Milestone: If You’re Not There, You Just Won’t Get It, by Michael Davis
Denys Cowan and I were hanging out watching the crowds inside the convention center at the San Diego Comic Con. It’s 1991. As we walked the floor we were kidding around as always. Kidding around and looking at girls. Hey, that’s what we did when we walked the floor at conventions. We joked and looked at girls. We tried looking at guys but we both agreed that made us look pretty… gay.
We were having a pretty good time when Denys got quiet. I thought it was because of this real fine Asian girl we were looking at. Denys turned to me and said “We should start a comic book company that will create some characters of color.” I said, “That’s the stupidest idea I have ever heard. Will you look at that girl?” Denys did not look. That’s when I realized that he was being serious. I said “That’s a great idea.” After that we spent most of the rest of that day and evening talking about what the company could be and whom we should include. This is the first time I have really talked about Milestone outside of a VERY few interviews over the last 15 years. Milestone is the story of five – that’s right FIVE black creators and we all have a story tell.
Denys and I spent the rest of that day and evening talking about what the company could be and whom we should include. In 1991 there were ample black creators we could have included but we wanted to make sure we got this right. It’s important to note that we were not trying to be exclusive by only inviting black creators – we wanted to create black superheroes and wanted to do so with black creators first. If you really look at Milestone you will soon realize that we were never a black company, we were a black owned company. In truth we were a true multicultural company that counted among our talent many, many different races. We went out of our way to include talent from many different walks of life.
Latino, Asian, black, Jewish, straight and gay were just some of the diverse pool of creative geniuses we had working with us. And unlike other publishers welooked for diversity within the industry, and outside of it as well. Denys and I went through a lot of names, some well known, some not. Our criteria were simple – whomever we invited in had to bring with them three things: talent and vision, and we had to be able to work with these people. Denys is easy to work with unless you get on his bad side then watch out.
Me? Well, I’ve been known to be a bit of a pill. People get me or they don’t. Of the dozens of names we went over we settled on four: Christopher Priest, Dwayne McDuffie, Malcolm Jones and Derrick Dingle. I knew everyone on the list except Derrick. In fact Christopher and Dwayne were on a short list of people I gave then-President of DC Comics Jenette Kahn when I was asked to recommend black editor candidates.
Oh, you didn’t know that I was asked to supply DC comics with candidates that would be considered to be their first black editor? Why me?
Because that’s how I roll.
OK, OK, It’s a long story; let’s just say that I move in circles that most people would not believe. Remember that, it’s important to the story. Denys moved very fast building Milestone. By the time we got back from San Diego Denys had called everyone we talked about. Make no mistake: Milestone was Denys baby. He came up with the idea, he put the wheels in motion, and he was the driving force behind it. I was there from conception and co-signed but Denys had the idea. This was so much his baby that the company name was not just clever and precise but was inspired by the name of Denys son, Miles.
We spoke to everyone on the short list and the idea was met with enthusiasm from everyone except Malcolm Jones. I had known Malcolm since we both attended The High School Of Art & Design together. He and I were boys. Malcolm was a troubled soul for as long as I knew him. That said, we thought little of it when we asked him to join Milestone and he said, “No. It would never work.” We just thought that was Malcolm being Malcolm. Ever since high school Malcolm was a bit wired. Once when we were waiting on a subway train Malcolm was bumped by a rushing passenger when he did not get an apology he hit the guy so quick and so hard that I thought he had knocked the guy out. I’m from the projects and had seen a lot of things by the time I was 17 but that incident is one of the few that still sticks in my mind as simply unbelievable.
I knew (we all knew) that Malcolm was a troubled soul and I’m sad to say that when he committed suicide a few years ago I was not that surprised. Denys and I would often talk about how to deal with Malcolm and reached out to him many times. That does little to erase the feeling that we somehow let our friend down.
Christopher Priest and Dwayne McDuffie jumped in with both feet when asked about joining Milestone. Derrick Dingle took a bit of convincing. Derrick had a high-powered job at Black Enterprise magazine and was a bit hesitant about giving up that gig.
Hell, Derrick was always smarter than most people and he did what anyone would have done in his position, he thought about it. Derrick and Denys were childhood friends. They grew apart and grew up. One day Derrick just showed up at Denys house after years of being distant. I have always loved that story. I mean how freakin cool is that? Your best friend from childhood shows up at your door and he’s a bigwig at a huge magazine and you are a bigwig drawing comics. The same comics that you guys collected when you were boys in the hood together.
You can’t make this stuff up.
