(That’s a paraphrase of The Last Poets, folks — if you don’t know who they are, find out.)
As if we need regular reminders, the Creator Rights battles of yore weren’t won. A few were, a lot weren’t. And the war was never won, and truth to tell, the struggle was barely engaged with by folks perceived of as key participants.
Because you see, it’s always by nature an individual battle and war. Every creative individual is engaged in their own private skirmishes and conflicts, and the ‘battles,’ such as they are, are invisible until their consequences become visible. It’s an illusion that there ever was ‘a battle’ or ‘a war’ over Creator Rights, and its an even greater sleight of hand that young creators think those old imagined battles and/or wars means the never-ending issues relevant to protecting their own creative rights simply doesn’t apply to them.
That illusion allows outfits like Platinum and Tokyo Pop to exploit incoming creators via various online American Idol-like comics competitions and such. All who participate, from the publisher initiating the competition to those who enter to those who vote, are actively engaged in the process of separating another creator from their creation; the very nature of the process legally accomplishes that feat via the agreements signed by the folks entering the contest. It’s done before it’s done, you see. The winner loses before the contest has begun.
– and if you’re an aspiring young creator, promise yourself you won’t ever enter these contests. American Idol isn’t a viable model for entering the field.
Don’t be the next creator to learn old lessons the hard way.
It’s always great reading what you have to say about Creator’s Rights issues, Mr. Bissette. Whenever I think I have something intelligent to say, I read some of your insights and I then soon realize that you are far more clever than I’ll ever be.
I sure hope all the buzz about this crazy mess will force Platinum Studios to do the right thing. Not paying someone for their work is a horrible thing, but to threaten them with silence is absolutely horrendous. How can we stand by and let crap like this happen? We all love comics. Shouldn’t our passion for this medium cause widespread concern for it’s creators? Why do care more about SECRET INVASION or FINAL CRISIS then what’s actually going on within the comics community?
I have the perfect nickname for you -
ALARM CLOCK!
OK, I just read the links -
SCOTT ROSENBERG! He’s the fucking monster that keeps leaping up from behind when you think the movie’s over! He’s the Energizer Bunny of assholes!
Wow. Scot Rosenberg. You have to admire his tenacity.
Accordingly to his blog, DJ Coffman states that he has finally been paid by Platinum Studios:
“Fed Ex showed up with a check from Platinum paying me up to date anything that was owed to me, so that whole issue is over with.”
http://www.djcoffman.com/tikibar/2008/06/26/closing-the-book-of-platinum-moving-on/
A few years back when I didn’t have a literary agent and I was desperate to get THE FLOCK into the hands of some movie folk, I actually sent the proposal to Platinum. They turned it down, thank Jove. Not that I would have signed any contract they offered…but still. I was desperate. A few months later I sold the movie rights via my newly acquired agent.
Very well spoken, Steve! Maybe one day comix will be truly regarded as the art form they are, and comic book creators respected as artists and professionals. Anyway, the situation here in Brasil for the Brazilian artists are far more difficult. Most publishers only publish American and Japanese comics.