Comics / Cult Favorite

An Open Letter to Matt Idelson

By Philip Schweier
June 23, 2007 - 12:52

For those of you just joining us, last year DC Comics announced to great fanfare the teaming of Geoff Johns with movie director Richard Donner as writers for Action Comics. Johns had served as Donner’s assistant prior to entering the comics field, and given the film director’s history with the 1978 Superman movie,  the collaboration seemed a natural choice. Adam Kubert was tapped as artist.

So an ambitious storyline began in Action Comics #844. Chapter two was released in November, but the third installment did not hit the stands until February. The fourth chapter of the story promised to feature 3-D printing techniques, something seldom seen in comics these days.

Unfortunately, the story derailed entirely for reasons that are somewhat vague; perhaps production problems with the 3-D process. In the meantime, other creative teams have stepped in to offer stories to keep the book on its monthly schedule. Four issues have published since the last Johns/Donner chapter, the next scheduled for release the first week in July.

So in a recent DC Nation column, editor Matt Idelson explained the dilemma faced by editors everywhere: when a publication fails to meet deadline, should an editor A) publish a filler issue; C) bring in a new writer and/or artist to get the book back on track; or C) delay publication.

Geoff Johns

I offer a solution which may not seem so simple, but seems to be no less difficult than producing a weekly comic series. It boils down to not scheduling a story for publication until it is entirely written, drawn, lettered and colored. This may prove detrimental to those six-issue story arcs publishers seem to be so fond of, because comic creators can’t necessarily afford to work “on spec.” Such a plan may see the advent of more one- or two-issue stories.

So the first step may be in establishing a broader creative staff. In the case of a character that appears in multiple titles, such as Batman or Spider-Man, perhaps there might be two or three writers involved to share the load, step in if someone is sick or leaves unexpectedly. This would enable any given title for that character to maintain a "voice" that is consistent with other books. This might involve an editor who is still inclined to write from time to time, or perhaps a less experienced writer still learning the ropes, in addition to the series regulars.

Richard Donner

Another element to my plan is establishing a generally consistent look by having two pencilers whose styles are similar sharing a common inker. Or the reverse, as in the Superman titles of the 1970s, when Curt Swan was sometimes inked by Frank Chiaramonte, or Bob Oskner, or Frank McLaughlin. So we have our teams in place, with back-ups standing by, ready to share the load.

Idelson referred to the old days when editors kept a ready story handy for times when a scheduled story might be delayed, indicating that readers can always tell a filler story. That may be true, but just as comics have raised the bar in storytelling compared to 20-25 years ago, the filler stories would of course have to do the same.

Toward this end, there could be a general open call to trusted writers everywhere, inviting them to submit stories for the "slush pile."  Not just fillers, but good stories that would’ve eventually been published regardless of need. Maybe someone who has never had the chance to write a certain character has a really good idea, and they’d be willing to write it on spec, payment due at publication. Besides, some writers simply don’t always have the creative energy for a full year or more on a book.

In the meantime, say a new penciler is looking to pick up some extra work. Here’s a script from the slush pile; no immediate deadline, just do your best. This would allow an editor to establish a backlog of stories ready to go when needed. The book’s regular inker will ensure it maintains the established look.

Someone might argue that such filler issues don’t lend themselves well to the six-chapter format common today. I say, so what? If a good story can be told in a single issue, as we see regularly in Jonah Hex or Blade, so be it. We need more of those, simply because not every story needs to lead into another. A story should be able to end with Batman going home to bed, or the Lone Ranger galloping off into the sunset. Tomorrow is a new day.

So Mr. Idelson, I hope this offers some food for thought. Obviously I’ve mulled this conundrum over more than once, but it’s a particular pet peeve of mine for 20+ years, when I read a three-issue story that took 18 months to publish. After that, I chose to not read a story until all chapters were in. Needless to say, in this day of message boards and blogs, it makes it hard not to have a story spoiled, but usually I manage.

Praise and adulation? Scorn and ridicule? E-mail me at philip@comicbookbin.com

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12