Death In Disney Comics?

[Chris Hilbig]

Daniel van Eijmeren:

If there's one thing that a lot of famous artists complain about, it's
the huge amount of fans coming to their door and mailbox, or the huge
amount of fans making their public life impossible. Even helpful Barks
seems to have MOVED from time to time, to get some rest.

Not every artist is begging for attention from fans, or for hours of 
correspondence with anyone who's friendly. *And I wonder _how many_ 
artists are happy to just name themselves "Walt Disney", and enjoy 
their private lives. (* Using the corrected statement.)

Me:

I realize there are lunatics that stalk artists from time to time. I 
enjoy and love  William Van Horn's work, but I won't camp outside his 
house, follow him to the store, or break into his house to stare at him 
while he's sleeping.  I'm not talking about FAME as related to a 
hollywood celebrity, I'm talking about name recognition connected to 
CREDIBILITY, as in Don Rosa's latest U$ story is published this month, 
and I'll buy it because I know his work is excellent and won't 
disappoint, based on my past experience. It's not a matter of begging 
for the fans' attention, but attracting the fan's money so an artist 
can make the next mortgage payment or whatever bills there are.

As far as the fanatical go, I think they are few and far between. If I 
ever have to run into that type of problem, I'll invest in a nice shot 
gun or a large (scare you sh#tless type) dog.  :)  If you want to make 
a decent living doing comics then you need to build up credibility with 
readers. You won't be publish again if readers don't like your work. If 
they don't like your work, readers won't buy it. The point of having 
credibility and name recognition is to attract readers and make money. 
At some point, you might want to strike out on your own or with another 
publisher. It's tuff to do so if you don't have a following (not 
groupies) of readers that enjoy, respect, and will buy your work.

  That being said, most artists and writers in the business are more 
likely to get hit by a bus before ever being harassed by a fan. I'm 
sure they enjoy a nice quite private life as well. However any given 
artist deals with this issue (if at all) is up to him or her. Unless 
you go to conventions, book stores, etc to heavily promote your work, I 
seriously doubt you'll ever be recognized in person.


Daniel van Eijmeren:

And I also wonder if there are artists who might think: "No royalties,
then no credits." I mean, why does one want to see his/her PERSONAL name
being printed and reprinted for free, into infinity, without *any* 
control
on where and how?

I believe Rosa also has complained about comics being sold with all-too-
obvious credits using his name (on the covers?), and that he wanted to 
be
paid for those credits, because he thought it was a way of misusing his
name. Correct me if I'm wrong. I don't remember the details, but I'm 
sure
that others can fill me in.

Rosa also has complained that editors/translators change his stories, 
and
that readers as a result would think it was credited artist Rosa himself
who made the "error". Without those credits, readers will just blame the
*Disney company* instead of Don Rosa. So, that would be an advantage, 
too.

Me:

Disney is pretty heavy-handed when it comes to controlling their 
properties. Ethically, Rosa should own the rights to his work for 
Disney. And when Disney or a licensee publishes his work, they would 
buy the specific publishing rights (North American, Danish, etc) from 
Rosa to publish or republish that one time and provide Rosa just 
compensation (royalties or a flat payment). But when an artist creates 
material for Disney or a licensee, he/she sells ALL of the rights to 
Disney. In other words, you create a Disney comic, the publisher buys 
it from you to do whatever they they want.  Regardless of if they screw 
up  the story or not, editors/translators have the rights to do as they 
please. (Not they they should or make a habit of it.) No one has  to 
work for a Disney publisher, but if you do, that's some of the (I'm 
sure of) many little things that you have to put up with and expect. So 
if you're going to be thin-skinned, then don't work for a Disney 
publisher.  Errors and blame are to be expected where ever you go, 
whoever you work for. I know Rosa cares a great deal for his work, but 
when a publisher makes an error with his work, I'm sure he won't cry 
himself to sleep at night over it. :P  If it results in criticism from 
fans, I'm sure Rosa will let the publishers know of it or make note of 
the error in this forum or somewhere else online. (Not that he has to, 
but because he cares enough to do so.) Ethically, I think I'd be 
incumbent a pond the publisher to contact Rosa or whoever to get it 
right. Assuming they are able to schedule enough time to do so.


What I said before:

> It's frustrating some of the reactions I get just mentioning comic
> books, let alone any Disney material. It's not like I'm even obsessive
> or anything. (Or I don't think I am.) But it's not easy mentioning
> comic books in everyday conversation unless it involves a movie.

Daniel van Eijmeren:

I'm wondering if the Duck "family tree", "life story" and "mammal duck"
attempts are partly based on such frustrations. ("Look! This man isn't
a fantasy Duck! He has a *pedigree*, just like your dog!")

Now me:

I brought up the stigma "Disney Comics are only for kids", because in 
the USA, adults are expected not to read  Disney Comic books. In fact, 
your expected to grow out of comic books all together by high school. 
In both respects, I'm an oddity. This sometimes makes conversation a 
bit difficult because most people focus their interests in other 
things. If I brought up the Duck family tree to a stranger, more likely 
than not the other person won't know or care to know. I'll live. :P  I 
also made the statement 'Disney editors in Europe are quite lucky 
because they don't have to deal with the stigma of "Disney Comics are 
only for kids"' because I have been left under the impression the 
adults in Europe actively purchase and enjoy Disney comics in much 
larger numbers then would ever be seen here in the US. You correct me 
if I'm wrong on that account.


Chris Hilbig