Jemmas and the FF - Updated

[Room 237]

from Newsarama

 

Mark Waid's writing gig on Fantastic Four seemed like the perfect fit in many ways both for Marvel and Waid. It was a popular writer on a book that needed some love, and Waid had said he was enjoying his run tremendously. Well, that's over. Mark Waid has confirmed for Newsarama that issue #508 will be his last.

 

The decision came at the end of last week, according to Waid. "Friday, I received a call from Marvel informing me that FF #508 would be my last issue," Waid told Newsarama. "I'm very disappointed, but, hey--it's Marvel's sandbox, not mine."

 

Waid began his run on the title with last August's much ballyhooed issue #60, which was priced at $0.09, a promotional "one-upping" by Marvel of DC's recent $0.10 issue of Batman, and Waid's first comic work following his no-compete clause from CrossGen, which had expired. Joining Waid on his run was former Flash collaborator, Mike Wieringo. Under the two, the series gained critical and commercial acclaim, and climbed upwards in the Top 300 selling comics list, as calculated by Diamond.

 

Perhaps the team's most anticipated storyline to date, "Unthinkable," featuring the return of a slightly re-imagined, and exponentially deadlier Dr. Doom began recently, and discussion of the arc has been burning up messageboards in regards to Doom's upcoming "unthinkable" act.

 

"I wish I'd had a longer run, and I'll admit I was surprised at being so abruptly fired," Waid told Newsarama. "A few weeks ago, Bill [Jemas] phoned and tried to convince me to jettison our high-adventure approach and everything else we've been doing in favor of making the FF a wacky suburban dramedy where Reed's a nutty professor who creates amazing but impractical inventions, Sue's the office-temp breadwinner, the cranky neighbor is their new "arch-enemy", etc. Editor Tom Brevoort and I discussed that option at length; ultimately, I apologized and explained that I didn't feel it was something I could write nor something that played to any of my strengths--a radical revamp like that was just too much of a departure from what I was originally hired to write. I simply, honestly, couldn't even wrap my head around the idea. Still can't. And when word came back, 'We'll use that concept somewhere else. Tell Mark to keep doing what he's doing,' all seemed well.

 

"But -- they're not my characters. Ultimately, my job is to sell the publisher something he wants to publish. So, in a good-faith attempt at bridging the gap, Tom and I put our heads together and - kind of to our surprise! - figured out a logical way to deliver a run of stories following 'Authoritative Action' that could temporarily 'suburbanize' the series without completely changing the FF's personalities beyond recognition. To be honest, we were kinda proud of ourselves for being play-along guys and assumed we were good to go for the long haul, but our effort was, in retrospect, pointless. It would seem the decision to replace me was made the moment I failed to get with the program. Still--Bill's company, his prerogative."

 

Fantastic Four #508 is the final issue of the six-part "Authoritative Action" arc which begins in August with issue #503, and should end (barring double ship months) next January. As reported previously, Howard Porter is illustrating the arc.

 

As for the art side of the series after issue #508, while not knowing of Waid's departure for sure when asked about his future with the series on Saturday (the artist was at the Heroes Convention in Charlotte, NC), Wieringo indicated that if Waid were leaving the title, he most likely would be as well. The departure of Waid will come at a slightly odd time - as it has stated in the past, Marvel likes to shine up the comics versions of it characters in time for when the movie versions are coming out. As Marvel claimed in it's first quarter report, it is projecting a (yet uncasted, and currently in rewrite) Fantastic Four movie to be released in November of 2004. While the likelihood of a heavy CGI movie being cast, shot, post-produced, and up and ready for release in a little under 17 months is?well, really neither here nor there for this discussion, if Waid's replacement is brought in for a radical direction change for the series, there would be little time to produce that many monthlies to be collected into trades for the film's release, barring the series double-shipping between February and October of 2004.

 

Shortly after this article was posted, Mark Waid posted a response (see the thread linked below) stating that it was his understanding that Marvel President Bill Jemas will be the new writer on the series following his departure.

 

 

 

thoughts anyone?

[Room 237]

JQ responds

 

Dear Comics Fans,

 

I've been busy as hell of late and found my life much more enjoyable these last few months that I've avoided Internet message boards, but sometimes things get so out of hand that issues just need to be addressed and tackled head on.

