tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216471737489850841.post1890467825085262353..comments2023-12-28T06:30:52.170-05:00Comments on Ordster's Random Thoughts: Life over fiftyOkayComicshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12417897805768811698noreply@blogger.comBlogger175125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216471737489850841.post-60217394992032699092021-08-24T08:47:37.815-04:002021-08-24T08:47:37.815-04:00Amazing information i really enjoyed reading this ...Amazing information i really enjoyed reading this wonderful info i have also bookmarked this blog more interesting post like this<br /><a href="https://gossipmouth.in/" rel="nofollow">gossipmouth</a><br /><a href="https://flippzilla.com/" rel="nofollow">flippzilla</a>Bestmarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16806177154785871715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216471737489850841.post-21229313181632734702016-05-19T07:46:04.421-04:002016-05-19T07:46:04.421-04:00Wasp dudes! Awesome stuff keep it up. quality word...Wasp dudes! Awesome stuff keep it up. <a href="http://www.topsharedhosts.net/technology/the-bloggers-benefits-from-the-premium-wordpress-themes/" rel="nofollow">quality wordpress themes</a><br />Jason Stathamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01706704297555862542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216471737489850841.post-42051926025297050072014-10-08T20:02:30.520-04:002014-10-08T20:02:30.520-04:00I don't think there's much real security f...I don't think there's much real security for people these days in any field or any type of work. It's everywhere, partly from Globalization and weaker unions.<br />I stopped working for Marvel, DC, etc. after getting the business from Dark Horse almost 20 years ago. Since then I've supported my family of four exclusively through art. I've done gallery shows, self-published comics and art books, created instructional materials and animation, run an eBay store (Powerseller) and made crafts for Etsy, recorded music albums, on and on and on, and hardly ever even touched a commission or drawn a superhero. I also have tons of properties that I own--which almost never happens with corporations. If I'd worked for them all these years, I'd have nothing of my own now. <br />I'm not saying all this to brag, but to point out that flexibility, imagination and multiple skills can help a lot. Admittedly some people don't multi-task that well, but I do think there's always an answer but it demands that the artist make some changes, not the World. I also don't think these giant companies owe anyone anything, loyalty, job security or anything else. And styles and fashions do change also. <br />I was horrified by early Image comics, for example, but things change, and if the Good Old Days were necessarily better--then to who? Old people? <br />The audience has to relate to the creator, and publishers can usually smell profits like sharks in bloody water. Their decisions aren't from spite but cold-blooded practicality, so of course we don't "like it". But we showed up and allowed ourselves to be included in the process. Just like Jack Kirby, you have to assume the position first. <br />And Jerry, it sounds like your audience is loyal enough to support any independent project you came up with. And you can use crowdfunding to help accomplish that. <br />I recently hired someone to handle online publicity, mainly because I don't want to do it, and he's young and understands social media. There's always hope, but as I suggested--flexibility as a creator is where stability will probably come from, if it comes at all.<br />I hope this is constructive.TheMikeHoffmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08897906018856079123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216471737489850841.post-34826654800858791592014-03-09T13:51:49.864-04:002014-03-09T13:51:49.864-04:00What joesmith7789 said. Do a book of your own stuf...What joesmith7789 said. Do a book of your own stuff. Maybe get some of the other under employyed creators and start a publishing group. Ut wouldn't pay much at first but it would get you out there. I support you all the way. <br />DOC Boucher<br />www.inter-fan.orgDOChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13062736161192752043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216471737489850841.post-57301769546932884952013-05-29T11:19:20.585-04:002013-05-29T11:19:20.585-04:00this is the best thing about this blog that it is ...this is the best thing about this blog that it is the orignal one during my search in a <a title="Casino" href="http://www.royalstarcasino.com" rel="nofollow">Casino</a>casinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05207021620018541160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216471737489850841.post-31022233072194536822013-04-20T19:24:35.641-04:002013-04-20T19:24:35.641-04:00Hey, good