That wasn't my point though. Since the Hidden Years was cancelled, you have made it pretty clear that you wouldn't work for Marvel until there was a regime change. I have people I would love to use, but they have made the same thing clear. In my world, one of these talented folks posting something on their blog or facebook page or anything else hardly would count as expressing interest to me. I would need a phone call. I have to consider the work, not the rock star.

And yet you're still underscoring the problem: you won't use the talent because you haven't changed your M.O. in work ethic as you see it. Thus, Marvel hasn't changed their M.O., and they require JB or some other pro to change theirs.

If the best Fantastic Four comic book we could see today could be produced by John Byrne, and Marvel has had peripheral discussions and know JB is ready and willing to produce that comic (with a history of proven success, the litmus for any company), then it's Breevort's job to facilitate. It isn't JB's job to come to Marvel with hat in hand. It isn't anyone's job to beg for Mighty Marvel's stamp of approval. They are a publishing company.  Their job is to pander to talented people who can uniquely fulfill what few people can if they are not artists with the professional and technical backgrounds to produce quality work. Quality work that should be better than any other publishers quality work. Better than Dynamite. Better than Boom!. Better than DC.

Ric Flair used to say that to be the best, you had to beat the best. In Marvel's little pocket universe of Hollywood-ized bullshi**ers and accountants, they've forgotten what work ethic is. Why have a work ethic when you're just waiting for your rich uncle to die ie for Hollywood to translate all their characters to movies/television, removing the very need for print comics at all. Which is what Marvel is doing, I believe.

After spending 50 bucks at my comics shop (I go about once or twice a month) last friday, I was thinking about how the 12 year old me's head would have exploded after realizing that I only buy 2 (count em 2) comics TOTAL from either M***** or dc (and neither of those books are super-hero books).  Too much angst, too much blood and gore, too much 'realisim', not enough granduar, books too late and no one caring, too many 'events'.  When it comes to my entertainment I vote with my dollar, and after the dreck that I saw coming out of the 'big' 2, I decided that if they didn't care enough to put out SOMETHING that I would find entertaining, then I wouldn't care about buying any of their crap.  So I spend money elsewhere  There are too many other companies that truely try to put out quality material (imo), for me to worry about the wares of the dwindling 'big 2'.  If i was one of the rats on those two sinking ships, I would be grateful and excited to hear any suggestions from anyone, anywhere.

THANKS MESSRS. BREVOORT AND DIDIO!!!

man, i can't wait for Nextmen...    

Yes, he has.   Actually CO-written with someone by the name of Mike Kanterovich. (who?)

***

Mike Kanterovich is one of Tom's friends from the STAR BLAZERS Fan Club / Trelania A.P.A. days, and in my experience, is a nice guy. 

That said, I've never read Fantastic Force, nor Secret Defenders.

I just hope that Brevoort is here reading all of them.

This is all constructive criticism, because we all love comicbooks, and want them to succeed.

Wallace, I feel the same way.