L.E. Becker, owner of WARP 9 in Clawson, Michigan, writes in to share his frustration regarding the ever increasing number of late comic book titles from big name creators:

Are you kidding me?  Marvel just announced that issue #73 of Wolverine will be coming out ONE WEEK BEFORE #72, because they want retailers to "capitalize" on the new movie with a brand new storyline that ties in more closely with said movie.  Translation: Millar/McNiven couldn't get their issue out on time.

Now, I have great respect for #73's artists Adam Kubert and Tommy Lee Edwards, and writers Jason Arron and  Daniel Way.  All four creators tell interesting stories and all have a modest following.  However, my orders for their book are less than 1/2  my orders for Millar's and McNiven's run.  And #72 isn't even the conclusion of the story!  We have to wait for Old Man Logan King Size Special #1 to get THAT ending... and who knows when THAT will be out?

As a retailer AND a fan, and let me tell you... I am NOT feeling the respect.  I am not usualy one to rant (yes, that's sarcasm), but here it is...

If you want to make movies (i.e., Wanted and Kick Ass), then go make movies... just finish the job you were given or agreed to do FIRST.  If the comic isn't making enough money for you and you need to branch off into a different field, then go... leave... but at least have the courtesy to finish the job in the amount of time agreed to.  I know Mr. Millar was suffering from Crohn's0 disease during Civil War, and that is one of the reasons as to why it was delayed, but, as far as I have heard, there was NOTHING mentioned of a relapse.

But this is par for the comic industry.  Because if it's not Millar, then its Miller/Lee (All Star Batman and Robin), or Morrison/Quitely (All Star Superman), or J.G. Jones (Final Crisis) or Kevin Smith (too numerous to mention), or the guy from Lost (Ultimate Hulk/Wolverine).  I mean, c'mon guys... take some responsibility for your work and... I don't know... FINISH something.

Do you know why retailers won't order extras of your titles or try anything new?  Because certain comic creators (i.e., the ones mentioned above) can not be trusted to turn their work in on a timely basis.

Jeph Loeb/Ed Mcguinness... I'm looking at you.  Likewise Joss Whedon and Geoff Johns.  I love Dave Finch's artwork...but to wait 3 extra months for the next issue of Ultimatum?  Forget it.  Kevin Smith did a Batman 3 issue series, and because he has a rep for NOT finishing a book (Daredevil: The Target), sales on that book were mediocre.  Many retailers said that the book did fine, but imagine how the book would have performed if Smith didn't have the stigma of being late all of the time.  Just admit to your limits and don't try to work on a series if you can't finish.  There is NO excuse in the world that a person can give as to why a 6-issue miniseries takes four years to complete.

Publishers are to blame too.  If you have a Loeb or Millar on a title, wait at least until they have five issues (or whatever) completed before anything is solicited.  And I wouldn't pay the full rate UNTIL you knew that the majority of the issues were finished.  They can't agree to that?  Oh well... on with the next artist and/or writer.  The amount of money that is LOST waiting between issues of "hot" books by "hot" artists/writers is staggering.

Take for example Halo 3.  On issue #1 we ordered very heavy and it was selling.  However, the one year gap between #2 and #3, and the TWO YEAR gap between #3 and #4 not only lost momentum for the title, but has cost us what would have been at least a four figure revenue from said series (just as a note, we ordered 10% of our #1 orders and STILL have some left on the rack after almost 2 weeks... pitiful).

There are many talented writers/artists who are seemingly able to get their stuff out on time on a regular basis.  Despite my personal feelings about the man, John Byrne had ALWAYS turned in his work on time with Marvel, and he was writing AND penciling his own titles, TWO OR MORE at a time (i.e., Fantastic Four and Alpha Flight).  Jack Kirby in his day did three or more titles at a time and still completed astronaut training and ran the United States Post Office  (okay... that might be a BIT of an exaggeration).

The opinions expressed in this Talk Back article are solely those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial staff of ICv2.com.