Date: Mon, 27 Feb 1995 12:26:03 -0500 From: [g--l--n] at [falcon.bgsu.edu] (Metroplex) Subject: FTP 524 ==== FIT TO PRINT by cathrine yronwode for the week of February 27, 1995 THIS IS FIT TO PRINT NUMBER 524: In light of DC's lack of response at IADD to Marvel's purchase of Heroes' World Distribution (reported last week), it is notable that Larry Marder, creator of Tales of the Beanworld and "defender of the i" at Image Comics (his official title is Executive Director) delivered a stinging speech on the subject at the same venue, a speech that took into account high-level rumours that Marvel is now bidding for ownership of another U.S. comics distributor. Comparing Marvel's acquisition of HWD to Teddy Roosevelt's "gunboat diplomacy" and his fellow publishers to indigenous people, he said, "The big Marvel battleship has streamed into the harbor and I guess that we, the ignorant savages, are supposed to be so intimidated by their awesome display of power that we're supposed to run for the hills and immediately surrender the comic book business to them once and forever." The war analogies continued when he cast Marvel into a World War Two scenario: "The clever officers that make up Marvel's general staff, a cadre of lawyers, accountants, and MBAs, seem to think they've pulled off an operation as well thought out and precise as the Allies' invasion of Normandy on D-Day. Well, maybe so. But I think it's more like Pearl Harbor. A swift attack, whereupon they very quickly gained a lot of unprotected territories. But in the end, as we all know, the Pearl Harbor folks were absolutely unable to hold anything permanently and ultimately their empire was destroyed. Why? Because the Allies regrouped and took them on." Passingly referring to Marvel as "the Evil Empire," he theorized that Marvel's moves to control distribution stem from a plan to over-whelm other publishers, but that Marvel will not shrink from destroying the entire direct sales market if they can profit by it in the end. "The people who now own and operate Marvel are not good guys who love Spider Man and the Hulk," he said. Then, allying Image with direct distributors, he declared, "They are predators who see the exploitation of [super-hero] characters as a way to capture a big pile of cash. You and I are impediments towards their ability to capture that cash." "We [at Image] know why they want to dismember us," said Larry. "No one understands Marvel Comics better than we do. After all, we are rebel Marvel heretics. Our heresy is that you should be allowed to own that which you create. But then again, this is what the current crisis is all about. They know those things too. They were unable to conquer us in a game of fair play. They want to street fight now. Okay. C'mon. Let's go." The most chilling part of Larry's speech was not the anti-Marvel rhetoric; it was that he seemed to be apologizing beforehand for the harm that will befall the smaller distributors-his industry friends-if Marvel opts for exclusive distribution of its own titles and a full-scale circulation war breaks out. He said, "Image fully intends to live by the credo that our enemy's enemy is our friend. Let's recognize that the status quo may be impossible to maintain. If Image or any other publisher does something that seems unfair, remember that we are fighting for our survival, just like you. If Marvel Comics does what we all anticipate them to do and self-distribute their products, then all the other members of the comic book industry will have to formulate some sort of response, not because we want to but because we have to." The warning in those words was quite clear. "The immediate war is going to have the same goals as always-rack space, unit sales, and market share," he said. "Only the rules of engagement have changed. This isn't going to be one of those splendid little showcase wars like the invasion of Grenada or Panama. This war will be won by bloody hand to hand combat-take no prisoners, leave no survivors. Everyone has to do what everyone has to do in order to merely survive. It will not be pretty. "Just remember, as the going gets tough, that whatever happens to any and all of us, Marvel Comics hurled the first bomb and the rest of us are going to do whatever it takes to respond. Some of our responses may not seem fair. What Marvel did is not fair. We are in for an interesting year." I hear the bell sounding for Round Two. ==== Fit to Print appears in print each week in Comics Buyers Guide and is available via e-mail. Tell your friends! To subscribe to Fit to Print via e-mail send a request with the words "Subscribe FtP" in the subject header and your address in the body of the message to [g--l--n] at [bgnet.bgsu.edu.] You will be added to the list and receive the next available issue. Backissues are available. FTP to nspace.cts.com and look in the Comics/About Comics/Comics News/Fit to Print directory. Responses are welcome and should be directed to [g--l--n] at [bgnet.bgsu.edu.] Fit to Print is Copyright 1994 Cathrine Yronwode. All rights reserved.