The Sunday Spotlight: Stuff And Nonsense From The World Of Comics
by Richard Bruton
Another week passes, more comics things have happened… and it’s the Sunday Spotlight’s job to tell you about a few of them.
So, welcome to Sunday Spotlight once more. New week, more stuff to tell you all about. But, as always, do remember this is my thing, full of the things that interest me – all I can promise is that they’re all comics things and they’re all worth your time. So, don’t expect ALL the news, and keep in mind this is all the news I noticed. So it’s all the stuff that interests me and hopefully you.
Let’s open with the big comics news this week…
Bill Willingham makes Fables publicly owned…
Now this was a strange one that caught a lot of attention this week. Bill Willingham, creator of Fables, announced on his Substack that…
“As of now, 15 September 2023, the comic book property called Fables, including all related Fables spin-offs and characters, is now in the public domain. What was once wholly owned by Bill Willingham is now owned by everyone, for all time. It’s done, and as most experts will tell you, once done it cannot be undone. Take-backs are neither contemplated nor possible.”
Fables began in 2002, a creator-owned series from DC Vertigo and ran for 150 issues, plus many spin-offs. The idea was a simple yet evocative one, what would happen if various characters from fairy tales, myths, legends, and folklore came to live in real-world New York? Willingham’s Fables recently returned to publishing in 2022 with Batman vs Bigby: A Wolf in Gotham and the 12-part Fables: The Black Forest.
Willingham’s essential complaint is that DC Comics simply haven’t looked after the property properly, haven’t lived up to the spirit and letter of the law when it comes to the creator-owned contract he signed with DC for Fables, including complaints about editorial control and royalty payments.
Since he doesn’t have the time or the money or the energy to fight it through the courts he’s taken the very bold step of announcing that he’s making Fables public domain.
Willingham’s statement is a long one, but here’s a very pertinent part…
“Note that my contracts with DC Comics are still in force. I did nothing to break them, and cannot unilaterally end them. I still can’t publish Fables comics through anyone but them. I still can’t authorize a Fables movie through anyone but them. Nor can I license Fables toys nor lunchboxes, nor anything else. And they still have to pay me for the books they publish. And I’m not giving up on the other money they owe. One way or another, I intend to get my 50% of the money they’ve owed me for years for the Telltale Game and other things.
However, you, the new 100% owner of Fables never signed such agreements. For better or worse, DC and I are still locked together in this unhappy marriage, perhaps for all time.”
He goes on to say that his understanding of it all – us, you, me, anyone – now has the right to make Fables stuff.
Like other bits of public domain though, this is a very specific thing I reckon, with Willingham signing away his share of Fables, which he co-owns with DC according to the indica in the books.
What does all this mean? Well, you might be okay to publish new Fables comics using the characters and settings of the existing comics. Of course, you wouldn’t be okay republishing anything that’s already been published – that’s owned by DC & Willingham. BUT, and it’s a big but, were you to try and publish your own Fables, DC might well have something to say about it. And DC have very expensive lawyers and a lot of money to pay them with.
… & DC’s response… nope, nope, nope, not a f***ing chance…
Well, it took a whole day for DC corporate to release a statement…
“The Fables comic books and graphic novels published by DC, and the storylines, characters and elements therein, are owned by DC and protected under the copyright laws of the United States and throughout the world in accordance with applicable law, and are not in the public domain. DC reserves all rights and will take such action as DC deems necessary or appropriate to protect its intellectual property rights.”
Copyright and trademark laws are about as clear as mud, with a lot of very clever, very rich lawyers keeping them that way. So it’s no surprise to find that what Willingham thinks and what DC thinks are a long way apart.
Hunt Emerson’s music caricatures and interview…
One of Britain’s finest comic artists for the last 40+ years, Hunt Emerson is a cartooning genius and you should all know that. His work is always worth looking for, always worth reading. One thing I didn’t know was that he worked for the old music paper in the UK, Melody Maker, doing weekly cartoons, usually caricatures of the latest rock/pop stars.
