Newsarama: DC Instigating A Writing Development Program

Here. A few CR readers asked me what I thought. I'm afraid if I don't comment immediately on something it usually means that my thoughts are pretty ordinary or don't exist. In addition, I'm uncertain if there's been further reporting on this particularly that might change the following opinion-making. Apologies in advance.

It seems to me there are two things at play in that article: one is the idea of a development program, the other is that the highly-regarded mainstream comics writer Scott Snyder will be managing it. Teaching has been one of Snyder's main gigs in adulthood more generally, so he's suited to do that. Development programs make sense where there's a gap between the kind of creative work companies need to fulfill the mandates of their publishing lines and the talent that's available to them. I thought DC not having the talent across the board necessary to match the fundamental ambition of their New 52 relaunch initiative was a big factor in it eventually listing sideways. I think Marvel has some talent issues, too, right now, as more and more creators seize opportunities at Image or take other gigs that might keep them from a second or third book with such publishers.

So I would assume both companies would be looking into talent development, whether through a program like this or something unofficial, like the way art directors both official and unofficial used to communicate desirable techniques and strategies back in the day, or the way editors have done this in the past as well, to the point of madness the way some writers see things. Taking that off the table and into its own thing makes sense in terms of workflow and creative dynamics. DC working more closely in any way with Scott Snyder makes sense, because that's a talent they can employ book to book for the next two decades if they can convince him to stick around. Making his class the template also makes sense considering the success his books have garnered and the fact they've used past students of his on a few assignments. I also think it will be beneficial to DC in Burbank to expose themselves to new blood outside of hardcore comics circles, and I have to imagine this program could do that.

So unless I'm missing something, it makes sense all around. Even if you see mainstream companies as benefiting greatly from a bit of looseness down the charts, in that they can try out any number of untested talents on short runs and minor characters because that's where the next burst of the status quo come from, as I do, 1) there needs to be a current status quo against which the new way of doing things can push, 2) both of the big two companies are super-conservative right now. The structure junkie in me wins this time out; the little kid who colors outside the lines loses -- if only according to the "yeah, that makes sense" standard.
 
posted 10:25 pm PST | Permalink
 

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