X-Men Editor Daniel Ketchum Reportedly Released By Marvel

[Rivka]

May I ask what Ketchum has done for the X-books? I mean if he has been in since '07, does he not bare responsibility for a lot of the crap the X-books have gone through?

He was the editor of the MAGNETO solo book, too! He loves the X-MEN and knows the characters and their history. I'm so saddened by this news. There is no reason for this other than fallout from Syaf's stupid sh*t in X-MEN GOLD. Ketchum has done a good job as editor, writers and artists all respect him, and the ResurreXion books are doing well. And let's not forget, that he stuck by the X-MEN during the dark year and a half when they were being suppressed, while others abandoned the sinking ship.

Now I understand Brian Bendis' tweets from a couple of days ago, about the strong feelings and passions of the editors at Marvel--I'm just guessing that his colleagues at Marvel have been saddened and upset by this firing, if this is true.

It's not fair to blame Ketchum for something that no one could have caught unless they were already an Indonesian Muslim radical.

Anyway, he advocated for diversity, for fairness in the treatment of these wonderful characters. He loves the X-MEN. I wish him the best.

[Star_Jammer]

He was the editor of the MAGNETO solo book, too! He loves the X-MEN and knows the characters and their history. I'm so saddened by this news. There is no reason for this other than fallout from Syaf's stupid sh*t in X-MEN GOLD. Ketchum has done a good job as editor, writers and artists all respect him, and the ResurreXion books are doing well. And let's not forget, that he stuck by the X-MEN during the dark year and a half when they were being suppressed, while others abandoned the sinking ship.

Now I understand Brian Bendis' tweets from a couple of days ago, about the strong feelings and passions of the editors at Marvel--I'm just guessing that his colleagues at Marvel have been saddened and upset by this firing, if this is true.

It's not fair to blame Ketchum for something that no one could have caught unless they were already an Indonesian Muslim radical.

Anyway, he advocated for diversity, for fairness in the treatment of these wonderful characters. He loves the X-MEN. I wish him the best.

Where's the official statement that this is fallout from the Syaf incident?

[Likewater]

He was the editor of the MAGNETO solo book, too! He loves the X-MEN and knows the characters and their history. I'm so saddened by this news. There is no reason for this other than fallout from Syaf's stupid sh*t in X-MEN GOLD. Ketchum has done a good job as editor, writers and artists all respect him, and the ResurreXion books are doing well. And let's not forget, that he stuck by the X-MEN during the dark year and a half when they were being suppressed, while others abandoned the sinking ship.

Now I understand Brian Bendis' tweets from a couple of days ago, about the strong feelings and passions of the editors at Marvel--I'm just guessing that his colleagues at Marvel have been saddened and upset by this firing, if this is true.

It's not fair to blame Ketchum for something that no one could have caught unless they were already an Indonesian Muslim radical.

Anyway, he advocated for diversity, for fairness in the treatment of these wonderful characters. He loves the X-MEN. I wish him the best.

Wait, this is all about some artists inserting references to Qur'an? So he's a scapegoat?

[rui no onna]

Look at Us Avengers. First issue was the top selling comic when it came out, now look at where they are...

Inflated sales due to 50 state variants. Issue #2 was around 30K so reckon estimated reader demand for #1 if not propped up by variants is more along 50K or so.

Meanwhile, both Blue and Gold had 50K+ orders for #2 so while variants are definitely a factor, probably looking at maybe 70-80K #1 without the variants.

[Rivka]

Where's the official statement that this is fallout from the Syaf incident?

There isn't one. There probably won't be one. But I can't think of any other reason why they would suddenly let Daniel Ketchum go! This is not anyone's style at Marvel, from the CCO to the Publisher to the Editor in Chief. When's the last time an editor (who was well liked and doing a good job) was outright fired instead of resigning? But you're right to point out, I'm speculating.

[jmc247]

This is a termination with prejudice if he was not given the option of resignation and the terminated his contract, but let's wait and see. If it was a clear firing it's worse of course and makes it harder for him to find a new job.

