[...] is the modern-day version of the press release that used to say “hey! I’m distributed by Diamond (just like thousands of other comics).” It’s a basic business decision, not news. [...]

[...] We’re in the Previews catalog [...]

But, it would be nice if we helped before we laughed.

That’s my only point.

This is really pointless, it seems, but here’s how I see it. Anyone can make a comic. There are a lot of folks that do it for the love – hand stapling mini-comics and dropping them off at the local shops or leaving them at local bars (which is something I still love to do). The moment you try to go through Diamond is the moment you decide to be competitive – which essentially means getting into Diamond is the bare minimum you need to do to be at the point where press releases sent to comic sites become relevant. It’s like throwing yourself a party after your first day at college when all you really did was register for classes, bought some used books, and smoked some dope after English 101.

And as far as that ridiculous Hero analogy goes, Johanna, like the rest of us who have a passion for this industry, really want comic companies to start succeeding and that means that they need to stop making stupid decisions and start acting like a business. Your analogy can also be applied to a pharmaceutical company that leaves a couple of side-effects off of their new depression medication. Like death. And instead of saying how they made a mistake, we’re all supposed to shine a happy light on it (hey, they were probably gonna kill themselves anyway!) or ignore it simply because they produced the bare minimum, a pill, albeit a bad one.

Companies don’t need to be “Saved”. They need to be smart, find their demo, and supply that demo with a product efficiently and better than anyone else targeting said demo. Or they’re not going to make it.

To be fair, I hope everyone will take a look at Masterpiece Comics when they make it to a comic shop near you in November … which, by the way, is when KRYPTO THE SUPERDOG #3 will be on sale, too!

And James, loved FIRE & RAIN! Sorry about your hair, though.

I disagree that Johanna’s original post was mean spirited. I think she called a company on making a big deal out of a non-event. Any truly negative spirit to the post came from my commment. I think your reading my own dark humor back into Johanna’s post. Johanna’s post didn’t inspire my remarks, me being a ‘jerk’ lead me to post what I did.

From what I know you’ve ever even read of their comics?

You are assuming a lot from a poorly timed and designed press release.

And that, unfortunatley, is really the enemy here.

The fact is, my making fun of them will draw more attention than my advising them will, both from them and from the general audience. No matter who the “hero” or “villain” is, people love to watch the flames. My responsibility is to my audience, not to some random new publisher.

I do like superhero comics, by the way, but only good ones, which are rare. High quality of any genre always is.

I respect that. It’s not your responsibility to help anyone… but that sort of reminds me of a comic book in itself.

It’s never a heroe’s responsibility to help anyone, not even Spider-Man’s. It’s their ABILITY to do this, that drives them to do the right thing.

Sorry for the extremely corny reference here, but a Hero could leave a child burning in a building, and watch him die, and hope that the children learn not to play with fire that way… however, as we learned growing up reading comic books, we know that the greatest heroes are the ones that do just the opposite; they run in and try to help, despite the fact that this kid is running deeper and deeper into the building, perhaps splashing gasoline along the way. (hey its an analogy, work with me)

To me, you didn’t just watch Masterpiece Comics burn, you grabbed other people on the street and asked them to point and laugh with you as the flames shot out of the top of the building.

However, I digress. After reading your column, it turns out you don’t even like Superhero comics, (I do to a point), but I assume you understand the connection I was trying to make.

You had the chance, the ability to stop the fire, instead, you fanned the flames… and for what? A laugh? A lesson to others?

Who knows?

If someone does something I think stupid, I call them on it. Others are welcome to agree (and thus I’ve achieved my mission of entertaining and educating my readers), or they can disagree and talk about why, as this comment thread has done.

I’m not here to help Masterpiece or any other individual company. Hopefully, though, other new and wannabe publishers will see that making boneheaded moves will get you laughed at and learn to do better.

Interesting that I have kept up with this thread… but I want to say something.

You said that Masterpiece Comics should accept the comments in the spirit they were given.

However the spirit they were given was a negative, mocking spirit. The original poster did nothing to help Masterpiece, but rather used them as a punching bag to laugh at, and then invited others to do so. Now, Masterpiece Comics’ press releases will be taken less seriously, and perhaps this thread has HURT this company’s future success.

I understand that this is a business, but in all honesty, I’ve always thought of independant and small press comic books as a family of sorts, and bashing someone does nothing to support the family. It would’ve been nice if, instead of publicly humiliating a new company, she would’ve emailed back and said “Hey, write back when you have an order number, or something of more signifigance to report”. That WOULD’VE helped the company… who by the way, after looking at their website, has some interesting titles, even if the presentation is a bit generic.

That’s why I said originally that some people forget what it’s like to be published for the first time, and even more so, know that their comic is going to be carried by DIAMOND, which to me, is no small feat. Plenty of comic company’s I know should and would be very proud of that accomplishment.

I only hope that everyone continues to help each other, and that no one looks down at Masterpiece or other similar companies for this press release. Just because their PR department made one little mistake does not mean the quality of book is bad

And besides… look out, but we’ve been discussing this company for two days now. I bet I won’t be the only one looking for their book!

Also, my comment about not knowing PR, was more in the regards of what publishers can and should do. I think I do a pretty decent job of representing myself as an artist, but there’s always room for learning new tricks and techniques in that aspect. But promoting a book (from what I do understand) is a whole different kettle of fish. And I don’t profess to know that realm whatsoever!

But again, your comments Paul, helpful, and clearly spoken. For that I say thank you.

I think Johanna’s original comments were well placed, being that not approching news sources (online or traditional) informed and respectfully is seen as a newbie gaffe, and does hurt the perception of the person releasing these “news items”. People like Johanna slog through a TON of news and releases to provide the content that they do. I respect the hell out of that work, and have worked for years to build up good relationships with all the news sources I send my own company’s releases to. I make sure they have solid info, plenty of links and cross references, and something honest adn heartfelt to set them apart from the usual hype that journalists must wade through. A non-newsworthy press release will look like a padded resume to an experienced journalist, and like Jason remarked, may affect the reading of future releases from the company.

I also wanted to comment on your statement of ” Though I don’t profess to know what or how something should be PR’d. (I’m not in the PR dept, I just draw pictures in comics)”, I’d make the suggestion to KNOW about how the comic world PR’s stuff. If you’re an independent artist, it would be to your advantage to be aware of how the machine works, even if you don’t deal with it day in and day out. I draw the pictures too, but I also do the press releases, place the orders, write the books and do the balance sheets with Diamond every month for my sales, so while those aspects don’t dominate all of my time, I do know about them and how they work. For a small publisher, having everyone up on the business of comics will make you all that more adaptable, rather that having a stable of artist’s who claim ignorance then aren’t able to ask hard questions if things go wrong in a company.

When I published with other publishers (Caliber Comics, Blue Line Pro) I knew everything they did in regards to my books, exactly how much money my books were or weren’t making, and how they were being promoted. It’s too tough of a market to just go along for the ride. Being as smart as possible on as many aspects of the business of the comics market will increase your company’s potential for survival.

I hope Masterpiece Comics does have success with it’s books; the indy market is always in need of infusions of new talent and blood. Going into the game with all wheels spinning will ensure the potential for success of Masterpiece, so please accept the comments above in the spirit they’re given, learn from them and come back firing on all cylinders next round.

Good Luck,
Paul Sizer

As to the comments by Oni, I would agree wholeheartedly.