to see the many new comments on this pos...Hey, good to see the many new comments on this post, I appreciate them all. I feel like writing this blog post was cathartic for me, and helped me put a few things to rest, especially regarding DC. I tried to illustrate how I first signed on to the exclusive with the hope of getting a regular assignment, and then renewal by renewal, kept thinking "this is the year it will happen." Each time I developed a relationship with an editor who liked my stuff, that editor would leave DC, and I'd start over. This is a common problem, as noted in several replies here. For me, the contract and that quest for a regular assignment were linked. Now that I've been off contract for well over a year, I can put it to rest. <br />I want to address Alec Stevens, and say how much I've always liked your work. The ups and downs of freelance work are not for the weak of heart:) I think we are all seeing intense competition from the vast body of artists and writers competing for the same few jobs. I still like competing, to be honest, and harbor no resentment towards any other creative folk. The comic companies are beneficiaries of a huge pool of talent, which at first kept page rates flat for many years, and is now driving them down. I heard from one artist who told me he was offered 10 dollars a page for pencils and inks, by a known publisher,Oni Press, with no residual rights of any kind. That's just an insulting deal, but they know someone will take it. We spent countless hours learning to draw before we ever get a first assignment, and the skills we possess are worth more than 10 dollars a page. The message to younger talent is to be realistic, but don't ever sell yourself short-- by accepting poverty wages, you not only hurt yourself, but you establish a precedent for publishers to lower rates even further.OkayComicshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12417897805768811698noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216471737489850841.post-11123164458461557862013-04-20T14:29:24.282-04:002013-04-20T14:29:24.282-04:00A postscript to my prior message: I drew for The ...A postscript to my prior message: I drew for The New York Times Book Review from 1987-2001. When I started I had supposed that I'd be there indefinitely, having the kind of longevity that Al Hirschfeld had (though I did editorial illustrations in an expressionistic vein, not caricatures). Suddenly the work stopped. There were excuses, like the "increasing numbers in the talent pool, etc.," but it was nonsense, especially seeing some of the horrible art that was used in my absence (by new artists who very likely had a much lower pay rate). Also, magazines like to change their 'look' every ten to fifteen years, and I suppose that having passed through enough years, my work was suddenly 'dated.'<br /><br />In 1988-89 I wrote and illustrated two graphic novels for DC's Piranha Press imprint. I remember how moved you told me you were by THE SINNERS, the first one. Jeanette Kahn promised me the moon, saying, "Create 10, 12 graphic novels in a row. Just create; you are on the cutting edge!" I was in my early twenties and swallowed it hook, line, and sinker. A verbal agreement for a third book was made, but a contract never materialized. The whole line was declared a loss leader, and, six rejected proposals later, it folded. <br /><br />I've had good runs on a number of magazines as well (Tower Records' PULSE! and CLASSICAL PULSE!, NEW JERSEY MONTHLY, even THE NEW YORKER), but when new art directors come in it's like starting from scratch---if they even want to hire you at all. Whether it's the old boy network or the young hipster crowd the editorial cliques can be hard to penetrate. <br /><br />I used to know everyone at DC in the late '80s - 90s. Now I probably only know one or two editors. So many people have moved on or passed away. Such is life. <br /><br />I hope you find a good solution to your present situation, Jerry.<br /><br />Best regards,<br /><br />Alec Stevens<br />www.calvarycomics.comAlec Stevenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04672086234941524146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216471737489850841.post-77223587440901440792013-04-18T16:42:24.644-04:002013-04-18T16:42:24.644-04:00A tremendous lot of people have commented here, an...A tremendous lot of people have commented here, and I agree with a lot of them. The new 52 does not have heroes, and I do miss writers and artists from back in the day. I buy old back issues of 80's books because you guys had the talent. A lot of the artists today just can't hack it. And I'm already doing my part not buying the new 52, I comment when I can and let DC know what I'd like, more kid friendly books and a return or if not a return then a small niche in their new 52 for less dark stories, and things like the original Young Justice. I think all your points are valid, but I've felt that DC is and has been guided by one or a group of individuals who are devil bent on selling their type of story and not allowing for the so called diversity they allegedly seek to offer. A diverse universe wouldn't need the creative guiding hand of one Chief Creative Officer.