 

First off, regarding Mark Waid's exit from the FANTASTIC FOUR (pretty much the only part of this 'story' that's completely accurate). Let me preface this by saying that Mark and I have been friends for years and years and I expect that that relationship won't change over this creative decision. Mark is one of the most talented guys in the business and I have the utmost respect for what he does, but his departure from FF is now being siphoned through inaccuracies, mistaken impressions and hardcore enthusiasts inability to wait for the whole, real story before slitting their proverbial wrists and launching profanity-ridden grenades. Hey, what the heck, it's so much more fun to be angry at Marvel even with only half the story.

 

Over a month ago Bill Jemas asked for a change of direction for the FF monthly title ... business as usual and no different than asking for a costume change, a change of cast or story line. As President, it's Bill's right and responsibility to call for changes as he feels will benefit any Marvel title just as it is mine. This is not the first time such changes have been asked for and I certainly hope it won't be the last.

 

Bill called up Mark and asked him personally to steer the book towards a new vision and Mark made it clear that it wasn't a direction that he felt he wanted to write in or was comfortable with. That in turn is Mark's right and responsibility as a creator - if it's not his cup of tea and if he can't bring his "A" game to a project then that's okay, no harm no foul. I respect Mark for making his decision as I respect Bill for giving Mark the first crack at the new storyline.

 

Mark has also been given every opportunity to work on other books here at Marvel.

 

But like with every creative change at Marvel, this change has been met with much "fanfare" and fear. Let me assure the fans that while Mark will be missed, the high quality standard of FF stories that Mark and company have set, will continue.

 

As for Bill Jemas writing the monthly FANTASTIC FOUR title, and the "wacky suburban dramedy" description, with all due respect to Mark, neither is accurate. A new FF writer will be announced shortly, but it won't be written by Bill and won't be as described. Everyone getting upset and angry over this are getting upset and angry over nothing ... or in other words, business as usual. I'm in no way saying that Mark is misleading the fans, only that he may be mixing up stories he's heard and judging the new direction on what was a very initial pitch that was circulated over a month ago.

 

Furthermore, this isn't a cost saving measure nor is it some flight of fancy. This is a change in direction for a Marvel title requested by the man who schemed the Ultimate Universe, had the guts to tell Origin and turned Marvel's publishing business around in less than two years. But hey, what does he know. Yes, Bill is indeed working on an FF-related concept, but then so am I, along with a couple of Marvel's top creators and perhaps that's where the stories get mixed up ... but more on that when the time is right.

 

Finally, I want to get to all of the anti-Epic garbage that has been hitting the streets. It seems that there are those that feel that perhaps the best way to get accepted by Epic is to scare off anyone who wants to submit. Think about it, put out some nasty rumors that this is all some evil plot by Bill, that there are 3000 submissions gathering dust, that the editors aren't reading pitches and the fewer people that submit, the better the chances of those that are already through the door. Epic is no more nor less than what we've stated from the beginning. We feel that there is a wealth of undiscovered talent out there in need of a break. We honestly feel that there are stories out there that need to be told that are just looking for the right opportunity. If you believe all of this Epic conspiracy nonsense, then you're falling into a horrible trap.

 

See ya in the funnybooks,

 

JQ

 

[blowout]

Maybe you should read this thread

 

http://boards.collectors-society.com/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=comicgen&Number=193521&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=31&fpart=1

[Room 237]

Hi thanks for the pointer

[blowout]

You are welcome, happy reading.

[murph0]

I can't say I've read many books w/ Jemas. However, I have read Waid's runs on Cap and he was very good there. So if he's been just as good on FF, I can't see how Jemas could be better.

 

Brian

[fantastic_four]

I can't say I've read many books w/ Jemas. However, I have read Waid's runs on Cap and he was very good there. So if he's been just as good on FF, I can't see how Jemas could be better.

 

I frickin' hate suits who wanna dabble in the creative world, especially the ones who can't create worth a [!@#%^&^] themselves but love to criticize the people doing the work. There was a movie called "Suits" that captured this problem quite well. This attitude ruined my favorite cartoon of all time, "Ren and Stimpy." The Nickelodeon suits harrassed Spumco and John Kricfalusi relentlessly, even as the show was an overwhelming hit. Eventually they replaced him, and when Kricfalusi left, the magic left with him; the "politically correct" creative team they replaced him with absolutely stunk in their attempt to mimic his sense of humor.

 

Waid is no Kricfalusi...but he was doing a great job on Fantastic Four, and the sales supported that. Quesada is either kidding himself or the fans (his customers) if he thinks Jemas did the right thing in firing Waid without a better replacement already lined up. Pride is what carries people to the high position somebody like Jemas has risen to...and if he's not careful...pride is gonna knock him back down, too.