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Post by MDG on Sept 20, 2023 14:25:15 GMT -5
I'm not sure but I believe a number of people had hit, or were nearing, retirement age (Julius Schwartz was well past it, Curt Swan, Kurt Schaffenberger, and E. Nelson Bridwell were all right around it), so I'm guessing some retired and others DC "asked" to retire, clearing the way for a lot of new people. Well Curt Swan held on for dear life, continuing to pick up odd jobs at DC and publicly calling the company out in interviews for not giving him more work, so there's at least one instance of a pretty forceful "ask" to retire. I can't speak on the rest. In 1980 at a con, Mike Grell told me that Swan had a deal (maybe just a "handshake deal"), that he would be the highest paid artist at DC, and he didn't care if it was only a dollar more a page, that's what he wanted. I guess that worked for a while, but I'm sure pretty soon after that he wasn't as valuable to DC as he was in the 70s. I don't know how much he had to keep working into the 80s (remember that Johnny Romita wrangled himself the "Art Director" title at Marvel mainly so he could get benefits). And (IMO) Swan remained a welcome presence in specials and annuals.
But the industry in which DC dominated for 30+ years had changed drastically, and I get the feeling that Jeanette Kahn (along with Giordano and Levitz) had to drag the company kicking and screaming into the 80s.
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
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Post by shaxper on Sept 20, 2023 14:43:47 GMT -5
Well Curt Swan held on for dear life, continuing to pick up odd jobs at DC and publicly calling the company out in interviews for not giving him more work, so there's at least one instance of a pretty forceful "ask" to retire. I can't speak on the rest. In 1980 at a con, Mike Grell told me that Swan had a deal (maybe just a "handshake deal"), that he would be the highest paid artist at DC, and he didn't care if it was only a dollar more a page, that's what he wanted. I guess that worked for a while, but I'm sure pretty soon after that he wasn't as valuable to DC as he was in the 70s. I don't know how much he had to keep working into the 80s (remember that Johnny Romita wrangled himself the "Art Director" title at Marvel mainly so he could get benefits). And (IMO) Swan remained a welcome presence in specials and annuals. I have a whole theory I've worked out on Swan's unusual arrangement with DC in the Post-Crisis, but it's admittedly imperfect and is missing some key information. Needless to say, though, there are details about the arrangement that just don't add up. |
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Sept 20, 2023 14:47:39 GMT -5
I've been slowly reading through Crisis (I can't take more than about an issue a day), and commenting on Shax's notes.
It hasn't gotten any better since the last time I read it.
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Post by thwhtguardian on Sept 20, 2023 16:25:24 GMT -5
I've been slowly reading through Crisis (I can't take more than about an issue a day), and commenting on Shax's notes. It hasn't gotten any better since the last time I read it. You're a better man than I, I stopped at #7. I really remember enjoying this back in the day but it was such a slog this time around. |
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Sept 20, 2023 16:30:14 GMT -5
I've been slowly reading through Crisis (I can't take more than about an issue a day), and commenting on Shax's notes. It hasn't gotten any better since the last time I read it. You're a better man than I, I stopped at #7. I really remember enjoying this back in the day but it was such a slog this time around. I remember liking it in 1986, though I HATED the effect. I don't remember the last time I re-read it, but it's likely been 20 years or more. I didn't like it then at all. This re-read is very painful. I can't guarantee I'll make it to #12. |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Sept 20, 2023 16:38:15 GMT -5
You're a better man than I, I stopped at #7. I really remember enjoying this back in the day but it was such a slog this time around. I remember liking it in 1986, though I HATED the effect. I don't remember the last time I re-read it, but it's likely been 20 years or more. I didn't like it then at all. This re-read is very painful. I can't guarantee I'll make it to #12. It's been about twenty years for me too |
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,860
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Post by shaxper on Sept 20, 2023 21:24:41 GMT -5
I've been slowly reading through Crisis (I can't take more than about an issue a day), and commenting on Shax's notes. It hasn't gotten any better since the last time I read it. I made it to issue #8. I'll go further if you manage to catch up  |
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Post by impulse on Sept 26, 2023 10:19:14 GMT -5
Oh, wow! I've been sleeping under a rock or something. I had no idea there was a CCF podcast and Patreon. I love that this is a thing, guys. And secret members-only section on the forum... how mysterious.
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,860
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Post by shaxper on Sept 26, 2023 16:38:20 GMT -5
And secret members-only section on the forum... how mysterious.  |
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