Michael Davis: Over and Done
I’m done.
I’m SO done trying to help anyone do anything.
I’m done with the Black Panel, the Bad Boy Studio mentor program, and Dream City my free management company.
Don’t know any of my work? Here.
My disdain started when a rumor damn near became fact. The rumor spreading like a Donald Trump lie was that Milestone stole their business plan from Brotherman. It damn near broke my heart.
But then, the show of support for Milestone was overwhelming!
I could hardly contain my tears of joy so much was the love I felt from the thousands of fans who stood by us. So with all the love shown us why was this the beginning of the end for me?
Because there was no love, the above paragraph was an invention just like the rumor.
Instead of love many, some thought to be friends, jumped on the fairytale co-signing the notion the Milestone partners were thieves. This not too long after Dwayne McDuffie passed away.
One moment the Black comic book community universally saddened over the death of one of the greatest comic book writers there ever was showed the kind of love that inspires books and movies.
The next moment there was universal hatred of Dwayne.
YES, Dwayne!
Didn’t those motherfuckers realize that if you call Milestone thieves you’re saying that of Denys Cowan, Derek Dingle, Christopher Priest, myself AND Dwayne McDuffie?
Yeah, they knew. They didn’t care. Shit, why the fuck should they have? Except for me no one and I mean no one fought those kind of battles. With not one exception no other Milestone partner old or new continually fought the rumors surrounding the company.
I kept Milestone alive in a culture where some are so dense they forget what day we celebrate the Fourth of July. Some may be OK leaving rumor alone to become fact not me. Branding Milestone liars and thieves are NOT the same as some bullshit gerbil stuck in an actor’s ass story.
No one is going deny a big time player a role even if that gerbil story is true, unprovable if it is. If promoting a movie at Comic-Con, no will stand up and ask; “What about the accusations made by three hamsters, a gerbil and Stacy Dash?” Unless said, actor decides to write a tell-all book entitled; It’s My Ass, She’s My Gerbil & I Love Her Up There, it’s safe to bet that won’t define a spectacular career.
But stealing the idea for the greatest African American comic book company? You don’t address that type of shit, and it sticks. Then when Dreamworks is looking for great African-American superhero content they are not looking at Milestone.
Yeah, it’s like that in Hollywood.
So, I made sure any and all bullshit surrounding Milestone was addressed LOUDLY.
Those who doubt that I don’t blame you. But click the link below and scroll down a bit. What are you looking for? Believe me; you will know it when you see it.
FUN FACT: The Brotherman crew got some bad information and some dates wrong. That shit happens to everyone and that includes me. They admitted as such and we’re MORE than cool.
So cool in fact a meeting is planned in the near future. Funny, we talked, we worked it out. Nobody ignored the other. They have treated me with a TON more respect and love than M2.0.
Like I said, funny.
Back to the rant, I’ve gotten no encouragement or support from the community I’ve spent more time creating opportunities for others than myself. Nobody writes me a check for my Bad Boy Studio mentor program or the Black Panel or Dream City, my management company. All of those are set up to provide access to young people of color. I charge nothing; it’s called giving back.
I write the checks to make sure young people of color get the encouragement and support they need. No support from that community was horrible slight and the spark which began this decent.
Being treated by Milestone 2.0 like I had not contributed most of the now superstar talent, oversaw the massive press and groundbreaking convention presence and created the universe of its most successful character, Static, lit the fire.
Being used and then rejected at the lowest point IN MY LIFE without a word as to why beforehand, without a word afterward or (GET THIS) without a fucking word in the almost two years since. Oh, while you’re getting THAT, get THIS, “We’re family. You’re family. We’re going to do great things.” That was said to me in front of my mother’s casket from a member of my “family.”
Then days ago delivered to Bleeding Cool’s Rich Johnson from an unnamed source, (THANK YOU MASKED MAN!) was what some would call the smoking gun.
It’s pretty fucked up.
I’d call it the big bang rather than a smoking gun. So to paraphrase Dr. Dre, FUCK COMICS YOU CAN HAVE IT BACK.
The above (all of it) was an excerpt from the article I was going to run called Michael Davis has left the building.
Then some people showed me a better way so I’m not going to do that.
I’m going to do this…
To Be Continued…
Black Panel = best panel EVER and ALWAYS at SDCC
Bad Boys = astounding roster of talent; who wouldn’t want to be a Bad Boy
Dream City = tell us more
M2.0 = even apart you’re doing more to keep Milestone alive…WTH
I was a fan when I saw the first cover to Shado #1 but I’m a bigger fan and admirer of you work and commitments named above.
I wonder if there’s a S-it’s about to get real mic-drop
Please don’t stop and don’t go Danny Glover Lethal Weapon on us…
Jeremy,
I’ve been asked for years to ‘manage’ talent. Jay Bernstein the greatest agent / manager to ever live (with the possible exception of Michael Ovitz) called me one of the best dealmaker’s he’d ever seen. I think he was just being kind, but to hear that from Jay was simply wonderful. I set up Dream City as ‘agency’ for young creators. They get legal and professional advice, guidance, punch and pie all free of charge.
…what no one is aware of is the private army I’m building…hehehehehehe…evil laugh.
Thank you for the reply, Michael. Dream CIty sounds awesome! You are an incredible person of generosity and integrity. Mentorship and guidance are such a blessing for those who can appreciate it. It’s a skill and service that I wish the comic industry (and others) would respect and embrace more. I have no doubt that those who have benefited will have in turn done the same for others. Yours’ is the coolest, classiest, and educated army :)