MICHAEL DAVIS: Shit And The Comic Book Industry

Michael Davis

Master Of The Universe, Lord Of All Media, Most Interesting Black Man In the World, Sexiest Man on Earth, Mentor, Writer, Artist, Producer & Uppity.

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15 Responses

  1. Mark Turner says:

    …Once again you remind me why I look forward to your articles. The frank, shot to the head wake up call that demands we do what we know we need to if we want to make it in the industry. I’ll continue to work on my craft as I wait for your next installment!

  2. John Ostrander says:

    Good column, Mike. A few thoughts to add — 1) if the would-be creator wants to work for DC or Marvel, those two companies don’t give a shit about the character/concept YOU created. They have their OWN characters and you need to show you can do THEM. Don’t show art/story pitches for Marvel characters to DC editors or vice versa. 2) Every comic being published already HAS a creative team. The newbie has to show they are not just as good as those people; they have to be better than them and better than those who have experience and are unemployed who will also be seeking work. What do yopu have that makes you unique? 3) Look to the smaller companies; look to the Independents. Look to lauching an online site. If your family and friends believe in you so much, see what money they’re willing to invest. The secret about getting into comics is that you first have to be published SOMEWHERE. You need work to get work. How do you do it? Create the work and get it out there either through a small publisher or the Internet.

    Finally — this is the Real World. You don’t get a trophy just for showing up. Do the work.

    ‘Nuff said.

    • John,

      You’re added so many great points that according to the ‘industry’ chart above I must now stab you in the back.

      Sorry-I REALLY liked you dude…

    • Excellent point about the small press. It is not only much more willing to give untried or less experienced creators a chance, many actually seek out such folks.

      I have been working in comics for about four years and I’ve had numerous works published by various companies in that time. I have a friend who is about 12 years older than I am and has been trying to break into specifically DC for a good 20+ years by his own admission.

      Why? Because he wants to write John Constantine and basically just Constantine.

      He has had exactly one thing published ever: a short story I submitted on his behalf (with his permission) to a small press anthology. He is a decent writer and could make good in roads with the independent scene if he’d direct his energy there instead of towards a company that has thousands of people doing the exact same thing he is.

  3. Mindy Newell says:

    Great column, Mike!

    No shit!

    Mindy

  4. Chris Gumprich says:

    I’ve seen that pic reproduced all over the place, and I still can’t get over the fact they misspelled “industry”. Maybe I have a future as a comic book editor.

    (What am I saying? That’s no kind of future!)

    Great article, MOTU. Full of advice that those that need it most will ignore because they think it doesn’t apply to them.