Community | April 18, 2012 | 8 comments

Before Watchmen: Creator's Rights Questions

source: http://www.fangirlworld.com/2012/04/when-i-first-read-watchmen-i-was-in.html

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DeliaTheArtist

http://www.fangirlworld.com/2012/04/when-i-first-read-watchmen-i-was-...

Watchmen isn't just a comic book, it's an award winning piece of art and literature. I mention this because a new comic book series is being released by DC, called Before Watchmen, and while many insanely awesome writers and artists are attached to the project ( "Among the creators involved are writers J. Michael Straczynski, Brian Azzarello, Darwyn Cooke, and Len Wein, and artists Lee Bermejo, J. G. Jones, Adam Hughes, Andy Kubert, Joe Kubert, and Amanda Conner"), it is asking an important question about creator's rights that has comic book fans in a civil war.

On one hand, the creators. Knowing how Watchmen affected me and many other people, I can't help but sympathize with Alan Moore. Moore and DC's history has been strained to say the very least, with the Watchmen writer feeling cheated by their contracts together.

On the other hand, business is business. Moore signed the contract, right? It sucks, but corporations are evil and media industries are notorious for doing bad business with artists. Even if that doesn't justify it, should scores of comic book fans be expected not to enjoy the ideas of different artists with new twist on classic characters? Essentially it's an epic fanfic and the talent of the artists involved can't be lessened by Moore's bitterness.

On the mysterious third hand, there's philosophy to ponder. I'm an artist (and in my mind and sketchbooks a comic book writer) and I've often wondered about that- once you create something, is it really yours at all? Does art exist in some mysterious realm that can not really be claimed? These days creator's rights are flagrantly ignored not by the corporations but by the fans themselves who endlessly pirate everything from music to comics to books. Perhaps the conversation on creators rights and how artists will make their money needs to be updated across the creative board.


http://www.fangirlworld.com/2012/04/when-i-first-read-watchmen-i-was-in.html
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    Comic Books,  before watchmen,  Moore better
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8 comments // Before Watchmen: Creator's Rights Questions

  • DeliaTheArtist
    • +1
      DeliaTheArtist  

    • What I think sucks for Moore particularly is, at least from what I understand, he would regain the rights to his characters after a year of DC not using them ... but obviously that's never going to happen because they are making money from the franchise ... It seems that DC could go 364 days without touching one of the characters, then decide to release an action figure or something and the contract would restart. It is a rather messed up contract ... but will my love of Moore be enough to keep me away from Amanda Conner and Adam Hughes?

    • 1 year ago
  • remanns
  • remanns
    • +1
      remanns  

    • Mere mortal artists are persnickety,... more so with more genius it seems, but,...ALAN MOORE is more of a demi-god,.....and the judgments applied to lesser beings simply don't hold to him. His works are as the blood of ZEUS fallen to the earth, to create miraculous marvelous monsters, and always part of his greatness, to be extolled ,or destroyed, or disavowed by HIM,....and HIM ALONE !
      ( I can live with that )
      So there .

    • 1 year ago
  • kubaa785
  • warman1138
  • ThoughtNu
    • +2
      ThoughtNu  

    • http://youtu.be/_zY7jQDm4_E

      When anyone 'creates' , is not that creation like an offspring of ones inner self? As a child is to a parent, 'it' develops a life, all it's own. Yes , it is painful to know that which you have created must be a part of that which you can not control, was it not created to be shared; but could it's unique beauty be seen by others if it's sequestered ? At some point in it's development , all must be released to stand alone. Profit is a good motivator but never is the only one, is it? As with any 'life' after a time of childhood/ profit; we let go to allow it to find it's place in the world.
      I to am an artist, but i accept that after my commission is paid, even though some have been seen throughout the world; I can not hold my creations 'hand' or keep in a 'glass box' throughout it's life. But that's just me.

      Comics are some of the most difficult mediums to control short of having your own printing/ distribution networks. Not a very smooth road to travel. Copyright infringements are rampant throughout the industry and i agree the laws need to be redressed .
      btw - Vampirella ^d
      Always nice to see you posting

    • 1 year ago
  • remanns
  • DeliaTheArtist

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