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Is Peter David Right About the Creators?
I had a discussion recently with Peter David at the Joe Quesada forums.Peter chimed in on a thread I opened which discussed creators coming together to form a union and improve their lot in life and in the comics. Yeah, well, you know what, Michael? The last time I wrote an "open letter" to a publisher about creator endeavors, I was crucified for it by my fellow creators. Not a single one took a public stand in support of me, and most who made any mention of it at all either undercut me or flat out lampooned me. So I hope you have more luck with such endeavors than I did insofar as the creative community is concerned. But I wouldn't hold my breath. So I asked him if I could have his OK to add his name to a list of creators supporting the idea. Well, no, not really, you don't have my okay. Years ago I was part of an attempt to organize creators into what we called the CBPA, the Comic Book Professional's Association...the main intention of which was to find a way to get reasonable, inexpensive health care. Dropped a wad of money making giveaway hats and stuff. Interest: Nil. Results: None. I was one of the organizing members of Pro/Con. Spent a lot of time, money and energy on that. They still do it, but I don't think anyone even recalls it was my idea. Never been invited to one. I've fought on behalf of other people's causes, stepped in when I felt they were being hammered, over and over. Many have written me privately (always privately) saying "Thanks." But when it's been my neck on the line, who's been out there covering my back? No comics creators, that's for sure. I don't know that I'm quite as far gone as Rick in "Casablanca," sitting there with my shotglass and saying that I don't stick my neck out for nobody. But I've been bashed, battered or ignored enough to know that my rubberband of brothers won't be extending themselves for me anytime soon, and if someone's expecting me to stick MY neck out, they had better--at the very least--look like Ingrid Bergman. I commended Peter for all his previous efforts and explained that I saw no risk in his writing an article supporting such an endeavor. It's not a matter of being "at risk," Michael. It's that I'm tired of fighting other people's fights and getting nothing but black eyes or ignored for it. At least with, for instance, the CBLDF, I've got the rest of the board as allies. But any other times I've had problems or could have used back-up, the rubberband of brothers has been watching its own collective interests, or even attempted to capitalize upon it. Concern over the commonwealth can only flow one way for so long before one decides "To *** with it." There is a great deal of despair in the creator community and little hope for change, this is true. I can see this in the effort that only a few are willing to support, at the critical early stage, with the Comic Book Creators' Guild. But it's a gradual process and it needs time. Problem is time may be running out. Creators may not even have much time left to bitch about things, let alone get off our asses and do something about it. Me. I'm fine. I have all the time in the world. I'll keep pursuing it because it's the most worthwhile thing I can see in the world right now. Not because I need the comics. I've already shown that I don't. I simply love them. The creators are truly heroes. They have to be in order to create heroism. When they discover this, they'll begin acting like it. They'll get off their duffs and begin networking and consolidating an effort to organize. Peter will be at the head of the pack. Here's the link to the discussion. Peter comes in at the middle of the page.
Permalink Posted: 4:16 PM EST
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