Broken Frontier

Last month Robert Kirkman, creator of series such as The Walking Dead and Invincible, went online with his own video views on the future of comics and the importance of creator owned projects if the comic book industry is to be saved. Broken Frontier's Kris Bather analyses Kirkman's thoughts and Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada's response to them...

I couldn’t help but think of film-maker Kevin Smith upon watching Robert Kirkman’s passionate plea to the fanboy/girl community. The Indie boy done good. The guy creating his own universe in the medium he loves. The honesty about "the biz." The beard. It all added up. Of course, Kirkman’s profanity and profuse sweating was nowhere to be seen unlike Silent Bob himself.

It was just over four weeks ago that Kirkman, creator of Invincible and The Walking Dead, and new Image partner, left Comic-Con with equal parts inspiration and frustration, and so he did something quite bold. He sat down in front of a green background and laid his heart on his sleeve. Despite his monotonous delivery style, his zeal for comics was unmistakable in his nine minute plea for creator unity and fan support. It’s the kind of statement that I’d imagine would go on behind closed doors of publisher HQs, and at the LCS between fans and retailers.

Kirkman’s openness must be encouraged and of course, the internet community had something to say as always. One of those was Marvel head honcho himself, Joe Quesada, a man not known for suppressing his opinions, which has endeared him to more readers than his DC equivalent, Dan DiDio.

Joe Q states in his most recent MyCup o’ Joe instalment (Week 24) with Jim McLaughlin, that after Kirkman’s video hit the web, he intended to respond in kind. However, he’s a busy man, so he chatted about it instead.

Kirkman’s first point in brightening comics’ future is to get all writers and artists to leave the big name franchises behind at Marvel and DC to step out on their own as unique creators. Kirkman stated that he left Marvel, after working on many books including Marvel Zombies and Ultimate X-Men to "save the entire comic book industry." Wow. I’d say it was more about saving himself as perhaps a frustrated writer working for "The Man," and all the editorial restrictions that go with it.

Really, our industry doesn’t need saving.

Yes, we’re not in the heyday of the 1990s anymore, but the quality is a thousand times better, and so is the exposure, thanks to Hollywood and TPBs in libraries and bookstores. We may never see issues selling in the millions again, but that’s OK. Comics aren’t dead. They’re just going through some minor cosmetic changes to appeal to the masses and still appear "cool." Whether the same integrity can be maintained will be the major hurdle, but so far, so good.

As Joe Q said, "For most, a work-for-hire check is a guarantee; creator-owned is a lotto ticket." He’s right. People like Frank Miller and Warren Ellis can journey between both worlds with equal skill and success, but as Joe also points out, creators like that are a rarity. Kirkman points out that Bendis, Hickman and Fraction all started as Indie creators who then graduated to Marvel. He implies that they left their earlier work behind now that they were playing with the big boys’ toys. I completely understand his frustration.

Every time a writer with a unique voice garners some attention, he or she is snapped up by The Big Two, never to create quirky black and white comics ever again. But this will continue to happen. Every artist, whether it’s a novice rapper selling CDs from the trunk of his car, or a stage actor wanting more, covets the same thing: an audience. A new, growing, appreciative audience. In comic terms, The Big Two bring that audience. It’s only us veteran funny book lovers that make buying decisions upon the creative team.

Newbies have no idea who those surnames on the covers belong to. They just want to see what Batman is up to. And any creator who was skilled enough to get noticed by the icon caretakers is skilled enough to bring their sensibilities to Iron Man, or Daredevil or Wonder Woman. Yes, the freedom is not there, but DC has Vertigo and Marvel has Icon for that. And with the All Star line, and even the Ultimate universe, there is a surprising amount of expression allowed with the more well-known characters. Plus, fans follow writers to books these days perhaps more than any other, and with the droves of scribes coming from film and TV rather than solely the fanboy crowd, diversity is immense, even amongst the famous spandex wearers.

When I was in high school, my English teacher would ask the class to write a story about anything, as long as it was two pages long. That used to drive me crazy. Anything?! At least give me a starting point. I’d prefer that I’d be told to write a story about dinosaurs, or WW II or a secret cabal of ninja nuns. A hook, a foundation. That’s what the pop culture products of our day are for any gifted creator. One look at what Grant Morrison is currently doing with Batman is enough to prove that the best work doesn’t necessarily happen away from the shadow of the almighty super-hero.

The spandex spotlight can be daunting and frustrating for those who have only lovingly crafted stories and characters with their own two hands, sure, but it’s a starting point, a challenge, and an opportunity for any writer to expand their audience. Readers may not follow them back to their Indie roots if they choose to give up all super-hero work, but surely it will at least make them a better storyteller.

Great things are being done in super-hero books today. I think that is Kirkman’s fear, that every talented newcomer will be sucked dry by corporate America in churning out stories that are popular rather than daringly original, but that’s simply not true. What made me a comic book addict was The Death of Superman TPB from all those years ago. I just couldn’t believe what I was reading. This wasn’t safe Saturday morning fare. This was bold and completely unexpected. Then when I latched onto Peter David’s Hulk and Aquaman and Mark Waid’s Flash, I realized that super-hero stories were more than just fist fights and posing.

Today, my most commonly recommended books to comic virgins are The Ultimates, Civil War and Morrison’s JLA. They show people that characters owned by corporations aren’t predictable. Perhaps Kirkman needs a reminder too. Besides, these characters create new fans and there will never be another Superman or Spider-Man. Just variations on a theme. Sad, perhaps, but true. Who comes close to reaching that level of cultural awareness? Will people love Spawn or the Ninja Turtles or Witchblade seventy years from now as much as they do the characters at the forefront of the medium? Highly doubtful. That doesn’t mean they’re less successful. What it does mean is that super-heroes aren’t always the answer. There is just as much, if not more, raw imaginative power being displayed every month from BOOM!, Image, Oni and Top Shelf than there is at Marvel and DC.

I get Kirkman. I also get Quesada. Both are men who started as Indies, went mainstream and are now in positions of influence. But comics are big enough for both types of creators AND both types of readers. Super-heroes are the bread and butter of the industry. Readers love following them. Creators love playing with them. But both groups need to understand that there is richness beyond the capes and both sectors can do a lot to welcome change.