Fighting the Scourge of Late Comics!

As late comic books have become more and more prevalent, comic book professionals seem to have become all the more apathetic toward the depressing trend.  Rationalizations like "quality products take time to produce" or that comics "are not gum" are routintely offered up to deflect the growing irritation of retailers and fans alike. 

In short, they just don't seem to get it.

However, while looking through the vault of my old Comic Coverage Institute instructional films, I came across an old favorite that may be able to educate some of today's resposibility-challenged comics pros.

So...dim the lights, pop on that old reel-to-reel movie projector, sit back, and enjoy.

Oh, and comics professionals?  Pay attention!

Comments

[David Price]

Brilliant! This was fantastic and needs to be handed out whenever a creator that tends to be late is hired for a project.

Thank you!

[Mark Engblom]

Thanks, David. Glad you liked it.

It seems a few pros didn't like it much. Maybe it hit home a little too much. Whatever the case, I thought it was a message long overdue.

[Stephen]

Darn straight.

I wish more creators would stop at step four. If you can't commit - don't do it.

What really bugs me is how there have been many, many pros in the past who could make a monthly schedule - and I'm not just talking about the superhumans like Kirby. Where are those guys now, huh?

[Mark Engblom]

Alot of the excuses I've heard is that "today the artwork is expected to be so much more detailed and flashy".

Expected by whom? I didn't tell the Big Two to use lavish digital coloring techniques and super-glossy paper.

I've also heard the crack that comics "aren't gum". Well, they're not the Sistine Chapel Ceiling, either...so I don't buy the mindset that modern comics have to be these extravagent, lavish productions.

[Mike Lynch]

Mark, I saw the link to this over at THE BEAT and couldn't resist linking it to my blog. Funny, funny stuff! Thanks for this!

[Mark Engblom]

Hey, Mike! Thanks for the link!

Nice to discover a fellow NCS member linking to me! I just joined this past fall, and I couldn't be in better company.

I really enjoyed looking through your work on your website, and will definitely add it to my blogroll.

Thanks for stopping by!

[Glen O'Brien]

This is further proof that yours is one of the best comics sites out there. Always enjoyed. I was interested to read somewhere on one of your pages that you had an interest in Christian Apologetics. I've started a series on The Theology of the Superheroes that you might find interesting. The Incredible Hulk is done and I've started in on Captain America. Check it out some time at Theology of the Superheroes

[Mark Engblom]

Hi Glen! Thanks for the kind words. I'm glad you enjoy the blog!

I check out your article on the Hulk from a theological angle, and really enjoyed it. You did a great job of setting up the character's background (since you write to a very mixed audience, I take it) and a good job of relating it to the Gospel. The Hulk typically isn't the subject of Christian metaphors, but it definitely fits.

I look forward to the Captain America article! I wonder if you'll make parallels between Steve Roger's transformation to a Christian's status of becoming a "new creature in Christ"?

[Tom the Bomb]

You have outlined a straightforward, common-sense approach to professional comics creation. In a way, it's sad that today's environment makes this seem like a genius post.

[dissenter]

Um, no.

http://www.ifanboy.com/content/articles/Late_Comics__Jim_vs__Jim

[JT Molloy]

That Jim vs. Jim thing is utter nonsense. ("Hi, I know nothing about art, but I'm gonna explain the process anyway")

THIS, however, is brilliant. Nice job Mark. I'm an artist myself and if I can knock out a good looking page in a few short hours, there's no reason these "pros" can't.

Also, notice the artists of yore, even the really "detailed" ones had no problem making deadlines? Kinda funny how all the excuses magically appear in this new era.