Marvel and DC... "Classics Line" ?

[Blue Meanie]

I posed this thought in my "Talking Comics" thread in this section:

My friend posed this idea over at the site he is on that Marvel and DC should do a "Classic" line where the older universes continue with artists and writers from that era. I completely agree with him. These "New" directions that Marvel and DC have taken have no focus whatsoever in my opinion.

I mean here are a list of very viable artists and creators that don't have regular work and in my opinion blow any of these so called "New Artists/Writers" out of the water:

Walt Simonson
Jerry Ordway
Roy Thomas
John Byrne
George Perez
Ron Frenz
Rich Buckler
Bob Layton
Terry Austin
Jim Starlin
Steve Lightle
Frank Brunner
Ron Wilson
Sal Buscema
Mike Grell
Ron Randall
Paul Smith
Jan Dursema
Tom Mandrake
Tim Truman
Steve Rude
Bob Wiacek
Al Milgrom

And the lists go on and on. I think ageism has been so rampant in the industry for the last 20 + years and it truly is a sad state. Why not create "Classics Lines" for each company??!!?? From what I've read here and on Back Issue on Facebook people are completely disgusted with what has happened in comics in DC and Marvel. So much so that older readers for the most part are giving up on books from the "Big 2". I know that if Marvel travels down the path DC did with the "New 52" I am done with them. Which is sad because I was really digging Dr. Strange and Spidey.

Here's my proposal: Instead of doing low priced reprint books, DC does a $1 reprint book on certain titles and I don't know/have seen Marvel doing this, Do a "Classics" line of the main characters that had long runs: Captain America, Fantastic Four, Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, Spider-Man, and Avengers and give it a year and see how it goes. I guarantee you that you'd probably outsell the garbage that they are printing right now. It does two things...1) sales and 2) You don't lose your older demographic completely.

What say you all? Also, does anyone know how to get an on line petition started? I'm curious to see if Marvel and DC actually LISTEN to the people that used to buy their books.

[EMCE Hammer]

I'd give that a go. If I saw something on the shelves that gave me say, an All-Star Squadron or Infinity, Inc. vibe I'd buy it.

[Brazoo]

I dunno. Looking at it from the artist's side I'm wondering if they'd want to. Do a lot of those older guys want to go back to grinding out monthlies for Marvel or DC?

I can't speak for everyone on that list, but I know Walt Simonson is currently doing a creator-owned version of Thor with total creative freedom. Does he want to or need to give that up at this stage in his life?

[samurainoir]

I think this a great idea, although sometimes I do worry about creators returning to try and follow up their legendary runs on titles. It would seem to be an impossible task. Although Marvel and DC have tried it with varying degrees of success over the years.

Neal Adams returned to Batman


Frank Miller returned to Batman


Steve Englehart and Marshall Rogers returned to Batman


Starlin continues to do Thanos, but no one is really paying attention despite the big movie tie in.

[samurainoir]

what did folks think of the Retroactive event? Where they did bring back a number of classic creators? Should they have continued this as a regular line (if it had sold?)

[Blue Meanie]

^^^
It's funny that you mention this because I never even saw these because at the time I was completely out of the loop. Going to try and pick these up over the next few months or so. Have they collected it in a trade or hardcover?

Some of the artists/writers/creators might not want to do something like what was proposed. I bet though that doing a regular series, if paid properly, would sure beat having to do Cons in order to pay the bills. From what I understand these artists/writers/creators have to pay for their tables. Can't be easy if you're paying 1500 - 2000 for a booth at the big shows on the coasts? That's a whole hell of a lot of sketches just to break even. That's for an entirely different discussion (Cons shouldn't make certain artists/writers/creators pay for their tables in my opinion...and it's not JUST the most popular ones. Again, for another discussion completely)

[EMCE Hammer]

I missed Retroactive too!

