False equivalence. With a painter youre commissioning him to complete a task for you. You are his client.
With a comic creative team, your paying to experience something they create, to their specification. This project is for them, you are just paying to witness it. You deciding to pick it up only because you assume you'll see an ending is an assumption you reached on your own. Its your problem.
Not all of us have the ability to see the future, and can decide to only work on projects we know will be successful.Once again, they should have known this? What's so hard about planning ahead and saying, "There's a good chance this comic won't make me the money I want. So I should have a way to finish the story quickly if that happens."?
Such as?I'm only talking about the books that are monthly.
Im sure some are. But again, youre just assuming. And even if a book disappears due to a lazy artist - they still dont owe you anything if you havnt paid for it. It sucks, and the guys an poor work ethic, but unless you handed over money and he's failed to deliver thats the way it goes.Have you ever talked to artists about their work habits? Have you ever talked to artists at an art school like School of the Art Institute of Chicago or been on websites for artists like conceptart forum or smackjeeves forum? One of the biggest things artists talk about on a casual basis is procrastination. Talking to artists, you'll realize the majority of the men procrastinate. When they are just in a casual setting, they will be candid about it. When it's related to business, they'll insist they are fast and get work on time. No artist is gonna say he's big on procrastination. It is not in his best interest.
Your favorite creator won't tell you he quit his book because he was procrastinating. He will lose fans that way. So he'll jump in another direction and give you the whole sob story about how his family is in dire straits and they are scraping to get by. By lying to you about that, he gains your sympathy. Really guy, talk to artists. You will find they are a lazy bunch.
And again, any artist will be doing those first 3 issues for free initially. Because none of them will be seeing pay for at least 5 months after theyve done the work.No, we're talking about those artists who say they won't work make 3 or more issues before publishing because "nobody is paying me while I make my story." As I asked before, how come musicians, filmmakers, painters, playwrights, and other artists can make work without getting paid but comic book artists feel they're so special they can't?
Musicians get paid by their record label. Filmakers by the studio. Playrights get paid by the production company.
Painters, like comic artists, work to their own schedule. Because you have to work around doing whatever actually brings in money.
They know they're in all likelihood not gonna get rich off of comics. Which is why they have other jobs. Comics are a passion for them. But they have to make a living and putting out a comic is a huge undertaking. If their book isnt pulling in enough readers they'll have to end it because the ends dont justify the means.If they don't get into comics for the money, then why are they quitting their comic due to lack of money? Why do they complain they don't wanna make sure they have 3 or more issues done before publishing because they won't get paid for their work? Why are they more interested in selling their art for work they don't believe in rather than using their art for something they do believe in, even if it's for free?
My opinion is also shared by the bigger publishers, which is what matters. As evidenced by the fact that you dont see art of that low a quality being put out by them.Your opinion. My opinion: their art is good enough for comic books. If publishers are big in sequentials, why is Rob Liefeld one of the most popular creators in America? Why does he continue to get work? Are you gonna say his art is miles ahead of the art of the artists above?
Im not a Liefeld fan. He's gets work because he's either well off enough he can put out his own stuff as he likes, or he is a big enough name and knows enough people that he can easily get a work for hire gig. And he made his name at a big publisher when his style was in demand and popular. And yeah. His work is of a higher quality than those you posted.
All the big publishers that offer work for hire pay page rates.Actually, they don't have to be paid a minimum page rate by the publisher. It's just a normal practice. I don't think there's a law that states publishers have to pay creators per page. Publishers can actually only pay them once the work is completed.
Anybodys lucky to get any job. Doesnt mean you can afford to work for little to no pay.In any case, my point was the supply of artists is increasing, while the demand is decreasing. To be able to make any money off illustration work is difficult because of this. They are lucky to get the money they are getting.
Liefelds probably the single worst creator I can think of in terms of delayed or missing books. But he still gets work, and has his fans. And he's got money. He can afford to have his name "sullied" by late or missing books.Making the publisher, distributor, retailer, and customer happy creates a positive relationship that will make a creator's future bills look bright because they trust his ability to finish the work. Look at Rob Liefeld. Do you think it's a coincidence Image is instituting this new 3 issue policy now that Rob is trying to publish a new comic? Do you think Diamond is interested in his work? Do you think retailers are interested in his work? How many fans have given up on him because of his inability to finish a comic?
If youre just scraping by, you dont have a choice. You stop putting out the thing thats draining your pockets and take a work for hire gig.
And thats a decision for the creator to make not you. The creator must decided if the energy he's putting into producing a series and the lack of return he gets on it, is offset by the risk of sullying his name if he ends it early.Like most creators, he only thinks of the short-term goal: I need to pay bills now. He didn't think about the long-term goals: making the publisher, distributor, retailer, and customer happy so they'll trust his ability to make a comic, therefore, enabling him to have a fanbase that will allow him to pay bills in the future.
Im not sure of your situation, but for most of us; not being able to pay bills is a big deal. I for one couldnt afford to not be paid for a month. Let alone several.