I had started picking up most of the Legend line of Dark Horse Comics, during the mid-90s'. That's when I had become cynical with both Marvel and the speculators. DH had come out with some good stuff and I followed JB's Nextmen, some of Miller's Sin City, along with some of Mignola's Hellboy. Also, Art Adams's Monkeyman & O'Brien and Comic's Greatest World. DH helped me to stick around the comics scene.
That photo is a talent overload. But here's what's great about it:
Frank Miller: giving the camera a look straight out of some black & white film noir movie - how appropriate.
John Byrne: With his arms crossed he looks like Superman laughing at some back-alley thug who just tried to shoot him with a snub-nosed .22 - again, appropriate.
Geoff Darrow: Holding an American Flag. That's Geoff for you - always adding the details.
Mike Mignola: Shoulders slumped a little. Reminds me of a certain artist's style . . .
Art Adams: What's he hiding behind his back? X-Babies! Explains that little grin he's got on.
Oh how I wish Legend had succeeded, it was by far my favorite group of comics. Danger Unlimited, Next Men, Sin City, Monkey Man and O'Brien. Now if I had the power to change time....this would be just one of the things I would change.
> A lot of things killed Legend, but I knew we were in trouble when Diamond voted us "Worst New Universe".
> If the distributors miss the point. . . .
Even had there actually been a new universe, why would a distributor dispense such anti-marketing statements? Was the distribution of Legend books causing Diamond problems? My mind is blown.
What happened with Legend? Was the market implosion? Egos? I loved all Legend comics when they were coming out. My friend and I were going to get the Legend logo tattoed on our right arms 'cause we were young and it looked cool; I chickened out
I remeber Malibu started Baruva(sp?) in response to Legend
A lot of things killed Legend, but I knew we were in trouble when Diamond voted us "Worst New Universe".
If the distributors miss the point. . . .
*****************
Legend was more exciting to me than anything published around that time.
i was hopeful that everyone's books would continue. What's the scoop, JB--
why didn't everyone stick together?
What's the scoop, JB--
why didn't everyone stick together?
*************
Legend frayed from the inside out. When we announced ourselves, we made a Very Big Deal about how much we were not going to be like Image (still an imprint itself then). We would not promote books that were not ready to come out. We would not solicit books that never came out. We would not waste our energies on promotional tricks (like posters and cards and teacups) instead of producing the books.
Took about three minutes for that one to fall apart.
Shooter said that when he walked into Mark Gruenwald's office one day to find Walt Simonson, Frank Miller, Larry Hama, Roger Stern, Ralpha Macchio, Mark and I engaged in a gabfest.
Shooter said that when he walked into Mark Gruenwald's office one day to find Walt Simonson, Frank Miller, Larry Hama, Roger Stern, Ralpha Macchio, Mark and I engaged in a gabfest.
**************************
Interesting pic because before it I only knew what JB and Miller looked like. I'm a fan of all of those guys, nice to be able to put a face to the talent.
For some reason I've always gotten a "John Lennon" vibe from Frank, look wise. Though I guess his attitude is more like Dylan...
Shooter was of course including himself.
*************************************************
As he should have. Whatever faults he may have had as a EIC (and let's not get into THAT Legion here and now) he certainly had a lot of comics talent.
He wrote many good stories and I believe was a GOOD THING when he arrived at Marvel. I think even his harshest critics would agree.
____________________________________________
You are a god among insects. Never let anyone tell you different.
[Shooter] wrote many good stories and I believe was a GOOD THING when he arrived at Marvel. I think even his harshest critics would agree.
************
Yup. (We agree again, Melissa!!)
Shooter was exactly what Marvel needed when he arrived. If, about five years later, he could have traded jobs with Dick Giordano, he would have been just what DC needed, and we would have been spared SECRET WARS and Shooter's "descent into madness".
And WHAT IF 3 is not only the best issue of that entire series, it is one of the best comicbook stories ever .
I remember the first time I noticed the 'Legend' logo (on a copy of Hellboy). I asked the comic shop owner where I found it... just what it meant. He told me all about it. I was so excited, I nearly lost my balance.
I still can't understand why the LEGEND line failed. I mean you have really competent creators here who can really tell a story and draw good too! Hmmmm...
On another topic, yeah, whatever happen to Jim Shooter. After valiant, I think he founded Defiant and then Broadway comics, but that didn't last.