<br /><br />My suggestions is all you young comic book artists band together and start your own universe over at Image. There are a lot of hungry writers out there without the talent to draw or the notoriety of some more famous and popular artists and I'm sure there are a lot of writers from your generation who aren't finding a lot of work writing comics either.<br /><br />I'd buy your stuff in a heartbeat. I lament the lack of talented artists in today's comic books. Impulse Fan Boyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01130415471482562553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216471737489850841.post-10306357416154750522013-04-17T22:18:23.442-04:002013-04-17T22:18:23.442-04:00I have of course heard about this post before on c...I have of course heard about this post before on comic news-sites and I have offered my opinion there, but I wanted to let you know about it as well.<br /><br /><br />You are an incredible artist, Jerry and have been for a long time.<br />I had of course noticed seeing your name less and less on the books I bought, but I admit, I simply thought you were working on stuff I didn't read. I never imagined you would have problems getting work.<br /><br />I have in the past noticed the same problem you are talking about and have often wondered why talented writers and artists are suddenly not in demand any longer, especially when a lot of the newer artists seem to be less skilled and pretty generic (yes, DC looking at you here mostly).<br /><br />Just one example I bought the new Captain Marvel title. A book with good writing and a great character but suffering from 3 or 4 different artists in 12 issues and artists simply not suited to this kind of book. I decided to drop the book, because I couldn't stand that anymore.<br /><br />You'd be perfect for a book like that. I know you can draw an awesome Carol Canvers, both heroic and beautiful and here you are looking for work. It's not to believe!<br /><br />I've heard there are some new things you are working on and I'm happy about this. I will make an effort to seek out and buy the work, when I see your name in the Previews-catalogue in the future.die-ynghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00330556892566043898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216471737489850841.post-75041614313222589182013-04-17T22:16:18.996-04:002013-04-17T22:16:18.996-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.die-ynghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00330556892566043898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216471737489850841.post-12150000969983008842013-04-04T01:41:21.317-04:002013-04-04T01:41:21.317-04:00This is madness. Jerry is a better artist than mos...This is madness. Jerry is a better artist than most of the people working at DC today. Giving him a steady job would not be a work of charity, but just plain brains. <br /><br />Yes, his work will always be associated with the unforgettable work he did in the 1980s, but that does not mean he is old fashioned.<br /><br />Put this man on regular pencils for a book and I'll buy it!Noah Mullette-Gillmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13982506003929657950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216471737489850841.post-68215595693536007782013-04-03T19:54:49.841-04:002013-04-03T19:54:49.841-04:00You have my sympathies. This is the kind of thing ...You have my sympathies. This is the kind of thing that is commonly done in the comics industry which is, today, more youth-oriented than it has ever been. I know several comics pros who stopped getting work at Marvel and DC when they hit their 50s. One day they could make a very good living, and the next no editor would return their calls. Part of the problem is a massive tide of youngsters champing at the bit to work on the iconic characters stolen from the great creators of days gone by.<br />James Robert Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17281049641681225389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216471737489850841.post-77677246648196750572013-04-02T13:44:09.641-04:002013-04-02T13:44:09.641-04:00Further to what I said above, the big 2 may own bi...Further to what I said above, the big 2 may own big characters, but they don't own the creative capacity of the creators. Combine with other great creators in your position (I won't name names), go independent together with your own creations. Build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door. I would happily spend the money I give to DC every month on a better product instead, which comes from creators who understand the greatest aspects