New Brevoort Formspring

jimzub:

I wish I was the comic writing prophet you seem to think I am. I wrote some articles people like. I try to be as honest and straight forward as I can.

I would love to explain to you why hiring a more diverse pool of creators is a very good thing for Marvel and DC’s future success in a broadening international demographic and that it’s more about opening themselves up to skilled creators of all backgrounds not closing doors on people but, based on the language you used, I’m sensing that’s not going to have much effect. Let’s take a different approach-

Stop spending your time trying to figure out the ‘conspiracy’ keeping you from getting work for hire gigs. Do good work. Tell compelling stories. Be a decent human being with empathy and integrity. More opportunities will come from those things than shaking your fist at straw man enemies you think are out to get you. Marvel and DC are hiring based on skill and if you show skills that can’t be denied they would hire you. No one is turning away the next Alan Moore or Stuart Immonen because they’re a straight white male. Honest.

Beyond that, being hired by the “Big Two” doesn’t make you a success. I’ve been hired (and dropped) from projects by both companies at different points in my short comic writing career. Life goes on. The work is the work.

Jeff Smith didn’t need to be anointed by Marvel or DC to create Bone.

Same with Spike Trotman on Templar, Arizona.

Raina Telgemeier on Smile.

Bryan Lee O’ Malley on Scott Pilgrim.

Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore on The Walking Dead.

Brandon Montclare and Amy Reeder on Rocket Girl.

Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie on Phonogram.

I could name a hundred other great creators who didn’t start with (or have never worked on) superhero comics. If you limit yourself to assuming Marvel and DC are the only game in town you’re missing incredible work and trapping yourself in a fanboy feedback loop of assumptions about what publishers (including Marvel/DC) are looking for.

There are more opportunities for creators now than ever before thanks to the connectivity of the internet. We’re not limited by geography in terms of production or in terms of our characters and stories. That’s true for you, for me, and thousands of creators from different backgrounds, faiths, and orientations.

Your competition is global but the platform is too. Make the most of it.

(Alternately, keep shaking your fist feeling bitter wondering why no one has discovered your “hidden genius.” Your choice.)