, the Loebs have been living in a hotel in Howell, Michigan. Both volunteer at the Howell Senior Center. Due to medical difficulties, Loebs’ wife unable to hold steady work, and while he’s tried, and continues looking, Loebs has been unable to find steady work.

Despite the misfortune, Loebs is not bitter. He makes the point numerous times while speaking with The Detroit News’ Kurt Anthony Krug, saying, "I'm still here. I'm still warm and dry and safe. The car's still going. After a while you learn being angry and bitter and saying 'Why me?' all the time only makes you feel worse. It's better to laugh."

Since the article saw print, Messner-Loebs’ story has percolated across creators’ message boards as well as comic book related blogs. While creator Mark Millar has said he’ll speak with Marvel about finding some work for Loebs immediately, an online petition has been started, asking any publisher to find work for Loebs.

Newsarama urges those concerned about the plight of Messner-Loebs, as well as any other former comic book creator who may have fallen on hard times to consider a donation to ACTOR, either via a check or through one of their many auctions held at conventions throughout the year.

[Marcello S. Nicola]

It´s a shame a writer with Loebs skills can´t get
any regular work! I still find his run on FLASH the best
after Crisis! It´s bad for the business when the most
valued "talent" in writers is self-proimotion.

[Kirk Kushin]

His work on Flash was fantastic. Plus his Wonder Woman was great....remember her working at a fast food place??? He made it work without being corny.

So far there are over 400 signatures on his petition - if one of the big boys doesn't step up and put this gentleman to work - maybe one of us indy guys should...!

[James Meeley]

Well, I was planning to stop by the ACTOR booth at the Emerald City Comicon next weekend, anyway. This just gives me even more reason to do so.

It's good that Loebs still has some good spirits and a sense of humor. When dealing with a situation like he's had, that's more important than folks might think.

Please keep us informed of any updates on his situation.

[Abbadon74]

Not only is this story terribly difficult, due to the Loebs’ enormous difficulty, but I find it very disappointing that only now, after The Detroit News article, we’re actually hearing about Bill. I worked on a book with him about a year ago. Prior to its release, I sought out all internet news sites, asking them to write about Bill, trying to garner some genuine interest and awareness of his extremely accomplished work. I asked each news site to not write anything about me, to not even include my name, but to include only information on Bill, on what he’s doing, on his current circumstances and to include information on his work and even script excerpts. Of the twenty or thirty letters I wrote, only one site actually posted information on Bill and his work at the time, and that site was not Newsarama.

It’s just difficult for me to read this site’s posting of information regarding Bill and the very noble gestures to get him work when it and so many others failed to publicize the work he was doing. But I guess better late than never. Newsarama, please don’t fail Bill again. Please be sure to keep the most valuable part of this industry, the readers, aware of this family’s circumstances, and maybe he can return to where he truly deserves to be in this industry.

[Blackhawkaaaa!]

It really would be nice to see Joe Quesada or Paul Levitz step up to the plate on this, but I would be surprised to see it happen. We've heard this story before with the likes of Don Heck & Bob Haney.
The comics industry continually views it's talent as disposable, and considering the impact Loeb's Wonder Woman series had at the time, it's unthinkable that this writer is not getting work, while we see the sort of hack work trotted out as new flavor of the day by the Big Two.
It's time someone (Neil Gaiman, Grant Morrison, Brian Bendis?) put some pressure on the industry to keep people working, and not see them shuttled away by new and inexperienced editors with no concept of what some of these folks have brought to the industry.
Maybe there needs to be a test concerning knowledge of the industry & it's history before we hire another fresh out of college english major and hand over the reins.

Remember guys, somebody's out there even now, studying English lit & business math, waiting to break into the Editorial offices and be put in charge of revamping the Marvel Universe yet again, and in a few years maybe they'll decide that Mr. Bendis or Mr. Morrison are the disposable entities.

[adampasz]

I only read a few books by him back in the day, but I always got the impression that he was a class act, someone who tried to bring intelligent ideas to comics. It's a shame he's been swept aside like this. I would definitely pick up a new series he was involved in.

[MattBrady]

Originally posted by Blackhawkaaaa!
Maybe there needs to be a test concerning knowledge of the industry & it's history before we hire another fresh out of college english major and hand over the reins.

Who was the last one?

Also, as always, the market has a lot to say about who is working at any given time in any entertainment industry.

MattB

[whoME?]

How do i say this without sounding calous? Or a complete ass? i don't know. So here it goes.

I don't think it's fair to Mr. Messner-Loebs or to the comic industry to give him a writing gig simply because he's fallen on hard times. Mr. Messner-Loebs himself has stated that he doesn't feel sorry for himself, or think of himself as a charity case. So why should we think of him as a charity case and petition for a few writing bones be tossed his way? All that would do is make us feel a wee bit better, and mabe provide MR. Messner-Loebs with a temporary influx of money.

