DJ Coffman has closed the books on Platinum:

Fed Ex showed up with a check from Platinum paying me up to date anything that was owed to me, so that whole issue is over with. I’m glad they paid me, and honestly none of this would have blown up for me if I hadn’t nearly lost my house and life banking on or trusting that money would show up on time. It is what it is though, and I learned a valuable lesson that there is no job security anywhere, no matter what a piece of paper says. The envelope included a letter saying my “consultant” agreement with them was terminated as of today, which is fine with me, because in my mind it was terminated when checks never really showed up on time in the terms of that agreement.


But, in a Carrie-like surprise hand from the grave, he adds the following:

So listen, #1, my original contract is still intact with them, and I’ve never once ever disputed the fact that Platinum owns Hero By Night, I gladly and willingly SOLD IT TO THEM, straight up. Trust me, there are no loopholes or weaselly ways out or about it, they own it, it’s fine, and I’m still connected and I’ll still make money with anything they ever do with it, and that’s what I originally signed on for with Comic Book Challenge.


Emphasis ours.

Bonus: The conversation continues on the Bendis board:

But the conflict between DJ Platinum isn’t about creator‘s rights. DJ getting back the rights to Hero By Night was a footnote in what the conflict was about. According to DJ, DJ getting back the rights came up from Platinum as a thank you for everything DJ had done for them, and was a way DJ could maybe continue Hero By Night and Platinum could maintain visibility for their project for the hopes of movie, TV, action figure, lunch boxes, and/or condom deals. Whether Platinum intended to or didn’t intend to isn’t important, this was a separate thing.

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14 COMMENTS

  1. Wonder if there’s a “no bad-mouthing” clause in his contract?

    If, indeed, Platinum manages to produce a movie, TV show or set of lunch boxes based on his creation, it would be awkward to have the property’s actual (as opposed to putative) creator talkin’ shit to the press.

    Though given Platinum’s batting average, the point may be moot.

  2. Shortly after selling KFC to John Y Brown (I think), who turned around quickly and sold it to Pepsi at a huge multiple, Harlan Sanders was quoted in some big newspaper complaining about the new mashed potatoes recipe. He said it tasted like wallpaper glue. However, they still use his picture to sell the shit.

    This may or may not be relevant.

  3. I was just commenting on the “bad mouthing” comment above, Richard. I’m not sure what Superman has to do with that. Sorry for being cryptic, I guess.

  4. The WHOLE entry makes the point clear. Using DJ Coffman as an example of why people shouldn’t sign away their properties was never RELEVANT and was retarded, because DJ was HAPPY he sold the rights, and still is. He wasn’t happy about not getting paid for the — I guess you could call it — WORK FOR HIRE of the ongoing. It was a payment issue, not creator rights, yet people kept using him as an example for the big CR.

  5. Joey: Doncha remember (or recall reading about) WB paying off S&S to basically stfu about getting screwed over Supes?

    Just sayin’ that Platinum may not want Coffman to similarly complain in the unlikely event that they get to the multiplex with his creation.

    My bad for being cryptic (or Kryptonian), I guess, in response to your comment on the Colonel’s comments on KFC’s spuds.

    Whew.

  6. DC didn’t just write a check for S&S to STFU. DC was embarrassed and coerced into doing the right thing by the NCS and Jerry Robinson. And it took time.

    The National Cartoonists Society then-president Jerry Robinson is the one who shined a spotlight on S&S. He organized cartoonists, got some embarrassing press and it was only after many lawyers got involved that S&S got some medical coverage and a yearly stipend from Warner. None of this would have happened if it wasn’t for Robinson. MEN OF TOMORROW by Gerard Jones has the whole story.

    Sorry for the lecture/rant. It’s a fave story of mine. I’ve heard Jerry tell it himself, at length. I hate for it to get short shrift is all.

  7. Yes, Mike. That’s all true, and no disrespect was meant to S&S and the long and tireless efforts of Jerry, Neal and everyone else involved in getting Superman’s creators a stipend and medical insurance.

    But it occurred in parallel to the release of the Superman movie, which was the likely catalyst — rightly or wrongly — for WB to do the right thing.

  8. Reading anything about Platinum is like having syphilis, getting treated, then having sex again with the original source.

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