The word is out (via The Hollywood Reporter) that Marvel Comics is leaving New York and moving to Los Angeles.
Back in the 1980s and 90s, a trip to the Marvel offices usually meant I’d be spending the entire day there—not just discussing work with my editors, but catching up on our lives, discussing (to purloin a phrase) life, the universe, and everything with an extraordinary editorial staff that included Danny Fingeroth, Tom DeFalco, Mark Gruenwald, Mike Carlin, Bob Budiansky, Carl Potts, Ann Nocenti, and many more. These folks weren't just my editors, they were friends—and the Marvel office was a kind of home away from home. (The same was true of the Distinguished Competition. I'd often spend one day at Marvel, another at DC. Different faces, same vibe.)
Those offices were a place to work, but they were also places to hang out, meet up with fellow freelancers, goof around, share ideas. So much history, so many wonderful memories. Knowing both companies are gone from New York makes me sad.
I'm still working with Marvel all these years later. The current staff is a talented group of good people—and I send them all my very best as they wrestle with tough decisions in the months ahead.
Calling something the end of an era is a tired cliche, but, in this case, it's justified. Comic books and New York City have been synonymous since the dawn of the industry. Not anymore.
It is probably the end of an era for another reason as well.
ReplyDeleteThere is ony one reason for them to move to Los Angeles. It is an official signal that the comics are in servie o teh movies and TV, not their own seperate element.
I mean... if we are honest... it has been that way for about 10-15 years. However, now it feels official. Comics are no longer their own thing.
It will also undoubtedly change teh persaonlaity of MArvel, even if DIsney does not take more of a role in the develpment. Cities have souls, and New York and Los Angeles souls are very differnt. Even New York boy Jack Kirby's work was very difernet when he moved to California. Not saying it will be worse or better, just that it will be different.
Jack.
P.S. since DC already moved to LA in the 2010s, it would have been nive if Marvel had been a little more original. Chicago, CLevelnd, Phoenix, Ann Arbor, Youngstown... there are so many other places, and MArvel could have ruled them like (to paraphrase Bart Simpson) Hell, damn, ass Kings
They could have skipped L.A. and gone to Cucamonga. At least that's got a distinctive ring!
DeleteI can;t wait for you to get a note from editorial saying you are writing Peter PArker "too New York," how will he play it Peoria?"
DeleteJack
May that NEVER come to pass!
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