Derrick Dingle does not get a lot of press in the comics world, but trust me there would have been no Milestone without Derrick. When I first met Derrick I could tell that he just did not like me. That’s OK, I get that a lot. I was a bit lukewarm to Derrick also. Truth be told, I’m not that crazy about anyone who’s a black conservative. But now that I think about it, man, Derrick and I had the best talks. Him on the right, me on the left.
Like most people, Derrick assumed that because I was loud I had little substance. I assumed that because Derrick was so straightlaced that he would not take any chances. We were both wrong. In fact it turns out that Derrick Dingle took the biggest chance of anyone at Milestone. He left his job.
In 1991 Christopher Priest was a hotshot writer who went by another name then. I’m really not sure if Priest is giving a lot of press to that name change but just in case he isn’t, I’ll just use Christopher Priest or Priest here. Priest and I had a love/hate relationship. Sometimes he hated me, sometimes he didn’t. Priest is real serious about his craft and had little time for my antics. I, on the other hand, always liked him. I just loved the way he loved what he was doing.
When Priest was the Spider-Man editor at Marvel comics he once spent over an hour going over a painting I had done for one of the Spider books with me. I made all the changes he wanted and he still did not use the painting he commissioned in the first place. He said “It wasn’t good enough.” He was right.
I assumed we were cool because he gave me work, but he also once wrote a memo banning me from the Marvel offices. I was not happy with that but I let it go. In hindsight, I should have paid more attention to that memo. It clearly showed me that Priest had certain buttons best left not pressed.
(By the way, his memo did not work. I knew way too many people at Marvel to be kept out.)
Heck, I used to watch All My Children in an executive’s office or in the conference room regardless if I had work there or not. In fact I did very little work at Marvel, but I hung out with Terry Stewart when he was CEO/chairman and had monthly lunches with Carol Kalish. I was building relationships, not just trying to get work. Terry Stewart did not hire artists. He was in charge of all of Marvel. So when we were shopping Milestone it was easy to get a meeting with Terry Stewart because I had a relationship with him. Remember what I said about moving in certain circles? If you have ever wondered how I pull off the things I do (as if you care) it’s all about vision and relationships. That and I’m Master Of The Universe … duh.
When Priest got involved with Milestone he went from zero to one hundred in about three seconds. He was that committed to say the least. We had that in common. He was committed and he wanted me committed.
Dwayne McDuffie was a sought-after writer who was working with Denys on Deathlok at Marvel. When I first met Dwayne I liked him immediately. He was a big guy with a movie star voice. He was also smart. Very smart. I know a lot of smart people and Dwayne is at the top of the list. When it came to whom we wanted on the Milestone team Dwayne was the one I was most excited about. He was smart to be sure but also he was without a doubt my favorite comic book writer. In fact he still is.
At the time of the Milestone deal Denys was at the height of his career selling millions of books with Dwayne with Marvel’s Deathlok. Denys was as hot as hot could be. My business was doing great. I had just moved into a multi-level loft and I was living the life of Riley.
All this was about to change … big time.
End of Part One.
Media mogul Michael Davis will reveal all next week.
Working on the Milestone launch was among my favorite DC projects. Remember the ad line we wanted to use — a billboard that said, "If you lived here, you'd be dead by now"
Yeah-I also remember a certain 'Bruce' who worked at DC who said 'Black is Death' when we were talking about marketing. Yeah-that was a fun meeting to be sure.
Same guy who shit on the El Diablo series that featured a Latin superhero because "those people don't read our comics."Perhaps he was referring to superheroes.
That asshole came within 1 floor of getting pimp slapped in an elevator ride I took with him once. The only thing that saved him was my then wife who I was bringing to DC for the first time. Remember the photos of his car he had in his office? He told me once if I worked hard enough one day I may be able to afford one. I showed him my car keys (same car newer model) and told him "To late.' He NEVER talked to me again without being in a meeting.DICK!!!
Michael – I'm looking forward to hearing the whole story. I was working at DC during the Milestone era and I heard nothing about how the deal was structure or what the deal/agreement had been. Or that we were even DOING the books.The books just landed on us (the production department) with the 'here, print these' idict.Every decision had been made about three levels above production.
Mr. Gold-I'm not so sure I will 'reveal all next week.' There's a lot to talk about and because I NEVER want to talk about it again it may take a little longer. That and I have to move my family to avoid the hit men…
Well, you'll reveal all that you care to reveal. Which, knowing you, will be more than you thought you would.I can hardly wait.
Well, I asked for it.Milestone did some great books. It is also responsible for the single greatest piece of geek chat ever. In an issue of Shadow Cabinet I believe, two sci-fi fans are discussing the idea that The Flintstones takes place AFTER the Jetsons, in a post-apocalyptic scenario.Alas, too damn many people heard about the books, wrote them off as "black comics", and assumed there was nothing in them that would appeal to them. The poor boobs.
