MICHAEL DAVIS: The Greatest Story Never Told, Part 3
Please read the last two week’s installments before reading this. Thanks!
What has gone before, quick and dirty recap… I’d sold (in my opinion) the second greatest idea in the history of comics to one of the greatest publishers in the business. It was to be written by one of the greatest writers (Dwayne McDuffie) with art by a guy (me) who was going to make sure this time he got it right.
All was right in the world. Except for one teensy little problem. The editor assigned to the project wanted to change one thing…
Me.
A few days after Jenette Kahn assigned the editor, Dwayne went to meet with him to map out the production schedule. I was living in Los Angeles and the meeting was in the New York offices of DC. There really was no reason for me to be there. After the meeting Dwayne would call and fill me in.
I couldn’t wait for that call. In hindsight, yes, yes I could have.
When Dwayne called me he came right to the point, as always. “Penis Head wants to do the project but without you.”
I’m sure you know that Penis Head was not the editor’s name, and I won’t mention his name because I really don’t want to have to deal with him ever again and giving him any substance at ComicMix would force me to have to deal with him, so I’ll just call him Penis Head, or Dick for short.
Aside to Dick. If, by chance, you are reading this, feel free to keep avoiding me whenever we happen to be at the same industry event. That’s a wise choice. Really.
Dick no longer works at DC. I have no idea where he works now. The last time I saw him he was trying to get into my party at last year’s San Diego ComicCon yet somehow his name wasn’t on the guest list…imagine that.
Dwayne’s meeting was not a production meeting it. It was a get rid of Michael Davis meeting.
“This is a great project, but I don’t want Michael Davis on it,” said Dick.
Days before Dwayne made that call I was quite literally the happiest I’ve ever been regarding a deal. Project X was my dream project and 30 seconds after Dwayne called me I was the unhappiest I’d ever been over a deal.
But, maybe just maybe all was not lost…
I started talking as fast as I could, hoping I could make a case that Dwayne could take back to Dick.
“What if I did samples?”
“What if I worked from someone’s layouts?”
“What if I was not paid until all the art was approved?”
“What if…”
“What if…”
“What if…”
I tried to keep talking, afraid if I stopped the little hope I still had of my dream coming true would vanish. Finally, I stopped and my fear became a reality. Dwayne said softly, “He made it quite clear, this project would not happen with Michael Davis.”
How could a project I created go on without me? Simple. The company buys you out… but there was no way in hell that was going to happen.
I felt like crying and that made me mad.
I’m much better now, but there was a time when getting my dander up was a real issue. I was about to go off but before I did Dwayne said; “I told him that it was your idea and I wasn’t going to do it without you.”
Just like that my anger was gone but I did still cry but not because I was angry but because I had a great friend.
My deal was dead and I felt horrible. Then I didn’t.
My idea was dead at DC but my dream and my idea were still very much alive…
Allow me to rip off my dear friend Peter David and digress for a moment…
If there are any aspiring young creators out there the following you should pay very close attention to. If you have read the two previous installments you know that Project X was green lit by the then head of DC Comics, Jenette Kahn.
Why didn’t I just pick up the phone and call Jenette? She was in charge, she green lit the project and she and I were friends so why not just call her and throw Dick under the bus?
Because this is not high school.
This is the real world and not the Real World you see on MTV. That Real World you see on TV is just bullshit. It’s nowhere near real. It’s a TV show. No reality show is even close to being real. Do you think for one moment you would act the same if cameras were documenting your ever move?
In the real world of corporate America you do not, I repeat you do not cry like a little bitch and go running to mommy. As much as I wanted to do Project X, I loved and respected Jenette and I could not put her in a situation where she would have to second-guess or overrule a member of her staff.
Why not? Because it’s a lose – lose.
Jenette may have sided with me or sided with the editor. Either way it puts her in an atrocious position and if the project was saved at what cost would that be? Would the editor make my life a living hell? Would nothing I did be good enough?
The ways an editor can make your life unbearable are countless. Now imagine if that editor had a personal axe to grind because you outed them to their boss.
Also If Jenette sided with the editor and decided I was off the book then it’s a double kick to my throat.
Lose.
Lose.
Young people — and I say this in all seriousness — no matter how good you may be at your craft, understand that means absolutely nothing if you are not smart with regards to how you conduct yourself professionally. DC Comics was and is a business; their side job may be to make dreams come true but business always come first in any organization.
Always.
Project X was dead at DC. That was clear. After I hung up with Dwayne, I sat for an hour or so thinking up alibis while putting together my planed revenge. Then I realized with a smile that the best revenge is living well and showing your naysayers that they were wrong.
I called Mike Richardson, head of Dark Horse and set a meeting for the next day.
The next day I pitched Mike Project X .He brought it and just like that, I’m backkkkkkkkk….
Except for one teensy little problem…
Next week: The conclusion!
WEDNESDAY: Mike Gold and SHC!
Related articles
- MICHAEL DAVIS: The Greatest Story Never Told (comicmix.com)
- MICHAEL DAVIS: The Greatest Story Never Told, Part 2 (comicmix.com)
Riveting! Only downside, having to wait next week for the installment!
I agree about living well is the best revenge. Somedays I just have to remember “I’m here and they are down there somewhere.” and any lingering resentment dissipates.
The more I read about Dwayne, the more I see that in addition to being a great writer he was a real class act. So wish I could have met him.
Sound advice in the article. Even at my work, it’s frowned upon to go over someone’s head. It’s disrespectful and even if you score what little victory you wanted, you’re still going to have to deal with the person you burned and they still have some authority over you. Not a smooth move.
in most cases with little exception it’s a bad move dude. Thanks for the kind words about the piece.
I agree about living well is the best revenge.
Niles Crane: “Yes, I’ve heard that. Don’t see it used for many opera plots, thought.
After Prince Rudolpho kills his entire family in Act I, Siegfried gets his revenge in Act II by living well.
Nope.”
Another great article with sage advice and insight! I don’t suppose that an early reveal to the conclusion can be solicited with the promise of a pound of butcher cut, Applewood pepper bacon by any chance? Ah well, it was worth a shot! Looking forward to hearing your thoughts in person at Con this year and thanks again for these articles, help me to maintain the proper perspective.
Mark,
Make sure you hit me up a couple of weeks before Comic Con so we can schedule a meeting and I can get you an invite to my party!
Thanks Michael, I will do!
Bravo to you, Mr MOTU…Never compromise your creation and never act like its high school…some people in the industry need to pick up on that tidbit…Cant wait to see you at the Con again, sir
Thanks Montel! It will be great to catch up!