[Star_Jammer]

There isn't one. There probably won't be one. But I can't think of any other reason why they would suddenly let Daniel Ketchum go! This is not anyone's style at Marvel, from the CCO to the Publisher to the Editor in Chief. When's the last time an editor (who was well liked and doing a good job) was outright fired instead of resigning? But you're right to point out, I'm speculating.

You do realize "letting go" could very well be an amicable termination of a contract, due to Ketchum seeking employment elsewhere, right?

I mean, just put on your thinking cap.

The wording on the matter, at this point in time, is completely Bleeding Cool's.

[Miles To Go]

Christina Strain confirmed it on Twitter

https://twitter.com/christinastrain/...-shockwaves%2F

Bleeding Cool have a follow-up article where they confirm it was a firing, and there may be more job cuts to come at the publisher

https://www.bleedingcool.com/2017/05...ut-shockwaves/

The dismissal had nothing to do with the X-Men Gold controversy.

[CraigTheCylon]

May I ask what Ketchum has done for the X-books? I mean if he has been in since '07, does he not bare responsibility for a lot of the crap the X-books have gone through?

Unless I'm very mistaken, Ketchum was the guy who brought Si Spurrier to the X-books and edited all his works in the line. Given that I happily place X-Club, X-Men Legacy v2 and X-Force v4 as my top reasons for getting back into X-Men over the last 5-ish years, that's a sizable feather in his cap IMO.

So it sucks he's gone.

[Mike_Murdock]

May I ask what Ketchum has done for the X-books? I mean if he has been in since '07, does he not bare responsibility for a lot of the crap the X-books have gone through?

I'm honestly surprised to see the consensus. Granted, it's nice to see because it's full of well-wishes for Mr. Ketchum, but it seems like he would have been involved in Death of X, the Terrigen Mist story, and IvX, so I wouldn't have expected this. But I do wish him the best of luck in the future. Always sucks when people lose their jobs.

[Purplevit]

I think sales is the reason.
Gold and Blue #1 sold 100k and #2 sold 60k and 50k.

Weapon X #1 sold 70k and #2 40k.
With such team book sales I doubt that Jean, Cable or Iceman solos will do any better.

I hope Astonishing will be a hit.

[Maestroneto]

I'm honestly surprised to see the consensus. Granted, it's nice to see because it's full of well-wishes for Mr. Ketchum, but it seems like he would have been involved in Death of X, the Terrigen Mist story, and IvX, so I wouldn't have expected this. But I do wish him the best of luck in the future. Always sucks when people lose their jobs.

He also edited Rick Remender's Uncanny Avengers, one of Marvel's most misguided books in the last half decade, so the "but he cared so much about the diversity!!!11!" thing doesn't fly with me.

[LordUltimus]

The X-Men Gold debacle may have had something to do with it.

[Wiccan]

I think sales is the reason.
Gold and Blue #1 sold 100k and #2 sold 60k and 50k.

Weapon X #1 sold 70k and #2 40k.
With such team book sales I doubt that Jean, Cable or Iceman solos will do any better.

I hope Astonishing will be a hit.

Maybe I just don't really know about how the stuff works but I don't think editors are fired for books not selling lol. Specially when he's responsible for so many books, that are doing pretty fine actually specially for double-shipping titles.

[Maestroneto]

Maybe I just don't really know about how the stuff works but I don't think editors are fired for books not selling lol. Specially when he's responsible for so many books, that are doing pretty fine actually specially for double-shipping titles.

Let's take a look at some of the double shipping Rebirth titles:

Batman #2: 177k
Justice League #2: 127k
Harley Quinn #2: 116k
Wonder Woman #2: 103k
Flash #2: 103k
Superman #2: 102k
Detective Comics #936: 100k
Action Comics #959: 83k
Hal Jordan #2: 77k
Green Lanterns #2: 82k
Aquaman #2: 70k

etc. etc.

Even Deathstroke, a book that gets cancelled every year, did as well on its second issue as Blue and Gold. Obviously there's some extraneous circumstances, like returnability, but Marvel has sales incentives of its own to boost sales. And all Marvel relaunches have failed recently, but this one was sold as giving the fans what they want and doing their own version of Rebirth, yet sales have been as poor as the Terrigenocide era.

That said, editors don't get fired over poor sales, you're right about that. They usually just get demoted. Or are called Tom Brevoort.