of the comics medium.LC Douglasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04250961297714038453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216471737489850841.post-7246502331115257792013-04-02T13:36:17.997-04:002013-04-02T13:36:17.997-04:00As a fan who is sick and tired of top-down editori...As a fan who is sick and tired of top-down editorial control of creators, micro-market-management, and endless violent crossovers in the nu52, I would love to see Mr. Ordway and many of the people with experience in the industry who are commenting here go over to Kickstarter and start a project.LC Douglasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04250961297714038453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216471737489850841.post-29147059104077275282013-04-01T18:29:38.468-04:002013-04-01T18:29:38.468-04:00Jerry... I hear you, it sucks- go independent. Im...Jerry... I hear you, it sucks- go independent. Image, IDW, Kickstarter, whatever. Go independent. Have you seen this recent quote from Kirkman?<br />http://comicsbeat.com/quote-of-the-day-robert-kirkman-on-career-planning/<br />Kirkman's logic could be argued, but I think there's truth there.TKWatkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04194429617347315400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216471737489850841.post-9332058888196117802013-03-31T14:43:00.989-04:002013-03-31T14:43:00.989-04:00If Jerry Ordway can't get work at the Big 2 TH...If Jerry Ordway can't get work at the Big 2 THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH COMICS.Go creator owned I loved Wildstar back in the nineties.You can write and draw well I remember your Superman comics.Do it and they will come.And I WILL DEFINITELY BUY IT!doodledudehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03664633786684937421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216471737489850841.post-63410565448959479402013-03-31T11:04:03.537-04:002013-03-31T11:04:03.537-04:00Jerry i love your work. I would hope you go the im...Jerry i love your work. I would hope you go the image route to do your own book. i would definately buy it. Love your art. You are certainly one of the greats in the field. I support you 100%. Any new project from you is a welcome bliss compared to the muck i was reading from the new 52. first few books were ok...but then it started a spiral of horrible art and story telling. yes, you are a breath of fresh air. victimbluehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03110062734260820898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216471737489850841.post-44643211628290638412013-03-29T14:06:15.878-04:002013-03-29T14:06:15.878-04:00Hello, Jerry, we briefly met 20+ years ago at one ...Hello, Jerry, we briefly met 20+ years ago at one of the NYC cons. <br /><br />You may recall that Frank Frazetta, after doing those stellar romance comics stories in 1953-54, ghosted Al Capp's "Li'l Abner" for nine years. When he tried to go back to comic books in the early '60s he was told by Marvel and DC that his work "looked too old fashioned." As a result, he had to shift gears and go into paperback book cover painting and Hollywood film poster art. The rest is history. <br /><br />The truth is, from the 'pop art' look of early '60s comics, his work DID look old fashioned. Incredible, yes, but dated, even when he drew it in '53-54. Frazetta, Krenkel, and company steeped themselves in the sensibility of artists like Joseph Clement Coll and J. Allen St. John whose work had that late Victorian/Gilded Age sensibility to it. <br /><br />Those FAMOUS FUNNIES covers he did with Buck Rogers are some of the best covers ever done in comics, and the title cancelled one issue after he left (his last cover was rejected and used as E.C.'s WEIRD SCIENCE-FANTASY #28). The marvelous quality of his cover work did not keep the books afloat. The same can be said of those romance stories: beautiful drawing, but again, not enough to carry the books; PERSONAL LOVE cancelled with his final story. <br /><br />What I'm saying is that most fans were not as attuned to great art as we would hope---then or now. <br /><br />Secondly, today's comics market is SO fragmented that there are a plethora of titles out there---and so many creators---that very few work at this full-time anymore. For many it is done almost as a hobby or 'side job' because fandom is very spread out (a few buy this title, a few that one, but the days of seeing monthlies consistently pulling in 200,000 readers every 30 days are over).