I'm not sure that was quite the case Vinnie. The hard core fans KNEW the books were for everyone. Our Milestone panels at conventions were filled with as many white and other kids as Black kids. In fact we were the guest of honor at a convention in a small town in Maine (pop. NO Negroes) and we had standing room only. There were some people who thought we were 'Black only' but you get that kind of ignorance with anything like this. I liken it to the "Obama is Muslim' stupidity that is going on now. Milestone really stared to suffer when the industry started to take a nose dive, in my opinion.And yes-YOU did ask for it.
I dunno, that knee jerk reaction seems to be rearing its head (can a knee have a head? Sounds like a Basil wolverton cartoon) already here. A LOT of people on Newsarama are already pawning off the return of the Milestone characters as "More racial diversity for racial diversity’s sake", claiming that’s the only reason they did a new Question, Blue Beetle, et al. I calmly explain to these people that if they truly think that’s all these characters are about, they must never have read the books.
The parallel to Obama is not unfounded. I’m quite positive there’s at least one person in DC right now trying to decide "How Black" to make the characters.
All I know is we stand a chance of seeing some great stories and character work. I’ll be very curious to see who else they get to work on them.
Look-two things that WILL NOT HAPPEN. 1) Dwayne McDuffie will NEVER let the Milestone characters become 'More racial diversity for racial diversity's sake" in the DC books.2) I eve
2) I ever give a shit about what people say (Newsarama) about things when they have NO Idea how these things works.
"more racial diversity for racial diversity's sake"Are you friggin' kidding me?Why is it the first thing some people looked at with the new blue beetle was that he was a Latino? I don't recall people looking at Kyle Rayner and thinking "Man, this guy is just another example of a white dude becoming a super-hero just for the sake of doing stories about white dudes becoming super-heroes."God forbid we actually try to decide whether we like the characters themselves instead of discussing if their skin color and heritage is being done for publicity.
Interesting reading.Point of interest in the background, in 1989 Cowan gave an interview (AMAZING HEROES #163) talking about a series for DC that I don't think ever came out, with "a black writer named James Owsley. It's with a black character…" and even with a black inker if he didn't ink it himself, explaining he had two reasons "One, it's going to garner some kind of media attention which will make people aware of who the different creators are and the contributions they've made to comics. Two, I want to prove that black characters do sell". So while at the time he doesn't seem to have been thinking of starting a whole new company, the genesis of the idea seems to be there.I'd be curious what the series was going to be. The description ("going to mix politics with spies and intrigue") doesn't seem to match any of the eventual Milestone books.Hey, why wasn't Owsley invited in on the early stages? He would seem to be a natural….(kidding, just kidding)
Bob,That project was called 'The Spook' and it was BAD ASS. It still is. I forget why it never came out but I would love to see that in print. I think Denys would love to also. HEAR THAT COMICMIX?
I was to edit that puppy. We had a couple amazing lunches on DC's dime plotting that one out. It got buried because one of my fellow group editors (who was, and probably still is, white) threatened to resign if we published a book (by two or three black guys) with the racist name "The Spook."True story.I'd do that one in a heartbeat, but Denys is tied up right now with another writer. Lucky for me, they're both working on a graphic novel for ComicMix. But, Michael, if you're suggesting I delay that one, I'd give Jim Owsley a call in a nonce.
If I recall correctly, the phasing thief character in Tom Joyner's magnificent (tho all but forgotten) Hammer Locke miniseries was to be named "Spook" but got changed to the more hep-sounding "Phayde" for much the same reasons.And let's not forget the story of DC's first idea for a black hero – a white bigot who turns into a black guy at night. Mayhap The Wild Itralian would like to relate that story for a new audience?
Vinnie…If folks will Google "Black Bomber," I'm sure they will find more information than they need to know. DC should pay me a pension just for my role in keeping that disaster from seeing the light of publication.
'Delay that one?' OH HELL NO!
Didn't think so…
That editor is still white and still a Dick. What was his problem? Did he not understand that ALL CIA agents are called spooks? Yes, Denys and Owlsey were being cleaver with that name but COME ON!! Maybe they should have changed the name to Uncle Tom Adventures. Man
Look-two things that WILL NOT HAPPEN. 1) Dwayne McDuffie will NEVER let the Milestone characters become 'More racial diversity for racial diversity's sake" in the DC books.2) I ever give a shit about what people say (Newsarama) about things when they have NO Idea how these things works.
Static shock and Hardware were both great books. Most of the Milestone comics were good too. I remember the group book, cant remember what it was called, where they killed the leader of the group in the first few issues. No real fanfare, just killed him. I dont think anyone had ever done something like that before. I always thought that took balls to do that.
