Rafa Sandoval took over Absolute Superman from Rafael Albuquerque. James Gunn discusses artist compensation. Oni Press announces Plague House.
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Episode Transcript:
Rafa Sandoval took over Absolute Superman from Rafael Albuquerque.
James Gunn talks artist compensation.
Oni Press teases Plague House.
This is Comic Book Club News for November 4, 2024.
Rafa Sandoval Took Over Art Duties On Absolute Superman From Rafael Albuquerque:
Absolute Superman hits this week from DC Comics, written by Jason Aaron, with art by Rafa Sandoval. But as it turns out, DC originally had another artist in mind: Rafael Albuquerque.
Don’t worry, there’s nothing nefarious here. Per SKTCHD, while Albuquerque was originally hired to work on the project with enough lead time, due to catastrophic flooding in his home of Brazil, Albuquerque had to bow out of the project — not only because he couldn’t reach his studio to work, but also was helping coordinate relief efforts with comic industry charity auctions.
So Sandoval only had a month to craft an image for the San Diego Comic-Con reveal, working on Albuquerque’s original designs. And the rest is history — or will be this week – though the original artist does get a shout-out in the issue.
James Gunn Discusses Artist Compensation:
James Gunn has once again taken to his Threads account, this time to discussion compensation of comic book creators in relation to his film and TV work.
In the post, Gunn responded to a fan who asked him, somewhat accusitorily, about paying “The originating comic book authors whose characters form the basis of the stories. The artist who created the original visuals that are turned into movies. Stan Lee died a pauper. It’s not fair that the creators don’t even know their characters are being used until they see it on headlines let some feet any money off it.”
Said Gunn, “Both DC and Marvel compensate comic book writers for their creations. I have created personal relationships with many if not most of the writers who have created characters who I’ve gratefully put into films. Stan Lee was my friend, I loved him, and he did not die a pauper.”
And to further clarify, Gunn added, “Yes when I said they get paid for their creations I meant they get paid when they’re used in films (as they should).”
So for what it’s worth, that’s not necessarily accurate on Gunn’s part, as far as has been reported. While DC and Warner Bros seem to be more proactive in compensating certain creators, Marvel and Disney have been less so, leaning more on a special thanks in the credits.
He is, however, correct about the whole Stan Lee thing. Though the fan probably could have mentioned nearly any other comic book creator and been correct.
Oni Press Tease Plague House:
Earlier this week, Oni Press teased some mystery books coming from the publisher next year. And now we know one of those titles: Plague House #1, from writer Michael W. Conrad and artist Dave Chisholm.
In the new series, a trio of ghost hunters heads to the McCabe house, “the scene of a grisly quadruple homicide,” and feeling the pain left behind by the deed, seek to cleanse the house of spirits.
Said Conrad via press release: “I swear I saw a ghost as a child, floating in the living room of my family home. I wasn’t dreaming. The man bobbed in the corner staring at me, wordlessly pleading for help. Plague House is about answering that call, and discovering the true nature of hauntings, imprinted memories, and the demands places can make of the living.”
The book is on sale in April 2025, from Oni Press.
For Comic Book Club News, I’m Alex Zalben. And I guess that’s a no go on my reality show I was pitching titled Plague House, which is a house where everyone competes to not get bubonic plague. Oh well.
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