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1987-We came in together. Tim Harkins, Ron Frenz, Chuck Dixon, Flint Henry & beau Smith
by beau Smith
The DEADPOOL movie is almost here. should do rather well at the box office, I’m guessing. most comic book readers will cough up the money to go see it. I’m sure I will at some point, without a crowd. I’m not much of a crowd person.
Deadpool-The Movie
In the last few weeks the news concerning the creation of DEADPOOL has circulated in the online press. Some folks were wanting to start Civil war early and make everyone pick side. While you’re picking sides, the media also wants you to decide if you hate Ben Affleck as Batman in Superman V. Batman, or do you just hate Ben Affleck. Hey, the guy doesn’t owe me any money or said anything bad about me, so in my thoughts, if he does great as Batman, then good. If he doesn’t, I won’t lose any sleep over it. It’s not my character.
Getting back to Deadpool, any of us that worked for image Comics back in the starting days could tell you stories about Rob Liefeld, Deadpool, creating things and such. Rob has never been a shy guy. He has always been a willing interview for folks and eager to tell tales around the campfire. we all did, do and will in the future. In a couple of months, this too shall pass. everyone changes, some do and get better, some don’t and get worse. It’s a choice nine times out of ten, no one to blame but the face in the mirror and the ego that lies within.
As a comic book creator/writer, I’ve always been a firm believer in owning something you’ve created. When you sign on, say for work with marvel or DC Comics, and it’s work-for-hire, then know that going in. during my long run with DC Comics in the 1990s, I created quite a few characters, and signed and have equity contracts for them. DC Comics was very good about giving equity to creators in the 1990s. I took full advantage of that, as I should’ve.
You never know when one character, no matter how small, weird or supporting, will one day catch the fancy of another creator or editor and take off. Granted, they will no doubt add a layer or two to your character, but if it takes off, then that’s an enhancement, to the readers and to you, creatively as well as money-wise. I’ve worked hard enough through my career where I own a lot of my creations that have seen print. Some have done just that, seen print. but others have gone on to further opportunities. The way I look at it is that the ones that have seen print, well, that’s the cake. That’s much more than I could’ve ever hoped for when deciding to make comic books my livelihood. Anything more than that has truly been icing.
Some creators are happy to continue to do work for hire, some of them very high profile creators that could push to do their own creations, but choose not to. I myself am not one that would be satisfied with doing work for hire only. I would’ve early in my career, but I also wanted to grow. My choice. I do not blame others for their choice. I may not understand it, but that’s their business, or lack of it.
Wynonna Earp-“I created This!”
Career cycles in comic books, when fortunate, have a ten year run: a few to ramp up, then peak, then a few to ramp down. It happens in sports, entertainment and comic books. It just does for the most part. I’ve found that if you surround yourself with good friends and co-workers, you can grow and things will always be added as productive layers. never isolate yourself with only like-minded people. nothing grows then. It just remains the same and you will all ramp down together. If you really, really want your creative career, then you will change, adapt and reinvent. I’m not saying you will abandon what got you there, I’m saying you will add to it.
Don’t stay within your own age tier. seek the friendship, true friendship, of those with more experience. get to know those younger with different ideas and passion. passion fuels so much in a creative job. You need support when starting a career and you need it when your career changes.
I’m sad to say, I have friends within the business that when change came, they refused to adapt. One worked for marvel Comics most of his career. When they no longer needed their services as much, and then at all, this person refused to do their best work for the other publishers that did want to work with them. This never miss a deadline creator, started missing deadlines, not calling editors back, all because they hung onto the fantasy that one day marvel would call them back and everything would be as it was before. It never happened.
I’ve had other friends do the same only with DC Comics. change is going to happen, please know this. even if you are the most popular comic book creator for a long run, it will fade at some point. even Stan Lee had his down times as a creator, but he reinvented himself. Connections, networking and self-marketing is more important today than ever before in comic books. You don’t have time for personal feuds with other creators. You don’t have time for gossip. You make friends and move on from those that seek to be distractors. Be honest in when you can help someone and when you cannot. Don’t seek help without bringing something to the table in talent yourself. Comic books are a business, not a charity.
I had an editor at DC Comics tell me upon receiving my pitches, that “We’ve already worked with you, Beau, we’re looking for something new. It’s not because I don’t think you’d do a great job, and your stuff always does good sales-wise, but I’m looking for something new.” (That’s what he said, minus a few words, but the general gist.) Yeah, I was hurt. Yeah, I was ticked off, but you know, I was also so glad he was honest. I didn’t agree with him at all, but at least he didn’t glad-hand me, waste my time, or string me along. I didn’t put him on my Revenge List, or spread bad words about him. I always said he was honest and I appreciated that, still do.
beau Smith-Eclipse Comics-1987 ChicagoCon.
This summer will mark 29 years I’ve worked in comic books. I am as stoked as I was back in 1987 when Dean Mullaney of Eclipse Comics, told me “You’re hired.” I mean that. If I had to list everyone that I needed to thank, it would take weeks. I’m looking forward to adding even more people to that list as time moves on.
Nobody is perfect, but be as honest as you can, be a good friend, and always be creative.
Your amigo,
Beau Smith
The flying Fist Ranch
www.flyingfistranch.com