Thanks to the Monstres Sacres punk blog, you now get to read an interview with Hunt about his work during this time here and Hunt commenting on the art here. Some absolutely wonderful bits of work there…
Kevin O’Neill Estate Sale at Gosh – 1st October
And speaking of events at Gosh… Owen D. Pomery’s Hard Switch Launch Party…
Happening in about a month, so plenty of time to get your travel plans and schedule sorted – Owen D. Pomery will be appearing at Gosh Comics London for the launch of his new sci-fi graphic novel, The Hard Switch, published by Avery Hill. Owen will be in the shop on Friday 20th October 2023, from 7-9pm. Gosh are doing a signed bookplate edition that you can get on the night or by mail order/collection afterwards – more info here.
As for The Hard Switch nearer its release, but I can safely say that it’s going to be a fabulous thing – after all, I’ve read everything he’s done since his debut and he hasn’t disappointed yet! Personally, I can’t wait to see his architectural sense and fine line applied to something sci-fi.
Avery Hill describe it this way…
“An engrossing science fiction graphic novel about a spaceship’s crew tackling the changes in their lives and work at the moment when they – and everyone else in the galaxy – begin to run out of fuel.
Ada, Haika, and Mallic are on a mission . . . one last mission, before everything, everywhere shuts down. They’re raiding old, abandoned spaceships and wrecks for the (sometimes-expensive) parts – and they make just enough money to get by. But living their nomadic, exploring life isn’t sustainable when they can’t afford fuel anymore.”
The time is coming when the mineral that makes inter-system jumps possible runs out. When it does, the scattered inhabitants of the vast galaxy will be stuck where they are. Everything will be different . . . unless the discovery in the latest wreck Ada, Haika, and Mallic are scavenging can unlock a whole new kind of interstellar transit.
Into Battle! – New exhibition of the best of British war comics – coming October 2023
Into Battle: The Art of British War Comics is a new exhibition of artwork from classic British war comics, including War Picture Library and Battle Action, takes place from 1st October 2023 – 30th April 2024 at the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum.
Zarjaz Volume III – the return!
A welcome return to the world of comics for Zarjaz now – the long-running 2000 AD fanzine that first appeared in 2001. Over the years, Zarjaz became a mainstay of the UK small press and independent comics scene. Sadly, the comic had been on hiatus for the last couple of years with the death of its most recent editor Dave Evans (better known to some as Bolt-01).
But a good idea just can’t stay down and it’s now been announced that Andrew J Lewis, the original editor way back at the beginning, is bringing the title back for Volume III.
The difference with something like Zarjaz is that it’s permitted by 2000 AD to use its characters, a situation you really can’t see many comic companies going for. In fact, over the years, the various 2000 AD fanzines and fan comics have been a fine source of talent (PJ Holden, Jake Lynch, Rufus Dayglo and more) who’ve found themselves in the pages of the Prog.
So… interested? If you fancy being part of the new Zarjaz, writers, artists, colourists, and letterers, Andrew wants to hear from you – just email at topnotchtosh@hotmail.com.
The two HUGE Brit comics festivals are coming – Lakes International Comic Art Festival & Thought Bubble
The end of the year in Britain means that we get two of the best comic events in the world to look forward to. And these are not only proper comics events, featuring comic makers and publishers as guests and exhibitors, a chance to see so much of the wealth of talent making comics in the country, but they’re also pretty damn big as well.
Thought Bubble comes along in November, but before that we have The Lakes International Comics Art Festival (LICAF) happening over 29th September to 1st October in Bowness-on-Windermere.
As you can see from that great map by cartoonist Peter de Pootrere, LICAF really does take over the town, bringing comics to all and it’s well worth taking a trip there if you can. You can find all about what’s on at LICAF here.
Meanwhile, Thought Bubble are busy announcing guests left, right, and centre for their two-day comics extravaganza on 11 and 12 November in Harrogate… more here, but here’s the latest round of guests…
In Memorium – Terry Wiley 9/9/1961 – 8/9/2018
Time is brutal. I can’t believe it’s been five years since we lost Terry Wiley, a quite marvelous comic maker, responsible for works such as Sleaze Castle, Petra Etcetera, Surreal School Stories, and VerityFair. He might not have been widely known but those of us who knew his work, loved his work, full of comedy, someone able to raise a laugh through his work, all with some fabulous visuals.
Do yourself a favour, go look for his work, go read his work. Your world will be better for it.
