We do our best to avoid yapping about editorial moves, but I found this one very interesting. Smack dab in the middle of 52, DC editor Stephen Wacker moves across town to Marvel. After hearing about how great the experience was on 52, they must have made him a hell of an offer. Or I guess they could have been full of it. Who’s to say?
I would like to officially announce my candidacy as Wacker’s replacement on 52.
Actually, can you imagine the hellish life the new guy has to look forward to? Grizzly.
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I don’t care when a comic comes out, as long as it is well done when it does, finally, come out. The art should to be good enough to deliver the story being told. Some plots are simpler than others. If the story isn’t very complex the art doesn’t have to be either. Over a story arc the release needs to be consistent. Having months go by between part A, part B, and part C of a story is annoying. It pulls me out of the world of the story and then it is hard to get back in. My largest gripe is with rescheduling issues in the middle of an arc. Pacing is important in this type of story telling and when the releases are inconsistent I begin to take a lot less enjoyment from the comic. Just release the comic when it is ready and keep in mind the scope of the story you are telling. Can it be told well over the amount of time you producing it in? If not then hold some issues back and release them at a steady pace. What is wrong with that? If I am telling you a story in a bar…and…there…are…long…gaps…in…the…telling then the exchange suffers and the story becomes less than it is.
“The next person�the very next person�who dares even hint that Steve Wacker was ever in any way �unprofessional� is going to be eating through a straw for the rest of his goddamned life.”
-Mark Waid, in (of all places!) the Newsarama forums
I would imagine that 52 is pretty much wrapped now, at least in terms of what they would need Wacker for, like the writing etc, now its just managing the art (Which they obviously don’t care about) and the printing and releasing..
I would find it crazy to think he’d walk away from that gig unfinished
Besides, do we really care about what editor goes where? is that what we’ve come to?
-Mark Waid, in (of all places!) the Newsarama forums
It’s hard to describe how close the guys that worked on 52 are, or appear to be. Seeing them in San Diego you could tell there is a special bond between Rucka, Morrison, Waid, Johns & Wacker.
No way they’re pretty much done with with. There are 30 issues to go. The editor is in charge of coordinating everything. I’m sure the story breakdowns are almost done, but I bet the job isn’t even halfway finished.
The reason I bring it up is that he must have walked away from it unfinished. Had it been done, he would have had his name on the whole project, which, if pulled off correctly, would have been about the biggest job recommendation he’d ever need. So Axel Alonzo or Mike Marts moving around doesn’t really interest me, but this was a hell of a big thing he was in the middle of, and he walked.
Mark Waid SMASH!
Something hardball must have gone on behind the scenes. It’s hard to imagine that in the not-so-cuthroat world of comics that one company would poach another company’s flagship project editor just like that.
This may show us, how well built is this ship?
I remember Rucka (or Waid) saying that people were looking at 52 like Nascar, waiting for the crash!.
I seems that Marvel couldn�t wait for time or talent to do it, so they had to jump in and make it happen.
For all they had going for them, they couldn�t just let DC had 52.
“Marvel couldn’t let…”? I don’t wanna go all comics-forum or anything, but I have a feeling the guy wasn’t kidnapped from his office. I haven’t read the contracts, but I imagine he himself did have some say in which building his cubicle is in.
Now I picture Joe Quesada at the helm of a pirate ship, firing cannons into office windows and shanghaiing employees like in that Monty Python movie.
52! I thought that guy’s name sounded familiar. Wow. That is a devil of a thing to walk away from in the middle.
Now I picture Joe Quesada at the helm of a pirate ship, firing cannons into office windows and shanghaiing employees like in that Monty Python movie.
That would be awesome.
I don’t know. I read the interview and Quesada said, We’ve been dancing this dance for years, but this seemed to be the right time (or something). The right time, in the middle of 52, the biggest project DC has had,editorial-wise, over the last years.
Frankly, I can’t imagine Wacker getting up one day, saying: you know what, maybe i’ll go over to marvel (unless there is something more that they’re not telling). I think they must have shown him the bucks to make him do the switch.
PIRATE TERMINOLOGY TO DATE
*the not-so-cuthroat world of comics – Andy Lawler
*how well built is this ship – Sim�n
*Joe Quesada at the helm of a pirate ship – Jimski
It must be because pirates are so easy to relate to when it comes to the common man.
Wait…
That’s the way of business – you want to hire someone good away from a competitor, you throw money or whatever at them.
Can’t really fault anyone, that’s business.
It’s funny, I was thinking about this and in my job, if I want to quit I can’t go work for a competitor for like six months or something; it’s in my contract. If comics worked like that, everyone would either (a) never leave their jobs, or (b) would never work.
Conor:
The no-compete aspect is interesting, as is the fact that Wacker clearly was operating without a contract, since he could leave at such a moment. One wonders if editors are even ON contract, because you’d think they’d lock up someone on a project like 52 to avoid this.
Arr! Looks like that rusty scow 52 is apt to spring a leak or so!
I know that’s the way of business, and also can’t blame Wacker for accepting a better money offer.
I’m just considering that maybe Marvel did this to throw a monkey wrench into the 52 process (not exclusively, but in part). By the looks of it Wacker is a great & efficient editor, but couldn’t they just make the move when 52 was wrapping up.
Is the competition this savage in the comic book world, or am I just reading to much into it?.
Also, DC is paying the lack of foresight for not securing Wacker for the duration of 52.
**off topic**
Who would win in a fight: PIRATE SPEAK or THOR SPEAK?
I’m just considering that maybe Marvel did this to throw a monkey wrench into the 52 process (not exclusively, but in part). By the looks of it Wacker is a great & efficient editor, but couldn’t they just make the move when 52 was wrapping up.
Why should Marvel take into consideration how busy their competition might be?
I just think it’s useless to speculate the motives of people and businesses we know nothing about.
That’s not to say that I don’t think that Marvel didn’t take a little bit of joy at taking away the editor of DC’s highest profile project in the middle of said project.
Thorspeak is the new hotness.
Verily.
Yarrr, I’m not really clear on what an editor does. Me hearties.
In the case of 52, I imagine an air traffic controller. Valuable, talented, not irreplaceable. I have no corporate conspiracy theories about this jolly good fellow changing jobs (Mr. Waid, sir) but the Freemasons aren’t denying involvement.
Wacker Speaks!
http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2006/09/29/wiki-wacky-woo/
Wacker Speaks!
(Correction)
http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/WAcker/Week20/Wackergoodbye.html
A NEW CONTESTANT HAS ENTERED THE RING:
“WACKER-SPEAK”
Newsarama should be putting background midis with “my heart will go on”-esque music to every Statement done by Marvel recently. First the whole Support Steve McNiven Rally, and now Steve Wacker’s goodbye letter.
Quite emotional I must tell you (except the editor monkey part, that’s kinda funny).
Newsarama should be putting background midis with “my heart will go on”-esque music to every Statement done by Marvel recently
Ok, that was really funny. honestly. I’m literally laughing out loud. nice work Simon.