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And yet another. Or is it a repeat, as artist George Perez had some words back in the day when he left the New 52 Superman? Anyway, new day, and a new exclusive creator at Boom, with new projects on the horizon, as he told CBR:

Q: That said, I don’t doubt that a creator of your caliber would be able to pitch a series anywhere from DC and Marvel on down through every publisher listed in the Previews catalog. Why was BOOM! the place you decided to make your new home?

A: I don’t know about that first statement, especially regarding DC and Marvel. From what I can see, it’s not the new that either company wants now, it’s the familiar. Why gamble with an unknown property when another Batman or Avengers title might be more of a sure thing? Fewer and fewer final decisions are made at the editorial level. Warner and Disney think they can do it all better — and they’re the ones with control and money.

When I was approached by BOOM!, they offered me a chance to work on something I wanted to do, something they hoped would rekindle the creative spark that I felt was being squelched these past few years. I was also offered something that was a bit unique — an employment contract, meaning I would actually receive all benefits of being an employee with tax withholding and medical benefits. To be fair, I was receiving medical benefits at the Big Two as well, but it was frightfully expensive and required full exclusivity. BOOM!’s package is a little more flexible regarding exclusivity — and a good deal cheaper.


So yeah, pretty simple, and sensible. It’s good that Boom is now in a position to offer a creator of Perez’s caliber am employment offer he found equitable– more options for creators is always a good thing. And while you could sort of dismiss Perez’s comments as “sour grapes” or whatever, it’s really more a qualified observation on the state of his employment options. As he admits in the interview, Perez—who has had several health issues in recent years—isn’t as prolific as he once was. At the same time, he’s a quality creator with a legacy that has enriched comics immeasurably, with long foundational runs on Teen Titans, Wonder Woman and Avengers. He’s earned a situation that allows him some security and a chance to be creative.

So, a happy story for now.

Boom and Perez will announce his first project at the Baltimore Comicon.

18 COMMENTS

  1. Boom is not corporate comics? Didn’t they just buy Archaia? Maybe they’re just a smaller corporation, but they’re still in the license managing/content-creation/movie-deal-making business, which seems like corporate comics to me.

  2. Hooray! George, I wish you all the best, and thank you for the many years of fantastic comics that you have delivered over the years. I will follow your work at BOOM! and beyond. Best of luck and continued good health!

  3. I guess we’re using Corporate Comics as short hand for”The Big Two” now…probably cause other publishers are getting to be just as “Big” but Marvel and DC stand out because of who they’re owned by…or something like that.

  4. Almost every comics publisher is a corporation, as that legal framework allows for less individual risk and liability.

    There are many comics companies owned by larger corporations.
    IDW, for example.
    http://www.ctmholdings.com/Profiles/Investor/Investor.asp?BzID=1967&from=du&ID=63145&myID=13923&L=I&Validate=3&I=

    I would say “corporate comics” would refer to a publisher which is run, rather closely, by a larger corporate entity, with emphasis placed on profitability, not creativity.

    Ehapa Verlag, a division of Egmont, could be considered “corporate comics”, even if they publish numerous licensed comics and actively exploit youth demographics with their original titles.

    Others are profit driven, but have a mission statement (and actual business practices (walk the talk)) which encourage and celebrate creativity.

  5. “Corporate” has become another word for “bad” or “evil”…I think that’s the real goal here, to paint them as such (deserved? possibly).

    Many believe DC and MARVEL are “corporate” for those reasons…

  6. i had a similar reaction re: Boom!, and found it odd that it was not being labeled a corporation. but i get that there is more than one use of the word corporate. so no longer a cog in the corporate machine, but still, yes, technically on the payroll of an incorporated legal entity.

    sounds like a win win for everyone tho. great to see a legend like perez land somewhere that will be more interested in getting his work and stories out there. looking forward to seeing what he produces next!

  7. I’m glad Perez is happy, but I hope he works with a writer on his upcoming projects. Great artist, but his scripting ability is limited.

  8. Go read up on some of the stuff George had to put up with, especially with his recent involvement in Superman’s relaunch. He’s an extremely talented guy, and he deserves better. I’m very happy for him and looking forward to it.

  9. As the person who did the interview, the way I meant “corporate” is in line with what Torsten said…with the exception of his last paragraph. I don’t think labeling one kind of comic as a corporate superhero gig means that any other gig automatically promotes more creativity. That’s spin from smaller companies which are also for-profit IP businesses as much as it is anything else. But when you work on a book at DC, everything that happens that impacts you contractually goes up to Diane Nelson, who you will never meet or talk to in any meaningful way about your employment. At BOOM, the comparable figure is Ross Richie, who seems much more involved in the basics of contracts and payment of his freelance employees. Either situation can have its benefits and downsides, but one definitely is impacted on a greater scale by the dictates of what the corporation needs.

    And to be fair, I’d refer to gigs like Ninja Turtles or GI Joe or Planet of the Apes as corporate genre comics gigs the same I would Superman and Batman, but it’s clear from BOOM and George’s stated agreement that he’s not just signing on with them to work IP to the demands of a licensor. So I see a difference there, yeah.

  10. “Corporate comics”? Sheeze… What next? Referring to Marvel and DC as “Wall Street comics”?

    Anyway, I wish all the best for Mr. Perez… but this Perez fan is not excited about this news at all.

  11. Heidi,
    just yesterday I pulled out the old “Art of George Perez” softcover which you had a lengthy interview in with Mr. Perez. How’s THAT for synchronicity?

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