(Comic Books) Continuing the post-Jemas policy of running around in circles, obsessively-compulsively brushing away old initiatives while screaming "I must -- be -- clean!", Marvel Comics has decided to cancel the last vestigal remains of its Epic Comics line, instead folding four planned series (Phantom Jack, Sleepwalker, Strange Magic, and Young Ancient One) into a quarterly anthology which, according to a leaked memo to creators, will probably not even see a second issue unless sales hit an unannounced target. This project has been a sleazy fiasco from the beginning, so the end should come as no surprise, really. Sometimes, Marvel makes this gig too easy for me.
Newsarama's Matt Brady summarizes the carnage:
"To date, three projects have shipped under the Epic imprint – the debut title, Mark Millar and Terry Dodson's Trouble; and Crimson Dynamo, written by John Miller, who parlayed the gig into landing the writer's spot on Iron Man, his current Marvel assignment; and Danile Way and John Proctor's Gun Theory.
"In the memo, Moore also asked creators to stop work on their respective second issues, until it is known that the anthology will continue. If the anthology does not continue past issue #1, creative teams will be paid for work performed on issue #2, but not for any further work.
"The memo did not mention Crimson Dynamo, however, the creative team had already announced that the series would be going on hiatus following issue #6. Also not mentioned was The Northwood Saga or the Spider-Man What-If style story -- neither of which were solicited."
The Pulse's Heidi MacDonald, meanwhile, has the punchline for the others who solicited the now-defunct line for a shot at the big time:
"Sources have also told us that the 'rejection' letters from Epic have all been a form type letter, most beginning with 'Dear Marvel Fan.' "
No one quite shows one's respect for a rejected freelancer quite like Marvel Comics, eh? For those of you interested in the full particulars of the Epic line's collapse, Todd VerBeek has what is probably the most informative take. Of course, everybody -- and I do mean everybody -- is taking a whack at the subject. Ninth Art's Paul O'Brien offers a thoughtful eulogy for the line, while Graeme McMillan has been tracking the often hilarious fan reaction on message boards. The pithiest response is undoubtedly that of Comic Book Resources' Rich Johnston:
"As far as I can tell, Epic is going backwards. Back in the early eighties, Epic started as an anthology magazine, then expanded into a line of company owned and creator-owned titles -- my favourites included The Bozz Chronicles, Sleeze Brothers, Groo and Stray Toasters. This time, it's gone the other way. From line of creator-owned, new take on Marvel characters, new creator and new-reader friendly line of 60 titles… to three of four mini-series and finally a one-off anthology.
"Epic was designed as a way to introduce, not surprisingly, a number of new creators who were promised much and now have been delivered little are very upset and angry indeed. I've been sent a few e-mails from involved individuals and they're downhearted, disheartened and spitting teeth. They've been lied to by their publisher, misled and their rights abused for the sake of internal politics.
"You know, I can't think of a better introduction to working in comics, can you?
"There are moves for some people to get more work at Marvel as a result of the Epic changes. But only if they shut up about it."
Alan David Doane is also worth quoting here:
"I don't feel particularly sorry for the people who did get sucked into Epic. First of all, the initial description of the proposal sounded for all the world like Bill and Joe standing at the bus station waiting for the unsuspecting fresh meat to get off the bus. The nicest thing I can say about this aspect is that they clearly were taking advantage of naive, hopeful, starry-eyed young would-be creators. Welcome to the American comics industry, everybody. [...]
"In short, when I say the people I feel sorriest for are the children, I really mean John Jackson Miller and Mike Sangiacomo. And all the other suckers like them that should have known better. It looks, from what I've read, like Miller's comics might not suck as much as I would have suspected, so good on him. I hope he takes what he can while he can before the inevitable shithammer falls on him. Because decades of observation have taught me that it may take years (hi, Stan!), but sooner or later Marvel fucks everyone. EVERYONE. It's the nature of the beast. And if nothing else, the Epic creators should have remembered that if you lie down with dogs you get up with fleas."
If that sounds harsh, bear in mind that the creators whose works have been folded into this new Epic Quarterly (or Epic Probably a One-Shot or whatever the hell they'll be calling it) won't see a dime for their efforts until the work sees print -- and now the royalties, on the off chance that the project actually accrues anything in the way of royalties, will be split four ways further than originally agreed upon. As now-screwed Epic creator Mike Sangiacomo put it:
"That is the true shame here. These guys and all the other creators involved, took Marvel on its word and did the work. Now they are told to hold off on the second issue. Excuse me, second issue? I'm sure every writer has already completed the first story arc and beyond. You don't just shut that idea tap down once you get started.
"Any good writer has written a beginning, middle and end to his work. Artists have likely already completed or spent time on the later issues, I know Mitch has finished issue two and turned them into Marvel for review.
"It's a little late to say "hold up on the second issue boys.' "
Sangiacomo also notes that at least one creator did successfully run the gauntlet to become a regularly-published Marvel creator: John Jackson Miller. You know, the Comics Buyers Guide editor? The one who absolutely denies that writing for Marvel while editing a weekly publication that ostensibly covers the company for journalistic purposes is a conflict of interest? The one who according to the October 24th edition of that publication has co-authored a new comic-book price guide intended to "[drag] price guides kicking and screaming into the realm of hard fact?" The one who apparently wouldn't recognize a conflict of interest if one crawled up and bit him on the ass while singing the "Conflict of Interest Song" from Gilbert & Sullivan's classic opera A Conflict of Interest Travels Abroad? That John Jackson Miller? Okay, I'll confess to making up that last bit about Gilbert & Sullivan, but you get the idea. In the end, what began as an attempt to broaden Marvel's customer base, and was then narrowed to a means of getting neophytes to write Marvel books on the cheap, ultimately ended up as a very costly, well-publicized means of employing an industry editor whose magazine is known principally for giving major comic-book companies literary blowjobs on a weekly basis.
Archie Goodwin has to be spinning in his grave fast enough to generate electricity at this point. Like I said, sometimes Marvel makes this gig too easy for me.
