Just Make Comics

In this era, which seems to have had the most movies and toy lines based on comics characters then we've seen since the 1940's (okay, none of us have seen the 1940's, but ya know what I mean, smart guy), I've noticed that none of the plethora of comic book tie-ins have affected our industry in a positive manner. None of the movies are bringing people to comic shops and none of the creators are walking in marble halls, regardless of how poorly the films do at the box office. Okay, that was a bit unfair. I reckon one or two of the recent comics-cum-film projects may have made some dough ("X-Men" springs to mind) - but it sure seems like comics projects converted to megamedia fall flat on their paperfied bums.

Everyone has been chasing the same dragon that Eastman and Laird captured back in the mid 80's, but guess what, kiddies... that was the last dragon out there. Since Kevin and Peter's phenomenal success, the Powers That Be have changed the rules in Hollyweird. The dragon has been detoothed, declawed and neutered... so catching him ain't gonna be all that anymore.

Just ask any of the cats who have been lucky enough to see their comics make it to film... the deals offered in Tinseltown these days suck. You're lucky to get an advance that will pay for a Leonardo action figure let alone a new house on the hill, and you're guaranteed to see no backend (that's Hollywood talk for "cash"). Hollywood executives don't wanna see anymore Eastman and Lairds... they wanna go back to the days where creators worked for minimum wage and kept out of the way. Disney built an empire with policies like that, and these days it's all about empire building.

So use the Force, lads. Screw 'em and their Hollywood carrots. Just focus on making great comics. Mebbe that alone will bring the people back, and mebbe if the readers come back, working for comics can be more than a part time job. It's worth a shot, innit? Cuz we know the suits in Hollywood and their "interpretations" of our favorite comics ain't gonna do it.