Mack and Bendis in today's paper!

[who cares?]

i'll make a scan when i get home...

there was an article in today's Metro (free newspaper from toronto) about the upcoming con, and they talked about both Mack and Bendis for the better part of the article... :)

[GelfXIII]

Here's what I found:



Unheralded writers
finally get their due
By JONATHAN P. KUEHLEIN
Metro Toronto

After a decade of glitz, glam and little substance that nearly hollowed out the industry — comic books are back firmly entrenched in the mainstream consciousness. While the early 90s were terrific sales-wise for comics, with individual issues selling millions of copies each, the industry, which had been dominated by an elite cabal of artists, caved in on itself towards the end of the decade.

“What happened after that was that a lot of people left, both pros and fans and what you were left with is people with a die-hard passion for comics,” says Brian Michael Bendis, writer of several of Marvel Comics’ hottest titles, including Daredevil and New Avengers.

“I think it became more about ideas than images. I think you’re going to have a much more satisfying experience as a comic-book reader when that’s the focus of how a story is put together. It’s not just about the hot babe; it’s actually about the idea of something.”

So slowly, but surely, the writers have usurped the artists on centre stage and now wield as much or more clout with what fans read.

This heat factor surrounding writers seems to be prevalent in the guest list for this year’s Toronto Comicon (see fact box), set for this coming weekend, featuring, among others, Bendis and David Mack, writer/illustrator of Kabuki for Marvel’s Icon line. “Lately I have noticed more emphasis on the writer as headliner for a project,” Mack says. “My feeling is that this happens when a writer has a very unique and personal approach to his work that gives every project its own kind of power and unique personality.”

Phil Jimenez, a renowned writer/artist, who previously held both jobs on Wonder Woman, says the more mature audience comics attract nowadays is partly to blame for the rise of the writers. “I think it has something to do with the age of the readers as well their demands from the books themselves,” Jimenez says. “Once upon a time, flashy, shiny art would be really attractive — and I say this with no condescension at all — to a younger, less discerning reader. But now that is less interesting than their investment in the characters and the complexity of plot, intricacy of detail
and the attention to character development.”

While the writers are finally getting their due, comics are still a visual
medium and the collaboration with the artists is key, according to Bendis. “Most of the writers have exceptional taste in artists so you’re getting more than just writers, you’re getting exceptional creative teams,” he says. “It’s really an awesome time to be reading comics.”

[who cares?]

yep, here's a scan... same article though...

http://img60.echo.cx/img60/1392/article1hr.jpg