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When I first interviewed Jim Valentino in June of 1998, he was
working on the Altered Image mini-series and had just announced he was
doing some work with Archie's Sonic the Hedgehog and Knuckles titles.
Since then, he has become the Publisher of Image Comics and a board
member of ACTOR (A Commitment To Our Roots). In this interview, we talk
about new books and talents at Image, Jim's background and his work in ACTOR, a
charity group that helps out retired creators in their time of need.
Coville:
What are your goals for Image? How do you want it to improve?
Valentino:
I want Image to improve in every way conceivable. Better stories,
better art, better on-time shipping. I want fans and retailers to
trust that Image is a company they can depend on for quality,
diversity and professionalism.
Coville:
Were you surprised when Tom DeFalco wanted to do a creator owned
book through Image? Since he was the Editor In Chief of Marvel way
back when the founders broke away and formed Image?
Valentino:
I was delighted. Tom brought me into Marvel, we have always had a very
warm and friendly relationship. This is pure joy for me. I've read the
first issue of Randy O'Donnell is The M@n, Tom's first book for us--and
it's a sheer delight! It's the best stuff Tom and Ron Lim have ever done, I
could not be happier.
Coville:
Image has gotten some big name creators and titles as of
late with Battle Chasers and now Kevin Smith books. Just to clear
something up, will Image be reprinting books that were done at Oni?
Valentino:
This was covered in the press release. Chasing Dogma and Clerks will
both be re-issued with photo covers, the former in color.
Coville:
Do you plan on doing any creative work soon?
Valentino:
The work I'm doing every day to make Image a better company is both
creative and rewarding enough for me at the present time.
Coville:
How is working on the business end of comics different than working
on the creative end?
Valentino:
It's different on nearly every level. The job descriptions are
different. As a creator, one must create--something new where it did
not previously exist.
On the business level, one must wear many hats. Find solutions to
problems that come up on a daily basis.
The two could not be any more dissimilar.
Coville:
Does being a former creator give you an insight or advantage that
others in the business side of comics don't have?
Valentino:
Certainly it gives me insight and experience. Having worked at all
levels in this business from retail to distribution, creator to editor to
publisher, I've learned one or two things along the way. How that
compares, favorably or in any other way to anyone else I cannot say.
Coville:
I wasn't aware you had experience in retail and distribution, can
you tell more about your time in these areas? (Who did you work for,
when & how long, what did you did there, etc...)
Valentino:
I worked for several retail stores in the 70's--Colorado Comics and
Jack Dickenson's Comic Kingdom in San Diego, among others. Also in
the late 70's, I helped Ken Krueger open the first distribution center in
LA for Pacific Comics (so Diamond big-wig, Bill Shanes, was my boss!). I
also worked with Pacific in San Diego.
Coville:
TPB backlists haave become a topic in the industry with DC benefiting
greatly from one and Marvel admitting they need one. Any chance that
Image will create a backlist program for all of it's creators instead of having
them do it all on their own?
Valentino:
Image already has a large and growing backlist of titles. And since
all Image comics are creator owned, I'm uncertain what the last
sentence means.
Coville:
DC has a staffed warehouse full of TPB's and keeps them all in
print. Do you see Image doing that as a service in the future?
Valentino:
All of Image's trades are in Diamond's Star System (as are DC's). They are
warehoused. As books go out of print, we gauge whether or not there is
sufficient demand for the title. We discuss reprinting with the creator/owner (DC's
owning their Marks and Image publishing creator owned properties is not
merely a difference in semantics, but a difference in the entire way we
operate), if there is sufficient interest in the title and if the creator is
willing, we go back to press. Again, we are not DC. Comparing us, one to
the other, is an apples/oranges argument.
Coville:
Who came up with the idea of ACTOR and how did it form?
Valentino:
Jim McLaughlin came up with it. I do not know how it was formed, I
suggest you ask Jim.
Coville:
Do you know who ACTOR will help out first and when and how it will
do that?
Valentino:
No. It's set up so there are two separate committees. The one I'm on
will get the word out (promotion, propaganda, whatever) and help to
raise the funds. Then there is another committee that will nominate
recipients and disperse the funds.
Coville:
Can you tell us who is on which committee?
Valentino:
The Board of Directors (fund-raising committee)are: Jim McLaughlin,
Mark Alessi, Brian Pulido, Patrick McCallum, Joe Quesada, Diana Schutz
and Jim Valentino. The dispersement committee are: Roy Thomas, George
Perez, Joe Kubert, Denny O'Neil, John Romita, Sr. and Dick Giordano.
Coville:
How can fans help out with ACTOR?
Valentino:
They can donate money--they can buy the stuff going up for auction.
They can look for more auctions.
Copyright © 2000 Jamie Coville
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