Justice League Infinity #6, our penultimate issue, is out on Tuesday. The Multiverse is collapsing, the League is on the verge of defeat. Is this Infinity's End?
One thing about Stan Lee I was reminded of as I looked deeper into the FF stuff, was how much work he found for people. Bill Everett, despite how legendarily late he was on Daredevil #1, Carl Burgos, and even Jerry Siegel all got work form him in the 60s. He did not even make a big thing about how Marvel was now employing the the creator of the competitions most well known character.
Anyone who has ever worked freelance knows how important the person who throws you a job is when times get tough, and Stan did that for some Golden Age greats.
I know it is not as sexy as co-creating the FF and Spider-Man, or cameoing in vies, but I think this should also be listed in Stan Lee's list of accomplishments.
You could argue that with Everett and Burgos, he might have just needed artists or something. But, Siegel was another writer, and according to Roy Thomas, Lee actually felt awkward giving the jobs to someone so accomplished,almost like it was an insult.
Even the folks who tear Stan down (well, most of them) acknowledge that he was a great editor. And part of being a great editor is taking care of your freelancer (not that all editors do that!).
I was just reading, again, about Atlas in the 50s, when Stan had to fire so many staffer and tell freelancers that there was no more work. It clearly broke his heart. He really cared.
Like everyone else, I could tell you stories about oddities with editors. Now that is a book "Oddities from Editors: True Tales from the world OF Freelancers"
I will have to disagree with you, thou I think the realms we engage in via comics is the reason. IN my experience most of the people who want to tear Stan down want to claim he stole credit and did nothing, but also changed a lot.
I could go into all the reasons why that is bull crap, but instead I'll just point out why people think that. I have found most people who do not have editors are little more than proof-readers, who also make decisions on what goes in.
You and I both know that is wrong, but those people who don;t probably have not had anyone edit them really since school. And a teacher with 30 kids, or another student just assigned to it, will not be doing the full task.
And maybe that is part of the larger issue. People outside don't get some things. Stan worked for Marvel, and thus became a sort of authority figure as editor.
People who don;t understand what an editor really does ascribe views of other things onto him, and there you go. A lot of people have had bosses who take credit for their work.
Just a thought. However, I like to think that my previous posts on FF #51 showed my belief that it was a collaboration, and that the collaboration was getting the best results when it was equal. I hope that came through.
As for comics in the 50s. I remember once hearing that some comic creators became homeless during the 50s, most obviously just went into other businesses.
I think a fictionalized account of that era could make a great movie or mini series. SHowing the roller coaster of post-war comics. Eventually ending with some kind of fictional MArvel Revolution.
Point is, some of the history of behind the scenes comics is as interesting as he stories, but dont often get told.
Add to the list of American Reconstruction, Bass Reeves, Walter Reuther, and Sylvia Gradaner.
Bass Reeves has had a number of onscreen portrayals, most recently, in a highly-fictionalized form, in the terrific Netflix movie THE HARDER THEY FALL.
One thing about Stan Lee I was reminded of as I looked deeper into the FF stuff, was how much work he found for people. Bill Everett, despite how legendarily late he was on Daredevil #1, Carl Burgos, and even Jerry Siegel all got work form him in the 60s. He did not even make a big thing about how Marvel was now employing the the creator of the competitions most well known character.
ReplyDeleteAnyone who has ever worked freelance knows how important the person who throws you a job is when times get tough, and Stan did that for some Golden Age greats.
I know it is not as sexy as co-creating the FF and Spider-Man, or cameoing in vies, but I think this should also be listed in Stan Lee's list of accomplishments.
You could argue that with Everett and Burgos, he might have just needed artists or something. But, Siegel was another writer, and according to Roy Thomas, Lee actually felt awkward giving the jobs to someone so accomplished,almost like it was an insult.
Just saying.
Jack
Even the folks who tear Stan down (well, most of them) acknowledge that he was a great editor. And part of being a great editor is taking care of your freelancer (not that all editors do that!).
DeleteI was just reading, again, about Atlas in the 50s, when Stan had to fire so many staffer and tell freelancers that there was no more work. It clearly broke his heart. He really cared.
Like everyone else, I could tell you stories about oddities with editors. Now that is a book "Oddities from Editors: True Tales from the world OF Freelancers"
DeleteI will have to disagree with you, thou I think the realms we engage in via comics is the reason. IN my experience most of the people who want to tear Stan down want to claim he stole credit and did nothing, but also changed a lot.
I could go into all the reasons why that is bull crap, but instead I'll just point out why people think that. I have found most people who do not have editors are little more than proof-readers, who also make decisions on what goes in.
You and I both know that is wrong, but those people who don;t probably have not had anyone edit them really since school. And a teacher with 30 kids, or another student just assigned to it, will not be doing the full task.
And maybe that is part of the larger issue. People outside don't get some things. Stan worked for Marvel, and thus became a sort of authority figure as editor.
People who don;t understand what an editor really does ascribe views of other things onto him, and there you go. A lot of people have had bosses who take credit for their work.
Just a thought. However, I like to think that my previous posts on FF #51 showed my belief that it was a collaboration, and that the collaboration was getting the best results when it was equal. I hope that came through.
As for comics in the 50s. I remember once hearing that some comic creators became homeless during the 50s, most obviously just went into other businesses.
I think a fictionalized account of that era could make a great movie or mini series. SHowing the roller coaster of post-war comics. Eventually ending with some kind of fictional MArvel Revolution.
Point is, some of the history of behind the scenes comics is as interesting as he stories, but dont often get told.
Add to the list of American Reconstruction, Bass Reeves, Walter Reuther, and Sylvia Gradaner.
Jack
MAD MEN but with comics? A cool idea!
DeleteBass Reeves has had a number of onscreen portrayals, most recently, in a highly-fictionalized form, in the terrific Netflix movie THE HARDER THEY FALL.