Monday morning ramblings

[yendi]

So, Mark Waid has been fired from Fantastic Four. I've talked before about how good this run is. FF, before Waid, was a book with tons of potential, but one that hadn't lived up to it since Simonson's run (although picking the low point is tough -- the Heroes Reborn competes with the DeFalco Legion rip-off and the Scott Lobell relaunch for suckitude). Waid brought it back. He's captured the spirit of the characters, he's helped the book get back on its feet, and he's made the book a top-seller again.

So why was he fired?

Bill Jemas, the President and writer-wannabe of Marvel, told Waid he should stop with the super-hero family/adventure book (the same theme that has marked all of the successful FF runs), and instead go for a wacky super-hero family sitcom.

Yeah, right.

When Waid continued to turn in good plots, he was axed. Go fig.

Worse, Jemas will take over the book (as of issue #508, so we've got about ten months before we have to drop the book).

I'm not a huge Waid fan -- I think he's been a pretty overrated writer, historically. But FF was the exception. It's his book -- he's made it his own as surely as Bendis has made Daredevil his (another book that hadn't had a great run since the '80s). If he'd been fired for being late or whatnot, or for violating the characters, fine. But being fired for doing it right, and then being replaced by a man who has shown almost no ability to write (Marville, anyone?), is just insulting. And The only way sales aren't going to go down is if Jemas buys every fucking copy himself.

Just in case anyone thinks that Marvel is the only company run by assholes, DC is refusing to put a "Created by Jack Cole" tag on Kyle Baker's Plastic Man series (something Baker wanted), because, even though it's true, DC has no legal contract or obligation to credit Cole. Asshats.

On the plus side, anyone in the Seattle area gets to see one of my favorite comic writers joust.

(the last two pieces of info were found at Rich Johnston's Lying in the Gutters column, still the best source of comic gossip, even if he failed to even hint at the Waid story).

And for folks who like logic puzzles, Cliff Johnson's latest Fool's Gold newsletter pointed out this nifty logic puzzle site.

Finally, Ozy and Millie's take on one of my favorite comic characters:

Comments

[gmslegion.livejournal.com]

I'm utterly baffled myself. I haven't read Fantastic Four in years, but I'm certainly aware of how good the Waid run is alleged to be, and was considering the recent TPB of his first 8 or so issues. Even Fred Hembeck, who's been reading FF since issue 3 or so, says Waid's is the best FF he has *ever* read.

I could understand the New-Marvel folks wanting to make the format into something different... but wasn't that what the Ultimate Universe was supposed to be about?

[bobthegoat.livejournal.com]

I'll give Jemas this, he knows where the money is. Not that everything he touches turns to gold, but Marvel is headed towards mass market entertainment, not loyalty to fan base.

Need proof? LitG has mentioned hints that all Wolverine drawings will soon reflect Hugh Jackman's visage. It's all about mass market acceptance.

Personally, I think Waid's run has kicked ass, especially the stuff with Doom. Not since Warren Ellis on Doom 2099 have I enjoyed the character so much.

[yendi]

I read about the Wolverine thing. I was furous, as Darrick has come up with a great look, based on the first issue.

[bobthegoat.livejournal.com]

I agree, it really gave him that "woodsy" look, much more feral. But, feh, what do I know, I'm just a fanboy, not a marketing major.

[auryn29a.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Jemas is really getting on my nerves.

[shawnj.livejournal.com]

A Plastic Man title? That is too cool. I'll have to pick that one up.