Michael Davis: It Was Twenty Years Ago Today
Actually it was twenty years ago, but it wasn’t today. Look, any time I get to use a Beatles lyric in anything I write I’m using it. Nothing says witty and clever like a Beatles lyric or a Tupac and Biggie reference.
Case in point. One time too freakin’ many an ex-girlfriend asked me in an email if I thought she was getting fat. I was so sick of answering the same freakin’ question over and over again. She would ask when she and I would be on a date, in a car, on the phone, texting and one time I could have sworn she screamed it out during sex. I can’t be sure of that I couldn’t hear her clearly as I was, at the same time, screaming out my name. Yes, I scream my own name out during sex. Someone has to.
I was just sick to death of this shit so in my response I found a way to use a slightly altered Beatles lyric, which was, yes, you are the Walrus.
Twenty years ago, Denys Cowan, Dwayne McDuffie, Derek Dingle, Christopher Priest and I founded Milestone Media.
Hard to believe I was just five when I helped start the company, eh Jean?
Twenty years later, Milestone is still considered the greatest publishing achievement in African American comic book history. The Milestone deal was ground breaking and the universe is still alive and relevant. Milestone has achieved in comics the same kind of reverence the Tucker achieved in the automobile industry or Guns ‘n’ Roses achieved in Rock and Roll, all three burst on the scene, changed the game and for whatever reason lived a short life but has never been forgotten.
What many people don’t realize is Milestone still exists and is still alive in media if not in a monthly series of comic books. Static Shock is still seen on television, Milestone characters are often featured on other DC comics animated shows and Milestone comic book projects still are being created.
Milestone’s 20th anniversary will be celebrated and in the coming months happenings will be reveled. I just can’t tell you now; if I did Denys Cowan would see to it that I join Tupac and Biggie. Yes, I’ve used that line before and I will continue to use it until LAPD does it job and finds their killers…or someone comments how clever and witty that line is. I’m good with whatever comes first.
What I can say is ComicMix readers who are Milestone fans have a guy on the inside. As we all know with great power comes first hand knowledge premiering here at ComicMix before anywhere else.
That is, if I remember to write it after it’s finalized but before the press release goes industry wide.
I’ll try and remember but once I was told over the phone I just had a huge project green lit and could now talk about it. The very next call I was on not three minutes later was with an entertainment magazine doing a profile on me and like a dick I forgot to mention the venture when asked about what projects I was working on.
That omission was like forgetting to mention I own a dog when being interviewed for a cover story in Dog Magazine.
Last thing, for all you fan boys who are still a bit “girl challenged” if your girlfriend…wait, what am I saying? Girlfriend? Fan boys? Ok, if the girl you are smitten with or any girl asks you if she looks like she was getting fat or the classic, do I look fat in this dress?
The answer is always no.
If the heifer weights 300 pounds and is always sucking on a saltlick, the answer is always no.
Trust me, don’t say anything remotely like what I said, I’m lucky to be alive and ten years after the break up I’m still looking over my shoulder.
WEDNESDAY: Mike Gold and The Nerddom Intelligentsia
THURDSDAY: Dennis O’Neil
DC’s mishandling of Milestone since its original creation is the second-worst dropped ball in DC’s recent history. Static was a hit TV series for several years, and somehow they couldn’t figure out how to get a hit book out of it is a topic I’ve cursed the darkness over both here and on any other website on which I haven’t overstayed my welcome.
The worst dropped ball in recent memory is of course how they mishandled Dwayne finally getting to write JLA. I am too tired an unwell to give that rant a good enough treatment. Just go read any of the other times I wrote it.
I would sorely like to see the Milestone characters get another shot at DC. They are solid and interesting characters, and if people both creating them and reading them can get past the idea that they Mean Something, and just treat them as good characters, they could prosper.
Sometimes I feel I may die of optimism poisoning.
Vinnie,
You as well as anyone knows that I’m not shy when it comes to saying what I mean. I’ve had real issues with DC and at times it’s been an all out war.
DC did not mishandle Milestone as so much as Milestone and DC were in a new relationship and shit happens in a new relationship,
Both Marvel and Image were considered as publishing partners, when Milestone did the deal with DC it was because DC came to the table understanding and respecting our vision. People forget Milestone was doing record numbers until the industry wide crash killed a lot of independent publishers.
Another thing people forget is Milestone Media is an independent publisher who has a DEAL with DC. DC does not and has NEVER owned Milestone.
Were asshole moves made at DC regarding Milestone? Oh, HELL yeah. But assholes moves are made by EVERY partner in EVERY deal. Contrary to what a lot of stupid motherfucking haters have and ARE saying, Milestone was not part of some comic book plantation owned by the white masters of DC comics.
Milestone owned some of those stupid moves just like DC owned some of the success of Milestone when we were riding high.
Yes, I was not happy with a lot of shit on the DC side but I was also unhappy with shit on the Milestone side.
But like I said, shit happens.
Happy 20th Milestone and kudos! Michael, you guys set a standard and did things in such a way that it was like catching lightning in a bottle. You guys created something that many young creators are trying to re-create today….problem is, they aren’t having much success. Look forward to seeing what Milestone has in store. Oh, as far as the weight question, I always get around it by pretending my hearing aide isn’t working…..”huh? you saw a rat?!? Damn hearing aide…” works pretty well until they notice that I’m not wearing one…..
Vinnie…it’s impossible for you to more on point. I know that there are likely all sorts of restrictive legalities that are in play but the way DC has mistreated the great legacy, but I’d love for Image to be able to take the ball.
And to mOTu, Derek, Denys, Priest, (the Milestone crew) and The Maestro…
THANK YOU for daring to dream and executing the dream so magnificently.
I may be working under a misconception. I had thought that DC had finally bought the Milestone characters around the time of the last attempt to bring them back. I’d be ever so happy f that were not so. Bus considering they’re still appearing in the books (The Shadow Cabinet just made a cameo) I suspect they still have the use of them.
Michael? Can you elucidate the situation in a way that does not spoil the reveal of any plans you have?
Vinnie,
DC does not own one single Milestone character. Dude, stop getting your information from FOX News. ;-)
MOTU:
“if I did Denys Cowan would see to it that I join Tupac and Biggie.”
That line is clever and witty.
George,
Right? I thought so!
Congrats, Michael!