Try the original T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #7, where they killed Menthor.
The book was Blood Syndicate, and the character was Tech-9. And yeah,it was a shock, and very well done.And in keeping with comic tradition, they brought him back a while later.
This is the single best column I've read by Michael Davis here at ComicMix. It's easily the most heavily steeped in "comics" and "comics history," but that's not exactly what is great about it. It displays the strange and wonderful mix of bravado and self-reflection that I've grown to love In Michael Davis Columns. Few MotU would say, "That does little to erase the feeling that we somehow let our friend down," when talking about Malcolm Jones III. The description of Malcolm Jones III is equal parts scary, disturbing and sad.There is a fine article by Priest about the early days of Milestone at http://www.digital-priest.com/hi.htm [This isn't the exact page. Priest uses a VERY slick, funky, flashy web design. It looks and sounds cool but it's crap to navigate, especially with Firefox, or point to directly. But look for it. It's worth the read.] Priest is very proud of his work creating Milestone. He has also felt slighted by history for not acknowledging his fundamental role in Milestone's Creation. Priest refers to himself as "The Pete Best" of Milestone for having left the group just before Milestone burst on the public scene. Hopefully, Priest will appreciate this column and Michael's direct acknowledgment of Priest's contributions. And here's a bit that Dwayne McDuffie wrote about Priest and his contributions to comics and Milestone. http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/dwaynem595/site/TBC1…It's interesting to see this story from three different perspectives.This is important stuff. And I'm not sure why. It's important to know the history. Sure. I'm a fan. I have lots of Milestone comics squirreled away in long-boxes in my basement. But it's not because I'm a fan-boy that this seems powerful. Maybe it's the deep respect, admiration and love Michael shows for the other founders of Milestone that resonates with me.Michael, thanks for writing this as openly and honestly as you have. It's an understatement to say that I'm "looking forward" to next weeks column.
"This is the single best column I've read by Michael Davis here at ComicMix.'What? you didn't like my 'Death Ray' column? I'm hurt…
The Death Ray column is good. But I hadn't read it before today. I'm a late bloomer to ComicMix, coming in some time around March of this year, I think. That's when my annoying, Obsessive Commenting began. Even after reading your plans to clean up the world, this is still the single best column I've read by you, and there have been a lot of other very good columns.
Is You Stupid?No, not you. That was the title of one column that I consider to be among Michael's best. Especially fun was the discussion where it was pointed out that Michael's grammar was wrong.
Wonderful column and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the story. As a history buff, I'm always fascinated at learning different aspects of the history of this medium. My first exposure to Milestone comics was from a friend of one of my aunts. I was starting to collect comics around that time and a friend of my Aunt Marie was also a big comic collector and brought over a bunch of his comics for me to look through and pick what I wanted. I rummaged through and I started seeing these comics with a big "M" on the front and stupid me I thought they were from "Marvel" at first. I was reading the stories and I thought the writing and art were really great. While I like some cartoonish-style art, I like artists with a sense of anatomy and these Milestone books were great. As someone who is a few shades short of albino, one would think that I wouldn't gravitate towards these books and they would be wrong. The concepts were great, the stories were fun and I thought they (looking back of course) transcended color. If it's entertaining, I'll give it a chance.Thank you for making wonderful works that gave me some fun moments as a young geek (now a mid-20 something geek). I'll definitely be here for part 2!
I asked Dwayne McDuffie. I'm asking again.Where is the Milestone Omnibus edition?HMMM?! YOU LISTENING, DC?
Mike, Thank you for shedding some light on the creation of Milestone, for the mass public to consume. In knowing you as long as I have, I am (as we all are) beyond happy, to finally be able to get the full story (well, at least as much as you will be able to let out, in order to avoid death threats, mob hits, pimp slaps, paternity tests, and lawsuits) in a "Straight No Chaser" form.I am also really glad to know that Dwayne will be able to oversee what is done, to make sure it remains true to it's form and intent. Please pass on my congratulations to him…And at some point, I look forward to being able to do a full catch up session over the phone…Without any damn schedules, kids, and life events..and that's just from my end.
I owe Signor Isabella a tremendous debt of gratitude for posting the tragic 'Story of O' to Dwayne's forum. Otherwise I might never have found my way here. *THIS* is the origin story I've been waiting to read for a very long time. Many thanks Michael, for sharing 'the rest of the story' as it concerns the oasis in the desert that was/is Milestone. P.S.And thank you for sharing the horror stories as well. 'That which doesn't destroy you, makes you stronger.' I'm keeping that in mind as I follow my vision.Peace.