April 25, 2006
Paying the Bills

   As I write this, I've just returned from a Fed Ex dropoff in the early evening. Pages bound for DC at NYC. Now that the summer heat is beginning to kick up in Fla, I tend to be more mindful of the time I drop a package of art. Unless it's at an airconditioned office. The thought of my inked pages getting glued together due to an inordinate length of time spent in humidity and a direct-sunlit-heated metal bin is worrisome. Also, I use lots o' whiteout and while I'm not sure what the recorded melting point of it is, I'm sure not going to do a test run!

   The long-awaited sixth season of The Sopranos is so very AWESOME! There've been seasons that have disappointed, but this year makes up for everything. There are so many story elements congealing at an alarming pace, that I believe this may actually be the final season (that's been floated as a rumor/tease since the last season, so only creator David Chase knows).

   The big recent news, comics-wise was the open decision for Marvel & DC to incorporate product placement in their comics. At first, Marvel may restrict it to clothing logos worn by characters, and DC is producing a comic book series called Rush City, which promises to deliver Steve McQueen/Bullitt style action while the hero drives the new Pontiac Solstice. Comparisons have been made to James Bond's association with the classic Aston Martin. I'm actually going to give this book a try, because when we worked at Crossgen, Rush City's writer, Chuck Dixon told me he was pushing CG to publish a fast-paced, car-crashin' shoot-'em-up title like Bullitt, Smoky & the Bandit and the like. Greg Land was very enthused about the prospects of working on such a book, as Greg's a gearhead from 'way back, who's won car show competitions. Don't believe me? Check out that sports car Black Canary is toolin' around in in Birds of Prey #4 (available in the Old Friends, New Enemies trade paperback-and while you're looking for it, demand a second trade that wraps up our B.O.P run with #14 - I could use the reprint checks!) So Chuck's had the passion for a car-chase comic for years!

   As for Marvel's product placement, I don't have a problem with it. In comics, I've seen a lot of Coca-Cola-styled cans with a different name, and it's always been a little 'forth wall' to me, as if the comic is winking at you: "Get it? Get it?" Unless it's DC's Soder Cola in Metropolis, which has been consistently established for years, it can be a bit off-putting. Depending on the individual artists, it can be a relief (not having to think of a clever product pseudonym at 3:00 am) or a headache ("Is this Pizza Hut Box isolated enough to count as product placement?"). Today's comic artists are a prideful bunch, and I sincerely doubt if they are directed in a script to show a product they'll be content to simply plop a logo in the middle of a layout. Heck, if Steranko was still actively making comics, he'd probably incorporate the products in a pop-art Andy Warhol manner!

   To assuage those who harbor fears of capitalism encroaching on our favorite art form, I'm certain we'll be spared such comic book scenes as this:

Panel 1: Black panel.

Panel 2: Faint swirls of light begin to show in this second black panel.
Unknown: "I think....I saw him move..."

Panel 3: The light is now piercing through the center of the black. The black areas are almost gone.
Unknown #1: "Nick! Can you hear me?!"
Unknown #2: "I think he's dead. You check his pulse?!"

Panel 4: No black, but a swirling blue shape
Unknown #1: "What, you think I watch CSI?"
Unknown #2: "It's not hard to check his pulse, Nimrod! Don't you remember anything from Health Class?"

Panel 5: A blue Nike logo is floating in a wavy sea of Orange.
Unknown #1: "Most of the Sex Ed, yeah."
Unknown #2: "Thankfully, for Nick, you won't have to rely on those lessons. His eyes are opening."

Panel 6: Worms-eye view of Nick's friends, Don and Angelo Don's wearing an orange t-shirt with a blue Nike logo. Angelo is standing behind Don.
Nick: "Wha' Happ'n'd?"

   Short of that scene happening, I think it's a smart alternative to raising prices on comics. $3 seems to be the ceiling that fans can tolerate for a monthly comic and the longer it stays there, the better. Heck, I still overhear soccer moms tell kids: "Three dollars for a comic? Put that back where you found it." Then Soccer Mom will toss ten times that amount at a hobby store for the latest incarnation of Pokemon cards and the like. Moments like that make comics appear to be the Rodney Dangerfield of the entertainment industry-No Respect. *sigh*

   I've been considering following a similar course when I do appearances at conventions. I don't know if it's still done as much, but ever see a Nascar driver get interviewed right after winning a race? The winner wears a cap with a sponsor's logo, then doffs it to replace it with another sponsored cap and repeats it several times in front of the camera. My strategem is: wrangling up some money and promotional products (fridge magnets, pens, etc) from local businesses like "Billy's Best Brakes & Oil Change", and nonchalantly shuffle these items around at my table in Artists Alley. If I get to speak at a panel, I'll bring a buncha caps and shirts with me to change while I talk!

   Well, that's it for this week. We had a lot of fun, didn't we? Before you leave our lil' website, allow me to direct your attention to two newly-added pieces of art on page 9 of the Commission Gallery. Be good!
 
 
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