Active Topics | Member List | Search | Help | Register | Login
The John Byrne Forum
Byrne Robotics > The John Byrne Forum << Prev Page of 4
Topic: Diversity! Post ReplyPost New Topic
Author
Message
John Byrne
Avatar
Grumpy Old Guy

Joined: 11 May 2005
Posts: 132137
Posted: 26 November 2020 at 7:37am | IP Logged | 1 post reply

Money is a huge factor here, IMO, because DC owns derivative characters without there being a 'creator' for the derivative characters, where if someone created a 'new' character for them, then they would have to deal with all that. So derivative versions of established characters are easier to own, and this new WW, I believe, is going to become the new Wonder Girl - kind of like how we got a new black Aqualad - an all-new, all-different derivative character.

••

Yet Roger Stern gets royalties for Hobgoblin, aka Green Goblin 2.0.

Back to Top profile | search
 
Wallace Sellars
Byrne Robotics Member
Avatar

Joined: 01 May 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 17659
Posted: 26 November 2020 at 10:34am | IP Logged | 2 post reply

Count me among those who don’t care for making Cyborg a member of
the Justice League. Black Lightning (or Amazing Man) would have
been my choice.
Back to Top profile | search | www
 
John Wickett
Byrne Robotics Member
Avatar

Joined: 12 July 2016
Location: United States
Posts: 795
Posted: 26 November 2020 at 5:47pm | IP Logged | 3 post reply

"Yet Roger Stern gets royalties for Hobgoblin, aka Green Goblin 2.0."

John, how does that typically work with regard to comics?  

I've heard many times that Black Vulcan was created as a substitute for Black Lightning, in order to avoid paying Tony Isabella royalties on the Superfriends.  So it makes sense (although it sucks) that DC would avoid using a character in TV or movies in order to avoid royalty payments to the creator.  But I didn't think creators got royalties for appearances in comic books.  It seems like we'd have a lot fewer team ups and guest appearances if that were the case.
Back to Top profile | search
 
Ted Pugliese
Byrne Robotics Member
Avatar

Joined: 05 December 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 7979
Posted: 27 November 2020 at 11:58am | IP Logged | 4 post reply

I don't know exactly how it works, but Gerry Conway
was writing recently (last year or so) about how even
though he created Killer Frost, he didn't create the
new Killer Frost and wasn't getting royalties, but
since she is a derivative of the original, then nobody
did, and noby was getting royalties, e.g. you can't
get credit for creating the new Wonder Woman or the
new Wonder Girl when both already exist. Look for it.
It's kinda cool.

And H-B did create their own Black Vulcan to avoid
paying for the use of Black Lightning. Sad.

So I can only assume the Hobgoblin is different enough
from the Green Goblin - different costumed name and
different secret identity - to be a unique character.
Back to Top profile | search | www
 
Ted Pugliese
Byrne Robotics Member
Avatar

Joined: 05 December 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 7979
Posted: 27 November 2020 at 12:18pm | IP Logged | 5 post reply

As for Cyborg, I blame Geoff Johns (and probably The
Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians cartoon) but he
is such an important part of the Titans, both in the
comics and the cartoons, that it just seems wrong to
me to make him an original member of the Justice
League, especially with Black Lightning, and more
recently, John Stewart playing such an important roll
in the Justice League cartoons and comics.

Hal Jordan is probably my all-time favorite super
hero, but John Stewart is so good and makes so much
sense that I think he should be/should have been a
"new" founding member in the New 52 and the movie. In
fact, since the success of the cartoon, he should help
compose the Big Four at DC, helping to firmly
legitimize African-American super heroes in comics,
movies, and pop culture. Black Lightning should be on
the team too, and they should have a legitimate best
friendship like the others do and have had. He,
Jefferson, and Vixen could be the Superman, Batman,
and Wonder Woman of the Black community, and they
deserve equal time on the biggest team.

I would let John Stewart headline a New Green Lantern
series, like he used to, and use Green Lantern Corps
to focus on Kyle with Hal as his older mentor. As
long as the books sell or promote the property with
enough purpose to justify publication.

I love the Justice League and all the originals, but
as long as the Big Three are in the book, it will
always be the Justice League. The rest of the roster
could be more representative of the rest of the public
- without being forced or any more derivative.
Back to Top profile | search | www
 
John Byrne
Avatar
Grumpy Old Guy

Joined: 11 May 2005
Posts: 132137
Posted: 27 November 2020 at 12:28pm | IP Logged | 6 post reply

Just be glad Wolverine isn’t a founding member of the JLA.
Back to Top profile | search
 
Eric Sofer
Byrne Robotics Member
Avatar

Joined: 31 January 2014
Location: United States
Posts: 4789
Posted: 27 November 2020 at 4:05pm | IP Logged | 7 post reply

Wait, didn't I see in the 2010s that Wolverine IS now involved in the founding of the JLA? >ducking quickly<.

Well, it seems he was in every other damned comic. Wouldn't be surprised if Wong or Jarvis replaced him in their respective roles. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised to find out he was dating Night Nurse...
Back to Top profile | search
 
Neil Lindholm
Byrne Robotics Member
Avatar

Joined: 12 January 2005
Location: China
Posts: 4939
Posted: 28 November 2020 at 1:49am | IP Logged | 8 post reply

This cartoon came to mind...

Back to Top profile | search e-mail
 
John Byrne
Avatar
Grumpy Old Guy

Joined: 11 May 2005
Posts: 132137
Posted: 28 November 2020 at 7:01am | IP Logged | 9 post reply

The problem with the "write good stories" approach is that first we have to penetrate the firewall of the Shops. We have to get the material into the hands of the readers, who, before they can even make a purchase, have to locate a comic shop and go there. No impulse buying, as used to be a driving force in the industry.

Once in the shop, the potential reader has to hope the guy behind the counter also likes whatever product might be under consideration. Isn't "boycotting" an artist or writer, or burying the book in the back of the store.

Good stories? Great idea. But first the readers have to be able to, you know, READ them.

Back to Top profile | search
 

If you wish to post a reply to this topic you must first login
If you are not already registered you must first register

<< Prev Page of 4
  Post ReplyPost New Topic
Printable version Printable version

Forum Jump
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot create polls in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

 Active Topics | Member List | Search | Help | Register | Login