Jerry Ordway and the Current State of the Industry

[Earth 2 Chris]

One of the interesting points brought up by all of this is the fact that at one point Rob Liefeld was working on 3 books for DC and Ordway had none.

Actual output aside, the New 52 has obviously been heavily influenced by Marvel of the early 90s, with Jim Lee and Bob Harras pulling in many of the creators from that era. Guys like Ordway, who worked for DC during that period, got the shaft.

Chris

[boynightwing]

One of the interesting points brought up by all of this is the fact that at one point Rob Liefeld was working on 3 books for DC and Ordway had none.

My personal theory on that is something to the effect of Jim's mom is friends with Rob's mom and when Rob is out of work he gets his mother to pester Jim's mother and thus pester Jim. So in order to get them off his back, he gives Rob work.

[madmarva]

I totally understand helping friends out when one can, but the majority of The cronies Harras has hired from his hey days at Marvel have crashed and burned. The books that are doing well are the ones headed up by established DC talents or those recruited from independents and vertigo.

Something that stood out to me in Ordway's blog was that he wrote he couldn't speed up and wouldn't cut corners, which is commendable to a degree, but with deadline oriented work, the deadline becomes the most important item. Sometimes you have to cut losses and sometimes the presses roll even if the work is not your best. If Ordway doesn't want to work under the deadlines DC established, the I can understand why he's not getting work. Now, I may be reading more into the statement than is there, and Ordway has never had a reputation for being late.

Also, it does seem that some creators get more latitude with the deadlines than others at DC.

[Earth 2 Chris]

Ordway has done quite a bit of work for DC's style guides, supplementing the 30 year old Jose Luis Garcia Lopez "classic" artwork.

So that just shows you, DC considers him "retro". Ugh.

Chris

[Figuremod73]

Something that stood out to me in Ordway's blog was that he wrote he couldn't speed up and wouldn't cut corners, which is commendable to a degree, but with deadline oriented work, the deadline becomes the most important item. Sometimes you have to cut losses and sometimes the presses roll even if the work is not your best. If Ordway doesn't want to work under the deadlines DC established, the I can understand why he's not getting work. Now, I may be reading more into the statement than is there, and Ordway has never had a reputation for being late.

I think its just that the people running DC (and Marvel) just dont know what their doing. It's to far removed from the Goodwins, Wolfman, etc from years ago.

This seems to be Warner Bros. pattern in many of the sub companies over the past twenty years. From the Hanna-Barbara properties to WCW.

Ordways good enough to where he could be given projects away from the 52 and it still be a success. Even if its bi-monthly if deadlines are a concern.

[CrimsonGhost]

In DC's defense, they are trying something new..for better or worse. I admit I haven't read or so much as looked at any of their new comics, but they aren't aimed at me. They are trying to get a digital audience, a new audience that maybe are somewhat interested in comics because of the other media, video games and such.

Ordway is one of my favorite artists and has been since the 80's, but everyones style falls out of favor over time. He has a classic style that I certainly like, but I could see how it would look too old school to a new reader. I'm sure he will find ways to stay busy, however. He needs to propose his graphic novel, or creator owned series. It seems to have worked for John Byrne.

[enyawd72]

I find it interesting that artists like Ordway, whose style is realistic, have fallen out of favor.
As comic STORIES have gotten more and more realistic, comic ART keeps getting more stylized and cartoonish. Strange irony.

[The Toyroom]

Ordway's style may be "old fashioned" by today's standards but so is Dan Jurgens and he's still getting work in the New 52...

[torgospizza]

I know I sound like a petulant fanboy, but Ordway's too good for them.

[madmarva]

I wonder if his page rate has anything to do with it? Are the younger guys working cheaper?

[CrimsonGhost]

I think Jurgens is doing a ton of writing and probably has a big part in plotting the new direction.

[BlackKnight]

Ordway's style may be "old fashioned" by today's standards but so is Dan Jurgens and he's still getting work in the New 52...

Well Jurgens Created the Greatest Super Hero The World Never Knew of.

[knight errant00]

I was never a big fan of Ordway's, but I do think it's lousy how he' been treated, and I think it speaks worse of the industry that it's become so capricious that now great, reliable talent can make the "elder statesman" position that guys like Kirby or Kane or Swan could as the companies pursue trends and "flavor of the month." I was shocked hers ago to learn that Norm Breyfogle -- one of my all-time favorite Batman artists -- wasn't working because no one would hire him, with essentially the same story Ordway's telling now. The industry wants rock stars now, not greats.

[ctc]

>with deadline oriented work, the deadline becomes the most important item

I don't think that's the problem, considering how late a lot of the newer guys are.

>Are the younger guys working cheaper?

That's a good question. After the Image thing in the 90's pay rates got astronomical (compared to what they were) and I kinda suspect that trend has continued. Hence why comics are so pricey; even the digital ones. There's a LOT more overhead.... with pay rates for the producers and the higher quality print and paper.... than there was way back when. So, rather than boost exposure by making the digital ones more of an impule buy, they gotta wring as much profit as they can from everything.

>I think it speaks worse of the industry that it's become so capricious that now great, reliable talent can make the "elder statesman" position that guys like Kirby or Kane or Swan could as the companies pursue trends and "flavor of the month

What's interesting there is that all the guys you mention got boned by the Big Two-ish at some point. (Sometimes more than once.) It's not a new phenomenon; as a matter of fact, screwing over the talent has been a staple of mainstream comics almost from the get go. Sadly for guys like Ordway, they got in during those times and it's tough to renegotiate afterwards. Like how he can't produce his own stuff, even though DC isn't using him for anything. THAT'S something I think should be redressed. That way he could do his own stuff, however and whenever he saw fit; slap it on the web.... aaannnnndddd get ignored by the oldster fans who won't read any of them newfangled digital whoozits. Or not. The internets don't know or care how old you are; just how appealing your product is.

Don C.

[The Toyroom]

All this talk about deadlines and page rates may be missing the point....Bottom line is DC resigned Ordway to an "exclusive" contract but didn't follow through with finding him consistent gigs. So basically they signed someone that could be a star player and pretty much benched him just so he wouldn't play for another team instead of utilizing the talent that they apparently wanted to hold on and deemed somewhat valuable ( i.e. the exclusive contract) in order to help sell and promote their books. Meanwhile, guys without contracts were hired as freelancers and given a crack at the New 52 titles. When he was given work it was as a pinch hitter to help other guys out with their deadlines.

And another thing to keep in mind is even if you or DC think his art may seem old-fashioned, he also has writing and inking in his wheelhouse to contribute.