DC performed the classic big corporation maneuver when confronted with competition; offer the competitor a lot of money and promises then squelch them. The problem with most black comic book artists (and comic book artists in general) is that all they really want to do is work for DC or Marvel. When DC came calling our boys at Milestone fell for the okey doke. No disrespect to them because it's hard not to. The unfortunate thing is apparently they had no advisor or mentor to brief them on what would happen once they signed on the dotted line. They may have made the same decision, but at least they would have been stabbed in the chest instead of the back. I work for a company that thrives on acquisitions and we do what DC did to Milestone all the time. It's not good or bad; it's just business. The only way a black owned comic book company will gain true stature and influence is to resist the temptation when the big boys come calling, then prepare themselves for the attack that will take place once they refuse. If they can weather the storm the long term payoff will be worth it.
--- On Thu, 9/3/09, ravenadal <ravena...@yahoo.com> wrote: From: ravenadal <ravena...@yahoo.com> Subject: [scifinoir2] DC Screws McDuffie and Buries Milestone To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com Date: Thursday, September 3, 2009, 1:58 PM http://selux. notlong.com DC Screws McDuffie and Buries Milestone Source: Pop Culture Shock Pop Culture Shock posted a great article here about the plight of Dwayne McDuffie and the Milestone characters. I am not going to go over the ins and outs of the events leading up to the subject of the article, but to summarize my understanding is that DC signed McDuffie to write for the JLA, and then handcuffed him by taking away the Big 3 (Supes, Bats, and WW) and then basically limiting him to the C,D and E team characters. As part of DCs overall deal with McDuffie, they also acquired the Milestone line of characters, including Static. Obviously, due to the popularity of Static, its apparent that the whole thing was to get control of Static for use in the DC universe. EDIT: BTW-check out the Pop Culture Shock link because it has an interview with McDuffie about the whole ordeal. http://www.popcultu reshock.com/ didio-plans- milestoners- static/50200/ I am pretty sure that DC's committment to integrating the Milestone characters into the DC universe was a temporary ruse. It seems that DC is notorius for picking up popular characters and comic lines just so they can't be used anywhere else. So, here we have DC picking up Milestone and deciding not to use the characters at all, except for the one they wanted: Static (now appearing as a member of Teen Titans). The end result being that McDuffie can't even use or license those characters to anyone else (Marvel), or use them in a relaunch of Milestone (not saying that was likely, but the time IMO is right). DC takes the characters and places them on the shelf. Can't say I'm not surprised to see McDuffie get screwed over by DC. It isn't like they were very welcoming from the get go. I remember how hyped I was when Milestone first started. Comic books for black people by black people. Recently, I evengot copies of every single Milestone comic. It was revolutionary and those guys were ahead of their time. It was also giving black artists and writers who weren't getting gigs at Marvel and DC a place to showcase their talent and many careers were launched as a result. At that time there wasn't a lot of support for Milestone, and it didn't stay around long enough. But I think that now would be the ideal time for something like Milestone. With the success of Blade and Will Smith at the box office, the rise of the webcomics and iPhone comic viewers, and the future of comic distribution, I have no doubt that Milestone would have been successful on a relaunch. I know that McDuffie & Friends hold these characters dear to their hearts (and wallets) and I know that they ultimately bear the responsibilty( DC probably gave them a boatload of money) for the fuckery that DC is perpetuating against them (just because I pay for the sex, doesn't mean I want to get raped). So, here's to you DC, for showing your ass once again.
