Image Comics

Every week, Image Comics sends a newsletter about our upcoming releases to retailers with a letter at the beginning. This message, by Image Comics PR & Marketing Director Jennifer de Guzman was in the May 15, 2012 newsletter.

The past few weeks have seen a lot of discussion of creator rights in the comics industry. Usually, it’s a topic that comes up regularly, gets churned through the same arguments, and then is put to rest for a time. This time, though, the discussion may be sticking — because this time, Things Are Happening.

Chris Roberson declared he wouldn’t do more work for DC after his current projects were finished out of disagreement with the ethics of the company’s conduct toward creators. DC, in turn, fired him. Roger Langridge has just made a similar declaration, including Marvel on his blacklist.

I’d like to think that Image’s success with creator-owned comics, which has always been notable but has been beyond every expectation this year, has something to do with this zeitgeist. Every month, the runaway sales of series like FATALE, SAGA, THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS, and THIEF OF THIEVES have shown that A-list comics creators can thrive by bringing out new and different stories with an independent publisher while the strong showings by series like DANGER CLUB, NO PLACE LIKE HOME, and PETER PANZERFAUST prove that you don’t have to be a superstar for your creator-owned comic to make an impression in the comics market.

Make no mistake, the industry is transforming — and we’re all part of it. The continued support from you and your customers changing the foundation of the comics market. Is a model in which creator-owned is the norm rather than the notable exception in our future? Let’s keep supporting the people who create the stories and find out!

-JdG