Marvel unveils "The Architects".....

[Farrell]

You know I always wanted to pretend I was an architect.

Okay, George.  

I love most of those writers, but there is an easier way to become an 'architect'...WRITE YOUR OWN STUFF!!!

Karma.  Great world building is one of my biggest draws in fiction of any kind (novels, comics, games) and you can't do much of it within 2010 Marvel.

[Dean S.]

This is thoroughly silly stuff.  Just a way to settle who wins the dick swinging contests among the writers, I guess.  How's this for fun: Would Bendis be upset to have someone like Hickman on that "same level" as him?

Not saying he'd be angry, but I might be a little chippy at work if I was the "architect" of the overall universe and wrote 4-5 good selling books and being given the same title as a new guy who was writing books that lingered in the 40-50 range (despite the fact that I think they're really good).

Since its a slow news day, let's swirl controversy where there probably isn't any. 

[InspectorSpacetime]

1. this is so lame by marvel. but i guess you need a way to tell new reader who is singing the songs the whole world will sing.
2. on the older crowds snark, we get it. jack kirbys the G.O.A.T. the modern writer are only adding onto the legends ideas. but jack kirbys not walking through that door. byrne and clairmont are old and gray. its okay to judge new stories against old but keep in mind you do that with prejudice of your own.

3. im glad remender is off that list. it allows him to be a subversive voice that marvel.

[rook187]

Why make a point of it at all?

Just tell stories that don't suck and shut up. You're fucking comic book writers, not cultural icons.

replace "comic book writers" with just about every ego maniac D-bag in modern culture and I could quote this on nearly every forum I belong to. more Karma for Chris!

[Jay Tomio]

I need 6 bloggers to join me so I can issue a press release announcing the formation of the Headmasters.

[Tom Morris]

Seriously.
How can you call yourself "An Architect" when 90% of what you do is make somebody else's creation walk around and talk? It's just silly.

It's more like Tuckpointing.

So KIRBY created Jessica Jones?  Wow The King really was busy, even drawing from beyond the grave.

And Chris why the hate of Brubaker?

Geoff Johns gets to be Creative Director of DC but Morrison is the one that actually gets the sales?  Hell the book that gets the most buzz at DC is Justice League: Generation Lost and that's by Winnick!  Chris what do you need to let the Marvel rage go?  Bendis gone?  Joe Q gone? 

[David]

These five are Marvel exclusives, aren't they?  I may be wrong, but I don't believe Parker, Gage, or DnA are.  Not sure about Loeb, but with his promotion I figure he would be.  Slott?

[deadcowaroma]

These five are Marvel exclusives, aren't they?  I may be wrong, but I don't believe Parker, Gage, or DnA are.  Not sure about Loeb, but with his promotion I figure he would be.  Slott?

I think Slott is, isn't he? 

[Andrew Tom]

It says in the article that this is a "Marketing Initiative". 

While I read and enjoy the work of all of these guys.  Whether these guys truly are Marvel's top 5 writers/"architects" is irrelevant.  Yeah.. the context in which Marvel presented it may slight or inadvertently insult creators like Jeff Parker and Rick Remender, but remember that Marvel's sole intent of this press release is to stir up comic sales and sell more comics, thus making more money for Marvel (hence the term Marketing Initiative). 

Personally, I would think that you'd want to push lesser selling titles that get cancelled prematurely due to low sales, (Thor: The Mighty Avenger anyone?) than to say, "hey in case you didn't know, Avengers is awesome and you should be reading it."

For all we know, they may be paying these guys more than the others and this is Marvel's way to solicit more revenue to offset the additional cost of having a "top tier creator".  Remember that with companies the size of Disney and Time Warner it eventually comes down to profits and quarterly earnings. 

[Hassan T]

Are people really upset about Marvel announcement of non-news? Isn't the internet full of non-news items? 

[Jeppe]

I love most of those writers, but there is an easier way to become an 'architect'...WRITE YOUR OWN STUFF!!!

I'm going to play Devil's advocate for a second here. While I wholeheartedly agree with the general critique of this silly marketing move by Marvel, I think that calling out some of these authors as being inherently unoriginal is going too far. Several of them are not only talented writers, but have also done original and world building work of their own, just not in the context of the mainstream Marvel lines they are currently on.

Bendis with Powers and his hardboiled crime graphic novels?
Aaron with Scalped and The Other Side?
Hickman with the Nightly News?

The Architect campaign is ridiculous, but I don't think it's fair to expect everyone in the industry to live a life as a starving artist instead of writing for one of the big two, especially when said persons have already proven their worth as independent creators.

[Jordan]

Can we please stop talking about this?  It's so much non-news.

[S. Earl]

Karma.  Great world building is one of my biggest draws in fiction of any kind (novels, comics, games) and you can't do much of it within 2010 Marvel.

Well to be fair, any of those guys have 100% more creator work out their then Johns, or almost anyone not named Morrison, at 2010 DC.

[deadcowaroma]

I'm going to play Devil's advocate for a second here. While I wholeheartedly agree with the general critique of this silly marketing move by Marvel, I think that calling out some of these authors as being inherently unoriginal is going too far. Several of them are not only talented writers, but have also done original and world building work of their own, just not in the context of the mainstream Marvel lines they are currently on.

Bendis with Powers and his hardboiled crime graphic novels?
Aaron with Scalped and The Other Side?
Hickman with the Nightly News?

The Architect campaign is ridiculous, but I don't think it's fair to expect everyone in the industry to live a life as a starving artist instead of writing for one of the big two, especially when said persons have already proven their worth as independent creators.

I'd like to respond, but apparently Jordan and Hassan T have shut down the conversation.

I think you're reading a bit too much into my comments. I realize that it's better for these writers to write for Marvel in order to make a living. I just don't think that being a "Marvel Architect" should be the pinnacle of success. Creating the next Hellboy or Walking Dead should be the pinnacle of success.

It's one of the things that drives me insane about the comics industry. The more talented a writer or artist is, the more he or she gets funneled into projects that stifle creativity. (and this goes for DC as well as Marvel)

[Farrell]

Well to be fair, any of those guys have 100% more creator work out their then Johns, or almost anyone not named Morrison, at 2010 DC.

Oh, yeah, for sure.  I was agreeing with Deadcowaroma when he wrote that the best way to build worlds in comics is to do your own.  And several of these guys definitely have done that.  Just not at Marvel.

[Night (Travis) Nurse]

Maybe because all 5 are working on a top secret project they are going to be creating something new. Maybe the term architect will make sense if they are creating a new universe with new characters ... a New New Universe 

N Travis N

[Jeppe]

I'd like to respond, but apparently Jordan and Hassan T have shut down the conversation.

I think you're reading a bit too much into my comments. I realize that it's better for these writers to write for Marvel in order to make a living. I just don't think that being a "Marvel Architect" should be the pinnacle of success. Creating the next Hellboy or Walking Dead should be the pinnacle of success.

It's one of the things that drives me insane about the comics industry. The more talented a writer or artist is, the more he or she gets funneled into projects that stifle creativity. (and this goes for DC as well as Marvel)

Even though I think Scalped is a better comic than Walking Dead, I think we're very much in agreement 

[deadcowaroma]

Even though I think Scalped is a better comic than Walking Dead, I think we're very much in agreement 

Woah, "even though"? I'm with you in saying that Scalped is better than the Walking Dead.  Vertigo and DC I consider as 2 different entities creatively.

[Kenney]

It is a shame Abnett and Lanning weren't included in this, as they really have "built up" the entire cosmic side of Marvel again.

[Wood]

I went all in on this one for my column this week. I'm thinking this one may fire some folks up.