On a similar note, whatever happen to the other creators I like, and how come they don't seem to be doing comics anymore. People like Neal Adams, Mike Zeck. Ross Andru, Art Adams (no more interior art), Adam Huges (same, no more interior art), Dale Keown, I mean what do they do for a living now? And a last question for JB himself. After next men, why did JB not do any other creator work for Dark Horse, or any other Dark Horse title???
Art Adams was doing interior art on Tom Strong's Terrific Tales' Jonni Future over the last year or two and as far as I know still is, though that book comes out irregularly.
Neal Adams runs a graphics company that does a lot of advertising. He has a pretty substantial website, if you want to catch up on him.
I think some of the other guys you mention have just moved on. We could try googling them up. Comics can be a tough grind and there are fewwer titles than artists. Also, there are other art-oriented fields that pay better.
"On a similar note, whatever happen to the other creators I like, and how come they don't seem to be doing comics anymore. People like Neal Adams, Mike Zeck. Ross Andru,"
Ross Andru passed away in 1993. I don't know the cause.
Just to help to clarify the fate of the mentioned artists:
Adam Hughes does a lot of cover work. Since he is a mighty slow artist, his
"interior" work is now rare. But it seems like he can make a living with
just covers.
Dale Keown is also real slow, but he still does comics. A couple of issues a
year or so. I understand he is now working for Top Cow.
The thing about Art Adams is that he is not only slow but he is also, from what I have heard, lazy. I beleive JB has a quote from Frank Miller that he repeats every once in a while (and forgive me if I don't get it exactly right). "If Art Adams weren't such a flake we wouldn't have so many clones of him."
I once made a list of all of Art Adam's work and compared to actual comic work he has done more posters, cards, covers and other odds and ends. I think it's a real shame that somebody that talented doesn't use his skills more often. He is my #2 favorite artist and if he had more actual work he might be #1. Sorry JB!
I haven't spoken to Shooter in eons, so this is all heresay: I believe he joined up with a group called Phobos, a company which develops properties for various media. I remember hearing that they're publishing paperback sf novels. Anyone know anything for sure?
Since, I read Mr. Jim Shooter's name being thrown around. I'd like to confess about a negative letter that I wrote to Mr. Shooter after the entire 9 issues of Secret Wars had came out. I didn't like The Beyonder and didn't like the idea that he/she was more powerful than most of the other cosmic entities, including The Celestials. My letter pretty much berated Mr. Shooter's ideas and writing. As time went by, I felt a little bad that I sent him the letter. I realized that I was becoming something that I did not like, which was a bitter fan-boy. Eventually, I forgave Mr. Shooter and don't think he was a bad writer. I did like the Korvac Saga, along with most of his run of The Avengers. During the mid-90s', when I became cynical about the comics industry. I wrote another letter to Mr. Shooter, but, not a negative letter about him; it was about the industry. At that time, Mr. Shooter was EIC of Defiant and I was not following that publication. In the letter, I also included that I hope he did well with the publication. I didn't expect him the write me back, which surprisingly he did. He also sent me two free comics that were autographed by David Lapham and Alan Weiss, which I really appreciated. A couple of years later, I was taking a lunch break from a previous job that I had. I was walking towards 6th Avenue in Manhattan, when I noticed a tall man walking along side me. I immediatly knew it was none other than Mr.
Shooter, himself. I took the chance to get his attention and he actually stopped and took the time to speak and listen to me. At that time, he was EIC of Broadway Comics, which I had started following. When I mentioned to him that I was sorry that Defiant had gone out of business, he seemed to have a sad look on his face. But, seemed to be happy being at Broadway Comics, unforunately, the publication would be sold off. Not to long ago, I took another chance and I e-mailed Mr. Shooter about the condition of Dave Cockrum and if he was aware of the benifit book that was being done to help out Mr. Cockrum. He eventually responded back to me and mentioned that he was not aware and he would help out if he could. He just needed the information on who to contact, so, I sent him some links to some site that he could get information about Mr. Cockrum.
I'm one of those people, who doesn't like hearing about negative or bashing of comics writers/artists. I would like to think that after reading stories about grand heroics, that some of it might rub off on all of us fans.
I haven't spoken to Shooter in eons, so this is all heresay: I believe he joined up with a group called Phobos, a company which develops properties for various media.
Deimos and Phobos were the attendants and/or sons of Mars (Ares) in Greco-Roman mythology, which is why the moons are named as they are. Phobos and Deimos represented fear and panic, respectively.