<br /><br />Glad you have options for making money with your art; I know a lot of former comics artists - of fine calibre - who cannot get work either, and haven't for quite some time. The names would surprise you. I suppose you've heard that DC turned down Wrightson coming back to SWAMP THING---and he co-created the character! Remarkable. And lamentable. <br /><br />Best regards,<br />Alec Stevens<br />www.calvarycomics.comAlec Stevenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04672086234941524146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216471737489850841.post-28527555651099069072013-03-26T18:02:33.956-04:002013-03-26T18:02:33.956-04:00PS: From what I read online, it seems that the you...PS: From what I read online, it seems that the younger fans today do feel that the style of 1980s artists is too old. Not only do they not get why Ordway art is beautiful, they even consider young artists who draw properly (like Azaceta) to be too retro.<br /><br />As a teenager in the eighties, I didn’t get the style of older artists like Kirby or Swan either, but as I kept reading comics and my tastes matured, I came to see the beauty in their styles that I couldn’t see before, when I had narrower tastes. I hope that the same happens for today’s young fans.Felicity Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07983958177951363405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216471737489850841.post-58980263189668953682013-03-26T17:57:51.704-04:002013-03-26T17:57:51.704-04:00This just goes to show that not only do we fans ne...This just goes to show that not only do we fans need to be critics and tell the companies which artists deserve work, we also need to be salesmen and introduce non-comic-fans to comics so that there is enough demand to support our favourite artists.<br /><br />Does anyone have the e-mail addresses for the right people to contact at comic companies to recommend artists?Felicity Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07983958177951363405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216471737489850841.post-48295574453006522302013-03-20T01:19:46.794-04:002013-03-20T01:19:46.794-04:00Boom talks big about themselves being the creator ...Boom talks big about themselves being the creator mecca. Why aren't the legends there?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01131959961350684536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216471737489850841.post-53082343386644664932013-03-20T01:09:10.480-04:002013-03-20T01:09:10.480-04:00Jerry
I believe the situation you, Chuck and guys ...Jerry<br />I believe the situation you, Chuck and guys like Denny O'Neil find yourselves in to be repulsive. I grew up with you all. Often times I find myself reading the old rather than reading the current. <br /><br />While I can't say there are not some brilliant writers and artists in the new crop, there is a ton of absolute crap. And they have been slipping into the industry more and more. <br /><br />Two things are abundantly clear to me. One is that I finally had the honor of speaking with you at ECC and it was brilliant to finally meet you. Second is that DC and Marvel are both making the same mistake. The legends have much more to tell. Rather than AvX and a lot of the other trite junk being published, they should learn from the masters of the craft.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01131959961350684536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216471737489850841.post-5606235386708999262013-03-18T20:09:22.935-04:002013-03-18T20:09:22.935-04:00Dear Jerry,
I would like to apologise for complete...Dear Jerry,<br />I would like to apologise for completely messing up my earlier comments regarding the Death Of Superman... It was of course Dan Jurgens who did those particualr pages and I feel like a right fool for messing up so badly... But I treasure each and everyone of my complete Power of Shazam! collection. When the series was ongoing I was hoping that DC would one day publish an entire Art Book dedicated to your covers as I think they are some of the most consistently stunning in the business. They could all be posters plastering Captain Marvel's fans everywhere.Vincent Lainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05101209154470198537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216471737489850841.post-77111048160663223812013-03-16T09:52:46.004-04:002013-03-16T09:52:46.004-04:00I think it's a shame the way that the comic in...I think it's a shame the way that the comic industry is going. I don't buy too many new comics, but I probably would if you (and others similar in style to you) were doing the books. Keep us posted on your blog if you come up with any new creator-owned properties.Robert Hustwickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11930966833227330475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4216471737489850841.post-77358448887576278062013-03-14T08:41:13.732-04:002013-03-14T08:41:13.732-04:00This is truly sad to read. Jerry, you are an incre...This is truly sad to read. Jerry, you are an incredible talent. I have enjoyed your work immensely over the years. If Marvel and DC used more creators from your era, I might still be reading their comics.Ghendarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10500367286923324277noreply@blogger.com