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Printheads: [Closed] Because there's not enough money in publishing comics?

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    • CommentAuthormorganagrom
    • CommentTimeApr 26th 2008 edited
     (1992.1)
    I'm having a time out until I can learn some manners.
    "White (who co-owns the project with Boom)"

    http://blog.newsarama.com/2008/04/25/mekhi-phifer-to-produce-star-in-adaptation-of-hunters-moon/

    So what is Boom! doing to earn co-ownership? Is this a comic written by committee, or is it just another case of publishers taking ownership of work created by other people?
    •  
      CommentAuthorAriana
    • CommentTimeApr 26th 2008
     (1992.2)
    So what is Boom! doing to earn co-ownership?
    Um, probably art, lettering, printing, marketing, distribution, negotiations with Hollywood, assorted legal fees and, yes, probably a little extra editorial direction than usual -- if I had to guess. Publishers can't decide after the fact that they spontaneously co-own something, White signed a contract with Boom! -- probably saying the above with more "Hereafter"s. I mean, I'm really quick to balk at shite contracts and shady publishers, but nothing about the info the article has really twigs me.
  3.  (1992.3)
    In addition to the above, buying co-ownership with improved page rates, improved royalties or a large advance isn't unheard of. You can probably also assume that Boom! will take the project out to Hollywood for White.

    This is far from an unusual situation.
    • CommentAuthormorganagrom
    • CommentTimeApr 27th 2008 edited
     (1992.4)
    I'm having a time out until I can learn some manners.
    "art"
    That's what the artist is for. Let them co-own the property.

    "lettering, printing, marketing, distribution"
    What publisher worth their salt doesn't engage in that? Shouldn't their reward be increased profits from increased sales of the books.

    "negotiations with Hollywood, assorted legal fees"
    So they're agents? Fine, give them their commission and fees for making the deals. Do agents claim partial ownership though?

    "a little extra editorial direction than usual"
    That doesn't exactly sound encouraging. So is this White's vision or is it White's vision through the eyes of Ritchie & Cosby, et al? So many movies and tv shows go through multiple layers, but it's nice to think that in comics there's an opportunitiy for singular creative visions. Maybe not?

    "buying co-ownership with improved page rates, improved royalties or a large advance isn't unheard of."
    Yeah, that's probably true, unfortunately. Isn't there any comics publisher out there who can offer fair and reasonable page rates and royalties, turn a healthy profit on sales of the printed books, and leave the artists with full ownership of their work?
  5.  (1992.5)
    Yeah, that's probably true, unfortunately. Isn't there any comics publisher out there who can offer fair and reasonable page rates and royalties, turn a healthy profit on sales of the printed books, and leave the artists with full ownership of their work?

    Wouldn't that be nice? About as likely as invisible pink unicorns, but nice, nonetheless...
    • CommentAuthorBryanSwan
    • CommentTimeApr 27th 2008
     (1992.6)
    Isn't there any comics publisher out there who can offer fair and reasonable page rates and royalties, turn a healthy profit on sales of the printed books, and leave the artists with full ownership of their work?

    No. That's one of the (many) reasons (including vanity and lack of talent) there are so many small press or self published or web comics out there. All that one can really do is look for the little indie books, buy them, encourage their growth, and realize that hardly anyone (read "nobody" in a dark, gravelly voice) intends on letting someone retain *all* the rights to a product they think will sell. Would it be luverly? Sure. Just not bloody likely.
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      CommentAuthorrickiep00h
    • CommentTimeApr 27th 2008
     (1992.7)
    Well, there's always a certain amount of give-and-take. Tool, for example, gave up a good portion of their advance and other financial bits to retain ownership of their masters and to have final say on art and content for their albums. Sure, you have to give up some "integrity" to make money, but at the same time, any time you're asking someone to do something for you, it's going to cost you SOMETHING. Sometimes it's ownership.
  8.  (1992.8)
    Morgan: welcome to commercial comics.

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