13 Comments

I sincerely hope that you told Mr. Disney that you were having nothing to do with Tom, and then turned right around and walked out the door.

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Yes, I'm sure it would be, your posts are great and insightful and reach a lot of people but having a book something they could pick up and read to get them through a rough patch as reading on a screnn sometimes isn't enough.

Perhaps do do what Howard Chaykin is doing with "Hey Kids! Comics!" and change the names maybe some of the circumstances, (not what they did on that ID show where they redid your story so much it wasn't yours anymore), just a suggestion.

Though depressing it has a a great ending of triumph that would give some young (or mature), creator who is having difficulties something to shoot for. Lots of people look up to you.

I really believe it would be great! I wish I had something like that back when I first started.

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At one point, I was working on a fictionalized life story which was to be co-written by me and Keith Giffen. It was entitled "Meanwhile". I still have some of the art. Keith offered it to Tokyopop, but they wanted it drawn in a manga style. So I drew it in a manga style. Then they decided they wanted it done by a Japanese artist. So we pulled it.

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Fascinating, that would had been interesting to read, too bad you both couldn't do it on your own. You have to really love what you do more than get frustrated with all the shenanigans a lot of "professionals" perpetrate on creators.

Except for working for the "mainstream: companies, I've done a lot of jobs in different sectors of the industry. Dealt with fan-boy shop owners to narcissistic publishers. So I know how unforgiving this industry can be. Thanks again for the posts.

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Thanks for another great newsletter! I can’t wait to read how that meeting went, this has been such an incredible story. A perfect cautionary tale full of wit and humor! Also, I somehow guessed correctly about your name going in the book if only because I know how getting paid in exposure goes. Lol

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Thank you, Devin!

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Someone wrote an unauthorized biography about you? Is there an authorized biography? Should there be? You do have a long distinguished career and many "interesting " experiences.

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Yes, about twenty years ago. It was from a small press that was doing a series of books about graphic novelists. They were generally pretty bad. I had no involvement, and a lot of the material was simply lifted wholesale from my blog. The rest was...um...pretty weird. There's an entire chapter about how famous I am in Japan. I am not famous in Japan and have never been famous in Japan.

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This would make a great cautionary tale as a GN. I know you didn't want to, just think it's a great story that anyone going into the field should read. Not everyone can get substantial or Patreon. Maybe as a non-fiction book. Can't wait till next installment.

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It's not something I'd want to do as a graphic novel. It would be really depressing to draw!

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I get inordinately excited every time another chapter of this saga drops; thank you so much for reliving this journey. Have just grabbed a copy of A Distant Soil, as well, to read with added subtext!

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Thank you!

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Honestly, it's a lot of madness happening all at once LoL, it felt like I was reading a fanfic (I've read thousands and thousands of them), but I know it's true, bizarre^^

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