MICHAEL DAVIS: Game Change
I’ve seen the future of comics.
I had a meeting yesterday with a company that is going to change the game on the net and can change for comics and creators. I’ve haven’t been this excited since I was 17 and my very first real girlfriend Yvonne Stallworth said, “My parents won’t be home until the morning.”
At 17you know what that means, right fellas?
Poon tang…yeah.
Or in my case spending the night saying; “Please…please…please.” Before you think I was begging for poon tang; “Please, Please, Please” is the title of a James Brown song I was singing… as I was begging for poon tang.
I can’t talk about the company or what they are doing…no that’s not true, I can talk about it but I’m hedging my bets just in case I’m wrong…which, by the way, I’m not.
That way if they crash and burn I’m protected and if they succeed I’m golden!
All the above said, I’m at a lost as to what was the last game changing moment in comics.
I guess it was the New 52 from DC.
I guess.
I’m not sure because to say something is a game changer is a big deal. Because it’s such a big deal I started thinking, what does it take to be a real game changer?
This is what I came up with. Areal game changer is a person or event that creates a new way of looking at things and years later that way has become the way.
So, with my personal criteria noted what follows are what I consider the most important game change decisions or people who have done so since I’ve been reading comics. You may disagree and if so feel free to amend, add or challenge some or all of my choices.
This list is in NO particular order.
- Todd McFarlane’s Spider-Man
- Image Comics
- Jack Kirby
- Stan Lee
- Dwayne McDuffie
- First Comics
- Mike Gold
- Milestone Media
- Death of Captain Marvel
- Death of Superman
- The New 52
- The iPad
- The Killing Joke
- Crisis on Infinite Earths
- Secret Wars
- Death of Barry Allen
- Neil Gaiman’s Sandman
- Neil Gaiman
- Kirby’s fourth world
- Death of Gwen Stacy
- Dave McKean
- Bill Sienkiewicz
- San Diego Comic Con International
- Teenage Ninja Mutant Turtles
- Alan Speiegal
- Arkham Asylum
- Paul Levitz
- Jenette Kahn
- Axel Alonzo
- Howard Chaykin
- Dark Horse
- Mike Richardson
- Len Wein
- Marv Wolfman
- The A.P.E convention
- John Jennings
Like I said the above list is in no particular order. Don’t send me comments about McFarlane being before Stan Lee, the list is in no particular order.
Duh.
Now. Have at it!
WEDNESDAY: Mike Gold
You forgot Eclipse Comics on your list.
I am a massive First fan (even have a GrimJack tattoo), but Eclipse did as much as First in revolutionizing the comics industry and brought as many amazing creators into the fold.
Because I’m a freaking idiot…
Nah, don’t be so hard on yourself.
Will Eisner. For both THE SPIRIT and A CONTRACT WITH GOD.
Yep, yep and yep. BUT-in my defense I said since I’VE been reading comics.
Frank Miller (Daredevil and the Dark Night Returns)
Alan Moore (Watchmen)
Absolutely!
My duh.
Scott McCloud, both for Zot! and for Understanding Comics. Really, UC caught the attention of “the outside world” in a way nothing else ever did.
Agreed!
I would chime in with EC Comics as a possible contender for the list.
You would be right but they were a bit before my time.
Phil Seuling.
I would also add the Marvel / DC team ups. Walt Simonson, Bernie Wrightson, Carol Kalish and Peter David.
Richard and Wendy Pini. Don McGregor. Steve Gerber. And Matt Feazell.
Neal Adams, Dick Giordano and Dennis O’Neil, “Snowbirds Don’t Fly.”
Manga. Akira. Lone Wolf and Cub.
Love and Rockets.
Penny Arcade. XKCD.
Art Spiegelman, Maus and RAW.
Alex Ross. Mark Waid.
Wheatley and Hempel for Mars, Blood of the Innocent and Breathtaker.
Dave Sim.
Dennis Kitchen.
Uncle Elvis and T.M. Maple.
ComicMix
yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, nope, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, nope,yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, nope, nope, yep.
Letter hacks who write billions of letters to every book published do not count.
Variant covers.
MOEBIUS!!
DAMN! How could I forget Moebius?
DUH DUH DUHDUHDUH!!!
McFarlane Toys!