A Petition to Nicolas Cage: Support Ghost Rider’s Creator Even If Marvel Won’t
Karalyn Johnson has started the following petition:
Dear Nicolas Cage,
I have read that you are very dedicated to making Ghost Rider II a success, so much so that you have taken a hefty pay cut in order to get this film made. Unfortunately Marvel Enterprises has won a settlement of $17,000 from artist Gary Friedrich (I am sure you know Mr. Friedrich is one of the creators of the Ghost Rider character).
Marvel winning a lawsuit against a financially destitute and unemployed senior citizen who helped create the iconic character that is the subject of the movie you care so deeply about has created a distinct antipathy toward your project. The negative effect Marvel’s lawsuit has caused is perhaps far greater than you know. Facebook and Twitter are aflame with negative comments, petitions and people urging others not to see your film solely because of Marvel’s treatment of Mr. Friedrich. You stand to lose millions because of the public relations disaster Marvel has caused.
Mr. Cage, I know how you can personally overcome this PR nightmare, save your movie and make yourself a true hero in the eyes of the comics and movie-going public. Do you want that and more positive publicity than you have ever had? All it would take for you to be a true hero to millions of people is $17,000. That’s less than the price of a car. Give $17,000 to Mr. Friedrich so that he can pay Marvel. Save your movie by saving Mr. Friedrich.
My best regards to you, Mr. Cage. I hope to see you at the movies.
Sincerely, Karalyn Johnson
ComicMix supports this wholeheartedly. As Marvel would put it themselves, ‘Nuff Said. (And now Marvel can sue us too.)
Related articles
- Marvel Demands $17,000 For Gary Friedrich’s Ghost Rider Prints (bleedingcool.com)
- Marvel prevails in Ghost Rider ownership dispute (comicsbeat.com)
Although I despise what Marvel has done I have not asked anyone to boycott them because that will hurt Marvel of course, but it would also hurt the little guys like comic shops and their employees and even though Nicolas Cage can’t really be called a little guy. If Mr Cage helps then maybe he won’t get hurt as badly as is slated to happen due to the backslash over Marvel’s actions. Nicolas Cage LOVES comics and their creators. He doesn’t deserve to suffer for what Marvel did to Gary.
Karalyn, you’re right: boycotts rarely succeed in impacting the boycottee, and huge corporations like Disney just make their money back by offing a bunch of employees and making the rest work longer hours. Absolutely so.
There’s also a moral issue. The easiest way of looking at this is to compare the corporate travesty to the issue itself and try to seek balance. In other words, you’ve got to ask yourself “How much do I personally want to support a company that would do such a petty (Disney farts more than $17,000 a second) and vindictive thing to a man who was responsible for the co-creation of one of its properties?”
I think you made your position pretty clear, and the ownership of ComicMix decided to back it because we agree with it. We made this decision at 3:00 this morning (Eastern), and with the light of day I continue to support it. For the record, it was Glenn who put it together; I simply changed two words. Remember, a whole lot of people who produce ComicMix have worked for Marvel and a couple have even created characters for them.
Cage, assuming he has the income (I make no such assumption; it’s not my business to guess what people do with their money and I recall reports that Nic was under some financial duress), doesn’t owe anybody anything… but it would be a great gesture.
I’ve noticed Marvel doesn’t mention itself in the commercials for GR2. Considering Marvel BUILT itself on taking every publicity shot it could at a time when comic books were still being read under the blankets by flashlight, I find this curious to say the least. Obviously, this is not a movie of which they are proud on a corporate level, fearing it will do damage to their Avengers movie brand.
BUT, MOST IMPORTANT…
I’d like to point out that — at least until this week — one could go to any mid-size or larger comic book convention that features one of modern Marvel’s first generation and see them doing what Marvel is charging Gary for doing. In fact, you can see lots of folks who have worked for DC, Archie and the other publishers with well-established characters doing the same thing. Lots. You know, folks like Jerry Robinson and Joe Simon. Are DC and Marvel going to sue their estates? How far CAN the shit fly once it hits the fan?
THIS company chose to take a dump on THIS creator at THIS time. If fans want to pull back on their support for this company at this time in support of this creator, well, I can hardly blame ’em.
Do you think it is fair or decent to put moral pressure on Mr Cage like this? O tempora, o mores.
Friends, I have closed the petition. The petition was closed because Mr. Friedrich is appealing his case. I want to thank each and every one of the hundreds of people who signed, liked and shared and supported the petition. Gary is aware of everyone’s help and good wishes. I believe the entire industry sent a message concerning the treatment of creators and that message was heard throughout the industry. “Comics’ creators are our heroes. Please treat them as such.” Mr. Cage I look forward to seeing your film when it comes out. I wish you the greatest success. Again, I want to thank the hundreds upon hundreds of people who signed, liked, posted and in other ways supported Mr. Friedrich. I am personally looking forward to seeing how Marvel handles Mr. Friedrich’s appeal. My best wishes to all, Karalyn Johnson
To my eye, it seemed less about putting pressure on Cage than about giving him a chance to be extra-classy, particularly since he’s the figurehead for the movie.
Please help the guy if you can. CW Cordogan
I’ve been thinking a lot today. I have been thinking about Gary Freidrich’s dilemma and how so many fans and individuals working within the comics industry have risen up to support him in his struggles. I know that what the supporters of this creator have been doing is a public relations nightmare for Marvel. And Marvel has no one to blame but themselves. While the lawsuit against Gary was the catalyzing agent, I am only speaking in small part about the Marvel lawsuit itself.
People read comics because they are a seemingly endless array of stories and art depicting good vs evil. Comics heroes take care of the little guy, the infirm, the scared, the weak, the threatened, the helpless because that is what heroes do. Comics taught us that the strong protect the weak. We were trained from the first book we opened, (many from the comics company that is now under fire) that only villains take advantage of the disadvantaged.
Is Marvel the only comics company ever to enter litigation against the creators of characters done under work for hire contracts? Dear reader, you know the answer as well as I do. But, for some reason Mr. Friedrich’s case is the straw that broke the camel’s back and we have finally decided not to watch idly by as the people who created wonder and joy for us get thrown under the corporate bus.
Comics inspired us to believe that no matter where we came from, no matter our circumstances that someday we could be heroes too. No matter how daunting the task someday each of us would be strong enough to stand up for the little guy when he was in need. Not because we had to, but because it was the right thing to do.
Marvel, I want to thank you, as well as all the creators who have worked with you for giving us joy, teaching us to stand up for the disadvantaged and inspiring us to be better people. Thank you for making us all aspire to be heroes in our own lives.
And finally, thank you Marvel for telling us for decade upon decade upon decade that with great power comes great responsibility. We understand now.