Posted in: Comics | Tagged: axel alonso, comics folk, marvel, retailer summit

More Comics Folk React To Marvel's Axel Alonso's Thoughts On Artists "Moving The Needle"

Published Sun, 02 Apr 2017 14:30:54 -0500

You may have missed it because there were so many controversial things said by Marvel executives over the weekend, but at the Marvel retailer summit, Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso had something to say about the ability of artists to sell comic books (from a report of the summit by ICv2):

There are fewer artists that impact sales than there are writers, Alonso said, and they're harder to promote. "It's harder to pop artists these days," he said. "There is no apparatus out there. There is no Wizard Magazine out there that told you who the hot top 10 were. We don't have that anymore. We can hype our artists all we want, but I don't know if we know how many artists, besides maybe McNiven and Coipel, absolutely move the needle on anything to be drawn.

Needless to say, the statement didn't go over very well with artists, or with the people who work with them every day, writers. Some of that was covered in Bleeding Cool's general reaction article on Friday, beginning with one of Marvel's own artists, Chris Samnee:

Heard today that artists don't help sell books. If you're picking up a book because of an artist, please let their publisher know.

— CHRIS SAMNEE (@ChrisSamnee) March 31, 2017

I like books where the artists is on it for at least 12 issues. :)

— Jamie McKelvie (@McKelvie) March 31, 2017

I definitely have graphic novels I've never read but are in my MUST HAVE category because they're gorgeous

— Erica Henderson (@EricaFails) March 31, 2017

Nor do I think it's true that artists don't sell comics, even Marvel Comics. If Marvel had crappy artists on their books, sales would fall.

— Kurt Busiek Resists (@KurtBusiek) April 1, 2017

https://twitter.com/kateleth/status/848275722795835393

Hanging out w an artist that taught me how to be a better writer, better person, and moves the needle like a fucking badass. @GregCapullo

— Scott Snyder (@Ssnyder1835) April 2, 2017

Why would any artist want to work for a publisher with an editor in chief that says stupid shit like that?

— Pat Loika (@patloika) April 2, 2017

And as also included in an earlier Bleeding Cool article, some like Image founder Erik Larsen explained that the situation Axel describes is a one of Marvel's own making:

Marvel has been telling retailers that "artists don't matter" ever since the @ImageComics gang left.

— Erik Larsen (@ErikJLarsen) March 31, 2017

For years, some people in management have been trying to push the idea that any artist will sell a comic, so get anyone cheap.

— Colleen Doran (@ColleenDoran) April 2, 2017

Hire an artist, do almost no marketing, throw the comic out like an apology, "Artists don't move the numbers." OK, there you go.

— Colleen Doran (@ColleenDoran) April 2, 2017

it's VERY frustrating to hear them complain about the results of a practice they've facilitated/proliferated

— Declan Shalvey BOG BODIES out MAY 20 (@declanshalvey) April 1, 2017

https://twitter.com/royalboiler/status/848600311094689792

Even DC Co-Publisher Jim Lee got in on the action:

Hanging with some writers who move the needle, yo #fanexpodallas #ham #noreallyweatepork pic.twitter.com/jmmA1zKVJ6

— Jim Lee (@JimLee) April 2, 2017

With a reply from Ryan Ottley:

Haha! Needle movers!

— RYAN OTTLEY (@RyanOttley) April 2, 2017

Haha indeed! Writer Cullen Bunn believes that animosity between writers and artists could negatively affect the product:

If folks keep trying to turn whatever this is into a writer vs. artist thing, I guarantee the result will be some shitty comic books.

— Cullen Bunn 🎃 (@cullenbunn) April 2, 2017

But journalist Steve Morris puts it more bluntly:

https://twitter.com/stevewmorris/status/848189311573004288

What's a publisher to do?

If I was a DC editor, I'd be seeing if Chris Samnee was available right now. And putting him on a book with Doc Shaner as fellow artist.

— Graeme (@graemem) April 1, 2017

So tell us, dear readers: which artists move the needle for you?

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