Comments on: Justice Society Credits Removed? http://comicsworthreading.com/2006/09/07/1029/ Independent Opinions on Comics of All Kinds Sat, 30 Aug 2008 05:25:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Comics Worth Reading http://comicsworthreading.com/2006/09/07/1029/#comment-33396 Comics Worth Reading Thu, 21 Sep 2006 23:44:37 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2006/09/07/1029/#comment-33396 [...] Following up on the earlier question about why individual credits were removed from the Justice Society collection, someone claiming to be Paul Levitz has posted the following (a few up from the bottom of the page): I apologize for the lack of credits on the individual stories, an error I personally found heart-breaking because of its effect on the Origin, which also had a dedication to Shelly and Gardner. The second volume will in some fashion include the credits from the first, which will be restored if we ever do a second printing. [...] […] Following up on the earlier question about why individual credits were removed from the Justice Society collection, someone claiming to be Paul Levitz has posted the following (a few up from the bottom of the page): I apologize for the lack of credits on the individual stories, an error I personally found heart-breaking because of its effect on the Origin, which also had a dedication to Shelly and Gardner. The second volume will in some fashion include the credits from the first, which will be restored if we ever do a second printing. […]

]]> By: jfire http://comicsworthreading.com/2006/09/07/1029/#comment-33052 jfire Fri, 08 Sep 2006 15:39:35 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2006/09/07/1029/#comment-33052 I posted a review of this book recently on my site and addressed this issue. The creators are listed in the front of the book en masse, but the credit boxes at the beginning of each issue have been digitially removed. I'm inclined to agree with the previous poster: Removing the credits was likely an effort (a wrongheaded one) to make the book appear more "seamless"--like a long graphic novel instead of a collection of old comics from the 1970s. The "next issue" blurbs also are missing. But these reprints of individual comics never read like long graphic novels. That's not the way they were originally created. It's silly to try to make them appear like something they're not. Plus, it's a slight to the original creators. My review (including scans showing the disappearing credits) is here: http://www.thisispopculture.com/2006/09/review-justice-society-vol-1.html I posted a review of this book recently on my site and addressed this issue.

The creators are listed in the front of the book en masse, but the credit boxes at the beginning of each issue have been digitially removed.

I’m inclined to agree with the previous poster: Removing the credits was likely an effort (a wrongheaded one) to make the book appear more “seamless”–like a long graphic novel instead of a collection of old comics from the 1970s. The “next issue” blurbs also are missing.

But these reprints of individual comics never read like long graphic novels. That’s not the way they were originally created. It’s silly to try to make them appear like something they’re not. Plus, it’s a slight to the original creators.

My review (including scans showing the disappearing credits) is here:

http://www.thisispopculture.com/2006/09/review-justice-society-vol-1.html

]]> By: Tommy Raiko http://comicsworthreading.com/2006/09/07/1029/#comment-33051 Tommy Raiko Fri, 08 Sep 2006 14:58:45 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2006/09/07/1029/#comment-33051 Look, there seem to be obvious issues with DC's reprint fees from a certain period and the publisher's willingness to publish material that invokes those fees and/or their willingness to renegotiate those fees. But I honestly can't believe the absence of creator credits is a conscious attempt to dodge required royalty payments. (OK, I suppose it's theoretically possible that a creator's agreement could specify they're due payment only on credited reprints, but that's so absurd that unless someone can prove otherwise, I'm gonna pile that up along with all our other favorite conspiracy theories.) Maybe someone made a conscious (tho' controversial) decision that the work looks aesthetically better without the credits in place. Maybe the stat, or the file, or the whatever they were reprinting from lost the credit box. Maybe someone just plain screwed up. Honestly, this is one of them cases where I'm reluctant to chalk it up to malfeasance when carelessness might be just as good an answer... Look, there seem to be obvious issues with DC’s reprint fees from a certain period and the publisher’s willingness to publish material that invokes those fees and/or their willingness to renegotiate those fees.

But I honestly can’t believe the absence of creator credits is a conscious attempt to dodge required royalty payments. (OK, I suppose it’s theoretically possible that a creator’s agreement could specify they’re due payment only on credited reprints, but that’s so absurd that unless someone can prove otherwise, I’m gonna pile that up along with all our other favorite conspiracy theories.)

Maybe someone made a conscious (tho’ controversial) decision that the work looks aesthetically better without the credits in place. Maybe the stat, or the file, or the whatever they were reprinting from lost the credit box. Maybe someone just plain screwed up.

Honestly, this is one of them cases where I’m reluctant to chalk it up to malfeasance when carelessness might be just as good an answer…

]]> By: Tony Isabella http://comicsworthreading.com/2006/09/07/1029/#comment-33030 Tony Isabella Thu, 07 Sep 2006 21:19:53 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2006/09/07/1029/#comment-33030 This royalty issue has been raised, but I think it's absurd. Yes, it's true many of the DC contracts of the era call for per page reprint fees. Big deal. Did it ever occur to DC to just contact the various creators and renegotiate that on a per book basis? The way publishers do in the adult world? I'll go on record here and now as saying I would be happy to renegotiate on a per book basis if it meant DC would reprint my Black Lightning work. I'd like to see those stories back in print. I suspect most other creators would be willing to renegotiate as well. Tony This royalty issue has been raised, but I think it’s absurd. Yes, it’s true many of the DC contracts of the era call for per page reprint fees. Big deal.

Did it ever occur to DC to just contact the various creators and renegotiate that on a per book basis? The way publishers do in the adult world?

I’ll go on record here and now as saying I would be happy to renegotiate on a per book basis if it meant DC would reprint my Black Lightning work. I’d like to see those stories back in print.

I suspect most other creators would be willing to renegotiate as well.

Tony

]]> By: Dan Coyle http://comicsworthreading.com/2006/09/07/1029/#comment-33028 Dan Coyle Thu, 07 Sep 2006 19:57:50 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2006/09/07/1029/#comment-33028 Isn't there some dispute over how much royalties are paid on reprints of DC material from 1976-1997? I think that was cited as a reason why the <i>Jonah Hex</i> collection stopped short of reprinting any of the ongoing and slotted in unrelated "bonus" stories. That may have something to do with it, but I doubt it. It's the only thing I could think of. Isn’t there some dispute over how much royalties are paid on reprints of DC material from 1976-1997? I think that was cited as a reason why the Jonah Hex collection stopped short of reprinting any of the ongoing and slotted in unrelated “bonus” stories. That may have something to do with it, but I doubt it. It’s the only thing I could think of.

]]>