Cross-posted from La Villa Ajasont:
I read the article about Jim Steranko's appearance at Baltimore ComicCon over at CBR today.
Here's an idea: those of us that love Jim Steranko's work would like to see him do more comics in the way that Steranko SHOULD do comics. "You guys should pay me so I can finish this stuff," he said at one point.
Yeah, we should.
Jill Sobule and some other musicians have appealed to their fan bases to help them make a record. Why couldn't the same thing be done for Steranko? He posts a pitch for the book he'd like to do on his web page and then we contribute to help him out to make his page rate. Different contributions get your name mentioned, or even an appearance as a character.
I'll bet you that Image, at least and probably a couple other publishers, would agree to publish the book if Steranko finishes it.
The catch is this: just because you contribute doesn't mean you get the book for free and you certainly don't own any rights to the work, that's all Steranko. It might, however, get you a discount on the purchase (Steranko's part of the pie, maybe) and a signed copy and a thank you in the book.
This could work. I know it would work for someone like Byrne if we wanted him to finish John Byrne's Next Men comic. The idea is that for the fans to pay for the work to be done so that we can enjoy it and have it and to not have artists say "I need to make a page rate" and stop doing a work. It takes an excuse away if there are enough people to make the page rate that the artist can live with.
Something to think about anyway.
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3 comments:
An interesting idea. However, the problem with that particular idear is that anyone who contributes essentially has to pony up twice (with the contribution and with purchasing the book). Granted, those who contribute could get a "discount" on the finished product, but the total investment would still be more than joe average buying the book on a whim.
Why not have Steranko figure out what it would cost to do said book with a fairly decent print run and put a total dollar figure on his website (or where ever). Once he reaches the dollar figure, those who donate get the book in appreciation for their donation and everyone else has to buy it. If the book generates some serious buzz, I could see Image or someone picking up the tab to print more issues. That would give Steranko enough pocket change (and momentum) to get the next idea off the ground.
I just really don't see THAT many comic book fans, especially in this day and age agreeing to subsidize ANY artist just so they can have the latest project from his drawing board. Comic fans are just too fickle.
I'm a Steranko fan, but if he's going to get more money doing storyboards, or whatever, then I'll let him do it. If all he's worried about is $$$, then he doesn't need any of mine.
How about just pay him an advance that will be subtracted from the profits made from what money the book makes? You know, like what book publishers give to authors. Why should comics be different? Too bad that no one thought to establish this in comics years ago but no one who makes comic books has ever been accused of having much business sense.
Or let him do the work because he wants to, and will come up with honest, heart-felt (and, likely, better) material, and not have to whore himself out? It's a shame that one of comics' greatest masters has to prostitute himself (or, worse, just try).
I'll have more about this in the mailing comments of my next zine.
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