On the other hand, we SHOULD be petitioning the publishers to give him work because he's a damn fine writer who has done great work each and every time he was given an assignment.

I still wish him and his wife all the best and have made my donation to ACTOR on his behalf. I hope he keeps laughing, and that success finds him soon.

[James Meeley]

Originally posted by whoME?
How do i say this without sounding calous? Or a complete ass? i don't know. So here it goes.

I don't think it's fair to Mr. Messner-Loebs or to the comic industry to give him a writing gig simply because he's fallen on hard times. Mr. Messner-Loebs himself has stated that he doesn't feel sorry for himself, or think of himself as a charity case. So why should we think of him as a charity case and petition for a few writing bones be tossed his way? All that would do is make us feel a wee bit better, and mabe provide MR. Messner-Loebs with a temporary influx of money.

I see what you are trying to say, but while I agree with the spirit of what you say, it's just not practical. There isn't going to be some overnight shift in things, which will put them how they should be (or how we think they should be).

Yes, even if we donate to ACTOR or get Loebs a petitioned assignment or two, it's not a cure-all for his situation, nor to the greater problem his situation represents. But you gotta do what you can to help make a change. It might only be a baby-step, like what's being done for Loebs, but it's a baby-step in the right direction. Change doesn't usually come in giant loads, but in small bits over periods of time.

We should do what we can to help Loebs out right now, with an eye towards helping things to change for the better of everyone in the future. It might not be the best, easiest and fastest way to do things, but it's all we can do right now and it beats doing nothing.

And I don't see what folks are doing as treating Loebs like a "charity case." It's siomply folks helping someone in trouble. It's no different than the aid being given to the tsunami survivors. Those who are better off, want to help those who aren't. And that's a good thing.

[Namora]

It's probably too late now. but if comic pros unionized, this crap probably wouldn't be happening. Pretty soon it isn't going to matter, all creators jobs are either going to be replaced with Hollywood union creators wanting non-union work, without being a scab, and computers. And the way things are going, it's only a matter of time before Marvel and DC simply repackage reprints and stop bothering publishing new material.

[Michael P]

It's heartwarming to see how the comics community has rallied around Mr. Messner-Loebs following this. I do wish they'd done it before the article, but better late than never, what?

[Egg]

I completely dug his Wonder Woman and his work on The Maxx! In fact, my girlfriend and I were talking about his Wonder Woman run and how good it was yesterday.

I gotta say, if Mr. Messner-Loebs has anything to pitch, any story or concept, I'm ALL ears! All ears!

Egg Embry
Editor - www.ArcanaStudio.com

[Egg]

Originally posted by Egg
I completely dug his Wonder Woman and his work on The Maxx! In fact, my girlfriend and I were talking about his Wonder Woman run and how good it was yesterday.

I gotta say, if Mr. Messner-Loebs has anything to pitch, any story or concept, I'm ALL ears! All ears!

Egg Embry
Editor - www.ArcanaStudio.com

I just e-mailed Mr. Messner-Loebs to see if he'd do Arcana Studio the favor of pitching something! I'd honestly love to work with him as I think he has a great gift for character as demonstrated in his works!

Egg Embry
Editor - www.ArcanaStudio.com

[hellwithout]

Originally posted by Blackhawkaaaa!
It really would be nice to see Joe Quesada or Paul Levitz step up to the plate on this, but I would be surprised to see it happen. We've heard this story before with the likes of Don Heck & Bob Haney.
The comics industry continually views it's talent as disposable, and considering the impact Loeb's Wonder Woman series had at the time, it's unthinkable that this writer is not getting work, while we see the sort of hack work trotted out as new flavor of the day by the Big Two.
It's time someone (Neil Gaiman, Grant Morrison, Brian Bendis?) put some pressure on the industry to keep people working, and not see them shuttled away by new and inexperienced editors with no concept of what some of these folks have brought to the industry.
Maybe there needs to be a test concerning knowledge of the industry & it's history before we hire another fresh out of college english major and hand over the reins.

Remember guys, somebody's out there even now, studying English lit & business math, waiting to break into the Editorial offices and be put in charge of revamping the Marvel Universe yet again, and in a few years maybe they'll decide that Mr. Bendis or Mr. Morrison are the disposable entities.

I agree fully. Loebs' has proven that he has the skills to handle characters before. I don't know what the sales looked like on his last few books but I can't imagine them being too terrible either creatively or sales wise.
I don't wish to get rudely off topic but I find it very disappointing that someone with experience in the industry can't get work but a guy like Reginald Hudlin, with no comics experience whatsoever gets to take over Black Panther and Spider man. I think that's a little unfair to both creators and to fans.

