Is Marvel's Loss Our Gain?

Just about five months ago, the topic of this very column was the sometimes-rocky relationship between a writer and his or her editor. More specifically, I focused on Mark Waid's relationship with Marvel's Editor-In-Chief, Bob Harass. Harass had butchered Waid's script for Captain America #14, to the extent that Waid has his name taken off of the credits list on the inside of the issue. I went on to say, if that type of meddling was going to continue , that it wouldn't be too long before Waid left Captain America as he had left X-Men after only six months on the title because of excessive editorial control. Well, this past week Waid announced that he has stepped down as writer of Captain America and had the following to say:

"I regret this resignation more than anyone will ever realize, as my love for this character is well-known, but over the past year and a half, it's become depressingly apparent that - as far as Marvel editorial is concerned - I'm not the man for the job, as I'm repeatedly unable to give the company whatever it is it's looking for in a Cap book."

Marvel didn't waste any time naming Waid's replacement when they chose Dan Jurgens. I think Jurgens can do a decent job on Captain America, but I doubt the title will have the intricate storylines and character interaction that it has had while Waid has been writing it. I happen to read Thor each and every month, which is written by Jurgens, and more often than not huge, cataclysmic fights dominate the book's storylines. In many issues, the huge fight is the entire issue. I'm hoping, although I'm not hopeful, that Jurgens will focus more on character development and plot advancement than big fights. However, the most significant issue to me is Waid's future status, or perhaps lack thereof, at Marvel. Waid has been quoted as saying that he hopes to write Captain America again someday, but I don't see that happening as long as the current editorial structure is in place. Now, assuming that Waid won't do much of anything for Marvel while the current editorial is in place, I think that's a fairly significant loss for Marvel. However, I don't think Waid is the writer he was several years ago. That being said, he's still a great writer and he does good work. What's next for Waid?

Rumors regarding a joint venture between Waid and writer Kurt Busiek have refused to die. Both writers have been asked about the rumors and neither has confirmed nor denied them. Waid made it a point to say that his resignation as writer of Captain America was "a decision made independent of any other possible plans." Waid wasn't the only Marvel writer to tender a resignation this week though. His rumored partner, Busiek, resigned as writer of Thunderbolts. Busiek said that he was resigning from Thunderbolts to ease his workload and as a result give him more time to spend with his family and do other things. Among those other things was a desire to write more books with characters of his own creation. This would seem, in a very indirect way, to lend credence to the rumors regarding his alliance with Mark Waid. If the two were to form their own company, it would be very reminiscent of what happened about ten years ago when Image was formed. I firmly believe with the name recognition that Busiek and Waid have, that they could be successful with their own company. Time will tell if these rumors are nothing more than wishful thinking, but I personally feel as though we will see a Busiek and Waid headed company come to pass.

As I've stated many times in past columns, comics just don't sell like they used to. If Waid and Busiek do form their own company, they'll be joining an already crowded, and highly competitive, field. Getting market share won't be easy at this point in time, but if anyone can do it Busiek and Waid can. I think Busiek has one of the most fertile minds in comics and I'm thrilled at the prospect of reading more of his own creations. It's possible that Waid's writing has been hurt by editorial control, so I think working with Busiek in an environment where he has the freedom to do what he pleases could very well revitalize him. Any which way I look at it, a joint venture between Busiek and Waid is a great thing for myself and all comic readers out there. The title of this column also serves as my final statement. If Waid and Busiek end up starting their own company I believe we, the comics reader's, will definitely reap the benefits.

The ball is in DC's court.