<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><HTML><BODY BGCOLOR="#ffffff"><FONT BACK="#ffffff" style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=2 PTSIZE=10 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0">Don Rosa posted:<BR>
<BR>
I planned to have both Matilda *and* Hortense in that story until the<BR>
editors told me that they were both "officially dead". (The characters, not<BR>
the editors.) But I argued successfully for at least using Matilda.<BR>
<BR>
*snip*<BR>
<BR>
But once again, the editors decreed that LvD was<BR>
"officially dead" and I could not include him (even though Barks once used<BR>
him in a 1-page gag)<BR>
--------------------------------------------<BR>
<BR>
How/why are certain characters declared dead/offlimits? Is there some creative/artistic reason for doing so, or is it some corporate decision? While I'm sure the decisions are made thoughtfully, from the outside looking in, some of the decisions about who is "dead" and who isn't seem sort of arbitrary or haphazard. I don't know if you know the answers to these questions or not, but if you do, it would be interesting to hear it.<BR>
<BR>
My personal opinion, if the story is good and if the characters are true to their spirit, then who cares what characters are used in the story? A writer/artist should be able to use whoever they wish if the above is fulfilled.<BR>
<BR>
Derek Smith</FONT></HTML>