Everything that’s not Libre-gate related…
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Comic AG issue 54 is in stores today. Mmmm, Bix Cog drink!
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Chris Butcher shows the proper way to crush the dreams of children… cold, ruthless, and unforgiving.
I kid. But giving a young artist an honest portfolio review is an exercise in foolhardy bravery second only to telling your significant other that s/he is really fat when they ask how they look.
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It’s finally official… the UFC has tapped out Pride with a hadaka jime.
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Somehow missed this last week, but a post at the Broccoli Blog has given life to rumors that Suqare Enix will be entering the manga publishing business in the U.S.. I don’t know, I think Squeenix’ presence at SDCC could merely be to look for more licensing partnerships, rather than starting an English manga company, right?
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And now, some more on Libre. (Haha! Fooled you! You all should know by now I’m worse than a liar and a cheat… I’m a comics publisher.)
Actually, this is just a thought exercise, inspired after trawling through the message boards. Not talking about CPM specifically, just tossing some hypothetical silliness for giggles.. So here’s the question:
What should a manga licensee do if its contract is in bitter dispute, but it feels it’s in the right?
1. Sue.
Two options… either sue the publisher, or sue the artist.
The dangers… if one chooses to sue the publisher, the worst thing that could happen (besides losing) would be getting a reputation as a “troublemaker” among Japanese publishing circles. This aversion to controversy is one of the reasons why the Japanese seldom file lawsuits, relatively speaking. Even if the American publisher should prevail, such damaging reputation would make it difficult for any future licensing deals with any other Japanese publisher. Not a good trade-off for licenses that would have lasted 3 or so years anyway.
If one sues the artist, well, it’s not hard to see how public sentiment would turn against the publisher.
My vote… sue the publisher, win big, but settle for long-term co-publishing deals in leau of monetary imbursement and give the impression of being magnanimous in victory.
2. Reconciliation.
Pay money to make the problem go away. “Invest” in the Japanese publisher. In all likelihood, licensee companies that would have such problems in the first place can not afford this.
3. Fake suicide.
Dissolve company, apologizing profusely to (or blaming, if one is truly adamant of one’s innocence) the Japanese company and creators during the process. Disappear for a few years, re-emerge under a new name and a partnership with a different Japanese publisher. Retain honor.
Guess which one I would choose?
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I absolutely refuse to look at other people’s scripts. 0_0. I wont do it. First off, I got rejected twice this week – 1. Dark Horse, 2. Iris Print. When I get into the position of being published every time I write something, then I will think about telling someone how good or bad they are…shit, I’m still learning. 0_0.
I think it massively sucks when someone insists on showing you stuff, when you make it very clear that, you’re not really comfortable with looking at it. I’ve had people IM me, and ask if I will look at scripts– I say no, and eventually, a link to a .doc or .html file shows up [sort of obligating me in their eyes?]. I say goodbye, and sign off, and remind them that I do not read other writers work until it’s published.
No offense, but I’m the last person you want advise from…I’m a nobody, go bug some of the ‘real women writers in comics’.
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I’d hate it but I’d go Fake Suicide. Seppuku is just generally hawt in my circles. So the honorable death would win over some people and the resurrection as a publisher of Pachinko and Pet manga would get the respect of the publishing fringes…
About SqEn, they have been to SDCC before (like other pubs have) so most likely this is about licensing. After some success with Broccoli (Juvenile Orion, KAMUI and E’S) and VIZ (FMA has sold very well) and increased licenses to DMP (Enchanter), Seven Seas (Souta-kun) and Yen Press (all of their licensed titles which have been announced are from SqEn) they possibly feel they are ready to open the doors for a big bidding war or something. Funny thing to is that over the last year plus they have increased the number of mags and have restructured existing magazines to define readership better.
Imagine the battle for all that Final Fantasy manga they have. Or the new series from the creator of School Rumble (Kobayashi Jin). And how about the Higurashi no Naku Kori ni novels/manga? Their titles across the board have more shojo/shonen crossover than any other publisher outside of MagGarden. So they could be on the wanted list for a number of licensees.
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Square Enix! I want more Young Gan Gan’s stuff published!. Though, I thought Yen Press would eventually become the Square Enix counterpart in the states… (horrible hypothesis from the (few) titles they licensed… :p)
As for the choices, I think #3. It’s not like CPM has much chance to stay alive if they lose. >.>
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I’m hoping that they will also make a short anouncement about FF7 not being exclusive to PSP, that is after they anounce FF13 for Xbox.
I’d go for option number 4:
Collect pants … Profit!
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