INTERVIEW: BOB LAYTON ON COMIC book BABYLON’S CLIFFORD METH

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Comic book Babylon

What truly occurred to comic art legend gene Colan? Why did author Harlan Ellison want to slap publisher Jim Warren? as well as what occurs when Barry Smith can’t discover his Windsor? never one to pull punches, questionable author Clifford Meth has taken the wraps off of his extremely anticipated tell-all ComicBook Babylon, a book that’s been a decade in the making. In Meth’s book, which evaluates in at almost 400 pages, you’ll discover Stan Lee speaking frankly about Jack Kirby, Alan Moore speaking frankly about everyone, and, after a decade of silence, Meth’s telling of the genuine story behind Dave Cockrum’s missing X-Men royalties. This brutal as well as frequently hysterical page-turner opens with an introduction from Stan Lee as well as is beautifully illustrated by Michael Netzer.

Artist legend Bob Layton, who Meth focuses on in his essay “Man as well as Iron Man,” had a few concerns of his own for the author.

Bob Layton: With the purchase of marvel by the ominous business Mouse, over two-thirds of the comic market is now had by two huge intellectual residential or commercial property farms, namely Disney as well as Warner Bros. My concern to you is: Disney hasn’t created a Donald Duck comic in decades however the character lives on as part of Americana. exactly how long, if ever, do you believe it will be before some brown-nose at the business office realizes that a lot of of their comics are a “loss leader” as well as tries to persuade administration to pull the plug on marvel publishing?

Clifford Meth: I believe that is happening already, Bob, as well as that the inevitability of that circumstance was stitched into the purchase. Rock-and-roll is no longer the dominant prominent music form, as well as we believed that would last forever. Comic books—even book-books—are destined for the tar pit. however it was fun while it lasted, as well as we have a few generations of death throes ahead of us, so let’s look on the bright side.

Layton: Our market treats its professional artists as well as writers nearly as poor as the film as well as television market does their retirees. If you might modification the system, exactly how would Clifford Meth build a policy that would insure that our living treasures might online our their staying years with respect as well as dignity? business funding? A voluntary contribution system much like election donations?

Meth: The amount of money as well as effort that it would take for Disney as well as Warners to build retirement scenarios for its long-lasting contributors—meaning everybody from full-time utilize to ‘work-for-hire’ freelancer—is miniscule. little contributions—automated as well as needed at some level, then ramped-up on a voluntary basis—could be satisfied with generous matching programs on a dollar-to-dollar or even two-to-one scale if the business division is fairly profitable. Redistribution of riches is unnecessary if riches is distributed proportionally as well as relatively from the start. Under the Meth plan, which we may also called Aardwolf Publishing, creators share revenues in a transparent system. Disney as well as Warners would not experience from a fair as well as I attempt state generous payment model. In fact, I believe it would behoove them. everybody wishes to work where the lawn is greenest.

Layton: You when asked me what the greatest point of my occupation was. exactly how about you?

Meth: When we accepted Marvel’s offer for Dave Cockrum. It doesn’t get much much better than that. At least it hasn’t.

Layton: as well as what was the lowest point?

Meth: When I was asked by a charity that I was working for to falsify papers as well as I refused. as well as I resigned the next day with my attorney Leo Klein. Or perhaps that was the greatest point. In any type of event, I was unexpectedly without any type of source of income. however I was still my father’s son.

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Comic book Babylon