[Starroid Raiders Dagon]

Hard to say. I buy anything independent with Starlin but I wont give Marvel my money. He is getting up there in age, too. Walt' Ragnarok is 9 issues after something like 3 years (at least that is what I read) and I cant see Bob Layton going back to a monthly grind as I'm sure he has other things in the hopper. I would be in for a split comic or something like the old Batman Family book that had less pages for an artist to hit monthly? Anyhow, if you could get creators with similar styles to cover each other, like Bart Sears and Andy Smith, then I would be down with that. Speaking of older creators, did anyone see the John Byrne coloring book (all new work)?

https://www.amazon.com/John-Byrnes-Stowaway-Stars-Graphic/dp/1631407694

[Blue Meanie]

Hard to say. I buy anything independent with Starlin but I wont give Marvel my money. He is getting up there in age, too. Walt' Ragnarok is 9 issues after something like 3 years (at least that is what I read) and I cant see Bob Layton going back to a monthly grind as I'm sure he has other things in the hopper. I would be in for a split comic or something like the old Batman Family book that had less pages for an artist to hit monthly? Anyhow, if you could get creators with similar styles to cover each other, like Bart Sears and Andy Smith, then I would be down with that. Speaking of older creators, did anyone see the John Byrne coloring book (all new work)?

https://www.amazon.com/John-Byrnes-S.../dp/1631407694

The split comic is a really good idea. BTW, if it is true that Walt is only up to 9 issues I can tell you that it's probably because he's at EVERY convention on this earth. Probably doesn't have the time for doing his own book. Again, that's why I mentioned if they were compensated fairly and didn't have to spend so much time at shows to basically make ends meat...it could work out.

[samurainoir]

In some ways I'd much rather these old school creators not have to live and die off the trough of Marvel or DC.

I enjoy Mike Grell's Green Arrow as much as the next guy, but wouldn't it be even better for him to profit off of Jon Sable Freelance or Starslayer as a full owner/partner rather than hired hand? For them to produce another Sable TV series or even a movie for him to make a living rather than have to slug it out at conventions at his age?

or Steve Rude to do a regular Nexus comic (they had a successful kickstarted recently) and finally get an animated series off the ground with that universe of characters. He's done awesome work for Marvel and DC in the past, but his track record wasn't too stellar in terms of the deadlines that a big corporate machine like Marvel demands.

Truman on Scout. Starlin on Dreadstar. I'm sure others are less lucky... I loved Ron Randell's Trakker, but I don't think it ever got much traction amongst fans. I know Bob Layton has tried his hand at creator owned, but has never garnered as much attention as he has with Iron Man or even XO Manowar. Perez's creator owned stuff has always taken a back seat as well with his focus on DC and Marvel properties (And Crossgen) although my understanding is that it's worked out for him and Wolfman in terms of the royalties they earn off of Starfire, Raven and Cyborg being cartoon stars. Although we also live in a world where the "algorithms" for compensation seem to be waaaay off kilter. My understanding is that Len Wein hasn't earned a cent off of Wolverine from the movies, while Chuck Dixon has been really well compensated for even Bane's tiny role in Batman and Robin.

[thunderbolt]

be great if one of the big two tried it and they outsold the current stuff.

[emeraldknight47]

I'd snap up some retro stuff in a heartbeat, provided the creators were allowed to do what would have to be done to keep it in that "retro" mode. I'd love to see 'em come back out with the good old glossy covers and the newsprint guts. There's no smell that's quite like an old comic book; that smell is as much a part of the experience as anything else.

[Brazoo]

The ironic thing is, I believe it would actually be more expensive to produce comics that replicate the cheap 4-color process on newsprint look.

[The Bat]

I like the idea and the classic Artists drawing them(or some new Artist with a retro style). But there have to be some rules: #1, Neal Adams can't write the book, ONLY draw it! He's one of my ALL TIME favorite Artist...but I canceled Batman: Odyssey because his writing was so bad!

A great example of a Classic style Comic that DID work was John Byrne's X-Men:The Hidden Years...LOVED it! The book was very successful but Marvel cancelled it anyway? Byrne got so mad he spoke out about it and left Marvel. Marvel blew it IMO.

[CrimsonGhost]

In general, I'll bet these guys make way more money doing conventions and commissions than they would doing a monthly title.