[Alfonso]

Originally posted by Blackhawkaaaa!
The comics industry continually views it's talent as disposable

It could be difficult for it to do otherwise, since the "industry" isn't actually an individual and compassionate person.

Though I know you weren't trying to be literal, it makes zero sense for businesses to employ people just for the sake of paying them, especially if their work doesn't sell well. That's like Jim Cameron saying, "Well, Dicaprio might attract plenty of ladies to Titanic, and he's got the talent to pull off the role as Jack, but since Old Wild Chester isn't employed anymore and needs the cash, I think I'll cast him instead."

It's just commercial suicide.

I'm not saying the Bill ML isn't talented or doesn't deserve to be hired, but I am saying that it makes no sense to fault the "industry" itself, or the industry leaders. Business, at the end of the day, is business.

[Sammycomic]

Marvel and DC havent given him work since all this started...?

I don't expect them to dole out work for charity's sake, but there's plenty of new titles that come out a month and he's a tested and qaulified quailty writer. I'm certain he can handle the Invincible Spider-X or whatever fills the shelves these days.

I wonder if he sees a dime from the MAXX TPB reprints.

[Rod Odom]

A few years ago we first heard of Messner-Loeb's troubles and then, just like now, there was burst of attention and sympathy for him. Afterwards most of us promptly forgot about him.

Folks, if we truly mean well for the man, then we have to support him in a sustained, meaningful way until he finds his feet again in the comic book industry. Otherwise how we care about his plight makes no practical difference at all.

[TVerBeek]

I've had the pleasure of hanging out for several hours with Bill and Nadine (they've come to a couple meetings of the Michigan Comics Network, an informal social group for cartoonists and wannabes), and I can confirm that neither of them is embittered about their situation. I had a difficult time at first reconciling that enthusiastic and engaging man across the table with the "hard-luck, out-of-work creator" I'd heard about. But since living with a disability (no right arm) didn't discourage him from becoming an artist (and a darn good one at that), I guess it makes sense that his financial difficulties haven't killed his spirit either.

[TVerBeek]

Originally posted by Sammycomic
Marvel and DC havent given him work since all this started...?

Sort of. Marvel solicited a Spider-Man/Incredible Hulk one-shot under the Epic imprint, which was to feature a story written by Loebs and illustrated by Dave Simons, and another by Ron Marz and Dan Jurgens. The book was canceled during the shutdown of Epic, but Marvel said the creators would be paid.

I wonder if he sees a dime from the MAXX TPB reprints.

That would presumably be up to Sam Kieth, who owns the series.

[hellwithout]

Originally posted by TVerBeek
Sort of. Marvel solicited a Spider-Man/Incredible Hulk one-shot under the Epic imprint, which was to feature a story written by Loebs and illustrated by Dave Simons, and another by Ron Marz and Dan Jurgens. The book was canceled during the shutdown of Epic, but Marvel said the creators would be paid.
That would presumably be up to Sam Kieth, who owns the series.

i would have loved to have seen either of those mini series see the light of day, especially that Marz/Jurgens one. I really wish Jurgens could get some regular chores too.

[DrTzinTzin]

Last I heard Bill Loebs was only about 55 or 56...does that mean writers become expendable after 50?


Or is it that he doesn't fit in to either company's new outlook?

[OM]

Q: Ten years from now, if this were Rob Liefeld, Jim Shooter, Chuckles Austen, Warren Ellis, or - you guessed it - Oliver Coipel, in this predicament, would you be willing to help out?

Note that this is *not* an attempt to dissuade anyone from doing what they can to help Bill & the missus out. Not by one iota, much less one red cent. Again, it's a thought experiment...

[James Meeley]

Originally posted by OM
Q: Ten years from now, if this were Rob Liefeld, Jim Shooter, Chuckles Austen, Warren Ellis, or - you guessed it - Oliver Coipel, in this predicament, would you be willing to help out?

Note that this is *not* an attempt to dissuade anyone from doing what they can to help Bill & the missus out. Not by one iota, much less one red cent. Again, it's a thought experiment...

Yes. I would. I might not like their personality. I might not even like their work. But no creator should have to live out of their car. With all the titles being published every single month, there's no reason for them to not have some form of income. And if a donation to ACTOR from me, or my name being added to a petition to get them some work, can help them out in some small way and prevent that, I'd do it in a heartbeat. Just like I have here.

[rezin8]

I think DC and Geoff Johns should figure out a way to get Bill involved with the upcoming Rogues War. Bill wrote a great Rogues story in Flash...(I'm really aging myself here)

If I'm not mistaken, Bill was the one who gathered all the rogues together.

I think it would be a class act and move by DC.