Thread by @GailSimone

A short discussion about creator-owned vs. work-for-hire work in comics.

There are some weird assumptions out there about this contrast. Some creators and readers ascribe virtue only to creator-owned work.

Either for ethical or creative reasons, they place creator-owned work above WFH, regardless of the quality of the work itself.

Fair enough.

There are also a good many people who feel that the ultimate goal in comics is to work on, say, Batman. Anything else is not true success.

It's a little silly. One guarantee is, in anyone's comics career, there will be no end of people telling them what they SHOULD be doing.

But comics is tough at every aspect. Everyone from creators to editorial to production is devoting their talent, time and energy to it.

Even a disappointing comic entails a great deal of effort, a lot of work with no guarantee of the hoped-for return.

My feeling on this is pretty simple. I want my favorite creators to do the work that challenges them, that makes them happy.

People do work-for-hire for a lot of different reasons. Calling a person a sell-out for working on a character they love seems silly.

And taking it personally that a favorite creator isn't writing or drawing your favorite superhero anymore seems unproductive, as well.

For myself, I did my career backwards...most new writers work on obscure, small-print comics and work their way up to WFH stuff...

...if that's the way they choose to go. Lots of people go that route.

For me, I was drafted almost immediately to writing the Simpsons, Deadpool, and Birds of Prey.

So I never had that fun indie experimental stage while breaking in, for the most part.

For that reason, a lot of my peers and friends had already worked on a bunch of creator-owned stuff before they ever wrote wfh stuff.

And I did sort of envy that. But, I stayed doing mostly Work For Hire, for several reasons.

One, DC offered a generous exclusive that included insurance (thanks, DC!). Two, I felt I could make a difference there...

...I wanted more female readers to like comics as much as I have, my entire life. That seemed a worthwhile way to spend my energy.

But third, I just happen to love writing these characters. I do. I have so many favorites, and I GET TO WRITE THEM.

So it is really no more complicated than that it makes me happy.

During the New52, things changed a bit. I still loved the DCU, but I felt very at odds with aspects of the editorial and creative approach.

Other creators had a much better handle on what the new plan was, where for me, it was a bit more sand in the oil.

I am proud of the books we did but there were some square peg/round hole situations, and it caused some friction.

My choice was to stay and continue to be a pain in the ass, or take the opportunity to step away from most wfh to develop my own stuff.

It's important to note that this was all me, none of this was DC's fault or doing, they were very supportive.

Anyway, I chose the latter. And I stepped away from most WFH barring a few fun things I couldn't turn down.

I loved it. I love Clean Room and Crosswind, and the other things I am developing, they feel tremendously personal. Investment is complete.

So, I get why many of the top people out there ONLY want to do their own stuff. However...

I go back to what I said before. Sometimes, sometimes...writing Batman just plain makes you happy.

This week, I got to write in the sandboxes of giants, people like Robert E. Howard, William Marston and Jack Kirby.

I have to repeat that to myself. I am a former hairdresser who lives in the boonies. I get to write Jack Kirby characters. And they PAY me.

I cannot for the life of me see what isn't wonderful about that. It's an honor and a joy.

My long, perhaps labored point is...there's no one right way to do comics. There's no one virtuous path to the exclusion of all others.

Comics are art, people do art for all manner of reasons. Good for them, I say.

Apologies for length. ;) As for me, I am going to continue to do creator-owned stuff, but I also missed the big universes, so...

...some big announcements coming soon. And for those who stuck with me, all the gratitude in the world. ;)

I got into this job to tell stories. To me, it literally is the best job in the world.

I wouldn't trade for anything.

Sometimes it's my characters, sometimes it's their characters.
I kinda love that.

Thanks for reading, now back to Cyclops-bashing.